The Lord of the Rings-指环王(英文版)-第26章

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　the　hills；　came　falling　like　silver　to　meet　them：

Now　let　the　song　begin！　Let　us　sing　together
Of　sun；　stars；　moon　and　mist；　rain　and　cloudy　weather；
Light　on　the　budding　leaf；　dew　on　the　feather；
Wind　on　the　open　hill；　bells　on　the　heather；
Reeds　by　the　shady　pool；　lilies　on　the　water：
Old　Tom　Bombadil　and　the　Riverdaughter！

And　with　that　song　the　hobbits　stood　upon　the　threshold；　and　a　golden　light　was　all　about　them。

Chapter　07
In　the　House　of　Tom　Bombadil
　

The　four　hobbits　stepped　over　the　wide　stone　threshold；　and　stood　still；　blinking。　They　were　in　a　long　low　room；　filled　with　the　light　of　lamps　swinging　from　the　beams　of　the　roof；　and　on　the　table　of　dark　polished　wood　stood　many　candles；　tall　and　yellow；　burning　brightly。

In　a　chair；　at　the　far　side　of　the　room　facing　the　outer　door；　sat　a　woman。　Her　long　yellow　hair　rippled　down　her　shoulders；　her　gown　was　green；　green　as　young　reeds；　shot　with　silver　like　beads　of　dew；　and　her　belt　was　of　gold；　shaped　like　a　chain　of　flaglilies　set　with　the　paleblue　eyes　of　fetmenots。　About　her　feel　in　wide　vessels　of　green　and　brown　earthenware；　white　waterlilies　were　floating；　so　that　she　seemed　to　be　enthroned　in　the　midst　of　a　pool。

'Enter；　good　guests！'　she　said；　and　as　she　spoke　they　knew　that　it　was　her　clear　voice　they　had　heard　singing。　They　came　a　few　timid　steps　further　into　the　room；　and　began　to　bow　low；　feeling　strangely　surprised　and　awkward；　like　folk　that；　knocking　at　a　cottage　door　to　beg　for　a　drink　of　water；　have　been　answered　by　a　fair　young　elfqueen　clad　in　living　flowers。　But　before　they　could　say　anything；　she　sprang　lightly　up　and　over　the　lilybowls；　and　ran　laughing　towards　them；　and　as　she　ran　her　gown　rustled　softly　like　the　wind　in　the　flowering　borders　of　a　river。

'e　dear　folk！'　she　said；　taking　Frodo　by　the　hand。　'Laugh　and　be　merry！　I　am　Goldberry；　daughter　of　the　River。'　Then　lightly　she　passed　them　and　closing　the　door　she　turned　her　back　to　it；　with　her　white　arms　spread　out　across　it。　'Let　us　shut　out　the　night！'　she　said。　'For　you　are　still　afraid；　perhaps；　of　mist　and　treeshadows　and　deep　water；　and　untame　things。　Fear　nothing！　For　tonight　you　are　under　the　roof　of　Tom　Bombadil。'

The　hobbits　looked　at　her　in　wonder；　and　she　looked　at　each　of　them　and　smiled。　'Fair　lady　Goldberry！'　said　Frodo　at　last；　feeling　his　heart　moved　with　a　joy　that　he　did　not　understand。　He　stood　as　he　had　at　times　stood　enchanted　by　fair　elvenvoices；　but　the　spell　that　was　now　laid　upon　him　was　different：　less　keen　and　lofty　was　the　delight；　but　deeper　and　nearer　to　mortal　heart；　marvellous　and　yet　not　strange。　'Fair　lady　Goldberry！'　he　said　again。　'Now　the　joy　that　was　hidden　in　the　songs　we　heard　is　made　plain　to　me。

O　slender　as　a　willowwand！　O　clearer　than　clear　water！
O　reed　by　the　living　pool！　Fair　Riverdaughter！
O　springtime　and　summertime；　and　spring　again　after！
O　wind　on　the　waterfall；　and　the　leaves'　laughter！'

Suddenly　he　stopped　and　stammered；　overe　with　surprise　to　hear　himself　saying　such　things。　But　Goldberry　laughed。

'Wele！'　she　said。　'I　had　not　heard　that　folk　of　the　Shire　were　so　sweettongued。　But　I　see　you　are　an　elffriend；　the　light　in　your　eyes　and　the　ring　in　your　voice　tells　it。　This　is　a　merry　meeting！　Sit　now；　and　wait　for　the　Master　of　the　house！　He　will　not　be　long。　He　is　tending　your　tired　beasts。'

The　hobbits　sat　down　gladly　in　low　rushseated　chairs；　while　Goldberry　busied　herself　about　the　table；　and　their　eyes　followed　her；　for　the　slender　grace　of　her　movement　filled　them　　somewhere　behind　the　house　came　the　sound　of　singing。　Every　now　and　again　they　caught；　among　many　a　derry　dol　and　a　merry　dol　and　a　ring　a　ding　dillo　the　repeated　words：

Old　Tom　Bombadil　is　a　merry　fellow；
Bright　blue　his　jacket　is；　and　his　boots　are　yellow。

'Fair　lady！'　said　Frodo　again　after　a　while。　'Tell　me；　if　my　asking　does　not　seem　foolish；　who　is　Tom　Bombadil？'

'He　is；'　said　Goldberry；　staying　her　swift　movements　and　smiling。

Frodo　looked　at　her　questioningly。　'He　is；　as　you　have　seen　him；'　she　said　in　answer　to　his　look。　'He　is　the　Master　of　wood；　water；　and　hill。'

'Then　all　this　strange　land　belongs　to　him？'

'No　indeed！'　she　answered；　and　her　smile　faded。　'That　would　indeed　be　a　burden；'　she　added　in　a　low　voice；　as　if　to　herself。　'The　trees　and　the　grasses　and　all　things　growing　or　living　in　the　land　belong　each　to　themselves。　Tom　Bombadil　is　the　Master。　No　one　has　ever　caught　old　Tom　walking　in　the　forest；　wading　in　the　water；　leaping　on　the　hilltops　under　light　and　shadow。　He　has　no　fear。　Tom　Bombadil　is　master。'

A　door　opened　and　in　came　Tom　Bombadil。　He　had　now　no　hat　and　his　thick　brown　hair　was　crowned　with　autumn　leaves。　He　laughed；　and　going　to　Goldberry；　took　her　hand。

'Here's　my　pretty　lady！'　he　said；　bowing　to　the　hobbits。　'Here's　my　Goldberry　clothed　all　in　silvergreen　with　flowers　in　her　girdle！　Is　the　table　laden？　I　see　yellow　cream　and　honeyb；　and　white　bread；　and　butter；　milk；　cheese；　and　green　herbs　and　ripe　berries　gathered。　Is　that　enough　for　us？　Is　the　supper　ready？'

'It　is；'　said　Goldberry；　'but　the　guests　perhaps　are　not？'

Tom　clapped　his　hands　and　cried：　'Tom；　Tom！　your　guests　are　tired；　and　you　had　near　fotten！　e　now；　my　merry　friends；　and　Tom　will　refresh　you！　You　shall　clean　grimy　hands；　and　wash　your　weary　faces；　cast　off　your　muddy　cloaks　and　b　out　your　tangles！'

He　opened　the　door；　and　they　followed　him　down　a　short　passage　and　round　a　sharp　turn。　They　came　to　a　low　room　with　a　sloping　roof　（a　penthouse；　it　seemed；　built　on　to　the　north　end　of　the　house）。　Its　walls　were　of　clean　stone；　but　they　were　mostly　covered　with　green　hanging　mats　and　yellow　curtains。　The　floor　was　flagged；　and　strewn　with　fresh　green　rushes。　There　were　four　deep　mattresses；　each　piled　with　white　blankets；　laid　on　the　floor　along　one　side。　Against　the　opposite　wall　was　a　long　bench　laden　with　wide　earthenware　basins；　and　beside　it　stood　brown　ewers　filled　with　water；　some　cold；　some　steaming　hot。　There　were　soft　green　slippers　set　ready　beside　each　bed。

Before　long；　washed　and　refreshed；　the　hobbits　were　seated　at　the　table；　two　on　each　side；　while　at　either　end　sat　Goldberry　and　the　Master。　It　was　a　long　and　merry　meal。　Though　the　hobbits　ate；　as　only　famished　hobbits　can　eat；　there　was　no　lack。　The　drink　in　their　drinkingbowls　seemed　to　be　clear　cold　water；　yet　it　went　to　their　hearts　like　wine　and　set　free　their　voices。　The　guests　became　suddenly　aware　that　they　were　singing　merrily；　as　if　it　was　easier　and　more　natural　than　talking。

At　last　Tom　and　Goldberry　rose　and　cleared　the　table　swiftly。　The　guests　were　manded　to　sit　quiet；　and　were　set　in　chairs；　each　with　a　footstool　to　his　tired　feet。　There　was　a　fire　in　the　wide　hearth　before　them；　and　it　was　burning　with　a　sweet　smell；　as　if　it　were　built　of　applewood。　When　everything　was　set　in　order；　all　the　lights　in　the　room　were　put　out；　except　one　lamp　and　a　pair　of　candles　at　each　end　of　the　chimneyshelf。　Then　Goldberry　came　and　stood　before　them；　holding　a　candle；　and　she　wished　them　each　a　good　night　and　deep　sleep。

'Have　peace　now；'　she　said；　'until　the　morning！　Heed　no　nightly　noises！　For　nothing　passes　door　and　window　here　save　moonlight　and　starlight　and　the　wind　off　the　hilltop。　Good　night！'　She　passed　out　of　the　room　with　a　glimmer　and　a　rustle。　The　sound　of　her　footsteps　was　like　a　stream　falling　gently　away　downhill　over　cool　stones　in　the　quiet　of　night。

Tom　sat　on　a　while　beside　them　in　silence；　while　each　of　them　tried　to　muster　the　courage　to　ask　one　of　the　many　questions　he　had　meant　to　ask　at　supper。　Sleep　gathered　on　their　eyelids。　At　last　Frodo　spoke：

'Did　you　hear　me　calling；　Master；　or　was　it　just　chance　that　brought　you　at　that　moment？'

Tom　stirred　like　a　man　shaken　out　of　a　pleasant　dream。　'Eh；　what？'　said　he。　'Did　I　hear　you　calling？　Nay；　I　did　not　hear：　I　was　busy　singing。　Just　chance　brought　me　then；　if　chance　you　call　it。　It　was　no　plan　of　mine；　though　I　was　waiting　for　you。　We　heard　news　of　you；　and　learned　that　you　were　wandering。　We　guessed　you'd　e　ere　long　down　to　the　water：　all　paths　lead　that　way；　down　to　Withywindle。　Old　grey　Willowman；　he's　a　mighty　singer；　and　it's　hard　for　little　folk　to　escape　his　cunning　mazes。　But　Tom　had　an　errand　there；　that　he　dared　not　hinder。'　Tom　nodded　as　if　sleep　was　taking　him　again；　but　he　went　on　in　a　soft　singing　voice：

I　had　an　errand　there：　gathering　waterlilies；
green　leaves　and　lilies　white　to　please　my　pretty　lady；
the　last　ere　the　year's　end　to　keep　them　from　the　winter；
to　flower　by　her　pretty　feet　tilt　the　snows　are　melted。
Each　year　at　summer's　end　I　go　to　find　them　for　her；
in　a　wide　pool；　deep　and　clear；　far　down　Withywindle；
there　they　open　first　in　spring　and　there　they　linger　latest。
By　that　pool　long　ago　I　found　the　Riverdaughter；
fair　young　Goldberry　sitting　in　the　rushes。
Sweet　was　her　singing　then；　and　her　heart　was　beating！
He　opened　his　eyes　and　looked　at　them　with　a　sudden　glint　of　blue：
And　that　proved　well　for　you　。　for　now　I　shall　no　longer
go　down　deep　again　along　the　forestwater；
not　while　the　year　is　old。　Nor　shall　I　be　passing
Old　Man　Willow's　house　this　side　of　springtime；
not　till　the　merry　spring；　when　the　Riverdaughter
dances　down　the　withypath　to　bathe　in　the　water。

He　fell　silent　again；　but　Frodo　could　not　help　asking　one　more　question：　the　one　he　most　desired　to　have　answered。　'Tell　us；　Master；'　he　said；　'about　the　Willowman。　What　is　he？　I　have　never　heard　of　him　before。'

'No；　don't！'　said　Merry　and　Pippin　together；　sitting　suddenly　upright。　'Not　now！　Not　until　the　morning！'

'That　is　right！'　said　the　old　man。　'Now　is　the　time　for　resting。　Some　things　are　ill　to　hear　when　the　world's　in　shadow。　Sleep　till　the　morning　light；　rest　on　the　pillow！　Heed　no　nightly　noise！　Fear　no　grey　willow！'　And　with　that　he　took　down　the　lamp　and　blew　it　out；　and　grasping　a　candle　in　either　hand　he　led　them　out　of　the　room。

Their　mattresses　and　pillows　were　soft　as　down；　and　the　blankets　were　of　white　wool。　They　had　hardly　laid　themselves　on　the　deep　beds　and　drawn　the　light　covers　over　them　before　they　were　asleep。

In　the　dead　night；　Frodo　lay　in　a　dream　without　light。　Then　he　saw　the　young　moon　rising；