Written by Luinyelle in 2026.
Time of composition
The poem tells the story of how Morgoth created the first dragon Glaurung, how Glaurung grows up, leaves Angband prematurely, is defeated by the Ñoldor, and has to flee. It does not continue beyond this point; however, the poet seems to possess knowledge of the subsequent events of the First Age and the eventual defeat of the Elves at the Nírnaeth Arnoediad. This becomes apparent in the vague foreshadowing of approaching doom that we sense in some of the lines and of course in Morgoth’s promise of a “terrible storm”, a reference to Dagor Bragollach. Furthermore, the desire of dragons to hoard treasure is illustrated in several places in the poem, yet an Elf in the year 260 or shortly afterwards would not yet know of this trait in the theretofore unknown species. So it stands to reason that the poem was written at the end of the First Age or even later. (But the language used makes a composition in the Second or Third Ages less likely.)
The poet’s decision to end the poem with Glaurung’s first defeat rather than continuing the narration on until the destruction of Nargothrond or his death at Cabed-en-Aras must therefore have been a conscious one: he chooses to focus on the triumph (even if temporary) against Morgoth’s new devilry and the bravery of Fingon. The point is not to narrate the rise and fall of the Father of Dragons, but to relish in the glory of victory before ruin came to the realms of the Ñoldor.
As for the descriptions of Angband and the birth of Glaurung, it may be that some of it was based on what the Elves had gleaned from slaves who had escaped from Angband. Yet much of it can undoubtledly be ascribed to the poet’s imagination.
Language and metre
The poem is divided into three cantos. The stanzas consist of four four-footed lines and predominantly show a rather strict and unusual metre where the rhyme scheme is AABB and the first and third foot in each line alliterate. Only few couplets fall outside this pattern and instead either alliterate the first with the second and the third with the fourth foot or rhyme internally AA-BB. This is mostly done for storytelling purposes.
The evidence in the alliterations clearly shows that the poem is written in Tarquesta, as alliterations between þ/s, ñ/n, hl/l and hr/r are allowed, indicating that a difference in pronunciation between these sounds is no longer present, even though they are still distinguished in spelling.
Neologisms & Names:
putwe (n.) – “landing, ledge, (lit.) halting” (< PUT-mē)
þuryar (n.) – “bellows” (< þurya- + rǒ)
nyelet (c-) (n.) – “+ scale”
Laurungo - It is not entirely clear how Glaurung “Gold-worm” is derived. The first element is glaur “gold”, which leaves (g)ung to mean “worm” (or “dragon”, given that G. Glórund contained gund “dragon”). One possibility is that it comes from the root √UÑG, which is a “spider word” in the late period and related to “gloom” in the middle period. But these two meanings can be reconciled, seeing as Ungoliant literally wove gloom. The basic meaning may be “gloom” and by extension it could apply to any dark, monstrous creatures, be it spiders or dragons. So I decided to form the name in Q. as glaurē + ungō > Laurungo.
This may not be entirely what Tolkien intended because he was probably influenced by the Chinese lung (cf. ᴹQ. lungu “dragon”), but glaur-lung would become glollung, and glaw lacks the “gold” connotation, even if we assume dissimilation of l to r. Either way, I think for the context of the poem, Laurungo works well enough. One could always explain it as a Quenyafication of the S. name.
Click the tengwar text to view/hide the romanized text. Click the romanized text to view the translation. Click the translation to hide it again. Refresh page to reset everything.
Also available as a 🖵wide screen version.
【1】 Lairë Laurungo
► The Lay of Glaurung
【3】 i Nostië Laurungova
► The Begetting of Glaurung
【5】 (1) Ostoryassë olca ‘r morna,
► In his fortress evil and black
【6】 cá andon holla, anastorna,
► behind a closed hard gate,
【7】 cá tulcë rambar, mi tumna rotto,
► behind strong walls, in a deep grot,
【8】 raumondon urþeä Moricotto:
► Morgoth rages like a storm:
【10】 (2) Taltë imíca tarmar angainë,
► At the bottom, between iron pillars,
【11】 rína, i arpo, mírínen maptainë;
► crowned, the thief, with stolen jewels;
【12】 aran nuhunwa araniëryo,
► king of his subterranean kingdom,
【13】 ossë ondóreä Orcoliëryo.
► dread of his pitiless Orc-people.
【15】 (3) Ettë cunyar i Eldar farmessë;
► Outside the Elves are ruling in plentitude;
【16】 nosseltar tiuyar sendë Hyarmessë.
► their houses grow fat, at peace in the south.
【17】 Mairi ten lautar, malta yo telpë;
► Arts abound them, gold and silver;
【18】 lérë ranyaltë mí lesta velcë.
► freely they wander inside the great girdle.
【20】 (4) Tiríti mi artaron rindë þanda,
► Vigilant inside the firm ring of fortresses,
【21】 i orontissen or i landa,
► in the mountains above the plain,
【22】 ú þosseo ya tévë solmar ai telta,
► without fear that might overshadow their halls,
【23】 valatië heruvi laitar túrelta.
► proud lords praise their victory.
【25】 (5) Tan, ampátiéla aiquë tyeller,
► Then, having walked up steep steps,
【26】 putwena orro nu púrië heller,
► to a landing high up under bleared skies,
【27】 elelli ar Ráno cálessen hlaiwë,
► in the sickly lights of the Moon and some stars,
【28】 i nurno heru nurru’ ó yaiwë:
► the dark lord grumbles with scorn:
【30】 (6) “Ela Eldalië, úmië píli:
► “Behond the Elven-folk, teeming insects:
【31】 caraiti nercili, rainë níli;
► busy little men, sweet-faced women;
【32】 ñolya hosto ñolweo úna –
► a dark-haired assembly, deprived of wisdom –
【33】 Ma naitië savildë i nányë turúna?
► Do you really believe that I have been mastered?
【35】 (7) Á nevë imlenna, netyë callor!
► Turn to yourselves, dainty heros!
【36】 Laldë verya et lattaldallor!
► You don‘t dare out of your holes!
【37】 Nai sataryaldë i þami sa caumo.
► May you trust in the barriers of that shelter.
【38】 Rongo mentauvan len rúcima raumo.”
► Soon I will send you a terrible storm!”
【40】 (8) Piuteäs náhë pempínen Númenna,
► He spits from narrow lips towards the west,
【41】 untas oronto unqua endenna.
► Descends to the mountain’s hollow core.
【42】 Tamini húmë tassë vor-uryar,
► There a thousand forges ever burn,
【43】 hyalta namba, hyasta þuryar.
► Hammer strikes, bellows rustle.
【45】 (9) A-hosta macilli mir hamnar axínë –
► Swords are gathered in heaps of steel –
【46】 hatalli, castolli, netinwë taxínen.
► Spears, helms, adorned with studs.
【47】 Únótimë Orcor a-nosta mí huinë,
► Countless Orcs are begotten in the darkness,
【48】 yantar rimbeltar ily’ aurenen muinë.
► Secretly increase their number with every day.
【50】 (10) Ráta i narmoron hráva huarda,
► The wild pack of wolves excels,
【51】 anda i carca yo atsaron nyarda,
► The list of fangs and claws is long,
【52】 mína na usë sinomello ú calo.
► Eager to escape from this place without light.
【53】 Mal sina lá farya síman i Valo.
► But this suffices not for the Vala’s mind.
【55】 (11) Mi ungwë háruas, úvië yestas,
► In gloom he is sitting, begins to ponder,
【56】 cesis indorya, ecestar lestas:
► Searches his mind, measures chances:
【57】 Canga incaryar, virë nóviryar,
► Weaves his ideas, twines his conceptions,
【58】 sampanë sanwi ar véla inwirya.
► Combines his thoughts and likewise changes his mind.
【60】 (12) Lanyas menesta úlanwa natsenna
► He weaves his intention into an infinite web
【61】 ar yelwa pupsondon himyanwa línenna,
► And as a loathsome fly stuck to a cobweb
【62】 i Fareo saicelë fartiën nauvassë
► To sate the predator’s famine it will be
【63】 nauta hrúya nauþeryassë.
► Bound in his evil imagination.
【65】 (13) Melehta ulundo, nyelecion helma,
► A mighty monster, a skin of scales,
【66】 maica handelë, maltava þelma,
► A sharp intellect, a fixation on gold,
【67】 ruina tirmë, hloireä föa,
► A fiery stare, a poisonous breath,
【68】 velcë tuo, ve vembë i hröa.
► Great physical strength, the body like a worm.
【70】 (14) San yestassë þaura mólë,
► Thus he begins a foul work,
【71】 renë han Ea parinwa ñólë,
► Remembers lore learnt beyond Ea,
【72】 voro nosta celvalto hínat,
► Continually begets two children from two animals,
【73】 ricë coivië hritiën i únat.
► Twists life to achieve the forbidden.
【75】 (15) Minya ulundo né míwa ‘r loica,
► The first monster was frail and inadequate,
【76】 atteo hondo acca moica.
► The heart of the second too gentle.
【77】 Neldeä tultanë neuna tarassë:
► The third brought another problem:
【78】 i Taltatalya tumbë ruimassë.
► The unsteady-footed sank into magma.
【80】 (16) Canteä folda, lás camnë alandë.
► The fourth was weak, not at all suitable.
【81】 Lepenya né úpa, penn’ umma handë.
► The fifth was dumb, it lacked any understanding.
【82】 Net vembeo sanar vellë ar þinsë,
► The mind of another worm boiled and singed,
【83】 mi maileä urþ’ ammantes insë.
► In a lustful rage he devoured himself.
【85】 (17) Mal otseä ráca et ohtiryallo,
► But the seventh breaks from its egg,
【86】 i hecilo tíras hendu milcallo,
► Gazes at the outcast from greedy eyes,
【87】 cap’ ana mírenel, carcanet alca,
► Jumps towards the jewel-triad, two rows of teeth flash,
【88】 pehtessë hyé mapas, þahtiénen umalca.
► The other grabs it by the comb with some amount of force.
【90】 (18) “Elyë” i cotto tá equë anfasta,
► “You,” the enemy then speaks, very pleased,
【91】 “Sé ye tarassenyar valasta!
► “Are who is worth my troubles!
【92】 Nostar hlócion, ñorto mólion,
► Ancestor of dragons, horror of the slaves,
【93】 aran ulundoron, umbar Eldaron!
► King of monsters, doom of the Elves!
【95】 (19) Martan tyen essë varmatyanen malto.
► I decree for you a name by your armour of gold.
【96】 Ohtari iruvar oss’nen sa nalto,
► Warriors will shiver with the terror of that radiance,
【97】 ehti nútauvar o indo lungo,
► They will lower their spears with a heavy heart,
【98】 holtúvar: “Ai! Órava! Túlië Laurungo!” ”
► And will shout: ‘Alas! Have mercy! Glaurung has come!’”
—generated by quettali version 0.34.39