The Hobbit
Chapter 19: The Last Stage
The dragon is withered
His bones are now crumbled;
His armour is shivered,
His splendour is humbled!
Though sword shall be rusted,
And throne and crows perish
With strenth that men trusted
And wealth that they cherish,
Here grass is still growing,
And leaves are yet swinging,
The white water flowing,
And elves are yet singing
Come! Tra-la-la-lally!
Come back to the valley!
The stars are far brighter
Than gems without measure.
The moon is far whiter
Than silver in treasure.
The fire is more shining
On hearth in the gloaming.
Than gold won by mining,
So why go a-roaming?
O! Tra-la-la-lally.
Come back to the Valley.
O! Where are you going.
So late in returning?
The river is flowing,
The stars are all burning!
O! Whither so laden,
So sad and so dreary?
Here elf and elf-maiden
Now welcome the weary
With Tra-la-la-lally
Come back to the Valley,
Tra-la-la-lally
Fa-la-la-lolly
Fa-la!
(295-6)
He learned where Gandalf had been to; for he overheard the words of the wizard to Elrond. It appeared that Gandalf had been to a great council of the white wizards, masters of lore and good magic, and that they had at last driven the Necromancer from his dark hold in the south of Mirkwood. (297)
Sing all ye joyful, sow sing all together!
The wind's in the tree-top; the wind's in the heather;
The stars are in blossom, the moon is in flower,
And bright are the windows of Night in her tower.
Dance all ye joyful, now dance all together!
Soft is the grass, and let foot be like feather!
The river is silver, the shadows are fleeting;
Merry is May-time, and merry our meeting.
Sing we now softly, and dreams let us weave him!
Wind him in slumber and there let us leave him!
The wandered sleepeth. Now soft be his pillow!
Lullaby! Lullaby! Alder and Willow!
Sigh no more. Pine, till the wind of the morn!
Fall moon! Dark be the land!
Hush! Hush! Oak, Ash, and Thorn!
Hushed be all water, till dawn is at hand! (297-8)
Roads go ever ever on
Over rock and under tree,
By caves where never sun has shone,
By streams that never find the sea;
Over snow by winter sown,
And through the merry flowers of June,
Over grass and over stone,
And under mountains in the moon.
Roads go ever ever on
Under cloud and under star,
Yet feet that wandering have gone
Turn at last to home afar.
Eyes that fire and sword have seen
And horror in the halls of stone
Look at last on meadows green
And trees and hills they long have known. (300)
Indeed Bilbo found he had lost more than spoons--he had lost his reputation. It is true that for ever after he remained an elf-friend, and had the honour of dwarves, wizards, and all such folk as ever passed that way; but he was no longer quite respectable. (301-2)
The desolation was now filled with birds and blossoms in spring and fruit and feasting in autumn. (303)
"The prophesies of the old songs have turned out to be true. after a
fashion!" said Bilbo.
"Of course!" said Gandalf. "And why
should not they prove true? Surely you don't disbelieve the prophesies
because you had a hand in bringing them about yourself? You don't really
suppose, do you, that all your adventures and escapes were managed by mere
luck, just for your sole benefit?" (303)
