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he sought in the Echoriath （which are the Encircling Mountains）； and found rich lodes of ore of divers metals。 Most he
prized the hard iron of the mine of Anghabar in the north of the Echoriath； and thence he got a wealth of forged metal
and of steel； so that the arms of the Gondolindrim were made ever stronger and more keen； and that stood them in good
stead in the days to e。 Wise in counsel was Maeglin and wary； and yet hardy and valiant at need。 And that was seen
in after days： for when in the dread year of the Nirnaeth Arnoediad Turgon opened his leaguer and marched forth to the
help of Fingon in the north； Maeglin would not remain in Gondolin as regent of the King； but went to the war and fought
beside Turgon； and proved fell and fearless in battle。
Thus all seemed well with the fortunes of Maeglin； who had risen to be mighty among the princes of the Noldor；
and greatest save one in the most renowned of their realms。 Yet he did not reveal his heart： and though not all things
went as he would he endured it in silence； hiding his mind so that few could read it； unless it were Idril Celebrindal。 For
from his first days in Gondolin he had borne a grief； ever worsening； that robbed him of all joy： he loved the beauty of
Idril and desired her； without hope。 The Eldar wedded not with km so near； nor ever before had any desired to do so。
And however that might be； Idril loved Maeglin not at all； and knowing his thought of her she loved him the less。 For it
seemed to her a thing strange and crooked in him； as indeed the Eldar ever since have deemed it： an evil fruit of the
Kinslaying； whereby the shadow of the curse of Mandos fell upon the last hope of the Noldor。 But as the years passed
still Maeglin watched Idril； and waited； and his love turned to darkness in his heart。 And he sought the more to have his
will in other matters； shirking no toil or burden； if he might thereby have power。
Thus it was in Gondolin； and amid all the bliss of that realm； while its glory lasted； a dark seed of evil was sown。
Chapter 17
Of the ing of Men into the West
When three hundred years and more were gone since the Noldor came to Beleriand； in the days of the Long Peace；
Finrod Felagund lord of Nargothrond journeyed east of Sirion and went hunting with Maglor and Maedhros； sons of
F？anor。 But he wearied of the chase and passed cm alone towards the mountains of Ered Lindon that he saw shining
afar； and taking the Dwarf…road he crossed Gelion at the ford of Sarn Athrad； and taming south over the upper streams of
Ascar； he came into the north of Ossiriand。
In a valley among the foothills of the mountains； below the springs of Thalos； he saw lights in the evening； and
far off he heard the sound of song。 At this he wondered much； for the Green…elves of that land lit no fires； nor did they
sing by night At first he feared that a raid of Orcs had passed the leaguer of the North； but as he drew near he perceived
that it was not so； for the singers used a tongue that he had not heard before； neither that of Dwarves nor of Orcs。 Then
Felagund； standing silent hi the night…shadow of the trees； looked down into the camp； and there he beheld a strange
people。
Now these were a part of the kindred and following of B？or the Old； as he was afterwards called； a chieftain
among Men。 After many lives of wandering out of the East he had led them at last over the Blue Mountains； the first of
the race of Men to enter Beleriand； and they sang because they were glad； and believed that they had escaped from all
perils and had e at last to a land without fear。
Long Felagund watched them； and love for them stirred in his heart； but he remained hidden in the trees until they
had all fallen asleep。 Then he went among the sleeping people； and sat beside their dying fire where none kept watch；
and he took up a rude harp which B？or had laid aside； and he played music upon it such as the ears of Men had not
heard； for they had as yet no teachers in the art； save only the Dark Elves in the wild lands。
Now men awoke and listened to Felagund as he harped and sang； and each thought that he was in some fair
dream； until he saw that his fellows were awake also beside him； but they did not speak or stir while Felagund still
played； because of the beauty of the music and the wonder of the song。 Wisdom was in the words of the Elven…king； and
the hearts grew wiser that hearkened to him； for the things of which he sang； of the making of Arda； and the bliss of
Aman beyond the shadows of the Sea； came as clear visions before their eyes； and his Elvish speech was interpreted in
each mind according to its measure。
Thus it was that Men called King Felagund； whom they first met of all the Eldar； Nóm； that is Wisdom； in the
language of that people； and after him they named his folk Nómin； the Wise。 Indeed they believed at first that Felagund
was one of the Valar； of whom they had heard rumour that they dwelt far in the West； and this was （some say） the cause
of their journeying。 But Felagund dwelt among them and taught them true knowledge； and they loved him； and took him
for their lord； and were ever after loyal to the house of Finarfin。
Now the Eldar were beyond all other peoples skilled in tongues； and Felagund discovered also that he could read
in the minds of Men such thoughts as they wished to reveal in speech； so that their words were easily interpreted。 It is
said also that these Men had long had dealings with the Dark Elves east of the mountains； and from them had learned
much of their speech； and since all the languages of the Quendi were of one origin； the language of B？or and his folk
resembled the Elven…tongue in many words and devices。 It was not long therefore before Felagund could hold converse
with B？or； and while he dwelt with him they spoke much together。 But when he questioned him concerning the arising of
Men and their journeys； B？or would say little； and indeed he knew little； for the fathers of his people had told few tales
of their past and a silence had fallen upon their memory。 'A darkness lies behind us；' B？or said； 'and we have turned our
backs upon it； and we do not desire to return thither even in thought。 Westwards our hearts have been turned； and we
believe that there we shall find Light。'
But it was said afterwards among the Eldar that when Men awoke in Hildórien at the rising of the Sun the spies of
Morgoth were watchful； and tidings were soon brought to him； and this seemed to him so great a matter that secretly
under shadow he himself departed from Angband； and went forth into Middle…earth； leaving to Sauron the mand of
the War。 Of his dealings with Men the Eldar indeed knew nothing； at that time； and learnt but little afterwards； but that a
darkness lay upon the hearts of Men （as the shadow of the Kinslaying and the Doom of Mandos lay upon the Noldor）
they perceived clearly even in the people of the Elf…friends whom they first knew。 To corrupt or destroy whatsoever
arose new and fair was ever the chief desire of Morgoth； and doubtless he had this purpose also in his errand： by fear
and lies to make Men the foes of the Eldar； and bring them up out of the east against Beleriand。 But this design was slow
to ripen； and was never wholly achieved； for Men （it is said） were at first very few in number； whereas Morgoth grew
afraid of the growing power and union of the Eldar and came back to Angband； leaving behind at that time but few
servants； and those of less might and cunning。
Now Felagund learned from B？or that there were many other Men of like mind who were also journeying
westward。 'Others of my own kin have crossed the Mountains；' he said； 'and they are wandering not far away； and the
Haladin； a people from whom we are sundered in speech； are still in the valleys on the eastern slopes； awaiting tidings
before they venture further。 There are yet other Men； whose tongue is more like to ours； with whom we have had
dealings at times。 They were before us on the westward march； but we passed them； for they are a numerous people； and
yet keep together and move slowly； being all ruled by one chieftain whom they call Marach。'
Now the Green…elves of Ossiriand were troubled by the ing of Men； and when they heard that a lord of the
Eldar from over the Sea was among them they sent messengers to Felagund。 'Lord；' they said； 'if you have power over
these newers； bid them return by the ways that they came； or else to go forward。 For we desire no strangers in this
land to break the peace m which we live。 And these folk are hewers of trees and hunters of beasts； therefore we are their
unfriends； and if they will not depart we shall afflict them in all ways that we can。'
Then by the advice of Felagund B？or gathered all the wandering families and kindreds of his people； and they
removed over Gelion； and took up their abode in the lands of Amrod and Amras； upon the east banks of the Celon south
of Nan Elmoth； near to the borders of Doriath； and the name of that land thereafter was Estolad； the Encampment。 But
when after a year had passed Felagund wished to return to his own country； B？or begged leave to e with him； and he
remained in the service of the King of Nargothrond while his life lasted。 In this way he got his name； B？or； whereas his
name before had been Balan； for B？or signified 'Vassal' in the tongue of his people。 The rule of his folk he mitted to
Baran his elder son； and he did not return again to Estolad。
Soon after the departure of Felagund the other Men of whom B？or had spoken came also into Beleriand。 First
came the Haladin； but meeting the unfriendship of the Green…elves they turned north and dwelt in Thargelion； in the
country of Caranthir son of F？anor； there for a time they had peace； and the people of Caranthir paid little heed to them。
In the next year Marach led his people over the mountains； they were a tall and warlike folk； marching in ordered
panies； and the Elves of Ossiriand hid themselves and did not waylay them。 But Marach； hearing that the people of
B？or were dwelling in a green and fertile land； came down the Dwarf…road； and settled in the country south ； and east of
the dwellings of Baran son of B？or； and there was great friendship between those peoples。
Felagund himself often returned to visit Men； and many other Elves out of the west…lands； both Noldor and
Sindar； Journeyed to Estolad； being eager to see the Edain； whose ing had long been foretold。 Now Atani； the
Second People； was the name given to Men in Valinor in the lore that told of their ing； but in the speech of
Beleriand that name became Edain； and it was there used only of the three kindreds of the Elf…friends。
Fingolfin； as King of all the Noldor； sent messengers of wele to them； and then many young and eager men of
the Edain went away and took service with the 。 kings and lords of the Eldar。 Among them was Malach son of Marach；
and he dwelt in Hithlum for fourteen years； and he learned the Elven…tongue and was given the name of Aradan。
The Edain did not long dwell content in Estolad； for many still desired to go westward； but they did not know the
way。 Before them lay the fences of Doriath； and southward lay Sirion and its impassable fens。 Therefore J the kings of
the three houses of the Noldor； seeing hope t of strength in the sons of Men； sent word that any of the Edain that wished
might remove and e to dwell among their people。 In this way the migration of the Edain began： at first little by little；
but later in families and kindreds； they arose and left Estolad； until after some fifty years many thousands had entered
the lands of the Kings。 Most of these took the long road northwards； until the ways became well known to them。 The
people of B？or came to Dorthonion and dwelt in lands ruled by the house of Finarfin。 The people of Aradan （for Marach
his father remained in Estolad until his death） for the most part went on westward； and some came to Hithlum； but
Magor son of Aradan and many of the people passed down Sirion into Beleriand and dwelt a while in the vales of the
southern slopes of Ered Wethrin。
It is said that in all these matters none save Finrod Felagund took counsel with King Thingol； and he was ill
pleased； both for that reason； and because he was troubled by dreams concerning the ing of Men； ere ever the first
tidings of them were heard。 Therefore he manded that Men should take no lands to dwell in save in the north； and
that the princes whom they served should be answerable for all that they did； and he said： 'Into Doriath shall no Man
e while my realm lasts； not even those of the house of B？or who serve Finrod the beloved。' Melian said nothing to
him at that time； but afterwards she said to Galadriel： 'Now the world runs on swiftly to great tidings。 And one of Men；
even of B？or's house； shall indeed e； and the Girdle of Melian shall not restrain him； for doom greater than my
power shall send him； and the songs that shall spring from that ing shall endure when all Middle…earth is changed。'
But many Men remained in Estolad； and there was still