But even this late note
might not be Tolkien's last word on the subject. A more legible version appears on the other side of this text, and I compare what's noted in both. When two Istari come in the Second Age and have a measure of success:
Quote:
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'They must have had very great influence in weakening and disarraying the forces of East ... who would both in the Second Age and Third Age otherwise have outnumbered the West.'
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In the text on the reverse side of this, the Maiar (all five are referred to before the section I quote here) all appear to come at the same time (a crucial moment) -- and at a time when the resistance of the West was greatly outnumbered.
Quote:
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'Now these Maiar were sent by the Valar at a crucial moment in the history of Middle-earth to enhance the resistance of the Elves of the West, greatly outnumbered by those of the East and South.'
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Again who knows which followed the other, but at least (I think) this arguably casts a measure of doubt upon the idea that the other two had this measure of success.
I tend to go with the version that best agrees with
The Lord of the Rings...
... or at least is also more legible
