Сильмариллион
Of the Voyage of Earendil and the War of Wrath
TheDwarvesindeedprovedtoughandhardtotame;theyillendurethedominationofothers,andthethoughtsoftheirheartsarehardtofathom,norcantheybeturnedtoshadows.Theyusedtheirringsonlyforthegettingofwealth;butwrathandanover-masteringgreedofgoldwerekindledintheirhearts,ofwhichevilenoughaftercametotheprofitofSauron.ItissaidthatthefoundationofeachoftheSevenHoardsoftheDwarf-kingsofoldwasagoldenring;butallthosehoardslongagowereplunderedandtheDragonsdevouredthem,andoftheSevenRingssomewereconsumedinfireandsomeSauronrecovered.
Menprovedeasiertoensnare.ThosewhousedtheNineRingsbecamemightyintheirday,kings,sorcerers,andwarriorsofold.Theyobtainedgloryandgreatwealth,yetitturnedtotheirundoing.Theyhad,asitseemed,unendinglife,yetlifebecameunendurabletothem.Theycouldwalk,iftheywould,unseenbyalleyesinthisworldbeneaththesun,andtheycouldseethingsinworldsinvisibletomortalmen;buttoooftentheybeheldonlythephantomsanddelusionsofSauron.Andonebyone,soonerorlater,accordingtotheirnativestrengthandtothegoodoreviloftheirwillsinthebeginning,theyfellunderthethraldomoftheringthattheyboreandunderthedominationoftheOne,whichwasSauron’s.AndtheybecameforeverinvisiblesavetohimthatworetheRulingRing,andtheyenteredintotherealmofshadows.
