Arise, arise, Riders of Théoden! is a rallying cry spoken by Théoden to the Riders of Rohan. Variations of it appear when he is first restored by Gandalf, and later preceding their charge into the Battle of the Pelennor Fields.

Arise, arise, Riders of Theoden!

Arise now, arise, Riders of Théoden!
Dire deeds awake: dark is it eastward.
Let horse be bridled, horn be sounded!
Forth Eorlingas!

Arise, arise, Riders of Théoden!
Fell deeds awake: fire and slaughter!
Spear shall be shaken, shield be splintered,
a sword-day, a red day, ere the sun rises!
Ride now, ride now! Ride to Gondor



The lines are written in imitation of Germanic and Scandinavian, specifically Old English (Anglo-Saxon), alliterative verse.The second variant is probably  inspired by part of the Old Norse poem Völuspá, part of the Elder Edda, which describes the chaotic state of humankind in the End of Days just prior to Ragnarök, the final battle of the Norse Gods.


Brothers shall fight
and fell each other,
and sisters sons
shall kinship stain.
Hard is it on earth,
with rampant whoredom;
Axe-time, sword-time,
shields are splintered.
Wind-time, wolf-time,
ere the world falls.
Nor ever shall men
each other spare.

Original form:

Brœðr muno beriaz
ok at bǫnom verða,
muno systrungar
sifiom spilla.
Hart er í heimi,
hórdómr mikill.
Skeggǫld, skálmǫld,
skildir ro klofnir.
Vindǫld, vargǫld,
áðr verǫld steypiz.
Mun engi maðr
ǫðrom þyrma.



Théoden says the second variant to the Riders of Rohan before their charge as he did in the book, the lyrics being slightly altered:Arise, arise, Riders of Théoden!
spear shall be shaken, shield shall be splintered,
a sword-day, a red day, ere the sun rises!
Ride now, ride now, ride! Ride for ruin and the worlds ending!
Death! Death! Death!
Forth Eorlingas!In the book, it is Éomer who cries Death! Ride, ride to ruin and the worlds ending! after he goes berserk with grief upon discovering Théoden and Éowyns bodies. He orders a reckless charge and the Riders cry Death with one voice.





Rohan Map