betraying Gondolin

[Galin]

That's possible, but what is the reason to think that Morgoth is lying here? Why say that Morgoth 'must' answer in this way? he 'must' lie? again the text that inspires this statement includes that Morgoth smiled, for he knew now clearly in what region Turgon dwelt... which gives me little reason to think Morgoth is lying about this.

In The Book of Lost Tales the information about Gondolin from Meglin concerns the fashion of the plain and city, of the host, and the hoard of weapons, and he tells that Melko's host could not hope to overthrow the walls and gates of Gondolin even if they availed to win into the plain. He helps Melko devise a plan. The idea that Maeglin's treachery would involve other factors beyond location would not be a wholly new departure, but rather more like a return to an earlier notion (in general at least).


I also find Christopher Tolkien's choice of phrasing here interesting (the first is from commentary to WH, followed by the text from QN -- the second from commentary to the Tale of Years):

'Thus the story in Q was changed (IV. 143)'



'510 The story that the site of Gondolin was revealed to Morgoth by Maeglin was later changed: see pp. 272-3 and note 30.'

To my mind that's a rather simple way of putting things if the story was not notably changed.

If Húrin's words were simply too general to be of real use, then how much has the story 'changed' if Maeglin essentially still provides the needed location of Gondolin?