The Lord of the Rings-指环王(英文版)-第69章

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irst　they　were　no　more　than　pale　gossamerthreads；　so　fine　that　they　only　twinkled　fitfully　where　the　Moon　caught　them；　but　steadily　they　grew　broader　and　clearer；　until　their　design　could　be　guessed。

At　the　top；　as　high　as　Gandalf　could　reach；　was　an　arch　of　interlacing　letters　in　an　Elvish　character。　Below；　though　the　threads　were　in　places　blurred　or　broken；　the　outline　could　be　seen　of　an　anvil　and　a　hammer　surmounted　by　a　crown　with　seven　stars。　Beneath　these　again　were　two　trees；　each　bearing　crescent　moons。　More　clearly　than　all　else　there　shone　forth　in　the　middle　of　the　door　a　single　star　with　many　rays。

'There　are　the　emblems　of　Durin！'　cried　Gimli。

'And　there　is　the　Tree　of　the　High　Elves！'　said　Legolas。

'And　the　Star　of　the　House　of　F。anor；'　said　Gandalf。　'They　are　wrought　of　ithildin　that　mirrors　only　starlight　and　moonlight；　and　sleeps　until　it　is　touched　by　one　who　speaks　words　now　long　fotten　in　Middleearth。　It　is　long　since　I　heard　them；　and　I　thought　deeply　before　I　could　recall　them　to　my　mind。'

'What　does　the　writing　say？'　asked　Frodo；　who　was　trying　to　decipher　the　inscription　on　the　arch。　'I　thought　I　knew　the　elfletters　but　I　cannot　read　these。'

'The　words　are　in　the　elventongue　of　the　West　of　Middleearth　in　the　Elder　Days；'　answered　Gandalf。　'But　they　do　not　say　anything　of　importance　to　us。　They　say　only：　The　Doors　of　Durin；　Lord　of　Moria。　Speak；　friend；　and　enter。　And　underneath　small　and　faint　is　written：　I；　Narvi；　made　them。　Celebrimbor　of　Hollin　drew　these　signs。'

'What　does　it　mean　by　speak；　friend；　and　enter？'　asked　Merry。

'That　is　plain　enough；'　said　Gimli。　'If　you　are　a　friend；　speak　the　password；　and　the　doors　will　open；　and　you　can　enter。'

'Yes；'　said　Gandalf；　'these　doors　are　probably　governed　by　words。　Some　dwarfgates　will　open　only　at　special　times；　or　for　particular　persons；　and　some　have　locks　and　keys　that　are　still　needed　when　all　necessary　times　and　words　are　known。　These　doors　have　no　key。　In　the　days　of　Durin　they　were　not　secret。　They　usually　stood　open　and　doorwards　sat　here。　But　if　they　were　shut；　any　who　knew　the　opening　word　could　speak　it　and　pass　in。　At　least　so　it　is　recorded；　is　it　not；　Gimli？　'

'It　is；'　said　the　dwarf。　'But　what　the　word　was　is　not　remembered。　Narvi　and　his　craft　and　all　his　kindred　have　vanished　from　the　earth。'

'But　do　not　you　know　the　word；　Gandalf？　'　asked　Boromir　in　surprise。

'No！　'　said　the　wizard。

The　others　looked　dismayed；　only　Aragorn；　who　knew　Gandalf　well；　remained　silent　and　unmoved。

'Then　what　was　the　use　of　bringing　us　to　this　accursed　spot？'　cried　Boromir；　glancing　back　with　a　shudder　at　the　dark　water。　'You　told　us　that　you　had　once　passed　through　the　Mines。　How　could　that　be；　if　you　did　not　know　how　to　enter？　'

'The　ansir；'　said　the　wizard；　'is　that　I　do　not　know　the　wordyet。　But　we　shall　soon　see。　And；'　he　added；　with　a　glint　in　his　eyes　under　their　bristling　brows；　'you　may　ask　what　is　the　use　of　my　deeds　when　they　are　proved　useless。　As　for　your　other　question：　do　you　doubt　my　tale？　Or　have　you　no　wits　left？　I　did　not　enter　this　way。　I　came　from　the　East。

'If　you　wish　to　know；　I　will　tell　you　that　these　doors　open　outwards。　From　the　inside　you　may　thrust　them　open　with　your　hands。　From　the　outside　nothing　will　move　them　save　the　spell　of　mand。　They　cannot　be　forced　inwards。'

'What　are　you　going　to　do　then？　'　asked　Pippin；　undaunted　by　the　wizard's　bristling　brows。

'Knock　on　the　doors　with　your　head；　Peregrin　Took；'　said　Gandalf。　'But　if　that　does　not　shatter　them；　and　I　am　allowed　a　little　peace　from　foolish　questions；　I　will　seek　for　the　opening　words。

'I　once　knew　every　spell　in　all　the　tongues　of　Elves　or　Men　or　Orcs　that　was　ever　used　for　such　a　purpose。　I　can　still　remember　ten　score　of　them　without　searching　in　my　mind。　But　only　a　few　trials；　I　think；　will　be　needed；　and　I　shall　not　have　to　call　on　Gimli　for　words　of　the　secret　dwarftongue　that　they　teach　to　none。　The　opening　words　were　Elvish；　like　the　writing　on　the　arch：　that　seems　certain。'

He　stepped　up　to　the　rock　again；　and　lightly　touched　with　his　staff　the　silver　star　in　the　middle　beneath　the　sign　of　the　anvil。

Annon　edhellen；　edro　hi　ammen！
Fennas　nogothrim；　lasto　beth　lammen！

he　said　in　a　manding　voice。　The　silver　lines　faded；　but　the　blank　grey　stone　did　not　stir。

Many　times　he　repeated　these　words　in　different　order；　or　varied　them。　Then　he　tried　other　spells。　one　after　another；　speaking　now　faster　and　louder；　now　soft　and　slow。　Then　he　spoke　many　single　words　of　Elvish　speech。　Nothing　happened。　The　cliff　towered　into　the　night；　the　countless　stars　were　kindled；　the　wind　blew　cold；　and　the　doors　stood　fast。

Again　Gandalf　approached　the　wall；　and　lifting　up　his　arms　he　spoke　in　tones　of　mand　and　rising　wrath。　Edro；　edro！　he　cried；　and　struck　the　rock　with　his　staff。　Open；　open！　he　shouted；　and　followed　it　with　the　same　mand　in　every　language　that　had　ever　been　spoken　in　the　West　of　Middle　earth。　Then　he　threw　his　staff　on　the　ground；　and　sat　down　in　silence。

At　that　moment　from　far　off　the　wind　bore　to　their　listening　ears　the　howling　of　wolves。　Bill　the　pony　started　in　fear；　and　Sam　sprang　to　his　side　and　whispered　softly　to　him。

'Do　not　let　him　run　away！　'　said　Boromir。　'It　seems　that　we　shall　need　him　still；　if　the　wolves　do　not　find　us。　How　I　hate　this　foul　pool！　'　He　stooped　and　picking　up　a　large　stone　he　cast　it　far　into　the　dark　water。

The　stone　vanished　with　a　soft　slap；　but　at　the　same　instant　there　was　a　swish　and　a　bubble。　Great　rippling　rings　formed　on　the　surface　out　beyond　where　the　stone　had　fallen；　and　they　moved　slowly　towards　the　foot　of　the　cliff。

'Why　did　you　do　that；　Boromir？　'　said　Frodo。　'I　hate　this　place；　too；　and　I　am　afraid。　I　don't　know　of　what：　not　of　wolves；　or　the　dark　behind　the　doors；　but　of　something　else。　I　am　afraid　of　the　pool。　Don't　disturb　it！　'

'l　wish　we　could　get　away！　'　said　Merry。

'Why　doesn't　Gandalf　do　something　quick？　'　said　Pippin。

Gandalf　took　no　notice　of　them。　He　sat　with　his　head　bowed；　either　in　despair　or　in　anxious　thought。　The　mournful　howling　of　the　wolves　was　heard　again。　The　ripples　on　the　water　grew　and　came　closer；　some　were　already　lapping　on　the　shore。

With　a　suddenness　that　startled　them　all　the　wizard　sprang　to　his　feet。　He　was　laughing！　'I　have　it！　'　he　cried。　'Of　course；　of　course！　Absurdly　simple；　like　most　riddles　when　you　see　the　answer。'

Picking　up　his　staff　he　stood　before　the　rock　and　said　in　a　clear　voice：　Mellon！

The　star　shone　out　briefly　and　faded　again。　Then　silently　a　great　doorway　was　outlined；　though　not　a　crack　or　joint　had　been　visible　before。　Slowly　it　divided　in　the　middle　and　swung　outwards　inch　by　inch；　until　both　doors　lay　back　against　the　wall。　Through　the　opening　a　shadowy　stair　could　be　seen　climbing　steeply　up；　but　beyond　the　lower　steps　the　darkness　was　deeper　than　the　night。　The　pany　stared　in　wonder。

'I　was　wrong　after　all；'　said　Gandalf；　'and　Gimli　too。　Merry；　of　all　people；　was　on　the　right　track。　The　opening　word　was　inscribed　on　the　archway　all　the　time！　The　translation　should　have　been：　Say　〃Friend〃　and　enter。　I　had　only　to　speak　the　Elvish　word　for　friend　and　the　doors　opened。　Quite　simple。　Too　simple　for　a　learned　loremaster　in　these　suspicious　days。　Those　were　happier　times。　Now　let　us　go！'

He　strode　forward　and　set　his　foot　on　the　lowest　step。　But　at　that　moment　several　things　happened。　Frodo　felt　something　seize　him　by　the　ankle；　and　he　fell　with　a　cry。　Bill　the　pony　gave　a　wild　neigh　of　fear；　and　turned　tail　and　dashed　away　along　the　lakeside　into　the　darkness。　Sam　leaped　after　him；　and　then　hearing　Frodo's　cry　he　ran　back　again；　weeping　and　cursing。　The　others　swung　round　and　saw　the　waters　of　the　lake　seething；　as　if　a　host　of　snakes　were　swimming　up　from　the　southern　end。

Out　from　the　water　a　long　sinuous　tentacle　had　crawled；　it　was　palegreen　and　luminous　and　wet。　Its　fingered　end　had　hold　of　Frodo's　foot　and　was　dragging　him　into　the　water。　Sam　on　his　knees　was　now　slashing　at　it　with　a　knife。

The　arm　let　go　of　Frodo；　and　Sam　pulled　him　away；　crying　out　for　help。　Twenty　others　arms　came　rippling　out。　The　dark　water　boiled；　and　there　was　a　hideous　stench。

'Into　the　gateway！　Up　the　stairs！　Quick！　'　shouted　Gandalf　leaping　back。　Rousing　them　from　the　horror　that　seemed　to　have　rooted　all　but　Sam　to　the　ground　where　they　stood；　he　drove　them　forward。

They　were　just　in　time。　Sam　and　Frodo　were　only　a　few　steps　up；　and　Gandalf　had　just　begun　to　climb；　when　the　groping　tentacles　writhed　across　the　narrow　shore　and　fingered　the　cliffwall　and　the　doors。　One　came　wriggling　over　the　threshold；　glistening　in　the　starlight。　Gandalf　turned　and　paused。　If　he　was　considering　what　word　would　close　the　gate　again　from　within；　there　was　no　need。　Many　coiling　arms　seized　the　doors　on　either　side；　and　with　horrible　strength；　swung　them　round。　With　a　shattering　echo　they　slammed；　and　all　light　was　lost。　A　noise　of　rending　and　crashing　came　dully　through　the　ponderous　stone。

Sam；　clinging　to　Frodo's　arm；　collapsed　on　a　step　in　the　black　darkness。　'Poor　old　Bill！　'　he　said　in　a　choking　voice。　'Poor　old　Bill！　Wolves　and　snakes！　But　the　snakes　were　too　much　for　him。　I　had　to　choose；　Mr。　Frodo。　I　had　to　e　with　you。'

They　heard　Gandalf　go　back　down　the　steps　and　thrust　his　staff　against　the　doors。　There　was　a　quiver　in　the　stone　and　the　stairs　trembled；　。but　the　doors　did　not　open。　'Well；　well！　'　said　the　wizard。　'The　passage　is　blocked　behind　us　now　and　there　is　only　one　way　out。on　the　other　side　of　the　mountains。　I　fear　from　the　sounds　that　boulders　have　been　piled　up；　and　the　trees　uprooted　and　thrown　across　the　gate。　I　am　sorry；　for　the　trees　were　beautiful；　and　had　stood　so　long。'

'I　felt　that　something　horrible　was　near　from　the　moment　that　my　foot　first　touched　the　water；'　said　Frodo。　'What　was　the　thing；　or　were　there　many　of　them？　'

'I　do　not　know；'　answered　Gandalf；　'but　the　arms　were　all　guided　by　one　purpose。　Something　has　crept；　or　has　been　driven　out　of　dark　waters　under　the　mountains。　There　are　older　and　fouler　things　than　Orcs　in　the　deep　places　of　the　world。'　He　did　not　speak　aloud　his　thought　that　whatever　it　was　that　dwelt　in　the　lake；　it　had　seized　on