Morgoth's Ring (37 page)

immediately following the text of the 'first phase' version, postponing the long and remarkable essay from which it derives, was extremely confusing; while to introduce the essay into the series of 'first phase'

chapters made matters worse. For this reason I have divided this part of the book into two sections, and give here separately the late narrative versions of Chapters 1, 6, and a part of 7 together with the essay on the Eldar. To date these writings (and those given in Part Four) with any real precision seems impossible on the evidence that I know of, but such as there is points clearly in most cases to the late 1950s and not much later (for detailed discussion see p. 300).

*

THE VALAQUENTA.

Of the final, enlarged form of the old Chapter 1, the Valaquenta (abbreviated Vq), there are two texts, both of them typescripts made by my father (Vq 1 and Vq 2). Vq 1 begins as a copy of LQ 2, but very soon diverges, and with the introduction of much new matter becomes in several parts entirely distinct. Though typewritten it is very much a draft text, confused and (at any rate as it exists now) incomplete. It was followed, I would think immediately, by the finished text Vq 2.

Vq 1 is headed like the preceding versions, 'QUENTA SILMARILLION. Here begins the Silmarillion, or the History of the Silmarils.

I. Of the Valar.' Vq 2, on the other hand, is headed 'VALAQUENTA.

Here is the Account of the Valar and Maiar according to the Lore of the Eldar.' That the original first chapter of The Silmarillion had become a separate entity like the Ainulindale' is shown, apart from the new title, by the fact that to the final text (LQ 2) of the next chapter, Of Valinor and the Two Trees, a title-page (together with a page carrying the preamble, AEaelfwine's note, and the Translator's note) was attached, and the chapter numbered '1'. This title-page is virtually the same as that in the old QS typescript (see V.202), with the heading

'Eldanyare' and beneath 'Quenta Silmarillion', the division into three parts, and the forms Pennas Silevril, Yenie Valinoren, Inias Valannor (where however the old typescript was changed to Balannor), and Inias Beleriand. The fact that it was taken from the original 'Eldanyare' text suggests that it really belonged to LQ 1 (whose title-page is missing, p. 143). It is true that it was typed at the same time as the rest of LQ 2, but I imagine that (having decided to separate off the Valaquenta) my father at this time gave the title-page of LQ 1 to the typist of LQ 2 to copy, after which it was mislaid and lost. It seems odd that he should have done this; at least one might have expected him to change the second element from The Annals of Valinor to The Annals of Aman. He did indeed make some pencilled emendations to it: Yenie Valinoren to Yenie Valinoreo (and beneath this Valinore Yenie), and Inias Valannor to Inias Dor-Rodyn.

Essentially, Vq 1 was the innovating version, and Vq 2 refined stylistically on the new material, although in any given case it is possible that Vq 1 was as LQ 2 and that Vq 2 introduced the new text; however, I treat this detail as largely immaterial. In what follows I comment on notable features arising from a comparison between the Valaquenta and LQ (that is, the corrected text of LQ 1 given on pp. 144-7, referred to by the numbered paragraphs, together with the emendations made to its copy LQ 2 given on pp. 148 - 9). The text of the Valaquenta is found in the published Silmarillion (references are to the original hardback edition, 1977). Since a number of editorial changes were made to the text of the Valaquenta I notice certain points of substance in which they differ.

$1 The words 'Let it be!' were not included in the Vq texts (see p. 148, $1).

$2 Nearly all of this paragraph concerning the Maiar and the confusion with Elves (as emended in LQ 2) still survived in Vq 1, but was eliminated in Vq 2 (the first part of it reappearing, rewritten, at the beginning of the section 'Of the Maiar'). The end of the paragraph, concerning the making of the Children of Eru, was eliminated in Vq 2 and does not reappear.

$3 Vq 1 as typed followed LQ exactly in the list of the 'chieftains of the Valar' (with Lorien as in LQ 2 for earlier Lorien), but a list of the seven queens (Valier) was also given: Varda, Yavanna, Nienna, Vana, Vaire, Nessa, Uinen (agreeing with the table given on p. 151). In Vq 1 the nine 'chieftains' became by emendation seven: Melkor and Osse were removed (and Orome s place changed, so that he stands after Aule); this is the number and order of 'the Lords of the Valar' in Vq 2 and in the published work (p. 25). Also by emendation to Vq 1 the queens lose Uinen but gain Este, who is placed after Nienna, and Vana is set after Vaire; this again was the final form. These changes, both to Valar and Valier, were made also to the typescript of AAm (p. 69, $$1 - 2). The names Vana and Nienna are given thus in Vq 2.

The sentence in LQ 'though they have other or altered names in the speech of the Sindar' was retained in Vq 1 with the addition of 'in Middle-earth', but changed in Vq Z to 'though they have other names in the speech of the Elves in Middle-earth.'

$4 (Varda) The history of the phrase 'With Manwe dwells Varda'

(The Silmarillion p. 26) is curious. QS $4 has 'With him dwells as wife Varda... -, by emendation to LQ 1 it became With him in Arda dwells as spouse Varda ...'; and in Vq it is 'With Manwe now dwells as spouse Varda...' In 1975, when the main work on the text of the published Silmarillion was done, being then much less clear than I have since become about certain dates and textual relations (and ignorant of the existence of some texts), I did not see that this 'now' could have any significance, and moreover it contributed to the problem of tense in the Valaquenta, which is discussed below; I therefore omitted it. It is however undoubtedly significant. In AAm it is said (p. 49, $3): 'Varda was Manwe s spouse from the beginning, in contrast to the later C 'union' of Yavanna and Aule 'in Ea' (on which see under $5

below). But the typescript text of AAm was emended (p. 69, $3) to 'Varda was Manwe's spouse from the beginning of Arda', which shows that some complex conception was present (though never definitively expressed) concerning the time of the 'union' of the great spirits.

In the new, much extended passage concerning Varda, Vq 1

has 'She speaks seldom in words, save to Manwe', where Vq 2

followed by the published text (p. 26) has 'Manwe and Varda are seldom parted, and they remain in Valinor.'

(Ulmo) The long new passage concerning Ulmo entered in Vq 1, which has some interesting differences from the final form: it is said that Ulmo 'had less need of the light of the Trees or of any resting-place', and that 'his counsels grew ever away from the mind of Manwe (whom nonetheless he obeyed)': cf. the Ainulindale (p. 13, $18), 'Manwe and Ulmo have from the beginning been allied, and in all things have served most faithfully the purpose of Iluvatar'. In both Vq texts his horns are called Falarombar, changed on the Vq 2 typescript to Ulumuri; cf. the original name of the horn of Orome, Rombaras (p. 35, $34), and the Etymologies, V.384, stem ROM.

(Osse and Uinen) The passage concerning Osse and Uinen, much enlarged, now appears in the section 'Of the Maiar', since they have ceased to be numbered among the Valar (see under $3

above).

$5 (Aule') In the words (referring to Melkor and Aule) 'Both, also, desired to make things of their own that should be new and unthought of by others' (The Silmarillion p. 27) there is very probably a reflection of the legend of Aule's making of the Dwarves.

(Yavanna) Here again, as with Varda ($4 above), I wrongly changed the text concerning Yavanna S union with Aule. Both Vq texts have 'The spouse of Aule in Arda is Yavanna', and the words 'in Arda' are certainly significant (see V.120).

'Some there are who have seen her standing like a tree under heaven' recalls the later versions of the Ainulindale', where it is Pengolod himself who declares to AElfwine that he has so seen her

'long years agone, in the land of the Valar' (p. 15, $25).

The name Kementari is found as a correction of Palurien in LQ 2, Chapter 2 (p. 157, $14).

$6 (Mandos) The editorial change of 'northward' to 'westward'

in 'Namo the elder dwells in Mandos, which is northward in Valinor' in the published text (p. 28) is a regrettable error, which I have explained in I.82. - It may be noted here that in the passage in $9 concerning Nienna the change of 'the halls of Mandos, which are nearer and yet more northward' (found from QS to LQ 2) to 'the halls of Mandos, which are near to her own'

is not editorial, but is found in the Vq texts.

$7 (Tulkas) The sentence 'He came last to Arda, to aid the Valar in the first battles with Melkor' only entered with Vq 2, but derives from the later Ainulindale ($31).

$8 (Orome') In emendation to one copy only of LQ 2 the name Aldaron of Orome was lost (see p. 149, $8), and it does not appear in either text of Vq. It should not have been reintroduced into the published text (p. 29). The sentence (ibid.) 'by the Sindar Tauron' derives from LQ 2 and Vq 1, but was in fact changed in Vq 2 to 'Tauron he is called in Middle-earth'; cf. under $3 above, where 'Sindar' was also removed in Vq 2. The translation of Tauron should be 'the Lord of the Forests'.

The name Nahar of Orome s horse first appears in AAm $31

(p. 70). - After the words 'for the pursuit of the evil creatures of Melkor' (The Silmarillion p. 29) the Vq texts have 'But the Valaroma is not blown, and Nahar runs no more upon the Middle-earth since the change of the world and the waning of the Elves, whom he loved.' This sentence goes back through the versions to QS (though the Valaroma does not appear in it till LQ 2 and Nahar not till Vq), and I regret its exclusion from The Silmarillion.

$9 (Nienna) The account of Nienna appears at an earlier point in Vq (following the Feanturi, to whom she is now 'akin') than it had in previous versions. The words 'sister of the Feanturi' were changed editorially from Vq 'sister of Namo' (see p. 151, $9).

At the end of the account of the Valar and Valier appears the name and conception of the Aratar, the High Ones of Arda, of whom there are eight after the removal of Melkor. This contrasts with the conception of 'the Seven Great Ones of the Realm of Arda' (p. 147, $10a), among whom Melkor is numbered, but not Orome, nor Mandos.

$$10a,b Of the Maiar. The words in the published text (p. 30) concerning Eonwe, 'whose might in arms is surpassed by none in Arda', were an editorial addition, made in order to prepare for his leadership of the hosts of the West at the Great Battle (The Silmarillion pp. 251 - 2). For the end of the Elder Days there is scarcely any material from the period following The Lord of the Rings.

(Melian) In LQ 2 Melian was said to be 'of the people of Yavanna'; see p. 147, $10b.

(Olorin) At the end of the account of Olorin is scribbled on the typescript Vq 1: 'He was humble in the Land of the Blessed; and in Middle-earth he sought no renown. His triumph was in the uprising of the fallen, and his joy was in the renewal of hope.'

This appears in Vq 2, but my father subsequently placed inverted commas round it. It was wrongly omitted from The Silmarillion (p. 31).

Of the Enemies. In this almost entirely new section appears the conception that the Balrogs (Valaraukar) were powerful spirits from before the World; so also in AAm* (p. 79, $30) the Balrogs are described as the chief of 'the evil spirits that followed

[Melkor], the Umaiar'. See further p. 165, $18.

The Valaquenta texts end thus, and speak of the Marring of Arda, the underlying concern of many of the writings given subsequently in this book:

Here ends The Valaquenta. If it has passed from the high and beautiful to darkness and ruin, that was of old the fate of Arda Marred; and if any change shall come and the Marring be amended, Manwe and Varda may know; but they have not revealed it, and it is not declared in the dooms of Mandos.

The Second Prophecy of Mandos (V.333) had now therefore definitively disappeared. This passage was used to form a conclusion to the published Silmarillion (p. 255).

In my foreword to The Silmarillion I wrote that in the Valaquenta

'we have to assume that while it contains much that must go back to the earliest days of the Eldar in Valinor, it was remodelled in later times; and thus explain its continual shifting of tense and viewpoint, so that the divine powers seem now present and active in the world, now remote, a vanished order known only to memory.'

The problem of tense in this work is certainly very difficult. Already in Q (IV.78 - 9) the shifting from past to present tense appears, where Osse and Uinen and Nienna are described in the present, in contrast to all the others, while Ulmo 'was' next in might to Manwe, but he

'dwells' alone in the Outer Seas. In QS (see V.208) the present tense is used, almost though not exclusively - but 'Tulkas had great love for Fionwe' early became 'has', and 'Orome was a mighty lord' became