Proverbs of Middle Earth

Leaving Lothlorien

The Fellowship remained in Lorien for a month, though they were not aware of the passing of time.  Unsurprisingly, the decision to leave had to be taken for them, although the Lord & Lady did present the opportunity to remain, if any so desired.

Whether they stay or go, none can be sure of peace.
CELEBORN

Maybe the paths that you each shall tread
are already laid before your feet,
though you do not see them.
GALADRIEL

The final gift-giving and farewell scene is heavy with poignancy as the Fellowship collectively realise that they are now fated to head away from stainless beauty and restful peace, and towards the dark, the dangerous, and the unknown.

Since words naturally lack at such a solemn time, the appearance of several proverbs - though this time of consolation and advice, not of wisdom and debate - lends added weight to the brevity.

Memory is not what the heart desires.
GIMLI

Alas for us all!  And for all that walk the world these after-days.
For such is the way of it: to find and lose,
as it seems to those whose boat is on the running stream.
LEGOLAS

Tidings of Death

Tidings of death have many wings.
FARAMIR

Night oft brings news to near kindred.
FARAMIR

Only a week has passed since Faramir, watching at night near Osgiliath, observed the passing of the funeral boat of Boromir.  He is still clearly in mourning, and questions Frodo long to discover all that he can about the Fellowship, their mission, and the death of his brother.

Surely there are many perils in the world.
FRODO

Murder will out.
FARAMIR

But although it is his right and duty to arrest the hobbits and bring them to Minas Tirith, Faramir does not leap to it.  He knows that the funeral boat was not the work of the enemy, and is content that Frodo and Sam are not either.

His works fill the heart with loathing.
FARAMIR

On Internal Division

Faramir or Theoden?  Whose life to save?  That is the choice, effectively, that faces Gandalf at the gate of Minas Tirith, upon the Witch-King removing himself to the battlefield.  In terms of a like-for-like struggle, there is no one else who can stand against the Lord of the Nine, but there is also no one to come to stand in the path of Denthor's madness and come to Faramir's aid.

Even in the heart of our stronghold the Enemy has power to strike us.
GANDALF

It seems that Gandalf chooses correctly, despite having no guess at the unlikely hand by which their foe would be struck down.

Returning to Rath Dinen from the main gate of the City is no five minute stroll.  Gandalf knew that to go up meant that he could play no further part in the battle for an hour or more, and that this delay could be grievous.

The scene he finds there, with Beregond defending his Captain's life by means of treason and manslaughter, is typical of the needless strife that Gandalf has always striven against.  That there are proverbs available for just such a moment shows the age-long commonality of the problem.

Such deeds he lover: friend at war with friend
loyalty divided in confusion of hearts.
GANDALF

Eowyn Fights On

 

It is not always good to be healed in body.
Nor is it always evil to die in battle, even in bitter pain.
EOWYN

The state that Eowyn finds herself in after her healing by Aragorn is an exacerbation of her demise throughout the story: having been born high, hoped high and loved high, her emptiness is utter.

She is jealous of the dead, jealous of the now-departed host of the West, even jealous of those with a better view from their windows.  She is thrashing and flailing, wanting to fight but meeting nothing but compassion in return.

The world is full enough of hurts and mischances
without wars to multiply them.
WARDEN

It need but one foe to breed a war, not two.
EOWYN

Those who have not swords can still die upon them.
EOWYN

 

Having pointlessly debated war in the Houses of Healing with the Warden - the least war-like man in the city - Eowyn then comes up against an opponent who is greater than any of her people in both warcraft and wisdom, and whom she cannot conquer in debate.

Death in battle may come to us all yet, willing or unwilling.
FARAMIR

Do not scorn pity that is the gift of a gentle heart
FARAMIR

Sharky's End

With only one pleasure left in life - creating distress and disturbance for those he hates - Saruman has set about the destruction of the Shire.

One ill turn deserves another.
SARUMAN

The wizard's spite, founded on vengeance for his own fall from dignity and authority - from favourite of Aule in Valinor to homeless exile - and on jealousy of the hobbits who have risen so high, is mirrored by that felt for him by Wormtongue, who pays back his long suffering with the murder of his master.

Grima is then himself shot, despite Frodo's desperate protests to avoid bloodshed.

It is useless to meet revenge with revenge: it will heal nothing.
FRODO

The contrast between the Big People (the oafish thuggery of the ruffians, the bitter retribution of Saruman and Wormtongue etc.) and Hobbits (including the generous mercy of Frodo, and the simple sense of the Gaffer) shows where wisdom assuredly lies, and how out of place murder and meanness are in the Shire.

It's an ill wind as blows nobody no good.
GAFFER

All's well as ends Better!
GAFFER

On Enduring Pain

 

There is no real going back.
FRODO

There are some wounds which cannot be wholly cured.
GANDALF

Having been key in averting utter disaster for all of Middle Earth, it is a great tragedy is that Frodo cannot benefit from what he has achieved.  Sam feels the injustice most keenly; aware that few know (or care) what his master has done and sacrificed, and heartbroken that even in anonymity, Frodo cannot enjoy the Shire that he saved.

It must be so, when things are in danger:
some one has to give them up, lose them,
so that others may keep them.
FRODO

Leaving the Havens

Frodo is leaving, Bilbo is leaving, Gandalf is leaving.

So too are Elrond, Gildor, Galadriel and many others; the Third Age is ended, and Middle Earth will now be for the Mortal.  They pass through the Shire and come to the Sea, where they must say goodbye.

Not all tears are an evil.
GANDALF

At Mithlond, the Grey Havens, Pippin and Merry join them for one final parting, and also to share the journey back with Sam.

It [is] better to ride... three together than one alone.
GANDALF

Tears fall, but without bitterness.  Farewell.