Chapter 6 THE FORBIDDEN POOL Frodo woke to find Faramir bending over him. For a second old fears seized him and he sat up and shrank away. “There is nothing to fear,’ said Faramir. ‘Is it morning already?’ said Frodo yawning. ‘Not yet, but night is drawing to an end, and the full moon is setting. Will you come and see it? Also there is a matter on which I desire your counsel. I am sorry to rouse you from sleep, but will you come?’ ‘I will,’ said Frodo, rising and shivering a little as he left the warm blanket and pelts. It seemed cold in the fireless cave. The noise of the water was loud in the stillness. He put on his cloak and followed Faramir. Sam, waking suddenly by some instinct of watchfulness, saw first his master’s empty bed and leapt to his feet. Then he saw two dark figures, Frodo and a man, framed against the archway, which was now filled with a pale white light. He hurried after them, past rows of men sleeping on mattresses along the wall. As he went by the cave-mouth he saw that the Curtain was now become a dazzling veil of silk and pearls and silver thread: melting icicles of moonlight. But he did not pause to admire it, and turning aside he followed his master through the narrow doorway in the wall of the cave. They went first along a black passage, then up many wet steps, and so came to a small flat landing cut in the stone and lit by the pale sky, gleaming high above through a long deep shaft. From here two flights of steps led: one going on, as it seemed, up on to the high bank of the stream; the other turning away to the left. This they followed. It wound its way up like a turret-stair. At last they came out of the stony darkness and looked about. They were on a wide flat rock without rail or parapet. At their right, eastwards, the torrent fell, splashing over many terraces, and then, pouring down a steep race, it filled a smooth-hewn channel with a dark force of water flecked with foam, and curling and rushing almost at their feet it plunged sheer over the edge that yawned upon their left. A man stood there, near the brink, silent, gazing down. Frodo turned to watch the sleek necks of the water as they curved and dived. Then he lifted his eyes and gazed far away. The world was quiet and cold, as if dawn were near. Far off in the West the full
684 THE LORD OF THE RINGS moon was sinking, round and white. Pale mists shimmered in the great vale below: a wide gulf of silver fume, beneath which rolled the cool night-waters of the Anduin. A black darkness loomed beyond, and in it glinted, here and there, cold, sharp, remote, white as the teeth of ghosts, the peaks of Ered Nimrais, the White Mountains of the realm of Gondor, tipped with everlasting snow. For a while Frodo stood there on the high stone, and a shiver ran through him, wondering if anywhere in the vastness of the nightlands his old companions walked or slept, or lay dead shrouded in mist. Why was he brought here out of forgetful sleep? Sam was eager for an answer to the same question and could not refrain himself from muttering, for his master’s ear alone as he thought: ‘It’s a fine view, no doubt, Mr. Frodo, but chilly to the heart, not to mention the bones! What’s going on?’ Faramir heard and answered. ‘Moonset over Gondor. Fair Ithil, as he goes from Middle-earth, glances upon the white locks of old Mindolluin. It is worth a few shivers. But that is not what I brought you to see — though as for you, Samwise, you were not brought, and do but pay the penalty of your watchfulness. A draught of wine shall amend it. Come, look now!’ He stepped up beside the silent sentinel on the dark edge, and Frodo followed. Sam hung back. He already felt insecure enough on this high wet platform. Faramir and Frodo looked down. Far below them they saw the white waters pour into a foaming bowl, and then swirl darkly about a deep oval basin in the rocks, until they found their way out again through a narrow gate, and flowed away, fuming and chattering, into calmer and more level reaches. The moonlight still slanted down to the fall’s foot and gleamed on the ripples of the basin. Presently Frodo was aware of a small dark thing on the near bank, but even as he looked at it, it dived and vanished just beyond the boil and bubble of the fall, cleaving the black water as neatly as an arrow or an edgewise stone. Faramir turned to the man at his side. ‘Now what would you say that it is, Anborn? A squirrel, or a kingfisher? Are there black kingfishers in the night-pools of Mirkwood?”’ °Tis not a bird, whatever else it be,’ answered Anborn. ‘It has four limbs and dives manwise; a pretty mastery of the craft it shows, too. What is it at? Seeking a way up behind the Curtain to our hidings? It seems we are discovered at last. I have my bow here, and I have posted other archers, nigh as good marksmen as myself, on either bank. We wait only for your command to shoot, Captain.’ ‘Shall we shoot?’ said Faramir, turning quickly to Frodo. Frodo did not answer for a moment. Then ‘No!’ he said. ‘No! I beg you not to.’ If Sam had dared, he would have said ‘Yes,’ quicker
月亮正西沉，又圓又白。下方巨大的山谷中，蒼白的薄霧閃爍著微光：一片寬闊的銀色煙霧深淵，安都因河冰涼的夜水在其下翻滾。更遠處籠罩著一片漆黑，其中偶爾閃爍著冷冽、尖銳、遙遠的光芒，那是剛鐸王國的白色山脈——埃瑞德尼姆拉斯山脈的山峰，白得像鬼魅的牙齒，山頂覆蓋著萬年不化的積雪。佛羅多在高高的石頭上站了一會兒，一陣寒顫傳遍全身，他想著在這廣闊的夜之國度裡，他的老夥伴們是否正在某處行走或沉睡，抑或已死，被迷霧裹身。他為何會從渾然不覺的睡夢中被帶到這裡？山姆也渴望知道同一個問題的答案，忍不住對他主人低聲咕噙，他以為只有主人聽得到：「景色固然不錯，佛羅多先生，但真是寒到心坎裡，更別提骨頭了！這到底是怎麼回事？」法拉墨聽見了，回答說：「這是剛鐸的月落。美麗的伊希爾在離開中土世界時，瞥見了古老明多陸安山的白髮。這值得打幾個寒顫。但我帶你們來看的不是這個——至於你，山姆衛斯，你不是被帶來的，只是為你的警覺付出了代價。一杯酒就能彌補。來，現在看吧！」他走到黑暗邊緣沉默的哨兵身旁，佛羅多跟了上去。山姆卻退縮了。在這又高又濕的平台上，他已經覺得夠不安全了。法拉墨和佛羅多向下看去。在他們遙遠的下方，他們看見白色的水流注入一個泡沫翻騰的碗狀凹地，然後在岩石間一個深邃的橢圓形水盆中黑暗地旋轉，直到再次從一個狹窄的出口找到通路，冒著煙、潺潺作響地流向更平靜、更平緩的河段。月光依然斜照在瀑布腳下，在水盆的漣漪上閃閃發光。不一會兒，佛羅多注意到近岸上有一個小小的黑色東西，但他剛一看過去，它就潛入水中，消失在瀑布翻騰的泡沫之外，像一支箭或一顆側立的石頭一樣，俐落地劃開黑色的水面。法拉墨轉向身邊的人。「安伯恩，你說那是什麼？一隻松鼠，還是一隻翠鳥？黑森林的夜間水潭裡有黑色的翠鳥嗎？」『不管它是什麼，總之不是鳥。』安伯恩回答。『它有四肢，像人一樣潛水；而且還展現了相當高超的技巧。它想做什麼？想從「禁忌之簾」後面找路潛入我們的藏身處嗎？看來我們終究是暴露了。我帶著弓，也在兩岸部署了其他弓箭手，他們的箭術幾乎和我一樣好。我們只等您的命令，隊長，隨時可以射擊。』『我們該射殺它嗎？』法拉墨說，迅速轉向佛羅多。佛羅多一時沒有回答。然後他說：『不！不！我求你不要。』如果山姆敢開口，他會更快地說『是』。
THE FORBIDDEN POOL 685 and louder. He could not see, but he guessed well enough from their words what they were looking at. “You know, then, what this thing is?’ said Faramir. ‘Come, now you have seen, tell me why it should be spared. In all our words together you have not once spoken of your gangrel companion, and I let him be for the time. He could wait till he was caught and brought before me. I sent my keenest huntsmen to seek him, but he slipped them, and they had no sight of him till now, save Anborn here, once at dusk yesterevening. But now he has done worse trespass than only to go coney-snaring in the uplands: he has dared to come to Henneth Anntn, and his life is forfeit. I marvel at the creature: so secret and so sly as he is, to come sporting in the pool before our very window. Does he think that men sleep without watch all night? Why does he so?” ‘There are two answers, I think,’ said Frodo. ‘For one thing, he knows little of Men, and sly though he is, your refuge is so hidden that perhaps he does not know that Men are concealed here. For another, I think he is allured here by a mastering desire, stronger than his caution.’ ‘He is lured here, you say?’ said Faramir in a low voice. ‘Can he, does he then know of your burden?’ ‘Indeed yes. He bore it himself for many years.’ ‘He bore it?’ said Faramir, breathing sharply in his wonder. “This matter winds itself ever in new riddles. Then he is pursuing it?’ ‘Maybe. It is precious to him. But I did not speak of that.’ ‘What then does the creature seek?’ ‘Fish,’ said Frodo. ‘Look!’ They peered down at the dark pool. A little black head appeared at the far end of the basin, just out of the deep shadow of the rocks. There was a brief silver glint, and a swirl of tiny ripples. It swam to the side, and then with marvellous agility a froglike figure climbed out of the water and up the bank. At once it sat down and began to gnaw at the small silver thing that glittered as it turned: the last rays of the moon were now falling behind the stony wall at the pool’s end. Faramir laughed softly. ‘Fish!’ he said. ‘It is a less perilous hunger. Or maybe not: fish from the pool of Henneth Anntn may cost him all he has to give.’ ‘Now I have him at the arrow-point,’ said Anborn. ‘Shall I not shoot, Captain? For coming unbidden to this place death is our law.’ ‘Wait, Anborn,’ said Faramir. “This is a harder matter than it seems. What have you to say now, Frodo? Why should we spare?’ “The creature is wretched and hungry,’ said Frodo, ‘and unaware of his danger. And Gandalf, your Mithrandir, he would have bidden
禁忌之池 685 且越來越大聲。他看不見，但從他們的對話中，他很清楚地猜到他們在看什麼。「那麼，你知道這東西是什麼了？」法拉墨說。「來吧，既然你已看見，告訴我為何該饒牠一命。在我們所有的交談中，你一次也沒提過你那個流浪的同伴，我暫時就由他去了。他可以等到被抓獲，帶到我面前。我派了我最敏銳的獵人去尋找他，但他躲過了他們，直到現在他們都沒見到他，除了安本，在昨天傍晚見過一次。但現在他犯下的罪過比在高原上設陷阱抓兔子更嚴重：他竟敢來到漢那斯安南，按律當死。我對這生物感到驚奇：如此神秘又如此狡猾，竟敢在我們窗前的池子裡嬉戲。他以為人們整夜都不設防衛地睡覺嗎？他為何這麼做？」「我想有兩個答案，」佛羅多說。「其一，他對人類所知甚少，雖然他很狡猾，但你的藏身處如此隱密，或許他並不知道有人類藏在這裡。其二，我認為他被一股無法抗拒的慾望吸引到這裡，這股慾望比他的警覺心更強烈。」「你說他是被引誘來的？」法拉墨低聲說。「他能夠、他真的知道你的重擔嗎？」「確實是的。他自己就曾攜帶它許多年。」「他曾攜帶它？」法拉墨驚訝地倒抽一口氣。「這件事總是不斷纏繞出新的謎團。那麼他是在追尋它？」「或許吧。它對他來說很寶貴。但我說的不是那個。」「那這生物在尋找什麼？」「魚，」佛羅多說。「看！」他們俯瞰著漆黑的水池。在水池的遠端，就在岩石的深影之外，出現了一個小小的黑頭。一道短暫的銀光閃過，一圈微小的漣漪盪開。牠游到池邊，然後以驚人的敏捷，一個像青蛙般的身影爬出水面，上了岸。牠立刻坐下，開始啃咬那個轉動時閃閃發光的小小銀色東西：月亮的最後光芒正落在池子盡頭的石牆後。法拉墨輕聲笑了。「魚！」他說。「這是個比較不危險的飢餓。或許也不是：漢那斯安南池裡的魚，可能會讓他付出他所有的一切。」「現在我已用箭頭對準他了，」安本說。「隊長，要我射殺他嗎？根據我們的律法，未經許可來到此地者，死罪。」「等等，安本，」法拉墨說。「這件事比看起來更複雜。佛羅多，你現在有什麼話說？我們為何要饒了他？」「這生物既可憐又飢餓，」佛羅多說，「而且沒有意識到自己的危險。而甘道夫，也就是你的米斯蘭達，他會吩咐……」
686 THE LORD OF THE RINGS you not to slay him for that reason, and for others. He forbade the Elves to do so. I do not know clearly why, and of what I guess I cannot speak openly out here. But this creature is in some way bound up with my errand. Until you found us and took us, he was my guide.’ “Your guide!’ said Faramir. “The matter becomes ever stranger. I would do much for you, Frodo, but this I cannot grant: to let this sly wanderer go free at his own will from here, to join you later if it please him, or to be caught by orcs and tell all he knows under threat of pain. He must be slain or taken. Slain, if he be not taken very swiftly. But how can this slippery thing of many guises be caught, save by a feathered shaft?’ ‘Let me go down quietly to him,’ said Frodo. ‘You may keep your bows bent, and shoot me at least, if I fail. I shall not run away.’ ‘Go then and be swift!’ said Faramir. ‘If he comes off alive, he should be your faithful servant for the rest of his unhappy days. Lead Frodo down to the bank, Anborn, and go softly. The thing has a nose and ears. Give me your bow.’ Anborn grunted and led the way down the winding stair to the landing, and then up the other stair, until at last they came to a narrow opening shrouded with thick bushes. Passing silently through, Frodo found himself on the top of the southern bank above the pool. It was now dark and the falls were pale and grey, reflecting only the lingering moonlight of the western sky. He could not see Gollum. He went forward a short way and Anborn came softly behind him. ‘Go on!’ he breathed in Frodo’s ear. ‘Have a care to your right. If you fall in the pool, then no one but your fishing friend can help you. And forget not that there are bowmen near at hand, though you may not see them.’ Frodo crept forward, using his hands Gollum-like to feel his way and to steady himself. The rocks were for the most part flat and smooth but slippery. He halted listening. At first he could hear no sound but the unceasing rush of the fall behind him. Then presently he heard, not far ahead, a hissing murmur. ‘Fissh, nice fissh. White Face has vanished, my precious, at last, yes. Now we can eat fish in peace. No, not in peace, precious. For Precious is lost; yes, lost. Dirty hobbits, nasty hobbits. Gone and left us, gollum; and Precious is gone. Only poor Sméagol all alone. No Precious. Nasty Men, they’ll take it, steal my Precious. Thieves. We hates them. Fissh, nice fissh. Makes us strong. Makes eyes bright, fingers tight, yes. Throttle them, precious. Throttle them all, yes, if we gets chances. Nice fissh. Nice fissh!’ So it went on, almost as unceasing as the waterfall, only interrupted by a faint noise of slavering and gurgling. Frodo shivered, listening
「基於這個理由，以及其他原因，我請求您不要殺他。他禁止精靈們這麼做。我不太清楚為什麼，而我的猜測，在這裡我也無法公開說出。但這個生物在某方面與我的任務緊密相連。在您找到我們並帶走我們之前，他曾是我的嚮導。」 「你的嚮導！」法拉墨說。「事情變得越來越奇怪了。佛羅多，我很願意為你做很多事，但這點我不能答應：讓這個狡猾的流浪者隨心所欲地離開這裡，如果他高興，之後再來加入你，或者被半獸人抓住，在酷刑的威脅下說出他所知道的一切。他必須被殺掉或被抓住。如果不迅速抓住，就得殺掉。但是，這個狡滑多變的東西，除了用帶羽的箭，要怎麼才能抓到呢？」 「讓我悄悄地下去找他，」佛羅多說。「你們可以繼續張著弓，如果我失敗了，至少可以射殺我。我不會逃跑的。」 「那就去吧，快一點！」法拉墨說。「如果他能活著回來，在他不幸的餘生裡，他應該會成為你忠實的僕人。安朋，帶佛羅多到岸邊去，輕聲走。那東西的鼻子和耳朵都很靈。把你的弓給我。」 安朋咕噥一聲，領著路走下蜿蜒的樓梯到平台，然後再走上另一段階梯，最後來到一個被濃密灌木掩蓋的狹窄開口。佛羅多悄悄穿過後，發現自己身處水池上方的南岸頂端。此時天色已暗，瀑布呈現灰白色，只反映著西方天際 lingering 的月光。他看不見咕嚕。他向前走了幾步，安朋輕輕地跟在他身後。 「繼續走！」他在佛羅多耳邊輕聲說。「小心你右邊。如果你掉進水池裡，除了你那個釣魚的朋友，沒人能幫你。別忘了，雖然你可能看不見，但附近有弓箭手。」 佛羅多匍匐前進，像咕嚕一樣用手摸索著前進並穩住身體。岩石大部分平坦光滑，但很濕滑。他停下來傾聽。起初，除了身後瀑布不間斷的沖刷聲，他什麼也聽不見。接著，他聽到不遠的前方傳來一陣嘶嘶的咕噥聲。 「魚，好吃的魚。白臉不見了，我的寶貝，終於，是的。現在我們可以安靜地吃魚了。不，不安靜，寶貝。因為寶貝不見了；是的，不見了。骯髒的哈比人，討厭的哈比人。走了，丟下我們，咕嚕；寶貝也不見了。只剩下可憐的史麥戈孤單一人。沒有寶貝。討厭的人類，他們會拿走它，偷走我的寶貝。小偷。我們恨他們。魚，好吃的魚。讓我們強壯。讓眼睛明亮，手指緊握，是的。勒死他們，寶貝。把他們全都勒死，是的，如果我們有機會。好吃的魚。好吃的魚！」 聲音就這樣持續著，幾乎和瀑布聲一樣沒有停歇，只偶爾被一陣微弱的流口水和喉嚨的咕嚕聲打斷。佛羅多聽著，不禁打了個寒顫。
THE FORBIDDEN POOL 687 with pity and disgust. He wished it would stop, and that he never need hear that voice again. Anborn was not far behind. He could creep back and ask him to get the huntsmen to shoot. They would probably get close enough, while Gollum was gorging and off his guard. Only one true shot, and Frodo would be rid of the miserable voice for ever. But no, Gollum had a claim on him now. The servant has a claim on the master for service, even service in fear. They would have foundered in the Dead Marshes but for Gollum. Frodo knew, too, somehow, quite clearly that Gandalf would not have wished it. ‘Sméagol!’ he said softly. ‘Fissh, nice fissh,’ said the voice. ‘Sméagol!’ he said, a little louder. The voice stopped. ‘Sméagol, Master has come to look for you. Master is here. Come, Sméagol!’ There was no answer but a soft hiss, as of intaken breath. ‘Come, Sméagol!’ said Frodo. ‘We are in danger. Men will kill you, if they find you here. Come quickly, if you wish to escape death. Come to Master!’ ‘No!’ said the voice. ‘Not nice Master. Leaves poor Sméagol and goes with new friends. Master can wait. Sméagol hasn’t finished.’ “There’s no time,’ said Frodo. ‘Bring fish with you. Come!’ ‘No! Must finish fish.’ ‘Sméagol!’ said Frodo desperately. ‘Precious will be angry. I shall take Precious, and I shall say: make him swallow the bones and choke. Never taste fish again. Come, Precious is waiting!’ There was a sharp hiss. Presently out of the darkness Gollum came crawling on all fours, like an erring dog called to heel. He had a half-eaten fish in his mouth and another in his hand. He came close to Frodo, almost nose to nose, and sniffed at him. His pale eyes were shining. Then he took the fish out of his mouth and stood up. ‘Nice Master!’ he whispered. ‘Nice hobbit, come back to poor Sméagol. Good Sméagol comes. Now let’s go, go quickly, yes. Through the trees, while the Faces are dark. Yes, come, let’s go!’ “Yes, we'll go soon,’ said Frodo. ‘But not at once. I will go with you as I promised. I promise again. But not now. You are not safe yet. I will save you, but you must trust me.’ ‘We must trust Master?’ said Gollum doubtfully. ‘Why? Why not go at once? Where is the other one, the cross rude hobbit? Where is he?’ ‘Away up there,’ said Frodo, pointing to the waterfall. ‘I am not going without him. We must go back to him.’ His heart sank. This was too much like trickery. He did not really fear that Faramir would allow Gollum to be killed, but he would probably make him prisoner and bind him; and certainly what Frodo did would seem a treachery to the poor treacherous creature. It would probably be impossible
他心中充滿了憐憫與厭惡。他希望這一切能停止，希望自己再也不用聽到那個聲音。安朋就在不遠處。他可以悄悄溜回去，請他讓獵人們開弓射擊。趁咕嚕狼吞虎嚥且毫無防備的時候，他們大概能靠得夠近。只要一箭中的，佛羅多就能永遠擺脫那個悲慘的聲音。但不，咕嚕現在對他有了一種約束力。僕人因其服務而對主人擁有索求的權利，即使是出於恐懼的服務。要不是咕嚕，他們早就葬身在死亡沼澤了。而且，佛羅多不知為何，心裡清楚地知道，甘道夫絕不會希望他這麼做。「史麥戈！」他輕聲說。「魚，好吃的魚，」那個聲音說。「史麥戈！」他稍微大聲地說。聲音停了。「史麥戈，主人來找你了。主人在這裡。來吧，史麥戈！」沒有回答，只有一陣輕微的嘶嘶聲，像是倒抽一口氣。「來吧，史麥戈！」佛羅多說。「我們有危險。如果人類在這裡發現你，他們會殺了你。如果你想逃過一死，就快過來。到主人這裡來！」「不！」那個聲音說。「主人不乖。丟下可憐的史麥戈，跟新朋友走了。主人可以等。史麥戈還沒吃完。」「沒時間了，」佛羅多說。「把魚帶上。快來！」「不！一定要吃完魚。」「史麥戈！」佛羅多絕望地說。「『寶貝』會生氣的。我會拿走『寶貝』，然後我會說：讓他把魚骨頭吞下去噎死。永遠別再嚐到魚的味道。快來，『寶貝』在等著！」一陣尖銳的嘶嘶聲響起。不一會兒，咕嚕從黑暗中四肢著地地爬了出來，像一隻犯錯被喚回跟前的狗。他嘴裡叼著半條吃剩的魚，手裡還拿著另一條。他靠近佛羅多，幾乎鼻子對著鼻子，在他身上嗅了嗅。他蒼白的眼睛閃閃發光。然後他從嘴裡拿出魚，站了起來。「好主人！」他低語道。「好哈比人，回到可憐的史麥戈身邊了。乖史麥戈來了。現在我們走吧，快走，是的。穿過樹林，趁那些臉孔還在黑暗中。是的，來吧，我們走！」「是的，我們很快就走，」佛羅多說。「但不是馬上。我會像我承諾的那樣跟你走。我再承諾一次。但不是現在。你還不安全。我會救你，但你必須相信我。」「我們必須相信主人？」咕嚕懷疑地說。「為什麼？為什麼不馬上走？另一個呢，那個壞脾氣又粗魯的哈比人？他在哪裡？」「在那上面，」佛羅多指著瀑布說。「我不會不帶他就走。我們必須回到他那裡去。」他的心一沉。這太像一場騙局了。他其實不擔心法拉墨會允許咕嚕被殺，但他很可能會把他囚禁起來、綁起來；而且佛羅多所做的，對這個可憐又奸詐的生物來說，無疑會像是一種背叛。這大概是不可能的
688 THE LORD OF THE RINGS ever to make him understand or believe that Frodo had saved his life in the only way he could. What else could he do? — to keep faith, as near as might be, with both sides. ‘Come!’ he said. ‘Or the Precious will be angry. We are going back now, up the stream. Go on, go on, you go in front!’ Gollum crawled along close to the brink for a little way, snuffling and suspicious. Presently he stopped and raised his head. ‘Something’s there!’ he said. ‘Not a hobbit.’ Suddenly he turned back. A green light was flickering in his bulging eyes. ‘Masster, masster!’ he hissed. ‘Wicked! Tricksy! False!’ He spat and stretched out his long arms with white snapping fingers. At that moment the great black shape of Anborn loomed up behind him and came down on him. A large strong hand took him in the nape of the neck and pinned him. He twisted round like lightning, all wet and slimy as he was, wriggling like an eel, biting and scratching like a cat. But two more men came up out of the shadows. ‘Hold still!’ said one. ‘Or we’ll stick you as full of pins as a hedgehog. Hold still!’ Gollum went limp, and began to whine and weep. They tied him, none too gently. ‘Easy, easy!’ said Frodo. ‘He has no strength to match you. Don’t hurt him, if you can help it. He’ll be quieter, if you don’t. Sméagol! They won’t hurt you. Pll go with you, and you shall come to no harm. Not unless they kill me too. Trust Master!’ Gollum turned and spat at him. The men picked him up, put a hood over his eyes, and carried him off. Frodo followed them, feeling very wretched. They went through the opening behind the bushes, and back, down the stairs and passages, into the cave. Two or three torches had been lit. Men were stirring. Sam was there, and he gave a queer look at the limp bundle that the men carried. ‘Got him?’ he said to Frodo. “Yes. Well no, I didn’t get him. He came to me, because he trusted me at first, ’'m afraid. I did not want him tied up like this. I hope it will be all right; but I hate the whole business.’ ‘So do I,’ said Sam. ‘And nothing will ever be all right where that piece of misery is.’ A man came and beckoned to the hobbits, and took them to the recess at the back of the cave. Faramir was sitting there in his chair, and the lamp had been rekindled in its niche above his head. He signed to them to sit down on the stools beside him. ‘Bring wine for the guests,’ he said. ‘And bring the prisoner to me.’ The wine was brought, and then Anborn came carrying Gollum. He removed the cover from Gollum’s head and set him on his feet, standing behind him to support him. Gollum blinked, hooding the
THE FORBIDDEN POOL 689 malice of his eyes with their heavy pale lids. A very miserable creature he looked, dripping and dank, smelling of fish (he still clutched one in his hand); his sparse locks were hanging like rank weed over his bony brows, his nose was snivelling. ‘Loose us! Loose us!’ he said. “The cord hurts us, yes it does, it hurts us, and we’ve done nothing.’ ‘Nothing?’ said Faramir, looking at the wretched creature with a keen glance, but without any expression in his face either of anger, or pity, or wonder. ‘Nothing? Have you never done anything worthy of binding or of worse punishment? However, that is not for me to judge, happily. But tonight you have come where it is death to come. The fish of this pool are dearly bought.’ Gollum dropped the fish from his hand. ‘Don’t want fish,’ he said. “The price is not set on the fish,’ said Faramir. ‘Only to come here and look on the pool bears the penalty of death. I have spared you so far at the prayer of Frodo here, who says that of him at least you have deserved some thanks. But you must also satisfy me. What is your name? Whence do you come? And whither do you go? What is your business?’ ‘We are lost, lost,’ said Gollum. ‘No name, no business, no Precious, nothing. Only empty. Only hungry; yes, we are hungry. A few little fishes, nasty bony little fishes, for a poor creature, and they say death. So wise they are; so just, so very just.’ ‘Not very wise,’ said Faramir. ‘But just: yes perhaps, as just as our little wisdom allows. Unloose him Frodo!’ Faramir took a small nail-knife from his belt and handed it to Frodo. Gollum misunderstanding the gesture, squealed and fell down. ‘Now, Sméagol!’ said Frodo. ‘You must trust me. I will not desert you. Answer truthfully, if you can. It will do you good not harm.’ He cut the cords on Gollum’s wrists and ankles and raised him to his feet. ‘Come hither!’ said Faramir. ‘Look at me! Do you know the name of this place? Have you been here before?’ Slowly Gollum raised his eyes and looked unwillingly into Faramir’s. All light went out of them, and they stared bleak and pale for a moment into the clear unwavering eyes of the man of Gondor. There was a still silence. Then Gollum dropped his head and shrank down, until he was squatting on the floor, shivering. ‘We doesn’t know and we doesn’t want to know,’ he whimpered. ‘Never came here; never come again.’ “There are locked doors and closed windows in your mind, and dark rooms behind them,’ said Faramir. ‘But in this I judge that you speak the truth. It is well for you. What oath will you swear never to return; and never to lead any living creature hither by word or sign?’
他那雙厚重蒼白的眼皮下的雙眼充滿了惡意。他看起來是個非常可憐的生物，濕淋淋、陰冷潮濕，渾身魚腥味（他手裡還抓著一條）；他稀疏的頭髮像雜亂的野草一樣垂在他骨感的眉毛上，鼻子還不停地抽噎著。「放開我們！放開我們！」他說。「繩子弄痛我們了，是的，它弄痛我們了，我們什麼也沒做。」「什麼也沒做？」法拉墨說，他用銳利的目光看著這個可憐的生物，臉上沒有任何憤怒、憐憫或驚訝的表情。「什麼也沒做？你從未做過任何值得被捆綁或更重懲罰的事嗎？不過，那不歸我審判，幸好如此。但今晚你來到了一個禁入的死亡之地。這池裡的魚，代價可是很高的。」咕嚕手裡的魚掉了下來。「不想要魚了，」他說。「代價不是為魚而設，」法拉墨說。「光是來到這裡、看到這個池子，就該判處死刑。我至今饒你一命，是應了佛羅多在這裡的請求，他說你至少對他有恩。但你也必須讓我滿意。你叫什麼名字？你從哪裡來？要往哪裡去？你有什麼目的？」「我們迷路了，迷路了，」咕嚕說。「沒有名字，沒有目的，沒有寶貝，什麼都沒有。只有空虛。只有飢餓；是的，我們很餓。為了一個可憐的生物，幾條小魚，又腥又多骨的小魚，他們就說要處死。他們多麼聰明啊；多麼公正，多麼公正。」「不是很聰明，」法拉墨說。「但公正：是的，或許吧，在我們微薄的智慧所及之內，算是公正的。佛羅多，把他解開！」法拉墨從腰帶上取下一把修甲用的小刀遞給佛羅多。咕嚕誤會了這個手勢，尖叫一聲，跌倒在地。「好了，史麥戈！」佛羅多說。「你必須相信我。我不會拋棄你。如果你能，就如實回答。這對你有好處，沒有壞處。」他割斷了咕嚕手腕和腳踝上的繩子，將他扶起來。「到這裡來！」法拉墨說。「看著我！你知道這個地方的名字嗎？你以前來過這裡嗎？」咕嚕慢慢抬起眼睛，不情願地望向法拉墨的眼睛。他眼中的所有光芒都熄滅了，有那麼一瞬間，它們茫然而蒼白地凝視著那位剛鐸人清澈、堅定的雙眼。一片寂靜。然後咕嚕低下頭，縮成一團，直到他蹲在地上，瑟瑟發抖。「我們不知道，也不想知道，」他嗚咽道。「從沒來過這裡；再也不會來了。」「你的心裡有上鎖的門和緊閉的窗，後面還有黑暗的房間，」法拉墨說。「但在這件事上，我判斷你說的是實話。這對你來說是好事。你要發什麼誓，保證永不回來；也永不以言語或信號引領任何生物到此地？」
690 THE LORD OF THE RINGS ‘Master knows,’ said Gollum with a sidelong glance at Frodo. “Yes, he knows. We will promise Master, if he saves us. We’ll promise to It, yes.’ He crawled to Frodo’s feet. ‘Save us, nice Master!’ he whined. ‘Sméagol promises to Precious, promises faithfully. Never come again, never speak, no never! No, precious, no!’ ‘Are you satisfied?’ said Faramir. ‘Yes,’ said Frodo. ‘At least, you must either accept this promise or carry out your law. You will get no more. But I promised that if he came to me, he should not be harmed. And I would not be proved faithless.’ Faramir sat for a moment in thought. ‘Very good,’ he said at last. ‘I surrender you to your master, to Frodo son of Drogo. Let him declare what he will do with you!’ ‘But, Lord Faramir,’ said Frodo bowing, ‘you have not yet declared your will concerning the said Frodo, and until that is made known, he cannot shape his plans for himself or his companions. Your judgement was postponed until the morning; but that is now at hand.’ ‘Then I will declare my doom,’ said Faramir. ‘As for you, Frodo, in so far as lies in me under higher authority, I declare you free in the realm of Gondor to the furthest of its ancient bounds; save only that neither you nor any that go with you have leave to come to this place unbidden. This doom shall stand for a year and a day, and then cease, unless you shall before that term come to Minas Tirith and present yourself to the Lord and Steward of the City. Then I will entreat him to confirm what I have done and to make it lifelong. In the meantime, whomsoever you take under your protection shall be under my protection and under the shield of Gondor. Are you answered?’ Frodo bowed low. ‘I am answered,’ he said, ‘and I place myself at your service, if that is of any worth to one so high and honourable.’ ‘It is of great worth,’ said Faramir. ‘And now, do you take this creature, this Sméagol, under your protection?’ ‘I do take Sméagol under my protection,’ said Frodo. Sam sighed audibly; and not at the courtesies, of which, as any hobbit would, he thoroughly approved. Indeed in the Shire such a matter would have required a great many more words and bows. “Then I say to you,’ said Faramir, turning to Gollum, ‘you are under doom of death; but while you walk with Frodo you are safe for our part. Yet if ever you be found by any man of Gondor astray without him, the doom shall fall. And may death find you swiftly, within Gondor or without, if you do not well serve him. Now answer me: whither would you go? You were his guide, he says. Whither were you leading him?’ Gollum made no reply.
「主人知道的，」咕嚕斜眼看著佛羅多說。「是的，他知道。如果主人救我們，我們就向主人保證。我們向『它』保證，是的。」他爬到佛羅多腳邊。「救救我們，好心的主人！」他哀嚎道。「史麥戈向『寶貝』保證，忠誠地保證。再也不來了，再也不說話，絕不！不，寶貝，不！」「你滿意了嗎？」法拉墨說。「是的，」佛羅多說。「至少，您必須接受這個承諾，或是執行您的律法。您不可能得到更多了。但我曾承諾，如果他來找我，他就不會受到傷害。而我不想被證明是個背信之人。」法拉墨沉思了片刻。「很好，」他終於開口。「我將你交給你的主人，德羅哥之子佛羅多。讓他來宣告要如何處置你吧！」「但是，法拉墨大人，」佛羅多鞠躬說道，「您尚未宣告您對這位佛羅多的意旨，而在那揭曉之前，他無法為自己或同伴規劃下一步。您的審判延到了早晨；而現在晨光已近。」「那麼我將宣告我的判決，」法拉墨說。「至於你，佛羅多，在我更高權威之下的權限範圍內，我宣布你在剛鐸王國境內，直至其最遠古的邊界，都是自由的；唯一的例外是，無論是你或你的任何同伴，都不得在未受邀請的情況下前來此地。此判決效期為一年又一天，屆時即告終止，除非你在期限之前來到米那斯提力斯，面見城主與宰相。屆時我會懇請他確認我的處置，並使其終身有效。在此期間，任何你所庇護之人，都將受到我的庇護與剛鐸之盾的保護。你得到答覆了嗎？」佛羅多深深一鞠躬。「我得到答覆了，」他說，「我願為您效勞，如果這對您這樣崇高尊貴的人有任何價值的話。」「這有極大的價值，」法拉墨說。「那麼現在，你願意將這個生物，這個史麥戈，置於你的庇護之下嗎？」「我願意將史麥戈置於我的庇護之下，」佛羅多說。山姆大聲地嘆了口氣；但並非針對那些禮節——任何哈比人都會完全贊同那些禮節。事實上，在夏爾處理這樣的事，恐怕需要更多言詞和鞠躬。「那麼我對你說，」法拉墨轉向咕嚕，「你已被判處死刑；但只要你跟著佛羅多，在我方看來你就是安全的。然而，若有任何剛鐸人在沒有他陪伴的情況下發現你迷途在外，死刑便將降臨。而且，無論在剛鐸境內或境外，如果你沒有好好服侍他，願死亡迅速找到你。現在回答我：你想去何處？他說你是他的嚮導。你當時正帶他去何處？」咕嚕沒有回答。
THE FORBIDDEN POOL 691 “This I will not have secret,’ said Faramir. ‘Answer me, or I will reverse my judgement!’ Still Gollum did not answer. ‘I will answer for him,’ said Frodo. ‘He brought me to the Black Gate, as I asked; but it was impassable.’ “There is no open gate into the Nameless Land,’ said Faramir. ‘Seeing this, we turned aside and came by the Southward road,’ Frodo continued; ‘for he said that there is, or there may be, a path near to Minas Ithil.’ ‘Minas Morgul,’ said Faramir. ‘I do not know clearly,’ said Frodo; ‘but the path climbs, I think, up into the mountains on the northern side of that vale where the old city stands. It goes up to a high cleft and so down to — that which is beyond.’ ‘Do you know the name of that high pass?’ said Faramir. ‘No,’ said Frodo. ‘It is called Cirith Ungol.’ Gollum hissed sharply and began muttering to himself. ‘Is not that its name?’ said Faramir turning to him. ‘No!’ said Gollum, and then he squealed, as if something had stabbed him. ‘Yes, yes, we heard the name once. But what does the name matter to us? Master says he must get in. So we must try some way. There is no other way to try, no.’ ‘No other way?’ said Faramir. ‘How do you know that? And who has explored all the confines of that dark realm?’ He looked long and thoughtfully at Gollum. Presently he spoke again. “Take this creature away, Anborn. Treat him gently, but watch him. And do not you, Sméagol, try to dive into the falls. The rocks have such teeth there as would slay you before your time. Leave us now and take your fish!” Anborn went out and Gollum went cringing before him. The curtain was drawn across the recess. ‘Frodo, I think you do very unwisely in this,’ said Faramir. ‘I do not think you should go with this creature. It is wicked.’ ‘No, not altogether wicked,’ said Frodo. ‘Not wholly, perhaps,’ said Faramir; ‘but malice eats it like a canker, and the evil is growing. He will lead you to no good. If you will part with him, I will give him safe-conduct and guidance to any point on the borders of Gondor that he may name.’ ‘He would not take it,’ said Frodo. ‘He would follow after me as he long has done. And I have promised many times to take him under my protection and to go where he led. You would not ask me to break faith with him?’ ‘No,’ said Faramir. ‘But my heart would. For it seems less evil to counsel another man to break troth than to do so oneself, especially
「這件事我不能讓它成為秘密，」法拉墨說。「回答我，否則我將撤回我的判斷！」咕嚕仍然沒有回答。「我替他回答，」佛羅多說。「他帶我到了黑門，如我所要求的；但那裡無法通行。」「通往無名之地的門戶並未敞開，」法拉墨說。「見此情況，我們便轉向，走了南方的路，」佛羅多繼續說；「因為他說，在米那斯伊希爾附近有，或者可能有一條小徑。」「是米那斯魔窟，」法拉墨說。「我不太清楚，」佛羅多說；「但我想，那條路會向上攀升，進入那座古老城市所在山谷的北側山脈。它通往一個高聳的裂口，然後向下通往——那邊的世界。」「你知道那條高山隘口的名稱嗎？」法拉墨問。「不知道，」佛羅多說。「它叫做西力斯昂哥。」咕嚕尖銳地嘶嘶作響，開始對自己喃喃自語。「那不是它的名字嗎？」法拉墨轉向他問。「不！」咕嚕說，然後他尖叫起來，彷彿被什麼東西刺中了。「是，是，我們聽過這個名字一次。但這名字對我們有什麼關係？主人說他必須進去。所以我們必須試試某條路。沒有別的路可試了，沒有。」「沒有別的路？」法拉墨說。「你怎麼知道？又有誰探索過那個黑暗國度的所有邊界？」他長久而深思地看著咕嚕。過了一會兒，他又開口了。「安朋，把這個生物帶走。溫柔地對待他，但要看好他。還有你，史麥戈，別想跳進瀑布裡。那裡的岩石有著利齒，會讓你死於非命。現在離開我們，帶上你的魚！」安朋走了出去，咕嚕在他面前畏縮地跟著。壁龕的簾子被拉上了。「佛羅多，我認為你這麼做非常不明智，」法拉墨說。「我不認為你應該跟著這個生物。他很邪惡。」「不，不完全邪惡，」佛羅多說。「也許不全然是，」法拉墨說；「但惡意像潰瘍一樣侵蝕著他，而且邪惡還在增長。他不會帶你走向任何好結果。如果你願意與他分開，我會給他安全通行證，並引導他到他指定的任何剛鐸邊境地點。」「他不會接受的，」佛羅多說。「他會像長久以來那樣跟蹤我。而且我已多次承諾要保護他，並跟隨他的引導。你不會要求我對他失信吧？」「不會，」法拉墨說。「但我的心會。因為勸告他人背信，似乎比自己背信的罪惡要小一些，尤其是
692 THE LORD OF THE RINGS if one sees a friend bound unwitting to his own harm. But no — if he will go with you, you must now endure him. But I do not think you are holden to go to Cirith Ungol, of which he has told you less than he knows. That much I perceived clearly in his mind. Do not go to Cirith Ungol!’ ‘Where then shall I go?’ said Frodo. ‘Back to the Black Gate and deliver myself up to the guard? What do you know against this place that makes its name so dreadful?’ ‘Nothing certain,’ said Faramir. ‘We of Gondor do not ever pass east of the Road in these days, and none of us younger men has ever done so, nor has any of us set foot upon the Mountains of Shadow. Of them we know only old report and the rumour of bygone days. But there is some dark terror that dwells in the passes above Minas Morgul. If Cirith Ungol is named, old men and masters of lore will blanch and fall silent. “The valley of Minas Morgul passed into evil very long ago, and it was a menace and a dread while the banished Enemy dwelt yet far away, and Ithilien was still for the most part in our keeping. As you know, that city was once a strong place, proud and fair, Minas Ithil, the twin sister of our own city. But it was taken by fell men whom the Enemy in his first strength had dominated, and who wandered homeless and masterless after his fall. It is said that their lords were men of Numenor who had fallen into dark wickedness; to them the Enemy had given rings of power, and he had devoured them: living ghosts they were become, terrible and evil. After his going they took Minas Ithil and dwelt there, and they filled it, and all the valley about, with decay: it seemed empty and was not so, for a shapeless fear lived within the ruined walls. Nine Lords there were, and after the return of their Master, which they aided and prepared in secret, they grew strong again. Then the Nine Riders issued forth from the gates of horror, and we could not withstand them. Do not approach their citadel. You will be espied. It is a place of sleepless malice, full of lidless eyes. Do not go that way!’ ‘But where else will you direct me?’ said Frodo. ‘You cannot yourself, you say, guide me to the mountains, nor over them. But over the mountains I am bound, by solemn undertaking to the Council, to find a way or perish in the seeking. And if I turn back, refusing the road in its bitter end, where then shall I go among Elves or Men? Would you have me come to Gondor with this Thing, the Thing that drove your brother mad with desire? What spell would it work in Minas Tirith? Shall there be two cities of Minas Morgul, grinning at each other across a dead land filled with rottenness?’ ‘I would not have it so,’ said Faramir. “Then what would you have me do?’
如果看到朋友在不知不覺中走向自我毀滅的道路，我們也會這麼做。但不——如果他執意要跟著你，你現在就必須忍受他。不過我不認為你非得去西力斯昂哥不可，關於那地方，他告訴你的比他知道的要少得多。這點我從他的思緒中看得很清楚。不要去西力斯昂哥！」「那我該去哪裡？」佛羅多說。「回到黑門，把自己交給守衛嗎？關於這個地方，你又知道些什麼，讓它的名字如此駭人？」「沒有什麼是確定的，」法拉墨說。「如今我們剛鐸人從不越過大路往東走，我們這些年輕人沒人這麼做過，也沒人踏足過黯影山脈。關於那些地方，我們只知道古老的報告和過往歲月的傳聞。但在米那斯魔窟上方的隘口裡，潛伏著某種黑暗的恐怖。只要一提到西力斯昂哥，老人和知識大師們也會臉色發白、噤口不言。『米那斯魔窟山谷很久以前就落入了邪惡之中，當被放逐的敵人還遠居他方，而伊西立安大部分仍在我們手中時，它就已經是個威脅和恐懼。如你所知，那座城市曾經是個堅固、驕傲又美麗的地方，名為米那斯伊希爾，是我們自己城市的雙生姊妹。但它被一些兇惡之徒佔領了，那些人在敵人初顯實力時就受其支配，並在敵人敗亡後變得無家可歸、沒有主人。據說他們的首領是墮入黑暗邪惡的努曼諾爾人；敵人曾賜予他們力量之戒，並吞噬了他們：他們變成了活生生的鬼魂，既可怕又邪惡。在敵人離開後，他們佔據了米那斯伊希爾並住在那裡，他們讓那裡及周圍的整個山谷充滿了腐朽：它看似空無一人，實則不然，因為一種無形的恐懼活在廢墟的牆垣之內。那裡曾有九位魔君，在他們的主人回歸後——他們暗中協助並為此準備——他們又再度壯大。然後九名戒靈從那恐怖之門傾巢而出，我們無法抵擋他們。不要靠近他們的城堡。你會被窺見的。那是一個充滿不眠惡意、佈滿不眨之眼的地方。不要走那條路！」「但你還能指引我往哪裡去呢？」佛羅多說。「你說你沒辦法親自引導我到山區，也無法帶我翻越山脈。但我受託於議會的莊嚴承諾，必須越過山脈，要麼找到一條路，要麼在尋找中滅亡。如果我回頭，在旅途最艱苦的終點拒絕前行，那我又能去精靈或人類那裡的何處呢？難道你要我帶著這個東西，這個讓你兄長瘋狂渴望的東西，來到剛鐸嗎？它會在米那斯提力斯施展什麼樣的魔咒？難道要有兩座米那斯魔窟，在充滿腐敗的死亡之地上相互獰笑嗎？」「我不願如此，」法拉墨說。「那你要我怎麼做？」
THE FORBIDDEN POOL 693 ‘I know not. Only I would not have you go to death or to torment. And I do not think that Mithrandir would have chosen this way.’ “Yet since he is gone, I must take such paths as I can find. And there is no time for long searching,’ said Frodo. ‘It is a hard doom and a hopeless errand,’ said Faramir. ‘But at the least, remember my warning: beware of this guide, Sméagol. He has done murder before now. I read it in him.’ He sighed. ‘Well, so we meet and part, Frodo son of Drogo. You have no need of soft words: I do not hope to see you again on any other day under this Sun. But you shall go now with my blessing upon you, and upon all your people. Rest a little while food is prepared for you. ‘I would gladly learn how this creeping Sméagol became possessed of the Thing of which we speak, and how he lost it, but I will not trouble you now. If ever beyond hope you return to the lands of the living and we re-tell our tales, sitting by a wall in the sun, laughing at old grief, you shall tell me then. Until that time, or some other time beyond the vision of the Seeing-stones of Numenor, farewell!’ He rose and bowed low to Frodo, and drawing the curtain passed out into the cave.
「我不知道。我只希望你不要走向死亡或折磨。而且我不認為密斯蘭迪會選擇這條路。」「然而既然他已不在，我必須走我能找到的路。而且沒有時間慢慢尋找了。」佛羅多說。「這真是個艱難的命運和無望的任務。」法拉墨說。「但至少，記住我的警告：要提防這個嚮導，史麥戈。他以前殺過人。我從他身上看得出來。」他嘆了口氣。「好吧，德羅哥之子佛羅多，我們在此相遇，也在此分別。你不需要溫言軟語：我不期望在這太陽底下還能再見到你。但你現在可以帶著我的祝福離去，祝福你，也祝福你所有的人民。趁著食物還在準備，你先休息一會兒吧。「我很樂意了解這個鬼鬼祟祟的史麥戈是如何得到我們所說的那個東西，又是如何失去它的，但我現在不會打擾你。如果萬一，超乎所有希望，你回到了生者的土地，我們重述彼此的故事，坐在陽光下的牆邊，笑談過往的悲傷，到時候你再告訴我。在那之前，或是在努曼諾爾的真知晶石也無法預見的某個時刻之前，再會了！」他站起身，向佛羅多深深一鞠躬，然後拉開簾子，走進了洞穴裡。