A Sense of History: Straight Road
The next in a series of articles about ships passing to and from the West, Simon uses "The Fall of Númenor" to attempt to arrive at Tolkien's reading of the exordium to "Beowulf."
Starlight was a perpetual delight to the Elves of Menegroth, and I quickly turned this to my advantage by developing a new product, a bright mirrored globe that cast dappled, star-like reflections upon the dark walls.
I had expected to enjoy trading with these distant kinsmen of mine, but it proved a strange, unsatisfying business, since they were far too willing to part with their treasures for a song. Literally, in many cases: those who had no use for sparkling globes often requested payment in the form of a novel melody, until I ran out of both the sea-shanties of my youth and the sad, throaty laments I had learnt from the Orcs, and was forced to resort to singing the compositions of Makalaure Fëanárion – after altering their terrifying lyrics, of course.
Most of his ballads I turned into paeans to the local princess, who was deservedly beloved by all. Even I spent many hours contemplating her beauty and grace, and wondering whether there was some aspect of her presence – the starlit hue of her eyes, the fall of her hair, the cut of her clothing – that could be replicated and sold to those seeking to increase their own attractions.