The Last Stage

           ItwasonMaytheFirstthatthetwocamebackatlasttothebrinkofthevalleyofRivendell,wherestoodtheLast(ortheFirst)HomelyHouse.

           Againitwasevening,theirponiesweretired,especiallytheonethatcarriedthebaggage;andtheyallfeltinneedofrest.Astheyrodedownthesteeppath,Bilboheardtheelvesstillsinginginthetrees,asiftheyhadnotstoppedsinceheleft;andassoonastheirriderscamedownintothelowergladesofthewoodtheyburstintoasongofmuchthesamekindasbefore.

           Thisissomethinglikeit:

           "Thedragoniswithered,

           Hisbonesarenowcrumbled;

           Hisarmourisshivered,

           Hissplendourishumbled!

           Thoughswordshallberusted,

           Andthroneandcrownperish

           Withstrengththatmentrusted

           Andwealththattheycherish,

           Heregrassisstillgrowing,

           Andleavesareyetswinging,

           Thewhitewaterflowing,

           Andelvesareyetsinging

           Come!Tra-la-la-lally!

           Comebacktothevalley!

           Thestarsarefarbrighter

           Thangemswithoutmeasure,

           Themoonisfarwhiter

           Thansilverintreasure:

           Thefireismoreshining

           Onhearthinthegloaming

           Thangoldwonbymining,

           Sowhygoa-roaming?

           O!Tra-la-la-lally

           ComebacktotheValley.

           O!Whereareyougoing,

           Solateinreturning?

           Theriverisflowing,

           Thestarsareallburning!

           O!Whithersoladen,

           Sosadandsodreary?

           Hereelfandelf-maiden

           Nowwelcometheweary

           WithTra-la-la-lally

           ComebacktotheValley,

           Tra-la-la-lally

           Fa-la-la-lally

           Fa-la!"

           ThentheelvesofthevalleycameoutandgreetedthemandledthemacrossthewatertothehouseofElrond.