The Book Of Lost Tales: Part I Part 17

52.

Caught in their net all s.h.i.+mmering wet In a phosph.o.r.escent sheen Of bluey whites and opal lights And delicate liquid green.

56.

With the morning fish-'twas his regal wish- They packed him to Norwich town, To get warm on gin in a Norfolk inn, And dry his watery gown.

60.

Though Saint Peter's knell waked many a bell In the city's ringing towers To shout the news of his lunatic cruise In the early morning hours,

64.

No hearths were laid, not a breakfast made, And no one would sell him gems; He found ashes for fire, and his gay desire For chorus and brave anthems

68.

Met snores instead with all Norfolk abed, And his round heart nearly broke, More empty and cold than above of old, Till he bartered his fairy cloak

72.

With a half-waked cook for a kitchen nook, And his belt of gold for a smile, And a priceless jewel for a bowl of gruel, A sample cold and vile

76.

Of the proud plum-porridge of Anglian Norwich- He arrived so much too soon For unusual guests on adventurous quests From the Mountains of the Moon.

80.

It seems very possible that the 'pallid minaret' reappears in the 'little white turret' which Uol Kvion built on the Moon, 'where often he climbs and watches the heavens, or the world beneath'. The minaret of the Man in the Moon survives in the final version.

The Ocean of Almain is the North Sea (Almain or Almany was a name of Germany in earlier English); the Yare is a Norfolk river which falls into the sea at Yarmouth, and the Nene (p.r.o.nounced also with a short vowel) flows into the Wash.

IX.

THE HIDING OF VALINOR.

The link to this tale, which is told by Vair, has been given at the end of the last (p. 195). The ma.n.u.script continues as in the latter part of The Tale of the Sun and Moon (see p. 197 note 19), with an earlier draft also extant, to which reference is made in the notes.

'Lo, tales I tell of the deep days, and the first is called The Hiding of Valinor.

Already have ye heard,' said she, 'of the setting forth of the Sun and Moon upon their wayward journeyings, and many things are there to tell concerning the awakening of the Earth beneath their light; but hear now of the thoughts and deeds of the dwellers in Valinor in those mighty days.

Now is it to tell that so wide were the wanderings of those boats of light that the G.o.ds found it no easy thing to govern all their comings and their goings as they had purposed at the first, and Ilinsor was loath to yield the heaven to Urwendi, and Urwendi set sail often before Ilinsor's due return, being eager and hot of mood. Wherefore were both vessels often far afloat at one and the same time, and the glory of them sailing most nigh to the very bosom of the Earth, as often they did at that time, was very great and very terrible to see.

Then did a vague uneasiness begin to stir anew in Valinor, and the hearts of the G.o.ds were troubled, and the Eldar spake one to another, and this was their thought.

"Lo, all the world is grown clear as the courtyards of the G.o.ds, straight to walk upon as are the avenues of Vansamrin or the terraces of Kr; and Valinor no longer is safe, for Melko hates us without ceasing, and he holds the world without and many and wild are his allies there"-and herein in their hearts they1 numbered even the Noldoli, and wronged them in their thought unwittingly, nor did they forget Men, against whom Melko had lied of old. Indeed in the joy of the last burgeoning of the Trees and the great and glad labour of that fas.h.i.+oning of s.h.i.+ps the fear of Melko had been laid aside, and the bitterness of those last evil days and of the Gnomefolk's flight was fallen into slumber-but now when Valinor had peace once more and its lands and gardens were mended of their hurts memory awoke their anger and their grief again.

Indeed if the G.o.ds forgot not the folly of the Noldoli and hardened their hearts, yet more wroth were the Elves, and the Solosimpi were full of bitterness against their kin, desiring never more to see their faces in the pathways of their home. Of these the chief were those whose kin had perished at the Haven of the Swans, and their leader was one Ainairos who had escaped from that fray leaving his brother dead; and he sought unceasingly with his words to persuade the Elves to greater bitterness of heart.

Now this was a grief to Manw, yet did he see that as yet his design was not complete, and that the wisdom of the Valar must needs be bent once more to the more perfect government of the Sun and Moon. Wherefore he summoned the G.o.ds and Elves in conclave, that their counsel might better his design, and moreover he hoped with soft words of wisdom to calm their anger and uneasiness ere evil came of it. For clearly he saw herein the poison of Melko's lies that live and multiply wherever he may cast them more fruitfully than any seed that is sown upon the Earth; and already it was reported to him that the ancient murmuring of the Elves was begun anew concerning their freedom, and that pride made some full of folly, so that they might not endure the thought of the coming of Mankind.

Now then sat Manw in heavy mood before Kulullin and looked searchingly upon the Valar gathered nigh and upon the Eldar about his knees, but he opened not his full mind, saying to them only that he had called them in council once more to determine the courses of the Sun and Moon and devise an order and wisdom in their paths. Then straightway spake Ainairos before him saying that other matters were deeper in their hearts than this, and he laid before the G.o.ds the mind of the Elves concerning the Noldoli and of the nakedness of the land of Valinor toward the world beyond. Thereat arose much tumult and many of the Valar and their folk supported him loudly, and some others of the Eldar cried out that Manw and Varda had caused their kindred to dwell in Valinor promising them unfailing joy therein-now let the G.o.ds see to it that their gladness was not minished to a little thing, seeing that Melko held the world and they dared not fare forth to the places of their awakening even an they would. The most of the Valar moreover were fain of their ancient ease and desired only peace, wis.h.i.+ng neither rumour of Melko and his violence nor murmur of the restless Gnomes to come ever again among them to disturb their happiness; and for such reasons they also clamoured for the concealment of the land. Not the least among these were Vna and Nessa, albeit most even of the great G.o.ds were of one mind. In vain did Ulmo of his foreknowing plead before them for pity and pardon on the Noldoli, or Manw unfold the secrets of the Music of the Ainur and the purpose of the world; and long and very full of that noise was that council, and more filled with bitterness and burning words than any that had been; wherefore did Manw Slimo depart at length from among them, saying that no walls or bulwarks might now fend Melko's evil from them which lived already among them and clouded all their minds.

So came it that the enemies of the Gnomes carried the council of the G.o.ds and the blood of Kpas began already its fell work; for now began that which is named the Hiding of Valinor, and Manw and Varda and Ulmo of the Seas had no part therein, but none others of the Valar or the Elves held aloof therefrom, albeit Yavanna and Orom her son were uneasy in their hearts.

Now Lrien and Vna led the G.o.ds and Aul lent his skill and Tulkas his strength, and the Valar went not at that time forth to conquer Melko, and the greatest ruth was that to them thereafter, and yet is; for the great glory of the Valar by reason of that error came not to its fullness in many ages of the Earth, and still doth the world await it.2 In those days however they were unwitting of these things, and they set them to new and mighty labours such as had not been seen among them since the days of the first building of Valinor. The encircling mountains did they make more utterly impa.s.sable of their eastern side than ever were they before, and such earth-magics did Kemi weave about their precipices and inaccessible peaks that of all the dread and terrible places in the mighty Earth was that rampart of the G.o.ds that looked upon Eruman the most dire and perilous, and not Utumna nor the places of Melko in the Hills of Iron were so filled with insuperable fear. Moreover even upon the plains about their eastward...3 were heaped those impenetrable webs of clinging dark that Ungweliant sloughed in Valinor at the Trees' destroying. Now did the G.o.ds cast them forth from their bright land, that they might entangle utterly the steps of all who fared that way, and they flowed and spread both far and wide, lying even upon the bosom of the Shadowy Seas until the Bay of Fary grew dim and no radiance of Valinor filtered there, and the twinkling of the lamps of Kr died or ever it pa.s.sed the jewelled sh.o.r.es. From North to South marched the enchantments and inaccessible magic of the G.o.ds, yet were they not content; and they said: Behold, we will cause all the paths that fare to Valinor both known and secret to fade utterly from the world, or wander treacherously into blind confusion.

This then they did, and no channel in the seas was left that was not beset with perilous eddies or with streams of overmastering strength for the confusion of all s.h.i.+ps. And spirits of sudden storms and winds unlooked-for brooded there by Oss's will, and others of inextricable mist. Neither did they forget even the long circuitous ways that messengers of the G.o.ds had known and followed through the dark wildernesses of the North and the deepest South; and when all was done to their mind Lrien said: "Now doth Valinor stand alone, and we have peace," and Vna sang once more about her garden in the lightness of her heart.

Alone among all did the hearts of the Solosimpi misgive them, and they stood upon the coasts nigh to their ancient homes and laughter came not easily again amongst them, and they looked upon the Sea and despite its peril and its gloom they feared it lest it still might bring evil into the land. Then did some of them going speak to Aul and to Tulkas who stood nigh, saying: "O great ones of the Valar, full well and wondrously have the G.o.ds laboured, yet do we think in our hearts that something is yet lacking; for we have not heard that the way of the escape of the Noldoli, even the dread pa.s.sage of Helkaraks's cliffs, is destroyed. Yet where the children of the Eldar have trodden so may the sons of Melko return, despite all your enchantments and deceits; neither are we in peace at heart by reason of the undefended sea."

Thereat did Tulkas laugh, saying that naught might come now to Valinor save only by the topmost airs, "and Melko hath no power there; neither have ye, O little ones of the Earth". Nonetheless at Aul's bidding he fared with that Vala to the bitter places of the sorrow of the Gnomes, and Aul with the mighty hammer of his forge smote that wall of jagged ice, and when it was cloven even to the chill waters Tulkas rent it asunder with his great hands and the seas roared in between, and the land of the G.o.ds was sundered utterly from the realms of Earth.4 This did they at the Sh.o.r.eland Elves' behest, yet by no means would the G.o.ds suffer that low place in the hills beneath Taniquetil that lets upon the Bay of Fary to be piled with rocks as the Solosimpi desired, for there had Orom many pleasant woods and places of delight, and the Teleri5 would not endure that Kr should be destroyed or pressed too nearly by the gloomy mountain walls.

Then spake the Solosimpi to Ulmo, and he would not listen to them, saying that never had they learnt such bitterness of heart of his music, and that rather had they been listening to whispers of Melko the accursed. And going from Ulmo some were abashed, but others went and sought out Oss, and he aided them in Ulmo's despite; and of Oss's labour in those days are come the Magic Isles; for Oss set them in a great ring about the western limits of the mighty sea, so that they guarded the Bay of Fary, and albeit in those days the huge glooms of that far water overreached all the Shadowy Seas and stretched forth tongues of darkness towards them, still were they themselves surpa.s.sing fair to look upon. And such s.h.i.+ps as fare that way must needs espy them or ever they reach the last waters that wash the elfin sh.o.r.es, and so alluring were they that few had power to pa.s.s them by, and did any essay to then sudden storms drove them perforce against those beaches whose pebbles shone like silver and like gold. Yet all such as stepped thereon came never thence again, but being woven in the nets of Oinen's6 hair the Lady of the Sea, and whelmed in agelong slumber that Lrien set there, lay upon the margin of the waves, as those do who being drowned are cast up once more by the movements of the sea; yet rather did these hapless ones sleep unfathomably and the dark waters laved their limbs, but their s.h.i.+ps rotted, swathed in weeds, on those enchanted sands, and sailed never more before the winds of the dim West.7 Now when Manw gazing in sorrow from high Taniquetil saw all these things done he sent for Lrien and for Orom, thinking them less stubborn of heart than the others, and when they were come he spoke earnestly with them; yet he would not that the labour of the G.o.ds be undone, for he thought it not altogether ill, but he prevailed on those twain to do his bidding in certain matters. And in this manner did they so; for Lrien wove a way of delicate magic, and it fared by winding roads most secret from the Eastern lands and all the great wildernesses of the world even to the walls of Kr, and it ran past the Cottage of the Children of the Earth8 and thence down the "lane of whispering elms" until it reached the sea.

But the gloomy seas and all the straits it bridged with slender bridges resting on the air and greyly gleaming as it were of silken mists lit by a thin moon, or of pearly vapours; yet beside the Valar and the Elves have no Man's eyes beheld it save in sweet slumbers in their heart's youth. Longest of all ways is it and few are there ever reach its end, so many lands and marvellous places of allurement and of loveliness doth it pa.s.s ere it comes to Elfinesse, yet smooth is it to the feet and none tire ever who fare that way.

Such,' then said Vair, 'was and still is the manner of Olr Mall, the Path of Dreams; but of far other sort was the work of Orom, who hearing the words of Manw went speedily to Vna his wife, and begged of her a tress of her long golden hair. Now the hair of Vna the fair had become more long and radiant still since the days of her offering to Aul, and she gave to Orom of its golden threads. Then did he dip these in the radiance of Kululln, but Vna wove them cunningly to a leash immeasurable, and therewith Orom strode swiftly to the gatherings of Manw on the mountain.

Then calling loudly that Manw and Varda and all their folk come forth he held before their eyes his thong of gold, and they knew not his purpose; but Orom bid them cast their eyes on that Hill that is called Kalorm standing hugely in the lands most distant from Valinor, and is held most lofty save Taniquetil, yet seemeth therefrom a dim thing fading afar off. Even as they watched Orom stepped back, and putting all his cunning and his strength thereto he made a mighty cast, and that golden cord sped in a curve through the sky until its noose caught Kalorm's topmost pinnacle. Then by the magic of its making and the cunning of Orom's hand it stayed a bright golden curve and neither drooped nor sagged; but Orom fastened its. .h.i.ther end to a pillar in Manw's courts, and turning to those who gazed upon him said: "Who then listeth to wander in the Great Lands, let him follow me," and thereat he set foot upon the thong and sped like the wind out over the gulf even to Kalorm, while all upon Taniquetil were silent in amaze. Now did Orom loosen the thong from Kalorm's peak and run as swiftly back, ravelling it as he came, until once more he stood before Manw. Then said he: "Lo, O Slimo Lord of the Airs, a way I have devised whereby any of the Valar of good heart may fare whithersoever they list in the Great Lands; for whither they wish I will cast my slender bridge, and its. .h.i.ther end wilt thou securely guard."

And of this work of Orom's came that mighty wonder of the heavens that all men look upon and marvel at, and some fear much, pondering what it may portend. Yet doth that bridge wear a different aspect at different times and in various regions of the Earth, and seldom is it visible to Men and Elves. Now because it glistens most marvellously in the slanting rays of the Sun, and when the rains of heaven moisten it it s.h.i.+nes most magically therein and the gold light breaks upon its dripping cords to many hues of purple, green, and red, so do men most often name it the Rainbow, but many other names have they fas.h.i.+oned also, and the fairies call it Ilweran the Bridge of Heaven.

Now living Men may not tread the swaying threads of Ilweran and few of the Eldar have the heart, yet other paths for Elves and Men to fare to Valinor are there none since those days save one alone, and it is very dark; yet is it very short, the shortest and swiftest of all roads, and very rough, for Mandos made it and Fui set it in its place. Qalvanda is it called, the Road of Death, and it leads only to the halls of Mandos and Fui. Twofold is it, and one way tread the Elves and the other the souls of Men, and never do they mingle.9 'Thus,' said Vair, 'was the Hiding of Valinor achieved, and the Valar let slip the chance of a glory more splendid and enduring even than that great glory which was theirs and still is. Nonetheless are there still very mighty tidings of those days to tell, of which perchance I may now recount to you a few; and one I will name The Haven of the Sun.

Behold, now are the hearts of all set at rest by the truce10 of Manw and the Valar, and while the G.o.ds feast in Valmar and the heaven is full of the ungoverned glory of the s.h.i.+ps of Light the Elves go back at last to rebuild the happiness of Kr; and there they seek to forget all the sorrows and all the labours that had come among them since the Release of Melko. Now does Kr become the fairest and most delicate-lovely of all the realms of Valinor, for in the courtyard of Inw those two elfin trees shone still tenderly; and they were shoots of the glorious Trees now dead given by the G.o.ds to Inw in the first days of that town's building. Others too had been given to Nlem, but these were uprooted and were gone no one knew whither, and more had there never been.11 Yet even though the Elves trusted the Valar to s.h.i.+eld the land and weave protection about them, and though the days of sorrow faring into the past grew dim, still could they not yet utterly shake away the memory of their unhappiness; nor did they ever so, until after the magic way of Lrien was complete and the children of the fathers of the fathers of Men first were suffered to come there in sweet sleep; then did a new joy burn very brightly in their hearts, but these things were not yet come to pa.s.s and Men were yet but new-wakened on the Earth.

But Manw and Ulmo knowing their hour was come held high councils for their protection. Many designs they made therein, and they were weighed down by the thought of Melko and the wandering of the Gnomes; yet did the other folk of Valinor trouble themselves little with such matters yet. Nonetheless Manw ventured to speak once more to the Valar, albeit he uttered no word of Men, and he reminded them that in their labours for the concealment of their land they had let slip from thought the waywardness of the Sun and Moon. Now it was the fear of Manw lest the Earth become unbearable by reason of the great light and heat of those bright things, and Yavanna's heart was in accord with him in that, but the most of the Valar and the Elves saw good in his design because in the lifting of the Sun and Moon to higher paths they thought to set a final end to all their labours, removing those piercing beams more far, that all those hills and regions of their abode be not too bright illumined, and that none might ever again espy them afar off.

Wherefore said some: "Let us send now messengers to discover the fas.h.i.+on of the world in the uttermost East beyond even the sight of Manw from the Mountain of the World." Then arose Orom: "That I can tell you, for I have seen. In the East beyond the tumbled lands there is a silent beach and a dark and empty sea." And the G.o.ds marvelled at these tidings, yet never before had any save Orom listed to see or hear such things, not even Yavanna the Earth-lady. Nought do I say of Ulmo Vailimo, Lord of Vai, for of a truth all such matters he knew from the beginning of the Earth. Now therefore did that ancient one follow Orom, expounding to the Valar what was the secret nature of the Earth, and he said: "Lo, there is but one Ocean, and that is Vai, for those that Oss esteemeth as oceans are but seas, waters that lie in the hollows of the rock; but Vai runneth from the Wall of Things unto the Wall of Things whithersoever you may fare. Now to the North is it so cold that even its pale waters are frozen to a depth beyond thought or sounding, and to the South is such utter darkness and deceit by reason of Ungoliont12 that none save I alone may find a way. In this vast water floateth the wide Earth upheld by the word of Ilvatar, for nought else or fish or bark will swim therein to whom I have not spoken the great word that Ilvatar said to me and bound them with the spell; but of the wide Earth is even Valinor a part, and the substance of the Earth is stone and metal, and the seas are pools in its hollows, and the islands save some few that swim still unfettered stand now like pinnacles from their weedy depths. Know then that somewhat nearer stands Valinor to the great Wall of Things wherein Ilvatar hath enclosed us than doth that furthest Eastern sh.o.r.e: and this do I know, for diving beneath the world often have I visited those unharboured beaches; for lo, O Valar, ye know not all wonders, and many secret things are there beneath the Earth's dark keel, even where I have my mighty halls of Ulmonan, that ye have never dreamed on."

But said Manw: "True is that, O Ulmo Vailimo; but what is it to our present purpose?" And Ulmo answered: "Lo, I will take Aul the Smith with me and convey him safe and swift beneath the waters of Vai in my deep-sea car, even to the Eastern sh.o.r.es, and there will he and I build havens for the s.h.i.+ps, and from the East hereafter shall they arise and give their fullest light and glory to Men who need them, and to the unhappy Noldoli, following one the other over the sky, and coming home to Valinor. Here, when their hearts wax faint by reason of their journeyings, shall they rest awhile upon the Outer Seas and Urwendi bathe in Faskalan and Ilinsor drink of the quiet waters of the Lake Irtinsa, ere ever they return again."

Now this speech had Manw and Ulmo designed in collusion, and the Valar and Eldar hearkened for divers reasons as before; wherefore was Aul sped now with Ulmo, and they builded great havens in the East beside the soundless sea; and the haven of the Sun was wide and golden, but the haven of the Moon was set within the same harbourage, and it was white, having gates of silver and of pearl that shone faintly so soon as the Sun sank from the heavens into Valinor; at that hour do those gates open of themselves before the issuing Moon, but none of the Eldar have seen these things save Uol Kvion, and he has told no tale.

Now at first the Valar purposed to draw the Sun and Moon beneath the Earth, hallowing them with Ulmo's spell that Vai harm them not, each at its appointed time; yet in the end they found that Sri13 might not, even so, safely come beneath the world, for it was too frail and lissom; and much precious radiance was spilled in their attempts about the deepest waters, and escaped to linger as secret sparks in many an unknown ocean cavern. These have many elfin divers, and divers of the fays, long time sought beyond the outmost East, even as is sung in the song of the Sleeper in the Tower of Pearl.14 Indeed for a while mishap fell even upon bright Urwendi, that she wandered the dark grots and endless pa.s.sages of Ulmo's realm until Fionw found her and brought her back to Valinor-but the full tale is called the Tale of Qorinmi and may not here be told.15 Thus came it that the G.o.ds dared a very great deed, the most mighty of all their works; for making a fleet of magic rafts and boats with Ulmo's aid-and otherwise had none of these endured to sail upon the waters of Vai-they drew to the Wall of Things, and there they made the Door of Night (Moritarnon or Tarn Fui as the Eldar name it in their tongues). There it still stands, utterly black and huge against the deep-blue walls. Its pillars are of the mightiest basalt and its lintel likewise, but great dragons of black stone are carved thereon, and shadowy smoke pours slowly from their jaws. Gates it has unbreakable, and none know how they were made or set, for the Eldar were not suffered to be in that dread building, and it is the last secret of the G.o.ds; and not the onset of the world will force that door, which opens to a mystic word alone. That word Urwendi only knows and Manw who spake it to her; for beyond the Door of Night is the outer dark, and he who pa.s.ses therethrough may escape the world and death and hear things not yet for the ears of Earth-dwellers, and this may not be.

In the East however was the work of the G.o.ds of other sort, for there was a great arch made, and, 'tis said, 'tis all of s.h.i.+ning gold and barred with silver gates, yet few have beheld it even of the G.o.ds for the wealth of glowing vapours that are often swathed about it. Now the Gates of Morn open also before Urwendi only, and the word she speaks is the same that she utters at the Door of Night, but it is reversed.

So comes it that ever now, as the s.h.i.+p of the Moon leaves his haven in the East and his gates of pearl, Ulmo draws the galleon of the Sun before the Door of Night. Then speaks Urwendi the mystic word, and they open outward before her, and a gust of darkness sweeps in but perishes before her blazing light; and the galleon of the Sun goes out into the limitless dark, and coming behind the world finds the East again. There doth Sri filled with the lightness of the morning ride through the gates and Urwendi and her maidens make a sound of golden horns, and dawn is spilt upon the eyes of Men.16 Yet many a time and oft a tiny star-s.h.i.+p of Varda that has dipped into the Outer Seas, as often they will, is sucked through that Door of Night behind the Sun; and some track her galleon through the starless vast back unto the Eastern Wall, and some are lost for ever, and some glimmer beyond the Door until the Suns.h.i.+p issues forth again.17 Then do these leap back and rush up into the sky again, or flee across its s.p.a.ces; and this is a very beautiful thing to see-the Fountains of the Stars.

Behold, the Moon dares not the utter loneliness of the outer dark by reason of his lesser light and majesty, and he journeys still beneath the world and many are the chances of that way; wherefore is it that he is often less timely than the Sun and is more fickle. Sometimes he comes not after Sri at all, and other times is late and maketh but a little voyage or even dares the heavens while Urwendi still is there. Then smile the G.o.ds wistfully and say: "It is the mingling of the lights once more."18 Long was this indeed the manner of the s.h.i.+ps' guidance, and long was it after those days that the G.o.ds grew afraid once more for the Sun and Moon because of certain tidings of those days, which perchance may after be told; and because of their fear a new and strange thing befell. Now the manner of this mayhap I may tell before I make an end; and it is called The Weaving of the Days and Months and of the Years.

For know that even as the great G.o.ds sat in conclave pondering how they might fetter the lamps of heaven ever to their hand and guide their goings even as a charioteer doth guide his galloping horses, behold three aged men stood before them and saluted Manw.

But Manw asked them who they were, "for well I know," quoth he, "that ye are not of the glad folk that dwell in Valmar or the gardens of the G.o.ds," and the Valar marvelled how they came unaided to their land. Now those men were of strange aspect, seeming aged beyond count albeit of strength untamed. And one that stood at the left was exceeding small and short, and another amidmost of middle stature, and the third was long and tall; and the first had short hair and a small beard, and the other's was neither long nor short, but the beard of the third swept the earth before his feet as he walked. Now after a while he that was short and small spake in answer to Manw, and he said: "Brothers are we; and men of exceeding subtle craft" and the other answered: "Lo, Danuin, Ranuin, and Fanuin are we called,* and I am Ranuin, and Danuin has spoken." Then said Fanuin: "And we will offer thee our skill in your perplexity-yet who we are and whence we come or whither we go that we will tell to you only if ye accept our rede and after we have wrought as we desire."

Then some of the G.o.ds said them nay, fearing a trick (even perhaps of Melko), and others would grant their request, and such was the counsel that in the end prevailed because of the great perplexity of the time. Then did those three Danuin and Ranuin and Fanuin beg that a room might be set apart for them; and this was done in Aul's house. There did they spin and weave in secret, and after a s.p.a.ce of twice twelve hours Danuin came forth and spake to Manw, saying: "Behold my handicraft!" and none knew his intent, for his hands were empty. But when the s.h.i.+p of the Sun returned then went Danuin to her stern, and laying his hand thereon he bid Ulmo draw her, as was his wont, over the waters to the Door of Night; and when Ulmo was gone a little way from the further sh.o.r.e of Valinor Danuin stepped back, and behold Ulmo might not draw the Suns.h.i.+p further, not though he put forth all his strength. Then were Manw and Ulmo and all that beheld afraid, but Danuin after released the Sun and went from among them, and they might not find him; but after twenty nights and eight came forth Ranuin and he said also: "Behold my handicraft!" and yet no more could be seen in his outstretched hands than before in those of Danuin. Now Ranuin waited until Ilinsor brought the Rose of Silpion unto Valinor, and then going he set his hands against a jag of gla.s.s upon that isle, and thereafter might no man stir Ilinsor's bark far from Ranuin against his will; but again Ranuin spake no word and went from among them; then Rna was released, but Ranuin no man could find.

Now the G.o.ds pondered long what this might portend, but nought more betid until thirteen times had Rna waxed and waned. Then came forth Fanuin, and he bid the G.o.ds detain Ilinsor that at Sri's coming both s.h.i.+ps might stand in Valinor at once. But when this was done he begged aid of the G.o.ds, "for," said he, "I have fas.h.i.+oned somewhat of great weight that I would fain show to you, yet cannot of my own strength hale it forth." And seven of the stoutest from the halls of Tulkas went to the place of Fanuin's labouring and could not see aught therein; but he bid them stoop, and them seemed they laid hands upon a mighty cable and staggered beneath it as they laid it upon their shoulders, yet could they not see it.

Then going unto Sri and to Rna in turn Fanuin moved his hands as though he were making fast a great rope to each of those vessels; but when all was done he said to Manw: "Lo, O Slimo Lord of the G.o.ds, the work is wrought and the s.h.i.+ps of light are set in the unbreakable fetters of time, which neither ye, nor they, may ever break, nor may they escape therefrom, albeit these fetters are invisible to all beings that Ilvatar has made; for nonetheless are they the strongest of things."

Then suddenly behold Danuin and Ranuin stood beside him, and Danuin going to Manw placed in his hand a slender cord, but Manw saw it not. "Herewith," said Danuin, "O Manw Slimo, canst thou govern the goings and comings of the Sun, and never may she be brought beyond the guidance of your hand, and such is the virtue of this cord that the goings and returnings of the Sun shall be accounted the most timely and inevitable of all things on Earth." Thereafter did Ranuin in like manner, and behold Manw felt a stout rope within his palm invisible. "Herewith," said Ranuin, "shalt thou hold and steer the wayward Moon, as well as may be, and so great is the virtue of the 'thong of Ranuin' that even the fickle and untimely Moon shall be a measure of time to Elves and Men." Lastly did Fanuin bid bear his mighty cable's end to Manw, and Manw touched it, and it was made fast to a great rock upon Taniquetil (that is called therefore Gonlath), and Fanuin said: "Now doth this mightiest cable hold both the Moon and Sun in tow; and herewith mayest thou coordinate their motions and interweave their fates; for the rope of Fanuin is the Rope of Years, and Urwendi issuing through the Door of Night shall wind it all tangled with the daycord's slender meshes, round and about the Earth until the Great End come-and so shall all the world and the dwellers within it, both G.o.ds and Elves and Men, and all the creatures that go and the things that have roots thereon, be bound about in the bonds of Time."

Then were all the G.o.ds afraid, seeing what was come, and knowing that hereafter even they should in counted time be subject to slow eld and their bright days to waning, until Ilvatar at the Great End calls them back. But Fanuin said: "Nay, it is but the Music of the Ainur: for behold, who are we, Danuin, Ranuin, and Fanuin, Day and Month and Year, but the children of Aluin, of Time, who is the oldest of the Ainur, and is beyond, and subject to Ilvatar; and thence came we, and thither go we now." Then did those three vanish from Valinor; but of such is the framing of the moveless courses of the Sun and Moon, and the subjection of all things within the world to time and change.

But as for the s.h.i.+ps of Light themselves, behold! O Gilfanon and all that hearken, I will end the tale of Lindo and Vair concerning the building of the Sun and Moon with that great foreboding that was spoken among the G.o.ds when first the Door of Night was opened. For 'tis said that ere the Great End come Melko shall in some wise contrive a quarrel between Moon and Sun, and Ilinsor shall seek to follow Urwendi through the Gates, and when they are gone the Gates of both East and West will be destroyed, and Urwendi and Ilinsor shall be lost. So shall it be that Fionw rion, son of Manw, of love for Urwendi shall in the end be Melko's bane, and shall destroy the world to destroy his foe, and so shall all things then be rolled away.'19 And thus ended Vair, and the great tale fell silent in the room.

NOTES.

1 'they': original reading 'the Solosimpi'.

2 The rejected draft text of the tale to this point is remarkably brief, and reads as follows (following on from Ailios' remarks given on p. 197, note 20): 'That is easy told,' said Lindo; 'for the murmurings that I have spoken of grew ever louder, and came to speech at that council which was now summoned to fix the courses of the Sun and Moon; and all the ancient grievance that had flamed before at Melko's instigation concerning the freedom of the Elves-even that strife that ended in the Exile of the Noldoli-grew sore again. Yet were few now in pity of the Gnomes, and such of the Eldar whom the newlit world allured dared not for the power of Melko break from Valinor; wherefore in the end the enemies of the Gnomes, despite all that Ulmo might say or plead, and despite the clemency of Manw, carried the counsels of the G.o.ds-and so came that which stories name the [Closing >] Hiding of Valinor. And the G.o.ds went not at that time forth to fight Melko, and their greatest opportunity for glory and eternal honour was let slip, [even as the Music of Ilvatar had foreboded-and they little understood it-and who knows if the salvation of the world and the freeing of Men and Elves shall ever come from them again? Some there are who whisper that it is not so, and hope dwelleth only in a far land of Men, but how so that may be I do not know.]

The concluding pa.s.sage is thus bracketed in the ma.n.u.script, with a question-mark against it.

3 The word looks like 'east'. The word 'eastward' was added to the text, and it may be that my father intended to change 'east' to 'eastward edge' or something similar.

4 Here 'Earth' is clearly used, if strangely so, in the same way as is 'the world', to mean the Great Lands as distinguished from the Outer Lands of the West.

5 The Teleri (i.e. the later Vanyar) had not in the old story departed from Kr (see p. 159).

6 Originally wen and then nen, the name of Oss's wife has already appeared in the final form Uinen (p. 121, 192); but Oinen here is clear, and clearly intended.

7 In the draft text the account of the Hiding of Valinor is very brief, and moves on quickly to the Path of Dreams. The webs of darkness laid on the eastward slopes of the mountains were not those 'sloughed in Valinor' by Ungweliant, but are merely compared to 'the most clinging that ever Ungweliant wove'. Helkaraks and the Magic Isles are only mentioned in a marginal direction that they are to be included.

8 'Earth' is again used in the sense of the Great Lands (see note 4). The draft has here 'Children of the World'.

9 While there are no differences of any substance in the account of the Olr Mall in the two texts, in the first there is no mention of Orom's Path of the Rainbow.-An isolated note, obviously written before the present Tale, says: 'When the G.o.ds close Valinor...Lrien leaves a path across the mountains called Olr Mall, and Manw the Rainbow where he walks to survey the world. It is only visible after rain, for then it is wet.'

10 'truce': earlier reading 'compromise'. It is notable how Manw is portrayed as primus inter pares rather than as ruler over the other Valar.

11 On the Trees of Kr see p. 123, 135.

12 See p. 200.

13 Sri is here (and subsequently) the name as written, not an emendation from Kalaven, the name in the draft texts of The Sun and Moon and The Hiding of Valinor (see p. 198). The reading of the draft in this place is 'the Suns.h.i.+p', itself an alteration from 'the s.h.i.+ps', for my father first wrote that neither s.h.i.+p could safely be drawn beneath the Earth.

14 The Sleeper in the Tower of Pearl is named in The Cottage of Lost Play, p. 15. The song of the sleeper is virtually certainly the poem The Happy Mariners, originally written in 1915 and published in 1923 (see Humphrey Carpenter, Biography, Appendix C, p. 269); this will be given in two versions in connection with the materials for the Tale of Erendel in the second part of the Lost Tales. The poem contains a reference to the boats that pa.s.s the Tower of Pearl, piled 'with h.o.a.rded sparks of orient fire / that divers won in waters of the unknown Sun'.