The Lord of the Rings-指环王(英文版)-第4章

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'And　would　spoil　my　joke。　You　are　an　interfering　old　busybody；'　laughed　Bilbo；　'but　I　expect　you　know　best；　as　usual。'

'I　do　。　when　I　know　anything。　But　I　don't　feel　too　sure　about　this　whole　affair。　It　has　now　e　to　the　final　point。　You　have　had　your　joke；　and　alarmed　or　offended　most　of　your　relations；　and　given　the　whole　Shire　something　to　talk　about　for　nine　days；　or　niynine　more　likely。　Are　you　going　any　further？'

'Yes；　I　am。　I　feel　I　need　a　holiday；　a　very　long　holiday；　as　I　have　told　you　before。　Probably　a　permanent　holiday：　I　don't　expect　I　shall　return。　In　fact；　I　don't　mean　to；　and　I　have　made　all　arrangements。

'I　am　old；　Gandalf。　I　don't　look　it；　but　I　am　beginning　to　feel　it　in　my　heart　of　hearts。　Wellpreserved　indeed！'　he　snorted。　'Why；　I　feel　all　thin；　sort　of　stretched；　if　you　know　what　I　mean：　like　butter　that　has　been　scraped　over　too　much　bread。　That　can't　be　right。　I　need　a　change；　or　something。'

Gandalf　looked　curiously　and　closely　at　him。　'No；　it　does　not　seem　right；'　he　said　thoughtfully。　'No；　after　all　I　believe　your　plan　is　probably　the　best。'

'Well；　I've　made　up　my　mind；　anyway。　I　want　to　see　mountains　again；　Gandalf；　mountains；　and　then　find　somewhere　where　I　can　rest。　In　peace　and　quiet；　without　a　lot　of　relatives　prying　around；　and　a　string　of　confounded　visitors　hanging　on　the　bell。　I　might　find　somewhere　where　I　can　finish　my　book。　I　have　thought　of　a　nice　ending　for　it：　and　he　lived　happily　ever　after　to　the　end　of　his　days。'

Gandalf　laughed。　I　hope　he　will。　But　nobody　will　read　the　book；　however　it　ends。'

'Oh；　they　may；　in　years　to　e。　Frodo　has　read　some　already；　as　far　as　it　has　gone。　You'll　keep　an　eye　on　Frodo；　won't　you？'

'Yes；　I　will　。　two　eyes；　as　often　as　I　can　spare　them。'

'He　would　e　with　me；　of　course；　if　I　asked　him。　In　fact　he　offered　to　once；　just　before　the　party。　But　he　does　not　really　want　to；　yet。　I　want　to　see　the　wild　country　again　before　I　die；　and　the　Mountains；　but　he　is　still　in　love　with　the　Shire；　with　woods　and　fields　and　little　rivers。　He　ought　to　be　fortable　here。　I　am　leaving　everything　to　him；　of　course；　except　a　few　oddments。　I　hope　he　will　be　happy；　when　he　gets　used　to　being　on　his　own。　It's　time　he　was　his　own　master　now。'

'Everything？'　said　Gandalf。　'The　ring　as　well？　You　agreed　to　that；　you　remember。'

'Well；　er；　yes；　I　suppose　so；'　stammered　Bilbo。

'Where　is　it？'

'In　an　envelope；　if　you　must　know；'　said　Bilbo　impatiently。　'There　on　the　mantelpiece。　Well；　no！　Here　it　is　in　my　pocket！'　He　hesitated。　'Isn't　that　odd　now？'　he　said　softly　to　himself。　'Yet　after　all；　why　not？　Why　shouldn't　it　stay　there？'

Gandalf　looked　again　very　hard　at　Bilbo；　and　there　was　a　gleam　in　his　eyes。　'I　think；　Bilbo；'　he　said　quietly；　'I　should　leave　it　behind。　Don't　you　want　to？'

'Well　yes　。　and　no。　Now　it　es　to　it；　I　don't　like　parting　with　it　at　all；　I　may　say。　And　I　don't　really　see　why　I　should。　Why　do　you　want　me　to？'　he　asked；　and　a　curious　change　came　over　his　voice。　It　was　sharp　with　suspicion　and　annoyance。　'You　are　always　badgering　me　about　my　ring；　but　you　have　never　bothered　me　about　the　other　things　that　I　got　on　my　journey。'

'No；　but　I　had　to　badger　you；'　said　Gandalf。　'I　wanted　the　truth。　It　was　important。　Magic　rings　are　。　well；　magical；　and　they　are　rare　and　curious。　I　was　professionally　interested　in　your　ring；　you　may　say；　and　I　still　am。　I　should　like　to　know　where　it　is；　if　you　go　wandering　again。　Also　I　think　you　have　had　it　quite　long　enough。　You　won't　need　it　any　more。　Bilbo；　unless　I　am　quite　mistaken。'

Bilbo　flushed；　and　there　was　an　angry　light　in　his　eyes。　His　kindly　face　grew　hard。　'Why　not？'　he　cried。　'And　what　business　is　it　of　yours；　anyway；　to　know　what　I　do　with　my　own　things？　It　is　my　own。　I　found　it。　It　came　to　me。'

'Yes；　yes；'　said　Gandalf。　'But　there　is　no　need　to　get　angry。'

'If　I　am　it　is　your　fault；'　said　Bilbo。　'It　is　mine；　I　tell　you。　My　own。　My　precious。　Yes；　my　precious。'

The　wizard's　face　remained　grave　and　attentive；　and　only　a　flicker　in　his　deep　eyes　showed　that　he　was　startled　and　indeed　alarmed。　'It　has　been　called　that　before；'　he　said；　'but　not　by　you。'

'But　I　say　it　now。　And　why　not？　Even　if　Gollum　said　the　same　once。　It's　not　his　now；　but　mine。　And　I　shall　keep　it；　I　say。'

Gandalf　stood　up。　He　spoke　sternly。　'You　will　be　a　fool　if　you　do。　Bilbo；'　he　said。　'You　make　that　clearer　with　every　word　you　say。　It　has　got　far　too　much　hold　on　you。　Let　it　go！　And　then　you　can　go　yourself；　and　be　free。'

'I'll　do　as　I　choose　and　go　as　I　please；'　said　Bilbo　obstinately。

'Now；　now；　my　dear　hobbit！　'　said　Gandalf。　'All　your　long　life　we　have　been　friends；　and　you　owe　me　something。　e！　Do　as　you　promised：　give　it　up！　

'Well；　if　you　want　my　ring　yourself；　say　so！'　cried　Bilbo。　'But　you　won't　get　it。　I　won't　give　my　precious　away；　I　tell　you。'　His　hand　strayed　to　the　hilt　of　his　small　sword。

Gandalf's　eyes　flashed。　It　will　be　my　turn　to　get　angry　soon；'　he　said。　If　you　say　that　again；　I　shall。　Then　you　will　see　Gandalf　the　Grey　uncloaked。'　He　took　a　step　towards　the　hobbit；　and　he　seemed　to　grow　tall　and　menacing；　his　shadow　filled　the　little　room。

Bilbo　backed　away　to　the　wall；　breathing　hard；　his　hand　clutching　at　his　pocket。　They　stood　for　a　while　facing　one　another；　and　the　air　of　the　room　tingled。　Gandalf's　eyes　remained　bent　on　the　hobbit。　Slowly　his　hands　relaxed；　and　he　began　to　tremble。

'I　don't　know　what　has　e　over　you；　Gandalf；'　he　said。　'You　have　never　been　like　this　before。　What　is　it　all　about？　It　is　mine　isn't　it？　I　found　it；　and　Gollum　would　have　killed　me；　if　I　hadn't　kept　it。　I'm　not　a　thief；　whatever　he　said。'

'I　have　never　called　you　one；'　Gandalf　answered。　'And　I　am　not　one　either。　I　am　not　trying　to　rob　you；　but　to　help　you。　I　wish　you　would　trust　me；　as　you　used。'　He　turned　away；　and　the　shadow　passed。　He　seemed　to　dwindle　again　to　an　old　grey　man；　bent　and　troubled。

Bilbo　drew　his　hand　over　his　eyes。　I　am　sorry；'　he　said。　'But　I　felt　so　queer。　And　yet　it　would　be　a　relief　in　a　way　not　to　be　bothered　with　it　any　more。　It　has　been　so　growing　on　my　mind　lately。　Sometimes　I　have　felt　it　was　like　an　eye　looking　at　me。　And　I　am　always　wanting　to　put　it　on　and　disappear；　don't　you　know；　or　wondering　if　it　is　safe；　and　pulling　it　out　to　make　sure。　I　tried　locking　it　up；　but　I　found　I　couldn't　rest　without　it　in　my　pocket。　I　don't　know　why。　And　I　don't　seem　able　to　make　up　my　mind。'

'Then　trust　mine；'　said　Gandalf。　'It　is　quite　made　up。　Go　away　and　leave　it　behind。　Stop　possessing　it。　Give　it　to　Frodo；　and　I　will　look　after　him。'

Bilbo　stood　for　a　moment　tense　and　undecided。　Presently　he　sighed。　'All　right；'　he　said　with　an　effort。　I　will。'　Then　he　shrugged　his　shoulders；　and　smiled　rather　ruefully。　'After　all　that's　what　this　party　business　was　all　about；　really：　to　give　away　lots　of　birthday　presents；　and　somehow　make　it　easier　to　give　it　away　at　the　same　time。　It　hasn't　made　it　any　easier　in　the　end；　but　it　would　be　a　pity　to　waste　all　my　preparations。　It　would　quite　spoil　the　joke。'

'Indeed　it　would　take　away　the　only　point　I　ever　saw　in　the　affair；'　said　Gandalf。

'Very　well；'　said　Bilbo；　'it　goes　to　Frodo　with　all　the　rest。'　He　drew　a　deep　breath。　'And　now　I　really　must　be　starting；　or　somebody　else　will　catch　me。　I　have　said　goodbye；　and　I　couldn't　bear　to　do　it　all　over　again。'　He　picked　up　his　bag　and　moved　to　the　door。

'You　have　still　got　the　ring　in　your　pocket；'　said　the　wizard。　'Well；　so　I　have！'　cried　Bilbo。　'And　my　will　and　all　the　other　documents　too。　You　had　better　take　it　and　deliver　it　for　me。　That　will　be　safest。'

'No；　don't　give　the　ring　to　me；'　said　Gandalf。　'Put　it　on　the　mantelpiece。　It　will　be　safe　enough　there；　till　Frodo　es。　I　shall　wait　for　him。'

Bilbo　took　out　the　envelope；　but　just　as　he　was　about　to　set　it　by　the　clock；　his　hand　jerked　back；　and　the　packet　fell　on　the　floor。　Before　he　could　pick　it　up；　the　wizard　stooped　and　seized　it　and　set　it　in　its　place。　A　spasm　of　anger　passed　swiftly　over　the　hobbit's　face　again。　Suddenly　it　gave　way　to　a　look　of　relief　and　a　laugh。　'Well；　that's　that；'　he　said。　'Now　I'm　off！'

They　went　out　into　the　hall。　Bilbo　chose　his　favourite　stick　from　the　stand；　then　he　whistled。　Three　dwarves　came　out　of　different　rooms　where　they　had　been　busy。

'Is　everything　ready？'　asked　Bilbo。　'Everything　packed　and　labelled？'

'Everything；'　they　answered。

'Well；　let's　start　then！'　He　stepped　out　of　the　frontdoor。

It　was　a　fine　night；　and　the　black　sky　was　dotted　with　stars。　He　looked　up；　sniffing　the　air。　'What　fun！　What　fun　to　be　off　again；　off　on　the　Road　with　dwarves！　This　is　what　I　have　really　been　longing　for；　for　years！　Good　bye！　'　he　said；　looking　at　his　old　home　and　bowing　to　the　door。　'Goodbye；　Gandalf！'

'Goodbye；　for　the　present；　Bilbo。　Take　care　of　yourself！　You　are　old　enough；　and　perhaps　wise　enough。'

'Take　care！　I　don't　care。　Don't　you　worry　about　me！　I　am　as　happy　now　as　I　have　ever　been；　and　that　is　saying　a　great　deal。　But　the　time　has　e。　I　am　being　swept　off　my　feet　at　last；'　he　added；　and　then　in　a　low　voice；　as　if　to　himself；　he　sang　softly　in　the　dark：

The　Road　goes　ever　on　and　on
Down　from　the　door　where　it　began。
Now　far　ahead　the　Road　has　gone；
And　I　must　follow；　if　I　can；
Pursuing　it　with　eager　feet；
Until　it　joins　some　larger　way
Where　many　paths　and　errands　meet。
And　whither　then？　I　cannot　say。

He　paused；　silent　for　a　moment。　Then　without　another　word　he　turned　away　from　the　lights　and　voices　in　the　fields　and　tents；　and　followed　by　his　three　panions　went　round　into　his　garden；　and　trotted　down　the　long　sloping　path。　He　jumped　over　a　low　place　in　the　hedge　at　the　bottom；　and　took　to　the　meadows；　passing　into　the　night　like　a　rustle　of　wind　in　the　grass。

Gandalf　remained　for　a　while　staring　after　him　into　the　darkness。　'Goodbye；　my　dear　Bilbo　。　until　our　next　meeting！'　he　said　softly　and　went　back　indoors。

Frodo　came　in　soon　afterwards；　and　found　him　sitting　in　the　dark；　deep　in　thought。　'Has　he　gone？'　he　asked。

'Yes；'　answered　Gandalf；　'he　has　gone　at　last。'

'　I　wish　。　I　mean；　I　hoped　until　this　evening　that　it　was　only　a　joke；'　said　Frodo。　'But　I　knew　in　my　heart　that　he　really　meant　to　go。　He　always　used　to　joke　about　s