The Lord of the Rings-指环王(英文版)-第84章

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The　road　now　turned　south　and　went　quickly　downwards；　running　out　from　between　the　arms　of　the　dale。　Some　way　below　the　mere　they　came　on　a　deep　well　of　water；　clear　as　crystal；　from　which　a　freshet　fell　over　a　stone　lip　and　ran　glistening　and　gurgling　down　a　steep　rocky　channel。

'Here　is　the　spring　from　which　the　Silverlode　rises。'　said　Gimli。　'Do　not　drink　of　it！　It　is　icy　cold。'

'Soon　it　bees　a　swift　river；　and　it　gathers　water　from　many　other　mountainstreams；'　said　Aragorn。　'Our　road　leads　beside　it　for　many　miles。　For　I　shall　take　you　by　the　road　that　Gandalf　chose；　and　first　I　hope　to　e　to　the　woods　where　the　Silverlode　flows　into　the　Great　Riverout　yonder。'　They　looked　as　he　pointed；　and　before　them　they　could　see　the　stream　leaping　down　to　the　trough　of　the　valley；　and　then　running　on　and　away　into　the　lower　lands；　until　it　was　lost　in　a　golden　haze。

'There　lie　the　woods　of　Lothlórien！　'　said　Legolas。　'That　is　the　fairest　of　all　the　dwellings　of　my　people。　There　are　no　trees　like　the　trees　of　that　land。　For　in　the　autumn　their　leaves　fall　not；　but　turn　to　gold。　Not　till　the　spring　es　and　the　new　green　opens　do　they　fall；　and　then　the　boughs　are　laden　with　yellow　flowers；　and　the　floor　of　the　wood　is　golden；　and　golden　is　the　roof；　and　its　pillars　are　of　silver；　for　the　bark　of　the　trees　is　smooth　and　grey。　So　still　our　songs　in　Mirkwood　say。　My　heart　would　be　glad　if　I　were　beneath　the　eaves　of　that　wood；　and　it　were　springtime！　'

'My　heart　will　be　glad；　even　in　the　winter；'　said　Aragorn。　'But　it　lies　many　miles　away。　Let　us　hasten！　'

For　some　time　Frodo　and　Sam　managed　to　keep　up　with　the　others；　but　Aragorn　was　leading　them　at　a　great　pace；　and　after　a　while　they　lagged　behind。　They　had　eaten　nothing　since　the　early　morning。　Sam's　cut　was　burning　like　fire；　and　his　head　felt　light。　In　spite　of　the　shining　sun　the　wind　seemed　chill　after　the　warm　darkness　of　Moria。　He　shivered。　Frodo　felt　every　step　more　painful　and　he　gasped　for　breath。

At　last　Legolas　turned；　and　seeing　them　now　far　behind；　he　spoke　to　Aragorn。　The　others　halted；　and　Aragorn　ran　back；　calling　to　Boromir　to　e　with　him。

'I　am　sorry；　Frodo！　'　he　cried；　full　of　concern。　'So　much　has　happened　this　day　and　we　have　such　need　of　haste；　that　I　have　fotten　that　you　were　hurt；　and　Sam　too。　You　should　have　spoken。　We　have　done　nothing　to　ease　you；　as　we　ought；　though　all　the　orcs　of　Moria　were　after　us。　e　now！　A　little　further　on　there　is　a　place　where　we　can　rest　for　a　little。　There　I　will　do　what　I　can　for　you。　e；　Boromir！　We　will　carry　them。'

Soon　afterwards　they　came　upon　another　stream　that　ran　down　from　the　west；　and　joined　its　bubbling　water　with　the　hurrying　Silverlode。　Together　they　plunged　over　a　fall　of　greenhued　stone；　and　foamed　down　into　a　dell。　About　it　stood　firtrees；　short　and　bent；　and　its　sides　were　steep　and　clothed　with　hartstongue　and　shrubs　of　whortleberry。　At　the　bottom　there　was　a　level　space　through　which　the　stream　flowed　noisily　over　shining　pebbles。　Here　they　rested。　It　was　now　nearly　three　hours　after　noon；　and　they　had　e　only　a　few　miles　from　the　Gates。　Already　the　sun　was　westering。

While　Gimli　and　the　two　younger　hobbits　kindled　a　fire　of　brush　and　fir　wood；　and　drew　water；　Aragorn　tended　Sam　and　Frodo。　Sam's　wound　was　not　deep；　but　it　looked　ugly；　and　Aragorn's　face　was　grave　as　he　examined　it。　After　a　moment　he　looked　up　with　relief。

'Good　luck；　Sam！　'　he　said。　'Many　have　received　worse　than　this　in　payment　for　the　slaying　of　their　first　orc。　The　cut　is　not　poisoned；　as　the　wounds　of　orcblades　too　often　are。　It　should　heal　well　when　I　have　tended　it。　Bathe　it　when　Gimli　has　heated　water。'

He　opened　his　pouch　and　drew　out　some　withered　leaves。　'They　are　dry　and　some　of　their　virtue　has　one；　he　said；　but　here　I　have　still　some　of　the　leaves　of　athelas　that　I　gathered　near　Weathertop。　Crush　one　in　the　water；　and　wash　the　wound　clean；　and　I　will　bind　it。　Now　it　is　your　turn。　Frodo！　'

'I　am　all　right；'　said　Frodo；　reluctant　to　have　his　garments　touched。　'AII　I　needed　was　some　food　and　a　little　rest。'

'No！　'　said　Aragorn。　'We　must　have　a　look　and　see　what　the　hammer　and　the　anvil　have　done　to　you。　I　still　marvel　that　you　are　alive　at　all。'　Gently　he　stripped　off　Frodo's　old　jacket　and　worn　tunic；　and　gave　a　gasp　of　wonder。　Then　he　laughed。　The　silver　corslet　shimmered　before　his　eyes　like　the　light　upon　a　rippling　sea。　Carefully　he　took　it　off　and　held　it　up；　and　the　gems　on　it　glittered　like　stars。　and　the　sound　of　the　shaken　rings　was　like　the　tinkle　of　rain　in　a　pool。

'Look；　my　friends！'　he　called。　'Here's　a　pretty　hobbitskin　to　wrap　an　elvenprinceling　in！　If　it　were　known　that　hobbits　had　such　hides；　all　the　hunters　of　Middleearth　would　be　riding　to　the　Shire。'

'And　all　the　arrows　of　all　the　hunters　in　the　world　would　be　in　vain；'　said　Gimli；　gazing　at　the　mail　in　wonder。　'It　is　a　mithrilcoat。　Mithril！　I　have　never　seen　or　heard　tell　of　one　so　fair。　Is　this　the　coat　that　Gandalf　spoke　of？　Then　he　undervalued　it。　But　it　was　well　given！　'

'I　have　often　wondered　what　you　and　Bilbo　were　doing；　so　close　in　his　little　room；'　said　Merry。　'Bless　the　old　hobbit！　I　love　him　more　than　ever。　I　hope　we　get　a　chance　of　telling　him　about　it！　'

There　was　a　dark　and　blackened　bruise　on　Frodo's　right　side　and　breast。　Under　the　mail　there　was　a　shirt　of　soft　leather；　but　at　one　point　the　rings　had　been　driven　through　it　into　the　flesh。　Frodo's　left　side　also　was　scored　and　bruised　where　he　had　been　hurled　against　the　wall。　While　the　others　set　the　food　ready。　Aragorn　bathed　the　hurts　with　water　in　which　athelas　was　steeped。　The　pungent　fragrance　filled　the　dell；　and　all　those　who　stooped　over　the　steaming　water　felt　refreshed　and　strengthened。　Soon　Frodo　felt　the　pain　leave　him；　and　his　breath　grew　easy：　though　he　was　stiff　and　sore　to　the　touch　for　many　days。　Aragorn　bound　some　soft　pads　of　cloth　at　his　side。

'The　mail　is　marvellously　light；'　he　said。　'Put　it　on　again；　if　you　can　bear　it。　My　heart　is　glad　to　know　that　you　have　such　a　coat。　Do　not　lay　it　aside；　even　in　sleep；　unless　fortune　brings　you　where　you　are　safe　for　a　while；　and　that　will　seldom　chance　while　your　quest　lasts。'

When　they　had　eaten；　the　pany　got　ready　to　go　on。　They　put　out　the　fire　and　hid　all　traces　of　it。　Then　climbing　out　of　the　dell　they　took　to　the　road　again。　They　had　not　gone　far　before　the　sun　sank　behind　the　westward　heights　and　great　shadows　crept　down　the　mountainsides。　Dusk　veiled　their　feet；　and　mist　rose　in　the　hollows。　Away　in　the　east　the　evening　light　lay　pale　upon　the　dim　lands　of　distant　plain　and　wood。　Sam　and　Frodo　now　feeling　eased　and　greatly　refreshed　were　able　to　go　at　a　fair　pace；　and　with　only　one　brief　halt　Aragorn　led　the　pany　on　for　nearly　three　more　hours。

It　was　dark。　Deep　night　had　fallen。　There　were　many　clear　stars；　hut　the　fastwaning　moon　would　not　be　seen　till　late。　Gimli　and　Frodo　were　at　the　rear；　walking　softly　and　not　speaking；　listening　for　any　sound　upon　the　road　behind。　At　length　Gimli　broke　the　silence。

'Not　a　sound　but　the　wind；'　he　said。　'There　are　no　goblins　near；　or　my　ears　are　made　of　wood。　It　is　to　be　hoped　that　the　Orcs　will　be　content　with　driving　us　from　Moria。　And　maybe　that　was　all　their　purpose；　and　they　had　nothing　else　to　do　with　uswith　the　Ring。　Though　Orcs　will　often　pursue　foes　for　many　leagues　into　the　plain；　if　they　have　a　fallen　captain　to　avenge。'

Frodo　did　not　answer。　He　looked　at　Sting；　and　the　blade　was　dull。　Yet　he　had　heard　something；　or　thought　he　had。　As　soon　as　the　shadows　had　fallen　about　them　and　the　road　behind　was　dim；　he　had　heard　again　the　quick　patter　of　feet。　Even　now　he　heard　it。　He　turned　swiftly。　There　were　two　tiny　gleams　of　light　behind；　or　for　a　moment　he　thought　he　saw　them；　but　at　once　they　slipped　aside　and　vanished。

'What　is　it？　'　said　the　dwarf。

'I　don't　know。'　answered　Frodo。　'I　thought　I　heard　feet；　and　I　thought　I　saw　a　lightlike　eyes。　I　have　thought　so　often；　since　we　first　entered　Moria。'

Gimli　halted　and　stooped　to　the　ground。　'I　hear　nothing　but　the　night　speech　of　plant　and　stone；'　he　said。　'e！　Let　us　hurry！　The　others　are　out　of　sight。'

The　nightwind　blew　chill　up　the　valley　to　meet　them。　Before　them　a　wide　grey　shadow　loomed；　and　they　heard　an　endless　rustle　of　leaves　like　poplars　in　the　breeze。

'Lothlórien！　'　cried　Legolas。　'Lothlórien！　We　have　e　to　the　eaves　of　the　Golden　Wood。　Alas　that　it　is　winter！　'

Under　the　night　the　trees　stood　tall　before　them；　arched　over　the　road　and　stream　that　ran　suddenly　beneath　their　spreading　boughs。　In　the　dim　light　of　the　stars　their　stems　were　grey；　and　their　quivering　leaves　a　hint　of　fallow　gold。

'Lothlórien！　'　said　Aragorn。　'Glad　I　am　to　hear　again　the　wind　in　the　trees！　We　are　still　little　more　than　five　leagues　from　the　Gates；　but　we　can　go　no　further。　Here　let　us　hope　that　the　virtue　of　the　Elves　will　keep　us　tonight　from　the　peril　that　es　behind。'

'If　Elves　indeed　still　dwell　here　in　the　darkening　world；'　said　Gimli。

'It　is　long　since　any　of　my　own　folk　journeyed　hither　back　to　the　land　whence　we　wandered　in　ages　long　ago；'　said　Legolas；　'but　we　hear　that　Lórien　is　not　yet　deserted；　for　there　is　a　secret　power　here　that　holds　evil　from　the　la