Westernesse； Númenór？ in the High Eldarin tongue。
This was the beginning of that people that in the Grey…elven speech are called the Dúnedain： the Númenóreans；
Kings among Men。 But they did not thus escape from the doom of death that Ilúvatar had set upon all Mankind； and they
were mortal still； though their years were long； and they knew no sickness； ere the shadow fell upon them。 Therefore
they grew wise and glorious； and in all things more like to the Firstborn than any other of the kindreds of Men； and they
were tall； taller than the tallest of the sons of Middle…earth； and the light of their eyes was like the bright stars。 But their
numbers increased only slowly in the land； for though daughters and sons were born to them； fairer than their fathers； yet
their children were few。
Of old the chief city and haven of Númenor was in the midst of its western coasts； and it was called Andúni？
because it faced the sunset。 But in the midst of the land was a mountain tall and steep； and it was named the Meneltarma；
the Pillar of Heaven； and upon it was a high place that was hallowed to Eru Ilúvatar； and it was open and unroofed； and
no other temple or fane was there in the land of the Númenóreans。 At the feet of the mountain were built the tombs of the
Kings； and hard by upon a hill was Armenelos； fairest of cities； and there stood the tower and the citadel that was raised
by Elros son of E？rendil； whom the Valar appointed to be the first King of the Dúnedain。
Now Elros and Elrond his brother were descended from the Three Houses of the Edain； but in part also both from
the Eldar and the Maiar； for Idril of Gondolin and Lúthien daughter of Melian were their fore…mothers。 The Valar indeed
may not withdraw the gift of death； which es to Men from Ilúvatar； but in the matter of the Half…elven Ilúvatar gave
to them the judgement； and they judged that to the sons of E？rendil should be given choice of their own destiny。 And
Elrond chose to remain with the Firstborn； and to him the life of the Firstborn was granted。 But to Elros； who chose to be
a king of Men； still a great span of years was allotted； many times that of the Men of Middle…earth； and all his line； the
kings and lords of the royal house； had long life even according to the measure of the Númenóreans。 But Elros lived five
hundred years； and ruled the Númenóreans four hundred years and ten。
Thus the years passed； and while Middle…earth went backward and light and wisdom faded； the Dúnedain dwelt
under the protection of the Valar and in the friendship of the Eldar； and they increased in stature both of mind and body。
For though this people used still their own speech； their kings and lords knew and spoke also the Elven tongue； which
they had learned in the days of their alliance； and thus they held converse still with the Eldar； whether of Eress？a or of
the west…lands of Middle…earth。 And the loremasters among them learned also the High Eldarin tongue of the Blessed
Realm； in which much story and song was preserved from the beginning of the world； and they made letters and scrolls
and books； and wrote in them many things of wisdom and wonder in the high tide of their realm； of which all is now
forgot。 So it came to pass that； beside their own names； all the lords of the Númenóreans had also Eldarin names； and the
like with the cities and fair places that they founded in Númenor and on the shores of the Hither Lands。
For the Dúnedain became mighty in crafts； so that if they had had the mind they could easily have surpassed the
evil kings of Middle…earth in the making of war and the forging of weapons； but they were bee men of peace。 Above
all arts they nourished shipbuilding and sea…craft； and they became mariners whose like shall never be again since the
world was diminished； and voyaging upon the wide seas was the chief feat and adventure of their hardy men in the
gallant days of their youth。
But the Lords of Valinor forbade them to sail so far westward that the coasts of Númenor could no longer be
seen； and for long the Dúnedain were content； though they did not fully understand the purpose of this ban。 But the
design of Manw？ was that the Númenóreans should not be tempted to seek for the Blessed Realm； nor desire to overpass
the limits set to their bliss； being enamoured of the immortality of the Valar and the Eldar and the lands where all
things endure。
For in those days Valinor still remained in the world visible； and there Ilúvatar permitted the Valar to maintain
upon Earth an abiding place； a memorial of that which might have been if Morgoth had not cast his shadow on the
world。 This the Númenóreans knew full well； and at times； when all the air was clear and the sun was in the east； they
would look out and descry far off in the west a city white…shining on a distant shore； and a great harbour and a tower。 For
in those days the Númenóreans were far…sighted； yet even so it was only the keenest eyes among them that could see this
vision； from the Meneltarma； maybe； or from some tall ship that lay off their western coast as far as it was lawful for
them to go。 For they did not dare to break the Ban of the Lords of the West。 But the wise among them knew that this
distant land was not indeed the Blessed Realm of Valinor； but was Avallón？； the haven of the Eldar upon Eress？a；
easternmost of the Undying Lands。 And thence at times the Firstborn still would e sailing to Númenor in oarless
boats； as white birds flying from the sunset。 And they brought to Númenor many gifts： birds of song； and fragrant
flowers； and herbs of great virtue。 And a seedling they brought of Celeborn； the White Tree that grew in the midst of
Eress？a； and that was in its turn a seedling of Galathilion the Tree of Túna； the image of Telperion that Yavanna gave to
the Eldar in the Blessed Realm。 And the tree grew and blossomed in the courts of the King in Armenelos； Nimloth it was
named； and flowered in the evening； and the shadows of night it filled with its fragrance。
Thus it was that because of the Ban of the Valar the voyages of the Dúnedain in those days went ever eastward
and not westward； from the darkness of the North to the heats of the South； and beyond the South to the Nether
Darkness； and they came even into the inner seas； and sailed about Middle…earth and glimpsed from their high prows the
Gates of Morning in the East。 And the Dúnedain came at times to the shores of the Great Lands； and they took pity on
the forsaken world of Middle…earth； and the Lords of Númenor set foot again upon the western shores in the Dark Years
of Men； and none yet dared to withstand them。 For most of the Men of that age that sat under the Shadow were now
grown weak and fearful。 And ing among them the Númenóreans taught them many things。 Corn and wine they
brought； and they instructed Men in the sowing of seed and the grinding of grain； in the hewing of wood and the shaping
of stone； and in the ordering of their life； such as it might be in the lands of swift death and little bliss。
Then the Men of Middle