The text that I am condensing is said to be revered by even the Elves. By the time I'm through with condensing this key conversation, I'm pretty sure more dwarves would prefer this text than the elves. I'll be doing this modern vernacular translation (of a text that was originally in ancient Sindarin) in pieces. Please suggest any revisions.
Let's start with Bilbo's Opening Note:
~~~
ATHRABETH FINROD AH ANDRETH
Bilbo writes: In Rivendell, the strangest of all texts I encountered, regarding the Elder Days, was this conversation between Finrod and Andreth. Its ideas are unusual, seeming to contradict many other significant Númenórean texts.
We don’t know who recorded this conversation. What’s unique is that even the Elves love this text, which is rare because they mock our reliance of written history! There are two main theories on how this tale was transmitted. The first was that this conversation was recorded in Adanel’s household, which eventually passed down to Elrond and Elros themselves. Some Númenóreans think Elros wrote it to justify his choice of mortality. The second theory is that Andreth’s grandniece preserved this conversation, and it eventually was passed down towards Erendis, the mother of Númenor's first ruling queen. I believe the second theory more than the first.
The texts use a really old and formal version of Sindarin, so I think this was composed in Beleriand, but long after this conversation actually occurred due to the language’s tone. I would say between the Battle of Sudden Flame and the War of Wrath, as I theorize that the surviving refugees influenced this text’s messages of hope and caution. That would make the composition’s messages more understandable.
No version of this text has a big preamble or introduction. This text goes straight into the problems and early misunderstandings between the elves and men about death, bodies (hröar), and souls (fëar). The text opens as follows:
An Attempted Modern Vernacular Version of the Athrabeth Finrod Ah Andreth (in American English)
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OF DEATH AND THE CHILDREN OF ERU, AND THE MARRING OF MEN
The Eldar learned that the Edain believed that a human’s hröar (body) [1] was short-lived due to Melkor [2]. The Eldar did not know if they were talking about the general marring of Arda (the reason for the waning of an elf’s body) [3], or through some malice against humanity before their meeting with the Eldar, or both. The Eldar believed that if this catastrophe was caused by something malignant, then humanity’s nature itself changed from its creation by Eru [4]. This possibility frightened the Eldar, because that meant Melkor’s power was completely underestimated. This also meant that humanity’s original nature was a complete and utter mystery.
According to the Eldar’s ancient lore, Finrod and Andreth the Wise talked about these things and much more. Here is the tale, which the Eldar call Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth, in written form.
Bilbo Baggins’ Footnotes:
1. Couldn’t really translate this so I guess “the body” would work? More complex than that though! Basically, the part of you that gets ill, injured, or dies.
2. Also known as Morgoth. Some guy named Fëanor named him that, but I don’t think Finrod really liked Fëanor because Fëanor was an ass (Finrod liked his sons though). This is probably why Finrod uses the term “Melkor” and not “Morgoth.” Please don’t interpret this as Finrod liking Melkor.
3. Both the Eldar and the Dúnedain (like that Strider fellow, a good man!) pretty much teach that everything, including the Undying Lands, was marred by Melkor in its very creation! One could argue that all evil and suffering are due to Melkor’s marring. Think about this way: that guy is the reason why us hobbits only have a limited amount of second breakfasts in our lifetime. We could have had more second breakfasts if Melkor did not mar the world. It would also give me more time to finish my book, though now that I think about it… aah best not waste anymore ink here!
4. Eru, aka Ilúvatar, aka “The One,” created the world and everything beyond it. The Valar, aka the Lords of the West, are Eru’s servants who existed before time began. Eru’s children are Elves, Men, and I’m going to assume Dwarves and Hobbits too. I do not want to think who our father would be otherwise. If you want to know more about Arda’s creation, please refer to the Ainulindalë.
The Eldar learned that the Edain believed that a human’s hröar (body) [1] was short-lived due to Melkor [2]. The Eldar did not know if they were talking about the general marring of Arda (the reason for the waning of an elf’s body) [3], or through some malice against humanity before their meeting with the Eldar, or both. The Eldar believed that if this catastrophe was caused by something malignant, then humanity’s nature itself changed from its creation by Eru [4]. This possibility frightened the Eldar, because that meant Melkor’s power was completely underestimated. This also meant that humanity’s original nature was a complete and utter mystery.
According to the Eldar’s ancient lore, Finrod and Andreth the Wise talked about these things and much more. Here is the tale, which the Eldar call Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth, in written form.
Bilbo Baggins’ Footnotes:
1. Couldn’t really translate this so I guess “the body” would work? More complex than that though! Basically, the part of you that gets ill, injured, or dies.
2. Also known as Morgoth. Some guy named Fëanor named him that, but I don’t think Finrod really liked Fëanor because Fëanor was an ass (Finrod liked his sons though). This is probably why Finrod uses the term “Melkor” and not “Morgoth.” Please don’t interpret this as Finrod liking Melkor.
3. Both the Eldar and the Dúnedain (like that Strider fellow, a good man!) pretty much teach that everything, including the Undying Lands, was marred by Melkor in its very creation! One could argue that all evil and suffering are due to Melkor’s marring. Think about this way: that guy is the reason why us hobbits only have a limited amount of second breakfasts in our lifetime. We could have had more second breakfasts if Melkor did not mar the world. It would also give me more time to finish my book, though now that I think about it… aah best not waste anymore ink here!
4. Eru, aka Ilúvatar, aka “The One,” created the world and everything beyond it. The Valar, aka the Lords of the West, are Eru’s servants who existed before time began. Eru’s children are Elves, Men, and I’m going to assume Dwarves and Hobbits too. I do not want to think who our father would be otherwise. If you want to know more about Arda’s creation, please refer to the Ainulindalë.
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Finrod was the wisest of the Noldor kicked out of the Undying Lands, being more of a thinker than a doer; and he wanted to know everything about Mankind. He was the first who met Men in Beleriand and befriended them; hence he was often called ‘the Friend of Men.’ His favorites were Bëor the Old’s House, for they were the ones he first met in Beleriand. [5] Andreth was of the House of Bëor, the grandaunt of Beren Camlost. She was wise, a historian, and a lorist; which was why the Eldar called her ‘Wise-heart'.
Among the Wise were women, esteemed among humans for their knowledge of the ancient legends. Another wise-woman, though of a different House was Adanel, grandaunt of Hador Goldenhead. She married Belemir of the House of Bëor, a great-grandson of Bëor the Old, a wise one himself, and inherited his transmitted wisdom. Because Belemir loved Andreth, his younger kinswoman, she dwelt long in his house, and learned much of Adanel’s lore.
Before Melkor ruined everything again, Finrod would often visit Andreth, whom he loved as a friend, because she was more willing to give knowledge than other wise humans. That’s because it seemed a dark shadow laid upon them, and they had a dark past, which they hesitated to discuss even among themselves. They were also in awe of the Eldar and did not want to reveal them their thought or their legends. Indeed, most of the few wise humans only shared their wisdom to people of their choosing.
Bilbo Baggins’ Footnotes:
5. Finrod was arguably the mightiest Beleriand king, before Melkor destroyed most of his realm, because Finrod's realms were exceptionally huge and pretty much everyone loved Finrod. He founded Nargothrond, and in the end, sacrificed both his kingship and life to protect Beren Camlost from Sauron. Bëor was the first who named Finrod and his people "Gnomes," a name we still use for some elves today. See Quenta Silmarillion for more info on that.
Among the Wise were women, esteemed among humans for their knowledge of the ancient legends. Another wise-woman, though of a different House was Adanel, grandaunt of Hador Goldenhead. She married Belemir of the House of Bëor, a great-grandson of Bëor the Old, a wise one himself, and inherited his transmitted wisdom. Because Belemir loved Andreth, his younger kinswoman, she dwelt long in his house, and learned much of Adanel’s lore.
Before Melkor ruined everything again, Finrod would often visit Andreth, whom he loved as a friend, because she was more willing to give knowledge than other wise humans. That’s because it seemed a dark shadow laid upon them, and they had a dark past, which they hesitated to discuss even among themselves. They were also in awe of the Eldar and did not want to reveal them their thought or their legends. Indeed, most of the few wise humans only shared their wisdom to people of their choosing.
Bilbo Baggins’ Footnotes:
5. Finrod was arguably the mightiest Beleriand king, before Melkor destroyed most of his realm, because Finrod's realms were exceptionally huge and pretty much everyone loved Finrod. He founded Nargothrond, and in the end, sacrificed both his kingship and life to protect Beren Camlost from Sauron. Bëor was the first who named Finrod and his people "Gnomes," a name we still use for some elves today. See Quenta Silmarillion for more info on that.
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I don't have any revisions to suggest thus far, but reading this has already reminded me of some parts of the Athrabeth I'd forgotten! Just wanted to say how much I'm enjoying this. 
Thanks for sharing it here, @Rivvy Elf!
Thanks for sharing it here, @Rivvy Elf!Loremistress Emerita | she/her
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@Eldy Dunami I'm glad Eldy that you're enjoying it and that it's reminded you of certain forgotten parts! I'll be continuing this work as a side project towards the other things I'm writing about.
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One Spring, [6] Finrod was a guest in Belemir’s house, and he talked with Andreth the Wise concerning Men’s fate. For Boron, Lord of Bëor’s folk, recently died, and Finrod was grieved.
'I’m sad, Andreth,' he said, 'that your people die so quickly. Now Boron your paternal grandpa’s gone; and though he was old among Men, [7] yet I’d known him too briefly. It felt like last hour yesterday when I first saw Bëor, yet now he is gone, and his sons, and his grandson also.'
'It’s been more than a hundred years,' said Andreth, 'since we came over the Mountains; Bëor and Baran and Boron each lived beyond ninety. We died sooner before we entered this land.’ [8]
'Then you’re content here?' asked Finrod.
'Content?' said Andreth. 'No human is content. Dying sucks; but if we die later then that’s better, a little lifting of the Shadow.'
'What do you mean by that?' asked Finrod.
'Come on, you know this!' said Andreth. 'The darkness now confined to the North, but once'; and here she paused and her eyes darkened, as if her mind went back into black years best forgotten. 'But once lay upon all Middle-earth, while ye lived in your bliss.’ [9]
'I wasn’t asking about the Shadow,' said Finrod. 'What do you mean by the lifting of it? Or how humanity’s swift fate is concerned with it? Ye [10] are also (as taught by the Great Knowledgeable Ones) Children of Eru, and your fate and nature are from Him.'
'In this,' said Andreth, 'ye of the High-elves are the same as your lesser-elves, though they never dwelt in the Light. All ye Elves say our nature is to die quickly. That we’re brittle and brief, and ye are strong and lasting. We may be "Children of Eru," as ye say in your lore; but we are children to you also: maybe being loved a tiny bit, like creatures whom ye look down from your power and knowledge with condescending smiles, pity, or head-shaking.'
'Welp, you’re almost right,' said Finrod. 'Many of us elves do that; but not all, and certainly not me. But consider this: when we name you "Children of Eru" we’re very serious; we don’t say that name jokingly or without full intent. We speak out of knowledge beyond mere lore; and we proclaim that ye are close family, certainly closer (both of hröa and fëa) [11] than the connections we have with every other creature in Arda.
'Sure, we love Arda’s creatures: the beasts and birds who are our friends, the trees, and even the fair flowers. Their passing we regret; but believe it to be just as natural as their appearance.
'But for you, our close family, our regret is so much greater. Yet, since everything passes quickly here, isn’t that the case for you as well? Do your people believe this too? And yet from your bitter words, I guess you think we’re wrong.'
Bilbo Baggins’ Footnotes:
6. This was around the 410th year of the sun, during the Long Peace (260-455). Quite a short peace for elves, but long to men, and certainly hobbits as well. See Quenta Silmarillion on the many conflicts in those days. That’s quite a long peace for me too, though I may outlive 200 years at this rate! At that time Belemir and Adanel were old for humans, being in their 70s; but Andreth was in full vigor, being not yet 50. She was unwed (like me), not uncommon for wise women. And, if I may hypothesize, wise hobbits as well. Oh, and it was almost a century since Men had first crossed into Beleriand.
7. He was 93.
8. In 310, about 100 years before this.
9. This text deviates from chronologies regarding Men’s awakening, the arising of the Sun, and the Return of the Noldor. Also, although Andreth was born and raised in Beleriand, she curiously talks about mannish experiences from before her people crossed the mountains as if she could recall them personally. This might have been how the Wise among the Edain manifested their wisdom. Here she clearly implies that Men were awake and subject to Morgoth while the Exiled Noldor were still in Valinor. Perhaps I should follow in her footsteps and recall the oliphaunts as well as the wireworms of the Chinese wereworms of the Gobi Last Desert in the Uttermost East in front of the Shire-folk. Goodness knows that they're likely to believe in those rather than me surviving an articulate, intelligent dragon!
10. To capture some of the subtleties of the Sindarin original, some rather archaic pronouns and verb forms need to be used, particularly around forms of address. For much of their conversation, Finrod and Andreth are using the formal second person plural form of “ye”. Do not ask me why they're using it now instead of all the way in the beginning! Eventually, they will switch to a more personal and singular second person (“thou”). Gondorians use these forms, where Sindarin still is widely spoken. We Hobbits do not use either form, including myself. Do not believe those Sackville-Bagginses!
11. See footnote one on Hröa. These terms (which are from the high-elven tongue) refer to the shared assumption of the Eldar and the Edain that all the Children of Eru exist in two modes, or parts, or states: a material body, "house" or "raiment" called a hröa (plural hröar) and an "indwelling" mind or "spirit" called a fëa (pl. fëar). Or you can just think of them as bodies and souls if you find trouble pronouncing it, though they’re more complicated than that!
'I’m sad, Andreth,' he said, 'that your people die so quickly. Now Boron your paternal grandpa’s gone; and though he was old among Men, [7] yet I’d known him too briefly. It felt like last hour yesterday when I first saw Bëor, yet now he is gone, and his sons, and his grandson also.'
'It’s been more than a hundred years,' said Andreth, 'since we came over the Mountains; Bëor and Baran and Boron each lived beyond ninety. We died sooner before we entered this land.’ [8]
'Then you’re content here?' asked Finrod.
'Content?' said Andreth. 'No human is content. Dying sucks; but if we die later then that’s better, a little lifting of the Shadow.'
'What do you mean by that?' asked Finrod.
'Come on, you know this!' said Andreth. 'The darkness now confined to the North, but once'; and here she paused and her eyes darkened, as if her mind went back into black years best forgotten. 'But once lay upon all Middle-earth, while ye lived in your bliss.’ [9]
'I wasn’t asking about the Shadow,' said Finrod. 'What do you mean by the lifting of it? Or how humanity’s swift fate is concerned with it? Ye [10] are also (as taught by the Great Knowledgeable Ones) Children of Eru, and your fate and nature are from Him.'
'In this,' said Andreth, 'ye of the High-elves are the same as your lesser-elves, though they never dwelt in the Light. All ye Elves say our nature is to die quickly. That we’re brittle and brief, and ye are strong and lasting. We may be "Children of Eru," as ye say in your lore; but we are children to you also: maybe being loved a tiny bit, like creatures whom ye look down from your power and knowledge with condescending smiles, pity, or head-shaking.'
'Welp, you’re almost right,' said Finrod. 'Many of us elves do that; but not all, and certainly not me. But consider this: when we name you "Children of Eru" we’re very serious; we don’t say that name jokingly or without full intent. We speak out of knowledge beyond mere lore; and we proclaim that ye are close family, certainly closer (both of hröa and fëa) [11] than the connections we have with every other creature in Arda.
'Sure, we love Arda’s creatures: the beasts and birds who are our friends, the trees, and even the fair flowers. Their passing we regret; but believe it to be just as natural as their appearance.
'But for you, our close family, our regret is so much greater. Yet, since everything passes quickly here, isn’t that the case for you as well? Do your people believe this too? And yet from your bitter words, I guess you think we’re wrong.'
Bilbo Baggins’ Footnotes:
6. This was around the 410th year of the sun, during the Long Peace (260-455). Quite a short peace for elves, but long to men, and certainly hobbits as well. See Quenta Silmarillion on the many conflicts in those days. That’s quite a long peace for me too, though I may outlive 200 years at this rate! At that time Belemir and Adanel were old for humans, being in their 70s; but Andreth was in full vigor, being not yet 50. She was unwed (like me), not uncommon for wise women. And, if I may hypothesize, wise hobbits as well. Oh, and it was almost a century since Men had first crossed into Beleriand.
7. He was 93.
8. In 310, about 100 years before this.
9. This text deviates from chronologies regarding Men’s awakening, the arising of the Sun, and the Return of the Noldor. Also, although Andreth was born and raised in Beleriand, she curiously talks about mannish experiences from before her people crossed the mountains as if she could recall them personally. This might have been how the Wise among the Edain manifested their wisdom. Here she clearly implies that Men were awake and subject to Morgoth while the Exiled Noldor were still in Valinor. Perhaps I should follow in her footsteps and recall the oliphaunts as well as the wireworms of the Chinese wereworms of the Gobi Last Desert in the Uttermost East in front of the Shire-folk. Goodness knows that they're likely to believe in those rather than me surviving an articulate, intelligent dragon!
10. To capture some of the subtleties of the Sindarin original, some rather archaic pronouns and verb forms need to be used, particularly around forms of address. For much of their conversation, Finrod and Andreth are using the formal second person plural form of “ye”. Do not ask me why they're using it now instead of all the way in the beginning! Eventually, they will switch to a more personal and singular second person (“thou”). Gondorians use these forms, where Sindarin still is widely spoken. We Hobbits do not use either form, including myself. Do not believe those Sackville-Bagginses!
11. See footnote one on Hröa. These terms (which are from the high-elven tongue) refer to the shared assumption of the Eldar and the Edain that all the Children of Eru exist in two modes, or parts, or states: a material body, "house" or "raiment" called a hröa (plural hröar) and an "indwelling" mind or "spirit" called a fëa (pl. fëar). Or you can just think of them as bodies and souls if you find trouble pronouncing it, though they’re more complicated than that!
