Of Aule and Yavanna

           ItistoldthatintheirbeginningtheDwarvesweremadebyAuleinthedarknessofMiddle-earth;forsogreatlydidAuledesirethecomingoftheChildren,tohavelearnerstowhomhecouldteachhisloreandhiscrafts,thathewasunwillingtoawaitthefulfilmentofthedesignsofIluvatar.AndAulemadetheDwarvesevenastheystillare,becausetheformsoftheChildrenwhoweretocomewereuncleartohismind,andbecausethepowerofMelkorwasyetovertheEarth;andhewishedthereforethattheyshouldbestrongandunyielding.ButfearingthattheotherValarmightblamehiswork,hewroughtinsecret:andhemadefirsttheSevenFathersoftheDwarvesinahallunderthemountainsinMiddle-earth.

           NowIluvatarknewwhatwasdone,andintheveryhourthatAule’sworkwascomplete,andhewaspleased,andbegantoinstructtheDwarvesinthespeechthathehaddevisedforthem,Iluvatarspoketohim;andAuleheardhisvoiceandwassilent.AndthevoiceofIluvatarsaidtohim:’Whyhastthoudonethis?Whydostthouattemptathingwhichthouknowestisbeyondthypowerandthyauthority?Forthouhastfrommeasagiftthyownbringonly,andnomore;andthereforethecreaturesofthyhandandmindcanliveonlybythatbeing,movingwhenthouthinkesttomovethem,andifthythoughtbeelsewhere,standingidle.Isthatthydesire?’

           ThenAuleanswered:’Ididnotdesiresuchlordship.IdesiredthingsotherthanIam,toloveandtoteachthem,sothattheytoomightperceivethebeautyofEa,whichthouhastcausedtobe.ForitseemedtomethatthereisgreatroominArdaformanythingsthatmightrejoiceinit,yetitisforthemostpartemptystill,anddumb.AndinmyimpatienceIhavefallenintofolly.