Chapter 1 THE DEPARTURE OF BOROMIR Aragorn sped on up the hill. Every now and again he bent to the ground. Hobbits go light, and their footprints are not easy even for a Ranger to read, but not far from the top a spring crossed the path, and in the wet earth he saw what he was seeking. ‘I read the signs aright,’ he said to himself. ‘Frodo ran to the hill-top. I wonder what he saw there? But he returned by the same way, and went down the hill again.’ Aragorn hesitated. He desired to go to the high seat himself, hoping to see there something that would guide him in his perplexities; but time was pressing. Suddenly he leaped forward, and ran to the summit, across the great flag-stones, and up the steps. Then sitting in the high seat he looked out. But the sun seemed darkened, and the world dim and remote. He turned from the North back again to North, and saw nothing save the distant hills, unless it were that far away he could see again a great bird like an eagle high in the air, descending slowly in wide circles down towards the earth. Even as he gazed his quick ears caught sounds in the woodlands below, on the west side of the River. He stiffened. There were cries, and among them, to his horror, he could distinguish the harsh voices of Orcs. Then suddenly with a deep-throated call a great horn blew, and the blasts of it smote the hills and echoed in the hollows, rising in a mighty shout above the roaring of the falls. “The horn of Boromir!’ he cried. ‘He is in need!’ He sprang down the steps and away, leaping down the path. ‘Alas! An ill fate is on me this day, and all that I do goes amiss. Where is Sam?’ As he ran the cries came louder, but fainter now and desperately the horn was blowing. Fierce and shrill rose the yells of the Orcs, and suddenly the horn-calls ceased. Aragorn raced down the last slope, but before he could reach the hill’s foot, the sounds died away; and as he turned to the left and ran towards them they retreated, until at last he could hear them no more. Drawing his bright sword and crying Elendil! Elendil! he crashed through the trees. A mile, maybe, from Parth Galen in a little glade not far from the lake he found Boromir. He was sitting with his back to a great tree, as if he was resting. But Aragorn saw that he was pierced with many black-feathered arrows; his sword was still in his hand, but it was
第一章 波羅莫的離去 亞拉岡飛快地奔上山丘。他不時彎下腰察看地面。哈比人腳步輕盈，即使對遊俠來說，他們的足跡也不易辨識，但在離山頂不遠處，一道泉水流過小徑，在濕潤的泥土上，他看到了他所尋找的蹤跡。「我沒看錯跡象，」他對自己說。「佛羅多跑到了山頂。不知道他在那裡看到了什麼？但他又循原路回來，下山去了。」亞拉岡猶豫了。他渴望親自登上那個高座，希望能在那裡看到什麼，為他的困惑指引方向；但時間緊迫。突然，他向前一躍，奔向頂峰，穿過巨大的石板，跑上階梯。然後他坐在高座上向外望去。但太陽似乎黯淡了，世界也變得昏暗而遙遠。他從北方轉回北方，除了遠方的山丘外什麼也沒看見，除非是遠處那隻他曾見過、像老鷹一樣的大鳥，在高空中緩緩地盤旋下降，朝地面飛去。就在他凝視時，他敏銳的耳朵捕捉到下方林地、大河西岸傳來的聲響。他全身一僵。那裡有哭喊聲，令他驚恐的是，他從中分辨出了半獸人刺耳的聲音。接著，突然間，一聲深沉的號角響起，號角聲衝擊著山巒，在山谷中迴盪，蓋過了瀑布的轟鳴，如同一聲巨吼。「是波羅莫的號角！」他大喊。「他有危險！」他跳下階梯，飛奔而去，沿著小徑縱身躍下。「唉！今天厄運當頭，我做什麼都不順。山姆在哪裡？」他奔跑時，哭喊聲越來越大，但號角聲卻越來越微弱，帶著絕望的意味。半獸人的吼叫聲變得兇猛而尖銳，突然間，號角聲停止了。亞拉岡衝下最後的斜坡，但在他到達山腳前，聲音消失了；當他向左轉朝聲音來源跑去時，那些聲音卻在後退，直到最後他再也聽不見了。他拔出閃亮的寶劍，大喊著「伊蘭迪爾！伊蘭迪爾！」，衝進了樹林。在離帕斯加蘭約一英里遠，一片離湖不遠的小林間空地上，他找到了波羅莫。他背靠著一棵大樹坐著，彷彿在休息。但亞拉岡看到他身上插了許多黑羽箭；他的劍還握在手中，但它已經
414 THE LORD OF THE RINGS broken near the hilt; his horn cloven in two was at his side. Many Orcs lay slain, piled all about him and at his feet. Aragorn knelt beside him. Boromir opened his eyes and strove to speak. At last slow words came. ‘I tried to take the Ring from Frodo,’ he said. ‘I am sorry. I have paid.’ His glance strayed to his fallen enemies; twenty at least lay there. “They have gone: the Halflings: the Orcs have taken them. I think they are not dead. Orcs bound them.’ He paused and his eyes closed wearily. After a moment he spoke again. ‘Farewell, Aragorn! Go to Minas Tirith and save my people! I have failed.’ ‘No!’ said Aragorn, taking his hand and kissing his brow. ‘You have conquered. Few have gained such a victory. Be at peace! Minas Tirith shall not fall!’ Boromir smiled. ‘Which way did they go? Was Frodo there?’ said Aragorn. But Boromir did not speak again. ‘Alas!’ said Aragorn. “Thus passes the heir of Denethor, Lord of the Tower of Guard! This is a bitter end. Now the Company is all in ruin. It is I that have failed. Vain was Gandalf’s trust in me. What shall I do now? Boromir has laid it on me to go to Minas Tirith, and my heart desires it; but where are the Ring and the Bearer? How shall I find them and save the Quest from disaster?’ He knelt for a while, bent with weeping, still clasping Boromir’s hand. So it was that Legolas and Gimli found him. They came from the western slopes of the hill, silently, creeping through the trees as if they were hunting. Gimli had his axe in hand, and Legolas his long knife: all his arrows were spent. When they came into the glade they halted in amazement; and then they stood a moment with heads bowed in grief, for it seemed to them plain what had happened. ‘Alas!’ said Legolas, coming to Aragorn’s side. ‘We have hunted and slain many Orcs in the woods, but we should have been of more use here. We came when we heard the horn — but too late, it seems. I fear you have taken deadly hurt.’ ‘Boromir is dead,’ said Aragorn. ‘I am unscathed, for I was not here with him. He fell defending the hobbits, while I was away upon the hill.’ “The hobbits!’ cried Gimli. ‘Where are they then? Where is Frodo?’ ‘I do not know,’ answered Aragorn wearily. ‘Before he died Boromir told me that the Orcs had bound them; he did not think that they were dead. I sent him to follow Merry and Pippin; but I did not ask him if Frodo or Sam were with him: not until it was too late. All that I have done today has gone amiss. What is to be done now?’ ‘First we must tend the fallen,’ said Legolas. ‘We cannot leave him lying like carrion among these foul Orcs.’
他的劍在靠近劍柄處斷裂；他那裂成兩半的號角就在身旁。許多半獸人被殺，堆疊在他周圍和腳下。亞拉岡跪在他身邊。波羅莫睜開眼睛，掙扎著想說話。終於，他緩緩吐出幾個字。「我試圖從佛羅多手中奪走魔戒，」他說。「我很抱歉。我已付出代價。」他的目光飄向倒下的敵人；那裡至少躺了二十個。「他們走了：那些哈比人：半獸人抓走了他們。我想他們還沒死。半獸人把他們綁起來了。」他停頓了一下，疲憊地閉上眼睛。過了一會兒，他又開口了。「再會了，亞拉岡！去米那斯提力斯，拯救我的人民！我失敗了。」「不！」亞拉岡說，握住他的手，親吻他的額頭。「你勝利了。很少人能獲得如此的勝利。安息吧！米那斯提力斯絕不會陷落！」波羅莫笑了。「他們往哪個方向去了？佛羅多在那裡嗎？」亞拉岡問。但波羅莫沒有再說話。「唉！」亞拉岡說。「守衛塔之主、迪耐瑟的繼承人就此殞落了！這真是個慘痛的結局。如今，魔戒遠征隊已然分崩離析。是我失敗了。甘道夫對我的信任終究是徒勞。我現在該怎麼辦？波羅莫囑託我去米那斯提力斯，我的心也渴望前往；但魔戒和持戒人又在哪裡？我該如何找到他們，挽救這次任務免於災難？」他跪了一會兒，因哭泣而彎著身，仍緊握著波羅莫的手。勒苟拉斯和金靂就是這樣找到他的。他們從西邊的山坡下來，悄無聲息，像狩獵般地穿梭在樹林間。金靂手持斧頭，勒苟拉斯拿著他的長刀；他所有的箭都已用盡。當他們來到林中空地時，驚訝地停下了腳步；然後他們佇立片刻，悲傷地低下頭，因為眼前發生的事對他們來說已昭然若揭。「唉！」勒苟拉斯來到亞拉岡身邊說。「我們在樹林裡追獵並殺了許多半獸人，但我們本該在這裡更有用處。我們聽到號角聲時就趕來了——但似乎太遲了。恐怕你受了致命的重傷。」「波羅莫死了，」亞拉岡說。「我毫髮無傷，因為我沒和他在一起。當我在山崗上時，他為了保護哈比人而倒下。」「哈比人！」金靂叫道。「那他們在哪裡？佛羅多在哪裡？」「我不知道，」亞拉岡疲憊地回答。「波羅莫死前告訴我，半獸人把他們綁起來了；他不認為他們已經死了。我派他去跟著梅里和皮聘；但我沒問他佛羅多或山姆是否和他在一起：直到為時已晚。我今天所做的一切都出了差錯。現在該怎麼辦？」「首先我們必須處理倒下的人，」勒苟拉斯說。「我們不能讓他像腐肉一樣躺在這些污穢的半獸人之中。」
THE DEPARTURE OF BOROMIR AIS ‘But we must be swift,’ said Gimli. ‘He would not wish us to linger. We must follow the Orcs, if there is hope that any of our Company are living prisoners.’ ‘But we do not know whether the Ring-bearer is with them or not,’ said Aragorn. ‘Are we to abandon him? Must we not seek him first? An evil choice is now before us!’ “Then let us do first what we must do,’ said Legolas. ‘We have not the time or the tools to bury our comrade fitly, or to raise a mound over him. A cairn we might build.’ “The labour would be hard and long: there are no stones that we could use nearer than the water-side,’ said Gimli. “Then let us lay him in a boat with his weapons, and the weapons of his vanquished foes,’ said Aragorn. ‘We will send him to the Falls of Rauros and give him to Anduin. The River of Gondor will take care at least that no evil creature dishonours his bones.’ Quickly they searched the bodies of the Orcs, gathering their swords and cloven helms and shields into a heap. ‘See!’ cried Aragorn. ‘Here we find tokens!’ He picked out from the pile of grim weapons two knives, leaf-bladed, damasked in gold and red; and searching further he found also the sheaths, black, set with small red gems. ‘No orc-tools these!’ he said. “They were borne by the hobbits. Doubtless the Orcs despoiled them, but feared to keep the knives, knowing them for what they are: work of Westernesse, wound about with spells for the bane of Mordor. Well, now, if they still live, our friends are weaponless. I will take these things, hoping against hope, to give them back.’ ‘And I,’ said Legolas, ‘will take all the arrows that I can find, for my quiver is empty.’ He searched in the pile and on the ground about and found not a few that were undamaged and longer in the shaft than such arrows as the Orcs were accustomed to use. He looked at them closely. And Aragorn looked on the slain, and he said: ‘Here lie many that are not folk of Mordor. Some are from the North, from the Misty Mountains, if I know anything of Orcs and their kinds. And here are others strange to me. Their gear is not after the manner of Orcs at all!’ There were four goblin-soldiers of greater stature, swart, slanteyed, with thick legs and large hands. They were armed with short broad-bladed swords, not with the curved scimitars usual with Orcs; and they had bows of yew, in length and shape like the bows of Men. Upon their shields they bore a strange device: a small white hand in the centre of a black field; on the front of their iron helms was set an S-rune, wrought of some white metal.
「但我們必須快點，」金靂說。「他不會希望我們逗留。我們必須追趕半獸人，如果我們遠征隊中還有人活著被俘虜的話。」「但我們不知道持戒者是否跟他們在一起，」亞拉岡說。「我們要拋棄他嗎？我們不該先去找他嗎？一個艱難的選擇擺在我們面前！」「那就先做我們必須做的事吧，」勒苟拉斯說。「我們沒有時間或工具來好好安葬我們的戰友，也無法為他堆起墳塚。或許我們可以堆一個石塚。」「那工程既艱辛又耗時：最近的石頭也要到水邊才有，」金靂說。「那就把他連同他的武器，以及他擊敗的敵人的武器，一起放在一艘船上吧，」亞拉岡說。「我們會將他送往勞洛斯瀑布，交給安都因河。剛鐸的河流至少會確保沒有邪惡生物會玷污他的骸骨。」他們迅速搜查了半獸人的屍體，將他們的劍、破裂的頭盔和盾牌堆成一堆。「看！」亞拉岡喊道。「我們在這裡找到了信物！」他從那堆猙獰的武器中挑出兩把葉形刃、飾有金紅色大馬士革花紋的刀；再進一步搜索，他還找到了黑色的刀鞘，上面鑲著紅色的小寶石。「這不是半獸人的工具！」他說。「這是哈比人帶的。半獸人無疑搶劫了他們，但不敢留下這些刀，因為他們知道這些刀的來歷：是西方皇族的傑作，上面附有詛咒魔多的魔咒。好了，如果我們的朋友還活著，他們現在手無寸鐵了。我會收下這些東西，抱著一線希望，希望能把它們還給他們。」「而我，」勒苟拉斯說，「要把所有能找到的箭都拿走，因為我的箭袋空了。」他在那堆東西裡和周圍的地上搜索，找到了不少完好無損的箭，而且箭桿比半獸人慣用的要長。他仔細地檢視著它們。亞拉岡看著那些被殺死的敵人，說道：「這裡躺著許多不是來自魔多的傢伙。如果我對半獸人及其種類有所了解的話，有些是從北方來的，從迷霧山脈來的。這裡還有一些我不認識的。他們的裝備完全不是半獸人的風格！」其中有四個身材更高大的哥布林士兵，他們皮膚黝黑、眼睛細長，腿粗手大。他們裝備的是短闊刃劍，而不是半獸人常用的彎刀；他們還帶著紫杉木弓，長度和形狀都像人類的弓。他們的盾牌上繪有一個奇怪的紋章：黑色的底上有一隻白色的小手；在他們鐵盔的前方，鑲嵌著一個用某種白色金屬製成的S形盧恩符文。
416 THE LORD OF THE RINGS ‘I have not seen these tokens before,’ said Aragorn. ‘What do they mean?’ ‘S is for Sauron,’ said Gimli. “That is easy to read.’ ‘Nay!’ said Legolas. ‘Sauron does not use the elf-runes.’ ‘Neither does he use his right name, nor permit it to be spelt or spoken,’ said Aragorn. ‘And he does not use white. The Orcs in the service of Barad-dtr use the sign of the Red Eye.’ He stood for a moment in thought. ‘S is for Saruman, I guess,’ he said at length. “There is evil afoot in Isengard, and the West is no longer safe. It is as Gandalf feared: by some means the traitor Saruman has had news of our journey. It is likely too that he knows of Gandalf’s fall. Pursuers from Moria may have escaped the vigilance of Lorien, or they may have avoided that land and come to Isengard by other paths. Orcs travel fast. But Saruman has many ways of learning news. Do you remember the birds?’ ‘Well, we have no time to ponder riddles,’ said Gimli. ‘Let us bear Boromir away!’ ‘But after that we must guess the riddles, if we are to choose our course rightly,’ answered Aragorn. ‘Maybe there is no right choice,’ said Gimli. Taking his axe the Dwarf now cut several branches. These they lashed together with bowstrings, and spread their cloaks upon the frame. Upon this rough bier they carried the body of their companion to the shore, together with such trophies of his last battle as they chose to send forth with him. It was only a short way, yet they found it no easy task, for Boromir was a man both tall and strong. At the water-side Aragorn remained, watching the bier, while Legolas and Gimli hastened back on foot to Parth Galen. It was a mile or more, and it was some time before they came back, paddling two boats swiftly along the shore. “There is a strange tale to tell!’ said Legolas. “There are only two boats upon the bank. We could find no trace of the other.’ ‘Have Orcs been there?’ asked Aragorn. ‘We saw no signs of them,’ answered Gimli. ‘And Orcs would have taken or destroyed all the boats, and the baggage as well.’ ‘I will look at the ground when we come there,’ said Aragorn. Now they laid Boromir in the middle of the boat that was to bear him away. The grey hood and elven-cloak they folded and placed beneath his head. They combed his long dark hair and arrayed it upon his shoulders. The golden belt of Lorien gleamed about his waist. His helm they set beside him, and across his lap they laid the cloven horn and the hilt and shards of his sword; beneath his feet
「我以前沒見過這些標記，」亞拉岡說。「它們是什麼意思？」 「S 代表索倫，」金靂說。「這很明顯。」 「不對！」勒苟拉斯說。「索倫不用精靈的盧恩文字。」 「他也不用自己的真名，更不允許別人拼寫或說出它，」亞拉岡說。「而且他不用白色。為巴拉多效力的半獸人用的是紅眼標記。」他站著思索了一會兒。「我猜，S 代表薩魯曼，」他終於說道。「艾辛格有邪惡正在醞釀，西方不再安全了。正如甘道夫所擔憂的：叛徒薩魯曼透過某種方式得知了我們旅程的消息。他很可能也知道甘道夫的殞落。從摩瑞亞來的追兵或許躲過了羅瑞安的警戒，或者他們繞過了那片土地，從別的路徑來到了艾辛格。半獸人行動迅速。但薩魯曼有很多獲取消息的管道。你們還記得那些鳥嗎？」 「唉，我們沒時間猜謎了，」金靂說。「我們快把波羅莫帶走吧！」 「但在那之後，我們必須猜出這些謎題，才能正確選擇我們的道路，」亞拉岡回答。 「也許根本沒有正確的選擇，」金靂說。 矮人拿起他的斧頭，砍下幾根樹枝。他們用弓弦將樹枝捆綁在一起，再把斗篷鋪在架上。他們就用這個粗糙的屍架，將同伴的遺體抬到岸邊，連同他們為他挑選的、能代表他最後一戰榮耀的紀念品一起。路程雖短，他們卻覺得異常艱辛，因為波羅莫是個既高大又強壯的人。 在水邊，亞拉岡留下來看守著屍架，而勒苟拉斯和金靂則快步跑回帕斯加蘭。那裡有一英里多遠，過了好一會兒他們才回來，沿著岸邊迅速划著兩艘小船。 「有件怪事要說！」勒苟拉斯說。「岸上只有兩艘船。我們找不到另一艘的任何蹤跡。」 「半獸人去過那裡嗎？」亞拉岡問。 「我們沒看到他們的任何跡象，」金靂回答。「而且半獸人會帶走或摧毀所有的小船和行李。」 「等我們到了那裡，我會查看一下地面，」亞拉岡說。 現在，他們將波羅莫安放在那艘將載他遠去的船中央。他們將灰色的兜帽和精靈斗篷摺好，墊在他的頭下。他們梳理他深色的長髮，讓其披散在肩上。羅瑞安的金色腰帶在他腰間閃閃發光。他們把他的頭盔放在他身旁，將那只破裂的號角、劍柄和劍的碎片橫放在他的膝上；在他的腳下
THE DEPARTURE OF BOROMIR 417 they put the swords of his enemies. Then fastening the prow to the stern of the other boat, they drew him out into the water. They rowed sadly along the shore, and turning into the swift-running channel they passed the green sward of Parth Galen. The steep sides of Tol Brandir were glowing: it was now mid-afternoon. As they went south the fume of Rauros rose and shimmered before them, a haze of gold. The rush and thunder of the falls shook the windless air. Sorrowfully they cast loose the funeral boat: there Boromir lay, restful, peaceful, gliding upon the bosom of the flowing water. The stream took him while they held their own boat back with their paddles. He floated by them, and slowly his boat departed, waning to a dark spot against the golden light; and then suddenly it vanished. Rauros roared on unchanging. The River had taken Boromir son of Denethor, and he was not seen again in Minas Tirith, standing as he used to stand upon the White Tower in the morning. But in Gondor in after-days it long was said that the elven-boat rode the falls and the foaming pool, and bore him down through Osgiliath, and past the many mouths of Anduin, out into the Great Sea at night under the stars. For a while the three companions remained silent, gazing after him. Then Aragorn spoke. “They will look for him from the White Tower,’ he said, ‘but he will not return from mountain or from sea.’ Then slowly he began to sing: Through Rohan over fen and field where the long grass grows The West Wind comes walking, and about the walls it goes. ‘What news from the West, O wandering wind, do you bring to me tonight? Have you seen Boromir the Tall by moon or by starlight?’ T saw him ride over seven streams, over waters wide and grey; I saw him walk in empty lands, until he passed away Into the shadows of the North. I saw him then no more. The North Wind may have heard the horn of the son of Denethor.’ ‘O Boromir! From the high walls westward I looked afar, But you came not from the empty lands where no men are.’ Then Legolas sang: From the mouths of the Sea the South Wind flies, from the sandhills and the stones; The wailing of the gulls it bears, and at the gate it moans.
波羅莫的離去 417 他們放上他敵人的劍。然後，他們將船頭與另一艘船的船尾綁在一起，把他拖入水中。他們悲傷地沿著岸邊划行，轉入湍急的水道，經過了帕斯加蘭的綠色草地。托爾布蘭達陡峭的山壁閃耀著光芒：此時已是午後時分。當他們向南行進時，拉洛斯瀑布的水氣在他們面前升起、閃爍，化作一片金色的薄霧。瀑布的奔騰與雷鳴震動了無風的空氣。他們悲痛地解開了這艘葬船的纜繩：波羅莫躺在其中，安詳、寧靜，在流動的水面上滑行。他們用槳控制住自己的船，任由溪流將他帶走。他從他們身邊漂過，他的小船緩緩遠去，在金色的光芒中逐漸縮小成一個黑點；然後突然消失了。拉洛斯瀑布的咆哮依舊。大河帶走了迪耐瑟之子波羅莫，人們再也沒見過他像往常一樣，清晨時分佇立在米那斯提力斯的白塔之上。但在後來的歲月裡，剛鐸流傳著一個長久的傳說：那艘精靈小船載著他越過了瀑布與激起的白沫，順流而下穿過奧斯吉力亞斯，經過安都因大河的衆多出海口，在星空下的夜晚，進入了浩瀚的大海。三位同伴沉默了片刻，凝望著他遠去的方向。然後亞拉岡開口了。「他們會從白塔上尋找他，」他說，「但他不會從山嶺或海洋歸來了。」接著他緩緩唱起：穿過羅翰的沼澤與田野，在長草萋萋之處，西風漫步而來，環繞著城牆。‘漂泊的風啊，今夜你從西方帶來了什麼消息？你在月下或星光中，可曾見過高大的波羅莫？’‘我見他馳騁過七條溪流，越過寬闊灰暗的水域；我見他在空無一人的土地上行走，直到他逝去，走入北方的陰影。此後我再未見到他。北風或許聽到了迪耐瑟之子的號角聲。’‘啊，波羅莫！我從高牆上向西遠眺，但你卻沒有從那無人居住的空地歸來。’接著勒苟拉斯唱道：南風從大海的出口飛來，自沙丘與岩石；它帶來海鷗的悲鳴，在城門口哀號。
418 THE LORD OF THE RINGS ‘What news from the South, O sighing wind, do you bring to me at eve? Where now ts Boromir the Fair? He tarries and I grieve.’ ‘Ask not of me where he doth dwell — so many bones there lie On the white shores and the dark shores under the stormy sky; So many have passed down Anduin to find the flowing Sea. Ask of the North Wind news of them the North Wind sends to me!” ‘O Boromir! Beyond the gate the seaward road runs south, But you came not with the wailing gulls from the grey sea’s mouth. * Then Aragorn sang again: From the Gate of Kings the North Wind rides, and past the roaring falls; And clear and cold about the tower its loud horn calls. ‘What news from the North, O mighty wind, do you bring to me today? What news of Boromir the Bold? For he 1s long away.’ ‘Beneath Amon Hen I heard his cry. There many foes he fought. His cloven shield, his broken sword, they to the water brought. His head so proud, his face so fair, his limbs they laid to rest; And Rauros, golden Rauros-falls, bore him upon its breast.’ ‘O Boromir! The Tower of Guard shall ever northward gaze To Rauros, golden Rauros-falls, until the end of days.’ So they ended. Then they turned their boat and drove it with all the speed they could against the stream back to Parth Galen. “You left the East Wind to me,’ said Gimli, ‘but I will say naught of it.’ “That is as it should be,’ said Aragorn. ‘In Minas Tirith they endure the East Wind, but they do not ask it for tidings. But now Boromir has taken his road, and we must make haste to choose our own.’ He surveyed the green lawn, quickly but thoroughly, stooping often to the earth. ‘No Orcs have been on this ground,’ he said. ‘Otherwise nothing can be made out for certain. All our footprints are here, crossing and re-crossing. I cannot tell whether any of the hobbits have come back since the search for Frodo began.’ He returned to the bank, close to where the rill from the spring trickled out into the River. “There are some clear prints here,’ he said. ‘A hobbit waded out into the water and back; but I cannot say how long ago.’ ‘How then do you read this riddle?’ asked Gimli.
「南風啊，你嘆息著，在傍晚帶給我什麼消息？俊美的波羅莫如今何在？他遲遲未歸，我心悲傷。」「別問我他居於何處——在那風暴肆虐的天空下，白色與黑色的岸邊，躺著無數骸骨；多少人順著安都因河南下，去尋找那流動的大海。去問北風吧，問牠們北風捎給我的消息！」「啊，波羅莫！越過大門，通往大海的路向南延伸，但你卻沒有隨著哀鳴的海鷗，從灰色的大海之口歸來。」* 接著，亞拉岡又唱道：北風自王者之門吹來，越過咆哮的瀑布；它嘹亮而冰冷的號角聲，在塔樓周圍迴響。「北風啊，你這強勁的風，今天帶給我什麼消息？那英勇的波羅莫有何消息？他已遠離許久。」「在阿蒙漢山下，我聽見他的吶喊。他在那裡與眾多敵人奮戰。他們將他裂開的盾牌、他斷裂的寶劍，帶到水邊。他高傲的頭顱，他俊美的臉龐，他的四肢，他們將其安放；而拉洛斯，金色的拉洛斯瀑布，將他承載於胸膛。」「啊，波羅莫！守衛塔將永遠向北凝望，望向拉洛斯，金色的拉洛斯瀑布，直到歲月的盡頭。」他們就這樣結束了。然後他們轉過船頭，用盡全力逆流而上，回到帕斯加蘭。「你把東風留給了我，」金靂說，「但我什麼也不會說。」「本該如此，」亞拉岡說。「在米那斯提力斯，他們忍受東風，但從不向它詢問消息。但現在波羅莫已經踏上了他的路，我們必須趕快選擇我們自己的路。」他迅速而徹底地察看了那片綠色的草地，時常彎腰貼近地面。「這片地上沒有半獸人的蹤跡，」他說。「除此之外，無法確定任何事。我們所有的腳印都在這裡，來回交錯。我無法判斷自從開始尋找佛羅多以來，是否有任何哈比人回來過。」他回到岸邊，靠近泉水細流匯入大河的地方。「這裡有些清晰的足跡，」他說。「一個哈比人涉水又回來了；但我說不出是多久以前的事。」「那麼你如何解開這個謎題？」金靂問道。
THE DEPARTURE OF BOROMIR 419 Aragorn did not answer at once, but went back to the campingplace and looked at the baggage. “I'wo packs are missing,’ he said, ‘and one is certainly Sam’s: it was rather large and heavy. This then is the answer: Frodo has gone by boat, and his servant has gone with him. Frodo must have returned while we were all away. I met Sam going up the hill and told him to follow me; but plainly he did not do so. He guessed his master’s mind and came back here before Frodo had gone. He did not find it easy to leave Sam behind!’ ‘But why should he leave us behind, and without a word?’ said Gimli. “That was a strange deed!’ ‘And a brave deed,’ said Aragorn. ‘Sam was right, I think. Frodo did not wish to lead any friend to death with him in Mordor. But he knew that he must go himself. Something happened after he left us that overcame his fear and doubt.’ ‘Maybe hunting Orcs came on him and he fled,’ said Legolas. ‘He fled, certainly,’ said Aragorn, ‘but not, I think, from Orcs.’ What he thought was the cause of Frodo’s sudden resolve and flight Aragorn did not say. The last words of Boromir he long kept secret. ‘Well, so much at least is now clear,’ said Legolas: ‘Frodo is no longer on this side of the River: only he can have taken the boat. And Sam is with him; only he would have taken his pack.’ ‘Our choice then,’ said Gimli, ‘is either to take the remaining boat and follow Frodo, or else to follow the Orcs on foot. There is little hope either way. We have already lost precious hours.’ ‘Let me think!’ said Aragorn. ‘And now may I make a right choice, and change the evil fate of this unhappy day!’ He stood silent for a moment. ‘I will follow the Orcs,’ he said at last. ‘I would have guided Frodo to Mordor and gone with him to the end; but if I seek him now in the wilderness, I must abandon the captives to torment and death. My heart speaks clearly at last: the fate of the Bearer is in my hands no longer. The Company has played its part. Yet we that remain cannot forsake our companions while we have strength left. Come! We will go now. Leave all that can be spared behind! We will press on by day and dark!’ They drew up the last boat and carried it to the trees. They laid beneath it such of their goods as they did not need and could not carry away. Then they left Parth Galen. The afternoon was fading as they came back to the glade where Boromir had fallen. There they picked up the trail of the Orcs. It needed little skill to find. ‘No other folk make such a trampling,’ said Legolas. ‘It seems their delight to slash and beat down growing things that are not even in their way.’ ‘But they go with a great speed for all that,’ said Aragorn, ‘and
波羅莫的離去 419 亞拉岡沒有立刻回答，而是走回營地查看行李。「少了兩個背包，」他說，「其中一個肯定是山姆的：那個背包又大又重。那麼答案就是：佛羅多搭船走了，他的僕人也跟著他一起。佛羅多一定是在我們都不在的時候回來的。我上山時遇到山姆，叫他跟著我；但顯然他沒有照做。他猜到了他主人的心思，在佛羅多離開前就回到這裡了。他發覺要拋下山姆並不容易啊！」「但他為什麼要拋下我們，而且一句話也沒說？」金靂說。「這舉動真奇怪！」「也是個勇敢的舉動，」亞拉岡說。「我想，山姆是對的。佛羅多不希望帶任何朋友去魔多陪他送死。但他知道自己必須親自前往。他離開我們之後，一定發生了什麼事，讓他克服了恐懼和猶豫。」「或許是追獵的半獸人嚇到他，讓他逃跑了。」勒苟拉斯說。「他的確是逃了，」亞拉岡說，「但我認為不是為了躲避半獸人。」至於他認為是什麼造成佛羅多突然下定決心逃離，亞拉岡並沒有說。波羅莫的遺言，他長久以來都保守著秘密。「嗯，至少有一點現在很清楚了，」勒苟拉斯說：「佛羅多已經不在河的這一邊了：只有他才可能把船開走。而山姆跟他在一起；也只有他才會帶走自己的背包。」「那麼我們的選擇，」金靂說，「要嘛是搭上剩下的小船去追佛羅多，要嘛是徒步追趕半獸人。兩種選擇都希望渺茫。我們已經浪費了寶貴的幾個小時。」「讓我想想！」亞拉岡說。「願我此刻能做出正確的選擇，扭轉這不幸之日的邪惡命運！」他沉默了片刻。「我要去追半獸人，」他終於說道。「我本該引導佛羅多去魔多，並陪他走到最後；但如果我現在到荒野中尋找他，就必須拋下被俘的同伴，任他們受盡折磨而死。我的心終於清楚地告訴我：持戒人的命運已不再掌握在我手中。遠征隊的使命已經完成了。然而，我們這些還在的人，只要還有一分力氣，就不能拋棄我們的同伴。來吧！我們現在就走。把所有能捨棄的東西都留下！我們要日夜兼程地趕路！」他們把最後一艘小船拖上岸，搬到樹林裡。他們把不需要也帶不走的家當都放在船底下。然後他們離開了帕斯加蘭。當他們回到波羅莫倒下的林間空地時，午後的陽光正逐漸消逝。他們在那裡找到了半獸人留下的蹤跡。這蹤跡不需什麼技巧就能找到。「沒有其他族類會留下這麼凌亂的踐踏痕跡，」勒苟拉斯說。「他們似乎樂於砍伐和摧毀那些甚至沒擋住他們去路的植物。」「儘管如此，他們的速度還是很快，」亞拉岡說，「而且
420 THE LORD OF THE RINGS they do not tire. And later we may have to search for our path in hard bare lands.’ ‘Well, after them!’ said Gimli. ‘Dwarves too can go swiftly, and they do not tire sooner than Orcs. But it will be a long chase: they have a long start.’ ‘Yes,’ said Aragorn, ‘we shall all need the endurance of Dwarves. But come! With hope or without hope we will follow the trail of our enemies. And woe to them, if we prove the swifter! We will make such a chase as shall be accounted a marvel among the Three Kindreds: Elves, Dwarves, and Men. Forth the Three Hunters!’ Like a deer he sprang away. Through the trees he sped. On and on he led them, tireless and swift, now that his mind was at last made up. The woods about the lake they left behind. Long slopes they climbed, dark, hard-edged against the sky already red with sunset. Dusk came. They passed away, grey shadows in a stony land.
「他們不知疲倦。之後我們可能還得在堅硬貧瘠的土地上尋找路徑。」「好，追上去！」金靂說。「矮人也能走得很快，而且不會比半獸人先累倒。但這會是場漫長的追逐：他們已經領先我們一大段路了。」「是的，」亞拉岡說，「我們都需要矮人般的耐力。但是，來吧！無論有無希望，我們都要追蹤敵人的蹤跡。如果我們證明自己更快，那他們就倒大楣了！我們要展開一場追逐，足以成為三大親族——精靈、矮人與人類——之間傳頌的奇蹟。三獵手，出發！」他像鹿一般躍出，在林間飛馳。他不停地帶領著他們，不知疲倦且迅速，因為他終於下定了決心。他們將湖邊的樹林拋在身後，攀上長長的斜坡，在已染上落日紅霞的天空下，坡的輪廓顯得黑暗而銳利。暮色降臨，他們的身影逐漸遠去，化為石地上灰色的影子。