he wind that es
over the sea from the lands of their birth； and the Valar would not sunder the Teleri wholly from their kin。 But in the
Calacirya they set strong towers and many sentinels； and at its issue upon the plains of Valmar a host was encamped； so
that neither bird nor beast nor elf nor man； nor any creature beside that dwelt in Middle…earth； could pass that leaguer。
And in that time also； which songs call Nurtal？ Valinóreva； the Hiding of Valinor； the Enchanted Isles were set；
and ail the seas about them were filled with shadows and bewilderment。 And these isles were strung as a net in the
Shadowy Seas from the north to the south； before Tol Eress？a； the Lonely Isle； is reached by one sailing west。 Hardly
might any vessel pass between them； for in the dangerous sounds the waves sighed for ever upon dark rocks shrouded in
mist。 And in the twilight a great weariness came upon mariners and a loathing of the sea； but all that ever set foot upon
the islands were there entrapped； and slept until the Change of the World。 Thus it was that as Mandos foretold to them in
Araman the Blessed Realm was shut against the Noldor； and of the many messengers that in after days sailed into the
West none came ever to Valinor … save one only： the mightiest mariner of song。
Chapter 12
Of Men
The Valar sat now behind their mountains at peace； and having given light to Middle…earth they left it for long untended；
and the lordship of Morgoth was uncontested save by the valour of the Noldor。 Most in mind Ulmo kept the exiles； who
gathered news of the Earth through all the waters。
From this time forth were reckoned the Years of the Sun。 Swifter and briefer are they than the long Years of the
Trees in Valinor。 In that time the air of Middle…earth became heavy with the breath of growth and mortality； and the
changing and ageing of all things was hastened exceedingly； life teemed upon the soil and in the waters in the Second
Spring of Arda； and the Eldar increased； and beneath the new Sun Beleriand grew green and fair。
At the first rising of the Sun the Younger Children of Ilúvatar awoke in the land of Hildórien in the eastward
regions of Middle…earth； but the first Sun arose in the West； and the opening eyes of Men were turned towards it； and
their feet as they wandered over the Earth for the most part strayed that way。 The Atani they were named by the Eldar；
the Second People； but they called them also Hildor； the Followers； and many other names： Apanónar； the After…born；
Engwar； the Sickly； and Fírimar； the Mortals； and they named them the Usurpers； the Strangers； and the Inscrutable； the
Self…cursed； the Heavy…handed； the Night…fearers； the Children of the Sun。 Of Men little is told in these tales； which
concern the Eldest Days before the waxing of mortals and the waning of the Elves； save of those fathers of men； the
Atanatári； who in the first years of the Sun and Moon wandered into the North of the world。 To Hildórien there came no
Vala to guide Men； or to summon them to dwell in Valinor； and Men have feared the Valar； rather than loved them； and
have not understood the purposes of the Powers； being at variance with them； and at strife with the world。 Ulmo
nonetheless took thought for them aiding the counsel and will of Manw？； and his messages came often to them by stream
and flood。 But they have not skill in such matters； and still less had they in those days before they had mingled with the
Elves。 Therefore they loved the waters； and their hearts were stirred； but they understood not the messages。 Yet it is told
that ere long they met Dark Elves in many places； and were befriended by them； and Men became the panions and
disciples in their childhood of these ancient folk； wanderers of the Elven…race who never set out upon the paths to
Valinor； and knew of the Valar only as a rumour and a distant name。
Morgoth had then not long e back into Middle…earth； and his power went not far abroad； and was moreover
checked by the sudden ing of great light。 There was little peril in the lands and hills； and there new things； devised
long ages before in the thought of Yavanna and sown as seed in the dark； came at last to their budding and their bloom。
West； North； and South the children of Men spread and wandered； and their joy was the joy of the morning before the
dew is dry； when every leaf is green。
But the dawn is brief and the day full often belies its promise； and now the time drew on to the great wars of the
powers of the North； when Noldor and Sindar and Men strove against the hosts of Morgoth Bauglir； and went down in
ruin。 To this end the cunning lies of Morgoth that he sowed of old； and sowed ever anew among his foes； and the curse
that came of the slaying at Alqualond？； and the oath of F？anor； were ever at work。 Only a part is here told of the deeds of
those days； and most is said of the Noldor； and the Silmarils； and the mortals that became entangled in their fate。 In those
days Elves and Men were of like stature and strength of body； but the Elves had greater wisdom； and skill； and beauty；
and those who had dwelt in Valinor and looked upon the Powers as much surpassed the Dark Elves in these things as
they in turn surpassed the people of mortal race。 Only to the realm of Doriath； whose queen Melian was of the kindred
of Valar； did the Sindar e near to match the Calaquendi of the Blessed Realm。
Immortal were the Elves； and their wisdom waxed from age to age； and no sickness nor pestilence brought death
to them。 Their bodies indeed were of the stuff of Earth； and could be destroyed； and in those days they were more like to
the bodies of Men； since they had not so long been inhabited by the fire of their spirit； which consumes them from within
in the courses of time。 But Men were more frail； more easily slain by weapon or mischance； and less easily healed；
subject to sickness and many ills； and they grew old and died。 What may befall their spirits after death the Elves know
not。 Some say that they too go to the halls of Mandos； but their place of waiting there is not that of the Elves； and
Mandos under Ilúvatar alone save Manw？ knows whither they go after the time of recollection in those silent halls
beside the Outer Sea。 None have ever e back from the mansions of the dead； save only Beren son of Barahir； whose
hand had touched a Silmaril； but he never spoke afterward to mortal Men。 The fate of Men after death； maybe； is not in
the hands of the Valar； nor was all foretold in the Music of the Ainur。
In after days； when because of the triumph of Morgoth Elves and Men became estranged； as be most wished；
those of the Elven…race that lived still in Middle…earth waned and faded； and Men usurped the sunlight。 Then the Quendi
wandered in the lonely places of the great lands and the isles； and took to the moonlight and the starlight； and to the
woods and caves； being as shadows and memories； save those who ever and anon set sail into the West and vanished
from Middle…earth。 But in the dawn of years Elves and Men were allies and held themselves akin； and th