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For the Dúnedain held that even mortal Men； if so blessed； might look upon other times than those of their
bodies' life； and they longed ever to escape from the shadows of their exile and to see in some fashion fee light that dies
not； for the sorrow of the thought of death had pursued them over the deeps of the sea。 Thus it was that great mariners
among them would still search the empty seas； hoping to e upon the Isle of Meneltarma； and there to see a vision of
things that were。 But they found it not。 And those that sailed far came only to the new lands； and found them like to the
old lands； and subject to death。 And those that sailed furthest set but a girdle about the Earth and returned weary at last
to the place of their beginning； and they said：
'All roads are now bent。'
Thus in after days； what by the voyages of ships； what by lore and star…craft； the kings of Men knew that the
world was indeed made round； and yet the Eldar were permitted still to depart and to e to the Ancient West and to
Avallón？； if they would。 Therefore the loremasters of Men said that a Straight Road must still be； for those that were
permitted to find it。 And they taught that； while the new world fell away； the old road and the path of the memory of the
West still went on； as it were a mighty bridge invisible that passed through the air of breath and of flight （which were
bent now as the world was bent）； and traversed Ilmen which flesh unaided cannot endure； until it came to Tol Eress？a；
the Lonely Isle； and maybe even beyond； to Valinor； where the Valar still dwell and watch the unfolding of the story of
the world。 And tales and rumours arose along the shores of the sea concerning mariners and men forlorn upon the water
who； by some fate or grace or favour of the Valar； had entered in upon the Straight Way and seen the face of the world
sink below them； and so had e to the lamplit quays of Avallón？； or verily to the last beaches on the margin of Aman；
and there had looked upon the White Mountain； dreadful and beautiful； before they died。
OF THE RINGS OF POWER
AND THE THIRD AGE
in which these tales e to
their end
Of old there was Sauron the Maia； whom the Sindar in Beleriand named Gorthaur。 In the beginning of Arda Melkor
seduced him to his allegiance； and he became the greatest and most trusted of the servants of the Enemy； and the most
perilous； for he could assume many forms； and for long if he willed he could still appear noble and beautiful； so as to
deceive all but the most wary。
When Thangorodrim was broken and Morgoth overthrown； Sauron put on his fair hue again and did obeisance to
E？nw？ the herald of Manw？； and abjured all his evil deeds。 And some hold that this was not at first falsely done； but that
Sauron in truth repented； if only out of fear； being dismayed by the fall of Morgoth and the great wrath of the Lords of
the West。 But it was not within the power of E？nw？ to pardon those of his own order； and he manded Sauron to
return to Aman and there receive the judgement of Manw？。 Then Sauron was ashamed； and he was unwilling to return in
humiliation and to receive from the Valar a sentence； it might be； of long servitude in proof of his good faith； for under
Morgoth his power had been great。 Therefore when E？nw？ departed he hid himself in Middle…earth； and he fell back
into evil； for the bonds that Morgoth bad laid upon him were very strong。
* * *
In the Great Battle and the tumults of the fall of Thangorodrim there were mighty convulsions in the earth； and
Beleriand was broken and laid waste； and northward and westward many lands sank beneath the waters of the Great Sea。
In the east； in Ossiriand； the walls of Ered Luin were broken； and a great gap was made in them towards the south； and a
gulf of the sea flowed in。 Into that gulf the River Lh？n fell by a new course； and it was called therefore the Gulf of Lh？n。
That country had of old been named Lindon by the Noldor； and this name it bore thereafter； and many of the Eldar still
dwelt there； lingering； unwilling yet to forsake Beleriand where they had fought and laboured long。 Gil…galad son of
Fingon was their king； and with him was Elrond Half…elven； son of E？rendil the Mariner and brother of Elros first king
of Númenor。
Upon the shores of the Gulf of Lh？n the Elves built their havens； and named them Mithlond； and there they held
many ships； for the harbourage was good。 From the Grey Havens the Eldar ever and anon set sail； fleeing from the
darkness of the days of Earth； for by the mercy of the Valar the Firstborn could still follow the Straight Road and return；
if they would； to their kindred in Eress？a and Valinor beyond the encircling seas。
Others of the Eldar there were who crossed the mountains of Ered Luin in that age and passed into the inner
lands。 Many of these were Teleri； survivors of Doriath and Ossiriand； and they established realms among the Silvan
Elves in woods and mountains far from the sea； for which nonetheless they ever yearned in their hearts。 Only in Eregion；
which Men called Hollin； did Elves of Noldorin race establish a lasting realm beyond the Ered Luin。 Eregion was nigh
to the great mansions of the Dwarves that were named Khazad…d？m； but by the Elves Hadhodrond； and afterwards
Moria。 From Ost…in…Edhil； the city of the Elves； the highroad ran to the west gate of Khazad…d？m； for a friendship arose
between Dwarves and Elves； such as has never elsewhere been； to the enrichment of both those peoples。 In Eregion the
craftsmen of the Gwaith…i…Mírdain； the People of the Jewel…smiths； surpassed in cunning all that have ever wrought； save
only F？anor himself； and indeed greatest in skill among them was Celebrimbor； son of Curufin； who was estranged from
his father and remained in Nargothrond when Celegorm and Curufin were driven forth； as is told in the Quenta
Silmarillion。
Elsewhere in Middle…earth there was peace for many years； yet the lands were for the most part savage and
desolate； save only where the people of Beleriand came。 Many Elves dwelt there indeed； as they had dwelt through the
countless years； wandering free in the wide lands far from the Sea； but they were Avari； to whom the deeds of Beleriand
were but a rumour and Valinor only a distant name。 And in the south and in the further east Men multiplied； and most of
them turned to evil； for Sauron was at work。
Seeing the desolation of the world； Sauron said in his heart that the Valar； having overthrown Morgoth； had again
forgotten Middle…earth； and his pride grew apace。 He looked with hatred on the Eldar； and he feared the Men of
Númenor who came back at whiles in their ships to the shores of Middle…earth； but for long he dissembled his mind and
concealed the dark designs that he shaped in his heart。
Men he found the easiest to sway of all the peoples of the Earth； but long he sought to persuade the Elves to his
service； for he knew that the Firstborn had the greater power； and he went far and wide among them； and his hue was
still that of one both fair and wise。 Only to Lindon he did not e； for Gil…galad and Elrond doubted him and his fair…
seeming； and though they knew not who in truth he was they would not admit him to that land。 But elsewhere the Elves
received him gladly； and few among them hearkened to the messengers from Lindon bidding them beware； for Sauron
took to himself the name of Annatar； the Lord of Gifts； and they had at first much profit from his friendship。 And he said
to them： 〃Alas； for the weakness of the great！ For a mighty king is Gil…galad； and wise in all lore is Master Elrond； and
yet they will not aid me in my labours。 Can it be that they do not desire to see other lands bee as blissful as their
own？ But wherefore should Middle…earth remain for ever desolate and dark； whereas the Elves could make it as fair as
Eress？a； nay even as Valinor？ And since you have not returned thither； as you might； I perceive that you love this
Middle…earth； as do I。 Is it not then our task to labour together for its enrichment； and for the raising of all the Elven…
kindreds that wander here untaught to the height of that power and knowledge which those have who are beyond the
Sea？'
It was in Eregion that the counsels of Sauron were most gladly received； for in that land the Noldor desired ever
to increase the skill and subtlety of their works。 Moreover they were not at peace in their hearts； since they had refused
to return into the West； and they desired both to stay in Middle…earth； which indeed they loved； and yet to enjoy the bliss
of those that had departed。 Therefore they hearkened to Sauron； and they learned of him many things； for his knowledge
was great。 In those days the smiths of Ost…in…Edhil surpassed all that they had contrived before； and they took thought；
and they made Rings of Power。 But Sauron guided their labours； and he was aware of all that they did； for his desire was
to set a bond upon the Elves and to bring them under his vigilance。
Now the Elves made many rings； but secretly Sauron made One Ring to rule all the others； and their power was
bound up with it； to be subject wholly to it and to last only so long as it too should last。 And much of the strength and
will of Sauron passed into that One Ring； for the power of the Elven…rings was very great； and that which should govern
them must be a thing of surpassing potency； and Sauron forged it in the Mountain of Fire in the Land of Shadow。 And
while he wore the One Ring he could perceive all the things that were done by means of the lesser rings； and he could
see and govern the very thoughts of those that wore them。
But the Elves were not so lightly to be caught。 As soon as Sauron set the One Ring upon his finger they were
aware of him； and they knew him； and perceived that he would be master of them； and of an that they wrought。 Then in
anger and fear they took off their rings。 But he； finding that he was betrayed and that the Elves were not deceived； was
filled with wrath； and he came against them with open war； demanding that all the rings should be delivered to him；
since the Elven…smiths could not have attained to their making without his lore and counsel。 But the Elves fled from him；
and three of their rings they saved； and bore them away； and hid them。
Now these were the Three that had last been made； and they possessed the greatest powers。 Narya； Nenya； and
Vilya； they were named； the Rings of Fire； and of Water； and of Air； set with ruby and adamant and sapphire； and of all
the Elven…rings Sauron most desired to possess them； for those who had them in their keeping could ward off the decays
of time and postpone the weariness of the world。 But Sauron could not discover them； for they were given into the hands
of the Wise； who concealed them and never again used them openly while Sauron kept the Ruling Ring。 Therefore the
Three remained unsullied； for they were forged by Celebrimbor alone； and the hand of Sauron had never touched them；
yet they also were subject to the One。
From that time war never ceased between Sauron and the Elves； and Eregion was laid waste； and Celebrimbor
slain； and the doors of Moria were shut。 In that time the stronghold and refuge of Imladris； that Men called Rivendell；
was founded by Elrond Half…elven； and long it endured。 But Sauron gathered into his hands all the remaining Rings of
Power； and he dealt them out to the other peoples of Middle…earth； hoping thus to bring under his sway all those that
desired secret power beyond the measure of their kind。 Seven Rings he gave to the Dwarves； but to Men he gave nine；
for Men proved in this matter as in others the readiest to his will。 And all those rings that he governed he perverted； the
more easily since he had a part in their making； and they were accursed； and they betrayed in the end all those that used
them。 The Dwarves indeed proved tough and hard to tame； they ill endure the domination of others； and the thoughts of
their hearts are hard to fathom； nor can they be turned to shadows。 They used their rings only for the getting of wealth；
but wrath and an over…mastering greed of gold were kindled in their hearts； of which evil enough after came to the profit
of Sauron。 It is said that the foundation of each of the Seven Hoards of the Dwarf…kings of old was a golden ring； but all
those hoards long ago were plundered and the Dragons devoured them； and of the Seven Rings some were consumed in
fire and some Sauron recovered。
Men proved easier to ensnare。 Those who used the Nine Rings became mighty in their day； kings； sorcerers； and
warriors of old。 They obtained glory and great wealth； yet it turned to their undoing。 They had； as it seemed； unending
life； yet life became unendurable to them。 They could walk； if they would； unseen by all eyes in this world beneath the
sun； and they could see things in worlds invisible to mortal men； but too often they beheld only the phantoms and
delusions of Sauron。 And one by one； sooner or later； according to their native strength and to the good or evil of their
wills i