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！
of Morgoth were but one hundred and fifty leagues distant from the bridge of Menegroth： far and yet all too near。
Now the Orcs that multiplied in the darkness of the earth grew strong and fell； and their dark lord filled them with
a lust of rain and death； and they issued from Angband's gates under the clouds that Morgoth sent forth； and passed
silently into the highlands of the north。 Thence on a sudden a great army came into Beleriand and assailed King Thingol。
Now in his wide realm many Elves wandered free in the wild； or dwelt at peace in small kindreds far sundered； and only
about Menegroth in the midst of the land； and along the Falas in the country of the mariners； were there numerous
peoples。 But the Orcs came down upon either side of Menegroth； and from camps in the east between Celon and Gelion；
and west in the plains between Sirion and Narog； they plundered far and wide； and Thingol was cut on from Círdan at
Eglarest。 Therefore he called upon Denethor； and the Elves came in force from Region beyond Aros and from Ossiriand；
and fought the first battle in the Wars of Beleriand。 And the eastern host of the Orcs was taken between the armies of the
Eldar； north of the Andram and midway between Aros and Gelion； and there they were utterly defeated； and those that
fled north from the great slaughter were waylaid by the axes of the Naugrim that issued from Mount Dolmed： few indeed
returned to Angband。
But the victory of the Elves was dear…bought For those of Ossiriand were light…armed； and no match for the Orcs；
who were shod with iron and iron…shielded and bore great spears with broad blades； and Denethor was cut off and
surrounded upon the hill of Amon Ereb。 There he fell and all his nearest kin about him； before the host of Thingol could
e to his aid。 Bitterly though his fall was avenged； when Thingol came upon the rear of the Orcs and slew them in
heaps； his people lamented him ever after and took no king again。 After the battle some returned to Ossiriand； and their
tidings filled the remnant of their people with great fear； so that thereafter they came never forth in open war； but kept
themselves by wariness and secrecy； and they were called the Laiquendi； the Green…elves； because of their raiment of the
colour of leaves。 But many went north and entered the guarded realm of Thingol； and were merged with his people。
And when Thingol came again to Menegroth he learned that the Orc…host in the west was victorious； and had
driven Círdan to the rim of the sea。 Therefore he withdrew all his people that his summons could reach within the
fastness of Neldoreth and Region； and Melian put forth her power and fenced all that dominion round about with an
unseen wail of shadow and bewilderment： the Girdle of Melian； that none thereafter could pass against her will or the
will of King Thingol； unless one should e with a power greater than that of Melian the Maia。 And this inner land；
which was long named Eglador； was after called Doriath； the guarded kingdom； Land of the Girdle。 Within it there was
yet a watchful peace； but without there was peril and great fear； and the servants of Morgoth roamed at will； save in the
walled havens of the Falas。
But new tidings were at hand； which none in Middle…earth had foreseen； neither Morgoth in his pits nor Melian in
Menegroth； for no news came out of Aman whether by messenger； or by spirit； or by vision in dream； after the death of
the Trees。 In this same time F？anor came over the Sea in the white ships of the Teleri and landed in the Firth of Drengist；
and there burned the ships at Losgar。
Chapter 11
Of the Sun and Moon and the Hiding of Valinor
It is told that after the flight of Melkor the Valar sat long unmoved upon their thrones in the Ring of Doom； but they
were not idle； as F？anor declared in the folly of his heart。 For the Valar may work many things with thought rather than
with hands； and without voices in silence they may hold council one with another。 Thus they held vigil in the night of
Valinor； and their thought passed back beyond E？ and forth to the End； yet neither power nor wisdom assuaged their
grief； and the knowing of evil in the hour of its being。 And they mourned not more for the death of the Trees than for the
marring of F？anor： of the works of Melkor one of the most evil。 For F？anor was made the mightiest in all parts of body
and mind； in valour； in endurance； in beauty； in understanding； in skill； in strength and in subtlety alike； of all the
Children of Ilúvatar； and a bright flame was in him。 The works of wonder for the glory of Arda that he might otherwise
have wrought only Manw？ might in some measure conceive。 And it was told by the Vanyar who held vigil with the Valar
that when the messengers declared to Manw？ the answers of F？anor to his heralds； Manw？ wept and bowed his head。
But at that last word of F？anor： that at the least the Noldor should do deeds to live in song for ever； he raised his head； as
one that hears a voice far off； and he said： 'So shall it be！ Dear…bought those songs shall be accounted； and yet shall be
well…bought。 For the price could be no other。 Thus even as Eru spoke to us shall beauty not before conceived be brought
into E？； and evil yet be good to have been。'
But Mandos said： 'And yet remain evil。 To me shall F？anor e soon。'
But when at last the Valar learned that the Noldor had indeed passed out of Aman and were e back into
Middle…earth； they arose and began to set forth in deeds those counsels which they had taken in thought for the redress
of the evils of Melkor。 Then Manw？ bade Yavanna and Nienna to put forth all their powers of growth and healing； and
they put forth all their powers upon the Trees。 But the tears of Nienna availed not to heal their mortal wounds； and for a
long while Yavanna sang alone in the shadows。 Yet even as hope failed and her song faltered； Telperion bore at last upon
a leafless bough one great flower of silver； and Laurelin a single trait of gold。
These Yavanna took； and then the Trees died； and their lifeless stems stand yet in Valinor； a memorial of vanished
joy。 But the flower and the fruit Yavanna gave to Aul？； and Manw？ hallowed them； and Aul？ and his people made
vessels to hold them and preserve their radiance： as is said in the Narsilion； the Song of the Sun and Moon。 These
vessels the Valar gave to Varda； that they might bee lamps of heaven； outshining the ancient stars； being nearer to
Arda； and she gave them power to traverse the lower regions of Ilmen； and set them to voyage upon appointed courses
above the girdle of the Earth from the West unto the East and to return。
These things the Valar did； recalling in their twilight the darkness of the lands of Arda； and they resolved now to
illumine Middle…earth and with light to hinder the deeds of Melkor。 For they remembered the Avari that remained by the
waters of their awakening； and they did not utterly forsake the Noldor in exile； and Manw？ knew also that the hour of
the ing of Men was drawn nigh。 And it is said indeed that； even as the Valar made war upon Melkor for the sake of
the Quendi； so now for that time they forbore for the sake of the Hildor； the Afterers； the younger Children of
Ilúvatar。 For so grievous had been the hurts of Middle…earth in the war upon Utumno that the Valar feared lest even
worse should now befall； whereas the Hildor should be mortal； and weaker than the Quendi to withstand fear and tumult。
Moreover it was not revealed to Manw？ where the beginning of Men should be； north； south； or east。 Therefore the Valar
sent forth light； but made strong the land of their dwelling。
Isil the Sheen the Vanyar of old named the Moon； flower of Telperion in Valinor； and Anar the Fire…golden； fruit
of Laurelin； they named the Sun。 But the Noldor named them also Rána； the Wayward； and Vása； the Heart of Fire； that
awakens and consumes； for the Sun was set as a sign for the awakening of Men and the waning of the Elves； but the
Moon cherishes their memory。
The maiden whom the Valar chose from among the Maiar to guide the vessel of the Sun was named Arien； and he
that steered the island of the Moon was Tilion。 In the days of the Trees Arien had tended the golden flowers in the
gardens of Vána； and watered them with the bright dews of Laurelin； but Tilion was a hunter of the pany of Orom？；
and he had a silver bow。 He was a lover of silver； and when he would rest he forsook the woods of Orom？； and going
into Lórien he lay hi dream by the pools of Est？； in Telperion's flickering beams； and he begged to be given the task of
tending for ever the last Flower of Silver。 Arien the maiden was mightier than he； and she was chosen because she had
not feared the heats of Laurelin； and was unhurt by them； being from the beginning a spirit of fire； whom Melkor had not
deceived nor drawn to his service。 Too bright were the eyes of Arien for even the Eldar to look on； and leaving Valinor
she forsook the form and raiment which like the Valar she had worn there； and she was as a naked flame； terrible in the
fullness of her splendour。
Isil was first wrought and made ready； and first rose into the realm of the stars； and was the elder of the new
lights； as was Telperion of the Trees。 Then for a while the world had moonlight； and many things stirred and woke that
had waited long in the sleep of Yavanna。 The servants of Morgoth were filled with amazement； but the Elves of the
Outer Lands looked up in delight； and even as the Moon rose above the darkness in the west； Fingolfin let blow his
silver trumpets and began his march into Middle…earth； and the shadows of his host went long and black before them。
Tilion had traversed the heaven seven times； and thus was m the furthest east； when the vessel of Arien was made
ready。 Then Anar arose in glory； and the first dawn of the Sun was like a great fire upon the towers of the Pelóri： the
clouds of Middle…earth were kindled； and there was heard the sound of many waterfalls。 Then indeed Morgoth was
dismayed； and he descended into the uttermost depths of Angband； and withdrew his servants； sending forth great reek
and dark cloud to hide his land from the light of the Day…star。
Now Varda purposed that the two vessels should journey in Ilmen and ever be aloft； but not together； each should
pass from Valinor into the east and return； the one issuing from the west as the other turned from the east。 Thus the first
of the new days were reckoned after the manner of the Trees； from the mingling of the lights when Arien and Tilion
passed in then… courses； above the middle of the Earth。 But Tilion was wayward and uncertain in speed； and held not to
his appointed path； and he sought to e near to Arien； being drawn by her splendour； though the flame of Anar
scorched him； and the island of the Moon was darkened。
Because of the waywardness of Tilion； therefore； and yet more because of the prayers of Lórien and Est？； who
said that sleep and rest had been banished from the Earth； and the stars were hidden； Varda changed her counsel； and
allowed a time wherein the world should still have shadow and half…light。 Anar rested therefore a while in Valinor； lying
upon the cool bosom of the Outer Sea； and Evening； the time of the descent and resting of the Sun； was the hour of
greatest light and joy in Aman。 But soon the Sun was drawn down by the servants of Ulmo； and went then in haste under
the Earth； and so came unseen to the east and there mounted the heaven again； lest night be over…long and evil walk
under the Moon。 But by Anar the waters of the Outer Sea were made hot and glowed with coloured fire； and Valinor had
light for a while after the passing of Arien。 Yet as she journeyed under the Earth and drew towards the east the glow
faded and Valinor was dim； and the Valar mourned then most for the death of Laurelin。 At dawn the shadows of the
Mountains of Defence lay heavy on the Blessed Realm。
Varda manded the Moon to journey in like manner； and passing under Earth to arise in the east； but only after
the Sun had descended from heaven。 But Tilion went with uncertain pace； as yet he goes； and was still drawn towards
Arien； as he shall ever be； so that often both may be seen above the Earth together； or at times it will chance that he
es so nigh that his shadow cuts off her brightness and there is a darkness amid the day。
Therefore by the ing and going of Anar the Valar reckoned the days thereafter until the Change of the World。
For Tilion tamed seldom in Valinor； but more often would pass swiftly over the western land； over Avathar； or Araman；
or Valinor； and plunge in the chasm beyond the Outer Sea； pursuing his way alone amid the grots and caverns at the
roots of Arda。 There he would often wander long； and late would return。
Still therefore； after the Long Night； the light of Valinor was greater and fairer than upon Middle…earth； for the
Sun rested there； and the lights of heaven drew nearer to Earth in that region。 But neither the Sun nor the Moon can
recall the light that was of old； that came from the Trees before