The Lord of the Rings-指环王(英文版)-第79章

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'Folly　it　may　seem；'　said　Haldir。　'Indeed　in　nothing　is　the　power　of　the　Dark　Lord　more　clearly　shown　than　in　the　estrangement　that　divides　all　those　who　still　oppose　him。　Yet　so　little　faith　and　trust　do　we　find　now　in　the　world　beyond　Lothlórien；　unless　maybe　in　Rivendell；　that　we　dare　not　by　our　own　trust　endanger　our　land。　We　live　now　upon　an　island　amid　many　perils；　and　our　hands　are　more　often　upon　the　bowstring　than　upon　the　harp。

'The　rivers　long　defended　us；　but　they　are　a　sure　guard　no　more　for　the　Shadow　has　crept　northward　all　about　us。　Some　speak　of　departing；　yet　for　that　it　already　seems　too　late。　The　mountains　to　the　west　are　growing　evil；　to　the　east　the　lands　are　waste；　and　full　of　Sauron's　creatures；　and　it　is　rumoured　that　we　cannot　now　safely　pass　southward　through　Rohan；　and　the　mouths　of　the　Great　River　are　watched　by　the　Enemy。　Even　if　we　could　e　to　the　shores　of　the　Sea；　we　should　find　no　longer　any　shelter　there。　It　is　said　that　there　are　still　havens　of。　the　High　Elves；　but　they　are　far　north　and　west；　beyond　the　land　of　the　Halflings。　But　where　that　may　be；　though　the　Lord　and　Lady　may　know；　I　do　not。'

'You　ought　at　least　to　guess；　since　you　have　seen　us；'　said　Merry。　'There　are　Elfhavens　west　of　my　land；　the　Shire　where　Hobbits　live。'

'Happy　folk　are　Hobbits　to　dwell　near　the　shores　of　the　sea！　'　said　Haldir。　'It　is　long　indeed　since　any　of　my　folk　have　looked　on　it；　yet　still　we　remember　it　in　song。　Tell　me　of　these　havens　as　we　walk。'

'I　cannot；'　said　Merry。　'I　have　never　seen　them。　I　have　never　been　out　of　my　own　land　before。　And　if　I　had　known　what　the　world　outside　was　like。　I　don't　think　I　should　have　had　the　heart　to　leave　it。'

'Not　even　to　see　fair　Lothlórien？　'　said　Haldir。　'The　world　is　indeed　full　of　peril；　and　in　it　there　are　many　dark　places；　but　still　there　is　much　that　is　fair；　and　though　in　all　lands　love　is　now　mingled　with　grief；　it　grows　perhaps　the　greater。

'Some　there　are　among　us　who　sing　that　the　Shadow　will　draw　back　and　peace　shall　e　again。　Yet　I　do　not　believe　that　the　world　about　us　will　ever　again　be　as　it　was　of　old；　or　the　light　of　the　Sun　as　it　was　aforetime。　For　the　Elves；　I　fear；　it　will　prove　at　best　a　truce；　in　which　they　may　pass　to　the　Sea　unhindered　and　leave　the　Middleearth　for　ever。　Alas　for　Lothlórien　that　I　love！　It　would　be　a　poor　life　in　a　land　where　no　mallorn　grew。　But　if　there　are　mallorntrees　beyond　the　Great　Sea；　none　have　reported　it。'

As　they　spoke　thus；　the　pany　filed　slowly　along　the　paths　in　the　wood；　led　by　Haldir；　while　the　other　Elf　walked　behind。　They　felt　the　ground　beneath　their　feet　smooth　and　soft；　and　after　a　while　they　walked　more　freely；　without　fear　of　hurt　or　fall。　Being　deprived　of　sight；　Frodo　found　his　hearing　and　other　senses　sharpened。　He　could　smell　the　trees　and　the　trodden　grass。　He　could　hear　many　different　notes　in　the　rustle　of　the　leaves　overhead；　the　river　murmuring　away　on　his　right；　and　the　thin　clear　voices　of　birds　in　the　sky。　He　felt　the　sun　upon　his　face　and　hands　when　they　passed　through　an　open　glade。

As　soon　as　he　set　foot　upon　the　far　bank　of　Silverlode　a　strange　feeling　had　e　upon　him；　and　it　deepened　as　he　walked　on　into　the　Naith：　it　seemed　to　him　that　he　had　stepped　over　a　bridge　of　time　into　a　corner　of　the　Elder　Days；　and　was　now　walking　in　a　world　that　was　no　more。　In　Rivendell　there　was　memory　of　ancient　things；　in　Lórien　the　ancient　things　still　lived　on　in　the　waking　world。　Evil　had　been　seen　and　heard　there；　sorrow　had　been　known；　the　Elves　feared　and　distrusted　the　world　outside：　wolves　were　howling　on　the　wood's　borders：　but　on　the　land　of　Lórien　no　shadow　lay。

All　that　day　the　pany　marched　on；　until　they　felt　the　cool　evening　e　and　heard　the　early　nightwind　whispering　among　many　leaves。　Then　they　rested　and　slept　without　fear　upon　the　ground；　for　their　guides　would　not　permit　them　to　unbind　their　eyes；　and　they　could　not　climb。　In　the　morning　they　went　on　again；　walking　without　haste。　At　noon　they　halted；　and　Frodo　was　aware　that　they　had　passed　out　under　the　shining　Sun。　Suddenly　he　heard　the　sound　of　many　voices　all　around　him。

A　marching　host　of　Elves　had　e　up　silently：　they　were　hastening　toward　the　northern　borders　to　guard　against　any　attack　from　Moria；　and　they　brought　news；　some　of　which　Haldir　reported。　The　marauding　orcs　had　been　waylaid　and　almost　all　destroyed；　the　remnant　had　fled　westward　towards　the　mountains；　and　were　being　pursued。　A　strange　creature　also　had　been　seen；　running　with　bent　back　and　with　hands　near　the　ground；　like　a　beast　and　yet　not　of　beastshape。　It　had　eluded　capture；　and　they　had　not　shot　it；　not　knowing　whether　it　was　good　or　ill；　and　it　had　vanished　down　the　Silverlode　southward。

'Also；'　said　Haldir；　'they　bring　me　a　message　from　the　Lord　and　Lady　of　the　Galadhrim。　You　are　all　to　walk　free；　even　the　dwarf　Gimli。　It　seems　that　the　Lady　knows　who　and　what　is　each　member　of　your　pany。　New　messages　have　e　from　Rivendell　perhaps。'

He　removed　the　bandage　first　from　Gimli's　eyes。　'Your　pardon！　'　he　said；　bowing　low。　'Look　on　us　now　with　friendly　eyes！　Look　and　be　glad；　for　you　are　the　first　dwarf　to　behold　the　trees　of　the　Naith　of　Lórien　since　Durin's　Day！　'

When　his　eyes　were　in　turn　uncovered；　Frodo　looked　up　and　caught　his　breath。　They　were　standing　in　an　open　space。　To　the　left　stood　a　great　mound；　covered　with　a　sward　of　grass　as　green　as　Springtime　in　the　Elder　Days。　Upon　it；　as　a　double　crown；　grew　two　circles　of　trees：　the　outer　had　bark　of　snowy　white；　and　were　leafless　but　beautiful　in　their　shapely　nakedness；　the　inner　were　mallorntrees　of　great　height；　still　arrayed　in　pale　gold。　High　amid　the　branches　of　a　towering　tree　that　stood　in　the　centre　of　all　there　gleamed　a　white　flet。　At　the　feet　of　the　trees；　and　all　about　the　green　hillsides　the　grass　was　studded　with　small　golden　flowers　shaped　like　stars。　Among　them；　nodding　on　slender　stalks；　were　other　flowers；　white　and　palest　green：　they　glimmered　as　a　mist　amid　the　rich　hue　of　the　grass。　Over　all　the　sky　was　blue；　and　the　sun　of　afternoon　glowed　upon　the　hill　and　cast　long　green　shadows　beneath　the　trees。

'Behold！　You　are　e　to　Cerin　Amroth；'　said　Haldir。　'For　this　is　the　heart　of　the　ancient　realm　as　it　was　long　ago；　and　here　is　the　mound　of　Amroth；　where　in　happier　days　his　high　house　was　built。　Here　ever　bloom　the　winter　flowers　in　the　unfading　grass：　the　yellow　elanor；　and　the　pale　niphredil。　Here　we　will　stay　awhile；　and　e　to　the　city　of　the　Galadhrim　at　dusk。'

The　others　cast　themselves　down　upon　the　fragrant　grass；　but　Frodo　stood　awhile　still　lost　in　wonder。　It　seemed　to　him　that　he　had　stepped　through　a　high　window　that　looked　on　a　vanished　world。　A　light　was　upon　it　for　which　his　language　had　no　name。　All　that　he　saw　was　shapely；　but　the　shapes　seemed　at　once　clear　cut；　as　if　they　had　been　first　conceived　and　drawn　at　the　uncovering　of　his　eyes；　and　ancient　as　if　they　had　endured　for　ever。　He　saw　no　colour　but　those　he　knew；　gold　and　white　and　blue　and　green；　but　they　were　fresh　and　poignant；　as　if　he　had　at　that　moment　first　perceived　them　and　made　for　them　names　new　and　wonderful。　In　winter　here　no　heart　could　mourn　for　summer　or　for　spring。　No　blemish　or　sickness　or　deformity　could　be　seen　in　anything　that　grew　upon　the　earth。　On　the　land　of　Lórien　there　was　no　stain。

He　turned　and　saw　that　Sam　was　now　standing　beside　him；　looking　round　with　a　puzzled　expression；　and　rubbing　his　eyes　as　if　he　was　not　sure　that　he　was　awake。　'It's　sunlight　and　bright　day；　right　enough；'　he　said。　'I　thought　that　Elves　were　all　for　moon　and　stars：　but　this　is　more　elvish　than　anything　I　ever　heard　tell　of。　I　feel　as　if　I　was　inside　a　song。　if　you　take　my　meaning。'

Haldir　looked　at　them；　and　he　seemed　indeed　to　take　the　meaning　of　both　thought　and　word。　He　smiled。　'You　feel　the　power　of　the　Lady　of　the　Galadhrim；'　he　said。　'Would　it　please　you　to　climb　with　me　up　Cerin　Amroth？　'

They　followed　him　as　he　stepped　lightly　up　the　grassclad　slopes。　Though　he　walked　and　breathed；　and　about　him　living　leaves　and　flowers　were　stirred　by　the　same　cool　wind　as　fanned　his　face；　Frodo　felt　that　he　was　in　a　timeless　land　that　did　not　fade　or　change　or　fall　into　fetfulness。　When　he　had　gone　and　passed　again　into　the　outer　world；　still　Frodo　the　wanderer　from　the　Shire　would　walk　there；　upon　the　grass　among　elanor　and　niphredil　in　fair　Lothlórien。

They　entered　the　circle　of　white　trees。　As　they　did　so　the　South　Wind　blew　upon　Cerin　Amroth　and　sighed　among　the　branches。　Frodo　stood　still；　hearing　far　off　great　seas　upon　beaches　that　had　long　ago　been　washed　away；　and　seabirds　crying　whose　race　had　perished　from　the　earth。

Haldir　had　gone　on　and　was　now　climbing　to　the　high　flet。　As　Frodo　prepared　to　follow　him；　he　laid　his　hand　upon　the　tree　beside　the　ladder：　never　before　had　he　been　so　suddenly　and　so　keenly　aware　of　the　feel　and　texture　of　a　tree's　skin　and　of　the　life　within　it。　He　felt　a　delight　in　wood　and　the　touch　of　it；　neither　as　forester　nor　as　carpenter；　it　was　the　delight　of　the　living　tree　itself。

As　he　stepped　out　at　last　upon　the　lofty　platform；　Haldir　took　his　hand　and　turned　him　toward　the　South。　'Look　this　way　first！　'　he　said。

Frodo　looked　and　saw；　still　at　some　distance；　a　hill　of　many　mighty　trees；　or　a　city　of　green　towers：　which　it　was　he　could　not　tell。　Out　of　it；　it　seemed　to　him　that　the　power　and　light　came　that　held　all　the　land　in　sway。　He　longed　suddenly　to　fly　like　a　bird　to　rest　in　the　green　city。　Then　he　looked　eastward　and　saw　all　the　land　of　Lórien　running　down　to　the　pale　gleam　of　Anduin；　the　Great　River。　He　lifted　his　eyes　across　the　river　and　all　the　light　went　out；　and　he　was　back　again　in　the　world　he　knew。　Beyond　the　river　the　land　appeared　flat　and　empty；　formless　and　vague；　until　far　away　it　rose　again　like　a　wall；　dark　and　drear。　The　sun　that　lay　on　Lothlórien　had　no　power　to　enlighten　the　shadow　of　that　distant　height。

'There　lies　the　fastness　of　Southern　Mirkwood；'　said　Haldir。　'It　is　clad　in　a　forest　of　dark　fir；　where　the　trees　strive　one　against　another　and　their　branches　rot　and　wither。　In　the　midst　upon　a　stony　height　stands　Dol　Guldur；　where　long　the　hidden　Enemy　had　his　dwelling。　We　fear　that　now　it　is　inhab