The Lord of the Rings-指环王(英文版)-第58章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



'Not　too　tiring　for　you；'　the　Elves　answered　laughing。　'You　know　you　are　never　tired　of　reciting　your　own　verses。　But　really　we　cannot　answer　your　question　at　one　hearing！'

'What！'　cried　Bilbo。　'You　can't　tell　which　parts　were　mine；　and　which　were　the　Dúnadan's？'

'It　is　not　easy　for　us　to　tell　the　difference　between　two　mortals'　said　the　Elf。

'Nonsense；　Lindir；'　snorted　Bilbo。　'If　you　can't　distinguish　between　a　Man　and　a　Hobbit；　your　judgement　is　poorer　than　I　imagined。　They're　as　different　as　peas　and　apples。'

'Maybe。　To　sheep　other　sheep　no　doubt　appear　different；'　laughed　Lindir。　'Or　to　shepherds。　But　Mortals　have　not　been　our　study。　We　have　other　business。'

'I　won't　argue　with　you；'　said　Bilbo。　'I　am　sleepy　after　so　much　music　and　singing。　I'll　leave　you　to　guess；　if　you　want　to。'

He　got　up　and　came　towards　Frodo。　'Well；　that's　over；'　he　said　in　a　low　voice。　'It　went　off　better　than　I　expected。　I　don't　often　get　asked　for　a　second　hearing。　What　did　you　think　of　it？'

'I　am　not　going　to　try　and　guess；'　said　Frodo　smiling。

'You　needn't；'　said　Bilbo。　'As　a　matter　of　fact　it　was　all　mine。　Except　that　Aragorn　insisted　on　my　putting　in　a　green　stone。　He　seemed　to　think　it　important。　I　don't　know　why。　Otherwise　he　obviously　thought　the　whole　thing　rather　above　my　head；　and　he　said　that　if　I　had　the　cheek　to　make　verses　about　E。rendil　in　the　house　of　Elrond；　it　was　my　affair。　I　suppose　he　was　right。'

'I　don't　know；'　said　Frodo。　'It　seemed　to　me　to　fit　somehow；　though　I　can't　explain。　I　was　half　asleep　when　you　began；　and　it　seemed　to　follow　on　from　something　that　I　was　dreaming　about。　I　didn't　understand　that　it　was　really　you　speaking　until　near　the　end。'

'It　is　difficult　to　keep　awake　here；　until　you　get　used　to　it；'　said　Bilbo。　'Not　that　hobbits　would　ever　acquire　quite　the　elvish　appetite　for　music　and　poetry　and　tales。　They　seem　to　like　them　as　much　as　food；　or　more。　They　will　be　going　on　for　a　long　time　yet。　What　do　you　say　to　slipping　off　for　some　more　quiet　talk？'

'Can　we？'　said　Frodo。

'Of　course。　This　is　merrymaking　not　business。　e　and　go　as　you　like；　as　long　as　you　don't　make　a　noise。'

They　got　up　and　withdrew　quietly　into　the　shadows；　and　made　for　the　doors。　Sam　they　left　behind；　fast　asleep　still　with　a　smile　on　his　face。　In　spite　of　his　delight　in　Bilbo's　pany　Frodo　felt　a　tug　of　regret　as　they　passed　out　of　the　Hall　of　Fire。　Even　as　they　stepped　over　the　threshold　a　single　clear　voice　rose　in　song。

A　Elbereth　Gilthoniel；
silivren　penna　míriel
o　menel　aglar　elenath！
Nachaered　palandíriel
o　galadhremmin　ennorath；
Fanuilos；　le　linnathon
nef　aear；　sí　nef　aearon！

Frodo　halted　for　a　moment；　looking　back。　Elrond　was　in　his　chair　and　the　fire　was　on　his　face　like　summerlight　upon　the　trees。　Near　him　sat　the　Lady　Arwen。　To　his　surprise　Frodo　saw　that　Aragorn　stood　beside　her；　his　dark　cloak　was　thrown　back；　and　he　seemed　to　be　clad　in　elvenmail；　and　a　star　shone　on　his　breast。　They　spoke　together；　and　then　suddenly　it　seemed　to　Frodo　that　Arwen　turned　towards　him；　and　the　light　of　her　eyes　fell　on　him　from　afar　and　pierced　his　heart。

He　stood　still　enchanted；　while　the　sweet　syllables　of　the　elvish　song　fell　like　clear　jewels　of　blended　word　and　melody。　'It　is　a　song　to　Elbereth；'　said　Bilbo。　'They　will　sing　that；　and　other　songs　of　the　Blessed　Realm；　many　times　tonight。　e　on！'

He　led　Frodo　back　to　his　own　little　room。　It　opened　on　to　the　gar　dens　and　looked　south　across　the　ravine　of　the　Bruinen。　There　they　sat　for　some　while；　looking　through　the　window　at　the　bright　stars　above　the　steepclimbing　woods；　and　talking　softly。　They　spoke　no　more　of　the　small　news　of　the　Shire　far　away；　nor　of　the　dark　shadows　and　perils　that　enpassed　them；　but　of　the　fair　things　they　had　seen　in　the　world　together；　of　the　Elves；　of　the　stars；　of　trees；　and　the　gentle　fall　of　the　bright　year　in　the　woods。

At　last　there　came　a　knock　on　the　door。　'Begging　your　pardon；'　said　Sam；　putting　in　his　head；　'but　I　was　just　wondering　if　you　would　be　wanting　anything。'

'And　begging　yours；　Sam　Gamgee；'　replied　Bilbo。　'I　guess　you　mean　that　it　is　time　your　master　went　to　bed。'

'Well；　sir；　there　is　a　Council　early　tomorrow；　I　hear　and　he　only　got　up　today　for　the　first　time。'

'Quite　right；　Sam；'　laughed　Bilbo。　'You　can　trot　off　and　tell　Gandalf　that　he　has　gone　to　bed。　Good　night；　Frodo！　Bless　me；　but　it　has　been　good　to　see　you　again！　There　are　no　folk　like　hobbits　after　all　for　a　real　good　talk。　I　am　getting　very　old；　and　I　began　to　wonder　if　I　should　ever　live　to　see　your　chapters　of　our　story。　Good　night！　I'll　take　a　walk；　I　think；　and　look　at　the　stars　of　Elbereth　in　the　garden。　Sleep　well！'

Chapter　2
The　Council　of　Elrond
　

Next　day　Frodo　woke　early；　feeling　refreshed　and　well。　He　walked　along　the　terraces　above　the　loudflowing　Bruinen　and　watched　the　pale；　cool　sun　rise　above　the　far　mountains；　and　shine　down。　Slanting　through　the　thin　silver　mist；　the　dew　upon　the　yellow　leaves　was　glimmering；　and　the　woven　s　of　gossamer　twinkled　on　every　bush。　Sam　walked　beside　him；　saying　nothing。　but　sniffing　the　air；　and　looking　every　now　and　again　with　wonder　in　his　eyes　at　the　great　heights　in　the　East。　The　snow　was　white　upon　their　peaks。

On　a　seat　cut　in　the　stone　beside　a　turn　in　the　path　they　came　upon　Gandalf　and　Bilbo　deep　in　talk。　'Hullo！　Good　morning！'　said　Bilbo。　'Feel　ready　for　the　great　council？'

'I　feel　ready　for　anything；'　answered　Frodo。　'But　most　of　all　I　should　like　to　go　walking　today　and　explore　the　valley。　I　should　like　to　get　into　those　pinewoods　up　there。'　He　pointed　away　far　up　the　side　of　Rivendell　to　the　north。

'You　may　have　a　chance　later；'　said　Gandalf。　'But　we　cannot　make　any　plans　yet。　There　is　much　to　hear　and　decide　today。'

Suddenly　as　they　were　talking　a　single　clear　bell　rang　out。　'That　is　the　warning　bell　for　the　Council　of　Elrond；'　cried　Gandalf。　'e　along　now！　Both　you　and　Bilbo　are　wanted。'

Frodo　and　Bilbo　followed　the　wizard　quickly　along　the　winding　path　back　to　the　house；　behind　them；　uninvited　and　for　the　moment　fotten；　trotted　Sam。

Gandalf　led　them　to　the　porch　where　Frodo　had　found　his　friends　the　evening　before。　The　light　of　the　clear　autumn　morning　was　now　glowing　in　the　valley。　The　noise　of　bubbling　waters　came　up　from　the　foaming　riverbed。　Birds　were　singing；　and　a　wholesome　peace　lay　on　the　land。　To　Frodo　his　dangerous　flight；　and　the　rumours　of　the　darkness　growing　in　the　world　outside；　already　seemed　only　the　memories　of　a　troubled　dream；　but　the　faces　that　were　turned　to　meet　them　as　they　entered　were　grave。

Elrond　was　there；　and　several　others　were　seated　in　silence　about　him。　Frodo　saw　Glorfindel　and　Glóin；　and　in　a　corner　alone　Strider　was　sitting；　clad　in　his　old　travelworn　clothes　again。　Elrond　drew　Frodo　to　a　seat　by　his　side；　and　presented　him　to　the　pany；　saying：

'Here；　my　friends　is　the　hobbit；　Frodo　son　of　Drogo。　Few　have　ever　e　hither　through　greater　peril　or　on　an　errand　more　urgent。'

He　then　pointed　out　and　named　those　whom　Frodo　had　not　met　before。　There　was　a　younger　dwarf　at　Glóin's　side：　his　son　Gimli。　Beside　Glorfindel　there　were　several　other　counsellors　of　Elrond's　household；　of　whom　Erestor　was　the　chief；　and　with　him　was　Galdor；　an　Elf　from　the　Grey　Havens　who　had　e　on　an　errand　from　Círdan　the　Shipwright。　There　was　also　a　strange　Elf　clad　in　green　and　brown；　Legolas；　a　messenger　from　his　father；　Thranduil；　the　King　of　the　Elves　of　Northern　Mirkwood。　And　seated　a　little　apart　was　a　tall　man　with　a　fair　and　noble　face；　darkhaired　and　greyeyed；　proud　and　stern　of　glance。

He　was　cloaked　and　booted　as　if　for　a　journey　on　horseback；　and　indeed　though　his　garments　were　rich；　and　his　cloak　was　lined　with　fur；　they　were　stained　with　long　travel。　He　had　a　collar　of　silver　in　which　a　single　white　stone　was　set；　his　locks　were　shorn　about　his　shoulders。　On　a　baldric　he　wore　a　great　horn　tipped　with　silver　that　now　was　laid　upon　his　knees。　He　gazed　at　Frodo　and　Bilbo　with　sudden　wonder。

'Here；'　said　Elrond；　turning　to　Gandalf；　'is　Boromir；　a　man　from　the　South。　He　arrived　in　the　grey　morning；　and　seeks　for　counsel。　I　have　bidden　him　to　be　present；　for　here　his　questions　will　be　answered。'

Not　all　that　was　spoken　and　debated　in　the　Council　need　now　be　told。　Much　was　said　of　events　in　the　world　outside；　especially　in　the　South；　and　in　the　wide　lands　east　of　the　Mountains。　Of　these　things　Frodo　had　already　heard　many　rumours；　but　the　tale　of　Glóin　was　new　to　him；　and　when　the　dwarf　spoke　he　listened　attentively。　It　appeared　that　amid　the　splendour　of　their　works　of　hand　the　hearts　of　the　Dwarves　of　the　Lonely　Mountain　were　troubled。

'It　is　now　many　years　ago；'　said　Glóin；　'that　a　shadow　of　disquiet　fell　upon　our　people。　Whence　it　came　we　did　not　at　first　perceive。　Words　began　to　be　whispered　in　secret：　it　was　said　that　we　were　hemmed　in　a　narrow　place；　and　that　greater　wealth　and　splendour　would　be　found　in　a　wider　world。　Some　spoke　of　Moria：　the　mighty　works　of　our　fathers　that　are　called　in　our　own　tongue　Khazadd？m；　and　they　declared　that　now　at　last　we　had　the　power　and　numbers　to　return。'

Glóin　sighed。　'Moria！　Moria！　Wonder　of　the　Northern　world！　Too　deep　we　delved　there；　and　woke　the　na