Of the Coming of the Elves and the Captivity of Melkor
ThroughlongagestheValardweltinblissinthelightoftheTreesbeyond.TheMountainsofAman,butallMiddleearthlayinatwilightunderthestars.WhiletheLampshadshone,growthbegantherewhichnowwaschecked,becauseallwasagaindark.Butalreadytheoldestlivingthingshadarisen:intheseasthegreatweeds,andonearththeshadowofgreattrees;andinthevalleysofthenight-cladhillsthereweredarkcreaturesoldandstrong.TothoselandsandforeststheValarseldomcame,saveonlyYavannaandOrome;andYavannawouldwalkthereintheshadows,grievingbecausethegrowthandpromiseoftheSpringofArdawasstayed.AndshesetasleepuponmanythingsthathadarisenintheSpring,sothattheyshouldnotage,butshouldwaitforatimeofawakeningthatyetshouldbe.
ButinthenorthMelkorbuilthisstrength,andhesleptnot,butwatched,andlaboured;andtheevilthingsthathehadpervertedwalkedabroad,andthedarkandslumberingwoodswerehauntedbymonstersandshapesofdread.AndinUtumnohegatheredhisdemonsabouthim,thosespiritswhofirstadheredtohiminthedaysofhissplendour,andbecamemostlikehiminhiscorruption:theirheartswereoffire,buttheywerecloakedindarkness,andterrorwentbeforethem;theyhadwhipsofflame.BalrogstheywerenamedinMiddle-earthinlaterdays.AndinthatdarktimeMelkorbredmanyothermonstersofdiversshapesandkindsthatlongtroubledtheworld;andhisrealmspreadnoweversouthwardoverMiddle-earth.
AndMelkormadealsoafortressandarmourynotfarfromthenorth-westernshoresofthesea,toresistanyassaultthatmightcomefromAman.ThatstrongholdwascommandedbySauron,lieutenantofMelkor;anditwasnamedAngband.