Review: A Passage from the 'Sketch of the Mythology' – Beren and Lúthien

Introduction

J.R.R. Tolkien’s legendarium is filled with timeless myths that blend epic heroism, deep emotional resonance, and intricate world-building. Among these, the tale of Beren and Lúthien stands as one of the most significant, both within the internal mythology of Middle-earth and in Tolkien’s personal life. The Sketch of the Mythology, an early summary of his evolving legendarium, provides a glimpse into the foundational narratives of The Silmarillion, including the legend of Beren and Lúthien. The passage concerning this story presents an early, condensed version of their tale, showcasing the myth’s core themes and its role within the broader framework of Tolkien’s legendarium.

評論：《神話概要》選段——貝倫與露西恩

引言

J.R.R. Tolkien 的傳說體系充滿了永恆的神話，融合了史詩般的英雄氣概、深刻的情感共鳴與精雕細琢的世界構建。在這些故事之中，貝倫與露西恩 的傳說無疑是最為重要的之一，不僅在 中土世界（Middle-earth）的內部神話體系中佔據核心地位，更在托爾金個人的情感世界中擁有特殊的意義。

《神話概要》（Sketch of the Mythology）是托爾金對其不斷發展的傳說體系所撰寫的一篇早期摘要，其中概述了 《精靈寶鑽》（The Silmarillion）的基礎敘事。這部作品為後來更完整的神話奠定了框架，而其中關於 貝倫與露西恩 的選段則展現了這則故事的雛形，濃縮了它的核心主題，並揭示了它在托爾金整體神話體系中的重要性。透過這一早期文本，我們得以窺見托爾金如何構思這則傳奇故事，以及它如何與更廣闊的中土神話相互交織。

Summary of the Passage

The Sketch of the Mythology was written around 1926 and serves as one of Tolkien’s earliest attempts to summarize the overarching narrative of his mythology. Within this passage, we see the essential elements of the Beren and Lúthien story already taking shape:

Beren's Origins and His Encounter with Lúthien
Beren, a mortal warrior, finds his way into Doriath after surviving the devastation wrought by Morgoth’s forces. There, he beholds Lúthien Tinúviel, the daughter of Thingol and Melian, and is captivated by her beauty and grace. The passage establishes the fundamental love story, portraying Beren as an exile and wanderer who falls for a being far beyond his reach.

Thingol’s Challenge
As in later versions, Thingol, the King of Doriath, disapproves of the match and sets an impossible task before Beren: to retrieve a Silmaril from Morgoth’s iron crown. This quest is a central motif in the legend, representing both the impossible nature of their love and Beren’s determination to prove himself worthy of Lúthien.

The Journey to Angband and the Theft of the Silmaril
The passage briefly outlines how Beren, aided by Lúthien, makes his way to Angband, Morgoth’s dark fortress. Lúthien’s magical abilities, particularly her singing, are already present in this early version, demonstrating her power to enchant and subdue enemies. Through a combination of cunning and divine intervention, they manage to steal a Silmaril, though their success comes at a great cost.

Beren’s Fate and Lúthien’s Sacrifice
The passage touches on Beren’s grievous injury and ultimate death, as well as Lúthien’s despair. Even in this early iteration, the myth establishes the profound idea of love transcending mortality, as Lúthien chooses to give up her immortality to be reunited with Beren. The concept of a mortal-immortal union and its tragic consequences becomes a major theme in Tolkien’s later works.

選段摘要

《神話概要》（Sketch of the Mythology）寫於 1926 年前後，是托爾金最早嘗試總結其整體神話敘事的文本之一。在這篇選段中，我們可以看到 貝倫與露西恩 傳說的基本元素已經成形，包括：

貝倫的身世與與露西恩的相遇

貝倫（Beren）是一位凡人戰士，在魔苟斯（Morgoth）的軍隊所帶來的毀滅中僥倖生還，並最終來到了多瑞亞斯（Doriath）。在那裡，他見到了露西恩·緹努維爾（Lúthien Tinúviel），即國王辛葛（Thingol）與邁雅（Maia）美麗安（Melian）之女，並為她的美麗與優雅深深著迷。這一選段奠定了這則愛情故事的基礎，將貝倫描繪為一名流亡者與漂泊者，他愛上了一位遠超自己凡人身份的存在。

辛葛的挑戰

如同後來的版本，辛葛——多瑞亞斯之王，強烈反對這段姻緣，並給予貝倫一項看似不可能完成的任務：從魔苟斯的鐵王冠上奪取一顆精靈寶鑽（Silmaril）。這項試煉成為整則傳說的核心意象之一，象徵著貝倫與露西恩之愛的不可能性，也展現了貝倫為證明自己配得上露西恩所展現出的堅定決心。

前往安格班與竊取精靈寶鑽

選段簡要概述了貝倫如何在露西恩的幫助下前往魔苟斯的黑暗堡壘——安格班（Angband）。露西恩的魔法天賦，特別是她的歌聲，已經在這個早期版本中有所展現，顯示出她能夠用音樂魅惑與征服敵人的強大能力。透過計謀與神聖干預的結合，他們最終成功竊取了一顆精靈寶鑽，然而這場勝利卻付出了極為沉重的代價。

貝倫的命運與露西恩的犧牲

選段亦觸及貝倫的重傷與最終死亡，以及露西恩的悲痛絕望。即便在這個早期版本中，故事已經奠定了「愛情超越生死」的深刻主題——露西恩選擇放棄自己的不朽生命，以換取與貝倫的重逢。這種凡人與不朽者結合所帶來的悲劇性後果，在托爾金後來的作品中成為重要的主題，並在 《魔戒》（The Lord of the Rings）的亞拉岡（Aragorn）與亞玟（Arwen）之間得到了進一步的體現。

Analysis and Themes

Despite its brevity, the passage in The Sketch of the Mythology encapsulates the essential themes of Beren and Lúthien and provides insight into Tolkien’s myth-making process.

Love and Sacrifice

The most powerful theme of Beren and Lúthien is the willingness to sacrifice everything for love. Beren risks his life on an impossible quest, while Lúthien defies her father, the Elven customs, and even death itself to be with him. This early passage already establishes this theme, though later versions would expand on Lúthien’s personal agency and suffering.

Fate and Free Will

The passage suggests a tension between destiny and personal choice. Beren and Lúthien seem doomed from the start due to their different natures, yet their actions challenge the established order. Lúthien’s decision to become mortal—though only hinted at in this early version—foreshadows Tolkien’s later exploration of fate versus free will, a recurring motif in The Lord of the Rings.

The Role of Music and Magic

Lúthien’s enchanting song, which puts Morgoth to sleep, appears even in this early passage, highlighting the importance of music as a mystical force in Tolkien’s world. In later versions, her magic and beauty become even more pronounced, reinforcing the idea that true power can come from art, grace, and defiance rather than brute strength.

The Heroic Quest

Beren’s quest to retrieve a Silmaril represents the archetypal impossible task, a motif common in mythology. This element aligns with classic myths such as the Labors of Hercules or Orpheus’ descent into the underworld. Tolkien’s passage presents this quest as both a test of valor and a symbol of devotion, setting the stage for its later, more refined iterations.

分析與主題

儘管在《神話概要》中的這段文字簡短，但它概括了貝倫與露西恩的核心主題，並提供了對托爾金創作過程的深刻洞察。

愛與犧牲

貝倫與露西恩最強大的主題就是為了愛情而願意犧牲一切。貝倫為了完成一項幾乎不可能完成的任務而冒著生命危險，而露西恩則不顧父親的反對，打破精靈的習俗，甚至挑戰死亡本身，只為了與貝倫在一起。即使在這個早期版本中，這個主題已經得到了呈現，儘管後來的版本會更深入地探討露西恩的個人選擇與痛苦。

命運與自由意志

這段文字暗示了命運與個人選擇之間的張力。貝倫與露西恩似乎從一開始就注定無法在一起，因為他們天生不同，然而他們的行動卻挑戰了既定的秩序。露西恩決定成為凡人——即便在這個早期版本中只是一個暗示——預示著托爾金後來會進一步探索命運與自由意志之間的對立，這也是《魔戒》中的一個反覆出現的主題。

音樂與魔法的角色

露西恩的魔法歌聲，能讓魔苟斯沉睡，甚至在這個早期版本中也已有出現，突顯了音樂作為托爾金世界中的神秘力量的重要性。在後來的版本中，露西恩的魔法與美麗變得更加顯著，強化了這個觀點：真正的力量不僅來自野蠻的力量，而來自於藝術、優雅與挑戰的精神。

英雄的冒險

貝倫的使命——竊取精靈寶鑽，代表了典型的「不可能完成的任務」，這是神話中常見的主題。這一元素與赫拉克勒斯的十二勞役或歐爾菲斯下冥界的神話相契合。托爾金的這段文字將這次冒險呈現為一項勇氣的考驗，也是對忠誠的象徵，為後來更加精緻的版本鋪平了道路。

Comparison to Later Versions

The Sketch of the Mythology provides a skeletal framework for Beren and Lúthien, but later versions—particularly The Silmarillion and The Lay of Leithian—expand and refine the details:

Character Development
The passage presents Beren as a typical heroic figure, but later versions add depth to his character, emphasizing his resilience and tragic fate. Lúthien, too, evolves from an ethereal, almost otherworldly figure into a dynamic heroine who actively shapes her destiny.

Narrative Complexity
While this early account summarizes events in a straightforward manner, later versions introduce more nuance, such as Finrod Felagund’s sacrifice for Beren and Huan’s role in aiding them. These elements enrich the story and deepen its mythological weight.

Mythic Language and Poetic Style
The language of the Sketch of the Mythology is more concise compared to the lyrical, evocative style of The Lay of Leithian. As Tolkien refined the tale, he infused it with greater poetic grandeur, making it one of the most beautifully written stories in his legendarium.

與後來版本的比較

《神話概要》提供了貝倫與露西恩故事的骨架框架，但後來的版本——尤其是《精靈寶鑽》和《蕾希安之歌》——對細節進行了擴展和精煉：

人物發展

在這段早期版本中，貝倫被呈現為一個典型的英雄人物，但在後來的版本中，他的角色更加深刻，突出了他的堅韌與悲劇命運。露西恩也從一個超凡脫俗、幾乎來自異世界的角色，發展成一位積極塑造自己命運的動態女英雄。

敘事複雜性

儘管這段早期版本以簡單明瞭的方式總結了事件，但後來的版本引入了更多的細節，例如芬羅德·費拉剛為貝倫所做的犧牲，以及胡安在幫助他們的過程中的角色。這些元素使故事更加豐富，也加深了其神話的深度。

神話語言與詩意風格

《神話概要》的語言相比於《蕾希安之歌》來得更加簡潔。隨著托爾金對故事的精煉，他賦予了它更大的詩意宏偉，使其成為他作品中最美麗的故事之一。

Personal and Mythological Significance

This passage is significant not only within Tolkien’s evolving mythology but also on a personal level. Tolkien famously identified with Beren, while his wife, Edith, inspired Lúthien. The story was so dear to him that "Lúthien" was inscribed on Edith’s gravestone, and "Beren" on his own. The Sketch of the Mythology represents an early glimpse into the deep emotional investment Tolkien had in this tale, which would remain a cornerstone of his legendarium.

Furthermore, the story of Beren and Lúthien serves as a foundational myth within Middle-earth, influencing later narratives such as the love story of Aragorn and Arwen in The Lord of the Rings. The echoes of this passage can be felt throughout Tolkien’s works, reinforcing its enduring impact.

個人與神話的意義

這段文字不僅在托爾金日益發展的神話體系中具有重要地位，對於他個人來說也極具深遠意義。托爾金曾公開表示，他與貝倫有著深刻的共鳴，而他的妻子艾迪絲則成為了露西恩的靈感來源。這個故事對他而言如此珍貴，以至於「露西恩」這個名字被刻在艾迪絲的墓碑上，而「貝倫」則刻在他自己的墓碑上。《神話概要》代表了托爾金對這個故事的深情投入，這份情感投射在他的創作中，並成為他神話體系的一個基石。

此外，貝倫與露西恩的故事在中土世界中也扮演著基礎神話的角色，影響了後來的敘事，例如《魔戒》中的亞拉岡與亞玟的愛情故事。這段文字的回響貫穿托爾金的整部作品，強化了其長久以來的影響力。

Final Thoughts

The passage from The Sketch of the Mythology is a fascinating look at the early formation of Beren and Lúthien, revealing how Tolkien’s ideas developed over time. While it lacks the rich detail and poetic beauty of later versions, it captures the essence of the legend—love, sacrifice, and defiance against impossible odds.

For readers interested in the evolution of Tolkien’s storytelling, this passage is an invaluable piece of history, offering a raw but compelling vision of one of the greatest love stories ever written. It is a testament to Tolkien’s mastery as a myth-maker and his ability to weave personal emotion into grand, timeless narratives.

結語

《神話概要》中的這段文字，是對貝倫與露西恩故事早期形成過程的迷人窺探，揭示了托爾金的創意如何隨時間發展。雖然這段文字缺乏後來版本中的豐富細節和詩意之美，但它捕捉到了這個傳說的精髓——愛情、犧牲和對抗不可能的挑戰。

對於那些對托爾金敘事演變感興趣的讀者來說，這段文字是無價的歷史遺跡，提供了對這個偉大愛情故事的原始但引人入勝的視野。它是托爾金作為神話創造者的傑出能力的見證，也是他將個人情感編織進宏大、永恆敘事中的一個典範。