按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
multiplied after the manner of the Children of Ilúvatar； and naught that had life of its own； nor the semblance of life；
could ever Melkor make since his rebellion in the Ainulindal？ before the Beginning： so say the wise。 And deep in their
dark hearts the Orcs loathed the Master whom they served in fear； the maker only of their misery。 This it may be was the
vilest deed of Melkor； and the most hateful to Ilúvatar。
Orom？ tarried a while among the Quendi； and then swiftly he rode back over land and sea to Valinor and brought
the tidings to Valmar； and he spoke of the shadows that troubled Cuiviénen。 Then the Valar rejoiced； and yet they were
in doubt amid their joy； and they debated long what counsel it were best to take for the guarding of the Quendi from the
shadow of Melkor。 But Orom？ returned at once to Middle…earth and abode with the Elves。
Manw？ sat long in thought upon Taniquetil； and he sought the counsel of Ilúvatar。 And ing then down to
Valmar he summoned the Valar to the Ring of Doom； and thither came even Ulmo from the Outer Sea。
Then Manw？ said to the Valar： 'This is the counsel of Ilúvatar in my heart： that we should take up again the
mastery of Arda； at whatsoever cost； and deliver the Quendi from the shadow of Melkor。' Then Tulkas was glad； but
Aul？ was grieved； foreboding the hurts of the world that must e of that strife。 But the Valar made ready and came
forth from Aman in strength of war； resolving to assault the fortresses of Melkor and make an end。 Never did Melkor
forget that this war was made for the sake of the Elves； and that they were the cause of his downfall。 Yet they had no part
in those deeds； and they know little of the riding of the might of the West against the North in the beginning of their
days。
Melkor met the onset of the Valar in the North…west of Middle…earth； and all that region was much broken。 But
the first victory of the hosts of the West was swift； and the servants of Melkor fled before them to Utumno。 Then the
Valar passed over Middle…earth； and they set a guard over Cuiviénen； and thereafter the Quendi knew nothing of the
great Battle of the Powers； save that the Earth shook and groaned beneath them； and the waters were moved； and in the
north there were lights as of mighty fires。 Long and grievous was the siege of Utumno； and many battles were fought
before its gates of which naught but the rumour is known to the Elves。 In that time the shape of Middle…earth was
changed； and the Great Sea that sundered it from Aman grew wide and deep； and it broke in upon the coasts and made a
deep gulf to the southward。 Many lesser bays were made between the Great Gulf and Helcarax？ far in the north； where
Middle…earth and Aman came nigh together。 Of these the Bay of Balar was the chief； and into it the mighty river Sirion
flowed down from the new…raised highlands northwards： Dorthonion； and the mountains about Hithlum。 The lands of the
far north were all made desolate in those days； for there Utumno was delved exceeding deep； and its pits were filled with
fires and with great hosts of the servants of Melkor。
But at the last the gates of Utumno were broken and the halls unroofed； and Melkor took refuge in the uttermost
pit。 Then Tulkas stood forth as champion of the Valar and wrestled with him； and cast him upon his face； and he was
bound with the chain Angainor that Aul？ had wrought； and led captive； and the world had peace for a long age。
Nonetheless the Valar did not discover all the mighty vaults and caverns hidden with deceit far under the
fortresses of Angband and Utumno。 Many evil things still lingered there； and others were dispersed and fled into the
dark and roamed in the waste places of the world； awaiting a more evil hour； and Sauron they did not find。
But when the Battle was ended and from the ruin of the North great clouds arose and hid the stars； the Valar drew
Melkor back to Valinor； bound hand and foot； and blindfold； and he was brought to the Ring of Doom。 There he lay
upon his face before the feet of Manw？ and sued for pardon； but his prayer was denied； and he was cast into prison in
the fastness of Mandos； whence none can escape； neither Vala； nor Elf； nor mortal Man。 Vast and strong are those halls；
and they were built in the west of the land of Aman。 There was Melkor doomed to abide for three ages long； before his
cause should be tried anew； or he should plead again for pardon。
Then again the Valar were gathered in council； and they were divided in debate。 For some； and of those Ulmo
was the chief； held that the Quendi should be left free to walk as they would in Middle…earth； and with their gifts of skill
to order all the lands and heal their hurts。 But the most part feared for the Quendi in the dangerous world amid the
deceits of the starlit dusk； and they were filled moreover with the love of the beauty of the Elves and desired their
fellowship。 At the last； therefore； the Valar summoned the Quendi to Valinor； there to be gathered at the knees of the
Powers in the light of the Trees for ever； and Mandos broke his silence； saying： 'So it is doomed。' From this summons
came many woes that afterwards befell。
But the Elves were at first unwilling to hearken to the summons； for they had as yet seen the Valar only in their
wrath as they went to war； save Orom？ alone； and they were filled with dread。 Therefore Orom？ was sent again to them；
and he chose from among them ambassadors who should go to Valinor and speak for their people； and these were Ingw？；
Finw？ and Elw？； who afterwards were kings。 And ing they were filled with awe by the glory and majesty of the
Valar； and desired greatly the light and splendour of the Trees。 Then Orom？ brought them back to Cuiviénen； and they
spoke before their people； and counselled them to heed the summons of the Valar and remove into the West
Then befell the first sundering of the Elves。 For the kindred of Ingw？； and the most part of the kindreds of Finw？
and Elw？； were swayed by the words of their lords； and were willing to depart and follow Orom？； and these were known
ever after as the Eldar； by the name that Orom？ gave to the Elves in the beginning； in their own tongue。 But many
refused the summons； preferring the starlight and the wide spaces of Middle…earth to the rumour of the Trees； and these
are the Avari； the Unwilling； and they were sundered in that time from the Eldar； and met never again until many ages
were past。
The Eldar prepared now a great march from their first homes in the east； and they were arrayed in three hosts。
The smallest host and the first to set forth was led by Ingw？； the most high lord of all the Elvish race。 He entered into
Valinor and sits at the feet of the Powers； and all Elves revere his name； but he came never back； nor looked again upon
Middle…earth。 The Vanyar were his people； they are the Fair Elves； the beloved of Manw？ and Varda； and few among
Men have spoken with them。
Next came the Noldor； a name of wisdom； the people of Finw？。 They are the Deep Elves； the friends of Aul？； and
they are renowned in song； for they f