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darkness。
Of the Enemies
Last of all is set the name of Melkor； He who arises in Might。 But that name he has forfeited； and the Noldor； who
among the Elves suffered most from his malice； will not utter it； and they name him Morgoth； the Dark Enemy of the
World。 Great might was given to him by Ilúvatar； and he was coeval with Manw？。 In the powers and knowledge of all
the other Valar he had part； but he turned them to evil purposes； and squandered his strength in violence and tyranny。 For
he coveted Arda and all that was in it； desiring the kingship of Manw？ and dominion over the realms of his peers。
From splendour he fell through arrogance to contempt for all things save himself； a spirit wasteful and pitiless。
Understanding he turned to subtlety in perverting to his own will all that he would use； until he became a liar without
shame。 He began with the desire of Light； but when he could not possess it for himself alone； he descended through fire
and wrath into a great burning； down into Darkness。 And darkness he used most in his evil works upon Arda； and filled it
with fear for all living things。
Yet so great was the power of his uprising that in ages forgotten he contended with Manw？ and all the Valar； and
through long years in Arda held dominion over most of the lands of the Earth。 But he was not alone。 For of the Maiar
many were drawn to his splendour in the days of his greatness； and remained in that allegiance down into his darkness；
and others he corrupted afterwards to his service with lies and treacherous gifts。 Dreadful among these spirits were the
Valaraukar； the scourges of fire that in Middle…earth were called the Balrogs； demons of terror。
Among those of his servants that have names the greatest was that spirit whom the Eldar called Sauron； or
Gorthaur the Cruel。 In his beginning he was of the Maiar of Aul？； and he remained mighty in the lore of that people。 In
all the deeds of Melkor the Morgoth upon Arda； in his vast works and in the deceits of his cunning； Sauron had a part；
and was only less evil than his master in that for long he served another and not himself。 But in after years he rose like a
shadow of Morgoth and a ghost of his malice； and walked behind him on the same ruinous path down into the Void。
HERE ENDS THE VALAQUENTA
QUENTA
SILMARILLION
The History of the
Silmarils
Chapter 1
Of the Beginning of Days
It is told among the wise that the First War began before Arda was full…shaped； and ere yet there was any thing that grew
or walked upon earth； and for long Melkor had the upper hand。 But in the midst of the war a spirit of great strength and
hardihood came to the aid of the Valar； hearing in the far heaven that there was battle in the Little Kingdom； and Arda
was filled with the sound of his laughter。 So came Tulkas the Strong； whose anger passes like a mighty wind； scattering
cloud and darkness before it； and Melkor fled before his wrath and his laughter； and forsook Arda； and there was peace
for a long age。 And Tulkas remained and became one of the Valar of the Kingdom of Arda； but Melkor brooded in the
outer darkness； and his hate was given to Tulkas for ever after。
In that time the Valar brought order to the seas and the lands and the mountains； and Yavanna planted at last the
seeds that she had long devised。 And since； when the fires were subdued or buried beneath the primeval hills； there was
need of light； Aul？ at the prayer of Yavanna wrought two mighty lamps for the lighting of the Middle…earth which he had
built amid the encircling seas。 Then Varda filled the lamps and Manw？ hallowed them； and the Valar set them upon high
pillars； more lofty far than are any mountains of the later days。 One lamp they raised near to the north of Middle…earth；
and it was named Illuin； and the other was raised in the south； and it was named Ormal； and the light of the Lamps of the
Valar flowed out over the Earth； so that all was lit as it were in a changeless day。
Then the seeds that Yavanna had sown began swiftly to sprout and to burgeon； and there arose a multitude of
growing things great and small； mosses and grasses and great ferns； and trees whose tops were crowned with cloud as
they were living mountains； but whose feet were wrapped in a green twilight。 And beasts came forth and dwelt in the
grassy plains； or in the rivers and the lakes； or walked in the shadows of the woods。 As yet no flower had bloomed nor
any bird had sung； for these things waited still their time in the bosom of Yavanna； but wealth there was of her
imagining； and nowhere more rich than in the midmost parts of the Earth； where the light of both the Lamps met and
blended。 And there upon the Isle of Almaren in the Great Lake was the first dwelling of the Valar when all things were
young； and new…made green was yet a marvel in the eyes of the makers； and they were long content。
Now it came to pass that while the Valar rested from their labours； and watched the growth and unfolding of the
things that they had devised and begun； Manw？ ordained a great feast； and the Valar and an their host came at his
bidding。 But Aul？ and Tulkas were weary； for the craft of Aul？ and the strength of Tulkas had been at the service of an
without ceasing fax the days of their labour。 And Melkor knew of an that was done； for even then he had secret friends
and spies among the Maiar whom he had converted to his cause； and far off in the darkness he was filled with hatred；
being jealous of the work of his peers； whom he desired to make subject to himself。 Therefore he gathered to himself
spirits out of the halls of E？ that he had perverted to his service； and he deemed himself strong。 And seeing now his time
he drew near again to Arda； and looked down upon it； and the beauty of the Earth in its Spring filled him the more with
hate。
Now therefore the Valar were gathered upon Almaren； fearing no evil； and because of the light of Illuin they did
not perceive the shadow in the north that was cast from afar by Melkor； for he was grown dark as the Night of the Void。
And it is sung that in that feast of the Spring of Arda Tulkas espoused Nessa the sister of Orom？； and she danced before
the Valar upon the green grass of Almaren。
Then Tulkas slept； being weary and content； and Melkor deemed that his hour had e。 And he passed therefore
over the Walls of the Night with his host； and came to Middle…earth far in the north； and the Valar were not aware of
him。
Now Melkor began the delving and building of a vast fortress； deep under Earth； beneath dark mountains where
the beams of Illuin were cold and dim。 That stronghold was named Utumno。 And though the Valar knew naught of it as
yet； nonetheless the evil of Melkor and the blight of his hatred flowed out thence； and the Spring of Arda was marred。
Green things fell sick and rotted； and rivers were choked with weeds and slime； and fens were made； rank and
poisonous； the breeding place of flies； and forests grew dark and perilous； the haunts of fear； and beasts became
monsters of horn and ivory and d