The citation is accurate--it appears on page 406 of my edition (Del Rey paperback first published in 1980).
Only the part of your citation which in the quotation marks actually appears in the source. Here is a slightly longer portion:
Quote:
|
And this the Valar did, desiring to amend the errors of old, especially that they had attempted to guard and seclude the Eldar by their own might and glory fully revealed; whereas now their emissaries were forbidden to reveal themselves in forms of majesty, or to seek to rule the wills of Men or Elves by open display of power, but coming in shapes weak and humble were bidden to advise and persuade Men and Elves to good, and to seek to unite in love and understanding all those whon Sauron, should he come again, would endeavor to dominate and corrupt.
|
Whew! That was a looooooooong sentence! I'm wondering if Tolkien's schoolteachers ever got on his case about run-on sentences
The characterization of the Valar as "the gods of Middle earth" is something I'm not sure Tolkien would completely agree with. Tolkien's universe is, essentially, monotheistic. He does use the word "gods" on some occasions, for instance, "the fields and pastures of Yavanna, gold between the tall wheat of the gods". Certainly the Valar are derived largely from the gods of norse mythology. But usually Tolkien seems refer to the Valar, when not doing so by name, as "the powers". (I'm not sure of the chronology of at what points in his life JRRT used which term).
The question "Valar=gods?" could probably be a good thread topic in itself.
