Chapter 5 THE WINDOW ON THE WEST It seemed to Sam that he had only dozed for a few minutes when he awoke to find that it was late afternoon and Faramir had come back. He had brought many men with him; indeed all the survivors of the foray were now gathered on the slope nearby, two or three hundred strong. They sat in a wide semicircle, between the arms of which Faramir was seated on the ground, while Frodo stood before him. It looked strangely like the trial of a prisoner. Sam crept out from the fern, but no one paid any attention to him, and he placed himself at the end of the rows of men, where he could see and hear all that was going on. He watched and listened intently, ready to dash to his master’s aid if needed. He could see Faramir’s face, which was now unmasked: it was stern and commanding, and a keen wit lay behind his searching glance. Doubt was in the grey eyes that gazed steadily at Frodo. Sam soon became aware that the Captain was not satisfied with Frodo’s account of himself at several points: what part he had to play in the Company that set out from Rivendell; why he had left Boromir; and where he was now going. In particular he returned often to Isildur’s Bane. Plainly he saw that Frodo was concealing from him some matter of great importance. ‘But it was at the coming of the Halfling that Isildur’s Bane should waken, or so one must read the words,’ he insisted. ‘If then you are the Halfling that was named, doubtless you brought this thing, whatever it may be, to the Council of which you speak, and there Boromir saw it. Do you deny it?’ Frodo made no answer. ‘So!’ said Faramir. ‘I wish then to learn from you more of it; for what concerns Boromir concerns me. An orc-arrow slew Isildur, so far as old tales tell. But orc-arrows are plenty, and the sight of one would not be taken as a sign of Doom by Boromir of Gondor. Had you this thing in keeping? It is hidden, you say; but is not that because you choose to hide it?’ ‘No, not because I choose,’ answered Frodo. ‘It does not belong to me. It does not belong to any mortal, great or small; though if any could claim it, it would be Aragorn son of Arathorn, whom I named, the leader of our Company from Moria to Rauros.’ ‘Why so, and not Boromir, prince of the City that the sons of Elendil founded?’ ‘Because Aragorn is descended in direct lineage, father to father,
第五章 西窗 山姆感覺自己才打了幾分鐘的盹，醒來時卻發現已是傍晚時分，法拉米爾也回來了。他帶了許多人，事實上，那次突襲的所有倖存者現在都聚集在附近的山坡上，人數約有兩三百之眾。他們坐成一個寬大的半圓，法拉米爾坐在半圓環抱的中央地上，佛羅多則站在他面前。這情景看起來 strangely 像在審判一個囚犯。山姆從蕨類植物叢中悄悄爬出來，但沒有人注意到他。他找了個隊伍末端的位置坐下，這樣他就能看見並聽見所有正在發生的事。他專注地觀察和聆聽，準備在主人需要時隨時衝上前去援助。他能看見法拉米爾的臉，此刻他已不再掩飾：那是一張嚴肅且充滿威嚴的臉，在他審視的目光背後，隱藏著敏銳的智慧。那雙凝視著佛羅多的灰色眼眸裡充滿了懷疑。山姆很快就意識到，這位隊長對佛羅多自我陳述中的好幾點都不滿意：他在從瑞文戴爾出發的遠征隊中扮演什麼角色；他為什麼離開波羅莫；以及他現在要去哪裡。他尤其反覆提到「埃西鐸的剋星」。顯然，他看出佛羅多向他隱瞞了某件極其重要的事。「但預言說，『埃西鐸的剋星』將在半身人到來時甦醒，至少預言的文字是這麼解讀的，」他堅持道。「如果你就是預言中提到的那個半身人，那麼你無疑是把這件東西，無論它是什麼，帶到了你所說的會議上，而波羅莫也在那裡看到了它。你否認嗎？」佛羅多沒有回答。「原來如此！」法拉米爾說。「那麼我希望從你這裡了解更多；因為凡是與波羅莫有關的事，都與我有關。根據古老傳說，是一支半獸人的箭殺死了埃西鐸。但半獸人的箭多的是，剛鐸的波羅莫不會僅僅看到一支箭就將其視為末日的徵兆。這東西是由你保管嗎？你說它被藏起來了；但那不正是因為你選擇要把它藏起來嗎？」「不，不是因為我選擇，」佛羅多回答。「它不屬於我。它不屬於任何凡人，無論偉大或渺小；不過，如果真有誰能聲稱擁有它，那也該是我提過的亞拉岡，亞拉松之子，我們從魔理亞到拉洛斯這段路的領袖。」「為何是他，而不是波羅莫，那座由伊蘭迪爾諸子建立的城市的王子？」「因為亞拉岡是父傳子的直系後裔，
664 THE LORD OF THE RINGS from Isildur Elendil’s son himself. And the sword that he bears was Elendil’s sword.’ A murmur of astonishment ran through all the ring of men. Some cried aloud: “The sword of Elendil! The sword of Elendil comes to Minas Tirith! Great tidings!’ But Faramir’s face was unmoved. ‘Maybe,’ he said. ‘But so great a claim will need to be established, and clear proofs will be required, should this Aragorn ever come to Minas Tirith. He had not come, nor any of your Company, when I set out six days ago.’ ‘Boromir was satisfied of that claim,’ said Frodo. ‘Indeed, if Boromir were here, he would answer all your questions. And since he was already at Rauros many days back, and intended then to go straight to your city, if you return, you may soon learn the answers there. My part in the Company was known to him, as to all the others, for it was appointed to me by Elrond of Imladris himself before the whole Council. On that errand I came into this country, but it is not mine to reveal to any outside the Company. Yet those who claim to oppose the Enemy would do well not to hinder it.’ Frodo’s tone was proud, whatever he felt, and Sam approved of it; but it did not appease Faramir. ‘So!’ he said. ‘You bid me mind my own affairs, and get me back home, and let you be. Boromir will tell all, when he comes. When he comes, say you! Were you a friend of Boromir?’ Vividly before Frodo’s mind came the memory of Boromir’s assault upon him, and for a moment he hesitated. Faramir’s eyes watching him grew harder. ‘Boromir was a valiant member of our Company,’ said Frodo at length. ‘Yes, I was his friend, for my part.’ Faramir smiled grimly. “Then you would grieve to learn that Boromir is dead?’ ‘I would grieve indeed,’ said Frodo. Then catching the look in Faramir’s eyes, he faltered. ‘Dead?’ he said. ‘Do you mean that he is dead, and that you knew it? You have been trying to trap me in words, playing with me? Or are you now trying to snare me with a falsehood?’ ‘I would not snare even an orc with a falsehood,’ said Faramir. ‘How then did he die, and how do you know of it? Since you say that none of the Company had reached the city when you left.’ ‘As to the manner of his death, I had hoped that his friend and companion would tell me how it was.’ ‘But he was alive and strong when we parted. And he lives still for all that I know. Though surely there are many perils in the world.’ ‘Many indeed,’ said Faramir, ‘and treachery not the least.’ Sam had been getting more and more impatient and angry at this conversation. These last words were more than he could bear, and
664《魔戒》來自埃蘭迪爾之子伊西鐸本人。他所佩帶的劍，正是埃蘭迪爾之劍。』一陣驚訝的低語聲在圍成一圈的人群中傳開。有些人大聲喊道：『埃蘭迪爾之劍！埃蘭迪爾之劍來到米那斯提力斯了！天大的好消息！』但法拉墨的臉色絲毫不為所動。他說：『也許吧。但如此重大的聲明需要被證實，也需要明確的證據，倘若這位亞拉岡真有一天來到米那斯提力斯。在我六天前出發時，他還沒來，你們遠征隊的任何人都沒有。』『波羅莫對此聲明深信不疑，』佛羅多說。『的確，如果波羅莫在這裡，他會回答你所有的問題。而且既然他多天前就已在拉洛斯瀑布，並打算直接前往你們的城市，如果你回去，也許很快就能在那裡得知答案。我在遠征隊中的任務，他和其他所有人都知道，因為這是瑞文戴爾的愛隆在全體會議前親自指派給我的。我為此任務來到這片土地，但這不該由我向遠征隊以外的任何人透露。然而，那些聲稱要對抗大敵的人，最好不要妨礙它。』無論內心感受如何，佛羅多的語氣是驕傲的，山姆也對此表示贊同；但這並未安撫法拉墨。『這麼說！』他說。『你吩咐我管好自己的事，叫我回家去，然後別管你們。波羅莫來的時候，他會全盤托出。你說，等他來的時候！你是波羅莫的朋友嗎？』波羅莫攻擊他的記憶生動地浮現在佛羅多腦海中，他猶豫了片刻。法拉墨注視他的眼神變得更加嚴厲。『波羅莫是我們遠征隊中一位英勇的成員，』佛羅多最終說道。『是的，就我而言，我是他的朋友。』法拉墨冷酷地笑了。『那麼，得知波羅莫已死，你會很悲傷吧？』『我確實會很悲傷，』佛羅多說。接著，他捕捉到法拉墨眼中的神情，不由得結巴了。『死了？』他說。『你的意思是，他死了，而你早就知道？你一直在用話語設陷阱套我，玩弄我？還是你現在想用謊言來誘捕我？』『我連一個半獸人都不會用謊言去誘捕，』法拉墨說。『那他究竟是怎麼死的，你又是怎麼知道的？既然你說你離開時，遠征隊中沒有人抵達城市。』『至於他的死法，我本希望他的朋友和同伴能告訴我是怎麼一回事。』『但我們分別時，他還活著，而且很強壯。據我所知，他仍然活著。雖然世上的確充滿了許多危險。』『的確很多，』法拉墨說，『而背叛，尤其不容小覷。』山姆聽著這段對話，早已越來越不耐煩和憤怒。這最後幾個字，他再也無法忍受了。
THE WINDOW ON THE WEST 665 bursting into the middle of the ring, he strode up to his master’s side. ‘Begging your pardon, Mr. Frodo,’ he said, ‘but this has gone on long enough. He’s no right to talk to you so. After all you’ve gone through, as much for his good and all these great Men as for anyone else. ‘See here, Captain!’ He planted himself squarely in front of Faramir, his hands on his hips, and a look on his face as if he was addressing a young hobbit who had offered him what he called ‘sauce’ when questioned about visits to the orchard. There was some murmuring, but also some grins on the faces of the men looking on: the sight of their Captain sitting on the ground and eye to eye with a young hobbit, legs well apart, bristling with wrath, was one beyond their experience. ‘See here!’ he said. ‘What are you driving at? Let’s come to the point before all the Orcs of Mordor come down on us! If you think my master murdered this Boromir and then ran away, you’ve got no sense; but say it, and have done! And then let us know what you mean to do about it. But it’s a pity that folk as talk about fighting the Enemy can’t let others do their bit in their own way without interfering. He’d be mighty pleased, if he could see you now. Think he’d got a new friend, he would.’ ‘Patience!’ said Faramir, but without anger. ‘Do not speak before your master, whose wit is greater than yours. And I do not need any to teach me of our peril. Even so, I spare a brief time, in order to judge justly in a hard matter. Were I as hasty as you, I might have slain you long ago. For I am commanded to slay all whom I find in this land without the leave of the Lord of Gondor. But I do not slay man or beast needlessly, and not gladly even when it is needed. Neither do I talk in vain. So be comforted. Sit by your master, and be silent!’ Sam sat down heavily with a red face. Faramir turned to Frodo again. “You asked how do I know that the son of Denethor is dead. Tidings of death have many wings. Night oft brings news to near kindred, ’tis said. Boromir was my brother.’ A shadow of sorrow passed over his face. ‘Do you remember aught of special mark that the Lord Boromir bore with him among his gear?’ Frodo thought for a moment, fearing some further trap, and wondering how this debate would turn in the end. He had hardly saved the Ring from the proud grasp of Boromir, and how he would fare now among so many men, warlike and strong, he did not know. Yet he felt in his heart that Faramir, though he was much like his brother in looks, was a man less self-regarding, both sterner and wiser. ‘I remember that Boromir bore a horn,’ he said at last. ‘You remember well, and as one who has in truth seen him,” said
他衝進圈子中央，大步走到主人身邊。「請您原諒，佛羅多先生，」他說，「但這實在是太久了。他沒有權利這樣跟您說話。畢竟您經歷了這一切，為他好，也為這些偉大的人們好，不亞於為任何其他人。『喂，你聽著，隊長！』他雙手叉腰，兩腳穩穩地站在法拉墨面前，臉上的表情彷彿在對一個因偷摘果園水果被質問時還敢「頂嘴」的小哈比人說話。人群中有些竊竊私語，但也有幾個人臉上露出了笑容：看到他們的隊長坐在地上，與一個小哈比人四目相對，而那小哈比人雙腿張開，怒氣沖沖，這景象可真是前所未見。『你聽著！』他說。『你到底想說什麼？在所有魔多的半獸人衝下來之前，我們還是直說重點吧！如果你認為我的主人謀殺了那個波羅莫然後逃跑，那你就太沒腦子了；但你就說出來，然後了結這事！然後讓我們知道你打算怎麼辦。但真可惜，那些口口聲聲說要對抗敵人的人，卻不能讓別人在不被干涉的情況下用自己的方式盡一份力。他要是能看到你現在的樣子，肯定會高興得不得了。他會以為自己多了個新朋友呢。』『耐心點！』法拉墨說，但沒有生氣。『不要在你的主人面前說話，他的才智比你高。而且我也不需要任何人來教我我們身處的險境。即便如此，我還是要花一點時間，以便在一件困難的事情上做出公正的判斷。要是我像你一樣魯莽，我早就把你殺了。因為我奉命要殺掉所有未經剛鐸之王許可而在此地被發現的人。但我不會無謂地殺害人或野獸，即使有必要，也非我所願。我也不會說空話。所以放心吧。坐在你主人旁邊，保持沉默！』山姆滿臉通紅地重重坐下。法拉墨再次轉向佛羅多。『你問我怎麼知道迪耐瑟之子死了。死訊長著許多翅膀。據說，夜晚常為近親帶來消息。波羅莫是我的兄弟。』一絲悲傷的陰影掠過他的臉龐。『你還記得波羅莫大人隨身裝備中有什麼特別的標記嗎？』佛羅多思索了片刻，擔心又有什麼陷阱，並想著這場辯論最終會如何收場。他好不容易才從波羅莫那驕傲的掌握中保住了魔戒，如今在這麼多好戰又強壯的人中間，他不知道自己會有什麼遭遇。然而，他心裡覺得，法拉墨雖然外貌與他哥哥極為相似，卻是一個比較不那麼自我中心的人，既更嚴厲，也更明智。『我記得波羅莫帶了一個號角。』他最後說道。『你記得真清楚，像個真正見過他的人。』法拉墨說。
666 THE LORD OF THE RINGS Faramir. “Then maybe you can see it in your mind’s eye: a great horn of the wild ox of the East, bound with silver, and written with ancient characters. That horn the eldest son of our house has borne for many generations; and it is said that if it be blown at need anywhere within the bounds of Gondor, as the realm was of old, its voice will not pass unheeded. ‘Five days ere I set out on this venture, eleven days ago at about this hour of the day, I heard the blowing of that horn: from the northward it seemed, but dim, as if it were but an echo in the mind. A boding of ill we thought it, my father and I, for no tidings had we heard of Boromir since he went away, and no watcher on our borders had seen him pass. And on the third night after another and a stranger thing befell me. ‘I sat at night by the waters of Anduin, in the grey dark under the young pale moon, watching the ever-moving stream; and the sad reeds were rustling. So do we ever watch the shores nigh Osgiliath, which our enemies now partly hold, and issue from it to harry our lands. But that night all the world slept at the midnight hour. Then I saw, or it seemed that I saw, a boat floating on the water, glimmering grey, a small boat of a strange fashion with a high prow, and there was none to row or steer it. ‘An awe fell on me, for a pale light was round it. But I rose and went to the bank, and began to walk out into the stream, for I was drawn towards it. Then the boat turned towards me, and stayed its pace, and floated slowly by within my hand’s reach, yet I durst not handle it. It waded deep, as if it were heavily burdened, and it seemed to me as it passed under my gaze that it was almost filled with clear water, from which came the light; and lapped in the water a warrior lay asleep. ‘A broken sword was on his knee. I saw many wounds on him. It was Boromir, my brother, dead. I knew his gear, his sword, his beloved face. One thing only I missed: his horn. One thing only I knew not: a fair belt, as it were of linked golden leaves, about his waist. Boromir! I cried. Where is thy horn? Whither goest thou? O Boromir! But he was gone. The boat turned into the stream and passed glimmering on into the night. Dreamlike it was, and yet no dream, for there was no waking. And I do not doubt that he is dead and has passed down the River to the Sea.’ ‘Alas!’ said Frodo. “That was indeed Boromir as I knew him. For the golden belt was given to him in Lothlorien by the Lady Galadriel. She it was that clothed us as you see us, in elven-grey. This brooch is of the same workmanship.’ He touched the green and silver leaf that fastened his cloak beneath his throat.
法拉墨：「那麼，也許你可以在你的心眼中看見它：一支東方野牛的巨角，用銀鑲邊，上面刻著古老的文字。我們家族的長子代代相傳都佩戴著那支號角；據說，只要在剛鐸古時的疆界內，任何需要之時吹響它，它的聲音便不會不被聽聞。在我出發執行這次任務前的五天，也就是十一天前大約這個時辰，我聽到了那號角的吹響：聲音似乎來自北方，但很模糊，彷彿只是腦海中的一道回音。我和我父親都認為這是不祥之兆，因為自從波羅莫離去後，我們就再也沒有他的任何消息，我們邊境的守望者也沒見到他經過。而在那之後的第三個晚上，另一件更奇異的事發生在我身上。那晚，我坐在安都因河畔，在初升的蒼白月光下的灰暗中，凝視著永不停息的溪流；悲戚的蘆葦沙沙作響。我們就是這樣時常守望著歐斯吉力亞斯附近的河岸，我們的敵人如今佔領了那裡的一部分，並從那裡出動來侵擾我們的土地。但那一夜，午夜時分，整個世界都沉睡了。然後我看到，或似乎是看到，一艘小船漂浮在水面上，閃爍著灰光，那是一艘樣式奇特、船首高聳的小船，沒有人划槳或掌舵。我心中升起一股敬畏，因為它周圍有一層蒼白的光。但我站起來，走到岸邊，開始涉水走入溪流，因為我被它吸引。接著，小船轉向我，放慢了速度，緩緩地漂到我伸手可及的範圍內，但我卻不敢觸碰它。它吃水很深，彷彿載著重物，當它從我眼前經過時，我覺得它幾乎裝滿了清澈的河水，那光芒正是從水中發出；而在水中，躺著一位沉睡的戰士。他膝上放著一把斷劍。我看到他身上有許多傷口。那是波羅莫，我的兄長，他死了。我認得他的裝備、他的劍、他親愛的臉龐。我只少看到了一樣東西：他的號角。我只有一樣東西不認得：一條美麗的腰帶，彷彿由相連的金葉製成，繫在他腰間。波羅莫！我呼喊道。你的號角在哪裡？你要往何處去？噢，波羅莫！但他已經走了。小船轉入溪流中，閃爍著光芒，消失在夜色裡。那情景如夢似幻，卻又不是夢，因為我沒有醒來。我毫不懷疑他已經死了，並順著大河流向了大海。」 「唉！」佛羅多說。「那確實是我所認識的波羅莫。因為那條金色的腰帶是羅斯洛利安的凱蘭崔爾女士送給他的。正是她為我們穿上了你所見的精靈灰衣。這枚胸針也是同樣的工藝。」他觸摸著扣在他喉下斗篷的綠色與銀色的葉子。
THE WINDOW ON THE WEST 667 Faramir looked closely at it. ‘It is beautiful,’ he said. ‘Yes, ’tis work of the same craft. So then you passed through the Land of Lorien? Laurelindorenan it was named of old, but long now it has lain beyond the knowledge of Men,’ he added softly, regarding Frodo with a new wonder in his eyes. ‘Much that was strange about you I begin now to understand. Will you not tell me more? For it is a bitter thought that Boromir died, within sight of the land of his home.’ ‘No more can I say than I have said,’ answered Frodo. ‘Though your tale fills me with foreboding. A vision it was that you saw, I think, and no more, some shadow of evil fortune that has been or will be. Unless indeed it is some lying trick of the Enemy. I have seen the faces of fair warriors of old laid in sleep beneath the pools of the Dead Marshes, or seeming so by his foul arts.’ ‘Nay, it was not so,’ said Faramir. ‘For his works fill the heart with loathing; but my heart was filled with grief and pity.’ “Yet how could such a thing have happened in truth?’ asked Frodo. ‘For no boat could have been carried over the stony hills from Tol Brandir; and Boromir purposed to go home across the Entwash and the fields of Rohan. And yet how could any vessel ride the foam of the great falls and not founder in the boiling pools, though laden with water?’ ‘I know not,’ said Faramir. ‘But whence came the boat?’ ‘From Lorien,’ said Frodo. ‘In three such boats we rowed down Anduin to the Falls. They also were of elven-work.’ “You passed through the Hidden Land,’ said Faramir, ‘but it seems that you little understood its power. If Men have dealings with the Mistress of Magic who dwells in the Golden Wood, then they may look for strange things to follow. For it is perilous for mortal man to walk out of the world of this Sun, and few of old came thence unchanged, ’tis said. ‘Boromir, O Boromir? he cried. ‘What did she say to you, the Lady that dies not? What did she see? What woke in your heart then? Why went you ever to Laurelindorenan, and came not by your own road, upon the horses of Rohan riding home in the morning?’ Then turning again to Frodo, he spoke in a quiet voice once more. “To those questions I guess that you could make some answer, Frodo son of Drogo. But not here or now, maybe. But lest you still should think my tale a vision, I will tell you this. The horn of Boromir at least returned in truth, and not in seeming. The horn came, but it was cloven in two, as it were by axe or sword. The shards came severally to shore: one was found among the reeds where watchers of Gondor lay, northwards below the infalls of the Entwash; the other was found spinning on the flood by one who had an errand on the water. Strange chances, but murder will out, ’tis said.
法拉墨仔細看著它。「真美，」他說。「是的，這是同樣工藝的作品。所以你經過了羅瑞安之地？它古時被稱為羅瑞林多瑞南，但長久以來，它已超出人類的所知，」他輕聲補充道，眼中帶著新的驚奇看著佛羅多。「關於你許多奇怪之處，我現在開始明白了。你願意多告訴我一些嗎？因為波羅莫死在能望見家鄉的地方，這念頭實在令人痛苦。」 「我所能說的，不比我已經說過的更多了，」佛羅多回答。「雖然你的故事讓我充滿了不祥的預感。我想你所見的只是一個幻象，僅此而已，是某種已經發生或將要發生的厄運的影子。除非，那其實是敵人某種騙人的詭計。我曾在死亡沼澤的水池底下，見過古代俊美戰士沉睡的面容，或看似如此，皆因他邪惡的技倆。」 「不，不是那樣的，」法拉墨說。「因為他的作為使人心生厭惡；但我的心中充滿了悲傷與憐憫。」 「然而這種事怎麼可能真的發生呢？」佛羅多問。「因為沒有船能被運過托爾布蘭達的石山；而且波羅莫打算穿過恩特沃許河和羅翰的田野回家。再說，任何船隻又怎能駕馭大瀑布的浪花，而在沸騰的水潭中不沉沒呢，即使載滿了水？」 「我不知道，」法拉墨說。「但船是從哪裡來的？」 「從羅瑞安，」佛羅多說。「我們乘坐三艘這樣的小船，沿著安都因河划到瀑布。它們也是精靈的作品。」 「你經過了那隱蔽之地，」法拉墨說，「但看來你不太了解它的力量。如果凡人與居住在黃金森林中的魔法女主人打交道，那麼他們就得預料到會有奇怪的事情隨之而來。因為凡人走出這個太陽的世界是危險的，據說，自古以來很少有人能不變地從那裡回來。」 「波羅莫，噢，波羅莫！」他喊道。「那位不死的女士對你說了什麼？她看見了什麼？那時你心中甦醒了什麼？你究竟為何要去羅瑞林多瑞南，而不走你自己的路，在清晨騎著羅翰的馬回家？」 然後他再次轉向佛羅多，用平靜的聲音說道。「對於這些問題，我猜你能夠給出一些答案，德羅哥之子佛羅多。但不是在此時此地。不過，為免你仍然認為我的故事是個幻象，我要告訴你這件事。波羅莫的號角至少是真實地回來了，而不是看似如此。號角回來了，但它被劈成了兩半，彷彿是被斧頭或劍砍的。碎片分別漂到了岸邊：一塊在剛鐸守望者駐紮的蘆葦叢中被發現，在恩特沃許河口以北；另一塊則被一個在水上有差事的人發現，在洪水中打轉。奇特的巧合，但俗話說，謀殺終將敗露。
668 THE LORD OF THE RINGS ‘And now the horn of the elder son lies in two pieces upon the lap of Denethor, sitting in his high chair, waiting for news. And you can tell me nothing of the cleaving of the horn?’ ‘No, I did not know of it,’ said Frodo. ‘But the day when you heard it blowing, if your reckoning is true, was the day when we parted, when I and my servant left the Company. And now your tale fills me with dread. For if Boromir was then in peril and was slain, I must fear that all my companions perished too. And they were my kindred and my friends. ‘Will you not put aside your doubt of me and let me go? I am weary, and full of grief, and afraid. But I have a deed to do, or to attempt, before I too am slain. And the more need of haste, if we two halflings are all that remain of our fellowship. ‘Go back, Faramir, valiant Captain of Gondor, and defend your city while you may, and let me go where my doom takes me.’ ‘For me there is no comfort in our speech together,’ said Faramir; ‘but you surely draw from it more dread than need be. Unless the people of Lorien themselves came to him, who arrayed Boromir as for a funeral? Not Orcs or servants of the Nameless. Some of your Company, I guess, live still. ‘But whatever befell on the North March, you, Frodo, I doubt no longer. If hard days have made me any judge of Men’s words and faces, then I may make a guess at Halflings! Though,’ and now he smiled, ‘there is something strange about you, Frodo, an Elvish air, maybe. But more lies upon our words together than I thought at first. I should now take you back to Minas Tirith to answer there to Denethor, and my life will justly be forfeit, if I now choose a course that proves ill for my city. So I will not decide in haste what is to be done. Yet we must move hence without more delay.’ He sprang to his feet and issued some orders. At once the men who were gathered round him broke up into small groups, and went off this way and that, vanishing quickly into the shadows of the rocks and trees. Soon only Mablung and Damrod remained. ‘Now you, Frodo and Samwise, will come with me and my guards,’ said Faramir. ‘You cannot go along the road southwards, if that was your purpose. It will be unsafe for some days, and always more closely watched after this affray than it has been yet. And you cannot, I think, go far today in any case, for you are weary. And so are we. We are going now to a secret place we have, somewhat less than ten miles from here. The Orcs and spies of the Enemy have not found it yet, and if they did, we could hold it long even against many. There we may lie up and rest for a while, and you with us. In the morning I will decide what is best for me to do, and for you.’
「『如今，長子的號角碎成了兩半，就放在迪耐瑟的膝上，他坐在高高的椅子裡，等待著消息。而你對號角碎裂之事卻一無所知嗎？』」「『不，我不知道這件事，』佛羅多說。『但如果你計算的日子沒錯，你聽到號角聲響起的那天，正是我們分道揚鑣的日子，那時我和我的僕人離開了遠征隊。現在你的故事讓我充滿了恐懼。因為如果波羅莫當時身陷險境並被殺害，我恐怕我所有的同伴也都犧牲了。他們是我的親族和朋友。』『你能不能拋開對我的懷疑，讓我走？我疲憊不堪，充滿悲傷和恐懼。但在我也被殺害之前，我還有一件必須去做，或去嘗試的事。如果我們兩個半身人是遠征隊僅存的成員，那就更需要加快腳步了。』『回去吧，法拉墨，剛鐸英勇的將領，趁你還能保衛你的城市時回去吧，讓我去我宿命引領之處。』」「『我們的對話對我而言沒有任何安慰，』法拉墨說；『但你從中感受到的恐懼肯定超出了應有的程度。除非是羅瑞安的子民親自來到他身邊，否則有誰會像為葬禮般為波羅莫佈置呢？不會是半獸人或無名者的僕人。我猜，你的遠征隊中還有人活著。』『但無論在北方邊境發生了什麼，佛羅多，我不再懷疑你了。如果艱難的歲月讓我能對人類的言辭和面容做出任何判斷，那麼我想我對半身人也能猜個八九不離十！不過，』這時他微笑了，『佛羅多，你身上有種奇特之處，或許是一種精靈般的氣質。但我們這番對話所承載的，比我起初想的要多。我現在本應帶你回米那斯提力斯，去那裡向迪耐瑟交代，而如果我現在選擇的道路最終證明對我的城市有害，我將理所當然地賠上性命。所以我不會倉促決定該怎麼做。然而，我們必須立即從此地動身，不容再有延誤。』他一躍而起，下達了一些命令。立刻，聚集在他周圍的人分成幾個小組，朝四面八方散去，迅速消失在岩石和樹木的陰影中。很快，只剩下馬伯龍和丹路。『現在，佛羅多和山姆懷斯，你們要和我的衛兵一起跟我來，』法拉墨說。『你們不能沿著南邊的路走，如果那是你們的打算。那條路在未來幾天都不安全，而且經過這次衝突後，監視會比以往任何時候都更加嚴密。而且，我想無論如何你們今天也走不了多遠，因為你們太累了。我們也是。我們現在要去我們的一個秘密地點，離這裡不到十英里。半獸人和敵人的間諜還沒找到那裡，就算他們找到了，即使面對眾多敵人，我們也能堅守很久。我們可以在那裡躲藏休息一會兒，你們也和我們一起。到了早上，我會決定什麼對我、對你們是最好的做法。』
THE WINDOW ON THE WEST 669 There was nothing for Frodo to do but to fall in with this request, or order. It seemed in any case a wise course for the moment, since this foray of the men of Gondor had made a journey in Ithilien more dangerous than ever. They set out at once: Mablung and Damrod a little ahead, and Faramir with Frodo and Sam behind. Skirting the hither side of the pool where the hobbits had bathed, they crossed the stream, climbed a long bank, and passed into green-shadowed woodlands that marched ever downwards and westwards. While they walked, as swiftly as the hobbits could go, they talked in hushed voices. ‘I broke off our speech together,’ said Faramir, ‘not only because time pressed, as Master Samwise had reminded me, but also because we were drawing near to matters that were better not debated openly before many men. It was for that reason that I turned rather to the matter of my brother and let be Jsz/dur’s Bane. You were not wholly frank with me, Frodo.’ ‘I told no lies, and of the truth all I could,’ said Frodo. ‘I do not blame you,’ said Faramir. ‘You spoke with skill in a hard place, and wisely, it seemed to me. But I learned or guessed more from you than your words said. You were not friendly with Boromir, or you did not part in friendship. You, and Master Samwise, too, I guess have some grievance. Now I loved him dearly, and would gladly avenge his death, yet I knew him well. Isi/dur’s Bane — I would hazard that Isildur’s Bane lay between you and was a cause of contention in your Company. Clearly it is a mighty heirloom of some sort, and such things do not breed peace among confederates, not if aught may be learned from ancient tales. Do I not hit near the mark?’ ‘Near,’ said Frodo, ‘but not in the gold. There was no contention in our Company, though there was doubt: doubt which way we should take from the Emyn Muil. But be that as it may, ancient tales teach us also the peril of rash words concerning such things as — heirlooms.’ ‘Ah, then it is as I thought: your trouble was with Boromir alone. He wished this thing brought to Minas Tirith. Alas! it is a crooked fate that seals your lips who saw him last, and holds from me that which I long to know: what was in his heart and thought in his latest hours. Whether he erred or no, of this I am sure: he died well, achieving some good thing. His face was more beautiful even than in life. ‘But, Frodo, I pressed you hard at first about Isi/dur’s Bane. Forgive me! It was unwise in such an hour and place. I had not had time for thought. We had had a hard fight, and there was more than enough to fill my mind. But even as I spoke with you, I drew nearer to the mark, and so deliberately shot wider. For you must know that much
佛羅多除了遵從這個請求，或者說是命令之外，別無選擇。無論如何，這在當下似乎是明智之舉，因為剛鐸部隊的這次突襲，已經讓伊西力安的旅程變得比以往任何時候都更加危險。他們立刻出發：馬伯龍和丹路走在稍前，法拉墨則與佛羅多和山姆跟在後面。他們繞過哈比人先前沐浴的水池近側，越過溪流，爬上一道長長的河岸，進入一片綠蔭籠罩、一路朝下往西延伸的林地。他們盡哈比人所能地快步走著，同時低聲交談。「我打斷了我們的談話，」法拉墨說，「不僅是因為時間緊迫，如山姆衛斯大師提醒我的那樣，也因為我們即將談及的內容，最好不要在眾人面前公開辯論。正是為此，我才轉而談論我兄長的事，而暫且擱下埃西鐸的剋星。佛羅多，你對我並非全然坦誠。」「我沒有說謊，且已盡我所能說出實情。」佛羅多說。「我並非責怪你，」法拉墨說。「你在困境中應對得體，在我看來，也相當明智。但我從你身上察覺或猜測到的，比你的話語所透露的更多。你和波羅莫的關係並不友好，或者說你們分別時並不愉快。我猜你，還有山姆衛斯大師，都對他有些不滿。如今，我深愛他，也樂意為他的死復仇，但我很了解他。埃西鐸的剋星——我斗膽猜測，埃西鐸的剋星橫在你們之間，是你們遠征隊爭執的起因。顯然，它是某種強大的傳家之寶，而這類東西並不會在盟友間帶來和平，倘若古老傳說有任何可鑑之處。我說得八九不離十了吧？」「差不多，」佛羅多說，「但沒正中紅心。我們的遠征隊裡沒有爭執，雖然曾有疑慮：不知該從艾明莫爾走哪條路。但儘管如此，古老傳說也教導我們，對傳家之寶這類事物輕率發言是相當危險的。」「啊，那麼就如我所想：你的問題只在於波羅莫。他希望把這東西帶到米那斯提力斯。唉！是乖舛的命運封住了你這位最後見到他的人的嘴，讓我無法得知我渴望知曉的事：在他最後的時刻，他心中所思所想為何。無論他是否犯錯，這點我能肯定：他死得其所，成就了某些善舉。他的容顏甚至比生前更加俊美。「但是，佛羅多，我起初對埃西鐸的剋星逼問得太緊。請原諒我！在那個時刻和地點，那樣做是不明智的。我沒有時間思考。我們剛經歷一場艱苦的戰鬥，腦子裡已經裝了太多事。但就在與你交談時，我已越來越接近真相，因此才故意射偏。因為你必須知道，很多事……
670 THE LORD OF THE RINGS is still preserved of ancient lore among the Rulers of the city that is not spread abroad. We of my house are not of the line of Elendil, though the blood of Numenor is in us. For we reckon back our line to Mardil, the good steward, who ruled in the king’s stead when he went away to war. And that was King Earnur, last of the line of Anarion, and childless, and he came never back. And the stewards have governed the city since that day, though it was many generations of Men ago. ‘And this I remember of Boromir as a boy, when we together learned the tale of our sires and the history of our city, that always it displeased him that his father was not king. ‘How many hundreds of years needs it to make a steward a king, if the king returns not?”’ he asked. ‘“‘Few years, maybe, in other places of less royalty,”” my father answered. ‘‘In Gondor ten thousand years would not suffice.” Alas! poor Boromir. Does that not tell you something of him?’ ‘It does,’ said Frodo. ‘Yet always he treated Aragorn with honour.’ ‘I doubt it not,’ said Faramir. ‘If he were satisfied of Aragorn’s claim, as you say, he would greatly reverence him. But the pinch had not yet come. They had not yet reached Minas Tirith or become rivals in her wars. ‘But I stray. We in the house of Denethor know much ancient lore by long tradition, and there are moreover in our treasuries many things preserved: books and tablets writ on withered parchments, yea, and on stone, and on leaves of silver and of gold, in divers characters. Some none can now read; and for the rest, few ever unlock them. I can read a little in them, for I have had teaching. It was these records that brought the Grey Pilgrim to us. I first saw him when I was a child, and he has been twice or thrice since then.’ “The Grey Pilgrim?’ said Frodo. ‘Had he a name?’ ‘Mithrandir we called him in elf-fashion,’ said Faramir, ‘and he was content. Many are my names in many countries, he said. Mithrandir among the Elves, Tharkiin to the Dwarves; Olorin I was in my youth in the West that 1s forgotten, in the South Incanus, in the North Gandalf; to the East I go not.’ ‘Gandalf!’ said Frodo. ‘I thought it was he. Gandalf the Grey, dearest of counsellors. Leader of our Company. He was lost in Moria.’ ‘Mithrandir was lost!’ said Faramir. ‘An evil fate seems to have pursued your fellowship. It is hard indeed to believe that one of so great wisdom, and of power — for many wonderful things he did among us — could perish, and so much lore be taken from the world. Are you sure of this, and that he did not just leave you and depart where he would?’ ‘Alas! yes,’ said Frodo. ‘I saw him fall into the abyss.’
「在城裡的統治者之間，仍保存著許多未曾向外流傳的古老知識。我們家族並非埃蘭迪爾的後代，儘管我們身上流著努曼諾爾的血液。因為我們的血脈可追溯至善良的宰相馬迪爾，當國王出征作戰時，他代為治理國家。那位國王是亞那瑞安的最後一脈，名叫恩努爾，他沒有子嗣，且一去不返。從那天起，雖然已過了人類的好幾代，宰相們便一直治理著這座城市。『我還記得波羅莫小時候的事，當我們一起學習祖先的故事和我們城市的歷史時，他總是不滿意自己的父親不是國王。「如果國王不回來，需要幾百年才能讓一個宰相變成國王呢？」』他問道。『「在其他王權較弱的地方，或許幾年就夠了，」』我父親回答。『「在剛鐸，一萬年也不足以成事。」唉！可憐的波羅莫。這難道沒有讓你想起他的一些特質嗎？』」「確實如此，」佛羅多說。「但他對待亞拉岡時總是畢恭畢敬。」「我不懷疑，」法拉墨說。「如果你說的沒錯，他若確信了亞拉岡的繼承權，他會非常敬重他。但考驗的時刻還沒到來。他們還沒抵達米那斯提力斯，也還沒在戰爭中成為對手。『但我離題了。我們迪耐瑟家族透過長久的傳統，知曉許多古老的知識，此外，我們的寶庫裡也保存了許多東西：寫在枯萎羊皮紙上的書冊和石板，是的，還有寫在金葉銀葉上的，用了各種不同的文字。有些現在已無人能讀；至於其他的，也極少有人去解讀它們。我能讀懂一些，因為我受過教導。正是這些記載，將灰袍聖徒引到了我們這裡。我第一次見到他時還是個孩子，那之後他又來過兩三次。」「灰袍聖徒？」佛羅多說。「他有名字嗎？」「我們以精靈的方式稱他為米斯蘭迪爾，」法拉墨說，「他也很滿意。他說，我在許多國家有許多名字。精靈稱我為米斯蘭迪爾，矮人稱我為薩爾昆；在我那已被遺忘的西方年少時，我叫歐絡因，在南方是印卡努斯，在北方是甘道夫；至於東方，我從不去。」「甘道夫！」佛羅多說。「我就知道是他。灰袍甘道夫，最親愛的顧問。我們遠征隊的領袖。他在摩瑞亞失蹤了。」「米斯蘭迪爾失蹤了！」法拉墨說。「一個邪惡的命運似乎一直跟隨著你們的隊伍。實在很難相信，一個如此有智慧、有力量的人——他在我們這裡行過許多奇事——竟會殞落，讓這麼多知識從世上消失。你確定此事嗎？他不是只是離開你們，去了他想去的地方？」「唉！是的，」佛羅多說。「我親眼看見他墜入深淵。」
THE WINDOW ON THE WEST 671 ‘I see that there is some great tale of dread in this,’ said Faramir, ‘which perhaps you may tell me in the evening-time. This Mithrandir was, I now guess, more than a lore-master: a great mover of the deeds that are done in our time. Had he been among us to consult concerning the hard words of our dream, he could have made them clear to us without need of messenger. Yet, maybe, he would not have done so, and the journey of Boromir was doomed. Mithrandir never spoke to us of what was to be, nor did he reveal his purposes. He got leave of Denethor, how I do not know, to look at the secrets of our treasury, and I learned a little of him, when he would teach (and that was seldom). Ever he would search and would question us above all else concerning the Great Battle that was fought upon Dagorlad in the beginning of Gondor, when He whom we do not name was overthrown. And he was eager for stories of Isildur, though of him we had less to tell; for nothing certain was ever known among us of his end.’ Now Faramir’s voice sank to a whisper. ‘But this much I learned, or guessed, and I have kept it ever secret in my heart since: that Isildur took somewhat from the hand of the Unnamed, ere he went away from Gondor, never to be seen among mortal men again. Here I thought was the answer to Mithrandir’s questioning. But it seemed then a matter that concerned only the seekers after ancient learning. Nor when the riddling words of our dream were debated among us, did I think of Isi/dur’s Bane as being this same thing. For Isildur was ambushed and slain by orc-arrows, according to the only legend that we knew, and Mithrandir had never told me more. ‘What in truth this Thing is I cannot yet guess; but some heirloom of power and peril it must be. A fell weapon, perchance, devised by the Dark Lord. If it were a thing that gave advantage in battle, I can well believe that Boromir, the proud and fearless, often rash, ever anxious for the victory of Minas Tirith (and his own glory therein), might desire such a thing and be allured by it. Alas that ever he went on that errand! I should have been chosen by my father and the elders, but he put himself forward, as being the older and the hardier (both true), and he would not be stayed. ‘But fear no more! I would not take this thing, if it lay by the highway. Not were Minas Tirith falling in ruin and I alone could save her, so, using the weapon of the Dark Lord for her good and my glory. No, I do not wish for such triumphs, Frodo son of Drogo.’ ‘Neither did the Council,’ said Frodo. ‘Nor do I. I would have nothing to do with such matters.’ ‘For myself,’ said Faramir, ‘I would see the White Tree in flower again in the courts of the kings, and the Silver Crown return, and Minas Tirith in peace: Minas Anor again as of old, full of light, high
「我看出來，這當中藏著一個可怕的偉大故事，」法拉墨說，「或許晚上你有空時可以告訴我。我現在猜想，這位米斯蘭達不僅僅是一位知識大師：他更是我們這個時代偉大行動的幕後推手。要是他當時在我們當中，為我們夢中難解的話語提供諮詢，他本可以為我們解惑，無需再派信使。不過，或許他並不會這麼做，而波羅莫的旅程注定如此。米斯蘭達從未對我們說起將要發生的事，也從未透露他的目的。我不知道他是如何得到迪耐瑟的准許，得以檢視我們寶庫中的秘密。當他願意教導時（那種時候很少），我從他那裡學到了一點東西。他總是不斷地探尋，並且最常問我們的，就是關於剛鐸初始之時，在達哥拉平原上那場偉大戰役，當時那位我們不直呼其名者被推翻了。他對埃西鐸的故事也極感興趣，儘管關於他的事我們所知甚少；因為關於他的結局，我們從未有任何確切的記載。」 法拉墨的聲音此時降為低語。「但我得知了這麼多，或說猜到了，並且從那時起就一直將此秘密深藏心底：埃西鐸在離開剛鐸，從此再未現身於凡人之中前，曾從那位無名者的手中拿走了一樣東西。我當時認為這就是米斯蘭達提問的答案。但那時看來，這似乎只是追尋古老學識者才關心的事。當我們討論夢中謎樣的話語時，我也沒想到埃西鐸的剋星就是同一件東西。因為根據我們所知的唯一傳說，埃西鐸是中了半獸人的箭，被伏擊殺害的，而米斯蘭達從未告訴我更多。 「這東西究竟是什麼，我還猜不出來；但它必定是某件充滿力量與危險的傳家之寶。或許是黑暗魔君設計的一件兇猛武器。如果它是能在戰鬥中帶來優勢的東西，我完全相信波羅莫——那個驕傲無畏、時常魯莽、永遠渴望米那斯提力斯（以及他個人在其中）的勝利的人——可能會渴望這樣東西並被它誘惑。唉，他真不該踏上那趟差事！我本該被我父親和長老們選中，但他卻自告奮勇，理由是他年長且更強壯（這兩點都是真的），而且他決意要去，誰也攔不住。 「但別再害怕了！我不會拿這東西，就算它就躺在大路邊。就算米那斯提力斯即將傾頹，而唯有我能拯救她，藉由使用黑暗魔君的武器來為她謀利並為我增光，我也不會。不，我不渴望那樣的勝利，德羅哥之子佛羅多。」 「議會也不希望，」佛羅多說。「我也不。我不想跟這類事情有任何瓜葛。」 「至於我自己，」法拉墨說，「我希望能再見到白樹在諸王的庭院中開花，銀冠重歸，米那斯提力斯重返和平：再度成為古時的米那斯雅諾，充滿光明，巍峨高聳。」
672 THE LORD OF THE RINGS and fair, beautiful as a queen among other queens: not a mistress of many slaves, nay, not even a kind mistress of willing slaves. War must be, while we defend our lives against a destroyer who would devour all; but I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend: the city of the Men of Numenor; and I would have her loved for her memory, her ancientry, her beauty, and her present wisdom. Not feared, save as men may fear the dignity of a man, old and wise. ‘So fear me not! I do not ask you to tell me more. I do not even ask you to tell me whether I now speak nearer the mark. But if you will trust me, it may be that I can advise you in your present quest, whatever that be — yes, and even aid you.’ Frodo made no answer. Almost he yielded to the desire for help and counsel, to tell this grave young man, whose words seemed so wise and fair, all that was in his mind. But something held him back. His heart was heavy with fear and sorrow: if he and Sam were indeed, as seemed likely, all that was now left of the Nine Walkers, then he was in sole command of the secret of their errand. Better mistrust undeserved than rash words. And the memory of Boromir, of the dreadful change that the lure of the Ring had worked in him, was very present to his mind, when he looked at Faramir and listened to his voice: unlike they were, and yet also much akin. They walked on in silence for a while, passing like grey and green shadows under the old trees, their feet making no sound; above them many birds sang, and the sun glistened on the polished roof of dark leaves in the evergreen woods of Ithilien. Sam had taken no part in the conversation, though he had listened; and at the same time he had attended with his keen hobbit ears to all the soft woodland noises about them. One thing he had noted, that in all the talk the name of Gollum had not once come up. He was glad, though he felt that it was too much to hope that he would never hear it again. He soon became aware also that though they walked alone, there were many men close at hand: not only Damrod and Mablung flitting in and out of the shadows ahead, but others on either side, all making their swift secret way to some appointed place. Once, looking suddenly back, as if some prickle of the skin told him that he was watched from behind, he thought he caught a brief glimpse of a small dark shape slipping behind a tree-trunk. He opened his mouth to speak and shut it again. ‘I’m not sure of it,’ he said to himself, ‘and why should I remind them of the old villain, if they choose to forget him? I wish I could!’ eS BS
「而且美麗、公允，宛如眾后之女王：不是擁有許多奴隸的女主人，不，甚至不是情願為奴者們的和善女主人。當我們為了保衛生命，抵抗那意圖吞噬一切的毀滅者時，戰爭是不得已的；但我之所以愛那光亮的劍，不是因為它的鋒利；愛那飛馳的箭，不是因為它的迅速；愛那英勇的戰士，不是因為他的榮耀。我只愛他們所保衛的：努曼諾爾人的城市；我願她因其記憶、其古老、其美麗及當前的智慧而受人愛戴。不應被人畏懼，除非是像人們敬畏一位年長而睿智之人的那種敬畏。『所以別怕我！我不是要你告訴我更多。我甚至不是要你告訴我，我現在說的是否更接近事實了。但如果你願意信任我，或許我能在你當前的任務上給你建議，無論那是什麼——是的，甚至能助你一臂之力。』佛羅多沒有回答。他幾乎就要屈服於尋求幫助與建議的渴望，想把心中一切都告訴這位言辭如此睿智公允、神情嚴肅的年輕人。但有某種東西阻止了他。他的心因恐懼和悲傷而沉重：如果他和山姆果真如看來那樣，是九人遠征隊僅存的成員，那麼他便是這趟秘密任務的唯一主導者。寧可錯怪好人，也不可輕率發言。而且，波羅莫的記憶，魔戒的誘惑在他身上造成的駭人變化，當他看著法拉墨、聽著他的聲音時，都清晰地浮現在他腦海中：他們二人雖不相像，卻又如此相似。他們在沉默中繼續前行，像灰色與綠色的影子般穿梭在老樹下，腳步無聲；頭頂上眾鳥歌唱，陽光在伊西力安常綠森林那油亮的深色葉頂上閃爍。山姆雖然一直聽著，卻沒有參與對話；同時，他用他那敏銳的哈比人耳朵，留意著周遭所有輕柔的林地聲響。他注意到一件事，在所有談話中，咕嚕的名字一次也沒被提起。他對此感到高興，雖然他覺得要期望永遠不再聽到這個名字是奢求了。他很快也意識到，雖然他們獨自行走，但附近其實有很多人：不僅丹姆羅德和馬伯龍在前方陰影中時隱時現，兩側也有其他人，都在朝某個指定地點迅速而秘密地前進。有一次，他突然回頭，彷彿皮膚一陣刺癢告訴他背後有人窺視，他覺得自己瞥見一個矮小黑影閃入一棵樹幹後。他張開嘴想說話，又閉上了。『我不太確定，』他對自己說，『如果他們選擇忘掉那老壞蛋，我幹嘛提醒他們？我倒希望我能忘掉！』
THE WINDOW ON THE WEST 673 So they passed on, until the woodlands grew thinner and the land began to fall more steeply. Then they turned aside again, to the right, and came quickly to a small river in a narrow gorge: it was the same stream that trickled far above out of the round pool, now grown to a swift torrent, leaping down over many stones in a deep-cloven bed, overhung with ilex and dark box-woods. Looking west they could see, below them in a haze of light, lowlands and broad meads, and glinting far off in the westering sun the wide waters of the Anduin. ‘Here, alas! I must do you a discourtesy,’ said Faramir. ‘I hope you will pardon it to one who has so far made his orders give way to courtesy as not to slay you or to bind you. But it is a command that no stranger, not even one of Rohan that fights with us, shall see the path we now go with open eyes. I must blindfold you.’ ‘As you will,’ said Frodo. ‘Even the Elves do likewise at need, and blindfolded we crossed the borders of fair Lothlorien. Gimli the dwarf took it ill, but the hobbits endured it.’ ‘It is to no place so fair that I shall lead you,’ said Faramir. ‘But I am glad that you will take this willingly and not by force.’ He called softly and immediately Mablung and Damrod stepped out of the trees and came back to him. ‘Blindfold these guests,’ said Faramir. ‘Securely, but not so as to discomfort them. Do not tie their hands. They will give their word not to try and see. I could trust them to shut their eyes of their own accord, but eyes will blink, if the feet stumble. Lead them so that they do not falter.’ With green scarves the two guards now bound up the hobbits’ eyes, and drew their hoods down almost to their mouths; then quickly they took each one by the hand and went on their way. All that Frodo and Sam knew of this last mile of the road they learned from guessing in the dark. After a little they found that they were on a path descending steeply; soon it grew so narrow that they went in single file, brushing a stony wall on either side; their guards steered them from behind with hands laid firmly on their shoulders. Now and again they came to rough places and were lifted from their feet for a while, and then set down again. Always the noise of the running water was on their right hand, and it grew nearer and louder. At length they were halted. Quickly Mablung and Damrod turned them about, several times, and they lost all sense of direction. They climbed upwards a little: it seemed cold and the noise of the stream had become faint. Then they were picked up and carried down, down many steps, and round a corner. Suddenly they heard the water again, loud now, rushing and splashing. All round them it seemed, and they felt a fine rain on their hands and cheeks. At last they were set on their feet once more. For a moment they stood so, half fearful, blindfold, not knowing where they were; and no one spoke.
他們就這樣繼續前行，直到林地變得稀疏，地勢也開始更加陡峭。然後他們再次轉向右邊，很快來到一條位於狹窄峽谷中的小河旁：這正是遠在上方從圓形水池中涓涓流出的那條溪流，如今已匯成一條湍急的洪流，在深裂的河床上躍過無數石頭奔騰而下，河岸上懸垂著冬青櫟和深色的黃楊木。他們向西望去，可以看到下方一片朦朧的光線中，是低地和寬闊的草地，而在遠方西沉的陽光下，安都因的寬闊水面閃閃發光。「唉，真遺憾！我必須在此對您們失禮了。」法拉墨說。「我希望您們能原諒一個至今為止都讓禮貌凌駕於命令之上，而沒有殺害或綑綁您們的人。但這是一道命令，任何陌生人，即使是與我們並肩作戰的羅翰人，都不得睜著眼睛看到我們現在要走的路。我必須蒙上您們的眼睛。」「悉聽尊便。」佛羅多說。「即使是精靈，在需要時也會這麼做，我們當初就是被蒙著眼才得以穿越美麗的羅斯洛立安的邊界。矮人金靂對此很不高興，但我們哈比人忍受了。」「我要帶您們去的地方可沒有那麼美麗。」法拉墨說。「但我很高興您們是自願接受，而非出於被迫。」他輕聲呼喚，馬伯龍和丹羅立刻從樹林中走出，回到他身邊。「蒙上這兩位客人的眼睛。」法拉墨說。「要蒙得牢固，但不要讓他們感到不適。不要綁他們的手。他們會承諾不會試圖偷看。我本可以相信他們會自己閉上眼睛，但腳步一絆，眼睛總會眨開。引導他們，別讓他們踉蹌。」兩名衛兵用綠色圍巾蒙住哈比人們的眼睛，並將他們的兜帽拉下，幾乎蓋到嘴邊；然後他們迅速地一人牽起一隻手，繼續前行。對於這最後一英里的路，佛羅多和山姆所知的一切，都是在黑暗中猜測得來的。過了一會兒，他們發現自己正走在一條陡峭下行的路上；很快，路變得非常狹窄，他們只能排成單列前行，身體摩擦著兩側的石壁；衛兵們從身後用手穩穩地搭在他們肩上，引導著方向。他們不時會遇到崎嶇難行之處，被人抱起一會兒，然後再被放下。奔流的水聲始終在他們的右側，而且越來越近、越來越響。終於，他們被叫停了。馬伯龍和丹羅迅速地將他們轉了好幾圈，讓他們完全失去了方向感。他們向上爬了一小段路：感覺有點冷，溪流的聲音也變得微弱了。然後他們被抱起，向下走了許多階梯，再轉過一個彎。突然間，他們又聽到了水聲，這次聲音很大，是奔騰和飛濺的聲音。水聲似乎環繞著他們，他們感覺到細雨灑落在手上和臉頰上。最後，他們再次被放回地面，雙腳站穩。他們就那樣站了一會兒，半是恐懼，蒙著眼睛，不知道自己身在何處；沒有人說話。
674 THE LORD OF THE RINGS Then came the voice of Faramir close behind. ‘Let them see!’ he said. The scarves were removed and their hoods drawn back, and they blinked and gasped. They stood on a wet floor of polished stone, the doorstep, as it were, of a rough-hewn gate of rock opening dark behind them. But in front a thin veil of water was hung, so near that Frodo could have put an outstretched arm into it. It faced westward. The level shafts of the setting sun behind beat upon it, and the red light was broken into many flickering beams of ever-changing colour. It was as if they stood at the window of some elven-tower, curtained with threaded jewels of silver and gold, and ruby, sapphire and amethyst, all kindled with an unconsuming fire. ‘At least by good chance we came at the right hour to reward you for your patience,’ said Faramir. “This is the Window of the Sunset, Henneth Annan, fairest of all the falls of Ithilien, land of many fountains. Few strangers have ever seen it. But there is no kingly hall behind to match it. Enter now and see!’ Even as he spoke the sun sank, and the fire faded in the flowing water. They turned and passed under the low forbidding arch. At once they found themselves in a rock-chamber, wide and rough, with an uneven stooping roof. A few torches were kindled and cast a dim light on the glistening walls. Many men were already there. Others were still coming in by twos and threes through a dark narrow door on one side. As their eyes grew accustomed to the gloom the hobbits saw that the cave was larger than they had guessed and was filled with great store of arms and victuals. ‘Well, here is our refuge,’ said Faramir. ‘Not a place of great ease, but here you may pass the night in peace. It is dry at least, and there is food, though no fire. At one time the water flowed down through this cave and out of the arch, but its course was changed further up the gorge, by workmen of old, and the stream sent down in a fall of doubled height over the rocks far above. All the ways into this grot were then sealed against the entry of water or aught else, all save one. There are now but two ways out: that passage yonder by which you entered blindfold, and through the Window-curtain into a deep bowl filled with knives of stone. Now rest a while, until the evening meal is set.’ The hobbits were taken to a corner and given a low bed to lie on, if they wished. Meanwhile men busied themselves about the cave, quietly and in orderly quickness. Light tables were taken from the walls and set up on trestles and laden with gear. This was plain and unadorned for the most part, but all well and fairly made: round
這時，法拉墨的聲音從他們身後傳來。「讓他們看吧！」他說。蒙眼布被取下，兜帽被拉開，他們眨著眼，倒抽了一口氣。他們站在一塊濕滑的拋光石板地上，那地方可說是身後一座幽暗的、由粗鑿岩石構成的門戶的門階。但在他們面前，掛著一道薄薄的水幕，近得佛羅多只要伸出手臂就能觸及。水幕朝西。身後，落日的平射光束打在上面，紅光被分解成無數閃爍、色彩變幻的光線。他們彷彿站在某座精靈高塔的窗前，窗上掛著由金、銀、紅寶石、藍寶石和紫水晶串成的珠簾，全都被不滅的火焰點燃。「至少我們運氣不錯，在對的時刻抵達，足以回報你們的耐心。」法拉墨說。「這就是日落之窗，Henneth Annûn，伊西力安眾多瀑布中最美的一座。這片土地泉水豐沛。很少有外人見過此景。但後面並沒有與之匹配的王者殿堂。現在進來看看吧！」他話音剛落，太陽便沉了下去，流動的水中，火焰也隨之熄滅。他們轉身，穿過低矮而令人望而生畏的拱門。他們立刻發現自己身處一個寬敞而粗糙的岩室中，頂部凹凸不平，使人得彎著腰。幾支火把被點燃，在閃閃發亮的牆壁上投下昏暗的光。許多人已經在裡面了。還有人正三三兩兩地從一側一個狹窄的暗門走進來。當他們的眼睛逐漸習慣了黑暗，哈比人發現這個洞穴比他們想像的要大，裡面儲存了大量的武器和糧食。「嗯，這就是我們的避難所了。」法拉墨說。「這地方稱不上舒適，但你們可以在此安然過夜。至少這裡很乾燥，也有食物，只是沒有火。曾經有段時間，水流會穿過這個洞穴，從拱門流出，但古時的工匠在上游的峽谷改變了它的流向，讓溪水從遠高於此的岩石上落下，形成一道高度加倍的瀑布。此後，所有通往這個洞穴的途徑都被封閉，以防水或任何其他東西進入，只留下一個入口。現在只有兩條出路：一條是你們剛才蒙著眼進來的那條通道，另一條則是穿過窗簾般的瀑布，進入一個滿是尖石的深潭。現在先休息一會兒，等晚餐準備好。」哈比人被帶到一個角落，如果他們願意，可以躺在一張矮床上。與此同時，人們在洞穴裡忙碌起來，安靜而迅速有序。他們從牆邊取下輕便的桌子，架在支架上，並擺滿了用具。這些東西大多樸實無華，但全都製作精良、工藝不凡：圓形的
THE WINDOW ON THE WEST 675 platters, bowls and dishes of glazed brown clay or turned box-wood, smooth and clean. Here and there was a cup or basin of polished bronze; and a goblet of plain silver was set by the Captain’s seat in the middle of the inmost table. Faramir went about among the men, questioning each as he came in, in a soft voice. Some came back from the pursuit of the Southrons; others, left behind as scouts near the road, came in latest. All the Southrons had been accounted for, save only the great mOmak: what happened to him none could say. Of the enemy no movement could be seen; not even an orc-spy was abroad. “You saw and heard nothing, Anborn?’ Faramir asked of the latest comer. ‘Well, no, lord,’ said the man. ‘No Orc at least. But I saw, or thought I saw, something a little strange. It was getting deep dusk, when the eyes make things greater than they should be. So perhaps it may have been no more than a squirrel.” Sam pricked up his ears at this. ‘Yet if so, it was a black squirrel, and I saw no tail. "T'was like a shadow on the ground, and it whisked behind a tree-trunk when I drew nigh and went up aloft as swift as any squirrel could. You will not have us slay wild beasts for no purpose, and it seemed no more, so I tried no arrow. It was too dark for sure shooting anyway, and the creature was gone into the gloom of the leaves in a twinkling. But I stayed for a while, for it seemed strange, and then I hastened back. I thought I heard the thing hiss at me from high above as I turned away. A large squirrel, maybe. Perhaps under the shadow of the Unnamed some of the beasts of Mirkwood are wandering hither to our woods. They have black squirrels there, ’tis said.’ ‘Perhaps,’ said Faramir. ‘But that would be an ill omen, if it were so. We do not want the escapes of Mirkwood in Ithilien.’ Sam fancied that he gave a swift glance towards the hobbits as he spoke; but Sam said nothing. For a while he and Frodo lay back and watched the torchlight, and the men moving to and fro speaking in hushed voices. Then suddenly Frodo fell asleep. Sam struggled with himself, arguing this way and that. ‘He may be all right,’ he thought, ‘and then he may not. Fair speech may hide a foul heart.’ He yawned. ‘I could sleep for a week, and I’d be better for it. And what can I do, if I do keep awake, me all alone, and all these great Men about? Nothing, Sam Gamgee; but you’ve got to keep awake all the same.’ And somehow he managed it. The light faded from the cave door, and the grey veil of falling water grew dim and was lost in gathering shadow. Always the sound of the water went on, never changing its note, morning or evening or night. It murmured and whispered of sleep. Sam stuck his knuckles in his eyes. BS BS
西窗 675 ... 盤子、碗和碟子是用上了釉的棕色陶土或車削過的黃楊木製成，既光滑又乾淨。四處擺放著一些拋光的青銅杯或臉盆；在最裡面的桌子中央，隊長座位旁放著一個樸素的銀質高腳杯。法拉墨在眾人之間走動，用輕柔的聲音詢問每個進來的人。有些人是追擊南方人後回來的；另一些人是留在路邊擔任斥候的，最晚才進來。除了那頭巨大的猛獁，所有的南方人都已清點完畢；至於猛獁發生了什麼事，誰也說不準。敵方沒有任何動靜；就連一個半獸人探子也沒在外面活動。「你什麼都沒看到也沒聽到嗎，安伯恩？」法拉墨問最晚進來的那人。「嗯，沒有，大人，」那人說。「至少沒有半獸人。但我看到，或以為我看到了，一點奇怪的東西。那時天色漸深，眼睛會把東西看得比實際大。所以或許那不過是隻松鼠。」山姆聽到這裡，豎起了耳朵。「但就算是，那也是隻黑色的松鼠，而且我沒看到尾巴。『那』就像地上的影子，我一靠近，它就『咻』地一下躲到樹幹後，然後像松鼠一樣飛快地爬了上去。您不希望我們無故獵殺野獸，而它看起來也不像別的，所以我沒有射箭。反正天色太暗，也沒辦法瞄準，那生物一眨眼就消失在昏暗的樹葉中了。但我覺得很奇怪，所以待了一會兒，然後才趕回來。我轉身離開時，好像聽到那東西從高處對我發出嘶嘶聲。或許是隻大松鼠吧。也許在『那位無名者』的陰影下，一些幽暗密林的野獸正流浪到我們的森林裡來。據說那裡有黑松鼠。」「也許吧，」法拉墨說。「但如果真是這樣，那可不是好預兆。我們不希望幽暗密林的逃脫者出現在伊西力安。」山姆覺得法拉墨說話時，飛快地瞥了哈比人一眼；但山姆什麼也沒說。他跟佛羅多躺了一會兒，看著火炬的光芒，以及那些壓低聲音來回走動的人們。然後佛羅多突然睡著了。山姆內心掙扎，翻來覆去地想。「他或許人不錯，」他想，「也或許不是。動聽的言詞可能隱藏著險惡的用心。」他打了個呵欠。「我真能睡上一個星期，那樣我會好過點。就算我保持清醒，又能做什麼呢？我孤單一人，周圍全是這些高大的男人？什麼也做不了，山姆·詹吉；但你還是得保持清醒。」他總算設法做到了。洞口的光線漸漸消失，瀑布的灰色水幕也變得黯淡，隱沒在聚集的陰影中。水聲始終持續著，無論早晨、傍晚或黑夜，音調從未改變。它喃喃低語，催人入眠。山姆用指節揉了揉眼睛。
676 THE LORD OF THE RINGS Now more torches were being lit. A cask of wine was broached. Storage barrels were being opened. Men were fetching water from the fall. Some were laving their hands in basins. A wide copper bowl and a white cloth were brought to Faramir and he washed. ‘Wake our guests,’ he said, ‘and take them water. It is time to eat.’ Frodo sat up and yawned and stretched. Sam, not used to being waited on, looked with some surprise at the tall man who bowed, holding a basin of water before him. ‘Put it on the ground, master, if you please!’ he said. ‘Easier for me and you.’ Then to the astonishment and amusement of the Men he plunged his head into the cold water and splashed his neck and ears. ‘Is it the custom in your land to wash the head before supper?’ said the man who waited on the hobbits. ‘No, before breakfast,’ said Sam. ‘But if you’re short of sleep cold water on the neck’s like rain on a wilted lettuce. There! Now I can keep awake long enough to eat a bit.’ They were led then to seats beside Faramir: barrels covered with pelts and high enough above the benches of the Men for their convenience. Before they ate, Faramir and all his men turned and faced west in a moment of silence. Faramir signed to Frodo and Sam that they should do likewise. ‘So we always do,’ he said, as they sat down: ‘we look towards Numenor that was, and beyond to Elvenhome that is, and to that which is beyond Elvenhome and will ever be. Have you no such custom at meat?’ ‘No,’ said Frodo, feeling strangely rustic and untutored. ‘But if we are guests, we bow to our host, and after we have eaten we rise and thank him.’ “That we do also,’ said Faramir. After so long journeying and camping, and days spent in the lonely wild, the evening meal seemed a feast to the hobbits: to drink pale yellow wine, cool and fragrant, and eat bread and butter, and salted meats, and dried fruits, and good red cheese, with clean hands and clean knives and plates. Neither Frodo nor Sam refused anything that was offered, nor a second, nor indeed a third helping. The wine coursed in their veins and tired limbs, and they felt glad and easy of heart as they had not done since they left the land of Lorien. When all was done Faramir led them to a recess at the back of the cave, partly screened by curtains; and a chair and two stools were brought there. A little earthenware lamp burned in a niche. “You may soon desire to sleep,’ he said, ‘and especially good Samwise, who would not close his eyes before he ate — whether for fear
此時，更多的火把被點燃了。一桶酒被開啟，儲物桶也紛紛打開。人們從瀑布取來水，有些人正在盆裡洗手。一個寬大的銅盆和一塊白布被送到法拉墨面前，他洗了手。「喚醒我們的客人，」他說，「給他們送水去。該吃飯了。」佛羅多坐起來，打了個哈欠，伸了伸懶腰。山姆不習慣被人伺候，有些驚訝地看著那個高個子男人鞠著躬，在他面前端著一盆水。「先生，麻煩您放地上吧！」他說，「這樣我方便，您也方便。」接著，在眾人驚訝又覺得好笑的目光中，他把頭埋進冷水裡，往脖子和耳朵上潑水。「在你們那裡，晚飯前有洗頭的習俗嗎？」伺候哈比人的那個人問。「不，是早飯前，」山姆說。「不過要是你睡眠不足，往脖子上澆點冷水，就跟枯萎的萵苣淋了雨一樣。好了！現在我能清醒到吃點東西了。」接著他們被領到法拉墨身旁的座位上：那是幾個蓋著毛皮的木桶，高度正好比其他人的長凳高一些，方便他們坐。用餐前，法拉墨和他所有的人都轉身面向西方，靜默了片刻。法拉墨示意佛羅多和山姆也照做。「我們總是如此，」他們坐下後，他說：「我們望向昔日的努曼諾，望向彼方的精靈鄉，再望向精靈鄉之外那永恆的所在。你們用餐時沒有這樣的習俗嗎？」「沒有，」佛羅多說，感覺自己異常地鄉土且未受教化。「不過我們作客時，會向主人鞠躬，飯後會起立向他致謝。」「我們也這麼做。」法拉墨說。經過這麼長時間的旅途、露營和在孤寂荒野中度過的日子，這頓晚餐對哈比人來說簡直像一場盛宴：喝著清涼芬芳的淡黃色葡萄酒，吃著麵包和奶油、鹹肉、果乾，還有優質的紅乳酪，用的還是乾淨的手、乾淨的刀叉和盤子。無論端上什麼，佛羅多和山姆都沒有拒絕，也沒拒絕第二份，甚至第三份。酒液在他們疲憊的四肢與血管中奔流，他們感到心情愉快而輕鬆，這是自離開羅瑞安之後從未有過的感覺。一切結束後，法拉墨領他們到洞穴後方一個用簾子半遮的凹室；那裡搬來了一張椅子和兩張凳子。壁龕裡點著一盞小小的陶土燈。「你們可能很快就想睡了，」他說，「尤其是善良的山姆衛斯，他在吃東西前都不肯閉眼——也不知是出於害怕……
THE WINDOW ON THE WEST 677 of blunting the edge of a noble hunger, or for fear of me, I do not know. But it is not good to sleep too soon after meat, and that following a fast. Let us talk a while. On your journey from Rivendell there must have been many things to tell. And you, too, would perhaps wish to learn something of us and the lands where you now are. Tell me of Boromir my brother, and of old Mithrandir, and of the fair people of Lothlorien.’ Frodo no longer felt sleepy and he was willing to talk. But though the food and wine had put him at his ease, he had not lost all his caution. Sam was beaming and humming to himself, but when Frodo spoke he was at first content to listen, only occasionally venturing to make an exclamation of agreement. Frodo told many tales, yet always he steered the matter away from the quest of the Company and from the Ring, enlarging rather on the valiant part Boromir had played in all their adventures, with the wolves of the wild, in the snows under Caradhras, and in the mines of Moria where Gandalf fell. Faramir was most moved by the story of the fight on the bridge. ‘It must have irked Boromir to run from Orcs,’ he said, ‘or even from the fell thing you name, the Balrog — even though he was the last to leave.’ ‘He was the last,’ said Frodo, ‘but Aragorn was forced to lead us. He alone knew the way after Gandalf’s fall. But had there not been us lesser folk to care for, I do not think that either he or Boromir would have fled.’ ‘Maybe, it would have been better had Boromir fallen there with Mithrandir,’ said Faramir, ‘and not gone on to the fate that waited above the falls of Rauros.’ ‘Maybe. But tell me now of your own fortunes,’ said Frodo, turning the matter aside once again. ‘For I would learn more of Minas Ithil and Osgiliath, and Minas Tirith the long-enduring. What hope have you for that city in your long war?’ ‘What hope have we?’ said Faramir. ‘It is long since we had any hope. The sword of Elendil, if it returns indeed, may rekindle it, but I do not think that it will do more than put off the evil day, unless other help unlooked-for also comes, from Elves or Men. For the Enemy increases and we decrease. We are a failing people, a springless autumn. “The Men of Numenor were settled far and wide on the shores and seaward regions of the Great Lands, but for the most part they fell into evils and follies. Many became enamoured of the Darkness and the black arts; some were given over wholly to idleness and ease, and some fought among themselves, until they were conquered in their weakness by the wild men.
是為了不掃高貴飢餓感的興，還是怕我，我就不知道了。但剛吃完肉就睡覺總是不好，尤其是在禁食之後。我們聊一會兒吧。你們從瑞文戴爾來的旅途上，一定有很多事可說。而你，或許也想了解一些關於我們以及你們現在身處的這片土地的事。跟我說說我哥哥波羅莫的事，還有老邁的米斯蘭達，以及羅斯洛立安那些美麗的人們吧。」佛羅多不再感到睏倦，也願意談話。但雖然食物和酒讓他放鬆下來，他卻沒有完全失去戒心。山姆喜孜孜地自顧自哼著歌，但佛羅多說話時，他起初只是滿足地聽著，偶爾才冒險地發出表示同意的驚嘆聲。佛羅多說了許多故事，但他總是巧妙地將話題引離魔戒遠征隊的任務和魔戒本身，反而著重描述波羅莫在他們所有冒險中的英勇表現：在荒野中對抗惡狼，在卡蘭拉斯山下的雪地裡，以及在甘道夫殞落的摩瑞亞礦坑中。法拉墨對橋上那場戰鬥的故事最為動容。「從半獸人面前逃跑，想必讓波羅莫很惱火吧，」他說，「即使是面對你所說的那個兇惡之物——炎魔——也是一樣，儘管他是最後一個離開的。」「他是最後一個，」佛羅多說，「但亞拉岡被迫帶領我們。甘道夫殞落後，只有他認得路。但若不是有我們這些需要照顧的小人物，我想無論是他還是波羅莫都不會逃跑。」「或許，要是波羅莫當時和米斯蘭達一起殞落在那就好了，」法拉墨說，「而不是繼續走向在瑞洛斯瀑布上方等待他的命運。」「或許吧。但現在請告訴我你們自己的情況吧，」佛羅多再次轉移話題說。「因為我想多了解一些關於米那斯伊希爾、奧斯吉力亞斯，以及那座堅忍不拔的米那斯提力斯。在這場漫長的戰爭中，你們對那座城市抱持著什麼希望？」「我們有什麼希望？」法拉墨說。「我們已經很久沒有任何希望了。埃蘭迪爾之劍，如果它真的歸來，或許能重新點燃希望，但我不認為它能做的，僅僅是推遲那邪惡之日的到來，除非還有其他意想不到的援助，來自精靈或人類。因為敵人日益壯大，而我們日漸衰微。我們是一個正在衰敗的民族，一個沒有春天的秋天。『努曼諾爾人在大陸的海岸和沿海地區廣泛定居，但他們大多數都陷入了邪惡與愚行。許多人迷戀上黑暗與黑魔法；有些人完全沉溺於懶散安逸，還有些人則內鬥不休，直到他們在衰弱中被野人征服。
678 THE LORD OF THE RINGS ‘It is not said that evil arts were ever practised in Gondor, or that the Nameless One was ever named in honour there; and the old wisdom and beauty brought out of the West remained long in the realm of the sons of Elendil the Fair, and they linger there still. Yet even so it was Gondor that brought about its own decay, falling by degrees into dotage, and thinking that the Enemy was asleep, who was only banished not destroyed. ‘Death was ever present, because the Numenoreans still, as they had in their old kingdom, and so lost it, hungered after endless life unchanging. Kings made tombs more splendid than houses of the living, and counted old names in the rolls of their descent dearer than the names of sons. Childless lords sat in aged halls musing on heraldry; in secret chambers withered men compounded strong elixirs, or in high cold towers asked questions of the stars. And the last king of the line of Anarion had no heir. ‘But the stewards were wiser and more fortunate. Wiser, for they recruited the strength of our people from the sturdy folk of the seacoast, and from the hardy mountaineers of Ered Nimrais. And they made a truce with the proud peoples of the North, who often had assailed us, men of fierce valour, but our kin from afar off, unlike the wild Easterlings or the cruel Haradrim. ‘So it came to pass in the days of Cirion the Twelfth Steward (and my father is the six and twentieth) that they rode to our aid and at the great Field of Celebrant they destroyed our enemies that had seized our northern provinces. These are the Rohirrim, as we name them, masters of horses, and we ceded to them the fields of Calenardhon that are since called Rohan; for that province had long been sparsely peopled. And they became our allies, and have ever proved true to us, aiding us at need, and guarding our northern marches and the Gap of Rohan. ‘Of our lore and manners they have learned what they would, and their lords speak our speech at need; yet for the most part they hold by the ways of their own fathers and to their own memories, and they speak among themselves their own North tongue. And we love them: tall men and fair women, valiant both alike, golden-haired, bright-eyed, and strong; they remind us of the youth of Men, as they were in the Elder Days. Indeed it is said by our lore-masters that they have from of old this affinity with us that they are come from those same Three Houses of Men as were the Numenoreans in their beginning; not from Hador the Goldenhaired, the Elf-friend, maybe, yet from such of his people as went not over Sea into the West, refusing the call. ‘For so we reckon Men in our lore, calling them the High, or Men of the West, which were Numenoreans; and the Middle Peoples,
「從未聽說剛鐸有人施行邪惡的技藝，也沒聽說有人在那裡尊稱『無名者』；自西方帶來的古老智慧與美好，長久地留存於美男子伊蘭迪爾子孫的王國中，至今仍未消逝。然而，即便如此，剛鐸卻是自取其衰，一步步地陷入老朽昏聵，以為那僅是被驅逐而非被摧毀的敵人已然沉睡。「死亡的陰影始終籠罩，因為努曼諾爾人仍舊渴望著永恆不變的生命——他們在舊王國時便是如此，也因此失去了它。君王們建造的陵墓比活人的居所更為華麗，他們將宗譜卷軸上的古老名諱看得比自己兒子的名字還重。無嗣的領主坐在古老的廳堂中沉思著紋章學；枯槁的男人在密室裡調製強效的長生不老藥，或在高聳冰冷的塔樓上向星辰探問。而安那瑞安王室的最後一位國王，沒有留下任何繼承人。「但宰相們更為明智，也更為幸運。他們明智，因為他們從沿海強健的民族，以及伊瑞德尼姆拉斯山脈耐勞的山民中招募人手，增強我們的力量。他們也與北方驕傲的民族締結了休戰協定。那些人曾頻繁攻擊我們，是些驍勇善戰之士，但他們是我們遠方的親族，不像野蠻的東方人或殘酷的哈拉德林人。「於是，在第十二任宰相奇瑞安的時代（我父親是第二十六任），他們前來援助我們，在廣大的凱勒布蘭特平原上，摧毀了佔領我們北方省分的敵人。他們就是我們所稱的羅翰人，馬匹的主人。我們將卡蘭納松的土地割讓給他們，那裡從此被稱為羅翰；因為那片省分長久以來人煙稀少。他們成了我們的盟友，並且一直對我們忠誠不渝，在我們需要時伸出援手，守衛著我們的北方邊境和羅翰隘口。「對於我們的學識和禮儀，他們隨其所願地學習，他們的領主在必要時也會說我們的語言；然而，在大多數情況下，他們仍堅守自己父輩的傳統和記憶，彼此之間說著他們自己的北方語言。我們喜愛他們：高大的男人與美麗的女人，同樣英勇，金髮碧眼，身強力壯；他們讓我們想起人類的青春年華，如同他們在上古時代的模樣。的確，我們的知識大師們說，他們自古以來就與我們有這份親近感，因為他們和努曼諾爾人一樣，都源於人類三大家族；或許不是出自精靈之友金髮哈多那一支，但也是出自他那些拒絕召喚、未曾渡海西遷的子民。「因為在我們的傳說中，我們如此劃分人類，稱努曼諾爾人為高等人類，或西方之人；還有中等民族，
THE WINDOW ON THE WEST 679 Men of the Twilight, such as are the Rohirrim and their kin that dwell still far in the North; and the Wild, the Men of Darkness. “Yet now, if the Rohirrim are grown in some ways more like to us, enhanced in arts and gentleness, we too have become more like to them, and can scarce claim any longer the title High. We are become Middle Men, of the Twilight, but with memory of other things. For as the Rohirrim do, we now love war and valour as things good in themselves, both a sport and an end; and though we still hold that a warrior should have more skills and knowledge than only the craft of weapons and slaying, we esteem a warrior, nonetheless, above men of other crafts. Such is the need of our days. So even was my brother, Boromir: a man of prowess, and for that he was accounted the best man in Gondor. And very valiant indeed he was: no heir of Minas Tirith has for long years been so hardy in toil, so onward into battle, or blown a mightier note on the Great Horn.’ Faramir sighed and fell silent for a while. “You don’t say much in all your tales about the Elves, sir,’ said Sam, suddenly plucking up courage. He had noted that Faramir seemed to refer to Elves with reverence, and this even more than his courtesy, and his food and wine, had won Sam’s respect and quieted his suspicions. ‘No indeed, Master Samwise,’ said Faramir, ‘for I am not learned in Elven-lore. But there you touch upon another point in which we have changed, declining from Numenor to Middle-earth. For as you may know, if Mithrandir was your companion and you have spoken with Elrond, the Edain, the Fathers of the Numenoreans, fought beside the Elves in the first wars, and were rewarded by the gift of the kingdom in the midst of the Sea, within sight of Elvenhome. But in Middle-earth Men and Elves became estranged in the days of darkness, by the arts of the Enemy, and by the slow changes of time in which each kind walked further down their sundered roads. Men now fear and misdoubt the Elves, and yet know little of them. And we of Gondor grow like other Men, like the men of Rohan; for even they, who are foes of the Dark Lord, shun the Elves and speak of the Golden Wood with dread. ‘Yet there are among us still some who have dealings with the Elves when they may, and ever and anon one will go in secret to Lorien, seldom to return. Not I. For I deem it perilous now for mortal man wilfully to seek out the Elder People. Yet I envy you that have spoken with the White Lady.’ “The Lady of Lorien! Galadriel!’ cried Sam. ‘You should see her, indeed you should, sir. I am only a hobbit, and gardening’s my job at home, sir, if you understand me, and I’m not much good at poetry
暮光之民，例如洛汗國人以及他們仍居住在遙遠北方的親族；還有野蠻人，黑暗之民。『然而現在，如果說洛汗國人在某些方面變得更像我們，在技藝與溫文方面有所提升，那麼我們也變得更像他們，幾乎再也無法自稱高等人類了。我們成了中等人類，暮光之民，但仍保有對其他事物的記憶。因為就像洛汗國人一樣，我們現在熱愛戰爭與英勇，視其本身為美事，既是競賽也是目的；而且，雖然我們仍認為戰士應具備比僅僅製造武器和殺戮更多的技能與知識，但我們依然敬重戰士，將其置於其他工匠之上。這就是我們時代的需要。我哥哥波羅莫也是如此：一個充滿英勇氣概的人，也因此被視為剛鐸最出色的人。他確實非常英勇：多年來，米那斯提力斯的繼承人中，沒有人比他更能吃苦耐勞，更勇於奔赴戰場，或是在大號角上吹出更宏亮的音符。』法拉墨嘆了口氣，沉默了一會兒。『先生，在您所有的故事裡，您都沒怎麼提到精靈。』山姆突然鼓起勇氣說。他注意到法拉墨似乎以崇敬的態度提及精靈，這一點甚至比他的殷勤好客、美酒佳餚更能贏得山姆的尊敬，並消除了他的疑慮。『確實沒有，山姆懷斯先生，』法拉墨說，『因為我對精靈的學問並不精通。但你觸及了我們另一個改變之處，從努曼諾爾墮落至中土大陸。因為你可能知道，如果米斯蘭達曾是你的同伴，而你也和愛隆交談過，那麼伊甸人，也就是努曼諾爾人的先祖，在第一次戰爭中與精靈並肩作戰，並獲贈了位於大海中央、能望見精靈家園的王國作為獎賞。但在中土大陸，人類與精靈在黑暗時代變得疏遠，這是由於敵人的詭計，以及歲月緩慢的變遷，兩個種族在各自的岔路上越走越遠。人類現在害怕並懷疑精靈，卻對他們所知甚少。而我們剛鐸人也變得像其他人一樣，像洛汗國的人；就連他們，身為黑暗魔君的敵人，也躲避精靈，並恐懼地談論黃金森林。『然而我們之中仍有些人，一有機會便會與精靈往來，偶爾會有人秘密前往羅瑞安，但很少回來。我沒有去過。因為我認為凡人現在刻意去尋找上古民族是危險的。但我羨慕你，能與白色夫人交談過。』『羅瑞安的夫人！凱蘭崔爾！』山姆叫道。『您真該見見她，先生，真的。我只是一個哈比人，在家鄉的工作是園藝，如果您能理解我的意思，而且我對詩歌不太擅長——
680 THE LORD OF THE RINGS — not at making it: a bit of a comic rhyme, perhaps, now and again, you know, but not real poetry — so I can’t tell you what I mean. It ought to be sung. You’d have to get Strider, Aragorn that is, or old Mr. Bilbo, for that. But I wish I could make a song about her. Beautiful she is, sir! Lovely! Sometimes like a great tree in flower, sometimes like a white daffadowndilly, small and slender like. Hard as di’monds, soft as moonlight. Warm as sunlight, cold as frost in the stars. Proud and far-off as a snow-mountain, and as merry as any lass I ever saw with daisies in her hair in springtime. But that’s a lot o’ nonsense, and all wide of my mark.’ “Then she must be lovely indeed,’ said Faramir. ‘Perilously fair.’ ‘I don’t know about perilous,’ said Sam. ‘It strikes me that folk takes their peril with them into Lorien, and finds it there because they’ve brought it. But perhaps you could call her perilous, because she’s so strong in herself. You, you could dash yourself to pieces on her, like a ship on a rock; or drownd yourself, like a hobbit in a river. But neither rock nor river would be to blame. Now Boro > He stopped and went red in the face. “Yes? Now Boromir you would say?’ said Faramir. ‘What would you say? He took his peril with him?’ “Yes sir, begging your pardon, and a fine man as your brother was, if I may say so. But you’ve been warm on the scent all along. Now I watched Boromir and listened to him, from Rivendell all down the road — looking after my master, as you’ll understand, and not meaning any harm to Boromir — and it’s my opinion that in Lorien he first saw clearly what I guessed sooner: what he wanted. From the moment he first saw it he wanted the Enemy’s Ring!’ ‘Sam!’ cried Frodo aghast. He had fallen deep into his own thoughts for a while, and came out of them suddenly and too late. ‘Save me!’ said Sam turning white, and then flushing scarlet. “There I go again! When ever you open your big mouth you put your foot in it the Gaffer used to say to me, and right enough. O dear, O dear! ‘Now look here, sir!’ He turned, facing up to Faramir with all the courage that he could muster. ‘Don’t you go taking advantage of my master because his servant’s no better than a fool. You’ve spoken very handsome all along, put me off my guard, talking of Elves and all. But handsome 1s as handsome does we say. Now’s a chance to show your quality.’ ‘So it seems,’ said Faramir, slowly and very softly, with a strange smile. ‘So that is the answer to all the riddles! The One Ring that was thought to have perished from the world. And Boromir tried to take it by force? And you escaped? And ran all the way — to me! And here in the wild I have you: two halflings, and a host of men at my
……不擅長創作：頂多偶爾編幾句有趣的打油詩，你知道的，但不是真正的詩——所以我說不出我的意思。這應該要用唱的。這你得去找神行客，也就是亞拉岡，或是老比爾博先生才行。但我真希望我能為她作一首歌。她真美啊，先生！太美了！有時像一棵開滿花的參天大樹，有時又像一朵白色的水仙小嬌花，又小又纖細。像鑽石一樣堅硬，像月光一樣溫柔。像陽光一樣溫暖，像星空中的寒霜一樣冰冷。像雪山一樣驕傲而遙遠，又像我見過任何頭戴雛菊的春日少女一樣快樂。不過這些都是胡說八道，全都離題了。」「那她想必是極其美麗了，」法拉墨說。「一種危險的美。」「我不知道什麼危險不危險的，」山姆說。「我覺得是人們自己帶著危險走進羅瑞安，因為是他們自己帶去的，所以才在那裡發現危險。不過，或許你可以說她危險，因為她自身的力量太強大了。你，你可能會在她身上撞得粉身碎骨，就像船撞上礁石；或者淹死自己，就像哈比人掉進河裡。但無論是礁石還是河流都沒錯。現在波羅……」他停下來，滿臉通紅。「是的？你想說波羅莫？」法拉墨說。「你想說什麼？他帶著他的危險去了？」「是的，先生，請您原諒，恕我直言，您哥哥是個很好的人。但您一直都快猜到真相了。我從瑞文戴爾一路上都在觀察波羅莫、聽他說話——是為了照顧我的主人，您能理解的，並不是對波羅莫有什麼惡意——而我的看法是，在羅瑞安，他第一次清楚地看見了我更早就猜到的事：他想要什麼。從他第一眼看到那東西起，他就想要敵人的魔戒！」「山姆！」佛羅多驚駭地叫道。他剛才一度陷入沉思，突然驚醒，卻為時已晚。「救命啊！」山姆說，臉色先是發白，接著漲得通紅。「我又來了！『你這張大嘴一開，就準說錯話』，老爹以前常這麼對我說，還真沒錯。天啊，天啊！『你聽我說，先生！』」他轉過身，鼓起所有勇氣面對法拉墨。「您別因為我主人的僕人笨得跟傻瓜一樣，就想佔他便宜。您一路以來話都說得很好聽，讓我放下了戒心，跟我談論精靈什麼的。但我們有句話說，行為優良才算真正的俊美。現在就是展現您品格的機會了。」「看來是如此了，」法拉墨緩慢而輕柔地說，臉上帶著一絲奇特的微笑。「所以這就是所有謎題的答案！那枚被認為已從世上消逝的至尊魔戒。而波羅莫試圖用武力奪取它？然後你們逃脫了？一路跑來——跑到我這裡！而在這荒野之中，我抓到你們了：兩個半身人，還有一大群我的人手。
THE WINDOW ON THE WEST 681 call, and the Ring of Rings. A pretty stroke of fortune! A chance for Faramir, Captain of Gondor, to show his quality! Ha!’ He stood up, very tall and stern, his grey eyes glinting. Frodo and Sam sprang from their stools and set themselves side by side with their backs to the wall, fumbling for their sword-hilts. There was a silence. All the men in the cave stopped talking and looked towards them in wonder. But Faramir sat down again in his chair and began to laugh quietly, and then suddenly became grave again. ‘Alas for Boromir! It was too sore a trial!’ he said. ‘How you have increased my sorrow, you two strange wanderers from a far country, bearing the peril of Men! But you are less judges of Men than I of Halflings. We are truth-speakers, we men of Gondor. We boast seldom, and then perform, or die in the attempt. Not if I found it on the highway would I take it I said. Even if I were such a man as to desire this thing, and even though I knew not clearly what this thing was when I spoke, still I should take those words as a vow, and be held by them. ‘But I am not such a man. Or I am wise enough to know that there are some perils from which a man must flee. Sit at peace! And be comforted, Samwise. If you seem to have stumbled, think that it was fated to be so. Your heart is shrewd as well as faithful, and saw clearer than your eyes. For strange though it may seem, it was safe to declare this to me. It may even help the master that you love. It shall turn to his good, if it is in my power. So be comforted. But do not even name this thing again aloud. Once is enough.’ The hobbits came back to their seats and sat very quiet. Men turned back to their drink and their talk, perceiving that their captain had had some jest or other with the little guests, and that it was over. ‘Well, Frodo, now at last we understand one another,’ said Faramir. ‘If you took this thing on yourself, unwilling, at others’ asking, then you have pity and honour from me. And I marvel at you: to keep it hid and not to use it. You are a new people and a new world to me. Are all your kin of like sort? Your land must be a realm of peace and content, and there must gardeners be in high honour.’ ‘Not all is well there,’ said Frodo, “but certainly gardeners are honoured.’ ‘But folk must grow weary there, even in their gardens, as do all things under the Sun of this world. And you are far from home and wayworn. No more tonight. Sleep, both of you — in peace, if you can. Fear not! I do not wish to see it, or touch it, or know more of it than I know (which is enough), lest peril perchance waylay me and I fall lower in the test than Frodo son of Drogo. Go now to rest —
《西方之窗》681頁的召喚，以及眾戒之王。真是天賜良機！一個讓剛鐸大將法拉墨展現他品格的機會！哈！」他站了起來，身形高大而嚴厲，灰色的眼睛閃著光。佛羅多和山姆從凳子上跳起來，並肩背靠著牆，手忙腳亂地摸索著劍柄。一片寂靜。洞穴裡所有人都停止了交談，驚奇地望向他們。但法拉墨又在椅子上坐下，開始輕聲地笑，然後又突然變得嚴肅。「唉，可憐的波羅莫！那真是太嚴峻的考驗了！」他說。「你們兩個來自遠方的奇異流浪者，身負著人類的危險，真是加增了我的悲傷！但你們對人類的判斷力，不如我對半身人的判斷力。我們剛鐸人，是說真話的人。我們鮮少吹噓，一旦說了，就會做到，或在嘗試中死去。我說過，就算我在大路上撿到它，我也不會拿。即便我是那種會渴望此物的人，即便我說話時還不清楚這東西是什麼，我依然會將那些話視為誓言，並受其約束。「但我不是那樣的人。或者說，我夠聰明，知道有些危險是人必須逃離的。安心坐下吧！也請寬心，山姆懷斯。如果你覺得自己失足了，就想著那是命中注定的。你的心既忠誠又敏銳，看得比你的眼睛更清楚。因為，儘管聽來奇怪，向我坦白這件事是安全的。這甚至可能幫助你所愛的主人。如果在我能力範圍內，這件事將會對他有利。所以寬心吧。但不要再大聲說出這個東西的名字。一次就夠了。」哈比人回到座位上，安靜地坐著。其他人則轉回去喝酒聊天，意識到他們的隊長只是跟小客人開了個玩笑，而且已經結束了。「好了，佛羅多，我們總算彼此了解了。」法拉墨說。「如果你是在不情願的情況下，應他人之求而承擔此事，那麼我對你抱有同情與敬意。我對你感到驚奇：能將它藏起而不使用。對我來說，你們是一個新的民族，一個新的世界。你的所有親族都像你這樣嗎？你的土地想必是個和平滿足的國度，園丁在那裡一定備受尊崇。」「那裡並非一切都好，」佛羅多說，「但園丁確實備受尊崇。」「但在那裡，即使在花園裡，人們也終將疲憊，如同這世上陽光下的一切事物。而你離家遙遠，旅途勞頓。今晚就到此為止。你們倆都去睡吧——如果可以，就平靜地睡。別怕！我不想看見它、觸碰它，或知道得比我已知的更多（那已經夠了），以免危險或許會埋伏我，讓我在考驗中比德羅哥之子佛羅多跌得更深。現在去休息吧——
682 THE LORD OF THE RINGS but first tell me only, if you will, whither you wish to go, and what to do. For I must watch, and wait, and think. Time passes. In the morning we must each go swiftly on the ways appointed to us.’ Frodo had felt himself trembling as the first shock of fear passed. Now a great weariness came down on him like a cloud. He could dissemble and resist no longer. ‘I was going to find a way into Mordor,’ he said faintly. ‘I was going to Gorgoroth. I must find the Mountain of Fire and cast the thing into the gulf of Doom. Gandalf said so. I do not think I shall ever get there.’ Faramir stared at him for a moment in grave astonishment. Then suddenly he caught him as he swayed, and lifting him gently, carried him to the bed and laid him there, and covered him warmly. At once he fell into a deep sleep. Another bed was set beside him for his servant. Sam hesitated for a moment, then bowing very low: ‘Good night, Captain, my lord,’ he said. ‘You took the chance, sir.’ ‘Did I so?’ said Faramir. “Yes sir, and showed your quality: the very highest.’ Faramir smiled. ‘A pert servant, Master Samwise. But nay: the praise of the praiseworthy is above all rewards. Yet there was naught in this to praise. I had no lure or desire to do other than I have done.’ ‘Ah well, sir,’ said Sam, ‘you said my master had an Elvish air; and that was good and true. But I can say this: you have an air too, sir, that reminds me of, of — well, Gandalf, of wizards.’ ‘Maybe,’ said Faramir. ‘Maybe you discern from far away the air of Numenor. Good night!’
「不過，如果你願意，請先告訴我，你想往哪裡去，又打算做什麼。因為我必須觀察、等待、思考。時間正在流逝。到了早上，我們都必須迅速踏上各自注定的道路。」佛羅多感覺到，在最初的恐懼衝擊過去後，自己一直在顫抖。如今，一股巨大的疲憊如烏雲般向他襲來。他再也無法掩飾或抗拒了。「我本來要去尋找進入魔多的路，」他微弱地說。「我本來要去葛哥洛斯。我必須找到末日火山，把那東西丟進末日深淵。甘道夫是這麼說的。但我想我永遠也到不了那裡了。」法拉墨莊重而驚訝地盯著他看了一會兒。然後，他突然在佛羅多搖晃時扶住他，輕輕地將他抱起，帶到床邊放下，並為他蓋上暖被。佛羅多立刻沉沉睡去。另一張床被安放在他旁邊，給他的僕人睡。山姆猶豫了一下，然後深深一鞠躬：「晚安，隊長，我的大人，」他說。「您把握了那個機會，先生。」「是嗎？」法拉墨說。「是的，先生，而且您展現了您的品格：最高尚的那種。」法拉墨笑了。「真是個直言不諱的僕人，山姆衛斯大師。不過，不：來自值得讚揚之人的讚揚，勝過所有獎賞。然而，這件事並沒有什麼值得讚揚的。我沒有任何誘惑或慾望去做與我已經做了的不同的事。」「啊，好吧，先生，」山姆說，「您說我的主人有種精靈般的氣質；這話說得又好又對。但我可以這麼說：您也有一種氣質，先生，那讓我想起，想起——嗯，甘道夫，想起巫師。」「也許吧，」法拉墨說。「也許你從遠方辨認出的，是努曼諾爾的氣質。晚安！」