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 在躍馬旅店 布理是布理地的主要村莊，這是一小塊有人居住的地區，就像周圍空曠土地上的一座島嶼。除了布理村本身，山丘的另一邊還有史戴多，再往東一點的深谷裡有康莊，以及在切特森林邊緣的雅切。圍繞著布理山和這些村莊的是一片由田野和開墾過的林地組成的小小鄉野，寬度僅有幾英里。布理的男人們有著棕色的頭髮，身材寬闊且稍嫌矮小，性格開朗獨立：他們不屬於任何人，只屬於自己；但他們對哈比人、矮人、精靈以及周遭世界其他居民的友善與熟悉程度，遠超過「大人」們通常（或現在）的樣子。根據他們自己的傳說，他們是此地的原住民，也是第一批遊蕩到中土世界西方的古人類的後裔。在遠古時代的動盪中，他們只有少數人倖存下來；但當王者們再度渡過大海歸來時，他們發現布理人還在那裡，而他們現在也還在那裡，即使古老王者們的記憶已消逝在草叢中。在那些日子裡，沒有其他人類在這麼西邊的地方，或是在夏爾方圓百里格之內有固定居所。但在布理之外的荒野中，有一些神秘的流浪者。布理人稱他們為遊俠，對他們的出身一無所知。他們比布理人更高、膚色更深，據信他們擁有奇特的視覺和聽覺能力，並且能理解野獸和鳥類的語言。他們隨心所欲地向南遊蕩，向東甚至遠至迷霧山脈；但如今他們人數稀少，難得一見。當他們出現時，會帶來遠方的消息，講述一些被人遺忘的奇特故事，人們會熱切地聆聽；但布理人並不與他們交朋友。布理地也有許多哈比人家庭；他們聲稱自己是世界上最古老的哈比人定居點，其建立時間遠在跨越白蘭地河、殖民夏爾之前。他們大多住在史戴多，雖然布理村本身也有一些，特別是在山丘較高的坡地上，位於人類房舍的上方。「大人」和「小人」（他們如此互相稱呼）關係友好，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
《魔戒》150頁，布理人的部分。世界上任何其他地方都找不到這種奇特（但絕佳）的安排。布理人，無論大小，自己都不太旅行；四個村莊的事務是他們主要關心的。偶爾，布理的哈比人會遠至布克蘭或東區；但儘管他們的小土地離白蘭地橋以東不過一日騎程，夏爾的哈比人現在卻很少造訪。偶爾會有個布克蘭人或愛冒險的圖克家人來旅店住上一兩晚，但即便如此也變得越來越不尋常。夏爾的哈比人將布理的哈比人，以及任何住在邊界之外的人，都稱為「外地人」，對他們沒什麼興趣，認為他們既沉悶又粗野。在那些日子裡，散布在世界西方的外地人，可能遠比夏爾人想像的要多。有些人，無疑地，不過是些流浪漢，隨時準備在任何土堤上挖個洞，只待到合適他們為止。但至少在布理地，哈比人是體面且富裕的，並不比他們在內地的遠親們更鄉土。人們尚未忘記，曾有一段時間，夏爾與布理之間人來人往。據說，烈酒鹿家族就有布理的血統。布理村有大約一百棟大個子們的石屋，大多在道路上方，依偎在山坡上，窗戶朝西。在那一側，有一道深溝，從山丘呈半圓形延伸又繞回，內側有濃密的樹籬。道路以一條堤道越過深溝；但在穿過樹籬的地方，則被一扇大門攔住。在南角還有另一扇門，道路從那裡離開村莊。大門在黃昏時關閉；但門內有守門人的小房舍。在道路下方，當它向右轉繞過山腳時，有一家大旅店。它是在很久以前，當路上交通遠比現在繁忙時建造的。因為布理位於一條古老道路的交會處；另一條古道在村莊西端的深溝外與東方大道交錯，在過去，人類與其他各色人等曾頻繁地在其上旅行。「像來自布理的消息一樣奇怪」在東區仍是一句諺語，從那些日子流傳下來，當時在旅店裡可以聽到來自北方、南方和東方的消息，而夏爾的哈比人也曾更常去那裡聽消息。但北方之地早已荒涼，北大道如今也鮮少使用：它已長滿青草，布理人稱之為綠大道。然而，布理的旅店依然存在，而旅店老闆也……
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.
在《躍馬客棧》的招牌下，店主是個重要人物。他的客棧是四個村莊裡那些閒散、健談、好奇的居民（無論是大人還是小個子）的聚會場所；也是遊俠和其他流浪者，以及那些仍在東方大道上往返於山脈之間的旅人（大多是矮人）的落腳處。天色已黑，繁星點點，佛羅多和他的同伴們終於來到綠徑的交叉口，靠近了村莊。他們來到西門，發現大門緊閉；但在門後的小屋門口，坐著一個人。他跳起來，拿來一盞燈籠，驚訝地從門上望著他們。「你們想做什麼，從哪裡來？」他粗聲粗氣地問。「我們要去這裡的客棧，」佛羅多回答。「我們正往東走，今晚沒法再趕路了。」「哈比人！四個哈比人！而且，聽他們說話的口氣，是從夏爾外面來的，」守門人輕聲說，像是在自言自語。他陰沉地盯著他們看了一會兒，然後慢慢打開大門，讓他們騎馬進去。「我們不常看到夏爾人在晚上騎馬在大路上跑，」當他們在他門邊稍作停留時，他繼續說。「恕我冒昧，是什麼事讓你們往躍馬鎮以東去？我能問一下你們的姓名嗎？」「我們的姓名和我們的事務是我們自己的，而且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長相和語氣。「你的事當然是你自己的，」那人說；「但在天黑後問問題是我的職責。」「我們是從布克蘭來的哈比人，我們一時興起想來旅行，並在這兒的客棧住下，」梅里插嘴說。「我是烈酒鹿先生。這樣夠了嗎？躍馬鎮的人對待旅人向來都很客氣，至少我是這麼聽說的。」「好吧，好吧！」那人說。「我沒有惡意。但你們會發現，除了守門的老哈利，可能還有更多人會問你們問題。附近有些奇怪的人。如果你們要去躍馬客棧，你們會發現自己不是唯一的客人。」他祝他們晚安，他們也沒再多說；但佛羅多在燈籠光下看到那人仍在好奇地打量他們。當他們騎馬前行時，他很高興聽到大門在身後哐啷一聲關上。他想知道為什麼這個人如此多疑，是否有人在打聽一行哈比人的消息。會是甘道夫嗎？他們在老林和古墓崗耽擱的時候，他可能已經到了。但守門人的神情和聲音裡有種東西讓他感到不安。
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,
那人盯著哈比人看了一會兒，然後轉身回屋。他剛一轉身，一個黑影就迅速翻過大門，融入村街的陰影之中。哈比人們騎著馬繼續前行，上了一個緩坡，經過幾棟獨立的房子，最後在客棧外停了下來。這些房子在他們看來既高大又陌生。山姆抬頭望著那有三層樓高、窗戶林立的客棧，心頭不禁一沉。他曾想像在旅途的某個時刻會遇到比樹還高的巨人，以及其他更可怕的生物；但此刻，他覺得初次見到人類和他們高大的房子就已經夠受了，對於這疲憊一天將盡的黑暗時刻來說，實在是難以承受。他想像著黑馬備好馬鞍，站在客棧院子的陰影裡，黑騎士們從黑暗的樓上窗戶向外窺視。「我們不會真的要在此過夜吧，先生？」他驚呼道。「如果這附近有哈比人，我們為什麼不找個願意收留我們的人家呢？那樣會更像家。」「這家客棧有什麼不好？」佛羅多說。「湯姆·龐巴迪推薦過。我想裡面應該也夠溫馨的。」即便從外面看，對於熟悉的眼睛來說，這家客棧也像是一棟宜人的房子。它有一面正對著大路，兩側廂房向後延伸，部分嵌入山丘的緩坡，因此在後方，二樓的窗戶與地面齊平。兩側廂房之間有一個寬闊的拱門，通往一個庭院；拱門下的左側是一個大門口，需走上幾級寬闊的台階。門是開著的，光線從裡面流瀉而出。拱門上方有盞燈，燈下掛著一個大招牌：一隻肥碩的白色小馬用後腿直立著。門的上方用白色字母漆著：躍馬客棧，巴力曼·奶油伯主理。許多較低的窗戶在厚厚的窗簾後透出燈光。當他們在外面昏暗中猶豫時，裡面有人唱起了歡快的歌曲，許多愉快的聲音大聲地加入合唱。他們聽了一會兒這鼓舞人心的聲音，然後下了馬。歌曲結束後，爆出一陣笑聲和掌聲。他們牽著小馬穿過拱門，讓牠們站在院子裡，自己則走上台階。佛羅多向前走，差點撞上一個禿頭紅臉的矮胖男人。他繫著一條白色圍裙，正從一扇門匆匆出來，又鑽進另一扇門，手裡端著一個裝滿大杯酒的托盤。「請問我們能>」佛羅多開口道。「請稍等半分鐘！」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
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
「如果你們需要什麼，就搖手鈴，諾伯會過來。如果他沒來，就搖鈴加大喊！」他總算走了，留下他們，感覺有些喘不過氣。他這個人，無論多忙，似乎都能滔滔不絕地說個沒完。他們發現自己身處一個溫馨舒適的小房間。壁爐裡燃著明亮的火，前面擺著幾張低矮舒適的椅子。一張圓桌上已鋪好白桌布，上面放著一個大手搖鈴。但哈比人僕役諾伯在他們想到要搖鈴之前，早就匆匆忙忙地進來了。他帶來了蠟燭和一個裝滿盤子的托盤。「主人們，要喝點什麼嗎？」他問道。「在晚餐準備好的時候，我帶你們去看看臥室好嗎？」他們洗漱完畢，正喝著大杯醇厚的啤酒時，奶油伯先生和諾伯又進來了。一眨眼功夫，桌上就擺滿了菜。有熱湯、冷肉、黑莓塔、新出爐的麵包、厚片的奶油，還有半塊熟成的起司：都是些實在的好食物，品質不輸夏爾，家常的風味足以驅散山姆心中最後一絲疑慮（啤酒的美味早已讓他寬心不少）。店主在旁邊盤桓了一會兒，然後準備離開。「不知道你們用完晚餐後，是否願意來和大家聚聚，」他站在門口說。「或許你們寧願回房就寢。不過，如果你們有興致的話，大家會非常歡迎你們的。我們不常有外人——我是說，從夏爾來的旅人，請原諒——我們喜歡聽些新鮮事，或任何你們想到的故事或歌曲。但隨你們高興！如果缺什麼，就搖鈴！」晚餐結束後（扎扎實實吃了快四十五分鐘，沒被不必要的談話打擾），他們感到精神振奮、備受鼓舞，於是佛羅多、皮聘和山姆決定去加入大夥兒。梅里說那裡會太悶了。「我會在這兒火邊靜靜坐一會兒，晚點也許出去透透氣。你們要謹言慎行，別忘了你們理應是秘密逃亡，而且還在大路上，離夏爾不遠！」「知道了！」皮聘說。「你自己也小心！別走丟了，也別忘了待在室內比較安全！」大夥兒聚在旅店的大交誼廳裡。佛羅多等眼睛適應光線後，才發現那裡的聚會規模既大且雜。光線主要來自一爐熊熊燃燒的木柴，因為樑上掛著的三盞燈很昏暗，半遮半掩在煙霧之中。巴力曼·奶油伯正站在火邊，和一對矮人以及一兩個長相奇特的男人說話。長凳上坐著各式各樣的人：有布理人，也有一群當地的哈比人。
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.
在躍馬客棧內，有幾個矮人（坐在一起喋喋不休），還有一些在陰影和角落裡難以辨認的模糊身影。夏爾的哈比人一進門，布理的居民們便齊聲表示歡迎。那些外地人，特別是從綠大道上來的，都好奇地盯著他們看。老闆把這些新來的人介紹給布理的鄉親，介紹得飛快，以至於他們雖然聽到了許多名字，卻往往不確定哪個名字是屬於誰的。布理的人類似乎都有著頗具植物色彩的名字（對夏爾人來說相當古怪），像是燈芯草、羊蹄葉、石楠趾、蘋果多、薊毛和蕨尼（更別提奶油伯了）。有些哈比人也有類似的名字。例如，艾草家的人似乎就很多。但他們大多數的名字都很常見，像是班克斯、布洛克豪斯、長洞、沙赫夫和隧道利，其中許多名字在夏爾也有人使用。那裡有好幾位來自斯台爾的山下家的人，他們無法想像同姓卻沒有親戚關係，於是便把佛羅多當作失散已久的表親，熱情地接納了他。事實上，布理的哈比人既友善又好奇，佛羅多很快就發現，他必須對自己的來意做一番解釋。他聲稱自己對歷史和地理感興趣（此話一出，引來眾人一陣搖頭晃腦，儘管這兩個詞在布理方言中都很少使用）。他說他正考慮寫一本書（這話引來一片無聲的驚訝），他和他的朋友們想收集關於居住在夏爾以外，特別是東方土地上的哈比人的資訊。這話一出，眾人七嘴八舌地嚷嚷開來。如果佛羅多真的想寫書，而且長了許多隻耳朵，那他在幾分鐘內就能學到足夠寫好幾個章節的內容。如果這還不夠，他還得到了一整串名單，從「這裡的老巴力曼」開始，他可以去找這些人獲取更多資訊。但過了一會兒，由於佛羅多沒有表現出任何要當場寫書的跡象，哈比人們又回過頭來問起夏爾的近況。佛羅多顯得不怎麼健談，很快地，他發現自己獨自一人坐在角落裡，邊聽邊環顧四周。人類和矮人們大多在談論遠方發生的事，講述著一些已經變得再熟悉不過的壞消息。南方出了亂子，那些從綠大道上來的人們似乎正在遷徙，尋找可以安身立命的土地。布理的鄉親們雖然同情，但顯然不太願意接納大批陌生人進入他們這片小小的土地。其中一個旅人，一個斜眼歪嘴、面目可憎的傢伙，預言說不久的將來會有越來越多的人往北走。「要是沒地方給他們，他們自己會找地方。他們跟其他人一樣，有權利活下去。」他大聲說道。當地居民對這個前景顯然不怎麼高興。
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
哈比人們對這一切並不太在意，因為這些事當下似乎與哈比人無關。大個兒們很難到哈比洞裡來討住宿。他們對山姆和皮聘更感興趣，這兩人現在已經相當自在，正興高采烈地聊著夏爾發生的事。皮聘講述了麥克迪爾文鎮公所屋頂坍塌的經過，引來一陣大笑：鎮長威爾·白足，西境最胖的哈比人，被埋在了白堊粉裡，出來時活像個裹滿麵粉的餃子。但有幾個問題讓佛羅多感到有些不安。其中一個布理人，看來去過夏爾好幾次，想知道山下家住在哪裡，以及他們和誰有親戚關係。佛羅多突然注意到，一個面容飽經風霜、模樣奇特的男人，正坐在靠近牆壁的陰影裡，也在專心聽著哈比人們的談話。他面前放著一個高大的金屬酒杯，正抽著一根雕刻奇特的長柄菸斗。他的雙腿伸在身前，露出合腳的柔軟皮革高筒靴，但靴子已相當破舊，現在沾滿了泥塊。一件厚重的深綠色布料斗篷緊緊裹著他，斗篷上滿是旅途的塵土；儘管房間裡很熱，他卻戴著兜帽，遮住了他的臉；但當他注視著哈比人時，仍能看見他眼中閃爍的光芒。「那是誰？」佛羅多逮到機會向奶油伯先生低聲問道。「我想您還沒介紹過他？」「他？」店主同樣低聲回答，頭也沒轉，只是斜了斜眼。「我也不太清楚。他是那些四處漂泊的人之一——我們稱他們為遊俠。他很少說話，可一旦他興致來了，倒也能說出些精彩的故事。他會消失一個月或一年，然後又突然冒出來。去年春天他還挺常進進出出的，但我最近沒怎麼見到他。他真名叫什麼我從沒聽過，但在這一帶大家都叫他神行客。他靠著那雙長腿走得飛快，雖然他從不告訴別人他有什麼急事。不過，就像我們布理人說的，東邊的和西邊的，真是沒個道理可言——指的是遊俠和夏爾人，請您多包涵。您會問起他，還真是有趣。」但就在這時，奶油伯先生被要求再上點麥酒的喊聲叫走了，他最後那句話也沒來得及解釋。佛羅多發現神行客現在正看著他，彷彿聽見或猜到了他們剛才說的一切。不一會兒，神行客揮了揮手，點了點頭，邀請佛羅多過去坐在他旁邊。當佛羅多走近時，他向後掀開兜帽，露出一頭蓬亂的黑髮，其中夾雜著灰絲，蒼白而嚴峻的臉上有一雙銳利的灰眼睛。「我叫神行客，」他低聲說。「我很高興
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 頁，很高興見到你，山下先生——如果老奶油伯沒記錯你的名字的話。」「他沒記錯。」佛羅多僵硬地說。在那雙銳利眼睛的注視下，他感到極不自在。「嗯，山下先生，」神行客說，「如果我是你，我會阻止你那些年輕朋友說太多話。喝酒、烤火、偶然相遇，這些都夠愜意的，不過，嗯——這裡可不是夏爾。這附近有些古怪的人。雖然你可能會覺得這話不該由我來說，」他看到佛羅多的一瞥，便帶著一絲苦笑補充道。「而且最近還有更奇怪的旅人經過躍馬鎮。」他繼續說，觀察著佛羅多的臉色。佛羅多回望著他，但什麼也沒說；神行客也沒有再做任何表示。他的注意力似乎突然轉移到了皮聘身上。佛羅多驚恐地意識到，那個荒唐的年輕圖克，因先前成功應對麥可·戴爾文那位胖鎮長而受到鼓舞，此刻竟真的在滑稽地講述比爾博的告別宴會。他已經在模仿那場演說，並且快要講到那驚人的消失事件了。佛羅多很惱火。對大多數當地的哈比人來說，這無疑是個無傷大雅的故事：不過是個關於河那邊那些好笑的人的有趣故事罷了；但有些人（例如老奶油伯）略知一二，而且很久以前可能就聽過關於比爾博消失的謠言。這會讓他們想起巴金斯這個姓氏，特別是如果最近有人在躍馬鎮打聽過這個名字的話。佛羅多坐立不安，不知道該怎麼辦。皮聘顯然非常享受他得到的關注，已經完全忘記了他們的危險。佛羅多突然害怕起來，在他現在的心情下，他甚至可能會提到魔戒；而那很可能帶來災難性的後果。「你最好快點做點什麼！」神行客在他耳邊低語。佛羅多跳起來，站到一張桌子上，開始說話。皮聘聽眾的注意力被打亂了。一些哈比人看著佛羅多，又笑又鼓掌，以為山下先生已經喝得夠多了。佛羅多頓時覺得自己很傻，並發現自己（就像他演講時的習慣一樣）正在摸索口袋裡的東西。他感覺到掛在鍊子上的魔戒，一股莫名其妙的慾望湧上心頭，想把它戴上，從這個愚蠢的處境中消失。不知怎地，他覺得這個念頭彷彿來自外界，來自房間裡的某個人或某樣東西。他堅決地抗拒了誘惑，將魔戒緊握在手中，彷彿要抓住它，防止它逃脫或惹出什麼麻煩。無論如何，它沒有給他任何靈感。他講了幾句「合宜的話」，就像他們在夏爾會說的那樣：「我們對各位的熱情款待深表感謝，我冒昧地希望我這次短暫的拜訪將會……
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
……有助於重繫夏爾和布理之間舊有的友誼；然後他猶豫了一下，咳了一聲。房裡所有人的目光都集中在他身上。「唱首歌！」一個哈比人喊道。「唱首歌！唱首歌！」其他所有人也跟著喊。「來吧，先生，給我們唱首沒聽過的！」佛羅多一時目瞪口呆地站著。然後在絕望之下，他開始唱起一首比爾博相當喜愛（而且相當自豪，因為歌詞是他自己寫的）的滑稽歌曲。這首歌是關於一間客棧的；這大概也是它當時會跳進佛羅多腦海的原因。以下是歌曲全文。如今，通常人們只記得其中幾句了。 有間客棧，快樂的老客棧， 在灰色老山丘下， 那兒釀的啤酒棕又香， 連月亮上的人也曾下凡， 某夜來此喝個暢快。 馬夫有隻微醺的貓， 會拉五弦的提琴； 他的弓弦上下跑， 時而高亢吱吱叫，時而低吟喵喵叫， 時而在中間嘎嘎地拉。 店主養了隻小狗， 極其喜愛聽笑話； 當客人們興致高昂， 牠就豎耳聽所有趣聞，笑到喘不過氣。 他們還養了頭有角的牛， 驕傲得像個女王； 但音樂讓她像喝了麥酒般頭暈， 讓她搖著毛茸茸的尾巴，在草地上跳舞。 噢！還有那成排的銀盤， 和滿滿的銀湯匙！ 為了星期天*有特別的一對， 他們在週六下午， 小心翼翼地把它們擦亮。 *見註2，第三冊，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
在躍馬旅店招牌下 月亮上的人喝得酩酊大醉，貓兒開始哀號； 桌上的盤子和湯匙跳起舞來， 花園裡的牛兒瘋狂騰躍，小狗追著自己的尾巴跑。 月亮上的人又喝了一大杯，然後滾到椅子底下； 他在那兒打盹，夢著麥芽酒， 直到天上的星星變得蒼白，空氣中瀰漫著黎明的氣息。 然後馬夫對他喝醉的貓說： 「月亮的白馬們， 牠們嘶鳴著，嚼著銀色的馬銜； 但牠們的主人已經把理智淹沒，太陽很快就要升起了！」 於是貓兒用牠的小提琴拉起了「嘿-滴答-滴答」， 一首能喚醒死者的吉格舞曲： 牠尖聲拉著、鋸著，加快了曲調， 同時店主搖晃著月亮上的人：「已經三點多了！」他說。 他們慢慢地把那人滾上山坡，把他捆起來塞進月亮裡， 他的馬匹在後面奔馳而上， 牛兒像鹿一樣跳躍而來，盤子跟著湯匙跑了上來。 現在小提琴拉得更快了，滴-嘟-滴-答；狗兒開始吼叫， 牛和馬都倒立起來； 所有的客人都從床上跳起來，在地板上跳舞。 乒乒乓乓一聲，琴弦斷了！牛兒跳過了月亮， 小狗看到這麼有趣的事笑了起來， 而星期六的盤子帶著星期天的銀湯匙跑掉了。
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.
圓月滾落山後，太陽抬起了她的頭。她*簡直不敢相信自己火熱的雙眼；因為雖然已是白天，令她驚訝的是，他們全都回去睡覺了！現場響起響亮而長久的掌聲。佛羅多的歌喉不錯，而那首歌很對他們的胃口。「老巴力在哪裡？」他們喊道。「他該聽聽這個。鮑伯該教他的貓拉提琴，這樣我們就能跳舞了。」他們又要了些麥酒，開始大喊：「再來一次，大師！快點！再來一次！」他們讓佛羅多又喝了一杯，然後重新開始唱他的歌，許多人也跟著唱了起來；因為曲調大家都很熟悉，而且他們學詞也很快。現在輪到佛羅多對自己感到得意了。他在桌子上活蹦亂跳；當他第二次唱到「母牛跳過了月亮」時，他縱身一躍。跳得太猛了；因為他「砰」地一聲，直接掉進一個裝滿馬克杯的托盤裡，滑了一跤，隨著一陣碰撞、哐啷和砰咚聲從桌上滾了下來！觀眾們都張大嘴巴準備大笑，卻突然在目瞪口呆的沉默中停住了；因為歌手消失了。他簡直是憑空消失了，彷彿直接穿過地板，連個洞都沒留下！當地的哈比人驚訝地瞪著，然後跳起來大喊巴力曼。所有人都從皮聘和山姆身邊散開，他們發現自己被單獨留在一個角落，被人從遠處投以陰沉和懷疑的目光。很明顯，許多人現在把他們視為一個力量和目的不明的巡迴魔法師的同伴。但有一個皮膚黝黑的布理人，站在那裡看著他們，臉上帶著一種心照不宣、半帶嘲諷的表情，讓他們感到非常不自在。不久，他溜出了門，那個斜眼的南佬也跟著出去了：這兩個人整個晚上都在一起竊竊私語。佛羅多覺得自己像個傻瓜。不知還能做什麼，他爬到桌子底下，來到亞拉岡所在的黑暗角落，亞拉岡一動不動地坐著，沒有表露任何想法。佛羅多靠在牆上，脫下了魔戒。他想不起來魔戒是怎麼戴到他手指上的。他只能猜想，唱歌時他一直在口袋裡把玩它，而在他猛地伸出手想穩住身子防止摔倒時，它不知怎麼就滑了上去。有那麼一刻，他懷疑是不是魔戒本身跟他開了個玩笑；也許它試圖回應房間裡感受到的某種願望或命令，從而暴露自己。他很不喜歡那些剛走出去的人的樣子。*精靈（和哈比人）總是稱太陽為「她」。
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
在躍馬客棧 161 「嗯？」神行客再度現身時說道。「你為什麼那麼做？比你朋友們可能說的任何話都更糟！你真是自找麻煩！或者我該說，是你的手指惹的禍？」 「我不懂你的意思。」佛羅多說，既惱火又驚慌。 「喔，不，你懂的。」神行客回答；「但我們最好等騷動平息下來。然後，如果你願意的話，巴金斯先生，我想跟你私下談談。」 「談什麼？」佛羅多問道，刻意忽略對方突然直呼他的姓氏。 「一件對我們倆都相當重要的事。」神行客回答，直視著佛羅多的眼睛。「你或許會聽到對你有利的消息。」 「好吧。」佛羅多說，試圖裝作不在意。「我待會兒再跟你談。」 與此同時，壁爐邊正起了一場爭論。奶油伯先生小跑步進來，現在正試圖同時聽取好幾種對這事件的矛盾說法。 「我看到他了，奶油伯先生。」一個哈比人說；「或者該說，我沒看到他，如果你懂我的意思。他簡直就是憑空消失了，可以這麼說。」 「不會吧，艾實先生！」旅店老闆說，一臉困惑。 「我說的是真的！」艾實回答。「而且我說話算話，千真萬確。」 「這其中一定有什麼誤會。」奶油伯搖著頭說。「那位丘底先生塊頭太大了，不可能憑空消失；或者說，消失在濃濁的空氣裡，在這房間裡倒比較可能。」 「那他現在在哪兒？」好幾個聲音喊道。 「我怎麼會知道？只要他明早付錢，他愛去哪兒就去哪兒。你看，圖克先生不就在那兒：他可沒消失。」 「嗯，我看到了我所看到的，也看到了我所沒看到的。」艾實固執地說。 「而我說這裡面有誤會。」奶油伯重複道，一面撿起托盤，收拾破碎的陶器。 「當然有誤會！」佛羅多說。「我沒有消失。我在這裡！我剛才只是在角落和神行客說了幾句話。」他走到爐火的光線中；但大多數的客人卻往後退，比之前更加不安。他們絲毫不滿意他的解釋，說他是在摔倒後迅速從桌子底下爬開的。大多數的哈比人和布理人都氣沖沖地當場離開了，那天晚上他們已無心再尋求任何娛樂。一兩個人狠狠地瞪了佛羅多一眼，嘴裡咕噥著離開了。矮人們和剩下兩三個陌生的男人站起來，向旅店老闆道了晚安，但沒有向佛羅多和他的朋友們道別。
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.
過了很久，廳裡只剩下神行客一個人，他坐在牆邊，沒人注意到他。巴特伯先生看來似乎沒有太不高興。他很可能盤算著，在今晚這件謎案被徹底討論清楚之前，他的客棧在接下來的許多個夜晚都會客滿。「你到底在搞什麼鬼，山下先生？」他問道。「用你的雜技嚇跑我的客人，還摔破我的陶罐！」「我很抱歉造成任何麻煩，」佛羅多說。「我向您保證，這完全是無心的。一個非常不幸的意外。」「好吧，山下先生！但如果你還要再翻筋斗、變戲法，或不管那是什麼玩意兒，你最好事先提醒大家——也提醒我。我們這兒對任何不尋常的事——就是有點詭異，你懂我意思嗎——都抱持著一點懷疑；我們沒辦法一下子就接受。」「我保證不會再做那樣的事了，巴特伯先生。現在我想我該上床睡覺了。我們明天要一大早出發。您能確保我們的馬駒在八點前準備好嗎？」「沒問題！但在您走之前，我想私下跟您說幾句話，山下先生。我剛想起一件事，應該要告訴您。希望您別見怪。等我處理好一兩件事後，如果您方便，我就到您房間去。」「當然！」佛羅多說；但他的心沉了下去。他不知道在上床睡覺前還得進行多少次私下談話，而這些談話又會揭露出什麼。難道這些人全都串通起來對付他嗎？他甚至開始懷疑起老巴特伯那張胖臉背後也隱藏著黑暗的圖謀。