The Lord of the Rings-指环王(英文版)-第93章

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'I　see　that　you　do　not　yet　know　what　to　do；'　said　Celeborn。　'It　is　not　my　part　to　choose　for　you；　but　I　will　help　you　as　I　may。　There　are　some　among　you　who　can　handle　boats：　Legolas；　whose　folk　know　the　swift　Forest　River；　and　Boromir　of　Gondor；　and　Aragorn　the　traveller。'

'And　one　Hobbit！　'　cried　Merry。　'Not　all　of　us　look　on　boats　as　wild　horses。　My　people　live　by　the　banks　of　the　Brandywine。'

'That　is　well；'　said　Celeborn。　'Then　I　will　furnish　your　pany　with　boats。　They　must　be　small　and　light；　for　if　you　go　far　by　water；　there　are　places　where　you　will　be　forced　to　carry　them。　You　will　e　to　the　rapids　of　Sarn　Gebir；　and　maybe　at　last　to　the　great　falls　of　Rauros　where　the　River　thunders　down　from　Nen　Hithoel；　and　there　are　other　perils。　Boats　may　make　your　journey　less　toilsome　for　a　while。　Yet　they　will　not　give　you　counsel：　in　the　end　you　must　leave　them　and　the　River；　and　turn　westor　east。'

Aragorn　thanked　Celeborn　many　times。　The　gift　of　boats　forted　him　much；　not　least　because　there　would　now　be　no　need　to　decide　his　course　for　some　days。　The　others；　too；　looked　more　hopeful。　Whatever　perils　lay　ahead；　it　seemed　better　to　float　down　the　broad　tide　of　Anduin　to　meet　them　than　to　plod　forward　with　bent　backs。　Only　Sam　was　doubtful：　he　at　any　rate　still　thought　boats　as　bad　as　wild　horses；　or　worse；　and　not　all　the　dangers　that　he　had　survived　made　him　think　better　of　them。

'All　shall　be　prepared　for　you　and　await　you　at　the　haven　before　noon　tomorrow；'　said　Celeborn。　'I　will　send　my　people　to　you　in　the　morning　to　help　you　make　ready　for　the　journey。　Now　we　will　wish　you　all　a　fair　night　and　untroubled　sleep。'

'Good　night；　my　friends！　'　said　Galadriel。　'Sleep　in　peace！　Do　not　trouble　your　hearts　overmuch　with　thought　of　the　road　tonight。　Maybe　the　paths　that　you　each　shall　tread　are　already　laid　before　your　feet；　though　you　do　not　see　them。　Good　night！　'

The　pany　now　took　their　leave　and　returned　to　their　pavilion。　Legolas　went　with　them；　for　this　was　to　be　their　last　night　in　Lothlórien；　and　in　spite　of　the　words　of　Galadriel　they　wished　to　take　counsel　together。

For　a　long　time　they　debated　what　they　should　do；　and　how　it　would　be　best　to　attempt　the　fulfilling　of　their　purpose　with　the　Ring：　but　they　came　to　no　decision。　It　was　plain　that　most　of　them　desired　to　go　first　to　Minas　Tirith；　and　to　escape　at　least　for　a　while　from　the　terror　of　the　Enemy。　They　would　have　been　willing　to　follow　a　leader　over　the　River　and　into　the　shadow　of　Mordor；　but　Frodo　spoke　no　word；　and　Aragorn　was　still　divided　in　his　mind。

His　own　plan；　while　Gandalf　remained　with　them；　had　been　to　go　with　Boromir；　and　with　his　sword　help　to　deliver　Gondor。　For　he　believed　that　the　message　of　the　dreams　was　a　summons；　and　that　the　hour　had　e　at　last　when　the　heir　of　Elendil　should　e　forth　and　strive　with　Sauron　for　the　mastery。　But　in　Moria　the　burden　of　Gandalf　had　been　laid　on　him；　and　he　knew　that　he　could　not　now　forsake　the　Ring；　if　Frodo　refused　in　the　end　to　go　with　Boromir。　And　yet　what　help　could　he　or　any　of　the　pany　give　to　Frodo；　save　to　walk　blindly　with　him　into　the　darkness？

'I　shall　go　to　Minas　Tirith；　alone　if　need　be；　for　it　is　my　duty；'　said　Boromir；　and　after　that　he　was　silent　for　a　while；　sitting　with　his　eyes　fixed　on　Frodo；　as　if　he　was　trying　to　read　the　Halfling's　thoughts。　At　length　he　spoke　again；　softly；　as　if　he　was　debating　with　himself。　'If　you　wish　only　to　destroy　the　Ring；'　he　said；　'then　there　is　little　use　in　war　and　weapons；　and　the　Men　of　Minas　Tirith　cannot　help。　But　if　you　wish　to　destroy　the　armed　might　of　the　Dark　Lord；　then　it　is　folly　to　go　without　force　into　his　domain；　and　folly　to　throw　away。'　He　paused　suddenly；　as　if　he　had　bee　aware　that　he　was　speaking　his　thoughts　aloud。　'It　would　be　folly　to　throw　lives　away；　I　mean；'　he　ended。　'It　is　a　choice　between　defending　a　strong　place　and　walking　openly　into　the　arms　of　death。　At　least；　that　is　how　I　see　it。'

Frodo　caught　something　new　and　strange　in　Boromir's　glance；　and　he　looked　hard　at　him。　Plainly　Boromir's　thought　was　different　from　his　final　words。　It　would　be　folly　to　throw　away：　what？　The　Ring　of　Power？　He　had　said　something　like　this　at　the　Council；　but　then　he　had　accepted　the　correction　of　Elrond。　Frodo　looked　at　Aragorn；　but　he　seemed　deep　in　his　own　thought　and　made　no　sign　that　he　had　heeded　Boromir's　words。　And　so　their　debate　ended。　Merry　and　Pippin　were　already　asleep；　and　Sam　was　nodding。　The　night　was　growing　old。

In　the　morning；　as　they　were　beginning　to　pack　their　slender　goods；　Elves　that　could　speak　their　tongue　came　to　them　and　brought　them　many　gifts　of　food　and　clothing　for　the　journey。　The　food　was　mostly　in　the　form　of　very　thin　cakes；　made　of　a　meal　that　was　baked　a　light　brown　on　the　outside；　and　inside　was　the　colour　of　cream。　Gimli　took　up　one　of　the　cakes　and　looked　at　it　with　a　doubtful　eye。

'Cram；'　he　said　under　his　breath；　as　he　broke　off　a　crisp　corner　and　nibbled　at　it。　His　expression　quickly　changed；　and　he　ate　all　the　rest　of　the　cake　with　relish。

'No　more；　no　more！'　cried　the　Elves　laughing。　'You　have　eaten　enough　already　for　a　long　day's　march。'

'I　thought　it　was　only　a　kind　of　cram；　such　as　the　Dalemen　make　for　journeys　in　the　wild；'　said　the　Dwarf。

'So　it　is；'　they　answered。　'But　we　call　it　lembas　or　waybread；　and　it　is　more　strengthening　than　any　food　made　by　Men；　and　it　is　more　pleasant　than　cram；　by　all　accounts。'

'Indeed　it　is；'　said　Gimli。　'Why　it　is　better　than　the　honeycakes　of　the　Beornings；　and　that　is　great　praise；　for　the　Beornings　are　the　best　bakers　that　I　know　of；　but　they　are　none　too　willing　to　deal　out　their　cakes　to　travellers　in　these　days。　You　are　kindly　hosts！　'

'All　the　same；　we　bid　you　spare　the　food；'　they　said。　'Eat　little　at　a　time；　and　only　at　need。　For　these　things　are　given　to　serve　you　when　all　else　fails。　The　cakes　will　keep　sweet　for　many　many　days；　if　they　are　unbroken　and　left　in　their　leafwrappings；　as　we　have　brought　them。　One　will　keep　a　traveller　on　his　feet　for　a　day　of　long　labour；　even　if　he　be　one　of　the　tall　Men　of　Minas　Tirith。'

The　Elves　next　unwrapped　and　gave　to　each　of　the　pany　the　clothes　they　had　brought。　For　each　they　had　provided　a　hood　and　cloak；　made　according　to　his　size；　of　the　light　but　warm　silken　stuff　that　the　Galadhrim　wove。　It　was　hard　to　say　of　what　colour　they　were：　grey　with　the　hue　of　twilight　under　the　trees　they　seemed　to　be；　and　yet　if　they　were　moved；　or　set　in　another　light；　they　were　green　as　shadowed　leaves；　or　brown　as　fallow　fields　by　night；　dusk　silver　as　water　under　the　stars。　Each　cloak　was　fastened　about　the　neck　with　a　brooch　like　a　green　leaf　veined　with　silver。

'Are　these　magic　cloaks？　'　asked　Pippin；　looking　at　them　with　wonder。

'I　do　not　know　what　you　mean　by　that；'　answered　the　leader　of　the　Elves。　'They　are　fair　garments；　and　the　web　is　good；　for　it　was　made　in　this　land。　They　are　elvish　robes　certainly；　if　that　is　what　you　mean。　Leaf　and　branch；　water　and　stone：　they　have　the　hue　and　beauty　of　all　these　things　under　the　twilight　of　Lórien　that　we　love；　for　we　put　the　thought　of　all　that　we　love　into　all　that　we　make。　Yet　they　are　garments；　not　armour；　and　they　will　not　turn　shaft　or　blade。　But　they　should　serve　you　well：　they　are　light　to　wear；　and　warm　enough　or　cool　enough　at　need。　And　you　will　find　them　a　great　aid　in　keeping　out　of　the　sight　of　unfriendly　eyes；　whether　you　walk　among　the　stones　or　the　trees。　You　are　indeed　high　in　the　favour　of　the　Lady！　For　she　herself　and　her　maidens　wove　this　stuff；　and　never　before　have　we　clad　strangers　in　the　garb　of　our　own　people。'

After　their　morning　meal　the　pany　said　farewell　to　the　lawn　by　the　fountain。　Their　hearts　were　heavy；　for　it　was　a　fair　place；　and　it　had　bee　like　home　to　them；　though　they　could　not　count　the　days　and　nights　that　they　had　passed　there。　As　they　stood　for　a　moment　looking　at　the　white　water　in　the　sunlight；　Haldir　came　walking　towards　them　over　the　green　grass　of　the　glade。　Frodo　greeted　him　with　delight。

'I　have　returned　from　the　Northern　Fences；'　said　the　Elf；　'and　I　am　sent　now　to　be　your　guide　again。　The　Dimrill　Dale　is　full　of　vapour　and　clouds　of　smoke；　and　the　mountains　are　troubled。　There　are　noises　in　the　deeps　of　the　earth。　If　any　of　you　had　thought　of　returning　northwards　to　your　homes；　you　would　not　have　been　able　to　pass　that　way。　But　e！　Your　path　now　goes　south。'

As　they　walked　through　Caras　Galadhon　the　green　ways　were　empty；　but　in　the　trees　above　them　many　voices　were　murmuring　and　singing。　They　themselves　went　silently。　At　last　Haldir　led　them　down　the　southward　slopes　of　the　hill；　and　they　came　again　to　the　great　gate　hung　with　lamps；　and　to　the　white　bridge；　and　so　they　passed　out　and　left　the　city　of　the　Elves。　Then　they　turned　away　from　the　paved　road　and　took　a　path　that　went　off　into　a　deep　thicket　of　mallorntrees；　and　passed　on；　winding　through　rolling　woodlands　of　silver　shadow；　leading　them　ever　down；　southwards　and　eastwards；　towards　the　shores　of　the　River。

They　had　gone　some　ten　miles　and　noon　was　at　hand　when　they　came　on　a　high　green　wall。　Passing　through　an　opening　they　came　suddenly　out　of　the　trees。　Before　them　lay　a　long　lawn　of　shining　grass；　studded　w