The Silmarillion

by J.R.R. Tolkien

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.

In that guarded land the Valar gathered great store of light and all the fairest things that were saved from the ruin; and many others yet fairer they made anew, and Valinor became more 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 with them were a great host of spirits in blessedness.

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 if joyful is the fountain that rises in the sun, its springs are in the wells of sorrow unfathomed at...

The Teleri learned much of Ulmo, and for this reason their music has both s...

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 Oromë 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.

and the lands were filled with shadows and deceit.

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.

But to the Atani I will give a new gift.’

Therefore he 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,

completed, and the world fulfilled unto the la...

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.

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 fea...

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 not revealed what he purposes for the Elves after t...

Then Aulë took up a great hammer to smite the Dwarves; and he wept. But Ilúvatar had compassion upon Aulë and his desire, because of his humility;

Then Manwë and Yavanna parted for that time, and Yavanna returned to Aulë; and he was in his smithy, pouring molten metal into a mould. ‘Eru is bountiful,’ she said. ‘Now let thy children beware! For there shall walk a power in the forests whose wrath they will arouse at their peril.’ ‘Nonetheless they will have need of wood,’ said Aulë, and he went on with his smith-work.

and in the valleys of the night-clad hills there were dark creatures old and strong.

and the evil things that he had perverted walked abroad, and the dark and slumbering woods

were haunted by monsters and shapes of dread.

he gathered his demons about him, those spirits who first adhered to him in the days of his splendour, and became...

their hearts were of fire, but they were cloaked in darkness, and terror went before them...

Balrogs they were named in Middle-earth in later days. And in that dark time Melkor bred many other monsters of divers shapes and kinds that long troubled the world; and his re...

And Melkor made also a fortress and armoury not far from the north-western shores of the sea, to resist any assault that might come from Aman. That stronghold was commanded by Sauro...

And Oromë looking upon the Elves was filled with wonder, as though they were beings sudden and marvellous and unforeseen; for so it shall ever be with

the Valar. From without the World, though

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.

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 Mandos broke his silence, saying: ‘So it is doomed.’ From this summons came many woes that afterwards befell.

Before them great clouds hung still black in the North above the ruins of war, and the stars in that region were hidden.

Great power Melian lent to Thingol, who was himself great among the Eldar; for he alone of all the Sindar had seen with his own eyes the Trees in the day of their flowering, and king though he was of Úmanyar, he was not accounted among the Moriquendi, but with the Elves of the

Light, mighty upon Middle-earth. And of the love of Thingol and Melian there came into the world the fairest of all the Children of Ilúvatar that was or shall ever

For all living things that are or have been in the Kingdom of Arda, save only the fell and evil creatures of Melkor, lived then in the land of Aman; and there also were many other creatures that have not been seen upon Middle-earth, and perhaps never now

shall be, since the fashion of the world was changed.

This was the Noontide of the Blessed Realm, the fullness of its glory and its bliss, long in tale of years, but in memory too brief.

‘Never again shall I bear child; for strength that would have nourished the life of many has gone forth into Fëanor.’ Then Finwë was grieved, for the Noldor were in the youth

‘It is indeed unhappy,’ said Míriel, ‘and I would weep, if I were not so weary. But hold me blameless in this, and in all that may come after.’

Seven sons she bore to Fëanor; her mood she bequeathed in part to some of them, but not to all.

But the shadow of Míriel did not depart from the house of Finwë, nor from his heart; and of all whom he loved Fëanor had ever the chief share of his thought. The wedding of his father was not pleasing to Fëanor; and he had no

if Finwë had endured his loss and been content with the fathering of his mighty son, the courses of Fëanor would have been otherwise, and great evil might have been prevented;

But the children of Indis were great and glorious, and their children also; and if they had not lived the history of the Eldar would have been diminished.

Then he looked upon their glory and their bliss, and envy was in his heart;