The Lord of the Rings-指环王(英文版)-第81章

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n　exiled　long　and　far　from　Lothlórien；　who　of　the　Galadhrim；　even　Celeborn　the　Wise；　would　pass　nigh　and　would　not　wish　to　look　upon　their　ancient　home；　though　it　had　bee　an　abode　of　dragons？

'Dark　is　the　water　of　Kheledzaram；　and　cold　are　the　springs　of　Kibil　nala；　and　fair　were　the　manypillared　halls　of　Khazadd？m　in　Elder　Days　before　the　fall　of　mighty　kings　beneath　the　stone。'　She　looked　upon　Gimli；　who　sat　glowering　and　sad；　and　she　smiled。　And　the　Dwarf；　hearing　the　names　given　in　his　own　ancient　tongue；　looked　up　and　met　her　eyes；　and　it　seemed　to　him　that　he　looked　suddenly　into　the　heart　of　an　enemy　and　saw　there　love　and　understanding。　Wonder　came　into　his　face；　and　then　he　smiled　in　answer。

He　rose　clumsily　and　bowed　in　dwarffashion；　saying：　'Yet　more　fair　is　the　living　land　of　Lórien；　and　the　Lady　Galadriel　is　above　all　the　jewels　that　lie　beneath　the　earth！'

There　was　a　silence。　At　length　Celeborn　spoke　again。　'I　did　not　know　that　your　plight　was　so　evil；'　he　said。　'Let　Gimli　fet　my　harsh　words：　I　spoke　in　the　trouble　of　my　heart。　I　will　do　what　I　can　to　aid　you；　each　according　to　his　wish　and　need；　but　especially　that　one　of　the　little　folk　who　bears　the　burden。'

'Your　quest　is　known　to　us；'　said　Galadriel；　looking　at　Frodo。　'But　we　will　not　here　speak　of　it　more　openly。　Yet　not　in　vain　will　it　prove；　maybe；　that　you　came　to　this　land　seeking　aid；　as　Gandalf　himself　plainly　purposed。　For　the　Lord　of　the　Galadhrim　is　accounted　the　wisest　of　the　Elves　of　Middle　earth；　and　a　giver　of　gifts　beyond　the　power　of　kings。　He　has　dwelt　in　the　West　since　the　days　of　dawn；　and　I　have　dwelt　with　him　years　uncounted；　for　ere　the　fall　of　Nargothrond　or　Gondolin　I　passed　over　the　mountains；　and　together　through　ages　of　the　world　we　have　fought　the　long　defeat。

'I　it　was　who　first　summoned　the　White　Council。　And　if　my　designs　had　not　gone　amiss；　it　would　have　been　governed　by　Gandalf　the　Grey；　and　then　mayhap　things　would　have　gone　otherwise。　But　even　now　there　is　hope　left。　I　will　not　give　you　counsel；　saying　do　this；　or　do　that。　For　not　in　doing　or　contriving；　nor　in　choosing　between　this　course　and　another；　can　I　avail；　but　only　in　knowing　what　was　and　is；　and　in　part　also　what　shall　be。　But　this　I　will　say　to　you：　your　Quest　stands　upon　the　edge　of　a　knife。　Stray　but　a　little　and　it　will　fail；　to　the　ruin　of　all。　Yet　hope　remains　while　all　the　pany　is　true。'

And　with　that　word　she　held　them　with　her　eyes；　and　in　silence　looked　searchingly　at　each　of　them　in　turn。　None　save　Legolas　and　Aragorn　could　long　endure　her　glance。　Sam　quickly　blushed　and　hung　his　head。

At　length　the　Lady　Galadriel　released　them　from　her　eyes；　and　she　smiled。　'Do　not　let　your　hearts　be　troubled；'　she　said。　'Tonight　you　shall　sleep　in　peace。'　Then　they　sighed　and　felt　suddenly　weary；　as　those　who　have　been　questioned　long　and　deeply；　though　no　words　had　been　spoken　openly。

'Go　now！'　said　Celeborn。　'You　are　worn　with　sorrow　and　much　toil。　Even　if　your　Quest　did　not　concern　us　closely；　you　should　have　refuge　in　this　City；　until　you　were　healed　and　refreshed。　Now　you　shall　rest；　and　we　will　not　speak　of　your　further　road　for　a　while。'

That　night　the　pany　slept　upon　the　ground；　much　to　the　satisfaction　of　the　hobbits。　The　Elves　spread　for　them　a　pavilion　among　the　trees　near　the　fountain；　and　in　it　they　laid　soft　couches；　then　speaking　words　of　peace　with　fair　elvish　voices　they　left　them。　For　a　little　while　the　travellers　talked　of　their　night　before　in　the　treetops；　and　of　their　day's　journey；　and　of　the　Lord　and　Lady；　for　they　had　not　yet　the　heart　to　look　further　back。

'What　did　you　blush　for；　Sam？　'　said　Pippin。　'You　soon　broke　down。　Anyone　would　have　thought　you　had　a　guilty　conscience。　I　hope　it　was　nothing　worse　than　a　wicked　plot　to　steal　one　of　my　blankets。'

'I　never　thought　no　such　thing；'　answered　Sam；　in　no　mood　for　jest。　'If　you　want　to　know；　I　felt　as　if　I　hadn't　got　nothing　on；　and　I　didn't　like　it。　She　seemed　to　be　looking　inside　me　and　asking　me　what　I　would　do　if　she　gave　me　the　chance　of　flying　back　home　to　the　Shire　to　a　nice　little　hole　withwith　a　bit　of　garden　of　my　own。'

'That's　funny；'　said　Merry。　'Almost　exactly　what　I　felt　myself；　only；　only　well；　I　don't　think　I'II　say　any　more；'　he　ended　lamely。

All　of　them；　it　seemed；　had　fared　alike：　each　had　felt　that　he　was　offered　a　choice　between　a　shadow　full　of　fear　that　lay　ahead；　and　something　that　he　greatly　desired：　clear　before　his　mind　it　lay；　and　to　get　it　he　had　only　to　turn　aside　from　the　road　and　leave　the　Quest　and　the　war　against　Sauron　to　others。

'And　it　seemed　to　me；　too；'　said　Gimli；　'that　my　choice　would　remain　secret　and　known　only　to　myself。'

'To　me　it　seemed　exceedingly　strange；'　said　Boromir。　'Maybe　it　was　only　a　test；　and　she　thought　to　read　our　thoughts　for　her　own　good　purpose；　but　almost　I　should　have　said　that　she　was　tempting　us；　and　offering　what　she　pretended　to　have　the　power　to　give。　It　need　not　be　said　that　I　refused　to　listen。　The　Men　of　Minas　Tirith　are　true　to　their　word。'　But　what　he　thought　that　the　Lady　had　offered　him　Boromir　did　not　tell。

And　as　for　Frodo；　he　would　not　speak；　though　Boromir　pressed　him　with　questions。　'She　held　you　long　in　her　gaze；　Ringbearer；'　he　said。

'Yes；'　said　Frodo；　'but　whatever　came　into　my　mind　then　I　will　keep　there。'

'Well；　have　a　care！'　said　Boromir。　'I　do　not　feel　too　sure　of　this　Elvish　Lady　and　her　purposes。'

'Speak　no　evil　of　the　Lady　Galadriel！'　said　Aragorn　sternly。　'You　know　not　what　you　say。　There　is　in　her　and　in　this　land　no　evil；　unless　a　man　bring　it　hither　himself。　Then　let　him　beware！　But　tonight　I　shall　sleep　without　fear　for　the　first　time　since　I　left　Rivendell。　And　may　I　sleep　deep；　and　fet　for　a　while　my　grief！　I　am　weary　in　body　and　in　heart。'　He　cast　himself　down　upon　his　couch　and　fell　at　once　into　a　long　sleep。

The　others　soon　did　the　same；　and　no　sound　or　dream　disturbed　their　slumber。　When　they　woke　they　found　that　the　light　of　day　was　broad　upon　the　lawn　before　the　pavilion。　and　the　fountain　rose　and　fell　glittering　in　the　sun。

They　remained　some　days　in　Lothlórien；　so　far　as　they　could　tell　or　remember。　All　the　while　that　they　dwelt　there　the　sun　shone　clear；　save　for　a　gentle　rain　that　fell　at　times；　and　passed　away　leaving　all　things　fresh　and　clean。　The　air　was　cool　and　soft；　as　if　it　were　early　spring；　yet　they　felt　about　them　the　deep　and　thoughtful　quiet　of　winter。　It　seemed　to　them　that　they　did　little　but　eat　and　drink　and　rest；　and　walk　among　the　trees；　and　it　was　enough。

They　had　not　seen　the　Lord　and　Lady　again；　and　they　had　little　speech　with　the　Elvenfolk；　for　few　of　these　knew　or　would　use　the　Westron　tongue。　Haldir　had　bidden　them　farewell　and　gone　back　again　to　the　fences　of　the　North；　where　great　watch　was　now　kept　since　the　tidings　of　Moria　that　the　pany　had　brought。　Legolas　was　away　much　among　the　Galadhrim；　and　after　the　first　night　he　did　not　sleep　with　the　other　panions；　though　he　returned　to　eat　and　talk　with　them。　Often　he　took　Gimli　with　him　when　he　went　abroad　in　the　land；　and　the　others　wondered　at　this　change。

Now　as　the　panions　sat　or　walked　together　they　spoke　of　Gandalf；　and　all　that　each　had　known　and　seen　of　him　came　clear　before　their　minds。　As　they　were　healed　of　hurt　and　weariness　of　body　the　grief　of　their　loss　grew　more　keen。　Often　they　heard　nearby　Elvish　voices　singing；　and　knew　that　they　were　making　songs　of　lamentation　for　his　fall；　for　they　caught　his　name　among　the　sweet　sad　words　that　they　could　not　understand。

Mithrandir；　Mithrandir　sang　the　Elves；　O　Pilgrim　Grey！　For　so　they　loved　to　call　him。　But　if　Legolas　was　with　the　pany；　he　would　not　interpret　the　songs　for　them；　saying　that　he　had　not　the　skill；　and　that　for　him　the　grief　was　still　too　near；　a　matter　for　tears　and　not　yet　for　song。

It　was　Frodo　who　first　put　something　of　his　sorrow　into　halting　words。　He　was　seldom　moved　to　make　song　or　rhyme；　even　in　Rivendell　he　had　listened　and　had　not　sung　himself；　though　his　memory　was　stored　with　many　things　that　others　had　made　before　him。　But　now　as　he　sat　beside　the　fountain　in　Lórien　and　heard　about　him　the　voices　of　the　Elves；　his　thought　took　shape　in　a　song　that　seemed　fair　to　him；　yet　when　he　tried　to　repeat　it　to　Sam　only　snatches　remained；　faded　as　a　handful　of　withered　leaves。

When　evening　in　the　Shire　was　grey
his　footsteps　on　the　Hill　were　heard；
before　the　dawn　he　went　away
on　journey　long　without　a　word。

From　Wilderland　to　Western　shore；
from　northern　waste　to　southern　hill；
through　dragonlair　and　hidden　door
and　darkling　woods　he　walked　at　will。

With　Dwarf　and　Hobbit；　Elves　and　Men；
with　mortal　and　immortal　folk；
with　bird　on　bough　and　beast　in　den；
in　their　own　secret　tongues　he　spoke。

A　deadly　sword；　a　healing　hand；
a　back　that　bent　beneath　its　load；
a　trumpetvoice；　a　burning　brand；
a　weary　pilgrim　on　the　road。

A　lord　of　wisdom　throned　he　sat；
swift　in　anger；　quick　to　laugh；
an　old　man　in　a　battered　hat
who　leaned　upon　a　thorny　staff。

He　stood　upon　the　bridge　alone
and　Fire　and　Shadow　both　defied；
his　staff　was　broken　on　the　stone；
in　Khazadd？m　his　wisdom　died。

'Why；　you'll　be　beating　Mr。　Bilbo　next！'　said　Sam。

'No；　I　am　afraid　not；'　said　Frodo。　'But　that　is　the　best　I　can　do　yet。'

'Well；　Mr。　Frodo；　if　you　do　have　another　go；　I　hope　you'll　say　a　word　about　his　fireworks；'　said　Sam。　'Something　like　this：

The　finest　rockets　ever　seen：
they　burst　in　stars　of　blue　and　green；
or　after　thunder　golden　showers
came　falling　like　a　rain　of　flowers。

Though　that　doesn't　do　them　justice　by　a　long　road。'

'No；　I'll　leave　that　to　you；　Sam。　Or　perhaps　to　Bilbo。　Butwell。　I　can't　talk　of　it　any　more。　I　can't　bear　to　think　of　bringing　the　news　to　him。'

One　evening　Frodo　and　Sam　were　walking　together　in　the　cool　twilight。　Both　of　them　felt　restless　again。　On　Frodo　suddenly　the　shadow　of　parting　had　fallen：　he　knew　somehow　that　the　time　was　very　near　when　he　must　leave　Lothlórien。

'What　do　you　think　of　Elves　now；　Sam？　'　he　said。　'I　asked　you　the　same　question　once　beforeit　seems　a　very　long　while　ago；　but　you　have　seen　more　of　them　since　then。'

'I　have　indeed！'　said　Sam。　'And　I　reckon　there's　Elves　and　Elves。　They're　all　elvish