Chapter 10 THE BREAKING OF THE FELLOWSHIP Aragorn led them to the right arm of the River. Here upon its western side under the shadow of Tol Brandir a green lawn ran down to the water from the feet of Amon Hen. Behind it rose the first gentle slopes of the hill clad with trees, and trees marched away westward along the curving shores of the lake. A little spring fell tumbling down and fed the grass. ‘Here we will rest tonight,’ said Aragorn. “This is the lawn of Parth Galen: a fair place in the summer days of old. Let us hope that no evil has yet come here.’ They drew up their boats on the green banks, and beside them they made their camp. They set a watch, but had no sight nor sound of their enemies. If Gollum had contrived to follow them, he remained unseen and unheard. Nonetheless as the night wore on Aragorn grew uneasy, tossing often in his sleep and waking. In the small hours he got up and came to Frodo, whose turn it was to watch. ‘Why are you waking?’ asked Frodo. ‘It is not your watch.’ ‘I do not know,’ answered Aragorn; ‘but a shadow and a threat has been growing in my sleep. It would be well to draw your sword.’ ‘Why?’ said Frodo. ‘Are enemies at hand?’ ‘Let us see what Sting may show,’ answered Aragorn. Frodo then drew the elf-blade from its sheath. To his dismay the edges gleamed dimly in the night. ‘Orcs!’ he said. ‘Not very near, and yet too near, it seems.’ ‘I feared as much,’ said Aragorn. ‘But maybe they are not on this side of the River. The light of Sting is faint, and it may point to no more than spies of Mordor roaming on the slopes of Amon Lhaw. I have never heard before of Orcs upon Amon Hen. Yet who knows what may happen in these evil days, now that Minas Tirith no longer holds secure the passages of Anduin. We must go warily tomorrow.’ The day came like fire and smoke. Low in the East there were black bars of cloud like the fumes of a great burning. The rising sun lit them from beneath with flames of murky red; but soon it climbed above them into a clear sky. The summit of Tol Brandir was tipped with gold. Frodo looked out eastward and gazed at the tall island. Its sides sprang sheer out of the running water. High up above the
白晝來臨時，彷彿帶著火焰與濃煙。東方低空有幾道黑色的雲帶，像是巨大燃燒後冒出的煙霧。升起的太陽從雲層下方照亮它們，染上混濁的紅色火焰；但很快地，太陽便爬升到雲層之上，進入一片晴朗的天空。托爾布蘭達的頂峰被染上了一抹金色。佛羅多向東望去，凝視著那座高聳的島嶼。它的側面從奔流的河水中陡峭地拔地而起。在高高的上方
396 THE LORD OF THE RINGS tall cliffs were steep slopes upon which trees climbed, mounting one head above another; and above them again were grey faces of inaccessible rock, crowned by a great spire of stone. Many birds were circling about it, but no sign of other living things could be seen. When they had eaten, Aragorn called the Company together. “The day has come at last,’ he said: ‘the day of choice which we have long delayed. What shall now become of our Company that has travelled so far in fellowship? Shall we turn west with Boromir and go to the wars of Gondor; or turn east to the Fear and Shadow; or shall we break our fellowship and go this way and that as each may choose? Whatever we do must be done soon. We cannot long halt here. The enemy is on the eastern shore, we know; but I fear that the Orcs may already be on this side of the water.’ There was a long silence in which no one spoke or moved. ‘Well, Frodo,’ said Aragorn at last. ‘I fear that the burden is laid upon you. You are the Bearer appointed by the Council. Your own way you alone can choose. In this matter I cannot advise you. I am not Gandalf, and though I have tried to bear his part, I do not know what design or hope he had for this hour, if indeed he had any. Most likely it seems that if he were here now the choice would still wait on you. Such is your fate.’ Frodo did not answer at once. Then he spoke slowly. ‘I know that haste is needed, yet I cannot choose. The burden is heavy. Give me an hour longer, and I will speak. Let me be alone!’ Aragorn looked at him with kindly pity. ‘Very well, Frodo son of Drogo,’ he said. ‘You shall have an hour, and you shall be alone. We will stay here for a while. But do not stray far or out of call.’ Frodo sat for a moment with his head bowed. Sam, who had been watching his master with great concern, shook his head and muttered: ‘Plain as a pikestaff it is, but it’s no good Sam Gamgee putting in his spoke just now.’ Presently Frodo got up and walked away; and Sam saw that while the others restrained themselves and did not stare at him, the eyes of Boromir followed Frodo intently, until he passed out of sight in the trees at the foot of Amon Hen. Wandering aimlessly at first in the wood, Frodo found that his feet were leading him up towards the slopes of the hill. He came to a path, the dwindling ruins of a road of long ago. In steep places stairs of stone had been hewn, but now they were cracked and worn, and split by the roots of trees. For some while he climbed, not caring which way he went, until he came to a grassy place. Rowan-trees grew about it, and in the midst was a wide flat stone. The little upland lawn was open upon the East and was filled now with the early
高聳的懸崖是陡峭的斜坡，樹木攀爬其上，一棵比一棵高；再往上是無法攀登的灰色岩壁，頂端矗立著一座巨大的尖石。許多鳥兒在它周圍盤旋，但看不見其他生物的蹤跡。吃過飯後，亞拉岡將遠征隊召集起來。「這一天終究來了，」他說：「我們拖延已久的抉擇之日。我們這支一路同行的遠征隊，接下來該何去何從？我們該跟隨波羅莫向西，投入剛鐸的戰事；還是向東，走向恐懼與陰影；又或者我們該解散隊伍，各奔東西？無論我們做什麼，都必須盡快。我們不能在此久留。我們知道敵人在東岸；但我擔心半獸人可能已經渡到河的這一邊了。」一陣長長的沉默，沒有人說話，也沒有人動。「好吧，佛羅多，」亞拉岡終於開口。「恐怕這個重擔要落在你身上了。你是聖白議會指定的持戒人。你自己的路只能由你獨自選擇。在這件事上，我無法給你建議。我不是甘道夫，雖然我試圖扮演他的角色，但我不知道他對此刻有何計畫或期望，如果他真有的話。最有可能的是，就算他現在在這裡，選擇權依然在你手上。這就是你的命運。」佛羅多沒有立刻回答。然後他緩緩地說：「我知道必須趕快，但我無法選擇。這個擔子太重了。再給我一個小時，我會說出決定。讓我一個人靜一靜！」亞拉岡帶著溫和的憐憫看著他。「好吧，德羅哥之子佛羅多，」他說。「給你一個小時，讓你獨處。我們會在這一帶稍作停留。但不要走太遠，或走到聽不見呼喚的地方。」佛羅多低著頭坐了一會兒。一直憂心忡忡地看著主人的山姆搖了搖頭，咕噥道：「這事再明白不過了，但現在可不是山姆·詹吉插嘴的時候。」不一會兒，佛羅多站起來走開了；山姆看到，雖然其他人克制著自己沒有盯著他看，波羅莫的眼神卻專注地跟隨著佛羅多，直到他在阿蒙漢山腳下的樹林裡消失不見。起初佛羅多漫無目的地在林中遊蕩，後來發現自己的腳正引領他走向山坡。他走到一條小徑上，那是一條古道的殘跡。在陡峭處曾開鑿出石階，但如今已龜裂磨損，被樹根撐裂。他爬了一陣子，不在乎走的是哪條路，直到來到一處草地。周圍長著花楸樹，中間有一塊寬闊的平石。這片小小的山間草坪向東敞開，此刻正充滿了早晨的
THE BREAKING OF THE FELLOWSHIP 397 sunlight. Frodo halted and looked out over the River, far below him, to Tol Brandir and the birds wheeling in the great gulf of air between him and the untrodden isle. The voice of Rauros was a mighty roaring mingled with a deep throbbing boom. He sat down upon the stone and cupped his chin in his hands, staring eastwards but seeing little with his eyes. All that had happened since Bilbo left the Shire was passing through his mind, and he recalled and pondered everything that he could remember of Gandalf’s words. Time went on, and still he was no nearer to a choice. Suddenly he awoke from his thoughts: a strange feeling came to him that something was behind him, that unfriendly eyes were upon him. He sprang up and turned; but all that he saw to his surprise was Boromir, and his face was smiling and kind. ‘I was afraid for you, Frodo,’ he said, coming forward. ‘If Aragorn is right and Orcs are near, then none of us should wander alone, and you least of all: so much depends on you. And my heart too is heavy. May I stay now and talk for a while, since I have found you? It would comfort me. Where there are so many, all speech becomes a debate without end. But two together may perhaps find wisdom.’ “You are kind,’ answered Frodo. ‘But I do not think that any speech will help me. For I know what I should do, but I am afraid of doing it, Boromir: afraid.’ Boromir stood silent. Rauros roared endlessly on. The wind murmured in the branches of the trees. Frodo shivered. Suddenly Boromir came and sat beside him. ‘Are you sure that you do not suffer needlessly?’ he said. ‘I wish to help you. You need counsel in your hard choice. Will you not take mine?’ ‘I think I know already what counsel you would give, Boromir,’ said Frodo. ‘And it would seem like wisdom but for the warning of my heart.’ ‘Warning? Warning against what?’ said Boromir sharply. ‘Against delay. Against the way that seems easier. Against refusal of the burden that is laid on me. Against — well, if it must be said, against trust in the strength and truth of Men.’ “Yet that strength has long protected you far away in your little country, though you knew it not.’ ‘I do not doubt the valour of your people. But the world is changing. The walls of Minas Tirith may be strong, but they are not strong enough. If they fail, what then?’ ‘We shall fall in battle valiantly. Yet there is still hope that they will not fail.’ ‘No hope while the Ring lasts,’ said Frodo. ‘Ah! The Ring!’ said Boromir, his eyes lighting. “The Ring! Is it not a strange fate that we should suffer so much fear and doubt for
魔戒遠征隊分崩離析 397 陽光。佛羅多停下腳步，眺望著遠在下方的河流，望向托爾布蘭迪爾島，看著鳥兒在他與那座無人踏足的島嶼之間的巨大空中盤旋。勞洛斯瀑布的聲音是巨大的轟鳴，夾雜著深沉的搏動巨響。他在石頭上坐下，雙手托著下巴，凝視著東方，但眼中幾乎什麼也沒看見。自從比爾博離開夏爾後發生的一切，都在他腦海中一一閃過，他回憶並思索著甘道夫說過的每一句話。時間流逝，他仍然無法做出選擇。突然，他從思緒中驚醒：一種奇怪的感覺襲來，覺得身後有什麼東西，有不友善的目光正注視著他。他跳起來轉身；但令他驚訝的是，他只看到波羅莫，臉上帶著和善的微笑。「我為你擔心，佛羅多，」他走上前說。「如果亞拉岡說得對，半獸人就在附近，那我們誰都不該獨自亂走，尤其是你：太多事情都指望你了。我的心也很沉重。既然我找到你了，我可以留下來聊一會兒嗎？這會讓我感到安慰。人多的地方，所有的談話都會變成無休止的辯論。但兩個人在一起，或許能找到智慧。」「你真好心，」佛羅多回答。「但我不認為任何談話能幫助我。因為我知道我該做什麼，但我害怕去做，波羅莫：我害怕。」波羅莫沉默地站著。勞洛斯瀑布無休止地咆哮。風在樹枝間低語。佛羅多打了個寒顫。突然，波羅莫走過來，坐在他身邊。「你確定你不是在自尋煩惱嗎？」他說。「我想幫助你。在你艱難的選擇中，你需要忠告。你不願意聽聽我的嗎？」「我想我已經知道你會給我什麼忠告了，波羅莫，」佛羅多說。「而且那聽起來會像是智慧，若非我內心有所警惕的話。」「警惕？警惕什麼？」波羅莫尖銳地問。「警惕拖延。警惕那條看似更容易的路。警惕拒絕我肩負的重擔。警惕——好吧，如果非說不可，警惕對人類的力量與真誠的信任。」「然而，正是那股力量長久以來保護著遠在你那小小國度的你，儘管你並不知道。」「我從不懷疑你族人的英勇。但世界正在改變。米那斯提力斯的城牆或許堅固，但還不夠堅固。如果它們倒塌了，那又如何？」「我們將在戰鬥中英勇地倒下。但仍有希望它們不會倒塌。」「只要魔戒還在，就沒有希望，」佛羅多說。「啊！魔戒！」波羅莫說，眼中閃著光芒。「魔戒！我們為了它承受如此多的恐懼和懷疑，這難道不是一種奇怪的命運嗎？
398 THE LORD OF THE RINGS so small a thing? So small a thing! And I have seen it only for an instant in the house of Elrond. Could I not have a sight of it again?’ Frodo looked up. His heart went suddenly cold. He caught the strange gleam in Boromir’s eyes, yet his face was still kind and friendly. ‘It is best that it should lie hidden,’ he answered. ‘As you wish. I care not,’ said Boromir. ‘Yet may I not even speak of it? For you seem ever to think only of its power in the hands of the Enemy: of its evil uses not of its good. The world is changing, you say. Minas Tirith will fall, if the Ring lasts. But why? Certainly, if the Ring were with the Enemy. But why, if it were with us?’ ‘Were you not at the Council?’ answered Frodo. ‘Because we cannot use it, and what is done with it turns to evil.’ Boromir got up and walked about impatiently. ‘So you go on,’ he cried. ‘Gandalf, Elrond — all these folk have taught you to say so. For themselves they may be right. These elves and half-elves and wizards, they would come to grief perhaps. Yet often I doubt if they are wise and not merely timid. But each to his own kind. True-hearted Men, they will not be corrupted. We of Minas Tirith have been staunch through long years of trial. We do not desire the power of wizard-lords, only strength to defend ourselves, strength in a just cause. And behold! in our need chance brings to light the Ring of Power. It is a gift, I say; a gift to the foes of Mordor. It is mad not to use it, to use the power of the Enemy against him. The fearless, the ruthless, these alone will achieve victory. What could not a warrior do in this hour, a great leader? What could not Aragorn do? Or if he refuses, why not Boromir? The Ring would give me power of Command. How I would drive the hosts of Mordor, and all men would flock to my banner!’ Boromir strode up and down, speaking ever more loudly. Almost he seemed to have forgotten Frodo, while his talk dwelt on walls and weapons, and the mustering of men; and he drew plans for great alliances and glorious victories to be; and he cast down Mordor, and became himself a mighty king, benevolent and wise. Suddenly he stopped and waved his arms. ‘And they tell us to throw it away!’ he cried. ‘I do not say destroy it. That might be well, if reason could show any hope of doing so. It does not. The only plan that is proposed to us is that a halfling should walk blindly into Mordor and offer the Enemy every chance of recapturing it for himself. Folly! ‘Surely you see it, my friend?’ he said, turning now suddenly to Frodo again. ‘You say that you are afraid. If it is so, the boldest should pardon you. But is it not really your good sense that revolts?’ ‘No, I am afraid,’ said Frodo. ‘Simply afraid. But I am glad to have heard you speak so fully. My mind is clearer now.’
這麼一個小東西？就這麼一個小東西！而且我也只在埃爾隆德的屋子裡瞥見過它一瞬間。難道我不能再看它一眼嗎？」佛羅多抬起頭。他心頭一陣冰冷。他捕捉到波羅莫眼中那奇異的閃光，但他的臉色依然和善友好。「最好還是讓它藏著。」他回答道。「隨你便。我不在乎。」波羅莫說。「但我難道連提都不能提嗎？因為你似乎總只想到它在敵人手中的力量：只想到它的邪惡用途，而非良善之用。你說世界正在改變。如果魔戒存在，米那斯提力斯將會陷落。但為什麼？當然，如果魔戒在敵人手裡。但如果它在我們手裡，又為什麼會呢？」 「你不是在會議上嗎？」佛羅多回答。「因為我們無法使用它，而用它所做的一切都會轉為邪惡。」波羅莫站起來，不耐煩地走來走去。「你又來了。」他喊道。「甘道夫、埃爾隆德——這些人都教你這麼說。對他們自己而言，他們或許是對的。這些精靈、半精靈和巫師，他們或許會遭殃。但我常常懷疑他們是否明智，而不僅僅是膽小。但各從其類。真心的人類，他們不會被腐化。我們米那斯提力斯的人民在長年的考驗中一直堅定不移。我們不渴望巫師之王的力量，只求保衛自己的力量，為正義事業而戰的力量。看啊！在我們需要之際，機緣巧合讓力量之戒現世。我說，這是一份禮物；一份給魔多之敵的禮物。不去使用它，不去用敵人的力量來對付他，這太瘋狂了。無畏者、無情者，唯有他們才能取得勝利。在此时此刻，一個戰士，一個偉大的領袖能做些什麼？亞拉岡能做些什麼？或者如果他拒絕，為什麼不是波羅莫？魔戒會給我統御的力量。我將如何驅策魔多的軍隊，所有人都會聚集到我的旗幟下！」波羅莫來回踱步，說話聲越來越大。他似乎幾乎忘了佛羅多，滿口談論著城牆與武器，以及軍隊的集結；他籌劃著偉大的同盟和未來光榮的勝利；他推翻了魔多，自己成為了一位偉大、仁慈而又英明的國王。他突然停下來，揮舞著手臂。「而他們卻叫我們把它扔掉！」他喊道。「我不是說摧毀它。如果理智能顯示任何希望做到這一點，那或許很好。但它沒有。向我們提出的唯一計畫，就是讓一個半身人盲目地走進魔多，給敵人一切機會將它奪回。愚蠢至極！」「你肯定明白的，我的朋友？」他突然又轉向佛羅多說。「你說你害怕。如果是這樣，最大膽的人也該原諒你。但難道不是你的理智在反抗嗎？」「不，我害怕。」佛羅多說。「就只是害怕。但我很高興聽你說得這麼詳盡。我的思緒現在更清晰了。」
THE BREAKING OF THE FELLOWSHIP 399 ‘Then you will come to Minas Tirith?’ cried Boromir. His eyes were shining and his face eager. “You misunderstand me,’ said Frodo. ‘But you will come, at least for a while?’ Boromir persisted. ‘My city is not far now; and it is little further from there to Mordor than from here. We have been long in the wilderness, and you need news of what the Enemy is doing before you make a move. Come with me, Frodo,’ he said. ‘You need rest before your venture, if go you must.’ He laid his hand on the hobbit’s shoulder in friendly fashion; but Frodo felt the hand trembling with suppressed excitement. He stepped quickly away, and eyed with alarm the tall Man, nearly twice his height and many times his match in strength. ‘Why are you so unfriendly?’ said Boromir. ‘I am a true man, neither thief nor tracker. I need your Ring: that you know now; but I give you my word that I do not desire to keep it. Will you not at least let me make trial of my plan? Lend me the Ring!’ ‘No! no!’ cried Frodo. “The Council laid it upon me to bear it.’ ‘It is by our own folly that the Enemy will defeat us,’ cried Boromir. ‘How it angers me! Fool! Obstinate fool! Running wilfully to death and ruining our cause. If any mortals have claim to the Ring, it is the men of Numenor, and not Halflings. It is not yours save by unhappy chance. It might have been mine. It should be mine. Give it to me!’ Frodo did not answer, but moved away till the great flat stone stood between them. ‘Come, come, my friend!’ said Boromir in a softer voice. “Why not get rid of it? Why not be free of your doubt and fear? You can lay the blame on me, if you will. You can say that I was too strong and took it by force. For I am too strong for you, halfling,’ he cried; and suddenly he sprang over the stone and leaped at Frodo. His fair and pleasant face was hideously changed; a raging fire was in his eyes. Frodo dodged aside and again put the stone between them. There was only one thing he could do: trembling he pulled out the Ring upon its chain and quickly slipped it on his finger, even as Boromir sprang at him again. The Man gasped, stared for a moment amazed, and then ran wildly about, seeking here and there among the rocks and trees. ‘Miserable trickster!’ he shouted. ‘Let me get my hands on you! Now I see your mind. You will take the Ring to Sauron and sell us all. You have only waited your chance to leave us in the lurch. Curse you and all halflings to death and darkness!’ Then, catching his foot on a stone, he fell sprawling and lay upon his face. For a while he was as still as if his own curse had struck him down; then suddenly he wept.
「遠征隊的瓦解 399 『那麼你會來米那斯提力斯了？』波羅莫喊道。他雙眼發亮，滿臉熱切。『你誤會我了，』佛羅多說。『但你至少會來一陣子吧？』波羅莫堅持著。『我的城邦現在不遠了；而且從那裡去魔多，也不比從這裡遠多少。我們在荒野裡待了很久，在你行動之前，你需要敵方動靜的消息。跟我來，佛羅多，』他說。『在你的冒險之前，你需要休息，如果你非去不可的話。』他友善地將手搭在哈比人的肩上；但佛羅多感覺到那隻手因壓抑的興奮而顫抖。他迅速退開，驚恐地打量著這個高大的男人，他幾乎有他兩倍高，力量更是他的好幾倍。『你為什麼這麼不友善？』波羅莫說。『我是一個真誠的人，既不是小偷也不是探子。我需要你的魔戒：這點你現在知道了；但我向你保證，我無意佔有它。你難道不願意至少讓我試試我的計畫嗎？把魔戒借給我！』『不！不！』佛羅多喊道。『是聖盔谷會議把攜帶它的重任交給了我。』『我們將會因自身的愚蠢而敗給敵人，』波羅莫喊道。『這真讓我憤怒！傻瓜！固執的傻瓜！任性地奔向死亡，毀掉我們的大業。如果說有任何凡人對魔戒有所有權，那也該是努曼諾爾人，而不是半身人。它之所以是你的，不過是出於不幸的偶然。它本來可能是我的。它應該是我的。把它給我！』佛羅多沒有回答，只是往後退，直到那塊巨大的平坦石頭橫在他們之間。『來吧，來吧，我的朋友！』波羅莫用更溫柔的聲音說。『為什麼不擺脫它呢？為什麼不從你的疑懼中解脫出來？你可以把責任推到我身上，如果你願意的話。你可以說我太強壯，是強行奪走的。因為我對你來說太強壯了，半身人，』他喊道；然後他突然躍過石頭，撲向佛羅多。他那英俊愉悅的臉變得猙獰可怖；眼中燃燒著狂怒的火焰。佛羅多閃身躲開，再次讓石頭隔在他們中間。他只有一件事可做：他顫抖著從鍊子上掏出魔戒，迅速套上自己的手指，就在波羅莫再次向他撲來的那一刻。那男人倒抽一口氣，驚愕地凝視了片刻，然後在岩石與樹木間瘋狂地四處奔跑尋找。『卑鄙的騙子！』他大吼。『讓我抓到你！現在我明白你的心思了。你要把魔戒帶去給索倫，把我們全都出賣了。你只是一直在等機會拋下我們不管。詛咒你和所有半身人，直到死亡與黑暗！』然後，他一腳絆在石頭上，摔得四腳朝天，臉朝下趴在地上。有好一會兒，他靜止不動，彷彿被自己的詛咒擊倒了；接著，他突然哭了起來。
400 THE LORD OF THE RINGS He rose and passed his hand over his eyes, dashing away the tears. ‘What have I said?’ he cried. ‘What have I done? Frodo, Frodo!’ he called. ‘Come back! A madness took me, but it has passed. Come back!’ There was no answer. Frodo did not even hear his cries. He was already far away, leaping blindly up the path to the hill-top. Terror and grief shook him, seeing in his thought the mad fierce face of Boromir, and his burning eyes. Soon he came out alone on the summit of Amon Hen, and halted, gasping for breath. He saw as through a mist a wide flat circle, paved with mighty flags, and surrounded with a crumbling battlement; and in the middle, set upon four carven pillars, was a high seat, reached by a stair of many steps. Up he went and sat upon the ancient chair, feeling like a lost child that had clambered upon the throne of mountain-kings. At first he could see little. He seemed to be in a world of mist in which there were only shadows: the Ring was upon him. Then here and there the mist gave way and he saw many visions: small and clear as if they were under his eyes upon a table, and yet remote. There was no sound, only bright living images. The world seemed to have shrunk and fallen silent. He was sitting upon the Seat of Seeing, on Amon Hen, the Hill of the Eye of the Men of Numenor. Eastward he looked into wide uncharted lands, nameless plains, and forests unexplored. Northward he looked, and the Great River lay like a ribbon beneath him, and the Misty Mountains stood small and hard as broken teeth. Westward he looked and saw the broad pastures of Rohan; and Orthanc, the pinnacle of Isengard, like a black spike. Southward he looked, and below his very feet the Great River curled like a toppling wave and plunged over the falls of Rauros into a foaming pit; a glimmering rainbow played upon the fume. And Ethir Anduin he saw, the mighty delta of the River, and myriads of sea-birds whirling like a white dust in the sun, and beneath them a green and silver sea, rippling in endless lines. But everywhere he looked he saw the signs of war. The Misty Mountains were crawling like anthills: orcs were issuing out of a thousand holes. Under the boughs of Mirkwood there was deadly strife of Elves and Men and fell beasts. The land of the Beornings was aflame; a cloud was over Moria; smoke rose on the borders of Lorien. Horsemen were galloping on the grass of Rohan; wolves poured from Isengard. From the havens of Harad ships of war put out to sea; and out of the East Men were moving endlessly: swordsmen, spearmen, bowmen upon horses, chariots of chieftains and laden
他站起身，用手抹過眼睛，拭去淚水。「我說了什麼？」他哭喊道。「我做了什麼？佛羅多，佛羅多！」他呼喊著。「回來！我一度瘋狂，但那已經過去了。回來！」沒有任何回應。佛羅多甚至沒有聽見他的哭喊。他早已遠去，盲目地沿著小徑躍上山頂。恐懼與悲傷撼動著他，腦中浮現波羅莫那瘋狂而猙獰的臉孔，以及他燃燒般的雙眼。很快地，他獨自一人來到阿蒙漢的山巔，停下腳步，喘著粗氣。他彷彿透過一層薄霧，看見一個寬闊平坦的圓形平台，鋪著巨大的石板，四周環繞著頹圮的城垛；在正中央，四根雕刻的石柱上，安放著一個高高的座位，需走上許多階梯才能到達。他走上去，坐在那古老的座椅上，感覺自己像個迷路的孩子，笨拙地爬上了山中之王的寶座。起初，他幾乎什麼也看不見。他似乎身處一個只有影子的迷霧世界中：魔戒正戴在他身上。接著，迷霧在此處彼處散去，他看見了許多景象：那些景象既微小又清晰，彷彿就在他眼前的桌上，卻又無比遙遠。沒有任何聲音，只有明亮而生動的影像。世界似乎縮小並陷入了沉寂。他正坐在遠眺之座上，在阿蒙漢，努曼諾爾人的眼之山丘上。他向東望去，看見廣闊的未知之地、無名的平原和未經探索的森林。他向北望去，大河如一條緞帶躺在他腳下，迷霧山脈則像碎裂的牙齒般渺小而堅硬。他向西望去，看見了羅翰寬廣的牧場；以及艾辛格的尖塔歐散克，像一根黑色的尖刺。他向南望去，大河就在他腳下盤繞，如同一道崩塌的巨浪，衝下勞洛斯瀑布，墜入一個冒著泡沫的深淵；一道微光閃爍的彩虹在水氣上嬉戲。他還看見了安都因三角洲，那大河壯麗的河口，無數海鳥如白色的塵埃在陽光下盤旋，其下是綠色與銀色交織的大海，泛起無盡的漣漪。但無論他望向何方，都看見了戰爭的跡象。迷霧山脈像蟻丘一樣蠕動著：半獸人從上千個洞穴中湧出。在幽暗密林的枝椏下，精靈、人類與兇惡的野獸正進行著殊死搏鬥。波寧人的土地燃燒著；一朵烏雲籠罩著摩瑞亞；羅瑞安的邊境升起了濃煙。騎兵在羅翰的草原上馳騁；惡狼從艾辛格傾巢而出。哈拉德的港口，戰船正駛向大海；東方的人類正無休止地移動著：劍士、矛兵、馬上的弓箭手、酋長的戰車和滿載的
THE BREAKING OF THE FELLOWSHIP 401 wains. All the power of the Dark Lord was in motion. Then turning south again he beheld Minas Tirith. Far away it seemed, and beautiful: white-walled, many-towered, proud and fair upon its mountainseat; its battlements glittered with steel, and its turrets were bright with many banners. Hope leaped in his heart. But against Minas Tirith was set another fortress, greater and more strong. Thither, eastward, unwilling his eye was drawn. It passed the ruined bridges of Osgiliath, the grinning gates of Minas Morgul, and the haunted Mountains, and it looked upon Gorgoroth, the valley of terror in the Land of Mordor. Darkness lay there under the Sun. Fire glowed amid the smoke. Mount Doom was burning, and a great reek rising. Then at last his gaze was held: wall upon wall, battlement upon battlement, black, immeasurably strong, mountain of iron, gate of steel, tower of adamant, he saw it: Barad-dtir, Fortress of Sauron. All hope left him. And suddenly he felt the Eye. There was an eye in the Dark Tower that did not sleep. He knew that it had become aware of his gaze. A fierce eager will was there. It leaped towards him; almost like a finger he felt it, searching for him. Very soon it would nail him down, know just exactly where he was. Amon Lhaw it touched. It glanced upon Tol Brandir — he threw himself from the seat, crouching, covering his head with his grey hood. He heard himself crying out: Never, never! Or was it: Verily I come, I come to you? He could not tell. Then as a flash from some other point of power there came to his mind another thought: Take it off! Take it off! Fool, take it off! Take off the Ring! The two powers strove in him. For a moment, perfectly balanced between their piercing points, he writhed, tormented. Suddenly he was aware of himself again, Frodo, neither the Voice nor the Eye: free to choose, and with one remaining instant in which to do so. He took the Ring off his finger. He was kneeling in clear sunlight before the high seat. A black shadow seemed to pass like an arm above him; it missed Amon Hen and groped out west, and faded. Then all the sky was clean and blue and birds sang in every tree. Frodo rose to his feet. A great weariness was on him, but his will was firm and his heart lighter. He spoke aloud to himself. ‘I will do now what I must,’ he said. “This at least is plain: the evil of the Ring is already at work even in the Company, and the Ring must leave them before it does more harm. I will go alone. Some I cannot trust, and those I can trust are too dear to me: poor old Sam, and Merry and Pippin. Strider, too: his heart yearns for Minas Tirith, and he will be needed there, now Boromir has fallen into evil. I will go alone. At once.’ He went quickly down the path and came back to the lawn where
黑暗魔君所有的力量都已出動。接著他再次轉向南方，望見了米那斯提力斯。它看似遙遠而美麗：白牆環繞，高塔林立，傲然美麗地坐落在山巔；城垛上鋼鐵閃爍，角樓上旌旗招展。希望在他心中躍動。但與米那斯提力斯對峙的，是另一座更宏偉、更堅固的要塞。他的目光不由自主地被引向那裡，引向東方。目光越過奧斯吉力亞斯的斷橋、米那斯魔窟猙獰的大門，以及鬧鬼的山脈，望向魔多境內的恐怖之谷——葛哥洛斯。即使在陽光下，那裡也籠罩著黑暗。濃煙中火光閃爍。末日火山正在燃燒，升起一股巨大的惡臭濃煙。最終，他的目光被牢牢吸引：牆垣重重，城垛疊疊，漆黑一片，堅不可摧，鐵山、鋼門、金剛石塔，他看見了它：巴拉多，索倫的要塞。所有的希望都離他而去。突然間，他感覺到了那隻眼。在黑暗塔中有一隻不眠之眼。他知道它已經察覺到他的注視。那裡有一股兇猛而急切的意志。它向他撲來；他感覺它幾乎像一根手指，在搜尋他。很快，它就會將他釘住，確切地知道他在哪裡。它觸及了阿蒙羅，掃過托爾布蘭達——他從座位上猛然撲倒，蜷縮著身子，用灰色的兜帽蓋住頭。他聽見自己大喊：絕不，絕不！或者喊的是：我真的來了，我來找你了？他說不清楚。接著，彷彿另一股力量的閃光，另一個念頭竄入他腦中：脫掉它！脫掉它！傻瓜，快脫掉！脫掉魔戒！兩股力量在他體內鬥爭。有一瞬間，他完美地平衡在它們尖銳的鋒芒之間，痛苦地扭動著。突然間，他又意識到了自己，佛羅多，既非那個聲音也非那隻眼：可以自由選擇，且只剩下最後一瞬間可以選擇。他從手指上脫下了魔戒。他跪在高座前的明媚陽光下。一道黑影彷彿一隻手臂從他頭頂掠過；它錯過了阿蒙漢，向西摸索而去，然後消失了。接著，整個天空變得清澈湛藍，鳥兒在每棵樹上歌唱。佛羅多站了起來。他感到極度疲憊，但意志堅定，心情也輕鬆了些。他對自己大聲說。「我現在必須做我該做的事了。」他說。「至少這點很清楚：魔戒的邪惡甚至已經在遠征隊中作祟，在它造成更多傷害之前，魔戒必須離開他們。我要獨自前往。有些人我無法信任，而我能信任的那些人對我來說又太珍貴了：可憐的老山姆，還有梅里和皮聘。亞拉岡也是：他的心嚮往米那斯提力斯，既然波羅莫已墮入邪惡，那裡將會需要他。我要獨自前往。立刻就走。」他快步走下小徑，回到那片草坪上。
402 THE LORD OF THE RINGS Boromir had found him. Then he halted, listening. He thought he could hear cries and calls from the woods near the shore below. “They'll be hunting for me,’ he said. ‘I wonder how long I have been away. Hours, I should think.’ He hesitated. ‘What can I do?’ he muttered. ‘I must go now or I shall never go. I shan’t get a chance again. I hate leaving them, and like this without any explanation. But surely they will understand. Sam will. And what else can I do?’ Slowly he drew out the Ring and put it on once more. He vanished and passed down the hill, less than a rustle of the wind. The others remained long by the river-side. For some time they had been silent, moving restlessly about; but now they were sitting in a circle, and they were talking. Every now and again they made efforts to speak of other things, of their long road and many adventures; they questioned Aragorn concerning the realm of Gondor and its ancient history, and the remnants of its great works that could still be seen in this strange border-land of the Emyn Muil: the stone kings and the seats of Lhaw and Hen, and the great Stair beside the falls of Rauros. But always their thoughts and words strayed back to Frodo and the Ring. What would Frodo choose to do? Why was he hesitating? ‘He is debating which course is the most desperate, I think,’ said Aragorn. ‘And well he may. It is now more hopeless than ever for the Company to go east, since we have been tracked by Gollum, and must fear that the secret of our journey is already betrayed. But Minas Tirith is no nearer to the Fire and the destruction of the Burden. ‘We may remain there for a while and make a brave stand; but the Lord Denethor and all his men cannot hope to do what even Elrond said was beyond his power: either to keep the Burden secret, or to hold off the full might of the Enemy when he comes to take it. Which way would any of us choose in Frodo’s place? I do not know. Now indeed we miss Gandalf most.’ ‘Grievous is our loss,’ said Legolas. ‘Yet we must needs make up our minds without his aid. Why cannot we decide, and so help Frodo? Let us call him back and then vote! I should vote for Minas Tirith.’ ‘And so should I,’ said Gimli. ‘We, of course, were only sent to help the Bearer along the road, to go no further than we wished; and none of us is under any oath or command to seek Mount Doom. Hard was my parting from Lothlorien. Yet I have come so far, and I say this: now we have reached the last choice, it is clear to me that I cannot leave Frodo. I would choose Minas Tirith, but if he does not, then I follow him.’ ‘And I too will go with him,’ said Legolas. ‘It would be faithless now to say farewell.’
波羅莫找到了他。然後他停下腳步，傾聽著。他覺得自己能聽見從下方岸邊樹林傳來的呼喊聲。「他們一定在找我，」他說。「不知道我離開了多久。我想應該有好幾個小時了。」他猶豫了一下。「我能怎麼辦？」他喃喃自語。「我必須現在就走，否則就永遠走不了了。我不會再有機會了。我討厭這樣離開他們，而且沒有任何解釋。但他們肯定會理解的。山姆會的。我還能做什麼呢？」他緩緩地抽出魔戒，再一次戴上。他消失了，走下山丘，比風的沙沙聲還要輕微。其他人則在河邊待了很久。有段時間他們一直沉默不語，不安地走來走去；但現在他們圍坐成一圈，開始交談。他們時不時地試圖談論別的事情，談論他們漫長的旅途和許多冒險；他們向亞拉岡詢問有關剛鐸王國及其古老歷史，以及在伊敏穆爾這片奇特邊境之地仍可見到的偉大工程遺跡：石王像、拉烏與漢之座，以及勞洛斯瀑布旁的大階梯。但他們的思緒和話語總是會飄回到佛羅多和魔戒上。佛羅多會選擇做什麼？他為什麼在猶豫？「我想，他正在思量哪條路最為絕望，」亞拉岡說。「他也確實該如此。遠征隊要往東走，現在比以往任何時候都更沒有希望，因為我們被咕嚕跟蹤了，而且必須擔心我們旅程的秘密已經洩露。但米那斯提力斯離末日火山和銷毀重擔的目標也沒比較近。「我們可以在那裡待一陣子，奮力抵抗；但迪耐瑟大人和他所有的人，都無法指望做到連伊羅瑞都說超出他能力範圍的事：要麼保守重擔的秘密，要麼在敵人前來奪取時抵擋住他的全部力量。在佛羅多這個位置上，我們任何人會選擇哪條路？我不知道。現在我們確實最想念甘道夫了。」「我們的損失慘重，」勒苟拉斯說。「然而我們必須在他的幫助之外自己下定決心。我們為什麼不能決定，來幫助佛羅多呢？讓我們把他叫回來，然後投票吧！我會投票給米那斯提力斯。」「我也會，」金靂說。「我們，當然，只是被派來沿途幫助持戒者，不必走得比我們希望的更遠；我們之中沒有人發過誓或被命令要去尋找末日火山。離開羅斯洛利安對我來說很艱難。但我已經走了這麼遠，我要說：既然我們已到了最後的選擇，我很清楚我不能離開佛羅多。我會選擇米那斯提力斯，但如果他不選，那我就跟隨他。」「我也會跟他一起走，」勒苟拉斯說。「現在道別將是背信棄義的。」
THE BREAKING OF THE FELLOWSHIP 403 ‘It would indeed be a betrayal, if we all left him,’ said Aragorn. ‘But if he goes east, then all need not go with him; nor do I think that all should. That venture is desperate: as much so for eight as for three or two, or one alone. If you would let me choose, then I should appoint three companions: Sam, who could not bear it otherwise; and Gimli; and myself. Boromir will return to his own city, where his father and his people need him; and with him the others should go, or at least Meriadoc and Peregrin, if Legolas is not willing to leave us.’ “That won’t do at all!’ cried Merry. ‘We can’t leave Frodo! Pippin and I always intended to go wherever he went, and we still do. But we did not realize what that would mean. It seemed different so far away, in the Shire or in Rivendell. It would be mad and cruel to let Frodo go to Mordor. Why can’t we stop him?’ ‘We must stop him,’ said Pippin. ‘And that is what he is worrying about, I am sure. He knows we shan’t agree to his going east. And he doesn’t like to ask anyone to go with him, poor old fellow. Imagine it: going off to Mordor alone!’ Pippin shuddered. ‘But the dear silly old hobbit, he ought to know that he hasn’t got to ask. He ought to know that if we can’t stop him, we shan’t leave him.’ ‘Begging your pardon,’ said Sam. ‘I don’t think you understand my master at all. He isn’t hesitating about which way to go. Of course not! What’s the good of Minas Tirith anyway? To him, I mean, begging your pardon, Master Boromir,’ he added, and turned. It was then that they discovered that Boromir, who at first had been sitting silent on the outside of the circle, was no longer there. ‘Now where’s he got to?’ cried Sam, looking worried. ‘He’s been a bit queer lately, to my mind. But anyway he’s not in this business. He’s off to his home, as he always said; and no blame to him. But Mr. Frodo, he knows he’s got to find the Cracks of Doom, if he can. But he’s afraid. Now it’s come to the point, he’s just plain terrified. That’s what his trouble is. Of course he’s had a bit of schooling, so to speak — we all have — since we left home, or he’d be so terrified he’d just fling the Ring in the River and bolt. But he’s still too frightened to start. And he isn’t worrying about us either: whether we'll go along with him or no. He knows we mean to. That’s another thing that’s bothering him. If he screws himself up to go, he’ll want to go alone. Mark my words! We’re going to have trouble when he comes back. For he’ll screw himself up all right, as sure as his name’s Baggins.’ ‘I believe you speak more wisely than any of us, Sam,’ said Aragorn. ‘And what shall we do, if you prove right?’ ‘Stop him! Don’t let him go!’ cried Pippin. ‘I wonder?’ said Aragorn. ‘He is the Bearer, and the fate of the
「如果我們全都離開他，那確實是種背叛，」亞拉岡說。「但如果他往東走，那就不需要所有人都跟著他；我也不認為所有人都應該去。那趟冒險是九死一生：對八個人來說是如此，對三、兩個人，或獨自一人也是一樣。如果你們讓我選擇，那麼我會指派三位同伴：山姆，因為不讓他去他會受不了；還有金靂；以及我自己。波羅莫將會回到他自己的城市，那裡他的人民和父親都需要他；其他人應該跟他一起走，或者至少梅里雅達和皮瑞格林該去，如果勒苟拉斯不願意離開我們的話。」 「那樣完全不行！」梅里大喊。「我們不能離開佛羅多！皮聘和我一直都打算他去哪兒我們就去哪兒，現在也還是這麼想。但我們當時沒意識到那意味著什麼。在遙遠的地方，在夏爾或瑞文戴爾時，感覺很不一樣。讓佛羅多獨自去魔多，那太瘋狂、太殘忍了。我們為什麼不能阻止他？」 「我們必須阻止他，」皮聘說。「而且我確定，他正在擔心的就是這件事。他知道我們不會同意他往東走。而且他也不好意思開口要求任何人陪他，可憐的老傢伙。想像一下：獨自一人前往魔多！」皮聘打了個寒顫。「但是，這個親愛的傻老哈比人，他應該要知道他根本不必開口。他應該要知道，如果我們阻止不了他，我們也絕不會離開他。」 「恕我冒昧，」山姆說。「我認為你們根本不了解我的主人。他不是在猶豫要走哪條路。當然不是！米那斯提力斯到底有什麼好處？對他而言，我是說，恕我冒昧，波羅莫大人，」他補充道，然後轉過身。就在那時，他們才發現，起初一直靜靜地坐在圓圈外圍的波羅莫，已經不在那裡了。 「他跑到哪兒去了？」山姆擔心地喊道。「在我看來，他近來有點古怪。但無論如何，這件事與他無關。他要回他的家鄉，就像他一直說的；這也怪不了他。但是佛羅多先生，他知道他必須找到末日裂隙，如果他辦得到的話。但他害怕。事到如今，他簡直是嚇壞了。這就是他的困擾所在。當然，他可以說受了點教訓——我們大家都是——自從離開家後，否則他會嚇得直接把魔戒扔進河裡然後逃之夭夭。但他還是太害怕了，不敢起步。他也不是在擔心我們：無論我們是否會跟他一起去。他知道我們是決心要去的。那是另一件困擾他的事。如果他鼓起勇氣出發，他會想要獨自一人去。記住我的話！等他回來我們就有麻煩了。因為他肯定會鼓起勇氣的，就像他的姓是巴金斯一樣確定。」 「我相信你說得比我們任何人都更有智慧，山姆，」亞拉岡說。「如果你說對了，我們該怎麼辦？」 「阻止他！別讓他走！」皮聘大喊。 「是嗎？」亞拉岡說。「他是持戒人，而命運……」
404 THE LORD OF THE RINGS Burden is on him. I do not think that it is our part to drive him one way or the other. Nor do J think that we should succeed, if we tried. There are other powers at work far stronger.’ ‘Well, I wish Frodo would ‘“‘screw himself up’? and come back, and let us get it over,’ said Pippin. “This waiting is horrible! Surely the time is up?’ ‘Yes,’ said Aragorn. ‘The hour is long passed. The morning is wearing away. We must call for him.’ At that moment Boromir reappeared. He came out from the trees and walked towards them without speaking. His face looked grim and sad. He paused as if counting those that were present, and then sat down aloof, with his eyes on the ground. ‘Where have you been, Boromir?’ asked Aragorn. ‘Have you seen Frodo?’ Boromir hesitated for a second. ‘Yes, and no,’ he answered slowly. “Yes: I found him some way up the hill, and I spoke to him. I urged him to come to Minas Tirith and not to go east. I grew angry and he left me. He vanished. I have never seen such a thing happen before, though I have heard of it in tales. He must have put the Ring on. I could not find him again. I thought he would return to you.’ ‘Is that all that you have to say?’ said Aragorn, looking hard and not too kindly at Boromir. “Yes,” he answered. ‘I will say no more yet.’ “This is bad!’ cried Sam, jumping up. ‘I don’t know what this Man has been up to. Why should Mr. Frodo put the thing on? He didn’t ought to have; and ifhe has, goodness knows what may have happened!’ ‘But he wouldn’t keep it on,’ said Merry. ‘Not when he had escaped the unwelcome visitor, like Bilbo used to.’ ‘But where did he go? Where is he?’ cried Pippin. ‘He’s been away ages now.’ “How long is it since you saw Frodo last, Boromir?’ asked Aragorn. ‘Half an hour, maybe,’ he answered. ‘Or it might be an hour. I have wandered for some time since. I do not know! I do not know!’ He put his head in his hands, and sat as if bowed with grief. ‘An hour since he vanished!’ shouted Sam. ‘We must try and find him at once. Come on!’ ‘Wait a moment!’ cried Aragorn. ‘We must divide up into pairs, and arrange — here, hold on! Wait!’ It was no good. They took no notice of him. Sam had dashed off first. Merry and Pippin had followed, and were already disappearing westward into the trees by the shore, shouting: Frodo! Frodo! in their clear, high, hobbit-voices. Legolas and Gimli were running. A sudden panic or madness seemed to have fallen on the Company.
重擔在他身上。我認為我們不該逼他走上任何一條路。而且我也不認為，就算我們試了，就會成功。還有其他更強大的力量在運作。」 「唉，我真希望佛羅多能『鼓起勇氣』回來，讓我們了結這件事，」皮聘說。「這樣等下去太可怕了！時間肯定到了吧？」 「是的，」亞拉岡說。「時辰早已過了。一個早上都快耗盡了。我們必須去叫他了。」 就在那時，波羅莫再度出現。他從樹林裡走出來，一言不發地朝他們走來。他面容嚴峻而悲傷。他停頓了一下，像是在數在場的人，然後獨自坐到一旁，眼睛盯著地面。 「你剛去哪了，波羅莫？」亞拉岡問。「你看見佛羅多嗎？」 波羅莫猶豫了一下。「算是，也算不是，」他緩緩地回答。「是的：我在山坡上找到了他，也跟他說了話。我力勸他去米那斯提力斯，不要往東走。我生氣了，然後他就離開了我。他消失了。我從沒見過這種事，雖然在故事裡聽過。他一定是戴上魔戒了。我再也找不到他。我以為他會回到你們這裡來。」 「這就是你要說的全部嗎？」亞拉岡說，眼神嚴厲且不甚友善地看著波羅莫。 「是的，」他回答。「我暫時不會再多說了。」 「這下糟了！」山姆大叫著跳起來。「我不知道這個人幹了些什麼好事。佛羅多先生為什麼要戴上那東西？他真不該戴的；如果他戴了，天曉得會發生什麼事！」 「但他不會一直戴著的，」梅里說。「一旦躲開了不受歡迎的訪客，他就不會戴了，就像比爾博以前那樣。」 「但他去哪了？他在哪裡？」皮聘哭喊道。「他已經離開好久了。」 「波羅莫，你最後一次見到佛羅多是多久以前？」亞拉岡問。 「也許半小時吧，」他回答。「也可能一小時。那之後我晃蕩了一段時間。我不知道！我不知道！」他雙手抱頭，坐著彷彿被悲傷壓垮。 「他消失一小時了！」山姆大喊。「我們必須立刻去找他。快走！」 「等一下！」亞拉岡喊道。「我們必須分成兩人一組，然後安排——喂，等等！等一下！」 但沒有用。他們沒理他。山姆第一個衝了出去。梅里和皮聘跟在後面，已經消失在西邊岸邊的樹林裡，用他們清亮高亢的哈比人嗓音喊著：佛羅多！佛羅多！勒苟拉斯和金靂也跑了起來。一股突如其來的恐慌或瘋狂似乎降臨在遠征隊身上。
THE BREAKING OF THE FELLOWSHIP 405 ‘We shall all be scattered and lost,’ groaned Aragorn. ‘Boromir! I do not know what part you have played in this mischief, but help now! Go after those two young hobbits, and guard them at the least, even if you cannot find Frodo. Come back to this spot, if you find him, or any traces of him. I shall return soon.’ Aragorn sprang swiftly away and went in pursuit of Sam. Just as he reached the little lawn among the rowans he overtook him, toiling uphill, panting and calling, Frodo! ‘Come with me, Sam!’ he said. ‘None of us should be alone. There is mischief about. I feel it. Iam going to the top, to the Seat of Amon Hen, to see what may be seen. And look! It is as my heart guessed, Frodo went this way. Follow me, and keep your eyes open!’ He sped up the path. Sam did his best, but he could not keep up with Strider the Ranger, and soon fell behind. He had not gone far before Aragorn was out of sight ahead. Sam stopped and puffed. Suddenly he clapped his hand to his head. ‘Whoa, Sam Gamgee!’ he said aloud. ‘Your legs are too short, so use your head! Let me see now! Boromir isn’t lying, that’s not his way; but he hasn’t told us everything. Something scared Mr. Frodo badly. He screwed himself up to the point, sudden. He made up his mind at last — to go. Where to? Off East. Not without Sam? Yes, without even his Sam. That’s hard, cruel hard.’ Sam passed his hand over his eyes, brushing away the tears. ‘Steady, Gamgee!’ he said. ‘Think, if you can! He can’t fly across rivers, and he can’t jump waterfalls. He’s got no gear. So he’s got to get back to the boats. Back to the boats! Back to the boats, Sam, like lightning!’ Sam turned and bolted back down the path. He fell and cut his knees. Up he got and ran on. He came to the edge of the lawn of Parth Galen by the shore, where the boats were drawn up out of the water. No one was there. There seemed to be cries in the woods behind, but he did not heed them. He stood gazing for a moment, stock-still, gaping. A boat was sliding down the bank all by itself. With a shout Sam raced across the grass. The boat slipped into the water. ‘Coming, Mr. Frodo! Coming!’ called Sam, and flung himself from the bank, clutching at the departing boat. He missed it by a yard. With a cry and a splash he fell face downward into deep swift water. Gurgling he went under, and the River closed over his curly head. An exclamation of dismay came from the empty boat. A paddle swirled and the boat put about. Frodo was just in time to grasp Sam
「我們都會被沖散、迷失的，」亞拉岡呻吟道。「波羅莫！我不知道你在這場禍事中扮演了什麼角色，但現在幫幫忙！去追那兩個年輕的哈比人，至少保護好他們，就算你找不到佛羅多也一樣。如果你找到他，或任何他的蹤跡，就回到這個地點。我很快就回來。」亞拉岡迅速躍起，去追趕山姆。他剛到花楸樹叢中的小草坪，就追上了他，只見山姆正費力地往上爬，氣喘吁吁地喊著：「佛羅多！」 「跟我來，山姆！」他說。「我們誰都不該單獨行動。有禍事正在發生，我感覺到了。我要到山頂，到阿蒙漢王座去，看看能看到什麼。看！果真如我心中所料，佛羅多走了這條路。跟著我，眼睛放亮點！」 他沿著小徑飛奔而上。山姆盡了全力，但還是跟不上遊俠大步佬，很快就落在了後面。他沒走多遠，亞拉岡就已消失在前方的視線中。山姆停下來喘著粗氣。突然，他一拍腦袋。 「哇，山姆·詹吉！」他大聲說。「你的腿太短，所以動動你的腦袋吧！讓我想想！波羅莫沒說謊，那不是他的作風；但他沒有告訴我們全部實情。有什麼東西把佛羅多先生嚇得不輕。他突然就下定了決心。他終於做了決定——要走。去哪裡？往東走。不帶山姆嗎？是的，連他的山姆都不帶。這太難了，太殘酷了。」 山姆用手抹過眼睛，擦去淚水。「穩住，詹吉！」他說。「動腦想想，如果你還能想的話！他沒辦法飛過河，也跳不過瀑布。他沒有裝備。所以他必須回到船邊。回到船邊！回到船邊，山姆，像閃電一樣快！」 山姆轉身沿著小徑飛奔下山。他摔了一跤，割破了膝蓋。他爬起來繼續跑。他來到岸邊帕斯加蘭草坪的邊緣，小船被拖離水面放在那裡。沒有人在。後面的樹林裡似乎傳來喊叫聲，但他沒有理會。他站在那裡凝視了片刻，一動也不動，目瞪口呆。一艘小船正獨自滑下岸邊。山姆大喊一聲，衝過草地。小船滑入了水中。 「來了，佛羅多先生！我來了！」山姆喊道，從岸邊縱身一躍，想抓住那艘離去的小船。他差了一碼遠沒抓住。隨著一聲驚叫和一陣水花，他臉朝下摔進了又深又急的河水裡。他咕嚕咕嚕地沉了下去，河水淹沒了他捲曲的頭頂。 空無一人的小船上發出一聲驚呼。一支船槳划動，小船轉過頭來。佛羅多正好及時抓住了山姆。
406 THE LORD OF THE RINGS by the hair as he came up, bubbling and struggling. Fear was staring in his round brown eyes. ‘Up you come, Sam my lad!’ said Frodo. ‘Now take my hand!’ ‘Save me, Mr. Frodo!’ gasped Sam. ‘I’m drownded. I can’t see your hand.’ ‘Here it is. Don’t pinch, lad! I won’t let you go. Tread water and don’t flounder, or you’ll upset the boat. There now, get hold of the side, and let me use the paddle!’ With a few strokes Frodo brought the boat back to the bank, and Sam was able to scramble out, wet as a water-rat. Frodo took off the Ring and stepped ashore again. ‘Of all the confounded nuisances you are the worst, Sam!’ he said. ‘Oh, Mr. Frodo, that’s hard!’ said Sam shivering. “That’s hard, trying to go without me and all. If I hadn’t a guessed right, where would you be now?’ ‘Safely on my way.’ ‘Safely!’ said Sam. ‘All alone and without me to help you? I couldn’t have a borne it, it’d have been the death of me.’ ‘It would be the death of you to come with me, Sam,’ said Frodo, ‘and I could not have borne that.’ ‘Not as certain as being left behind,’ said Sam. ‘But I am going to Mordor.’ ‘I know that well enough, Mr. Frodo. Of course you are. And I’m coming with you.’ ‘Now, Sam,’ said Frodo, ‘don’t hinder me! The others will be coming back at any minute. If they catch me here, I shall have to argue and explain, and I shall never have the heart or the chance to get off. But I must go at once. It’s the only way.’ ‘Of course it is,’ answered Sam. ‘But not alone. ’m coming too, or neither of us isn’t going. Ill knock holes in all the boats first.’ Frodo actually laughed. A sudden warmth and gladness touched his heart. ‘Leave one!’ he said. ‘We'll need it. But you can’t come like this without your gear or food or anything.’ ‘Just hold on a moment, and I’ll get my stuff!’ cried Sam eagerly. ‘It’s all ready. I thought we should be off today.’ He rushed to the camping place, fished out his pack from the pile where Frodo had laid it when he emptied the boat of his companions’ goods, grabbed a spare blanket, and some extra packages of food, and ran back. ‘So all my plan is spoilt!’ said Frodo. ‘It is no good trying to escape you. But I’m glad, Sam. I cannot tell you how glad. Come along! It is plain that we were meant to go together. We will go, and may the others find a safe road! Strider will look after them. I don’t suppose we shall see them again.’ “Yet we may, Mr. Frodo. We may,’ said Sam. * * *
佛羅多在他浮出水面時抓住他的頭髮，他咕嚕咕嚕地冒著泡，掙扎著。恐懼在他圓圓的棕色眼睛裡凝視著。「上來，山姆，我的孩子！」佛羅多說。「來，抓住我的手！」「救我，佛羅多先生！」山姆喘著氣說。「我要淹死了。我看不見您的手。」「在這裡。別捏我，孩子！我不會放開你的。踩水，別亂撲騰，不然會把船弄翻的。好了，抓住船邊，讓我來用槳！」佛羅多划了幾下，把船帶回岸邊，山姆手腳並用地爬了出來，濕得像隻水鼠。佛羅多脫下魔戒，再次踏上岸。「在所有該死的討厭鬼裡，你是最糟的一個，山姆！」他說。「噢，佛羅多先生，那太傷人了！」山姆顫抖著說。「太傷人了，您居然想丟下我一個人走。要不是我猜對了，您現在會在什麼地方？」「安安全全地在路上。」「安全！」山姆說。「孤單一人，沒有我幫您？我可受不了，那會要了我的命。」「跟我走才會要了你的命，山姆，」佛羅多說，「而那是我無法承受的。」「那可不比被拋下更確定，」山姆說。「但我要去魔多。」「我很清楚，佛羅多先生。您當然要去。我也要跟您一起去。」「好了，山姆，」佛羅多說，「別妨礙我！其他人隨時都會回來。如果他們在這裡逮到我，我就得爭辯、解釋，那我將永遠沒有決心或機會離開了。但我必須立刻走。這是唯一的辦法。」「當然是，」山姆回答。「但不是您一個人。我也要去，不然我們誰也別想走。我會先把所有的船都敲出洞來。」佛羅多居然笑了。一股突如其來的溫暖和喜悅觸動了他的心。「留下一艘！」他說。「我們會需要它。但你不能像這樣，沒有裝備、沒有食物，什麼都沒有就來。」「等我一下，我去拿我的東西！」山姆急切地喊道。「全都準備好了。我早就覺得我們今天就該出發。」他衝到營地，從佛羅多清空同伴物品時堆放的行李堆中，撈出自己的背包，抓起一條備用毯子和幾包額外的食物，然後跑了回來。「所以我所有的計畫都泡湯了！」佛羅多說。「想甩掉你根本沒用。但我很高興，山姆。我無法告訴你我有多高興。來吧！顯然我們注定要一起走。我們走吧，願其他人能找到一條安全的路！神行客會照顧他們的。我想我們大概不會再見到他們了。」「但我們也許會的，佛羅多先生。也許會的。」山姆說。
THE BREAKING OF THE FELLOWSHIP 407 So Frodo and Sam set off on the last stage of the Quest together. Frodo paddled away from the shore, and the River bore them swiftly away, down the western arm, and past the frowning cliffs of Tol Brandir. The roar of the great falls drew nearer. Even with such help as Sam could give, it was hard work to pass across the current at the southward end of the island and drive the boat eastward towards the far shore. At length they came to land again upon the southern slopes of Amon Lhaw. There they found a shelving shore, and they drew the boat out, high above the water, and hid it as well as they could behind a great boulder. Then shouldering their burdens, they set off, seeking a path that would bring them over the grey hills of the Emyn Muil, and down into the Land of Shadow.
魔戒遠征隊的瓦解 407 就這樣，佛羅多和山姆兩人一起踏上了遠征的最後一段旅程。佛羅多划著船離開岸邊，河流迅速地將他們帶走，順著西側支流而下，經過托爾布蘭達那險峻的峭壁。大瀑布的轟鳴聲越來越近。即使有山姆的幫忙，要橫渡島嶼南端的急流，將小船駛向東邊的遠岸，仍是件艱鉅的工作。他們終於在阿蒙羅的南坡再次登陸。那裡有個傾斜的岸邊，他們把船拉上岸，拉到遠高於水面的地方，並盡可能地把它藏在一塊巨石後面。然後，他們扛起行囊，出發尋找一條能帶他們翻越伊敏穆爾的灰色山丘，並進入陰影之地的路。