History of Nienna

Excerpts from the

THE MUSIC OF THE AINUR (Containeth also the COMING OF THE VALAR
and beginneth THE BUILDING OF VALINOR)		 Excerpt from the

THE QUENTA (herein is QUENTA NOLDORINWA
Or
 Pennas-na-Ngoelaidh)		 Excerpt from the

QUENTA SILMARILLION
Here begins the Silmarillion or history of the Silmarils
1    OF THE VALAR
 		 Excerpt from the

“Later QUENTA SILMARILLION”
Here begins the Silmarillion or history of the Silmarils
1    OF THE VALAR		 “VALAQUENTA”
§64(9). and [came] those twain also who are named Tári for they are ladies of great worship, queens of the Valar. The one was the spouse of Mandos, and is known to all as Fui Nienna by reason of her glooms, and she is fain of mourning and tears. Many other names has she that are spoken seldom and all are grievous, for she is Núri who sighs and Heskil who breedeth winter, and all must bow before her as Qalmë-Tári the mistress of death. §4(4). Yet mightier than she [Vana] is Nienna who dwells with Nefantur Mandos. Pity is in her heart, and mourning and weeping come to her, but shadow is her realm and night her throne. §9. But mightier than she [Vana] is Nienna, Manwë’s sister and Melko’s. She dwells alone. Pity is in her heart, and mourning and weeping come to her; shadow is her realm and her throne hidden. For her halls are west of West, nigh to the borders of the World and the Darkness, and she comes seldom to Valmar, the city of the Gods, where all is glad. She goes rather to the halls of Mandos, which are nearer and yet more northward; and all those who go to Mandos cry to her. For she is a healer of hurts, and turns pain to medicine and sorrow to wisdom. The windows of her house look outward from the Walls of the World. §9. But mightier than she [Vána] is Niënna, Manwë’s sister and Melkor’s. She dwells alone. Pity is in her heart, and mourning and weeping come to her; shadow is her realm and her throne hidden. For her halls are west of West, nigh to the borders of the World and the Darkness, and she comes seldom to Valmar, the city of the gods, where all is glad. She goes rather to the halls of Mandos, which are nearer and yet more northward; and all those who go to Mandos cry to her. For she is a healer of hurts, and turns pain to medicine and sorrow to wisdom. The windows of her house look outward from the Walls of the World. §13. Mightier than Estë is Nienna, sister of the Fëanturi; she dwells alone. She is acquainted with grief, and mourns for every wound that Arda has suffered in the marring of Melkor. So great was her sorrow, as the Music unfolded, that her song turned to lamentation long before its end, and the sound of mourning was woven into the themes of the World before it began. But she does not weep for herself; and those who hearken to her learn pity, and endurance in hope. Her halls are west of West, upon the borders of the world; and she comes seldom to the city of Valimar where all is glad. She goes rather to the halls of Mandos, which are near to her own; and all those who wait in Mandos cry to her, for she brings strength to the spirit and turns sorrow to wisdom. The windows of her house look outward from the walls of the world.
A manuscript by J.R.R.Tolkien, c. 1918-1920, edited and published by Christopher Tolkien in THE BOOK OF LOST TALES 1, Houghton Mifflin, 1983. A typescript by J.R.R.Tolkien, c. 1930, edited and published by Christopher Tolkien in THE SHAPING OF MIDDLE-EARTH, Houghton Mifflin, 1986. A typescript by J.R.R.Tolkien, c. 1937, edited and published by Christopher Tolkien in THE LOST ROAD AND OTHER WRITINGS, Houghton Mifflin, 1987. A typescript by J.R.R.Tolkien, c. 1951, edited and published by Christopher Tolkien in MORGOTH’S RING, Houghton Mifflin, 1993. A typescript by J.R.R.Tolkien, c. 1958, edited and published by Christopher Tolkien in THE SILMARILLION, Houghton Mifflin, 1977.