Chapter 12 FLIGHT TO THE FORD When Frodo came to himself he was still clutching the Ring desperately. He was lying by the fire, which was now piled high and burning brightly. His three companions were bending over him. ‘What has happened? Where is the pale king?’ he asked wildly. They were too overjoyed to hear him speak to answer for a while; nor did they understand his question. At length he gathered from Sam that they had seen nothing but the vague shadowy shapes coming towards them. Suddenly to his horror Sam found that his master had vanished; and at that moment a black shadow rushed past him, and he fell. He heard Frodo’s voice, but it seemed to come from a great distance, or from under the earth, crying out strange words. They saw nothing more, until they stumbled over the body of Frodo, lying as if dead, face downwards on the grass with his sword beneath him. Strider ordered them to pick him up and lay him near the fire, and then he disappeared. That was now a good while ago. Sam plainly was beginning to have doubts again about Strider; but while they were talking he returned, appearing suddenly out of the shadows. They started, and Sam drew his sword and stood over Frodo; but Strider knelt down swiftly at his side. ‘I am not a Black Rider, Sam,’ he said gently, ‘nor in league with them. I have been trying to discover something of their movements; but I have found nothing. I cannot think why they have gone and do not attack again. But there is no feeling of their presence anywhere at hand.’ When he heard what Frodo had to tell, he became full of concern, and shook his head and sighed. Then he ordered Pippin and Merry to heat as much water as they could in their small kettles, and to bathe the wound with it. ‘Keep the fire going well, and keep Frodo warm!’ he said. Then he got up and walked away, and called Sam to him. ‘I think I understand things better now,’ he said in a low voice. “There seem only to have been five of the enemy. Why they were not all here, I don’t know; but I don’t think they expected to be resisted. They have drawn off for the time being. But not far, I fear. They will come again another night, if we cannot escape. They are only waiting, because they think that their purpose is almost accomplished, and that the Ring cannot fly much further. I fear, Sam, that they believe your master has a deadly wound that will subdue him to their will. We shall see!’
佛羅多恢復意識時，他仍死命地緊抓著魔戒。他躺在火堆旁，火堆已添滿柴薪，燒得正旺。他的三位同伴正彎腰看著他。「發生了什麼事？那個蒼白的國王在哪裡？」他瘋狂地問道。他們聽見他說話，欣喜若狂，一時答不上來；他們也不明白他的問題。最後，他從山姆那裡得知，他們只看到一些模糊的黑影朝他們走來。突然間，山姆驚恐地發現他的主人消失了；就在那時，一個黑影從他身邊衝過，他便摔倒了。他聽見佛羅多的聲音，但那聲音彷彿來自遠方，或來自地底，喊著奇怪的字詞。他們什麼也沒再看見，直到他們絆到佛羅多的身體，他像死了一樣，臉朝下趴在草地上，劍壓在身下。神行客命令他們將他扶起，放到火堆旁，然後他就消失了。那已經是好一陣子前的事了。山姆顯然又開始懷疑起神行客；但就在他們說話時，他回來了，突然從陰影中現身。他們嚇了一跳，山姆拔出劍，護在佛羅多身前；但神行客迅速在他身旁跪下。「我不是黑騎士，山姆，」他溫柔地說，「也沒跟他們一夥。我一直試圖探查他們的動向，但一無所獲。我想不通他們為何離去，不再攻擊。但附近感覺不到他們的存在。」當他聽完佛羅多的敘述後，他滿臉憂慮，搖了搖頭，嘆了口氣。然後他命令皮聘和梅里用他們的小水壺盡量燒些熱水，用來清洗傷口。「讓火燒旺，讓佛羅多保持溫暖！」他說。然後他起身走開，把山姆叫到身邊。「我想我現在更明白情況了，」他低聲說。「敵人似乎只有五個。他們為何不全員到齊，我不知道；但我想他們沒料到會遭到抵抗。他們暫時撤退了。但我擔心他們沒走遠。如果我們無法逃脫，他們另一晚還會再來。他們只是在等待，因為他們認為目的已近達成，魔戒已飛不了多遠。我擔心，山姆，他們相信你的主人受了致命傷，這傷會讓他屈服於他們的意志。我們等著瞧吧！」
198 THE LORD OF THE RINGS Sam choked with tears. ‘Don’t despair!’ said Strider. “You must trust me now. Your Frodo is made of sterner stuff than I had guessed, though Gandalf hinted that it might prove so. He is not slain, and I think he will resist the evil power of the wound longer than his enemies expect. I will do all I can to help and heal him. Guard him well, while I am away!’ He hurried off and disappeared again into the darkness. Frodo dozed, though the pain of his wound was slowly growing, and a deadly chill was spreading from his shoulder to his arm and side. His friends watched over him, warming him, and bathing his wound. The night passed slowly and wearily. Dawn was growing in the sky, and the dell was filling with grey light, when Strider at last returned. ‘Look!’ he cried; and stooping he lifted from the ground a black cloak that had lain there hidden by the darkness. A foot above the lower hem there was a slash. “This was the stroke of Frodo’s sword,’ he said. “The only hurt that it did to his enemy, I fear; for it is unharmed, but all blades perish that pierce that dreadful King. More deadly to him was the name of Elbereth.’ ‘And more deadly to Frodo was this!’ He stooped again and lifted up a long thin knife. There was a cold gleam in it. As Strider raised it they saw that near the end its edge was notched and the point was broken off. But even as he held it up in the growing light, they gazed in astonishment, for the blade seemed to melt, and vanished like a smoke in the air, leaving only the hilt in Strider’s hand. ‘Alas!’ he cried. ‘It was this accursed knife that gave the wound. Few now have the skill in healing to match such evil weapons. But I will do what I can.’ He sat down on the ground, and taking the dagger-hilt laid it on his knees, and he sang over it a slow song in a strange tongue. Then setting it aside, he turned to Frodo and in a soft tone spoke words the others could not catch. From the pouch at his belt he drew out the long leaves of a plant. “These leaves,’ he said, ‘I have walked far to find; for this plant does not grow in the bare hills; but in the thickets away south of the Road I found it in the dark by the scent of its leaves.” He crushed a leaf in his fingers, and it gave out a sweet and pungent fragrance. ‘It is fortunate that I could find it, for it is a healing plant that the Men of the West brought to Middle-earth. Athelas they named it, and it grows now sparsely and only near places where they dwelt or camped of old; and it is not known in the North, except to some of those who wander in the Wild. It has great virtues, but over such a wound as this its healing powers may be small.’ He threw the leaves into boiling water and bathed Frodo’s shoulder. The fragrance of the steam was refreshing, and those that were
山姆哽咽，淚水奪眶而出。「別絕望！」神行客說。「你們現在必須信任我。你們的佛羅多比我想像的還要堅強，雖然甘道夫曾暗示過可能會是這樣。他沒有被殺，而且我認為他抵抗傷口邪惡力量的時間會比敵人預期的更長。我會盡我所能幫助和治療他。在我離開的時候，好好守護他！」他匆匆離去，再次消失在黑暗中。佛羅多昏昏欲睡，儘管傷口的疼痛正逐漸加劇，一股致命的寒意從他的肩膀擴散到手臂和身側。他的朋友們守護著他，為他取暖，清洗他的傷口。夜晚緩慢而疲憊地過去。當天空漸露曙光，山谷充滿灰白的光線時，神行客終於回來了。「看！」他喊道；他彎下腰，從地上撿起一件之前被黑暗隱藏的黑色斗篷。在下擺上方一呎處，有一道砍痕。「這是佛羅多那一劍的傑作，」他說。「恐怕這就是它對敵人造成的唯一傷害了；因為這斗篷毫髮無傷，但所有刺穿那位可怕君王的刀刃都會毀滅。對他來說，伊爾碧綠絲之名更為致命。」「而對佛羅多來說，這個更致命！」他又彎下腰，撿起一把又長又薄的刀。刀身閃爍著冰冷的光芒。當神行客舉起它時，他們看到刀刃末端有缺口，刀尖也斷了。但就在他將它舉到漸亮的光線中時，他們驚訝地注視著，因為刀刃似乎融化了，像一縷青煙在空中消失，只留下刀柄在神行客手中。「唉！」他喊道。「就是這把該死的刀造成的傷口。如今很少有人具備能應對這種邪惡武器的治療技巧。但我會盡我所能。」他坐在地上，拿起匕首的柄放在膝上，用一種奇特的語言對著它唱起一首緩慢的歌。然後他把它放在一邊，轉向佛羅多，用柔和的語氣說了些其他人聽不懂的話。他從腰帶的袋子裡，掏出一些植物的長葉。「這些葉子，」他說，「我走了很遠才找到；因為這種植物不生長在光禿的山丘上；但在大路以南的灌木叢中，我在黑暗中憑著葉子的氣味找到了它。」他在手指間捏碎一片葉子，散發出又甜又嗆的香氣。「很幸運我能找到它，因為這是西方之人帶到中土大陸的一種治療植物。他們稱之為阿夕拉斯，如今它只零星地生長在他們從前居住或紮營過的地方附近；在北方，除了那些在野地裡流浪的人之外，沒人知道它。它有很強的功效，但對於這樣的傷口，它的治療能力可能很有限。」他將葉子扔進沸水中，用來清洗佛羅多的肩膀。蒸汽的香氣令人精神一振，而那些在場的人……
FLIGHT TO THE FORD 199 unhurt felt their minds calmed and cleared. The herb had also some power over the wound, for Frodo felt the pain and also the sense of frozen cold lessen in his side; but the life did not return to his arm, and he could not raise or use his hand. He bitterly regretted his foolishness, and reproached himself for weakness of will; for he now perceived that in putting on the Ring he obeyed not his own desire but the commanding wish of his enemies. He wondered if he would remain maimed for life, and how they would now manage to continue their journey. He felt too weak to stand. The others were discussing this very question. They quickly decided to leave Weathertop as soon as possible. ‘I think now,’ said Strider, ‘that the enemy has been watching this place for some days. If Gandalf ever came here, then he must have been forced to ride away, and he will not return. In any case we are in great peril here after dark, since the attack of last night, and we can hardly meet greater danger wherever we go.’ As soon as the daylight was full, they had some hurried food and packed. It was impossible for Frodo to walk, so they divided the greater part of their baggage among the four of them, and put Frodo on the pony. In the last few days the poor beast had improved wonderfully; it already seemed fatter and stronger, and had begun to show an affection for its new masters, especially for Sam. Bill Ferny’s treatment must have been very hard for the journey in the wild to seem so much better than its former life. They started off in a southerly direction. This would mean crossing the Road, but it was the quickest way to more wooded country. And they needed fuel; for Strider said that Frodo must be kept warm, especially at night, while fire would be some protection for them all. It was also his plan to shorten their journey by cutting across another great loop of the Road: east beyond Weathertop it changed its course and took a wide bend northwards. They made their way slowly and cautiously round the southwestern slopes of the hill, and came in a little while to the edge of the Road. There was no sign of the Riders. But even as they were hurrying across they heard far away two cries: a cold voice calling and a cold voice answering. Trembling they sprang forward, and made for the thickets that lay ahead. The land before them sloped away southwards, but it was wild and pathless; bushes and stunted trees grew in dense patches with wide barren spaces in between. The grass was scanty, coarse, and grey; and the leaves in the thickets were faded and falling. It was a cheerless land, and their journey was slow and gloomy. They spoke little as they trudged along. Frodo’s heart was grieved as he watched them walking beside him with their heads
未受傷的人覺得心神鎮定清明。藥草對傷口也有些效力，因為佛羅多感覺到脅下的疼痛和冰冷感都減輕了；但他的手臂仍舊沒有生氣，無法舉起或使用他的手。他為自己的愚蠢感到萬分懊悔，並為自己意志薄弱而自責；因為他現在意識到，他戴上魔戒並非出於自己的意願，而是服從了敵人的命令。他不知道自己是否會終生殘廢，也想著他們現在該如何繼續旅程。他虛弱得站不起來。其他人正在討論的正是這個問題。他們很快決定要盡快離開風雲頂。「我想，」神行客說，「敵人已經監視這個地方好幾天了。如果甘道夫曾來過這裡，那他必定是被迫騎馬離開了，而且不會再回來。無論如何，自從昨晚的攻擊後，我們天黑後待在這裡會非常危險，而無論我們去哪裡，遇到的危險都很難比這裡更大。」天一亮，他們就匆匆吃了點東西，打包好行李。佛羅多無法行走，所以他們四人分攤了大部分的行李，並讓佛羅多騎上小馬。在過去幾天裡，這可憐的牲口有了驚人的好轉；牠看起來已經更胖、更強壯，並開始對牠的新主人們，特別是山姆，表現出喜愛之情。比爾・蕨尼對待牠的方式想必非常苛刻，才會讓這趟野外旅程顯得比牠以前的生活好上許多。他們朝南邊出發。這意味著要橫越大道，但這是通往更多林地的最快路徑。而且他們需要燃料；因為神行客說佛羅多必須保持溫暖，尤其是在晚上，同時火也能為他們所有人提供一些保護。他的計畫也是要抄近路，切過大道的另一個大彎來縮短旅程：在風雲頂以東，大道改變了方向，向北繞了一個大彎。他們緩慢而謹慎地繞過山丘的西南坡，不一會兒就來到了大道的邊緣。沒有看到戒靈的蹤跡。但就在他們匆忙橫越時，遠遠地聽到了兩聲呼喊：一個冰冷的聲音在呼喚，另一個冰冷的聲音在應答。他們顫抖著向前躍去，奔向前方的小樹叢。他們前方的土地向南傾斜，但一片荒蕪，沒有路徑；灌木和矮樹叢一塊塊地密集生長，中間夾雜著寬闊的貧瘠空地。草地稀疏、粗糙且呈灰色；樹叢裡的葉子也已褪色凋零。這是一片令人沮喪的土地，他們的旅程緩慢而陰鬱。他們拖著沉重的腳步前行，幾乎不說話。佛羅多看著他們垂著頭走在自己身旁，心中感到悲傷。
200 THE LORD OF THE RINGS down, and their backs bowed under their burdens. Even Strider seemed tired and heavy-hearted. Before the first day’s march was over Frodo’s pain began to grow again, but he did not speak of it for a long time. Four days passed, without the ground or the scene changing much, except that behind them Weathertop slowly sank, and before them the distant mountains loomed a little nearer. Yet since that far cry they had seen and heard no sign that the enemy had marked their flight or followed them. They dreaded the dark hours, and kept watch in pairs by night, expecting at any time to see black shapes stalking in the grey night, dimly lit by the cloud-veiled moon; but they saw nothing, and heard no sound but the sigh of withered leaves and grass. Not once did they feel the sense of present evil that had assailed them before the attack in the dell. It seemed too much to hope that the Riders had already lost their trail again. Perhaps they were waiting to make some ambush in a narrow place? At the end of the fifth day the ground began once more to rise slowly out of the wide shallow valley into which they had descended. Strider now turned their course again north-eastwards, and on the sixth day they reached the top of a long slow-climbing slope, and saw far ahead a huddle of wooded hills. Away below them they could see the Road sweeping round the feet of the hills; and to their right a grey river gleamed pale in the thin sunshine. In the distance they glimpsed yet another river in a stony valley half-veiled in mist. ‘I am afraid we must go back to the Road here for a while,’ said Strider. ‘We have now come to the River Hoarwell, that the Elves call Mitheithel. It flows down out of the Ettenmoors, the troll-fells north of Rivendell, and joins the Loudwater away in the South. Some call it the Greyflood after that. It is a great water before it finds the Sea. There is no way over it below its sources in the Ettenmoors, except by the Last Bridge on which the Road crosses.’ ‘What is that other river we can see far away there?’ asked Merry. “That is Loudwater, the Bruinen of Rivendell,’ answered Strider. “The Road runs along the edge of the hills for many miles from the Bridge to the Ford of Bruinen. But I have not yet thought how we shall cross that water. One river at a time! We shall be fortunate indeed if we do not find the Last Bridge held against us.’ Next day, early in the morning, they came down again to the borders of the Road. Sam and Strider went forward, but they found no sign of any travellers or riders. Here under the shadow of the hills there had been some rain. Strider judged that it had fallen two days before, and had washed away all footprints. No horseman had passed since then, as far as he could see.
FLIGHT TO THE FORD 201 They hurried along with all the speed they could make, and after a mile or two they saw the Last Bridge ahead, at the bottom of a short steep slope. They dreaded to see black figures waiting there, but they saw none. Strider made them take cover in a thicket at the side of the Road, while he went forward to explore. Before long he came hurrying back. ‘I can see no sign of the enemy,’ he said, ‘and I wonder very much what that means. But I have found something very strange.’ He held out his hand, and showed a single pale-green jewel. ‘I found it in the mud in the middle of the Bridge,’ he said. ‘It is a beryl, an elf-stone. Whether it was set there, or let fall by chance, I cannot say; but it brings hope to me. I will take it as a sign that we may pass the Bridge; but beyond that I dare not keep to the Road, without some clearer token.’ At once they went on again. They crossed the Bridge in safety, hearing no sound but the water swirling against its three great arches. A mile further on they came to a narrow ravine that led away northwards through the steep lands on the left of the Road. Here Strider turned aside, and soon they were lost in a sombre country of dark trees winding among the feet of sullen hills. The hobbits were glad to leave the cheerless lands and the perilous Road behind them; but this new country seemed threatening and unfriendly. As they went forward the hills about them steadily rose. Here and there upon heights and ridges they caught glimpses of ancient walls of stone, and the ruins of towers: they had an ominous look. Frodo, who was not walking, had time to gaze ahead and to think. He recalled Bilbo’s account of his journey and the threatening towers on the hills north of the Road, in the country near the Trolls’ wood where his first serious adventure had happened. Frodo guessed that they were now in the same region, and wondered if by chance they would pass near the spot. ‘Who lives in this land?’ he asked. ‘And who built these towers? Is this troll-country?’ ‘No!’ said Strider. “Trolls do not build. No one lives in this land. Men once dwelt here, ages ago; but none remain now. They became an evil people, as legends tell, for they fell under the shadow of Angmar. But all were destroyed in the war that brought the North Kingdom to its end. But that is now so long ago that the hills have forgotten them, though a shadow still lies on the land.’ ‘Where did you learn such tales, if all the land is empty and forgetful?’ asked Peregrin. “The birds and beasts do not tell tales of that sort.’ ‘The heirs of Elendil do not forget all things past,’ said Strider;
他們盡可能快地趕路，走了一兩英里後，看見前方的最後大橋，坐落在一道短而陡的斜坡底部。他們很害怕看到黑影在那裡等候，但什麼也沒看見。神行客讓他們在路邊的灌木叢中躲起來，自己則上前探查。不久後，他匆匆趕回。「我沒看到任何敵人的跡象，」他說，「我很想知道這意味著什麼。但我發現了一樣非常奇特的的東西。」他伸出手，展示了一顆淡綠色的寶石。「我在橋中央的泥巴裡找到的，」他說。「這是一顆綠寶石，一顆精靈寶石。我不知道是有人刻意放在那裡，還是偶然掉落的；但它帶給我希望。我會把它當作一個信號，表示我們可以過橋；但在那之後，沒有更明確的標記，我不敢再沿著大路走。」他們立刻再次前行。他們安全地過了橋，除了流水沖刷著三座巨大橋拱的聲音外，什麼也聽不見。再往前走一英里，他們來到一條狹窄的峽谷，峽谷從道路左側的險峻地勢中向北延伸。神行客在這裡轉彎，很快他們就迷失在一片陰鬱的國度，黑暗的樹木蜿蜒於陰沉的山腳之間。哈比人很高興能把那片毫無生氣的土地和危險的道路拋在身後；但這片新的土地似乎充滿威脅且不友善。隨著他們前進，周圍的山勢愈來愈高。他們不時瞥見高處和山脊上有古老的石牆和塔樓的廢墟：它們看起來有種不祥之兆。佛羅多沒有走路，因此有時間凝視前方並思考。他回憶起比爾博描述他的旅程時，提到道路以北山丘上的威脅性高塔，那是在食人妖森林附近的地區，也是他第一次真正冒險發生的地方。佛羅多猜想他們現在就在同一區域，並想知道他們是否會偶然經過那個地點。「誰住 在這片土地上？」他問。「這些塔是誰建的？這裡是食人妖的國度嗎？」「不！」神行客說。「食人妖不會建造東西。沒有人住 在這片土地上。很久很久以前，曾有人類居住於此；但現在一個也不剩了。傳說他們變成了邪惡的民族，因為他們墮入了安格馬的陰影之下。但在那場導致北方王國覆滅的戰爭中，他們全都被摧毀了。但那已經是如此久遠的過去，雖然陰影依然籠罩著這片土地，但群山早已將他們遺忘。」「如果這片土地空無一人又善於遺忘，你是在哪裡聽到這些故事的？」皮瑞格林問道。「鳥獸可不會說這類故事。」「伊蘭迪爾的繼承人不會忘記所有過去之事。」神行客說。
202 THE LORD OF THE RINGS ‘and many more things than I can tell are remembered in Rivendell.’ ‘Have you often been to Rivendell?’ said Frodo. ‘I have,’ said Strider. ‘I dwelt there once, and still I return when I may. There my heart is; but it is not my fate to sit in peace, even in the fair house of Elrond.’ The hills now began to shut them in. The Road behind held on its way to the River Bruinen, but both were now hidden from view. The travellers came into a long valley; narrow, deeply cloven, dark and silent. Trees with old and twisted roots hung over cliffs, and piled up behind into mounting slopes of pine-wood. The hobbits grew very weary. They advanced slowly, for they had to pick their way through a pathless country, encumbered by fallen trees and tumbled rocks. As long as they could they avoided climbing for Frodo’s sake, and because it was in fact difficult to find any way up out of the narrow dales. They had been two days in this country when the weather turned wet. The wind began to blow steadily out of the West and pour the water of the distant seas on the dark heads of the hills in fine drenching rain. By nightfall they were all soaked, and their camp was cheerless, for they could not get any fire to burn. The next day the hills rose still higher and steeper before them, and they were forced to turn away northwards out of their course. Strider seemed to be getting anxious: they were nearly ten days out from Weathertop, and their stock of provisions was beginning to run low. It went on raining. That night they camped on a stony shelf with a rock-wall behind them, in which there was a shallow cave, a mere scoop in the cliff. Frodo was restless. The cold and wet had made his wound more painful than ever, and the ache and sense of deadly chill took away all sleep. He lay tossing and turning and listening fearfully to the stealthy night-noises: wind in chinks of rock, water dripping, a crack, the sudden rattling fall of a loosened stone. He felt that black shapes were advancing to smother him; but when he sat up he saw nothing but the back of Strider sitting hunched up, smoking his pipe, and watching. He lay down again and passed into an uneasy dream, in which he walked on the grass in his garden in the Shire, but it seemed faint and dim, less clear than the tall black shadows that stood looking over the hedge. In the morning he woke to find that the rain had stopped. The clouds were still thick, but they were breaking, and pale strips of blue appeared between them. The wind was shifting again. They did not start early. Immediately after their cold and comfortless breakfast Strider went off alone, telling the others to remain under the shelter
「而且在瑞文戴爾，人們還記得許多我說不盡的事。」「你常去瑞文戴爾嗎？」佛羅多問。「去過，」神行客說。「我曾在那裡住過，現在只要有機會我仍會回去。我的心在那裡；但我的命運並非安坐度日，即便是在愛隆那美麗的屋宇裡也不行。」山丘開始將他們圍困起來。後方的道路繼續朝著噪音河延伸，但路和河現在都已隱沒不見。旅人們走進一個狹長的山谷；它狹窄、深裂、幽暗而寂靜。根部古老扭曲的樹木懸在崖邊，在後方堆疊成漸升的松林斜坡。哈比人們變得非常疲憊。他們緩慢前行，因為必須在一片無路之地中小心翼翼地找出路來，路上滿是倒下的樹木和滾落的岩石，阻礙重重。為了佛羅多，也因為實在很難從這些狹窄的山谷中找到任何向上的路，他們盡可能地避免攀爬。他們在這片地帶待了兩天後，天氣轉濕了。西風開始持續地吹，將遠方海洋的水氣化作細密的滂沱大雨，傾瀉在黝黑的山頭上。到了傍晚，他們全都濕透了，營地也一片淒涼，因為他們生不起任何火。第二天，前方的山勢變得更高更陡，他們被迫轉向北方，偏離了原來的路線。神行客似乎開始焦慮起來：他們離開風雲頂已將近十天，糧食存量也開始見底了。雨還在下。那晚，他們在一處石架上紮營，背後是石壁，壁上有個淺洞，不過是懸崖上一個小小的凹陷。佛羅多輾轉難眠。濕冷使他的傷口比以往任何時候都更痛，那種疼痛和致命的寒意奪走了他所有的睡意。他翻來覆去，恐懼地聽著夜晚那些鬼祟的聲響：風穿過岩縫的聲音、水滴聲、一聲脆裂、一顆鬆動石頭突然滾落的嘎啦聲。他感覺有黑影正逼近要將他窒息；但當他坐起來時，只看到神行客弓著背坐在那裡，抽著菸斗，守著夜。他又躺下，進入一個不安的夢境，夢裡他在夏爾自家花園的草地上散步，但景物似乎模糊不清，還不如那些隔著樹籬窺探的高大黑影來得清晰。早晨醒來，他發現雨停了。雲層依舊很厚，但正在散開，雲隙間露出了幾抹蒼白的藍色。風向又變了。他們沒有很早出發。用過冰冷又難受的早餐後，神行客便獨自離開，要其他人留在遮蔽處下。
FLIGHT TO THE FORD 203 of the cliff, until he came back. He was going to climb up, if he could, and get a look at the lie of the land. When he returned he was not reassuring. ‘We have come too far to the north,’ he said, ‘and we must find some way to turn back southwards again. If we keep on as we are going we shall get up into the Ettendales far north of Rivendell. That is troll-country, and little known to me. We could perhaps find our way through and come round to Rivendell from the north; but it would take too long, for I do not know the way, and our food would not last. So somehow or other we must find the Ford of Bruinen.’ The rest of that day they spent scrambling over rocky ground. They found a passage between two hills that led them into a valley running south-east, the direction that they wished to take; but towards the end of the day they found their road again barred by a ridge of high land; its dark edge against the sky was broken into many bare points like teeth of a blunted saw. They had a choice between going back or climbing over it. They decided to attempt the climb, but it proved very difficult. Before long Frodo was obliged to dismount and struggle along on foot. Even so they often despaired of getting their pony up, or indeed of finding a path for themselves, burdened as they were. The light was nearly gone, and they were all exhausted, when at last they reached the top. They had climbed on to a narrow saddle between two higher points, and the land fell steeply away again, only a short distance ahead. Frodo threw himself down, and lay on the ground shivering. His left arm was lifeless, and his side and shoulder felt as if icy claws were laid upon them. The trees and rocks about him seemed shadowy and dim. ‘We cannot go any further,’ said Merry to Strider. ‘I am afraid this has been too much for Frodo. I am dreadfully anxious about him. What are we to do? Do you think they will be able to cure him in Rivendell, if we ever get there?’ ‘We shall see,’ answered Strider. “There is nothing more that I can do in the wilderness; and it is chiefly because of his wound that I am so anxious to press on. But I agree that we can go no further tonight.’ ‘What is the matter with my master?’ asked Sam in a low voice, looking appealingly at Strider. ‘His wound was small, and it is already closed. There’s nothing to be seen but a cold white mark on his shoulder.’ ‘Frodo has been touched by the weapons of the Enemy,’ said Strider, ‘and there is some poison or evil at work that is beyond my skill to drive out. But do not give up hope, Sam!’ ok PS
204 THE LORD OF THE RINGS Night was cold up on the high ridge. They lit a small fire down under the gnarled roots of an old pine, that hung over a shallow pit: it looked as if stone had once been quarried there. They sat huddled together. The wind blew chill through the pass, and they heard the tree-tops lower down moaning and sighing. Frodo lay half in a dream, imagining that endless dark wings were sweeping by above him, and that on the wings rode pursuers that sought him in all the hollows of the hills. The morning dawned bright and fair; the air was clean, and the light pale and clear in a rain-washed sky. Their hearts were encouraged, but they longed for the sun to warm their cold stiff limbs. As soon as it was light, Strider took Merry with him and went to survey the country from the height to the east of the pass. The sun had risen and was shining brightly when he returned with more comforting news. They were now going more or less in the right direction. If they went on, down the further side of the ridge, they would have the Mountains on their left. Some way ahead Strider had caught a glimpse of the Loudwater again, and he knew that, though it was hidden from view, the Road to the Ford was not far from the River and lay on the side nearest to them. ‘We must make for the Road again,’ he said. ‘We cannot hope to find a path through these hills. Whatever danger may beset it, the Road is our only way to the Ford.’ As soon as they had eaten they set out again. They climbed slowly down the southern side of the ridge; but the way was much easier than they had expected, for the slope was far less steep on this side, and before long Frodo was able to ride again. Bill Ferny’s poor old pony was developing an unexpected talent for picking out a path, and for sparing its rider as many jolts as possible. The spirits of the party rose again. Even Frodo felt better in the morning light, but every now and again a mist seemed to obscure his sight, and he passed his hands over his eyes. Pippin was a little ahead of the others. Suddenly he turned round and called to them. ‘There is a path here!’ he cried. When they came up with him, they saw that he had made no mistake: there were clearly the beginnings of a path, that climbed with many windings out of the woods below and faded away on the hill-top behind. In places it was now faint and overgrown, or choked with fallen stones and trees; but at one time it seemed to have been much used. It was a path made by strong arms and heavy feet. Here and there old trees had been cut or broken down, and large rocks cloven or heaved aside to make a way. They followed the track for some while, for it offered much the
高聳的山脊上，夜晚寒冷刺骨。他們在一棵老松樹那盤根錯節的樹根下生了一小堆火，樹根懸在一個淺坑上：那裡看起來像個採石場。他們緊緊地擠在一起。冷風呼嘯著穿過隘口，他們聽見下方較低處的樹梢在呻吟嘆息。佛羅多半夢半醒地躺著，想像著無盡的黑暗翅膀從他頭頂掠過，翅膀上騎著追捕者，在山丘的每個凹谷中搜尋他。清晨明媚而晴朗；空氣清新，雨後洗滌過的天空下，光線蒼白而清澈。他們的心情受到了鼓舞，但他們渴望太陽能溫暖他們冰冷僵硬的四肢。天一亮，神行客就帶著梅里，從隘口東邊的高處去勘查地勢。當他帶著更令人安慰的消息回來時，太陽已經升起，正燦爛地照耀著。他們現在大致上是朝著正確的方向前進。如果他們繼續前行，下到山脊的另一側，山脈就會在他們的左邊。神行客在前方某處又瞥見了喧水河，他知道，雖然從視野中看不見，但通往渡口的道路離河不遠，而且就在離他們較近的這一側。「我們必須再次朝那條路走，」他說。「我們不能指望在這些山丘中找到一條小徑。無論路上會遇到什麼危險，那條路是我們去渡口的唯一途徑。」他們一吃完東西就再次出發了。他們緩慢地從山脊南側往下爬；但這條路比他們預期的要容易得多，因為這一邊的坡度要平緩得多，不久佛羅多又能騎馬了。比爾·蕨尼那匹可憐的老馬，正出人意料地展現出尋路的天賦，並盡可能地讓它的騎手少受顛簸。隊伍的士氣又高昂起來。即使是佛羅多，在晨光中也感覺好多了，但時不時地，總有一陣薄霧似乎遮蔽了他的視線，他會用手撫過眼睛。皮聘走在其他人前面一點。他突然轉過身，向他們喊道。「這裡有條路！」他叫道。當他們趕上他時，他們看到他沒弄錯：這裡顯然是一條路的起點，它蜿蜒地從下面的樹林中爬上來，消失在後方的山頂上。有些地方，它現在已變得模糊不清、雜草叢生，或被倒下的石頭和樹木堵塞；但它似乎曾經被頻繁使用過。這是一條由強壯臂膀和沉重腳步開闢出來的道路。這裡那裡，老樹被砍斷或折斷，巨大的岩石被劈開或用力推到一旁，以便開路。他們沿著這條小徑走了一會兒，因為它提供了許多
FLIGHT TO THE FORD 205 easiest way down, but they went cautiously, and their anxiety increased as they came into the dark woods, and the path grew plainer and broader. Suddenly coming out of a belt of fir-trees it ran steeply down a slope, and turned sharply to the left round the corner of a rocky shoulder of the hill. When they came to the corner they looked round and saw that the path ran on over a level strip under the face of a low cliff overhung with trees. In the stony wall there was a door hanging crookedly ajar upon one great hinge. Outside the door they all halted. There was a cave or rock-chamber behind, but in the gloom inside nothing could be seen. Strider, Sam, and Merry pushing with all their strength managed to open the door a little wider, and then Strider and Merry went in. They did not go far, for on the floor lay many old bones, and nothing else was to be seen near the entrance except some great empty jars and broken pots. ‘Surely this is a troll-hole, if ever there was one!’ said Pippin. ‘Come out, you two, and let us get away. Now we know who made the path — and we had better get off it quick.’ ‘There is no need, I think,’ said Strider, coming out. ‘It is certainly a troll-hole, but it seems to have been long forsaken. I don’t think we need be afraid. But let us go on down warily, and we shall see.’ The path went on again from the door, and turning to the right again across the level space plunged down a thick wooded slope. Pippin, not liking to show Strider that he was still afraid, went on ahead with Merry. Sam and Strider came behind, one on each side of Frodo’s pony, for the path was now broad enough for four or five hobbits to walk abreast. But they had not gone very far before Pippin came running back, followed by Merry. They both looked terrified. ‘There are trolls!’ Pippin panted. ‘Down in a clearing in the woods not far below. We got a sight of them through the tree-trunks. They are very large!’ ‘We will come and look at them,’ said Strider, picking up a stick. Frodo said nothing, but Sam looked scared. The sun was now high, and it shone down through the halfstripped branches of the trees, and lit the clearing with bright patches of light. They halted suddenly on the edge, and peered through the tree-trunks, holding their breath. There stood the trolls: three large trolls. One was stooping, and the other two stood staring at him. Strider walked forward unconcernedly. ‘Get up, old stone!’ he said, and broke his stick upon the stooping troll. Nothing happened. There was a gasp of astonishment from the hobbits, and then even Frodo laughed. ‘Well!’ he said. ‘We are forgetting our family history! These must be the very three that were caught
最簡單的下山路，但他們走得小心翼翼，當他們進入黑暗的樹林，小徑變得更清晰、更寬闊時，他們的焦慮也隨之增加。突然穿出一片杉樹林後，小徑陡峭地向一處斜坡下行，並在一個多石的山肩轉角處向左急轉。當他們來到轉角處，回頭一看，發現小徑在一片低矮懸崖的崖面下延伸，崖上懸著許多樹木。在石壁上，有一扇門歪斜地掛在一個巨大的鉸鏈上，半開著。他們全都在門外停下了腳步。門後是一個洞穴或石室，但在裡面的昏暗中什麼也看不見。亞拉岡、山姆和梅里用盡全力，設法把門推得更開一些，然後亞拉岡和梅里走了進去。他們沒有走遠，因為地上躺著許多陳舊的骨頭，入口附近除了幾個巨大的空罐子和破碎的陶器外，什麼也看不到。「如果世上真有食人妖洞穴，那這肯定就是了！」皮聘說。「你們兩個快出來，我們趕快離開。現在我們知道是誰開闢了這條路——我們最好趕快離開它。」「我想沒有必要，」亞拉岡走出來說。「這確實是個食人妖洞穴，但似乎已經被遺棄很久了。我認為我們不必害怕。但我們還是小心地繼續往下走，看看情況。」小徑從門口繼續延伸，再次向右轉，穿過平地，然後驟然下行，進入一片茂密的林坡。皮聘不想讓亞拉岡看出他仍然害怕，便和梅里走在前面。山姆和亞拉岡跟在後面，一人在佛羅多的小馬一側，因為小徑現在已經寬得足以讓四五個哈比人並排行走。但他們沒走多遠，皮聘就跑了回來，梅里跟在後面。他們倆看起來都嚇壞了。「有食人妖！」皮聘氣喘吁吁地說。「就在下面不遠處樹林裡的一片空地上。我們透過樹幹看到了他們。他們非常巨大！」「我們去看看他們。」亞拉岡說著，撿起一根棍子。佛羅多什麼也沒說，但山姆看起來很害怕。此時太陽已經高高升起，陽光穿過樹木半禿的枝幹，將空地點亮成一片片明亮的光斑。他們猛然在邊緣停下，屏住呼吸，透過樹幹窺視。食人妖就站在那裡：三隻巨大的食人妖。一隻彎著腰，另外兩隻站著瞪著他。亞拉岡毫不在意地向前走去。「起來，老石頭！」他說，然後把棍子在彎腰的食人妖身上敲斷了。什麼也沒發生。哈比人們發出一陣驚訝的抽氣聲，然後連佛羅多都笑了。「嗯！」他說。「我們真是忘了自家的歷史了！這些一定就是被抓住的那三隻。
206 THE LORD OF THE RINGS by Gandalf, quarrelling over the right way to cook thirteen dwarves and one hobbit.’ ‘I had no idea we were anywhere near the place!’ said Pippin. He knew the story well. Bilbo and Frodo had told it often; but as a matter of fact he had never more than half believed it. Even now he looked at the stone trolls with suspicion, wondering if some magic might not suddenly bring them to life again. “You are forgetting not only your family history, but all you ever knew about trolls,’ said Strider. ‘It is broad daylight with a bright sun, and yet you come back trying to scare me with a tale of live trolls waiting for us in this glade! In any case you might have noticed that one of them has an old bird’s nest behind his ear. That would be a most unusual ornament for a live troll!’ They all laughed. Frodo felt his spirits reviving: the reminder of Bilbo’s first successful adventure was heartening. The sun, too, was warm and comforting, and the mist before his eyes seemed to be lifting a little. They rested for some time in the glade, and took their mid-day meal right under the shadow of the trolls’ large legs. ‘Won’t somebody give us a bit of a song, while the sun is high?’ said Merry, when they had finished. ‘We haven’t had a song or a tale for days.’ ‘Not since Weathertop,’ said Frodo. The others looked at him. ‘Don’t worry about me!’ he added. ‘I feel much better, but I don’t think I could sing. Perhaps Sam could dig something out of his memory.’ ‘Come on, Sam!’ said Merry. “There’s more stored in your head than you let on about.’ ‘I don’t know about that,’ said Sam. ‘But how would this suit? It ain’t what I call proper poetry, if you understand me: just a bit of nonsense. But these old images here brought it to my mind.’ Standing up, with his hands behind his back, as if he was at school, he began to sing to an old tune. Troll sat alone on his seat of stone, And munched and mumbled a bare old bone; For many a year he had gnawed it near, For meat was hard to come by. Done by! Gum by! In a cave in the hills he dwelt alone, And meat was hard to come by. Up came Tom with his big boots on. Said he to Troll: ‘Pray, what ts yon? For it looks like the shin 0? my nuncle Tim,
甘道夫變成石頭的，他們當時在爭論該怎麼煮十三個矮人和一個哈比人才是正確的方式。」 「我完全不知道我們離那地方這麼近！」皮聘說。他很熟悉這個故事，比爾博和佛羅多常常講；但事實上，他從來都只是半信半疑。即使是現在，他仍然懷疑地看著那些石頭食人妖，心想會不會有什麼魔法突然讓他們活過來。 「你不只忘了你的家族歷史，連你所知道關於食人妖的一切都忘了。」神行客說。「現在可是陽光明媚的光天化日之下，你卻跑回來想用林間空地裡有活食人妖等著我們的故事來嚇我！無論如何，你或許該注意到其中一個的耳朵後面有個舊鳥巢。對一個活生生的食人妖來說，那可真是個極不尋常的裝飾品！」 他們都笑了。佛羅多感覺精神振作了起來：回想起比爾博第一次成功的冒險，實在是鼓舞人心。陽光也溫暖而舒適，他眼前的薄霧似乎也散去了一些。他們在林間空地休息了一會兒，就在食人妖巨大的腿影下吃了午餐。 「趁著太陽還高掛，有沒有人要來首歌啊？」吃完後梅里說。「我們有好幾天沒聽過歌或故事了。」 「從風雲頂之後就沒有了。」佛羅多說。其他人看著他。「別擔心我！」他補充道。「我感覺好多了，但我想我沒辦法唱歌。或許山姆可以從他的記憶裡挖點東西出來。」 「來吧，山姆！」梅里說。「你腦袋裡裝的東西可比你透露出來的還多呢。」 「我可不這麼覺得，」山姆說。「不過這首怎麼樣？如果你們懂我的意思，這算不上什麼正經的詩：只是一些胡言亂語。但是這裡這些老石像讓我想起了它。」 他站起來，雙手背在身後，像是在學校裡一樣，開始用一個老調子唱起歌來。 食人妖獨坐石椅上， 啃著咕噥著光禿的舊骨頭； 他已啃了它許多年， 因為肉食難尋求。 咚咚！噹噹！ 他獨居山中洞穴裡， 因為肉食難尋求。 湯姆穿著大靴子走上前。 他對食人妖說：「請問，那是什麼？ 因為它看起來像我提姆叔叔的脛骨，
FLIGHT TO THE FORD As should be a-lyin’ in graveyard. Caveyard! Paveyard! This many a year has Tim been gone, And I thought he were lyin’ in graveyard.’ “My lad,’ said Troll, ‘this bone I stole. But what be bones that lie in a hole? Thy nuncle was dead as a lump o” lead, Afore I found his shinbone. Tinbone! Thinbone! He can spare a share for a poor old troll, For he don’t need his shinbone.’ Said Tom: T don’t see why the likes o’ thee Without axin’ leave should go makin’ free With the shank or the shin 0’ my father’s kin; So hand the old bone over! Rover! Trover! Though dead he be, it belongs to he; So hand the old bone over!” ‘For a couple o’ pins,’ says Troll, and grins, Tl eat thee too, and gnaw thy shins. A bit o’ fresh meat will go down sweet! Ill try my teeth on thee now. Hee now! See now! I’m tired 0” gnawing old bones and skins; I’ve a mind to dine on thee now.’ But just as he thought his dinner was caught, He found his hands had hold of naught. Before he could mind, Tom slipped behind And gave him the boot to larn him. Warn him! Darn him! A bump o’ the boot on the seat, Tom thought, Would be the way to larn him. But harder than stone is the flesh and bone Of a troll that sits in the hills alone. As well set your boot to the mountain’s root, For the seat of a troll don’t feel it. Peel it! Heal it! Old Troll laughed, when he heard Tom groan, And he knew his toes could feel it. 207
「本該躺在墓園裡。洞園！石園！提姆走了這麼多年，我還以為他躺在墓園。」 「小子，」食人妖說，「這骨頭我偷來。但洞裡的骨頭算個啥？你那叔叔早死得像鉛塊，我才找到他脛骨。錫骨！細骨！他分點給可憐老食人妖也無妨，反正他用不著脛骨。」 湯姆說：「我不懂為何你這種傢伙，不問一聲就隨便動我親人的腿骨脛骨；快把老骨頭交出來！滾開！還來！就算他死了，那也是他的；快把老骨頭交出來！」 「為這點小事，」食人妖咧嘴笑說，「我連你也吃了，啃你脛骨。一點鮮肉下肚才甜美！我現在就來嚐嚐你。嘿嘿！瞧瞧！老骨頭老皮我啃膩了；我現在就想嚐嚐你。」 但他剛以為晚餐已到手，卻發現兩手空空抓了個寂寞。他還沒回過神，湯姆已溜到身後，踹他一腳給他教訓。警告他！該死的！湯姆想，朝他屁股踹一腳，就是教訓他的好方法。 但獨坐山丘的食人妖，皮肉筋骨比石頭還硬。你拿靴子去踢山根也一樣，食人妖的屁股沒感覺。剝皮！治癒！老食人妖聽見湯姆痛哼，他笑了，知道湯姆的腳趾頭有感覺。
208 THE LORD OF THE RINGS Tom’s leg 1s game, since home he came, And his bootless foot is lasting lame; But Troll don’t care, and he’s still there With the bone he boned from its owner. Doner! Boner! Troll’s old seat 1s still the same, And the bone he boned from its owner! ‘Well, that’s a warning to us all!’ laughed Merry. ‘It is as well you used a stick, and not your hand, Strider!’ ‘Where did you come by that, Sam?’ asked Pippin. ‘I’ve never heard those words before.’ Sam muttered something inaudible. ‘It’s out of his own head, of course,’ said Frodo. ‘I am learning a lot about Sam Gamgee on this journey. First he was a conspirator, now he’s a jester. He’ll end up by becoming a wizard — or a warrior!’ ‘I hope not,’ said Sam. ‘I don’t want to be neither!’ In the afternoon they went on down the woods. They were probably following the very track that Gandalf, Bilbo, and the dwarves had used many years before. After a few miles they came out on the top of a high bank above the Road. At this point the Road had left the Hoarwell far behind in its narrow valley, and now clung close to the feet of the hills, rolling and winding eastward among woods and heather-covered slopes towards the Ford and the Mountains. Not far down the bank Strider pointed out a stone in the grass. On it roughly cut and now much weathered could still be seen dwarf-runes and secret marks. ‘There!’ said Merry. “That must be the stone that marked the place where the trolls’ gold was hidden. How much is left of Bilbo’s share, I wonder, Frodo?’ Frodo looked at the stone, and wished that Bilbo had brought home no treasure more perilous, nor less easy to part with. ‘None at all,’ he said. ‘Bilbo gave it all away. He told me he did not feel it was really his, as it came from robbers.’ The Road lay quiet under the long shadows of early evening. There was no sign of any other travellers to be seen. As there was now no other possible course for them to take, they climbed down the bank, and turning left went off as fast as they could. Soon a shoulder of the hills cut off the light of the fast westering sun. A cold wind flowed down to meet them from the mountains ahead. They were beginning to look out for a place off the Road, where they could camp for the night, when they heard a sound that brought
FLIGHT TO THE FORD 209 sudden fear back into their hearts: the noise of hoofs behind them. They looked back, but they could not see far because of the many windings and rollings of the Road. As quickly as they could they scrambled off the beaten way and up into the deep heather and bilberry brushwood on the slopes above, until they came to a small patch of thick-growing hazels. As they peered out from among the bushes, they could see the Road, faint and grey in the failing light, some thirty feet below them. The sound of hoofs drew nearer. They were going fast, with a light clippety-clippety-clip. Then faintly, as if it was blown away from them by the breeze, they seemed to catch a dim ringing, as of small bells tinkling. “That does not sound like a Black Rider’s horse!’ said Frodo, listening intently. The other hobbits agreed hopefully that it did not, but they all remained full of suspicion. They had been in fear of pursuit for so long that any sound from behind seemed ominous and unfriendly. But Strider was now leaning forward, stooped to the ground, with a hand to his ear, and a look of joy on his face. The light faded, and the leaves on the bushes rustled softly. Clearer and nearer now the bells jingled, and clippety-clip came the quick trotting feet. Suddenly into view below came a white horse, gleaming in the shadows, running swiftly. In the dusk its headstall flickered and flashed, as if it were studded with gems like living stars. The rider’s cloak streamed behind him, and his hood was thrown back; his golden hair flowed shimmering in the wind of his speed. To Frodo it appeared that a white light was shining through the form and raiment of the rider, as if through a thin veil. Strider sprang from hiding and dashed down towards the Road, leaping with a cry through the heather; but even before he had moved or called, the rider had reined in his horse and halted, looking up towards the thicket where they stood. When he saw Strider, he dismounted and ran to meet him calling out: Ai na vedui Dunadan! Mae govannen! His speech and clear ringing voice left no doubt in their hearts: the rider was of the Elven-folk. No others that dwelt in the wide world had voices so fair to hear. But there seemed to be a note of haste or fear in his call, and they saw that he was now speaking quickly and urgently to Strider. Soon Strider beckoned to them, and the hobbits left the bushes and hurried down to the Road. ‘This is Glorfindel, who dwells in the house of Elrond,’ said Strider. ‘Hail, and well met at last!’ said the Elf-lord to Frodo. ‘I was sent from Rivendell to look for you. We feared that you were in danger upon the road.’ “Then Gandalf has reached Rivendell?’ cried Frodo joyfully. ‘No. He had not when I departed; but that was nine days ago,’
一陣突如其來的恐懼再次鑽入他們心中：身後傳來了馬蹄聲。他們回頭望去，但因為道路蜿蜒起伏，什麼也看不遠。他們盡快地爬下走慣了的大路，鑽進上方斜坡上茂密的石楠和越橘灌木叢中，直到來到一小片濃密的榛樹林裡。他們從灌木叢中向外窺探，可以看到大路在他們下方約三十英尺處，於漸逝的光線中顯得模糊而灰暗。馬蹄聲越來越近。那聲音速度很快，帶著輕快的「滴答-滴答-滴答」聲。接著，他們似乎隱約聽到一陣微弱的鈴聲，彷彿是小鈴鐺在叮噹作響，又像是被微風吹散了。「那聽起來不像黑騎士的馬！」佛羅多專注地聽著說。其他哈比人滿懷希望地同意不像，但他們仍然充滿懷疑。他們害怕被追趕已經太久了，任何從後方傳來的聲音都顯得不祥和不友善。但神行客此刻正向前傾身，俯向地面，一隻手放在耳邊，臉上露出喜悅的神情。光線漸暗，灌木叢的葉子輕柔地沙沙作響。鈴聲越來越清晰、越來越近，緊接著是「滴答-滴答」的快跑蹄聲。突然，下方視線中出現了一匹白馬，在陰影中閃閃發光，奔馳如飛。在黃昏中，它的頭絡閃爍不定，彷彿鑲嵌著如活星般的寶石。騎士的斗篷在他身後飄揚，兜帽向後掀開；他金色的頭髮在他飛馳的風中閃閃發光。在佛羅多看來，彷彿有一道白光穿透了騎士的身形和衣袍，如同透過一層薄紗。神行客從藏身處躍出，衝向大路，伴隨著一聲呼喊跳過石楠叢；但甚至在他行動或呼喊之前，騎士已經勒住馬，停了下來，抬頭望向他們所站的灌木叢。當他看到神行客時，他下了馬，跑向他並大喊著：Ai na vedui Dunadan! Mae govannen! 他的言談和清脆響亮的聲音讓他們心中再無疑慮：這位騎士是精靈族的一員。居住在這廣闊世界中的任何其他種族，都沒有如此悅耳的聲音。但他的呼喊中似乎帶有一絲急促或恐懼，他們看到他正快速而急切地對神行客說話。很快，神行客向他們招手，哈比人們離開了灌木叢，匆匆下到大路上。「這位是葛羅芬戴爾，他住在愛隆的家中。」神行客說。「向您致敬，終於見到您了！」精靈領主對佛羅多說。「我奉命從瑞文戴爾前來尋找你們。我們擔心你們在路上有危險。」「那麼甘道夫已經抵達瑞文戴爾了？」佛羅多高興地喊道。「不。我離開時他還沒到；但那已是九天前的事了。」
210 THE LORD OF THE RINGS answered Glorfindel. ‘Elrond received news that troubled him. Some of my kindred, journeying in your land beyond the Baranduin,* learned that things were amiss, and sent messages as swiftly as they could. They said that the Nine were abroad, and that you were astray bearing a great burden without guidance, for Gandalf had not returned. There are few even in Rivendell that can ride openly against the Nine; but such as there were, Elrond sent out north, west, and south. It was thought that you might turn far aside to avoid pursuit, and become lost in the Wilderness. ‘It was my lot to take the Road, and I came to the Bridge of Mitheithel, and left a token there, nigh on seven days ago. Three of the servants of Sauron were upon the Bridge, but they withdrew and I pursued them westward. I came also upon two others, but they turned away southward. Since then I have searched for your trail. Two days ago I found it, and followed it over the Bridge; and today I marked where you descended from the hills again. But come! There is no time for further news. Since you are here we must risk the peril of the Road and go. There are five behind us, and when they find your trail upon the Road they will ride after us like the wind. And they are not all. Where the other four may be, I do not know. I fear that we may find the Ford is already held against us.’ While Glorfindel was speaking the shades of evening deepened. Frodo felt a great weariness come over him. Ever since the sun began to sink the mist before his eyes had darkened, and he felt that a shadow was coming between him and the faces of his friends. Now pain assailed him, and he felt cold. He swayed, clutching at Sam’s arm. ‘My master is sick and wounded,’ said Sam angrily. ‘He can’t go on riding after nightfall. He needs rest.’ Glorfindel caught Frodo as he sank to the ground, and taking him gently in his arms he looked in his face with grave anxiety. Briefly Strider told of the attack on their camp under Weathertop, and of the deadly knife. He drew out the hilt, which he had kept, and handed it to the Elf. Glorfindel shuddered as he took it, but he looked intently at it. ‘There are evil things written on this hilt,’ he said; ‘though maybe your eyes cannot see them. Keep it, Aragorn, till we reach the house of Elrond! But be wary, and handle it as little as you may! Alas! the wounds of this weapon are beyond my skill to heal. I will do what I can — but all the more do I urge you now to go on without rest.’ He searched the wound on Frodo’s shoulder with his fingers, and * The Brandywine River.
「是的，」格洛芬德爾回答。「埃爾隆德收到了令他不安的消息。我的一些族人在你們越過白蘭地河*的土地上旅行時，得知情況有異，便盡快送來訊息。他們說九戒靈已經出動，而你們在沒有甘道夫引導下，背負著重擔迷失了方向，因為甘道夫還沒回來。即使在瑞文戴爾，能公開對抗九戒靈的也寥寥無幾；但埃爾隆德還是將這些人派往了北、西、南三方。我們原以為你們可能會為了躲避追捕而繞遠路，迷失在荒野之中。『我的任務是沿著大道尋找，七天前我到了米賽塞爾橋，並在那裡留下了一個信物。索倫的三個僕人當時在橋上，但他們撤退了，我便向西追趕他們。我還遇見了另外兩個，但他們轉向南方逃去。從那時起，我便一直在尋找你們的蹤跡。兩天前我找到了，並跟著它過了橋；今天我注意到你們再次從山丘上下來。但是，來吧！沒有時間再說更多消息了。既然你們在這裡，我們就必須冒險走上大道。我們身後有五個追兵，一旦他們在大道上發現你們的蹤跡，就會如風一般追上來。而且他們不是全部。另外四個在哪裡，我不知道。我擔心我們可能會發現渡口已經被他們佔據了。』」格洛芬德爾說話時，夜色漸深。佛羅多感到一股巨大的疲憊感襲來。自從太陽開始下沉，他眼前的薄霧就變得更暗了，他感覺到一道陰影隔在他與朋友們的臉龐之間。此刻，疼痛向他襲來，他感到寒冷。他搖晃著，緊緊抓住山姆的手臂。「我的主人又病又傷，」山姆憤怒地說。「天黑後他不能再騎馬了。他需要休息。」格洛芬德爾接住了他，溫柔地將他抱入懷中，臉上帶著凝重的憂慮看著他。遊俠簡要地講述了他們在風雲頂下的營地遭到的攻擊，以及那把致命的匕首。他拿出一直保留著的刀柄，交給了那位精靈。格洛芬德爾接過時不禁打了個寒顫，但他專注地看著它。「這刀柄上寫著邪惡的文字，」他說；「雖然你們的眼睛可能看不見。留著它，阿拉貢，直到我們抵達埃爾隆德的家！但要小心，盡量少碰它！唉！這武器造成的傷口，已超出了我的醫治能力。我會盡我所能——但也因此我更加催促你們現在就動身，不要休息。」他用手指探查佛羅多肩膀上的傷口。*白蘭地河。
FLIGHT TO THE FORD 211 his face grew graver, as if what he learned disquieted him. But Frodo felt the chill lessen in his side and arm; a little warmth crept down from his shoulder to his hand, and the pain grew easier. The dusk of evening seemed to grow lighter about him, as if a cloud had been withdrawn. He saw his friends’ faces more clearly again, and a measure of new hope and strength returned. “You shall ride my horse,’ said Glorfindel. ‘I will shorten the stirrups up to the saddle-skirts, and you must sit as tight as you can. But you need not fear: my horse will not let any rider fall that I command him to bear. His pace is light and smooth; and if danger presses too near, he will bear you away with a speed that even the black steeds of the enemy cannot rival.’ ‘No, he will not!’ said Frodo. ‘I shall not ride him, if I am to be carried off to Rivendell or anywhere else, leaving my friends behind in danger.’ Glorfindel smiled. ‘I doubt very much,’ he said, ‘if your friends would be in danger if you were not with them! The pursuit would follow you and leave us in peace, I think. It is you, Frodo, and that which you bear that brings us all in peril.’ To that Frodo had no answer, and he was persuaded to mount Glorfindel’s white horse. The pony was laden instead with a great part of the others’ burdens, so that they now marched lighter, and for a time made good speed; but the hobbits began to find it hard to keep up with the swift tireless feet of the Elf. On he led them, into the mouth of darkness, and still on under the deep clouded night. There was neither star nor moon. Not until the grey of dawn did he allow them to halt. Pippin, Merry, and Sam were by that time nearly asleep on their stumbling legs; and even Strider seemed by the sag of his shoulders to be weary. Frodo sat upon the horse in a dark dream. They cast themselves down in the heather a few yards from the road-side, and fell asleep immediately. They seemed hardly to have closed their eyes when Glorfindel, who had set himself to watch while they slept, awoke them again. The sun had now climbed far into the morning, and the clouds and mists of the night were gone. ‘Drink this!’ said Glorfindel to them, pouring for each in turn a little liquor from his silver-studded flask of leather. It was clear as spring water and had no taste, and it did not feel either cool or warm in the mouth; but strength and vigour seemed to flow into all their limbs as they drank it. Eaten after that draught the stale bread and dried fruit (which was now all that they had left) seemed to satisfy their hunger better than many a good breakfast in the Shire had done. ok
他的臉色變得更凝重，彷彿他所知之事令他不安。但佛羅多感覺到脅下與手臂的寒意減輕了；一絲暖意從肩膀蔓延到手掌，疼痛也緩和了些。周遭的暮色似乎明亮了起來，好像一片烏雲被移開了。他又可以更清楚地看見朋友們的臉，心中也重新燃起了一絲希望與力量。「你來騎我的馬吧，」葛羅芬戴爾說。「我會把馬鐙縮到鞍翼那麼高，你得盡可能坐穩。但你不用害怕：我命令牠承載的騎士，牠絕不會讓他摔下來。牠的步伐輕盈平穩；如果危險逼近，牠會載著你遠離，那速度連敵人的黑馬也望塵莫及。」「不，牠不會的！」佛羅多說。「如果要我被帶到瑞文戴爾或其他地方，卻把朋友們留在危險中，那我絕不騎牠。」葛羅芬戴爾笑了。「我很懷疑，」他說，「如果你不跟他們在一起，你的朋友們是否還會有危險！我想，追兵會跟著你，而讓我們平安無事。是你，佛羅多，還有你所攜帶的東西，才讓我們所有人都陷入險境。」對此，佛羅多無言以對，便被說服騎上了葛羅芬戴爾的白馬。小馬則改為馱負其他人大部分的行李，所以他們現在走得輕快些，一度進展得很快；但哈比人們開始覺得很難跟上精靈那迅捷不知疲倦的腳步。他領著他們前行，走入黑暗的入口，並在深沉陰鬱的夜色下繼續前進。夜空無星也無月。直到黎明灰濛濛亮起，他才讓他們停下腳步。那時，皮聘、梅里和山姆幾乎是邊踉蹌邊睡著了；就連神行客，從他下垂的肩膀看來，也顯得疲憊不堪。佛羅多坐在馬背上，陷入一場黑暗的夢境。他們在離路邊幾碼遠的石南叢中倒頭就睡，立刻就睡著了。他們彷彿才剛閉上眼睛，在他們睡覺時負責守夜的葛羅芬戴爾就把他們又叫醒了。此時太陽已高掛空中，夜晚的雲霧都已散去。「喝下這個！」葛羅芬戴爾對他們說，輪流從他那鑲有銀釘的皮酒壺中為每人倒了一點液體。那液體清澈如泉水，沒有任何味道，入口既不冷也不熱；但他們喝下後，力量與活力似乎流遍了四肢。喝下那飲品後再吃，那些不新鮮的麵包和果乾（他們現在只剩下這些了）似乎比在夏爾吃過的許多豐盛早餐更能滿足他們的飢餓感。
212 THE LORD OF THE RINGS They had rested rather less than five hours when they took to the Road again. Glorfindel still urged them on, and only allowed two brief halts during the day’s march. In this way they covered almost twenty miles before nightfall, and came to a point where the Road bent right and ran down towards the bottom of the valley, now making straight for the Bruinen. So far there had been no sign or sound of pursuit that the hobbits could see or hear; but often Glorfindel would halt and listen for a moment, if they lagged behind, and a look of anxiety clouded his face. Once or twice he spoke to Strider in the elf-tongue. But however anxious their guides might be, it was plain that the hobbits could go no further that night. They were stumbling along dizzy with weariness, and unable to think of anything but their feet and legs. Frodo’s pain had redoubled, and during the day things about him faded to shadows of ghostly grey. He almost welcomed the coming of night, for then the world seemed less pale and empty. The hobbits were still weary, when they set out again early next morning. There were many miles yet to go between them and the Ford, and they hobbled forward at the best pace they could manage. ‘Our peril will be greatest just ere we reach the river,’ said Glorfindel; ‘for my heart warns me that the pursuit is now swift behind us, and other danger may be waiting by the Ford.’ The Road was still running steadily downhill, and there was now in places much grass at either side, in which the hobbits walked when they could, to ease their tired feet. In the late afternoon they came to a place where the Road went suddenly under the dark shadow of tall pine-trees, and then plunged into a deep cutting with steep moist walls of red stone. Echoes ran along as they hurried forward; and there seemed to be a sound of many footfalls following their own. All at once, as if through a gate of light, the Road ran out again from the end of the tunnel into the open. There at the bottom of a sharp incline they saw before them a long flat mile, and beyond that the Ford of Rivendell. On the further side was a steep brown bank, threaded by a winding path; and behind that the tall mountains climbed, shoulder above shoulder, and peak beyond peak, into the fading sky. There was still an echo as of following feet in the cutting behind them; a rushing noise as if a wind were rising and pouring through the branches of the pines. One moment Glorfindel turned and listened, then he sprang forward with a loud cry. ‘Fly!’ he called. ‘Fly! The enemy is upon us!’ The white horse leaped forward. The hobbits ran down the slope. Glorfindel and Strider followed as rearguard. They were only half
他們休息了不到五個小時，就再次上路了。葛羅芬戴爾仍舊催促他們前進，白天的行軍中只允許他們短暫休息兩次。就這樣，他們在天黑前走了將近二十英里，來到一個道路向右彎曲、往下通往谷底的地方，現在正筆直地朝著布魯南河而去。到目前為止，哈比人沒有看到或聽到任何追兵的跡象或聲響；但葛羅芬戴爾常常在他們落後時停下來，聆聽片刻，臉上便蒙上一層焦慮的神色。他一兩次用精靈語對神行客說話。但無論他們的嚮導有多焦慮，顯然哈比人那天晚上是再也走不動了。他們因疲憊而頭暈目眩，步履蹣跚，腦子裡除了自己的雙腳和雙腿，什麼也想不了。佛羅多的疼痛加倍了，白天裡，他周遭的事物都褪成了鬼魅般的灰色陰影。他幾乎歡迎夜晚的到來，因為那時世界似乎顯得不那麼蒼白和空虛。第二天一早再次出發時，哈比人依然疲憊不堪。他們離渡口還有好幾英里遠，只能以自己所能達到的最快速度跛行前進。「我們的危險在到達河流前會達到最大，」葛羅芬戴爾說，「因為我的心警示我，追兵正在我們身後迅速逼近，而渡口旁可能還有其他危險在等著。」道路仍在穩定地向山下延伸，現在路旁有些地方長滿了草，哈比人盡可能走在草地上，以舒緩疲憊的雙腳。傍晚時分，他們來到一個地方，道路突然進入高大松樹的陰影下，然後鑽入一個兩側是陡峭潮濕的紅石壁的深邃切溝中。他們匆忙前行時，回音沿路傳開；似乎有許多腳步聲跟在他們自己的腳步聲之後。突然間，彷彿穿過一道光之門，道路從隧道的盡頭再次延伸到開闊地。在一個陡坡的底部，他們看見前方有一英里長的平坦路段，再過去就是瑞文戴爾的渡口。對岸是一個陡峭的褐色河岸，一條蜿蜒小徑穿行其上；其後，高山一座疊著一座，山峰連著山峰，一直延伸到漸暗的天空中。他們身後的切溝裡，仍然迴盪著像是追隨的腳步聲；還有一陣呼嘯聲，彷彿風起，穿過松樹的枝椏。葛羅芬戴爾轉身聽了一會兒，然後大喊一聲，向前躍去。「快跑！」他喊道。「快跑！敵人追上我們了！」白馬向前躍去。哈比人跑下斜坡。葛羅芬戴爾和神行客殿後。他們才剛跑了一半
FLIGHT TO THE FORD 213 way across the flat, when suddenly there was a noise of horses galloping. Out of the gate in the trees that they had just left rode a Black Rider. He reined his horse in, and halted, swaying in his saddle. Another followed him, and then another; then again two more. ‘Ride forward! Ride!’ cried Glorfindel to Frodo. He did not obey at once, for a strange reluctance seized him. Checking the horse to a walk, he turned and looked back. The Riders seemed to sit upon their great steeds like threatening statues upon a hill, dark and solid, while all the woods and land about them receded as if into a mist. Suddenly he knew in his heart that they were silently commanding him to wait. Then at once fear and hatred awoke in him. His hand left the bridle and gripped the hilt of his sword, and with a red flash he drew it. ‘Ride on! Ride on!’ cried Glorfindel, and then loud and clear he called to the horse in the elf-tongue: noro lim, noro lim, Asfaloth! At once the white horse sprang away and sped like the wind along the last lap of the Road. At the same moment the black horses leaped down the hill in pursuit, and from the Riders came a terrible cry, such as Frodo had heard filling the woods with horror in the Eastfarthing far away. It was answered; and to the dismay of Frodo and his friends out from the trees and rocks away on the left four other Riders came flying. Two rode towards Frodo; two galloped madly towards the Ford to cut off his escape. They seemed to him to run like the wind and to grow swiftly larger and darker, as their courses converged with his. Frodo looked back for a moment over his shoulder. He could no longer see his friends. The Riders behind were falling back: even their great steeds were no match in speed for the white elf-horse of Glorfindel. He looked forward again, and hope faded. There seemed no chance of reaching the Ford before he was cut off by the others that had lain in ambush. He could see them clearly now: they appeared to have cast aside their hoods and black cloaks, and they were robed in white and grey. Swords were naked in their pale hands; helms were on their heads. Their cold eyes glittered, and they called to him with fell voices. Fear now filled all Frodo’s mind. He thought no longer of his sword. No cry came from him. He shut his eyes and clung to the horse’s mane. The wind whistled in his ears, and the bells upon the harness rang wild and shrill. A breath of deadly cold pierced him like a spear, as with a last spurt, like a flash of white fire, the elf-horse speeding as if on wings, passed right before the face of the foremost Rider. Frodo heard the splash of water. It foamed about his feet. He felt the quick heave and surge as the horse left the river and struggled
他們剛穿過平地，突然傳來一陣馬蹄疾馳聲。一名黑騎士從他們剛離開的林間大門衝出。他勒住馬，停了下來，在馬鞍上搖搖晃晃。另一名騎士跟著他，然後又一個；接著又是兩個。『向前騎！快騎！』格蘭芬戴爾對佛羅多喊道。他沒有立刻聽從，因為一股奇異的抗拒攫住了他。他將馬速減至步行，轉身回望。那些騎士坐在他們巨大的坐騎上，彷彿山丘上充滿威脅的雕像，黑暗而堅實，而周遭所有的樹林與土地都像退入迷霧中一般。他心中突然明白，他們正無聲地命令他等待。接著，恐懼與憎恨立刻在他心中甦醒。他的手離開韁繩，握住劍柄，隨著一道紅光閃過，他拔出了劍。『騎下去！騎下去！』格蘭芬戴爾大喊，然後他用精靈語對馬匹清晰宏亮地呼喚：noro lim, noro lim, Asfaloth！那匹白馬立刻向前躍去，沿著道路的最後一段路程如風一般飛馳。與此同時，黑色的馬匹也從山丘上躍下追趕，騎士們發出可怕的尖嘯，佛羅多曾在遙遠的東區聽過同樣的聲音，那聲音讓整片樹林充滿了恐懼。那嘯聲得到了回應；令佛羅多和他的朋友們驚駭的是，從左邊遠處的樹林和岩石間，又飛出了另外四名騎士。兩名朝佛羅多騎來；兩名瘋狂地奔向渡口，企圖切斷他的退路。在他看來，他們跑得像風一樣快，隨著他們的路線與他交會，他們的身影也迅速變得更大、更黑。佛羅多回頭瞥了一眼。他再也看不到朋友們了。後方的騎士們正被甩開：即使是他們巨大的坐騎，在速度上也無法與格蘭芬戴爾的白色精靈馬匹敵。他又向前望去，希望隨之消逝。看來在被那些埋伏的敵人截斷去路之前，他沒有機會到達渡口了。他現在可以清楚地看見他們了：他們似乎已拋開兜帽和黑斗篷，身上穿著白色和灰色的長袍。蒼白的手中握著出鞘的利劍；頭上戴著頭盔。他們冰冷的眼睛閃爍著，用兇惡的聲音呼喚他。恐懼此刻佔據了佛羅多的整個心靈。他不再想著他的劍。他沒有發出任何呼喊。他閉上眼睛，緊緊抓住馬的鬃毛。風在他耳邊呼嘯，馬具上的鈴鐺瘋狂而尖銳地響著。一股致命的寒氣如長矛般刺穿他，就在那最後的衝刺中，精靈馬像一道白色火焰，彷彿插翅飛翔，從最前方的騎士面前掠過。佛羅多聽到了水花飛濺的聲音。水花在他腳邊泛起泡沫。他感覺到馬匹離開河水奮力向上時那迅速的起伏與顛簸。
214 THE LORD OF THE RINGS up the stony path. He was climbing the steep bank. He was across the Ford. But the pursuers were close behind. At the top of the bank the horse halted and turned about neighing fiercely. There were Nine Riders at the water’s edge below, and Frodo’s spirit quailed before the threat of their uplifted faces. He knew of nothing that would prevent them from crossing as easily as he had done; and he felt that it was useless to try to escape over the long uncertain path from the Ford to the edge of Rivendell, if once the Riders crossed. In any case he felt that he was commanded urgently to halt. Hatred again stirred in him, but he had no longer the strength to refuse. Suddenly the foremost Rider spurred his horse forward. It checked at the water and reared up. With a great effort Frodo sat upright and brandished his sword. ‘Go back! he cried. ‘Go back to the Land of Mordor, and follow me no more!’ His voice sounded thin and shrill in his own ears. The Riders halted, but Frodo had not the power of Bombadil. His enemies laughed at him with a harsh and chilling laughter. ‘Come back! Come back!’ they called. “To Mordor we will take you!’ ‘Go back!’ he whispered. “The Ring! The Ring!’ they cried with deadly voices; and immediately their leader urged his horse forward into the water, followed closely by two others. ‘By Elbereth and Luthien the Fair,’ said Frodo with a last effort, lifting up his sword, ‘you shall have neither the Ring nor me!’ Then the leader, who was now half across the Ford, stood up menacing in his stirrups, and raised up his hand. Frodo was stricken dumb. He felt his tongue cleave to his mouth, and his heart labouring. His sword broke and fell out of his shaking hand. The elf-horse reared and snorted. The foremost of the black horses had almost set foot upon the shore. At that moment there came a roaring and a rushing: a noise of loud waters rolling many stones. Dimly Frodo saw the river below him rise, and down along its course there came a plumed cavalry of waves. White flames seemed to Frodo to flicker on their crests, and he half fancied that he saw amid the water white riders upon white horses with frothing manes. The three Riders that were still in the midst of the Ford were overwhelmed: they disappeared, buried suddenly under angry foam. Those that were behind drew back in dismay. With his last failing senses Frodo heard cries, and it seemed to him that he saw, beyond the Riders that hesitated on the shore, a shining figure of white light; and behind it ran small shadowy forms waving flames, that flared red in the grey mist that was falling over the world.
他沿著石子路上坡，爬上了陡峭的河岸，越過了渡口。但追兵緊跟在後。在河岸頂端，馬兒停下腳步，轉過身來兇猛地嘶鳴。下方水邊有九名戒靈騎士，佛羅多看著他們抬起的臉孔所帶來的威脅，內心不禁膽怯。他想不出有什麼能阻止他們像自己一樣輕鬆地渡河；而且他覺得，一旦戒靈騎士過了河，試圖沿著從渡口到瑞文戴爾邊緣那條漫長而不確定的路逃跑也是徒勞無功。無論如何，他感覺到一股強烈的命令要他停下。仇恨再次在他心中攪動，但他已無力抗拒。突然，最前方的騎士策馬向前。馬在水邊停住，揚起前蹄。佛羅多費盡力氣坐直身子，揮舞著他的劍。「回去！」他喊道。「回到魔多之地，別再跟著我了！」在他自己聽來，他的聲音既微弱又尖銳。騎士們停下了，但佛羅多沒有湯姆·龐巴迪那樣的力量。他的敵人用刺耳而冰冷的笑聲嘲笑他。「回來！回來！」他們喊道。「我們要帶你回魔多！」「回去！」他低語道。「魔戒！魔戒！」他們用致命的聲音喊著；接著他們的頭領立刻催馬衝入水中，另外兩名騎士緊隨其後。「以伊爾碧綠絲與美麗的露西安之名，」佛羅多用盡最後一絲力氣說道，舉起他的劍，「你們休想得到魔戒，也休想得到我！」接著，那已經渡到河中央的頭領，在他馬鐙上威嚇地站起來，並舉起了手。佛羅多嚇得說不出話來。他感覺舌頭黏住了上顎，心臟吃力地跳動著。他的劍斷了，從他顫抖的手中掉落。精靈馬揚蹄嘶鳴。最前方那匹黑馬幾乎已踏上岸邊。就在那一刻，傳來一陣轟鳴與奔騰聲：那是巨浪滾動著許多石頭的聲響。佛羅多模糊地看見下方的河流高漲起來，沿著河道衝來了一隊有著羽飾的波浪騎兵。在佛羅多看來，白色火焰似乎在浪峰上閃爍，他恍惚間彷彿看見水中有些騎著白馬、有著泡沫般馬鬃的白色騎士。還在河中央的三名騎士被淹沒了：他們消失了，瞬間被憤怒的泡沫吞噬。後面的騎士們驚惶地後退。用他最後一絲衰弱的意識，佛羅多聽見了哭喊聲，他似乎看見，在岸邊猶豫不決的騎士們後方，有一個閃耀的白光身影；而在那身影之後，跟著一些揮舞著火焰的矮小黑影，那些火焰在籠罩世界的灰霧中閃爍著紅光。
FLIGHT TO THE FORD 215 The black horses were filled with madness, and leaping forward in terror they bore their riders into the rushing flood. Their piercing cries were drowned in the roaring of the river as it carried them away. Then Frodo felt himself falling, and the roaring and confusion seemed to rise and engulf him together with his enemies. He heard and saw no more.
奔向渡口 215 那些黑馬充滿了瘋狂，在驚恐中向前躍去，將牠們的騎士載入了湍急的洪流中。牠們尖銳的嘶鳴被河水的咆哮聲所淹沒，河水將牠們沖走了。然後佛羅多感覺自己正在墜落，咆哮與混亂似乎一同升起，將他和他的敵人一起吞噬。他再也聽不見也看不見任何東西了。