Chapter 5 THE BRIDGE OF KHAZAD-DUM The Company of the Ring stood silent beside the tomb of Balin. Frodo thought of Bilbo and his long friendship with the dwarf, and of Balin’s visit to the Shire long ago. In that dusty chamber in the mountains it seemed a thousand years ago and on the other side of the world. At length they stirred and looked up, and began to search for anything that would give them tidings of Balin’s fate, or show what had become of his folk. There was another smaller door on the other side of the chamber, under the shaft. By both the doors they could now see that many bones were lying, and among them were broken swords and axe-heads, and cloven shields and helms. Some of the swords were crooked: orc-scimitars with blackened blades. There were many recesses cut in the rock of the walls, and in them were large iron-bound chests of wood. All had been broken and plundered; but beside the shattered lid of one there lay the remains of a book. It had been slashed and stabbed and partly burned, and it was so stained with black and other dark marks like old blood that little of it could be read. Gandalf lifted it carefully, but the leaves cracked and broke as he laid it on the slab. He pored over it for some time without speaking. Frodo and Gimli standing at his side could see, as he gingerly turned the leaves, that they were written by many different hands, in runes, both of Moria and of Dale, and here and there in Elvish script. At last Gandalf looked up. ‘It seems to be a record of the fortunes of Balin’s folk,’ he said. ‘I guess that it began with their coming to Dimrill Dale nigh on thirty years ago: the pages seem to have numbers referring to the years after their arrival. The top page is marked one — three, so at least two are missing from the beginning. Listen to this! ‘We drove out orcs from the great gate and guard — I think; the next word is blurred and burned: probably room — we slew many in the bright — I think — sun in the dale. Floi was killed by an arrow. He slew the great. Then there is a blur followed by Floi under grass near Mirror mere. The next line or two I cannot read. Then comes We have taken the twentyfirst hall of North end to dwell in. There 1s I cannot read what. A shaft is mentioned. Then Balin has set up his seat in the Chamber of Magzarbul.’ “The Chamber of Records,’ said Gimli. ‘I guess that is where we now stand.’
第五章 凱薩督姆之橋 魔戒遠征隊靜靜地站在巴林的墓旁。佛羅多想起了比爾博，想起了他與這位矮人的長久友誼，也想起了許久以前巴林對夏爾的造訪。在這山中塵封的墓室裡，那段往事彷彿已是千年以前、遠在世界另一端的事了。過了好一會兒，他們才終於回過神來，抬起頭，開始尋找任何能提供巴林命運線索，或揭示他族人遭遇的蛛絲馬跡。墓室的另一頭、天窗的正下方，還有另一扇較小的門。他們現在能看見，兩扇門邊都散落著許多骸骨，其中混雜著斷裂的劍、斧頭、被劈開的盾牌和頭盔。有些劍是彎的：那是刀刃發黑的半獸人彎刀。石壁上鑿有許多壁龕，裡面放著大型的鐵箍木箱。所有箱子都已被砸開洗劫一空；但在其中一個箱子的碎裂蓋子旁，躺著一本書的殘骸。它被砍、被刺，還被部分燒毀，上面沾滿了黑色與其他像乾涸血跡般的深色污漬，幾乎無法閱讀。甘道夫小心翼翼地將它拿起，但當他把書放在石板上時，書頁卻脆裂開來。他一言不發地埋頭細讀了好一陣子。佛羅多和金靂站在他身旁，看著他小心翼翼地翻動書頁，他們可以看到書是由許多不同筆跡寫成的，用的文字有摩瑞亞和河谷鎮的盧恩字母，偶爾還有精靈的文字。最後，甘道夫抬起頭。「這似乎是巴林族人命運的紀錄。」他說。「我猜，這紀錄始於他們將近三十年前來到暗影谷之時：書頁上似乎有編號，對應著他們抵達後的年份。最上面這頁標示著一—三，所以開頭至少缺了兩頁。聽聽這個！『我們將半獸人從大門和守衛—我想是這樣；下一個字模糊燒毀了：大概是室—趕了出去，我們在山谷明亮的—我想是—陽光下殺了許多敵人。佛洛伊中箭身亡。他殺了那個大家伙。接著是一片模糊，然後是『佛洛伊長眠於鏡湖旁的草地下』。接下來一兩行我讀不出來。然後是『我們佔據了北端的第二十一大廳作為居所。那裡有，我讀不出是什麼。』提到了個天窗。然後『巴林已在馬薩布爾廳堂中設下他的王座。』」「『檔案室，』金靂說。『我猜我們現在就站著這個地方。』
322 THE LORD OF THE RINGS ‘Well, I can read no more for a long way,’ said Gandalf, ‘except the word gold, and Durin’s Axe and something helm. Then Balin is now lord of Moria. That seems to end a chapter. After some stars another hand begins, and I can see we found truesilver, and later the word wellforged, and then something, I have it! muthril; and the last two lines Oin to seek for the upper armouries of Third Deep, something go westwards, a blur, to Hollin gate.’ Gandalf paused and set a few leaves aside. “There are several pages of the same sort, rather hastily written and much damaged,’ he said; ‘but I can make little of them in this light. Now there must be a number of leaves missing, because they begin to be numbered five, the fifth year of the colony, I suppose. Let me see! No, they are too cut and stained; I cannot read them. We might do better in the sunlight. Wait! Here is something: a large bold hand using an Elvish script.’ “That would be Ori’s hand,’ said Gimli, looking over the wizard’s arm. ‘He could write well and speedily, and often used the Elvish characters.’ ‘I fear he had ill tidings to record in a fair hand,’ said Gandalf. “The first clear word is sorrow, but the rest of the line is lost, unless it ends in estre. Yes, it must be yestre followed by day being the tenth of novembre Balin lord of Moria fell in Dimrill Dale. He went alone to look in Mirror mere. an orc shot him from behind a stone. we slew the orc, but many more ... up from east up the Silverlode. The remainder of the page is so blurred that I can hardly make anything out, but I think I can read we have barred the gates, and then can hold them long if, and then perhaps horrible and suffer. Poor Balin! He seems to have kept the title that he took for less than five years. I wonder what happened afterwards; but there is no time to puzzle out the last few pages. Here is the last page of all.’ He paused and sighed. ‘It is grim reading,’ he said. ‘I fear their end was cruel. Listen! We cannot get out. We cannot get out. They have taken the Bridge and second hall. Frar and Loni and Nali fell there. Then there are four lines smeared so that I can only read went 5 days ago. The last lines run the pool is up to the wall at Westgate. The Watcher in the Water took Oin. We cannot get out. The end comes, and then drums, drums in the deep. I wonder what that means. The last thing written is in a trailing scrawl of elf-letters: they are coming. There is nothing more.’ Gandalf paused and stood in silent thought. A sudden dread and a horror of the chamber fell on the Company. ‘We cannot get out,’ muttered Gimli. ‘It was well for us that the pool had sunk a little, and that the Watcher was sleeping down at the southern end.’
「嗯，接下來有一大段我都讀不清楚了，」甘道夫說，「只認得出『黃金』、『都靈之斧』和一個什麼『頭盔』的詞。然後是『巴林現為摩瑞亞之王』。這似乎是一個章節的結尾。在一些星號之後，換了另一種筆跡，我看到『我們找到了真銀』，後面是『鍛造精良』，然後是什麼……有了！是『秘……銀』；最後兩行是『歐音去尋找第三深層的上層兵工廠』，什麼『向西行』，一團模糊，『往冬青郡門』。」甘道夫停下來，把幾頁書頁放到一邊。「有好幾頁都是類似的內容，寫得相當匆忙，而且損壞嚴重，」他說，「在這種光線下我幾乎看不懂。現在肯定少了好幾頁，因為它們開始編號為五，我想是殖民地的第五年。我看看！不，這些頁面太殘破、污損太嚴重了，我讀不了。在陽光下我們或許能看得更清楚。等等！這裡有東西：一種大而粗的筆跡，用的是精靈文字。」「那應該是歐力的筆跡，」金靂從巫師手臂上方探頭看著說。「他字寫得又好又快，而且常用精靈字母。」「我恐怕他是用一手好字記錄了不幸的消息，」甘道夫說。「第一個清楚的詞是『悲傷』，但那行剩下的部分都看不清了，除非結尾是 estre。是的，一定是 yestre，後面接著 day，也就是『昨天』，十一月十日，摩瑞亞之王巴林殞落在黯溪谷。他獨自一人去看鏡湖，一個半獸人從石頭後射殺了他。我們宰了那個半獸人，但更多……從東邊沿著銀脈河上來。這一頁剩下的部分模糊到我幾乎什麼都看不出來，但我想我能讀出『我們已封鎖大門』，然後是『若……可以守很久』，接著也許是『可怕』和『受苦』。可憐的巴林！他取得的頭銜看來保有不到五年。我不知道後來發生了什麼事；但沒時間去鑽研最後這幾頁了。這是最後一頁。」他停頓了一下，嘆了口氣。「讀來真是沉重，」他說。「恐怕他們的結局很殘酷。聽！『我們出不去了。我們出不去了。他們佔領了橋和第二大廳。佛拉、羅尼和納力在那裡倒下了。』然後有四行被塗抹掉了，我只能讀出『五天前離開』。最後幾行寫著：『池水已漲到西門的牆邊。水中監視者抓走了歐音。我們出不去了。末日將至』，然後是『鼓聲，深處的鼓聲』。我不知道那是什麼意思。最後寫下的是一行潦草拖長的精靈字母：『他們來了。』後面就沒有了。」甘道夫停下來，靜靜地站著沉思。一股突如其來的恐懼和對這間密室的憎惡感籠罩了整個遠征隊。「我們出不去了，」金靂喃喃自語。「我們真幸運，池水退了一點，而且那監視者正在南端沉睡。」
THE BRIDGE OF KHAZAD-DUM 323 Gandalf raised his head and looked round. “They seem to have made a last stand by both doors,’ he said; ‘but there were not many left by that time. So ended the attempt to retake Moria! It was valiant but foolish. The time is not come yet. Now, I fear, we must say farewell to Balin son of Fundin. Here he must lie in the halls of his fathers. We will take this book, the Book of Mazarbul, and look at it more closely later. You had better keep it, Gimli, and take it back to Dain, if you get a chance. It will interest him, though it will grieve him deeply. Come, let us go! The morning is passing.’ ‘Which way shall we go?’ asked Boromir. ‘Back to the hall,’ answered Gandalf. ‘But our visit to this room has not been in vain. I now know where we are. This must be, as Gimli says, the Chamber of Mazarbul; and the hall must be the twenty-first of the North-end. Therefore we should leave by the eastern arch of the hall, and bear right and south, and go downwards. The Twenty-first Hall should be on the Seventh Level, that is six above the level of the Gates. Come now! Back to the hall!’ Gandalf had hardly spoken these words, when there came a great noise: a rolling Boom that seemed to come from depths far below, and to tremble in the stone at their feet. They sprang towards the door in alarm. Doom, doom it rolled again, as if huge hands were turning the very caverns of Moria into a vast drum. Then there came an echoing blast: a great horn was blown in the hall, and answering horns and harsh cries were heard further off. There was a hurrying sound of many feet. “They are coming!’ cried Legolas. ‘We cannot get out,’ said Gimli. ‘Trapped!’ cried Gandalf. ‘Why did I delay? Here we are, caught, just as they were before. But I was not here then. We will see what——’ Doom, doom came the drum-beat and the walls shook. ‘Slam the doors and wedge them!’ shouted Aragorn. ‘And keep your packs on as long as you can: we may get a chance to cut our way out yet.’ ‘No!’ said Gandalf. ‘We must not get shut in. Keep the east door ajar! We will go that way, if we get a chance.’ Another harsh horn-call and shrill cries rang out. Feet were coming down the corridor. There was a ring and clatter as the Company drew their swords. Glamdring shone with a pale light, and Sting glinted at the edges. Boromir set his shoulder against the western door. ‘Wait a moment! Do not close it yet!’ said Gandalf. He sprang forward to Boromir’s side and drew himself up to his full height.
凱薩督姆之橋 323 甘道夫抬起頭，環顧四周。「他們似乎在兩扇門邊都做了最後的抵抗，」他說，「但那時剩下的人已經不多了。奪回摩瑞亞的嘗試就這樣結束了！雖然英勇，卻是愚蠢的。時機尚未到來。現在，恐怕我們必須告別范丁之子巴林了。他將長眠於此，在他先祖的殿堂中。我們要把這本書，這本《馬薩布爾之書》帶走，稍後再仔細研究。金靂，你最好保管它，如果有機會，就把它帶回去給丹恩。他會感興趣的，儘管這會讓他悲痛欲絕。來，我們走吧！上午就快過去了。」「我們該走哪條路？」波羅莫問道。「回到大廳去，」甘道夫回答。「但我們這次到這個房間來並非徒勞。我現在知道我們在哪裡了。這裡必定就是金靂所說的馬薩布爾室；而那個大廳必定是北區的第二十一廳。因此，我們應該從大廳的東邊拱門離開，然後向右轉往南，一路向下。第二十一廳應該在第七層，也就是大門往上六層。來吧！回到大廳去！」甘道夫話音未落，一陣巨大的聲響傳來：一陣滾動的「咚」聲，似乎來自地底深處，讓他們腳下的石頭也為之震顫。他們驚恐地向門口躍去。「咚，咚」，聲音再次滾動，彷彿有巨手將摩瑞亞的洞穴變成了巨大的鼓。「咚，咚」，鼓聲又響起，彷彿有巨手將摩瑞亞的洞穴變成了巨大的鼓。接著傳來一陣迴盪的號角聲：大廳裡響起了宏亮的號角，遠處也傳來應和的號角與刺耳的吶喊。傳來一陣急促的腳步聲。「他們來了！」勒苟拉斯喊道。「我們出不去了，」金靂說。「被困住了！」甘道夫叫道。「我為什麼要耽擱？我們被困住了，就像他們之前一樣。但我那時不在這裡。我們倒要看看——」「咚，咚」，鼓聲傳來，牆壁也隨之搖晃。「快關上門，用東西頂住！」亞拉岡大喊。「背包盡量背著：我們或許還有機會殺出一條血路。」「不！」甘道夫說。「我們絕不能被關在裡面。讓東門開一道縫！一有機會，我們就從那邊走。」又一陣刺耳的號角和尖銳的叫喊響起。腳步聲正沿著走廊逼近。隨著遠征隊拔出劍，響起一片金屬的鏗鏘聲。格蘭瑞發出蒼白的光芒，刺針的邊緣也閃爍著寒光。波羅莫用肩膀頂住西邊的門。「等一下！先別關！」甘道夫說。他一躍至波羅莫身邊，挺直了身子。
324 THE LORD OF THE RINGS ‘Who comes hither to disturb the rest of Balin Lord of Moria?’ he cried in a loud voice. There was a rush of hoarse laughter, like the fall of sliding stones into a pit; amid the clamour a deep voice was raised in command. Doom, boom, doom went the drums in the deep. With a quick movement Gandalf stepped before the narrow opening of the door and thrust forward his staff. There was a dazzling flash that lit the chamber and the passage outside. For an instant the wizard looked out. Arrows whined and whistled down the corridor as he sprang back. “There are Orcs, very many of them,’ he said. ‘And some are large and evil: black Uruks of Mordor. For the moment they are hanging back, but there is something else there. A great cave-troll, I think, or more than one. There is no hope of escape that way.’ ‘And no hope at all, if they come at the other door as well,’ said Boromir. “There is no sound outside here yet,’ said Aragorn, who was standing by the eastern door listening. “The passage on this side plunges straight down a stair: it plainly does not lead back towards the hall. But it is no good flying blindly this way with the pursuit just behind. We cannot block the door. Its key is gone and the lock is broken, and it opens inwards. We must do something to delay the enemy first. We will make them fear the Chamber of Mazarbul!’ he said grimly, feeling the edge of his sword, Anduril. Heavy feet were heard in the corridor. Boromir flung himself against the door and heaved it to; then he wedged it with broken sword-blades and splinters of wood. The Company retreated to the other side of the chamber. But they had no chance to fly yet. There was a blow on the door that made it quiver; and then it began to grind slowly open, driving back the wedges. A huge arm and shoulder, with a dark skin of greenish scales, was thrust through the widening gap. Then a great, flat, toeless foot was forced through below. There was a dead silence outside. Boromir leaped forward and hewed at the arm with all his might; but his sword rang, glanced aside, and fell from his shaken hand. The blade was notched. Suddenly, and to his own surprise, Frodo felt a hot wrath blaze up in his heart. “The Shire!’ he cried, and springing beside Boromir, he stooped, and stabbed with Sting at the hideous foot. There was a bellow, and the foot jerked back, nearly wrenching Sting from Frodo’s arm. Black drops dripped from the blade and smoked on the floor. Boromir hurled himself against the door and slammed it again.
「是誰來此打擾摩瑞亞之主巴林的安息？」他大聲喊道。一陣沙啞的笑聲傳來，像碎石滑入深坑；喧鬧聲中，一個低沉的聲音發號施令。咚、砰、咚，鼓聲在深處響起。甘道夫迅速移動，站到那狹窄的門口前，並伸出他的法杖。一道耀眼的閃光照亮了石室和外面的通道。巫師向外看了一眼。他跳回來時，箭矢呼嘯著射下走廊。「是半獸人，非常多，」他說。「有些又大又邪惡：是魔多的黑色烏魯克。他們暫時還沒攻過來，但那裡還有別的東西。我想是一隻巨大的洞穴食人妖，或者不止一隻。從那條路逃是沒希望了。」「如果他們也從另一扇門進來，那就一點希望也沒有了。」波羅莫說。「這邊外面還沒有聲音，」亞拉岡說，他正站在東門邊聽著。「這邊的通道直通一個樓梯往下：顯然不是通回大廳。但在追兵緊跟在後的情況下，盲目往這邊逃不是辦法。我們沒法堵住這扇門。鑰匙不見了，鎖也壞了，而且門是向內開的。我們得先做點什麼來拖延敵人。我們要讓他們害怕馬薩布爾室！」他冷酷地說，手撫摸著他的劍——安都瑞爾的劍鋒。走廊上傳來沉重的腳步聲。波羅莫猛地撲向門，用力把門推上；然後他用斷劍和木片把門卡住。遠征隊退到石室的另一邊。但他們還沒有機會逃跑。門上傳來一記重擊，讓門板為之顫抖；接著，門開始緩慢地被磨開，推開了那些楔子。一隻巨大的手臂和肩膀，皮膚黝黑，帶著綠色的鱗片，從逐漸擴大的縫隙中伸了進來。然後，一隻巨大、扁平、沒有腳趾的腳從下面硬擠了進來。外面一片死寂。波羅莫向前一躍，用盡全力朝那手臂砍去；但他的劍噹啷一響，滑到一旁，從他顫抖的手中掉落。劍刃上多了一個缺口。突然間，連佛羅多自己都感到驚訝，一股灼熱的怒火在他心中燃起。「為了夏爾！」他大喊一聲，跳到波羅莫身邊，彎下腰，用刺叮劍刺向那隻醜陋的腳。一聲咆哮響起，那隻腳猛地縮了回去，差點把刺叮劍從佛羅多手中奪走。黑色的血滴從劍刃上落下，在地板上冒出煙來。波羅莫再次猛撞向門，將門砰地關上。
THE BRIDGE OF KHAZAD-DUM 325 ‘One for the Shire!’ cried Aragorn. “The hobbit’s bite is deep! You have a good blade, Frodo son of Drogo!’ There was a crash on the door, followed by crash after crash. Rams and hammers were beating against it. It cracked and staggered back, and the opening grew suddenly wide. Arrows came whistling in, but struck the northern wall, and fell harmlessly to the floor. There was a horn-blast and a rush of feet, and orcs one after another leaped into the chamber. How many there were the Company could not count. The affray was sharp, but the orcs were dismayed by the fierceness of the defence. Legolas shot two through the throat. Gimli hewed the legs from under another that had sprung up on Balin’s tomb. Boromir and Aragorn slew many. When thirteen had fallen the rest fled shrieking, leaving the defenders unharmed, except for Sam who had a scratch along the scalp. A quick duck had saved him; and he had felled his ore: a sturdy thrust with his Barrow-blade. A fire was smouldering in his brown eyes that would have made Ted Sandyman step backwards, if he had seen it. ‘Now is the time!’ cried Gandalf. ‘Let us go, before the troll returns!’ But even as they retreated, and before Pippin and Merry had reached the stair outside, a huge orc-chieftain, almost man-high, clad in black mail from head to foot, leaped into the chamber; behind him his followers clustered in the doorway. His broad flat face was swart, his eyes were like coals, and his tongue was red; he wielded a great spear. With a thrust of his huge hide shield he turned Boromir’s sword and bore him backwards, throwing him to the ground. Diving under Aragorn’s blow with the speed of a striking snake he charged into the Company and thrust with his spear straight at Frodo. The blow caught him on the right side, and Frodo was hurled against the wall and pinned. Sam, with a cry, hacked at the spear-shaft, and it broke. But even as the orc flung down the truncheon and swept out his scimitar, Anduril came down upon his helm. There was a flash like flame and the helm burst asunder. The orc fell with cloven head. His followers fled howling, as Boromir and Aragorn sprang at them. Doom, doom went the drums in the deep. The great voice rolled out again. ‘Now!’ shouted Gandalf. ‘Now is the last chance. Run for it!’ Aragorn picked up Frodo where he lay by the wall and made for the stair, pushing Merry and Pippin in front of him. The others followed; but Gimli had to be dragged away by Legolas: in spite of the peril he lingered by Balin’s tomb with his head bowed. Boromir
326 THE LORD OF THE RINGS hauled the eastern door to, grinding upon its hinges: it had great iron rings on either side, but could not be fastened. ‘I am all right,’ gasped Frodo. ‘I can walk. Put me down!’ Aragorn nearly dropped him in his amazement. ‘I thought you were dead!’ he cried. ‘Not yet!’ said Gandalf. ‘But there is no time for wonder. Off you go, all of you, down the stairs! Wait a few minutes for me at the bottom, but if I do not come soon, go on! Go quickly and choose paths leading right and downwards.’ ‘We cannot leave you to hold the door alone!’ said Aragorn. ‘Do as I say!’ said Gandalf fiercely. ‘Swords are no more use here. Go!’ The passage was lit by no shaft and was utterly dark. They groped their way down a long flight of steps, and then looked back; but they could see nothing, except high above them the faint glimmer of the wizard’s staff. He seemed to be still standing on guard by the closed door. Frodo breathed heavily and leaned against Sam, who put his arms about him. They stood peering up the stairs into the darkness. Frodo thought he could hear the voice of Gandalf above, muttering words that ran down the sloping roof with a sighing echo. He could not catch what was said. The walls seemed to be trembling. Every now and again the drum-beats throbbed and rolled: doom, doom. Suddenly at the top of the stair there was a stab of white light. Then there was a dull rumble and a heavy thud. The drum-beats broke out wildly: doom-boom, doom-boom, and then stopped. Gandalf came flying down the steps and fell to the ground in the midst of the Company. ‘Well, well! That’s over!’ said the wizard struggling to his feet. ‘I have done all that I could. But I have met my match, and have nearly been destroyed. But don’t stand here! Go on! You will have to do without light for a while: I am rather shaken. Go on! Go on! Where are you, Gimli? Come ahead with me! Keep close behind, all of you!’ They stumbled after him wondering what had happened. Doom, doom went the drum-beats again: they now sounded muffled and far away, but they were following. There was no other sound of pursuit, neither tramp of feet, nor any voice. Gandalf took no turns, right or left, for the passage seemed to be going in the direction that he desired. Every now and again it descended a flight of steps, fifty or more, to a lower level. At the moment that was their chief danger; for in the dark they could not see a descent, until they came on it and put their feet out into emptiness. Gandalf felt the ground with his staff like a blind man.
亞拉岡用力拉上東門，門的鉸鏈發出刺耳的摩擦聲：門的兩側都有巨大的鐵環，但卻無法鎖上。「我沒事，」佛羅多喘著氣說。「我能走。放我下來！」亞拉岡驚訝得差點把他摔在地上。「我以為你死了！」他喊道。「還沒有！」甘道夫說。「但現在沒時間驚訝了。快走，你們所有人，下樓梯去！在底下等我幾分鐘，但如果我沒很快跟上，就繼續走！快走，選擇往右和往下的路。」「我們不能留你一個人在這裡守門！」亞拉岡說。「照我說的做！」甘道夫嚴厲地說。「在這裡，劍已經沒用了。走！」通道沒有任何光井照射，一片漆黑。他們摸索著走下一長段階梯，然後回頭望去；但他們什麼也看不見，只看到遠高於他們頭頂的巫師法杖發出的微弱光芒。他似乎仍守在關上的門邊。佛羅多沉重地呼吸著，靠在山姆身上，山姆則用手臂摟住他。他們站在那裡，凝視著樓梯上方的黑暗。佛羅多覺得他能聽到上面傳來甘道夫的聲音，喃喃念著一些話語，那聲音順著傾斜的屋頂傳下來，帶著嘆息般的回音。他聽不清楚說了什麼。牆壁似乎在顫抖。鼓聲時不時地悸動、滾動著：咚，咚。突然，樓梯頂端迸發出一道刺眼的白光。接著是一陣沉悶的轟隆聲和一聲沉重的撞擊聲。鼓聲瘋狂地爆發：咚－轟，咚－轟，然後停了下來。甘道夫飛快地衝下階梯，摔倒在遠征隊伍中間。「好了，好了！結束了！」巫師掙扎著站起來說。「我已盡我所能。但我遇到對手了，而且差點被毀滅。但別站在這裡！繼續走！接下來一陣子你們得在沒有光的情況下前進：我相當心神不寧。繼續走！繼續走！金靂，你在哪裡？跟我到前面來！你們全都跟緊在我後面！」他們跌跌撞撞地跟在他身後，想知道究竟發生了什麼事。咚，咚，鼓聲又響起了：現在聽起來沉悶而遙遠，但仍在跟隨著他們。沒有其他追趕的聲音，沒有沉重的腳步聲，也沒有任何說話聲。甘道夫沒有向左或向右轉彎，因為通道似乎正朝著他想要的方向延伸。每隔一段路，通道就會向下降下一段五十階或更多的階梯，通往更低的層級。此刻，這正是他們最主要的危險；因為在黑暗中，他們看不見下行的階梯，直到走到階梯邊緣，一腳踩進虛空之中。甘道夫像盲人一樣，用他的法杖探著地面。
THE BRIDGE OF KHAZAD-DUM 327 At the end of an hour they had gone a mile, or maybe a little more, and had descended many flights of stairs. There was still no sound of pursuit. Almost they began to hope that they would escape. At the bottom of the seventh flight Gandalf halted. ‘It is getting hot!’ he gasped. ‘We ought to be down at least to the level of the Gates now. Soon I think we should look for a left-hand turn to take us east. I hope it is not far. I am very weary. I must rest here a moment, even if all the orcs ever spawned are after us.’ Gimli took his arm and helped him down to a seat on the step. ‘What happened away up there at the door?’ he asked. ‘Did you meet the beater of the drums?’ ‘I do not know,’ answered Gandalf. ‘But I found myself suddenly faced by something that I have not met before. I could think of nothing to do but to try and put a shutting-spell on the door. I know many; but to do things of that kind rightly requires time, and even then the door can be broken by strength. ‘As I stood there I could hear orc-voices on the other side: at any moment I thought they would burst it open. I could not hear what was said; they seemed to be talking in their own hideous language. All I caught was ghdsh: that is “‘fire’’. Then something came into the chamber — I felt it through the door, and the orcs themselves were afraid and fell silent. It laid hold of the iron ring, and then it perceived me and my spell. ‘What it was I cannot guess, but I have never felt such a challenge. The counter-spell was terrible. It nearly broke me. For an instant the door left my control and began to open! I had to speak a word of Command. That proved too great a strain. The door burst in pieces. Something dark as a cloud was blocking out all the light inside, and I was thrown backwards down the stairs. All the wall gave way, and the roof of the chamber as well, I think. ‘I am afraid Balin is buried deep, and maybe something else is buried there too. I cannot say. But at least the passage behind us was completely blocked. Ah! I have never felt so spent, but it is passing. And now what about you, Frodo? There was not time to say so, but I have never been more delighted in my life than when you spoke. I feared that it was a brave but dead hobbit that Aragorn was carrying.’ ‘What about me?’ said Frodo. ‘I am alive, and whole I think. I am bruised and in pain, but it is not too bad.’ ‘Well,’ said Aragorn, ‘I can only say that hobbits are made of a stuff so tough that I have never met the like of it. Had I known, I would have spoken softer in the Inn at Bree! That spear-thrust would have skewered a wild boar!’ ‘Well, it did not skewer me, I am glad to say,’ said Frodo; ‘though
328 THE LORD OF THE RINGS I feel as if I had been caught between a hammer and an anvil.’ He said no more. He found breathing painful. “You take after Bilbo,’ said Gandalf. “There is more about you than meets the eye, as I said of him long ago.’ Frodo wondered if the remark meant more than it said. They now went on again. Before long Gimli spoke. He had keen eyes in the dark. ‘I think,’ he said, ‘that there is a light ahead. But it is not daylight. It is red. What can it be?’ ‘GhashP? muttered Gandalf. ‘I wonder if that is what they meant: that the lower levels are on fire? Still, we can only go on.’ Soon the light became unmistakable, and could be seen by all. It was flickering and glowing on the walls away down the passage before them. They could now see their way: in front the road sloped down swiftly, and some way ahead there stood a low archway; through it the growing light came. The air became very hot. When they came to the arch Gandalf went through, signing to them to wait. As he stood just beyond the opening they saw his face lit by a red glow. Quickly he stepped back. “There is some new devilry here,’ he said, ‘devised for our welcome, no doubt. But I know now where we are: we have reached the First Deep, the level immediately below the Gates. This is the Second Hall of Old Moria; and the Gates are near: away beyond the eastern end, on the left, not more than a quarter of a mile. Across the Bridge, up a broad stair, along a wide road, through the First Hall, and out! But come and look!’ They peered out. Before them was another cavernous hall. It was loftier and far longer than the one in which they had slept. They were near its eastern end; westward it ran away into darkness. Down the centre stalked a double line of towering pillars. They were carved like boles of mighty trees whose boughs upheld the roof with a branching tracery of stone. Their stems were smooth and black, but a red glow was darkly mirrored in their sides. Right across the floor, close to the feet of two huge pillars a great fissure had opened. Out of it a fierce red light came, and now and again flames licked at the brink and curled about the bases of the columns. Wisps of dark smoke wavered in the hot air. ‘If we had come by the main road down from the upper halls, we should have been trapped here,’ said Gandalf. ‘Let us hope that the fire now lies between us and pursuit. Come! There is no time to lose.’ Even as he spoke they heard again the pursuing drum-beat: Doom, doom, doom. Away beyond the shadows at the western end of the hall there came cries and horn-calls. Doom, doom: the pillars seemed to tremble and the flames to quiver.
「我覺得自己像是被夾在鐵鎚和鐵砧之間。」他沒再多說。他覺得呼吸困難。「你真像比爾博，」甘道夫說。「你這個人，比表面看起來的更有內涵，就像我很久以前說他那樣。」佛羅多想知道這句話是否有弦外之音。他們現在又繼續前進。不久後，金靂開口了。他在黑暗中視力敏銳。「我想，」他說，「前面有光。但不是日光。是紅色的光。那會是什麼？」「『嘎什』？」甘道夫喃喃自語。「不知道他們說的是不是這個意思：下層著火了？不過，我們只能繼續前進。」很快地，那道光變得清晰無誤，所有人都看見了。它在他們前方通道遠處的牆壁上閃爍、發光。他們現在可以看清路了：前方的路急速向下傾斜，不遠處有一座低矮的拱門；那道越來越亮的光正是從那裡透出來的。空氣變得非常熱。當他們來到拱門前，甘道夫走過去，示意他們等著。當他站在門口另一邊時，他們看到他的臉被一道紅光照亮。他迅速退了回來。「這裡有些新的鬼玩意，」他說，「無疑是為『歡迎』我們而設計的。但我現在知道我們在哪裡了：我們已經到達第一深淵，就在大門正下方的層級。這是古摩瑞亞的第二大廳；大門就在附近：在東邊盡頭的另一邊，靠左，不出四分之一哩路。穿過橋，上一道寬闊的階梯，沿著一條寬敞的路，通過第一大廳，就出去了！不過，來看看吧！」他們探頭向外望去。眼前是另一個洞穴般的大廳。它比他們睡覺的那個廳更高、更長。他們靠近其東端；西邊則延伸至一片黑暗之中。大廳中央矗立著兩排高聳的石柱。它們被雕刻成巨樹的樹幹，分岔的樹枝以石頭交織的飾紋撐起屋頂。柱身光滑而黝黑，但一道紅光幽暗地映照在它們的側面。一道巨大的裂縫橫貫整個地面，就在兩根巨柱的腳邊裂開。一道猛烈的紅光從中射出，時不時有火焰舔舐著裂縫邊緣，並在柱子底部盤繞。縷縷黑煙在熱氣中搖曳。「如果我們是從上層大廳沿著主路下來，我們就會被困在這裡了，」甘道夫說。「希望這火現在能把我們和追兵隔開。來吧！沒時間浪費了。」他話音剛落，他們又聽到了追擊的鼓聲：咚，咚，咚。在大廳西端遠處的陰影之外，傳來了喊叫聲和號角聲。咚，咚：石柱似乎在顫抖，火焰也在搖曳。
THE BRIDGE OF KHAZAD-DUM 329 ‘Now for the last race!’ said Gandalf. ‘If the sun is shining outside, we may still escape. After me!’ He turned left and sped across the smooth floor of the hall. The distance was greater than it had looked. As they ran they heard the beat and echo of many hurrying feet behind. A shrill yell went up: they had been seen. There was a ring and clash of steel. An arrow whistled over Frodo’s head. Boromir laughed. ‘They did not expect this,’ he said. “The fire has cut them off. We are on the wrong side!’ ‘Look ahead!’ called Gandalf. “The Bridge is near. It is dangerous and narrow.’ Suddenly Frodo saw before him a black chasm. At the end of the hall the floor vanished and fell to an unknown depth. The outer door could only be reached by a slender bridge of stone, without kerb or rail, that spanned the chasm with one curving spring of fifty feet. It was an ancient defence of the Dwarves against any enemy that might capture the First Hall and the outer passages. They could only pass across it in single file. At the brink Gandalf halted and the others came up in a pack behind. ‘Lead the way, Gimli!’ he said. ‘Pippin and Merry next. Straight on, and up the stair beyond the door!’ Arrows fell among them. One struck Frodo and sprang back. Another pierced Gandalf’s hat and stuck there like a black feather. Frodo looked behind. Beyond the fire he saw swarming black figures: there seemed to be hundreds of orcs. They brandished spears and scimitars which shone red as blood in the firelight. Doom, doom rolled the drum-beats, growing louder and louder, doom, doom. Legolas turned and set an arrow to the string, though it was a long shot for his small bow. He drew, but his hand fell, and the arrow slipped to the ground. He gave a cry of dismay and fear. Two great trolls appeared; they bore great slabs of stone, and flung them down to serve as gangways over the fire. But it was not the trolls that had filled the Elf with terror. The ranks of the orcs had opened, and they crowded away, as if they themselves were afraid. Something was coming up behind them. What it was could not be seen: it was like a great shadow, in the middle of which was a dark form, of man-shape maybe, yet greater; and a power and terror seemed to be in it and to go before it. It came to the edge of the fire and the light faded as if a cloud had bent over it. Then with a rush it leaped across the fissure. The flames roared up to greet it, and wreathed about it; and a black smoke swirled in the air. Its streaming mane kindled, and blazed behind it. In its right hand was a blade like a stabbing tongue of fire; in its left it held a whip of many thongs.
凱薩督姆之橋 329 「現在是最後衝刺了！」甘道夫說。「如果外面陽光普照，我們或許還能逃脫。跟我來！」他向左轉，飛快地穿過大廳平滑的地板。距離比看起來的要遠。他們奔跑時，聽見身後傳來許多匆忙腳步的敲擊聲和回音。一聲尖銳的叫喊響起：他們被發現了。傳來一陣刀劍碰撞的鏗鏘聲。一支箭呼嘯著從佛羅多頭頂飛過。波羅莫笑了。「他們沒料到這個，」他說。「火把他們隔開了。我們在錯誤的一邊！」「看前面！」甘道夫喊道。「橋就在附近。它既危險又狹窄。」 突然，佛羅多看見眼前一道黑色的深淵。大廳的盡頭，地板消失了，墜入未知的深處。通往外面的門只能藉由一座細長的石橋到達，橋上沒有路緣也沒有欄杆，以一道五十呎長的弧形拱跨越了深淵。這是矮人古老的防禦工事，用以對抗任何可能佔領第一大廳和外部通道的敵人。他們只能排成一列單獨通過。在深淵邊緣，甘道夫停下腳步，其他人則在他身後擠成一團。「金靂，你帶路！」他說。「皮聘和梅里接著。一直往前，穿過門後的樓梯！」 箭矢落在他們中間。一支打中佛羅多又彈了回來。另一支刺穿了甘道夫的帽子，像根黑色的羽毛插在那裡。佛羅多向後看。火堆的另一邊，他看見黑壓壓的人影在蠕動：似乎有數百名半獸人。他們揮舞著長矛和彎刀，在火光中閃爍著血紅的光芒。咚，咚，鼓聲隆隆，越來越響，咚，咚。勒苟拉斯轉過身，搭箭上弦，雖然對他的小弓來說射程很遠。他拉開弓，但手卻垂了下來，箭滑落到地上。他發出驚愕和恐懼的叫喊。兩隻巨大的食人妖出現了；牠們搬著巨大的石板，把它們扔下來，當作跨越火堆的臨時通道。但讓這位精靈充滿恐懼的並不是食人妖。半獸人的隊伍分開了，他們紛紛退避，彷彿他們自己也感到害怕。有什麼東西從他們身後走來。看不清那是什麼：它像一個巨大的陰影，中央有一個黑暗的形體，或許是人形，但更為巨大；一股力量和恐懼似乎蘊含其中，並走在它的前面。 它來到火堆邊緣，光線隨之黯淡，彷彿一片雲籠罩下來。接著它猛然一衝，躍過了裂縫。火焰咆哮著迎接它，將它環繞；黑煙在空中盤旋。它飄逸的鬃毛被點燃，在身後熊熊燃燒。它的右手中是一把如火焰刺舌般的利刃；左手則拿著一條多頭皮鞭。
330 THE LORD OF THE RINGS ‘Ai! ai!’ wailed Legolas. ‘A Balrog! A Balrog is come!’ Gimli stared with wide eyes. ‘Durin’s Bane!’ he cried, and letting his axe fall he covered his face. ‘A Balrog,’ muttered Gandalf. ‘Now I understand.’ He faltered and leaned heavily on his staff. ‘What an evil fortune! And I am already weary.’ The dark figure streaming with fire raced towards them. The orcs yelled and poured over the stone gangways. Then Boromir raised his horn and blew. Loud the challenge rang and bellowed, like the shout of many throats under the cavernous roof. For a moment the orcs quailed and the fiery shadow halted. Then the echoes died as suddenly as a flame blown out by a dark wind, and the enemy advanced again. ‘Over the bridge!’ cried Gandalf, recalling his strength. ‘Fly! This is a foe beyond any of you. I must hold the narrow way. Fly!’ Aragorn and Boromir did not heed the command, but still held their ground, side by side, behind Gandalf at the far end of the bridge. The others halted just within the doorway at the hall’s end, and turned, unable to leave their leader to face the enemy alone. The Balrog reached the bridge. Gandalf stood in the middle of the span, leaning on the staff in his left hand, but in his other hand Glamdring gleamed, cold and white. His enemy halted again, facing him, and the shadow about it reached out like two vast wings. It raised the whip, and the thongs whined and cracked. Fire came from its nostrils. But Gandalf stood firm. “You cannot pass,’ he said. The orcs stood still, and a dead silence fell. ‘I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. You cannot pass. The dark fire will not avail you, flame of Udtn. Go back to the Shadow! You cannot pass.’ The Balrog made no answer. The fire in it seemed to die, but the darkness grew. It stepped forward slowly on to the bridge, and suddenly it drew itself up to a great height, and its wings were spread from wall to wall; but still Gandalf could be seen, glimmering in the gloom; he seemed small, and altogether alone: grey and bent, like a wizened tree before the onset of a storm. From out of the shadow a red sword leaped flaming. Glamdring glittered white in answer. There was a ringing clash and a stab of white fire. The Balrog fell back, and its sword flew up in molten fragments. The wizard swayed on the bridge, stepped back a pace, and then again stood still. “You cannot pass!’ he said. With a bound the Balrog leaped full upon the bridge. Its whip whirled and hissed.
「唉！唉！」勒苟拉斯哀號道。「炎魔！一隻炎魔來了！」金靂睜大雙眼凝視。「都靈的剋星！」他喊道，斧頭應聲落地，他用手蒙住了臉。「一隻炎魔，」甘道夫喃喃自語。「我現在明白了。」他踉蹌了一下，沉重地倚在法杖上。「真是厄運！而我已經筋疲力盡了。」那渾身冒火的黑暗身影朝他們疾馳而來。半獸人尖叫著，湧上石道。接著，波羅莫舉起他的號角吹響。挑戰的號聲響亮地迴盪咆哮，像是在洞穴般的穹頂下，千喉齊聲吶喊。一時間，半獸人畏縮了，那火焰般的陰影也停了下來。接著，回音突然消失，像被一股黑風吹熄的火焰，敵人又再次逼近。「過橋！」甘道夫重振精神喊道。「快逃！這個敵人不是你們任何人能對付的。我必須守住這條窄路。快逃！」亞拉岡和波羅莫沒有聽從命令，依然並肩守在甘道夫身後，在橋的遠端。其他人則停在大廳盡頭的門口內，轉過身，不忍心讓他們的領袖獨自面對敵人。炎魔抵達了橋邊。甘道夫站在橋中央，左手倚著法杖，但另一隻手中的格蘭瑞長劍閃爍著冰冷白光。他的敵人再次停下，面對著他，周身的陰影伸展開來，如同兩片巨大的翅膀。它舉起鞭子，鞭梢呼嘯作響。火焰從它的鼻孔噴出。但甘道夫屹立不搖。「你不能通過。」他說。半獸人靜止不動，現場陷入一片死寂。「我是秘火的僕人，阿諾聖火的執掌者。你不能通過。黑暗之火對你無用，烏頓之焰。回到陰影中去！你不能通過。」炎魔沒有回答。它身上的火焰似乎熄滅了，但黑暗卻更加濃重。它緩步踏上橋，突然間身形暴漲，雙翼從一邊牆壁伸展到另一邊；但甘道夫的身影依然可見，在幽暗中閃爍微光；他看起來渺小而孤單：灰袍佝僂，像一棵在暴風雨來臨前的枯樹。從陰影中，一把燃燒的紅劍躍出。格蘭瑞閃爍白光作為回應。一聲清脆的交擊，一道白火刺出。炎魔向後倒下，它的劍化為熔化的碎片飛散。巫師在橋上搖晃了一下，後退一步，然後又站穩了。「你不能通過！」他說。炎魔一躍而起，整個跳到橋上。它的長鞭旋轉呼嘯。
THE BRIDGE OF KHAZAD-DUM 331 ‘He cannot stand alone!’ cried Aragorn suddenly and ran back along the bridge. ‘Elendil!’ he shouted. ‘I am with you, Gandalf!’ ‘Gondor!’ cried Boromir and leaped after him. At that moment Gandalf lifted his staff, and crying aloud he smote the bridge before him. The staff broke asunder and fell from his hand. A blinding sheet of white flame sprang up. The bridge cracked. Right at the Balrog’s feet it broke, and the stone upon which it stood crashed into the gulf, while the rest remained, poised, quivering like a tongue of rock thrust out into emptiness. With a terrible cry the Balrog fell forward, and its shadow plunged down and vanished. But even as it fell it swung its whip, and the thongs lashed and curled about the wizard’s knees, dragging him to the brink. He staggered and fell, grasped vainly at the stone, and slid into the abyss. ‘Fly, you fools!’ he cried, and was gone. The fires went out, and blank darkness fell. The Company stood rooted with horror staring into the pit. Even as Aragorn and Boromir came flying back, the rest of the bridge cracked and fell. With a cry Aragorn roused them. ‘Come! I will lead you now!’ he called. “We must obey his last command. Follow me!’ They stumbled wildly up the great stairs beyond the door, Aragorn leading, Boromir at the rear. At the top was a wide echoing passage. Along this they fled. Frodo heard Sam at his side weeping, and then he found that he himself was weeping as he ran. Doom, doom, doom the drum-beats rolled behind, mournful now and slow; doom! They ran on. The light grew before them; great shafts pierced the roof. They ran swifter. They passed into a hall, bright with daylight from its high windows in the east. They fled across it. Through its huge broken doors they passed, and suddenly before them the Great Gates opened, an arch of blazing light. There was a guard of orcs crouching in the shadows behind the great door-posts towering on either side, but the gates were shattered and cast down. Aragorn smote to the ground the captain that stood in his path, and the rest fled in terror of his wrath. The Company swept past them and took no heed of them. Out of the Gates they ran and sprang down the huge and age-worn steps, the threshold of Moria. Thus, at last, they came beyond hope under the sky and felt the wind on their faces. They did not halt until they were out of bowshot from the walls. Dimrill Dale lay about them. The shadow of the Misty Mountains lay upon it, but eastwards there was a golden light on the land. It was but one hour after noon. The sun was shining; the clouds were white and high.
凱薩督姆之橋 331 「他一個人擋不住！」亞拉岡突然大喊，沿著橋跑了回去。「伊蘭迪爾！」他高呼。「我與你同在，甘道夫！」「剛鐸！」波羅莫大喊一聲，跟著他躍了過去。就在那時，甘道夫舉起他的法杖，大喝一聲，猛擊身前的橋面。法杖應聲斷裂，從他手中落下。一道炫目的白焰升起。橋身裂開了。裂縫就在炎魔的腳下，牠所站立的石塊崩落墜入深淵，而橋的其餘部分則懸在空中，像一條伸向虛空的岩石之舌般顫抖著。炎魔發出可怕的尖叫，向前倒去，牠的影子也隨之墜落消失。但就在牠墜落之際，牠揮動了鞭子，鞭繩抽打並纏住了巫師的膝蓋，將他拖到了懸崖邊緣。他踉蹌了一下便倒下了，徒勞地抓住石頭，滑入了深淵。「快逃，你們這些傻瓜！」他喊道，隨後便消失了。火焰熄滅，一片死寂的黑暗降臨。遠征隊員們驚恐地僵立在原地，凝視著深坑。就在亞拉岡和波羅莫飛奔回來時，橋的剩餘部分也裂開墜落了。亞拉岡大喊一聲，喚醒了他們。「來！現在由我帶路！」他喊道。「我們必須服從他最後的命令。跟著我！」他們跌跌撞撞地衝上門後的大階梯，亞拉岡在前，波羅莫在後。階梯頂端是一條寬闊而迴響的通道。他們沿著通道逃跑。佛羅多聽到身旁的山姆在哭泣，然後他發現自己也在邊跑邊流淚。咚、咚、咚，鼓聲在後方響起，此刻聽來悲傷而緩慢；咚！他們繼續奔跑。前方的光線越來越亮；巨大的光束穿透了屋頂。他們跑得更快了。他們進入一個大廳，東邊高窗透進的日光使其一片明亮。他們飛奔穿過大廳。他們穿過巨大破損的門，突然間，宏偉的大門在他們面前敞開，形成一道熾熱的光之拱門。門柱兩側高聳的陰影裡蹲伏著一群半獸人守衛，但大門已被擊碎並推倒。亞拉岡一擊將擋路的隊長打倒在地，其餘的則因他雷霆之怒而驚恐逃竄。遠征隊從他們身邊橫掃而過，未加理會。他們跑出大門，躍下巨大而古舊的台階，那裡是摩瑞亞的門檻。就這樣，他們終於在絕望中重見天日，感覺到風拂過臉龐。他們直到離城牆一箭之遙才停下腳步。黯溪谷在他們周圍展開。迷霧山脈的陰影籠罩著它，但東邊的土地上灑滿了金色的光芒。此時剛過正午一小時。陽光普照，白雲高懸。
332 THE LORD OF THE RINGS They looked back. Dark yawned the archway of the Gates under the mountain-shadow. Faint and far beneath the earth rolled the slow drum-beats: doom. A thin black smoke trailed out. Nothing else was to be seen; the dale all around was empty. Doom. Grief at last wholly overcame them, and they wept long: some standing and silent, some cast upon the ground. Doom, doom. The drum-beats faded.
他們回頭望去。在山影的籠罩下，大門的拱道像張開的黑洞大口。從地底深處，傳來微弱而遙遠的緩慢鼓聲：咚。一縷黑煙裊裊飄出。再也看不到其他東西；四周的山谷一片空寂。咚。悲傷終於徹底擊垮了他們，他們哭了很久：有些人站著，默默無語；有些人則癱倒在地。咚，咚。鼓聲漸漸消失了。