The Lord of the Rings-指环王(英文版)-第6部分

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　visited　the　Elves　at　times；　as　Bilbo　had　done。

As　time　went　on；　people　began　to　notice　that　Frodo　also　showed　signs　of　good　'preservation'：　outwardly　he　retained　the　appearance　of　a　robust　and　energetic　hobbit　just　out　of　his　tweens。　'Some　folk　have　all　the　luck；'　they　said；　but　it　was　not　until　Frodo　approached　the　usually　more　sober　age　of　fifty　that　they　began　to　think　it　queer。

Frodo　himself；　after　the　first　shock；　found　that　being　his　own　master　and　the　Mr。　Baggins　of　Bag　End　was　rather　pleasant。　For　some　years　he　was　quite　happy　and　did　not　worry　much　about　the　future。　But　half　unknown　to　himself　the　regret　that　he　had　not　gone　with　Bilbo　was　steadily　growing。　He　found　himself　wondering　at　times；　especially　in　the　autumn；　about　the　wild　lands；　and　strange　visions　of　mountains　that　he　had　never　seen　came　into　his　dreams。　He　began　to　say　to　himself：　'Perhaps　I　shall　cross　the　River　myself　one　day。'　To　which　the　other　half　of　his　mind　always　replied：　'Not　yet。'

So　it　went　on；　until　his　forties　were　running　out；　and　his　fiftieth　birthday　was　drawing　near：　fifty　was　a　number　that　he　felt　was　somehow　significant　（or　ominous）；　it　was　at　any　rate　at　that　age　that　adventure　had　suddenly　befallen　Bilbo。　Frodo　began　to　feel　restless；　and　the　old　paths　seemed　too　welltrodden。　He　looked　at　maps；　and　wondered　what　lay　beyond　their　edges：　maps　made　in　the　Shire　showed　mostly　white　spaces　beyond　its　borders。　He　took　to　wandering　further　afield　and　more　often　by　himself；　and　Merry　and　his　other　friends　watched　him　anxiously。　Often　he　was　seen　walking　and　talking　with　the　strange　wayfarers　that　began　at　this　time　to　appear　in　the　Shire。

There　were　rumours　of　strange　things　happening　in　the　world　outside；　and　as　Gandalf　had　not　at　that　time　appeared　or　sent　any　message　for　several　years；　Frodo　gathered　all　the　news　he　could。　Elves；　who　seldom　walked　in　the　Shire；　could　now　be　seen　passing　westward　through　the　woods　in　the　evening；　passing　and　not　returning；　but　they　were　leaving　Middleearth　and　were　no　longer　concerned　with　its　troubles。　There　were；　however；　dwarves　on　the　road　in　unusual　numbers。　The　ancient　EastWest　Road　ran　through　the　Shire　to　its　end　at　the　Grey　Havens；　and　dwarves　had　always　used　it　on　their　way　to　their　mines　in　the　Blue　Mountains。　They　were　the　hobbits'　chief　source　of　news　from　distant　parts　。　if　they　wanted　any：　as　a　rule　dwarves　said　little　and　hobbits　asked　no　more。　But　now　Frodo　often　met　strange　dwarves　of　far　countries；　seeking　refuge　in　the　West。　They　were　troubled；　and　some　spoke　in　whispers　of　the　Enemy　and　of　the　Land　of　Mordor。

That　name　the　hobbits　only　knew　in　legends　of　the　dark　past；　like　a　shadow　in　the　background　of　their　memories；　but　it　ed　that　the　evil　power　in　Mirkwood　had　been　driven　out　by　the　White　Council　only　to　reappear　in　greater　strength　in　the　old　strongholds　of　Mordor。　The　Dark　Tower　had　been　rebuilt；　it　was　said。　From　there　the　power　was　spreading　far　and　wide；　and　away　far　east　and　south　there　were　wars　and　growing　fear。　Orcs　were　multiplying　again　in　the　mountains。　Trolls　were　abroad；　no　longer　dullwitted；　but　cunning　and　armed　with　dreadful　weapons。　And　there　were　murmured　hints　of　creatures　more　terrible　than　all　these；　but　they　had　no　name。

Little　of　all　this；　of　course；　reached　the　ears　of　ordinary　hobbits。　But　even　the　deafest　and　most　stayathome　began　to　hear　queer　tales；　and　those　whose　business　took　them　to　the　borders　saw　strange　things。　The　conversation　in　The　Green　Dragon　at　Bywater；　one　evening　in　the　spring　of　Frodo's　fiftieth　year；　showed　that　even　in　the　fortable　heart　of　the　Shire　rumours　had　been　heard；　though　most　hobbits　still　laughed　at　them。

Sam　Gamgee　was　sitting　in　one　corner　near　the　fire；　and　opposite　him　was　Ted　Sandyman；　the　miller's　son；　and　there　were　various　other　rustic　hobbits　listening　to　their　talk。

'Queer　things　you　do　hear　these　days；　to　be　sure；'　said　Sam。

'Ah；'　said　Ted；　'you　do；　if　you　listen。　But　I　can　hear　firesidetales　and　children's　stories　at　home；　if　I　want　to。'

'No　doubt　you　can；'　retorted　Sam；　'and　I　daresay　there's　more　truth　in　some　of　them　than　you　reckon。　Who　invented　the　stories　anyway？　Take　dragons　now。'

'No　thank　'ee；'　said　Ted；　'I　won't。　I　heard　tell　of　them　when　I　was　a　youngster；　but　there's　no　call　to　believe　in　them　now。　There's　only　one　Dragon　in　Bywater；　and　that's　Green；'　he　said；　getting　a　general　laugh。

'All　right；'　said　Sam；　laughing　with　the　rest。　'But　what　about　these　Treemen；　these　giants；　as　you　might　call　them？　They　do　say　that　one　bigger　than　a　tree　was　seen　up　away　beyond　the　North　Moors　not　long　back。'

'Who's　they？'

'My　cousin　Hal　for　one。　He　works　for　Mr。　Boffin　at　Overhill　and　goes　up　to　the　Northfarthing　for　the　hunting。　He　saw　one。'

'Says　he　did；　perhaps。　Your　Hal's　always　saying　he's　seen　things；　and　maybe　he　sees　things　that　ain't　there。'

'But　this　one　was　as　big　as　an　elm　tree；　and　walking　。　walking　seven　yards　to　a　stride；　if　it　was　an　inch。'

'Then　I　bet　it　wasn't　an　inch。　What　he　saw　was　an　elm　tree；　as　like　as　not。'

'But　this　one　was　walking；　I　tell　you；　and　there　ain't　no　elm　tree　on　the　North　Moors。'

'Then　Hal　can't　have　seen　one；'　said　Ted。　There　was　some　laughing　and　clapping：　the　audience　seemed　to　think　that　Ted　had　scored　a　point。

'All　the　same；'　said　Sam；　'you　can't　deny　that　others　besides　our　Halfast　have　seen　queer　folk　crossing　the　Shire　。　crossing　it；　mind　you：　there　are　more　that　are　turned　back　at　the　borders。　The　Bounders　have　never　been　so　busy　before。

'And　I've　heard　tell　that　Elves　are　moving　west。　They　do　say　they　are　going　to　the　harbours；　out　away　beyond　the　White　Towers。'　Sam　waved　his　arm　vaguely：　neither　he　nor　any　of　them　knew　how　far　it　was　to　the　Sea；　past　the　old　towers　beyond　the　western　borders　of　the　Shire。　But　it　was　an　old　tradition　that　away　over　there　stood　the　Grey　Havens；　from　which　at　times　elvenships　set　sail；　never　to　return。

'They　are　sailing；　sailing；　sailing　over　the　Sea；　they　are　going　into　the　West　and　leaving　us；'　said　Sam；　half　chanting　the　words；　shaking　his　head　sadly　and　solemnly。　But　Ted　laughed。

'Well；　that　isn't　anything　new；　if　you　believe　the　old　tales。　And　I　don't　see　what　it　matters　to　me　or　you。　Let　them　sail！　But　I　warrant　you　haven't　seen　them　doing　it；　nor　any　one　else　in　the　Shire。'

'Well　I　don't　know；'　said　Sam　thoughtfully。　He　believed　he　had　once　seen　an　Elf　in　the　woods；　and　still　hoped　to　see　more　one　day。　Of　all　the　legends　that　he　had　heard　in　his　early　years　such　fragments　of　tales　and　half　remembered　stories　about　the　Elves　as　the　hobbits　knew；　had　always　moved　him　most　deeply。　'There　are　some；　even　in　these　parts；　as　know　the　Fair　Folk　and　get　news　of　them；'　he　said。　'There's　Mr。　Baggins　now；　that　I　work　for。　He　told　me　that　they　were　sailing　and　he　knows　a　bit　about　Elves。　And　old　Mr。　Bilbo　knew　more：　many's　the　talk　I　had　with　him　when　I　was　a　little　lad。'

'Oh；　they're　both　cracked；'　said　Ted。　'Leastways　old　Bilbo　was　cracked；　and　Frodo's　cracking。　If　that's　where　you　get　your　news　from；　you'll　never　want　for　moonshine。　Well；　friends；　I'm　off　home。　Your　good　health！'　He　drained　his　mug　and　went　out　noisily。

Sam　sat　silent　and　said　no　more。　He　had　a　good　deal　to　think　about。　For　one　thing；　there　was　a　lot　to　do　up　in　the　Bag　End　garden；　and　he　would　have　a　busy　day　tomorrow；　if　the　weather　cleared。　The　grass　was　growing　fast。　But　Sam　had　more　on　his　mind　than　gardening。　After　a　while　he　sighed；　and　got　up　and　went　out。

It　was　early　April　and　the　sky　was　now　clearing　after　heavy　rain。　The　sun　was　down；　and　a　cool　pale　evening　was　quietly　fading　into　night。　He　walked　home　under　the　early　stars　through　Hobbiton　and　up　the　Hill；　whistling　softly　and　thoughtfully。

It　was　just　at　this　time　that　Gandalf　reappeared　after　his　long　absence。　For　three　years　after　the　Party　he　had　been　away。　Then　he　paid　Frodo　a　brief　visit；　and　after　taking　a　good　look　at　him　he　went　off　again。　During　the　next　year　or　two　he　had　turned　up　fairly　often；　ing　unexpectedly　after　dusk；　and　going　off　without　warning　before　sunrise。　He　would　not　discuss　his　own　business　and　journeys；　and　seemed　chiefly　interested　in　small　news　about　Frodo's　health　and　doings。

Then　suddenly　his　visits　had　ceased。　It　was　over　nine　years　since　Frodo　had　seen　or　heard　of　him；　and　he　had　begun　to　think　that　the　wizard　would　never　return　and　had　given　up　all　interest　in　hobbits。　But　that　evening；　as　Sam　was　walking　home　and　twilight　was　fading；　there　came　the　once　familiar　tap　on　the　study　window。

Frodo　weled　his　old　friend　with　surprise　and　great　delight。　They　looked　hard　at　one　another。

'Ah　well　eh？'　said　Gandalf。　'You　look　the　same　as　ever；　Frodo！'

'So　do　you；'　Frodo　replied；　but　secretly　he　thought　that　Gandalf　looked　older　and　more　careworn。　He　pressed　him　for　news　of　himself　and　of　the　wide　world；　and　soon　they　were　deep　in　talk；　and　they　stayed　up　far　into　the　night。

Next　morning　after　a　late　breakfast；　the　wizard　was　sitting　with　Frodo　by　the　open　window　of　the　study。　A　bright　fire　was　on　the　hearth；　but　the　sun　was　warm；　and　the　wind　was　in　the　South。　Everything　looked　fresh；　and　the　new　green　of　Spring　was　shimmering　in　the　fields　and　on　the　tips　of　the　trees'　fingers。

Gandalf　was　thinking　of　a　spring；　nearly　eighty　years　before；　when　Bilbo　had　run　out　of　Bag　End　without　a　handkerchief。　His　hair　was　perhaps　whiter　than　it　had　been　then；　and　his　beard　and　eyebrows　were　perhaps　longer；　and　his　face　more　lined　with　care　and　wisdom；　but　his　eyes　were　as　bright　as　ever；　and　he　smoked　and　blew　smokerings　with　the　same　vigour　and　delight。

He　was　smoking　now　in　silence；　for　Frodo　was　sitting　still；　deep　in　thought。　Even　in　the　light　of　morning　he　felt　the　dark　shadow　of　the　tidings　that　Gandalf　had　brought。　At　last　he　broke　the　silence。

'Last　night　you　began　to　tell　me　strange　things　about　my　ring；　Gandalf；'　he　said。　'And　then　you　stopped；　because　you　said　that　such　matters　were　best　left　until　daylight。　Don't　you　think　you　had　better　finish　now？　You　say　the　ring　is　dangerous；　far　more　dangerous　than　I　guess。　In　what　way？'

'In　many　ways；'　answered　the　wizard。　It　is　far　more　powerful　than　I　ever　dared　to　think　at　first；　so　powerful　that　in　the　end　it　would　utterly　overe　anyone　of　mortal　race　who　possessed　it。　It　would　possess　him。

'In　Eregion　long　ago　many　Elvenrings　were　made；　magic　rings　as　you　call　them；　and　they　were；　of　course；　of　various　kinds：　some　more　potent　and　some　less。　The　lesser　rings　were　only　essays　in　the　craft　before　it　was　fullgrown；　and　to　the　Elvensmiths　they　were　but　trifles　。　yet　still　to　my　mind　dangerous　for　mortals。　But　the　Great　Rings；　the　Rings　of　Power；　they　were　perilous。

'A　mortal；　Frodo；　who　keeps　one　of　the　Great　Rings；　does　not　die；　but　he　does　not　grow　or　obtain　more　life；　he　merely　continues；　until　at　last　every　minute　is　a　weariness。　And　if　he　often　uses　the　Ring　to　make　himself　invisible；　he　fades：　he　bees　in　the　end　invisible　permanently；　and　walks　in　the　twilight　under　the　eye　of　the　dark　power　that　rules　the　Rings。　Yes；　sooner　or　later　。　later；　if　he　is　strong　or　wellmeaning　to　begin　with；　but　neither　strength　nor　good　purpose　will　last　。　sooner　or　later　the　dark　power　will　devour　him。'

'How　terrifying！'　said　Frodo。　There　was　another　long　sile