The year 3434 of the second age.

Here follows the account of Isildur, high king of gondor and arnor and the finding of the ring of power. The great ring shall now go to be an heirloom of the North Kingdom, but records of it shall be left in gondor where also dwell the heir of Elendil lest a time come when the memory of these great matters grow dim. It was hot when I first took it. Hot as a glede and my hand was scorched so that I doubt if ever again I shall be free of the pain of the pain of it. Yet Even as I write it is cooled and it seemeth to shrink though it loseth neither its beauty nor its shape. Already the writing upon it, which at first was as clear as red flame fadeth and is now only barely to be read. It is fashioned in the elven-script of Eregion, for they have no letters in mordor for such subtle work. But the language is unknown to me. I deem it to be a tongue of the black land, since it is foul. What evil it saith I do not know ; but I trace here a copy of it. Lest it fade beyond recall. The ring missith maybe the heat of saurons hand, which was black and yet burned like fire. And so Gil-Galad was destroyed and maybe were the gold made hot again the writing would be refreshed. But for mu part I will risk no hurt to this thing. Of all the works of sauron, the only fair. It is precious to me. Though I buy it with great pain.