вњay,вsaid AulГ, вњight may not be fashioned by smithcraft, O VГna-Laisi, nor can any even of the Gods devise it, if the sap of the Trees of wonder be dried for ever.вBut PalГrien answering also said: вњo, O TuivГna, and ye beside of the Vali and of the Elves, think ye only and always of Valinor, forgetting the world without?в”or my heart saith to me that already were it time for the Gods to take up once more the battle for the world and expel therefrom the powers of Melko ere they be waxen to oв™rwhelming strength.вBut VГna comprehended not PalГrienв™ mind, thinking only of her Tree of gold, and she abode ill-content; but ManwГ and Varda, and with them AulГ and Yavanna, fared thence, and in secret conclave they took deep and searching counsel one of another, and at the last they bethought them of a rede of hope. Then did ManwГ call together all the folk of Valinor once more; and that great throng was gathered even in VГnaв™ bower amidst her roses, where Kulullinв™ fountains were, for the plain without lay now all cold and dark. There came even the leaders of the Elves and sat at the feet of the Gods, nor had that before been done; but when all were come together AulГ arose and said: вњearken ye all. A rede has ManwГ SГlimo ValatГru* to declare, and the mind of the Earth-lady and of the Queen of the Stars is therein, nor yet is my counsel absent.в/p>

Then was there a great silence that ManwГ might speak, and he said: вњehold O my people, a time of darkness has come upon us, and yet I have it in mind that this is not without the desire of IlГvatar. For the Gods had well-nigh forgot the world that lies without expectant of better days, and of Men, IlГvatarв™ younger Sons that soon must come. Now therefore are the Trees withered that so filled our land with loveliness and our hearts with mirth that wider desires came not into them, and so behold, we must turn now our thoughts to new devices whereby light may be shed upon both the world without and Valinor within.в/p>

Then told he them concerning those stores of radiance they still possessed; for of silver light they had no great store save only that that yet lay in TelimpГ, and a lesser measure that AulГ had in basons in his smithy. Some indeed had the Eldar lovingly saved in tiny vessels as it flowed and wasted in the soils about the stricken bole, but it was little enough.

Now the smallness of their store of white light was due to many causes, in that Varda had used greatly of it when she kindled mighty stars about the heavens, both at the coming of the Eldar and at other times. Moreover that Tree Silpion bore dew of light less richly far than Laurelin had been wont to do, and nonetheless, for it was less hot and fiery-subtle, did the Gods and Elves have need of it always in their magic crafts, and had mingled it with all manner of things that they devised, and in this were the Noldoli the chief.

Now golden light not even the Gods could tame much to their uses, and had suffered it to gather in the great vat Kulullin to the great increase of its fountains, or in other bright basons and wide pools about their courts, for the health and glory of its radiance was very great. в™is said indeed that those first makers of jewels, of whom FГanor has the greatest fame, alone of the Eldar knew the secret of subtly taming golden light to their uses, and they dared use their knowledge but very sparingly, and now is that perished with them out of the Earth. Yet even of this golden radiance was there no unfailing source, now that Laurelin dripped her sweet dew no more. Of this necessity did Manwл shape his plan, and it was caught from that very sowing of the stars that Varda did of yore; for to each of the stars had she given a heart of silver flame set in vessels of crystals and pale glass and unimagined substances of faintest colours: and these vessels were some made like to boats, and buoyed by their hearts of light they fared ever about Ilwл, yet could they not soar into the dark and tenuous realm of Vaitya that is outside all. Now winged spirits of the utmost purity and beauty—even the most ethereal of those bright choirs of the Mбnir and the Sъruli who fare about the halls of Manwл on Taniquetil or traverse all the airs that move upon the world—sate in those starry boats and guided them on mazy courses high above the Earth, and Varda gave them names, but few of these are known.

Others there were whose vessels were like translucent lamps set quivering above the world, in Ilwл or on the very confines of Vilna and the airs we breathe, and they flickered and waned for the stirring of the upper winds, yet abode where they hung and moved not; and of these some were very great and beautiful and the Gods and Elves among all their riches loved them; and thence indeed the jewel-makers catch their inspiration. Not least did they love Morwinyon of the west, whose name meaneth the glint at dusk, and of his setting in the heavens much has been told; and of Nielluin too, who is the Bee of Azure, Nielluin whom still may all men see in autumn or in winter burning nigh the foot of Telimektar son of Tulkas whose tale is yet to tell.

But lo! (said Lindo) the beauty of the stars hath drawn me far afield, and yet I doubt not in that great speech, the mightiest Manwл ever spake before the Gods, mention he made of them yet more loving than was mine. For behold, he desired in this manner to bring the hearts of the Gods to consider his design, and having spoken of the stars he shaped thus his final words: “Behold,” said Manwл, “this is now the third essay of the Gods to bring light into dark places, and both the Lamps of the North and South, and the Trees of the plain, Melko hath brought to ruin. Now in the air only hath Melko no power for ill, wherefore it is my rede that we build a great vessel brimming with golden light and the hoarded dews of Laurelin, and this do set afloat like a mighty ship high above the dark realms of the Earth. There shall it thread far courses through the airs and pour its light on all the world twixt Valinуrл and the Eastern shores.”

Now Manwл designed the course of the ship of light to be between the East and West, for Melko held the North and Ungweliant the South, whereas in the West was Valinor and the blessed realms, and in the East great regions of dark lands that craved for light.

Now it is said (quoth Lindo) that, whereas certain of the Gods of their divine being might, an they wished, fare with a great suddenness of speed through Vilna and the low airs, yet might none even of the Valar, not Melko himself, nor any other save Manwл and Varda and their folk alone avail to pass beyond: for this was the word of Ilъvatar when he sped them to the world at their desire, that they should dwell for ever within the world if once they entered it, nor should 1leave it, until its Great End came, being woven about it in the threads of its fate and becoming part thereof. Yet more, to Manwл alone, knowing the purity and glory of his heart, did Ilъvatar grant the power of visiting the uttermost heights; and breathing the great clear Serene which lies so far above the world that no finest dust of it, nor thinnest odour of its lives, nor faintest echo of its song or sorrow comes there; but far below it gleams palely beneath the stars and the shadows of the Sun and Moon faring back and forth from Valinor flutter upon its face. There walks Manwл Sъlimo often far out beyond the stars and watches it with love, and he is very near the heart of Ilъvatar.

But this has ever been and is yet the greatest bitterness to Melko, for in no wise of himself could he now forsake the bosom of the Earth, and belike ye shall yet hear how mightily his envy was increased when the great vessels of radiance set sail; but now is it to tell that so moving were the words and so great their wisdom that¹¹ the most part of the Gods thought his purpose good, and they said: “Let Aulл busy himself then with all his folk in the fashioning of this ship of light”, and few said otherwise, though ’tis told that Lуrien was little pleased, fearing lest shadow and quiet and secret places ceased to be, and of a surety Vбna might think of little else for the greatness of her vain desire to see the rekindling of the Trees.