music to his rather than to the thought which they had at first。 Then the discord of Melkor spread ever wider； and the
melodies which had been heard before foundered in a sea of turbulent sound。 But Ilúvatar sat and hearkened until it
seemed that about his throne there was a raging storm； as of dark waters that made war one upon another in an endless
wrath that would not be assuaged。
Then Ilúvatar arose； and the Ainur perceived that he smiled； and he lifted up his left hand； and a new theme began
amid the storm； like and yet unlike to the former theme； and it gathered power and had new beauty。 But the discord of
Melkor rose in uproar and contended with it； and again there was a war of sound more violent than before； until many of
the Ainur were dismayed and sang no longer； and Melkor had the mastery。 Then again Ilúvatar arose； and the Ainur
perceived that his countenance was stern； and he lifted up his right hand； and behold！ a third theme grew amid the
confusion； and it was unlike the others。 For it seemed at first soft and sweet； a mere rippling of gentle sounds in delicate
melodies； but it could not be quenched； and it took to itself power and profundity。 And it seemed at last that there were
two musics progressing at one time before the seat of Ilúvatar； and they were utterly at variance。 The one was deep and
wide and beautiful； but slow and blended with an immeasurable sorrow； from which its beauty chiefly came。 The other
had now achieved a unity of its own； but it was loud； and vain； and endlessly repeated； and it had little harmony； but
rather a clamorous unison as of many trumpets braying upon a few notes。 And it essayed to drown the other music by the
violence of its voice； but it seemed that its most triumphant notes were taken by the other and woven into its own solemn
pattern。
In the midst of this strife； whereat the halls of Ilúvatar shook and a tremor ran out into the silences yet unmoved；
Ilúvatar arose a third time； and his face was terrible to behold。 Then he raised up both his hands； and in one chord；
deeper than the Abyss； higher than the Firmament； piercing as the light of the eye of Ilúvatar； the Music ceased。
Then Ilúvatar spoke； and he said： 'Mighty are the Ainur； and mightiest among them is Melkor； but that he may
know； and all the Ainur； that I am Ilúvatar； those things that ye have sung； I will show them forth； that ye may see what
ye have done。 And thou； Melkor； shalt see that no theme may be played that hath not its uttermost source in me； nor can
any alter the music in my despite。 For he that attempteth this shall prove but mine instrument in the devising of things
more wonderful； which he himself hath not imagined。'
Then the Ainur were afraid； and they did not yet prehend the words that were said to them； and Melkor was
filled with shame； of which came secret anger。 But Ilúvatar arose in splendour； and he went forth from the fair regions
that he had made for the Ainur； and the Ainur followed him。
But when they were e into the Void； Ilúvatar said to them： 'Behold your Music！' And he showed to them a
vision； giving to them sight where before was only hearing； arid they saw a new World made visible before them； and it
was globed amid the Void； and it was sustained therein； but was not of it。 And as they looked and wondered this World
began to unfold its history； and it seemed to them that it lived and grew。 And when the Ainur had gazed for a while and
were silent； Ilúvatar said again： 'Behold your Music！ This is your minstrelsy； and each of you shall find contained herein；
amid the design that I set before you； all those things which it may seem that he himself devised or added。 And thou；
Melkor； wilt discover all the secret thoughts of thy mind； and wilt perceive that they are but a part of the whole and
tributary to its glory。'
And many other things Ilúvatar spoke to the Ainur at that time； and because of their memory of his words； and the
knowledge that each has of the music that he himself made； the Ainur know much of what was； and is； and is to e；
and few things are unseen by them。 Yet some things there are that they cannot see； neither alone nor taking counsel
together； for to none but himself has Ilúvatar revealed all that he has in store； and in every age there e forth things
that are new and have no foretelling； for they do not proceed from the past。 And so it was that as this vision of the World
was played before them； the Ainur saw that it contained things which they had not thought。 And they saw with
amazement the ing of the Children of Ilúvatar； and the habitation that was prepared for them； and they perceived
that they themselves in the labour of their music had been busy with the preparation of this dwelling； and yet knew not
that it had any purpose beyond its own beauty。 For the Children of Ilúvatar were conceived by him alone； and they came
with the third theme； and were not in the theme which Ilúvatar propounded at the beginning； and none of the Ainur had
part in their making。 Therefore when they beheld them； the more did they love them； being things other than themselves；
strange and free； wherein they saw the mind of Ilúvatar reflected anew； and learned yet a little more of his wisdom；
which otherwise had been hidden even from the Ainur。
Now the Children of Ilúvatar are Elves and Men； the Firstborn and the Followers。 And amid all the splendours of
the World； its vast halls and spaces； and its wheeling fires； Ilúvatar chose a place for their habitation in the Deeps of
Time and in the midst of the innumerable stars。 And this habitation might seem a little thing to those who consider only
the majesty of the Ainur； and not their terrible sharpness； as who should take the whole field of Arda for the foundation
of a pillar and so raise it until the cone of its summit were more bitter than a needle； or who consider only the
immeasurable vastness of the World； which still the Ainur are shaping； and not the minute precision to which they shape
all things therein。 But when the Ainur had beheld this habitation in a vision and had seen the Children of Ilúvatar arise
therein； then many of the most mighty among them bent all their thought and their desire towards that place。 And of
these Melkor was the chief； even as he was in the beginning the greatest of the Ainur who took part in the Music。 And he
feigned； even to himself at first； that he desired to go thither and order all things for the good of the Children of Ilúvatar；
controlling the turmoils of the heat and the cold that had e to pass through him。 But he desired rather to subdue to
his will both Elves and Men； envying the gifts with which Ilúvatar promised to endow them； and he wished himself to
have subject and servants； and to be called Lord； and to be a master over other wills。
But the other Ainur looked upon this habitation set within the vast spaces of the World； which the Elves call Arda；
the Earth； and their hearts rejoiced in light； and their eyes beholding many colours were filled with gladness； but because
of the roaring of the sea they felt a great unquiet。 And they observed the winds and the air； and the matters of which Arda
was made； of iron and stone and silver and gold and many substances： but of all these water they most greatly praised。
And it is said by the Eldar that in water there lives yet the echo of the Music of the Ainur more than in any substance
else that is in this Earth； and many of the Children of Ilúvatar hearken still unsated to the voices of the Sea； and yet know
not for what they listen。
Now to water had that Ainu whom the Elves can Ulmo turned his thought； and of all most deeply was he
instructed by Ilúvatar in music。 But of the airs and winds Manw？ most had pondered； who is the noblest of the Ainur。 Of
the fabric of Earth had Aul？ thought； to whom Ilúvatar had given skin and knowledge scarce less than to Melkor； but the
delight and pride of Aul？ is in the deed of making； and in the thing made； and neither m possession nor in his own
mastery； wherefore he gives and hoards not； and is free from care； passing ever on to some new work。
And Ilúvatar spoke to Ulmo； and said： 'Seest thou not how here in this little realm in the Deeps of Time Melkor
hath made war upon thy province？ He hath bethought him of bitter cold immoderate； and yet hath not destroyed the
beauty of thy fountains； nor of my clear pools。 Behold the snow； and the cunning work of frost！ Melkor hath devised
heats and fire without restraint； and hath not dried up thy desire nor utterly quelled the music of the sea。 Behold rather
the height and glory of the clouds； and the everchanging mists； and listen to the fall of rain upon the Earth！ And in these
clouds thou art drawn nearer to Manw？； thy friend； whom thou lovest。'
Then Ulmo answered： 'Truly； Water is bee now fairer than my heart imagined； neither had my secret thought
conceived the snowflake； nor in all my music was contained the falling of the rain。 I will seek Manw？； that he and I may
make melodies for ever to my delight！' And Manw？ and Ulmo have from the beginning been allied； and in all things
have served most faithfully the purpose of Ilúvatar。
But even as Ulmo spoke； and while the Ainur were yet gazing upon this vision； it was taken away and hidden
from their sight； and it seemed to them that in that moment they perceived a new thing； Darkness； which they had not
known before except in thought。 But they had bee enamoured of the beauty of the vision and engrossed in the
unfolding of the World which came there to being； and their minds were filled with it； for the history was inplete and
the circles of time not full…wrought when the vision was taken away。 And some have said that the vision ceased ere the
fulfilment of the Dominion of Men and the fading of the Firstborn； wherefore； though the Music is over all； the Valar
have not seen as with sight the Later Ages or the ending of the World。
Then there was unrest among the Ainur； but Ilúvatar called to them； and said： 'I know the desire of your minds
that wha