The Lord of the Rings-指环王(英文版)-第71章

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is　a　serious　journey；　not　a　hobbit　walkingparty。　Throw　yourself　in　next　time；　and　then　you　will　be　no　further　nuisance。　Now　be　quiet！　'

Nothing　more　was　heard　for　several　minutes；　but　then　there　came　out　of　the　depths　faint　knocks：　tomtap；　taptom。　They　stopped；　and　when　the　echoes　had　died　away；　they　were　repeated：　taptom；　tomtap；　taptap；　tom。　They　sounded　disquietingly　like　signals　of　some　sort；　but　after　a　while　the　knocking　died　away　and　was　not　heard　again。

'That　was　the　sound　of　a　hammer；　or　I　have　never　heard　one；'　said　Gimli。

'Yes；'　said　Gandalf；　'and　I　do　not　like　it。　It　may　have　nothing　to　do　with　Peregrin's　foolish　stone；　but　probably　something　has　been　disturbed　that　would　have　been　better　left　quiet。　Pray；　do　nothing　of　the　kind　again！　Let　us　hope　we　shall　get　some　rest　without　further　trouble。　You；　Pippin；　can　go　on　the　first　watch；　as　a　reward；'　he　growled；　as　he　rolled　himself　in　a　blanket。

Pippin　sat　miserably　by　the　door　in　the　pitch　dark；　but　he　kept　on　turning　round；　fearing　that　some　unknown　thing　would　crawl　up　out　of　the　well。　He　wished　he　could　cover　the　hole；　if　only　with　a　blanket；　but　he　dared　not　move　or　go　near　it；　even　though　Gandalf　seemed　to　be　asleep。

Actually　Gandalf　was　awake；　though　lying　still　and　silent。　He　was　deep　in　thought；　trying　to　recall　every　memory　of　his　former　journey　in　the　Mines；　and　considering　anxiously　the　next　course　that　he　should　take；　a　false　turn　now　might　be　disastrous。　After　an　hour　he　rose　up　and　came　over　to　Pippin。

'Get　into　a　corner　and　have　a　sleep；　my　lad；'　he　said　in　a　kindly　tone。　'You　want　to　sleep；　I　expect。　I　cannot　get　a　wink；　so　I　may　as　well　do　the　watching。'

'I　know　what　is　the　matter　with　me；'　he　muttered；　as　he　sat　down　by　the　door。　'I　need　smoke！　I　have　not　tasted　it　since　the　morning　before　the　snowstorm。'

The　last　thing　that　Pippin　saw；　as　sleep　took　him；　was　a　dark　glimpse　of　the　old　wizard　huddled　on　the　floor；　shielding　a　glowing　chip　in　his　gnarled　hands　between　his　knees。　The　flicker　for　a　moment　showed　his　sharp　nose。　and　the　puff　of　smoke。

It　was　Gandalf　who　roused　them　all　from　sleep。　He　had　sat　and　watched　all　alone　for　about　six　hours；　and　had　let　the　others　rest。　'And　in　the　watches　I　have　made　up　my　mind；'　he　said。　'I　do　not　like　the　feel　of　the　middle　way；　and　I　do　not　like　the　smell　of　the　lefthand　way：　there　is　foul　air　down　there；　or　I　am　no　guide。　I　shall　take　the　righthand　passage。　It　is　time　we　began　to　climb　up　again。'

For　eight　dark　hours；　not　counting　two　brief　halts；　they　marched　on；　and　they　met　no　danger；　and　heard　nothing；　and　saw　nothing　but　the　faint　gleam　of　the　wizard's　light；　bobbing　like　a　willo'thewisp　in　front　of　them。　The　passage　they　had　chosen　wound　steadily　upwards。　As　far　as　they　could　judge　it　went　in　great　mounting　curves；　and　as　it　rose　it　grew　loftier　and　wider。　There　were　now　no　openings　to　other　galleries　or　tunnels　on　either　side；　and　the　floor　was　level　and　sound；　without　pits　or　cracks。　Evidently　they　had　struck　what　once　had　been　an　important　road；　and　they　went　forward　quicker　than　they　had　done　on　their　first　march。

In　this　way　they　advanced　some　fifteen　miles；　measured　in　a　direct　line　east；　though　they　must　have　actually　walked　twenty　miles　or　more。　As　the　road　climbed　upwards’　Frodo's　spirits　rose　a　little；　but　he　still　felt　oppressed；　and　still　at　times　he　heard；　or　thought　he　heard；　away　behind　the　pany　and　beyond　the　fall　and　patter　of　their　feet；　a　following　footstep　that　was　not　an　echo。

They　had　marched　as　far　as　the　hobbits　could　endure　without　a　rest；　and　all　were　thinking　of　a　place　where　they　could　sleep；　when　suddenly　the　walls　to　right　and　left　vanished。　They　seemed　to　have　passed　through　some　arched　doorway　into　a　black　and　empty　space。　There　was　a　great　draught　of　warmer　air　behind　them；　and　before　them　the　darkness　was　cold　on　their　faces。　They　halted　and　crowded　anxiously　together。

Gandalf　seemed　pleased。　'I　chose　the　right　way；'　he　said。　'At　last　we　are　ing　to　the　habitable　parts；　and　I　guess　that　we　are　not　far　now　from　the　eastern　side。　But　we　are　high　up；　a　good　deal　higher　than　the　Dimrill　Gate；　unless　I　am　mistaken。　From　the　feeling　of　the　air　we　must　be　in　a　wide　hall。　I　will　now　risk　a　little　real　light。'

He　raised　his　staff；　and　for　a　brief　instant　there　was　blaze　like　a　flash　of　lightning。　Great　shadows　sprang　up　and　fled；　and　for　a　second　they　saw　a　vast　roof　far　above　their　heads　upheld　by　many　mighty　pillars　hewn　of　stone。　Before　them　and　on　either　side　stretched　a　huge　empty　hall；　its　black　walls；　polished　and　smooth　as　glass；　flashed　and　glittered。　Three　other　entrances　they　saw；　dark　black　arches：　one　straight　before　them　eastwards；　and　one　on　either　side。　Then　the　light　went　out。

'That　is　all　that　I　shall　venture　on　for　the　present；'　said　Gandalf。　'There　used　to　be　great　windows　on　the　mountainside；　and　shafts　leading　out　to　the　light　in　the　upper　reaches　of　the　Mines。　I　think　we　have　reached　them　now；　but　it　is　night　outside　again；　and　we　cannot　tell　until　morning。　If　I　am　right；　tomorrow　we　may　actually　see　the　morning　peeping　in。　But　in　the　meanwhile　we　had　better　go　no　further。　Let　us　rest；　if　we　can。　Things　have　gone　well　so　far；　and　the　greater　part　of　the　dark　road　is　over。　But　we　are　not　through　yet；　and　it　is　a　long　way　down　to　the　Gates　that　open　on　the　world。'

The　pany　spent　that　night　in　the　great　cavernous　hall；　huddled　close　together　in　a　corner　to　escape　the　draught：　there　seemed　to　be　a　steady　inflow　of　chill　air　through　the　eastern　archway。　All　about　them　as　they　lay　hung　the　darkness；　hollow　and　immense；　and　they　were　oppressed　by　the　loneliness　and　vastness　of　the　dolven　halls　and　endlessly　branching　stairs　and　passages。　The　wildest　imaginings　that　dark　rumour　had　ever　suggested　to　the　hobbits　fell　altogether　short　of　the　actual　dread　and　wonder　of　Moria。

'There　must　have　been　a　mighty　crowd　of　dwarves　here　at　one　time　'　said　Sam；　'and　every　one　of　them　busier　than　badgers　for　five　hundred　years　to　make　all　this；　and　most　in　hard　rock　too！　What　did　they　do　it　all　for？　They　didn't　live　in　these　darksome　holes　surely？　'

'These　are　not　holes；'　said　Gimli。　'This　is　the　great　realm　and　city　of　the　Dwarrowdelf。　And　of　old　it　was　not　darksome；　but　full　of　light　and　splendour；　as　is　still　remembered　in　our　songs。'

He　rose　and　standing　in　the　dark　he　began　to　chant　in　a　deep　voice；　while　the　echoes　ran　away　into　the　roof。

The　world　was　young；　the　mountains　green；
No　stain　yet　on　the　Moon　was　seen；
No　words　were　laid　on　stream　or　stone
When　Durin　woke　and　walked　alone。
He　named　the　nameless　hills　and　dells；
He　drank　from　yet　untasted　wells；
He　stooped　and　looked　in　Mirrormere；
And　saw　a　crown　of　stars　appear；
As　gems　upon　a　silver　thread；
Above　the　shadow　of　his　head。

The　world　was　fair；　the　mountains　tall；
In　Elder　Days　before　the　fall
Of　mighty　kings　in　Nargothrond
And　Gondolin；　who　now　beyond
The　Western　Seas　have　passed　away：
The　world　was　fair　in　Durin's　Day。

A　king　he　was　on　carven　throne
In　manypillared　halls　of　stone
With　golden　roof　and　silver　floor；
And　runes　of　power　upon　the　door。
The　light　of　sun　and　star　and　moon
In　shining　lamps　of　crystal　hewn
Undimmed　by　cloud　or　shade　of　night
There　shone　for　ever　fair　and　bright。

There　hammer　on　the　anvil　smote；
There　chisel　clove；　and　graver　wrote；
There　fed　was　blade；　and　bound　was　hilt；
The　delver　mined；　the　mason　built。
There　beryl；　pearl；　and　opal　pale；
And　metal　wrought　like　fishes'　mail；
Buckler　and　corslet；　axe　and　sword；
And　shining　spears　were　laid　in　hoard。

Unwearied　then　were　Durin's　folk
Beneath　the　mountains　music　woke：
The　harpers　harped；　the　minstrels　sang；
And　at　the　gates　the　trumpets　rang。

The　world　is　grey；　the　mountains　old；
The　fe's　fire　is　ashencold
No　harp　is　wrung；　no　hammer　falls：
The　darkness　dwells　in　Durin's　halls
The　shadow　lies　upon　his　tomb
In　Moria；　in　Khazadd？m。
But　still　the　sunken　stars　appear
In　dark　and　windless　Mirrormere；
There　lies　his　crown　in　water　deep；
Till　Durin　wakes　again　from　sleep。

I　like　that！　'　said　Sam。　'I　should　like　to　learn　it。　In　Moria；　in　Khazadd？m！　But　it　makes　the　darkness　seem　heavier；　thinking　of　all　those　lamps。　Are　there　piles　of　jewels　and　gold　lying　about　here　still？　'

Gimli　was　silent。　Having　sung　his　song　he　would　say　no　more。

'Piles　of　jewels？　'　said　Gandalf。　'No。　The　Orcs　have　often　plundered　Moria；　there　is　nothing　left　in　the　upper　halls。　And　since　the　dwarves　fled；　no　one　dares　to　seek　the　shafts　and　treasuries　down　in　the　deep　places：　they　are　drowned　in　water。or　in　a　shadow　of　fear。'

'Then　what　do　the　dwarves　want　to　e　back　for？　'　asked　Sam。

'For　mithril；'　answered　Gandalf。　'The　wealth　of　Moria　was　not　in　gold　and　jewels；　the　toys　of　the　Dwarves；　nor　in　iron；　their　servant。　Such　things　they　found　here；　it　is　true；　especially　iron；　but　they　did　not　need　to　delve　for　them：　all　things　that　they　desired　they　could　obtain　in　traffic。　For　here　alone　in　the　world　was　found　Moriasilver；　or　truesilver　as　some　have　called　it：　mithril　is　the　Elvish　name。　The　Dwarves　have　a　name　which　they　do　not　tell。　Its　worth　was　ten　times　that　of　gold；　and　now　it　is　beyond　price；　for　little　is　left　above　ground；　and　even　the　Orcs　dare　not　delve　here　for　it。　The　lodes　lead　away　north　towards　Caradhras；　and　down　to　darkness。　The　Dwarves　tell　no　tale；　but　even　as　mithril　was　the　foundation　of　their　wealth；　so　also　it　was　their　destruction：　they　delved　too　greedily　and　too　deep；　and　disturbed　that　from　which　they　fled；　Durin's　Bane。　Of　what　they　brought　to　light　the　Orcs　have　gathered　nearly　all；　and　given　it　in　tribute　to　Sauron；　who　covets　it。

'Mithril！　All　folk　desired　it。　It　could　be　beaten　like　copper；　and　polished　like　glass；　and　the　Dwarves　could　make　of　it　a　metal；　light　and　yet　harder　than　tempered　steel。　Its　beauty　was　like　to　that　of　mon　silver；　but　the　beauty　of　mithril　did　not　tarnish　or　grow　dim。　The　Elves　dearly　loved　it；　and　among　many　uses　they　made　of　it　ithildin；　starmoon；　which　you　saw　upon　the　doors。　Bilbo　had　a　corslet　of　mithrilrings　that　Thorin　gave　him。　I　wonder　what　has　bee　of　it？　Gathering　dust　still　in　Michel　Delving　Mathom　house；　I　suppose。'

'What？　'　cried　Gimli；　startled　out　of　his　silence。　'A　corslet　of　Mori