Сильмариллион
Of the Voyage of Earendil and the War of Wrath
YetmanyvoiceswereheardamongtheElvesforebodingthat,ifSauronshouldcomeagain,theneitherhewouldfindtheRulingRingthatwaslost,oratthebesthisenemieswoulddiscoveritanddestroyit;butineitherchancethepowersoftheThreemustthenfailandallthingsmaintainedbythemmustfade,andsotheElvesshouldpassintothetwilightandtheDominionofMenbegin.Andsoindeedithassincebefallen:theOneandtheSevenandtheNinearedestroyed;andtheThreehavepassedaway,andwiththemtheThirdAgeisended,andtheTalesoftheEldarinMiddle-earthdrawtothen-close.
ThoseweretheFadingYears,andinthemthelastfloweringoftheElveseastoftheSeacametoitswinter.InthattimetheNoldorwalkedstillintheHitherLands,mightiestandfairestofthechildrenoftheworld,andtheirtongueswerestillheardbymortalears.Manythingsofbeautyandwonderremainedonearthinthattime,andmanythingsalsoofevilanddread:Orcstherewereandtrollsanddragonsandfellbeasts,andstrangecreaturesoldandwiseinthewoodswhosenamesareforgotten;Dwarvesstilllabouredinthehillsandwroughtwithpatientcraftworksofmetalandstonethatnonenowcanrival.ButtheDominionofMenwaspreparingandallthingswerechanging,untilatlasttheDarkLordaroseinMirkwoodagain.
NowofoldthenameofthatforestwasGreenwoodtheGreat,anditswidehallsandaisleswerethehauntofmanybeastsandofbirdsofbrightsong;andtherewastherealmofKingThranduilundertheoakandthebeech.
