make nothing save in mockery of the thought of others； and all their works he destroyed if he could。
The spouse of Aul？ is Yavanna； the Giver of Fruits。 She is the lover of all things that grow in the earth； and all
their countless forms she holds in her mind； from the trees like towers in forests long ago to the moss upon stones or the
small and secret things in the mould。 In reverence Yavanna is next to Varda among the Queens of the Valar。 In the form
of a woman she is tall； and robed in green； but at times she takes other shapes。 Some there are who have seen her
standing like a tree under heaven； crowned with the Sun； and from all its branches there spilled a golden dew upon the
barren earth； and it grew green with corn； but the roots of the tree were in the waters of Ulmo； and the winds of Manw？
spoke in its leaves。 Kementári； Queen of the Earth； she is surnamed in the Eldarin tongue。
The F？anturi； masters of spirits； are brethren； and they are called most often Mandos and Lórien。 Yet these are
rightly the names of the places of their dwelling； and their true names are Námo and Irmo。
Námo the elder dwells in Mandos； which is westward in Valinor。 He is the keeper of the Houses of the Dead； and
the summoner of the spirits of the slain。 He forgets nothing； and he knows all things that shall be； save only those that lie
still in the freedom of Ilúvatar。 He is the Doomsman of the Valar； but he pronounces his dooms and his Judgements only
at the bidding of Manw？。 Vair？ the Weaver is his spouse； who weaves all things that have ever been in Time into her
storied webs； and the halls of Mandos that ever widen as the ages pass are clothed with them。
Irmo the younger is the master of visions and dreams。 In Lórien are his gardens in the land of the Valar； and they
are the fairest of all places in the world； filled with many spirits。 Est？ the gentle； healer of hurts and of weariness； is his
spouse。 Grey is her raiment； and rest is her gift。 She walks not by day； but sleeps upon an island in the tree…shadowed
lake of Lórellin。 From the fountains of Irmo and Est？ all those who dwell in Valinor draw refreshment； and often the
Valar e themselves to Lórien and there find repose and easing of the burden of Arda。
Mightier than Est？ is Nienna； sister of the F？anturi； 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 es 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。
Greatest in strength and deeds of prowess is Tulkas； who is surnamed Astaldo； the Valiant。 He came last to Arda；
to aid the Valar in the first battles with Melkor。 He delights in wrestling and in contests of strength； and he rides no
steed； for he can outrun all things that go on feet； and he is tireless。 His hair and beard are golden； and his flesh ruddy；
his weapons are his hands。 He has little heed for either the past or the future； and is of no avail as a counsellor； but is a
hardy friend。 His spouse is Nessa； the sister of Orom？； and she also is lithe and fleetfooted。 Deer she loves； and they
follow her train whenever she goes in the wild； but she can outrun them； swift as an arrow with the wind in her hair。 In
dancing she delights； and she dances in Valimar on lawns of never…fading green。
Orom？ is a mighty lord。 If he is less strong than Tulkas； he is more dreadful in anger； whereas Tulkas laughs ever；
in sport or in war； and even in the face of Melkor he laughed in battles before the Elves were born。 Orom？ loved the
lands of Middle…earth； and he left them unwillingly and came last to Valinor； and often of old he passed back east over
the mountains and returned with his host to the hills and the plains。 He is a hunter of monsters and fell beasts； and he
delights in horses and in hounds； and all trees he loves； for which reason he is called Aldaron； and by the Sindar Tauron；
the Lord of Forests。 Nahar is the name of his horse； white in the sun； and shining silver at night。 The Valaróma is the
name of his great horn； the sound of which is like the upgoing of the Sun in scarlet； or the sheer lightning cleaving the
clouds。 Above all the horns of his host it was heard in the woods that Yavanna brought forth in Valinor； for there Orom？
would train his folk and his beasts for the pursuit of the evil creatures of。 Melkor。 The spouse of Orom？ is Vána； the
Ever…young； she is the younger sister of Yavanna。 All flowers spring as she passes and open if she glances upon them；
and all birds sing at her ing。
These are the names of the Valar and the Valier； and here is told in brief their likenesses； such as the Eldar beheld
them in Aman。 But fair and noble as were the forms in which they were manifest to the Children of Ilúvatar； they were
but a veil upon their beauty and their power。 And if little is here said of all that the Eldar once knew； that is as nothing
pared with their true being； which goes back into regions and ages far beyond our thought。 Among them Nine were
of chief power and reverence； but one is removed from their number； and Eight remain； the Aratar； the High Ones of
Arda： Manw？ and Varda； Ulmo； Yavanna and Aul？； Mandos； Nienna； and Orom？。 Though Manw？ is their King and
holds their allegiance under Eru； in majesty they are peers； surpassing beyond pare all others； whether of the Valar
and the Maiar； or of any other order that Ilúvatar has sent into E？。
Of the Maiar
With the Valar came other spirits whose being also began before the World； of the same order as the Valar but of less
degree。 These are the Maiar； the people of the Valar； and their servants and helpers。 Their number is not known to the
Elves； and few have names in any of the tongues of the Children of Ilúvatar； for though it is otherwise in Aman； in
Middle…earth the Maiar have seldom appeared in form visible to Elves and Men。
Chief among the Maiar of Valinor whose names are remembered in the histories of the Elder Days are Ilmar？； the
handmaid of Varda； and E？nw？； the banner…bearer and herald of Manw？； whose might in arms is surpassed by none in
Arda。 But of all the Maiar Oss？ and Uinen are best known to the Children of Ilúvatar。
Oss？ is a vassal of Ulmo； and he is master of the seas that wash the shores of Middle…earth。 He does not go in the
deeps； but loves the coasts and the isles； and rejoices in the winds of Manw？； for in storm he delights； and laughs amid
the roaring of the waves。 His spouse is Uinen； the Lady of the Seas； whose hair lies spread through all waters under sky。
All creatures she loves that live in the salt streams； and all weeds that grow there； to her mariners cry； for she can lay
calm upon the waves； restraining the wildness of Oss？。 The Númenóreans lived long in her protection； and held her in
reverence equal to the Valar。
Melkor hated the Sea； for he could not subdue it。 It is said that in the making of Arda he endeavoured to draw
Oss？ to his allegiance； promising to him all the realm and power of Ulmo； if he would serve him。 So it was that long ago
there arose great tumults in the sea that wrought ruin to the lands。 But Uinen； at the prayer of Aul？； restrained Oss？ and
brought him before Ulmo； and he was pardoned and returned to his allegiance； to which he has remained faithful。 For
the most part； for the delight in violence has never wholly departed from him； and at times he will rage in his wilfulness
without any mand from Ulmo his lord。 Therefore those who dwell by the sea or go up in ships may love him； but
they do not trust him。
Melian was the name of a Maia who served both Vána and Est？； she dwelt long in Lórien； tending the trees that
flower in the gardens of Irmo； ere she came to Middle…earth。 Nightingales sang about her wherever she went。
Wisest of the Maiar was Olórin。 He too dwelt in Lórien； but his ways took him often to the house of Nienna； and
of her he learned pity and patience。
Of Melian much is told in the Quenta Silmarillion。 But of Olórin that tale does not speak； for though he loved the
Elves； he walked among them unseen； or in form as one of them； and they did not know whence came the fair visions or
the promptings of wisdom that he put into their hearts。 In later days he was the friend of all the Children of Ilúvatar； and
took pity on their sorrows； and those who listened to him awoke from despair and put away the imaginations of
darkness。
Of the Enemies
Last of all is set the name of Melkor； He who arises in Might。 But that name he has forfeited； and the Noldor； who
among the Elves suffered most from his malice； will not utter it； and they name him Morgoth； the Dark Enemy of the
World。 Great might was given to him by Ilúvatar； and he was coeval with Manw？。 In the powers and knowledge of all
the other Valar he had part； but he turned them to evil purposes； and squandered his strength in violence and tyranny。 For
he coveted Arda and all that was in it； desiring the kingship of Manw？ and dominion over the realms of his peers。
From splendour he fell through arrogance to contempt for all things save himself； a spirit wasteful and pitiless。
Understanding he turned to subtlety in perverting to his own will all that he would use； until he became a liar without
shame。 He began with the desire of Light； but when he could not possess it for himself alone； he descended through fire
and wrath into a great burning； down into Darkness。 And darkness he used most in his evil works upon Arda； and filled it
with fear for all living things。
Yet so great was the power of his uprising that in ages forgotten he contended with Manw？ and all the Valar； and
through long years in Arda held dominion over most of the lands of the Earth。 But he was not alone。 For of the Maiar
many were drawn to his splendour in the days of his greatness； and remained in that allegiance down into his darkness；
and others he corrupted afterwards to his service with lies and treacherous gifts。 Dreadful among these spirits were the
Valaraukar； the scourges of fire that in Middle…earth were called the Balrogs； demons of terror。
Among those of his servants that have names the greatest was that spirit whom the Eldar called Sauron； or
Gorthaur the Cruel。 In his beginning he was of the Maiar of Aul？； and he remained mighty in the lore of that people。 In
all the deeds of Melkor the Morgoth upon Arda； in his vast works and in the deceits of his cunning； Sauron had a part；
and was only less evil than his master in that for long he served another and not himself。 But in