How It All Began

There was Ilúvatar, the whole father
始有一如，万物之父
And he made first the Ainur,
他首先创造了众爱努，
The Holy Ones,
“神圣者”，
That were the offspring of his thought,
他们是祂意念的产物，
And they were with him before time.
在时间开始之前就与祂同在。
And he spoke to them,
祂对他们说话，
Propounding to them themes of the music;
提点乐曲的主题；
And they sang before him.
他们在祂面前开声歌唱。
And it came to pass that Ilúvatar called together all the Ainur
于是，伊露维塔招聚所有的爱努，
And declared to them a mighty theme,
向他们宣布了一个浩大非凡的主题，
Unfolding to them things greater and more wonderful
对他们揭示了比祂过往诸般启示
Than he had yet revealed;
更为伟大玄妙的事物；
And the glory of its beginning and the splendour of its end
其初始的荣光与终了的壮丽，
Amazed the Ainur.
令众爱努大为惊奇。
Then Ilúvatar said:
伊露维塔对他们说道：
'Of the theme that I have declared to you,
“我向你们宣布的主题，
But all incomplete,
均未完成，
I desire now
现在，我愿汝等
That you will make clear to me together,
和声共创此曲，
A Great Music.
一宏大乐章。
And since I have kindled you with fire,
我既已用火焰点燃你们，
Ye shall show exercises of your powers
汝等当施展所能
In adorning this theme,
各出心裁，
Each with his own thoughts and devices.'
装点这主题。”