The Silmarillion

[Rían]

ooooh, then here's a bit from LoB that you'll like - it's Hurin before Morgoth's throne:

'Is it dauntless Hurin,' quote Delu-Morgoth,
'stout steel-handed, who stands before me,
a captive living as a coward might be?
Knowest thou my name, or need'st be told
what hope he has who is haled to Angband -
the bale most bitter, the Balrogs' torment?'

'I know and I hate. For that knowledge I fought thee
by fear unfettered, nor fear I now,'
said Thalion there, and a thane of Morgoth
on the mouth smote him; but Morgoth smiled:
'Fear when thou feelest, and the flames lick thee,
and the whips of the Balrogs thy white flesh brand.
Yet a way canst win, an thou wishest, still
to lessen thy lot of lingering woe...'

[Morgoth asks Hurin to be a spy on his own people in exchange for lesser torment, and Hurin answers,]

'Build not thy hopes so high, O Bauglir -
I am no tool for thy evil treasons;
torment were sweeter than a traitor's stain.'

Go, Hurin!!!! You rock!!


Then from version 2, I like this slightly modified bit, with the little description of Hurin's hair, and how he was able to look Morgoth in the eye and no one has since.

Then Hurin answered, Hithlum's chieftain -
his shining eyes with sheen of fire
in wrath were reddened: 'O ruinous one,
by fear unfettered I have fought thee long,
nor dread thee now, nor thy demon slaves,
fiends and phantoms, thou foe of Gods!'
His dark tresses, drenched and tangled,
that fell o'er his face he flung backward,
in the eye he looked of the evil Lord -
since that day of dread to dare his glance
has no mortal Man had might of soul.

SO - are you on your way to the bookstore?