I give you an extract from the wonderfull "ISILDUR" by Brian K. Crawford (worth reading). Amroth, after seeing Osgiliath says to Cirdan
Does it not surprise you, Lord, that creatures as ephemeral as these Atani find time enough in their brief lives to create such beauty, and on such a scale? Generations must toil and die that their descendants, whom they will never know, should have a fair home. It is as if they forget that they are mortal.»
CirdanΥs eyes moved over the city, taking in detail after detail. Each tower seemed lovelier than the last; each house more stately; each monument and arch more impressive.
Perhaps it is because they are aware of their mortality that they build so feverishly,» he mused. Though they will be gone, the builders will be remembered as long as the buildings themselves stand. Perhaps it is their way of grasping at the ages that are our birthright.»
Amroth considered this. You may be right, my Lord,» he conceded. But do you ever wonder, if our roles were reversed, would we Quendi do as well?»
That we shall never know. The Gift of Man is forever denied us.»
The Atani do not call death the Gift of Man but the Doom of Man.»
It is because they do not know so much of life or death as we Quendi. They see death but as an ending, and they are reluctant to end.»
And who is the more fortunate, I wonder? Their experience of life is brief, but is it not more intense for that? These Atani die quickly, but they also live quickly. They move and change more easily than do we. They have not our ancient wisdom, but they are clever and adaptable. They bear children when they are little more than children themselves, still in their tweens or even teens. Their numbers are constantly growing, while ours do not. And when we take the Straight Road and leave the circles of the world, they shall remain.»
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