Melkor and friends were greatly afraid of Oromë, right? He came along not too long after the elves had awoken, presumably before Melkor could mount a full assault. Maybe at the start he was more curious, and captured elves to get information.
It is very curious, though, because waiting too long seems to be a classic good guy mistake, one that happens throughout The Silmarillion and LOTR. Even Gandalf is guilty of procrastination. By contrast, Sauron attacks too early, opening his full game and leaving his Ring exposed (pardon the expression) to destruction by Frodo. Melkor seems to be much more wily and cunning than Sauron, also more understandable and dare I say likeable. I really hate that Sauron guy.
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But Gwindor answered: 'The doom lies in yourself, not in your name'.
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