Chapter 9 AT THE SIGN OF THE PRANCING PONY Bree was the chief village of the Bree-land, a small inhabited region, like an island in the empty lands round about. Besides Bree itself, there was Staddle on the other side of the hill, Combe in a deep valley a little further eastward, and Archet on the edge of the Chetwood. Lying round Bree-hill and the villages was a small country of fields and tamed woodland only a few miles broad. The Men of Bree were brown-haired, broad, and rather short, cheerful and independent: they belonged to nobody but themselves; but they were more friendly and familiar with Hobbits, Dwarves, Elves, and other inhabitants of the world about them than was (or is) usual with Big People. According to their own tales they were the original inhabitants and were the descendants of the first Men that ever wandered into the West of the middle-world. Few had survived the turmoils of the Elder Days; but when the Kings returned again over the Great Sea they had found the Bree-men still there, and they were still there now, when the memory of the old Kings had faded into the grass. In those days no other Men had settled dwellings so far west, or within a hundred leagues of the Shire. But in the wild lands beyond Bree there were mysterious wanderers. The Bree-folk called them Rangers, and knew nothing of their origin. They were taller and darker than the Men of Bree and were believed to have strange powers of sight and hearing, and to understand the languages of beasts and birds. They roamed at will southwards, and eastwards even as far as the Misty Mountains; but they were now few and rarely seen. When they appeared they brought news from afar, and told strange forgotten tales which were eagerly listened to; but the Bree-folk did not make friends of them. There were also many families of hobbits in the Bree-land; and they claimed to be the oldest settlement of Hobbits in the world, one that was founded long before even the Brandywine was crossed and the Shire colonized. They lived mostly in Staddle though there were some in Bree itself, especially on the higher slopes of the hill, above the houses of the Men. The Big Folk and the Little Folk (as they called one another) were on friendly terms, minding their own affairs in their own ways, but both rightly regarding themselves as necessary
第九章 躍馬客棧 布理是布理地區的主要村莊，一個小型聚居地，就像周圍空曠土地中的一座孤島。除了布理本身，山丘的另一邊是史塔德，再往東一點的深谷裡是康貝，而切特森林邊緣則是亞切特。環繞著布理山和這些村莊的是一片由田野和馴化林地組成的小鄉村，寬度僅有幾英里。布理人頭髮棕色，體格寬闊，個子較矮，性情開朗獨立：他們不屬於任何人，只屬於自己；但他們比一般的大人物（或稱「大個子」）更友善、更熟悉哈比人、矮人、精靈以及周圍世界的其他居民。根據他們自己的傳說，他們是最初的居民，也是最早漫遊到中土世界西部的第一批人類的後裔。很少有人在遠古時代的動盪中倖存下來；但當國王們再次跨越大海歸來時，他們發現布理人仍然在那裡，直到現在，當舊國王的記憶已消逝於草叢之中，他們依然存在。在那些日子裡，沒有其他人類在如此靠西的地方，或在夏爾方圓百里之內，擁有定居的住所。但在布理之外的荒野中，有著神秘的流浪者。布理人稱他們為遊俠，對他們的來歷一無所知。他們比布理人更高大、膚色更深，據信擁有奇特的視力和聽力，並能理解野獸和鳥類的語言。他們隨意地向南漫遊，向東甚至遠達迷霧山脈；但現在他們人數稀少，鮮少露面。當他們出現時，會帶來遠方的消息，講述奇異的被遺忘的故事，人們都熱切地聆聽；但布理人並沒有與他們交好。布理地區也有許多哈比人家庭；他們聲稱是世界上最古老的哈比人定居點，甚至在白蘭地河被跨越、夏爾被殖民之前就已建立。他們主要住在史塔德，儘管布理本身也有一些，特別是在山丘較高的斜坡上，位於人類房屋的上方。大個子和小個子（他們彼此如此稱呼）相處融洽，各自以自己的方式處理自己的事務，但雙方都理所當然地認為自己是不可或缺的。
150 THE LORD OF THE RINGS parts of the Bree-folk. Nowhere else in the world was this peculiar (but excellent) arrangement to be found. The Bree-folk, Big and Little, did not themselves travel much; and the affairs of the four villages were their chief concern. Occasionally the Hobbits of Bree went as far as Buckland, or the Eastfarthing; but though their little land was not much further than a day’s riding east of the Brandywine Bridge, the Hobbits of the Shire now seldom visited it. An occasional Bucklander or adventurous Took would come out to the Inn for a night or two, but even that was becoming less and less usual. The Shire-hobbits referred to those of Bree, and to any others that lived beyond the borders, as Outsiders, and took very little interest in them, considering them dull and uncouth. There were probably many more Outsiders scattered about in the West of the World in those days than the people of the Shire imagined. Some, doubtless, were no better than tramps, ready to dig a hole in any bank and stay only as long as it suited them. But in the Bree-land, at any rate, the hobbits were decent and prosperous, and no more rustic than most of their distant relatives Inside. It was not yet forgotten that there had been a time when there was much coming and going between the Shire and Bree. There was Bree-blood in the Brandybucks by all accounts. The village of Bree had some hundred stone houses of the Big Folk, mostly above the Road, nestling on the hillside with windows looking west. On that side, running in more than half a circle from the hill and back to it, there was a deep dike with a thick hedge on the inner side. Over this the Road crossed by a causeway; but where it pierced the hedge it was barred by a great gate. There was another gate in the southern corner where the Road ran out of the village. The gates were closed at nightfall; but just inside them were small lodges for the gatekeepers. Down on the Road, where it swept to the right to go round the foot of the hill, there was a large inn. It had been built long ago when the traffic on the roads had been far greater. For Bree stood at an old meeting of ways; another ancient road crossed the East Road just outside the dike at the western end of the village, and in former days Men and other folk of various sorts had travelled much on it. Strange as News from Bree was still a saying in the Eastfarthing, descending from those days, when news from North, South, and East could be heard in the inn, and when the Shire-hobbits used to go more often to hear it. But the Northern Lands had long been desolate, and the North Road was now seldom used: it was grass-grown, and the Bree-folk called it the Greenway. The Inn of Bree was still there, however, and the innkeeper was
世界上其他任何地方都找不到這種奇特（但很棒）的安排。布理人，無論是大人還是小孩，自己都不怎麼旅行；四個村莊的事務是他們最主要的關心。偶爾布理的哈比人才會遠行到巴克蘭或東區；儘管他們的小塊土地離白蘭地河橋以東不過一天的騎程，但夏爾的哈比人現在卻很少造訪。偶爾會有巴克蘭人或愛冒險的圖克家族成員來旅館住一兩晚，但即使是這樣也越來越不常見了。夏爾的哈比人把布理人以及任何住在邊界之外的人稱為「外人」，對他們不怎麼感興趣，認為他們乏味粗俗。那些日子裡，世界西部散居的「外人」可能比夏爾人想像的還要多。其中一些人，無疑地，不過是些流浪漢，隨時準備在任何土坡上挖個洞，只待到他們覺得合適為止。但無論如何，在布理地區，哈比人是正派且富裕的，並不比他們在「內部」的大多數遠親更鄉野。人們還沒有忘記，曾經有一段時間，夏爾和布理之間往來頻繁。據說白蘭地鹿家族有布理人的血統。布理村有大約一百棟屬於「大人」的石屋，大多在路旁上方，依偎在山坡上，窗戶朝西。在那一側，從山丘延伸並環繞超過半圈回到山丘，有一條深溝，內側有厚實的樹籬。路上有一條堤道橫越過這條溝；但在它穿過樹籬的地方，卻被一道大門擋住了。在南部角落，路從村莊延伸出去的地方，還有另一道門。夜幕降臨時大門會關閉；但在門內側，有守門人住的小屋。沿著路往下，路向右彎繞過山腳的地方，有一間大旅館。它是在很久以前，當道路上的交通量遠比現在大得多時建造的。因為布理位於一個古老的交通要道；另一條古老的道路在村莊西端溝渠外與東路交匯，在過去的日子裡，人類和各種其他民族都曾頻繁地在這條路上旅行。「布理來的消息真奇怪」在東區仍然是一句俗語，源自那些日子，當時旅館裡可以聽到來自北方、南方和東方的消息，夏爾的哈比人也更常去那裡聽消息。但北方地區早已荒涼，北路現在也鮮少使用：它長滿了草，布理人稱之為「綠道」。然而，布理的旅館仍然在那裡，而旅館老闆是
AT THE SIGN OF THE PRANCING PONY ISI an important person. His house was a meeting place for the idle, talkative, and inquisitive among the inhabitants, large and small, of the four villages; and a resort of Rangers and other wanderers, and for such travellers (mostly dwarves) as still journeyed on the East Road, to and from the Mountains. It was dark, and white stars were shining, when Frodo and his companions came at last to the Greenway-crossing and drew near the village. They came to the West-gate and found it shut; but at the door of the lodge beyond it, there was a man sitting. He jumped up and fetched a lantern and looked over the gate at them in surprise. ‘What do you want, and where do you come from?’ he asked gruffly. ‘We are making for the inn here,’ answered Frodo. ‘We are journeying east and cannot go further tonight.’ ‘Hobbits! Four hobbits! And what’s more, out of the Shire by their talk,’ said the gatekeeper, softly as if speaking to himself. He stared at them darkly for a moment, and then slowly opened the gate and let them ride through. ‘We don’t often see Shire-folk riding on the Road at night,’ he went on, as they halted a moment by his door. ‘You'll pardon my wondering what business takes you away east of Bree! What may your names be, might I ask?’ ‘Our names and our business are our own, and this does not seem a good place to discuss them,’ said Frodo, not liking the look of the man or the tone of his voice. “Your business is your own, no doubt,’ said the man; ‘but it’s my business to ask questions after nightfall.’ ‘We are hobbits from Buckland, and we have a fancy to travel and to stay at the inn here,’ put in Merry. ‘I am Mr. Brandybuck. Is that enough for you? The Bree-folk used to be fair-spoken to travellers, or so I had heard.’ ‘All right, all right!’ said the man. ‘I meant no offence. But you'll find maybe that more folk than old Harry at the gate will be asking you questions. There’s queer folk about. If you go on to The Pony, you'll find you’re not the only guests.’ He wished them good night, and they said no more; but Frodo could see in the lantern-light that the man was still eyeing them curiously. He was glad to hear the gate clang to behind them, as they rode forward. He wondered why the man was so suspicious, and whether anyone had been asking for news of a party of hobbits. Could it have been Gandalf? He might have arrived, while they were delayed in the Forest and the Downs. But there was something in the look and the voice of the gatekeeper that made him uneasy.
躍馬客棧的招牌下，他是一個重要人物。他的家是四個村莊裡，無論大人小孩，那些閒散、愛說話、好奇的居民的聚會場所；也是遊俠和其他流浪者，以及那些仍沿著東路往返山區的旅行者（大多是矮人）的休憩之所。天色已暗，白色的星星閃爍著，佛羅多和他的同伴們終於來到綠道交叉口，靠近了村莊。他們來到西門，發現門關著；但在門外的小屋門口，坐著一個人。他跳起來，拿來一盞燈籠，驚訝地隔著門看著他們。「你們想要什麼？你們從哪裡來？」他粗聲粗氣地問道。「我們正要去這裡的客棧，」佛羅多回答。「我們正往東走，今晚不能再往前了。」「哈比人！四個哈比人！而且，聽他們的口音，是從夏爾來的，」守門人輕聲說，彷彿自言自語。他陰沉地盯著他們看了一會兒，然後慢慢打開大門，讓他們騎馬通過。「我們不常在晚上看到夏爾人騎馬在路上，」他繼續說道，當時他們在他的門口停了一會兒。「請原諒我好奇是什麼事情讓你們來到布理以東！請問你們尊姓大名？」「我們的名字和我們的私事是我們自己的，這裡似乎不是討論這些的好地方，」佛羅多說，他不太喜歡這個人的眼神和語氣。「你的私事是你自己的，這無疑，」那人說；「但在天黑之後問問題是我的職責。」「我們是來自巴克蘭的哈比人，我們想旅行，並想住在這裡的客棧，」梅里插話道。「我是白蘭地鹿先生。這樣夠了嗎？我聽說布理人以前對旅行者都很客氣。」「好吧，好吧！」那人說。「我無意冒犯。但你可能會發現，除了門口的哈利老頭，會有更多人問你問題。附近有奇怪的人。如果你去躍馬客棧，你會發現你不是唯一的客人。」他祝他們晚安，他們也沒再說什麼；但佛羅多在燈籠光下看到那人仍在好奇地打量著他們。他很高興聽到大門在他們身後砰地關上，當他們向前騎行時。他想知道那人為何如此多疑，以及是否有人一直在打聽一群哈比人的消息。會是甘道夫嗎？他們在森林和丘陵地帶耽擱時，他可能已經到了。但守門人的眼神和語氣中有些東西讓他感到不安。
152 THE LORD OF THE RINGS The man stared after the hobbits for a moment, and then he went back to his house. As soon as his back was turned, a dark figure climbed quickly in over the gate and melted into the shadows of the village street. The hobbits rode on up a gentle slope, passing a few detached houses, and drew up outside the inn. The houses looked large and strange to them. Sam stared up at the inn with its three storeys and many windows, and felt his heart sink. He had imagined himself meeting giants taller than trees, and other creatures even more terrifying, some time or other in the course of his journey; but at the moment he was finding his first sight of Men and their tall houses quite enough, indeed too much for the dark end of a tiring day. He pictured black horses standing all saddled in the shadows of the inn-yard, and Black Riders peering out of dark upper windows. ‘We surely aren’t going to stay here for the night, are we, sir?’ he exclaimed. ‘If there are hobbit-folk in these parts, why don’t we look for some that would be willing to take us in? It would be more homelike.’ ‘What’s wrong with the inn?’ said Frodo. “Tom Bombadil recommended it. I expect it’s homelike enough inside.’ Even from the outside the inn looked a pleasant house to familiar eyes. It had a front on the Road, and two wings running back on land partly cut out of the lower slopes of the hill, so that at the rear the second-floor windows were level with the ground. There was a wide arch leading to a courtyard between the two wings, and on the left under the arch there was a large doorway reached by a few broad steps. The door was open and light streamed out of it. Above the arch there was a lamp, and beneath it swung a large signboard: a fat white pony reared up on its hind legs. Over the door was painted in white letters: THE PRANCING PONY by BARLIMAN BUTTERBUR. Many of the lower windows showed lights behind thick curtains. As they hesitated outside in the gloom, someone began singing a merry song inside, and many cheerful voices joined loudly in the chorus. They listened to this encouraging sound for a moment and then got off their ponies. The song ended and there was a burst of laughter and clapping. They led their ponies under the arch, and leaving them standing in the yard they climbed up the steps. Frodo went forward and nearly bumped into a short fat man with a bald head and a red face. He had a white apron on, and was bustling out of one door and in through another, carrying a tray laden with full mugs. ‘Can we > began Frodo. ‘Half a minute, if you please!’ shouted the man over his shoulder,
152 《魔戒》 那人盯著哈比人看了一會兒，然後便回屋去了。他一轉身，一個黑影便迅速翻過大門，融入了村街的陰影之中。哈比人們騎著馬沿著緩坡前行，經過幾棟獨立的房屋，然後在客棧外停了下來。這些房屋對他們來說顯得又大又陌生。山姆仰望著那有三層樓高、窗戶眾多的客棧，心頭一沉。他曾想像自己在旅途中會遇到比樹還高的巨人，以及其他更為可怕的生物；但此刻，他發現第一次見到人類和他們高大的房屋，就已經足夠了，甚至對於一個疲憊一天的黑暗尾聲來說，這一切都太多了。他想像著客棧院子裡的陰影中，停著幾匹已經備好鞍的黑馬，還有黑騎士們從漆黑的樓上窗戶裡窺視著。「我們今晚肯定不會待在這裡過夜吧，先生？」他驚呼道。「如果這附近有哈比人，我們為什麼不找一些願意收留我們的人家呢？那樣會更像家一樣。」「客棧有什麼不好嗎？」佛羅多說。「湯姆·邦巴迪爾推薦的。我想裡面應該夠像家一樣了。」即使從外面看，這客棧在熟悉的人眼中也是一棟宜人的房子。它面臨著大路，兩側的廂房則延伸到部分從山坡下開鑿出來的土地上，因此在後方，二樓的窗戶與地面齊平。兩側廂房之間有一個通往庭院的寬闊拱門，拱門左側有一個大門口，需要走幾級寬闊的台階才能到達。門開著，光線從裡面傾瀉而出。拱門上方掛著一盞燈，燈下懸掛著一塊巨大的招牌：一匹肥胖的白馬以後腿站立。門上方用白字寫著：「躍馬客棧」巴利曼·巴特巴。許多樓下的窗戶都透出厚重窗簾後的光亮。當他們在昏暗中猶豫不決時，裡面有人開始唱起歡快的歌，許多愉快的聲音也大聲加入了合唱。他們聽了一會兒這鼓舞人心的聲音，然後下了小馬。歌聲結束，隨之而來的是一陣爆笑和掌聲。他們牽著小馬穿過拱門，讓牠們留在院子裡，然後自己爬上台階。佛羅多向前走去，差點撞上一個矮胖的男人，他禿著頭，臉色紅潤。他穿著一件白色圍裙，正忙碌地從一個門進出另一個門，手裡端著一個裝滿了馬克杯的托盤。「我們能……」佛羅多剛開口。「請等一下！」那人頭也不回地喊道。
AT THE SIGN OF THE PRANCING PONY 153 and vanished into a babel of voices and a cloud of smoke. In a moment he was out again, wiping his hands on his apron. ‘Good evening, little master!’ he said, bending down. ‘What may you be wanting?’ ‘Beds for four, and stabling for five ponies, if that can be managed. Are you Mr. Butterbur?’ ‘That’s right! Barliman is my name. Barliman Butterbur at your service! You’re from the Shire, eh?’ he said, and then suddenly he clapped his hand to his forehead, as if trying to remember something. ‘Hobbits!’ he cried. ‘Now what does that remind me of? Might I ask your names, sirs?’ ‘Mr. Took and Mr. Brandybuck,’ said Frodo; ‘and this is Sam Gamgee. My name is Underhill.’ “There now!’ said Mr. Butterbur, snapping his fingers. ‘It’s gone again! But it’ll come back, when I have time to think. ’m run off my feet; but I'll see what I can do for you. We don’t often get a party out of the Shire nowadays, and I should be sorry not to make you welcome. But there is such a crowd already in the house tonight as there hasn’t been for long enough. It never rains but it pours, we say in Bree.’ ‘Hi! Nob!’ he shouted. ‘Where are you, you woolly-footed slowcoach? Nob!’ ‘Coming, sir! Coming!’ A cheery-looking hobbit bobbed out of a door, and seeing the travellers, stopped short and stared at them with great interest. ‘Where’s Bob?’ asked the landlord. ‘You don’t know? Well, find him! Double sharp! I haven’t got six legs, nor six eyes neither! Tell Bob there’s five ponies that have to be stabled. He must find room somehow.’ Nob trotted off with a grin and a wink. ‘Well now, what was I going to say?’ said Mr. Butterbur, tapping his forehead. ‘One thing drives out another, so to speak. I’m that busy tonight, my head is going round. There’s a party that came up the Greenway from down South last night — and that was strange enough to begin with. Then there’s a travelling company of dwarves going West come in this evening. And now there’s you. If you weren’t hobbits, I doubt if we could house you. But we’ve got a room or two in the north wing that were made special for hobbits, when this place was built. On the ground floor as they usually prefer; round windows and all as they like it. I hope you’ll be comfortable. You’ll be wanting supper, I don’t doubt. As soon as may be. This way now!’ He led them a short way down a passage, and opened a door. ‘Here is a nice little parlour!’ he said. ‘I hope it will suit. Excuse me now. I’m that busy. No time for talking. I must be trotting. It’s hard work for two legs, but I don’t get thinner. Ill look in again later. If
躍馬客棧 153號，他消失在嘈雜的人聲和一片煙霧中。片刻之後，他又出來了，用圍裙擦著手。「晚上好，小老爺！」他彎下腰說道，「您有何貴幹？」 「四個人的床位，還有五匹小馬的馬廄，如果能辦到的話。您是奶油伯先生嗎？」 「沒錯！我叫巴力曼。巴力曼·奶油伯為您服務！您是從夏爾來的吧？」他說著，突然拍了拍額頭，好像在努力回想什麼。「哈比人！」他喊道，「這讓我想起了什麼呢？請問各位先生尊姓大名？」 「圖克先生和白蘭地鹿先生。」佛羅多說，「這位是山姆·詹吉。我的名字是樹下。」 「哎呀！」奶油伯先生彈了個響指說，「又忘了！不過等我有空想想，就會想起來的。我忙得團團轉；但我會盡力為您安排的。如今很少有夏爾來的客人了，我可不想怠慢了各位。不過今晚客棧裡已經擠滿了人，很久沒這麼熱鬧了。我們布理人常說，禍不單行。」 「嘿！諾伯！」他大喊，「你這毛腳慢吞吞的傢伙，在哪兒呢？諾伯！」 「來了，老爺！來了！」一個看起來很開心的哈比人從門裡探出頭來，看到旅客們，便停下腳步，好奇地盯著他們看。「鮑伯呢？」店主問道，「你不知道？快去找他！動作快點！我又沒有六條腿，也沒有六隻眼睛！告訴鮑伯有五匹小馬要安置。他必須想辦法騰出地方來。」 諾伯咧嘴一笑，眨了眨眼，小跑著離開了。「哎呀，我剛才要說什麼來著？」奶油伯先生輕敲著額頭說，「可以說，一件事把另一件事擠掉了。我今晚忙得團團轉，腦袋都快炸了。昨晚有一群人從南方沿著綠道上來——這已經夠奇怪的了。然後今晚又來了一隊往西走的矮人旅行團。現在又來了你們。如果你們不是哈比人，我懷疑我們能不能接待你們。不過我們北翼有幾間專為哈比人準備的房間，是客棧剛蓋好的時候就有的。就在底樓，哈比人通常喜歡那樣；還有他們喜歡的圓窗。希望你們住得舒服。你們肯定想吃晚飯了，我毫不懷疑。盡快安排。這邊請！」 他領著他們走過一小段走廊，打開一扇門。「這裡有個不錯的小客廳！」他說，「希望你們會喜歡。抱歉了，我太忙了。沒時間說話了。我得走了。兩條腿跑來跑去真辛苦，但我卻沒瘦下來。我晚點會再過來看看。如果
154 THE LORD OF THE RINGS you want anything, ring the hand-bell, and Nob will come. If he don’t come, ring and shout!’ Off he went at last, and left them feeling rather breathless. He seemed capable of an endless stream of talk, however busy he might be. They found themselves in a small and cosy room. There was a bit of bright fire burning on the hearth, and in front of it were some low and comfortable chairs. There was a round table, already spread with a white cloth, and on it was a large hand-bell. But Nob, the hobbit servant, came bustling in long before they thought of ringing. He brought candles and a tray full of plates. ‘Will you be wanting anything to drink, masters?’ he asked. ‘And shall I show you the bedrooms, while your supper is got ready?’ They were washed and in the middle of good deep mugs of beer when Mr. Butterbur and Nob came in again. In a twinkling the table was laid. There was hot soup, cold meats, a blackberry tart, new loaves, slabs of butter, and half a ripe cheese: good plain food, as good as the Shire could show, and homelike enough to dispel the last of Sam’s misgivings (already much relieved by the excellence of the beer). The landlord hovered round for a little, and then prepared to leave them. ‘I don’t know whether you would care to join the company, when you have supped,’ he said, standing at the door. ‘Perhaps you would rather go to your beds. Still the company would be very pleased to welcome you, if you had a mind. We don’t get Outsiders — travellers from the Shire, I should say, begging your pardon — often; and we like to hear a bit of news, or any story or song you may have in mind. But as you please! Ring the bell, if you lack anything!’ So refreshed and encouraged did they feel at the end of their supper (about three quarters of an hour’s steady going, not hindered by unnecessary talk) that Frodo, Pippin, and Sam decided to join the company. Merry said it would be too stuffy. ‘I shall sit here quietly by the fire for a bit, and perhaps go out later for a sniff of the air. Mind your Ps and Qs, and don’t forget that you are supposed to be escaping in secret, and are still on the high-road and not very far from the Shire!’ ‘All right!’ said Pippin. ‘Mind yourself! Don’t get lost, and don’t forget that it is safer indoors!’ The company was in the big common-room of the inn. The gathering was large and mixed, as Frodo discovered, when his eyes got used to the light. This came chiefly from a blazing log-fire, for the three lamps hanging from the beams were dim, and half veiled in smoke. Barliman Butterbur was standing near the fire, talking to a couple of dwarves and one or two strange-looking men. On the benches were various folk: men of Bree, a collection of local hobbits
如果你需要什麼，搖一下手搖鈴，諾伯就會過來。如果他不來，就搖鈴並大喊！他終於走了，留下他們感到有些喘不過氣。他似乎有無窮無盡的話語，無論他多麼忙碌。他們發現自己身處一個小巧舒適的房間。壁爐裡燃燒著一小堆明亮的爐火，前面擺放著幾張低矮舒適的椅子。還有一張圓桌，上面已經鋪好了白布，桌上放著一個大大的手搖鈴。但諾伯，那個哈比人僕人，在他們想到搖鈴之前很久就匆匆忙忙地進來了。他帶來了蠟燭和一盤子滿滿的餐具。「各位主人，你們想喝點什麼嗎？」他問道。「在你們的晚餐準備好之前，要不要我帶你們去看看臥室？」當巴特巴先生和諾伯再次進來時，他們已經洗漱完畢，正喝著大杯的啤酒。轉眼間，餐桌就擺好了。有熱湯、冷肉、黑莓餡餅、新烤麵包、大塊奶油和半個熟透的乳酪：樸實的好食物，就像夏爾能提供的最好的食物一樣，而且足夠家常，足以消除山姆最後的疑慮（這些疑慮已經因啤酒的美味而大大減輕了）。店主在旁邊徘徊了一會兒，然後準備離開他們。「我不知道你們吃完飯後是否願意加入大家，」他站在門口說。「也許你們更想回房睡覺。不過，如果你們有這個意願，大家會很高興歡迎你們。我們不常有外來者——我是說，來自夏爾的旅客，請原諒——我們喜歡聽一些新聞，或者你們心裡有什麼故事或歌曲。但隨你們便！如果你們缺少什麼，就搖鈴吧！」晚餐結束時（大約四分之三小時的穩定進食，沒有被不必要的談話打擾），他們感到如此精神煥發和受到鼓舞，以至於佛羅多、皮聘和山姆決定加入大家。梅里說那會太悶。「我會在這裡壁爐旁安靜地坐一會兒，也許晚點出去呼吸一下新鮮空氣。注意你們的言行舉止，別忘了你們應該是秘密逃亡，而且仍然在公路上，離夏爾不遠！」 「好吧！」皮聘說。「你自己也小心！別迷路了，別忘了待在室內更安全！」大家都在旅館的大公共休息室裡。當佛羅多的眼睛適應了光線後，他發現聚會的人很多，而且形形色色。光線主要來自熊熊燃燒的爐火，因為掛在橫樑上的三盞燈光線昏暗，半隱在煙霧中。巴利曼·巴特巴正站在火爐旁，和兩個矮人以及一兩個長相奇特的人說話。長凳上坐著各種各樣的人：布理人，一群當地的哈比人。
AT THE SIGN OF THE PRANCING PONY 155 (sitting chattering together), a few more dwarves, and other vague figures difficult to make out away in the shadows and corners. As soon as the Shire-hobbits entered, there was a chorus of welcome from the Bree-landers. The strangers, especially those that had come up the Greenway, stared at them curiously. The landlord introduced the newcomers to the Bree-folk, so quickly that, though they caught many names, they were seldom sure who the names belonged to. The Men of Bree seemed all to have rather botanical (and to the Shire-folk rather odd) names, like Rushlight, Goatleaf, Heathertoes, Appledore, Thistlewool and Ferny (not to mention Butterbur). Some of the hobbits had similar names. The Mugworts, for instance, seemed numerous. But most of them had natural names, such as Banks, Brockhouse, Longholes, Sandheaver, and Tunnelly, many of which were used in the Shire. There were several Underhills from Staddle, and as they could not imagine sharing a name without being related, they took Frodo to their hearts as a long-lost cousin. The Bree-hobbits were, in fact, friendly and inquisitive, and Frodo soon found that some explanation of what he was doing would have to be given. He gave out that he was interested in history and geography (at which there was much wagging of heads, although neither of these words were much used in the Bree-dialect). He said he was thinking of writing a book (at which there was silent astonishment), and that he and his friends wanted to collect information about hobbits living outside the Shire, especially in the eastern lands. At this a chorus of voices broke out. If Frodo had really wanted to write a book, and had had many ears, he would have learned enough for several chapters in a few minutes. And if that was not enough, he was given a whole list of names, beginning with ‘Old Barliman here’, to whom he could go for further information. But after a time, as Frodo did not show any sign of writing a book on the spot, the hobbits returned to their questions about doings in the Shire. Frodo did not prove very communicative, and he soon found himself sitting alone in a corner, listening and looking around. The Men and Dwarves were mostly talking of distant events and telling news of a kind that was becoming only too familiar. There was trouble away in the South, and it seemed that the Men who had come up the Greenway were on the move, looking for lands where they could find some peace. The Bree-folk were sympathetic, but plainly not very ready to take a large number of strangers into their little land. One of the travellers, a squint-eyed ill-favoured fellow, was foretelling that more and more people would be coming north in the near future. ‘If room isn’t found for them, they’l!l find it for themselves. They’ve a right to live, same as other folk,’ he said loudly. The local inhabitants did not look pleased at the prospect.
躍馬客棧 155號（他們正坐在一起嘰嘰喳喳地聊天），還有一些矮人，以及其他在陰影和角落裡難以辨認的模糊身影。夏爾的哈比人一進來，布理人就齊聲歡迎。那些陌生人，尤其是從綠大道來的，好奇地打量著他們。店主把新來的人介紹給布理居民，介紹得太快了，以至於雖然他們聽到了許多名字，卻很少能確定這些名字屬於誰。布理人似乎都有些植物學（對夏爾人來說相當古怪）的名字，比如燈心草（Rushlight）、山羊葉（Goatleaf）、石楠趾（Heathertoes）、蘋果園（Appledore）、薊毛（Thistlewool）和蕨類（Ferny）（更不用說奶油伯（Butterbur）了）。有些哈比人也有類似的名字。例如，艾蒿（Mugworts）家族似乎人丁興旺。但他們大多數都有自然界的名字，例如河岸（Banks）、獾屋（Brockhouse）、長洞（Longholes）、揚沙（Sandheaver）和隧道（Tunnelly），其中許多名字在夏爾也有使用。有幾位來自史塔德的安德希爾家族成員，由於他們無法想像沒有親緣關係卻共用一個姓氏，於是他們把佛羅多當作失散多年的表親般熱情接納。事實上，布理的哈比人既友善又愛打聽，佛羅多很快就發現他必須解釋一下自己正在做什麼。他聲稱自己對歷史和地理感興趣（這引來了許多人點頭稱是，儘管這兩個詞在布理方言中並不常用）。他說他正在考慮寫一本書（這讓大家鴉雀無聲地感到驚訝），而且他和他的朋友們想收集關於居住在夏爾之外、特別是東方土地上的哈比人的資訊。聽到這裡，眾人七嘴八舌地說開了。如果佛羅多真的想寫一本書，而且有很多耳朵可以聽，他幾分鐘內就能收集到足夠寫好幾章的資料。如果這還不夠，他還得到了一長串名字，開頭就是「這裡的老巴利曼」，他可以去找這些人獲取更多資訊。但過了一會兒，由於佛羅多沒有當場表現出要寫書的跡象，哈比人們又回到了他們關於夏爾事務的問題上。佛羅多並沒有表現得很健談，他很快就發現自己獨自坐在角落裡，傾聽並環顧四周。人類和矮人大多在談論遙遠的事件，講述著一種已經變得司空見慣的消息。南方有麻煩，那些從綠大道來的人似乎正在遷徙，尋找可以安居樂業的土地。布理人表示同情，但顯然不太願意接納大量陌生人進入他們的小塊土地。其中一位旅客，一個斜眼、面相不善的傢伙，預言在不久的將來會有越來越多的人向北遷徙。「如果沒有地方給他們住，他們會自己找的。他們有權利活下去，就像其他人一樣。」他大聲說。當地居民對此前景並不樂見。
156 THE LORD OF THE RINGS The hobbits did not pay much attention to all this, as it did not at the moment seem to concern hobbits. Big Folk could hardly beg for lodgings in hobbit-holes. They were more interested in Sam and Pippin, who were now feeling quite at home, and were chatting gaily about events in the Shire. Pippin roused a good deal of laughter with an account of the collapse of the roof of the Town Hole in Michel Delving: Will Whitfoot, the Mayor, and the fattest hobbit in the Westfarthing, had been buried in chalk, and came out like a floured dumpling. But there were several questions asked that made Frodo a little uneasy. One of the Bree-landers, who seemed to have been in the Shire several times, wanted to know where the Underhills lived and who they were related to. Suddenly Frodo noticed that a strange-looking weather-beaten man, sitting in the shadows near the wall, was also listening intently to the hobbit-talk. He had a tall tankard in front of him, and was smoking a long-stemmed pipe curiously carved. His legs were stretched out before him, showing high boots of supple leather that fitted him well, but had seen much wear and were now caked with mud. A travel-stained cloak of heavy dark-green cloth was drawn close about him, and in spite of the heat of the room he wore a hood that overshadowed his face; but the gleam of his eyes could be seen as he watched the hobbits. ‘Who is that?’ Frodo asked, when he got a chance to whisper to Mr. Butterbur. ‘I don’t think you introduced him?’ ‘Him?’ said the landlord in an answering whisper, cocking an eye without turning his head. ‘I don’t rightly know. He is one of the wandering folk — Rangers we call them. He seldom talks: not but what he can tell a rare tale when he has the mind. He disappears for a month, or a year, and then he pops up again. He was in and out pretty often last spring; but I haven’t seen him about lately. What his right name is I’ve never heard: but he’s known round here as Strider. Goes about at a great pace on his long shanks; though he don’t tell nobody what cause he has to hurry. But there’s no accounting for East and West, as we say in Bree, meaning the Rangers and the Shire-folk, begging your pardon. Funny you should ask about him.’ But at that moment Mr. Butterbur was called away by a demand for more ale and his last remark remained unexplained. Frodo found that Strider was now looking at him, as if he had heard or guessed all that had been said. Presently, with a wave of his hand and a nod, he invited Frodo to come over and sit by him. As Frodo drew near he threw back his hood, showing a shaggy head of dark hair flecked with grey, and in a pale stern face a pair of keen grey eyes. ‘I am called Strider,’ he said in a low voice. ‘I am very pleased
AT THE SIGN OF THE PRANCING PONY 157 to meet you, Master — Underhill, if old Butterbur got your name right.’ ‘He did,’ said Frodo stiffly. He felt far from comfortable under the stare of those keen eyes. ‘Well, Master Underhill,’ said Strider, ‘if I were you, I should stop your young friends from talking too much. Drink, fire, and chance-meeting are pleasant enough, but, well — this isn’t the Shire. There are queer folk about. Though I say it as shouldn’t, you may think,’ he added with a wry smile, seeing Frodo’s glance. ‘And there have been even stranger travellers through Bree lately,’ he went on, watching Frodo’s face. Frodo returned his gaze but said nothing; and Strider made no further sign. His attention seemed suddenly to be fixed on Pippin. To his alarm Frodo became aware that the ridiculous young Took, encouraged by his success with the fat Mayor of Michel Delving, was now actually giving a comic account of Bilbo’s farewell party. He was already giving an imitation of the Speech, and was drawing near to the astonishing Disappearance. Frodo was annoyed. It was a harmless enough tale for most of the local hobbits, no doubt: just a funny story about those funny people away beyond the River; but some (old Butterbur, for instance) knew a thing or two, and had probably heard rumours long ago about Bilbo’s vanishing. It would bring the name of Baggins to their minds, especially if there had been inquiries in Bree after that name. Frodo fidgeted, wondering what to do. Pippin was evidently much enjoying the attention he was getting, and had become quite forgetful of their danger. Frodo had a sudden fear that in his present mood he might even mention the Ring; and that might well be disastrous. “You had better do something quick!’ whispered Strider in his ear. Frodo jumped up and stood on a table, and began to talk. The attention of Pippin’s audience was disturbed. Some of the hobbits looked at Frodo and laughed and clapped, thinking that Mr. Underhill had taken as much ale as was good for him. Frodo suddenly felt very foolish, and found himself (as was his habit when making a speech) fingering the things in his pocket. He felt the Ring on its chain, and quite unaccountably the desire came over him to slip it on and vanish out of the silly situation. It seemed to him, somehow, as if the suggestion came to him from outside, from someone or something in the room. He resisted the temptation firmly, and clasped the Ring in his hand, as if to keep a hold on it and prevent it from escaping or doing any mischief. At any rate it gave him no inspiration. He spoke ‘a few suitable words’, as they would have said in the Shire: We are all very much gratified by the kindness of your reception, and I venture to hope that my brief visit will
在躍馬客棧 157 號，很高興見到您，大師——安德希爾，如果老巴力曼沒記錯您的名字的話。」「他沒錯。」佛羅多僵硬地說。在那些銳利目光的注視下，他感到非常不自在。「嗯，安德希爾大師，」亞拉岡說，「如果我是你，我會阻止你的年輕朋友說太多話。美酒、爐火和偶遇固然令人愉快，但是——這裡可不是夏爾。這裡有些奇怪的人。雖然我這麼說可能不該，你或許會這麼想，」他看到佛羅多的一瞥，帶著一絲苦笑補充道。「而且最近有更奇怪的旅人經過布理，」他繼續說，注視著佛羅多的臉。佛羅多回望他，但什麼也沒說；亞拉岡也沒有再多表示什麼。他的注意力似乎突然轉向了皮聘。令他驚訝的是，佛羅多發現那個可笑的年輕圖克，因為成功地與麥可戴爾文的胖鎮長打交道而受到鼓舞，現在竟然正在滑稽地講述比爾博的告別派對。他已經在模仿那場演講，並且快要講到那驚人的消失了。佛羅多很惱火。對大多數當地哈比人來說，這無疑是個無傷大雅的故事：只是一個關於河對岸那些有趣的人的趣聞；但有些人（例如老巴力曼）卻知道一些內情，而且可能很久以前就聽過關於比爾博消失的傳聞。這會讓他們想起巴金斯這個名字，特別是如果布理曾有人打聽過這個名字的話。佛羅多坐立不安，不知道該怎麼辦。皮聘顯然很享受他所得到的關注，並且完全忘記了他們的危險。佛羅多突然擔心，以他現在的心情，他甚至可能會提到魔戒；那很可能會是災難性的。「你最好快點做點什麼！」亞拉岡在他耳邊低聲說。佛羅多跳上桌子，開始說話。皮聘聽眾的注意力被打斷了。一些哈比人看著佛羅多，又笑又拍手，以為安德希爾先生喝得太多了。佛羅多突然覺得自己很傻，並且（就像他發表演講時的習慣一樣）摸著口袋裡的東西。他摸到魔戒掛在鍊子上，一股莫名的衝動湧上心頭，想把它戴上，然後從這愚蠢的處境中消失。不知怎的，他覺得這個念頭似乎是從外面，從房間裡的某個人或某個東西傳來的。他堅定地抵抗了誘惑，將魔戒緊握在手中，彷彿要牢牢抓住它，防止它逃脫或作惡。無論如何，這並沒有給他任何靈感。他講了「幾句得體的話」，就像夏爾人會說的那樣：「我們都非常感謝您的熱情款待，我冒昧地希望我的短暫拜訪將會
158 THE LORD OF THE RINGS help to renew the old ties of friendship between the Shire and Bree; and then he hesitated and coughed. Everyone in the room was now looking at him. ‘A song!’ shouted one of the hobbits. ‘A song! A song!’ shouted all the others. ‘Come on now, master, sing us something that we haven’t heard before!’ For a moment Frodo stood gaping. Then in desperation he began a ridiculous song that Bilbo had been rather fond of (and indeed rather proud of, for he had made up the words himself). It was about an inn; and that is probably why it came into Frodo’s mind just then. Here it is in full. Only a few words of it are now, as a rule, remembered. There is an inn, a merry old inn beneath an old grey hill, And there they brew a beer so brown That the Man in the Moon himself came down one night to drink his fill. The ostler has a tipsy cat that plays a five-stringed fiddle; And up and down he runs his bow, Now squeaking high, now purring low, now sawing in the middle. The landlord keeps a little dog that is mighty fond of jokes; When there’s good cheer among the guests, He cocks an ear at all the jests and laughs until he chokes. They also keep a hornéd cow as proud as any queen; But music turns her head like ale, And makes her wave her tufted tail and dance upon the green. And O! the rows of silver dishes and the store of silver spoons! For Sunday* there’s a special pair, And these they polish up with care on Saturday afternoons. * See note 2, III, p.1111
158 《魔戒》有助於重續夏爾和布理之間古老的友誼紐帶；然後他猶豫了一下，咳了一聲。房間裡的每個人現在都看著他。「來首歌！」一個哈比人喊道。「來首歌！來首歌！」所有其他人也跟著喊。「快點啊，主人，給我們唱首我們從沒聽過的新歌！」佛羅多一時張口結舌。然後他情急之下開始唱一首荒謬的歌，那是比爾博相當喜歡（而且確實相當自豪，因為歌詞是他自己編的）的。這首歌是關於一家小旅館的；這大概就是為什麼它當時會出現在佛羅多腦海裡的原因。歌曲全文如下。現在，通常只記得其中幾句。 有一家小旅館，一家歡樂的老旅館，坐落在灰濛濛的老山下， 他們在那裡釀造棕色的啤酒， 連月亮上的人也曾在一晚下來，暢飲一番。 馬夫有一隻醉醺醺的貓，會拉五弦小提琴； 牠的弓上下飛舞， 時而高聲尖叫，時而低聲咕嚕，時而又在中間拉鋸。 店主養了一隻小狗，非常喜歡聽笑話； 當客人們歡聲笑語時， 牠會豎起耳朵聽所有的玩笑，然後笑到喘不過氣。 他們還養了一頭長角的母牛，驕傲得像女王； 但音樂讓牠像喝了啤酒一樣興奮， 讓牠搖擺著毛茸茸的尾巴，在草地上跳舞。 噢！那一排排的銀盤子和一堆堆的銀湯匙！ 星期天*有一對特別的， 他們會在星期六下午仔細擦亮。 * 見註2，第三部，第1111頁
AT THE SIGN OF THE PRANCING PONY The Man in the Moon was drinking deep, and the cat began to wail; A dish and a spoon on the table danced, The cow in the garden madly pranced, and the little dog chased his tail. The Man in the Moon took another mug, and then rolled beneath his chair; And there he dozed and dreamed of ale, Till in the sky the stars were pale, and dawn was in the air. Then the ostler said to his tipsy cat: ‘The white horses of the Moon, They neigh and champ their silver bits; But their master’s been and drowned his wits, and the Sun’ll be rising soon!’ So the cat on his fiddle played hey-diddle-diddle, a jig that would wake the dead: He squeaked and sawed and quickened the tune, While the landlord shook the Man in the Moon: Tt’s after three! he said. They rolled the Man slowly up the hill and bundled him into the Moon, While his horses galloped up 1n rear, And the cow came capering like a deer, and a dish ran up with the spoon. Now quicker the fiddle went deedle-dum-diddle; the dog began to roar, The cow and the horses stood on their heads; The guests all bounded from their beds and danced upon the floor. With a ping and a pong the fiddle-strings broke! the cow jumped over the Moon, And the little dog laughed to see such fun, And the Saturday dish went off at a run with the silver Sunday spoon. 159
躍馬客棧招牌下 月亮上的人兒暢飲著，貓兒開始嚎叫； 桌上的盤子和湯匙跳起舞來，花園裡的乳牛瘋狂地跳躍，小狗追著自己的尾巴。 月亮上的人兒又拿了一杯，然後滾到椅子底下； 他在那裡打盹，夢見啤酒，直到天上的星星變得黯淡，黎明降臨。 然後馬夫對他那微醺的貓說：「月亮的白馬，牠們嘶鳴著，嚼著銀色的馬嚼子；但牠們的主人已經酩酊大醉，太陽很快就要升起了！」 於是貓兒拉著小提琴，奏起「嘿，滴答，滴答」的曲子，那是一首能喚醒死人的活潑舞曲： 他吱吱呀呀地拉著，加快了曲調，而店主則搖晃著月亮上的人兒說：「已經三點多了！」 他們慢慢地把那人滾上山，把他塞進月亮裡，而他的馬兒在後面奔馳，乳牛像鹿一樣跳躍著，盤子和湯匙一起跑了上來。 現在小提琴奏得更快了，發出「滴答，咚，滴答」的聲音；狗兒開始咆哮， 乳牛和馬兒都倒立著；所有的客人都從床上跳起來，在地板上跳舞。 隨著「乒」和「乓」的聲音，小提琴弦斷了！乳牛跳過了月亮，小狗笑著看這一切多麼有趣，而週六的盤子帶著銀色的週日湯匙跑走了。
160 THE LORD OF THE RINGS The round Moon rolled behind the hill as the Sun ratsed up her head. She* hardly believed her fiery eyes; For though it was day, to her surprise they all went back to bed! There was loud and long applause. Frodo had a good voice, and the song tickled their fancy. ‘Where’s old Barley?’ they cried. ‘He ought to hear this. Bob ought to learn his cat the fiddle, and then we'd have a dance.’ They called for more ale, and began to shout: ‘Let’s have it again, master! Come on now! Once more!’ They made Frodo have another drink, and then begin his song again, while many of them joined in; for the tune was well known, and they were quick at picking up words. It was now Frodo’s turn to feel pleased with himself. He capered about on the table; and when he came a second time to the cow jumped over the Moon, he leaped in the air. Much too vigorously; for he came down, bang, into a tray full of mugs, and slipped, and rolled off the table with a crash, clatter, and bump! The audience all opened their mouths wide for laughter, and stopped short in gaping silence; for the singer disappeared. He simply vanished, as if he had gone slap through the floor without leaving a hole! The local hobbits stared in amazement, and then sprang to their feet and shouted for Barliman. All the company drew away from Pippin and Sam, who found themselves left alone in a corner, and eyed darkly and doubtfully from a distance. It was plain that many people regarded them now as the companions of a travelling magician of unknown powers and purpose. But there was one swarthy Breelander, who stood looking at them with a knowing and half-mocking expression that made them feel very uncomfortable. Presently he slipped out of the door, followed by the squint-eyed southerner: the two had been whispering together a good deal during the evening. Frodo felt a fool. Not knowing what else to do, he crawled away under the tables to the dark corner by Strider, who sat unmoved, giving no sign of his thoughts. Frodo leaned back against the wall and took off the Ring. How it came to be on his finger he could not tell. He could only suppose that he had been handling it in his pocket while he sang, and that somehow it had slipped on when he stuck out his hand with a jerk to save his fall. For a moment he wondered if the Ring itself had not played him a trick; perhaps it had tried to reveal itself in response to some wish or command that was felt in the room. He did not like the looks of the men that had gone out. * Elves (and Hobbits) always refer to the Sun as She.
160 《魔戒》圓月隱入山後，太陽探出頭來。她幾乎不敢相信自己火紅的雙眼；因為儘管已是白天，令她驚訝的是，他們都回去睡覺了！現場響起響亮而持久的掌聲。佛羅多歌聲很好，那首歌逗得他們心花怒放。「老巴利在哪？」他們喊道。「他應該聽聽這個。鮑伯應該教他的貓拉小提琴，那樣我們就能跳舞了。」他們又叫了些麥酒，然後開始大喊：「再來一次，大師！快點！再來一首！」他們讓佛羅多又喝了一杯，然後再次唱起歌來，許多人也跟著合唱；因為這曲調廣為人知，而且他們學詞很快。現在輪到佛羅多對自己感到滿意了。他在桌上雀躍不已；當他第二次唱到「牛兒跳過月亮」時，他跳了起來。動作太過猛烈；因為他砰地一聲，撞進一盤滿是馬克杯的托盤裡，滑倒了，然後伴隨著一陣轟隆、鏗鏘、咚的聲響，從桌上滾了下來！觀眾們都張大了嘴巴準備大笑，卻又突然停住，目瞪口呆地陷入沉默；因為歌手消失了。他簡直是憑空消失，彷彿直接穿過地板，卻沒有留下一個洞！當地的哈比人驚訝地瞪大了眼睛，然後跳起來大喊巴力曼。所有人都避開了皮聘和山姆，他們發現自己被孤零零地留在角落裡，從遠處投來陰沉而懷疑的目光。顯然，許多人現在把他們視為一位能力和目的不明的遊方巫師的同伴。但有一個皮膚黝黑的布理人，他帶著一種心知肚明又帶點嘲弄的表情看著他們，這讓他們感到非常不舒服。不久，他溜出了門，後面跟著那個斜眼南方人：這兩個人在晚上一直竊竊私語。佛羅多覺得自己像個傻瓜。不知道該怎麼辦，他爬到桌子底下，來到亞拉岡身旁的黑暗角落，亞拉岡紋絲不動地坐著，沒有流露任何想法。佛羅多靠在牆上，取下了魔戒。他不知道魔戒是怎麼戴到他手指上的。他只能猜想，唱歌的時候它一直在他口袋裡，當他猛地伸出手去穩住身體時，它就滑了上去。有一瞬間他懷疑魔戒本身是不是捉弄了他；也許它是為了回應房間裡某種願望或命令而顯現出來。他不喜歡那些離開的人的樣子。
AT THE SIGN OF THE PRANCING PONY 161 ‘Well?’ said Strider, when he reappeared. ‘Why did you do that? Worse than anything your friends could have said! You have put your foot in it! Or should I say your finger?’ ‘I don’t know what you mean,’ said Frodo, annoyed and alarmed. ‘Oh yes, you do,’ answered Strider; ‘but we had better wait until the uproar has died down. Then, if you please, Mr. Baggins, I should like a quiet word with you.’ ‘What about?’ asked Frodo, ignoring the sudden use of his proper name. ‘A matter of some importance — to us both,’ answered Strider, looking Frodo in the eye. ‘You may hear something to your advantage.’ ‘Very well,’ said Frodo, trying to appear unconcerned. ‘T’ll talk to you later.’ Meanwhile an argument was going on by the fireplace. Mr. Butterbur had come trotting in, and he was now trying to listen to several conflicting accounts of the event at the same time. ‘I saw him, Mr. Butterbur,’ said a hobbit; ‘or leastways I didn’t see him, if you take my meaning. He just vanished into thin air, in a manner of speaking.’ “You don’t say, Mr. Mugwort!’ said the landlord, looking puzzled. “Yes I do!’ replied Mugwort. ‘And I mean what I say, what’s more.’ “There’s some mistake somewhere,’ said Butterbur, shaking his head. “There was too much of that Mr. Underhill to go vanishing into thin air; or into thick air, as is more likely in this room.’ ‘Well, where is he now?’ cried several voices. ‘How should I know? He’s welcome to go where he will, so long as he pays in the morning. There’s Mr. Took, now: he’s not vanished.’ ‘Well, I saw what I saw, and I saw what I didn’t,’ said Mugwort obstinately. ‘And I say there’s some mistake,’ repeated Butterbur, picking up the tray and gathering up the broken crockery. ‘Of course there’s a mistake!’ said Frodo. ‘I haven’t vanished. Here I am! [ve just been having a few words with Strider in the corner.’ He came forward into the firelight; but most of the company backed away, even more perturbed than before. They were not in the least satisfied by his explanation that he had crawled away quickly under the tables after he had fallen. Most of the Hobbits and the Men of Bree went off then and there in a huff, having no fancy for further entertainment that evening. One or two gave Frodo a black look and departed muttering among themselves. The Dwarves and the two or three strange Men that still remained got up and said good night to the landlord, but not to Frodo and his friends. Before
躍馬客棧 161 「嗯？」亞拉岡再次出現時說道。「你為什麼要那麼做？比你朋友說的任何話都還要糟糕！你真是說錯話了！或者我該說，你真是做錯事了？」 「我不知道你在說什麼。」佛羅多又惱火又驚慌地說。 「喔，不，你知道的。」亞拉岡回答道，「不過我們最好等到騷動平息下來。然後，巴金斯先生，如果你願意的話，我想跟你私下說幾句話。」 「說什麼？」佛羅多問道，他沒有理會對方突然直呼他的名字。 「一件對我們倆都很重要的事情。」亞拉岡直視著佛羅多的眼睛回答。「你可能會聽到對你有利的消息。」 「好吧。」佛羅多努力裝作若無其事地說，「我待會兒再跟你談。」 與此同時，壁爐邊正在發生爭執。巴禮曼先生小跑著進來，他正試圖同時聽取幾種對事件相互矛盾的說法。 「我看到他了，巴禮曼先生。」一個哈比人說，「或者說，我沒看到他，如果你明白我的意思。他簡直是憑空消失了，可以這麼說。」 「你別說了，艾蒿先生！」店主困惑地說。「不，我就是要說！」艾蒿先生回答，「而且我說的是真的，更何況。」 「這裡面一定有什麼誤會。」巴禮曼搖著頭說，「昂德希爾先生那麼大一個人，不可能憑空消失；或者說，在這房間裡，他更可能是消失在濃煙裡。」 「那麼，他現在在哪裡？」好幾個人喊道。「我怎麼會知道？只要他早上付錢，他愛去哪就去哪。圖克先生就在這裡：他可沒消失。」 「嗯，我看到了我看到的，也看到了我沒看到的。」艾蒿先生固執地說。「我說這裡面一定有什麼誤會。」巴禮曼重複道，他拿起托盤，收拾著破碎的餐具。 「當然有誤會！」佛羅多說，「我沒有消失。我在這裡！我剛才只是在角落裡跟亞拉岡說了幾句話。」 他走到爐火的光亮處；但大多數人卻退縮了，比之前更加不安。他們對他解釋說他跌倒後迅速爬到桌子底下，絲毫沒有感到滿意。大多數哈比人和布理人當場就氣沖沖地離開了，對那天晚上的進一步娛樂毫無興趣。一兩個人惡狠狠地瞪了佛羅多一眼，然後彼此嘀咕著離開了。剩下的矮人以及兩三個陌生人站起來，向店主道了晚安，但沒有向佛羅多和他的朋友們道晚安。在
162 THE LORD OF THE RINGS long no one was left but Strider, who sat on, unnoticed, by the wall. Mr. Butterbur did not seem much put out. He reckoned, very probably, that his house would be full again on many future nights, until the present mystery had been thoroughly discussed. ‘Now what have you been doing, Mr. Underhill?’ he asked. ‘Frightening my customers and breaking up my crocks with your acrobatics!’ ‘I am very sorry to have caused any trouble,’ said Frodo. ‘It was quite unintentional, I assure you. A most unfortunate accident.’ ‘All right, Mr. Underhill! But if you’re going to do any more tumbling, or conjuring, or whatever it was, you’d best warn folk beforehand — and warn me. We’re a bit suspicious round here of anything out of the way — uncanny, if you understand me; and we don’t take to it all of a sudden.’ ‘I shan’t be doing anything of the sort again, Mr. Butterbur, I promise you. And now I think [ll be getting to bed. We shall be making an early start. Will you see that our ponies are ready by eight o’clock?’ ‘Very good! But before you go, I should like a word with you in private, Mr. Underhill. Something has just come back to my mind that I ought to tell you. I hope that you’ll not take it amiss. When I’ve seen to a thing or two, Ill come along to your room, if you’re willing.’ ‘Certainly!’ said Frodo; but his heart sank. He wondered how many private talks he would have before he got to bed, and what they would reveal. Were these people all in league against him? He began to suspect even old Butterbur’s fat face of concealing dark designs.
162 《魔戒》 許久之後，只剩下亞拉岡一人，他坐在牆邊，沒有引起任何人的注意。巴特巴先生看起來並沒有太過惱火。他很可能認為，在目前的謎團被徹底討論清楚之前，他的旅店在未來的許多個夜晚仍會座無虛席。「安德希爾先生，你剛才在做什麼？」他問道。「用你的雜耍嚇跑我的客人，還打破我的陶器！」「很抱歉造成任何麻煩，」佛羅多說。「我向你保證，那完全是無意的。一個非常不幸的意外。」「好吧，安德希爾先生！但如果你還要再表演什麼翻滾、變戲法或其他什麼的，你最好事先警告大家——也警告我。我們這裡的人對任何不尋常的事物——如果你明白我的意思，就是那種詭異的東西——都有些疑心；我們不會一下子就接受它。」「巴特巴先生，我向你保證，我不會再做那種事了。現在我想我該去睡了。我們明天要早點出發。你能確保我們的矮種馬在八點前準備好嗎？」「很好！但在你走之前，安德希爾先生，我想私下跟你說幾句話。我剛才想起一件事，我覺得應該告訴你。我希望你不要介意。等我處理完一兩件事，如果你願意，我就會到你的房間來。」「當然！」佛羅多說；但他的心卻沉了下去。他想知道在睡覺之前還要進行多少次私下談話，以及這些談話會揭露些什麼。這些人是不是都聯合起來對付他？他甚至開始懷疑老巴特巴那張胖臉背後隱藏著什麼陰險的圖謀。