"GL2" - читать интересную книгу автора (vol10)

$15 Then the Valar continued their labours until all the
kingdom of Arda was ordered and made ready, and there was
great growth of trees and herbs, and beasts and birds came forth
and dwelt in the plains and in the waters, and the mountains
were green and fair to look upon. And the Valar made their
dwelling upon a green isle in the midst of a lake; and that lake
was between Illuin and Ormal in the midmost of Arda; and
there in the Isle of Almaren, because of the blending of the
lights, all things were richest in growth and fairest of hue. But
the Valar were seldom there gathered in company, for ever they
would fare abroad in Arda, each in his own business.
$16 And it came to pass that at last the Valar were content,
and they were minded to rest a while from labour and watch the
growth and unfolding of the things that they had devised and
begun. Therefore Manwe ordained a great feast, and summoned
all the Valar and the queens of the Valar unto Almaren, together
with all their folk. And they came at his bidding; but Aule, it is
said, and Tulkas were weary; for the craft of Aule and the
strength of Tulkas had been at the service of all without ceasing
in the days of their labour.
$17 Now Melkor knew of all that was done; for even then
he had secret friends and spies among the Maiar whom he had
converted to his cause, and of these the chief, as after became
known, was Sauron, a great craftsman of the household of Aule.
And afar off in the dark places Melkor was filled with hatred,

being jealous of the work of his peers, whom he desired to make
subject to himself. Therefore he gathered to himself spirits out
of the voids of Ea that he had perverted to his service, and he
deemed himself strong. And seeing now his time he drew near
again unto Arda, and looked down upon it, and the beauty of
the Earth in its Spring filled him the more with hate.

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$18 Now therefore the Valar were gathered upon Almaren
and feasted and made merry, fearing no evil, and because of the
light of llluin they did not perceive the shadow in the North that
was cast from afar by Melkor; for he was grown dark as the
Night of the Void.(18) And it is sung that in that feast of the
Spring of Arda Tulkas espoused Nessa the sister of Orome, and
Vana robed [her) in her flowers, and she danced before the
Valar upon the green grass of Almaren.
$19 Then Tulkas slept, being weary and content, and
Melkor deemed that his hour had come. And he passed,
therefore, over the Walls of the Night (19) with his host, and he
came to Middle-earth in the North; and the Valar were not
aware of him.
$20 Now Melkor began the delving and building of a vast
fortress deep under Earth, beneath dark mountains where the