"J.R.R. Tolkien - Silmarillion" - читать интересную книгу автора (Tolkien J.R.R)

But even as Ulmo spoke, and while the Ainur were yet gazing upon this vision, it was taken away and hidden
from their sight; and it seemed to them that in that moment they perceived a new thing, Darkness, which they had not
known before except in thought. But they had become enamoured of the beauty of the vision and engrossed in the
unfolding of the World which came there to being, and their minds were filled with it; for the history was incomplete
and the circles of time not full-wrought when the vision was taken away. And some have said that the vision ceased ere
the fulfilment of the Dominion of Men and the fading of the Firstborn; wherefore, though the Music is over all, the
Valar have not seen as with sight the Later Ages or the ending of the World.
Then there was unrest among the Ainur; but Ilúvatar called to them, and said: 'I know the desire of your minds
that what ye have seen should verily be, not only in your thought, but even as ye yourselves are, and yet other.
Therefore I say: Eä! Let these things Be! And I will send forth into the Void the Flame Imperishable, and it shall be at
the heart of the World, and the World shall Be; and those of you that will may go down into it. And suddenly the Ainur
saw afar off a light, as it were a cloud with a living heart of flame; and they knew that this was no vision only, but that
Ilúvatar had made a new thing: Eä, the World that Is.
Thus it came to pass that of the Ainur some abode still with Ilúvatar beyond the confines of the World; but
others, and among them many of the greatest and most fair, took the leave of Ilúvatar and descended into it. But this
condition Ilúvatar made, or it is the necessity of their love, that their power should thenceforward be contained and
bounded in the World, to be within it for ever, until it is complete, so that they are its life and it is theirs. And therefore
they are named the Valar, the Powers of the World.
But when the Valar entered into Eä they were at first astounded and at a loss, for it was as if naught was yet
made which they had seen in vision, and all was but on point to begin and yet unshaped, and it was dark. For the Great
Music had been but the growth and flowering of thought in the Tuneless Halls, and the Vision only a foreshowing; but
now they had entered in at the beginning of Time, and the Valar perceived that the World had been but foreshadowed
and foresung, and they must achieve it. So began their great labours in wastes unmeasured and unexplored, and in ages
uncounted and forgotten, until in the Deeps of Time and in the midst of the vast halls of Eä there came to be that hour
and that place where was made the habitation of the Children of Ilúvatar. And in this work the chief part was taken by
Manwë and Aulë and Ulmo; but Melkor too was there from the first, and he meddled in all that was done, turning it if
he might to his own desires and purposes; and he kindled great fires. When therefore Earth was yet young and full of
flame Melkor coveted it, and he said to the other Valar: 'This shall be my own kingdom; and I name it unto myself!'
But Manwë was the brother of Melkor in the mind of Ilúvatar, and he was the chief instrument of the second
theme that Ilúvatar had raised up against the discord of Melkor; and he called unto himself many spirits both greater
and less, and they came down into the fields of Arda and aided Manwë, lest Melkor should hinder the fulfilment of
their labour for ever, and Earth should wither ere it flowered. And Manwë said unto Melkor: 'This kingdom thou shalt
not take for thine own, wrongfully, for many others have laboured here do less than thou.' And there was strife between
Melkor and the other Valar; and for that time Melkor withdrew and departed to other regions and did there what he
would; but he did not put the desire of the Kingdom of Arda from his heart.
Now the Valar took to themselves shape and hue; and because they were drawn into the World by love of the
Children of Ilúvatar, for whom they hoped, they took shape after that manner which they had beheld in the Vision of
Ilúvatar, save only in majesty and splendour. Moreover their shape comes of their knowledge of the visible World,
rather than of the World itself; and they need it not, save only as we use raiment, and yet we may be naked and suffer
no loss of our being. Therefore the Valar may walk, if they will, unclad, and then even the Eldar cannot clearly perceive
them, though they be present. But when they desire to clothe themselves the Valar take upon them forms some as of
male and some as of female; for that difference of temper they had even from their beginning, and it is but bodied forth
in the choice of each, not made by the choice, even as with us male and female may be shown by the raiment but is not
made thereby. But the shapes wherein the Great Ones array themselves are not at all times like to the shapes of the
kings and queens of the Children of Ilúvatar; for at times they may clothe themselves in their own thought, made visible
in forms of majesty and dread.
And the Valar drew unto them many companions, some less, some well nigh as great as themselves, and they
laboured together in the ordering of the Earth and the curbing of its tumults. Then Melkor saw what was done, and that
the Valar walked on Earth as powers visible, clad in the raiment of the World, and were lovely and glorious to see, and
blissful, and that the Earth was becoming as a garden for their delight, for its turmoils were subdued. His envy grew