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for ever； he was taken in the midst of his mirth； and his seat and his temple fell into the abyss。 But Sauron was not of
mortal flesh； and though he was robbed now of that shape in which he had wrought so great an evil； so that he could
never again appear fair to the eyes of Men； yet his spirit arose out of the deep and passed as a shadow and a black wind
over the sea； and came back to Middle…earth and to Mordor that was his home。 There he took up again his great Ring in
Barad…d？r； and dwelt there； dark and silent； until he wrought himself a new guise； an image of malice and hatred made
visible； and the Eye of Sauron the Terrible few could endure。
But these things e not into the tale of the Drowning of Númenor； of which now all is told。 And even the name
of that land perished； and Men spoke thereafter not of Elenna； nor of Andor the Gift that was taken away； nor of
Númenór？ on the confines of the world； but the exiles on the shores of the sea； if they turned towards the West in the
desire of their hearts； spoke of Mar…nu…Falmar that was whelmed in the waves； Akallabêth the Downfallen； Atalant？ in
the Eldarin tongue。
* * *
Among the Exiles many believed that the summit of the Meneltarma； the Pillar of Heaven； was not drowned for
ever； but rose again above the waves； a lonely island lost in the great waters； for it had been a hallowed place； and even
in the days of Sauron none had defiled it And some there were of the seed of E？rendil that afterwards sought for it；
because it was said among loremasters that the far…sighted men of old could see from the Meneltarma a glimmer of the
Deathless Land。 For even after the ruin the hearts of the Dúnedain were still set westwards； and though they knew
indeed that the world was changed； they said： 'Avallón？ is vanished from the Earth and the Land of Aman is taken away；
and in the world of this present darkness they cannot be found。 Yet once they were； and therefore they still are； in true
being and in the whole shape of the world as at first it was devised。'
For the Dúnedain held that even mortal Men； if so blessed； might look upon other times than those of their
bodies' life； and they longed ever to escape from the shadows of their exile and to see in some fashion fee light that dies
not； for the sorrow of the thought of death had pursued them over the deeps of the sea。 Thus it was that great mariners
among them would still search the empty seas； hoping to e upon the Isle of Meneltarma； and there to see a vision of
things that were。 But they found it not。 And those that sailed far came only to the new lands； and found them like to the
old lands； and subject to death。 And those that sailed furthest set but a girdle about the Earth and returned weary at last
to the place of their beginning； and they said：
'All roads are now bent。'
Thus in after days； what by the voyages of ships； what by lore and star…craft； the kings of Men knew that the
world was indeed made round； and yet the Eldar were permitted still to depart and to e to the Ancient West and to
Avallón？； if they would。 Therefore the loremasters of Men said that a Straight Road must still be； for those that were
permitted to find it。 And they taught that； while the new world fell away； the old road and the path of the memory of the
West still went on； as it were a mighty bridge invisible that passed through the air of breath and of flight （which were
bent now as the world was bent）； and traversed Ilmen which flesh unaided cannot endure； until it came to Tol Eress？a；
the Lonely Isle； and maybe even beyond； to Valinor； where the Valar still dwell and watch the unfolding of the story of
the world。 And tales and rumours arose along the shores of the sea concerning mariners and men forlorn upon the water
who； by some fate or grace or favour of the Valar； had entered in upon the Straight Way and seen the face of the world
sink below them； and so had e to the lamplit quays of Avallón？； or verily to the last beaches on the margin of Aman；
and there had looked upon the White Mountain； dreadful and beautiful； before they died。
OF THE RINGS OF POWER
AND THE THIRD AGE
in which these tales e to
their end
Of old there was Sauron the Maia； whom the Sindar in Beleriand named Gorthaur。 In the beginning of Arda Melkor
seduced him to his allegiance； and he became the greatest and most trusted of the servants of the Enemy； and the most
perilous； for he could assume many forms； and for long if he willed he could still appear noble and beautiful； so as to
deceive all but the most wary。
When Thangorodrim was broken and Morgoth overthrown； Sauron put on his fair hue again and did obeisance to
E？nw？ the herald of Manw？； and abjured all his evil deeds。 And some hold that this was not at first falsely done； but that
Sauron in truth repented； if only out of fear； being dismayed by the fall of Morgoth and the great wrath of the Lords of
the West。 But it was not within the power of E？nw？ to pardon those of his own order； and he manded Sauron to
return to Aman and there receive the judgement of Manw？。 Then Sauron was ashamed； and he was unwilling to return in
humiliation and to receive from the Valar a sentence； it might be； of long servitude in proof of his good faith； for under
Morgoth his power had been great。 Therefore when E？nw？ departed he hid himself in Middle…earth； and he fell back
into evil； for the bonds that Morgoth bad laid upon him were very strong。
* * *
In the Great Battle and the tumults of the fall of Thangorodrim there were mighty convulsions in the earth； and
Beleriand was broken and laid waste； and northward and westward many lands sank beneath the waters of the Great Sea。
In the east； in Ossiriand； the walls of Ered Luin were broken； and a great gap was made in them towards the south； and a
gulf of the sea flowed in。 Into that gulf the River Lh？n fell by a new course； and it was called therefore the Gulf of Lh？n。
That country had of old been named Lindon by the Noldor； and this name it bore thereafter； and many of the Eldar still
dwelt there； lingering； unwilling yet to forsake Beleriand where they had fought and laboured long。 Gil…galad son of
Fingon was their king； and with him was Elrond Half…elven； son of E？rendil the Mariner and brother of Elros first king
of Númenor。
Upon the shores of the Gulf of Lh？n the Elves built their havens； and named them Mithlond； and there they held
many ships； for the harbourage was good。 From the Grey Havens the Eldar ever and anon set sail； fleeing from the
darkness of the days of Earth； for by the mercy of the Valar the Firstborn could still follow the Straight Road and return；
if they would； to their kindred in Eress？a and Valinor beyond the encircling seas。
Others of the Eldar there were who crossed the mountains of Ered Luin in that age and passed into the inner
lands。 Many of these were Teleri； survivors of Doriath and Ossiriand； and they established realms among the Silvan
Elves in woods and mountains far from the sea； for which nonetheless they ever yearned in their hearts。 Only in Eregion；
which Men called Hollin； did Elves of Noldorin race establish a lasting realm beyond the Ered Luin。 Eregion was nigh
to the great mansions of the Dwarves that were named Khazad…d？m； but by the Elves Hadhodrond； and afterwards
Moria。 From Ost…in…Edhil； the city of the Elves； the highroad ran to the west gate of Khazad…d？m； for a friendship arose
between Dwarves and Elves； such as has never elsewhere been； to the enrichment of both those peoples。 In Eregion the
craftsmen of the Gwaith…i…Mírdain； the People of the Jewel…smiths； surpassed in cunning all that have ever wrought； save
only F？anor himself； and indeed greatest in skill among them was Celebrimbor； son of Curufin； who was estranged from
his father and remained in Nargothrond when Celegorm and Curufin were driven forth； as is told in the Quenta
Silmarillion。
Elsewhere in Middle…earth there was peace for many years； yet the lands were for the most part savage and
desolate； save only where the people of Beleriand came。