The Lord of the Rings-指环王(英文版)-第1章

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Chapter　01
A　Longexpected　Party
　

When　Mr。　Bilbo　Baggins　of　Bag　End　announced　that　he　would　shortly　be　celebrating　his　eleventyfirst　birthday　with　a　party　of　special　magnificence；　there　was　much　talk　and　excitement　in　Hobbiton。

Bilbo　was　very　rich　and　very　peculiar；　and　had　been　the　wonder　of　the　Shire　for　sixty　years；　ever　since　his　remarkable　disappearance　and　unexpected　return。　The　riches　he　had　brought　back　from　his　travels　had　now　bee　a　local　legend；　and　it　was　popularly　believed；　whatever　the　old　folk　might　say；　that　the　Hill　at　Bag　End　was　full　of　tunnels　stuffed　with　treasure。　And　if　that　was　not　enough　for　fame；　there　was　also　his　prolonged　vigour　to　marvel　at。　Time　wore　on；　but　it　seemed　to　have　little　effect　on　Mr。　Baggins。　At　niy　he　was　much　the　same　as　at　fifty。　At　niynine　they　began　to　call　him　wellpreserved；　but　unchanged　would　have　been　nearer　the　mark。　There　were　some　that　shook　their　heads　and　thought　this　was　too　much　of　a　good　thing；　it　seemed　unfair　that　anyone　should　possess　（apparently）　perpetual　youth　as　well　as　（reputedly）　inexhaustible　wealth。

'It　will　have　to　be　paid　for；'　they　said。　'It　isn't　natural；　and　trouble　will　e　of　it！'

But　so　far　trouble　had　not　e；　and　as　Mr。　Baggins　was　generous　with　his　money；　most　people　were　willing　to　five　him　his　oddities　and　his　good　fortune。　He　remained　on　visiting　terms　with　his　relatives　（except；　of　course；　the　SackvilleBagginses）；　and　he　had　many　devoted　admirers　among　the　hobbits　of　poor　and　unimportant　families。　But　he　had　no　close　friends；　until　some　of　his　younger　cousins　began　to　grow　up。

The　eldest　of　these；　and　Bilbo's　favourite；　was　young　Frodo　Baggins。　When　Bilbo　was　niynine；　he　adopted　Frodo　as　his　heir；　and　brought　him　to　live　at　Bag　End；　and　the　hopes　of　the　SackvilleBagginses　were　finally　dashed。　Bilbo　and　Frodo　happened　to　have　the　same　birthday；　September　22nd。　'You　had　better　e　and　live　here；　Frodo　my　lad；'　said　Bilbo　one　day；　'and　then　we　can　celebrate　our　birthdayparties　fortably　together。'　At　that　time　Frodo　was　still　in　his　tweens；　as　the　hobbits　called　the　irresponsible　twenties　between　childhood　and　ing　of　age　at　thirtythree。

Twelve　more　years　passed。　Each　year　the　Bagginses　had　given　very　lively　bined　birthdayparties　at　Bag　End；　but　now　it　was　understood　that　something　quite　exceptional　was　being　planned　for　that　autumn。　Bilbo　was　going　to　be　eleventyone；　111；　a　rather　curious　number　and　a　very　respectable　age　for　a　hobbit　（the　Old　Took　himself　had　only　reached　130；　and　Frodo　was　going　to　be　thirtythree；　33）　an　important　number：　the　date　of　his　'ing　of　age'。

Tongues　began　to　wag　in　Hobbiton　and　Bywater；　and　rumour　of　the　ing　event　travelled　all　over　the　Shire。　The　history　and　character　of　Mr。　Bilbo　Baggins　became　once　again　the　chief　topic　of　conversation；　and　the　older　folk　suddenly　found　their　reminiscences　in　wele　demand。

No　one　had　a　more　attentive　audience　than　old　Ham　Gamgee；　monly　known　as　the　Gaffer。　He　held　forth　at　The　Ivy　Bush；　a　small　inn　on　the　Bywater　road；　and　he　spoke　with　some　authority；　for　he　had　tended　the　garden　at　Bag　End　for　forty　years；　and　had　helped　old　Holman　in　the　same　job　before　that。　Now　that　he　was　himself　growing　old　and　stiff　in　the　joints；　the　job　was　mainly　carried　on　by　his　youngest　son；　Sam　Gamgee。　Both　father　and　son　were　on　very　friendly　terms　with　Bilbo　and　Frodo。　They　lived　on　the　Hill　itself；　in　Number　3　Bagshot　Row　just　below　Bag　End。

'A　very　nice　wellspoken　gentlehobbit　is　Mr。　Bilbo；　as　I've　always　said；'　the　Gaffer　declared。　With　perfect　truth：　for　Bilbo　was　very　polite　to　him；　calling　him　'Master　Hamfast'；　and　consulting　him　constantly　upon　the　growing　of　vegetables—in　the　matter　of　'roots'；　especially　potatoes；　the　Gaffer　was　recognized　as　the　leading　authority　by　all　in　the　neighbourhood　（including　himself）。

'But　what　about　this　Frodo　that　lives　with　him？'　asked　Old　Noakes　of　Bywater。　'Baggins　is　his　name；　but　he's　more　than　half　a　Brandybuck；　they　say。　It　beats　me　why　any　Baggins　of　Hobbiton　should　go　looking　for　a　wife　away　there　in　Buckland；　where　folks　are　so　queer。'

'And　no　wonder　they're　queer；'　put　in　Daddy　Twofoot　（the　Gaffer's　next　door　neighbour）；　'if　they　live　on　the　wrong　side　of　the　Brandywine　River；　and　right　agin　the　Old　Forest。　That's　a　dark　bad　place；　if　half　the　tales　be　true。'

'You're　right；　Dad！'　said　the　Gaffer。　'Not　that　the　Brandybucks　of　Buck　land　live　in　the　Old　Forest；　but　they're　a　queer　breed；　seemingly。　They　fool　about　with　boats　on　that　big　river　。　and　that　isn't　natural。　Small　wonder　that　trouble　came　of　it；　I　say。　But　be　that　as　it　may；　Mr。　Frodo　is　as　nice　a　young　hobbit　as　you　could　wish　to　meet。　Very　much　like　Mr。　Bilbo；　and　in　more　than　looks。　After　all　his　father　was　a　Baggins。　A　decent　respectable　hobbit　was　Mr。　Drogo　Baggins；　there　was　never　much　to　tell　of　him；　till　he　was　drownded。'

'Drownded？'　said　several　voices。　They　had　heard　this　and　other　darker　rumours　before；　of　course；　but　hobbits　have　a　passion　for　family　history；　and　they　were　ready　to　hear　it　again。　'Well；　so　they　say；'　said　the　Gaffer。　'You　see：　Mr。　Drogo；　he　married　poor　Miss　Primula　Brandybuck。　She　was　our　Mr。　Bilbo's　first　cousin　on　the　mother's　side　（her　mother　being　the　youngest　of　the　Old　Took's　daughters）；　and　Mr。　Drogo　was　his　second　cousin。　So　Mr。　Frodo　is　his　first　and　second　cousin；　once　removed　either　way；　as　the　saying　is；　if　you　follow　me。　And　Mr。　Drogo　was　staying　at　Brandy　Hall　with　his　fatherin　law；　old　Master　Gorbadoc；　as　he　often　did　after　his　marriage　（him　being　partial　to　his　vittles；　and　old　Gorbadoc　keeping　a　mighty　generous　table）；　and　he　went　out　boating　on　the　Brandywine　River；　and　he　and　his　wife　were　drownded；　and　poor　Mr。　Frodo　only　a　child　and　all。　'

'I've　heard　they　went　on　the　water　after　dinner　in　the　moonlight；'　said　Old　Noakes；　'and　it　was　Drogo's　weight　as　sunk　the　boat。'

'And　I　heard　she　pushed　him　in；　and　he　pulled　her　in　after　him；'　said　Sandyman；　the　Hobbiton　miller。

'You　shouldn't　listen　to　all　you　hear；　Sandyman；'　said　the　Gaffer；　who　did　not　much　like　the　miller。　'There　isn't　no　call　to　go　talking　of　pushing　and　pulling。　Boats　are　quite　tricky　enough　for　those　that　sit　still　without　looking　further　for　the　cause　of　trouble。　Anyway：　there　was　this　Mr。　Frodo　left　an　orphan　and　stranded；　as　you　might　say；　among　those　queer　Bucklanders；　being　brought　up　anyhow　in　Brandy　Hall。　A　regular　warren；　by　all　accounts。　Old　Master　Gorbadoc　never　had　fewer　than　a　couple　of　hundred　relations　in　the　place。　Mr。　Bilbo　never　did　a　kinder　deed　than　when　he　brought　the　lad　back　to　live　among　decent　folk。

'But　I　reckon　it　was　a　nasty　shock　for　those　SackvilleBagginses。　They　thought　they　were　going　to　get　Bag　End；　that　time　when　he　went　off　and　was　thought　to　be　dead。　And　then　he　es　back　and　orders　them　off；　and　he　goes　on　living　and　living；　and　never　looking　a　day　older；　bless　him！　And　suddenly　he　produces　an　heir；　and　has　all　the　papers　made　out　proper。　The　Sackville　Bagginses　won't　never　see　the　inside　of　Bag　End　now；　or　it　is　to　be　hoped　not。'

'There's　a　tidy　bit　of　money　tucked　away　up　there；　I　hear　tell；'　said　a　stranger；　a　visitor　on　business　from　Michel　Delving　in　the　Westfarthing。　'All　the　top　of　your　hill　is　full　of　tunnels　packed　with　chests　of　gold　and　silver；　and　jools；　by　what　I've　heard。　'

'Then　you've　heard　more　than　I　can　speak　to；'　answered　the　Gaffer。　I　know　nothing　about　jools。　Mr。　Bilbo　is　free　with　his　money；　and　there　seems　no　lack　of　it；　but　I　know　of　no　tunnelmaking。　I　saw　Mr。　Bilbo　when　he　came　back；　a　matter　of　sixty　years　ago；　when　I　was　a　lad。　I'd　not　long　e　prentice　to　old　Holman　（him　being　my　dad's　cousin）；　but　he　had　me　up　at　Bag　End　helping　him　to　keep　folks　from　trampling　and　trapessing　all　over　the　garden　while　the　sale　was　on。　And　in　the　middle　of　it　all　Mr。　Bilbo　es　up　the　Hill　with　a　pony　and　some　mighty　big　bags　and　a　couple　of　chests。　I　don't　doubt　they　were　mostly　full　of　treasure　he　had　picked　up　in　foreign　parts；　where　there　be　mountains　of　gold；　they　say；　but　there　wasn't　enough　to　fill　tunnels。　But　my　lad　Sam　will　know　more　about　that。　He's　in　and　out　of　Bag　End。　Crazy　about　stories　of　the　old　days　he　is；　and　he　listens　to　all　Mr。　Bilbo's　tales。　Mr。　Bilbo　has　learned　him　his　letters　。　meaning　no　harm；　mark　you；　and　I　hope　no　harm　will　e　of　it。

'Elves　and　Dragons'　I　says　to　him。　'Cabbages　and　potatoes　are　better　for　me　and　you。　Don't　go　getting　mixed　up　in　the　business　of　your　betters；　or　you'll　land　in　trouble　too　big　for　you；'　I　says　to　him。　And　I　might　say　it　to　others；'　he　added　with　a　look　at　the　stranger　and　the　miller。

But　the　Gaffer　did　not　convince　his　audience。　The　legend　of　Bilbo's　wealth　was　now　too　firmly　fixed　in　the　minds　of　the　younger　generation　of　hobbits。

'Ah；　but　he　has　likely　enough　been　adding　to　what　he　brought　at　first；'　argued　the　miller；　voicing　mon　opinion。　'He's　often　away　from　home。　And　look　at　the　outlandish　folk　that　visit　him：　dwarves　ing　at　night；　and　that　old　wandering　conjuror；　Gandalf；　and　all。　You　can　say　what　you　like；　Gaffer；　but　Bag　End's　a　queer　place；　and　its　folk　are　queerer。'

'And　you　can　say　what　you　like；　about　what　you　know　no　more　of　than　you　do　of　boating；　Mr。　Sandyman；'　retorted　the　Gaffer；　disliking　the　miller　even　more　than　usual。　If　that's　being　queer；　then　we　could　do　with　a　bit　more　queerness　in　these　parts。　There's　some　not　far　away　that　wouldn't　offer　a　pint　of　beer　to　a　friend；　if　they　lived　in　a　hole　with　golden　walls。　But　they　do　things　proper　at　Bag　End。　Our　Sam　says　that　everyone's　going　to　be　invited　to　the　party；　and　there's　going　to　be　presents；　mark　you；　presents　for　all—this　very　month　as　is。'

That　very　month　was　September；　and　as　fine　as　you　could　ask。　A　day　or　two　later　a　rumour　（probably　started　by　the　knowledgeable　Sam）　was　spread　about　that　there　were　going　to　be　fireworks　。　fireworks；　what　is　more；　such　as　had　not　been　seen　in　the　Shire　for　nigh　on　a　century；　not　indeed　since　the　Old　Took　died。

Days　passed　and　The　Day　drew　nearer。　An　oddlooking　waggon　laden　with　oddlooking　packages　rolled　into　Hobbiton　one　evening　and　toiled　up　the　Hill　to　Bag　End。　The　startled　hobbits　peered　out　of　lamplit　doors　to　gape　at　it。　It　was　driven　by　outlandish　folk；　singing　strange　songs：　dwarves　with　l