Chapter 1 MANY MEETINGS Frodo woke and found himself lying in bed. At first he thought that he had slept late, after a long unpleasant dream that still hovered on the edge of memory. Or perhaps he had been ill? But the ceiling looked strange; it was flat, and it had dark beams richly carved. He lay a little while longer looking at patches of sunlight on the wall, and listening to the sound of a waterfall. ‘Where am I, and what is the time?’ he said aloud to the ceiling. ‘In the house of Elrond, and it is ten o’clock in the morning,’ said a voice. ‘It is the morning of October the twenty-fourth, if you want to know.’ ‘Gandalf!’ cried Frodo, sitting up. There was the old wizard, sitting in a chair by the open window. ‘Yes,’ he said, ‘I am here. And you are lucky to be here, too, after all the absurd things you have done since you left home.’ Frodo lay down again. He felt too comfortable and peaceful to argue, and in any case he did not think he would get the better of an argument. He was fully awake now, and the memory of his journey was returning: the disastrous ‘short cut’ through the Old Forest; the ‘accident’ at The Prancing Pony; and his madness in putting on the Ring in the dell under Weathertop. While he was thinking of all these things and trying in vain to bring his memory down to his arriving in Rivendell, there was a long silence, broken only by the soft puffs of Gandalf’s pipe, as he blew white smoke-rings out of the window. ‘Where’s Sam?’ Frodo asked at length. ‘And are the others all right?’ “Yes, they are all safe and sound,’ answered Gandalf. ‘Sam was here until I sent him off to get some rest, about half an hour ago.’ ‘What happened at the Ford?’ said Frodo. ‘It all seemed so dim, somehow; and it still does.’ “Yes, it would. You were beginning to fade,’ answered Gandalf. “The wound was overcoming you at last. A few more hours and you would have been beyond our aid. But you have some strength in you, my dear hobbit! As you showed in the Barrow. That was touch and go: perhaps the most dangerous moment of all. I wish you could have held out at Weathertop.’ “You seem to know a great deal already,’ said Frodo. ‘I have not spoken to the others about the Barrow. At first it was too horrible,
第一章 眾多會面 佛羅多醒來，發現自己躺在床上。起初他以為自己睡過頭了，在一個漫長而不愉快的夢之後，那個夢境仍在記憶的邊緣徘徊。或者他生病了？但天花板看起來很奇怪；它是平坦的，上面有著精雕細琢的深色橫樑。他又躺了一會兒，看著牆上斑駁的陽光，聽著瀑布的聲音。「我在哪裡？現在是什麼時候？」他對著天花板大聲說道。「在愛隆的家裡，現在是早上十點。」一個聲音說道。「如果你想知道的話，今天是十月二十四日的早上。」「甘道夫！」佛羅多叫道，坐了起來。老巫師就在那裡，坐在開著的窗戶旁的椅子上。「是的，」他說，「我在這裡。自從你離家後做了那麼多荒唐事，你也很幸運能來到這裡。」佛羅多又躺了下去。他感到太過舒適和平靜，不想爭辯，而且無論如何，他也不認為自己能在爭論中佔上風。他現在完全清醒了，旅途的記憶也漸漸回來了：穿過老林的災難性「捷徑」；在躍馬客棧的「意外」；以及他在風雲頂下的山谷戴上魔戒的瘋狂舉動。當他思考著這些事情，並徒勞無功地試圖回想起自己抵達瑞文戴爾的記憶時，現場一片沉寂，只有甘道夫輕柔地從窗外吹出白色煙圈的噗噗聲打破了寧靜。「山姆在哪裡？」佛羅多最終問道。「其他人還好嗎？」「是的，他們都安然無恙。」甘道夫回答。「山姆剛才還在這裡，直到我把他打發去休息，大約半小時前。」「在渡口發生了什麼事？」佛羅多問道。「一切都顯得那麼模糊，不知怎麼的；現在依然如此。」「是的，會是這樣。你當時正在開始消逝。」甘道夫回答。「傷口最終正在壓倒你。再過幾個小時，你就會超出我們的幫助範圍了。但你體內還有一些力量，我親愛的哈比人！就像你在塚墓中表現的那樣。那真是千鈞一髮：也許是所有時刻中最危險的。我希望你當時能在風雲頂堅持住。」「你似乎已經知道很多了。」佛羅多說。「我還沒有和其他人談過塚墓的事。起初那太可怕了，
220 THE LORD OF THE RINGS and afterwards there were other things to think about. How do you know about it?’ “You have talked long in your sleep, Frodo,’ said Gandalf gently, ‘and it has not been hard for me to read your mind and memory. Do not worry! Though I said ‘‘absurd’’ just now, I did not mean it. I think well of you — and of the others. It is no small feat to have come so far, and through such dangers, still bearing the Ring.’ ‘We should never have done it without Strider,’ said Frodo. ‘But we needed you. I did not know what to do without you.’ ‘I was delayed,’ said Gandalf, ‘and that nearly proved our ruin. And yet I am not sure: it may have been better so.’ ‘I wish you would tell me what happened!’ ‘All in good time! You are not supposed to talk or worry about anything today, by Elrond’s orders.’ ‘But talking would stop me thinking and wondering, which are quite as tiring,’ said Frodo. ‘I am wide awake now, and I remember so many things that want explaining. Why were you delayed? You ought to tell me that at least.’ “You will soon hear all you wish to know,’ said Gandalf. ‘We shall have a Council, as soon as you are well enough. At the moment I will only say that I was held captive.’ ‘You?’ cried Frodo. “Yes, I, Gandalf the Grey,’ said the wizard solemnly. “There are many powers in the world, for good or for evil. Some are greater than I am. Against some I have not yet been measured. But my time is coming. The Morgul-lord and his Black Riders have come forth. War is preparing!’ “Then you knew of the Riders already — before I met them?’ “Yes, I knew of them. Indeed I spoke of them once to you; for the Black Riders are the Ringwraiths, the Nine Servants of the Lord of the Rings. But I did not know that they had arisen again or I should have fled with you at once. I heard news of them only after I left you in June; but that story must wait. For the moment we have been saved from disaster, by Aragorn.’ ‘Yes,’ said Frodo, ‘it was Strider that saved us. Yet I was afraid of him at first. Sam never quite trusted him, I think, not at any rate until we met Glorfindel.’ Gandalf smiled. ‘I have heard all about Sam,’ he said. ‘He has no more doubts now.’ ‘I am glad,’ said Frodo. ‘For I have become very fond of Strider. Well, fond is not the right word. I mean he is dear to me; though he is strange, and grim at times. In fact, he reminds me often of you. I didn’t know that any of the Big People were like that. I thought, well, that they were just big, and rather stupid: kind and stupid like
220 《魔戒》之後還有其他事情要考慮。你怎麼知道的？』「佛羅多，你睡夢中說了很久的話。」甘道夫輕聲說，「對我來說，要讀懂你的心思和記憶並不難。別擔心！雖然我剛才說了『荒謬』，但我並不是那個意思。我對你——以及其他人——評價很高。能走到這麼遠，經歷這麼多危險，還帶著魔戒，這可不是一件小事。」「要是沒有亞拉岡，我們絕不可能做到。」佛羅多說。「但我們需要你。沒有你，我不知道該怎麼辦。」「我被耽擱了。」甘道夫說，「那幾乎導致了我們的毀滅。但我還不確定：或許這樣更好。」「我希望你能告訴我發生了什麼事！」「時候到了自然會知道！愛隆吩咐過，你今天不該說話或擔心任何事。」「可是說話能讓我停止思考和胡思亂想，那樣也很累人。」佛羅多說，「我現在完全清醒了，而且我記得很多需要解釋的事情。你為什麼被耽擱了？你至少應該告訴我這個。」「你很快就會聽到所有你想知道的。」甘道夫說，「等你好一點，我們就會召開會議。目前我只能說我被囚禁了。」「你？」佛羅多喊道。「是的，我，灰袍甘道夫。」巫師莊嚴地說，「世上有許多力量，或善或惡。有些比我更強大。有些我還未曾與之較量。但我的時機將至。魔窟領主和他的黑騎士已經現身。戰爭正在醞釀！」 「那麼你早就知道那些騎士了——在我遇到他們之前？」「是的，我知道他們。事實上，我曾對你提起過他們；因為黑騎士就是戒靈，魔戒之主的九名僕役。但我不知道他們已經再次現身，否則我當時就會立刻和你一起逃走。我是在六月離開你之後才聽到他們的消息；但那個故事必須等等。目前，我們已經被亞拉岡從災難中拯救出來了。」「是的，」佛羅多說，「是亞拉岡救了我們。但我一開始很怕他。山姆從來沒有完全信任他，我想，至少在我們遇到葛羅芬戴爾之前是這樣。」甘道夫笑了。「我已經聽說了山姆的一切。」他說，「他現在沒有任何疑慮了。」「我很高興。」佛羅多說，「因為我已經非常喜歡亞拉岡了。嗯，喜歡這個詞不太對。我的意思是，他對我很重要；雖然他很奇怪，有時也很嚴肅。事實上，他常常讓我想起你。我不知道『大人物』中也有這樣的人。我以為，嗯，他們只是體型大，而且有點笨：善良而愚蠢，就像
MANY MEETINGS 221 Butterbur; or stupid and wicked like Bill Ferny. But then we don’t know much about Men in the Shire, except perhaps the Bree-landers.’ “You don’t know much even about them, if you think old Barliman is stupid,’ said Gandalf. ‘He is wise enough on his own ground. He thinks less than he talks, and slower; yet he can see through a brick wall in time (as they say in Bree). But there are few left in Middleearth like Aragorn son of Arathorn. The race of the Kings from over the Sea is nearly at an end. It may be that this War of the Ring will be their last adventure.’ ‘Do you really mean that Strider is one of the people of the old Kings?’ said Frodo in wonder. ‘I thought they had all vanished long ago. I thought he was only a Ranger.’ ‘Only a Ranger!’ cried Gandalf. ‘My dear Frodo, that is just what the Rangers are: the last remnant in the North of the great people, the Men of the West. They have helped me before; and I shall need their help in the days to come; for we have reached Rivendell, but the Ring is not yet at rest.’ ‘I suppose not,’ said Frodo. ‘But so far my only thought has been to get here; and I hope I shan’t have to go any further. It is very pleasant just to rest. I have had a month of exile and adventure, and I find that has been as much as I want.’ He fell silent and shut his eyes. After a while he spoke again. ‘I have been reckoning,’ he said, ‘and I can’t bring the total up to October the twenty-fourth. It ought to be the twenty-first. We must have reached the Ford by the twentieth.’ “You have talked and reckoned more than is good for you,’ said Gandalf. ‘How do the side and shoulder feel now?’ ‘I don’t know,’ Frodo answered. “They don’t feel at all: which is an improvement, but’ — he made an effort — ‘I can move my arm again a little. Yes, it is coming back to life. It is not cold,’ he added, touching his left hand with his right. ‘Good!’ said Gandalf. ‘It is mending fast. You will soon be sound again. Elrond has cured you: he has tended you for days, ever since you were brought in.’ ‘Days?’ said Frodo. ‘Well, four nights and three days, to be exact. The Elves brought you from the Ford on the night of the twentieth, and that is where you lost count. We have been terribly anxious, and Sam has hardly left your side, day or night, except to run messages. Elrond is a master of healing, but the weapons of our Enemy are deadly. To tell you the truth, I had very little hope; for I suspected that there was some fragment of the blade still in the closed wound. But it could not be found until last night. Then Elrond removed a splinter. It was deeply buried, and it was working inwards.’
「許多會面 221 奶油伯；或是像比爾·費爾尼那樣愚蠢又邪惡。但我們對夏爾的人類了解不多，或許除了布理人之外。」「如果你認為老巴力曼很蠢，那你對他們也了解不多。」甘道夫說。「他在自己的地盤上夠聰明了。他想得比說得少，也比說得慢；但他最終還是能看穿磚牆（就像布理人說的）。不過，中土世界裡像亞拉岡，亞拉松之子這樣的人已經所剩無幾了。來自海外的王者血脈幾乎要斷絕了。或許這場魔戒聖戰會是他們最後的冒險。」「你真的意思是，亞拉岡是古老王者血脈的後裔嗎？」佛羅多驚訝地說。「我以為他們很久以前就都消失了。我以為他只是一個遊俠。」「只是一個遊俠！」甘道夫大聲說。「我親愛的佛羅多，遊俠正是這樣的人：他們是北方偉大民族——西方人——最後的餘脈。他們以前幫助過我；在未來的日子裡，我也會需要他們的幫助；因為我們已經抵達瑞文戴爾，但魔戒的威脅尚未解除。」「我想也是。」佛羅多說。「但到目前為止，我唯一的念頭就是到達這裡；我希望我不用再走更遠了。能好好休息一下真是太舒服了。我已經經歷了一個月的流亡和冒險，我覺得這已經夠多了。」他沉默下來，閉上眼睛。過了一會兒，他又開口說道：「我一直在計算，」他說，「但我無法把總數算到十月二十四日。應該是二十一日才對。我們一定是在二十日之前就到達渡口了。」「你說話和計算得太多了，對你沒好處。」甘道夫說。「現在你的側腹和肩膀感覺怎麼樣？」 「我不知道，」佛羅多回答。「它們完全沒有感覺：這是一種進步，但是」——他努力了一下——「我的手臂又能稍微動了。是的，它正在恢復生機。它不冷了。」他補充道，用右手觸摸左手。「很好！」甘道夫說。「它恢復得很快。你很快就會完全康復了。愛隆治好了你：自從你被帶進來之後，他已經照顧了你好幾天了。」「好幾天？」佛羅多說。「嗯，確切地說，是四個晚上和三天。精靈們在二十日晚上把你從渡口帶回來，你就是在那裡算錯了。我們一直非常焦急，山姆幾乎寸步不離地守在你身邊，日夜不休，除了跑腿傳話。愛隆是治療大師，但我們敵人的武器是致命的。說實話，我幾乎不抱希望；因為我懷疑刀刃的碎片仍然留在閉合的傷口裡。但直到昨晚才找到。然後愛隆取出了一根碎片。它埋得很深，而且正在向內移動。」
222 THE LORD OF THE RINGS Frodo shuddered, remembering the cruel knife with notched blade that had vanished in Strider’s hands. ‘Don’t be alarmed!’ said Gandalf. ‘It is gone now. It has been melted. And it seems that Hobbits fade very reluctantly. I have known strong warriors of the Big People who would quickly have been overcome by that splinter, which you bore for seventeen days.’ ‘What would they have done to me?’ asked Frodo. ‘What were the Riders trying to do?’ “They tried to pierce your heart with a Morgul-knife which remains in the wound. If they had succeeded, you would have become like they are, only weaker and under their command. You would have become a wraith under the dominion of the Dark Lord; and he would have tormented you for trying to keep his Ring, if any greater torment were possible than being robbed of it and seeing it on his hand.’ “Thank goodness I did not realize the horrible danger!’ said Frodo faintly. ‘I was mortally afraid, of course; but if I had known more, I should not have dared even to move. It is a marvel that I escaped!’ “Yes, fortune or fate have helped you,’ said Gandalf, ‘not to mention courage. For your heart was not touched, and only your shoulder was pierced; and that was because you resisted to the last. But it was a terribly narrow shave, so to speak. You were in gravest peril while you wore the Ring, for then you were half in the wraith-world yourself, and they might have seized you. You could see them, and they could see you.’ ‘I know,’ said Frodo. “They were terrible to behold! But why could we all see their horses?’ ‘Because they are real horses; just as the black robes are real robes that they wear to give shape to their nothingness when they have dealings with the living.’ “Then why do these black horses endure such riders? All other animals are terrified when they draw near, even the elf-horse of Glorfindel. The dogs howl and the geese scream at them.’ ‘Because these horses are born and bred to the service of the Dark Lord in Mordor. Not all his servants and chattels are wraiths! There are orcs and trolls, there are wargs and werewolves; and there have been and still are many Men, warriors and kings, that walk alive under the Sun, and yet are under his sway. And their number is growing daily.’ ‘What about Rivendell and the Elves? Is Rivendell safe?’ “Yes, at present, until all else is conquered. The Elves may fear the Dark Lord, and they may fly before him, but never again will they listen to him or serve him. And here in Rivendell there live still some of his chief foes: the Elven-wise, lords of the Eldar from beyond the furthest seas. They do not fear the Ringwraiths, for those who
222 《魔戒》 佛羅多打了個寒顫，想起那把刀刃有缺口的殘酷匕首，它已在亞拉岡手中消失了。「別擔心！」甘道夫說。「它現在已經沒了。它被熔化了。而且看來哈比人消逝得非常不情願。我認識一些大人物的強壯戰士，他們會很快被那根你承受了十七天的碎片擊垮。」「他們會對我做什麼？」佛羅多問。「那些騎士想做什麼？」「他們試圖用魔窟劍刺穿你的心臟，那把劍的碎片會留在傷口裡。如果他們成功了，你就會變得像他們一樣，只是更虛弱並受他們控制。你會成為黑魔王統治下的戒靈；如果還有比被奪走魔戒並眼睜睜看著它在他手上更大的折磨，他就會折磨你，因為你試圖保留他的魔戒。」「謝天謝地我沒有意識到那可怕的危險！」佛羅多虛弱地說。「我當然嚇得要死；但如果我知道更多，我甚至不敢動彈。我能逃脫真是個奇蹟！」「是的，運氣或命運幫助了你，」甘道夫說，「更不用說勇氣了。因為你的心臟沒有被觸及，只有你的肩膀被刺穿；那是因為你抵抗到了最後。但那真是千鈞一髮，可以這麼說。當你戴著魔戒時，你處於最嚴重的危險之中，因為那時你有一半身處戒靈世界，他們可能會抓住你。你看得到他們，他們也看得到你。」「我知道，」佛羅多說。「他們真是可怕的景象！但為什麼我們都能看到他們的馬？」「因為牠們是真正的馬；就像那些黑袍是他們為了在與生者打交道時給他們的虛無賦予形體而穿的真正袍子一樣。」「那麼為什麼這些黑馬能忍受這樣的騎手？所有其他動物在他們靠近時都會感到恐懼，即使是葛羅芬戴爾的精靈馬也是如此。狗會嚎叫，鵝會尖叫。」「因為這些馬是在魔多為黑魔王服務而生而養的。並非他所有的僕人和財產都是戒靈！有半獸人和食人妖，有座狼和狼人；而且一直以來都有許多人類，戰士和國王，他們活著行走在陽光下，卻受他控制。而且他們的數量每天都在增長。」「瑞文戴爾和精靈們怎麼樣？瑞文戴爾安全嗎？」「是的，目前是安全的，直到所有其他地方都被征服。精靈們可能會害怕黑魔王，他們可能會在他面前逃跑，但他們絕不會再聽從他或侍奉他。而在瑞文戴爾，仍然住著他的一些主要敵人：精靈智者，來自遠方大海彼岸的伊甸人領主。他們不害怕戒靈，因為那些
MANY MEETINGS 223 have dwelt in the Blessed Realm live at once in both worlds, and against both the Seen and the Unseen they have great power.’ ‘I thought that I saw a white figure that shone and did not grow dim like the others. Was that Glorfindel then?’ “Yes, you saw him for a moment as he is upon the other side: one of the mighty of the Firstborn. He is an Elf-lord of a house of princes. Indeed there is a power in Rivendell to withstand the might of Mordor, for a while: and elsewhere other powers still dwell. There is power, too, of another kind in the Shire. But all such places will soon become islands under siege, if things go on as they are going. The Dark Lord is putting forth all his strength. ‘Still,’ he said, standing suddenly up and sticking out his chin, while his beard went stiff and straight like bristling wire, ‘we must keep up our courage. You will soon be well, if I do not talk you to death. You are in Rivendell, and you need not worry about anything for the present.’ ‘I haven’t any courage to keep up,’ said Frodo, ‘but I am not worried at the moment. Just give me news of my friends, and tell me the end of the affair at the Ford, as I keep on asking, and I shall be content for the present. After that I shall have another sleep, I think; but I shan’t be able to close my eyes until you have finished the story for me.’ Gandalf moved his chair to the bedside and took a good look at Frodo. The colour had come back to his face, and his eyes were clear, and fully awake and aware. He was smiling, and there seemed to be little wrong with him. But to the wizard’s eye there was a faint change, just a hint as it were of transparency, about him, and especially about the left hand that lay outside upon the coverlet. ‘Still that must be expected,’ said Gandalf to himself. ‘He is not half through yet, and to what he will come in the end not even Elrond can foretell. Not to evil, I think. He may become like a glass filled with a clear light for eyes to see that can.’ “You look splendid,’ he said aloud. ‘I will risk a brief tale without consulting Elrond. But quite brief, mind you, and then you must sleep again. This is what happened, as far as I can gather. The Riders made straight for you, as soon as you fled. They did not need the guidance of their horses any longer: you had become visible to them, being already on the threshold of their world. And also the Ring drew them. Your friends sprang aside, off the road, or they would have been ridden down. They knew that nothing could save you, if the white horse could not. The Riders were too swift to overtake, and too many to oppose. On foot even Glorfindel and Aragorn together could not withstand all the Nine at once. ‘When the Ringwraiths swept by, your friends ran up behind.
許多曾居住在蒙福之地的人，同時活在兩個世界中，他們對可見與不可見之物都擁有強大的力量。」「我以為我看到一個發光的白色身影，不像其他人那樣黯淡。那是不是葛羅芬戴爾？」 「是的，你短暫地看到了他在另一個世界中的真實樣貌：他是首生兒女中的強者之一。他是一位出身貴族世家的精靈領主。瑞文戴爾確實擁有一股力量，能夠暫時抵禦魔多的威脅；而其他地方也仍有其他力量存在。夏爾也有另一種力量。但如果事情繼續這樣發展下去，所有這些地方很快就會變成被圍困的孤島。黑暗魔君正在傾盡全力。」 「『不過，』他突然站起來，下巴向前一伸，鬍鬚像鋼絲般僵硬筆直，『我們必須保持勇氣。如果你不被我說死，你很快就會康復的。你現在在瑞文戴爾，暫時不需要擔心任何事。』」 「『我已經沒有任何勇氣可以保持了，』佛羅多說，『但我現在並不擔心。只要告訴我朋友們的消息，並把渡口事件的結局告訴我，就像我一直問的那樣，我暫時就會滿足了。之後我想我會再睡一覺；但在你把故事講完之前，我恐怕無法閉上眼睛。』」 甘道夫把椅子移到床邊，仔細看了看佛羅多。他的臉色已經恢復，眼睛清澈，完全清醒且有意識。他面帶微笑，看起來似乎沒什麼大礙。但在巫師的眼中，他身上卻有著一絲微弱的變化，彷彿帶著一絲透明感，尤其是在他放在被單外面的左手上。「『這也是意料之中的事，』甘道夫心想，『他還沒走完一半的路，最終會變成什麼樣子，連愛隆也無法預言。我想不會是邪惡。他或許會變成像一個充滿清澈光芒的玻璃，讓能看見的人看見。』」 「『你氣色真好，』他大聲說道，『我冒險不諮詢愛隆就給你講個簡短的故事。但請記住，要非常簡短，然後你必須再睡一覺。據我所知，事情是這樣的。你一逃跑，那些騎士就徑直朝你衝來。他們不再需要馬匹的引導：你已經對他們可見，因為你已經處於他們世界的邊緣。而且魔戒也吸引著他們。你的朋友們跳到路邊，否則他們就會被馬匹撞倒。他們知道，如果連那匹白馬都救不了你，那就沒有什麼能救你了。那些騎士速度太快無法追上，數量太多無法抵抗。即使葛羅芬戴爾和亞拉岡兩人徒步，也無法同時抵擋所有九個。』『當戒靈呼嘯而過時，你的朋友們從後面跑了上來。』
224 THE LORD OF THE RINGS Close to the Ford there is a small hollow beside the road masked by a few stunted trees. There they hastily kindled fire; for Glorfindel knew that a flood would come down, if the Riders tried to cross, and then he would have to deal with any that were left on his side of the river. The moment the flood appeared, he rushed out, followed by Aragorn and the others with flaming brands. Caught between fire and water, and seeing an Elf-lord revealed in his wrath, they were dismayed, and their horses were stricken with madness. Three were carried away by the first assault of the flood; the others were now hurled into the water by their horses and overwhelmed.’ ‘And is that the end of the Black Riders?’ asked Frodo. ‘No,’ said Gandalf. “Their horses must have perished, and without them they are crippled. But the Ringwraiths themselves cannot be so easily destroyed. However, there is nothing more to fear from them at present. Your friends crossed after the flood had passed and they found you lying on your face at the top of the bank, with a broken sword under you. The horse was standing guard beside you. You were pale and cold, and they feared that you were dead, or worse. Elrond’s folk met them, carrying you slowly towards Rivendell.’ ‘Who made the flood?’ asked Frodo. ‘Elrond commanded it,’ answered Gandalf. “The river of this valley is under his power, and it will rise in anger when he has great need to bar the Ford. As soon as the captain of the Ringwraiths rode into the water the flood was released. If I may say so, I added a few touches of my own: you may not have noticed, but some of the waves took the form of great white horses with shining white riders; and there were many rolling and grinding boulders. For a moment I was afraid that we had let loose too fierce a wrath, and the flood would get out of hand and wash you all away. There is great vigour in the waters that come down from the snows of the Misty Mountains.’ “Yes, it all comes back to me now,’ said Frodo: ‘the tremendous roaring. I thought I was drowning, with my friends and enemies and all. But now we are safe!’ Gandalf looked quickly at Frodo, but he had shut his eyes. ‘Yes, you are all safe for the present. Soon there will be feasting and merrymaking to celebrate the victory at the Ford of Bruinen, and you will all be there in places of honour.’ ‘Splendid!’ said Frodo. ‘It is wonderful that Elrond, and Glorfindel and such great lords, not to mention Strider, should take so much trouble and show me so much kindness.’ ‘Well, there are many reasons why they should,’ said Gandalf, smiling. ‘I am one good reason. The Ring is another: you are the Ring-bearer. And you are the heir of Bilbo, the Ring-finder.’ ‘Dear Bilbo!’ said Frodo sleepily. ‘I wonder where he is. I wish he
224 《魔戒》 在渡口附近，路邊有一個被幾棵矮樹遮蔽的小窪地。他們在那裡匆忙生火；因為葛羅芬戴爾知道，如果戒靈騎士試圖渡河，洪水就會沖下來，然後他將不得不應付留在河岸這一邊的任何敵人。洪水一出現，他便衝了出去，亞拉岡和其他人手持燃燒的火把緊隨其後。被困在水火之間，又看到一位精靈領主在盛怒中現身，他們感到驚恐，馬匹也發了狂。三匹馬被洪水的第一波衝擊捲走；其餘的則被馬匹拋入水中，淹沒了。「黑騎士就這樣完了嗎？」佛羅多問。「不，」甘道夫說，「他們的馬匹肯定已經死了，沒有馬匹，他們就成了殘廢。但戒靈本身沒那麼容易被摧毀。不過，目前你們不必再害怕他們了。你的朋友們在洪水退去後渡河，發現你臉朝下躺在河岸頂部，身下還有一把斷劍。那匹馬站在你身邊守衛著。你臉色蒼白，身體冰冷，他們擔心你已經死了，或者更糟。愛隆的族人遇到了他們，正緩緩地把你抬往瑞文戴爾。」「是誰製造了洪水？」佛羅多問。「是愛隆命令的，」甘道夫回答，「這山谷的河流在他的掌控之下，當他極需阻擋渡口時，它就會憤怒地高漲。戒靈的隊長一騎入水中，洪水就被釋放了。如果我可以這麼說，我還加了一些自己的點綴：你可能沒有注意到，但有些波浪變成了巨大的白馬，上面騎著閃耀的白騎士；還有許多滾動和研磨的巨石。有一刻我擔心我們釋放了太過猛烈的怒火，洪水會失控，把你們都沖走。從迷霧山脈流下的水流蘊藏著巨大的力量。」「是的，我現在都想起來了，」佛羅多說，「那震耳欲聾的咆哮聲。我以為我會和我的朋友、敵人以及所有的一切一起淹死。但現在我們安全了！」甘道夫迅速看了佛羅多一眼，但他已經閉上了眼睛。「是的，你們目前都安全了。很快就會有宴會和慶祝活動，慶祝布魯伊南渡口的勝利，你們都將坐在榮譽席上。」「太棒了！」佛羅多說，「愛隆、葛羅芬戴爾和這些偉大的領主，更不用說亞拉岡了，竟然為我費了這麼多心力，對我這麼好，真是太好了。」「嗯，他們這樣做有很多原因，」甘道夫笑著說，「我就是一個很好的原因。魔戒是另一個原因：你是魔戒持有者。你也是比爾博的繼承人，魔戒尋獲者。」「親愛的比爾博！」佛羅多睡意朦朧地說，「我想知道他在哪裡。我希望他
MANY MEETINGS 225 was here and could hear all about it. It would have made him laugh. The cow jumped over the Moon! And the poor old troll!’ With that he fell fast asleep. Frodo was now safe in the Last Homely House east of the Sea. That house was, as Bilbo had long ago reported, ‘a perfect house, whether you like food or sleep or story-telling or singing, or just sitting and thinking best, or a pleasant mixture of them all’. Merely to be there was a cure for weariness, fear, and sadness. As the evening drew on, Frodo woke up again, and he found that he no longer felt in need of rest or sleep, but had a mind for food and drink, and probably for singing and story-telling afterwards. He got out of bed and discovered that his arm was already nearly as useful again as it ever had been. He found laid ready clean garments of green cloth that fitted him excellently. Looking in a mirror he was startled to see a much thinner reflection of himself than he remembered: it looked remarkably like the young nephew of Bilbo who used to go tramping with his uncle in the Shire; but the eyes looked out at him thoughtfully. “Yes, you have seen a thing or two since you last peeped out of a looking-glass,’ he said to his reflection. ‘But now for a merry meeting!’ He stretched out his arms and whistled a tune. At that moment there was a knock on the door, and Sam came in. He ran to Frodo and took his left hand, awkwardly and shyly. He stroked it gently and then he blushed and turned hastily away. ‘Hullo, Sam!’ said Frodo. ‘It’s warm!’ said Sam. ‘Meaning your hand, Mr. Frodo. It has felt so cold through the long nights. But glory and trumpets!’ he cried, turning round again with shining eyes and dancing on the floor. ‘It’s fine to see you up and yourself again, sir! Gandalf asked me to come and see if you were ready to come down, and I thought he was joking.’ ‘I am ready, party!’ ‘I can take you to them, sir,’ said Sam. ‘It’s a big house this, and very peculiar. Always a bit more to discover, and no knowing what you'll find round a corner. And Elves, sir! Elves here, and Elves there! Some like kings, terrible and splendid; and some as merry as children. And the music and the singing — not that I have had the time or the heart for much listening since we got here. But I’m getting to know some of the ways of the place.’ ‘I know what you have been doing, Sam,’ said Frodo, taking his arm. ‘But you shall be merry tonight, and listen to your heart’s content. Come on, guide me round the corners!’ 3: said Frodo. ‘Let’s go and look for the rest of the
《多方會談225》就在這裡，可以聽到所有關於它的事情。這會讓他發笑的。「乳牛跳過了月亮！還有那可憐的老食人妖！」說完，他便沉沉睡去。佛羅多現在安全地待在海東的最後的家屋裡。那棟房子，正如比爾博很久以前所說的，是「一棟完美的房子，無論你喜歡美食、睡眠、說故事、唱歌，還是只是靜靜地坐著思考，或是喜歡這些活動的愉快組合。」僅僅是待在那裡，就能消除疲憊、恐懼和悲傷。隨著夜幕降臨，佛羅多再次醒來，他發現自己不再需要休息或睡眠，反而想吃喝，而且之後可能還想唱歌和說故事。他下了床，發現自己的手臂幾乎已經恢復到以前一樣靈活了。他發現有乾淨的綠色衣物已經準備好，而且非常合身。照鏡子時，他驚訝地看到鏡中的自己比記憶中瘦了許多：那看起來非常像比爾博年輕時的侄子，那個曾經和叔叔一起在夏爾徒步旅行的男孩；但那雙眼睛卻若有所思地望著他。「是的，自從你上次從鏡子裡偷看以來，你已經見識了不少事情了，」他對著鏡中的自己說。「但現在是時候來一場愉快的聚會了！」他伸展雙臂，吹起了口哨。就在那時，門上傳來敲門聲，山姆走了進來。他跑到佛羅多身邊，笨拙而害羞地握住他的左手。他輕輕地撫摸著，然後臉紅了，匆忙轉過身去。「哈囉，山姆！」佛羅多說。「它很溫暖！」山姆說。「我是說您的手，佛羅多先生。它在漫長的夜晚裡一直那麼冰冷。但榮耀與號角！」他喊道，再次轉過身來，眼睛閃閃發光，在地板上跳著舞。「很高興看到您又站起來，恢復了精神，先生！甘道夫叫我來看看您是否準備好下樓，我還以為他在開玩笑呢。」「我準備好了，派對！」山姆說：「先生，我可以帶您去見他們。這房子很大，而且非常奇特。總有更多東西可以發現，而且不知道會在轉角處遇到什麼。還有精靈，先生！這裡有精靈，那裡也有精靈！有些像國王一樣，威嚴而華麗；有些則像孩子一樣歡樂。還有音樂和歌聲——不過自從我們來到這裡，我一直沒有時間或心情好好聆聽。但我正在慢慢了解這個地方的一些規矩。」佛羅多挽住他的手臂說：「我知道你一直在做什麼，山姆。但今晚你會很開心，並且盡情聆聽。來吧，帶我四處轉轉！」佛羅多說：「我們去找其他人吧。」
226 THE LORD OF THE RINGS Sam led him along several passages and down many steps and out into a high garden above the steep bank of the river. He found his friends sitting in a porch on the side of the house looking east. Shadows had fallen in the valley below, but there was still a light on the faces of the mountains far above. The air was warm. The sound of running and falling water was loud, and the evening was filled with a faint scent of trees and flowers, as if summer still lingered in Elrond’s gardens. ‘Hurray!’ cried Pippin, springing up. ‘Here is our noble cousin! Make way for Frodo, Lord of the Ring!’ ‘Hush!’ said Gandalf from the shadows at the back of the porch. ‘Evil things do not come into this valley; but all the same we should not name them. The Lord of the Ring is not Frodo, but the master of the Dark Tower of Mordor, whose power is again stretching out over the world. We are sitting in a fortress. Outside it is getting dark.’ ‘Gandalf has been saying many cheerful things like that,’ said Pippin. ‘He thinks I need keeping in order. But it seems impossible, somehow, to feel gloomy or depressed in this place. I feel I could sing, if I knew the right song for the occasion.’ ‘I feel like singing myself,’ laughed Frodo. “Though at the moment I feel more like eating and drinking.’ ‘That will soon be cured,’ said Pippin. ‘You have shown your usual cunning in getting up just in time for a meal.’ ‘More than a meal! A feast!’ said Merry. ‘As soon as Gandalf reported that you were recovered, the preparations began.’ He had hardly finished speaking when they were summoned to the hall by the ringing of many bells. The hall of Elrond’s house was filled with folk: Elves for the most part, though there were a few guests of other sorts. Elrond, as was his custom, sat in a great chair at the end of the long table upon the dais; and next to him on the one side sat Glorfindel, on the other side sat Gandalf. Frodo looked at them in wonder; for he had never before seen Elrond, of whom so many tales spoke; and as they sat upon his right hand and his left, Glorfindel, and even Gandalf, whom he thought he knew so well, were revealed as lords of dignity and power. Gandalf was shorter in stature than the other two; but his long white hair, his sweeping silver beard, and his broad shoulders, made him look like some wise king of ancient legend. In his aged face under great snowy brows his dark eyes were set like coals that could leap suddenly into fire. Glorfindel was tall and straight; his hair was of shining gold, his face fair and young and fearless and full of joy; his eyes were bright
226 魔戒 山姆領著他穿過幾條通道，走下許多階梯，來到河岸陡峭高處的一座花園。他發現朋友們正坐在屋子側邊的門廊裡，面向東方。山谷下方已然籠罩著陰影，但遠處高山的山頂仍有光線。空氣溫暖。奔流的瀑布聲響亮，傍晚時分瀰漫著淡淡的樹木和花朵芬芳，彷彿夏日仍流連於愛隆的庭園中。「萬歲！」皮聘跳起來喊道。「我們的貴族表親來了！為魔戒之主佛羅多讓路！」 「噓！」甘道夫從門廊後方的陰影中說道。「邪惡之物不會進入這個山谷；但即便如此，我們也不該提及它們。魔戒之主不是佛羅多，而是魔多黑暗塔的主人，他的力量正再次向全世界伸展。我們正身處一座要塞之中。外面天色漸暗。」 「甘道夫一直在說許多像這樣令人振奮的話。」皮聘說。「他認為我需要被管教。但不知怎的，在這個地方，感覺沮喪或消沉似乎是不可能的。我覺得我能唱歌，如果我知道適合這個場合的歌曲。」 「我自己也想唱歌。」佛羅多笑道。「雖然此刻我更想吃喝。」 「那很快就會實現的。」皮聘說。「你一如既往地展現了你的機智，正好趕上用餐。」 「不只是一頓飯！而是一場盛宴！」梅里說。「甘道夫一報告你康復了，準備工作就開始了。」 他話音剛落，許多鈴聲響起，他們便被召喚到大廳。愛隆家的廳堂裡擠滿了人：大部分是精靈，儘管也有一些其他種類的客人。愛隆，一如既往，坐在高台上長桌盡頭的一張大椅子上；他身旁一側坐著葛羅芬戴爾，另一側坐著甘道夫。佛羅多驚奇地看著他們；因為他從未見過愛隆，關於他的傳說如此之多；當他們坐在他左右兩側時，葛羅芬戴爾，甚至是他自以為很了解的甘道夫，都顯露出他們作為尊貴而有權勢的領主的本質。甘道夫比另外兩人矮小；但他那長長的白髮、飄逸的銀色鬍鬚和寬闊的肩膀，使他看起來像某位古老傳說中的智者國王。在他那佈滿皺紋的臉上，在濃密的雪白眉毛下，他的黑眼睛像燃燒的煤炭，隨時可能迸發出火焰。葛羅芬戴爾身材高大挺拔；他的頭髮是閃亮的金色，他的臉龐英俊年輕、無所畏懼且充滿喜悅；他的眼睛明亮。
MANY MEETINGS 227 and keen, and his voice like music; on his brow sat wisdom, and in his hand was strength. The face of Elrond was ageless, neither old nor young, though in it was written the memory of many things both glad and sorrowful. His hair was dark as the shadows of twilight, and upon it was set a circlet of silver; his eyes were grey as a clear evening, and in them was a light like the light of stars. Venerable he seemed as a king crowned with many winters, and yet hale as a tried warrior in the fulness of his strength. He was the Lord of Rivendell and mighty among both Elves and Men. In the middle of the table, against the woven cloths upon the wall, there was a chair under a canopy, and there sat a lady fair to look upon, and so like was she in form of womanhood to Elrond that Frodo guessed that she was one of his close kindred. Young she was and yet not so. The braids of her dark hair were touched by no frost; her white arms and clear face were flawless and smooth, and the light of stars was in her bright eyes, grey as a cloudless night; yet queenly she looked, and thought and knowledge were in her glance, as of one who has known many things that the years bring. Above her brow her head was covered with a cap of silver lace netted with small gems, glittering white; but her soft grey raiment had no ornament save a girdle of leaves wrought in silver. So it was that Frodo saw her whom few mortals had yet seen; Arwen, daughter of Elrond, in whom it was said that the likeness of Luthien had come on earth again; and she was called Undomiel, for she was the Evenstar of her people. Long she had been in the land of her mother’s kin, in Lorien beyond the mountains, and was but lately returned to Rivendell to her father’s house. But her brothers, Elladan and Elrohir, were out upon errantry; for they rode often far afield with the Rangers of the North, forgetting never their mother’s torment in the dens of the orcs. Such loveliness in living thing Frodo had never seen before nor imagined in his mind; and he was both surprised and abashed to find that he had a seat at Elrond’s table among all these folk so high and fair. Though he had a suitable chair, and was raised upon several cushions, he felt very small, and rather out of place; but that feeling quickly passed. The feast was merry and the food all that his hunger could desire. It was some time before he looked about him again or even turned to his neighbours. He looked first for his friends. Sam had begged to be allowed to wait on his master, but had been told that for this time he was a guest of honour. Frodo could see him now, sitting with Pippin and Merry at the upper end of one of the side-tables close to the dais. He could see no sign of Strider.
許多會面 227。他的目光銳利，聲音如樂音般悅耳；智慧在他的眉宇間流淌，力量在他的手中凝聚。愛隆的臉龐不見歲月痕跡，既不顯老也不年輕，然而其中卻刻畫著無數或喜或悲的往事。他的頭髮烏黑如暮色中的陰影，頭上戴著一圈銀製的頭飾；他的眼睛灰如晴朗的黃昏，其中閃爍著星辰般的光芒。他看起來像一位歷經無數寒冬加冕的王者般莊嚴，卻又像一位身經百戰、正值盛年的戰士般健壯。他是瑞文戴爾的領主，在精靈與人類之中都擁有強大的力量。餐桌中央，靠著牆上編織的掛毯，有一張華蓋下的椅子，上面坐著一位美貌動人的女士。她的女性姿態與愛隆如此相似，讓佛羅多猜想她必定是他的近親之一。她看起來年輕，卻又不僅僅是年輕。她烏黑的髮辮未曾染上霜色；她潔白的手臂和清澈的臉龐完美無瑕，明亮的雙眼閃爍著星光，灰如無雲的夜空；然而她看起來卻像一位女王，她的目光中蘊含著思慮與智慧，彷彿她已洞悉歲月所帶來的一切。她的額頭上方，頭上戴著一頂銀色蕾絲編織、鑲嵌著細小寶石的帽子，閃耀著潔白的光芒；但她柔軟的灰色長袍上除了以銀葉打造的腰帶外，別無他飾。於是佛羅多見到了這位凡人鮮少得見的女子：亞玟，愛隆的女兒，據說露西安的容貌在她身上再次降臨人間；她被稱為暮星，因為她是她族人的黃昏之星。她長久以來都待在她母親親族的土地上，在群山之外的羅斯洛立安，直到最近才回到瑞文戴爾她父親的家中。然而她的兄弟，艾拉丹和艾洛赫，卻在外遊歷；他們經常與北方遊俠遠行，從未忘記母親在獸人巢穴中遭受的苦難。佛羅多從未見過如此生動的美麗，也從未在心中想像過；他驚訝又羞赧地發現，自己竟在愛隆的餐桌旁，與這些高貴而美麗的人們同席。儘管他有一張合適的椅子，並墊了幾個靠墊，他仍感到自己非常渺小，格格不入；但這種感覺很快就消失了。宴會歡樂，食物豐盛，滿足了他所有的飢餓。過了一會兒，他才再次環顧四周，甚至轉向他的鄰座。他首先尋找他的朋友們。山姆曾懇求獲准服侍他的主人，但被告知這次他是貴賓。佛羅多現在能看到他了，他正和皮聘、梅里坐在靠近高台的其中一張側桌的上首。他沒有看到亞拉岡的蹤影。
228 THE LORD OF THE RINGS Next to Frodo on his right sat a dwarf of important appearance, richly dressed. His beard, very long and forked, was white, nearly as white as the snow-white cloth of his garments. He wore a silver belt, and round his neck hung a chain of silver and diamonds. Frodo stopped eating to look at him. ‘Welcome and well met!’ said the dwarf, turning towards him. Then he actually rose from his seat and bowed. ‘Gloin at your service,’ he said, and bowed still lower. ‘Frodo Baggins at your service and your family’s,’ said Frodo correctly, rising in surprise and scattering his cushions. ‘Am I right in guessing that you are the Gloin, one of the twelve companions of the great Thorin Oakenshield?’ ‘Quite right,’ answered the dwarf, gathering up the cushions and courteously assisting Frodo back into his seat. ‘And I do not ask, for I have already been told that you are the kinsman and adopted heir of our friend Bilbo the renowned. Allow me to congratulate you on your recovery.’ “Thank you very much,’ said Frodo. “You have had some very strange adventures, I hear,’ said Gloin. ‘I wonder greatly what brings four hobbits on so long a journey. Nothing like it has happened since Bilbo came with us. But perhaps I should not inquire too closely, since Elrond and Gandalf do not seem disposed to talk of this?’ ‘I think we will not speak of it, at least not yet,’ said Frodo politely. He guessed that even in Elrond’s house the matter of the Ring was not one for casual talk; and in any case he wished to forget his troubles for a time. ‘But I am equally curious,’ he added, ‘to learn what brings so important a dwarf so far from the Lonely Mountain.’ Gloin looked at him. ‘If you have not heard, I think we will not speak yet of that either. Master Elrond will summon us all ere long, I believe, and then we shall all hear many things. But there is much else that may be told.’ Throughout the rest of the meal they talked together, but Frodo listened more than he spoke; for the news of the Shire, apart from the Ring, seemed small and far-away and unimportant, while Gldoin had much to tell of events in the northern regions of Wilderland. Frodo learned that Grimbeorn the Old, son of Beorn, was now the lord of many sturdy men, and to their land between the Mountains and Mirkwood neither orc nor wolf dared to go. ‘Indeed,’ said Gloin, ‘if it were not for the Beornings, the passage from Dale to Rivendell would long ago have become impossible. They are valiant men and keep open the High Pass and the Ford of Carrock. But their tolls are high,’ he added with a shake of his head; ‘and like Beorn of old they are not over fond of dwarves. Still, they
228 魔戒 佛羅多右邊坐著一位儀表堂堂、衣著華麗的矮人。他的鬍鬚又長又分叉，雪白得幾乎與他衣袍的雪白布料一樣。他繫著一條銀腰帶，脖子上掛著一串銀鑽項鍊。佛羅多停止進食，望著他。 「歡迎，幸會！」矮人轉向佛羅多說道。然後他真的從座位上站起來，鞠了一躬。「葛羅音願為您效勞。」他說，並鞠躬更低。 「佛羅多·巴金斯願為您和您的家人效勞。」佛羅多驚訝地站起身，弄亂了坐墊，禮貌地說道。「我猜您是那位偉大索林·橡木盾的十二位夥伴之一，葛羅音，對嗎？」 「完全正確。」矮人回答，一邊撿起坐墊，一邊殷勤地扶佛羅多坐回原位。「我不用問，因為我已經聽說您是我們聲名遠播的朋友比爾博的親戚兼養子繼承人。請允許我恭喜您康復。」 「非常感謝您。」佛羅多說。 「我聽說您經歷了一些非常奇特的冒險。」葛羅音說。「我非常好奇是什麼讓四個哈比人踏上如此漫長的旅程。自從比爾博與我們同行以來，就沒有發生過這樣的事了。但或許我不該問得太詳細，既然愛隆和甘道夫似乎不願談論此事？」 「我想我們暫時不會談論此事，至少現在不會。」佛羅多禮貌地說。他猜想即使在愛隆的家中，魔戒之事也不是可以隨意談論的；無論如何，他都希望暫時忘卻煩惱。 「但我同樣好奇。」他補充道，「想知道是什麼讓一位如此重要的矮人，從孤山遠道而來。」 葛羅音看著他。「如果您還沒聽說，我想我們暫時也不會談論那件事。我相信愛隆大人不久之後就會召集我們所有人，到時我們就會聽到許多事情。但還有許多其他事情可以說。」 在接下來的用餐時間裡，他們一直交談著，但佛羅多聽多於說；因為夏爾的消息，除了魔戒之外，顯得微不足道、遙遠而不重要，而葛羅音則講述了許多荒野北部地區的事件。佛羅多得知貝奧恩之子老葛林比爾現在是許多強壯男子的領主，而他們的土地，在群山與幽暗密林之間，半獸人或狼都不敢進入。 「確實如此。」葛羅音說，「如果沒有貝奧恩族人，從河谷鎮到瑞文戴爾的通道早就變得不可能通行了。他們是勇敢的人，維護著高隘口和卡洛克渡口的暢通。但他們的通行費很高。」他搖了搖頭補充道，「而且他們像古老的貝奧恩一樣，不太喜歡矮人。不過，他們
MANY MEETINGS 229 are trusty, and that is much in these days. Nowhere are there any men so friendly to us as the Men of Dale. They are good folk, the Bardings. The grandson of Bard the Bowman rules them, Brand son of Bain son of Bard. He is a strong king, and his realm now reaches far south and east of Esgaroth.’ ‘And what of your own people?’ asked Frodo. ‘There is much to tell, good and bad,’ said Gloin; ‘yet it is mostly good: we have so far been fortunate, though we do not escape the shadow of these times. If you really wish to hear of us, I will tell you tidings gladly. But stop me when you are weary! Dwarves’ tongues run on when speaking of their handiwork, they say.’ And with that Gloin embarked on a long account of the doings of the Dwarf-kingdom. He was delighted to have found so polite a listener; for Frodo showed no sign of weariness and made no attempt to change the subject, though actually he soon got rather lost among the strange names of people and places that he had never heard of before. He was interested, however, to hear that Dain was still King under the Mountain, and was now old (having passed his two hundred and fiftieth year), venerable, and fabulously rich. Of the ten companions who had survived the Battle of Five Armies seven were still with him: Dwalin, Gloin, Dori, Nori, Bifur, Bofur, and Bombur. Bombur was now so fat that he could not move himself from his couch to his chair at table, and it took six young dwarves to lift him. ‘And what has become of Balin and Ori and Oin?’ asked Frodo. A shadow passed over Gldin’s face. ‘We do not know,’ he answered. ‘It is largely on account of Balin that I have come to ask the advice of those that dwell in Rivendell. But tonight let us speak of merrier things!’ Gloin began then to talk of the works of his people, telling Frodo about their great labours in Dale and under the Mountain. ‘We have done well,’ he said. ‘But in metal-work we cannot rival our fathers, many of whose secrets are lost. We make good armour and keen swords, but we cannot again make mail or blade to match those that were made before the dragon came. Only in mining and building have we surpassed the old days. You should see the waterways of Dale, Frodo, and the fountains, and the pools! You should see the stone-paved roads of many colours! And the halls and cavernous streets under the earth with arches carved like trees; and the terraces and towers upon the Mountain’s sides! Then you would see that we have not been idle.’ ‘I will come and see them, if ever I can,’ said Frodo. ‘How surprised Bilbo would have been to see all the changes in the Desolation of Smaug!’
許多會面是值得信賴的，這在現今世道已屬難得。沒有人比河谷鎮的人們對我們更友善了。他們是好人，那些巴德的子民。弓箭手巴德的孫子，巴德之子班恩的兒子布蘭德，統治著他們。他是一位強大的國王，他的領土現在已遠達長湖鎮以南和以東。「那麼你自己的族人呢？」佛羅多問道。「有很多事情可說，有好的也有壞的，」葛羅音說道；「但大部分是好的：我們至今很幸運，儘管我們未能逃脫這時代的陰影。如果你真的想聽我們的故事，我很樂意告訴你。但當你感到疲倦時就阻止我吧！他們說，矮人的舌頭一旦談起他們的手藝就會滔滔不絕。」說完，葛羅音便開始詳細講述矮人王國的種種事蹟。他很高興找到了一位如此有禮貌的聽眾；因為佛羅多沒有顯露出任何疲倦的跡象，也沒有試圖改變話題，儘管他很快就對那些他從未聽過的人名和地名感到有些迷失。然而，他很感興趣地聽到丹恩仍然是山下之王，而且現在已經年邁（已過兩百五十歲），德高望重，並且富甲天下。在五軍之戰中倖存下來的十位夥伴中，有七位仍與他在一起：德瓦林、葛羅音、多瑞、諾瑞、畢佛、波佛和龐伯。龐伯現在胖到無法從他的沙發移動到餐桌旁的椅子上，需要六個年輕矮人才能抬動他。「那麼巴林、歐瑞和歐音怎麼了？」佛羅多問道。一抹陰影掠過葛羅音的臉。「我們不知道，」他回答。「我來尋求瑞文戴爾居民的建議，很大程度上就是因為巴林。但今晚讓我們談些更愉快的事情吧！」葛羅音接著開始談論他族人的作品，向佛羅多講述他們在河谷鎮和山下的偉大工程。「我們做得很好，」他說。「但在金屬工藝方面，我們無法與我們的祖先匹敵，他們的許多秘密都已失傳。我們能製造出好的盔甲和鋒利的劍，但我們無法再製造出能與惡龍到來之前所製的鎖子甲或刀刃相媲美的東西。只有在採礦和建築方面，我們超越了過去。佛羅多，你應該看看河谷鎮的水道、噴泉和水池！你應該看看那些五顏六色的石板路！還有地下那些拱門雕刻如樹木的廳堂和洞穴般的街道；以及山坡上的梯田和高塔！那時你就會明白我們並非無所事事。」「如果我能去，我會去看看的，」佛羅多說。「比爾博看到史矛革荒地的一切變化，該會多麼驚訝啊！
230 THE LORD OF THE RINGS Gloin looked at Frodo and smiled. ‘You were very fond of Bilbo were you not?’ he asked. ‘Yes,’ answered Frodo. ‘I would rather see him than all the towers and palaces in the world.’ At length the feast came to an end. Elrond and Arwen rose and went down the hall, and the company followed them in due order. The doors were thrown open, and they went across a wide passage and through other doors, and came into a further hall. In it were no tables, but a bright fire was burning in a great hearth between the carven pillars upon either side. Frodo found himself walking with Gandalf. “This is the Hall of Fire,’ said the wizard. ‘Here you will hear many songs and tales — if you can keep awake. But except on high days it usually stands empty and quiet, and people come here who wish for peace, and thought. There is always a fire here, all the year round, but there is little other light.’ As Elrond entered and went towards the seat prepared for him, Elvish minstrels began to make sweet music. Slowly the hall filled, and Frodo looked with delight upon the many fair faces that were gathered together; the golden firelight played upon them and shimmered in their hair. Suddenly he noticed, not far from the further end of the fire, a small dark figure seated on a stool with his back propped against a pillar. Beside him on the ground was a drinking-cup and some bread. Frodo wondered whether he was ill Gf people were ever ill in Rivendell), and had been unable to come to the feast. His head seemed sunk in sleep on his breast, and a fold of his dark cloak was drawn over his face. Elrond went forward and stood beside the silent figure. ‘Awake, little master!’ he said, with a smile. Then, turning to Frodo, he beckoned to him. ‘Now at last the hour has come that you have wished for, Frodo,’ he said. ‘Here is a friend that you have long missed.’ The dark figure raised its head and uncovered its face. ‘Bilbo!’ cried Frodo with sudden recognition, and he sprang forward. ‘Hullo, Frodo my lad!’ said Bilbo. ‘So you have got here at last. I hoped you would manage it. Well, well! So all this feasting is in your honour, I hear. I hope you enjoyed yourself?’ ‘Why weren’t you there?’ cried Frodo. ‘And why haven’t I been allowed to see you before?’ ‘Because you were asleep. I have seen a good deal of you. I have sat by your side with Sam each day. But as for the feast, I don’t go in for such things much now. And I had something else to do.’
230 《魔戒》葛羅音看著佛羅多，笑了。「你很喜歡比爾博，不是嗎？」他問道。「是的。」佛羅多回答。「我寧願見到他，也不願見到世上所有的塔樓和宮殿。」宴會終於結束了。愛隆和亞玟起身走下大廳，眾人依序跟隨。大門被推開，他們穿過一條寬闊的通道，又穿過其他門，來到一個更遠的大廳。裡面沒有桌子，只有一個明亮的爐火在雕刻的柱子之間熊熊燃燒。佛羅多發現自己正與甘道夫同行。「這是火之大廳。」巫師說道。「在這裡你會聽到許多歌謠和故事——如果你能保持清醒的話。但除了在盛大節日，這裡通常空蕩而寧靜，人們來這裡只為尋求平靜和思考。這裡總是燃著火，一年到頭都是，但其他光線很少。」當愛隆走進並走向為他準備的座位時，精靈吟遊詩人開始演奏美妙的音樂。大廳慢慢地坐滿了人，佛羅多欣喜地看著聚集在一起的許多美麗面孔；金色的爐火映照在他們身上，在他們的髮絲間閃爍。突然，他注意到，離火堆的另一端不遠處，有一個矮小的黑影坐在凳子上，背靠著柱子。他身旁的地上放著一個飲水杯和一些麵包。佛羅多心想他是不是病了（如果瑞文戴爾的人會生病的話），所以沒能來參加宴會。他的頭似乎沉睡般地靠在胸前，他那件深色斗篷的一角蓋住了他的臉。愛隆走上前，站在那個沉默的身影旁。「醒來吧，小主人！」他笑著說。然後，他轉向佛羅多，向他招手。「佛羅多，你期盼已久的時刻終於來臨了。」他說。「這是一位你久未謀面的朋友。」那個黑影抬起頭，露出了臉。「比爾博！」佛羅多突然認了出來，驚呼一聲，然後向前撲去。「哈囉，我的小夥子佛羅多！」比爾博說。「你終於到這裡了。我希望你能辦到。哎呀，哎呀！所以我聽說這場宴會是為了你而舉辦的。希望你玩得開心？」 「你為什麼不在那裡？」佛羅多喊道。「為什麼我之前不被允許見你？」 「因為你睡著了。我已經見過你很多次了。我每天都和山姆坐在你身邊。但至於宴會，我現在不太喜歡參加這類活動了。而且我還有其他事情要做。」
MANY MEETINGS 231 ‘What were you doing?’ ‘Why, sitting and thinking. I do a lot of that nowadays, and this is the best place to do it in, as a rule. Wake up, indeed!’ he said, cocking an eye at Elrond. There was a bright twinkle in it and no sign of sleepiness that Frodo could see. ‘Wake up! I was not asleep, Master Elrond. If you want to know, you have all come out from your feast too soon, and you have disturbed me — in the middle of making up a song. I was stuck over a line or two, and was thinking about them; but now I don’t suppose I shall ever get them right. There will be such a deal of singing that the ideas will be driven clean out of my head. I shall have to get my friend the Dunadan to help me. Where is he?’ Elrond laughed. ‘He shall be found,’ he said. “Then you two shall go into a corner and finish your task, and we will hear it and judge it before we end our merrymaking.’ Messengers were sent to find Bilbo’s friend, though none knew where he was, or why he had not been present at the feast. In the meanwhile Frodo and Bilbo sat side by side, and Sam came quickly and placed himself near them. They talked together in soft voices, oblivious of the mirth and music in the hall about them. Bilbo had not much to say of himself. When he had left Hobbiton he had wandered off aimlessly, along the Road or in the country on either side; but somehow he had steered all the time towards Rivendell. ‘I got here without much adventure,’ he said, ‘and after a rest I went on with the dwarves to Dale: my last journey. I shan’t travel again. Old Balin had gone away. Then I came back here, and here I have been. I have done this and that. I have written some more of my book. And, of course, I make up a few songs. They sing them occasionally: just to please me, I think; for, of course, they aren’t really good enough for Rivendell. And I listen and I think. Time doesn’t seem to pass here: it just is. A remarkable place altogether. ‘I hear all kinds of news, from over the Mountains, and out of the South, but hardly anything from the Shire. I heard about the Ring, of course. Gandalf has been here often. Not that he has told me a great deal, he has become closer than ever these last few years. The Dunadan has told me more. Fancy that ring of mine causing such a disturbance! It is a pity that Gandalf did not find out more sooner. I could have brought the thing here myself long ago without so much trouble. I have thought several times of going back to Hobbiton for it; but I am getting old, and they would not let me: Gandalf and Elrond, I mean. They seemed to think that the Enemy was looking high and low for me, and would make mincemeat of me, if he caught me tottering about in the Wild.
「你在做什麼？」 「哦，坐著思考。我現在經常這樣，而這裡通常是最好的地方。醒來？真的嗎！」他朝愛隆王眨了眨眼說道。他的眼中閃爍著明亮的光芒，佛羅多看不出絲毫睡意。「醒來！我可沒睡著，愛隆大師。如果你想知道，你們都太早從宴會出來了，而且你們打擾了我——我正在創作一首歌。我卡在一兩句歌詞上，正在思考它們；但現在我想我永遠也無法把它們弄好了。會有那麼多歌聲，我的想法會被徹底趕出腦海。我得找我的朋友『登丹人』來幫我。他在哪裡？」 愛隆王笑了。「他會被找到的。」他說。「那麼你們兩個就到一個角落去完成你們的任務，我們會在結束我們的歡慶之前聽聽並評判它。」 信使被派去尋找比爾博的朋友，儘管沒有人知道他在哪裡，也不知道他為什麼沒有出席宴會。與此同時，佛羅多和比爾博並肩而坐，山姆也迅速走過來坐在他們附近。他們輕聲交談著，對大廳裡周圍的歡聲笑語和音樂毫不在意。 比爾博關於自己的事情說得不多。當他離開哈比屯時，他漫無目的地沿著大路或兩旁的鄉間遊蕩；但不知怎的，他一直朝著瑞文戴爾的方向前進。「我到達這裡沒遇到什麼大冒險。」他說，「休息之後，我與矮人們一起去了戴爾：那是我最後一次旅行。我不會再旅行了。老巴林已經走了。然後我回到這裡，一直待在這裡。我做了這做那。我又寫了一些我的書。當然，我也創作了一些歌曲。他們偶爾會唱，我想，只是為了取悅我；因為，當然，它們對瑞文戴爾來說還不夠好。我聽著，我思考著。時間在這裡似乎沒有流逝：它只是存在。一個非常了不起的地方。」 「我聽到各種消息，來自山脈彼端，來自南方，但幾乎沒有來自夏爾的消息。我當然聽說了魔戒的事。甘道夫經常來這裡。他雖然沒有告訴我很多，但這些年來他變得比以往任何時候都更親近。登丹人告訴我更多。想想我那枚戒指竟然引起了這麼大的騷動！可惜甘道夫沒有早點發現更多。我本可以很久以前就把那東西帶到這裡，而不會有這麼多麻煩。我曾幾次想回哈比屯去取它；但我老了，他們不會讓我去：我是說甘道夫和愛隆王。他們似乎認為敵人正在到處尋找我，如果他抓到我在荒野中搖搖晃晃，就會把我碎屍萬段。
232 THE LORD OF THE RINGS ‘And Gandalf said: ‘““The Ring has passed on, Bilbo. It would do no good to you or to others, if you tried to meddle with it again.” Odd sort of remark, just like Gandalf. But he said he was looking after you, so I let things be. I am frightfully glad to see you safe and sound.’ He paused and looked at Frodo doubtfully. “Have you got it here?’ he asked in a whisper. ‘I can’t help feeling curious, you know, after all P’'ve heard. I should very much like just to peep at it again.’ “Yes, I’ve got it,’ answered Frodo, feeling a strange reluctance. ‘It looks just the same as ever it did.’ ‘Well, I should just like to see it for a moment,’ said Bilbo. When he had dressed, Frodo found that while he slept the Ring had been hung about his neck on a new chain, light but strong. Slowly he drew it out. Bilbo put out his hand. But Frodo quickly drew back the Ring. To his distress and amazement he found that he was no longer looking at Bilbo; a shadow seemed to have fallen between them, and through it he found himself eyeing a little wrinkled creature with a hungry face and bony groping hands. He felt a desire to strike him. The music and singing round them seemed to falter, and a silence fell. Bilbo looked quickly at Frodo’s face and passed his hand across his eyes. ‘I understand now,” he said. ‘Put it away! I am sorry: sorry you have come in for this burden; sorry about everything. Don’t adventures ever have an end? I suppose not. Someone else always has to carry on the story. Well, it can’t be helped. I wonder if it’s any good trying to finish my book? But don’t let’s worry about it now - let’s have some real News! Tell me all about the Shire!’ Frodo hid the Ring away, and the shadow passed leaving hardly a shred of memory. The light and music of Rivendell was about him again. Bilbo smiled and laughed happily. Every item of news from the Shire that Frodo could tell — aided and corrected now and again by Sam — was of the greatest interest to him, from the felling of the least tree to the pranks of the smallest child in Hobbiton. They were so deep in the doings of the Four Farthings that they did not notice the arrival of a man clad in dark green cloth. For many minutes he stood looking down at them with a smile. Suddenly Bilbo looked up. ‘Ah, there you are at last, Dunadan!’ he cried. ‘Strider!’ said Frodo. ‘You seem to have a lot of names.’ ‘Well, Strider is one that I haven’t heard before, anyway,’ said Bilbo. ‘What do you call him that for?’ “They call me that in Bree,’ said Strider laughing, ‘and that is how I was introduced to him.’
「232 魔戒」 「甘道夫說：『魔戒已經傳下去了，比爾博。如果你再試圖干預它，對你或對其他人都不會有好處。』這話說得真奇怪，就像甘道夫的風格。但他當時說他會照顧你，所以我才讓事情順其自然。看到你安然無恙，我真是高興極了。」他停頓了一下，懷疑地看著佛羅多。「你把它帶在身上嗎？」他低聲問道。「你知道，聽了那麼多事之後，我忍不住感到好奇。我真想再偷看它一眼。」 「是的，我帶著它。」佛羅多回答，感到一陣奇怪的不情願。「它看起來還和以前一模一樣。」「嗯，我只想看它一眼。」比爾博說。當他穿好衣服後，佛羅多發現他睡著的時候，魔戒已經被掛在他脖子上的一條新鏈子上，輕巧卻堅固。他慢慢地把它拿出來。比爾博伸出手。但佛羅多迅速地把魔戒縮了回去。令他痛苦和驚訝的是，他發現自己不再是看著比爾博了；一道陰影似乎籠罩在他們之間，透過它，他發現自己正盯著一個滿臉皺紋、面帶飢色、骨瘦如柴、摸索著手的生物。他產生了想要打他的衝動。周圍的音樂和歌聲似乎顫抖了，一片寂靜降臨。比爾博迅速地看了佛羅多的臉一眼，用手揉了揉眼睛。「我現在明白了。」他說。「把它收起來！我很抱歉：抱歉你承受了這個重擔；抱歉所有的一切。冒險難道永遠沒有盡頭嗎？我想大概沒有吧。總會有其他人必須繼續這個故事。嗯，這也無可奈何。我不知道嘗試完成我的書還有沒有意義？但我們現在別擔心這個了——來點真正的消息吧！把夏爾的一切都告訴我！」 佛羅多把魔戒藏了起來，陰影也隨之消散，幾乎沒有留下任何記憶的痕跡。瑞文戴爾的光明與音樂再次環繞著他。比爾博開心地笑了起來。佛羅多能講述的每一條來自夏爾的消息——山姆不時地補充和糾正——都讓他極感興趣，從砍伐最小的樹木到哈比屯最小孩子的惡作劇。他們沉浸在四個區的瑣事中，以至於沒有注意到一個身穿深綠色布衣的男人到來。他站了許多分鐘，帶著微笑俯視著他們。突然，比爾博抬起頭。「啊，你終於來了，登丹人！」他喊道。「亞拉岡！」佛羅多說。「你似乎有很多名字。」「嗯，亞拉岡這個名字我以前可沒聽過。」比爾博說。「你為什麼這麼叫他？」「他們在布理這麼叫我。」亞拉岡笑著說，「我就是這樣被介紹給他的。」
MANY MEETINGS 233 ‘And why do you call him Dunadan?’ asked Frodo. ‘The Dunadan,’ said Bilbo. ‘He is often called that here. But I thought you knew enough Elvish at least to know dun-adan: Man of the West, Numenorean. But this is not the time for lessons!’ He turned to Strider. ‘Where have you been, my friend? Why weren’t you at the feast? The Lady Arwen was there.’ Strider looked down at Bilbo gravely. ‘I know,’ he said. ‘But often I must put mirth aside. Elladan and Elrohir have returned out of the Wild unlooked-for, and they had tidings that I wished to hear at once.’ ‘Well, my dear fellow,’ said Bilbo, ‘now you’ve heard the news, can’t you spare me a moment? I want your help in something urgent. Elrond says this song of mine is to be finished before the end of the evening, and I am stuck. Let’s go off into a corner and polish it up!’ Strider smiled. ‘Come then!’ he said. ‘Let me hear it!’ Frodo was left to himself for a while, for Sam had fallen asleep. He was alone and felt rather forlorn, although all about him the folk of Rivendell were gathered. But those near him were silent, intent upon the music of the voices and the instruments, and they gave no heed to anything else. Frodo began to listen. At first the beauty of the melodies and of the interwoven words in elven-tongues, even though he understood them little, held him in a spell, as soon as he began to attend to them. Almost it seemed that the words took shape, and visions of far lands and bright things that he had never yet imagined opened out before him; and the firelit hall became like a golden mist above seas of foam that sighed upon the margins of the world. Then the enchantment became more and more dreamlike, until he felt that an endless river of swelling gold and silver was flowing over him, too multitudinous for its pattern to be comprehended; it became part of the throbbing air about him, and it drenched and drowned him. Swiftly he sank under its shining weight into a deep realm of sleep. There he wandered long in a dream of music that turned into running water, and then suddenly into a voice. It seemed to be the voice of Bilbo chanting verses. Faint at first and then clearer ran the words. Edrendil was a mariner that tarried in Arvernien; he built a boat of timber felled in Nimbrethil to journey in;
許多會面 233 「你為什麼叫他『登丹人』？」佛羅多問。「登丹人，」比爾博說。「他這裡常被這麼稱呼。但我以為你至少懂足夠的精靈語，知道『dun-adan』是『西方人』，『努曼諾爾人』。不過現在可不是上課的時候！」他轉向亞拉岡。「我的朋友，你去了哪裡？你為什麼沒來參加宴會？亞玟女士也在那裡。」亞拉岡嚴肅地俯視著比爾博。「我知道，」他說。「但我常常必須把歡樂放在一邊。艾拉丹和艾洛希爾意外地從荒野歸來，他們帶來了我急於想聽的消息。」「喔，我的老朋友，」比爾博說，「既然你已經聽到了消息，能不能抽空幫我一下？我有些急事需要你的幫助。愛隆說我這首歌必須在傍晚結束前完成，但我卡住了。我們找個角落去把它潤飾一下吧！」亞拉岡笑了。「那就來吧！」他說。「讓我聽聽！」佛羅多獨自待了一會兒，因為山姆已經睡著了。他感到有些孤單和沮喪，儘管他周圍聚集著瑞文戴爾的居民。但他身邊的人都靜默無聲，專心聆聽著歌聲和樂器的音樂，對其他一切都毫不在意。佛羅多開始聆聽。起初，旋律的優美和精靈語中交織的詞句，即使他理解不多，但當他開始專心聆聽時，它們立刻將他牢牢吸引住了。詞句彷彿有了形體，他從未想像過的遙遠土地和璀璨景象在他眼前展開；燈火通明的廳堂變得像一片金色的薄霧，飄浮在世界邊緣嘆息的泡沫海洋之上。接著，那魔力變得越來越如夢似幻，直到他感覺到一條無盡的、波濤洶湧的金銀之河正流過他，其圖案過於繁複而無法理解；它成為他周圍脈動空氣的一部分，將他浸透並淹沒。他迅速沉入那閃耀的重量之下，進入了深沉的睡眠領域。他在一個音樂的夢境中漫遊了許久，那音樂先是變成了潺潺流水，然後突然變成了一個聲音。那似乎是比爾博吟唱詩歌的聲音。詞句起初模糊，然後變得清晰。埃倫迪爾是一位水手，他曾逗留在阿佛尼恩；他用在寧布瑞希爾砍伐的木材造了一艘船，以便航行；
234 THE LORD OF THE RINGS her sails he wove of silver fair, of silver were her lanterns made, her prow he fashioned like a swan, and light upon her banners laid. In panoply of ancient kings, in chainéd rings he armoured him; his shining shield was scored with runes to ward all wounds and harm from him; his bow was made of dragon-horn, his arrows shorn of ebony, of silver was his habergeon, his scabbard of chalcedony; his sword of steel was valiant, of adamant his helmet tall, an eagle-plume upon his crest, upon his breast an emerald. Beneath the Moon and under star he wandered far from northern strands, bewildered on enchanted ways beyond the days of mortal lands. From gnashing of the Narrow Ice where shadow lies on frozen hills, from nether heats and burning waste he turned in haste, and roving still on starless waters far astray at last he came to Night of Naught, and passed, and never sight he saw of shining shore nor light he sought. The winds of wrath came driving him, and blindly in the foam he fled from west to east, and errandless, unheralded he homeward sped. There fiying Elwing came to him, and flame was in the darkness lit; more bright than light of diamond the fire upon her carcanet. The Silmaril she bound on him and crowned him with the living light, and dauntless then with burning brow he turned his prow; and in the night from Otherworld beyond the Sea
她的帆以皎潔銀絲織就，燈籠亦以銀鑄成；船首塑如天鵝，光芒灑落旗幟。他身披古王之甲冑，鎖環相扣，將他武裝；閃耀盾牌刻滿符文，以抵禦一切傷痛與傷害；弓以龍角製成，箭矢削自烏木；短甲為銀，劍鞘為玉髓；鋼劍勇猛無匹，高盔以金剛石鑄就，盔頂飾以鷹羽，胸前鑲嵌翡翠。在月光之下，星辰之中，他遠離北方海岸，四處遊蕩，迷失於魔法之路，超越凡人國度之界限。從狹冰的磨牙聲中，那裡陰影籠罩冰封山丘；從地底熱土與焦灼荒原，他匆忙轉身，仍舊漂泊於無星之水上迷航。最終他來到虛無之夜，穿越而過，再未見閃耀海岸，亦未尋得光芒。憤怒之風驅趕著他，他在浪花中盲目地從西向東逃竄，無所事事，默默無聞地疾馳歸家。飛翔的埃爾溫來到他身邊，火焰在黑暗中點燃；她項鍊上的火焰比鑽石的光芒更為璀璨。她將精靈寶鑽繫於他身，以活生生的光芒為他加冕；於是，他無畏地，以燃燒的額頭轉動船首；在夜色中，從海外的異界。
MANY MEETINGS there strong and free a storm arose, a wind of power in Tarmenel; by paths that seldom mortal goes his boat it bore with biting breath as might of death across the grey and long-forsaken seas distressed: from east to west he passed away. Through Evernight he back was borne on black and roaring waves that ran o’er leagues unlit and foundered shores that drowned before the Days began, until he heard on strands of pearl where ends the world the music long, where ever-foaming billows roll the yellow gold and jewels wan. He saw the Mountain silent rise where twilight les upon the knees of Valinor, and Eldamar beheld afar beyond the seas. A wanderer escaped from night to haven white he came at last, to Elvenhome the green and fair where keen the air, where pale as glass beneath the Hill of Ilmarin a-glimmer in a valley sheer the lamplit towers of Tirion are mirrored on the Shadowmere. He tarried there from errantry, and melodies they taught to him, and sages old him marvels told, and harps of gold they brought to him. They clothed him then in elven-white, and seven lights before him sent, as through the Calacirian to hidden land forlorn he went. He came unto the timeless halls where shining fall the countless years, and endless reigns the Elder King in Ilmarin on Mountain sheer; and words unheard were spoken then of folk of Men and Elven-kin, 235
許多強大而自由的聚會在那裡舉行，一場風暴在塔梅內爾升起，一股力量之風；他的船被那如死亡般噬人的氣息，沿著凡人罕至的道路，載著他越過那灰暗而久被遺棄的苦海：他從東到西遠去。他被黑色的咆哮波浪載回永夜，波浪奔騰過無光之地和在創世之日以前便已沉沒的海岸，直到他在世界盡頭的珍珠沙灘上聽見悠長的樂聲，那裡永恆翻騰的巨浪捲動著黃金和蒼白的珠寶。他看見山脈靜默地升起，暮色落在維林諾的膝上，而埃爾達瑪則在遙遠的海那邊被他望見。一位從黑夜中逃脫的流浪者，終於來到白色的避風港，來到翠綠而美麗的精靈家園，那裡的空氣清新，在伊爾馬林山丘下，提理安的燈火通明高塔在陡峭的山谷中閃爍，如玻璃般蒼白地倒映在影湖上。他從漂泊中停留在那裡，他們教他旋律，古老的智者向他講述奇蹟，他們還為他帶來了黃金豎琴。他們為他穿上精靈白衣，並在他面前點亮七盞燈，他穿過卡拉克里安，走向那隱蔽而荒涼的土地。他來到永恆的殿堂，無數歲月在那裡閃耀流逝，長生之王在伊爾馬林陡峭的山上無盡統治；那時，人們說起了從未聽聞的關於人類和精靈族群的故事。
236 THE LORD OF THE RINGS beyond the world were visions showed forbid to those that dwell therein. A ship then new they built for him of mithril and of elven-glass with shining prow; no shaven oar nor sail she bore on silver mast: the Silmaril as lantern light and banner bright with living flame to gleam thereon by Elbereth herself was set, who thither came and wings immortal made for him, and laid on him undying doom, to sail the shoreless skies and come behind the Sun and light of Moon. From Evereven’s lofty hills where softly silver fountains fall his wings him bore, a wandering light, beyond the mighty Mountain Wall. From World’s End then he turned away, and yearned again to find afar his home through shadows journeying, and burning as an island star on high above the mists he came, a distant flame before the Sun, a wonder ere the waking dawn where grey the Norland waters run. And over Middle-earth he passed and heard at last the weeping sore of women and of elven-maids in Elder Days, in years of yore. But on him mighty doom was laid, till Moon should fade, an orbéd star to pass, and tarry never more on Hither Shores where mortals are; for ever still a herald on an errand that should never rest to bear his shining lamp afar, the Flammufer of Westernesse. The chanting ceased. Frodo opened his eyes and saw that Bilbo was seated on his stool in a circle of listeners, who were smiling and applauding.
236 《魔戒》 在世界之外，顯現著居住於其中者所不被允許看見的異象。於是他們為他建造了一艘新船，以秘銀和精靈玻璃製成，有著閃耀的船首；船上沒有削平的槳，也沒有掛在銀桅上的帆：希爾馬利爾寶鑽被埃爾柏瑞絲親手安放其上，作為燈籠之光與閃耀著活火焰的旗幟，熠熠生輝；她親自來到那裡，為他造了不朽的翅膀，並賦予他永恆的命運，讓他航行於無垠的天空，超越太陽與月亮的光芒。從永暮高山（那裡有銀泉輕柔流淌）之上，他的翅膀載著他，化作一道遊蕩的光芒，飛越了雄偉的山脈之牆。他從世界盡頭轉身離去，再次渴望在遠方尋找他的家園，穿越陰影而行，像高懸於迷霧之上的孤星般燃燒，他來了，是太陽之前的一道遙遠火焰，是北地灰水奔流之處、破曉之前的一個奇蹟。他飛越中土世界，終於聽見了上古時代、往昔歲月裡，人類婦女和精靈少女們的悲痛哭泣。但他被賦予了宏大的命運，直到月亮消逝，化作一顆圓星而過，永遠不再逗留於凡人所在的此岸；因為他將永遠是個信使，肩負著永不休止的使命，將他閃耀的燈火遠播，他是西方之地的火焰使者。吟唱聲止息了。佛羅多睜開眼睛，看見比爾博正坐在他的凳子上，周圍圍繞著一群聽眾，他們都面帶微笑，鼓掌喝采。
MANY MEETINGS 237 ‘Now we had better have it again,’ said an Elf. Bilbo got up and bowed. ‘I am flattered, Lindir,’ he said. ‘But it would be too tiring to repeat it all.’ ‘Not too tiring for you,’ the Elves answered laughing. ‘You know you are never tired of reciting your own verses. But really we cannot answer your question at one hearing!’ ‘What!’ cried Bilbo. “You can’t tell which parts were mine, and which were the Dunadan’s?’ ‘It is not easy for us to tell the difference between two mortals,’ said the Elf. ‘Nonsense, Lindir,’ snorted Bilbo. ‘If you can’t distinguish between a Man and a Hobbit, your judgement is poorer than I imagined. They’re as different as peas and apples.’ ‘Maybe. To sheep other sheep no doubt appear different,’ laughed Lindir. ‘Or to shepherds. But Mortals have not been our study. We have other business.’ ‘I won’t argue with you,’ said Bilbo. ‘I am sleepy after so much music and singing. TP’ll leave you to guess, if you want to.’ He got up and came towards Frodo. ‘Well, that’s over,’ he said in a low voice. ‘It went off better than I expected. I don’t often get asked for a second hearing. What did you think of it?’ ‘I am not going to try and guess,’ said Frodo smiling. ‘You needn’t,’ said Bilbo. ‘As a matter of fact it was all mine. Except that Aragorn insisted on my putting in a green stone. He seemed to think it important. I don’t know why. Otherwise he obviously thought the whole thing rather above my head, and he said that if I had the cheek to make verses about Earendil in the house of Elrond, it was my affair. I suppose he was right.’ ‘I don’t know,’ said Frodo. ‘It seemed to me to fit somehow, though I can’t explain. I was half asleep when you began, and it seemed to follow on from something that I was dreaming about. I didn’t understand that it was really you speaking until near the end.’ ‘It zs difficult to keep awake here, until you get used to it,’ said Bilbo. ‘Not that hobbits would ever acquire quite the Elvish appetite for music and poetry and tales. They seem to like them as much as food, or more. They will be going on for a long time yet. What do you say to slipping off for some more quiet talk?’ ‘Can we?’ said Frodo. ‘Of course. This is merrymaking not business. Come and go as you like, as long as you don’t make a noise.’ They got up and withdrew quietly into the shadows, and made for the doors. Sam they left behind, fast asleep still with a smile on his face. In spite of his delight in Bilbo’s company Frodo felt a tug
許多會面 237 「我們最好再聽一遍，」一位精靈說。比爾博起身鞠躬。「我受寵若驚，林迪爾，」他說。「但要全部重複一遍會太累了。」「對你來說可不會太累，」精靈們笑著回答。「你知道你從來不會厭倦吟誦自己的詩歌。但我們真的無法在聽一遍之後就回答你的問題！」「什麼！」比爾博喊道。「你們分不清哪些部分是我的，哪些是登丹人的？」「對我們來說，要分辨兩個凡人之間的差異並不容易，」精靈說。「胡說，林迪爾，」比爾博哼了一聲。「如果你分不清人類和哈比人，你的判斷力可比我想像的要差多了。他們簡直是天壤之別。」「也許吧。對羊來說，其他的羊無疑看起來是不同的，」林迪爾笑著說。「或者對牧羊人來說。但凡人從來不是我們的研究對象。我們有別的事情要做。」「我不想跟你爭辯了，」比爾博說。「聽了這麼多音樂和歌唱，我睏了。如果你想猜，我就讓你們去猜吧。」他起身走向佛羅多。「好了，結束了，」他低聲說。「比我預期的要好。我可不常被要求再聽一遍。你覺得怎麼樣？」「我可不打算猜，」佛羅多笑著說。「你不需要，」比爾博說。「事實上，那都是我的作品。除了亞拉岡堅持要我加上一顆綠寶石。他似乎覺得那很重要。我不知道為什麼。否則他顯然覺得整件事都超出了我的理解範圍，而且他說如果我有膽量在愛隆的家中為埃蘭迪爾作詩，那是我的事。我想他是對的。」「我不知道，」佛羅多說。「我覺得它 somehow 很合適，雖然我說不上來。你開始的時候我半夢半醒，它似乎接續了我夢到的一些東西。直到快結束時，我才明白那真的是你在說話。」「這裡很難保持清醒，直到你習慣為止，」比爾博說。「倒不是說哈比人會完全學會精靈對音樂、詩歌和故事的熱愛。他們似乎像喜歡食物一樣喜歡這些，甚至更甚。他們還會持續很長一段時間。我們悄悄溜走，再聊些安靜的話題怎麼樣？」「我們可以嗎？」佛羅多說。「當然。這是歡慶，不是公事。你們想來就來，想走就走，只要不發出聲音就好。」他們起身悄悄地退入陰影中，然後走向門口。他們把山姆留在了後面，他還在熟睡，臉上帶著微笑。儘管佛羅多很喜歡比爾博的陪伴，但他感到一陣拉扯
238 THE LORD OF THE RINGS of regret as they passed out of the Hall of Fire. Even as they stepped over the threshold a single clear voice rose in song. A Elbereth Gilthoniel, silivren penna miriel o menel aglar elenath! Na-chaered palan-diriel o galadhremmin ennorath, Fanuilos, le linnathon nef aear, si nef aearon! Frodo halted for a moment, looking back. Elrond was in his chair and the fire was on his face like summer-light upon the trees. Near him sat the Lady Arwen. To his surprise Frodo saw that Aragorn stood beside her; his dark cloak was thrown back, and he seemed to be clad in elven-mail, and a star shone on his breast. They spoke together, and then suddenly it seemed to Frodo that Arwen turned towards him, and the light of her eyes fell on him from afar and pierced his heart. He stood still enchanted, while the sweet syllables of the Elvish song fell like clear jewels of blended word and melody. ‘It is a song to Elbereth,’ said Bilbo. ‘They will sing that, and other songs of the Blessed Realm, many times tonight. Come on!’ He led Frodo back to his own little room. It opened on to the gardens and looked south across the ravine of the Bruinen. There they sat for some while, looking through the window at the bright stars above the steep-climbing woods, and talking softly. They spoke no more of the small news of the Shire far away, nor of the dark shadows and perils that encompassed them, but of the fair things they had seen in the world together, of the Elves, of the stars, of trees, and the gentle fall of the bright year in the woods. At last there came a knock on the door. ‘Begging your pardon,’ said Sam, putting in his head, ‘but I was just wondering if you would be wanting anything.’ ‘And begging yours, Sam Gamgee,’ replied Bilbo. ‘I guess you mean that it is time your master went to bed.’ ‘Well, sir, there is a Council early tomorrow, I hear, and he only got up today for the first time.’ ‘Quite right, Sam,’ laughed Bilbo. ‘You can trot off and tell Gandalf that he has gone to bed. Good night, Frodo! Bless me, but it has been good to see you again! There are no folk like hobbits after all for a real good talk. I am getting very old, and I began to wonder if I should live to see your chapters of our story. Good night! T’ll take a walk, I think, and look at the stars of Elbereth in the garden. Sleep welll’
238 《魔戒》 他們走出火之大廳時，心中充滿了遺憾。就在他們跨過門檻的那一刻，一個清澈的歌聲響起。A Elbereth Gilthoniel, silivren penna miriel o menel aglar elenath! Na-chaered palan-diriel o galadhremmin ennorath, Fanuilos, le linnathon nef aear, si nef aearon! 佛羅多停下腳步，回頭望去。愛隆坐在他的椅子上，爐火映照在他的臉上，如同夏日陽光灑在樹梢。亞玟女士坐在他身旁。令佛羅多驚訝的是，亞拉岡站在她身邊；他的深色斗篷被掀開，他似乎穿著精靈鎖子甲，一顆星星在他的胸前閃耀。他們低聲交談，然後佛羅多突然覺得亞玟轉向了他，她的目光從遠處落在他身上，刺穿了他的心。他呆立原地，彷彿被施了魔法，精靈歌曲甜美的音節如清澈的寶石般，融合了詞語與旋律，輕輕落下。「這是獻給埃爾柏瑞絲的歌。」比爾博說，「他們今晚會唱這首歌，還有許多來自蒙福之地的歌。走吧！」他帶著佛羅多回到自己的小房間。房間通向花園，面朝南邊，俯瞰著布魯伊南河谷的深淵。他們在那裡坐了一會兒，透過窗戶望著陡峭山林上方的璀璨星空，輕聲交談。他們不再談論遠方夏爾的瑣碎消息，也不再談論籠罩他們的黑暗陰影和危險，而是談論他們共同在世上見過的美好事物，談論精靈、星辰、樹木，以及林中歲月溫柔的流逝。最後，門上傳來敲門聲。「抱歉打擾了。」山姆探進頭來說，「我只是想知道您是否需要什麼。」「也抱歉打擾你了，山姆·詹吉。」比爾博回答，「我想你是說你主人該上床睡覺了。」「嗯，先生，我聽說明天一早有會議，而且他今天才第一次起床。」「說得對，山姆。」比爾博笑了，「你可以去告訴甘道夫他已經睡了。晚安，佛羅多！天哪，能再見到你真好！畢竟，沒有人能像哈比人一樣真正好好聊聊。我老了，我開始懷疑我是否能活著看到我們故事的後續章節。晚安！我想去散散步，看看花園裡埃爾柏瑞絲的星星。睡個好覺！