The Lord of the Rings-指环王(英文版)-第80章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ng。　We　fear　that　now　it　is　inhabited　again；　and　with　power　sevenfold。　A　black　cloud　lies　often　over　it　of　late。　In　this　high　place　you　may　see　the　two　powers　that　are　opposed　one　to　another；　and　ever　they　strive　now　in　thought；　but　whereas　the　light　perceives　the　very　heart　of　the　darkness；　its　own　secret　has　not　been　discovered。　Not　yet。'　He　turned　and　climbed　swiftly　down；　and　they　followed　him。

At　the　hill's　foot　Frodo　found　Aragorn；　standing　still　and　silent　as　a　tree；　but　in　his　hand　was　a　small　golden　bloom　of　elanor；　and　a　light　was　in　his　eyes。　He　was　wrapped　in　some　fair　memory：　and　as　Frodo　looked　at　him　he　knew　that　he　beheld　things　as　they　once　had　been　in　this　same　place。　For　the　grim　years　were　removed　from　the　face　of　Aragorn；　and　he　seemed　clothed　in　white；　a　young　lord　tall　and　fair；　and　he　spoke　words　in　the　Elvish　tongue　to　one　whom　Frodo　could　not　see。　Arwen　vanimelda；　namári！　he　said；　and　then　he　drew　a　breath；　and　returning　out　of　his　thought　he　looked　at　Frodo　and　smiled。

'Here　is　the　heart　of　Elvendom　on　earth；'　he　said；　'and　here　my　heart　dwells　ever；　unless　there　be　a　light　beyond　the　dark　roads　that　we　still　must　tread；　you　and　I。　e　with　me！　'　And　taking　Frodo's　hand　in　his；　he　left　the　hill　of　Cerin　Amroth　and　came　there　never　again　as　living　man。

Chapter　7
The　Mirror　of　Galadriel
　

The　sun　was　sinking　behind　the　mountains；　and　the　shadows　were　deepening　in　the　woods；　when　they　went　on　again。　Their　paths　now　went　into　thickets　where　the　dusk　had　already　gathered。　Night　came　beneath　the　trees　as　they　walked；　and　the　Elves　uncovered　their　silver　lamps。

Suddenly　they　came　out　into　the　open　again　and　found　themselves　under　a　pale　evening　sky　pricked　by　a　few　early　stars。　There　was　a　wide　treeless　space　before　them；　running　in　a　great　circle　and　bending　away　on　either　hand。　Beyond　it　was　a　deep　fosse　lost　in　soft　shadow；　but　the　grass　upon　its　brink　was　green；　as　if　it　glowed　still　in　memory　of　the　sun　that　had　gone。　Upon　the　further　side　there　rose　to　a　great　height　a　green　wall　encircling　a　green　hill　thronged　with　mallorntrees　taller　than　any　they　had　yet　seen　in　all　the　land。　Their　height　could　not　be　guessed；　but　they　stood　up　in　the　twilight　like　living　towers。　In　their；　manytiered　branches　and　amid　their　evermoving　leaves　countless　lights　were　gleaming；　green　and　gold　and　silver。　Haldir　turned　towards　the　pany。

'Wele　to　Caras　Galadhon！'　he　said。　'Here　is　the　city　of　the　Galadhrim　where　dwell　the　Lord　Celeborn　and　Galadriel　the　Lady　of　Lórien。　But　we　cannot　enter　here；　for　the　gates　do　not　look　northward。　We　must　go　round　to　the　southern　side；　and　the　way　is　not　short；　for　the　city　is　great。'

There　was　a　road　paved　with　white　stone　running　on　the　outer　brink　of　the　fosse。　Along　this　they　went　westward；　with　the　city　ever　climbing　up　like　a　green　cloud　upon　their　left；　and　as　the　night　deepened　more　lights　sprang　forth；　until　all　the　hill　seemed　afire　with　stars。　They　came　at　last　to　a　white　bridge；　and　crossing　found　the　great　gates　of　the　city：　they　faced　southwest；　set　between　the　ends　of　the　encircling　wall　that　here　overlapped；　and　they　were　tall　and　strong；　and　hung　with　many　lamps。

Haldir　knocked　and　spoke；　and　the　gates　opened　soundlessly；　but　of　guards　Frodo　could　see　no　sign。　The　travellers　passed　within；　and　the　gates　shut　behind　them。　They　were　in　a　deep　lane　between　the　ends　of　the　wall；　and　passing　quickly　through　it　they　entered　the　City　of　the　Trees。　No　folk　could　they　see；　nor　hear　any　feet　upon　the　paths；　but　there　were　many　voices；　about　them；　and　in　the　air　above。　Far　away　up　on　the　hill　they　could　hear　the　sound　of　singing　falling　from　on　high　like　soft　rain　upon　leaves。

They　went　along　many　paths　and　climbed　many　stairs；　until　they　came　to　the　high　places　and　saw　before　them　amid　a　wide　lawn　a　fountain　shimmering。　It　was　lit　by　silver　lamps　that　swung　from　the　boughs　of　trees；　and　it　fell　into　a　basin　of　silver；　from　which　a　white　stream　spilled。　Upon　the　south　side　of　the　lawn　there　stood　the　mightiest　of　all　the　trees；　its　great　smooth　bole　gleamed　like　grey　silk；　and　up　it　towered；　until　its　first　branches；　far　above；　opened　their　huge　limbs　under　shadowy　clouds　of　leaves。　Beside　it　a　broad　white　ladder　stood；　and　at　its　foot　three　Elves　were　seated。　They　sprang　up　as　the　travellers　approached；　and　Frodo　saw　that　they　were　tall　and　clad　in　grey　mail；　and　from　their　shoulders　hung　long　white　cloaks。

'Here　dwell　Celeborn　and　Galadriel；'　said　Haldir。　'It　is　their　wish　that　you　should　ascend　and　speak　with　them。'

One　of　the　Elfwardens　then　blew　a　clear　note　on　a　small　horn；　and　it　was　answered　three　times　from　far　above。　'I　will　go　first；'　said　Haldir。　'Let　Frodo　e　next　and　with　him　Legolas。　The　others　may　follow　as　they　wish。　It　is　a　long　climb　for　those　that　are　not　accustomed　to　such　stairs；　but　you　may　rest　upon　the　way。'

As　he　climbed　slowly　up　Frodo　passed　many　flets：　some　on　one　side；　some　on　another；　and　some　set　about　the　bole　of　the　tree；　so　that　the　ladder　passed　through　them。　At　a　great　height　above　the　ground　he　came　to　a　wide　talan；　like　the　deck　of　a　great　ship。　On　it　was　built　a　house；　so　large　that　almost　it　would　have　served　for　a　hall　of　Men　upon　the　earth。　He　entered　behind　Haldir；　and　found　that　he　was　in　a　chamber　of　oval　shape；　in　the　midst　of　which　grew　the　trunk　of　the　great　mallorn；　now　tapering　towards　its　crown；　and　yet　making　still　a　pillar　of　wide　girth。

The　chamber　was　filled　with　a　soft　light；　its　walls　were　green　and　silver　and　its　roof　of　gold。　Many　Elves　were　seated　there。　On　two　chairs　beneath　the　bole　of　the　tree　and　canopied　by　a　living　bough　there　sat；　side　by　side；　Celeborn　and　Galadriel。　They　stood　up　to　greet　their　guests；　after　the　manner　of　Elves；　even　those　who　were　accounted　mighty　kings。　Very　tall　they　were；　and　the　Lady　no　less　tall　than　the　Lord；　and　they　were　grave　and　beautiful。　They　were　clad　wholly　in　white；　and　the　hair　of　the　Lady　was　of　deep　gold；　and　the　hair　of　the　Lord　Celeborn　was　of　silver　long　and　bright；　but　no　sign　of　age　was　upon　them；　unless　it　were　in　the　depths　of　their　eyes；　for　these　were　keen　as　lances　in　the　starlight；　and　yet　profound；　the　wells　of　deep　memory。

Haldir　led　Frodo　before　them；　and　the　Lord　weled　him　in　his　own　tongue。　The　Lady　Galadriel　said　no　word　but　looked　long　upon　his　face。

'Sit　now　beside　my　chair；　Frodo　of　the　Shire！'　said　Celeborn。　'When　all　have　e　we　will　speak　together。'

Each　of　the　panions　he　greeted　courteously　by　name　as　they　entered。　'Wele　Aragorn　son　of　Arathorn！'　he　said。　'It　is　eight　and　thirty　years　of　the　world　outside　since　you　came　to　this　land；　and　those　years　lie　heavy　on　you。　But　the　end　is　near；　for　good　or　ill。　Here　lay　aside　your　burden　for　a　while！'

'Wele　son　of　Thranduil！　Too　seldom　do　my　kindred　journey　hither　from　the　North。'

'Wele　Gimli　son　of　Glóin！　It　is　long　indeed　since　we　saw　one　of　Durin's　folk　in　Caras　Galadhon。　But　today　we　have　broken　our　long　law。　May　it　be　a　sign　that　though　the　world　is　now　dark　better　days　are　at　hand；　and　that　friendship　shall　be　renewed　between　our　peoples。'　Gimli　bowed　low。

When　all　the　guests　were　seated　before　his　chair　the　Lord　looked　at　them　again。　'Here　there　are　eight；'　he　said。　'Nine　were　to　set　out：　so　said　the　messages。　But　maybe　there　has　been　some　change　of　counsel　that　we　have　not　heard。　Elrond　is　far　away；　and　darkness　gathers　between　us；　and　all　this　year　the　shadows　have　grown　longer。'

'Nay；　there　was　no　change　of　counsel；'　said　the　Lady　Galadriel　speaking　for　the　first　time。　Her　voice　was　clear　and　musical；　but　deeper　than　woman's　wont。　'Gandalf　the　Grey　set　out　with　the　pany；　but　he　did　not　pass　the　borders　of　this　land。　Now　tell　us　where　he　is；　for　I　much　desired　to　speak　with　him　again。　But　I　cannot　see　him　from　afar；　unless　he　es　within　the　fences　of　Lothlórien：　a　grey　mist　is　about　him；　and　the　ways　of　his　feet　and　of　his　mind　are　hidden　from　me。'

'Alas！'　said　Aragorn。　'Gandalf　the　Grey　fell　into　shadow。　He　remained　in　Moria　and　did　not　escape。'

At　these　words　all　the　Elves　in　the　hall　cried　aloud　in　grief　and　amazement。　'These　are　evil　tidings；'　said　Celeborn；　'the　most　evil　that　have　been　spoken　here　in　long　years　full　of　grievous　deeds。'　He　turned　to　Haldir。　'Why　has　nothing　of　this　been　told　to　me　before？　'　he　asked　in　the　Elven　tongue。

'We　have　not　spoken　to　Haldir　of　our　deeds　or　our　purpose；'　said　Legolas。　'At　first　we　were　weary　and　danger　was　too　close　behind　and　afterwards　we　almost　fot　our　grief　for　a　time；　as　we　walked　in　gladness　on　the　fair　paths　of　Lórien。'

'Yet　our　grief　is　great　and　our　loss　cannot　be　mended；'　said　Frodo。　'Gandalf　was　our　guide；　and　he　led　us　through　Moria；　and　when　our　escape　seemed　beyond　hope　he　saved　us；　and　he　fell。'

'Tell　us　now　the　full　tale！'　said　Celeborn：

Then　Aragorn　recounted　all　that　had　happened　upon　the　pass　of　Caradhras；　and　in　the　days　that　followed；　and　he　spoke　of　Balin　and　his　book；　and　the　fight　in　the　Chamber　of　Mazarbul；　and　the　fire；　and　the　narrow　bridge；　and　the　ing　of　the　Terror。　'An　evil　of　the　Ancient　World　it　seemed；　such　as　I　have　never　seen　before；'　said　Aragorn。　'It　was　both　a　shadow　and　a　flame；　strong　and　terrible。'

'It　was　a　Balrog　of　Moth；'　said　Legolas；　'of　all　elfbanes　the　most　deadly；　save　the　One　who　sits　in　the　Dark　Tower。'

'Indeed　I　saw　upon　the　bridge　that　which　haunts　our　darkest　dreams　I　saw　Durin's　Bane；'　said　Gimli　in　a　low　voice；　and　dread　was　in　his　eyes。

'Alas！'　said　Celeborn。　'We　long　have　feared　that　under　Caradhras　a　terror　slept。　But　had　I　known　that　the　Dwarves　had　stirred　up　this　evil　in　Moria　again；　I　would　have　forbidden　you　to　pass　the　northern　borders；　you　and　all　that　went　with　you。　And　if　it　were　possible；　one　would　say　that　at　the　last　Gandalf　fell　from　wisdom　into　folly；　going　needlessly　into　the　　of　Moria。'

'He　would　be　rash　indeed　that　said　that　thing；'　said　Galadriel　gravely。　'Needless　were　none　of　the　deeds　of　Gandalf　in　life。　Those　that　followed　him　knew　not　his　mind　and　cannot　report　his　full　purpose。　But　however　it　may　be　with　the　guide；　the　followers　are　blameless。　Do　not　repent　of　your　wele　to　the　Dwarf。　If　our　folk　had　been　exiled　long　and　far　from　Lothlórien；　who　of　the　Galadhrim；　even　Celeborn　the　Wise；　would　pass　nig