Somehow the riddle akes e think it's soe object that had an earlier "draft" or "prototype". Like the Rings of Power - the Dwarf's and Men's Rings were "practice work" for the Elvish ones, as well as the Ruling Ring (hence
elder brother of my greater kin). "Sleeping with the shadows" could then mean that the nine Rings given to Men enslaved the Nazgul, who kept quiet until their time came. The second stanza crushed the whole guess though. The corrupted who defiled would be Sauron, but then what? The Men's Rings are upset that the Ruling Ring rules them and does evil?
