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Dírhavel The Poet
Dírhavel The Poet
| In an introductory note, existing in different forms, it is said that though made in Elvish
speech and using much Elvish lore, especially of Doriath, the Narn i Hîn Húrin
was the work of a Mannish poet, Dírhavel, who lived at the Havens of Sirion in the days of Eärendil,
and there gathered all the tidings that he could of the House of Hador, whether among Men or Elves,
remnants and fugitives of Dor-lómin, of Nargothrond, of Gondolin, or of Doriath. In one version of this
note Dírhavel is said to have come himself of the House of Hador. This lay, longest of all the lays of
Beleriand, was all that he ever made, but it was prized by the Eldar, for Dírhavel used the Grey-elven
tongue, in which he had great skill. He used that mode of Elvish verse which was called
Minlamed thent / estent, and was of old proper to the narn (a tale that is told in verse,
but to be spoken and not sung). Dírhavel perished in the raid of the Sons of Fëanor upon the
Havens of Sirion. | | Unfinished Tales, "Narn i Hîn Húrin" |
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It is interesting to try out how would Dírhavel, a refugee of the Havens of Sirion would now about the deeds
of Túrin.
The closest that I have come to find is this:
| Then Túrin bowed low to her, and turned, and left the hall of Brodda; but all the rebels that had
the strength followed him. They fled towards the mountains, for some among them knew well the ways of the
wild, and they blessed the snow that fell behind them and covered their trail. Thus though soon the hunt
was up, with many men and dogs and braying of horses, they escaped south into the hills. Then looking back
they saw a red light far off in the land they had left. "Farewell now. Lord of Dor-lómin," said Asgon. "But
do not forget us. We shall be hunted men now; and the Wolf-folk will be crueller because of your coming.
Therefore go, and do not return, unless you come with strength to deliver us. Farewell!" | | Unfinished Tales, "Narn i Hîn Húrin" |
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Along with this:
| Of Túrin's deeds in Brodda's hall Húrin now learned from the outlaws the true tale; and he looked
on Asgon and his men, and he said: 'Men are changed here. In thraldom they have found thrall hearts. I desire
no longer any lordship among them, nor elsewhere in Middle-earth. I will leave this land and wander alone,
unless any of you will go with me, to meet what we may. For I have no purpose now, unless I find chance to
avenge the wrongs of my son.' | | The War of the Jewels, "Wanderings of Húrin" |
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In the account that is given in the Published Silmarillion, when Húrin is granted leave from Angband,
he goes to Nargothrond and seeks the Nauglamír to give them to Thingol. This was of course, an editorial
addition by Christopher Tolkien. In the account given in the Wanderings, Húrin is met by the outlaws that fled
with Túrin, and it seems that it were these same outlaws who helped Húrin bring the treasure of Nargothrond
to Thingol. So it is a guess that these outlaws were the ones who provided parts of the information of the
adventures of Túrin required for the Tale. Now if we suppose that the outlaws after giving the treasure of
Nargothrond to Thingol left their Halls, it is a good possibility that some of them might have survived and
gone to the Havens of Sirion. Who knows, maybe Dírhavel might have been one of them.
Provided by Maedhros (Username on TTF)
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