The Lord of the Rings-指环王(英文版)- 第10部分

'Let　you？　Make　you？'　said　the　wizard。　'Haven't　you　been　listening　to　all　that　I　have　said？　You　are　not　thinking　of　what　you　are　saying。　But　as　for　throwing　it　away；　that　was　obviously　wrong。　These　Rings　have　a　way　of　being　found。　In　evil　hands　it　might　have　done　great　evil。　Worst　of　all；　it　might　have　fallen　into　the　hands　of　the　Enemy。　Indeed　it　certainly　would；　for　this　is　the　One；　and　he　is　exerting　all　his　power　to　find　it　or　draw　it　to　himself。

'Of　course；　my　dear　Frodo；　it　was　dangerous　for　you；　and　that　has　troubled　me　deeply。　But　there　was　so　much　at　stake　that　I　had　to　take　some　risk　。　though　even　when　I　was　far　away　there　has　never　been　a　day　when　the　Shire　has　not　been　guarded　by　watchful　eyes。　As　long　as　you　never　used　it；　I　did　not　think　that　the　Ring　would　have　any　lasting　effect　on　you；　not　for　evil；　not　at　any　rate　for　a　very　long　time。　And　you　must　remember　that　nine　years　ago；　when　I　last　saw　you；　I　still　knew　little　for　certain。'

'But　why　not　destroy　it；　as　you　say　should　have　been　done　long　ago？'　cried　Frodo　again。　If　you　had　warned　me；　or　even　sent　me　a　message；　I　would　have　done　away　with　it。'

'Would　you？　How　would　you　do　that？　Have　you　ever　tried？'

'No。　But　I　suppose　one　could　hammer　it　or　melt　it。'

'Try！'　said　Gandalf。　Try　now！'

Frodo　drew　the　Ring　out　of　his　pocket　again　and　looked　at　it。　It　now　appeared　plain　and　smooth；　without　mark　or　device　that　he　could　see。　The　gold　looked　very　fair　and　pure；　and　Frodo　thought　how　rich　and　beautiful　was　its　colour；　how　perfect　was　its　roundness。　It　was　an　admirable　thing　and　altogether　precious。　When　he　took　it　out　he　had　intended　to　fling　it　from　him　into　the　very　hottest　part　of　the　fire。　But　he　found　now　that　he　could　not　do　so；　not　without　a　great　struggle。　He　weighed　the　Ring　in　his　hand；　hesitating；　and　forcing　himself　to　remember　all　that　Gandalf　had　told　him；　and　then　with　an　effort　of　will　he　made　a　movement；　as　if　to　cast　it　away　。　but　he　found　that　he　had　put　it　back　in　his　pocket。

Gandalf　laughed　grimly。　'You　see？　Already　you　too；　Frodo；　cannot　easily　let　it　go；　nor　will　to　damage　it。　And　I　could　not　〃make〃　you　。　except　by　force；　which　would　break　your　mind。　But　as　for　breaking　the　Ring；　force　is　useless。　Even　if　you　took　it　and　struck　it　with　a　heavy　sledgehammer；　it　would　make　no　dint　in　it。　It　cannot　be　unmade　by　your　hands；　or　by　mine。

'Your　small　fire；　of　course；　would　not　melt　even　ordinary　gold。　This　Ring　has　already　passed　through　it　unscathed；　and　even　unheated。　But　there　is　no　smith's　fe　in　this　Shire　that　could　change　it　at　all。　Not　even　the　anvils　and　furnaces　of　the　Dwarves　could　do　that。　It　has　been　said　that　dragonfire　could　melt　and　consume　the　Rings　of　Power；　but　there　is　not　now　any　dragon　left　on　earth　in　which　the　old　fire　is　hot　enough；　nor　was　there　ever　any　dragon；　not　even　Ancalagon　the　Black；　who　could　have　harmed　the　One　Ring；　the　Ruling　Ring；　for　that　was　made　by　Sauron　himself。　There　is　only　one　way：　to　find　the　Cracks　of　Doom　in　the　depths　of　Orodruin；　the　Firemountain；　and　cast　the　Ring　in　there；　if　you　really　wish　to　destroy　it；　to　put　it　beyond　the　grasp　of　the　Enemy　for　ever。'

'I　do　really　wish　to　destroy　it！'　cried　Frodo。　'Or；　well；　to　have　it　destroyed。　I　am　not　made　for　perilous　quests。　I　wish　I　had　never　seen　the　Ring！　Why　did　it　e　to　me？　Why　was　I　chosen？'

'Such　questions　cannot　be　answered；'　said　Gandalf。　'You　may　be　sure　that　it　was　not　for　any　merit　that　others　do　not　possess：　not　for　power　or　wisdom；　at　any　rate。　But　you　have　been　chosen；　and　you　must　therefore　use　such　strength　and　heart　and　wits　as　you　have。'

'But　I　have　so　little　of　any　of　these　things！　You　are　wise　and　powerful。　Will　you　not　take　the　Ring？'

'No！'　cried　Gandalf；　springing　to　his　feet。　'With　that　power　I　should　have　power　too　great　and　terrible。　And　over　me　the　Ring　would　gain　a　power　still　greater　and　more　deadly。'　His　eyes　flashed　and　his　face　was　lit　as　by　a　fire　within。　'Do　not　tempt　me！　For　I　do　not　wish　to　bee　like　the　Dark　Lord　himself。　Yet　the　way　of　the　Ring　to　my　heart　is　by　pity；　pity　for　weakness　and　the　desire　of　strength　to　do　good。　Do　not　tempt　me！　I　dare　not　take　it；　not　even　to　keep　it　safe；　unused。　The　wish　to　wield　it　would　be　too　great；　for　my　strength。　I　shall　have　such　need　of　it。　Great　perils　lie　before　me。'

He　went　to　the　window　and　drew　aside　the　curtains　and　the　shutters。　Sunlight　streamed　back　again　into　the　room。　Sam　passed　along　the　path　outside　whistling。　'And　now；'　said　the　wizard；　turning　back　to　Frodo；　'the　decision　lies　with　you。　But　I　will　always　help　you。'　He　laid　his　hand　on　Frodo's　shoulder。　'I　will　help　you　bear　this　burden；　as　long　as　It　is　yours　to　bear。　But　we　must　do　something；　soon。　The　Enemy　is　moving。'

There　was　a　long　silence。　Gandalf　sat　down　again　and　puffed　at　his　pipe；　as　if　lost　in　thought。　His　eyes　seemed　closed；　but　under　the　lids　he　was　watching　Frodo　intently。　Frodo　gazed　fixedly　at　the　red　embers　on　the　hearth；　until　they　filled　all　his　vision；　and　he　seemed　to　be　looking　down　into　profound　wells　of　fire。　He　was　thinking　of　the　fabled　Cracks　of　Doom　and　the　terror　of　the　Fiery　Mountain。

'Well！'　said　Gandalf　at　last。　'What　are　you　thinking　about？　Have　you　decided　what　to　do？'

'No！'　answered　Frodo；　ing　back　to　himself　out　of　darkness；　and　finding　to　his　surprise　that　it　was　not　dark；　and　that　out　of　the　window　he　could　see　the　sunlit　garden。　'Or　perhaps；　yes。　As　far　as　I　understand　what　you　have　said；　I　suppose　I　must　keep　the　Ring　and　guard　it；　at　least　for　the　present；　whatever　it　may　do　to　me。'

'Whatever　it　may　do；　it　will　be　slow；　slow　to　evil；　if　you　keep　it　with　that　purpose；'　said　Gandalf。

'I　hope　so；'　said　Frodo。　'But　I　hope　that　you　may　find　some　other　better　keeper　soon。　But　in　the　meanwhile　it　seems　that　I　am　a　danger；　a　danger　to　all　that　live　near　me。　I　cannot　keep　the　Ring　and　stay　here。　I　ought　to　leave　Bag　End；　leave　the　Shire；　leave　everything　and　go　away。'　He　sighed。

'I　should　like　to　save　the　Shire；　if　I　could　。　though　there　have　been　times　when　I　thought　the　inhabitants　too　stupid　and　dull　for　words；　and　have　felt　that　an　earthquake　or　an　invasion　of　dragons　might　be　good　for　them。　But　I　don't　feel　like　that　now。　I　feel　that　as　long　as　the　Shire　lies　behind；　safe　and　fortable；　I　shall　find　wandering　more　bearable：　I　shall　know　that　somewhere　there　is　a　firm　foothold；　even　if　my　feet　cannot　stand　there　again。

'Of　course；　I　have　sometimes　thought　of　going　away；　but　I　imagined　that　as　a　kind　of　holiday；　a　series　of　adventures　like　Bilbo's　or　better；　ending　in　peace。　But　this　would　mean　exile；　a　flight　from　danger　into　danger；　drawing　it　after　me。　And　I　suppose　I　must　go　alone；　if　I　am　to　do　that　and　save　the　Shire。　But　I　feel　very　small；　and　very　uprooted；　and　well　。　desperate。　The　Enemy　is　so　strong　and　terrible。'

He　did　not　tell　Gandalf；　but　as　he　was　speaking　a　great　desire　to　follow　Bilbo　flamed　up　in　his　heart　。　to　follow　Bilbo；　and　even　perhaps　to　find　him　again。　It　was　so　strong　that　it　overcame　his　fear：　he　could　almost　have　run　out　there　and　then　down　the　road　without　his　hat；　as　Bilbo　had　done　on　a　similar　morning　long　ago。

'My　dear　Frodo！'　exclaimed　Gandalf。　'Hobbits　really　are　amazing　creatures；　as　I　have　said　before。　You　can　learn　all　that　there　is　to　know　about　their　ways　in　a　month；　and　yet　after　a　hundred　years　they　can　still　surprise　you　at　a　pinch。　I　hardly　expected　to　get　such　an　answer；　not　even　from　you。　But　Bilbo　made　no　mistake　in　choosing　his　heir；　though　he　little　thought　how　important　it　would　prove。　I　am　afraid　you　are　right。　The　Ring　will　not　be　able　to　stay　hidden　in　the　Shire　much　longer；　and　for　your　own　sake；　as　well　as　for　others；　you　will　have　to　go；　and　leave　the　name　of　Baggins　behind　you。　That　name　will　not　be　safe　to　have；　outside　the　Shire　or　in　the　Wild。　I　will　give　you　a　travelling　name　now。　When　you　go；　go　as　Mr。　Underhill。

'But　I　don't　think　you　need　go　alone。　Not　if　you　know　of　anyone　you　can　trust；　and　who　would　be　willing　to　go　by　your　side　。　and　that　you　would　be　willing　to　take　into　unknown　perils。　But　if　you　look　for　a　panion；　be　careful　in　choosing！　And　be　careful　of　what　you　say；　even　to　your　closest　friends！　The　enemy　has　many　spies　and　many　ways　of　hearing。'

Suddenly　he　stopped　as　if　listening。　Frodo　became　aware　that　all　was　very　quiet；　inside　and　outside。　Gandalf　crept　to　one　side　of　the　window。　Then　with　a　dart　he　sprang　to　the　sill；　and　thrust　a　long　arm　out　and　down　Gamgee's　curly　head　hauled　by　one　ear。

'Well；　well；　bless　my　beard！'　said　Gandalf。　'Sam　Gamgee　is　it？　Now　what　may　you　be　doing？'

'Lor　bless　you；　Mr。　Gandalf；　sir！'　said　Sam。　'Nothing！　Leastways　I　was　just　trimming　the　grassborder　under　the　window；　if　you　follow　me。'　He　picked　up　his　shears　and　exhibited　them　as　evidence。

'I　don't；'　said　Gandalf　grimly。　It　is　some　time　since　I　last　heard　the　sound　of　your　shears。　How　long　have　you　been　eavesdropping？'

'Eavesdropping；　sir？　I　don't　follow　you；　begging　your　pardon。　There　ain't　no　eaves　at　Bag　End；　and　that's　a　fact。'

'Don't　be　a　fool！　What　have　you　heard；　and　why　did　you　listen？'　Gandalf's　eyes　flashed　and　his　brows　stuck　out　like　bristles。

'Mr。　Frodo；　sir！'　cried　Sam　quaking。　'Don't　let　him　hurt　me；　sir！　Don't　let　him　turn　me　into　anything　unnatural！　My　old　dad　would　take　on　so。　I　meant　no　harm；　on　my　honour；　sir！'

'He　won't　hurt　you；'　said　Frodo；　hardly　able　to　keep　from　laughing；　although　he　was　himself　startled　and　rather　puzzled。　'He　knows；　as　well　as　I　do；　that　you　mean　no　harm。　But　just　you　up　and　answer　his　questions　straight　away！'

'Well；　sir；'　said　Sam　dithering　a　little。　'I　heard　a　deal　that　I　didn't　rightly　understand；　about　an　enemy；　and　rings；　and　Mr。　Bilbo；　sir；　and　dragons；　and　a　fiery　mountain；　and　。　and　Elves；　sir。　I　listened　because　I　couldn't　help　myself；　if　you　know　what　I　mean。　Lor　bless　me；　sir；　but　I　do　love　tales　of　that　sort。　And　I　believe　them　too；　whatever　Ted　may　say。　Elves；　sir！　I　would　dearly　love　to　see　them。　Couldn't　you　take　me　to　see　Elves；　sir；　when　you　go？'

Suddenly　Gandalf　laughed。　'e　inside！'　he　shouted；　and　putting　out　both　his　arms　he　lifted　the　astonished　Sam；　shears；　grassclippings　and　all；　right　through　the　window　and　stood　him　on　the　floor。　'Take　you　to　see　Elves；　eh？'　he　said；　eyeing　Sam　closely；　but　with　a　smile　flickering　on　his　face。　'So　you　heard　that　Mr。　Frodo　is　going　away？'

'I　did；　sir。　And　that's　why　I　choked：　which　you　heard　seemingly。　I　tried　not　to；　sir；　but　it　burst　out　of　me：　I　was　so　upset。'

'It　can't　be　helped；　Sam；'　said　Frodo　sadly。　He　had　suddenly　realized　that　flying　from　the　Shire　would　mean　more　painful　partings　than　merely　saying　farewell　to　the　familiar　forts　of　Bag　End。　'I　shall　have　to　go。　But'　。　and　here　he　looked　hard　at　Sam　。　'if　you　really　care　about　me；　you　will　keep　that　dead　secret。　See？　If　you　don't；　if　you　even　breathe　a　word　of　what　you've　heard　here；　then　I　hope　Gandalf　will　turn　you　into　a　spotted　toad　and　fill　the　garden　full　of　grasssnakes。'

Sam　fell　on　his　knees；　trembling。　'Get　up；　Sam！'　said　Gandalf。　I　have　thought　of　something　better　than　that。　Something　to　shut　your　mouth；　and　punish　you　properly　for　listening。　You　shall　go　away　with　Mr。　Frodo！'

'Me；　sir！'　cried　Sam；　springing　up　like　a　dog　invited　for　a　walk。　'Me　go　and　see