There was Ilúvatar, the whole father
And he made first the Ainur,
The Holy Ones,
That were the offspring of his thought,
And they were with him before time.
And he spoke to them,
Propounding to them themes of the music;
And they sang before him.
And it came to pass that Ilúvatar called together all the Ainur
And declared to them a mighty theme,
Unfolding to them things greater and more wonderful
Than he had yet revealed;
And the glory of its beginning and the splendour of its end
Amazed the Ainur.
Then Ilúvatar said:
'Of the theme that I have declared to you,
But all incomplete,
I desire now
That you will make clear to me together,
A Great Music.
And since I have kindled you with fire,
Ye shall show exercises of your powers
In adorning this theme,
Each with his own thoughts and devices.'