The Lord of the Rings-指环王(英文版)-第58章

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s；　to　control　it。　We　can　bide　our　time；　we　can　keep　our　thoughts　in　our　hearts；　deploring　maybe　evils　done　by　the　way；　but　approving　the　high　and　ultimate　purpose：　Knowledge；　Rule；　Order；　all　the　things　that　we　have　so　far　striven　in　vain　to　acplish；　hindered　rather　than　helped　by　our　weak　or　idle　friends。　There　need　not　be；　there　would　not　be；　any　real　change　in　our　designs；　only　in　our　means。〃

'　〃Saruman；〃　I　said；　〃I　have　heard　speeches　of　this　kind　before；　but　only　in　the　mouths　of　emissaries　sent　from　Mordor　to　deceive　the　ignorant。　I　cannot　think　that　you　brought　me　so　far　only　to　weary　my　ears。〃

'He　looked　at　me　sidelong；　and　paused　a　while　considering。　〃Well；　I　see　that　this　wise　course　does　not　mend　itself　to　you；〃　he　said。　〃Not　yet？　Not　if　some　better　way　can　be　contrived？　〃

'He　came　and　laid　his　long　hand　on　my　arm。　〃And　why　not；　Gandalf？　〃　he　whispered。　〃Why　not？　The　Ruling　Ring？　If　we　could　mand　that；　then　the　Power　would　pass　to　us。　That　is　in　truth　why　I　brought　you　here。　For　I　have　many　eyes　in　my　service；　and　I　believe　that　you　know　where　this　precious　thing　now　lies。　Is　it　not　so？　Or　why　do　the　Nine　ask　for　the　Shire；　and　what　is　your　business　there？　〃　As　he　said　this　a　lust　which　he　could　not　conceal　shone　suddenly　in　his　eyes。

'　〃Saruman；〃　I　said；　standing　away　from　him；　〃only　one　hand　at　a　time　can　wield　the　One；　and　you　know　that　well；　so　do　not　trouble　to　say　we！　But　I　would　not　give　it；　nay；　I　would　not　give　even　news　of　it　to　you；　now　that　I　learn　your　mind。　You　were　head　of　the　Council；　but　you　have　unmasked　yourself　at　last。　Well；　the　choices　are；　it　seems；　to　submit　to　Sauron；　or　to　yourself。　I　will　take　neither。　Have　you　others　to　offer？　〃

'He　was　cold　now　and　perilous。　〃Yes；〃　he　said。　〃I　did　not　expect　you　to　show　wisdom；　even　in　your　own　behalf；　but　I　gave　you　the　chance　of　aiding　me　willingly。　and　so　saving　yourself　much　trouble　and　pain。　The　third　choice　is　to　stay　here；　until　the　end。〃

'　〃Until　what　end？　〃

'　〃Until　you　reveal　to　me　where　the　One　may　be　found。　I　may　find　means　to　persuade　you。　Or　until　it　is　found　in　your　despite；　and　the　Ruler　has　time　to　turn　to　lighter　matters：　to　devise；　say；　a　fitting　reward　for　the　hindrance　and　insolence　of　Gandalf　the　Grey。〃

'　〃That　may　not　prove　to　be　one　of　the　lighter　matters；〃　said　I。　He　laughed　at　me；　for　my　words　were　empty；　and　he　knew　it。

'They　took　me　and　they　set　me　alone　on　the　pinnacle　of　Orthanc；　in　the　place　where　Saruman　was　accustomed　to　watch　the　stars。　There　is　no　descent　save　by　a　narrow　stair　of　many　thousand　steps；　and　the　valley　below　seems　far　away。　I　looked　on　it　and　saw　that；　whereas　it　had　once　been　green　and　fair；　it　was　now　filled　with　pits　and　fes。　Wolves　and　orcs　were　housed　in　Isengard；　for　Saruman　was　mustering　a　great　force　on　his　own　account；　in　rivalry　of　Sauron　and　not　in　his　service　yet。　Over　all　his　works　a　dark　smoke　hung　and　wrapped　itself　about　the　sides　of　Orthanc。　I　stood　alone　on　an　island　in　the　clouds；　and　I　had　no　chance　of　escape；　and　my　days　were　bitter。　I　was　pierced　with　cold；　and　I　had　but　little　room　in　which　to　pace　to　and　fro；　brooding　on　the　ing　of　the　Riders　to　the　North。

'That　the　Nine　had　indeed　arisen　I　felt　assured；　apart　from　the　words　of　Saruman　which　might　be　lies。　Long　ere　I　came　to　Isengard　I　had　heard　tidings　by　the　way　that　could　not　be　mistaken。　Fear　was　ever　in　my　heart　for　my　friends　in　the　Shire；　but　still　I　had　some　hope。　I　hoped　that　Frodo　had　set　forth　at　once；　as　my　letter　had　urged；　and　that　he　had　reached　Rivendell　before　the　deadly　pursuit　began。　And　both　my　fear　and　my　hope　proved　ill　founded。　For　my　hope　was　founded　on　a　fat　man　in　Bree；　and　my　fear　was　founded　on　the　cunning　of　Sauron。　But　fat　men　who　sell　ale　have　many　calls　to　answer；　and　the　power　of　Sauron　is　still　less　than　fear　makes　it。　But　in　the　circle　of　Isengard；　trapped　and　alone；　it　was　not　easy　to　think　that　the　hunters　before　whom　all　have　fled　or　fallen　would　falter　in　the　Shire　far　away。'

'I　saw　you！'　cried　Frodo。　'You　were　walking　backwards　and　forwards。　The　moon　shone　in　your　hair。'

Gandalf　paused　astonished　and　looked　at　him。　'It　was　only　a　dream'　said　Frodo；　'but　it　suddenly　came　back　to　me。　I　had　quite　fotten　it。　It　came　some　time　ago；　after　I　left　the　Shire；　I　think。'

'Then　it　was　late　in　ing；'　said　Gandalf；　'as　you　will　see。　I　was　in　an　evil　plight。　And　those　who　know　me　will　agree　that　I　have　seldom　been　in　such　need；　and　do　not　bear　such　misfortune　well。　Gandalf　the　Grey　caught　like　a　fly　in　a　spider's　treacherous　web！　Yet　even　the　most　subtle　spiders　may　leave　a　weak　thread。

'At　first　I　feared；　as　Saruman　no　doubt　intended；　that　Radagast　had　also　fallen。　Yet　I　had　caught　no　hint　of　anything　wrong　in　his　voice　or　in　his　eye　at　our　meeting。　If　I　had；　I　should　never　have　gone　to　Isengard；　or　I　should　have　gone　more　warily。　So　Saruman　guessed；　and　he　had　concealed　his　mind　and　deceived　his　messenger。　It　would　have　been　useless　in　any　case　to　try　and　win　over　the　honest　Radagast　to　treachery。　He　sought　me　in　good　faith；　and　so　persuaded　me。

'That　was　the　undoing　of　Saruman's　plot。　For　Radagast　knew　no　reason　why　he　should　not　do　as　I　asked；　and　he　rode　away　towards　Mirkwood　where　he　had　many　friends　of　old。　And　the　Eagles　of　the　Mountains　went　far　and　wide；　and　they　saw　many　things：　the　gathering　of　wolves　and　the　mustering　of　Orcs；　and　the　Nine　Riders　going　hither　and　thither　in　the　lands；　and　they　heard　news　of　the　escape　of　Gollum。　And　they　sent　a　messenger　to　bring　these　tidings　to　me。

'So　it　was　that　when　summer　waned；　there　came　a　night　of　moon；　and　Gwaihir　the　Windlord；　swiftest　of　the　Great　Eagles；　came　unlookedfor　to　Orthanc；　and　he　found　me　standing　on　the　pinnacle。　Then　I　spoke　to　him　and　he　bore　me　away；　before　Saruman　was　aware。　I　was　far　from　Isengard；　ere　the　wolves　and　orcs　issued　from　the　gate　to　pursue　me。

'　〃How　far　can　you　bear　me？　〃　I　said　to　Gwaihir。

'　〃Many　leagues；〃　said　he；　〃but　not　to　the　ends　of　the　earth。　I　was　sent　to　bear　tidings　not　burdens。〃

'　〃Then　I　must　have　a　steed　on　land；〃　I　said；　〃and　a　steed　surpassingly　swift；　for　I　have　never　had　such　need　of　haste　before。〃

'　〃Then　I　will　bear　you　to　Edoras；　where　the　Lord　of　Rohan　sits　in　his　halls；〃　he　said；　〃for　that　is　not　very　far　off。〃　And　I　was　glad；　for　in　the　Riddermark　of　Rohan　the　Rohirrim；　the　Horselords；　dwell；　and　there　are　no　horses　like　those　that　are　bred　in　that　great　vale　between　the　Misty　Mountains　and　the　White。

'　〃Are　the　Men　of　Rohan　still　to　be　trusted；　do　you　think？　〃　I　said　to　Gwaihir；　for　the　treason　of　Saruman　had　shaken　my　faith。

'　〃They　pay　a　tribute　of　horses；〃　he　answered；　〃and　send　many　yearly　to　Mordor；　or　so　it　is　said；　but　they　are　not　yet　under　the　yoke。　But　if　Saruman　has　bee　evil；　as　you　say；　then　their　doom　cannot　be　long　delayed。〃

'He　set　me　down　in　the　land　of　Rohan　ere　dawn；　and　now　I　have　lengthened　my　tale　over　long。　The　rest　must　be　more　brief。　In　Rohan　I　found　evil　already　at　work：　the　lies　of　Saruman；　and　the　king　of　the　land　would　not　listen　to　my　warnings。　He　bade　me　take　a　horse　and　be　gone；　and　I　chose　one　much　to　my　liking。　but　little　to　his。　I　took　the　best　horse　in　his　land；　and　I　have　never　seen　the　like　of　him。'

'Then　he　must　be　a　noble　beast　indeed；'　said　Aragorn；　'and　it　grieves　me　more　than　many　tidings　that　might　seem　worse　to　learn　that　Sauron　levies　such　tribute。　It　was　not　so　when　last　I　was　in　that　land。'

'Nor　is　it　now；　I　will　swear；'　said　Boromir。　'It　is　a　lie　that　es　from　the　Enemy。　I　know　the　Men　of　Rohan；　true　and　valiant；　our　allies；　dwelling　still　in　the　lands　that　we　gave　them　long　ago。'

'The　shadow　of　Mordor　lies　on　distant　lands；'　answered　Aragorn。　'Saruman　has　fallen　under　it。　Rohan　is　beset。　Who　knows　what　you　will　find　there；　if　ever　you　return？'

'Not　this　at　least。'　said　Boromir；　'that　they　will　buy　their　lives　with　horses。　They　love　their　horses　next　to　their　kin。　And　not　without　reason；　for　the　horses　of　the　Riddermark　e　from　the　fields　of　the　North；　far　from　the　Shadow。　and　their　race；　as　that　of　their　masters；　is　descended　from　the　free　days　of　old。'

'True　indeed！'　said　Gandalf。　'And　there　is　one　among　them　that　might　have　been　foaled　in　the　morning　of　the　world。　The　horses　of　the　Nine　cannot　vie　with　him；　tireless；　swift　as　the　flowing　wind。　Shadowfax　they　called　him。　By　day　his　coat　glistens　like　silver；　and　by　night　it　is　like　a　shade；　and　he　passes　unseen。　Light　is　his　footfall！　Never　before　had　any　man　mounted　him；　but　I　took　him　and　I　tamed　him；　and　so　speedily　he　bore　me　that　I　reached　the　Shire　when　Frodo　was　on　the　Barrowdowns；　though　I　set　out　from　Rohan　only　when　he　set　out　from　Hobbiton。

'But　fear　grew　in　me　as　I　rode。　Ever　as　I　came　north　I　heard　tidings　of　the　Riders；　and　though　I　gained　on　them　day　by　day；　they　were　ever　before　me。　They　had　divided　their　forces；　I　learned：　some　remained　on　the　eastern　borders；　not　far　from　the　Greenway。　and　some　invaded　the　Shire　from　the　south。　I　came　to　Hobbiton　and　Frodo　had　gone；　but　I　had　words　with　old　Gamgee。　Many　words　and　few　to　the　point。　He　had　much　to　say　about　the　shortings　of　the　new　owners　of　Bag　End。

'　〃I　can't　abide　changes；〃　said　he；　〃not　at　my　time　of　life；　and　least　of　all　changes　for　the　worst。〃　〃Changes　for　the　worst；〃　he　repeated　many　times。

'　〃Worst　is　a　bad　word；〃　I　said　to　him；　〃and　I　hope　you　do　not　live　to　see　it。〃　But　amidst　his　talk　I　gathered　at　last　that　Frodo　had　left　Hobbiton　less　than　a　week　before；　and　that　a　black　horseman　had　e　to　the　Hill　the　same　evening。　Then　I　rode　on　in　fear。　I　came　to　Buckland　and　found　it　in　uproar；　as　busy　as　a　hive　of　ants　that　has　been　stirred　with　a　stick。　I　came　to　the　house　at　Crickhollow；　and　it　was　broken　open　and　empty；　but　on　the　threshold　there　lay　a　cloak　that　had　been　Frodo's。　Then　for　a　while　hope　left　me；　and　I　did　not　wait　to　gather　news；　or　I　might　have　been　forted；　but　I　rode　on　the　trail　of　the　Riders。　It　was　hard　to　follow；　for　it　went　many　ways；　and　I　was　at　a　loss。　But　it　seemed　to　me　that　one　or　two　had　ridden　towards　Bree；　and　that　way　I　went；　for　I　thought　of　words　that　might　be　said　to　the　innkeeper。

'　〃Butterbur　they　call　him；〃　thought　I。　〃If　this　delay　was　his　fault；　I　will　melt　all　the　butter　in　him。　I　will　roast　the　old　fool　over