The Lord of the Rings-指环王(英文版)-第50章

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The　hall　of　Elrond's　house　was　filled　with　folk：　Elves　for　the　most　part；　though　there　were　a　few　guests　of　other　sorts。　Elrond；　as　was　his　custom；　sat　in　a　great　chair　at　the　end　of　the　long　table　upon　the　dais；　and　next　to　him　on　the　one　side　sat　Glorfindel；　on　the　other　side　sat　Gandalf。

Frodo　looked　at　them　in　wonder；　for　he　had　never　before　seen　Elrond；　of　whom　so　many　tales　spoke；　and　as　they　sat　upon　his　right　hand　and　his　left；　Glorfindel；　and　even　Gandalf；　whom　he　thought　he　knew　so　well；　were　revealed　as　lords　of　dignity　and　power。　Gandalf　was　shorter　in　stature　than　the　other　two；　but　his　long　white　hair；　his　sweeping　silver　beard；　and　his　broad　shoulders；　made　him　look　like　some　wise　king　of　ancient　legend。　In　his　aged　face　under　great　snowy　brows　his　dark　eyes　were　set　like　coals　that　could　leap　suddenly　into　fire。

Glorfindel　was　tall　and　straight；　his　hair　was　of　shining　gold；　his　face　fair　and　young　and　fearless　and　full　of　joy；　his　eyes　were　bright　and　keen；　and　his　voice　like　music；　on　his　brow　sat　wisdom；　and　in　his　hand　was　strength。

The　face　of　Elrond　was　ageless；　neither　old　nor　young；　though　in　it　was　written　the　memory　of　many　things　both　glad　and　sorrowful。　His　hair　was　dark　as　the　shadows　of　twilight；　and　upon　it　was　set　a　circlet　of　silver；　his　eyes　were　grey　as　a　clear　evening；　and　in　them　was　a　light　like　the　light　of　stars。　Venerable　he　seemed　as　a　king　crowned　with　many　winters；　and　yet　hale　as　a　tried　warrior　in　the　fulness　of　his　strength。　He　was　the　Lord　of　Rivendell　and　mighty　among　both　Elves　and　Men。

In　the　middle　of　the　table；　against　the　woven　cloths　upon　the　wall；　there　was　a　chair　under　a　canopy；　and　there　sat　a　lady　fair　to　look　upon；　and　so　like　was　she　in　form　of　womanhood　to　Elrond　that　Frodo　guessed　that　she　was　one　of　his　close　kindred。　Young　she　was　and　yet　not　so。　The　braids　of　her　dark　hair　were　touched　by　no　frost；　her　white　arms　and　clear　face　were　flawless　and　smooth；　and　the　light　of　stars　was　in　her　bright　eyes；　grey　as　a　cloudless　night；　yet　queenly　she　looked；　and　thought　and　knowledge　were　in　her　glance；　as　of　one　who　has　known　many　things　that　the　years　bring。　Above　her　brow　her　head　was　covered　with　a　cap　of　silver　lace　ted　with　small　gems；　glittering　white；　but　her　soft　grey　raiment　had　no　ornament　save　a　girdle　of　leaves　wrought　in　silver。

So　it　was　that　Frodo　saw　her　whom　few　mortals　had　yet　seen；　Arwen；　daughter　of　Elrond；　in　whom　it　was　said　that　the　likeness　of　Lúthien　had　e　on　earth　again；　and　she　was　called　Undómiel；　for　she　was　the　Evenstar　of　her　people。　Long　she　had　been　in　the　land　of　her　mother's　kin；　in　Lórien　beyond　the　mountains；　and　was　but　lately　returned　to　Rivendell　to　her　father's　house。　But　her　brothers；　Elladan　and　Elrohir；　were　out　upon　errantry：　for　they　rode　often　far　afield　with　the　Rangers　of　the　North；　fetting　never　their　mother's　torment　in　the　dens　of　the　orcs。

Such　loveliness　in　living　thing　Frodo　had　never　seen　before　nor　imagined　in　his　mind；　and　he　was　both　surprised　and　abashed　to　find　that　he　had　a　seat　at　Elrond's　table　among　all　these　folk　so　high　and　fair。　Though　he　had　a　suitable　chair；　and　was　raised　upon　several　cushions；　he　felt　very　small；　and　rather　out　of　place；　but　that　feeling　quickly　passed。　The　feast　was　merry　and　the　food　all　that　his　hunger　could　desire。　It　was　some　time　before　he　looked　about　him　again　or　even　turned　to　his　neighbours。

He　looked　first　for　his　friends。　Sam　had　begged　to　be　allowed　to　wait　on　his　master；　but　had　been　told　that　for　this　time　he　was　a　guest　of　honour。　Frodo　could　see　him　now；　sitting　with　Pippin　and　Merry　at　the　upper　end　of　one　of　the　sidetables　close　to　the　dais。　He　could　see　no　sign　of　Strider。

Next　to　Frodo　on　his　right　sat　a　dwarf　of　important　appearance；　richly　dressed。　His　beard；　very　long　and　forked；　was　white；　nearly　as　white　as　the　snowwhite　cloth　of　his　garments。　He　wore　a　silver　belt；　and　round　his　neck　hung　a　chain　of　silver　and　diamonds。　Frodo　stopped　eating　to　look　at　him。

'Wele　and　well　met！'　said　the　dwarf；　turning　towards　him。　Then　he　actually　rose　from　his　seat　and　bowed。　'Glóin　at　your　service；'　he　said；　and　bowed　still　lower。

'Frodo　Baggins　at　your　service　and　your　family's；'　said　Frodo　correctly；　rising　in　surprise　and　scattering　his　cushions。　'Am　I　right　in　guessing　that　you　are　the　Glóin；　one　of　the　twelve　panions　of　the　great　Thorin　Oakenshield？'

'Quite　right；'　answered　the　dwarf；　gathering　up　the　cushions　and　courteously　assisting　Frodo　back　into　his　seat。　'And　I　do　not　ask；　for　I　have　already　been　told　that　you　are　the　kinsman　and　adopted　heir　of　our　friend　Bilbo　the　renowned。　Allow　me　to　congratulate　you　on　your　recovery。'

'Thank　you　very　much；'　said　Frodo。

'You　have　had　some　very　strange　adventures；　I　hear；'　said　Glóin。　'I　wonder　greatly　what　brings　four　hobbits　on　so　long　a　journey。　Nothing　like　it　has　happened　since　Bilbo　came　with　us。　But　perhaps　I　should　not　inquire　too　closely；　since　Elrond　and　Gandalf　do　not　seem　disposed　to　talk　of　this？'

'I　think　we　will　not　speak　of　it；　at　least　not　yet；'　said　Frodo　politely。

He　guessed　that　even　in　Elrond's　house　the　matter　of　the　Ring　was　not　one　for　casual　talk；　and　in　any　case　he　wished　to　fet　his　troubles　for　a　time。　'But　I　am　equally　curious；'　he　added；　'to　learn　what　brings　so　important　a　dwarf　so　far　from　the　Lonely　Mountain。'

Glóin　looked　at　him。　'If　you　have　not　heard；　I　think　we　will　not　speak　yet　of　that　either。　Master　Elrond　will　summon　us　all　ere　long；　I　believe；　and　then　we　shall　all　hear　many　things。　But　there　is　much　else　that　may　be　told。'

Throughout　the　rest　of　the　meal　they　talked　together；　but　Frodo　listened　more　than　he　spoke；　for　the　news　of　the　Shire；　apart　from　the　Ring；　seemed　small　and　faraway　and　unimportant；　while　Glóin　had　much　to　tell　of　events　in　the　northern　regions　of　Wilderland。　Frodo　learned　that　Grimbeorn　the　Old；　son　of　Beorn；　was　now　the　lord　of　many　sturdy　men；　and　to　their　land　between　the　Mountains　and　Mirkwood　neither　orc　nor　wolf　dared　to　go。

'lndeed；'　said　Glóin；　'if　it　were　not　for　the　Beornings；　the　passage　from　Dale　to　Rivendell　would　long　ago　have　bee　impossible。　They　are　valiant　men　and　keep　open　the　High　Pass　and　the　Ford　of　Carrock。　But　their　tolls　are　high；'　he　added　with　a　shake　of　his　head；　'and　like　Beorn　of　old　they　are　not　over　fond　of　dwarves。　Still；　they　are　trusty；　and　that　is　much　in　these　days。　Nowhere　are　there　any　men　so　friendly　to　us　as　the　Men　of　Dale。　They　are　good　folk；　the　Bardings。　The　grandson　of　Bard　the　Bowman　rules　them；　Brand　son　of　Bain　son　of　Bard。　He　is　a　strong　king；　and　his　realm　now　reaches　far　south　and　east　of　Esgaroth。'

'And　what　of　your　own　people？'　asked　Frodo。

'There　is　much　to　tell；　good　and　bad；'　said　Glóin；　'yet　it　is　mostly　good：　we　have　so　far　been　fortunate；　though　we　do　not　escape　the　shadow　of　these　times。　If　you　really　wish　to　hear　of　us；　I　will　tell　you　tidings　gladly。　But　stop　me　when　you　are　weary！　Dwarves'　tongues　run　on　when　speaking　of　their　handiwork；　they　say。'

And　with　that　Glóin　embarked　on　a　long　account　of　the　doings　of　the　Dwarfkingdom。　He　was　delighted　to　have　found　so　polite　a　listener；　for　Frodo　showed　no　sign　of　weariness　and　made　no　attempt　to　change　the　subject；　though　actually　he　soon　got　rather　lost　among　the　strange　names　of　people　and　places　that　he　had　never　heard　of　before。　He　was　interested；　however；　to　hear　that　Dáin　was　still　King　under　the　Mountain；　and　was　now　old　（having　passed　his　two　hundred　and　fiftieth　year）；　venerable；　and　fabulously　rich。　Of　the　ten　panions　who　had　survived　the　Battle　of　Five　Armies　seven　were　still　with　him：　Dwalin；　Glóin；　Dori；　Nori；　Bifur；　Bofur；　and　Bombur。　Bombur　was　now　so　fat　that　he　could　not　move　himself　from　his　couch　to　his　chair　at　table；　and　it　took　six　young　dwarves　to　lift　him。

'And　what　has　bee　of　Balin　and　Ori　and　óin？'　asked　Frodo。

A　shadow　passed　over　Glóin's　face。　'We　do　not　know；'　he　answered。　'It　is　largely　on　account　of　Balin　that　I　have　e　to　ask　the　advice　of　those　that　dwell　in　Rivendell。　But　tonight　let　us　speak　of　merrier　things！'

Glóin　began　then　to　talk　of　the　works　of　his　people；　telling　Frodo　about　their　great　labours　in　Dale　and　under　the　Mountain。　'We　have　done　well；'　he　said。　'But　in　metalwork　we　cannot　rival　our　fathers；　many　of　whose　secrets　are　lost。　We　make　good　armour　and　keen　swords；　but　we　cannot　again　make　mail　or　blade　to　match　those　that　were　made　before　the　dragon　came。　Only　in　mining　and　building　have　we　surpassed　the　old　days。　You　should　see　the　waterways　of　Dale；　Frodo；　and　the　fountains；　and　the　pools！　You　should　see　the　stonepaved　roads　of　many　colours！　And　the　halls　and　cavernous　streets　under　the　earth　with　arches　carved　like　trees；　and　the　terraces　and　towers　upon　the　Mountain's　sides！　Then　you　would　see　that　we　have　not　been　idle。'

'I　will　e　and　see　them；　if　ever　I　can；'　said　Frodo。　'How　surprised　Bilbo　would　have　been　to　see　all　the　changes　in　the　Desolation　of　Smaug！'

Glóin　looked　at　Frodo　and　smiled。　'You　were　very　fond　of　Bilbo　were　you　not？'　he　asked。

'Yes；'　answered　Frodo。　'I　would　rather　see　him　than　all　the　towers　and　palaces　in　the　world。'

At　length　the　feast　came　to　an　end。　Elrond　and　Arwen　rose　and　went　down　the　hall；　and　the　pany　followed　them　in　due　order。　The　doors　were　thrown　open；　and　they　went　across　a　wide　passage　and　through　other　doors；　and　came　into　a　further　hall。　In　it　were　no　tables；　but　a　bright　fire　was　burning　in　a　great　hearth　between　the　carven　pillars　upon　either　side。

Frodo　found　himself　walking　with　Gandalf。　'This　is　the　Hall　of　Fire'　said　the　wizard。　'Here　you　will　hear　many　songs　and　talesif　you　can　keep　awake。　But　except　on　high　days　it　usually　stands　empty　and　quiet；　and　people　e　here　who　wish　for　peace；　and　thought。　There　is　always　a　fire　here；　all　the　year　round；　but　there　is　little　other　light。'

As　Elrond　entered　and　went　towards　the　seat　prepared　for　him；　elvish　minstrels　began　to　make　sweet　music。　Slowly　the　hall　filled；　and　Frodo　looked　with　delight　upon　the　many　fair　faces　that　were　gathered　together；　the　golden　firelight　played　upon　them　and　shimmered　in　their　hair。　Suddenly　he　noticed；　not　far　from　the　further　end　of　the　fire；　a　small　dark　figure　seated　on　a　stool　with　his　back