Chapter 8 FOG ON THE BARROW-DOWNS That night they heard no noises. But either in his dreams or out of them, he could not tell which, Frodo heard a sweet singing running in his mind: a song that seemed to come like a pale light behind a grey rain-curtain, and growing stronger to turn the veil all to glass and silver, until at last it was rolled back, and a far green country opened before him under a swift sunrise. The vision melted into waking; and there was Tom whistling like a tree-full of birds; and the sun was already slanting down the hill and through the open window. Outside everything was green and pale gold. After breakfast, which they again ate alone, they made ready to say farewell, as nearly heavy of heart as was possible on such a morning: cool, bright, and clean under a washed autumn sky of thin blue. The air came fresh from the North-west. Their quiet ponies were almost frisky, sniffing and moving restlessly. Tom came out of the house and waved his hat and danced upon the doorstep, bidding the hobbits to get up and be off and go with good speed. They rode off along a path that wound away from behind the house, and went slanting up towards the north end of the hill-brow under which it sheltered. They had just dismounted to lead their ponies up the last steep slope, when suddenly Frodo stopped. ‘Goldberry!’ he cried. ‘My fair lady, clad all in silver green! We have never said farewell to her, nor seen her since the evening!’ He was so distressed that he turned back; but at that moment a clear call came rippling down. There on the hill-brow she stood beckoning to them: her hair was flying loose, and as it caught the sun it shone and shimmered. A light like the glint of water on dewy grass flashed from under her feet as she danced. They hastened up the last slope, and stood breathless beside her. They bowed, but with a wave of her arm she bade them look round; and they looked out from the hill-top over lands under the morning. It was now as clear and far-seen as it had been veiled and misty when they stood upon the knoll in the Forest, which could now be seen rising pale and green out of the dark trees in the West. In that direction the land rose in wooded ridges, green, yellow, russet under the sun, beyond which lay hidden the valley of the Brandywine. To the South, over the line of the Withywindle, there was a distant glint like pale glass where the Brandywine River made a great loop in
136 THE LORD OF THE RINGS the lowlands and flowed away out of the knowledge of the hobbits. Northward beyond the dwindling downs the land ran away in flats and swellings of grey and green and pale earth-colours, until it faded into a featureless and shadowy distance. Eastward the Barrow-downs rose, ridge behind ridge into the morning, and vanished out of eyesight into a guess: it was no more than a guess of blue and a remote white glimmer blending with the hem of the sky, but it spoke to them, out of memory and old tales, of the high and distant mountains. They took a deep draught of the air, and felt that a skip and a few stout strides would bear them wherever they wished. It seemed fainthearted to go jogging aside over the crumpled skirts of the downs towards the Road, when they should be leaping, as lusty as Tom, over the stepping stones of the hills straight towards the Mountains. Goldberry spoke to them and recalled their eyes and thoughts. ‘Speed now, fair guests!’ she said. ‘And hold to your purpose! North with the wind in the left eye and a blessing on your footsteps! Make haste while the Sun shines!’ And to Frodo she said: ‘Farewell, Elffriend, it was a merry meeting!’ But Frodo found no words to answer. He bowed low, and mounted his pony, and followed by his friends jogged slowly down the gentle slope behind the hill. Tom Bombadil’s house and the valley, and the Forest were lost to view. The air grew warmer between the green walls of hillside and hillside, and the scent of turf rose strong and sweet as they breathed. Turning back, when they reached the bottom of the green hollow, they saw Goldberry, now small and slender like a sunlit flower against the sky: she was standing still watching them, and her hands were stretched out towards them. As they looked she gave a clear call, and lifting up her hand she turned and vanished behind the hill. Their way wound along the floor of the hollow, and round the green feet of a steep hill into another deeper and broader valley, and then over the shoulders of further hills, and down their long limbs, and up their smooth sides again, up on to new hill-tops and down into new valleys. There was no tree nor any visible water: it was a country of grass and short springy turf, silent except for the whisper of the air over the edges of the land, and high lonely cries of strange birds. As they journeyed the sun mounted, and grew hot. Each time they climbed a ridge the breeze seemed to have grown less. When they caught a glimpse of the country westward the distant Forest seemed to be smoking, as if the fallen rain was steaming up again from leaf and root and mould. A shadow now lay round the edge of sight, a dark haze above which the upper sky was like a blue cap, hot and heavy.
低地在他們腳下伸展，河流淌向遠方，消失在哈比人所知的世界之外。往北，逐漸隱沒的丘陵之外，大地延展成一片片平地與緩坡，呈現著灰、綠與淺淡的土色，最終融入一片朦朧而無從分辨的遠方。東邊，古塚崗隆起，山脊一道接著一道，迎向晨光，最終消失在視線之外，成為一個猜測：那不過是藍色的一抹猜想，以及一道與天際線融為一體的遙遠白色微光，但它透過記憶與古老傳說，向他們訴說著那高聳而遙遠的群山。他們深深吸了一口氣，感覺只要輕輕一躍，再邁開幾步有力的步伐，就能帶他們到任何想去的地方。相較於像湯姆那樣充滿活力地躍過山丘的踏腳石，直奔群山，若要膽怯地沿著丘陵皺褶的裙邊，迂迴地走向大路，似乎太過懦弱了。金莓對他們說話，喚回了他們的目光與思緒。「快啟程吧，尊貴的客人們！」她說。「要堅守你們的目標！向北走，讓風吹拂左眼，願你們的腳步蒙受祝福！趁著陽光正好，趕快動身吧！」她又對佛羅多說：「再會了，精靈之友，這是一次愉快的相會！」但佛羅多卻找不到話來回答。他深深一鞠躬，跨上他的小馬，朋友們跟在身後，緩緩地沿著山丘後面的緩坡慢行而下。湯姆·龐巴迪的房子、山谷和老林都消失在視野中了。在兩側山坡的綠色牆壁之間，空氣變得溫暖起來，他們呼吸時，草皮的氣味濃郁而甜美地升起。當他們到達綠色窪地的底部時，回頭望去，他們看見了金莓，此刻她嬌小纖細，像一朵迎著陽光的花朵，襯著天空：她靜靜地站著注視他們，雙手向他們伸出。就在他們注視時，她發出一聲清脆的呼喚，舉起手，轉身消失在山丘後面。他們的路沿著窪地底部蜿蜒，繞過一座陡峭山丘的綠色山腳，進入另一個更深更寬的山谷，然後越過更多山丘的肩部，順著它們長長的肢幹而下，再爬上它們平滑的坡面，登上新的山頂，又下到新的山谷。這裡沒有樹木，也看不見任何水源：這是一片由青草和短而有彈性的草皮構成的國度，除了風吹過大地邊緣的低語，以及奇異鳥類高亢而孤寂的啼叫，一片寂靜。他們繼續前行，太陽升得更高，也變得炙熱。每當他們爬上一道山脊，微風似乎就減弱了一些。當他們瞥見西邊的鄉野時，遠方的老林彷彿在冒煙，好像先前落下的雨水正從葉片、樹根和腐植土中再次蒸發上來。此刻，一道陰影籠罩在視線的邊緣，那是一片黑色的薄霧，其上的天空像一頂藍色的帽子，又熱又沉重。
FOG ON THE BARROW-DOWNS 137 About mid-day they came to a hill whose top was wide and flattened, like a shallow saucer with a green mounded rim. Inside there was no air stirring, and the sky seemed near their heads. They rode across and looked northwards. Then their hearts rose; for it seemed plain that they had come further already than they had expected. Certainly the distances had now all become hazy and deceptive, but there could be no doubt that the Downs were coming to an end. A long valley lay below them winding away northwards, until it came to an opening between two steep shoulders. Beyond, there seemed to be no more hills. Due north they faintly glimpsed a long dark line. “That is a line of trees,’ said Merry, ‘and that must mark the Road. All along it for many leagues east of the Bridge there are trees growing. Some say they were planted in the old days.’ ‘Splendid!’ said Frodo. ‘If we make as good going this afternoon as we have done this morning, we shall have left the Downs before the Sun sets and be jogging on in search of a camping place.’ But even as he spoke he turned his glance eastwards, and he saw that on that side the hills were higher and looked down upon them; and all those hills were crowned with green mounds, and on some were standing stones, pointing upwards like jagged teeth out of green gums. That view was somehow disquieting; so they turned from the sight and went down into the hollow circle. In the midst of it there stood a single stone, standing tall under the sun above, and at this hour casting no shadow. It was shapeless and yet significant: like a landmark, or a guarding finger, or more like a warning. But they were now hungry, and the sun was still at the fearless noon; so they set their backs against the east side of the stone. It was cool, as if the sun had had no power to warm it; but at that time this seemed pleasant. There they took food and drink, and made as good a noonmeal under the open sky as anyone could wish; for the food came from ‘down under Hill’. Tom had provided them with plenty for the comfort of the day. Their ponies unburdened strayed upon the grass. Riding over the hills, and eating their fill, the warm sun and the scent of turf, lying a little too long, stretching out their legs and looking at the sky above their noses: these things are, perhaps, enough to explain what happened. However that may be: they woke suddenly and uncomfortably from a sleep they had never meant to take. The standing stone was cold, and it cast a long pale shadow that stretched eastward over them. The sun, a pale and watery yellow, was gleaming through the mist just above the west wall of the hollow in which they lay; north, south, and east, beyond the wall the fog was thick, cold and white. The air was silent, heavy and chill. Their ponies were standing crowded together with their heads down.
138 THE LORD OF THE RINGS The hobbits sprang to their feet in alarm, and ran to the western rim. They found that they were upon an island in the fog. Even as they looked out in dismay towards the setting sun, it sank before their eyes into a white sea, and a cold grey shadow sprang up in the East behind. The fog rolled up to the walls and rose above them, and as it mounted it bent over their heads until it became a roof: they were shut in a hall of mist whose central pillar was the standing stone. They felt as if a trap was closing about them; but they did not quite lose heart. They still remembered the hopeful view they had had of the line of the Road ahead, and they still knew in which direction it lay. In any case, they now had so great a dislike for that hollow place about the stone that no thought of remaining there was in their minds. They packed up as quickly as their chilled fingers would work. Soon they were leading their ponies in single file over the rim and down the long northward slope of the hill, down into a foggy sea. As they went down the mist became colder and damper, and their hair hung lank and dripping on their foreheads. When they reached the bottom it was so chill that they halted and got out cloaks and hoods, which soon became bedewed with grey drops. Then, mounting their ponies, they went slowly on again, feeling their way by the rise and fall of the ground. They were steering, as well as they could guess, for the gate-like opening at the far northward end of the long valley which they had seen in the morning. Once they were through the gap, they had only to keep on in anything like a straight line and they were bound in the end to strike the Road. Their thoughts did not go beyond that, except for a vague hope that perhaps away beyond the Downs there might be no fog. Their going was very slow. To prevent their getting separated and wandering in different directions they went in file, with Frodo leading. Sam was behind him, and after him came Pippin, and then Merry. The valley seemed to stretch on endlessly. Suddenly Frodo saw a hopeful sign. On either side ahead a darkness began to loom through the mist; and he guessed that they were at last approaching the gap in the hills, the north-gate of the Barrow-downs. If they could pass that, they would be free. ‘Come on! Follow me!’ he called back over his shoulder, and he hurried forward. But his hope soon changed to bewilderment and alarm. The dark patches grew darker, but they shrank; and suddenly he saw, towering ominous before him and leaning slightly towards one another like the pillars of a headless door, two huge standing stones. He could not remember having seen any sign of these in the
哈比人驚跳起來，跑到西邊的邊緣。他們發現自己身處濃霧中的一座孤島上。正當他們沮喪地望向西沉的太陽時，它就在他們眼前沉入一片白色的海洋，而一道冰冷的灰色陰影從身後的東方升起。濃霧翻滾著湧向石牆並升到牆頂之上，隨著霧氣升高，它彎曲下來籠罩在他們頭頂，直到變成一個屋頂：他們被關在一個以那塊直立巨石為中央支柱的迷霧大廳裡。他們感覺像是有個陷阱正朝他們收攏；但他們尚未完全絕望。他們還記得先前看到前方大路時那充滿希望的景象，也還知道大路在哪個方向。無論如何，他們現在對巨石周圍那片凹地厭惡至極，腦中沒有一絲想留下來的念頭。他們用凍僵的手指盡可能快地收拾行囊。很快地，他們牽著小馬排成一列，越過山丘邊緣，走下長長的北坡，進入一片霧海。隨著他們往下走，霧氣變得更冷、更濕，他們的頭髮濕透、軟塌塌地垂在額前滴水。當他們到達底部時，天氣冷得讓他們停下來，拿出斗篷和兜帽，而這些衣物很快就沾滿了灰色的霧珠。然後，他們騎上小馬，憑藉著地面的起伏摸索著，再次緩慢前行。他們盡其所能地朝著早上看到的、位於長谷最北端的那個像大門一樣的隘口前進。一旦穿過那個缺口，他們只需盡量保持直線前行，最終必定能走到大路上。他們的思緒僅止於此，除了一個模糊的希望：或許在古墓崗之外就沒有霧了。他們走得非常慢。為了防止走散或朝不同方向亂闖，他們排成一列，由佛羅多帶頭。山姆在他身後，接著是皮聘，然後是梅里。山谷似乎無止盡地延伸。突然，佛羅多看到一個充滿希望的跡象。前方兩側，一團黑暗開始在霧中若隱若現；他猜想他們終於接近山丘的缺口，也就是古墓崗的北門了。如果能通過那裡，他們就自由了。「來吧！跟著我！」他回頭喊道，然後加快了腳步。但他的希望很快就變成了困惑和驚恐。那兩片黑影變得更黑，但體積卻縮小了；他突然看見，兩塊巨大的直立岩石不祥地高聳在他面前，像無頭門的門柱般微微向彼此傾斜。他不記得曾見過任何這樣的跡象。
FOG ON THE BARROW-DOWNS 139 valley, when he looked out from the hill in the morning. He had passed between them almost before he was aware: and even as he did so darkness seemed to fall round him. His pony reared and snorted, and he fell off. When he looked back he found that he was alone: the others had not followed him. ‘Sam!’ he called. ‘Pippin! Merry! Come along! Why don’t you keep up?’ There was no answer. Fear took him, and he ran back past the stones shouting wildly: ‘Sam! Sam! Merry! Pippin!’ The pony bolted into the mist and vanished. From some way off, or so it seemed, he thought he heard a cry: ‘Hoy! Frodo! Hoy!’ It was away eastward, on his left as he stood under the great stones, staring and straining into the gloom. He plunged off in the direction of the call, and found himself going steeply uphill. As he struggled on he called again, and kept on calling more and more frantically; but he heard no answer for some time, and then it seemed faint and far ahead and high above him. ‘Frodo! Hoy!’ came the thin voices out of the mist: and then a cry that sounded like help, help! often repeated, ending with a last help! that trailed off into a long wail suddenly cut short. He stumbled forward with all the speed he could towards the cries; but the light was now gone, and clinging night had closed about him, so that it was impossible to be sure of any direction. He seemed all the time to be climbing up and up. Only the change in the level of the ground at his feet told him when he at last came to the top of a ridge or hill. He was weary, sweating and yet chilled. It was wholly dark. ‘Where are you?’ he cried out miserably. There was no reply. He stood listening. He was suddenly aware that it was getting very cold, and that up here a wind was beginning to blow, an icy wind. A change was coming in the weather. The mist was flowing past him now in shreds and tatters. His breath was smoking, and the darkness was less near and thick. He looked up and saw with surprise that faint stars were appearing overhead amid the strands of hurrying cloud and fog. The wind began to hiss over the grass. He imagined suddenly that he caught a muffled cry, and he made towards it; and even as he went forward the mist was rolled up and thrust aside, and the starry sky was unveiled. A glance showed him that he was now facing southwards and was on a round hill-top, which he must have climbed from the north. Out of the east the biting wind was blowing. To his right there loomed against the westward stars a dark black shape. A great barrow stood there. ‘Where are you?’ he cried again, both angry and afraid.
I40 THE LORD OF THE RINGS ‘Here!’ said a voice, deep and cold, that seemed to come out of the ground. ‘I am waiting for you!’ ‘No!’ said Frodo; but he did not run away. His knees gave, and he fell on the ground. Nothing happened, and there was no sound. Trembling he looked up, in time to see a tall dark figure like a shadow against the stars. It leaned over him. He thought there were two eyes, very cold though lit with a pale light that seemed to come from some remote distance. Then a grip stronger and colder than iron seized him. The icy touch froze his bones, and he remembered no more. When he came to himself again, for a moment he could recall nothing except a sense of dread. Then suddenly he knew that he was imprisoned, caught hopelessly; he was in a barrow. A Barrow-wight had taken him, and he was probably already under the dreadful spells of the Barrow-wights about which whispered tales spoke. He dared not move, but lay as he found himself: flat on his back upon a cold stone with his hands on his breast. But though his fear was so great that it seemed to be part of the very darkness that was round him, he found himself as he lay thinking about Bilbo Baggins and his stories, of their jogging along together in the lanes of the Shire and talking about roads and adventures. There is a seed of courage hidden (often deeply, it is true) in the heart of the fattest and most timid hobbit, waiting for some final and desperate danger to make it grow. Frodo was neither very fat nor very timid; indeed, though he did not know it, Bilbo (and Gandalf) had thought him the best hobbit in the Shire. He thought he had come to the end of his adventure, and a terrible end, but the thought hardened him. He found himself stiffening, as if for a final spring; he no longer felt limp like a helpless prey. As he lay there, thinking and getting a hold of himself, he noticed all at once that the darkness was slowly giving way: a pale greenish light was growing round him. It did not at first show him what kind of a place he was in, for the light seemed to be coming out of himself, and from the floor beside him, and had not yet reached the roof or wall. He turned, and there in the cold glow he saw lying beside him Sam, Pippin, and Merry. They were on their backs, and their faces looked deathly pale; and they were clad in white. About them lay many treasures, of gold maybe, though in that light they looked cold and unlovely. On their heads were circlets, gold chains were about their waists, and on their fingers were many rings. Swords lay by their sides, and shields were at their feet. But across their three necks lay one long naked sword.
FOG ON THE BARROW-DOWNS I4I Suddenly a song began: a cold murmur, rising and falling. The voice seemed far away and immeasurably dreary, sometimes high in the air and thin, sometimes like a low moan from the ground. Out of the formless stream of sad but horrible sounds, strings of words would now and again shape themselves: grim, hard, cold words, heartless and miserable. The night was railing against the morning of which it was bereaved, and the cold was cursing the warmth for which it hungered. Frodo was chilled to the marrow. After a while the song became clearer, and with dread in his heart he perceived that it had changed into an incantation: Cold be hand and heart and bone, and cold be sleep under stone: never more to wake on stony bed, never, till the Sun fails and the Moon ts dead. In the black wind the stars shall die, and still on gold here let them lie, till the dark lord lifts his hand over dead sea and withered land. He heard behind his head a creaking and scraping sound. Raising himself on one arm he looked, and saw now in the pale light that they were in a kind of passage which behind them turned a corner. Round the corner a long arm was groping, walking on its fingers towards Sam, who was lying nearest, and towards the hilt of the sword that lay upon him. At first Frodo felt as if he had indeed been turned into stone by the incantation. Then a wild thought of escape came to him. He wondered if he put on the Ring, whether the Barrow-wight would miss him, and he might find some way out. He thought of himself running free over the grass, grieving for Merry, and Sam, and Pippin, but free and alive himself. Gandalf would admit that there had been nothing else he could do. But the courage that had been awakened in him was now too strong: he could not leave his friends so easily. He wavered, groping in his pocket, and then fought with himself again; and as he did so the arm crept nearer. Suddenly resolve hardened in him, and he seized a short sword that lay beside him, and kneeling he stooped low over the bodies of his companions. With what strength he had he hewed at the crawling arm near the wrist, and the hand broke off; but at the same moment the sword splintered up to the hilt. There was a shriek and the light vanished. In the dark there was a snarling noise. Frodo fell forward over Merry, and Merry’s face felt cold. All at
突然間，一首歌響起：一陣冰冷的低語，時高時低。歌聲似乎很遙遠，陰鬱得難以衡量，時而高亢尖細，時而又像從地底傳來的低沉呻吟。從那不成形、悲傷卻又可怕的聲音流中，偶爾會凝聚成一串串的詞語：冷酷、僵硬、冰冷的字眼，無情而悲慘。黑夜正怒斥著它所失去的清晨，寒冷正詛咒著它所渴望的溫暖。佛羅多感到寒徹骨髓。過了一會兒，歌聲變得更清晰了，他心中充滿恐懼，意識到那已變成了一段咒語：「手、心、骨皆冰冷，石下長眠亦寒凍：再也無法從石床上醒來，永不，直到太陽殞落、月亮死去。在黑風中，星辰將會熄滅，但黃金仍將在此靜躺，直到黑暗魔君舉起他的手，籠罩死海與枯萎之地。」他聽到腦後傳來一陣嘎吱作響和刮擦的聲音。他用一隻手臂撐起身子，望向四周，在蒼白的光線下，他看見他們身處一條通道之中，通道在他們身後轉了個彎。轉角處，一隻長長的手臂正在摸索著，用手指走路，朝著躺得最近的山姆，以及放在他身上的那把劍的劍柄伸去。起初，佛羅多感覺自己彷彿真的被咒語變成了石頭。接著，一個瘋狂的逃跑念頭閃過他的腦海。他想，如果他戴上魔戒，古墓屍妖會不會就看不到他，而他或許就能找到出路。他想像著自己在草地上自由奔跑，為梅里、山姆和皮聘感到悲傷，但自己卻自由地活著。甘道夫也會承認他別無選擇。但他心中被喚醒的勇氣此刻太過強大：他無法如此輕易地拋下他的朋友們。他猶豫了，在口袋裡摸索著，然後又再次與自己內心交戰；就在此時，那隻手臂爬得更近了。突然間，他的決心堅定起來，他抓起身邊的一把短劍，跪下來，低身護住同伴們的身體。他用盡全身力氣，朝著那隻爬行手臂的手腕處砍去，手斷了；但與此同時，劍也碎裂至劍柄。一聲尖叫響起，光線消失了。黑暗中傳來一陣咆哮聲。佛羅多向前倒在梅里身上，梅里的臉感覺冰冷。
142 THE LORD OF THE RINGS once back into his mind, from which it had disappeared with the first coming of the fog, came the memory of the house down under the Hill, and of Tom singing. He remembered the rhyme that Tom had taught them. In a small desperate voice he began: Ho! Tom Bombadil! and with that name his voice seemed to grow strong: it had a full and lively sound, and the dark chamber echoed as if to drum and trumpet. Ho! Tom Bombadil, Tom Bombadillo! By water, wood and hill, by the reed and willow, By fire, sun and moon, harken now and hear us! Come, Tom Bombadil, for our need is near us! There was a sudden deep silence, in which Frodo could hear his heart beating. After a long slow moment he heard plain, but far away, as if it was coming down through the ground or through thick walls, an answering voice singing: Old Tom Bombadil is a merry fellow, Bright blue his jacket 1s, and his boots are ‘yellow. None has ever caught him yet, for Tom, he is the master: His songs are stronger songs, and his feet are faster. There was a loud rumbling sound, as of stones rolling and falling, and suddenly light streamed in, real light, the plain light of day. A low door-like opening appeared at the end of the chamber beyond Frodo’s feet; and there was Tom’s head (hat, feather, and all) framed against the light of the sun rising red behind him. The light fell upon the floor, and upon the faces of the three hobbits lying beside Frodo. They did not stir, but the sickly hue had left them. They looked now as if they were only very deeply asleep. Tom stooped, removed his hat, and came into the dark chamber, singing: Get out, you old Wight! Vanish in the sunlight! Shrivel like the cold mist, like the winds go wailing, Out into the barren lands far beyond the mountains! Come never here again! Leave your barrow empty! Lost and forgotten be, darker than the darkness, Where gates stand for ever shut, till the world is mended. At these words there was a cry and part of the inner end of the chamber fell in with a crash. Then there was a long trailing shriek, fading away into an unguessable distance; and after that silence.
他腦中一度因初霧而消失的記憶，此刻又回來了——山丘下那棟房子的記憶，以及湯姆歌唱的記憶。他想起了湯姆教給他們的詩謠。他用微弱而絕望的聲音開始唱道：嗬！湯姆·邦巴迪爾！隨著這個名字出口，他的聲音似乎變得強壯起來：它充滿了活力與飽滿的聲響，黑暗的墓室也隨之迴盪，彷彿有鼓聲和號角。嗬！湯姆·邦巴迪爾，湯姆·邦巴迪囉！憑藉流水、林木與山丘，憑藉蘆葦與楊柳，憑藉火焰、太陽與月亮，此刻請聽我們的呼喚！來吧，湯姆·邦巴迪爾，因我們危在旦夕！ 突然間，四周陷入一片死寂，佛羅多能聽見自己的心跳聲。在一個漫長而緩慢的片刻之後，他清楚地聽到，一個應答的歌聲，雖然遙遠，彷彿穿透地底或厚牆而來： 老湯姆·邦巴迪爾是個快活的傢伙， 他的夾克亮藍，靴子是『黃色』。 誰也沒能抓到他，因為湯姆，他才是主宰： 他的歌是更強的歌，他的腳步更飛快。 一陣巨大的轟隆聲響起，像是石頭滾動崩落，接著光線突然湧入——真正的光，白日的光。在佛羅多腳邊的墓室盡頭，出現了一個低矮的門狀開口；湯姆的頭（連同帽子、羽毛和一切）在身後火紅的朝陽光芒中顯現出輪廓。光線落在地板上，也落在佛羅多身旁躺著的三個哈比人臉上。他們沒有動，但那病態的色澤已經褪去。他們現在看起來只是沉沉地睡著了。 湯姆彎下腰，脫下帽子，走進黑暗的墓室，唱道： 滾出去，你這老屍妖！在陽光中消失！ 像寒霧般萎縮，像悲號的風， 滾到山脈之外那不毛之地！ 永遠別再回來！讓你的古墓空寂！ 願你被遺忘，比黑暗更幽暗， 在那永閉的門後，直到世界被修補。 隨著這些話語，一聲尖叫響起，墓室內側的一部分應聲崩塌。接著是一聲長長的、拖曳的尖嘯，逐漸消失在無法猜測的遠方；然後，一切歸於寂靜。
FOG ON THE BARROW-DOWNS 143 ‘Come, friend Frodo!’ said Tom. ‘Let us get out on to clean grass! You must help me bear them.’ Together they carried out Merry, Pippin, and Sam. As Frodo left the barrow for the last time he thought he saw a severed hand wriggling still, like a wounded spider, in a heap of fallen earth. Tom went back in again, and there was a sound of much thumping and stamping. When he came out he was bearing in his arms a great load of treasure: things of gold, silver, copper, and bronze; many beads and chains and jewelled ornaments. He climbed the green barrow and laid them all on top in the sunshine. There he stood, with his hat in his hand and the wind in his hair, and looked down upon the three hobbits, that had been laid on their backs upon the grass at the west side of the mound. Raising his right hand he said in a clear and commanding voice: Wake now my merry lads! Wake and hear me calling! Warm now be heart and limb! The cold stone is fallen; Dark door ts standing wide; dead hand 1s broken. Night under Night is flown, and the Gate 1s open! To Frodo’s great joy the hobbits stirred, stretched their arms, rubbed their eyes, and then suddenly sprang up. They looked about in amazement, first at Frodo, and then at Tom standing large as life on the barrow-top above them; and then at themselves in their thin white rags, crowned and belted with pale gold, and jingling with trinkets. ‘What in the name of wonder?’ began Merry, feeling the golden circlet that had slipped over one eye. Then he stopped, and a shadow came over his face, and he closed his eyes. ‘Of course, I remember!’ he said. “The men of Carn Dim came on us at night, and we were worsted. Ah! the spear in my heart!’ He clutched at his breast. ‘No! No!’ he said, opening his eyes. ‘What am I saying? I have been dreaming. Where did you get to, Frodo?’ ‘I thought that I was lost,’ said Frodo; ‘but I don’t want to speak of it. Let us think of what we are to do now! Let us go on!’ ‘Dressed up like this, sir?? said Sam. ‘Where are my clothes?’ He flung his circlet, belt, and rings on the grass, and looked round helplessly, as if he expected to find his cloak, jacket, and breeches, and other hobbit-garments lying somewhere to hand. “You won’t find your clothes again,’ said Tom, bounding down from the mound, and laughing as he danced round them in the sunlight. One would have thought that nothing dangerous or dreadful had happened; and indeed the horror faded out of their hearts as they looked at him, and saw the merry glint in his eyes.
「來，佛羅多朋友！」湯姆說。「我們到乾淨的草地上來！你得幫我把他們抬出來。」他們一起把梅里、皮聘和山姆抬了出來。當佛羅多最後一次離開古塚時，他彷彿看到一隻被砍斷的手，在一堆塌落的土裡，像隻受傷的蜘蛛般仍在蠕動。湯姆又回到裡面，傳來一陣重重的捶打和跺腳聲。他出來時，懷裡抱著一大堆財寶：金、銀、銅、青銅製成的物品；還有許多珠子、鍊子和鑲寶石的飾品。他爬上綠色的古塚，把它們全都放在頂上陽光下。他站在那裡，帽子拿在手裡，頭髮在風中飄揚，低頭看著那三個被放在塚西邊草地上仰躺著的哈比人。他舉起右手，用清晰而有力的聲音說道：「醒來吧，我快樂的小伙子們！醒來聽我呼喚！溫暖吧，心靈與四肢！冰冷的石頭已倒塌；黑暗的門戶已敞開；死亡之手已折斷。黑夜下的黑夜已飛逝，大門已開啟！」令佛羅多大喜的是，哈比人們動了動，伸了伸手臂，揉了揉眼睛，然後突然跳了起來。他們驚訝地環顧四周，先是看著佛羅多，然後是看著活生生站在他們上方塚頂的湯姆；接著又看著自己身上單薄的白袍，頭戴、腰繫著淡金色的飾品，叮噹作響。「這究竟是怎麼回事？」梅里開口，摸著滑到一隻眼睛上的金環。然後他停了下來，臉上掠過一絲陰影，閉上了眼睛。「當然，我記起來了！」他說。「卡恩督的人在夜裡襲擊了我們，我們被打敗了。啊！那支刺穿我心臟的矛！」他緊抓著自己的胸口。「不！不！」他睜開眼睛說。「我在說什麼？我一直在做夢。你到哪裡去了，佛羅多？」「我以為我迷路了，」佛羅多說，「但我不想談這件事。我們還是想想現在該怎麼辦吧！我們繼續前進！」「穿成這樣嗎，先生？」山姆說。「我的衣服呢？」他把頭環、腰帶和戒指扔在草地上，無助地環顧四周，彷彿期望能隨手找到他的斗篷、夾克、馬褲和其他哈比人服飾。「你的衣服是找不回來了，」湯姆從塚上跳下來說，在陽光下繞著他們跳舞，哈哈大笑。人們會以為從未發生過任何危險或可怕的事情；的確，當他們看著他，看到他眼中愉快的閃光時，內心的恐懼便消散了。
144 THE LORD OF THE RINGS ‘What do you mean?’ asked Pippin, looking at him, half puzzled and half amused. ‘Why not?’ But Tom shook his head, saying: ‘You’ve found yourselves again, out of the deep water. Clothes are but little loss, if you escape from drowning. Be glad, my merry friends, and let the warm sunlight heat now heart and limb! Cast off these cold rags! Run naked on the grass, while Tom goes a-hunting!’ He sprang away down hill, whistling and calling. Looking down after him Frodo saw him running away southwards along the green hollow between their hill and the next, still whistling and crying: Hey! now! Come hoy now! Whither do you wander? Up, down, near or far, here, there or yonder? Sharp-ears, Wise-nose, Swish-tail and Bumpkin, White-socks my little lad, and old Fatty Lumpkin! So he sang, running fast, tossing up his hat and catching it, until he was hidden by a fold of the ground: but for some time his hey now! hoy now! came floating back down the wind, which had shifted round towards the south. The air was growing very warm again. The hobbits ran about for a while on the grass, as he told them. Then they lay basking in the sun with the delight of those that have been wafted suddenly from bitter winter to a friendly clime, or of people that, after being long ill and bedridden, wake one day to find that they are unexpectedly well and the day is again full of promise. By the time that Tom returned they were feeling strong (and hungry). He reappeared, hat first, over the brow of the hill, and behind him came in an obedient line six ponies: their own five and one more. The last was plainly old Fatty Lumpkin: he was larger, stronger, fatter (and older) than their own ponies. Merry, to whom the others belonged, had not, in fact, given them any such names, but they answered to the new names that Tom had given them for the rest of their lives. Tom called them one by one and they climbed over the brow and stood in a line. Then Tom bowed to the hobbits. ‘Here are your ponies, now!’ he said. “‘They’ve more sense (in some ways) than you wandering hobbits have — more sense in their noses. For they sniff danger ahead which you walk right into; and if they run to save themselves, then they run the right way. You must forgive them all; for though their hearts are faithful, to face fear of Barrow-wights is not what they were made for. See, here they come again, bringing all their burdens!’ Merry, Sam, and Pippin now clothed themselves in spare garments
「你這是什麼意思？」皮聘看著他問，半是困惑半是好笑。「為什麼不呢？」但湯姆搖搖頭說：「你們已經脫離險境，找回自我了。要是能逃出溺死的命運，幾件衣服算不了什麼損失。開心點，我快樂的朋友們，讓溫暖的陽光溫暖你們的身心吧！脫掉這些冰冷的破布！在草地上光著身子跑，湯姆要去打獵了！」他一邊吹口哨一邊呼喊，跳著往山下跑去。佛羅多低頭望著他，看見他沿著他們所在山丘與下一個山丘之間的綠色凹地朝南跑去，依舊吹著口哨喊著：「嘿！來啊！喂，來啊！你們要漂泊到何方？上、下、近或遠，這裡、那裡或彼方？尖耳朵、靈鼻子、搖尾巴和傻大個，白襪子我的小夥子，還有老胖子金塊！」他就這樣唱著，快速奔跑，把帽子拋向空中又接住，直到身影消失在一片地面的皺褶之後；但有好一會兒，他那「嘿！來啊！喂，來啊！」的歌聲還順著轉為南向的風飄回來。空氣又變得非常溫暖。哈比人們照他的話，在草地上跑了一會兒。然後他們躺下沐浴在陽光中，那份喜悅，就像是突然從嚴冬被輕柔地送到宜人氣候之地的人，或像是久病臥床的人，某天醒來發現自己竟意外康復，而這一天又充滿了希望。等到湯姆回來時，他們感覺自己強壯（而且飢餓）了起來。他再度現身，先是帽子，越過山丘的頂緣，身後跟著一排順從的六匹小馬：他們自己的五匹，外加一匹。最後那一匹顯然就是老胖子金塊：牠比他們自己的小馬更大、更強壯、更肥（也更老）。那些小馬本是梅里的，事實上他從未給牠們取過這樣的名字，但牠們餘生都回應著湯姆給牠們取的新名字。湯姆一匹匹地呼喚牠們，牠們便越過山頂，排成一列。然後湯姆向哈比人們鞠躬。「你們的小馬回來了！」他說。「『牠們（在某些方面）比你們這些流浪的哈比人更有判斷力——牠們的鼻子更有感覺。因為牠們能嗅出前方的危險，而你們卻一頭栽進去；如果牠們跑是為了自救，那牠們跑的方向就是對的。你們必須原諒牠們；因為牠們的心是忠誠的，但面對古墓屍妖的恐懼並非牠們生來所能承受的。看，牠們又回來了，還把所有行李都帶回來了！』」梅里、山姆和皮聘現在穿上了備用的衣物。
FOG ON THE BARROW-DOWNS 145 from their packs; and they soon felt too hot, for they were obliged to put on some of the thicker and warmer things that they had brought against the oncoming of winter. ‘Where does that other old animal, that Fatty Lumpkin, come from?’ asked Frodo. ‘He’s mine,’ said Tom. ‘My four-legged friend; though I seldom ride him, and he wanders often far, free upon the hillsides. When your ponies stayed with me, they got to know my Lumpkin; and they smelt him in the night, and quickly ran to meet him. I thought he’d look for them and with his words of wisdom take all their fear away. But now, my jolly Lumpkin, old Tom’s going to ride. Hey! he’s coming with you, just to set you on the road; so he needs a pony. For you cannot easily talk to hobbits that are riding, when you’re on your own legs trying to trot beside them.’ The hobbits were delighted to hear this, and thanked Tom many times; but he laughed, and said that they were so good at losing themselves that he would not feel happy till he had seen them safe over the borders of his land. ‘ve got things to do,’ he said: ‘my making and my singing, my talking and my walking, and my watching of the country. Tom can’t be always near to open doors and willowcracks. Tom has his house to mind, and Goldberry is waiting.’ It was still fairly early by the sun, something between nine and ten, and the hobbits turned their minds to food. Their last meal had been lunch beside the standing stone the day before. They breakfasted now off the remainder of Tom’s provisions, meant for their supper, with additions that Tom had brought with him. It was not a large meal (considering hobbits and the circumstances), but they felt much better for it. While they were eating Tom went up to the mound, and looked through the treasures. Most of these he made into a pile that glistered and sparkled on the grass. He bade them lie there ‘free to all finders, birds, beasts, Elves or Men, and all kindly creatures’; for so the spell of the mound should be broken and scattered and no Wight ever come back to it. He chose for himself from the pile a brooch set with blue stones, many-shaded like flax-flowers or the wings of blue butterflies. He looked long at it, as if stirred by some memory, shaking his head, and saying at last: ‘Here is a pretty toy for Tom and for his lady! Fair was she who long ago wore this on her shoulder. Goldberry shall wear it now, and we will not forget her!’ For each of the hobbits he chose a dagger, long, leaf-shaped, and keen, of marvellous workmanship, damasked with serpent-forms in red and gold. They gleamed as he drew them from their black sheaths, wrought of some strange metal, light and strong, and set with many
他們從背包裡拿出衣物；很快便覺得太熱了，因為他們不得不穿上一些為抵禦即將到來的冬天而準備的較厚、較保暖的衣物。「那另一隻老動物，那個胖胖駝，是從哪來的？」佛羅多問。「牠是我的，」湯姆說。「我的四腳朋友；雖然我很少騎牠，牠也常常四處遊蕩，在山坡上自由自在。你們的小馬跟我待在一起時，認識了我的胖胖駝；牠們在夜裡聞到了牠的味道，就趕快跑去見牠。我本以為牠會去找牠們，用牠智慧的話語驅散牠們所有的恐懼。不過現在，我快活的胖胖駝，老湯姆要騎上牠了。嘿！牠要跟你們一起走，好送你們上路；所以牠需要一匹小馬。因為當你用自己的雙腿試圖在旁邊小跑時，很難跟騎著馬的哈比人說話。」哈比人聽了很高興，多次感謝湯姆；但他笑了，說他們太會迷路了，不親眼看到他們安全越過他的領地邊界，他是不會放心的。「我還有事要做，」他說：「我的創作和歌唱，我的談話和散步，還有我對這片土地的看顧。湯姆不能總在附近開門破柳。湯姆有自己的家要照料，金莓還在等著呢。」從太陽來看，時間還算早，大約在九點到十點之間，哈比人開始想著食物。他們上一餐是前一天在立石旁的午餐。他們現在用湯姆剩下的、本來是給他們當晚餐的糧食當早餐，再加上湯姆帶來的一些東西。這不算一頓大餐（考慮到哈比人和當時的情況），但他們感覺好多了。他們吃飯時，湯姆走到土塚上，查看那些寶藏。他把大部分寶藏堆成一堆，在草地上閃閃發光。他吩咐它們就躺在那裡，「對所有發現者開放，無論是鳥、獸、精靈或人類，以及所有善良的生物」；如此一來，土塚的魔咒就應被打破和驅散，再也不會有屍妖回來。他從那堆寶物中為自己選了一枚鑲有藍色寶石的胸針，寶石色澤多變，如同亞麻花或藍蝴蝶的翅膀。他久久凝視著它，彷彿被某段記憶觸動，搖著頭，最後說道：「這真是給湯姆和他夫人的漂亮玩具！很久以前佩戴它在肩上的那位女士是多麼美麗。現在金莓將佩戴它，我們不會忘記她！」他為每個哈比人選了一把匕首，長長的，葉子形狀，鋒利無比，做工精巧，飾有紅白金相間的蛇形大馬士革花紋。當他將它們從黑色的劍鞘中拔出時，它們閃閃發光，劍鞘由某種奇特的金屬製成，輕巧而堅固，並鑲嵌著許多寶石。
146 THE LORD OF THE RINGS fiery stones. Whether by some virtue in these sheaths or because of the spell that lay on the mound, the blades seemed untouched by time, unrusted, sharp, glittering in the sun. ‘Old knives are long enough as swords for hobbit-people,’ he said. ‘Sharp blades are good to have, if Shire-folk go walking, east, south, or far away into dark and danger.’ Then he told them that these blades were forged many long years ago by Men of Westernesse: they were foes of the Dark Lord, but they were overcome by the evil king of Carn Dim in the Land of Angmar. ‘Few now remember them,’ Tom murmured, ‘yet still some go wandering, sons of forgotten kings walking in loneliness, guarding from evil things folk that are heedless.’ The hobbits did not understand his words, but as he spoke they had a vision as it were of a great expanse of years behind them, like a vast shadowy plain over which there strode shapes of Men, tall and grim with bright swords, and last came one with a star on his brow. Then the vision faded, and they were back in the sunlit world. It was time to start again. They made ready, packing their bags and lading their ponies. Their new weapons they hung on their leather belts under their jackets, feeling them very awkward, and wondering if they would be of any use. Fighting had not before occurred to any of them as one of the adventures in which their flight would land them. At last they set off. They led their ponies down the hill; and then mounting they trotted quickly along the valley. They looked back and saw the top of the old mound on the hill, and from it the sunlight on the gold went up like a yellow flame. Then they turned a shoulder of the Downs and it was hidden from view. Though Frodo looked about him on every side he saw no sign of the great stones standing like a gate, and before long they came to the northern gap and rode swiftly through, and the land fell away before them. It was a merry journey with Tom Bombadil trotting gaily beside them, or before them, on Fatty Lumpkin, who could move much faster than his girth promised. Tom sang most of the time, but it was chiefly nonsense, or else perhaps a strange language unknown to the hobbits, an ancient language whose words were mainly those of wonder and delight. They went forward steadily, but they soon saw that the Road was further away than they had imagined. Even without a fog, their sleep at mid-day would have prevented them from reaching it until after nightfall on the day before. The dark line they had seen was not a line of trees but a line of bushes growing on the edge of a deep dike with a steep wall on the further side. Tom said that it had once been
一四六頁《魔戒》熾熱的石頭。不知是劍鞘有何神力，還是古墓崗上的咒語所致，這些劍刃似乎未曾被歲月侵蝕，不僅沒有生鏽，還鋒利無比，在陽光下閃閃發光。「對哈比人來說，古老的匕首當作劍已經夠長了。」他說。「如果夏爾的居民要出門遠行，不論是往東、往南，或深入黑暗與危險之地，有鋒利的刀劍傍身總是好的。」然後他告訴他們，這些劍刃是許久以前由西方皇族所鑄造：他們是黑暗魔君的敵人，但最終被安格馬王國的邪惡國王卡恩督所擊敗。「如今已少有人記得他們了，」湯姆喃喃地說，「但仍有一些人四處漂泊，是被遺忘的國王的子孫們，在孤獨中行走，守護著那些漫不經心的百姓免於邪惡之物的侵害。」哈比人們聽不懂他的話，但當他說話時，他們彷彿看到了一個幻象，身後是無盡的歲月，像一片廣闊而朦朧的平原，上面走過一些高大、神情嚴峻、手持亮劍的人影，最後走來一位額頭上有一顆星辰的人。接著幻象消失了，他們回到了陽光普照的世界。是時候再次出發了。他們準備妥當，收拾行囊，為小馬裝上貨物。他們把新武器掛在夾克下的皮帶上，覺得非常彆扭，懷疑這些東西是否真能派上用場。他們從未想過，這趟逃亡之旅會讓他們陷入的冒險之一竟然包含戰鬥。他們終於出發了。他們牽著小馬下山；然後騎上馬，沿著山谷輕快地前進。他們回頭望去，看見山丘上古老墓塚的頂部，陽光照在上面的黃金上，像一道黃色的火焰升起。接著他們繞過丘陵的轉角處，墓塚便被遮住了。雖然佛羅多環顧四周，卻沒有看到任何像大門一樣矗立的巨石，不久他們就來到了北邊的隘口，迅速穿過，前方的地勢隨之下降。有湯姆·龐巴迪在他們身旁或前方輕快地小跑，這趟旅程充滿了樂趣。他騎著胖胖駝，這匹小馬跑起來比牠那肥胖的腰圍所預示的要快得多。湯姆大部分時間都在唱歌，但唱的主要是些無稽之談，或者是一種哈比人不懂的奇特語言，一種古老的語言，其詞語主要表達驚奇與喜悅。他們穩步前進，但很快就發現，那條大路比他們想像的要遠。即使沒有大霧，他們中午的那場睡眠也讓他們無法在前一天天黑前到達大路。他們之前看到的那條黑線並不是一排樹，而是一排長在深溝邊緣的灌木叢，溝的另一邊是一堵陡峭的壁壘。湯姆說那曾經是
FOG ON THE BARROW-DOWNS 147 the boundary of a kingdom, but a very long time ago. He seemed to remember something sad about it, and would not say much. They climbed down and out of the dike and through a gap in the wall, and then Tom turned due north, for they had been bearing somewhat to the west. The land was now open and fairly level, and they quickened their pace, but the sun was already sinking low when at last they saw a line of tall trees ahead, and they knew that they had come back to the Road after many unexpected adventures. They galloped their ponies over the last furlongs, and halted under the long shadows of the trees. They were on the top of a sloping bank, and the Road, now dim as evening drew on, wound away below them. At this point it ran nearly from South-west to North-east, and on their right it fell quickly down into a wide hollow. It was rutted and bore many signs of the recent heavy rain; there were pools and pot-holes full of water. They rode down the bank and looked up and down. There was nothing to be seen. ‘Well, here we are again at last!’ said Frodo. ‘I suppose we haven’t lost more than two days by my short cut through the Forest! But perhaps the delay will prove useful — it may have put them off our trail.’ The others looked at him. The shadow of the fear of the Black Riders came suddenly over them again. Ever since they had entered the Forest they had thought chiefly of getting back to the Road; only now when it lay beneath their feet did they remember the danger which pursued them, and was more than likely to be lying in wait for them upon the Road itself. They looked anxiously back towards the setting sun, but the Road was brown and empty. ‘Do you think,’ asked Pippin hesitatingly, ‘do you think we may be pursued, tonight?’ ‘No, I hope not tonight,’ answered Tom Bombadil; ‘nor perhaps the next day. But do not trust my guess; for I cannot tell for certain. Out east my knowledge fails. Tom is not master of Riders from the Black Land far beyond his country.’ All the same the hobbits wished he was coming with them. They felt that he would know how to deal with Black Riders, if anyone did. They would soon now be going forward into lands wholly strange to them, and beyond all but the most vague and distant legends of the Shire, and in the gathering twilight they longed for home. A deep loneliness and sense of loss was on them. They stood silent, reluctant to make the final parting, and only slowly became aware that Tom was wishing them farewell, and telling them to have good heart and to ride on till dark without halting. ‘Tom will give you good advice, till this day is over (after that your own luck must go with you and guide you): four miles along
148 THE LORD OF THE RINGS the Road you’!l come upon a village, Bree under Bree-hill, with doors looking westward. There you’ll find an old inn that is called The Prancing Pony. Barliman Butterbur is the worthy keeper. There you can stay the night, and afterwards the morning will speed you upon your way. Be bold, but wary! Keep up your merry hearts, and ride to meet your fortune!’ They begged him to come at least as far as the inn and drink once more with them; but he laughed and refused, saying: Tom’s country ends here: he will not pass the borders. Tom has his house to mind, and Goldberry ts waiting! Then he turned, tossed up his hat, leaped on Lumpkin’s back, and rode up over the bank and away singing into the dusk. The hobbits climbed up and watched him until he was out of sight. ‘I am sorry to take leave of Master Bombadil,’ said Sam. ‘He’s a caution and no mistake. I reckon we may go a good deal further and see naught better, nor queerer. But I won’t deny I’ll be glad to see this Prancing Pony he spoke of. I hope it’ll be like The Green Dragon away back home! What sort of folk are they in Bree?’ “There are hobbits in Bree,’ said Merry, ‘as well as Big Folk. I daresay it will be homelike enough. The Pony is a good inn by all accounts. My people ride out there now and again.’ ‘It may be all we could wish,’ said Frodo; ‘but it is outside the Shire all the same. Don’t make yourselves too much at home! Please remember — all of you — that the name of Baggins must NOT be mentioned. I am Mr. Underhill, if any name must be given.’ They now mounted their ponies and rode off silently into the evening. Darkness came down quickly, as they plodded slowly downhill and up again, until at last they saw lights twinkling some distance ahead. Before them rose Bree-hill barring the way, a dark mass against misty stars; and under its western flank nestled a large village. Towards it they now hurried desiring only to find a fire, and a door between them and the night.
沿著路走，你們會來到一個村莊，布理山下的布理村，那裡的門都朝西開。你們會在那裡找到一家叫做『躍馬客棧』的老旅店。巴力曼·奶油伯是那裡一位值得信賴的店主。你們可以在那裡過夜，隔天早上便能精神飽滿地繼續前行。要勇敢，但也要警惕！保持你們愉快的心情，去迎接你們的命運吧！』他們求他至少陪他們到客棧再喝一杯；但他笑著拒絕了，說道：『湯姆的國度到此為止：他不會越過邊界。湯姆得看顧自己的房子，而且金莓還在等著呢！』然後他轉過身，把帽子往上一拋，跳上小胖的背，騎上河岸，在暮色中唱著歌遠去了。哈比人爬上來，望著他直到他消失在視線之外。『要跟龐巴迪主人告別，我還真難過，』山姆說。『他真是個奇人，千真萬確。我估計我們再走很遠，也看不到比他更好、或更古怪的人了。但我也不否認，我會很高興見到他提到的那家躍馬客棧。我希望它會像我們家鄉那邊的綠龍客棧一樣！布理那邊都是些什麼樣的人啊？』『布理有哈比人，』梅里說，『也有大個兒。我敢說那裡會夠有家鄉味的。躍馬客棧據大家所說是一家好旅店。我的族人偶爾會騎馬去那裡。』『那也許正是我們所希望的，』佛羅多說；『但它畢竟是在夏爾之外。別太不把自己當外人！請記住——你們所有人——絕對不准提到巴金斯這個姓。如果非要給個名字，我就是山下先生。』他們現在跨上小馬，在夜色中靜靜地騎走了。當他們緩慢地走下坡又爬上坡時，黑暗迅速降臨，直到最後他們看見遠方有燈光在閃爍。布理山橫亙在他們面前，像一團黑影擋住了去路，映襯著朦朧的星空；而在它西邊的山腳下，坐落著一個大村莊。他們現在朝著那裡趕去，心裡只盼望著找到一處爐火，和一扇能將他們與黑夜隔開的門。