The Lord of the Rings-指环王(英文版)- 第48部分

'And　begging　yours；　Sam　Gamgee；'　replied　Bilbo。　'I　guess　you　mean　that　it　is　time　your　master　went　to　bed。'

'Well；　sir；　there　is　a　Council　early　tomorrow；　I　hear　and　he　only　got　up　today　for　the　first　time。'

'Quite　right；　Sam；'　laughed　Bilbo。　'You　can　trot　off　and　tell　Gandalf　that　he　has　gone　to　bed。　Good　night；　Frodo！　Bless　me；　but　it　has　been　good　to　see　you　again！　There　are　no　folk　like　hobbits　after　all　for　a　real　good　talk。　I　am　getting　very　old；　and　I　began　to　wonder　if　I　should　ever　live　to　see　your　chapters　of　our　story。　Good　night！　I'll　take　a　walk；　I　think；　and　look　at　the　stars　of　Elbereth　in　the　garden。　Sleep　well！'

Chapter　2
The　Council　of　Elrond
　

Next　day　Frodo　woke　early；　feeling　refreshed　and　well。　He　walked　along　the　terraces　above　the　loudflowing　Bruinen　and　watched　the　pale；　cool　sun　rise　above　the　far　mountains；　and　shine　down。　Slanting　through　the　thin　silver　mist；　the　dew　upon　the　yellow　leaves　was　glimmering；　and　the　woven　s　of　gossamer　twinkled　on　every　bush。　Sam　walked　beside　him；　saying　nothing。　but　sniffing　the　air；　and　looking　every　now　and　again　with　wonder　in　his　eyes　at　the　great　heights　in　the　East。　The　snow　was　white　upon　their　peaks。

On　a　seat　cut　in　the　stone　beside　a　turn　in　the　path　they　came　upon　Gandalf　and　Bilbo　deep　in　talk。　'Hullo！　Good　morning！'　said　Bilbo。　'Feel　ready　for　the　great　council？'

'I　feel　ready　for　anything；'　answered　Frodo。　'But　most　of　all　I　should　like　to　go　walking　today　and　explore　the　valley。　I　should　like　to　get　into　those　pinewoods　up　there。'　He　pointed　away　far　up　the　side　of　Rivendell　to　the　north。

'You　may　have　a　chance　later；'　said　Gandalf。　'But　we　cannot　make　any　plans　yet。　There　is　much　to　hear　and　decide　today。'

Suddenly　as　they　were　talking　a　single　clear　bell　rang　out。　'That　is　the　warning　bell　for　the　Council　of　Elrond；'　cried　Gandalf。　'e　along　now！　Both　you　and　Bilbo　are　wanted。'

Frodo　and　Bilbo　followed　the　wizard　quickly　along　the　winding　path　back　to　the　house；　behind　them；　uninvited　and　for　the　moment　fotten；　trotted　Sam。

Gandalf　led　them　to　the　porch　where　Frodo　had　found　his　friends　the　evening　before。　The　light　of　the　clear　autumn　morning　was　now　glowing　in　the　valley。　The　noise　of　bubbling　waters　came　up　from　the　foaming　riverbed。　Birds　were　singing；　and　a　wholesome　peace　lay　on　the　land。　To　Frodo　his　dangerous　flight；　and　the　rumours　of　the　darkness　growing　in　the　world　outside；　already　seemed　only　the　memories　of　a　troubled　dream；　but　the　faces　that　were　turned　to　meet　them　as　they　entered　were　grave。

Elrond　was　there；　and　several　others　were　seated　in　silence　about　him。　Frodo　saw　Glorfindel　and　Glóin；　and　in　a　corner　alone　Strider　was　sitting；　clad　in　his　old　travelworn　clothes　again。　Elrond　drew　Frodo　to　a　seat　by　his　side；　and　presented　him　to　the　pany；　saying：

'Here；　my　friends　is　the　hobbit；　Frodo　son　of　Drogo。　Few　have　ever　e　hither　through　greater　peril　or　on　an　errand　more　urgent。'

He　then　pointed　out　and　named　those　whom　Frodo　had　not　met　before。　There　was　a　younger　dwarf　at　Glóin's　side：　his　son　Gimli。　Beside　Glorfindel　there　were　several　other　counsellors　of　Elrond's　household；　of　whom　Erestor　was　the　chief；　and　with　him　was　Galdor；　an　Elf　from　the　Grey　Havens　who　had　e　on　an　errand　from　Círdan　the　Shipwright。　There　was　also　a　strange　Elf　clad　in　green　and　brown；　Legolas；　a　messenger　from　his　father；　Thranduil；　the　King　of　the　Elves　of　Northern　Mirkwood。　And　seated　a　little　apart　was　a　tall　man　with　a　fair　and　noble　face；　darkhaired　and　greyeyed；　proud　and　stern　of　glance。

He　was　cloaked　and　booted　as　if　for　a　journey　on　horseback；　and　indeed　though　his　garments　were　rich；　and　his　cloak　was　lined　with　fur；　they　were　stained　with　long　travel。　He　had　a　collar　of　silver　in　which　a　single　white　stone　was　set；　his　locks　were　shorn　about　his　shoulders。　On　a　baldric　he　wore　a　great　horn　tipped　with　silver　that　now　was　laid　upon　his　knees。　He　gazed　at　Frodo　and　Bilbo　with　sudden　wonder。

'Here；'　said　Elrond；　turning　to　Gandalf；　'is　Boromir；　a　man　from　the　South。　He　arrived　in　the　grey　morning；　and　seeks　for　counsel。　I　have　bidden　him　to　be　present；　for　here　his　questions　will　be　answered。'

Not　all　that　was　spoken　and　debated　in　the　Council　need　now　be　told。　Much　was　said　of　events　in　the　world　outside；　especially　in　the　South；　and　in　the　wide　lands　east　of　the　Mountains。　Of　these　things　Frodo　had　already　heard　many　rumours；　but　the　tale　of　Glóin　was　new　to　him；　and　when　the　dwarf　spoke　he　listened　attentively。　It　appeared　that　amid　the　splendour　of　their　works　of　hand　the　hearts　of　the　Dwarves　of　the　Lonely　Mountain　were　troubled。

'It　is　now　many　years　ago；'　said　Glóin；　'that　a　shadow　of　disquiet　fell　upon　our　people。　Whence　it　came　we　did　not　at　first　perceive。　Words　began　to　be　whispered　in　secret：　it　was　said　that　we　were　hemmed　in　a　narrow　place；　and　that　greater　wealth　and　splendour　would　be　found　in　a　wider　world。　Some　spoke　of　Moria：　the　mighty　works　of　our　fathers　that　are　called　in　our　own　tongue　Khazadd？m；　and　they　declared　that　now　at　last　we　had　the　power　and　numbers　to　return。'

Glóin　sighed。　'Moria！　Moria！　Wonder　of　the　Northern　world！　Too　deep　we　delved　there；　and　woke　the　nameless　fear。　Long　have　its　vast　mansions　lain　empty　since　the　children　of　Durin　fled。　But　now　we　spoke　of　it　again　with　longing；　and　yet　with　dread；　for　no　dwarf　has　dared　to　pass　the　doors　of　Khazadd？m　for　many　lives　of　kings；　save　Thrór　only；　and　he　perished。　At　last；　however；　Balin　listened　to　the　whispers；　and　resolved　to　go；　and　though　Dáin　did　not　give　leave　willingly；　he　took　with　him　Ori　and　óin　and　many　of　our　folk；　and　they　went　away　south。

〃That　was　nigh　on　thirty　years　ago。　For　a　while　we　had　news　and　it　seemed　good：　messages　reported　that　Moria　had　been　entered　and　a　great　work　begun　there。　Then　there　was　silence；　and　no　word　has　ever　e　from　Moria　since。

〃Then　about　a　year　ago　a　messenger　came　to　Dáin；　but　not　from　Moria　。　from　Mordor：　a　horseman　in　the　night；　who　called　Dáin　to　his　gate。　The　Lord　Sauron　the　Great；　so　he　said；　wished　for　our　friendship。　Rings　he　would　give　for　it；　such　as　he　gave　of　old。　And　he　asked　urgently　concerning　hobbits；　of　what　kind　they　were；　and　where　they　dwelt。　〃For　Sauron　knows；〃　said　he；　〃that　one　of　these　was　known　to　you　on　a　time。〃

'At　this　we　were　greatly　troubled；　and　we　gave　no　answer。　And　then　his　fell　voice　was　lowered；　and　he　would　have　sweetened　it　if　he　could。　〃As　a　small　token　only　of　your　friendship　Sauron　asks　this；〃　he　said：　〃that　you　should　find　this　thief；〃　such　was　his　word；　〃and　get　from　him；　willing　or　no；　a　little　ring；　the　least　of　rings；　that　once　he　stole。　It　is　but　a　trifle　that　Sauron　fancies；　and　an　earnest　of　your　good　will。　Find　it；　and　three　rings　that　the　Dwarf　sires　possessed　of　old　shall　be　returned　to　you；　and　the　realm　of　Moria　shall　be　yours　for　ever。　Find　only　news　of　the　thief；　whether　he　still　lives　and　where；　and　you　shall　have　great　reward　and　lasting　friendship　from　the　Lord。　Refuse；　and　things　will　not　seem　so　well。　Do　you　refuse？〃

'At　that　his　breath　came　like　the　hiss　of　snakes；　and　all　who　stood　by　shuddered；　but　Dáin　said：　〃I　say　neither　yea　nor　nay。　I　must　consider　this　message　and　what　it　means　under　its　fair　cloak。〃

'　〃Consider　well；　but　not　too　long；〃　said　he。

'　〃The　time　of　my　thought　is　my　own　to　spend；〃　answered　Dáin。

'　〃For　the　present；〃　said　he；　and　rode　into　the　darkness。

'Heavy　have　the　hearts　of　our　chieftains　been　since　that　night。　We　needed　not　the　fell　voice　of　the　messenger　to　warn　us　that　his　words　held　both　menace　and　deceit；　for　we　knew　already　that　the　power　that　has　reentered　Mordor　has　not　changed；　and　ever　it　betrayed　us　of　old。　Twice　the　messenger　has　returned；　and　has　gone　unanswered。　The　third　and　last　time；　so　he　says；　is　soon　to　e；　before　the　ending　of　the　year。

'And　so　I　have　been　sent　at　last　by　Dáin　to　warn　Bilbo　that　he　is　sought　by　the　Enemy；　and　to　learn；　if　may　be；　why　he　desires　this　ring；　this　least　of　rings。　Also　we　crave　the　advice　of　Elrond。　For　the　Shadow　grows　and　draws　nearer。　We　discover　that　messengers　have　e　also　to　King　Brand　in　Dale；　and　that　he　is　afraid。　We　fear　that　he　may　yield。　Already　war　is　gathering　on　his　eastern　borders。　If　we　make　no　answer；　the　Enemy　may　move　Men　of　his　rule　to　assail　King　Brand；　and　Dáin　also。'

'You　have　done　well　to　e；'　said　Elrond。　'You　will　hear　today　all　that　you　need　in　order　to　understand　the　purposes　of　the　Enemy。　There　is　naught　that　you　can　do；　other　than　to　resist；　with　hope　or　without　it。　But　you　do　not　stand　alone。　You　will　learn　that　your　trouble　is　but　part　of　the　trouble　of　all　the　western　world。　The　Ring！　What　shall　we　do　with　the　Ring；　the　least　of　rings；　the　trifle　that　Sauron　fancies？　That　is　the　doom　that　we　must　deem。

'That　is　the　purpose　for　which　you　are　called　hither。　Called；　I　say。　though　I　have　not　called　you　to　me；　strangers　from　distant　lands。　You　have　e　and　are　here　met；　in　this　very　nick　of　time；　by　chance　as　it　may　seem。　Yet　it　is　not　so。　Believe　rather　that　it　is　so　ordered　that　we；　who　sit　here；　and　none　others；　must　now　find　counsel　for　the　peril　of　the　world。

'Now；　therefore；　things　shall　be　openly　spoken　that　have　been　hidden　from　all　but　a　few　until　this　day。　And　first；　so　that　all　may　understand　what　is　the　peril；　the　Tale　of　the　Ring　shall　be　told　from　the　beginning　even　to　this　present。　And　I　will　begin　that　tale；　though　others　shall　end　it。'

Then　all　listened　while　Elrond　in　his　clear　voice　spoke　of　Sauron　and　the　Rings　of　Power；　and　their　fing　in　the　Second　Age　of　the　world　long　ago。　A　part　of　his　tale　was　known　to　some　there；　but　the　full　tale　to　none；　and　many　eyes　were　turned　t　Elrond　in　fear　and　wonder　as　he　told　of　the　Elvensmiths　of　Eregion　and　their　friendship　with　Moria；　and　their　eagerness　for　knowledge；　by　which　Sauron　ensnared　them。　For　in　that　time　he　was　not　yet　evil　to　behold；　and　they　received　his　aid　and　grew　mighty　in　craft；　whereas　he　learned　all　their　secrets；　and　betrayed　them；　and　fed　secretly　in　the　Mountain　of　Fire　the　One　Ring　to　be　their　master。　But　Celebrimbor　was　aware　of　him；　and　hid　the　Three　which　he　had　made；　and　there　was　war；　and　the　land　was　laid　waste；　and　the　gate　of　Moria　was　shut。

Then　through　all　the　years　that　followed　he　traced　the　Ring；　but　since　that　history　is　elsewhere　recounted；　even　as　Elrond　himself　set　it　down　in　his　books　of　lore；　it　is　not　here　recalled。　For　it　is　a　long　tale；　full　of　deeds　great　and　terrible；　and　briefly　though　Elrond　spoke；　the　sun　rode　up　the　sky；　and　the　morning　was　passing　ere　he　ceased。

Of　Númenor　he　spoke；　its　glory　and　its　fall；　and　the　return　of　the　Kings　of　Men　to　Middleearth　out　of　the　deeps　of　the　Sea；　borne　upon　the　wings　of　storm。　Then　Elendil　the　Tall　and　his　mighty　sons；　Isildur　and　Anárion；　became　great　lords；　and　the　Northrealm　they　made　in　Arnor；　and　the　Southrealm　in　Gondor　above　the　mouths　of　Anduin。　But　Sauron　of　Mordor　assailed　them；　and　they　made　the　Last　Alliance　of　Elves　and　Men；　and　the　hosts　of　Gilgalad　and　Elendil　were　mustered　in　Arnor。

Thereupon　Elrond　paused　a　while　and　sighed。　'I　remember　well　the　splendour　of　their　banners；'　he　said。　'It　recalled　to　me　the　glory　of　the　Elder　Days　and　the　hosts　of　Beleriand；　so　many　great　princes　and　captains　were