Of the Coming of Men into the West

           WhenthreehundredyearsandmoreweregonesincetheNoldorcametoBeleriand,inthedaysoftheLongPeace,FinrodFelagundlordofNargothrondjourneyedeastofSirionandwenthuntingwithMaglorandMaedhros,sonsofFeanor.ButheweariedofthechaseandpassedcmalonetowardsthemountainsofEredLindonthathesawshiningafar;andtakingtheDwarf-roadhecrossedGelionatthefordofSarnAthrad,andtamingsouthovertheupperstreamsofAscar,hecameintothenorthofOssiriand.

           Inavalleyamongthefoothillsofthemountains,belowthespringsofThalos,hesawlightsintheevening,andfaroffheheardthesoundofsong.Atthishewonderedmuch,fortheGreen-elvesofthatlandlitnofires,nordidtheysingbynightAtfirsthefearedthataraidofOrcshadpassedtheleagueroftheNorth,butashedrewnearheperceivedthatitwasnotso;forthesingersusedatonguethathehadnotheardbefore,neitherthatofDwarvesnorofOrcs.ThenFelagund,standingsilenthithenight-shadowofthetrees,lookeddownintothecamp,andtherehebeheldastrangepeople.

           NowthesewereapartofthekindredandfollowingofBeortheOld,ashewasafterwardscalled,achieftainamongMen.AftermanylivesofwanderingoutoftheEasthehadledthematlastovertheBlueMountains,thefirstoftheraceofMentoenterBeleriand;andtheysangbecausetheywereglad,andbelievedthattheyhadescapedfromallperilsandhadcomeatlasttoalandwithoutfear.