“Arise, arise, Riders of Théoden!” is a rallying cry spoken by Théoden to the Riders of Rohan. Variations of it appear when he is first restored by Gandalf, and later preceding their charge into the Battle of the Pelennor Fields.
Arise now, arise, Riders of Théoden!
Dire deeds awake: dark is it eastward.
Let horse be bridled, horn be sounded!
Forth Eorlingas!
Arise, arise, Riders of Théoden!
Fell deeds awake: fire and slaughter!
Spear shall be shaken, shield be splintered,
a sword-day, a red day, ere the sun rises!
Ride now, ride now! Ride to Gondor!
Influences
The lines are written in imitation of Germanic and Scandinavian, specifically Old English (Anglo-Saxon), alliterative verse.
The second variant is probably inspired by part of the Old Norse poem Völuspá, part of the Elder Edda, which describes the chaotic state of humankind in the End of Days just prior to Ragnarök, the final battle of the Norse Gods.
Brœðr muno beriaz
ok at bǫnom verða,
muno systrungar
sifiom spilla.
Hart er í heimi,
hórdómr mikill.
Skeggǫld, skálmǫld,
skildir ro klofnir.
Vindǫld, vargǫld,
áðr verǫld steypiz.
Mun engi maðr
ǫðrom þyrma.
Brothers shall fight
and fell each other,
and sisters’ sons
shall kinship stain.
Hard is it on earth,
with rampant whoredom;
Axe-time, sword-time,
shields are splintered.
Wind-time, wolf-time,
ere the world falls.
Nor ever shall men
each other spare.
You May Also Like:
- Upon The Hearth The Fire Is Red
- The Road Goes Ever On
- Out of doubt, out of dark, to the day’s rising
- Sing now, ye people of the Tower of Anor
- To the Sea, to the Sea! The white gulls are crying
- Long live the Halflings! Praise them with great praise!
- In western lands beneath the Sun
- Silver flow the streams from Celos to Erui
Leave a Reply