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back from pursuit。 After Morgoth to the ends of the Earth！ War shall he have and hatred undying。 But when we have
conquered and have regained the Silmarils； then we and we alone shall be lords of the unsullied Light； and masters of
the bliss and beauty of Arda。 No other race shall oust us！'
Then F？anor swore a terrible oath。 His seven sons leapt straightway to his side and took the selfsame vow
together； and red as blood shone their drawn swords in the glare of the torches。 They swore an oath which none shall
break； and none should take； by the name even of Ilúvatar； calling the Everlasting Dark upon them if they kept it not；
and Manw？ they named in witness； and Varda； and the hallowed mountain of Taniquetil； vowing to pursue with
vengeance and hatred to the ends of the World Vala； Demon； Elf or Man as yet unborn； or any creature； great or small；
good or evil； that time should bring forth unto the end of days； whoso should hold or take or keep a Silmaril from their
possession。
Thus spoke Maedhros and Maglor and Celegorm； Curufin and Caranthir； Amrod and Amras； princes of the
Noldor； and many quailed to hear the dread words。 For so sworn； good or evil； an oath may not be broken； and it shall
pursue oathkeeper and oathbreaker to the world's end。 Fingolfin and Turgon his son therefore spoke against F？anor； and
fierce words awoke； so that once again wrath came near to the edge of swords。 But Finarfin spoke softly； as was his
wont； and sought to calm the Noldor； persuading them to pause and ponder ere deeds were done that could not be
undone； and Orodreth； alone of his sons； spoke in like manner。 Finrod was with Turgon； his friend； but Galadriel； the
only woman of the Noldor to stand that day tall and valiant among the contending princes； was eager to be gone。 No
oaths she swore； but the words of F？anor concerning Middle…earth had kindled in her heart； for she yearned to see the
wide unguarded lands and to rule there a realm at her own will。 Of like mind with Galadriel was Fingon Fingolfin's son；
being moved also by F？anor's words； though he loved him little； and with Fingon stood as they ever did Angrod and
Aegnor； sons of Finarfin。 But these held their peace and spoke not against their fathers。
At length after long debate F？anor prevailed； and the greater part of the Noldor there assembled he set aflame
with the desire of new things and strange countries。 Therefore when Finarfin spoke yet again for heed and delay； a great
shout went up： 'Nay； let us be gone！' And straightway F？anor and his sons began to prepare for the marching forth。
Little foresight could there be for those who dared to take so dark a road。 Yet all was done in over…haste； for
F？anor drove them on； fearing lest in the cooling of their hearts his words should wane and other counsels yet prevail；
and for all his proud words he did not forget the power of the Valar。 But from Valmar no message came； and Manw？ was
silent。 He would not yet either forbid or hinder F？anor's purpose； for the Valar were aggrieved that they were charged
with evil intent to the Eldar； or that any were held captive by them against their will。 Now they watched and waited； for
they did not yet believe that F？anor could hold the host of the Noldor to his will。
And indeed when F？anor began the marshalling of the Noldor for their setting…out； then at once dissension arose。
For though he had brought the assembly in a mind to depart； by no means all were of a mind to take F？anor as King。
Greater love was given to Fingolfin and his sons； and his household and the most part of the dwellers in Tirion refused
to renounce him； if he would go with them； and thus at the last as two divided hosts the Noldor set forth upon their bitter
road。 F？anor and his following were in the van； but the greater host came behind under Fingolfin； and he marched
against his wisdom； because Fingon his son so urged him； and because he would not be sundered from his people that
were eager to go； nor leave them to the rash counsels of F？anor。 Nor did he forget his words before the throne of
Manw？。 With Fingolfin went Finarfin also and for like reasons； but most loath was he to depart。 And of all the Noldor in
Valinor； who were grown now to a great people； but one tithe refused to take the road： some for the love that they bore
to the Valar （and to Aul？ not least）； some for the love of Tirion and the many things that they had made； none for fear of
peril by the way。
But even as the trumpet sang and F？anor issued from the gates of Tirion a messenger came at last from Manw？；
saying： 'Against the folly of F？anor shall be set my counsel only。 Go not forth！ For the hour is evil； and your road leads
to sorrow that ye do not foresee。 No aid will the Valar lend you in this quest； but neither will they hinder you； for this ye
shall know： as ye came hither freely； freely shall ye depart。 But thou F？anor Finw？'s son； by thine oath art exiled。 The
lies of Melkor thou shalt unlearn in bitterness。 Vala he is； thou saist Then thou hast sworn in vain； for none of the Valar
canst thou overe now or ever within the halls of E？； not though Eru whom thou namest had made thee thrice greater
than thou art。'
But F？anor laughed； and spoke not to the herald； but to the Noldor； saying： 'So！ Then will this valiant people send
forth the heir of their King alone into banishment with his sons only； and return to their bondage？ But if any will e
with me； I say to them： Is sorrow foreboded to you？ But in Aman we have seen it。 In Aman we have e through bliss
to woe。 The other now we will try： through sorrow to find joy； or freedom； at the least。'
Then turning to the herald he cried： 'Say this to Manw？ Súlimo； High King of Arda： if F？anor cannot overthrow
Morgoth； at least he delays not to assail him； and sits not idle in grief。 And it may be that Eru has set in me a fire greater
than thou knowest。 Such hurt at the least will I do to the Foe of the Valar that even the mighty in the Ring of Doom shall
wonder to hear it。 Yea； in the end they shall follow me。 Farewell！'
In that hour the voice of F？anor grew so great and so potent that even the herald of the Valar bowed before him as
one full…answered； and departed； and the Noldor were over…ruled。 Therefore they continued their march； and the House
of F？anor hastened before them along the coasts of Elend？： not once did they turn their eyes back to Tirion on the green
hill of Túna。 Slower and less eagerly came the host of Fingolfin after them。 Of those Fingon was the foremost； but at the
rear went Finarfin and Finrod； and many of the noblest and wisest of the Noldor； and often they looked behind them to
see their fair city； until the lamp of the Mindon Eldaliéva was lost in the night。 More than any others of the Exiles they
carried thence memories of the bliss they had forsaken； and some even of the things that they had made there they took
with them： a solace and a burden on the road。
Now F？anor led the Noldor northward； because his first purpose was to follow Morgoth。 Moreover Túna beneath
Taniquetil was set nigh to the girdle of Arda； and there the Great Sea was immeasurably wide； whereas ever northward
the sundering seas grew narrower； as the wasteland of Araman and the coasts of Middle…earth drew together。 But as the
mind of F？anor cooled and took counsel he perceived overlate that all these great panies would never overe the
long leagues to the north； nor cross the seas at the last； save with the aid of ships； yet it would need long time and toil to
build so great a fleet； even were there any among the Noldor skilled in that craft。 He resolved now therefore to persuade
the Teleri； ever friends to the Noldor； to join with them； and in his rebellion he thought that thus the bliss of Valinor
might be further diminished and his power for war upon Morgoth be increased。 He hastened then to Alqualond？； and
spoke to the Teleri as he had spoken before in Tirion。
But the Teleri were unmoved by aught that he could say。 They were grieved indeed at the going of their kinsfolk
and long friends； but would rather dissuade them than aid them； and no ship would they lend； nor help in the building；
against the will of the Valar。 As for themselves； they desired now no other home but the strands of Eldamar； and no other
lord than Olw？； prince of Alqualond？。 And he had never lent ear to Morgoth； nor weled him to his land； and he
trusted still that Ulmo and the other great among the Valar would redress the hurts of Morgoth； and that the night would
pass yet to a new dawn。 Then F？anor grew wrathful； for he still feared delay； and hotly he spoke to Olw？。 'You renounce
your friendship； even in the hour of our need；' he said。 'Yet you were glad indeed to receive our aid when you came at
last to these shores； fainthearted loiterers； and wellnigh emptyhanded。 In huts on the beaches would yon be dwelling
still； had not the Noldor carved out your haven and toiled upon your walls。'
But Olw？ answered： 'We renounce no friendship。 But it may be the part of a friend to rebuke a friend's folly。 And
when the Noldor wele