# “Not all tears are an evil” by J.R.R. Tolkien

- Link: https://tollelege.net/2025/09/06/not-all-tears-are-an-evil-by-j-r-r-tolkien/
- Published: 2025-09-06T07:00:00-05:00
- Author: tollelege

“The Third Age was over, and the Days of the Rings were passed, and an end was come
of the story and song of those times. With them went many Elves of the High Kindred
who would no longer stay in Middle-earth; and among them, filled with a sadness 
that was yet blessed and without bitterness, rode Sam, and Frodo, and Bilbo, and
the Elves delighted to honour them.

Though they rode through the midst of the Shire all the evening and all the night,
none saw them pass, save the wild creatures; or here and there some wanderer in 
the dark who saw a swift shimmer under the trees, or a light and shadow flowing 
through the grass as the Moon went westward. And when they had passed from the Shire,
going about the south skirts of the White Downs, they came to the Far Downs, and
to the Towers, and looked on the distant Sea; and so they rode down at last to Mithlond,
to the Grey Havens in the long firth of Lune.

As they came to the gates Círdan the Shipwright came forth to greet them. Very tall
he was, and his beard was long, and he was grey and old, save that his eyes were
keen as stars; and he looked at them and bowed, and said: ‘All is now ready.’

Then Círdan led them to the Havens, and there was a white ship lying, and upon the
quay beside a great grey horse stood a figure robed all in white awaiting them. 
As he turned and came towards them Frodo saw that Gandalf now wore openly on his
hand the Third Ring, Narya the Great, and the stone upon it was red as fire. Then
those who were to go were glad, for they knew that Gandalf also would take ship 
with them.

But Sam was now sorrowful at heart, and it seemed to him that if the parting would
be bitter, more grievous still would be the long road home alone. But even as they
stood there, and the Elves were going aboard, and all was being made ready to depart,
up rode Merry and Pippin in great haste. And amid his tears Pippin laughed.

‘You tried to give us the slip once before and failed, Frodo,’ he said. ‘This time
you have nearly succeeded, but you have failed again. It was not Sam, though, that
gave you away this time, but Gandalf himself!’

‘Yes,’ said Gandalf; ‘for it will be better to ride back three together than one
alone. Well, here at last, dear friends, on the shores of the Sea comes the end 
of our fellowship in Middle-earth. Go in peace! I will not say: do not weep; for
not all tears are an evil.’

Then Frodo kissed Merry and Pippin, and last of all Sam, and went aboard; and the
sails were drawn up, and the wind blew, and slowly the ship slipped away down the
long grey firth; and the light of the glass of Galadriel that Frodo bore glimmered
and was lost. And the ship went out into the High Sea and passed on into the West,
until at last on a night of rain Frodo smelled a sweet fragrance on the air and 
heard the sound of singing that came over the water. And then it seemed to him that
as in his dream in the house of Bombadil, the grey rain-curtain turned all to silver
glass and was rolled back, and he beheld white shores and beyond them a far green
country under a swift sunrise.

But to Sam the evening deepened to darkness as he stood at the Haven; and as he 
looked at the grey sea he saw only a shadow on the waters that was soon lost in 
the West. There still he stood far into the night, hearing only the sigh and murmur
of the waves on the shores of Middle-earth, and the sound of them sank deep into
his heart. Beside him stood Merry and Pippin, and they were silent.

At last the three companions turned away, and never again looking back they rode
slowly homewards; and they spoke no word to one another until they came back to 
the Shire, but each had great comfort in his friends on the long grey road. At last
they rode over the downs and took the East Road, and then Merry and Pippin rode 
on to Buckland; and already they were singing again as they went. But Sam turned
to Bywater, and so came back up the Hill, as day was ending once more. And he went
on, and there was yellow light, and fire within; and the evening meal was ready,
and he was expected. And Rose drew him in, and set him in his chair, and put little
Elanor upon his lap.

He drew a deep breath. ‘Well, I’m back,’ he said.”

–J.R.R. Tolkien, [_The Lord of the Rings: Illustrated Edition_](https://amzn.to/4nidNA7)(
New York: HarperCollins, 1954/2021), 1029-1031.

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