Chapter 3 THE RING GOES SOUTH Later that day the hobbits held a meeting of their own in Bilbo’s room. Merry and Pippin were indignant when they heard that Sam had crept into the Council, and had been chosen as Frodo’s companion. ‘It’s most unfair,’ said Pippin. ‘Instead of throwing him out, and clapping him in chains, Elrond goes and rewards him for his cheek!’ ‘Rewards!’ said Frodo. ‘I can’t imagine a more severe punishment. You are not thinking what you are saying: condemned to go on this hopeless journey, a reward? Yesterday I dreamed that my task was done, and I could rest here, a long while, perhaps for good.’ ‘I don’t wonder,’ said Merry, ‘and I wish you could. But we are envying Sam, not you. If you have to go, then it will be a punishment for any of us to be left behind, even in Rivendell. We have come a long way with you and been through some stiff times. We want to go on.’ “That’s what I meant,’ said Pippin. ‘We hobbits ought to stick together, and we will. I shall go, unless they chain me up. There must be someone with intelligence in the party.’ ‘Then you certainly will not be chosen, Peregrin Took!’ said Gandalf, looking in through the window, which was near the ground. ‘But you are all worrying yourselves unnecessarily. Nothing is decided yet.’ ‘Nothing decided!’ cried Pippin. “Then what were you all doing? You were shut up for hours.’ ‘Talking,’ said Bilbo. “There was a deal of talk, and everyone had an eye-opener. Even old Gandalf. I think Legolas’s bit of news about Gollum caught even him on the hop, though he passed it off.’ “You were wrong,’ said Gandalf. ‘You were inattentive. I had already heard of it from Gwaihir. If you want to know, the only real eye-openers, as you put it, were you and Frodo; and I was the only one that was not surprised.’ ‘Well, anyway,’ said Bilbo, ‘nothing was decided beyond choosing poor Frodo and Sam. I was afraid all the time that it might come to that, if I was let off. But if you ask me, Elrond will send out a fair number, when the reports come in. Have they started yet, Gandalf?’ ‘Yes,’ said the wizard. ‘Some of the scouts have been sent out already. More will go tomorrow. Elrond is sending Elves, and they will get in touch with the Rangers, and maybe with Thranduil’s folk
當天稍晚，哈比人們在比爾博的房間裡舉行了自己的會議。當梅里和皮聘聽說山姆溜進了會議，還被選為佛羅多的同伴時，他們感到憤憤不平。「這太不公平了，」皮聘說。「愛隆不但沒有把他趕出去，用鎖鏈把他銬起來，反而還獎勵他的厚顏無恥！」「獎勵！」佛羅多說。「我想像不出比這更嚴厲的懲罰了。你根本不知道自己在說什麼：被判去走這趟絕望的旅程，算是獎勵？昨天我還夢到我的任務完成了，可以在這裡休息，休息很長一段時間，也許是永遠。」「那我不意外，」梅里說，「而且我真希望你可以。但我們羨慕的是山姆，不是你。如果你必須走，那對我們任何一個被留下的人來說都是一種懲罰，即使是留在瑞文戴爾也一樣。我們跟你一起走了這麼長的路，也經歷了一些艱難的時刻。我們想繼續走下去。」「我就是這個意思，」皮聘說。「我們哈比人應該團結在一起，我們也會的。我會去，除非他們把我用鎖鏈拴起來。隊伍裡總得有個聰明人吧。」「那佩格林・圖克，你肯定不會被選上！」甘道夫從靠近地面的窗戶探頭進來說。「不過你們都在自尋煩惱。什麼都還沒決定呢。」「什麼都沒決定！」皮聘大喊。「那你們到底在做什麼？你們關在裡面好幾個小時。」「聊天，」比爾博說。「聊了很多，每個人都大開眼界。就連老甘道夫也一樣。我想勒苟拉斯帶來的關於咕嚕的消息，連他也措手不及，雖然他掩飾過去了。」「你錯了，」甘道夫說。「你沒注意聽。我已經從關赫那裡聽說了。如果你想知道，唯一真正如你所說『大開眼界』的，是你們和佛羅多；而我則是唯一一個不驚訝的人。」「嗯，無論如何，」比爾博說，「除了選擇可憐的佛羅多和山姆之外，什麼都還沒決定。我一直很怕會變成那樣，如果我能被豁免的話。但如果你問我，等報告都進來後，愛隆會派出相當數量的人。他們出發了嗎，甘道夫？」「是的，」巫師說。「一些斥候已經派出去了。明天會派更多。愛隆正在派遣精靈，他們會和遊俠聯繫，或許也會和瑟蘭督伊的子民聯繫。」
THE RING GOES SOUTH 273 in Mirkwood. And Aragorn has gone with Elrond’s sons. We shall have to scour the lands all round for many long leagues before any move is made. So cheer up, Frodo! You will probably make quite a long stay here.’ ‘Ah!’ said Sam gloomily. ‘We'll just wait long enough for winter to come.’ “That can’t be helped,’ said Bilbo. ‘It’s your fault partly, Frodo my lad: insisting on waiting for my birthday. A funny way of honouring it, I can’t help thinking. Not the day I should have chosen for letting the S.-B.s into Bag End. But there it is: you can’t wait now till spring; and you can’t go till the reports come back. When winter first begins to bite and stones crack in the frosty night, when pools are black and trees are bare, *ris evil in the Wild to fare. But that I am afraid will be just your luck.’ ‘I am afraid it will,’ said Gandalf. ‘We can’t start until we have found out about the Riders.’ ‘I thought they were all destroyed in the flood,’ said Merry. “You cannot destroy Ringwraiths like that,’ said Gandalf. “The power of their master is in them, and they stand or fall by him. We hope that they were all unhorsed and unmasked, and so made for a while less dangerous; but we must find out for certain. In the meantime you should try and forget your troubles, Frodo. I do not know if I can do anything to help you; but I will whisper this in your ears. Someone said that intelligence would be needed in the party. He was right. I think I shall come with you.’ So great was Frodo’s delight at this announcement that Gandalf left the window-sill, where he had been sitting, and took off his hat and bowed. ‘I only said I think I shall come. Do not count on anything yet. In this matter Elrond will have much to say, and your friend the Strider. Which reminds me, I want to see Elrond. I must be off.’ ‘How long do you think I shall have here?’ said Frodo to Bilbo when Gandalf had gone. ‘Oh, I don’t know. I can’t count days in Rivendell,’ said Bilbo. ‘But quite long, I should think. We can have many a good talk. What about helping me with my book, and making a start on the next? Have you thought of an ending?’ “Yes, several, and all are dark and unpleasant,’ said Frodo. ‘Oh, that won’t do!’ said Bilbo. ‘Books ought to have good endings. How would this do: and they all settled down and lived together happily ever after?”
「魔戒南行 273 在幽暗森林。亞拉岡和愛隆的兒子們一起走了。在採取任何行動之前，我們必須搜索方圓數里格的大片土地。所以，打起精神來，佛羅多！你很可能要在這裡待上很長一段時間。」「唉！」山姆憂鬱地說。「我們剛好會等到冬天來臨。」「那也沒辦法，」比爾博說。「一部分是你的錯，我的孩子佛羅多：堅持要等我生日。我忍不住想，這真是個有趣的慶祝方式。我可不會選在這一天讓薩克維爾-巴金斯家族住進袋底洞。但事已至此：你現在不能等到春天；在報告回來之前你也不能走。當冬天開始肆虐，石頭在寒夜中凍裂，池水變黑，樹木光禿，*在荒野中旅行是邪惡的。但我恐怕這就是你的運氣了。」「恐怕是的，」甘道夫說。「我們得先查明那些騎士的下落才能出發。」「我以為他們在洪水中全被摧毀了，」梅里說。「你無法那樣摧毀戒靈，」甘道夫說。「他們主人的力量在他們體內，他們的存亡與他同在。我們希望他們都已落馬現形，暫時變得不那麼危險；但我們必須查個水落石出。在此期間，你應該試著忘記你的煩惱，佛羅多。我不知道我能幫你什麼；但我可以在你耳邊輕聲說一句。有人說隊伍裡需要智慧。他說對了。我想我會跟你們一起去。」佛羅多對這個宣告欣喜若狂，以至於甘道夫從他一直坐著的窗台上跳下來，脫帽鞠躬。「我只說了『我想我會去』。還不要指望任何事。在這件事上，愛隆和你的朋友神行客會有很大的發言權。這倒提醒了我，我想去見愛隆。我得走了。」「你覺得我會在這裡待多久？」甘道夫走後，佛羅多問比爾博。「哦，我不知道。在瑞文戴爾我算不清日子，」比爾博說。「但我想會很久。我們可以好好聊聊。幫我寫我的書，然後開始寫下一本怎麼樣？你想好結局了嗎？」「想好了，好幾個，而且都很黑暗和不愉快，」佛羅多說。「哦，那可不行！」比爾博說。「書應該要有好的結局。這樣如何：他們從此定居下來，過著幸福快樂的日子？
274 THE LORD OF THE RINGS ‘It will do well, if it ever comes to that,’ said Frodo. ‘Ah!’ said Sam. ‘And where will they live? That’s what I often wonder.’ For a while the hobbits continued to talk and think of the past journey and of the perils that lay ahead; but such was the virtue of the land of Rivendell that soon all fear and anxiety was lifted from their minds. The future, good or ill, was not forgotten, but ceased to have any power over the present. Health and hope grew strong in them, and they were content with each good day as it came, taking pleasure in every meal, and in every word and song. So the days slipped away, as each morning dawned bright and fair, and each evening followed cool and clear. But autumn was waning fast; slowly the golden light faded to pale silver, and the lingering leaves fell from the naked trees. A wind began to blow chill from the Misty Mountains to the east. The Hunter’s Moon waxed round in the night sky, and put to flight all the lesser stars. But low in the South one star shone red. Every night, as the Moon waned again, it shone brighter and brighter. Frodo could see it from his window, deep in the heavens, burning like a watchful eye that glared above the trees on the brink of the valley. The hobbits had been nearly two months in the house of Elrond, and November had gone by with the last shreds of autumn, and December was passing, when the scouts began to return. Some had gone north beyond the springs of the Hoarwell into the Ettenmoors; and others had gone west, and with the help of Aragorn and the Rangers had searched the lands far down the Greyflood, as far as Tharbad, where the old North Road crossed the river by a ruined town. Many had gone east and south; and some of these had crossed the Mountains and entered Mirkwood, while others had climbed the pass at the sources of the Gladden River, and had come down into Wilderland and over the Gladden Fields and so at length had reached the old home of Radagast at Rhosgobel. Radagast was not there; and they had returned over the high pass that was called the Redhorn Gate. The sons of Elrond, Elladan and Elrohir, were the last to return; they had made a great journey, passing down the Silverlode into a strange country, but of their errand they would not speak to any save to Elrond. In no region had the messengers discovered any signs or tidings of the Riders or other servants of the Enemy. Even from the Eagles of the Misty Mountains they had learned no fresh news. Nothing had been seen or heard of Gollum; but the wild wolves were still gathering, and were hunting again far up the Great River. Three of
THE RING GOES SOUTH 275 the black horses had been found at once drowned in the flooded Ford. On the rocks of the rapids below it searchers discovered the bodies of five more, and also a long black cloak, slashed and tattered. Of the Black Riders no other trace was to be seen, and nowhere was their presence to be felt. It seemed that they had vanished from the North. ‘Eight out of the Nine are accounted for at least,’ said Gandalf. ‘It is rash to be too sure, yet I think that we may hope now that the Ringwraiths were scattered, and have been obliged to return as best they could to their Master in Mordor, empty and shapeless. ‘If that is so, it will be some time before they can begin the hunt again. Of course the Enemy has other servants, but they will have to journey all the way to the borders of Rivendell before they can pick up our trail. And if we are careful that will be hard to find. But we must delay no longer.’ Elrond summoned the hobbits to him. He looked gravely at Frodo. “The time has come,’ he said. ‘If the Ring is to set out, it must go soon. But those who go with it must not count on their errand being aided by war or force. They must pass into the domain of the Enemy far from aid. Do you still hold to your word, Frodo, that you will be the Ring-bearer?’ ‘I do,’ said Frodo. ‘I will go with Sam.’ ‘Then I cannot help you much, not even with counsel,’ said Elrond. ‘I can foresee very little of your road; and how your task is to be achieved I do not know. The Shadow has crept now to the feet of the Mountains, and draws nigh even to the borders of the Greyflood; and under the Shadow all is dark to me. You will meet many foes, some open, and some disguised; and you may find friends upon your way when you least look for it. I will send out messages, such as I can contrive, to those whom I know in the wide world; but so perilous are the lands now become that some may well miscarry, or come no quicker than you yourself. ‘And I will choose you companions to go with you, as far as they will or fortune allows. The number must be few, since your hope is in speed and secrecy. Had I a host of Elves in armour of the Elder Days, it would avail little, save to arouse the power of Mordor. “The Company of the Ring shall be Nine; and the Nine Walkers shall be set against the Nine Riders that are evil. With you and your faithful servant, Gandalf will go; for this shall be his great task, and maybe the end of his labours. ‘For the rest, they shall represent the other Free Peoples of the World: Elves, Dwarves, and Men. Legolas shall be for the Elves; and
魔戒南行 275 那些黑馬被發現立刻淹死在漲水的渡口。在渡口下方的急流岩石上，搜索者又發現了五匹馬的屍體，還有一件被割破、撕碎的黑色長斗篷。至於黑騎士，則再也看不到任何蹤跡，也感受不到他們的存在。他們似乎已從北方消失了。「九名騎士中至少有八名下落已明，」甘道夫說。「話不能說得太滿，但我認為我們現在可以指望戒靈已經潰散，被迫以他們僅能的方式，空手無形地返回魔多他們的主人那裡。「果真如此，他們要過一段時間才能再次展開追捕。當然，敵人還有其他僕從，但他們必須一路跋涉到瑞文戴爾的邊境，才能找到我們的蹤跡。而只要我們小心，蹤跡就不會輕易被發現。但我們不能再耽擱了。」愛隆把哈比人召到跟前。他神情嚴肅地看著佛羅多。「時候到了，」他說。「如果魔戒要出發，就必須盡快。但與它同行的人，切不可指望他們的任務能得到戰爭或武力的幫助。他們必須深入敵人的領地，遠離任何援助。佛羅多，你還信守你的承諾，願意擔任持戒人嗎？」「我願意，」佛羅多說。「我會和山姆一起去。」「那麼，我能幫你的就不多了，連建議也給不了多少，」愛隆說。「我幾乎無法預見你們前方的道路；也不知道你們的任務該如何完成。黑影如今已悄悄爬到山腳下，甚至逼近了灰水河的邊界；在黑影籠罩之下，一切對我而言都是黑暗的。你們會遇到許多敵人，有些是公開的，有些是偽裝的；也可能在最意想不到的時候，在路上找到朋友。我會設法向我在這廣闊世界中認識的人發出訊息；但如今各地都變得如此危險，有些訊息很可能會遺失，或者不會比你們自己更快到達。「我會為你挑選同伴，陪你同行，只要他們願意，也只要命運允許。人數必須少，因為你們的希望在於速度和隱密。就算我有一支身穿遠古時代盔甲的精靈大軍，也無濟於事，只會激起魔多的力量。「魔戒遠征隊應有九人；這九位行者將與那九位邪惡的騎士抗衡。甘道夫會與你和你忠實的僕人同行；因為這將是他的偉大任務，或許也是他辛勞的終點。「至於其餘成員，他們將代表世界上其他的自由人民：精靈、矮人和人類。勒苟拉斯將代表精靈；而
276 THE LORD OF THE RINGS Gimli son of Gloin for the Dwarves. They are willing to go at least to the passes of the Mountains, and maybe beyond. For men you shall have Aragorn son of Arathorn, for the Ring of Isildur concerns him closely.’ ‘Strider!’ cried Frodo. ‘Yes,’ he said with a smile. ‘I ask leave once again to be your companion, Frodo.’ ‘I would have begged you to come,’ said Frodo, ‘only I thought you were going to Minas Tirith with Boromir.’ ‘I am,’ said Aragorn. ‘And the Sword-that-was-Broken shall be re-forged ere I set out to war. But your road and our road lie together for many hundreds of miles. Therefore Boromir will also be in the Company. He is a valiant man.’ “There remain two more to be found,’ said Elrond. ‘These I will consider. Of my household I may find some that it seems good to me to send.’ ‘But that will leave no place for us!’ cried Pippin in dismay. ‘We don’t want to be left behind. We want to go with Frodo.’ “That is because you do not understand and cannot imagine what lies ahead,’ said Elrond. ‘Neither does Frodo,’ said Gandalf, unexpectedly supporting Pippin. ‘Nor do any of us see clearly. It is true that if these hobbits understood the danger, they would not dare to go. But they would still wish to go, or wish that they dared, and be shamed and unhappy. I think, Elrond, that in this matter it would be well to trust rather to their friendship than to great wisdom. Even if you chose for us an Elf-lord, such as Glorfindel, he could not storm the Dark Tower, nor open the road to the Fire by the power that is in him.’ “You speak gravely,’ said Elrond, ‘but I am in doubt. The Shire, I forebode, is not free now from peril; and these two I had thought to send back there as messengers, to do what they could, according to the fashion of their country, to warn the people of their danger. In any case, I judge that the younger of these two, Peregrin Took, should remain. My heart is against his going.’ ‘Then, Master Elrond, you will have to lock me in prison, or send me home tied in a sack,’ said Pippin. ‘For otherwise I shall follow the Company.’ ‘Let it be so then. You shall go,’ said Elrond, and he sighed. ‘Now the tale of Nine is filled. In seven days the Company must depart.’ The Sword of Elendil was forged anew by Elvish smiths, and on its blade was traced a device of seven stars set between the crescent Moon and the rayed Sun, and about them was written many runes;
矮人族由葛羅因之子金靂代表。他們願意至少走到山脈的隘口，或許更遠。人類方面，你們有亞拉松之子亞拉岡，因為埃西鐸的魔戒與他關係密切。」「神行客！」佛羅多叫道。「是的，」他微笑著說。「佛羅多，我再次請求允許，成為你的同伴。」「我本來會求你來的，」佛羅多說，「只是我以為你要和波羅莫一起去米那斯提力斯。」「我是要去，」亞拉岡說。「而且在我出征之前，那把斷折的聖劍將被重鑄。但你的路和我們的路有數百英里是重疊的。因此，波羅莫也將加入遠征隊。他是個勇猛的人。」「還剩下兩個名額待補，」愛隆說。「這點我會考慮。我也許能從我的家臣中找到一些我認為適合派遣的人。」「但那樣就沒有我們的位子了！」皮聘驚慌地叫道。「我們不想被留下。我們想跟佛羅多一起去。」「那是因為你們不了解，也無法想像前方的兇險，」愛隆說。「佛羅多也一樣，」甘道夫意外地支持皮聘說。「我們之中沒有人能看清前路。沒錯，如果這些哈比人了解危險，他們就不敢去了。但他們仍然會想去，或希望自己敢去，並為此感到羞愧和不快。愛隆，我認為在這件事上，最好相信他們的友誼，而不是高深的智慧。即使你為我們選擇一位精靈王，例如葛羅芬戴爾，他也無法攻破黑暗塔，或憑藉自身的力量開闢通往末日火山的道路。」「你說得很嚴肅，」愛隆說，「但我仍有疑慮。我預感夏爾如今也並非安然無恙；我本想派這兩位回去當信使，按照他們家鄉的作風，盡其所能地警告人們危險將至。無論如何，我判斷這兩人中較年輕的皮瑞格林・圖克應該留下。我心裡反對他去。」「那麼，愛隆王，您就得把我關進監獄，或用麻袋綁著送我回家了，」皮聘說。「否則我一定會跟著遠征隊。」「那就這樣吧。你去吧，」愛隆嘆了口氣說。「現在九人的名額湊齊了。七天後，遠征隊必須出發。」伊蘭迪爾之劍由精靈工匠們重新鑄造，劍身上刻著一個圖案：彎月與放射光芒的太陽之間，鑲著七顆星辰，周圍還寫著許多盧恩文字。
THE RING GOES SOUTH 277 for Aragorn son of Arathorn was going to war upon the marches of Mordor. Very bright was that sword when it was made whole again; the light of the sun shone redly in it, and the light of the moon shone cold, and its edge was hard and keen. And Aragorn gave it a new name and called it Anduril, Flame of the West. Aragorn and Gandalf walked together or sat speaking of their road and the perils they would meet; and they pondered the storied and figured maps and books of lore that were in the house of Elrond. Sometimes Frodo was with them; but he was content to lean on their guidance, and he spent as much time as he could with Bilbo. In those last days the hobbits sat together in the evening in the Hall of Fire, and there among many tales they heard told in full the lay of Beren and Luthien and the winning of the Great Jewel; but in the day, while Merry and Pippin were out and about, Frodo and Sam were to be found with Bilbo in his own small room. Then Bilbo would read passages from his book (which still seemed very incomplete), or scraps of his verses, or would take notes of Frodo’s adventures. On the morning of the last day Frodo was alone with Bilbo, and the old hobbit pulled out from under his bed a wooden box. He lifted the lid and fumbled inside. ‘Here is your sword,’ he said. ‘But it was broken, you know. I took it to keep it safe but I’ve forgotten to ask if the smiths could mend it. No time now. So I thought, perhaps, you would care to have this, don’t you know?’ He took from the box a small sword in an old shabby leathern scabbard. Then he drew it, and its polished and well-tended blade glittered suddenly, cold and bright. “This is Sting,’ he said, and thrust it with little effort deep into a wooden beam. “Take it, if you like. I shan’t want it again, I expect.’ Frodo accepted it gratefully. ‘Also there is this!’ said Bilbo, bringing out a parcel which seemed to be rather heavy for its size. He unwound several folds of old cloth, and held up a small shirt of mail. It was close-woven of many rings, as supple almost as linen, cold as ice, and harder than steel. It shone like moonlit silver, and was studded with white gems. With it was a belt of pearl and crystal. ‘It’s a pretty thing, isn’t it?’ said Bilbo, moving it in the light. ‘And useful. It is my dwarf-mail that Thorin gave me. I got it back from Michel Delving before I started, and packed it with my luggage. I brought all the mementoes of my Journey away with me, except the Ring. But I did not expect to use this, and I don’t need it now, except to look at sometimes. You hardly feel any weight when you put it on.’
魔戒南行 277 因為亞拉岡，亞拉松之子，即將前往魔多邊境作戰。那把劍重鑄之後，光芒萬丈；陽光在劍身上映出紅光，月光則照出冷輝，劍鋒堅硬而銳利。亞拉岡給了它一個新名字，稱之為安都瑞爾，西方之焰。亞拉岡和甘道夫一同散步，或坐下談論他們的旅程與將會遇到的危險；他們也鑽研愛隆家中那些記載著古老故事與繪製精細的地圖和傳說典籍。有時佛羅多會和他們在一起；但他滿足於聽從他們的指引，並盡可能地花時間與比爾博相處。在最後那幾天，哈比人們晚上會一起坐在火廳裡，在眾多故事中，他們完整地聽了貝倫與露西安之歌，以及贏得那顆大寶石的傳說；但白天，當梅里和皮聘在外頭四處活動時，佛羅多和山姆則會待在比爾博自己的小房間裡。那時比爾博會朗讀他書中的段落（那本書看來還很不完整）、他零碎的詩句，或是記錄下佛羅多的冒險經歷。在最後一天的早晨，佛羅多獨自和比爾博在一起，老哈比人從床底下拖出一個木箱。他掀開蓋子，在裡面摸索著。「這是你的劍，」他說。「但它斷了，你知道的。我把它拿來保管，卻忘了問鐵匠們能不能修好它。現在沒時間了。所以我想，或許，你會想要這個，你懂嗎？」他從箱子裡拿出一把裝在破舊皮鞘裡的小劍。接著他拔出劍，那擦得光亮、保養得宜的劍刃頓時閃爍出冰冷而明亮的光芒。「這是刺針，」他說，並毫不費力地將它深深刺入一根木樑中。「喜歡的話就拿去吧。我想我再也用不著它了。」佛羅多感激地收下了。「還有這個！」比爾博說著，拿出一個看起來比體積重上許多的包裹。他解開好幾層舊布，舉起一件小小的鎖子甲。它由許多環圈緊密編織而成，幾乎像亞麻一樣柔軟，像冰一樣冰冷，卻比鋼鐵還堅硬。它像月光下的銀子般閃耀，上面鑲嵌著白色的寶石。隨之附有一條珍珠與水晶製成的腰帶。「這是個漂亮東西，對吧？」比爾博邊說邊在光線下移動它。「而且很實用。這是索林給我的矮人鎖子甲。我出發前從米丘窟把它拿了回來，和行李打包在一起。我把我那趟旅程的所有紀念品都帶走了，除了魔戒。但我沒想到會用上這個，現在也不需要了，頂多有時看看。你穿上它幾乎感覺不到任何重量。
278 THE LORD OF THE RINGS ‘I should look — well, I don’t think I should look right in it,’ said Frodo. ‘Just what I said myself,’ said Bilbo. ‘But never mind about looks. You can wear it under your outer clothes. Come on! You must share this secret with me. Don’t tell anybody else! But I should feel happier if I knew you were wearing it. I have a fancy it would turn even the knives of the Black Riders,’ he ended in a low voice. ‘Very well, I will take it,’ said Frodo. Bilbo put it on him, and fastened Sting upon the glittering belt; and then Frodo put over the top his old weather-stained breeches, tunic, and jacket. ‘Just a plain hobbit you look,’ said Bilbo. ‘But there is more about you now than appears on the surface. Good luck to you!’ He turned away and looked out of the window, trying to hum a tune. ‘I cannot thank you as I should, Bilbo, for this, and for all your past kindnesses,’ said Frodo. ‘Don’t try!’ said the old hobbit, turning round and slapping him on the back. ‘Ow!’ he cried. ‘You are too hard now to slap! But there you are: Hobbits must stick together, and especially Bagginses. All I ask in return is: take as much care of yourself as you can, and bring back all the news you can, and any old songs and tales you can come by. Pll do my best to finish my book before you return. I should like to write the second book, if I am spared.’ He broke off and turned to the window again, singing softly. I sit beside the fire and think of all that I have seen, of meadow-flowers and butterflies in summers that have been; Of yellow leaves and gossamer im autumns that there were, with morning mist and silver sun and wind upon my hair. I sit beside the fire and think of how the world will be when winter comes without a spring that I shall ever see. For still there are so many things that I have never seen: im every wood in every spring there is a different green.
「我穿起來會看起來——嗯，我不覺得我穿起來會好看，」佛羅多說。「我對自己也是這麼說的，」比爾博說。「不過別管好不好看了。你可以把它穿在外衣底下。來吧！你必須和我共享這個秘密。別告訴任何人！但如果我知道你穿著它，我會覺得安心些。我總覺得它甚至能擋開黑騎士的刀刃，」他低聲說道。「好吧，我收下它，」佛羅多說。比爾博幫他穿上，並將刺針繫在那閃亮的腰帶上；然後佛羅多在外面套上他那件飽經風霜的舊馬褲、束腰外衣和夾克。「你看起來就像個普通的哈比人，」比爾博說。「但現在的你，可比表面上看到的要厲害多了。祝你好運！」他轉過身，望向窗外，試著哼一首曲子。「比爾博，我無法好好地感謝你，為了這個，也為了你過去所有的好意，」佛羅多說。「別試了！」老哈比人說著，轉過身拍了拍他的背。「噢！」他叫道。「你現在硬得拍不動了！但事情就是這樣：哈比人必須團結在一起，尤其是巴金斯家的人。我唯一的要求是：盡可能地照顧好自己，帶回所有你能聽到的消息，以及任何你能找到的古老歌曲和故事。我會盡力在你回來前完成我的書。如果我還能活著，我希望能寫第二本書。」他停頓了一下，又轉向窗戶，輕聲唱起歌來。我坐在火邊，思索我所見過的一切，那些已逝夏日裡的草原花朵與蝴蝶；那些曾有過的秋日裡的黃葉與蛛絲，伴隨著晨霧、銀色的太陽與吹拂我髮絲的風。我坐在火邊，思索當冬天來臨，而我再也見不到春天時，世界會是什麼模樣。因為仍有太多事物我從未見過：在每片森林的每個春天，都有著不同的綠意。
THE RING GOES SOUTH 279 I sit beside the fire and think of people long ago, and people who will see a world that I shall never know. But all the while I sit and think of times there were before, I listen for returning feet and voices at the door. It was a cold grey day near the end of December. The East Wind was streaming through the bare branches of the trees, and seething in the dark pines on the hills. Ragged clouds were hurrying overhead, dark and low. As the cheerless shadows of the early evening began to fall the Company made ready to set out. They were to start at dusk, for Elrond counselled them to journey under cover of night as often as they could, until they were far from Rivendell. “You should fear the many eyes of the servants of Sauron,’ he said. ‘I do not doubt that news of the discomfiture of the Riders has already reached him, and he will be filled with wrath. Soon now his spies on foot and wing will be abroad in the northern lands. Even of the sky above you must beware as you go on your way.’ The Company took little gear of war, for their hope was in secrecy not in battle. Aragorn had Anduril but no other weapon, and he went forth clad only in rusty green and brown, as a Ranger of the wilderness. Boromir had a long sword, in fashion like Anduril but of less lineage, and he bore also a shield and his war-horn. ‘Loud and clear it sounds in the valleys of the hills,’ he said, ‘and then let all the foes of Gondor flee!’ Putting it to his lips he blew a blast, and the echoes leapt from rock to rock, and all that heard that voice in Rivendell sprang to their feet. ‘Slow should you be to wind that horn again, Boromir,’ said Elrond, ‘until you stand once more on the borders of your land, and dire need is on you.’ ‘Maybe,’ said Boromir. ‘But always I have let my horn cry at setting forth, and though thereafter we may walk in the shadows, I will not go forth as a thief in the night.’ Gimli the dwarf alone wore openly a short shirt of steel-rings, for dwarves make light of burdens; and in his belt was a broad-bladed axe. Legolas had a bow and a quiver, and at his belt a long white knife. The younger hobbits wore the swords that they had taken from the barrow; but Frodo took only Sting; and his mail-coat, as Bilbo wished, remained hidden. Gandalf bore his staff, but girt at his side
我坐在火邊，思念著遠古的人們，以及那些將會看見我永不得見的世界的人們。但當我坐著思索過往的時光，我總是在傾聽，盼著門邊響起歸來的腳步與話語。 那是十二月底一個陰冷灰暗的日子。東風穿過樹木光禿的枝椏，在山丘上深色的松林間呼嘯。破碎的雲朵在頭頂上匆匆掠過，又黑又低。當傍晚時分淒涼的陰影開始降臨時，遠征隊準備出發了。他們要在黃昏時動身，因為愛隆建議他們盡可能在夜色的掩護下前行，直到他們遠離瑞文戴爾為止。「你們應該害怕索倫爪牙的眾多眼睛，」他說。「我毫不懷疑，黑騎士的挫敗消息已經傳到他那裡，他必定怒火中燒。很快地，他那些步行和飛行的間諜就會遍布北方大地。即使是你們頭頂上的天空，你們在路上也必須提防。」 遠征隊幾乎沒帶什麼作戰裝備，因為他們的希望在於秘密行動，而非戰鬥。亞拉岡除了安都瑞爾外沒有其他武器，他穿著一身鏽綠色和棕色的舊衣，就像一名荒野的遊俠。波羅莫有一把長劍，樣式與安都瑞爾相似，但血統遠不及後者，他還帶著一面盾和他的戰號。「它在山谷中響亮而清晰，」他說，「屆時讓所有剛鐸的敵人逃之夭夭吧！」他將號角放到唇邊，吹出一陣響亮的號聲，回音在岩石間跳躍，所有在瑞文戴爾聽到這聲音的人都驚得站了起來。「波羅莫，你再次吹響那號角時應當慎重，」愛隆說，「直到你再次站在你的國土邊境，且身處極度危難之中。」「也許吧，」波羅莫說。「但我總是在出發時吹響我的號角，儘管此後我們可能行走在陰影中，我也不會像夜裡的盜賊一樣出發。」 矮人金靂是唯一公開穿著一件鋼環短衫的人，因為矮人不在乎重負；他的腰帶上掛著一把寬刃斧。勒苟拉斯有一張弓和一袋箭，腰帶上掛著一把長長的白刃小刀。年輕的哈比人佩戴著他們從古墓中取得的劍；但佛羅多只帶了刺針；而他的鎖子甲，如比爾博所願，仍然藏而不露。甘道夫帶著他的法杖，但腰間也佩著劍。
280 THE LORD OF THE RINGS was the elven-sword Glamdring, the mate of Orcrist that lay now upon the breast of Thorin under the Lonely Mountain. All were well furnished by Elrond with thick warm clothes, and they had jackets and cloaks lined with fur. Spare food and clothes and blankets and other needs were laden on a pony, none other than the poor beast that they had brought from Bree. The stay in Rivendell had worked a great wonder of change on him: he was glossy and seemed to have the vigour of youth. It was Sam who had insisted on choosing him, declaring that Bill (as he called him) would pine, if he did not come. ‘That animal can nearly talk,’ he said, ‘and would talk, if he stayed here much longer. He gave me a look as plain as Mr. Pippin could speak it: if you don’t let me go with you, Sam, I'll follow on my own.’ So Bill was going as the beast of burden, yet he was the only member of the Company that did not seem depressed. Their farewells had been said in the great hall by the fire, and they were only waiting now for Gandalf, who had not yet come out of the house. A gleam of firelight came from the open doors, and soft lights were glowing in many windows. Bilbo huddled in a cloak stood silent on the doorstep beside Frodo. Aragorn sat with his head bowed to his knees; only Elrond knew fully what this hour meant to him. The others could be seen as grey shapes in the darkness. Sam was standing by the pony, sucking his teeth, and staring moodily into the gloom where the river roared stonily below; his desire for adventure was at its lowest ebb. ‘Bill, my lad,’ he said, ‘you oughtn’t to have took up with us. You could have stayed here and et the best hay till the new grass comes.’ Bill swished his tail and said nothing. Sam eased the pack on his shoulders, and went over anxiously in his mind all the things that he had stowed in it, wondering if he had forgotten anything: his chief treasure, his cooking gear; and the little box of salt that he always carried and refilled when he could; a good supply of pipe-weed (but not near enough, Pll warrant); flint and tinder; woollen hose; linen; various small belongings of his master’s that Frodo had forgotten and Sam had stowed to bring them out in triumph when they were called for. He went through them all. ‘Rope!’ he muttered. ‘No rope! And only last night you said to yourself: “Sam, what about a bit of rope? You’ll want it, if you haven’t got it.” Well, Pll want it. I can’t get it now.’ At that moment Elrond came out with Gandalf, and he called the Company to him. “This is my last word,’ he said in a low voice. “The Ring-bearer is setting out on the Quest of Mount Doom. On him
THE RING GOES SOUTH 281 alone is any charge laid: neither to cast away the Ring, nor to deliver it to any servant of the Enemy nor indeed to let any handle it, save members of the Company and the Council, and only then in gravest need. The others go with him as free companions, to help him on his way. You may tarry, or come back, or turn aside into other paths, as chance allows. The further you go, the less easy will it be to withdraw; yet no oath or bond is laid on you to go further than you will. For you do not yet know the strength of your hearts, and you cannot foresee what each may meet upon the road.’ ‘Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens,’ said Gimli. ‘Maybe,’ said Elrond, ‘but let him not vow to walk in the dark, who has not seen the nightfall.’ “Yet sworn word may strengthen quaking heart,’ said Gimli. ‘Or break it,’ said Elrond. ‘Look not too far ahead! But go now with good hearts! Farewell, and may the blessing of Elves and Men and all Free Folk go with you. May the stars shine upon your faces!’ ‘Good ... good luck!’ cried Bilbo, stuttering with the cold. ‘I don’t suppose you will be able to keep a diary, Frodo my lad, but I shall expect a full account when you get back. And don’t be too long! Farewell!’ Many others of Elrond’s household stood in the shadows and watched them go, bidding them farewell with soft voices. There was no laughter, and no song or music. At last they turned away and faded silently into the dusk. They crossed the bridge and wound slowly up the long steep paths that led out of the cloven vale of Rivendell; and they came at length to the high moor where the wind hissed through the heather. Then with one glance at the Last Homely House twinkling below them they strode away far into the night. At the Ford of Bruinen they left the Road and turning southwards went on by narrow paths among the folded lands. Their purpose was to hold this course west of the Mountains for many miles and days. The country was much rougher and more barren than in the green vale of the Great River in Wilderland on the other side of the range, and their going would be slow; but they hoped in this way to escape the notice of unfriendly eyes. The spies of Sauron had hitherto seldom been seen in this empty country, and the paths were little known except to the people of Rivendell. Gandalf walked in front, and with him went Aragorn, who knew this land even in the dark. The others were in file behind, and Legolas whose eyes were keen was the rearguard. The first part of their journey
282 THE LORD OF THE RINGS was hard and dreary, and Frodo remembered little of it, save the wind. For many sunless days an icy blast came from the Mountains in the east, and no garment seemed able to keep out its searching fingers. Though the Company was well clad, they seldom felt warm, either moving or at rest. They slept uneasily during the middle of the day, in some hollow of the land, or hidden under the tangled thorn-bushes that grew in thickets in many places. In the late afternoon they were roused by the watch, and took their chief meal: cold and cheerless as a rule, for they could seldom risk the lighting of a fire. In the evening they went on again, always as nearly southward as they could find a way. At first it seemed to the hobbits that although they walked and stumbled until they were weary, they were creeping forward like snails, and getting nowhere. Each day the land looked much the same as it had the day before. Yet steadily the mountains were drawing nearer. South of Rivendell they rose ever higher, and bent westwards; and about the feet of the main range there was tumbled an ever wider land of bleak hills, and deep valleys filled with turbulent waters. Paths were few and winding, and led them often only to the edge of some sheer fall, or down into treacherous swamps. They had been a fortnight on the way when the weather changed. The wind suddenly fell and then veered round to the south. The swift-flowing clouds lifted and melted away, and the sun came out, pale and bright. There came a cold clear dawn at the end of a long stumbling night-march. The travellers reached a low ridge crowned with ancient holly-trees whose grey-green trunks seemed to have been built out of the very stone of the hills. Their dark leaves shone and their berries glowed red in the light of the rising sun. Away in the south Frodo could see the dim shapes of lofty mountains that seemed now to stand across the path that the Company was taking. At the left of this high range rose three peaks; the tallest and nearest stood up like a tooth tipped with snow; its great, bare, northern precipice was still largely in the shadow, but where the sunlight slanted upon it, it glowed red. Gandalf stood at Frodo’s side and looked out under his hand. ‘We have done well,’ he said. ‘We have reached the borders of the country that Men call Hollin; many Elves lived here in happier days, when Eregion was its name. Five-and-forty leagues as the crow flies we have come, though many long miles further our feet have walked. The land and the weather will be milder now, but perhaps all the more dangerous.’ ‘Dangerous or not, a real sunrise is mighty welcome,’ said Frodo, throwing back his hood and letting the morning light fall on his face.
這段路途艱辛而沉悶，佛羅多對此記憶模糊，只記得那陣風。一連許多個無日之天，一股刺骨的寒風從東邊的山脈吹來，似乎沒有任何衣物能擋住它那無孔不入的手指。雖然遠征隊衣著精良，但無論是行走還是休息，他們都鮮少感到溫暖。他們在中午時分，在某個窪地裡，或躲在隨處可見的、長成灌木叢的糾結荊棘下，不安地睡上一覺。傍晚時分，他們被守衛喚醒，吃他們的主餐：通常是又冷又無趣的食物，因為他們很難冒險生火。到了晚上，他們再次上路，總是盡可能地朝南走。起初，哈比人們覺得，雖然他們走到筋疲力盡、踉踉蹌蹌，卻像蝸牛一樣緩慢爬行，似乎哪兒也沒去成。每一天的地貌看起來都和前一天差不多。然而，山脈卻穩定地越來越近了。在瑞文戴爾以南，山勢愈發高聳，並向西彎曲；在主山脈的腳下，是一片越來越寬廣的荒涼丘陵和深谷，谷中充滿了洶湧的溪流。路徑稀少而曲折，常常只把他們引到某個懸崖峭壁的邊緣，或帶入危機四伏的沼澤。他們在路上走了兩週後，天氣變了。風突然停了，然後轉為南風。快速流動的雲層散去融化，太陽出來了，蒼白而明亮。在一個漫長而顛簸的夜行軍之後，迎來了一個寒冷晴朗的黎明。旅人們抵達一個低矮的山脊，上面長滿了古老的冬青樹，它們灰綠色的樹幹彷彿就是由山丘的石頭本身建造而成。在朝陽的光芒下，它們深色的葉子閃閃發光，漿果則發出紅色的光芒。在南方的遠處，佛羅多可以看到連綿高山的模糊輪廓，那些山現在似乎橫亙在遠征隊前行的道路上。在這片高聳山脈的左側，升起了三座山峰；最高、最近的那座像一顆頂上覆雪的牙齒；它那巨大、光禿的北面懸崖大部分還在陰影中，但陽光斜照之處，則閃耀著紅光。甘道夫站在佛羅多身邊，手搭在額前向外望去。「我們走得不錯，」他說。「我們已經到達了人類稱之為『冬青郡』的國度邊界；在更幸福的日子裡，許多精靈曾住在這裡，那時它的名字是『伊瑞詹』。我們走了四十五里格的直線距離，雖然我們的雙腳走過了更長許多的哩路。現在土地和天氣會溫和一些，但也許會更加危險。」「危險與否，一個真正的日出都是極受歡迎的，」佛羅多說，他掀開兜帽，讓晨光灑在臉上。
THE RING GOES SOUTH 283 ‘But the mountains are ahead of us,’ said Pippin. ‘We must have turned eastwards in the night.’ ‘No,’ said Gandalf. ‘But you see further ahead in the clear light. Beyond those peaks the range bends round south-west. There are many maps in Elrond’s house, but I suppose you never thought to look at them?’ “Yes I did, sometimes,’ said Pippin, ‘but I don’t remember them. Frodo has a better head for that sort of thing.’ ‘I need no map,’ said Gimli, who had come up with Legolas, and was gazing out before him with a strange light in his deep eyes. “There is the land where our fathers worked of old, and we have wrought the image of those mountains into many works of metal and of stone, and into many songs and tales. They stand tall in our dreams: Baraz, Zirak, Shathtr. ‘Only once before have I seen them from afar in waking life, but I know them and their names, for under them lies Khazad-dtim, the Dwarrowdelf, that is now called the Black Pit, Moria in the Elvish tongue. Yonder stands Barazinbar, the Redhorn, cruel Caradhras; and beyond him are Silvertine and Cloudyhead: Celebdil the White, and Fanuidhol the Grey, that we call Zirakzigil and Bundushathtr. “There the Misty Mountains divide, and between their arms lies the deep-shadowed valley which we cannot forget: Azanulbizar, the Dimrill Dale, which the Elves call Nanduhirion.’ ‘It is for the Dimrill Dale that we are making,’ said Gandalf. ‘If we climb the pass that is called the Redhorn Gate, under the far side of Caradhras, we shall come down by the Dimrill Stair into the deep vale of the Dwarves. There lies the Mirrormere, and there the River Silverlode rises in its icy springs.’ ‘Dark is the water of Kheled-zaram,’ said Gimli, ‘and cold are the springs of Kibil-nala. My heart trembles at the thought that I may see them soon.’ ‘May you have joy of the sight, my good dwarf!’ said Gandalf. ‘But whatever you may do, we at least cannot stay in that valley. We must go down the Silverlode into the secret woods, and so to the Great River, and then: s He paused. “Yes, and where then?’ asked Merry. “To the end of the journey — in the end,’ said Gandalf. ‘We cannot look too far ahead. Let us be glad that the first stage is safely over. I think we will rest here, not only today but tonight as well. There is a wholesome air about Hollin. Much evil must befall a country before it wholly forgets the Elves, if once they dwelt there.’ “That is true,’ said Legolas. ‘But the Elves of this land were of a race strange to us of the silvan folk, and the trees and the grass do
「可是山就在我們前面，」皮聘說。「我們夜裡一定是轉向東了。」「不，」甘道夫說。「只是在明朗的光線下你看得更遠了。越過那些山峰，山脈會轉向西南。愛隆的家裡有很多地圖，但我猜你從沒想過去看一看？」「不，我有時候會看，」皮聘說，「但我不記得了。佛羅多對那類事情的頭腦比較好。」「我不需要地圖，」金靂說，他跟勒苟拉斯一起走了過來，用一種奇異的光芒凝視著前方。「那裡是我們父輩昔日勞作的土地，我們已將那些山脈的形象鑄入許多金石作品，也融入許多詩歌與傳說。它們高聳在我們的夢中：巴拉茲、齊拉克、沙瑟爾。「我此生只在清醒時遠眺過它們一次，但我認得它們和它們的名字，因為在它們底下，就是卡薩督姆，矮人深谷，如今被稱為黑坑，精靈語中叫摩瑞亞。遠處矗立著巴拉辛巴，紅角，殘酷的卡蘭拉斯；它後面是銀峰和雲頂：白色的凱勒迪爾，與灰色的法努伊多，我們稱之為齊拉克西吉爾和班都沙舒爾。「在那裡，迷霧山脈分岔，兩臂之間是我們無法忘懷的幽深山谷：阿薩努比薩，暗影谷，精靈們稱之為南都西理安。」「我們正是要前往暗影谷，」甘道夫說。「如果我們攀上那道稱為紅角門的山隘，在卡蘭拉斯的另一側，我們就能沿著暗影之階下到矮人的深谷。那裡有鏡湖，銀脈河冰冷的源頭也發源於此。」「凱薩督姆湖的水色幽暗，」金靂說，「奇比爾納拉的泉水冰冷。一想到我或許很快就能見到它們，我的心就為之顫動。」「願你得見此景而喜悅，我善良的矮人！」甘道夫說。「但無論你做什麼，我們至少不能留在那個山谷。我們必須沿著銀脈河順流而下，進入秘密的森林，然後到大河，接著……」他頓了一下。「是的，然後去哪裡？」梅里問。「到旅程的終點——最終，」甘道夫說。「我們不能看得太遠。讓我們為第一階段已安全結束而高興吧。我想我們要在這裡休息，不只今天，今晚也是。和林這一帶有種有益健康的氣息。一個地方在徹底遺忘精靈之前，必定要遭遇許多不幸，如果精靈曾經在那裡居住過的話。」「那倒是真的，」勒苟拉斯說。「但這片土地的精靈，對我們這些森林居民來說，是個陌生的族類，而這些樹木和青草也……」
284 THE LORD OF THE RINGS not now remember them. Only I hear the stones lament them: deep they delved us, fair they wrought us, high they builded us; but they are gone. They are gone. They sought the Havens long ago.’ That morning they lit a fire in a deep hollow shrouded by great bushes of holly, and their supper-breakfast was merrier than it had been since they set out. They did not hurry to bed afterwards, for they expected to have all the night to sleep in, and they did not mean to go on again until the evening of the next day. Only Aragorn was silent and restless. After a while he left the Company and wandered on to the ridge; there he stood in the shadow of a tree, looking out southwards and westwards, with his head posed as if he was listening. Then he returned to the brink of the dell and looked down at the others laughing and talking. ‘What is the matter, Strider?’ Merry called up. ‘What are you looking for? Do you miss the East Wind?’ ‘No indeed,’ he answered. ‘But I miss something. I have been in the country of Hollin in many seasons. No folk dwell here now, but many other creatures live here at all times, especially birds. Yet now all things but you are silent. I can feel it. There is no sound for miles about us, and your voices seem to make the ground echo. I do not understand it.’ Gandalf looked up with sudden interest. ‘But what do you guess is the reason?’ he asked. ‘Is there more in it than surprise at seeing four hobbits, not to mention the rest of us, where people are so seldom seen or heard?’ ‘I hope that is it,’ answered Aragorn. ‘But I have a sense of watchfulness, and of fear, that I have never had here before.’ “Then we must be more careful,’ said Gandalf. ‘If you bring a Ranger with you, it is well to pay attention to him, especially if the Ranger is Aragorn. We must stop talking aloud, rest quietly, and set the watch.’ It was Sam’s turn that day to take the first watch, but Aragorn joined him. The others fell asleep. Then the silence grew until even Sam felt it. The breathing of the sleepers could be plainly heard. The swish of the pony’s tail and the occasional movements of his feet became loud noises. Sam could hear his own joints creaking, if he stirred. Dead silence was around him, and over all hung a clear blue sky, as the Sun rode up from the East. Away in the South a dark patch appeared, and grew, and drove north like flying smoke in the wind. ‘What’s that, Strider? It don’t look like a cloud,’ said Sam in a whisper to Aragorn. He made no answer, he was gazing intently at the
那天早上，他們在冬青大樹叢遮蔽的深窪地裡生了火，他們的晚餐兼早餐比出發以來任何一餐都更愉快。之後他們沒有急著上床，因為他們預期能睡上一整夜，而且不打算在第二天傍晚前再次上路。只有亞拉岡沉默不安。過了一會兒，他離開隊伍，獨自漫步到山脊上；他站在一棵樹的陰影下，望向南方和西方，側著頭像是在傾聽什麼。然後他回到深谷邊緣，低頭看著其他人笑談著。「怎麼了，神行客？」梅里向上喊道。「你在找什麼？想念東風了嗎？」「不，當然不，」他回答。「但我想念某樣東西。我曾在許多季節到過冬青郡。現在這裡沒有人居住，但一直有許多其他生物棲息，特別是鳥類。但現在除了你們，萬物俱寂。我能感覺到。方圓數里內沒有任何聲音，而你們的聲音似乎讓大地迴響。我不明白。」甘道夫突然感興趣地抬起頭。「但你猜是什麼原因？」他問。「難道不只是因為在人跡罕至的地方，看到四個哈比人，更別提我們其他人，而感到驚訝嗎？」「我希望是這樣，」亞拉岡回答。「但我有一種警惕和恐懼的感覺，這是我以前從未在這裡有過的。」「那我們必須更加小心，」甘道夫說。「如果你帶了一位遊俠同行，最好聽他的話，特別是當這位遊俠是亞拉岡時。我們必須停止大聲說話，安靜休息，並安排守衛。」那天輪到山姆值第一班崗，但亞拉岡加入了他的行列。其他人則睡著了。接著，寂靜加深，連山姆都感覺到了。沉睡者的呼吸聲清晰可聞。小馬尾巴的颼颼聲和他偶爾移動腳步的聲音都變成了巨響。山姆只要一動，就能聽到自己關節的嘎吱聲。他周圍一片死寂，頭頂上是萬里無雲的藍天，太陽正從東方升起。遠方的南方出現了一塊黑斑，不斷擴大，並像風中的飛煙一樣向北驅進。「那是什麼，神行客？它看起來不像雲，」山姆對亞拉岡低聲說。他沒有回答，只是專注地凝視著
THE RING GOES SOUTH 285 sky; but before long Sam could see for himself what was approaching. Flocks of birds, flying at great speed, were wheeling and circling, and traversing all the land as if they were searching for something; and they were steadily drawing nearer. ‘Lie flat and still!’ hissed Aragorn, pulling Sam down into the shade of a holly-bush; for a whole regiment of birds had broken away suddenly from the main host, and came, flying low, straight towards the ridge. Sam thought they were a kind of crow of large size. As they passed overhead, in so dense a throng that their shadow followed them darkly over the ground below, one harsh croak was heard. Not until they had dwindled into the distance, north and west, and the sky was again clear would Aragorn rise. Then he sprang up and went and wakened Gandalf. ‘Regiments of black crows are flying over all the land between the Mountains and the Greyflood,’ he said, ‘and they have passed over Hollin. They are not natives here; they are crebain out of Fangorn and Dunland. I do not know what they are about: possibly there is some trouble away south from which they are fleeing; but I think they are spying out the land. I have also glimpsed many hawks flying high up in the sky. I think we ought to move again this evening. Hollin is no longer wholesome for us: it is being watched.’ ‘And in that case so is the Redhorn Gate,’ said Gandalf; ‘and how we can get over that without being seen, I cannot imagine. But we will think of that when we must. As for moving as soon as it is dark, I am afraid that you are right.’ ‘Luckily our fire made little smoke, and had burned low before the crebain came,’ said Aragorn. ‘It must be put out and not lit again.’ ‘Well if that isn’t a plague and a nuisance!’ said Pippin. The news: no fire, and a move again by night, had been broken to him, as soon as he woke in the late afternoon. ‘All because of a pack of crows! I had looked forward to a real good meal tonight: something hot.’ ‘Well, you can go on looking forward,’ said Gandalf. “There may be many unexpected feasts ahead for you. For myself I should like a pipe to smoke in comfort, and warmer feet. However, we are certain of one thing at any rate: it will get warmer as we get south.’ “Too warm, I shouldn’t wonder,’ muttered Sam to Frodo. ‘But I’m beginning to think it’s time we got a sight of that Fiery Mountain, and saw the end of the Road, so to speak. I thought at first that this here Redhorn, or whatever its name is, might be it, till Gimli spoke his piece. A fair jaw-cracker dwarf-language must be!’ Maps conveyed nothing to Sam’s mind, and all distances in these strange lands seemed so vast that he was quite out of his reckoning. All that day the Company remained in hiding. The dark birds
天空一片清朗；但沒過多久，山姆親眼看到了正在逼近的東西。成群的鳥兒高速飛行，盤旋環繞，橫越整片大地，彷彿在尋找什麼；牠們正穩定地朝他們靠近。「平躺著別動！」亞拉岡嘶聲說，把山姆拉到一棵冬青樹的樹蔭下；因為有一整隊的鳥兒突然脫離了主隊，低飛著直朝山脊而來。山姆覺得牠們是一種體型很大的烏鴉。當牠們從頭頂飛過時，密集得如同一大群，影子在下方的地面上投下了一片黑暗，只聽見一聲刺耳的嘎叫。直到牠們縮小成遠方的點，消失在西北方，天空再次清朗，亞拉岡才起身。然後他跳起來，走過去叫醒甘道夫。「成群的黑烏鴉正飛越山脈與灰水河之間的所有土地，」他說，「牠們已經飛過了冬青郡。牠們不是這裡的原生鳥類；牠們是來自法貢森林和登蘭德的克拉班。我不知道牠們在做什麼：也許是南方發生了什麼麻煩，牠們正在逃離；但我認為牠們在偵察這片土地。我也瞥見許多老鷹在高空中飛翔。我想我們今晚應該再次動身。冬青郡對我們不再安全了：它正被監視著。」「那樣的話，紅角隘口也是，」甘道夫說，「我們要怎麼在不被看見的情況下越過那裡，我無法想像。但我們到時候再想辦法吧。至於天一黑就動身，恐怕你是對的。」「幸運的是，我們的火幾乎沒什麼煙，在克拉班來之前就已經燒得很微弱了，」亞拉岡說。「必須把它熄滅，而且不能再點燃。」「唉，這要不是瘟疫，也真是個大麻煩！」皮聘說。傍晚他醒來時，就被告知了這個消息：不能生火，而且晚上又要趕路。「全都是為了一群烏鴉！我還一直期待今晚能好好吃一頓呢：來點熱的。」「嗯，你可以繼續期待，」甘道夫說。「未來可能還有很多意想不到的盛宴等著你。至於我，我希望能舒服地抽斗煙，讓腳暖和一點。不過，我們至少可以確定一件事：越往南走會越暖和。」「我看不止是暖和，恐怕是太熱了，」山姆對佛羅多咕噥道。「但我開始覺得，是時候讓我們見識一下那座烈焰火山，看看這條路的盡頭了，可以這麼說吧。我一開始還以為這座紅角山，或不管它叫什麼名字，可能就是那座山，直到金靂說了他的看法。矮人語想必是相當拗口難念的！」地圖對山姆的腦袋來說毫無意義，而這些陌生土地上的所有距離似乎都如此遙遠，讓他完全超出了估算能力。那天一整天，遠征隊都躲藏著。那些黑色的鳥兒
286 THE LORD OF THE RINGS passed over now and again; but as the westering Sun grew red they disappeared southwards. At dusk the Company set out, and turning now half east they steered their course towards Caradhras, which far away still glowed faintly red in the last light of the vanished Sun. One by one white stars sprang forth as the sky faded. Guided by Aragorn they struck a good path. It looked to Frodo like the remains of an ancient road, that had once been broad and well planned, from Hollin to the mountain-pass. The Moon, now at the full, rose over the mountains, and cast a pale light in which the shadows of stones were black. Many of them looked to have been worked by hands, though now they lay tumbled and ruinous in a bleak, barren land. It was the cold chill hour before the first stir of dawn, and the moon was low. Frodo looked up at the sky. Suddenly he saw or felt a shadow pass over the high stars, as if for a moment they faded and then flashed out again. He shivered. ‘Did you see anything pass over?’ he whispered to Gandalf, who was just ahead. ‘No, but I felt it, whatever it was,’ he answered. ‘It may be nothing, only a wisp of thin cloud.’ ‘It was moving fast then,’ muttered Aragorn, ‘and not with the wind.’ Nothing further happened that night. The next morning dawned even brighter than before. But the air was chill again; already the wind was turning back towards the east. For two more nights they marched on, climbing steadily but ever more slowly as their road wound up into the hills, and the mountains towered up, nearer and nearer. On the third morning Caradhras rose before them, a mighty peak, tipped with snow like silver, but with sheer naked sides, dull red as if stained with blood. There was a black look in the sky, and the sun was wan. The wind had gone now round to the north-east. Gandalf snuffed the air and looked back. ‘Winter deepens behind us,’ he said quietly to Aragorn. “The heights away north are whiter than they were; snow is lying far down their shoulders. Tonight we shall be on our way high up towards the Redhorn Gate. We may well be seen by watchers on that narrow path, and waylaid by some evil; but the weather may prove a more deadly enemy than any. What do you think of your course now, Aragorn?’ Frodo overheard these words, and understood that Gandalf and Aragorn were continuing some debate that had begun long before. He listened anxiously.
……不時飛掠而過；但隨著西沉的太陽漸紅，牠們便朝南消失了。黃昏時分，遠征隊出發了，他們轉向偏東，朝著卡蘭拉斯峰前進，遠方那山峰在消逝的太陽餘暉中，依舊泛著微弱的紅光。夜空漸暗，一顆顆白星迸現而出。在亞拉岡的帶領下，他們踏上了一條好走的路。在佛羅多看來，這像是一條古道的遺跡，曾經寬闊且規劃良好，從冬青郡一路通往山隘。此刻正圓的月亮從群山後升起，灑下蒼白的光，將石頭的影子映得漆黑。許多石頭看起來都曾被人工雕琢過，儘管如今它們散落倒塌、如同廢墟，躺在這片淒涼貧瘠的土地上。時值黎明前第一絲動靜前的寒冷時刻，月亮也已低垂。佛羅多仰望天空。突然，他看見或感覺到一個影子掠過高空的星辰，彷彿星星們在那一瞬間黯淡了，隨即又閃亮起來。他打了個寒顫。「你有看到什麼東西飛過去嗎？」他對走在前面的甘道夫低語道。「沒有，但我感覺到了，不管那是什麼，」他回答。「可能什麼都不是，只是一縷薄雲罷了。」「那它動得可真快，」亞拉岡咕噥道，「而且不是順著風。」那晚再沒發生什麼事。隔天早晨的天光比前一天更亮。但空氣再度變得寒冷；風已經轉回東向。他們又走了兩個晚上，穩定地向上攀爬，但隨著道路蜿蜒入山，速度也越來越慢，而群山則高聳矗立，越來越近。第三天早晨，卡蘭拉斯峰聳立在他們眼前，那是一座雄偉的山峰，頂上覆雪如銀，但兩側卻是陡峭裸露的岩壁，呈暗紅色，彷彿被血染過。天空看起來黑沉沉的，太陽也黯淡無光。風現在已轉為東北風。甘道夫吸了吸鼻子，嗅著空氣，然後回頭望。「冬天在我們身後加深了，」他輕聲對亞拉岡說。「北方遠處的高地比之前更白了；積雪已經覆蓋到很低的山肩上。今晚我們就要往高處的紅角隘口走了。在那條窄路上，我們很可能會被監視者看見，並被某些邪惡之物伏擊；但天氣可能會是比任何敵人都更致命的敵人。你現在對你的路線有什麼看法，亞拉岡？」佛羅多無意間聽到了這些話，明白甘道夫和亞拉岡正在繼續他們早已開始的某場辯論。他焦慮地聽著。
THE RING GOES SOUTH 287 ‘I think no good of our course from beginning to end, as you know well, Gandalf,’ answered Aragorn. ‘And perils known and unknown will grow as we go on. But we must go on; and it is no good our delaying the passage of the mountains. Further south there are no passes, till one comes to the Gap of Rohan. I do not trust that way since your news of Saruman. Who knows which side now the marshals of the Horse-lords serve?’ ‘Who knows indeed!’ said Gandalf. ‘But there is another way, and not by the pass of Caradhras: the dark and secret way that we have spoken of.’ ‘But let us not speak of it again! Not yet. Say nothing to the others, I beg, not until it is plain that there is no other way.’ ‘We must decide before we go further,’ answered Gandalf. “Then let us weigh the matter in our minds, while the others rest and sleep,’ said Aragorn. In the late afternoon, while the others were finishing their breakfast, Gandalf and Aragorn went aside together and stood looking at Caradhras. Its sides were now dark and sullen, and its head was in grey cloud. Frodo watched them, wondering which way the debate would go. When they returned to the Company Gandalf spoke, and then he knew that it had been decided to face the weather and the high pass. He was relieved. He could not guess what was the other dark and secret way, but the very mention of it had seemed to fill Aragorn with dismay, and Frodo was glad that it had been abandoned. ‘From signs that we have seen lately,’ said Gandalf, ‘I fear that the Redhorn Gate may be watched; and also I have doubts of the weather that is coming up behind. Snow may come. We must go with all the speed that we can. Even so it will take us more than two marches before we reach the top of the pass. Dark will come early this evening. We must leave as soon as you can get ready.’ ‘I will add a word of advice, if I may,’ said Boromir. ‘I was born under the shadow of the White Mountains and know something of journeys in the high places. We shall meet bitter cold, if no worse, before we come down on the other side. It will not help us to keep so secret that we are frozen to death. When we leave here, where there are still a few trees and bushes, each of us should carry a faggot of wood, as large as he can bear.’ ‘And Bill could take a bit more, couldn’t you, lad?’ said Sam. The pony looked at him mournfully. ‘Very well,’ said Gandalf. ‘But we must not use the wood — not unless it is a choice between fire and death.’ PS BS
「甘道夫，你很清楚，我從頭到尾都不看好我們這條路，」亞拉岡回答。「而且我們越往前走，已知和未知的危險就會越多。但我們必須繼續前進；拖延翻越山脈的時間沒有好處。再往南就沒有其他通道了，直到羅翰隘口。自從你帶來薩魯曼的消息後，我便不信任那條路。誰知道馬王的將軍們現在效忠哪一方？」「確實誰也不知道！」甘道夫說。「但還有另一條路，不是經由卡蘭拉斯隘口：就是我們提過的那條黑暗而秘密的道路。」「但我們先別再提它了！還不是時候。我求你，在確定別無他法之前，什麼都別跟其他人說。」「我們必須在繼續前進之前做出決定，」甘道夫回答。「那麼，趁其他人休息睡覺時，讓我們在心裡好好權衡一下吧，」亞拉岡說。傍晚時分，當其他人正吃完他們的早餐時，甘道夫和亞拉岡走到一旁，一起站著凝視卡蘭拉斯山。山腰此刻顯得陰暗而沉鬱，山頂則籠罩在灰雲之中。佛羅多看著他們，心想這場辯論會往哪個方向發展。當他們回到遠征隊時，甘道夫開口了，佛羅多這才知道他們已決定要面對惡劣的天氣和高聳的隘口。他鬆了一口氣。他猜不到那另一條黑暗秘密的道路是什麼，但光是提起它似乎就讓亞拉岡充滿了沮喪，佛羅多很高興他們放棄了那個選擇。「根據我們最近看到的跡象，」甘道夫說，「我擔心紅角隘口可能受到監視；而且我也對後頭跟上來的天氣有所懷疑。可能會下雪。我們必須盡全力加速前進。即便如此，我們也需要超過兩天的行軍才能到達隘口頂端。今晚天會很早就黑。你們一準備好，我們就必須出發。」「如果可以的話，我想補充一點建議，」波羅莫說。「我在白色山脈的陰影下出生，對高處的旅行略知一二。在我們下到另一邊之前，就算沒有更糟的情況，也將會遇到嚴寒。我們不能為了保密而把自己凍死。當我們離開這裡時，這裡還有一些樹木和灌木，我們每個人都應該盡可能背一捆木柴。」「比爾還可以再多背一點，對吧，小夥子？」山姆說。小馬哀怨地看著他。「很好，」甘道夫說。「但我們不能用這些木柴——除非是在火焰與死亡之間做選擇。」
288 THE LORD OF THE RINGS The Company set out again, with good speed at first; but soon their way became steep and difficult. The twisting and climbing road had in many places almost disappeared, and was blocked with many fallen stones. The night grew deadly dark under great clouds. A bitter wind swirled among the rocks. By midnight they had climbed to the knees of the great mountains. The narrow path now wound under a sheer wall of cliffs to the left, above which the grim flanks of Caradhras towered up invisible in the gloom; on the right was a gulf of darkness where the land fell suddenly into a deep ravine. Laboriously they climbed a sharp slope and halted for a moment at the top. Frodo felt a soft touch on his face. He put out his arm and saw the dim white flakes of snow settling on his sleeve. They went on. But before long the snow was falling fast, filling all the air, and swirling into Frodo’s eyes. The dark bent shapes of Gandalf and Aragorn only a pace or two ahead could hardly be seen. ‘I don’t like this at all,’ panted Sam just behind. ‘Snow’s all right on a fine morning, but I like to be in bed while it’s falling. I wish this lot would go off to Hobbiton! Folk might welcome it there.’ Except on the high moors of the Northfarthing a heavy fall was rare in the Shire, and was regarded as a pleasant event and a chance for fun. No living hobbit (save Bilbo) could remember the Fell Winter of 1311, when white wolves invaded the Shire over the frozen Brandywine. Gandalf halted. Snow was thick on his hood and shoulders; it was already ankle-deep about his boots. “This is what I feared,’ he said. ‘What do you say now, Aragorn?’ ‘That I feared it too,’ Aragorn answered, ‘but less than other things. I knew the risk of snow, though it seldom falls heavily so far south, save high up in the mountains. But we are not high yet; we are still far down, where the paths are usually open all the winter.’ ‘I wonder if this is a contrivance of the Enemy,’ said Boromir. “They say in my land that he can govern the storms in the Mountains of Shadow that stand upon the borders of Mordor. He has strange powers and many allies.’ ‘His arm has grown long indeed,’ said Gimli, ‘if he can draw snow down from the North to trouble us here three hundred leagues away.’ ‘His arm has grown long,’ said Gandalf. While they were halted, the wind died down, and the snow slackened until it almost ceased. They tramped on again. But they had not gone more than a furlong when the storm returned with fresh fury. The wind whistled and the snow became a blinding blizzard. Soon even Boromir found it hard to keep going. The hobbits, bent nearly double, toiled along behind the taller folk, but it was plain
遠征隊再次出發，起初速度很快；但不久他們的路就變得陡峭而艱難。那條蜿蜒攀升的道路在許多地方幾乎消失了，被無數落石堵塞。在厚重的雲層下，夜晚變得死寂般黑暗。刺骨的寒風在岩石間盤旋。到了午夜，他們已經爬到了大山膝蓋處的高度。狹窄的小徑現在沿著左側一道陡峭的懸崖蜿蜒，懸崖之上，卡蘭拉斯山嚴峻的山體高聳入雲，隱沒在陰鬱之中；右側則是一片黑暗的深淵，地勢驟然下降，形成一道深谷。他們費力地爬上一道險坡，在頂上稍作停留。佛羅多感覺到臉上有輕柔的觸感。他伸出手臂，看到昏暗的白色雪花正落在他的袖子上。他們繼續前行。但沒過多久，雪就下得又快又大，瀰漫在整個空氣中，並旋轉著鑽進佛羅多的眼睛。前方僅一兩步之遙的甘道夫和亞拉岡那黑暗的彎曲身影也幾乎看不見了。「我一點也不喜歡這樣，」山姆在後面氣喘吁吁地說。「在一個晴朗的早晨下雪倒是不錯，但我更喜歡雪花飄落時我還在床上。真希望這場雪能下到哈比屯去！那裡的人們或許會歡迎它。」除了北區的高地沼澤，夏爾很少下大雪，人們通常將其視為一件愉快的事和玩樂的機會。沒有一個在世的哈比人（除了比爾博）還記得1311年的嚴冬，那時白狼曾越過結冰的白蘭地河入侵夏爾。甘道夫停了下來。他的兜帽和肩膀上積了厚厚的雪；雪已經深及他靴子的腳踝處。「這正是我所擔憂的，」他說。「你現在怎麼說，亞拉岡？」「我也擔憂這個，」亞拉岡回答，「但比其他事情要輕一些。我知道有下雪的風險，雖然雪很少在這麼偏南的地方下得這麼大，除非是在高山上。但我們還沒到高處；我們還在很低的地方，這裡的路徑通常整個冬天都是開放的。」「我想知道這是不是敵人的詭計，」波羅莫說。「在我的家鄉，人們說他能控制矗立在魔多邊境上的黑影山脈裡的風暴。他有奇異的力量和許多盟友。」「他的手臂確實伸長了，」金靂說，「如果他能從三百里格之外的北方引來雪來這裡困擾我們的話。」「他的手臂是伸長了，」甘道夫說。他們停下時，風勢減弱，雪也放緩，直到幾乎停止。他們又艱難地繼續前行。但他們走了不到一弗隆，暴風雪便以新的狂暴之勢捲土重來。狂風呼嘯，大雪變成了使人目盲的暴風雪。很快，就連波羅莫也覺得難以前行。哈比人們幾乎彎成了兩半，在高個子們身後艱難地跋涉，但很明顯
THE RING GOES SOUTH 289 that they could not go much further, if the snow continued. Frodo’s feet felt like lead. Pippin was dragging behind. Even Gimli, as stout as any dwarf could be, was grumbling as he trudged. The Company halted suddenly, as if they had come to an agreement without any words being spoken. They heard eerie noises in the darkness round them. It may have been only a trick of the wind in the cracks and gullies of the rocky wall, but the sounds were those of shrill cries, and wild howls of laughter. Stones began to fall from the mountain-side, whistling over their heads, or crashing on the path beside them. Every now and again they heard a dull rumble, as a great boulder rolled down from hidden heights above. ‘We cannot go further tonight,’ said Boromir. ‘Let those call it the wind who will; there are fell voices on the air; and these stones are aimed at us.’ ‘I do call it the wind,’ said Aragorn. ‘But that does not make what you say untrue. There are many evil and unfriendly things in the world that have little love for those that go on two legs, and yet are not in league with Sauron, but have purposes of their own. Some have been in this world longer than he.’ ‘Caradhras was called the Cruel, and had an ill name,’ said Gimli, ‘long years ago, when rumour of Sauron had not been heard in these lands.’ ‘It matters little who is the enemy, if we cannot beat off his attack,’ said Gandalf. ‘But what can we do?’ cried Pippin miserably. He was leaning on Merry and Frodo, and he was shivering. ‘Either stop where we are, or go back,’ said Gandalf. ‘It is no good going on. Only a little higher, if I remember rightly, this path leaves the cliff and runs into a wide shallow trough at the bottom of a long hard slope. We should have no shelter there from snow, or stones — or anything else.’ ‘And it is no good going back while the storm holds,’ said Aragorn. ‘We have passed no place on the way up that offered more shelter than this cliff-wall we are under now.’ ‘Shelter!’ muttered Sam. ‘If this is shelter, then one wall and no roof make a house.’ The Company now gathered together as close to the cliff as they could. It faced southwards, and near the bottom it leaned out a little, so that they hoped it would give them some protection from the northerly wind and from the falling stones. But eddying blasts swirled round them from every side, and the snow flowed down in ever denser clouds. They huddled together with their backs to the wall. Bill the pony
如果雪再這樣下，他們就走不了多遠了。佛羅多的雙腳感覺像灌了鉛一樣沉重。皮聘拖著腳步跟在後面。就連吉姆利，一個最為強壯的矮人，也在跋涉中抱怨連連。遠征隊突然停了下來，彷彿大家不言而喻地達成了共識。他們聽到周遭的黑暗中傳來詭異的聲響。也許那只是風吹過岩壁裂縫和溝壑的把戲，但那些聲音聽起來像是尖銳的哭喊和狂野的嚎笑。石頭開始從山腰上落下，從他們頭頂呼嘯而過，或砸在身旁的小徑上。他們時不時聽到沉悶的隆隆聲，那是一塊巨石從上方看不見的高處滾落下來。「今晚我們不能再前進了，」波羅莫說。「誰愛說那是風就去說吧；但空氣中有邪惡的聲音，而且這些石頭是衝著我們來的。」「我確實認為那是風，」亞拉岡說。「但那不代表你說的是錯的。世界上有很多邪惡和不友善的東西，牠們對兩條腿走路的生物沒什麼好感，卻也並未與索倫結盟，而是有自己的目的。有些存在於這個世界上的時間比他還要久。」「卡蘭拉斯山很早以前就被稱為『殘酷之山』，素有惡名，」吉姆利說，「那是在這片土地上還沒聽說過索倫傳聞的許多年以前。」「如果我們無法擊退攻擊，敵人是誰就無關緊要了。」甘道夫說。「但我們能怎麼辦？」皮聘痛苦地喊道。他倚靠著梅里和佛羅多，不停地發抖。「要嘛停在原地，要嘛回去。」甘道夫說。「繼續前進沒有好處。如果我沒記錯，再往上走一點，這條路就會離開懸崖，進入一道位於漫長陡坡底部的寬闊淺溝。我們在那裡將無處躲避雪、石頭——或其他任何東西。」「而且暴風雪不停，回去也沒用。」亞拉岡說。「我們上山途中經過的地方，沒有一處比我們現在所在的這面崖壁更能提供遮蔽了。」「遮蔽處！」山姆咕噥道。「如果這也算遮蔽處，那一面牆沒有屋頂也能算房子了。」遠征隊現在盡可能地緊靠著懸崖聚集。崖壁朝南，底部稍微向外突出，所以他們希望這能為他們抵擋北風和落石提供一些保護。但是渦旋的狂風從四面八方襲來，雪也下得越來越密集。他們背靠著牆，擠在一起。小馬比爾
290 THE LORD OF THE RINGS stood patiently but dejectedly in front of the hobbits, and screened them a little; but before long the drifting snow was above his hocks, and it went on mounting. If they had had no larger companions the hobbits would soon have been entirely buried. A great sleepiness came over Frodo; he felt himself sinking fast into a warm and hazy dream. He thought a fire was heating his toes, and out of the shadows on the other side of the hearth he heard Bilbo’s voice speaking. I don’t think much of your diary, he said. Snowstorms on Fanuary the twelfth: there was no need to come back to report that! But I wanted rest and sleep, Bilbo, Frodo answered with an effort, when he felt himself shaken, and he came back painfully to wakefulness. Boromir had lifted him off the ground out of a nest of snow. ‘This will be the death of the halflings, Gandalf,’ said Boromir. ‘It is useless to sit here until the snow goes over our heads. We must do something to save ourselves.’ ‘Give them this,’ said Gandalf, searching in his pack and drawing out a leathern flask. ‘Just a mouthful each — for all of us. It is very precious. It is miruvor, the cordial of Imladris. Elrond gave it to me at our parting. Pass it round!’ As soon as Frodo had swallowed a little of the warm and fragrant liquor he felt a new strength of heart, and the heavy drowsiness left his limbs. The others also revived and found fresh hope and vigour. But the snow did not relent. It whirled about them thicker than ever, and the wind blew louder. ‘What do you say to fire?’ asked Boromir suddenly. “The choice seems near now between fire and death, Gandalf. Doubtless we shall be hidden from all unfriendly eyes when the snow has covered us, but that will not help us.’ “You may make a fire, if you can,’ answered Gandalf. ‘If there are any watchers that can endure this storm, then they can see us, fire or no.’ But though they had brought wood and kindlings by the advice of Boromir, it passed the skill of Elf or even Dwarf to strike a flame that would hold amid the swirling wind or catch in the wet fuel. At last reluctantly Gandalf himself took a hand. Picking up a faggot he held it aloft for a moment, and then with a word of command, naur an edraith ammen! he thrust the end of his staff into the midst of it. At once a great spout of green and blue flame sprang out, and the wood flared and sputtered. ‘If there are any to see, then J at least am revealed to them,’ he said. ‘I have written Gandalf is here in signs that all can read from Rivendell to the mouths of Anduin.’ But the Company cared no longer for watchers or unfriendly eyes. Their hearts were rejoiced to see the light of the fire. The wood
小馬耐心地站在哈比人面前，但神情沮喪，稍微為他們擋了點雪；但不久之後，飄來的雪已經淹過牠的飛節，並且持續堆高。如果沒有這些高大的同伴，哈比人恐怕很快就會被完全掩埋。一股強烈的睡意襲向佛羅多；他感覺自己正迅速沉入一個溫暖而朦朧的夢境。他以為有火在烘烤他的腳趾，並從壁爐另一邊的陰影中，聽見比爾博的聲音在說話。「我對你的日記評價不高，」他說。「一月十二日的暴風雪：根本沒必要回來報告這種事！」佛羅多費力地回答：「可是比爾博，我需要休息和睡眠。」這時他感覺到自己被搖晃，痛苦地回到清醒的狀態。是波羅莫把他從雪窩裡抱了起來。「這會要了半身人的命，甘道夫，」波羅莫說。「我們坐在這裡等到雪淹過頭頂是沒用的。我們必須做點什麼來自救。」「給他們這個，」甘道夫說著，在他的背包裡翻找，並拿出一個皮製的瓶子。「每人一小口——我們所有人都有份。它非常珍貴。這是『米如沃』，伊姆拉崔的甘醇。是愛隆在我們分別時給我的。傳下去吧！」佛羅多一吞下那溫暖芬芳的液體，立刻感覺到心中湧現一股新的力量，沉重的睡意也從四肢離去。其他人也恢復了精神，重拾希望與活力。但雪勢並未減弱。雪花在他們周圍比以往更密集地飛舞，風聲也更大了。「生火如何？」波羅莫突然問道。「甘道夫，看來我們現在得在火與死亡之間做抉擇了。等大雪把我們覆蓋時，無疑能躲過所有不友善的眼睛，但那對我們沒有幫助。」「如果你能生起火，那就生吧，」甘道夫回答。「如果有任何監視者能承受這場風暴，那麼不管我們生不生火，他們都能看見我們。」然而，儘管他們按照波羅莫的建議帶了木柴和引火物，但在這旋轉的狂風中點燃火焰，或讓潮濕的燃料著火，這已超出了精靈甚至矮人的能力。最後，甘道夫自己不情願地插了手。他撿起一捆柴火，將其高舉片刻，然後隨著一句命令：「Naur an edraith ammen!」他將法杖的末端插入柴捆中央。頓時，一道巨大的綠藍色火焰噴湧而出，木柴發出閃光和劈啪聲。「如果真有誰在看，那麼至少我已經向他們暴露了自己，」他說。「我已經用瑞文戴爾到安都因河口所有人都看得懂的信號，寫下了『甘道夫在此』。」但遠征隊已不再關心監視者或不友善的眼睛。他們的心因看見火光而歡欣鼓舞。木柴
THE RING GOES SOUTH 291 burned merrily; and though all round it the snow hissed, and pools of slush crept under their feet, they warmed their hands gladly at the blaze. There they stood, stooping in a circle round the little dancing and blowing flames. A red light was on their tired and anxious faces; behind them the night was like a black wall. But the wood was burning fast, and the snow still fell. The fire burned low, and the last faggot was thrown on. “The night is getting old,’ said Aragorn. “The dawn is not far off.’ ‘If any dawn can pierce these clouds,’ said Gimli. Boromir stepped out of the circle and stared up into the blackness. “The snow is growing less,’ he said, ‘and the wind is quieter.’ Frodo gazed wearily at the flakes still falling out of the dark to be revealed white for a moment in the light of the dying fire; but for a long time he could see no sign of their slackening. Then suddenly, as sleep was beginning to creep over him again, he was aware that the wind had indeed fallen, and the flakes were becoming larger and fewer. Very slowly a dim light began to grow. At last the snow stopped altogether. As the light grew stronger it showed a silent shrouded world. Below their refuge were white humps and domes and shapeless deeps beneath which the path that they had trodden was altogether lost; but the heights above were hidden in great clouds still heavy with the threat of snow. Gimli looked up and shook his head. ‘Caradhras has not forgiven us,’ he said. ‘He has more snow yet to fling at us, if we go on. The sooner we go back and down the better.’ To this all agreed, but their retreat was now difficult. It might well prove impossible. Only a few paces from the ashes of their fire the snow lay many feet deep, higher than the heads of the hobbits; in places it had been scooped and piled by the wind into great drifts against the cliff. ‘If Gandalf would go before us with a bright flame, he might melt a path for you,’ said Legolas. The storm had troubled him little, and he alone of the Company remained still light of heart. ‘If Elves could fly over mountains, they might fetch the Sun to save us,’ answered Gandalf. ‘But I must have something to work on. I cannot burn snow.’ ‘Well,’ said Boromir, ‘when heads are at a loss bodies must serve, as we say in my country. The strongest of us must seek a way. See! Though all is now snow-clad, our path, as we came up, turned about that shoulder of rock down yonder. It was there that the snow first began to burden us. If we could reach that point, maybe it would prove easier beyond. It is no more than a furlong off, I guess.’
火焰歡快地燃燒著；儘管四周雪花落下時發出嘶嘶聲，一灘灘的雪泥滲到他們腳下，他們還是高興地在火光前暖著手。他們彎著腰，圍著那跳動吹拂的小小火焰站成一圈。紅光照在他們疲憊而焦慮的臉上；他們身後，夜色如同一堵黑牆。但木柴燒得很快，雪也還在下。火勢漸弱，最後一捆柴也丟了上去。「夜深了，」亞拉岡說。「黎明不遠了。」「如果真有黎明能穿透這些雲層的話，」金靂說。波羅莫走出圈子，抬頭凝視著黑暗。「雪變小了，」他說，「風也靜了些。」佛羅多疲倦地注視著雪花，它們依舊從黑暗中飄落，在垂死的火光中短暫地顯現出白色；但很長一段時間，他都看不出雪有任何減緩的跡象。然後突然，正當睡意再次向他襲來時，他意識到風確實停了，雪花也變得更大、更稀疏。一道微弱的光非常緩慢地開始增強。最後，雪完全停了。隨著光線變強，一個寂靜、被白雪覆蓋的世界展現出來。在他們的避難處下方，是一堆堆白色的圓丘、穹頂和不成形的深淵，他們走過的小徑已完全消失在底下；但上方的山峰仍隱藏在厚重的雲層中，依舊充滿著降雪的威脅。金靂抬頭看了看，搖了搖頭。「卡蘭拉斯還沒有原諒我們，」他說。「如果我們繼續前進，祂還有更多的雪可以朝我們扔過來。我們越早回頭下山越好。」所有人都同意這點，但他們現在要撤退也很困難，甚至很可能辦不到。離他們營火的灰燼僅幾步之遙，積雪就有好幾呎深，比哈比人的頭還高；在某些地方，風把雪颳起堆積，在懸崖邊形成巨大的雪堆。「如果甘道夫能拿著明亮的火焰走在我們前面，他或許能為你們融出一條路來。」勒苟拉斯說。這場風暴幾乎沒對他造成什麼困擾，他是遠征隊中唯一仍心情輕鬆的人。「如果精靈能飛越山脈，他們或許能取來太陽拯救我們，」甘道夫回答。「但我總得有些東西能施展魔法。我沒辦法燃燒白雪。」「好吧，」波羅莫說，「在我的國家有句話說，當腦袋想不出辦法時，就得靠身體力行。我們之中最強壯的人必須找出路。看！雖然現在一切都被雪覆蓋，但我們上來時走的路，就在那邊那塊岩石的突出處轉彎。我們就是在那裡開始被大雪所困。如果我們能到達那一點，之後的路或許會好走些。我猜，那裡離我們不過一弗隆遠。」
292 THE LORD OF THE RINGS “Then let us force a path thither, you and I!’ said Aragorn. Aragorn was the tallest of the Company, but Boromir, little less in height, was broader and heavier in build. He led the way, and Aragorn followed him. Slowly they moved off, and were soon toiling heavily. In places the snow was breast-high, and often Boromir seemed to be swimming or burrowing with his great arms rather than walking. Legolas watched them for a while with a smile upon his lips, and then he turned to the others. “The strongest must seek a way, say your? But I say: let a ploughman plough, but choose an otter for swimming, and for running light over grass and leaf, or over snow — an Elf.’ With that he sprang forth nimbly, and then Frodo noticed as if for the first time, though he had long known it, that the Elf had no boots, but wore only light shoes, as he always did, and his feet made little imprint in the snow. ‘Farewell!’ he said to Gandalf. ‘I go to find the Sun!’ Then swift as a runner over firm sand he shot away, and quickly overtaking the toiling men, with a wave of his hand he passed them, and sped into the distance, and vanished round the rocky turn. The others waited huddled together, watching until Boromir and Aragorn dwindled into black specks in the whiteness. At length they too passed from sight. The time dragged on. The clouds lowered, and now a few flakes of snow came curling down again. An hour, maybe, went by, though it seemed far longer, and then at last they saw Legolas coming back. At the same time Boromir and Aragorn reappeared round the bend far behind him and came labouring up the slope. ‘Well,’ cried Legolas as he ran up, ‘I have not brought the Sun. She is walking in the blue fields of the South, and a little wreath of snow on this Redhorn hillock troubles her not at all. But I have brought back a gleam of good hope for those who are doomed to go on feet. There is the greatest wind-drift of all just beyond the turn, and there our Strong Men were almost buried. They despaired, until I returned and told them that the drift was little wider than a wall. And on the other side the snow suddenly grows less, while further down it is no more than a white coverlet to cool a hobbit’s toes.’ ‘Ah, it is as I said,’ growled Gimli. ‘It was no ordinary storm. It is the ill will of Caradhras. He does not love Elves and Dwarves, and that drift was laid to cut off our escape.’ ‘But happily your Caradhras has forgotten that you have Men with you,’ said Boromir, who came up at that moment. ‘And doughty Men too, if I may say it; though lesser men with spades might have
「那咱們倆就強行開出一條路吧！」亞拉岡說。亞拉岡是遠征隊中最高的人，但波羅莫身高只略遜一籌，體格卻更寬闊厚實。他走在最前頭，亞拉岡跟在後面。他們緩緩出發，很快便開始在雪中艱難跋涉。有些地方的雪深及胸，波羅莫常常看起來不像在走路，倒像是在用他強壯的臂膀游泳或挖掘。勒苟拉斯面帶微笑地看了他們一會兒，然後轉向其他人。「你們說最強壯的人必須去開路？但我說：讓農夫去耕田，游泳選水獺，要在草葉或雪地上輕盈奔跑——就選精靈。」說著，他輕巧地向前一躍，佛羅多這時才彷彿第一次注意到——儘管他早就知道了——那精靈沒穿靴子，只穿著他一向穿的輕便鞋子，腳在雪地上幾乎沒留下印子。「再會了！」他對甘道夫說。「我去找太陽了！」接著，他像在堅實沙地上奔跑的跑者一樣飛速衝了出去，很快就追上了那兩個艱苦跋涉的人，他揮了揮手超過他們，飛速奔向遠方，消失在岩石轉角處。其他人擠在一起等待，注視著波羅莫和亞拉岡在白茫茫的雪景中縮小成兩個黑點。最終，他們也消失在視線之外。時間緩慢地流逝。雲層低垂，又有幾片雪花飄落下來。大約過了一個小時，雖然感覺上要長得多，他們終於看到勒苟拉斯回來了。與此同時，波羅莫和亞拉岡也出現在他身後遠處的彎道，費力地走上斜坡。「嗯，」勒苟拉斯跑過來喊道，「我沒把太陽帶來。她正在南方湛藍的田野上漫步，這紅角小丘上的一小圈雪花可一點也沒煩著她。但我為那些注定得靠雙腳行走的人帶回了一線希望。轉角過去就是最大的一處風積雪堆，我們那兩位強壯的夥伴差點被埋在裡面。他們都絕望了，直到我回去告訴他們那雪堆不過一堵牆那麼寬。而在另一邊，雪突然變少了，再往下走，雪就薄得像一層白色的毯子，剛好能給哈比人的腳趾頭降降溫。」「啊，正如我所說的，」金靂咆哮道。「這不是一場普通的暴風雪。這是卡蘭拉斯山的惡意。祂不喜歡精靈和矮人，那個雪堆就是為了切斷我們的退路而設下的。」「但幸運的是，你的卡蘭拉斯山忘了你們身邊還有人類，」波羅莫正好在此時趕到，他說。「而且還是英勇頑強的人類，恕我直言；要是換了些拿著鏟子的次等人，恐怕早就……
THE RING GOES SOUTH 293 served you better. Still, we have thrust a lane through the drift; and for that all here may be grateful who cannot run as light as Elves.’ ‘But how are we to get down there, even if you have cut through the drift?’ said Pippin, voicing the thought of all the hobbits. ‘Have hope!’ said Boromir. ‘I am weary, but I still have some strength left, and Aragorn too. We will bear the little folk. The others no doubt will make shift to tread the path behind us. Come, Master Peregrin! I will begin with you.’ He lifted up the hobbit. ‘Cling to my back! I shall need my arms,’ he said and strode forward. Aragorn with Merry came behind. Pippin marvelled at his strength, seeing the passage that he had already forced with no other tool than his great limbs. Even now, burdened as he was, he was widening the track for those who followed, thrusting the snow aside as he went. They came at length to the great drift. It was flung across the mountain-path like a sheer and sudden wall, and its crest, sharp as if shaped with knives, reared up more than twice the height of Boromir; but through the middle a passage had been beaten, rising and falling like a bridge. On the far side Merry and Pippin were set down, and there they waited with Legolas for the rest of the Company to arrive. After a while Boromir returned carrying Sam. Behind in the narrow but now well-trodden track came Gandalf, leading Bill with Gimli perched among the baggage. Last came Aragorn carrying Frodo. They passed through the lane; but hardly had Frodo touched the ground when with a deep rumble there rolled down a fall of stones and slithering snow. The spray of it half blinded the Company as they crouched against the cliff, and when the air cleared again they saw that the path was blocked behind them. ‘Enough, enough!’ cried Gimli. ‘We are departing as quickly as we may!’ And indeed with that last stroke the malice of the mountain seemed to be expended, as if Caradhras was satisfied that the invaders had been beaten off and would not dare to return. The threat of snow lifted; the clouds began to break and the light grew broader. As Legolas had reported, they found that the snow became steadily more shallow as they went down, so that even the hobbits could trudge along. Soon they all stood once more on the flat shelf at the head of the steep slope where they had felt the first flakes of snow the night before. The morning was now far advanced. From the high place they looked back westwards over the lower lands. Far away in the tumble of country that lay at the foot of the mountain was the dell from which they had started to climb the pass. Frodo’s legs ached. He was chilled to the bone and hungry; and
魔戒南行 293 為你效勞得更好。不過，我們還是在雪堆中開出了一條小徑；為此，這裡所有無法像精靈一樣輕盈奔跑的人都該心存感激。」「可是，就算你已經在雪堆中開了路，我們要怎麼下去呢？」皮聘說，道出了所有哈比人的心聲。「要有希望！」波羅莫說。「我很累，但我還剩下一些力氣，亞拉岡也是。我們會背著這些小個子。其他人無疑會設法跟在我們後面走。來吧，皮瑞格林少爺！我從你開始。」他抱起哈比人。「抓緊我的背！我需要空出雙手。」他說完便大步向前。亞拉岡帶著梅里跟在後面。皮聘驚嘆於他的力量，看著他僅憑強壯的四肢就開闢出的通道。即使現在，他身上負著重擔，仍在前行時用身體推開積雪，為後面的人拓寬道路。他們終於來到那巨大的雪堆前。它像一堵陡峭而突兀的牆橫亙在山路上，其頂部銳利如刀削，高高聳立，超過波羅莫身高的兩倍；但中間已開闢出一條通道，如橋樑般起伏。在另一邊，梅里和皮聘被放下來，他們和勒苟拉斯在那裡等待遠征隊的其他人到來。過了一會兒，波羅莫回來了，背著山姆。在狹窄但如今已踩得結實的小徑上，甘道夫領著比爾，金靂則棲身在行李之間。最後是亞拉岡背著佛羅多。他們穿過了那條小徑；但佛羅多腳剛一沾地，伴隨著一陣低沉的轟鳴，一堆石頭和滑落的雪滾了下來。飛濺的雪沫讓蜷縮在峭壁旁的遠征隊員幾乎睜不開眼，當空氣再次清澈時，他們看到身後的路已經被堵住了。「夠了，夠了！」金靂喊道。「我們正盡快離開！」的確，隨著這最後一擊，那座山的惡意似乎已耗盡，彷彿卡蘭拉斯山已心滿意足，認為入侵者已被擊退，不敢再回來。暴雪的威脅解除了；雲層開始散去，天光漸亮。正如勒苟拉斯所說，他們發現越往下走，雪就越淺，連哈比人也能費力地行走了。很快，他們全都再次站到陡坡頂端的那塊平坦岩架上，前一天晚上他們就是在這裡感受到第一片雪花的。此時已是上午時分。他們從高處回望西邊的低地。遠方，在山腳下那片起伏不平的鄉野中，正是他們開始攀登隘口時出發的那個小山谷。佛羅多雙腿痠痛。他凍得徹骨，又餓又累；而
294 THE LORD OF THE RINGS his head was dizzy as he thought of the long and painful march downhill. Black specks swam before his eyes. He rubbed them, but the black specks remained. In the distance below him, but still high above the lower foothills, dark dots were circling in the air. “The birds again!’ said Aragorn, pointing down. “That cannot be helped now,’ said Gandalf. ‘Whether they are good or evil, or have nothing to do with us at all, we must go down at once. Not even on the knees of Caradhras will we wait for another night-fall!” A cold wind flowed down behind them, as they turned their backs on the Redhorn Gate, and stumbled wearily down the slope. Caradhras had defeated them.
他一想到漫長而痛苦的下山路，就頭昏眼花。眼前有黑點游移。他揉了揉眼睛，但黑點仍在。在他下方的遠處，但仍在低矮山麓之上，有黑點在空中盤旋。「又是那些鳥！」亞拉岡指著下方說。「現在也沒辦法了，」甘道夫說。「無論牠們是善是惡，或與我們完全無關，我們都必須立刻下山。我們絕不在卡蘭拉斯的山膝上再等一個夜晚降臨！」當他們轉身背對紅角門，疲憊地踉蹌下坡時，一股寒風從他們身後吹來。卡蘭拉斯擊敗了他們。