And what about Arwen's sentence: THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE.
Thread: Favorite Tolien Line Of Text
<< [1] [2]
Like you, Elbereth, I have sometimes read Tolkien in Spanish. And there is one little line in The Fellowship that I read in Spanish first and it made me weep for joy and sorrow all at once. I have since not had access to that translated edition, and I hesitate to say --but I will-- (don't be angry, brothers and sisters, please) that the phrase is not as heart-rending in the true original English. Which goes to show that translators of Tolkien are passionate beyond the call of duty... which is why Tolkien translations are usually much better than many. (I say this as a translator, myself.)
Anyway, Elbereth, as I said, that edition passed from my hands and when I bought my English version I stayed with that... but in my secret heart I long for that line. If you have a good translation, could you recover it for me? I would love you forever!
Enough; the line is the following: The Fellowship of the Ring, Many Meetings, second to the last section, before the song to Elbereth Gilthoniel; Bilbo says to Frodo: "Not that hobbits would ever acquire quite the elvish appetite for music and poetry and tales. They seem to like them as much as food, or more." Pleeeeaaasssseeee!
Although, the line is wonderful in English as well, and much sums up my whole attitude towards life.
Another line that makes me weep, and maybe why I reside in Lothlorien... actually the whole final paragraph of the chapter Lothlórien, allow me to transcribe:
"Here is the heart of Elvendom on earth," he said (Aragorn), "and here my heart dwells ever, unless there be a light beyond the dark roads that we still must tread, you and I. Come with me!" and taking Frodo's hand in his, he left the hill of Cerin Amroth and came there never again as living man.
This is so lovely...
And what about...?
"Don't you leave him Samwise Gamgee" Gandalf told me" and I don't mean to. Lovely boy this Sam.
Elbereth dear,
Do you have the line in Spanish? I, too. hunger for it more than for food.
Yes Marghana, I have it. There are lines that sounds better in Spanish as the translation is wonderful. However I love most of the lines in original English, well, at least some of the ones I heard in the film. Tolkien books are plenty of lines to be remembered and repeated until we learnt its purest meaning.


