Tolkiens lyrische Fassung der Beren-und-Lúthien-Geschichte steckt voller Sprachmagie und epischer Kraft, wie z. B. diese Gänsehaut erregende Szene, in der Fingolfin Morgoth kühn herausfordert und den dunklen Ainur damit tief beschämt:

 

„In that vast shadow once of yore

Fingolfin stood: his shield he bore

with filed of heaven’s blue and star

of crystal shining pale afar.

In overmastering wrath and hate

desperate he smote upon that gate,

the Elvish king, there standing lone,

while endless fortresses of stone

engulfed the thin clear ringing keen

of silver horn on baldric green.

His hopeless challenge dauntless cried

Figolfin there: ‚Come, open wide,

dark king, your ghastly brazen doors!

Come forth, whom earth an heaven abhors!

Come forth, O monstrous craven lord,

and fight with thine own hand and sword,

thou wilder of hosts of banded thralls,

thou tyrant leaguered with strong walls,

foe of Valar and elvish race!

I wait thee here. Come! Show thy face!“

 

J.R.R. Tolkien – The Lay of Leithian