The Lord of the Rings-指环王(英文版)-第85章

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song　of　larks。

They　turned　a　sharp　bend　in　the　river；　and　there；　sailing　proudly　down　the　stream　toward　them；　they　saw　a　swan　of　great　size。　The　water　rippled　on　either　side　of　the　white　breast　beneath　its　curving　neck。　Its　beak　shone　like　burnished　gold；　and　its　eyes　glinted　like　jet　set　in　yellow　stones；　its　huge　white　wings　were　half　lifted。　A　music　came　down　the　river　as　it　drew　nearer；　and　suddenly　they　perceived　that　it　was　a　ship；　wrought　and　carved　with　elven　skill　in　the　likeness　of　a　bird。　Two　elves　clad　in　white　steered　it　with　black　paddles。　In　the　midst　of　the　vessel　sat　Celeborn；　and　behind　him　stood　Galadriel；　tall　and　white；　a　circlet　of　golden　flowers　was　in　her　hair；　and　in　her　hand　she　held　a　harp；　and　she　sang。　Sad　and　sweet　was　the　sound　of　her　voice　in　the　cool　clear　air：

I　sang　of　leaves；　of　leaves　of　gold；　and　leaves　of　gold　there　grew：
Of　wind　I　sang；　a　wind　there　came　and　in　the　branches　blew。
Beyond　the　Sun；　beyond　the　Moon；　the　foam　was　on　the　Sea；
And　by　the　strand　of　Ilmarin　there　grew　a　golden　Tree。
Beneath　the　stars　of　Evereve　in　Eldamar　it　shone；
In　Eldamar　beside　the　walls　of　Elven　Tirion。
There　long　the　golden　leaves　have　grown　upon　the　branching　years；
While　here　beyond　the　Sundering　Seas　now　fall　the　Elventears。
O　Lórien！　The　Winter　es；　the　bare　and　leafless　Day；
The　leaves　are　falling　in　the　stream；　the　River　flows　away。
O　Lórien！　Too　long　I　have　dwelt　upon　this　Hither　Shore
And　in　a　fading　crown　have　twined　the　golden　elanor。
But　if　of　ships　I　now　should　sing；　what　ship　would　e　to　me；
What　ship　would　bear　me　ever　back　across　so　wide　a　Sea？

Aragorn　stayed　his　boat　as　the　Swanship　drew　alongside。　The　Lady　ended　her　song　and　greeted　them。　'We　have　e　to　bid　you　our　last　farewell；'　she　said；　'and　to　speed　you　with　blessings　from　our　land。'

'Though　you　have　been　our　guests；'　said　Celeborn；　'you　have　not　yet　eaten　with　us；　and　we　bid　you；　therefore；　to　a　parting　feast；　here　between　the　flowing　waters　that　will　bear　you　far　from　Lórien。'

The　Swan　passed　on　slowly　to　the　hythe；　and　they　turned　their　boats　and　followed　it。　There　in　the　last　end　of　Egladil　upon　the　green　grass　the　parting　feast　was　held；　but　Frodo　ate　and　drank　little；　heeding　only　the　beauty　of　the　Lady　and　her　voice。　She　seemed　no　longer　perilous　or　terrible；　nor　filled　with　hidden　power。　Already　she　seemed　to　him；　as　by　men　of　later　days　Elves　still　at　times　are　seen：　present　and　yet　remote；　a　living　vision　of　that　which　has　already　been　left　far　behind　by　the　flowing　streams　of　Time。

After　they　had　eaten　and　drunk；　sitting　upon　the　grass；　Celeborn　spoke　to　them　again　of　their　journey；　and　lifting　his　hand　he　pointed　south　to　the　woods　beyond　the　Tongue。

'As　you　go　down　the　water；'　he　said；　'you　will　find　that　the　trees　will　fail；　and　you　will　e　to　a　barren　country。　There　the　River　flows　in　stony　vale　amid　high　moors；　until　at　last　after　many　leagues　it　es　to　the　tall　island　of　the　Tindrock；　that　we　call　Tol　Brandir。　There　it　casts　its　arms　about　the　steep　shores　of　the　isle；　and　falls　then　with　a　great　noise　and　smoke　over　the　cataracts　of　Rauros　down　into　the　Nindalf；　the　Wetwang　as　it　is　called　in　your　tongue。　That　is　a　wide　region　of　sluggish　fen　where　the　stream　bees　tortuous　and　much　divided。　There　the　Entwash　flows　in　by　many　mouths　from　the　Forest　of　Fangorn　in　the　west。　About　that　stream；　on　this　side　of　the　Great　River；　lies　Rohan。　On　the　further　side　are　the　bleak　hills　of　the　Emyn　Muil。　The　wind　blows　from　the　East　there；　for　they　look　out　over　the　Dead　Marshes　and　the　Nomanlands　to　Cirith　Gor　and　the　black　gates　of　Mordor。

'Boromir；　and　any　that　go　with　him　seeking　Minas　Tirith；　will　do　well　to　leave　the　Great　River　above　Rauros　and　cross　the　Entwash　before　it　finds　the　marshes。　Yet　they　should　not　go　too　far　up　that　stream；　nor　risk　being　entangled　in　the　Forest　of　Fangorn。　That　is　a　strange　land；　and　is　now　little　known。　But　Boromir　and　Aragorn　doubtless　do　not　need　this　warning。'

'Indeed　we　have　heard　of　Fangorn　in　Minas　Tirith；'　said　Boromir。　'But　what　I　have　heard　seems　to　me　for　the　most　part　old　wives'　tales；　such　as　we　tell　to　our　children。　All　that　lies　north　of　Rohan　is　now　to　us　so　far　away　that　fancy　can　wander　freely　there。　Of　old　Fangorn　lay　upon　the　borders　of　our　realm；　but　it　is　now　many　lives　of　men　since　any　of　us　visited　it；　to　prove　or　disprove　the　legends　that　have　e　down　from　distant　years。

'I　have　myself　been　at　whiles　in　Rohan；　but　I　have　never　crossed　it　northwards。　When　I　was　sent　out　as　a　messenger；　I　passed　through　the　Gap　by　the　skirts　of　the　White　Mountains；　and　crossed　the　Isen　and　the　Greyflood　into　Northerland。　A　long　and　wearisome　journey。　Four　hundred　leagues　I　reckoned　it；　and　it　took　me　many　months；　for　I　lost　my　horse　at　Tharbad；　at　the　fording　of　the　Greyflood。　After　that　journey；　and　the　road　I　have　trodden　with　this　pany；　I　do　not　much　doubt　that　I　shall　find　a　way　through　Rohan；　and　Fangorn　too；　if　need　be。'

'Then　I　need　say　no　more；'　said　Celeborn。　'But　do　not　despise　the　lore　that　has　e　down　from　distant　years；　for　oft　it　may　chance　that　old　wives　keep　in　memory　word　of　things　that　once　were　needful　for　the　wise　to　know。'

Now　Galadriel　rose　from　the　grass；　and　taking　a　cup　from　one　of　her　maidens　she　filled　it　with　white　mead　and　gave　it　to　Celeborn。

'Now　it　is　time　to　drink　the　cup　of　farewell；'　she　said。　'Drink；　Lord　of　the　Galadhrim！　And　let　not　your　heart　be　sad　though　night　must　follow　noon；　and　already　our　evening　draweth　nigh。'

Then　she　brought　the　cup　to　each　of　the　pany；　and　bade　them　drink　and　farewell。　But　when　they　had　drunk　she　manded　them　to　sit　again　on　the　grass；　and　chairs　were　set　for　her　and　for　Celeborn。　Her　maidens　stood　silent　about　her；　and　a　while　she　looked　upon　her　guests。　At　last　she　spoke　again。

'We　have　drunk　the　cup　of　parting；'　she　said；　'and　the　shadows　fall　between　us。　But　before　you　go；　I　have　brought　in　my　ship　gifts　which　the　Lord　and　Lady　of　the　Galadhrim　now　offer　you　in　memory　of　Lothlórien。'　Then　she　called　to　each　in　turn。

'Here　is　the　gift　of　Celeborn　and　Galadriel　to　the　leader　of　your　pany；'　she　said　to　Aragorn；　and　she　gave　him　a　sheath　that　had　been　made　to　fit　his　sword。　It　was　overlaid　with　a　tracery　of　flowers　and　leaves　wrought　of　silver　and　gold；　and　on　it　were　set　in　elven　runes　formed　of　many　gems　the　name　Andúril　and　the　lineage　of　the　sword。

'The　blade　that　is　drawn　from　this　sheath　shall　not　be　stained　or　broken　even　in　defeat；'　she　said。　'But　is　there　aught　else　that　you　desire　of　me　at　our　parting？　For　darkness　will　flow　between　us；　and　it　may　be　that　we　shall　not　meet　again；　unless　it　be　far　hence　upon　a　road　that　has　no　returning。'

And　Aragorn　answered：　'Lady；　you　know　all　my　desire；　and　long　held　in　keeping　the　only　treasure　that　I　seek。　Yet　it　is　not　yours　to　give　me；　even　if　you　would；　and　only　through　darkness　shall　I　e　to　it。'

'Yet　maybe　this　will　lighten　your　heart；'　said　Galadriel；　'for　it　was　left　in　my　care　to　be　given　to　you；　should　you　pass　through　this　land。'　Then　she　lifted　from　her　lap　a　great　stone　of　a　clear　green；　set　in　a　silver　brooch　that　was　wrought　in　the　likeness　of　an　eagle　with　outspread　wings；　and　as　she　held　it　up　the　gem　flashed　like　the　sun　shining　through　the　leaves　of　spring。　'This　stone　I　gave　to　Celebrían　my　daughter；　and　she　to　hers；　and　now　it　es　to　you　as　a　token　of　hope。　In　this　hour　take　the　name　that　was　foretold　for　you；　Elessar；　the　Elfstone　of　the　house　of　Elendil！　'

Then　Aragorn　took　the　stone　and　pinned　the　brooch　upon　his　breast；　and　those　who　saw　him　wondered；　for　they　had　not　marked　before　how　tall　and　kingly　he　stood；　and　it　seemed　to　them　that　many　years　of　toil　had　fallen　from　his　shoulders。　'For　the　gifts　that　you　have　given　me　I　thank　you；'　he　said；　'O　Lady　of　Lórien　of　whom　were　sprung　Celebrían　and　Arwen　Evenstar。　What　praise　could　I　say　more？　'

The　Lady　bowed　her　head；　and　she　turned　then　to　Boromir；　and　to　him　she　gave　a　belt　of　gold；　and　to　Merry　and　Pippin　she　gave　small　silver　belts；　each　with　a　clasp　wrought　like　a　golden　flower。　To　Legolas　she　gave　a　bow　such　as　the　Galadhrim　used；　longer　and　stouter　than　the　bows　of　Mirkwood；　and　strung　with　a　string　of　elfhair。　With　it　went　a　quiver　of　arrows。

'For　you　little　gardener　and　lover　of　trees；'　she　said　to　Sam；　'I　have　only　a　small　gift。'　She　put　into　his　hand　a　little　box　of　plain　grey　wood；　unadorned　save　for　a　single　silver　rune　upon　the　lid。　'Here　is　set　G　for　Galadriel；'　she　said；　'but　also　it　may　stand　for　garden　in　your　tongue。　In　this　box　there　is　earth　from　my　orchard；　and　such　blessing　as　Galadriel　has　still　to　bestow　is　upon　it。　It　will　not　keep　you　on　your　road；　nor　defend　you　against　any　peril；　but　if　you　keep　it　and　see　your　home　again　at　last；　then　perhaps　it　may　reward　you。　Though　you　should　find　all　barren　and　laid　waste；　there　will　be　few　gardens　in　Middleearth　that　will　bloom　like　your　garden；　if　you　sprinkle　this　earth　there。　Then　you　may　remember　Galadriel；　and　catch　a　glimpse　far　off　of　Lórien；　that　you　have　seen　only　in　our　winter。　For　our　spring　and　our　summer　are　gone　by；　and　they　will　never　be　seen　on　earth　again　save　in　memory。'

Sam　went　red　to　the　ears　and　muttered　something　inaudible；　as　he　clutched　the　box　and　bowed　as　well　as　he　could。

'And　what　gift　would　a　Dwarf　ask　of　the　Elves？　'　said　Galadriel　turning　to　Gimli。

'None；　Lady；'　answered　Gimli。　'It　is　enough　for　me　to　have　seen　the　Lady　of　the　Galadhrim；　and　to　have　heard　her　gentle　words。'

'Hear　all　ye　Elves！　'　she　cried　to　those　about　her。　'Let　none　say　again　that　Dwarves　are　grasping　and　ungracious！　Yet　surely；　Gimli　son　of　Glóin；　you　desire　something　that　I　could　give？　Name　it；　I　bid　you！　You　shall　not　be　the　only　guest　without　a　gift。'

'There　is　nothing；　Lady　Galadriel；'　said　Gimli；　bowing　low　and　stammering。　'Nothing；　unless　it　might　be　。　unless　it　is　permitted　to　ask；　nay；　to　name　a　single　strand　of　your　hair；　which　surpasses　the　gold　of　the　earth　as　the　stars　surpass　the　gems　of　the　mine。　I　do　not　ask　for　such　a　gift。　But　you　manded　me　to　name　my　desire。'

The　Elves　stirred　and　murmured　with　astonishment；　and　Celeborn　gazed　at　the　Dwarf　in　wonder；　but　the　Lady　smiled。　'It　is　said　that　the　skill　of　the　Dwarves　is　in　their　hands　rat