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
第八章 塚間山崗上的迷霧 那晚他們沒有聽到任何聲響。但無論是在夢中還是夢外，他都無法分辨，佛羅多聽到一段甜美的歌聲在他腦海中迴盪：那歌聲彷彿是從一道灰色雨幕後透出的微光，漸漸增強，將那層薄紗完全化為玻璃和銀色，直到最後它被捲起，一片遙遠的翠綠大地在迅速升起的朝陽下展現在他眼前。這景象漸漸融入清醒；湯姆正像一樹鳥兒般吹著口哨；陽光已經斜斜地灑下山坡，穿過敞開的窗戶。外面的一切都是翠綠和淡金色。早餐後，他們再次獨自用餐，便準備告別，在這樣一個早晨，他們的心情幾乎是沉重的：在一片洗淨的淡藍色秋日天空下，涼爽、明亮、潔淨。空氣從西北方清新而來。他們安靜的小馬幾乎都活潑起來，嗅著並不安地移動著。湯姆走出屋子，揮舞著帽子，在門階上跳舞，催促哈比人趕快動身，迅速前進。他們沿著一條從屋後蜿蜒而去的路徑騎行，斜斜地向上，朝著它所庇護的山脊北端而去。他們剛下馬，準備牽著小馬爬上最後一段陡峭的山坡，佛羅多突然停了下來。「金莓！」他喊道。「我的美麗女士，全身披著銀綠色的衣裳！我們從未向她告別，自從那天晚上就再也沒見過她了！」他心煩意亂，轉身想回去；但就在那時，一聲清晰的呼喚聲如波紋般傳來。她站在山脊上向他們招手：她的頭髮隨風飄揚，陽光照耀下閃閃發光。她跳舞時，腳下閃爍著露珠草葉上水光般的亮光。他們加快腳步爬上最後一段斜坡，氣喘吁吁地站在她身旁。他們鞠躬行禮，但她揮了揮手，示意他們環顧四周；他們從山頂眺望著晨光下的土地。現在這裡清晰可見，一望無際，就像他們站在森林中的小山丘上時那樣，當時那裡還被薄霧籠罩著，而現在那小山丘已能看到從西方黑暗的樹林中蒼白而翠綠地升起。在那個方向，土地隆起成樹木繁茂的山脊，在陽光下呈現出綠色、黃色、赤褐色，在那之後隱藏著白蘭地河谷。向南，越過柳條河的界線，有一道遙遠的微光，像淡色的玻璃，那是白蘭地河在這裡形成了一個大彎。
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.
136 魔戒的低地，並流出了哈比人的認知範圍。向北，越過漸漸低矮的丘陵，大地延伸成一片灰綠色和淺土色的平坦與起伏，直至消失在無邊無際、模糊不清的陰影遠方。向東，墓塚崗巒起伏，一嶺接一嶺地延伸入晨光中，然後消失在視線之外，變成一個猜想：那不過是一抹藍色和遙遠的白色微光，與天際線融為一體，但它卻從記憶和古老傳說中，向他們訴說著高聳遙遠的山脈。他們深深吸了一口氣，覺得只要輕快地跳躍幾下，再邁開幾步穩健的步伐，就能到達任何他們想去的地方。沿著丘陵皺褶的邊緣，朝著大路慢跑過去，似乎顯得有些膽怯，而他們本該像湯姆一樣精力充沛地跳過山間的墊腳石，徑直奔向群山。金莓對他們說話，喚回了他們的目光和思緒。「快走吧，尊貴的客人們！」她說。「堅守你們的目標！向北，讓風吹拂你們的左眼，願祝福伴隨你們的腳步！趁陽光普照時趕路吧！」她對佛羅多說：「再見了，精靈之友，這是一次愉快的相遇！」但佛羅多卻找不到話來回答。他深深鞠躬，騎上他的小馬，在朋友們的跟隨下，緩緩地沿著山後平緩的斜坡慢跑而下。湯姆·邦巴迪爾的房子、山谷和森林都從視線中消失了。在兩側翠綠的山坡之間，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騰。當他們到達綠色窪地的底部時，回頭望去，看見金莓，此刻她嬌小纖細，如同陽光下的花朵映襯著天空：她靜靜地站著，凝視著他們，雙手伸向他們。當他們看著的時候，她發出了一聲清亮的呼喚，然後舉起手，轉身消失在山後。他們的路沿著窪地的底部蜿蜒，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，然後越過更遠山丘的「肩膀」，沿著它們「長長的四肢」而下，再爬上它們「光滑的側面」，登上新的山頂，又下到新的山谷。那裡沒有樹木，也沒有任何可見的水源：那是一片只有草地和短而富有彈性的草皮的鄉野，除了空氣拂過地邊的低語和陌生鳥兒高亢孤獨的鳴叫外，一片寂靜。隨著他們前行，太陽漸漸升高，天氣也變得炎熱。每當他們爬上一道山脊，微風似乎就減弱了。當他們瞥見西方的鄉野時，遠處的森林似乎在冒煙，彷彿落下的雨水正從樹葉、樹根和泥土中再次蒸騰而上。一片陰影此刻籠罩在視線的邊緣，一片黑暗的薄霧，其上方的天空像一頂藍色的帽子，悶熱而沉重。
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.
大墓丘崗上的霧 137 大約在中午時分，他們來到一座山丘，山頂寬闊平坦，就像一個邊緣隆起的綠色淺碟。山丘內部沒有一絲空氣流動，天空似乎近在頭頂。他們騎馬穿過山丘，向北望去。他們的精神為之一振；因為很明顯，他們已經比預期走得更遠了。雖然遠處的景物此刻都變得模糊不清、具有欺騙性，但毫無疑問，崗地即將走到盡頭。下方是一條狹長的谷地，蜿蜒向北延伸，直到兩座陡峭的山肩之間的一個開口。再往前，似乎就沒有山丘了。正北方，他們隱約瞥見一條長長的黑線。「那是一排樹，」梅里說，「那一定是標示著大路。從橋東數里格的地方開始，沿著大路兩旁都長滿了樹。有人說它們是在古時候種下的。」「太好了！」佛羅多說。「如果我們下午能像上午一樣順利前進，那麼在太陽下山前我們就能離開崗地，然後繼續前行尋找露營地了。」然而，就在他說話的時候，他轉向東方，看到那邊的山丘更高，俯瞰著他們；所有這些山丘都戴著綠色的土堆「王冠」，有些土堆上還立著石柱，像從綠色牙齦中突出的鋸齒狀牙齒般向上指著。那景象不知怎地令人不安；於是他們轉開視線，走進了那個中空的圓圈。圓圈中央立著一塊單獨的石頭，在頭頂的陽光下高高聳立，此時此刻沒有投下任何陰影。它沒有特定的形狀，卻又意義非凡：像一個地標，或一根守護的手指，又或者更像一個警告。但他們現在餓了，太陽仍在無畏的正午高懸；於是他們背靠著石頭的東側。石頭很涼，彷彿陽光沒有能力溫暖它；但在當時，這似乎很令人愉快。他們在那裡飲食，在開闊的天空下享用了一頓稱心如意的午餐；因為食物來自「山下」。湯姆為他們準備了充足的食物，讓他們一整天都過得舒適。他們的矮種馬卸下重擔，在草地上漫步。騎馬翻越山丘，飽餐一頓，溫暖的陽光和草地的芬芳，躺得稍久了些，伸展著雙腿，仰望著鼻尖上方的天空：或許，這些足以解釋後來發生的事情。然而，無論如何：他們突然且不舒服地從一場他們從未打算入睡的覺中醒來。那塊立石冰冷，投下了一道長長的淺色陰影，向東延伸覆蓋在他們身上。太陽，呈現蒼白水漾的黃色，正透過薄霧在他們躺臥的窪地西牆上方閃爍；而牆外，北、南、東三面，濃霧瀰漫，冰冷而潔白。空氣寂靜、沉重而寒冷。他們的矮種馬擠在一起，低著頭。
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
138 《魔戒》 哈比人驚慌地跳了起來，跑到西邊的邊緣。他們發現自己身處迷霧中的一座島嶼上。就在他們沮喪地望向落日之際，太陽在他們眼前沉入一片白色的海洋，一道冰冷的灰色陰影隨即從東方升起。迷霧翻騰著湧上牆壁，並高於它們，隨著迷霧升高，它彎曲覆蓋在他們頭頂上方，直到形成一個屋頂：他們被困在一個霧氣大廳中，其中心支柱就是那塊立石。他們感覺好像一個陷阱正在向他們合攏；但他們並沒有完全失去信心。他們仍然記得他們對前方道路的線條所抱持的希望，並且仍然知道它位於哪個方向。無論如何，他們現在對那塊石頭周圍的空地感到非常厭惡，以至於他們心中沒有任何留在那裡的念頭。他們以最快的速度收拾行李，儘管他們的手指已經冰冷。很快，他們就牽著小馬，排成一列，越過邊緣，沿著山丘漫長的北坡向下，進入一片霧濛濛的海洋。隨著他們向下走，霧氣變得越來越冷、越來越濕，他們的頭髮濕漉漉地貼在額頭上。當他們到達底部時，天氣冷得他們停了下來，拿出斗篷和兜帽，這些很快就被灰色的水珠沾濕了。然後，他們騎上小馬，再次緩慢前進，憑藉著地勢的起伏摸索著前進。他們正朝著，據他們所能猜測的，他們早上看到的那條長谷最北端的門狀開口駛去。一旦他們穿過那個缺口，他們只需沿著大致直線前進，最終就一定能找到那條路。他們的思緒沒有超越這一點，除了模糊地希望也許在山丘（Downs）之外可能沒有霧。他們的行進非常緩慢。為了防止他們走散和迷失方向，他們排成一列，由佛羅多領頭。山姆在他身後，接著是皮聘，然後是梅里。山谷似乎無止境地延伸著。突然，佛羅多看到了一個充滿希望的跡象。前方兩側，一片黑暗開始在迷霧中隱約浮現；他猜測他們終於接近了山中的缺口，也就是巴羅土丘的北門。如果他們能通過那裡，他們就能自由了。「快點！跟著我！」他回頭喊道，然後加快了腳步。但他的希望很快變成了困惑和驚恐。那些黑暗的斑塊變得更黑了，但它們卻縮小了；突然他看到，兩塊巨大的立石，高聳在他面前，顯得不祥，它們像一扇無頭門的柱子一樣，微微向彼此傾斜。他記不起在
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.
霧鎖塚丘山 139 谷地，當他早上從山丘上望出去時。他幾乎是在不知不覺中穿過了它們：就在他穿過時，黑暗似乎籠罩了他。他的小馬人立嘶鳴，他摔了下來。當他回頭看時，發現自己孤身一人：其他人並沒有跟上他。「山姆！」他喊道。「皮聘！梅里！快跟上！你們怎麼沒跟上？」沒有回應。恐懼攫住了他，他跑回石頭旁，瘋狂地喊著：「山姆！山姆！梅里！皮聘！」小馬衝進了霧中，消失不見。從遠處，或者說似乎是遠處，他以為聽到一聲呼喊：「嘿！佛羅多！嘿！」那聲音在東邊，在他站在巨石下時的左側，他凝視著、費力地望向黑暗。他朝著呼喚的方向衝去，發現自己正陡峭地爬坡。他奮力前行，再次呼喊，並且越來越瘋狂地呼喊；但他好一陣子沒有聽到回應，然後聲音似乎微弱、遙遠、高高地在他上方。「佛羅多！嘿！」微弱的聲音從霧中傳來：然後是一聲聽起來像「救命，救命！」的呼喊，重複多次，最後一聲「救命！」拖長成一聲長長的哀嚎，突然中斷。他盡其所能地朝著呼喊聲跌跌撞撞地前進；但光線已經消失，黏稠的黑夜籠罩了他，使他無法確定任何方向。他似乎一直在往上爬。只有腳下地面的高低變化，才讓他知道自己終於到達了山脊或山頂。他又累又出汗，卻又感到寒冷。周圍一片漆黑。「你們在哪裡？」他悲慘地喊道。沒有回應。他站著傾聽。他突然意識到天氣變得非常寒冷，而且這裡開始刮起風來，一陣刺骨的寒風。天氣正在變化。霧氣現在像碎片般在他身邊飄過。他的呼吸冒著白煙，黑暗也沒那麼近和濃稠了。他抬頭驚訝地看到，在快速移動的雲霧之間，微弱的星星正在頭頂出現。風開始在草地上發出嘶嘶聲。他突然覺得自己聽到了一聲悶悶的呼喊，便朝著它走去；就在他前進時，霧氣被捲起並推開，星空展露無遺。一瞥之下，他發現自己正面向南方，身處一個圓形山頂，他一定是從北方爬上來的。刺骨的寒風從東方吹來。在他右邊，一個漆黑的形狀在西方的星光下隱約可見。一座巨大的塚丘矗立在那裡。「你們在哪裡？」他再次喊道，又氣又怕。
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.
I40 魔戒 「在這裡！」一個低沉冰冷的聲音說道，彷彿從地底傳來。「我正在等你們！」 「不！」佛羅多說；但他沒有逃跑。他的雙腿發軟，跌倒在地。什麼也沒發生，也沒有任何聲音。他顫抖著抬頭，及時看到一個高大黑暗的身影，像一道影子映襯著星空。它俯身向他。他覺得有兩隻眼睛，雖然冰冷，卻閃爍著微弱的光芒，彷彿來自遙遠的深處。接著，一股比鐵更堅硬、更冰冷的抓力攫住了他。那冰冷的觸感凍結了他的骨頭，他便什麼也不記得了。當他再次清醒過來時，有一瞬間他除了恐懼感之外什麼也想不起來。然後他突然意識到自己被囚禁了，無望地被困住；他身處一個古塚之中。一個古塚屍妖抓住了他，他很可能已經中了那些傳聞中令人毛骨悚然的古塚屍妖的咒語。他不敢動彈，就這樣躺著，平躺在冰冷的石頭上，雙手放在胸前。然而，儘管他的恐懼如此巨大，彷彿已成為周圍黑暗的一部分，他卻發現自己躺在那裡，思索著比爾博·巴金斯和他的故事，想起他們在夏爾的小徑上一起悠閒漫步，談論著道路和冒險。在最肥胖、最膽小的哈比人心中，都隱藏著一顆勇氣的種子（通常深藏不露，這是真的），等待著某個最終而絕望的危險來使其成長。佛羅多既不很胖也不很膽小；事實上，雖然他自己不知道，比爾博（和甘道夫）認為他是夏爾最好的哈比人。他以為自己的冒險已經走到盡頭，而且是一個可怕的結局，但這個念頭卻讓他堅強起來。他發現自己身體僵硬，彷彿準備做最後一搏；他不再像無助的獵物那樣軟弱無力。當他躺在那裡，思考並努力鎮定下來時，他突然注意到黑暗正在慢慢消退：一道微弱的綠色光芒在他周圍漸漸亮起。起初，這光芒並未讓他看清自己身處何地，因為光線似乎是從他自己身上，以及他身旁的地面發出的，尚未照到屋頂或牆壁。他轉過身，在那冰冷的光芒中，他看到山姆、皮聘和梅里躺在他身旁。他們都仰臥著，臉色蒼白如死；身上穿著白色的衣服。他們周圍散落著許多寶藏，或許是黃金，但在那光線下，它們顯得冰冷而毫無美感。他們的頭上戴著頭環，腰間繫著金鍊，手指上戴著許多戒指。劍躺在他們身旁，盾牌則在他們腳邊。但橫跨他們三人頸項的，卻是一把長長的裸露的劍。
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
墓丘崗上的迷霧 突然，一首歌響起：一陣冰冷的低語，時而高亢，時而低沉。那聲音聽起來遙遠而無比陰沉，有時高懸空中，細弱如絲，有時又像來自地底的低沉呻吟。在那無形無狀、悲傷卻又可怖的聲流中，字句時不時地自行成形：陰森、堅硬、冰冷、無情而悲慘的字句。黑夜在咒罵它所失去的黎明，寒冷在詛咒它所渴望的溫暖。佛羅多感到徹骨的寒冷。過了一會兒，歌聲變得清晰起來，他心中充滿恐懼地意識到，它已變成了一段咒語：「手、心、骨皆寒，石下之眠亦寒：永不復甦於石床，永不，直到太陽殞落，月亮死去。在黑風中，星辰將逝，仍讓他們躺臥於此，直到黑暗魔君將手舉過死海與枯地。」他聽到腦後傳來一陣吱嘎作響和刮擦聲。他用一隻手臂撐起身子望去，在微弱的光線中看到他們身處一條通道，通道在他們身後轉了個彎。轉角處，一隻長臂正在摸索，用手指爬向躺在最近處的山姆，以及他身上佩劍的劍柄。起初，佛羅多感覺自己確實被那咒語變成了石頭。接著，一個逃跑的瘋狂念頭湧上心頭。他想，如果他戴上魔戒，墓丘幽靈是否會察覺不到他，他或許就能找到出路。他想像自己自由地奔跑在草地上，為梅里、山姆和皮聘悲傷，但他自己卻是自由且活著的。甘道夫也會承認他別無選擇。但他心中被喚醒的勇氣此刻卻過於強大：他無法就這樣輕易地拋下朋友。他猶豫不決，在口袋裡摸索著，然後又與自己內心掙扎；就在他這樣做的時候，那隻手臂爬得更近了。突然，他下定決心，抓起身旁的一把短劍，跪下身子，俯身在同伴的屍體上。他用盡全身力氣，砍向那隻爬行的手臂靠近手腕處，那隻手斷了下來；但就在同一時刻，劍也碎裂到劍柄。傳來一聲尖叫，光線消失了。在黑暗中傳來一陣咆哮聲。佛羅多向前倒在梅里身上，梅里的臉摸起來冰冷。所有的一切
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.
142 《魔戒》 曾經，從他腦海中，那隨著濃霧初現而消失的記憶，又重新浮現：山丘下的房子，以及湯姆的歌聲。他想起了湯姆教給他們的歌謠。他用微弱而絕望的聲音開始唱道：「嘿！湯姆·邦巴迪爾！」隨著這個名字，他的聲音似乎變得洪亮起來：它充滿活力，響亮有力，黑暗的房間裡迴盪著，彷彿有鼓聲和號角聲。嘿！湯姆·邦巴迪爾，湯姆·邦巴迪洛！憑藉水、樹林和山丘，憑藉蘆葦和柳樹，憑藉火、太陽和月亮，現在請傾聽並聽見我們！來吧，湯姆·邦巴迪爾，因為我們急需你的幫助！突然間，一片深沉的寂靜，佛羅多能聽到自己的心跳聲。漫長而緩慢的一刻之後，他清楚地聽到，但又遙遠，彷彿是從地底或厚牆中傳來的一個回應的歌聲：「老湯姆·邦巴迪爾是個快樂的傢伙，他的夾克亮藍色，他的靴子是黃色。從來沒有人抓住過他，因為湯姆，他是主人：他的歌聲更強大，他的腳步更快。」傳來一陣巨大的隆隆聲，彷彿石頭滾落墜下，突然間，光線湧入，真實的光線，白天的普通光線。一個低矮的門狀開口出現在房間盡頭，佛羅多腳邊；湯姆的頭（帽子、羽毛，以及所有）映襯著他身後升起的紅日之光。光線灑落在地板上，也灑落在躺在佛羅多身旁的三個哈比人的臉上。他們沒有動彈，但那病態的臉色已經消失了。他們現在看起來只是睡得很沉。湯姆彎下腰，脫下帽子，走進黑暗的房間，唱道：「滾出去，你這老屍妖！在陽光下消失！像寒冷的薄霧一樣枯萎，像風一樣哀嚎著，滾到遙遠山脈之外的貧瘠之地！永遠不要再來這裡！讓你的墳塚空著！被遺忘，比黑暗更黑暗，那裡的大門永遠關閉，直到世界修復。聽到這些話，傳來一聲尖叫，房間內側的一部分轟然倒塌。隨後是一聲長長的、拖曳的尖叫，漸漸消失在無法估量的遠方；之後便是一片寂靜。
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.
墓丘群上的迷霧 143 「來吧，佛羅多朋友！」湯姆說。「我們到乾淨的草地上吧！你得幫我把他們抬出去。」他們合力將梅里、皮聘和山姆抬了出去。當佛羅多最後一次離開墓丘時，他以為自己看到一隻斷手仍在蠕動，像一隻受傷的蜘蛛，在散落的泥土堆中。湯姆又走了回去，裡面傳來一陣陣重擊和踩踏的聲音。當他出來時，懷裡抱著一大堆寶藏：黃金、白銀、紅銅和青銅製成的物品；許多珠子、鍊子和鑲寶石的飾品。他爬上綠色的墓丘，將所有東西都放在頂上，沐浴在陽光中。他站在那裡，手裡拿著帽子，風吹拂著他的頭髮，俯瞰著那三個哈比人，他們正仰臥在土丘西側的草地上。他舉起右手，用清晰而威嚴的聲音說道：「醒來吧，我快樂的小伙子們！醒來聽我呼喚！心靈和四肢現在都溫暖起來！冰冷的石頭已倒塌；黑暗的門戶已敞開；死者的手已折斷。夜中之夜已飛逝，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，然後是湯姆，他活生生地站在他們上方的墓丘頂上；接著又看著自己，身上穿著單薄的白布條，頭戴淡金色的冠冕，腰繫淡金色的腰帶，身上叮噹作響地掛滿了小飾品。「這到底是什麼鬼東西？」梅里開口說道，他摸了摸滑到一隻眼睛上的金色頭環。然後他停了下來，臉上掠過一絲陰影，他閉上了眼睛。「當然，我記起來了！」他說。「卡恩迪姆的人在夜裡襲擊了我們，我們被打敗了。啊！那支刺入我心臟的長矛！」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。佛羅多，你跑到哪裡去了？」「我以為我迷路了，」佛羅多說；「但我不想談論它。我們來想想現在該怎麼辦！我們繼續前進吧！」「先生，我們穿成這樣？」山姆說。「我的衣服呢？」他把頭環、腰帶和戒指扔到草地上，無助地環顧四周，彷彿期望能找到他的斗篷、夾克、馬褲和其他哈比人服飾就近放在某處。「你再也找不到你的衣服了，」湯姆從土丘上跳下來，邊笑邊繞著他們在陽光下跳舞。人們會以為什麼危險或可怕的事情都沒有發生；事實上，當他們看著他，看到他眼中閃爍的快樂光芒時，心中的恐懼也隨之消散了。
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
144 魔戒 「你這是什麼意思？」皮聘看著他，半是困惑半是好笑地問道。「為什麼不呢？」但湯姆搖了搖頭，說道：「你們又從深水中脫身了。如果能從溺水中逃生，衣服的損失微不足道。高興起來吧，我的快樂朋友們，讓溫暖的陽光現在溫暖你們的心和四肢！脫掉這些冰冷的破爛衣服！赤身在草地上奔跑吧，湯姆要去打獵了！」他一邊吹著口哨一邊叫喊著，跳下山坡。佛羅多向下望去，看見他沿著他們的小山和下一座山之間的綠色窪地向南跑去，仍然吹著口哨，喊著：「嘿！現在！快來啊！你們要去哪裡遊蕩？上、下、近或遠，這裡、那裡或更遠的地方？尖耳、聰鼻、甩尾和笨蛋，白襪我的小夥子，還有老胖塊！」他邊唱邊跑，快速地拋起帽子又接住，直到被一道地勢的褶皺遮住：但他的「嘿！現在！快來啊！」仍然在風中飄蕩回來，風已經轉向南方。空氣又變得非常溫暖。哈比人按照他所說的，在草地上跑了一會兒。然後他們躺在陽光下，享受著那種突然從嚴冬被帶到宜人氣候的喜悅，或者像那些久病臥床的人，有一天醒來發現自己意外地康復了，而這一天又充滿了希望。當湯姆回來時，他們感到身體強壯（而且飢餓）。他帽子先露出來，從山頂上重新出現，他身後跟著一排順從的小馬：他們自己的五匹，還有一匹。最後那匹顯然是老胖塊：牠比他們自己的小馬更大、更壯、更肥（也更老）。梅利，其他小馬的主人，實際上並沒有給牠們起這些名字，但牠們對湯姆給牠們的新名字卻應答如流，直到牠們生命的盡頭。湯姆一匹一匹地叫牠們，牠們便爬過山頂，排成一列。然後湯姆向哈比人鞠躬。「你們的小馬都在這裡了！」他說。「牠們（在某些方面）比你們這些遊蕩的哈比人更有常識——牠們的鼻子更有常識。因為牠們能嗅到你們會一頭撞進去的危險；如果牠們為了自保而奔跑，那麼牠們跑的方向就是對的。你們必須原諒牠們；因為儘管牠們的心是忠誠的，但面對古墓屍妖的恐懼並不是牠們被創造出來的目的。看，牠們又來了，帶著所有的重擔！」梅利、山姆和皮聘現在穿上了備用衣物。
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
霧鎖古塚崗 145 從他們的背包裡拿出東西；他們很快就覺得太熱了，因為他們不得不穿上一些他們為抵禦冬季來臨而帶來的更厚更暖和的衣物。「那個老動物，那個胖墩，是從哪裡來的？」佛羅多問道。「他是我的，」湯姆說。「我的四條腿朋友；雖然我很少騎他，但他常常自由自在地在山坡上遊蕩。當你的小馬們和我在一起時，牠們認識了我的胖墩；牠們在夜裡聞到他的氣味，就很快跑去見他。我以為他會去找牠們，並用他的智慧之言消除牠們所有的恐懼。但現在，我的快樂胖墩，老湯姆要騎馬了。嘿！他要和你們一起去，只是為了送你們上路；所以他需要一匹小馬。因為當你用自己的雙腿試圖跟在騎馬的哈比人旁邊小跑時，你很難和他們說話。」哈比人們聽到這話很高興，並多次感謝湯姆；但他笑了，說他們太擅長迷路了，所以除非他看到他們安全地越過他的領地邊界，否則他不會感到高興。「我還有事情要做，」他說：「我的製作和我的歌唱，我的談話和我的散步，以及我對鄉村的觀察。湯姆不能總是在旁邊開門和處理柳樹裂縫。湯姆有他的家要照顧，而且金莓正在等著。」太陽還很早，大約在九點到十點之間，哈比人們把心思轉向了食物。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補給品吃早餐，這些補給品原本是為他們的晚餐準備的，還加上了湯姆帶來的一些東西。這不是一頓豐盛的飯（考慮到哈比人和當時的情況），但他們吃完後感覺好多了。當他們吃飯的時候，湯姆走到土丘上，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。他命令它們躺在那裡，「任由所有發現者，鳥、獸、精靈或人類，以及所有善良的生物取用」；因為這樣，土丘的魔咒就會被打破和驅散，沒有任何屍妖會再回到那裡。他從那堆寶藏中為自己選了一枚鑲有藍色寶石的胸針，顏色深淺不一，像亞麻花或藍色蝴蝶的翅膀。他久久地看著它，彷彿被某個記憶觸動，搖了搖頭，最後說道：「這是一個給湯姆和他的夫人準備的漂亮玩具！很久以前戴著它在肩上的那位女士是多麼美麗啊。金莓現在將會戴上它，我們也不會忘記她！」他為每個哈比人選了一把匕首，長而葉形，鋒利無比，工藝精湛，上面用紅金鑲嵌著蛇形圖案。當他將它們從黑色的鞘中抽出時，它們閃閃發光，這些鞘由某種奇特的金屬製成，輕巧堅固，並鑲嵌著許多
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
146 魔戒 熾熱的石頭。無論是這些刀鞘的某種特質，還是因為籠罩在土丘上的咒語，這些刀刃似乎都未受時間侵蝕，沒有生鏽，鋒利無比，在陽光下閃閃發光。「老舊的刀劍對哈比人來說，當作劍用就夠長了。」他說。「如果夏爾人要往東、往南，或遠離家園進入黑暗與危險，鋒利的刀刃是很好的。」然後他告訴他們，這些刀刃是許多年前由西方人鑄造的：他們是黑暗魔君的敵人，但最終被安格瑪之地卡恩督姆的邪惡國王擊敗。「現在很少有人記得他們了，」湯姆低聲說，「但仍有一些人四處遊蕩，他們是被人遺忘的國王之子，在孤獨中行走，保護著那些粗心大意的人們免受邪惡侵害。」哈比人不明白他的話，但當他說話時，他們彷彿看到了一片廣闊的歲月在他們身後展開，就像一片巨大的陰影平原，上面有高大而嚴峻的人形身影，手持閃亮的劍，最後來了一位額頭上帶著星辰的人。然後幻象消退，他們回到了陽光普照的世界。是時候再次啟程了。他們做好準備，收拾行囊，並為他們的小馬馱上行李。他們把新武器掛在夾克下的皮帶上，感覺很不自在，並懷疑它們是否會有任何用處。他們從未想過戰鬥會是他們逃亡旅程中的一項冒險。他們終於出發了。他們牽著小馬走下山坡；然後騎上馬，沿著山谷輕快地小跑。他們回頭望去，看到山頂上那座古老的土丘，陽光照在金子上，像一團黃色的火焰升騰。然後他們轉過山丘的肩部，土丘便從視野中消失了。儘管佛羅多四處張望，卻沒有看到任何像大門一樣的巨石，不久他們便來到北方隘口，迅速穿過，大地在他們面前延伸開來。這是一段愉快的旅程，湯姆·邦巴迪爾騎著胖小馬，歡快地在他們身旁或前方小跑，胖小馬的速度比牠的體型所預示的要快得多。湯姆大部分時間都在唱歌，但主要都是胡言亂語，或者也許是一種哈比人不懂的奇怪語言，一種古老的語言，其詞語主要表達的是驚奇和喜悅。他們穩步前進，但很快就發現那條路比他們想像的還要遠。即使沒有霧，他們在中午的睡眠也會讓他們直到前一天夜幕降臨後才能到達那裡。他們看到的那條黑線不是樹林，而是一排灌木叢，生長在深溝的邊緣，深溝的另一側有一堵陡峭的牆。湯姆說那裡曾經是
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
迷霧籠罩的古墓崗 147 某個王國的邊界，但那是很久很久以前的事了。他似乎記得一些關於它的悲傷往事，所以沒有多說。他們爬下堤壩，穿過牆上的缺口，然後湯姆轉向正北方，因為他們之前一直偏向西方。地面現在開闊而相當平坦，他們加快了腳步，但太陽已經低垂，當他們終於看到前方有一排高大的樹木時，他們知道經過許多意想不到的冒險後，他們終於回到了大路。他們策馬奔馳過最後幾弗隆，在樹木長長的陰影下停了下來。他們位於一個傾斜的河岸頂部，而大路，此刻隨著夜幕降臨而變得模糊，蜿蜒在他們下方。此時它幾乎從西南方延伸到東北方，在他們右側迅速下降到一個寬闊的窪地。路面坑坑窪窪，顯示出近期大雨的許多痕跡；有積水的水窪和坑洞。他們騎下河岸，四處張望。什麼也沒看到。「嗯，我們終於又回到這裡了！」佛羅多說。「我想我們走捷徑穿過森林，應該沒有耽誤超過兩天！但也許這次延誤會很有用——它可能讓他們偏離了我們的蹤跡。」其他人看著他。對黑騎士的恐懼陰影再次突然籠罩了他們。自從他們進入森林以來，他們主要想的就是回到大路；直到現在，當大路就在他們腳下時，他們才想起追逐他們的危險，而且很可能正在大路上等著他們。他們焦急地回頭望向落日，但大路是棕色的，空無一人。「你覺得，」皮聘猶豫地問道，「你覺得我們今晚會被追趕嗎？」「不，我希望今晚不會，」湯姆·龐巴迪回答，「也許明天也不會。但別相信我的猜測；因為我無法確定。在東方，我的知識就失效了。湯姆不是來自遠方黑土的騎士們的主人。」儘管如此，哈比人還是希望他能和他們一起來。他們覺得如果有人能對付黑騎士，那湯姆一定知道怎麼做。他們很快就要進入對他們來說完全陌生的地方，那裡除了夏爾最模糊和遙遠的傳說之外，一無所有，在漸濃的暮色中，他們渴望回家。一種深深的孤獨感和失落感籠罩著他們。他們默默地站著，不願做最後的告別，只是慢慢地意識到湯姆正在向他們告別，並告訴他們要保持勇氣，不停歇地騎行直到天黑。「湯姆會給你很好的建議，直到今天結束（之後你自己的運氣必須與你同在並引導你）：沿著路走四英里
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.
148 魔戒 在路上，你會來到一個村莊，布理，位於布理山下，門戶朝西。在那裡你會找到一間叫做「躍馬客棧」的老旅館。巴力曼·奶油伯是個稱職的掌櫃。你可以在那裡過夜，然後第二天早上就會讓你繼續前行。要勇敢，但要謹慎！保持你們愉快的心情，去迎接你們的命運吧！他們懇求他至少跟他們走到客棧，再喝一杯；但他笑了笑拒絕了，說道：「湯姆的領地到此為止：他不會越過邊界。湯姆有他的家要顧，而且金莓正在等他！」然後他轉身，把帽子拋向空中，跳上小胖的背，騎上河岸，唱著歌消失在暮色中。哈比人爬上去，一直看著他直到他消失不見。「我很抱歉要離開邦巴迪爾大師了，」山姆說。「他真是個奇人，一點沒錯。我想我們可能會走很遠，也看不到比他更好、更奇怪的人了。但我不會否認，我很樂意看到他提到的躍馬客棧。我希望它會像家鄉的綠龍客棧一樣！布理的人們是什麼樣的呢？」 「布理有哈比人，」梅里說，「也有大人物。我想那裡會很像家一樣。據說躍馬客棧是個好旅館。我的人偶爾也會騎馬去那裡。」 「這可能就是我們所希望的一切了，」佛羅多說；「但它畢竟還是在夏爾之外。別太放鬆了！請記住——你們所有人——巴金斯這個名字絕對不能被提及。如果必須給個名字，我就是安德希爾先生。」他們現在騎上他們的小馬，默默地駛入夜色。黑暗很快降臨，他們緩慢地跋涉下坡又上坡，直到最後看到遠處閃爍的燈光。在他們前方，布理山擋住了去路，在朦朧的星光下形成一個黑暗的龐然大物；而在它西側的山坡下，一個大村莊靜靜地坐落著。他們現在急忙朝它走去，只希望能找到一堆火，以及一扇能將他們與黑夜隔開的門。