II. THE COMING OF
THE VALAR
AND THE BUILDING OF VALINOR (pp. 65-67)
§60.
Behold, Manwë Sulimo and Varda the Beautiful arose. Varda it was who at the
playing of the Music had thought much of light that was of white and silver,
and of stars. Those twain gathered now wings of power to themselves and fared
swiftly through the three airs. Vaitya is that which is wrapped dark and sluggish
about the world and without it, but Ilwë is blue and clear and flows among the
stars, and last came they to Vilna that is grey and therein may the birds fly
safely.
§61.
With them came many of those lesser Vali who loved them and had played nigh with
them and attuned their music to theirs, and these are the Mánir and Súruli, the
sylphs of the airs and of the winds.
§62.
Now swiftly as they fared Melko was there before them, having rushed headlong
flaming through the airs in the impetuosity of his speed, and there was a
tumult of the sea where he had dived and the mountains above him spouted flames
and the earth gaped and rocked; but Manwë beholding this was wroth.
§63.
Thereafter came Ulmo and Aulë, and with Ulmo were none, save Salmar only who
was after known as Noldorin, for good though the heart of that mighty one he
thought ever deep thoughts alone, and was silent and aloof and haughty even to
the Ainur; but with Aulë was that great lady Palúrien whose delights were
richness and fruits of the earth, for which reason has she long been called
Yavanna among the Eldar. About them fared a great host who are the sprites of
trees and woods, of dale and forest and mountain-side, or those that sing amid
the grass at morning and chant among the standing corn at eve. These are called
the Nermir and Tavari, Nandini and Orossi, brownies, fays, pixies, leprawns,
and what else are they not called, for their number is very great: yet must
they not be confused with the Eldar, for they were born before the world and are
much older than its oldest, and are not of it, but laugh at much, for had they
not somewhat to do with its making, so that it is for the most part a play for
them; but the Eldar are of the world and love it with a great and burning love,
and are wistful in all their happiness for that reason.
§64.
Now behind those greatest chieftains came Falman-Ossë of the waves of the sea
and Ónen his consort, and with them the troops of the Oarni and Falmaríni and
the long-tressed Wingildi, and these are the spirits of the foam and the surf
of ocean. Now Ossë was a vassal and subordinate to Ulmo, and was so for fear
and reverence and not for love. Behind him came Tulkas Poldórëa rejoicing in
his strength, and those brethren the Fánturi, Fántur of Dreams who is Lórien Olofántur,
and Fántur of Death who is Vefántur Mandos, and 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. But
lo, the other was the spouse of Oromë the hunter who is named Aldaron king of
forests, who shouts for joy upon mountain-tops and is nigh as lusty as that
perpetual youth Tulkas. Oromë is the son of Aulë and Palúrien, and that Tári
who is his wife is known to all as Vána the fair and loveth mirth and youth and
beauty, and is happiest of all beings, for she is Tuilérë or as the Valar said
Vána Tuivána who bringeth spring, and all sing her praises as Tári-Laisi
mistress of life.
§65.
Yet even when all these had crossed the confines of the world and Vilna was in
uproar with their passing, there came still hurrying late Makar and his fierce
sister Meássë; and it had been better had they not found the world but remained
for ever with the Ainur beyond Vaitya and the stars, for both were spirits of
quarrelsome mood, and with some other lesser ones who came now with them had
been the first and chief to join in the discords of Melko and to aid in the
spreading of his music.
§66.
Last of all came Ómar who is called Amillo, youngest of the great Valar, and he
sang songs as he came.
§67.
Then when all these great spirits were gathered together within the confines of
the world Manwë spake to them, saying: “Lo now! How may the Valar abide in this
fair place or be happy and rejoice in its goodness, if Melko be suffered to
destroy it, and make fire and turmoil, so that we have not where to sit in
peace, nor may the earth blossom or the designs of Ilúvatar come to being?”
§68.
Then all the Valar were angered with Melko, and Makar alone spoke against
Manwë; but the rest chose certain of their number to seek out the wrongdoer,
and these were Mandos and Tulkas, Mandos for that of his dread aspect was Melko
more in fear than of aught else save it were the strength of Tulkas’ arm, and
Tulkas was the other.
§69. Now those two sought him out and constrained him to come before Manwë, and Tulkas whose heart misliked the crooked guile of Melko gave him a blow with his fist, and he abode that then but did not forget. Yet did he speak the Gods fair, and said how he did scant harm, revelling only a while in the newness of the world; nor, said he, would he ever seek to do aught against the lordship of Manwë or the dignity of those chiefs Aulë and Ulmo, nor indeed to the hurt of any beside. Rather was it his counsel that each of the Valar should now depart and dwell amid those things that he loved upon Earth, nor should any seek to extend his sway beyond its just boundaries. In this there was some covert reflection upon Manwë and Ulmo, but of the Gods some took his words in faith and would use his advice, but other distrusted; and in the midst of their debate Ulmo arose and went to the Outermost Seas that were set beyond the Outer Lands. He loved not high words nor concourse of folk, and in those deep waters moveless and empty he purposed to dwell, leaving the governance of the Great and lesser seas to Ossë and Ónen his vassals. Yet ever of his magic deep in his outermost seahalls of Ulmonan he controlled the faint stirrings of the Shadowy Seas, and ruled the lakes and springs and rivers of the world.
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