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for a time the Men of Middle…earth who had refused their summons and had taken the friends of Morgoth to be their
masters； and Men dwelt in darkness and were troubled by many evil things that Morgoth had devised in the days of his
dominion： demons； and dragons； and misshapen beasts； and the unclean Orcs that are mockeries of the Children of
Ilúvatar。 And the lot of Men was unhappy。
But Manw？ put forth Morgoth and shut him beyond the World in the Void that is without； and he cannot himself
return again into the World； present and visible； while the Lords of the West are still enthroned。 Yet the seeds that he had
planted still grew and sprouted； bearing evil fruit； if any would tend them。 For his will remained and guided his servants；
moving them ever to thwart the will of the Valar and to destroy those that obeyed them。 This the Lords of the West knew
full well。 When therefore Morgoth had been thrust forth； they held council concerning the ages that should e after。
The Eldar they summoned to return into the West； and those that hearkened to the summons dwelt in the Isle of Eress？a；
and there is in that land a haven that is named Avallón？； for it is of all cities the nearest to Valinor； and the tower of
Avallón？ is the first sight that the mariner beholds when at last he draws nigh to the Undying Lands over the leagues of
the Sea。 To the Fathers of Men of the three faithful houses rich reward also was given。 E？nw？ came among them and
taught them； and they were given wisdom and power and life more enduring than any others of mortal race have
possessed。 A land was made for the Edain to dwell in； neither part of Middle…earth nor of Valinor； for it was sundered
from either by a wide sea； yet it was nearer to Valinor。 It was raised by Oss？ out of the depths of the Great Water； and it
was established by Aul？ and enriched by Yavanna； and the Eldar brought thither flowers and fountains out of Tol
Eress？a。 That land the Valar called Andor； the Land of Gift； and the Star of E？rendil shone bright in the West as a token
that all was made ready； and as a guide over the sea； and Men marvelled to see that silver flame in the paths of the Sun。
Then the Edain set sail upon the deep waters； following the Star； and the Valar laid a peace upon the sea for many
days； and sent sunlight and a sailing wind； so that the waters glittered before the eyes of the Edain like rippling glass；
and the foam flew like snow before the stems of their ships。 But so bright was Rothinzil that even at morning Men could
see it glimmering in the West； and in the cloudless night it shone alone； for no other star could stand beside it。 And
setting their course towards it the Edain came at last over leagues of sea and saw afar the land that was prepared for
them； Andor； the Land of Gift； shimmering in a golden haze。 Then they went up out of the sea and found a country fair
and fruitful； and they were glad。 And they called that land Elenna； which is Starwards； but also Anad？n？； which is
Westernesse； Númenór？ in the High Eldarin tongue。
This was the beginning of that people that in the Grey…elven speech are called the Dúnedain： the Númenóreans；
Kings among Men。 But they did not thus escape from the doom of death that Ilúvatar had set upon all Mankind； and they
were mortal still； though their years were long； and they knew no sickness； ere the shadow fell upon them。 Therefore
they grew wise and glorious； and in all things more like to the Firstborn than any other of the kindreds of Men； and they
were tall； taller than the tallest of the sons of Middle…earth； and the light of their eyes was like the bright stars。 But their
numbers increased only slowly in the land； for though daughters and sons were born to them； fairer than their fathers； yet
their children were few。
Of old the chief city and haven of Númenor was in the midst of its western coasts； and it was called Andúni？
because it faced the sunset。 But in the midst of the land was a mountain tall and steep； and it was named the Meneltarma；
the Pillar of Heaven； and upon it was a high place that was hallowed to Eru Ilúvatar； and it was open and unroofed； and
no other temple or fane was there in the land of the Númenóreans。 At the feet of the mountain were built the tombs of the
Kings； and hard by upon a hill was Armenelos； fairest of cities； and there stood the tower and the citadel that was raised
by Elros son of E？rendil； whom the Valar appointed to be the first King of the Dúnedain。
Now Elros and Elrond his brother were descended from the Three Houses of the Edain； but in part also both from
the Eldar and the Maiar； for Idril of Gondolin and Lúthien daughter of Melian were their fore…mothers。 The Valar indeed
may not withdraw the gift of death； which es to Men from Ilúvatar； but in the matter of the Half…elven Ilúvatar gave
to them the judgement； and they judged that to the sons of E？rendil should be given choice of their own destiny。 And
Elrond chose to remain with the Firstborn； and to him the life of the Firstborn was granted。 But to Elros； who chose to be
a king of Men； still a great span of years was allotted； many times that of the Men of Middle…earth； and all his line； the
kings and lords of the royal house； had long life even according to the measure of the Númenóreans。 But Elros lived five
hundred years； and ruled the Númenóreans four hundred years and ten。
Thus the years passed； and while Middle…earth went backward and light and wisdom faded； the Dúnedain dwelt
under the protection of the Valar and in the friendship of the Eldar； and they increased in stature both of mind and body。
For though this people used still their own speech； their kings and lords knew and spoke also the Elven tongue； which
they had learned in the days of their alliance； and thus they held converse still with the Eldar； whether of Eress？a or of
the west…lands of Middle…earth。 And the loremasters among them learned also the High Eldarin tongue of the Blessed
Realm； in which much story and song was preserved from the beginning of the world； and they made letters and scrolls
and books； and wrote in them many things of wisdom and wonder in the high tide of their realm； of which all is now
forgot。 So it came to pass that； beside their own names； all the lords of the Númenóreans had also Eldarin names； and the
like with the cities and fair places that they founded in Númenor and on the shores of the Hither Lands。
For the Dúnedain became mighty in crafts； so that if they had had the mind they could easily have surpassed the
evil kings of Middle…earth in the making of war and the forging of weapons； but they were bee men of peace。 Above
all arts they nourished shipbuilding and sea…craft； and they became mariners whose like shall never be again since the
world was diminished； and voyaging upon the wide seas was the chief feat and adventure of their hardy men in the
gallant days of their youth。
But the Lords of Valinor forbade them to sail so far westward that the coasts of Númenor could no longer be
seen； and for long the Dúnedain were content； though they did not fully understand the purpose of this ban。 But the
design of Manw？ was that the Númenóreans should not be tempted to seek for the Blessed Realm； nor desire to overpass
the limits set to their bliss； being enamoured of the immortality of the Valar and the Eldar and the lands where all
things endure。
For in those days Valinor still remained in the world visible； and there Ilúvatar permitted the Valar to maintain
upon Earth an abiding place； a memorial of that which might have been if Morgoth had not cast his shadow on the
world。 This the Númenóreans knew full well； and at times； when all the air was clear and the sun was in the east； they
would look out and descry far off in the west a city white…shining on a distant shore； and a great harbour and a tower。 For
in those days the Númenóreans were far…sighted； yet even so it was only the keenest eyes among them that could see this
vision； from the Meneltarma； maybe； or from some tall ship that lay off their west