Sing now, ye people of the Tower of Anor,
for the realm of Sauron is ended for ever,
and the Dark Tower is thrown down.Sing and rejoice, ye people of the Tower of Guard,
for your watch hath not been in vain,
and the Black Gate is broken,
and your King hath passed through,
and he is victorious.Sing and be glad, all ye children of the West,
for your King shall come again,
and he shall dwell among you,
all the days of your life.And the Tree that was withered shall be renewed,
and he shall plant it in the high places,
and the City shall be blessed.Sing all ye people!
– J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King, Book Five, Chapter 5.
It wasn't until I heard the Tolkien Ensemble's performance of this text that I realized how well it works as an Easter hymn.
ReplyDeleteAlso, the Fellowship departs Rivendell on December 25th.
DeleteWith the Professor, there are no coincidences.
Oh, also. 25 March is the Feast of the Annunciation on the Catholic calendar.
DeleteI love Tolkien. His imagination was only matched by his sense of honor, his heart, and his cantankerousness.
ReplyDelete