V. The First Hymn of Forging: The Spear of Orusena

Hard beside the crystal waters
Orusena, first of fathers,
Forged a spear to slay the Serpent
In the days ere Lanenomen
Made his long and bitter journey.

Seven mornings, seven evenings,
From the rune-marked scale of Serpent
Orusena forged his spear-head
In a fire brightly burning
Under vault of star-roofed Heaven.

Earthly fires made by mankind
Could not soften scale of Serpents—
Hardy hammer made for smith-craft
Could not dent the rune-scored armor
Serpent-folk have wound about them.

Forging-hammer made by giants,
Made by great and ancient Stone-kings,
Orusena wielded, mighty,
So the Children’s songs have told it.

Fire banked on ancient ashes
Fair Hasanyah brought her husband—
Brought from deep and ancient chasm
Where the ruddy earth was broken
When the war in Middle-heaven
Split the earth in Vishnarr’s ruin.

With the fire, Orusena
Seven days upon an anvil
Forged the spear Orunrinta.
Orunrinta, first of weapons
Which the Children name in reverence
Slew the Serpent, cleansed the waters,
Long before the Folk of Starland
Came to look on the Holy Hill.