they began to build great houses for their dead； while their wise men laboured unceasingly to discover if they might the
secret of recalling life； or at the least of the prolonging of Men's days。 Yet they achieved only the art of preserving
incorrupt the dead flesh of Men； and they filled all the land with silent tombs in which the thought of death was
enshrined in the darkness。 But those that lived turned the more eagerly to pleasure and revelry； desiring ever more goods
and more riches； and after the days of Tar…Ancalimon the offering of the first fruits to Eru was neglected； and men went
seldom any more to the Hallow upon the heights of Meneltarma in the midst of the land。
Thus it came to pass in that time that the Númenóreans first made great settlements upon the west shores of the
ancient lands； for their own land seemed to them shrunken； and they had no rest or content therein； and they desired now
wealth and dominion in Middle…earth； since the West was denied。 Great harbours and strong towers they made； and there
many of them took up their abode； but they appeared now rather as lords and masters and gatherers of tribute than as
helpers and teachers。 And the great ships of the Númenóreans were borne east on the winds and returned ever laden； and
the power and majesty of their kings were increased； and they drank and they feasted and they clad themselves in silver
and gold。
In all this the Elf…friends had small part They alone came now ever to the north and the land of Gil…galad； keeping
their friendship with the Elves and lending them aid against Sauron； and their haven was Pelargir above the mouths of
Anduin the Great。 But the King's Men sailed far away to the south； and the lordships and strongholds that they made
have left many rumours in the legends of Men。
In this Age； as is elsewhere told； Sauron arose again in Middle…earth； and grew； and turned back to the evil in
which he was nurtured by Morgoth； being mighty in his service。 Already in the days of Tar…Minastir； the eleventh
King of Númenor； he had fortified the land of Mordor and had built there the Tower of Barad…d？r； and thereafter he
strove ever for the dominion of Middle…earth； to bee a king over all kings and as a god unto Men。 And Sauron hated
the Númenóreans； because of the deeds of their fathers and their ancient alliance with the Elves and allegiance to the
Valar； nor did he forget the aid that Tar…Minastir had rendered to Gil…galad of old； in that time when the One Ring was
forged and there was war between Sauron and the Elves in Eriador。 Now he learned that the kings of Númenor had
increased hi power and splendour； and he hated them the more； and he feared them； lest they should invade his lands and
wrest from him the dominion of the East。 But for a long time he did not dare to challenge the Lords of the Sea； and he
withdrew from the coasts。
Yet Sauron was ever guileful； and it is said that among those whom he ensnared with the Nine Rings three were
great lords of Númenórean race。 And when the úlairi arose that were the Ring…wraiths； his servants； and the strength of
his terror and mastery over Men had grown exceedingly great； he began to assail the strong places of the Númenóreans
upon the shores of the sea。
In those days the Shadow grew deeper upon Númenor； and the lives of the Kings of the House of Elros waned
because of their rebellion； but they hardened their hearts the more against the Valar。 And the nineteenth king took the
sceptre of his fathers； and he ascended the throne in the name of Adunakh？r； Lord of the West； forsaking the Elven…
tongues and forbidding their use in his hearing。 Yet hi the Scroll of Kings the name Herunúmen was inscribed in the
High…elven speech； because of ancient custom； which the kings feared to break utterly； lest evil befall Now this title
seemed to the Faithful over…proud； being the title of the Valar； and their hearts were sorely tried between their loyalty to
the House of Elros and their reverence of the appointed Powers。 But worse was yet to e。 For Ar…Gimilz？r the
twenty…second king was the greatest enemy of the Faithful。 In his day the White Tree was untended and began to decline；
and he forbade utterly the use of the Elven…tongues； and punished those that weled the ships of Eress？a； that still
came secretly to the west…shores of the land。
Now the Elendili dwelt mostly in the western regions of Númenor； but Ar…Gimilz？r manded all that he could
discover to be of this party to remove from the west and dwell in the east of the land； and there they were watched。 And
the chief dwelling of the Faithful in the later days was thus nigh to the harbour of Romenna； thence many set sail to
Middle…earth； seeking the northern coasts where they might speak still with the Eldar in the kingdom of Gil…galad。 This
was known to the kings； but they hindered it not； so long as the Elendili departed from their land and did not return； for
they desired to end all friendship between then： people and the Eldar of Eress？a； whom they named the Spies of the
Valar； hoping to keep their deeds and their counsels hidden from the Lords of the West。 But all that they did was known
to Manw？； and the Valar were wroth with the Kings of Númenor； and gave them counsel and protection no more； and the
ships of Eress？a came never again out of the sunset； and the havens of Andúni？ were forlorn。
Highest in honour after the house of the kings were the Lords of Andúni？； for they were of the line of Elros； being
descended from Silmarien； daughter of Tar…Elendil the fourth king of Númenor。 And these lords were loyal to the kings；
and revered them； and the Lord of Andúni？ was ever among the chief councillors of the Sceptre。 Yet also from the
beginning they bore especial love to the Eldar and reverence for the Valar； and as the Shadow grew they aided the
Faithful as they could。 But for long they did not declare themselves openly； and sought rather to amend the hearts of the
lords of the Sceptre with wiser counsels。
There was a lady Inzilbêth； renowned for her beauty； and her mother was Lindóri？； sister of E？rendur； the Lord of
Andúni？ in the days of Ar…Sakalth？r father of Ar…Gimilz？r。 Gimilz？r took her to wife； though this was little to her liking；
for she was in heart one of the Faithful； being taught by her mother； but the kings and their sons were grown proud and
not to be gainsaid in their wishes。 No love was there between Ar…Gimilz？r and his queen； or between their sons。
Inzilad？n； the elder； was like his mother in mind as in body； but Gimilkhad； the younger； went with his father； unless he
were yet prouder and more wilful。 To him Ar…Gimilz？r would have yielded the sceptre rather than to the elder son； if the
laws had allowed。
But when Inzilad？n acceded to the sceptre； he took again a title in the Elven…tongue as of old； calling himself Tar…
Palantir； for he was far…sighted both in eye and in mind； and even those that hated him feared his words as those of a
true…seer。 He gave peace for a while to the Faithful； and he went once more at due seasons to the Hallow of Eru upon the
Meneltarma； which Ar…Gimilz？r had forsaken。 The White Tree he tended again with honour； and he prophesied； saying
that when the Tree perished； then also would the line of the Kings e to its end。 But his repentance was too late to
appease the anger of the Valar with the insolence of his fathers； of which the greater part of his people did not repent。
And Gimilkhad was strong and ungentle； and he took the leadership of those that had been called the King's Men and
opposed the will of his brother as openly as he dared； and yet more in secret。 Thus the days of Tar…Palantir became
darkened with grief； and he would spend much of his time in the west； and there ascended often the ancient tower of
King Minastir upon the hill of Orom？t nigh to Andúni？； whence he gazed westward in yearning； hoping to see； maybe；
some sail upon the sea。 But no ship came ever again from the West to Númenor； and Avallón？ was veiled in cloud。
Now Gimilkhad died two years before his two hundredth year （which was accounted an early death for one of
Elros' line even in its waning）； but this brought no peace to the King。 For Pharaz？n son of Gimilkhad had bee a man
yet more restless and eager for wealth and power than his father。 He had fared often abroad； as a leader in the wars that
the Númenóreans made then in the coastlands of Middle…earth； seeking to extend their dominion over Men； and thus he
had won great renown as a captain both by land and by sea。 Therefore when he came back to Númenor； hearing of his
father's death； the hearts of the people were turned to him； for he brought with him great wealth； and was for the time
free in his giving。
And it came to pass that Tar…Palantir grew weary of grief and died。 He had no son； but a daughter only； whom he
named Míriel in the Elven…tongue； and to her now by right and the laws of the Númenóreans came the sceptre。 But
Pharaz？n took her to wife against her will； doing evil in this and evil also in that the laws of Númenor did not permit the
marriage； even in the royal house； of those more nearly akin than cousins m the second degree。 And when they were
wedded； he seized the sceptre into his own hand； taking the title of Ar…Pharaz？n （Tar…Calion in the Elven…tongue）； and
the name of his queen he changed to Ar…Zimraphel。
The mightiest and proudest was Ar…Pharaz？n the Golden of all those that had wielded the Sceptre of the Sea…
Kings since the foundation of Númenor； and three and twenty Kings and Queens had ruled the Númenóreans before； and
slept now in their deep tombs under the mount of Meneltarma； lying upon beds of gold。
And sitting upon his carven throne in the city of Armenelos in the glory of his power； he brooded darkly； thinking
of war。 For he had learned in Middle…earth of the strength of the realm of Sauron； and of his hatred of Westernesse。 And
now there came to him the masters of ships and captains returning out of the East； and they reported that Sauron was
putting forth his might