The Lord of the Rings-指环王(英文版)-第52章

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and　crowned　him　with　the　living　light
and　dauntless　then　with　burning　brow
he　turned　his　prow；　and　in　the　night
from　Otherworld　beyond　the　Sea
there　strong　and　free　a　storm　arose；
a　wind　of　power　in　Tarmenel；
by　paths　that　seldom　mortal　goes
his　boat　it　bore　with　biting　breath
as　might　of　death　across　the　grey
and　longforsaken　seas　distressed：
from　east　to　west　he　passed　away。

Through　Evernight　he　back　was　borne
on　black　and　roaring　waves　that　ran
o'er　leagues　unlit　and　foundered　shores
that　drowned　before　the　Days　began；
until　he　heard　on　strands　of　pearl
when　ends　the　world　the　music　long；
where　ever　foaming　billows　roll
the　yellow　gold　and　jewels　wan。
He　saw　the　Mountain　silent　rise
where　twilight　lies　upon　the　knees
of　Valinor；　and　Eldamar
beheld　afar　beyond　the　seas。
A　wanderer　escaped　from　night
to　haven　white　he　came　at　last；
to　Elvenhome　the　green　and　fair
where　keen　the　air；　where　pale　as　glass
beneath　the　Hill　of　Ilmarin
aglimmer　in　a　valley　sheer
the　lamplit　towers　of　Tirion
are　mirrored　on　the　Shadowmere。

He　tarried　there　from　errantry；
and　melodies　they　taught　to　him；
and　sages　old　him　marvels　told；
and　harps　of　gold　they　brought　to　him。
They　clothed　him　then　in　elvenwhite；
and　seven　lights　before　him　sent；
as　through　the　Calacirian
to　hidden　land　forlorn　he　went。
He　came　unto　the　timeless　halls
where　shining　fall　the　countless　years；
and　endless　reigns　theElder　King
in　Ilmarin　on　Mountain　sheer；
and　words　unheard　were　spoken　then
of　folk　of　Men　and　Elvenkin；
beyond　the　world　were　visions　showed
forbid　to　those　that　dwell　therein。

A　ship　then　new　they　built　for　him
of　mithril　and　of　elvenglass
with　shining　prow；　no　shaven　oar
nor　sail　she　bore　on　silver　mast：
the　Silmaril　as　lantern　light
and　banner　bright　with　living　flame
to　gleam　thereon　by　Elbereth
herself　was　set；　who　thither　came
and　wings　immortal　made　for　him；
and　laid　on　him　undying　doom；
to　sail　the　shoreless　skies　and　e
behind　the　Sun　and　light　of　Moon。

From　Evereven's　lofty　hills
where　softly　silver　fountains　fall
his　wings　him　bore；　a　wandering　light；
beyond　the　mighty　Mountain　Wall。
From　World's　End　then　he　turned　away
and　yearned　again　to　find　afar
his　home　through　shadows　journeying；
and　burning　as　an　island　star
on　high　above　the　mists　he　came；
a　distant　flame　before　the　Sun；
a　wonder　ere　the　waking　dawn
where　grey　the　Norland　waters　run。

And　over　Middleearth　he　passed
and　heard　at　last　the　weeping　sore
of　women　and　of　elvenmaids
in　Elder　Days；　in　years　of　yore。
gut　on　him　mighty　doom　was　laid；
till　Moon　should　fade；　an　orbéd　star
to　pass；　and　tarry　never　more
on　Hither　Shores　where　mortals　are；
for　ever　still　a　herald　on
an　errand　that　should　never　rest
to　bear　his　shining　lamp　afar；
the　Flammifer　of　Westernesse。

The　chanting　ceased。　Frodo　opened　his　eyes　and　saw　that　Bilbo　was　seated　on　his　stool　in　a　circle　of　listeners；　who　were　smiling　and　applauding。

'Now　we　had　better　have　it　again；'　said　an　Elf。

Bilbo　got　up　and　bowed。　'I　am　flattered；　Lindir；'　he　said。　'But　it　would　be　too　tiring　to　repeat　it　all。'

'Not　too　tiring　for　you；'　the　Elves　answered　laughing。　'You　know　you　are　never　tired　of　reciting　your　own　verses。　But　really　we　cannot　answer　your　question　at　one　hearing！'

'What！'　cried　Bilbo。　'You　can't　tell　which　parts　were　mine；　and　which　were　the　Dúnadan's？'

'It　is　not　easy　for　us　to　tell　the　difference　between　two　mortals'　said　the　Elf。

'Nonsense；　Lindir；'　snorted　Bilbo。　'If　you　can't　distinguish　between　a　Man　and　a　Hobbit；　your　judgement　is　poorer　than　I　imagined。　They're　as　different　as　peas　and　apples。'

'Maybe。　To　sheep　other　sheep　no　doubt　appear　different；'　laughed　Lindir。　'Or　to　shepherds。　But　Mortals　have　not　been　our　study。　We　have　other　business。'

'I　won't　argue　with　you；'　said　Bilbo。　'I　am　sleepy　after　so　much　music　and　singing。　I'll　leave　you　to　guess；　if　you　want　to。'

He　got　up　and　came　towards　Frodo。　'Well；　that's　over；'　he　said　in　a　low　voice。　'It　went　off　better　than　I　expected。　I　don't　often　get　asked　for　a　second　hearing。　What　did　you　think　of　it？'

'I　am　not　going　to　try　and　guess；'　said　Frodo　smiling。

'You　needn't；'　said　Bilbo。　'As　a　matter　of　fact　it　was　all　mine。　Except　that　Aragorn　insisted　on　my　putting　in　a　green　stone。　He　seemed　to　think　it　important。　I　don't　know　why。　Otherwise　he　obviously　thought　the　whole　thing　rather　above　my　head；　and　he　said　that　if　I　had　the　cheek　to　make　verses　about　E。rendil　in　the　house　of　Elrond；　it　was　my　affair。　I　suppose　he　was　right。'

'I　don't　know；'　said　Frodo。　'It　seemed　to　me　to　fit　somehow；　though　I　can't　explain。　I　was　half　asleep　when　you　began；　and　it　seemed　to　follow　on　from　something　that　I　was　dreaming　about。　I　didn't　understand　that　it　was　really　you　speaking　until　near　the　end。'

'It　is　difficult　to　keep　awake　here；　until　you　get　used　to　it；'　said　Bilbo。　'Not　that　hobbits　would　ever　acquire　quite　the　elvish　appetite　for　music　and　poetry　and　tales。　They　seem　to　like　them　as　much　as　food；　or　more。　They　will　be　going　on　for　a　long　time　yet。　What　do　you　say　to　slipping　off　for　some　more　quiet　talk？'

'Can　we？'　said　Frodo。

'Of　course。　This　is　merrymaking　not　business。　e　and　go　as　you　like；　as　long　as　you　don't　make　a　noise。'

They　got　up　and　withdrew　quietly　into　the　shadows；　and　made　for　the　doors。　Sam　they　left　behind；　fast　asleep　still　with　a　smile　on　his　face。　In　spite　of　his　delight　in　Bilbo's　pany　Frodo　felt　a　tug　of　regret　as　they　passed　out　of　the　Hall　of　Fire。　Even　as　they　stepped　over　the　threshold　a　single　clear　voice　rose　in　song。

A　Elbereth　Gilthoniel；
silivren　penna　míriel
o　menel　aglar　elenath！
Nachaered　palandíriel
o　galadhremmin　ennorath；
Fanuilos；　le　linnathon
nef　aear；　sí　nef　aearon！

Frodo　halted　for　a　moment；　looking　back。　Elrond　was　in　his　chair　and　the　fire　was　on　his　face　like　summerlight　upon　the　trees。　Near　him　sat　the　Lady　Arwen。　To　his　surprise　Frodo　saw　that　Aragorn　stood　beside　her；　his　dark　cloak　was　thrown　back；　and　he　seemed　to　be　clad　in　elvenmail；　and　a　star　shone　on　his　breast。　They　spoke　together；　and　then　suddenly　it　seemed　to　Frodo　that　Arwen　turned　towards　him；　and　the　light　of　her　eyes　fell　on　him　from　afar　and　pierced　his　heart。

He　stood　still　enchanted；　while　the　sweet　syllables　of　the　elvish　song　fell　like　clear　jewels　of　blended　word　and　melody。　'It　is　a　song　to　Elbereth；'　said　Bilbo。　'They　will　sing　that；　and　other　songs　of　the　Blessed　Realm；　many　times　tonight。　e　on！'

He　led　Frodo　back　to　his　own　little　room。　It　opened　on　to　the　gar　dens　and　looked　south　across　the　ravine　of　the　Bruinen。　There　they　sat　for　some　while；　looking　through　the　window　at　the　bright　stars　above　the　steepclimbing　woods；　and　talking　softly。　They　spoke　no　more　of　the　small　news　of　the　Shire　far　away；　nor　of　the　dark　shadows　and　perils　that　enpassed　them；　but　of　the　fair　things　they　had　seen　in　the　world　together；　of　the　Elves；　of　the　stars；　of　trees；　and　the　gentle　fall　of　the　bright　year　in　the　woods。

At　last　there　came　a　knock　on　the　door。　'Begging　your　pardon；'　said　Sam；　putting　in　his　head；　'but　I　was　just　wondering　if　you　would　be　wanting　anything。'

'And　begging　yours；　Sam　Gamgee；'　replied　Bilbo。　'I　guess　you　mean　that　it　is　time　your　master　went　to　bed。'

'Well；　sir；　there　is　a　Council　early　tomorrow；　I　hear　and　he　only　got　up　today　for　the　first　time。'

'Quite　right；　Sam；'　laughed　Bilbo。　'You　can　trot　off　and　tell　Gandalf　that　he　has　gone　to　bed。　Good　night；　Frodo！　Bless　me；　but　it　has　been　good　to　see　you　again！　There　are　no　folk　like　hobbits　after　all　for　a　real　good　talk。　I　am　getting　very　old；　and　I　began　to　wonder　if　I　should　ever　live　to　see　your　chapters　of　our　story。　Good　night！　I'll　take　a　walk；　I　think；　and　look　at　the　stars　of　Elbereth　in　the　garden。　Sleep　well！'

Chapter　2
The　Council　of　Elrond
　

Next　day　Frodo　woke　early；　feeling　refreshed　and　well。　He　walked　along　the　terraces　above　the　loudflowing　Bruinen　and　watched　the　pale；　cool　sun　rise　above　the　far　mountains；　and　shine　down。　Slanting　through　the　thin　silver　mist；　the　dew　upon　the　yellow　leaves　was　glimmering；　and　the　woven　s　of　gossamer　twinkled　on　every　bush。　Sam　walked　beside　him；　saying　nothing。　but　sniffing　the　air；　and　looking　every　now　and　again　with　wonder　in　his　eyes　at　the　great　heights　in　the　East。　The　snow　was　white　upon　their　peaks。

On　a　seat　cut　in　the　stone　beside　a　turn　in　the　path　they　came　upon　Gandalf　and　Bilbo　deep　in　talk。　'Hullo！　Good　morning！'　said　Bilbo。　'Feel　ready　for　the　great　council？'

'I　feel　ready　for　anything；'　answered　Frodo。　'But　most　of　all　I　should　like　to　go　walking　today　and　explore　the　valley。　I　should　like　to　get　into　those　pinewoods　up　there。'　He　pointed　away　far　up　the　side　of　Rivendell　to　the　north。

'You　may　have　a　chance　later；'　said　Gandalf。　'But　we　cannot　make　any　plans　yet。　There　is　much　to　hear　and　decide　today。'

Suddenly　as　they　were　talking　a　single　clear　bell　rang　out。　'That　is　the　warning　bell　for　the　Council　of　Elrond；'　cried　Gandalf。　'e　along　now！　Both　you　and　Bilbo　are　wanted。'

Frodo　and　Bilbo　followed　the　wizard　quickly　along　the　winding　path　back　to　the　house；　behind　them；　uninvited　and　for　the　moment　fotten；　trotted　Sam。

Gandalf　led　them　to　the　porch　where　Frodo　had　found　his　friends　the　evening　before。　The　light　of　the　clear　autumn　morning　was　now　glowing　in　the　valley。　The　noise　of　bubbling　waters　came　up　from　the　foaming　riverbed。　Birds　were　singing；　and　a　wholesome　peace　lay　on　the　land。　To　Frodo　his　dangerous　flight；　and　the　rumours　of　the　darkness　growing　in　the　world　outside；　already　seemed　only　the　memories　of　a　troubled　dream；　but　the　faces　that　were　turned　to　meet　them　as　they　entered　were　grave。

Elrond　was　there；　and　several　others　were　seated　in　silence　about　him。　Frodo　saw　Glorfindel　and　Glóin；　and　in　a　corner　alone　Strider　was　sitting；　clad　in　his　old　travelworn　clothes　again。　Elrond　drew　Frodo　to　a　seat　by　his　side；　and　presented　him　to　the　pany；　saying：

'Here；　my　friends　is　the　hobbit；　Frodo　son　of　Drogo。　Few　have　ever　e　hither　through　greater　peril　or　on　an　errand　more　urgent。'

He　then　pointed　out　and　named　those　whom　Frodo　had　not　met　before。　There　was　a　younger　dwarf　at　Glóin's　side：　his　son　Gimli。　Beside　Glorfindel