How It All Began

There was Ilúvatar, the whole father
始有一如，萬物之父
And he made first the Ainur,
他首先創造了眾愛努，
The Holy Ones,
“神聖者”，
That were the offspring of his thought,
他們是祂意念的產物，
And they were with him before time.
在時間開始之前就與祂同在。
And he spoke to them,
祂對他們說話，
Propounding to them themes of the music;
提點樂曲的主題；
And they sang before him.
他們在祂面前開聲歌唱。
And it came to pass that Ilúvatar called together all the Ainur
於是，伊露維塔招聚所有的愛努，
And declared to them a mighty theme,
向他們宣布了一個浩大非凡的主題，
Unfolding to them things greater and more wonderful
對他們揭示了比祂過往諸般啟示
Than he had yet revealed;
更為偉大玄妙的事物；
And the glory of its beginning and the splendour of its end
其初始的榮光與終了的壯麗，
Amazed the Ainur.
令眾愛努大為驚奇。
Then Ilúvatar said:
伊露維塔對他們說道：
Of the theme that I have declared to you,
“我向你們宣布的主題，
But all incomplete,
均未完成，
I desire now
現在，我願汝等
That you will make clear to me together,
和聲共創此曲，
A Great Music.
一宏大樂章。
And since I have kindled you with fire,
我既已用火焰點燃你們，
Ye shall show exercises of your powers
汝等當施展所能
In adorning this theme,
各出心裁，
Each with his own thoughts and devices.
裝點這主題。”