Сильмариллион
Of the Beginning of Days
ThereforetowilledthattheheartsofMenshouldseekbeyondtheworldandshouldfindnoresttherein;buttheyshouldhaveavirtuetoshapetheirlife,amidthepowersandchancesoftheworld,beyondtheMusicoftheAinur,whichisasfatetoallthingselse;andoftheiroperationeverythingshouldbe,informanddeed,completed,andtheworldfulfilleduntothelastandsmallest.
ButIluvatarknewthatMen,beingsetamidtheturmoilsofthepowersoftheworld,wouldstrayoften,andwouldnotusetheirgiftsinharmony;andhesaid:’’Thesetoointheirtimeshallfindthatallthattheydoredoundsattheendonlytothegloryofmywork.’YettheElvesbelievethatMenareoftenagrieftoManwe,whoknowsmostofthemindofIluvatar;foritseemstotheElvesthatMenresembleMelkormostofalltheAinur,althoughhehaseverfearedandhatedthem,eventhosethatservedhim.
ItisonewiththisgiftoffreedomthatthechildrenofMendwellonlyashortspaceintheworldalive,andarenotboundtoit,anddepartsoonwhithertheElvesknownot.WhereastheElvesremainuntiltheendofdays,andtheirloveoftheEarthandalltheworldismoresingleandmorepoignanttherefore,andastheyearslengthenevermoresorrowful.FortheElvesdienottilltileworlddies,unlesstheyareslainorwasteingrief(andtoboththeseseemingdeathstheyaresubject);neitherdoesagesubduetheirstrength,unlessonegrowwearyoftenthousandcenturies;anddyingtheyaregatheredtothehallsofMandosinValinor,whencetheymayintimereturn.ButthesonsofMendieindeed,andleavetheworld;whereforetheyarecalledtheGuests,ortheStrangers.Deathistheirfate,thegiftofIluvatar,whichasTimewearseventhePowersshallenvy.
