The Lord of the Rings-指环王(英文版)-第7部分

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　later　the　dark　power　will　devour　him。'

'How　terrifying！'　said　Frodo。　There　was　another　long　silence。　The　sound　of　Sam　Gamgee　cutting　the　lawn　came　in　from　the　garden。

'How　long　have　you　known　this？'　asked　Frodo　at　length。　'And　how　much　did　Bilbo　know？'

'Bilbo　knew　no　more　than　he　told　you；　I　am　sure；'　said　Gandalf。　'He　would　certainly　never　have　passed　on　to　you　anything　that　he　thought　would　be　a　danger；　even　though　I　promised　to　look　after　you。　He　thought　the　ring　was　very　beautiful；　and　very　useful　at　need；　and　if　anything　self。　He　said　that　it　was　〃growing　on　his　mind〃；　and　he　was　always　worrying　about　it；　but　he　did　not　suspect　that　the　ring　itself　was　to　blame。　Though　he　had　found　out　that　the　thing　needed　looking　after；　it　did　not　seem　always　of　the　same　size　or　weight；　it　shrank　or　expanded　in　an　odd　way；　and　might　suddenly　slip　off　a　finger　where　it　had　been　tight。'

'Yes；　he　warned　me　of　that　in　his　last　letter；'　said　Frodo；　'so　I　have　always　kept　it　on　its　chain。'

'Very　wise；'　said　Gandalf。　'But　as　for　his　long　life；　Bilbo　never　connected　it　with　the　ring　at　all。　He　took　all　the　credit　for　that　to　himself；　and　he　was　very　proud　of　it。　Though　he　was　getting　restless　and　uneasy。　Thin　and　stretched　he　said。　A　sign　that　the　ring　was　getting　control。'

'How　long　have　you　known　all　this？'　asked　Frodo　again。

'Known？'　said　Gandalf。　'I　have　known　much　that　only　the　Wise　know；　Frodo。　But　if　you　mean　〃known　about　this　ring〃；　well；　I　still　do　not　know；　one　might　say。　There　is　a　last　test　to　make。　But　I　no　longer　doubt　my　guess。

'When　did　I　first　begin　to　guess？'　he　mused；　searching　back　in　memory。　'Let　me　see　。　it　was　in　the　year　that　the　White　Council　drove　the　dark　power　from　Mirkwood；　just　before　the　Battle　of　Five　Armies；　that　Bilbo　found　his　ring。　A　shadow　fell　on　my　heart　then；　though　I　did　not　know　yet　what　I　feared。　I　wondered　often　how　Gollum　came　by　a　Great　Ring；　as　plainly　it　was　。　that　at　least　was　clear　from　the　first。　Then　I　heard　Bilbo's　strange　story　of　how　he　had　〃won〃　it；　and　I　could　not　believe　it。　When　I　at　last　got　the　truth　out　of　him；　I　saw　at　once　that　he　had　been　trying　to　put　his　claim　to　the　ring　beyond　doubt。　Much　like　Gollum　with　his　〃birthday　present〃。　The　lies　were　too　much　alike　for　my　fort。　Clearly　the　ring　had　an　unwholesome　power　that　set　to　work　on　its　keeper　at　once。　That　was　the　first　real　warning　I　had　that　all　was　not　well。　I　told　Bilbo　often　that　such　rings　were　better　left　unused；　but　he　resented　it；　and　soon　got　angry。　There　was　little　else　that　I　could　do。　I　could　not　take　it　from　him　without　doing　greater　harm；　and　I　had　no　right　to　do　so　anyway。　I　could　only　watch　and　wait。　I　might　perhaps　have　consulted　Saruman　the　White；　but　something　always　held　me　back。'

'Who　is　he？'　asked　Frodo。　I　have　never　heard　of　him　before。'

'Maybe　not；'　answered　Gandalf。　'Hobbits　are；　or　were；　no　concern　of　his。　Yet　he　is　great　among　the　Wise。　He　is　the　chief　of　my　order　and　the　head　of　the　Council。　His　knowledge　is　deep；　but　his　pride　has　grown　with　it；　and　he　takes　ill　any　meddling。　The　lore　of　the　Elvenrings；　great　and　small；　is　his　province。　He　has　long　studied　it；　seeking　the　lost　secrets　of　their　making；　but　when　the　Rings　were　debated　in　the　Council；　all　that　he　would　reveal　to　us　of　his　ringlore　told　against　my　fears。　So　my　doubt　slept　。　but　uneasily。　Still　I　watched　and　I　waited。

'And　all　seemed　well　with　Bilbo。　And　the　years　passed。　Yes；　they　passed；　and　they　seemed　not　to　touch　him。　He　showed　no　signs　of　age。　The　shadow　fell　on　me　again。　But　I　said　to　myself：　〃After　all　he　es　of　a　longlived　family　on　his　mother's　side。　There　is　time　yet。　Wait！〃

'And　I　waited。　Until　that　night　when　he　left　this　house。　He　said　and　did　things　then　that　filled　me　with　a　fear　that　no　words　of　Saruman　could　allay。　I　knew　at　last　that　something　dark　and　deadly　was　at　work。　And　I　have　spent　most　of　the　years　since　then　in　finding　out　the　truth　of　it。'

'There　wasn't　any　permanent　harm　done；　was　there？'　asked　Frodo　anxiously。　'He　would　get　all　right　in　time；　wouldn't　he？　Be　able　to　rest　in　peace；　I　mean？'

'He　felt　better　at　once；'　said　Gandalf。　'But　there　is　only　one　Power　in　this　world　that　knows　all　about　the　Rings　and　their　effects；　and　as　far　as　I　know　there　is　no　Power　in　the　world　that　knows　all　about　hobbits。　Among　the　Wise　I　am　the　only　one　that　goes　in　for　hobbitlore：　an　obscure　branch　of　knowledge；　but　full　of　surprises。　Soft　as　butter　they　can　be；　and　yet　sometimes　as　tough　as　old　treeroots。　I　think　it　likely　that　some　would　resist　the　Rings　far　longer　than　most　of　the　Wise　would　believe。　I　don't　think　you　need　worry　about　Bilbo。

'Of　course；　he　possessed　the　ring　for　many　years；　and　used　it；　so　it　might　take　a　long　while　for　the　influence　to　wear　off　。　before　it　was　safe　for　him　to　see　it　again；　for　instance。　Otherwise；　he　might　live　on　for　years；　quite　happily：　just　stop　as　he　was　when　he　parted　with　it。　For　he　gave　it　up　in　the　end　of　his　own　accord：　an　important　point。　No；　I　was　not　troubled　about　dear　Bilbo　any　more；　once　he　had　let　the　thing　go。　It　is　for　you　that　I　feel　responsible。

'Ever　since　Bilbo　left　I　have　been　deeply　concerned　about　you；　and　about　all　these　charming；　absurd；　helpless　hobbits。　It　would　be　a　grievous　blow　to　the　world；　if　the　Dark　Power　overcame　the　Shire；　if　all　your　kind；　jolly；　stupid　Bolgers；　Hornblowers；　Boffins；　Bracegirdles；　and　the　rest；　not　to　mention　the　ridiculous　Bagginses；　became　enslaved。'

Frodo　shuddered。　'But　why　should　we　be？'　he　asked。　'And　why　should　he　want　such　slaves？'

'To　tell　you　the　truth；'　replied　Gandalf；　'I　believe　that　hitherto　。　hitherto；　mark　you　。　he　has　entirely　overlooked　the　existence　of　hobbits。　You　should　be　thankful。　But　your　safety　has　passed。　He　does　not　need　you　。　he　has　many　more　useful　servants　。　but　he　won't　fet　you　again。　And　hobbits　as　miserable　slaves　would　please　him　far　more　than　hobbits　happy　and　free。　There　is　such　a　thing　as　malice　and　revenge。'

'Revenge？'　said　Frodo。　'Revenge　for　what？　I　still　don't　understand　what　all　this　has　to　do　with　Bilbo　and　myself；　and　our　ring。'

'It　has　everything　to　do　with　it；'　said　Gandalf。　'You　do　not　know　the　real　peril　yet；　but　you　shall。　I　was　not　sure　of　it　myself　when　I　was　last　here；　but　the　time　has　e　to　speak。　Give　me　the　ring　for　a　moment。'

Frodo　took　it　from　his　breechespocket；　where　it　was　clasped　to　a　chain　that　hung　from　his　belt。　He　unfastened　it　and　handed　it　slowly　to　the　wizard。　It　felt　suddenly　very　heavy；　as　if　either　it　or　Frodo　himself　was　in　some　way　reluctant　for　Gandalf　to　touch　it。

Gandalf　held　it　up。　It　looked　to　be　made　of　pure　and　solid　gold。　'Can　you　see　any　markings　on　it？'　he　asked。

'No；'　said　Frodo。　'There　are　none。　It　is　quite　plain；　and　it　never　shows　a　scratch　or　sign　of　wear。'

'Well　then；　look！'　To　Frodo's　astonishment　and　distress　the　wizard　threw　it　suddenly　into　the　middle　of　a　glowing　corner　of　the　fire。　Frodo　gave　a　cry　and　groped　for　the　tongs；　but　Gandalf　held　him　back。

'Wait！'　he　said　in　a　manding　voice；　giving　Frodo　a　quick　look　from　under　his　bristling　brows。

No　apparent　change　came　over　the　ring。　After　a　while　Gandalf　got　up；　closed　the　shutters　outside　the　window；　and　drew　the　curtains。　The　room　became　dark　and　silent；　though　the　clack　of　Sam's　shears；　now　nearer　to　the　windows；　could　still　be　heard　faintly　from　the　garden。　For　a　moment　the　wizard　stood　looking　at　the　fire；　then　he　stooped　and　removed　the　ring　to　the　hearth　with　the　tongs；　and　at　once　picked　it　up。　Frodo　gasped。

It　is　quite　cool；'　said　Gandalf。　'Take　it！'　Frodo　received　it　on　his　shrinking　palm：　it　seemed　to　have　bee　thicker　and　heavier　than　ever。

'Hold　it　up！'　said　Gandalf。　'And　look　closely！'

As　Frodo　did　so；　he　now　saw　fine　lines；　finer　than　the　finest　pen　strokes；　running　along　the　ring；　outside　and　inside：　lines　of　fire　that　seemed　to　form　the　letters　of　a　flowing　script。　They　shone　piercingly　bright；　and　yet　remote；　as　if　out　of　a　great　depth。

'I　cannot　read　the　fiery　letters；'　said　Frodo　in　a　quavering　voice。

'No；'　said　Gandalf；　'but　I　can。　The　letters　are　Elvish；　of　an　ancient　mode；　but　the　language　is　that　of　Mordor；　which　I　will　not　utter　here。　But　this　in　the　mon　Tongue　is　what　is　said；　close　enough：

One　Ring　to　rule　them　all；　One　Ring　to　find　them；
One　Ring　to　bring　them　all　and　in　the　darkness　bind　them。
It　is　only　two　lines　of　a　verse　long　known　in　Elvenlore：
Three　Rings　for　the　Elvenkings　under　the　sky；
Seven　for　the　Dwarflords　in　their　halls　of　stone；
Nine　for　Mortal　Men　doomed　to　die；
One　for　the　Dark　Lord　on　his　dark　throne
In　the　Land　of　Mordor　where　the　Shadows　lie。
One　Ring　to　rule　them　all。　One　Ring　to　find　them；
One　Ring　to　bring　them　all　and　in　the　darkness　bind　them
In　the　Land　of　Mordor　where　the　Shadows　lie。'

He　paused；　and　then　said　slowly　in　a　deep　voice：　'This　is　the　Master　ring；　the　One　Ring　to　rule　them　all。　This　is　the　One　Ring　that　he　lost　many　ages　ago；　to　the　great　weakening　of　his　power。　He　greatly　desires　it　。　but　he　must　not　get　it。'

Frodo　sat　silent　and　motionless。　Fear　seemed　to　stretch　out　a　vast　hand；　like　a　dark　cloud　rising　in　the　East　and　looming　up　to　engulf　him。　'This　ring！'　he　stammered。　'How；　how　on　earth　did　it　e　to　me？'

'Ah！'　said　Gandalf。　'That　is　a　very　long　story。　The　beginnings　lie　back　in　the　Black　Years；　which　only　the　loremasters　now　remember。　If　I　were　to　tell　you　all　that　tale；　we　should　still　be　sitting　here　when　Spring　had　passed　into　Winter。

'But　last　night　I　told　you　of　Sauron　the　Great；　the　Dark　Lord。　The　rumours　that　you　have　heard　are　true：　he　has　indeed　arisen　again　and　left　his　hold　in　Mirkwood　and　returned　to　his　ancient　fastness　in　the　Dark　Tower　of　Mordor。　That　name　even　you　hobbits　have　heard　of；　like　a　shadow　on　the　borders　of　old　stories。　Always　after　a　defeat　and　a　respite；　the　Shadow　takes　another　shape　and　grows　again。'

'I　wish　it　need　not　have　happened　in　my　time；'　said　Frodo。

'So　do　I；'　said　Gandalf；　'and　so　do　all　who　live　to　see　such　times。　But　that　is　not　for　them　to　decide。　All　we　have　to　decide　is　what　to　do　with　the　time　that　is　given；　us。　And　already；　Frodo；　our　time　is　beginning　to　look　black。　The　Enemy　is　fast　being　very　strong。　His　plans　are　far　from　ripe；　I　think；　but　they　are　ripening。　We　shall　be　hard　put　to　it。　We　should　be　very　hard　put　to　it；　even　if　it　were　not　for　this　dreadful　chance。

'The　Enemy　still　lacks　one　thing　to　give　him　strength　and　knowledge　to　beat　down　all　resistance；　break　the　last　defences；　and　cover　all　the　lands　in　a　second　darkness。　He　lacks　the　One　Ring。

'The　Three；　fairest　of　all；　the　Elflords　hid　from　him；　and　his　hand　never　touched　them　or　sullied　them。　Seven　the　Dwarfkings　possessed；　but　three　he　has　recovered；　and　the　others　the　dragons　have　consumed。　Nine　he　gave　to　Mortal　Men；　proud　and　great；　and　so　ensnared　them。　Long　ago　they　fell　under　the　dominion　of　the　One；　and　they　became　Ringwraiths；　shadows　under　his　great　Shadow；　his　most　terrible　servants。　Long　ago。　It　is　many　a　year　since　the　Nine　walked　abroad。　Yet　who　knows？　As　the　Shadow　grows　once　more；　they　too　may　walk　again。　But　e！　We　will　not　speak　of　such　things　even　in　the　morning　of　the　Shire。

'So　it　is　now：　the　Nine　he　has　gathered　to　himself；　the　Seven　also；　or　else　they　are　destroyed。　The　Three