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beautiful even than Middle…earth in the Spring of Arda； and it was blessed； for the Deathless dwelt there； and there
naught faded nor withered； neither was there any stain upon flower or leaf in that land； nor any corruption or sickness in
anything that lived； for the very stones and waters were hallowed。
And when Valinor was full…wrought and the mansions of the Valar were established； in the midst of the plain
beyond the mountains they built their city； Valmar of many bells。 Before its western gate there was a green mound；
Ezellohar； that is named also Corollair？； and Yavanna hallowed it； and she sat there long upon the green grass and sang a
song of power； in which was set all her thought of things that grow in the earth。 But Nienna thought in silence； and
watered the mould with tears。 In that time the Valar were gathered together to hear the song of Yavanna； and they sat
silent upon their thrones of council in the Máhanaxar； the Ring of Doom near to the golden gates of Valmar； and
Yavanna Kementári sang before them and they watched。
And as they watched； upon the mound there came forth two slender shoots； and silence was over all the world in
that hour； nor was there any other sound save the chanting of Yavanna。 Under her song the saplings grew and became
fair and tail； and came to flower； and thus there awoke in the world the Two Trees of Valinor。 Of all things which
Yavanna made they have most renown； and about their fate all the tales of the Elder Days are woven。
The one had leaves of dark green that beneath were as shining silver； and from each of his countless flowers a
dew of silver light was ever falling； and the earth beneath was dappled with the shadow of his fluttering leaves。 The
other bore leaves of a young green like the new…opened beech； their edges were of glittering gold。 Flowers swung upon
her branches in clusters of yellow flame； formed each to a glowing horn that spilled a golden rain upon the ground； and
from the blossom of that tree there came forth warmth and a great light。 Telperion the one was called in Valinor； and
Silpion； and Ninquelót？； and many other names； but Laurelin the other was； and Malinalda； and Culúrien； and many
names in song beside。
In seven hours the glory of each tree waxed to full and waned again to naught； and each awoke once more to life
an hour before the other ceased to shine。 Thus in Valinor twice every day there came a gentle hour of softer light when
both trees were faint and their gold and silver beams were mingled。 Telperion was the elder of the trees and came first to
full stature and to bloom； and that first hour in which he shone； the white glimmer of a silver dawn； the Valar reckoned
not into the tale of hours； but named it the Opening Hour； and counted from it the ages of their reign in Valinor。
Therefore at the sixth hour of the First Day； and of all the joyful days thereafter； until the Darkening of Valinor；
Telperion ceased his time of flower； and at the twelfth hour Laurelin her blossoming。 And each day of the Valar in Aman
contained twelve hours； and ended with the second mingling of the lights； in which Laurelin was waning but Telperion
was waxing。 But the light that was spilled from the trees endured long； ere it was taken up into the airs or sank down into
the earth； and the dews of Telperion and the rain that fell from Laurelin Varda hoarded in great vats like shining lakes；
that were to all the land of the Valar as wells of water and of light。 Thus began the Days of the Bliss of Valinor； and thus
began also the Count of Time。
But as the ages drew on to the hour appointed by Ilúvatar for the ing of the Firstborn； Middle…earth lay in a
twilight beneath the stars that Varda had wrought in the ages forgotten of her labours in E？。 And in the darkness Melkor
dwelt； and still often walked abroad； in many shapes of power and fear； and he wielded cold and fire； from the tops of
the mountains to the deep furnaces that are beneath them； and whatsoever was cruel or violent or deadly in those days is
laid to his charge。
From the beauty and bliss of Valinor the Valar came seldom over the mountains to Middle…earth； but gave to the
land beyond the Pelóri their care and their love。 And in the midst of the Blessed Realm were the mansions of Aul？； and
there he laboured long。 For in the making of all things in that land he had the chief part； and he wrought there many
beautiful and shapely works both openly and in secret。 Of him es the lore and knowledge of the Earth and of an
things that it contains： whether the lore of those that make not； but seek only for the understanding of what is； or the lore
of an craftsmen： the weaver； the shaper of wood； and the worker in metals； and the tiller and husbandman also； though
these last and all that deal with things that grow and bear fruit must look also to the spouse of Aul？； Yavanna Kementári。
Aul？ it is who is named the Friend of the Noldor； for of him they learned much in after days； and they are the most
skilled of the Elves； and in their own fashion； according to the gifts which Ilúvatar gave to them； they added much to his
teaching； delighting to tongues and in scripts； and in the figures of broidery； of drawing； and of carving。 The Noldor also
it was who first achieved the making of gems； and the fairest of an gems were the Silmarils； and they are lost。
But Manw？ Súlimo； highest and holiest of the Valar； sat upon the borders of Aman； forsaking not in his thought
the Outer Lands。 For his throne was set in majesty upon the pinnacle of Taniquetil； the highest of the mountains of the
world； standing upon the margin of the sea。 Spirits in the shape of hawks and eagles flew ever to and from his halls； and
their eyes could see to the depths of the seas； and pierce the hidden caverns beneath the world。 Thus they brought word
to him of well nigh all that passed in Arda； yet some things were hidden even from the eyes of Manw？ and the servants
of Manw？； for where Melkor sat in his dark thought impenetrable shadows lay。
Manw？ has no thought for his own honour； and is not jealous of his power； but rules all to peace。 The Vanyar he
loved best of all the Elves； and of him they received song and poetry； for poetry is the delight of Manw？； and the song of
words is his music。 His raiment is blue； and blue is the fire of his eyes； and his sceptre is of sapphire； which the Noldor
wrought for him； and he was appointed to be the vicegerent of Ilúvatar； King of the world of Valar and Elves and Men；
and the chief defence against the evil of Melkor。 With Manw？ dwelt Varda the most beautiful； she who in the Sindarin
tongue is named Elbereth； Queen of the Valar； maker of die stars； and with than were a great host of spirits in
blessedness。
But Ulmo was alone； and he abode not in Valinor； nor ever came thither unless there were need for a great
council； he dwelt from the beginning of Arda in the Outer Ocean； and still he dwells there。 Thence he governs the
flowing of all waters； and the ebbing； the courses of an rivers and the replenishment of Springs； the distilling of all dews
and rain in every land beneath the sky。 In the deep places he gives thought to music great and terrible； and the echo of
that music runs through all the veins of the world in sorrow and in joy； for it joyful is the fountain that rises in the sun；
its springs are in the wells of sorrow unfathomed at the foundations of the Earth。 The Teleri learned much of Ulmo； and
for this reason their music has both sadness and enchantment。 Salmar came with him to Arda； he who made the horns of
Ulmo that none may ever forget who once has heard them； and Oss？ and Uinen also； to whom he gave the government
of the waves and the movements of the Inner Seas； and many other spirits beside。 And thus it was by the power of Ulmo
that even under the darkness of Melkor life coursed still through many secret lodes； and the Earth did not die； and to all
who were lost in that darkness or wandered far from the light of the Valar the ear of Ulmo was ever open； nor has he
ever forsaken Middle…earth； and whatsoever may since have befallen of ruin or of change he has not ceased to take
thought for it； and will not until the end of days。
And in that time of dark Yavanna also was unwilling utterly to forsake the Outer Lands； for all things teat grow
are dear to her； and she mourned for the works that she had begun in Middle…earth but Melkor had ｜marred。 Therefore
leaving the house of Aul？ and the flowering meads of Valinor she would e at times and heal the hurts of Melkor； and
returning she would ever urge the Valar to that war with his evil dominion that they must surely wage ere the ing of
die Firstborn。 And Orom？ tamer of beasts would ride too at whiles in the darkness of the unlit forests； as a mighty hunter
he came with spear and bow； pursuing to the death the monsters and fell creatures of the kingdom of Melkor； and his
white horse Nahar shone like silver in the shadows。 Then the sleeping earth trembled at the beat of his golden hooves；
and in the twilight of the world Orom？ would sound the Valaróma his great horn upon the plains of Arda； whereat the
mountains echoed； and the shadows of evil fled away； and Melkor himself quailed in Utumno； foreboding the wrath to
e。 But even as Orom？ passed the servants of Melkor would gather again； and the lands were filled with shadows and
deceit。
Now all is said concerning the manner of the Earth and its rulers in the beginning of days； and ere the world
became such as the Children of Ilúvatar have known it。 For Elves and Men are the Children of Ilúvatar； and since they
understood not fully that theme by which the Children entered into the Music； none of the Ainur dared to add anything to
their fashion。 For which reason the Valar are to these kindreds rather their elders and their chieftains than their masters；
and if ever in their dealings with Elves and Men the Ainur have endeavoured to force them when they would not be
guided； seldom has this turned to good； howsoever good the intent。 The dealings of the Ainur have indeed been mostly
with the Elves； for Ilúvatar made them more like in nature to the Ainur； though less in might and stature； whereas to Men
he gave strange gifts。
For it is said that after the departure of the Valar there was silence； and for an age Ilúvatar sat alone in thought。
Then he spoke and said： 'Behold I love the Earth； which shall be a mansion for the Quendi and the Atani！ But the Quendi
shall be the fairest of all earthly creatures； and they shall have and shall conceive and bring forth more beauty than all
my Children； and they shall have the greater bliss in this world。 But to the Atani I will give a new gift。' Therefore to
willed that the hearts of Men should seek beyond the world and should find no rest therein； but they should have a virtue
to shape their life； amid the powers and chances of the world； beyond the Music of the Ainur； which is as fate to all
things else； and of their operation everything should be； in form and deed； pleted； and the world fulfilled unto the
last and smallest。
But Ilúvatar knew that Men； being set amid the turmoils of the powers of the world； would stray often； and would
not use their gifts in harmony； and he said： ''These too in their time shall find that all that they do redounds at the end
only to the glory of my work。' Yet the Elves believe that Men are often a grief to Manw？； who knows most of the mind
of Ilúvatar； for it seems to the Elves that Men resemble Melkor most of all the Ainur； although he has ever feared and
hated them； even those that served him。
It is one with this gift of freedom that the children of Men dwell only a short space in the world alive； and are not
bound to it； and depart soon whither the Elves know not。 Whereas the Elves remain until the end of days； and their love
of the Earth and all the world is more single and more poignant therefore； and as the years lengthen ever more sorrowful。
For the Elves die not till tile world dies； unless they are slain or waste in grief （and to both these seeming deaths they are
subject）； neither does age subdue their strength； unless one grow weary of ten thousand centuries； and dying they are
gathered to the halls of Mandos in Valinor； whence they may in time return。 But the sons of Men die indeed； and leave
the world； wherefore they are called the Guests； or the Strangers。 Death is their fate； the gift of Ilúvatar； which as Time
wears even the Powers shall envy。 But Melkor has cast his shadow upon it； and confounded it with darkness； and
brought forth evil out of good； and fear out of hope。 Yet of old the Valar declared to the Elves in Valinor that Men shall
join in the Second Music of the Ainur； whereas Ilúvatar has hot revealed what he purposes for the Elves after the World's
end； and Melkor has not discovered it。
Chapter 2
Of Aul？ and Yavanna
It is told that in their beginning the Dwarves were made by Aul？ in the darkness of Middle…earth； for so greatly
did Aul？ desire the ing of the Children； to have le