A/N: The forward slashes are supposed to be extra spaces ... but, FF formatting, dontcha know ... :-)
I
Tis told that as / the time grew near
and Sauron set / his schemes in place,
Ar-Pharazôn was / filled with pride.
Yet he knew not / that no thing said
or deed then done / in his domain
by that time was his own. / The tree of white,
Nimloth the Fair, / would not be spared—
for Sauron's set resolve / had sworn its end.
Verily, to Valinor / its vision turned the mind
and heart, and how / he hated every thought
of that undying land. / Under guise of flattery,
for subtle Sauron planned / and saw at last
the way by which his will / would come to pass,
he coaxed the king. / "Why keep you
this reminder of such rulers / in your realm?
You owe them no allegiance, / for ever do they seek
to supplant your power / and your people.
Cut down and cast away, / it cannot help but show
those watching in the West / that we will not
bow our heads, / nor bequeath to them
such servile scraping / as these self-called lords require.
Show forth the fierce / and fair design
of your own will. / Why do you wait?"
His voice was soft as silk, / as smooth as glass his tone.
No man of might could surely / mount defense against
such reasoned cause, / or raise the riot
when the axe was aimed / against the tree.
Yet at first Ar-Pharazôn / refused his urging.
Little did he love / the Lords of the West,
and deep was his desire / to divide his realm
from their sway. / But superstition held him,
though wisdom would have / warned the same
had Pharazôn not long ago / forsaken such an aid.
Too far he fled from grace, / and from his folly
no plea nor prayer / nor power could hold him.
Still, he harbored deep a fear / his house would fall
if did the tree. / Deciding not to dare the chance,
he sent no sign. / But Sauron waited.