Chapter 5 THE WHITE RIDER ‘My very bones are chilled,’ said Gimli, flapping his arms and stamping his feet. Day had come at last. At dawn the companions had made such breakfast as they could; now in the growing light they were getting ready to search the ground again for signs of the hobbits. ‘And do not forget that old man!’ said Gimli. ‘I should be happier if I could see the print of a boot.’ ‘Why would that make you happy?’ said Legolas. ‘Because an old man with feet that leave marks might be no more than he seemed,’ answered the Dwarf. ‘Maybe,’ said the Elf; ‘but a heavy boot might leave no print here: the grass is deep and springy.’ “That would not baffle a Ranger,’ said Gimli. ‘A bent blade is enough for Aragorn to read. But I do not expect him to find any traces. It was an evil phantom of Saruman that we saw last night. I am sure of it, even under the light of morning. His eyes are looking out on us from Fangorn even now, maybe.’ ‘It is likely enough,’ said Aragorn; ‘yet I am not sure. I am thinking of the horses. You said last night, Gimli, that they were scared away. But I did not think so. Did you hear them, Legolas? Did they sound to you like beasts in terror?’ ‘No,’ said Legolas. ‘I heard them clearly. But for the darkness and our own fear I should have guessed that they were beasts wild with some sudden gladness. They spoke as horses will when they meet a friend that they have long missed.’ ‘So I thought,’ said Aragorn; ‘but I cannot read the riddle, unless they return. Come! The light is growing fast. Let us look first and guess later! We should begin here, near to our own camping-ground, searching carefully all about, and working up the slope towards the forest. To find the hobbits is our errand, whatever we may think of our visitor in the night. If they escaped by some chance, then they must have hidden in the trees, or they would have been seen. If we find nothing between here and the eaves of the wood, then we will make a last search upon the battle-field and among the ashes. But there is little hope there: the horsemen of Rohan did their work too well.’ For some time the companions crawled and groped upon the ground. The tree stood mournfully above them, its dry leaves now
「我的骨頭都凍僵了。」金靂說，一邊揮舞手臂，一邊跺著腳。天總算亮了。黎明時分，夥伴們盡可能地吃了點早餐；現在，在漸亮的天光中，他們準備再次搜索地面，尋找哈比人的蹤跡。「別忘了那個老人！」金靂說。「如果我能看到靴印，我會更高興。」「那為什麼會讓你高興？」勒苟拉斯問。「因為一個腳會留下痕跡的老人，可能就只是他看起來的樣子，沒什麼特別的。」矮人回答。「也許吧，」精靈說，「但沉重的靴子在這裡可能留不下印子：草又深又有彈性。」「那可難不倒一個遊俠，」金靂說。「對亞拉岡來說，一根彎曲的草葉就夠他解讀了。但我並不指望他能找到任何蹤跡。我們昨晚看到的是薩魯曼的邪惡幻影。我敢肯定，即使在早晨的光線下也是如此。他的眼睛說不定現在正從法貢森林裡窺視著我們。」「很有可能，」亞拉岡說，「但我還不確定。我正在想那些馬。金靂，你昨晚說牠們被嚇跑了。但我並不這麼認為。勒苟拉斯，你聽見牠們的聲音了嗎？聽起來像是驚恐的野獸嗎？」「不，」勒苟拉斯說。「我聽得很清楚。要不是因為黑暗和我們自身的恐懼，我會猜想牠們是因突如其來的喜悅而狂野。牠們的叫聲就像馬兒遇見久別重逢的朋友時那樣。」「我也這麼想，」亞拉岡說，「但我解不開這個謎題，除非牠們回來。來吧！天亮得很快。我們先找，再猜測！我們應該從這裡開始，靠近我們自己的營地，仔細搜索周圍，然後沿著斜坡往森林方向推進。找到哈比人是我們的任務，不管我們對昨晚的訪客有什麼看法。如果他們僥倖逃脫了，那他們一定躲在樹林裡，否則早就被看到了。如果我們在這兒和林緣之間什麼也沒找到，那我們就在戰場和灰燼中做最後的搜索。但那裡希望渺茫：洛汗的騎士們把活幹得太徹底了。」在一段時間裡，夥伴們在地上爬行摸索。那棵樹悲傷地矗立在他們上方，它枯乾的葉子如今……
THE WHITE RIDER 489 hanging limp, and rattling in the chill easterly wind. Aragorn moved slowly away. He came to the ashes of the watch-fire near the riverbank, and then began to retrace the ground back towards the knoll where the battle had been fought. Suddenly he stooped and bent low with his face almost in the grass. Then he called to the others. They came running up. ‘Here at last we find news!’ said Aragorn. He lifted up a broken leaf for them to see, a large pale leaf of golden hue, now fading and turning brown. ‘Here is a mallorn-leaf of Lorien, and there are small crumbs on it, and a few more crumbs in the grass. And see! there are some pieces of cut cord lying nearby!’ ‘And here is the knife that cut them!’ said Gimli. He stooped and drew out of a tussock, into which some heavy foot had trampled it, a short jagged blade. The haft from which it had been snapped was beside it. ‘It was an orc-weapon,’ he said, holding it gingerly, and looking with disgust at the carved handle: it had been shaped like a hideous head with squinting eyes and leering mouth. ‘Well, here is the strangest riddle that we have yet found!’ exclaimed Legolas. ‘A bound prisoner escapes both from the Orcs and from the surrounding horsemen. He then stops, while still in the open, and cuts his bonds with an orc-knife. But how and why? For if his legs were tied, how did he walk? And if his arms were tied, how did he use the knife? And if neither were tied, why did he cut the cords at all? Being pleased with his skill, he then sat down and quietly ate some waybread! That at least is enough to show that he was a hobbit, without the mallorn-leaf. After that, I suppose, he turned his arms into wings and flew away singing into the trees. It should be easy to find him: we only need wings ourselves!’ “There was sorcery here right enough,’ said Gimli. ‘What was that old man doing? What have you to say, Aragorn, to the reading of Legolas. Can you better it?’ ‘Maybe, I could,’ said Aragorn, smiling. “There are some other signs near at hand that you have not considered. I agree that the prisoner was a hobbit and must have had either legs or hands free, before he came here. I guess that it was hands, because the riddle then becomes easier, and also because, as I read the marks, he was carried to this point by an Orc. Blood was spilled there, a few paces away, orc-blood. There are deep prints of hoofs all about this spot, and signs that a heavy thing was dragged away. The Orc was slain by horsemen, and later his body was hauled to the fire. But the hobbit was not seen: he was not “in the open’’, for it was night and he still had his elven-cloak. He was exhausted and hungry, and it is not to be wondered at that, when he had cut his bonds with the knife of his fallen enemy, he rested and ate a little before he crept away. But
亞拉岡緩緩走開。他來到河岸邊營火的灰燼旁，然後開始沿原路走回戰鬥發生的小丘。突然，他彎下腰，臉幾乎貼在草地上。然後他呼喚其他人。他們跑了過來。「我們總算找到線索了！」亞拉岡說。他舉起一片破碎的葉子給他們看，那是一片碩大、蒼白、帶著金色的葉子，如今已漸漸枯萎轉褐。「這是一片羅瑞安的瑁瓏葉，上面有些小麵包屑，草地上也還有一些。看！旁邊還有幾段被切斷的繩子！」「割斷繩子的刀子在這裡！」金靂說。他彎下腰，從一叢被重腳踩過的草叢中，拔出一把短而鋸齒的刀刃。斷裂的刀柄就在旁邊。「這是半獸人的武器。」他小心翼翼地拿著它說，厭惡地看著雕刻的刀柄：那是一個醜陋的頭顱形狀，有著瞇縫的眼睛和邪笑的嘴。「嗯，這真是我們至今遇到最奇怪的謎題了！」勒苟拉斯驚呼道。「一個被綁的囚犯，同時躲過了半獸人和周圍的騎兵。然後他在空曠地停下來，用一把半獸人的刀子割斷自己的繩索。但是，怎麼辦到的？為什麼要這麼做？如果他的腿被綁著，他是怎麼走路的？如果他的手臂被綁著，他又是怎麼用刀的？如果手腳都沒被綁，他為什麼要割斷繩子呢？他對自己的技巧感到滿意，然後坐下來，安靜地吃了一些蘭巴斯！光是這點，就算沒有瑁瓏葉，也足以證明他是個哈比人了。我猜，在那之後，他把手臂變成翅膀，唱著歌飛進樹林裡了。要找到他應該很容易：我們自己也只需要翅膀就行了！」「這裡確實有巫術作祟。」金靂說。「那個老人到底在做什麼？亞拉岡，對於勒苟拉斯的解讀，你有什麼看法？你能說出更好的解釋嗎？」「或許可以。」亞拉岡微笑著說。「附近還有一些你沒考慮到的跡象。我同意囚犯是個哈比人，而且在來到這裡之前，他的手或腳一定是自由的。我猜是手，因為這樣謎題就變得比較容易，而且，根據我讀到的痕跡，他是被一個半獸人帶到這裡的。幾步之外曾有流血，是半獸人的血。這地方到處都是深深的蹄印，還有重物被拖走的痕跡。那個半獸人被騎兵殺了，後來他的屍體被拖到火堆裡。但沒人看到那個哈比人：他並不在『空曠地』，因為當時是晚上，而且他還穿著精靈斗篷。他又累又餓，當他用倒下敵人的刀子割斷繩索後，在悄悄溜走前休息一下、吃點東西，這也沒什麼好奇怪的。但是……
490 THE LORD OF THE RINGS it is a comfort to know that he had some /embas in his pocket, even though he ran away without gear or pack; that, perhaps, is like a hobbit. I say he, though I hope and guess that both Merry and Pippin were here together. There is, however, nothing to show that for certain.’ ‘And how do you suppose that either of our friends came to have a hand free?’ asked Gimli. ‘I do not know how it happened,’ answered Aragorn. ‘Nor do I know why an Orc was carrying them away. Not to help them to escape, we may be sure. Nay, rather I think that I now begin to understand a matter that has puzzled me from the beginning: why when Boromir had fallen were the Orcs content with the capture of Merry and Pippin? They did not seek out the rest of us, nor attack our camp; but instead they went with all speed towards Isengard. Did they suppose they had captured the Ring-bearer and his faithful comrade? I think not. Their masters would not dare to give such plain orders to Orcs, even if they knew so much themselves; they would not speak openly to them of the Ring: they are not trusty servants. But I think the Orcs had been commanded to capture hobbits, alive, at all costs. An attempt was made to slip out with the precious prisoners before the battle. Treachery perhaps, likely enough with such folk; some large and bold Orc may have been trying to escape with the prize alone, for his own ends. There, that is my tale. Others might be devised. But on this we may count in any case: one at least of our friends escaped. It is our task to find him and help him before we return to Rohan. We must not be daunted by Fangorn, since need drove him into that dark place.’ ‘I do not know which daunts me more: Fangorn, or the thought of the long road through Rohan on foot,’ said Gimli. “Then let us go to the forest,’ said Aragorn. It was not long before Aragorn found fresh signs. At one point, near the bank of the Entwash, he came upon footprints: hobbit-prints, but too light for much to be made of them. Then again beneath the bole of a great tree on the very edge of the wood more prints were discovered. The earth was bare and dry, and did not reveal much. ‘One hobbit at least stood here for a while and looked back; and then he turned away into the forest,’ said Aragorn. “Then we must go in, too,’ said Gimli. ‘But I do not like the look of this Fangorn; and we were warned against it. I wish the chase had led anywhere else!’ ‘I do not think the wood feels evil, whatever tales may say,’ said Legolas. He stood under the eaves of the forest, stooping forward,
「知道他口袋裡還有些蘭巴斯，這真是個安慰，儘管他逃跑時沒有帶任何裝備或背包；這或許很像哈比人的作風。我說『他』，雖然我希望也猜測梅里和皮聘當時是在一起的。然而，沒有任何證據可以肯定這一點。」「那你認為我們的朋友是怎麼能空出一隻手來的？」金靂問。「我不知道是怎麼發生的，」亞拉岡回答。「我也不知道為什麼一個半獸人要帶走他們。可以肯定，不是為了幫他們逃跑。不，我倒覺得我現在開始明白一件從一開始就困擾我的事：為什麼當波羅莫倒下後，半獸人只滿足於抓走梅里和皮聘？他們沒有搜尋我們其他人，也沒有攻擊我們的營地；反而全速朝艾辛格前進。他們以為抓到了持戒人和他忠實的夥伴嗎？我不這麼認為。他們的主人不敢給半獸人這麼明確的命令，即使他們自己知道這麼多；他們不會公開對半獸人談論魔戒：那些僕人並不可靠。但我認為半獸人接到的命令是，不計一切代價，活捉哈比人。在戰鬥前，有人試圖帶著這些珍貴的俘虜溜走。或許是背叛，這在那些傢伙中很可能發生；可能某個高大膽壯的半獸人想帶著這份獎賞獨自逃跑，以達成自己的目的。好了，這就是我的說法。也可能有別的解釋。但無論如何，我們可以指望這點：我們的朋友中至少有一位逃脫了。我們的任務是在返回羅翰之前，找到他並幫助他。我們絕不能被法貢森林嚇倒，既然是情勢所逼，他才進入那片黑暗之地的。」「我不知道哪個更讓我害怕：法貢森林，還是想到要徒步走過漫長的羅翰之路。」金靂說。「那我們就進森林吧。」亞拉岡說。沒過多久，亞拉岡就發現了新的蹤跡。在一處靠近樹沐河岸的地方，他看到了一些腳印：是哈比人的腳印，但太淺了，看不出太多訊息。然後，在一棵位於森林邊緣的大樹的樹幹下，又發現了更多腳印。那裡的土地光禿而乾燥，沒有透露太多線索。「至少有一位哈比人曾在這裡站了一會兒，回頭看了一眼；然後他轉身進了森林。」亞拉岡說。「那我們也必須進去。」金靂說。「但我不喜歡法貢森林的樣子；而且我們曾被警告過要小心它。我真希望這趟追蹤能引我們到別的地方去！」「無論傳說怎麼說，我不覺得這片森林有邪氣。」勒苟拉斯說。他站在森林的邊緣下，身體前傾，
THE WHITE RIDER 491 as if he were listening, and peering with wide eyes into the shadows. ‘No, it is not evil; or what evil is in it is far away. I catch only the faintest echoes of dark places where the hearts of the trees are black. There is no malice near us; but there is watchfulness, and anger.’ ‘Well, it has no cause to be angry with me,’ said Gimli. ‘I have done it no harm.’ “That is just as well,’ said Legolas. ‘But nonetheless it has suffered harm. There is something happening inside, or going to happen. Do you not feel the tenseness? It takes my breath.’ ‘I feel the air is stuffy,’ said the Dwarf. “This wood is lighter than Mirkwood, but it is musty and shabby.’ ‘It is old, very old,’ said the Elf. ‘So old that almost I feel young again, as I have not felt since I journeyed with you children. It is old and full of memory. I could have been happy here, if I had come in days of peace.’ ‘I dare say you could,’ snorted Gimli. “You are a Wood-elf, anyway, though Elves of any kind are strange folk. Yet you comfort me. Where you go, I will go. But keep your bow ready to hand, and I will keep my axe loose in my belt. Not for use on trees,’ he added hastily, looking up at the tree under which they stood. ‘I do not wish to meet that old man at unawares without an argument ready to hand, that is all. Let us go!’ With that the three hunters plunged into the forest of Fangorn. Legolas and Gimli left the tracking to Aragorn. There was little for him to see. The floor of the forest was dry and covered with a drift of leaves; but guessing that the fugitives would stay near the water, he returned often to the banks of the stream. So it was that he came upon the place where Merry and Pippin had drunk and bathed their feet. There plain for all to see were the footprints of two hobbits, one somewhat smaller than the other. ‘This is good tidings,’ said Aragorn. ‘Yet the marks are two days old. And it seems that at this point the hobbits left the waterside.’ “Then what shall we do now?’ said Gimli. ‘We cannot pursue them through the whole fastness of Fangorn. We have come ill supplied. If we do not find them soon, we shall be of no use to them, except to sit down beside them and show our friendship by starving together.’ ‘If that is indeed all we can do, then we must do that,’ said Aragorn. ‘Let us go on.’ They came at length to the steep abrupt end of Treebeard’s Hill, and looked up at the rock-wall with its rough steps leading to the high shelf. Gleams of sun were striking through the hurrying clouds, and the forest now looked less grey and drear.
白袍騎士 491 他彷彿在聆聽，睜大雙眼凝視著陰影。「不，它並不邪惡；或者說，其中的邪惡離我們很遠。我只捕捉到最微弱的回音，來自那些樹心漆黑的黑暗之地。我們附近沒有惡意；但有警戒，以及憤怒。」「嗯，它可沒理由對我生氣，」金靂說。「我可沒傷害它。」「那樣最好，」勒苟拉斯說。「但它確實遭受了傷害。森林內部有事正在發生，或即將發生。你沒感覺到那股緊繃嗎？讓我喘不過氣來。」「我只覺得空氣很悶，」矮人說。「這片森林比幽暗森林明亮，但卻有股霉味，破破爛爛的。」「它很古老，非常古老，」精靈說。「老到我幾乎感覺自己又年輕了，自從和你們這些孩子們一起旅行後，我就再也沒有這種感覺。它既古老又充滿回憶。如果我是在和平時期來到這裡，我會很樂意待著的。」「我想你當然樂意，」金靂哼了一聲。「反正你是個木精靈，雖然任何種類的精靈都是奇怪的傢伙。不過你倒是讓我安心。你去哪，我就去哪。但把你的弓準備好，我也會讓我的斧頭隨時能拔出來。不是要用來砍樹的，」他急忙補充道，抬頭看著他們站立的那棵樹。「我只是不希望在毫無準備的情況下，沒想好說詞就突然遇見那個老傢伙。我們走吧！」說完，三位獵人便一頭鑽進了法貢森林。勒苟拉斯和金靂把追蹤的任務交給了亞拉岡。他幾乎看不到什麼線索。森林的地面乾燥，覆蓋著一層厚厚的落葉；但他猜測逃亡者會待在水邊，所以他頻繁地回到溪流岸邊。就這樣，他來到梅里和皮聘喝水、洗腳的地方。那裡清楚地留著兩個哈比人的腳印，一個比另一個稍小。「這是好消息，」亞拉岡說。「不過這些痕跡是兩天前的了。而且看來哈比人就是從這裡離開水邊的。」「那我們現在該怎麼辦？」金靂說。「我們不可能在整個法貢森林的堡壘中追尋他們。我們的補給不足。如果不能很快找到他們，我們對他們就一點用也沒有，頂多只能坐在他們旁邊，用一起挨餓來表示我們的友誼。」「如果那確實是我們唯一能做的，那我們就必須去做，」亞拉岡說。「我們繼續前進。」他們最終來到樹鬍丘陡峭的盡頭，抬頭望著那面有著粗糙階梯、通往高處平台的岩壁。陽光穿過疾行的雲層，森林此刻看起來不再那麼灰暗陰沉了。
492 THE LORD OF THE RINGS ‘Let us go up and look about us!’ said Legolas. ‘I still feel my breath short. I should like to taste a freer air for a while.’ The companions climbed up. Aragorn came last, moving slowly: he was scanning the steps and ledges closely. ‘I am almost sure that the hobbits have been up here,’ he said. ‘But there are other marks, very strange marks, which I do not understand. I wonder if we can see anything from this ledge which will help us to guess which way they went next?’ He stood up and looked about, but he saw nothing that was of any use. The shelf faced southward and eastward; but only on the east was the view open. There he could see the heads of the trees descending in ranks towards the plain from which they had come. ‘We have journeyed a long way round,’ said Legolas. ‘We could have all come here safe together, if we had left the Great River on the second or third day and struck west. Few can foresee whither their road will lead them, till they come to its end.’ ‘But we did not wish to come to Fangorn,’ said Gimli. “Yet here we are — and nicely caught in the net,’ said Legolas. ‘Look!’ ‘Look at what?’ said Gimli. “There in the trees.’ ‘Where? I have not elf-eyes.’ ‘Hush! Speak more softly! Look!’ said Legolas pointing. ‘Down in the wood, back in the way that we have just come. It is he. Cannot you see him, passing from tree to tree?’ ‘I see, I see now!’ hissed Gimli. ‘Look, Aragorn! Did I not warn your There is the old man. All in dirty grey rags: that is why I could not see him at first.’ Aragorn looked and beheld a bent figure moving slowly. It was not far away. It looked like an old beggar-man, walking wearily, leaning on a rough staff. His head was bowed, and he did not look towards them. In other lands they would have greeted him with kind words; but now they stood silent, each feeling a strange expectancy: something was approaching that held a hidden power — or menace. Gimli gazed with wide eyes for a while, as step by step the figure drew nearer. Then suddenly, unable to contain himself longer, he burst out: “Your bow, Legolas! Bend it! Get ready! It is Saruman. Do not let him speak, or put a spell upon us! Shoot first!’ Legolas took his bow and bent it, slowly and as if some other will resisted him. He held an arrow loosely in his hand but did not fit it to the string. Aragorn stood silent, his face was watchful and intent. ‘Why are you waiting? What is the matter with you?’ said Gimli in a hissing whisper. ‘Legolas is right,’ said Aragorn quietly. ‘We may not shoot an old
「我們上去四處看看吧！」勒苟拉斯說。「我還是覺得氣有點喘不過來。我想呼吸一下更自由的空氣。」同伴們爬了上去。亞拉岡走在最後，動作緩慢：他正仔細地掃視著階梯和岩架。「我幾乎可以肯定哈比人來過這裡，」他說。「但還有其他痕跡，非常奇怪的痕跡，我看不懂。不知道我們從這個岩架上能不能看到什麼，幫助我們猜測他們接下來往哪個方向走了？」他站起來環顧四周，但沒看到任何有用的東西。岩架朝南和朝東；但只有東邊的視野是開闊的。在那裡，他可以看到樹冠成排地向他們來時的平原延伸下去。「我們繞了好大一圈路，」勒苟拉斯說。「如果我們在第二天或第三天就離開大河向西走，我們本可以全都安全地一起來到這裡。很少有人能預見自己的路會通往何方，直到走到盡頭。」「但我們並不想來法貢森林，」金靂說。「然而我們卻來了——還正好掉進了網裡，」勒苟拉斯說。「看！」「看什麼？」金靂說。「在那邊樹林裡。」「哪裡？我可沒有精靈的眼睛。」「噓！小聲點！看！」勒苟拉斯指著說。「在下面的樹林裡，就在我們剛才來的路上。是他。你沒看到他嗎，從一棵樹穿到另一棵樹？」「我看到了，我現在看到了！」金靂嘶聲說。「看，亞拉岡！我不是警告過你嗎？那個老人。全身穿著骯髒的灰袍：這就是我一開始沒看到他的原因。」亞拉岡望去，看見一個佝僂的身影緩緩移動。它離得不遠。看起來像個老乞丐，疲憊地走著，拄著一根粗糙的拐杖。他低著頭，沒有朝他們這邊看。在其他地方，他們會用友善的話語問候他；但現在他們靜靜地站著，每個人都感到一種奇特的期待：某個擁有隱藏力量——或威脅——的東西正在靠近。金靂睜大眼睛凝視了一會兒，看著那個身影一步步走近。然後突然間，他再也無法克制自己，大喊出來：「你的弓，勒苟拉斯！拉開！準備好！是薩魯曼。別讓他開口，或對我們下咒！先射！」勒苟拉斯拿起他的弓，緩緩地拉開，彷彿有另一個意志在抗拒他。他手裡鬆鬆地握著一支箭，但沒有搭上弓弦。亞拉岡靜靜地站著，臉上充滿警惕和專注。「你為什麼在等？你怎麼了？」金靂嘶聲低語道。「勒苟拉斯是對的，」亞拉岡平靜地說。「我們不能射殺一個老人
THE WHITE RIDER 493 man so, at unawares and unchallenged, whatever fear or doubt be on us. Watch and wait!’ At that moment the old man quickened his pace and came with surprising speed to the foot of the rock-wall. Then suddenly he looked up, while they stood motionless looking down. There was no sound. They could not see his face: he was hooded, and above the hood he wore a wide-brimmed hat, so that all his features were overshadowed, except for the end of his nose and his grey beard. Yet it seemed to Aragorn that he caught the gleam of eyes keen and bright from within the shadow of the hooded brows. At last the old man broke the silence. ‘Well met indeed, my friends,’ he said in a soft voice. ‘I wish to speak to you. Will you come down, or shall I come up?’ Without waiting for an answer he began to climb. ‘Now!’ cried Gimli. ‘Stop him, Legolas!’ ‘Did I not say that I wished to speak to you?’ said the old man. ‘Put away that bow, Master Elf!’ The bow and arrow fell from Legolas’ hands, and his arms hung loose at his sides. ‘And you, Master Dwarf, pray take your hand from your axe-haft, till I am up! You will not need such arguments.’ Gimli started and then stood still as stone, staring, while the old man sprang up the rough steps as nimbly as a goat. All weariness seemed to have left him. As he stepped up on to the shelf there was a gleam, too brief for certainty, a quick glint of white, as if some garment shrouded by the grey rags had been for an instant revealed. The intake of Gimli’s breath could be heard as a loud hiss in the silence. ‘Well met, I say again!’ said the old man, coming towards them. When he was a few feet away, he stood, stooping over his staff, with his head thrust forward, peering at them from under his hood. ‘And what may you be doing in these parts? An Elf, a Man, and a Dwarf, all clad in Elvish fashion. No doubt there is a tale worth hearing behind it all. Such things are not often seen here.’ “You speak as one that knows Fangorn well,’ said Aragorn. ‘Is that so?” ‘Not well,’ said the old man: ‘that would be the study of many lives. But I come here now and again.’ ‘Might we know your name, and then hear what it is that you have to say to us?’ said Aragorn. ‘The morning passes, and we have an errand that will not wait.’ ‘As for what I wished to say, I have said it: What may you be
這樣一個人，在我們毫無防備且未受阻攔的情況下，無論我們心中有何恐懼或疑慮。保持警戒，靜觀其變！」就在那時，老人加快了腳步，以驚人的速度來到岩壁腳下。接著他突然抬起頭，而他們則一動不動地站在上方俯視著。四周一片寂靜。他們看不清他的臉：他戴著兜帽，兜帽之上又戴了一頂寬邊帽，因此除了鼻尖和灰色的鬍鬚外，他所有的五官都被陰影籠罩。然而，亞拉岡似乎瞥見了兜帽眉簷下的陰影中，閃爍著一雙銳利明亮的眼睛。終於，老人打破了沉默。「幸會，我的朋友們，」他用柔和的聲音說。「我想和你們談談。是你們下來，還是我上去？」不等回答，他便開始向上攀爬。「就是現在！」金靂喊道。「勒苟拉斯，阻止他！」「我不是說了我想和你們談談嗎？」老人說。「精靈大師，收起你的弓吧！」弓與箭從勒苟拉斯手中滑落，他的雙臂無力地垂在身體兩側。「還有你，矮人大師，在我上去之前，還請把你的手從斧柄上拿開！你不會需要那樣的辯詞的。」金靂嚇了一跳，隨後像石頭一樣僵立不動，目瞪口呆地看著老人像山羊一樣敏捷地躍上崎嶇的石階。所有的疲憊似乎都已離他而去。當他踏上岩架時，一道白光閃現，短暫得無法確定，彷彿被灰色破布遮蓋的某件衣物瞬間顯露出來。寂靜中可以聽見金靂倒抽一口氣的嘶嘶聲。「我再說一次，幸會！」老人說著，朝他們走來。當他走到幾呎遠的地方時，他停下腳步，彎身拄著手杖，頭向前探，從兜帽下窺視著他們。「你們在這一帶做什麼呢？一個精靈、一個人類和一個矮人，全都穿著精靈風格的服飾。這背後無疑有個值得一聽的故事。這種事在這裡可不常見。」「您說話的口氣，像是一位非常了解法貢森林的人。」亞拉岡說。「是這樣嗎？」「不算了解，」老人說：「那需要耗費許多輩子的時間去研究。但我偶爾會來這裡。」「我們能請教您的大名，然後聽聽您想對我們說些什麼嗎？」亞拉岡問。「時間不早了，我們還有件耽擱不得的要事。」「至於我想說的話，我已經說了：你們可能是
494 THE LORD OF THE RINGS doing, and what tale can you tell of yourselves? As for my name!’ He broke off, laughing long and softly. Aragorn felt a shudder run through him at the sound, a strange cold thrill; and yet it was not fear or terror that he felt: rather it was like the sudden bite of a keen air, or the slap of a cold rain that wakes an uneasy sleeper. ‘My name!’ said the old man again. ‘Have you not guessed it already? You have heard it before, I think. Yes, you have heard it before. But come now, what of your tale?’ The three companions stood silent and made no answer. “There are some who would begin to doubt whether your errand is fit to tell,’ said the old man. ‘Happily I know something of it. You are tracking the footsteps of two young hobbits, I believe. Yes, hobbits. Don’t stare, as if you had never heard the strange name before. You have, and so have I. Well, they climbed up here the day before yesterday; and they met someone that they did not expect. Does that comfort you? And now you would like to know where they were taken? Well, well, maybe I can give you some news about that. But why are we standing? Your errand, you see, is no longer as urgent as you thought. Let us sit down and be more at ease.’ The old man turned away and went towards a heap of fallen stones and rock at the foot of the cliff behind. Immediately, as if a spell had been removed, the others relaxed and stirred. Gimli’s hand went at once to his axe-haft. Aragorn drew his sword. Legolas picked up his bow. The old man took no notice, but stooped and sat himself on a low flat stone. Then his grey cloak drew apart, and they saw, beyond doubt, that he was clothed beneath all in white. ‘Saruman!’ cried Gimli, springing towards him with axe in hand. ‘Speak! Tell us where you have hidden our friends! What have you done with them? Speak, or I will make a dint in your hat that even a wizard will find it hard to deal with!’ The old man was too quick for him. He sprang to his feet and leaped to the top of a large rock. There he stood, grown suddenly tall, towering above them. His hood and his grey rags were flung away. His white garments shone. He lifted up his staff, and Gimli’s axe leaped from his grasp and fell ringing on the ground. The sword of Aragorn, stiff in his motionless hand, blazed with a sudden fire. Legolas gave a great shout and shot an arrow high into the air: it vanished in a flash of flame. ‘Mithrandir!’ he cried. ‘Mithrandir!’ ‘Well met, I say to you again, Legolas!’ said the old man. They all gazed at him. His hair was white as snow in the sunshine; and gleaming white was his robe; the eyes under his deep brows were
「至於我的名字！」他打住話頭，輕柔地笑了許久。那笑聲讓亞拉岡感到一陣戰慄貫穿全身，一種奇異而冰冷的悸動；然而他感覺到的並非恐懼或驚駭：那更像是一陣刺骨寒風的突然噬咬，或是一陣冰冷雨水的拍打，驚醒了淺眠不安的人。「我的名字！」老人又說了一次。「你們還沒猜到嗎？我想你們以前聽過。是的，你們以前聽過。不過，現在，說說你們的故事吧？」三個同伴靜靜地站著，沒有回答。「有些人可能會開始懷疑，你們的任務是否適合說出口了。」老人說。「幸好，我對此略知一二。我相信，你們正在追蹤兩個年輕哈比人的足跡。是的，哈比人。別瞪大眼睛，好像你們從沒聽過這個奇怪的名字似的。你們聽過，我也聽過。嗯，他們前天爬上了這裡；然後他們遇到了一個他們沒預料到的人。這樣有沒有安慰到你們？現在你們想知道他們被帶到哪裡去了？好吧，好吧，或許我可以給你們一些關於那件事的消息。但我們為什麼要站著呢？你們看，你們的任務已經不像你們想的那麼緊急了。讓我們坐下來，放鬆一點吧。」老人轉過身，走向身後懸崖腳下的一堆落石。其他人立刻像是魔咒被解除一般，放鬆下來並動了起來。金靂的手立刻握住他的斧柄。亞拉岡拔出他的劍。勒苟拉斯拾起他的弓。老人並未理會，只是彎下腰，坐在一塊低矮的平石上。接著，他的灰色斗篷敞開，他們毫無疑問地看到，他裡面穿著一身白衣。「薩魯曼！」金靂大喊，手持斧頭朝他撲去。「說！告訴我們你把我們的朋友藏在哪裡了！你對他們做了什麼？說，不然我就在你帽子上敲個凹痕，就算是巫師也難以應付！」老人比他更快。他一躍而起，跳到一塊大岩石的頂上。他站在那裡，身形突然變得高大，俯瞰著他們。他的兜帽和灰色破袍都被拋開了。他的白色衣袍閃閃發光。他舉起他的法杖，金靂的斧頭從他手中躍出，噹啷一聲掉在地上。亞拉岡的劍，在他靜止不動的手中僵直著，突然燃起火焰。勒苟拉斯大喊一聲，朝空中射出一箭：箭矢在一道火光中消失了。「密斯蘭迪！」他大喊。「密斯蘭迪！」「幸會，我再對你說一次，勒苟拉斯！」老人說。他們全都凝視著他。他的頭髮在陽光下白如冬雪；他的長袍也閃爍著白光；在他深邃眉毛下的雙眼
THE WHITE RIDER 495 bright, piercing as the rays of the sun; power was in his hand. Between wonder, joy, and fear they stood and found no words to say. At last Aragorn stirred. ‘Gandalf!’ he said. ‘Beyond all hope you return to us in our need! What veil was over my sight? Gandalf!’ Gimli said nothing, but sank to his knees, shading his eyes. ‘Gandalf,’ the old man repeated, as if recalling from old memory a long disused word. ‘Yes, that was the name. I was Gandalf.’ He stepped down from the rock, and picking up his grey cloak wrapped it about him: it seemed as if the sun had been shining, but now was hid in cloud again. ‘Yes, you may still call me Gandalf,’ he said, and the voice was the voice of their old friend and guide. ‘Get up, my good Gimli! No blame to you, and no harm done to me. Indeed my friends, none of you have any weapon that could hurt me. Be merry! We meet again. At the turn of the tide. The great storm is coming, but the tide has turned.’ He laid his hand on Gimli’s head, and the Dwarf looked up and laughed suddenly. ‘Gandalf!’ he said. ‘But you are all in white!’ ‘Yes, I am white now,’ said Gandalf. ‘Indeed I am Saruman, one might almost say, Saruman as he should have been. But come now, tell me of yourselves! I have passed through fire and deep water, since we parted. I have forgotten much that I thought I knew, and learned again much that I had forgotten. I can see many things far off, but many things that are close at hand I cannot see. Tell me of yourselves!’ ‘What do you wish to know?’ said Aragorn. ‘All that has happened since we parted on the bridge would be a long tale. Will you not first give us news of the hobbits? Did you find them, and are they safe?’ ‘No, I did not find them,’ said Gandalf. “There was a darkness over the valleys of the Emyn Muil, and I did not know of their captivity, until the eagle told me.’ “The eagle!’ said Legolas. ‘I have seen an eagle high and far off: the last time was four days ago, above the Emyn Muil.’ ‘Yes,’ said Gandalf, ‘that was Gwaihir the Windlord, who rescued me from Orthanc. I sent him before me to watch the River and gather tidings. His sight is keen, but he cannot see all that passes under hill and tree. Some things he has seen, and others I have seen myself. The Ring now has passed beyond my help, or the help of any of the Company that set out from Rivendell. Very nearly it was revealed to the Enemy, but it escaped. I had some part in that: for I sat in a high place, and I strove with the Dark Tower; and the Shadow passed. Then I was weary, very weary; and I walked long in dark thought.’ “Then you know about Frodo!’ said Gimli. ‘How do things go with him?’
白袍騎士 495 明亮，像太陽光芒般銳利；力量在他手中。他們站在那裡，夾雜著驚奇、喜悅和恐懼，一句話也說不出來。最後亞拉岡動了。『甘道夫！』他說。『您在我們危難之際歸來，真是出乎我們所有意料！是什麼蒙蔽了我的雙眼？甘道夫！』金靂什麼也沒說，只是跪倒在地，用手遮住眼睛。『甘道夫，』老人重複道，彷彿從古老的記憶中回想起一個久未使用的詞。『是的，那曾是我的名字。我曾是甘道夫。』他從岩石上走下來，拾起他的灰色斗篷裹在身上：彷彿太陽剛剛還在照耀，現在卻又躲進了雲層。『是的，你們仍然可以叫我甘道夫，』他說，那聲音正是他們老友兼嚮導的聲音。『起來吧，我的好金靂！不怪你，我也沒有受到任何傷害。說真的，朋友們，你們沒有任何武器能傷到我。高興點吧！我們重逢了。在情勢逆轉之時。大風暴即將來臨，但潮流已經轉向。』他把手放在金靂的頭上，矮人抬起頭，突然笑了起來。『甘道夫！』他說。『但您全身都是白的！』『是的，我現在是白色的了，』甘道夫說。『說實話，我就是薩魯曼，或者可以這麼說，是薩魯曼本該有的樣子。不過，現在來談談你們吧！自從我們分別後，我經歷了水深火熱。我忘記了很多我以為我知道的事，又重新學會了很多我已經忘記的事。我能看見遠方的許多事，但近在眼前的許多事我卻看不見。告訴我你們的事吧！』『您想知道什麼？』亞拉岡說。『自從我們在橋上分別後發生的一切，說來話長。您不先告訴我們哈比人的消息嗎？您找到他們了嗎？他們安全嗎？』『不，我沒有找到他們，』甘道夫說。『伊敏穆爾的山谷籠罩著一片黑暗，我直到巨鷹告訴我，才知道他們被囚禁了。』『巨鷹！』勒苟拉斯說。『我曾見過一隻巨鷹在高遠之處：最後一次是四天前，在伊敏穆爾上空。』『是的，』甘道夫說，『那是風王關赫，他把我從歐散克塔救了出來。我派他先行，去監視大河並收集消息。他的視力很敏銳，但無法看清山丘樹下發生的一切。有些事他看見了，另一些事則是我親眼所見。魔戒現在已經超出了我的幫助範圍，也超出了任何從瑞文戴爾出發的遠征隊成員的幫助範圍。它差點就暴露給大敵，但它逃脫了。我在其中也出了一份力：因為我坐在一處高地，與黑暗塔奮力對抗；然後闇影就過去了。那時我累了，非常疲憊；我在黑暗的思緒中走了很久。』『那您知道佛羅多的事！』金靂說。『他現在怎麼樣了？』
496 THE LORD OF THE RINGS ‘I cannot say. He was saved from a great peril, but many lie before him still. He resolved to go alone to Mordor, and he set out: that is all that I can say.’ ‘Not alone,’ said Legolas. ‘We think that Sam went with him.’ ‘Did he!’ said Gandalf, and there was a gleam in his eye and a smile on his face. ‘Did he indeed? It is news to me, yet it does not surprise me. Good! Very good! You lighten my heart. You must tell me more. Now sit by me and tell me the tale of your journey.’ The companions sat on the ground at his feet, and Aragorn took up the tale. For a long while Gandalf said nothing, and he asked no questions. His hands were spread upon his knees, and his eyes were closed. At last when Aragorn spoke of the death of Boromir and of his last journey upon the Great River, the old man sighed. “You have not said all that you know or guess, Aragorn my friend,’ he said quietly. ‘Poor Boromir! I could not see what happened to him. It was a sore trial for such a man: a warrior, and a lord of men. Galadriel told me that he was in peril. But he escaped in the end. I am glad. It was not in vain that the young hobbits came with us, if only for Boromir’s sake. But that is not the only part they have to play. They were brought to Fangorn, and their coming was like the falling of small stones that starts an avalanche in the mountains. Even as we talk here, I hear the first rumblings. Saruman had best not be caught away from home when the dam bursts!’ ‘In one thing you have not changed, dear friend,’ said Aragorn: ‘you still speak in riddles.’ ‘What? In riddles?’ said Gandalf. ‘No! For I was talking aloud to myself. A habit of the old: they choose the wisest person present to speak to; the long explanations needed by the young are wearying.’ He laughed, but the sound now seemed warm and kindly as a gleam of sunshine. ‘Iam no longer young even in the reckoning of Men of the Ancient Houses,’ said Aragorn. ‘Will you not open your mind more clearly to me?’ ‘What then shall I say?’ said Gandalf, and paused for a while in thought. ‘This in brief is how I see things at the moment, if you wish to have a piece of my mind as plain as possible. The Enemy, of course, has long known that the Ring is abroad, and that it is borne by a hobbit. He knows now the number of our Company that set out from Rivendell, and the kind of each of us. But he does not yet perceive our purpose clearly. He supposes that we were all going to Minas Tirith; for that is what he would himself have done in our place. And according to his wisdom it would have been a heavy stroke against his power. Indeed he is in great fear, not knowing what mighty
「那我該說什麼呢？」甘道夫說，沉思了片刻。「如果你想聽聽我最坦率的想法，那麼簡而言之，這是我目前對局勢的看法。敵人，當然，早就知道魔戒已經現世，而且是由一名哈比人攜帶著。他現在知道我們遠征隊從瑞文戴爾出發時的人數，以及我們每個人的種族。但他還不清楚我們的真正目的。他猜想我們全都準備前往米那斯提力斯；因為如果換作是他，他自己也會這麼做。而且根據他的盤算，這將會是對他權力的一次沉重打擊。事實上，他非常恐懼，不知道有什麼強大的……」
THE WHITE RIDER 497 one may suddenly appear, wielding the Ring, and assailing him with war, seeking to cast him down and take his place. That we should wish to cast him down and have no one in his place is not a thought that occurs to his mind. That we should try to destroy the Ring itself has not yet entered into his darkest dream. In which no doubt you will see our good fortune and our hope. For imagining war he has let loose war, believing that he has no time to waste; for he that strikes the first blow, if he strikes it hard enough, may need to strike no more. So the forces that he has long been preparing he is now setting in motion, sooner than he intended. Wise fool. For if he had used all his power to guard Mordor, so that none could enter, and bent all his guile to the hunting of the Ring, then indeed hope would have faded: neither Ring nor bearer could long have eluded him. But now his eye gazes abroad rather than near at home; and mostly he looks towards Minas Tirith. Very soon now his strength will fall upon it like a storm. ‘For already he knows that the messengers that he sent to waylay the Company have failed again. They have not found the Ring. Neither have they brought away any hobbits as hostages. Had they done even so much as that, it would have been a heavy blow to us, and it might have been fatal. But let us not darken our hearts by imagining the trial of their gentle loyalty in the Dark Tower. For the Enemy has failed — so far. Thanks to Saruman.’ “Then is not Saruman a traitor?’ said Gimli. ‘Indeed yes,’ said Gandalf. ‘Doubly. And is not that strange? Nothing that we have endured of late has seemed so grievous as the treason of Isengard. Even reckoned as a lord and captain Saruman has grown very strong. He threatens the Men of Rohan and draws off their help from Minas Tirith, even as the main blow is approaching from the East. Yet a treacherous weapon is ever a danger to the hand. Saruman also had a mind to capture the Ring, for himself, or at least to snare some hobbits for his evil purposes. So between them our enemies have contrived only to bring Merry and Pippin with marvellous speed, and in the nick of time, to Fangorn, where otherwise they would never have come at all! ‘Also they have filled themselves with new doubts that disturb their plans. No tidings of the battle will come to Mordor, thanks to the horsemen of Rohan; but the Dark Lord knows that two hobbits were taken in the Emyn Muil and borne away towards Isengard against the will of his own servants. He now has Isengard to fear as well as Minas Tirith. If Minas Tirith falls, it will go ill with Saruman.’ ‘It is a pity that our friends lie in between,’ said Gimli. ‘If no land divided Isengard and Mordor, then they could fight while we watched and waited.’
某人可能會突然現身，揮舞著魔戒，向他發動戰爭，試圖推翻他並取而代之。至於我們希望推翻他之後，沒有任何人取而代之，這念頭他可從沒想過。我們試圖摧毀魔戒本身這件事，更是他連最可怕的惡夢都沒夢到過的。無疑地，你會從中看到我們的運氣與希望所在。因為他滿腦子想著戰爭，所以他就發動了戰爭，相信自己沒有時間可以浪費；因為先下手為強，只要打得夠狠，或許就無須再打第二下。所以他長久以來準備的兵力，現在正比他預期的更早地動員起來。真是個聰明的傻瓜。因為如果他用盡全力守護魔多，讓任何人都無法進入，並用盡他所有詭計來搜捕魔戒，那麼希望確實會消逝：無論是魔戒還是持戒者，都無法長期躲過他。但現在他的目光是向外望，而不是專注於自家門前；而且他主要望向米那斯提力斯。很快地，他的力量就會像暴風雨一樣落在它身上。『因為他已經知道，他派去攔截遠征隊的使者又失敗了。他們沒有找到魔戒，也沒有帶回任何哈比人作為人質。要是他們真做到了那樣，對我們來說將是沉重的打擊，甚至可能是致命的。但我們別因為想像他們在黑暗塔裡溫柔的忠誠所受的考驗，而讓自己的心變的黑暗。因為敵人已經失敗了——到目前為止。多虧了薩魯曼。』『那麼薩魯曼不就是個叛徒嗎？』金靂說。『確實是的，』甘道夫說。『雙面叛徒。這不是很奇怪嗎？我們最近所忍受的一切，似乎都沒有艾辛格的背叛那麼令人痛心。即使只算是一位領主和將領，薩魯曼也已經變得非常強大。他威脅著洛汗人，在來自東方的主力攻擊逼近之際，抽走了他們對米那斯提力斯的援助。然而，一把背信棄義的武器對使用者來說永遠是個危險。薩魯曼也曾想為自己奪取魔戒，或至少為他邪惡的目的誘捕一些哈比人。所以在他們之間，我們的敵人只不過是策劃著以驚人的速度，在最關鍵的時刻，把梅里和皮聘帶到了法貢森林，一個他們原本絕不會來到的地方！『他們也讓自己充滿了新的疑慮，擾亂了他們的計畫。由於洛汗騎士的緣故，沒有任何關於那場戰鬥的消息會傳到魔多；但黑暗魔君知道有兩個哈比人在艾明莫爾被抓走，並違背他自己僕人的意願被帶往艾辛格。他現在除了米那斯提力斯，還得擔心艾辛格。如果米那斯提力斯陷落，那薩魯曼的下場會很慘。』『可惜我們的朋友正好夾在中間，』金靂說。『如果沒有土地將艾辛格和魔多隔開，那他們就可以互鬥，我們就在一旁觀望等待。』
498 THE LORD OF THE RINGS ‘The victor would emerge stronger than either, and free from doubt,’ said Gandalf. ‘But Isengard cannot fight Mordor, unless Saruman first obtains the Ring. That he will never do now. He does not yet know his peril. There is much that he does not know. He was so eager to lay his hands on his prey that he could not wait at home, and he came forth to meet and to spy on his messengers. But he came too late, for once, and the battle was over and beyond his help before he reached these parts. He did not remain here long. I look into his mind and I see his doubt. He has no woodcraft. He believes that the horsemen slew and burned all upon the field of battle; but he does not know whether the Orcs were bringing any prisoners or not. And he does not know of the quarrel between his servants and the Orcs of Mordor; nor does he know of the Winged Messenger.’ “The Winged Messenger!’ cried Legolas. ‘I shot at him with the bow of Galadriel above Sarn Gebir, and I felled him from the sky. He filled us all with fear. What new terror is this?’ ‘One that you cannot slay with arrows,’ said Gandalf. ‘You only slew his steed. It was a good deed; but the Rider was soon horsed again. For he was a Nazgil, one of the Nine, who ride now upon winged steeds. Soon their terror will overshadow the last armies of our friends, cutting off the sun. But they have not yet been allowed to cross the River, and Saruman does not know of this new shape in which the Ringwraiths have been clad. His thought is ever on the Ring. Was it present in the battle? Was it found? What if Théoden, Lord of the Mark, should come by it and learn of its power? That is the danger that he sees, and he has fled back to Isengard to double and treble his assault on Rohan. And all the time there is another danger, close at hand, which he does not see, busy with his fiery thoughts. He has forgotten Treebeard.’ ‘Now you speak to yourself again,’ said Aragorn with a smile. “Treebeard is not known to me. And I have guessed part of Saruman’s double treachery; yet I do not see in what way the coming of two hobbits to Fangorn has served, save to give us a long and fruitless chase.’ ‘Wait a minute!’ cried Gimli. “There is another thing that I should like to know first. Was it you, Gandalf, or Saruman that we saw last night?’ “You certainly did not see me,’ answered Gandalf, ‘therefore I must guess that you saw Saruman. Evidently we look so much alike that your desire to make an incurable dent in my hat must be excused.’ ‘Good, good!’ said Gimli. ‘I am glad that it was not you.’ Gandalf laughed again. ‘Yes, my good Dwarf,’ he said, ‘it is a
「勝利者會比雙方都更強大，並且不再有疑慮，」甘道夫說。「但除非薩魯曼先得到魔戒，否則埃辛加德無法對抗魔多。而他現在永遠也得不到了。他還不知道自己的危險。他不知道的事情還多著呢。他急於將獵物弄到手，以至於無法在家中等待，便出來迎接並監視他的信使。但他這次來得太遲了，在他到達這一帶之前，戰鬥已經結束，他也幫不上忙了。他沒有在這裡久留。我看穿了他的心思，也看到了他的疑慮。他沒有森林知識。他相信騎兵在戰場上殺光並燒毀了一切；但他不知道半獸人是否帶了任何俘虜。他也不知道他的僕人與魔多半獸人之間的爭吵；他更不知道有『有翼信使』的存在。」 「有翼信使！」勒苟拉斯驚呼道。「我在薩恩蓋比爾上方用凱蘭崔爾的弓射過他，把他從天上射下來了。他讓我們所有人都充滿恐懼。這又是什麼新的恐怖之物？」 「那是你用箭殺不了的東西，」甘道夫說。「你只殺了他的坐騎。那是一件好事；但騎士很快又有了馬。因為他是一名納茲古，九戒靈之一，現在騎著有翼的坐騎。很快，他們的恐怖將籠罩我們朋友最後的軍隊，遮蔽陽光。但他們尚未被允許渡過大河，而薩魯曼也不知道戒靈披上了這身新的形貌。他的心思永遠在魔戒上。它是否出現在戰場上？是否被找到了？萬一洛汗國王希優頓偶然得到它並了解其力量怎麼辦？這就是他所看到的危險，他已逃回埃辛加德，準備加倍甚至三倍地攻擊洛汗。而一直以來，還有另一個近在咫尺的危險，他因忙於他那火熱的思緒而沒有看見。他忘記了樹鬍。」 「你又在自言自語了，」亞拉岡笑著說。「我不認識樹鬍。而且我已猜到薩魯曼雙重背叛的一部分；但我看不出兩個哈比人來到法貢森林有何助益，除了讓我們進行了一場漫長而徒勞的追逐。」 「等一下！」金靂喊道。「我還想先知道另一件事。我們昨晚看到的是你，甘道夫，還是薩魯曼？」 「你們當然沒有看到我，」甘道夫回答，「所以我只能猜你們看到的是薩魯曼。顯然我們長得太像了，以至於你那想在我帽子上留下一個無法修復的凹痕的願望，必須被原諒。」 「太好了，太好了！」金靂說。「我很高興那不是你。」 甘道夫又笑了。「是的，我親愛的好矮人，」他說，「那是……
THE WHITE RIDER 499 comfort not to be mistaken at all points. Do I not know it only too well! But, of course, I never blamed you for your welcome of me. How could I do so, who have so often counselled my friends to suspect even their own hands when dealing with the Enemy. Bless you, Gimli, son of Gloin! Maybe you will see us both together one day and judge between us!’ ‘But the hobbits!’ Legolas broke in. ‘We have come far to seek them, and you seem to know where they are. Where are they now?’ ‘With Treebeard and the Ents,’ said Gandalf. ‘The Ents!’ exclaimed Aragorn. ‘Then there is truth in the old legends about the dwellers in the deep forests and the giant shepherds of the trees? Are there still Ents in the world? I thought they were only a memory of ancient days, if indeed they were ever more than a legend of Rohan.’ ‘A legend of Rohan!’ cried Legolas. ‘Nay, every Elf in Wilderland has sung songs of the old Onodrim and their long sorrow. Yet even among us they are only a memory. If I were to meet one still walking in this world, then indeed I should feel young again! But Treebeard: that is only a rendering of Fangorn into the Common Speech; yet you seem to speak of a person. Who is this Treebeard?’ ‘Ah! now you are asking much,’ said Gandalf. “The little that I know of his long slow story would make a tale for which we have no time now. Treebeard is Fangorn, the guardian of the forest; he is the oldest of the Ents, the oldest living thing that still walks beneath the Sun upon this Middle-earth. I hope indeed, Legolas, that you may yet meet him. Merry and Pippin have been fortunate: they met him here, even where we sit. For he came here two days ago and bore them away to his dwelling far off by the roots of the mountains. He often comes here, especially when his mind is uneasy, and rumours of the world outside trouble him. I saw him four days ago striding among the trees, and I think he saw me, for he paused; but I did not speak, for I was heavy with thought, and weary after my struggle with the Eye of Mordor; and he did not speak either, nor call my name.’ ‘Perhaps he also thought that you were Saruman,”’ said Gimli. ‘But you speak of him as if he was a friend. I thought Fangorn was dangerous.’ ‘Dangerous!’ cried Gandalf. ‘And so am I, very dangerous: more dangerous than anything you will ever meet, unless you are brought alive before the seat of the Dark Lord. And Aragorn is dangerous, and Legolas is dangerous. You are beset with dangers, Gimli son of Gloin; for you are dangerous yourself, in your own fashion. Certainly the forest of Fangorn is perilous — not least to those that are too ready with their axes; and Fangorn himself, he is perilous too; yet he is wise and kindly nonetheless. But now his long slow wrath is
「白袍騎士499」的安慰在各方面都不容誤解。我豈能不知！但是，我當然從未因你歡迎我的方式而責備你。我怎能如此，我曾多次勸告我的朋友們，在對付敵人時，甚至要懷疑自己的雙手。祝福你，葛羅音之子金靂！也許有一天你會看到我們倆在一起，並在我們之間做出評判！」「但是哈比人呢！」勒苟拉斯插嘴道。「我們遠道而來尋找他們，而你似乎知道他們在哪裡。他們現在在哪兒？」「跟樹鬍和樹人在一起。」甘道夫說。「樹人！」亞拉岡驚呼道。「那麼，關於深林居民和巨樹牧者的古老傳說都是真的？世界上還有樹人嗎？我以為他們只是遠古時代的記憶，如果他們不僅僅是洛汗的一個傳說的話。」「洛汗的一個傳說！」勒苟拉斯喊道。「不，荒原上的每個精靈都唱過關於古老的歐諾德рим和他們長久悲傷的歌曲。然而，即使在我們之中，他們也只是一個記憶。如果我能遇到一個仍在世上行走的樹人，那我真的會感覺自己又年輕了！但是樹鬍：那只是法貢在通用語中的一個說法；但你似乎在說一個人物。這個樹鬍是誰？」「啊！現在你問的就多了。」甘道夫說。「我對他那漫長而緩慢的故事所知甚少，就足以講一個我們現在沒時間聽的故事了。樹鬍就是法貢，森林的守護者；他是最古老的樹人，是仍在這片中土大陸陽光下行走的最古老的生物。勒苟拉斯，我真希望你還能見到他。梅里和皮聘很幸運：他們就在這裡遇見了他，就在我們坐的地方。因為他兩天前來到這裡，把他們帶到他遠在山腳下的住所。他常來這裡，尤其是當他心神不寧，外界的謠言困擾他時。我四天前看到他在樹林間大步走著，我想他也看到了我，因為他停頓了一下；但我沒有說話，因為我思緒沉重，與魔多之眼鬥爭後疲憊不堪；他也沒有說話，也沒有叫我的名字。」「也許他也以為你是薩魯曼。」金靂說。「但你說起他，好像他是個朋友。我以為法貢很危險。」「危險！」甘道夫喊道。「我也是，非常危險：比你將遇到的任何東西都更危險，除非你被活捉到黑暗魔君的寶座前。亞拉岡也很危險，勒苟拉斯也很危險。你被危險包圍著，葛羅音之子金靂；因為你自己，以你自己的方式，也很危險。法貢森林當然是險惡的——尤其是對那些太急於揮舞斧頭的人；而法貢本人，他也很險惡；然而他同樣充滿智慧和仁慈。但現在他那漫長而緩慢的怒火正在
500 THE LORD OF THE RINGS brimming over, and all the forest is filled with it. The coming of the hobbits and the tidings that they brought have spilled it: it will soon be running like a flood; but its tide is turned against Saruman and the axes of Isengard. A thing is about to happen which has not happened since the Elder Days: the Ents are going to wake up and find that they are strong.’ ‘What will they do?’ asked Legolas in astonishment. ‘I do not know,’ said Gandalf. ‘I do not think they know themselves. I wonder.’ He fell silent, his head bowed in thought. The others looked at him. A gleam of sun through fleeting clouds fell on his hands, which lay now upturned on his lap: they seemed to be filled with light as a cup is with water. At last he looked up and gazed straight at the sun. “The morning is wearing away,’ he said. ‘Soon we must go.’ ‘Do we go to find our friends and to see Treebeard?’ asked Aragorn. ‘No,’ said Gandalf. “That is not the road that you must take. I have spoken words of hope. But only of hope. Hope is not victory. War is upon us and all our friends, a war in which only the use of the Ring could give us surety of victory. It fills me with great sorrow and great fear: for much shall be destroyed and all may be lost. I am Gandalf, Gandalf the White, but Black is mightier still.’ He rose and gazed out eastward, shading his eyes, as if he saw things far away that none of them could see. Then he shook his head. ‘No,’ he said in a soft voice, ‘it has gone beyond our reach. Of that at least let us be glad. We can no longer be tempted to use the Ring. We must go down to face a peril near despair, yet that deadly peril is removed.’ He turned. ‘Come, Aragorn son of Arathorn!’ he said. ‘Do not regret your choice in the valley of the Emyn Muil, nor call it a vain pursuit. You chose amid doubts the path that seemed right: the choice was just, and it has been rewarded. For so we have met in time, who otherwise might have met too late. But the quest of your companions is over. Your next journey is marked by your given word. You must go to Edoras and seek out Théoden in his hall. For you are needed. The light of Anduril must now be uncovered in the battle for which it has so long waited. There is war in Rohan, and worse evil: it goes ill with Théoden.’ “Then are we not to see the merry young hobbits again?’ said Legolas. ‘I did not say so,’ said Gandalf. ‘Who knows? Have patience. Go where you must go, and hope! To Edoras! I go thither also.’ ‘It is a long way for a man to walk, young or old,’ said Aragorn. ‘I fear the battle will be over long ere I come there.’
《魔戒》500頁，滿溢而出，整座森林都充滿了這股氣息。哈比人的到來和他們帶來的消息將其引爆：它很快將如洪水般奔流；但這股潮流是逆著薩魯曼和艾辛格的斧頭而去的。一件自上古時代以來從未發生過的事情即將發生：樹人將要甦醒，並發現自己的強大。」「他們會做什麼？」勒苟拉斯驚訝地問。「我不知道，」甘道夫說。「我想他們自己也不知道。我很好奇。」他沉默下來，低頭沉思。其他人看著他。一縷陽光穿過飛逝的雲層，落在他交疊於膝上、掌心朝上的雙手：那雙手彷彿盛滿了光，就像杯子裝滿了水。最後，他抬起頭，直視著太陽。「一個上午就快過去了，」他說。「我們很快就得走了。」「我們是去找我們的朋友，去見樹鬍嗎？」亞拉岡問。「不，」甘道夫說。「那不是你們必須走的路。我說了希望之語，但也僅止於希望。希望不等於勝利。戰爭已臨到我們和所有朋友身上，在這場戰爭中，唯有使用魔戒才能確保我們勝利。這讓我充滿了巨大的悲傷和恐懼：因為許多事物將被摧毀，一切都可能失去。我是甘道夫，白袍甘道夫，但黑暗依然更強大。」他站起身，向東方遠眺，用手遮著眼睛，彷彿看見了他們誰也看不見的遠方事物。然後他搖了搖頭。「不，」他輕聲說，「它已經超出了我們的掌握。至少為此我們該感到高興。我們再也不會受到使用魔戒的誘惑了。我們必須下去面對近乎絕望的危險，然而那致命的險境已經被移除了。」他轉過身。「來吧，亞拉松之子亞拉岡！」他說。「不要後悔你在艾明莫爾山谷的選擇，也別稱之為徒勞的追尋。你在疑惑中選擇了看似正確的道路：那選擇是公正的，並且得到了回報。因為如此我們才及時相遇，否則可能就太遲了。但你同伴的任務已經結束。你的下一段旅程已由你的諾言標示。你必須前往伊多拉斯，到希優頓的殿堂找他。因為你被需要。安都瑞爾聖劍的光芒現在必須在它等待已久的戰鬥中展現。洛汗有戰事，還有更糟的邪惡：希優頓的處境很不好。」「那麼我們再也見不到那幾個快樂的小哈比人了嗎？」勒苟拉斯說。「我沒這麼說，」甘道夫說。「誰知道呢？耐心點。去你必須去的地方，並懷抱希望！到伊多拉斯去！我也往那裡去。」「對一個無論年輕或年老的人來說，那都是一段很長的路，」亞拉岡說。「我怕我到那裡之前，戰役早就結束了。」
THE WHITE RIDER 501 ‘We shall see, we shall see,’ said Gandalf. ‘Will you come now with me?’ “Yes, we will set out together,’ said Aragorn. ‘But I do not doubt that you will come there before me, if you wish.’ He rose and looked long at Gandalf. The others gazed at them in silence as they stood there facing one another. The grey figure of the Man, Aragorn son of Arathorn, was tall, and stern as stone, his hand upon the hilt of his sword; he looked as if some king out of the mists of the sea had stepped upon the shores of lesser men. Before him stooped the old figure, white, shining now as if with some light kindled within, bent, laden with years, but holding a power beyond the strength of kings. ‘Do I not say truly, Gandalf,’ said Aragorn at last, ‘that you could go whithersoever you wished quicker than I? And this I also say: you are our captain and our banner. The Dark Lord has Nine. But we have One, mightier than they: the White Rider. He has passed through the fire and the abyss, and they shall fear him. We will go where he leads.’ “Yes, together we will follow you,’ said Legolas. ‘But first, it would ease my heart, Gandalf, to hear what befell you in Moria. Will you not tell us? Can you not stay even to tell your friends how you were delivered?’ ‘I have stayed already too long,’ answered Gandalf. “Time is short. But if there were a year to spend, I would not tell you all.’ ‘Then tell us what you will, and time allows!’ said Gimli. ‘Come, Gandalf, tell us how you fared with the Balrog!’ ‘Name him not!’ said Gandalf, and for a moment it seemed that a cloud of pain passed over his face, and he sat silent, looking old as death. ‘Long time I fell,’ he said at last, slowly, as if thinking back with difficulty. ‘Long I fell, and he fell with me. His fire was about me. I was burned. Then we plunged into the deep water and all was dark. Cold it was as the tide of death: almost it froze my heart.’ ‘Deep is the abyss that is spanned by Durin’s Bridge, and none has measured it,’ said Gimli. “Yet it has a bottom, beyond light and knowledge,’ said Gandalf. “Thither I came at last, to the uttermost foundations of stone. He was with me still. His fire was quenched, but now he was a thing of slime, stronger than a strangling snake. ‘We fought far under the living earth, where time is not counted. Ever he clutched me, and ever I hewed him, till at last he fled into dark tunnels. They were not made by Durin’s folk, Gimli son of Gloin. Far, far below the deepest delvings of the Dwarves, the world is gnawed by nameless things. Even Sauron knows them not. They are older than he. Now I have walked there, but I will bring no report
「『我們會看到的，我們會看到的，』甘道夫說。『你現在願意跟我來嗎？』」「『是的，我們將一同出發，』亞拉岡說。『但我毫不懷疑，如果你願意，你會比我先到那裡。』他站起身，久久地凝視著甘道夫。其他人則靜靜地注視著他們，看著兩人相對而立。那個人，亞拉松之子亞拉岡，身形灰暗高大，像石頭一樣嚴峻，手按在劍柄上；他看起來彷彿是一位從海上迷霧中走出的君王，踏上了凡夫俗子的海岸。在他面前，是那個佝僂的老人身影，白色的，此刻閃耀著，彷彿內心點燃了某種光芒，身軀彎曲，背負著歲月的重擔，卻掌握著超越王者之力的力量。『甘道夫，我說的沒錯吧，』亞拉岡終於開口，『你想去任何地方，都能比我快？我還要說：你是我們的統帥和旗幟。黑暗魔君有九名戒靈，但我們有一位，比他們更強大：白袍騎士。他穿越了烈火與深淵，他們將會懼怕他。我們將跟隨他的引領。』」「『是的，我們將一起跟隨您，』勒苟拉斯說。『但首先，甘道夫，若能聽聽您在摩瑞亞的遭遇，我會安心許多。您不願意告訴我們嗎？難道您不能留下來，告訴您的朋友們您是如何獲救的嗎？』」「『我已經停留太久了，』甘道夫回答。『時間緊迫。但就算有一整年的時間可以說，我也無法告訴你們全部。』」「『那就告訴我們您願意說的，以及時間允許的吧！』金靂說。『來吧，甘道夫，告訴我們您對付炎魔的情況！』」「『別提他的名字！』甘道夫說，一瞬間，似乎一團痛苦的陰雲掠過他的臉龐，他沉默地坐著，看起來像死亡一樣蒼老。『我墜落了很久，』他終於開口，緩慢地說，彷彿在困難地回憶。『我墜落了很久，他也與我一同墜落。他的火焰包圍著我。我被燒傷了。然後我們墜入深水，一切都變得黑暗。那水冷如死亡之潮：幾乎凍結了我的心。』」「『都靈之橋橫跨的深淵深不見底，從沒有人測量過，』金靂說。」「『然而它是有底的，在光明與知識之外，』甘道夫說。『我最終到了那裡，到了岩石最底層的根基。他仍與我同在。他的火焰已滅，但現在他成了一團黏滑之物，比纏繞的蛇更有力。』」「『我們在生機絕跡的地底深處戰鬥，那裡時間不算數。他不斷地抓住我，而我則不斷地劈砍他，直到最後他逃進了黑暗的隧道。那些隧道不是都靈的子民所造，葛羅因之子金靂。在矮人最深的挖掘之下，更深更遠的地方，世界被無名之物啃噬著。連索倫也不知道它們。它們比他更古老。如今我曾走過那裡，但我不會帶回任何報告。
502 THE LORD OF THE RINGS to darken the light of day. In that despair my enemy was my only hope, and I pursued him, clutching at his heel. Thus he brought me back at last to the secret ways of Khazad-dim: too well he knew them all. Ever up now we went, until we came to the Endless Stair.’ ‘Long has that been lost,’ said Gimli. ‘Many have said that it was never made save in legend, but others say that it was destroyed.’ ‘It was made, and it had not been destroyed,’ said Gandalf. ‘From the lowest dungeon to the highest peak it climbed, ascending in unbroken spiral in many thousand steps, until it issued at last in Durin’s Tower carved in the living rock of Zirakzigil, the pinnacle of the Silvertine. “There upon Celebdil was a lonely window in the snow, and before it lay a narrow space, a dizzy eyrie above the mists of the world. The sun shone fiercely there, but all below was wrapped in cloud. Out he sprang, and even as I came behind, he burst into new flame. There was none to see, or perhaps in after ages songs would still be sung of the Battle of the Peak.’ Suddenly Gandalf laughed. ‘But what would they say in song? Those that looked up from afar thought that the mountain was crowned with storm. Thunder they heard, and lightning, they said, smote upon Celebdil, and leaped back broken into tongues of fire. Is not that enough? A great smoke rose about us, vapour and steam. Ice fell like rain. I threw down my enemy, and he fell from the high place and broke the mountain-side where he smote it in his ruin. Then darkness took me, and I strayed out of thought and time, and I wandered far on roads that I will not tell. ‘Naked I was sent back — for a brief time, until my task is done. And naked I lay upon the mountain-top. The tower behind was crumbled into dust, the window gone; the ruined stair was choked with burned and broken stone. I was alone, forgotten, without escape upon the hard horn of the world. There I lay staring upward, while the stars wheeled over, and each day was as long as a life-age of the earth. Faint to my ears came the gathered rumour of all lands: the springing and the dying, the song and the weeping, and the slow everlasting groan of over-burdened stone. And so at the last Gwaihir the Windlord found me again, and he took me up and bore me away. ‘““Rver am I fated to be your burden, friend at need,”’ I said. “**A4 burden you have been,” he answered, “but not so now. Light as a swan’s feather in my claw you are. The Sun shines through you. Indeed I do not think you need me any more: were I to let you fall, you would float upon the wind.” “To not let me fall!’’ I gasped, for I felt life in me again. “Bear me to Lothlorien!”’ “**That indeed is the command of the Lady Galadriel who sent me to look for you,” he answered.
足以遮蔽白日的光芒。在那絕望之中，我的敵人成了我唯一的希望，我追趕著他，緊抓著他的腳跟。就這樣，他最終把我帶回了凱薩督姆的秘道：他對那些路瞭若指掌。我們不斷向上，直到抵達了無盡之階。」「那階梯早已失落，」金靂說。「許多人說它只存在於傳說中，從未被建造過，但也有人說它已被摧毀。」「它確實被建造過，而且沒有被摧毀，」甘道夫說。「它從最底層的地牢一路攀升至最高的山巔，以不間斷的螺旋狀盤旋而上，共有數千階，最終通往都靈之塔，那塔是從銀尖山的山峰——齊拉克西吉爾的活岩中雕鑿而成的。『在凱勒布迪爾的山頂上，雪中有扇孤獨的窗戶，窗前有一片狹窄的空地，一個懸於世間迷霧之上、令人暈眩的鷹巢。那裡陽光熾烈，但底下的一切都被雲霧包裹。他猛然躍出，就在我緊隨其後時，他爆出了新的火焰。當時無人看見，否則後世的歌謠或許仍會傳唱那場山巔之戰。』甘道夫突然笑了起來。『但歌謠裡會怎麼唱呢？那些從遠方仰望的人，以為那座山被風暴加冕。他們聽見了雷鳴，他們說，閃電重擊了凱勒布迪爾，然後碎裂成火舌反彈開來。這還不夠嗎？我們周圍升起濃煙，滿是水氣與蒸霧。冰雹如雨而下。我將我的敵人摔了下去，他從高處墜落，在他毀滅的撞擊中撞碎了山腰。然後黑暗吞噬了我，我脫離了思想與時間，在一些我不會言說的道路上遊蕩了許久。』『我被赤裸地送了回來——只在短時間內，直到我的任務完成。我就這樣赤裸地躺在山頂上。身後的塔樓已化為塵土，窗戶消失了；毀壞的階梯被燒焦破碎的石頭堵塞。我獨自一人，被遺忘了，被困在世界的堅硬尖角上，無處可逃。我就在那裡躺著，凝視上方，看著星辰輪轉，每一天都漫長如塵世的一個世代。所有土地上匯集的傳聞隱約傳入我耳中：萬物的生長與凋零，歌唱與哭泣，以及不堪重負的岩石那緩慢而永恆的呻吟。最後，風王關赫再次找到了我，他將我抱起，帶我遠去。』『「看來我命中注定要成為你的負擔，我危難時的朋友。」我說。』『「你曾經是個負擔，」他回答，「但現在不是了。你在我爪中輕如天鵝的羽毛。陽光都能穿透你的身體。說真的，我想你不再需要我了：要是我放開你，你大概會飄在風中吧。」』『「別放開我！」我喘著氣說，因為我再次感覺到生命在我體內復甦。「帶我到羅斯洛立安去！」』『「那確實是凱蘭崔爾女士的命令，她派我來尋找你。」他回答道。
THE WHITE RIDER 503 “Thus it was that I came to Caras Galadhon and found you but lately gone. I tarried there in the ageless time of that land where days bring healing not decay. Healing I found, and I was clothed in white. Counsel I gave and counsel took. Thence by strange roads I came, and messages I bring to some of you. To Aragorn I was bidden to say this: Where now are the Dunedain, Elessar, Elessar? Why do thy kinsfolk wander afar? Near ts the hour when the Lost should come forth, And the Grey Company ride from the North. But dark is the path appointed for thee: The Dead watch the road that leads to the Sea. To Legolas she sent this word: Legolas Greenleaf long under tree In joy thou hast lived. Beware of the Sea! If thou hearest the cry of the gull on the shore, Thy heart shall then rest in the forest no more.’ Gandalf fell silent and shut his eyes. “Then she sent me no message?’ said Gimli and bent his head. ‘Dark are her words,’ said Legolas, ‘and little do they mean to those that receive them.’ “That is no comfort,’ said Gimli. ‘What then?’ said Legolas. ‘Would you have her speak openly to you of your death?’ “Yes, if she had naught else to say.’ ‘What is that?’ said Gandalf, opening his eyes. ‘Yes, I think I can guess what her words may mean. Your pardon, Gimli! I was pondering the messages once again. But indeed she sent words to you, and neither dark nor sad. “**To Gimli son of Gldin,”’ she said, “‘give his Lady’s greeting. Lockbearer, wherever thou goest my thought goes with thee. But have a care to lay thine axe to the right tree!’’’ ‘In happy hour you have returned to us, Gandalf,’ cried the Dwarf, capering as he sang loudly in the strange dwarf-tongue. ‘Come, come!’ he shouted, swinging his axe. ‘Since Gandalf’s head is now sacred, let us find one that it is right to cleave!’ ‘That will not be far to seek,’ said Gandalf, rising from his seat. ‘Come! We have spent all the time that is allowed to a meeting of parted friends. Now there is need of haste.’ ok PS
「我就是這樣來到卡拉斯加拉頓，卻發現你們不久前才離開。我在那片歲月靜止的土地上逗留，那裡的時光帶來療癒而非腐朽。我找到了療癒，並被賦予白袍。我給予忠告，也接受了忠告。接著我循奇異的道路前來，為你們中的一些人帶來了訊息。我奉命對亞拉岡說：『伊力薩，伊力薩，登丹人今在何方？汝之族人為何遠方流浪？失落者再現之時已近，灰衣部隊將自北方馳騁。但為你指定的道路一片黑暗：亡者看守著通往大海的道路。』她給勒苟拉斯的訊息是：『綠葉勒苟拉斯，長久以來你在林下喜樂生活。當心大海！若你聽聞岸邊海鷗的啼鳴，你的心將不再安息於森林。』」甘道夫沉默下來，閉上了眼睛。「那她沒有給我任何訊息嗎？」金靂說著，垂下了頭。「她的話語很深奧，」勒苟拉斯說，「對收到訊息的人來說也沒什麼意義。」「那可不是什麼安慰。」金靂說。「不然呢？」勒苟拉斯說。「你希望她坦白地對你說你的死期嗎？」「是啊，如果她沒別的話好說的話。」「那是什麼？」甘道夫睜開眼睛說。「是的，我想我能猜到她話中的含意。請原諒，金靂！我剛才又在思索那些訊息。但她的確有話給你，既不深奧也不悲傷。『「給葛羅因之子金靂，」』她說，『「代他的女主人致意。持髮者，無論你走到哪裡，我的思念都與你同在。但要小心，別把你的斧頭揮向了錯誤的樹！」』」「甘道夫，你在這大好時刻回到我們身邊，真是太好了！」矮人喊道，一邊用奇特的矮人語大聲歌唱，一邊興高采烈地蹦跳著。「來吧，來吧！」他揮舞著斧頭大喊。「既然甘道夫的腦袋現在是神聖不可侵犯的，那我們就去找個可以砍的腦袋吧！」「那不難找。」甘道夫從座位上站起來說。「來吧！我們已經用盡了所有能分給離別摯友重逢的時間。現在必須趕快了。
504 THE LORD OF THE RINGS He wrapped himself again in his old tattered cloak, and led the way. Following him they descended quickly from the high shelf and made their way back through the forest, down the bank of the Entwash. They spoke no more words, until they stood again upon the grass beyond the eaves of Fangorn. There was no sign of their horses to be seen. “They have not returned,’ said Legolas. ‘It will be a weary walk!’ ‘I shall not walk. Time presses,’ said Gandalf. Then lifting up his head he gave a long whistle. So clear and piercing was the note that the others stood amazed to hear such a sound come from those old bearded lips. Three times he whistled; and then faint and far off it seemed to them that they heard the whinny of a horse borne up from the plains upon the eastern wind. They waited wondering. Before long there came the sound of hoofs, at first hardly more than a tremor of the ground perceptible only to Aragorn as he lay upon the grass, then growing steadily louder and clearer to a quick beat. ‘There is more than one horse coming,’ said Aragorn. ‘Certainly,’ said Gandalf. ‘We are too great a burden for one.’ “There are three,’ said Legolas, gazing out over the plain. ‘See how they run! There is Hasufel, and there is my friend Arod beside him! But there is another that strides ahead: a very great horse. I have not seen his like before.’ ‘Nor will you again,’ said Gandalf. “That is Shadowfax. He is the chief of the Mearas, lords of horses, and not even Théoden, King of Rohan, has ever looked on a better. Does he not shine like silver, and run as smoothly as a swift stream? He has come for me: the horse of the White Rider. We are going to battle together.’ Even as the old wizard spoke, the great horse came striding up the slope towards them; his coat was glistening and his mane flowing in the wind of his speed. The two others followed, now far behind. As soon as Shadowfax saw Gandalf, he checked his pace and whinnied loudly; then trotting gently forward he stooped his proud head and nuzzled his great nostrils against the old man’s neck. Gandalf caressed him. ‘It is a long way from Rivendell, my friend,’ he said; ‘but you are wise and swift and come at need. Far let us ride now together, and part not in this world again!’ Soon the other horses came up and stood quietly by, as if awaiting orders. ‘We go at once to Meduseld, the hall of your master, Théoden,’ said Gandalf, addressing them gravely. They bowed their heads. “Time presses, so with your leave, my friends, we will ride. We beg you to use all the speed that you can. Hasufel shall bear Aragorn and Arod Legolas. I will set Gimli before me, and by his leave Shadowfax shall bear us both. We will wait now only to drink a little.’
他再次裹上他那件破舊的斗篷，帶頭走去。他們跟著他，迅速從高高的岩架上下來，穿過森林，沿著樹沐河的河岸原路返回。他們一言不發，直到再次站到法貢森林邊緣外的草地上。完全看不到他們的馬的蹤影。「牠們沒回來，」勒苟拉斯說。「這會是趟累人的步行！」「我不用走的。時間緊迫，」甘道夫說。然後他抬起頭，發出一聲長長的口哨。那哨音如此清晰響亮，其他人聽到這聲音竟是從那張長滿鬍鬚的老嘴唇發出，都驚訝地站著。他吹了三聲口哨；然後，他們彷彿聽到遠方傳來一陣微弱的馬嘶聲，由東風從平原上帶來。他們懷著疑惑等待著。不久，傳來了蹄聲，起初幾乎只是地面的震動，只有躺在草地上的亞拉岡才能察覺，然後聲音穩定地變得越來越大、越來越清晰，變成一陣急促的蹄音。「來的馬不止一匹，」亞拉岡說。「當然，」甘道夫說。「我們對一匹馬來說負擔太重了。」「有三匹，」勒苟拉斯凝視著平原說。「看牠們跑得多快！有哈蘇費，旁邊是我的朋友亞羅！但還有一匹跑在最前面：一匹非常神駿的馬。我從未見過像牠這樣的馬。」「你以後也再也見不到了，」甘道夫說。「那是影疾。牠是馬王的首領，眾馬之王，即使是洛汗國王希優頓，也沒見過比牠更好的馬。牠是否像白銀一樣閃耀，跑起來像急流一樣順暢？牠是為我而來的：白袍騎士的坐騎。我們將並肩作戰。」就在老巫師說話的時候，那匹神駿的馬大步地跑上山坡，朝他們走來；牠的毛皮閃閃發光，鬃毛在奔跑的風中飄揚。另外兩匹馬跟在後面，現在已經遠遠落後了。影疾一看到甘道夫，就放慢了腳步，大聲嘶鳴；然後牠輕快地小跑上前，低下高傲的頭，用牠巨大的鼻孔親暱地磨蹭著老人的脖子。甘道夫撫摸著牠。「從瑞文戴爾到這裡路途遙遠，我的朋友，」他說；「但你聰明又迅速，總在需要時趕來。現在讓我們一起馳騁遠方，此生再不分離！」很快，另外兩匹馬也趕了上來，安靜地站在一旁，彷彿在等待命令。「我們立刻去梅杜塞，你們的主人希優頓的大殿，」甘道夫莊重地對牠們說。牠們低下了頭。「時間緊迫，所以，我的朋友們，恕我們借馬一騎了。我們懇請你們用上最快的速度。哈蘇費將載亞拉岡，亞羅載勒苟拉斯。我會讓金靂坐在我前面，如果他同意，影疾將載我們兩人。我們現在只等喝點水就出發。
THE WHITE RIDER 505 ‘Now I understand a part of last night’s riddle,’ said Legolas as he sprang lightly upon Arod’s back. ‘Whether they fled at first in fear, or not, our horses met Shadowfax, their chieftain, and greeted him with joy. Did you know that he was at hand, Gandalf?’ “Yes, I knew,’ said the wizard. ‘I bent my thought upon him, bidding him to make haste; for yesterday he was far away in the south of this land. Swiftly may he bear me back again!’ Gandalf spoke now to Shadowfax, and the horse set off at a good pace, yet not beyond the measure of the others. After a little while he turned suddenly, and choosing a place where the banks were lower, he waded the river, and then led them away due south into a flat land, treeless and wide. The wind went like grey waves through the endless miles of grass. There was no sign of road or track, but Shadowfax did not stay or falter. ‘He is steering a straight course now for the halls of Théoden under the slopes of the White Mountains,’ said Gandalf. ‘It will be quicker so. The ground is firmer in the Eastemnet, where the chief northward track lies, across the river, but Shadowfax knows the way through every fen and hollow.’ For many hours they rode on through the meads and riverlands. Often the grass was so high that it reached above the knees of the riders, and their steeds seemed to be swimming in a grey-green sea. They came upon many hidden pools, and broad acres of sedge waving above wet and treacherous bogs; but Shadowfax found the way, and the other horses followed in his swath. Slowly the sun fell from the sky down into the West. Looking out over the great plain, far away the riders saw it for a moment like a red fire sinking into the grass. Low upon the edge of sight shoulders of the mountains glinted red upon either side. A smoke seemed to rise up and darken the sun’s disc to the hue of blood, as if it had kindled the grass as it passed down under the rim of earth. “There lies the Gap of Rohan,’ said Gandalf. ‘It is now almost due west of us. That way lies Isengard.’ ‘I see a great smoke,’ said Legolas. ‘What may that be?’ ‘Battle and war!’ said Gandalf. ‘Ride on!’
「現在我明白昨晚謎題的一部分了。」勒苟拉斯輕巧地躍上亞羅德的背說。「無論牠們最初是否因恐懼而逃跑，我們的馬匹遇見了牠們的首領影疾，並欣喜地迎接牠。甘道夫，你知道牠就在附近嗎？」「是的，我知道。」巫師說。「我將意念集中在牠身上，命令牠趕快過來；因為昨天牠還在這片土地遙遠的南方。願牠能迅速地載我回去！」甘道夫現在對影疾說話，那匹馬便以相當快的速度出發，但沒有超過其他馬匹的步伐。過了一會兒，牠突然轉向，選了一個河岸較低的地方，涉水過河，然後帶領他們徑直向南，進入一片平坦、無樹而遼闊的土地。風像灰色的波浪般吹過無盡的草原。沒有任何道路或小徑的跡象，但影疾沒有停頓或猶豫。「牠現在正朝著白色山脈山坡下希優頓的大殿走直線路徑。」甘道夫說。「這樣會快一些。河對岸東埃姆內特的主要北向小徑地面比較堅實，但影疾知道穿越每一片沼澤和窪地的方法。」他們在草地和河岸地帶騎行了好幾個小時。草常常高得超過騎士的膝蓋，他們的坐騎彷彿在灰綠色的海洋中游泳。他們遇到了許多隱蔽的水池，以及大片在濕滑險惡的泥沼上搖曳的莎草；但影疾找到了路，其他的馬匹則跟隨在牠開出的路徑上。太陽緩緩從天空落下，沉入西方。騎士們眺望著大平原，遠遠地看見太陽有那麼一瞬間像一團紅色的火焰沉入草叢中。在視線的邊緣，兩側的山肩閃爍著紅光。一縷煙霧似乎升起，將日輪染成血色，彷彿太陽在沉入地平線下時點燃了草地。「那裡是羅翰隘口。」甘道夫說。「現在它幾乎在我們的正西方。艾辛格就在那個方向。」「我看到一股濃煙。」勒苟拉斯說。「那可能是什麼？」「戰鬥與戰爭！」甘道夫說。「繼續前進！