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 dyed the earth with blood。 Then the Valar knew indeed that Melkor was at work again；
and they sought for his hiding place。 But Melkor； trusting in the strength of Utumno and the might of his servants； came
forth suddenly to war； and struck the first blow； ere the Valar were prepared； and he assailed the lights of Illuin and
Ormal； and cast down their pillars and broke their lamps。 In the overthrow of the mighty pillars lands were broken and
seas arose in tumult； and when the lamps were spilled destroying flame was poured out over the Earth。 And the shape of
Arda and the symmetry of its waters and its lands was marred in that time； so that the first designs of the Valar were
never after restored。
In the confusion and the darkness Melkor escaped； though fear fell upon him； for above the roaring of the seas he
heard the voice of Manw？ as a mighty wind； and the earth trembled beneath the feet of Tulkas。 But he came to Utumno
ere Tulkas could overtake him； and there he lay hid。 And the Valar could not at that time overe him； for the greater
part of their strength was needed to restrain the tumults of the Earth； and to save from ruin all that could be saved of
their labour； and afterwards they feared to rend the Earth again； until they knew where the Children of Ilúvatar were
dwelling； who were yet to e in a time that was hidden from the Valar。
Thus ended the Spring of Arda。 The dwelling of the Valar upon Almaren was utterly destroyed； and they had no
abiding place upon the face of the Earth。 Therefore they departed from Middle…earth and went to the Land of Aman； the
westernmost of all lands upon the borders of the world； for its west shores looked upon the Outer Sea； that is called by
the Elves Ekkaia； encircling the Kingdom of Arda。 How wide is that sea none know but the Valar； and beyond it are the
Walls of the Night。 But the east shores of Aman were the uttermost end of Belegaer； the Great Sea at the West； and since
Melkor was returned to Middle…earth and they could not yet overe him； the Valar fortified their dwelling； and upon
the shores of the sea they raised the Pelóri； the Mountains of Aman； highest upon Earth。 And above all the mountains of
the Pelóri was that height upon whose summit Manw？ set his throne。 Taniquetil the Elves name that holy mountain； and
Oioloss？ Everlasting Whiteness； and Elerrína Crowned with Stars； and many names beside； but the Sindar spoke of it in
their later tongue as Amon Uilos。 From their halls upon Taniquetil Manw？ and Varda could look out across the Earth
even into the furthest East。
Behind the walls of the Pelóri the Valar established their domain in that region which is called Valinor； and there
were their houses； their gardens； and their towers。 In that guarded land the Valar gathered great store of light and an 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 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 min