William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing.
When the light of day was come into the sky but the sun
was not yet risen above the high ridges in the East, Aragorn made ready to
depart. His company was all mounted, and he was about to leap into the saddle,
when the Lady Éowyn came to bid them farewell. She was clad as a Rider and girt
with a sword. In her hand she bore a cup, and she set it to her lips and drank
a little, wishing them good speed; and then she gave the cup to Aragorn, and he
drank, and he said: ‘Farewell, Lady of Rohan! I drink to the fortunes of your
House, and of you, and of all your people. Say to your brother: beyond the
shadows we may meet again!’
Then it seemed to Gimli and Legolas who were nearby that
she wept, and in one so stern and proud that seemed the more grievous. But she
said: ‘Aragorn, wilt thou go?’
‘I will,’ he said.
‘Then wilt thou not let me ride with this company, as I
have asked?’
‘I will not, lady,’ he said. ‘For that I could not grant
without leave of the king and of your brother; and they will not return until
tomorrow. But I count now every hour, indeed every minute. Farewell!’
Then she fell on her knees, saying: ‘I beg thee!’
‘Nay, lady,’ he said, and taking her by the hand he raised
her. Then he kissed her hand, and sprang into the saddle, and rode away, and
did not look back; and only those who knew him well and were near to him saw
the pain that he bore.
1. We know Eowyn is willing to leave her assigned post to ride to war—she’s
going to do it a couple of chapters from now. Why not give birth to “Dernhelm”
now? Is she not desperate enough yet? True, the Rangers are a tight-knit group
and an extra man might be noticed, but they do go heavily cloaked. Also, Eowyn
could have followed him after he rode off.
2. Once again, Eowyn resorts to calling Aragorn by name, but this time she
falls to her knees and begs him to take her along. This is hardly action
befitting a shieldmaiden of Rohan, and yet it is more tragic because she
is so strong. What are your thoughts?
3. Aragorn is clearly pained by the pain he has just caused Eowyn. Is he hurt
because he feels guilty about her feelings for him? Or does he feel sympathy
for her desire for great
deeds?
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email: elwen3@hotmail.com
"But I say to you, King of the Númenoreans, not till now have I understood the tale of your people and their fall. As wicked fools I scorned them, but I pity them at last. For if this is indeed, as the Eldar say, the gift of the One to Men, it is bitter to receive."
Namarie Widfara, you are always in our hearts.
