The Lord of the Rings-指环王(英文版)-第77章

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Her　hair　was　long；　her　limbs　were　white；
And　fair　she　was　and　free；
And　in　the　wind　she　went　as　light
As　leaf　of　lindentree。

Beside　the　falls　of　Nimrodel；
By　water　clear　and　cool；
Her　voice　as　falling　silver　fell
Into　the　shining　pool。

Where　now　she　wanders　none　can　tell；
In　sunlight　or　in　shade；
For　lost　of　yore　was　Nimrodel
And　in　the　mountains　strayed。

The　elvenship　in　haven　grey
Beneath　the　mountainlee
Awaited　her　for　many　a　day
Beside　the　roaring　sea。

A　wind　by　night　in　Northern　lands
Arose；　and　loud　it　cried；
And　drove　the　ship　from　elvenstrands
Across　the　streaming　tide。

When　dawn　came　dim　the　land　was　lost；
The　mountains　sinking　grey
Beyond　the　heaving　waves　that　tossed
Their　plumes　of　blinding　spray。

Amroth　beheld　the　fading　shore
Now　low　beyond　the　swell；
And　cursed　the　faithless　ship　that　bore
Him　far　from　Nimrodel。

Of　old　he　was　an　Elvenking；
A　lord　of　tree　and　glen；
When　golden　were　the　boughs　in　spring
In　fair　Lothlórien。

From　helm　to　sea　they　saw　him　leap；
As　arrow　from　the　string；
And　dive　into　the　water　deep；
As　mew　upon　the　wing。

The　wind　was　in　his　flowing　hair；
The　foam　about　him　shone；
Afar　they　saw　him　strong　and　fair
Go　riding　like　a　swan。

But　from　the　West　has　e　no　word；
And　on　the　Hither　Shore
No　tidings　Elvenfolk　have　heard
Of　Amroth　evermore。

The　voice　of　Legolas　faltered；　and　the　song　ceased。　'I　cannot　sing　any　more；'　he　said。　'That　is　but　a　part；　for　I　have　fotten　much。　It　is　long　and　sad；　for　it　tells　how　sorrow　came　upon　Lothlórien；　Lórien　of　the　Blossom；　when　the　Dwarves　awakened　evil　in　the　mountains。'

'But　the　Dwarves　did　not　make　the　evil；'　said　Gimli。

'I　said　not　so；　yet　evil　came；'　answered　Legolas　sadly。　'Then　many　of　the　Elves　of　Nimrodel's　kindred　left　their　dwellings　and　departed　and　she　was　lost　far　in　the　South；　in　the　passes　of　the　White　Mountains；　and　she　came　not　to　the　ship　where　Amroth　her　lover　waited　for　her。　But　in　the　spring　when　the　wind　is　in　the　new　leaves　the　echo　of　her　voice　may　still　be　heard　by　the　falls　that　bear　her　name。　And　when　the　wind　is　in　the　South　the　voice　of　Amroth　es　up　from　the　sea；　for　Nimrodel　flows　into　Silverlode；　that　Elves　call　Celebrant；　and　Celebrant　into　Anduin　the　Great。　and　Anduin　flows　into　the　Bay　of　Belfalas　whence　the　Elves　of　Lórien　set　sail。　But　neither　Nimrodel　nor　Amroth　ever　came　back。

'It　is　told　that　she　had　a　house　built　in　the　branches　of　a　tree　that　grew　near　the　falls；　for　that　was　the　custom　of　the　Elves　of　Lórien；　to　dwell　in　the　trees；　and　maybe　it　is　so　still。　Therefore　they　were　called　the　Galadhrim；　the　Treepeople。　Deep　in　their　forest　the　trees　are　very　great。　The　people　of　the　woods　did　not　delve　in　the　ground　like　Dwarves；　nor　build　strong　places　of　stone　before　the　Shadow　came。'

'And　even　in　these　latter　days　dwelling　in　the　trees　might　be　thought　safer　than　sitting　on　the　ground；'　said　Gimli。　He　looked　across　the　stream　to　the　road　that　led　back　to　Dimrill　Dale；　and　then　up　into　the　roof　of　dark　boughs　above。

'Your　words　bring　good　counsel；　Gimli；'　said　Aragorn。　'We　cannot　build　a　house；　but　tonight　we　will　do　as　the　Galadhrim　and　seek　refuge　in　the　tree　tops；　if　we　can。　We　have　sat　here　beside　the　road　already　longer　than　was　wise。'

The　pany　now　turned　aside　from　the　path；　and　went　into　the　shadow　of　the　deeper　woods；　westward　along　the　mountainstream　away　from　Silverlode。　Not　far　from　the　falls　of　Nimrodel　they　found　a　cluster　of　trees；　some　of　which　overhung　the　stream。　Their　great　grey　trunks　were　of　mighty　girth；　but　their　height　could　not　be　guessed。

'I　will　climb　up；'　said　Legolas。　'I　am　at　home　among　trees；　by　root　or　bough；　though　these　trees　are　of　a　kind　strange　to　me；　save　as　a　name　in　song。　Mellyrn　they　are　called；　and　are　those　that　bear　the　yellow　blossom；　but　I　have　never　climbed　in　one。　I　will　see　now　what　is　their　shape　and　way　of　growth。'

'Whatever　it　may　be；'　said　Pippin；　'they　will　be　marvellous　trees　indeed　if　they　can　offer　any　rest　at　night；　except　to　birds。　I　cannot　sleep　on　a　perch！　'

'Then　dig　a　hole　in　the　ground；'　said　Legolas；　'if　that　is　more　after　the　fashion　of　your　kind。　But　you　must　dig　swift　and　deep；　if　you　wish　to　hide　from　Orcs。'　He　sprang　lightly　up　from　the　ground　and　caught　a　branch　that　grew　from　the　trunk　high　above　his　head。　But　even　as　he　swung　there　for　a　moment；　a　voice　spoke　suddenly　from　the　treeshadows　above　him。

'Daro！'　it　said　in　manding　tone；　and　Legolas　dropped　back　to　earth　in　surprise　and　fear。　He　shrank　against　the　bole　of　the　tree。

'Stand　still！　'　he　whispered　to　the　others。　'Do　not　move　or　speak！　'

There　was　a　sound　of　soft　laughter　over　their　heads；　and　then　another　clear　voice　spoke　in　an　elventongue。　Frodo　could　understand　little　of　what　was　said；　for　the　speech　that　the　Silvan　folk　east　of　the　mountains　used　among　themselves　was　unlike　that　of　the　West。　Legolas　looked　up　and　answered　in　the　same　language。

'Who　are　they；　and　what　do　they　say？　'　asked　Merry。

'They're　Elves；'　said　Sam。　'Can't　you　hear　their　voices？　'

'Yes；　they　are　Elves；'　said　Legolas；　'and　they　say　that　you　breathe　so　loud　that　they　could　shoot　you　in　the　dark。'　Sam　hastily　put　his　hand　over　his　mouth。　'But　they　say　also　that　you　need　have　no　fear。　They　have　been　aware　of　us　for　a　long　while。　They　heard　my　voice　across　the　Nimrodel；　and　knew　that　I　was　one　of　their　Northern　kindred；　and　therefore　they　did　not　hinder　our　crossing；　and　afterwards　they　heard　my　song。　Now　they　bid　me　climb　up　with　Frodo；　for　they　seem　to　have　had　some　tidings　of　him　and　of　our　journey。　The　others　they　ask　to　wait　a　little　and　to　keep　watch　at　the　foot　of　the　tree；　until　they　have　decided　what　is　to　be　done。'

Out　of　the　shadows　a　ladder　was　let　down：　it　was　made　of　rope；　silver　grey　and　glimmering　in　the　dark；　and　though　it　looked　slender　it　proved　strong　enough　to　bear　many　men。　Legolas　ran　lightly　up；　and　Frodo　followed　slowly；　behind　came　Sam　trying　not　to　breathe　loudly。　The　branches　of　the　mallorntree　grew　out　nearly　straight　from　the　trunk；　and　then　swept　upward；　but　near　the　top　the　main　stem　divided　into　a　crown　of　many　boughs；　and　among　these　they　found　that　there　had　been　built　a　wooden　platform；　or　flet　as　such　things　were　called　in　those　days：　the　Elves　called　it　a　talan。　It　was　reached　by　a　round　hole　in　the　centre　through　which　the　ladder　passed。

When　Frodo　came　at　last　up　on　to　the　flet　he　found　Legolas　seated　with　three　other　Elves。　They　were　clad　in　shadowygrey；　and　could　not　be　seen　among　the　treestems；　unless　they　moved　suddenly。　They　stood　up；　and　one　of　them　uncovered　a　small　lamp　that　gave　out　a　slender　silver　beam。　He　held　it　up；　looking　at　Frodo's　face；　and　Sam's。　Then　he　shut　off　the　light　again；　and　spoke　words　of　wele　in　his　elventongue。　Frodo　spoke　haltingly　in　return。

'Wele！'　the　Elf　then　said　again　in　the　mon　Language；　speaking　slowly。　'We　seldom　use　any　tongue　but　our　own；　for　we　dwell　now　in　the　heart　of　the　forest；　and　do　not　willingly　have　dealings　with　any　other　folk。　Even　our　own　kindred　in　the　North　are　sundered　from　us。　But　there　are　some　of　us　still　who　go　abroad　for　the　gathering　of　news　and　the　watching　of　our　enemies；　and　they　speak　the　languages　of　other　lands。　I　am　one。　Haldir　is　my　name。　My　brothers；　Rúmil　and　Orophin；　speak　little　of　your　tongue。

'But　we　have　heard　rumours　of　your　ing；　for　the　messengers　of　Elrond　passed　by　Lórien　on　their　way　home　up　the　Dimrill　Stair。　We　had　not　heard　of　hobbits；　or　halflings；　for　many　a　long　year；　and　did　not　know　that　any　yet　dwelt　in　Middleearth。　You　do　not　look　evil！　And　since　you　e　with　an　Elf　of　our　kindred；　we　are　willing　to　befriend　you；　as　Elrond　asked；　though　it　is　not　our　custom　to　lead　strangers　through　our　land。　But　you　must　stay　here　tonight。　How　many　are　you？　'

'Eight；'　said　Legolas。　'Myself；　four　hobbits；　and　two　men；　one　of　whom；　Aragorn；　is　an　Elffriend　of　the　folk　of　Westernesse。'

'The　name　of　Aragorn　son　of　Arathorn　is　known　in　Lórien；'　said　Haldir；　'and　he　has　the　favour　of　the　Lady。　All　then　is　well。　But　you　have　yet　spoken　only　of　seven。'

'The　eighth　is　a　dwarf；'　said　Legolas。

'A　dwarf！　'　said　Haldir。　'That　is　not　well。　We　have　not　had　dealings　with　the　Dwarves　since　the　Dark　Days。　They　are　not　permitted　in　our　land。　I　cannot　allow　him　to　pass。'

'But　he　is　from　the　Lonely　Mountain；　one　of　Dáin's　trusty　people；　and　friendly　to　Elrond；'　said　Frodo。　'Elrond　himself　chose　him　to　be　one　of　our　panions；　and　he　has　been　brave　and　faithful。'

The　Elves　spoke　together　in　soft　voices；　and　questioned　Legolas　in　their　own　tongue。　'Very　good；'　said　Haldir　at　last。　'We　will　do　this；　though　it　is　against　our　liking。　If　Aragorn　and　Legolas　will　guard　him；　and　answer　for　him；　he　shall　pass；　but　he　must　go　blindfold　through　Lothlórien。

'But　now　we　must　debate　no　longer。　Your　folk　must　not　remain　on　the　ground。　We　have　been　keeping　watch　on　the　rivers；　ever　since　we　saw　a　great　troop　of　Orcs　going　north　toward　Moria；　along　the　skirts　of　the　mountains；　many　days　ago。　Wolves　are　howling　on　the　wood's　borders。　If　you　have　indeed　e　from　Moria；　the　peril　cannot　be　far　behind。　Tomorrow　early　you　must　go　on。

'The　four　hobbits　shall　climb　up　here　and　stay　with　uswe　do　not　fear　them！　There　is　another　talan　in　the　next　tree。　There　the　others　must　take　refuge。　You；　Legolas；　must　answer　to　us　for　them。　Call　us；　if　anything　is　amiss！　And　have　an　eye　on　that　dwarf！'

Legolas　at　once　went　down　the　ladder　to　take　Haldir's　message；　and　soon　afterwards　Merry　and　Pippin　clambered　up　on　to　the　high　flet。　They　were　out　of　breath　and　seemed　rather　scared。

'There！'　said　Merry　panting。　'We　have　lugged　up　your　blankets　as　well　as　our　own。　Strider　has　hidden　all　the　rest　of　the　baggage　in　a　deep　drift　of　leaves。'

'You　had　no　need　of　your　burdens；'　said　Haldir。　'It　is　cold　in　the　tree　tops　in　winter；　though　the　wind　tonight　is　in　the　South；　but　we　have　food　and　drink　to　give　you　that　will　drive　away　the　nightchill；　and　we　have　skins　and　cloaks　to　spare。'

The　hobbits　accepted　this　second　（and　far　better）　supper　very　gladly。　Then　they　wrapped　themselves　warmly；　not　only　in　the　furcloaks　of　the　Elves；　but　in　their　own　blankets　as　well；　and　tried　to　go　to　sleep。　But　weary　as　they　were　only　Sam　found　that　ea