The Lord of the Rings-指环王(英文版)-第76章

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e　lake。　There　was　a　bubbling　noise；　and　then　silence。　The　dusk　deepened；　and　the　last　gleams　of　the　sunset　were　veiled　in　cloud。

Gandalf　now　pressed　on　at　a　great　pace；　and　the　others　followed　as　quickly　as　they　could。　They　reached　the　strip　of　dry　land　between　the　lake　and　the　cliffs：　it　was　narrow；　often　hardly　a　dozen　yards　across；　and　encumbered　with　fallen　rock　and　stones；　but　they　found　a　way；　hugging　the　cliff；　and　keeping　as　far　from　the　dark　water　as　they　might。　A　mile　southwards　along　the　shore　they　came　upon　holly　trees。　Stumps　and　dead　boughs　were　rotting　in　the　shallows；　the　remains　it　seemed　of　old　thickets；　or　of　a　hedge　that　had　once　lined　the　road　across　the　drowned　valley。　But　close　under　the　cliff　there　stood；　still　strong　and　living；　。　two　tall　trees；　larger　than　any　trees　of　holly　that　Frodo　had　ever　seen　or　imagined。　Their　great　roots　spread　from　the　wall　to　the　water。　Under　the　looming　cliffs　they　had　looked　like　mere　bushes；　when　seen　far　off　from　the　top　of　the　Stair；　but　now　they　towered　overhead；　stiff；　dark；　and　silent；　throwing　deep　nightshadows　about　their　feet；　standing　like　sentinel　pillars　at　the　end　of　the　road。

'Well；　here　we　are　at　last！　'　said　Gandalf。　'Here　the　Elvenway　from　Hollin　ended。　Holly　was　the　token　of　the　people　of　that　land；　and　they　planted　it　here　to　mark　the　end　of　their　domain；　for　the　Westdoor　was　made　chiefly　for　their　use　in　their　traffic　with　the　Lords　of　Moria。　Those　were　happier　days；　when　there　was　still　close　friendship　at　times　between　folk　of　different　race；　even　between　Dwarves　and　Elves。'

'It　was　not　the　fault　of　the　Dwarves　that　the　friendship　waned；'　said　Gimli。

'I　have　not　heard　that　it　was　the　fault　of　the　Elves；'　said　Legolas。

'I　have　heard　both；'　said　Gandalf；　'and　I　will　not　give　judgement　now。　But　I　beg　you　two；　Legolas　and　Gimli；　at　least　to　be　friends；　and　to　help　me。　I　need　you　both。　The　doors　are　shut　and　hidden；　and　the　sooner　we　find　them　the　better。　Night　is　at　hand！　'

Turning　to　the　others　he　said：　'While　I　am　searching；　will　you　each　make　ready　to　enter　the　Mines？　For　here　I　fear　we　must　say　farewell　to　our　good　beast　of　burden。　You　must　lay　aside　much　of　the　stuff　that　we　brought　against　bitter　weather：　you　will　not　need　it　inside；　nor；　I　hope；　when　we　e　through　and　journey　on　down　into　the　South。　Instead　each　of　us　must　take　a　share　of　what　the　pony　carried；　especially　the　food　and　the　waterskins。'

'But　you　can't　leave　poor　old　Bill　behind　in　this　forsaken　place；　Mr。　Gandalf！　'　cried　Sam；　angry　and　distressed。　'I　won't　have　it；　and　that's　flat。　After　he　has　e　so　far　and　all！　'

'I　am　sorry；　Sam；'　said　the　wizard。　'But　when　the　Door　opens　I　do　not　think　you　will　be　able　to　drag　your　Bill　inside；　into　the　long　dark　of　Moria。　You　will　have　to　choose　between　Bill　and　your　master。'

'He'd　follow　Mr。　Frodo　into　a　dragon's　den；　if　I　led　him；'　protested　Sam。　'It'd　be　nothing　short　of　murder　to　turn　him　loose　with　all　these　wolves　about。'

'It　will　be　short　of　murder；　I　hope；'　said　Gandalf。　He　laid　his　hand　on　the　pony's　head；　and　spoke　in　a　low　voice。　'Go　with　words　of　guard　and　guiding　on　you；'　he　said。　'You　are　a　wise　beast；　and　have　learned　much　in　Rivendell。　Make　your　ways　to　places　where　you　can　find　grass；　and　so　e　in　time　to　Elrond's　house；　or　wherever　you　wish　to　go。

'There；　Sam！　He　uch　chance　of　escaping　wolves　and　getting　home　as　we　have。'

Sam　stood　sullenly　by　the　pony　and　returned　no　answer。　Bill；　seeming　to　understand　well　what　was　going　on；　nuzzled　up　to　him；　putting　his　nose　to　Sam's　ear。　Sam　burst　into　tears；　and　fumbled　with　the　straps；　unlading　all　the　pony's　packs　and　throwing　them　on　the　ground。　The　others　sorted　out　the　goods；　making　a　pile　of　all　that　could　be　left　behind；　and　dividing　up　the　rest。

When　this　was　done　they　turned　to　watch　Gandalf。　He　appeared　to　have　done　nothing。　He　was　standing　between　the　two　trees　gazing　at　the　blank　wall　of　the　cliff；　as　if　he　would　bore　a　hole　into　it　with　his　eyes。　Gimli　was　wandering　about；　tapping　the　stone　here　and　there　with　his　axe。　Legolas　was　pressed　against　the　rock；　as　if　listening。

'Well；　here　we　are　and　all　ready；'　said　Merry；　'but　where　are　the　Doors？　I　can't　see　any　sign　of　them。'

'Dwarfdoors　are　not　made　to　be　seen　when　shut；'　said　Gimli。　'They　are　invisible；　and　their　own　masters　cannot　find　them　or　open　them；　if　their　secret　is　fotten。'

'But　this　Door　was　not　made　to　be　a　secret　known　only　to　Dwarves；'　said　Gandalf；　ing　suddenly　to　life　and　turning　round。　'Unless　things　are　altogether　changed；　eyes　that　know　what　to　look　for　may　discover　the　signs。'

He　walked　forward　to　the　wall。　Right　between　the　shadow　of　the　trees　there　was　a　smooth　space；　and　over　this　he　passed　his　hands　to　and　fro；　muttering　words　under　his　breath。　Then　he　stepped　back。

'Look！'　he　said。　'Can　you　see　anything　now？'

The　Moon　now　shone　upon　the　grey　face　of　the　rock；　but　they　could　see　nothing　else　for　a　while。　Then　slowly　on　the　surface；　where　the　wizard's　hands　had　passed；　faint　lines　appeared；　like　slender　veins　of　silver　running　in　the　stone。　At　first　they　were　no　more　than　pale　gossamerthreads；　so　fine　that　they　only　twinkled　fitfully　where　the　Moon　caught　them；　but　steadily　they　grew　broader　and　clearer；　until　their　design　could　be　guessed。

At　the　top；　as　high　as　Gandalf　could　reach；　was　an　arch　of　interlacing　letters　in　an　Elvish　character。　Below；　though　the　threads　were　in　places　blurred　or　broken；　the　outline　could　be　seen　of　an　anvil　and　a　hammer　surmounted　by　a　crown　with　seven　stars。　Beneath　these　again　were　two　trees；　each　bearing　crescent　moons。　More　clearly　than　all　else　there　shone　forth　in　the　middle　of　the　door　a　single　star　with　many　rays。

'There　are　the　emblems　of　Durin！'　cried　Gimli。

'And　there　is　the　Tree　of　the　High　Elves！'　said　Legolas。

'And　the　Star　of　the　House　of　F。anor；'　said　Gandalf。　'They　are　wrought　of　ithildin　that　mirrors　only　starlight　and　moonlight；　and　sleeps　until　it　is　touched　by　one　who　speaks　words　now　long　fotten　in　Middleearth。　It　is　long　since　I　heard　them；　and　I　thought　deeply　before　I　could　recall　them　to　my　mind。'

'What　does　the　writing　say？'　asked　Frodo；　who　was　trying　to　decipher　the　inscription　on　the　arch。　'I　thought　I　knew　the　elfletters　but　I　cannot　read　these。'

'The　words　are　in　the　elventongue　of　the　West　of　Middleearth　in　the　Elder　Days；'　answered　Gandalf。　'But　they　do　not　say　anything　of　importance　to　us。　They　say　only：　The　Doors　of　Durin；　Lord　of　Moria。　Speak；　friend；　and　enter。　And　underneath　small　and　faint　is　written：　I；　Narvi；　made　them。　Celebrimbor　of　Hollin　drew　these　signs。'

'What　does　it　mean　by　speak；　friend；　and　enter？'　asked　Merry。

'That　is　plain　enough；'　said　Gimli。　'If　you　are　a　friend；　speak　the　password；　and　the　doors　will　open；　and　you　can　enter。'

'Yes；'　said　Gandalf；　'these　doors　are　probably　governed　by　words。　Some　dwarfgates　will　open　only　at　special　times；　or　for　particular　persons；　and　some　have　locks　and　keys　that　are　still　needed　when　all　necessary　times　and　words　are　known。　These　doors　have　no　key。　In　the　days　of　Durin　they　were　not　secret。　They　usually　stood　open　and　doorwards　sat　here。　But　if　they　were　shut；　any　who　knew　the　opening　word　could　speak　it　and　pass　in。　At　least　so　it　is　recorded；　is　it　not；　Gimli？　'

'It　is；'　said　the　dwarf。　'But　what　the　word　was　is　not　remembered。　Narvi　and　his　craft　and　all　his　kindred　have　vanished　from　the　earth。'

'But　do　not　you　know　the　word；　Gandalf？　'　asked　Boromir　in　surprise。

'No！　'　said　the　wizard。

The　others　looked　dismayed；　only　Aragorn；　who　knew　Gandalf　well；　remained　silent　and　unmoved。

'Then　what　was　the　use　of　bringing　us　to　this　accursed　spot？'　cried　Boromir；　glancing　back　with　a　shudder　at　the　dark　water。　'You　told　us　that　you　had　once　passed　through　the　Mines。　How　could　that　be；　if　you　did　not　know　how　to　enter？　'

'The　ansir；'　said　the　wizard；　'is　that　I　do　not　know　the　wordyet。　But　we　shall　soon　see。　And；'　he　added；　with　a　glint　in　his　eyes　under　their　bristling　brows；　'you　may　ask　what　is　the　use　of　my　deeds　when　they　are　proved　useless。　As　for　your　other　question：　do　you　doubt　my　tale？　Or　have　you　no　wits　left？　I　did　not　enter　this　way。　I　came　from　the　East。

'If　you　wish　to　know；　I　will　tell　you　that　these　doors　open　outwards。　From　the　inside　you　may　thrust　them　open　with　your　hands。　From　the　outside　nothing　will　move　them　save　the　spell　of　mand。　They　cannot　be　forced　inwards。'

'What　are　you　going　to　do　then？　'　asked　Pippin；　undaunted　by　the　wizard's　bristling　brows。

'Knock　on　the　doors　with　your　head；　Peregrin　Took；'　said　Gandalf。　'But　if　that　does　not　shatter　them；　and　I　am　allowed　a　little　peace　from　foolish　questions；　I　will　seek　for　the　opening　words。

'I　once　knew　every　spell　in　all　the　tongues　of　Elves　or　Men　or　Orcs　that　was　ever　used　for　such　a　purpose。　I　can　still　remember　ten　score　of　them　without　searching　in　my　mind。　But　only　a　few　trials；　I　think；　will　be　needed；　and　I　shall　not　have　to　call　on　Gimli　for　words　of　the　secret　dwarftongue　that　they　teach　to　none。　The　opening　words　were　Elvish；　like　the　writing　on　the　arch：　that　seems　certain。'

He　stepped　up　to　the　rock　again；　and　lightly　touched　with　his　staff　the　silver　star　in　the　middle　beneath　the　sign　of　the