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vision； from the Meneltarma； maybe； or from some tall ship that lay off their western coast as far as it was lawful for
them to go。 For they did not dare to break the Ban of the Lords of the West。 But the wise among them knew that this
distant land was not indeed the Blessed Realm of Valinor； but was Avallón？； the haven of the Eldar upon Eress？a；
easternmost of the Undying Lands。 And thence at times the Firstborn still would e sailing to Númenor in oarless
boats； as white birds flying from the sunset。 And they brought to Númenor many gifts： birds of song； and fragrant
flowers； and herbs of great virtue。 And a seedling they brought of Celeborn； the White Tree that grew in the midst of
Eress？a； and that was in its turn a seedling of Galathilion the Tree of Túna； the image of Telperion that Yavanna gave to
the Eldar in the Blessed Realm。 And the tree grew and blossomed in the courts of the King in Armenelos； Nimloth it was
named； and flowered in the evening； and the shadows of night it filled with its fragrance。
Thus it was that because of the Ban of the Valar the voyages of the Dúnedain in those days went ever eastward
and not westward； from the darkness of the North to the heats of the South； and beyond the South to the Nether
Darkness； and they came even into the inner seas； and sailed about Middle…earth and glimpsed from their high prows the
Gates of Morning in the East。 And the Dúnedain came at times to the shores of the Great Lands； and they took pity on
the forsaken world of Middle…earth； and the Lords of Númenor set foot again upon the western shores in the Dark Years
of Men； and none yet dared to withstand them。 For most of the Men of that age that sat under the Shadow were now
grown weak and fearful。 And ing among them the Númenóreans taught them many things。 Corn and wine they
brought； and they instructed Men in the sowing of seed and the grinding of grain； in the hewing of wood and the shaping
of stone； and in the ordering of their life； such as it might be in the lands of swift death and little bliss。
Then the Men of Middle…earth were forted； and here and there upon the western shores the houseless woods
drew back； and Men shook off the yoke of the offspring of Morgoth； and unlearned their terror of the dark。 And they
revered the memory of the tall Sea…kings； and when they had departed they called them gods； hoping for their return； for
at that time the Númenóreans dwelt never long in Middle…earth； nor made there as yet any habitation of their own。
Eastward they must sail； but ever west their hearts returned。
Now this yearning grew ever greater with the years； and the Númenóreans began to hunger for the undying city
that they saw from afar； and the desire of everlasting life； to escape from death and the ending of delight； grew strong
upon them； and ever as their power and glory grew greater their unquiet increased。 For though the Valar had rewarded
the Dúnedain with long life； they could not take from them the weariness of the world that es at last； and they died；
even their kings of the seed of E？rendil； and the span of their lives was brief in the eyes of the Eldar。 Thus it was that a
shadow fell upon them： in which maybe the will of Morgoth was at work that still moved in the world。 And the
Númenóreans began to murmur； at first in their hearts； and then in open words； against the doom of Men； and most of all
against the Ban which forbade them to sail into the West。
And they said among themselves： 'Why do the Lords of the West sit there in peace unending； while we must die
and go we know not whither； leaving our home and all that we have made？ And the Eldar die not； even those that
rebelled against the Lords。 And since we have mastered all seas； and no water is so wild or so wide that our ships cannot
overe it； why should we not go to Avallón？ and greet there our friends？'
And some there were who said： 'Why should we not go even to Aman； and taste there； were it but for a day； the
bliss of the Powers？ Have we not bee mighty among the people of Arda？'
The Eldar reported these words to the Valar； and Manw？ was grieved； seeing a cloud gather on the noontide of
Númenor。 And he sent messengers to the Dúnedain； who spoke earnestly to the King； and to all who would listen；
concerning the fate and fashion of the world。
'The Doom of the World；' they said； 'One alone can change who made it。 And were you so to voyage that escaping
all deceits and snares you came indeed to Aman； the Blessed Realm； little would it profit you。 For it is not the land of
Manw？ that makes its people deathless； but the Deathless that dwell therein have hallowed the land； and there you would
but wither and grow weary the sooner； as moths in a light too strong and steadfast。'
But the King said： 'And does not E？rendil； my forefather； live？ Or is he not in the land of Aman？'
To which they answered： 'You know that he has a fate apart； and was adjudged to the Firstborn who die not； yet
this also is his doom that he can never return again to mortal lands。 Whereas you and your people are not of the
Firstborn； but are mortal Men as Ilúvatar made you。 Yet it seems that you desire now to have the good of both kindreds；
to sail to Valinor when you will； and to return when you please to your homes。 That cannot be。 Nor can the Valar take
away the gifts of Ilúvatar。 The Eldar； you say； are unpunished； and even those who rebelled do not die。 Yet that is to them
neither reward nor punishment； but the fulfilment of their being。 They cannot escape； and are bound to this world； never
to leave it so long as it lasts； for its life is theirs。 And you are punished for the rebellion of Men； you say； in which you
had small part； and so it is that you die。 But that was not at first appointed for a punishment。 Thus you escape； and leave
the world； and are not bound to it； in hope or in weariness。 Which of us therefore should envy the others？〃
And the Númenóreans answered： 'Why should we not envy the Valar； or even the least of the Deathless？ For of us
is required a blind trust； and a hope without assurance； knowing not what lies before us in a little while。 And yet we also
love the Earth and would not lose it。'
Then the Messengers said： 'Indeed the mind of Ilúvatar concerning you is not known to the Valar； and he has not
revealed all things that are to e。 But this we hold to be true； that your home is not here； neither in the Land of Aman
nor anywhere within the Circles of the World。 And the Doom of Men； that they should depart； was at first a gift of
Ilúvatar。 It became a grief to them only because ing under the shadow of Morgoth it seemed to them that they were
surrounded by a great darkness； of which they were afraid； and some grew wilful and proud and would not yield； until
life was reft from them。 We who bear the ever…mounting burden of the years do not clearly understand this； but if that
grief has returned to trouble you； as you say； then we fear that the Shadow arises once more and grows again in your
hearts。 Therefore； though you be the Dúnedain； fairest of Men； who escaped from the Shadow of old and fought
valiantly against it； we say to you： Beware！ The will of Eru may not be gainsaid； and the Valar bid you earnestly not to
withhold the trust to which you are called； lest soon it bee again a bond by which you are constrained。 Hope rather
that in the end even the least of your desires shall have fruit。 The love of Arda was set in your hearts by Ilúvatar； and he
does not plant to no purpose。 Nonetheless； many ages of Men unborn may pass ere that purpose is made known； and to
you it will be revealed and not to the Valar。'
These things took place in the days of Tar…Ciryatan the Shipbuilder； and of Tar…Atanamir his son； and they were
proud men； eager for wealth； and they laid the men of Middle…earth under tribute； taking now rather than giving。 It was
to Tar…Atanamir that the Messengers came； and he was the thirteenth King； and in his day the Realm of Númenor had
endured for more than two thousand years； and was e to the zenith of its bliss； if no