The Lord of the Rings-指环王(英文版)-第28章

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again。　A　shadow　came　out　of　dark　places　far　away；　and　the　bones　were　stirred　in　the　mounds。　Barrowwights　walked　in　the　hollow　places　with　a　clink　of　rings　on　cold　fingers；　and　gold　chains　in　the　wind。'　Stone　rings　grinned　out　of　the　ground　like　broken　teeth　in　the　moonlight。

The　hobbits　shuddered。　Even　in　the　Shire　the　rumour　of　the　Barrowwights　of　the　Barrowdowns　beyond　the　Forest　had　been　heard。　But　it　was　not　a　tale　that　any　hobbit　liked　to　listen　to；　even　by　a　fortable　fireside　far　away。　These　four　now　suddenly　remembered　what　the　joy　of　this　house　had　driven　from　their　minds：　the　house　of　Tom　Bombadil　nestled　under　the　very　shoulder　of　those　dreaded　hills。　They　lost　the　thread　of　his　tale　and　shifted　uneasily；　looking　aside　at　one　another。

When　they　caught　his　words　again　they　found　that　he　had　now　wandered　into　strange　regions　beyond　their　memory　and　beyond　their　waking　thought；　into　limes　when　the　world　was　wider；　and　the　seas　flowed　straight　to　the　western　Shore；　and　still　on　and　back　Tom　went　singing　out　into　ancient　starlight；　when　only　the　Elfsires　were　awake。　Then　suddenly　he　slopped；　and　they　saw　that　he　nodded　as　if　he　was　falling　asleep。　The　hobbits　sat　still　before　him；　enchanted；　and　it　seemed　as　if；　under　the　spell　of　his　words；　the　wind　had　gone；　and　the　clouds　had　dried　up；　and　the　day　had　been　withdrawn；　and　darkness　had　e　from　East　and　West；　and　all　the　sky　was　filled　with　the　light　of　white　stars。

Whether　the　morning　and　evening　of　one　day　or　of　many　days　had　passed　Frodo　could　not　tell。　He　did　not　feel　either　hungry　or　tired；　only　filled　with　wonder。　The　stars　shone　through　the　window　and　the　silence　of　the　heavens　seemed　to　be　round　him。　He　spoke　at　last　out　of　his　wonder　and　a　sudden　fear　of　that　silence：

'Who　are　you；　Master？'　he　asked。

'Eh；　what？'　said　Tom　sitting　up；　and　his　eyes　glinting　in　the　gloom。　'Don't　you　know　my　name　yet？　That's　the　only　answer。　Tell　me；　who　are　you；　alone；　yourself　and　nameless？　But　you　are　young　and　I　am　old。　Eldest；　that's　what　I　am。　Mark　my　words；　my　friends：　Tom　was　here　before　the　river　and　the　trees；　Tom　remembers　the　first　raindrop　and　the　first　acorn。　He　made　paths　before　the　Big　People；　and　saw　the　little　People　arriving。　He　was　here　before　the　Kings　and　the　graves　and　the　Barrowwights。　When　the　Elves　passed　westward；　Tom　was　here　already；　before　the　seas　were　bent。　He　knew　the　dark　under　the　stars　when　it　was　fearless　。　before　the　Dark　Lord　came　from　Outside。'

A　shadow　seemed　to　pass　by　the　window；　and　the　hobbits　glanced　hastily　through　the　panes。　When　they　turned　again；　Goldberry　stood　in　the　door　behind；　framed　in　light。　She　held　a　candle；　shielding　its　flame　from　the　draught　with　her　hand；　and　the　light　flowed　through　it；　like　sunlight　through　a　white　shell。

'The　rain　has　ended；'　she　said；　'and　new　waters　are　running　downhill；　under　the　stars。　Let　us　now　laugh　and　be　glad！'

'And　let　us　have　food　and　drink！'　cried　Tom。　'Long　tales　are　thirsty。　And　long　listening's　hungry　work；　morning；　noon；　and　evening！'　With　that　he　jumped　out　of　his　chair；　and　with　a　bound　took　a　candle　from　the　chimneyshelf　and　lit　it　in　the　flame　that　Goldberry　held；　then　he　danced　about　the　table。　Suddenly　he　hopped　through　the　door　and　disappeared。

Quickly　he　returned；　bearing　a　large　and　laden　tray。　Then　Tom　and　Goldberry　set　the　table；　and　the　hobbits　sat　half　in　wonder　and　half　in　laughter：　so　fair　was　the　grace　of　Goldberry　and　so　merry　and　odd　the　caperings　of　Tom。　Yet　in　some　fashion　they　seemed　to　weave　a　single　dance；　neither　hindering　the　other；　in　and　out　of　the　room；　and　round　about　the　table；　and　with　great　speed　food　and　vessels　and　lights　were　set　in　order。　The　boards　blazed　with　candles；　white　and　yellow。　Tom　bowed　to　his　guests。　'Supper　is　ready；'　said　Goldberry；　and　now　the　hobbits　saw　that　she　was　clothed　all　in　silver　with　a　white　girdle；　and　her　shoes　were　like　fishes'　mail。　But　Tom　was　all　in　clean　blue；　blue　as　rainwashed　fetmenots；　and　he　had　green　stockings。

It　was　a　supper　even　better　than　before。　The　hobbits　under　the　spell　of　Tom's　words　may　have　missed　one　meal　or　many；　but　when　the　food　was　before　them　it　seemed　at　least　a　week　since　they　had　eaten。　They　did　not　sing　or　even　speak　much　for　a　while；　and　paid　close　attention　to　business。　But　after　a　time　their　hearts　and　spirit　rose　high　again；　and　their　voices　rang　out　in　mirth　and　laughter。

After　they　had　eaten；　Goldberry　sang　many　songs　for　them；　songs　that　began　merrily　in　the　hills　and　fell　softly　down　into　silence；　and　in　the　silences　they　saw　in　their　minds　pools　and　waters　wider　than　any　they　had　known；　and　looking　into　them　they　saw　the　sky　below　them　and　the　stars　like　jewels　in　the　depths。　Then　once　more　she　wished　them　each　good　night　and　left　them　by　the　fireside。　But　Tom　now　seemed　wide　awake　and　plied　them　with　questions。

He　appeared　already　to　know　much　about　them　and　all　their　families；　and　indeed　to　know　much　of　all　the　history　and　doings　of　the　Shire　down　from　days　hardly　remembered　among　the　hobbits　themselves。　It　no　longer　surprised　them；　but　he　made　no　secret　that　he　owed　his　recent　knowledge　largely　to　Farmer　Maggot；　whom　he　seemed　to　regard　as　a　person　of　more　importance　than　they　had　imagined。　'There's　earth　under　his　old　feet；　and　clay　on　his　fingers；　wisdom　in　his　bones；　and　both　his　eyes　are　open；'　said　Tom。　It　was　also　clear　that　Tom　had　dealings　with　the　Elves；　and　it　seemed　that　in　some　fashion；　news　had　reached　him　from　Gildor　concerning　the　flight　of　Frodo。

Indeed　so　much　did　Tom　know；　and　so　cunning　was　his　questioning；　that　Frodo　found　himself　telling　him　more　about　Bilbo　and　his　own　hopes　and　fears　than　he　had　told　before　even　to　Gandalf。　Tom　wagged　his　head　up　and　down；　and　there　was　a　glint　in　his　eyes　when　he　heard　of　the　Riders。

'Show　me　the　precious　Ring！'　he　said　suddenly　in　the　midst　of　the　story：　and　Frodo；　to　his　own　astonishment；　drew　out　the　chain　from　his　pocket；　and　unfastening　the　Ring　handed　it　at　once　to　Tom。

It　seemed　to　grow　larger　as　it　lay　for　a　moment　on　his　big　brownskinned　hand。　Then　suddenly　he　put　it　to　his　eye　and　laughed。　For　a　second　the　hobbits　had　a　vision；　both　ical　and　alarming；　of　his　bright　blue　eye　gleaming　through　a　circle　of　gold。　Then　Tom　put　the　Ring　round　the　end　of　his　little　finger　and　held　it　up　to　the　candlelight。　For　a　moment　the　hobbits　noticed　nothing　strange　about　this。　Then　they　gasped。　There　was　no　sign　of　Tom　disappearing！

Tom　laughed　again；　and　then　he　spun　the　Ring　in　the　air　。　and　it　vanished　with　a　flash。　Frodo　gave　a　cry　。　and　Tom　leaned　forward　and　handed　it　back　to　him　with　a　smile。

Frodo　looked　at　it　closely；　and　rather　suspiciously　（like　one　who　has　lent　a　trinket　to　a　juggler）。　It　was　the　same　Ring；　or　looked　the　same　and　weighed　the　same：　for　that　Ring　had　always　seemed　to　Frodo　to　weigh　strangely　heavy　in　the　hand。　But　something　prompted　him　to　make　sure。　He　was　perhaps　a　trifle　annoyed　with　Tom　for　seeming　to　make　so　light　of　what　even　Gandalf　thought　so　perilously　important。　He　waited　for　an　opportunity；　when　the　talk　was　going　again；　and　Tom　was　telling　an　absurd　story　about　badgers　and　their　queer　ways　。　then　he　slipped　the　Ring　on。

Merry　turned　towards　him　to　say　something　and　gave　a　start；　and　checked　an　exclamation。　Frodo　was　delighted　（in　a　way）：　it　was　his　own　ring　all　right；　for　Merry　was　staring　blankly　at　his　chair；　and　obviously　could　not　see　him。　He　got　up　and　crept　quietly　away　from　the　fireside　towards　the　outer　door。

'Hey　there！'　cried　Tom；　glancing　towards　him　with　a　most　seeing　look　in　his　shining　eyes。　'Hey！　e　Frodo；　there！　Where　be　you　agoing？　Old　Tom　Bombadil's　not　as　blind　as　that　yet。　Take　off　your　golden　ring！　Your　hand's　more　fair　without　it。　e　back！　Leave　your　game　and　sit　down　beside　me！　We　must　talk　a　while　more；　and　think　about　the　morning。　Tom　must　teach　the　right　road；　and　keep　your　feet　from　wandering。'

Frodo　laughed　（trying　to　feel　pleased）；　and　taking　off　the　Ring　he　came　and　sat　down　again。　Tom　now　told　them　that　he　reckoned　the　Sun　would　shine　tomorrow；　and　it　would　be　a　glad　morning；　and　setting　out　would　be　hopeful。　But　they　would　do　well　to　start　early；　for　weather　in　that　country　was　a　thing　that　even　Tom　could　not　be　sure　of　for　long；　and　it　would　change　sometimes　quicker　than　he　could　change　his　jacket。　'I　am　no　weathermaster；'　he　said；　'nor　is　aught　that　goes　on　two　legs。'

By　his　advice　they　decided　to　make　nearly　due　North　from　his　house；　over　the　western　and　lower　slopes　of　the　Downs：　they　might　hope　in　that　way　to　strike　the　East　Road　in　a　day's　journey；　and　avoid　the　Barrows。　He　told　them　not　to　be　afraid　。　but　to　mind　their　own　business。

'Keep　to　the　green　grass。　Don't　you　go　ameddling　with　old　stone　or　cold　Wights　or　prying　in　their　houses；　unless　you　be　strong　folk　with　hearts　that　never　falter！'　He　said　this　more　than　once；　and　he　advised　them　to　pass　barrows　by　on　the　westside；　if　they　chanced　to　stray　near　one。　Then　he　taught　them　a　rhyme　to　sing；　if　they　should　by　illluck　fall　into　any　danger　or　difficulty　the　next　day。

Ho！　Tom　Bombadil；　Tom　Bombadillo！
By　water；　wood　and　hill；　by　the　reed　and　willow；
By　fire；　sun　and　moon；　harken　now　and　hear　us！
e；　Tom　Bombadil；　for　our　need　is　near　us！

When　they　had　sung　this　altogether　after　him；　he　clapped　them　each　on　the　shoulder　with　a　laugh；　and　taking　candles　led　them　back　to　their　bedroom。

Chapter　08
Fog　on　the　BarrowDowns
　

That　night　they　heard　no　noises。　But　either　in　his　dreams　or　out　of　them；　he　could　not　tell　which；　Frodo　heard　a　sweet　singing　running　in　his　mind；　a　song　that　seemed　to　e　like　a　pale　light　behind　a　grey　raincurtain；　and　growing　stronger　to　turn　the　veil　all　to　glass　and　silver；　until　at　last　it　was　rolled　back；　and　a　far　green　country　opened　before　him　under　a　swift　sunrise。

The　vision　melted　into　waking；　and　there　was　Tom　whistling　like　a　tree　full　of　birds；　and　the　sun　was　already　slanting　down　the　hill　and　through　the　open　window。　Outside　everything　was　green　and　pale　gold。

After　breakfast；　which　they　again　ate　alone；　they　made　ready　to　say　farewell；　as　nearly　heavy　of　heart　as　was　possible　on　such　a　morning：　cool；　bright；　and　clean　under　a　washed　autumn　sky　of　thin　blue。　The　air　came　fresh　from　the　Northost　frisky；