Chapter 1: Minas Tirith

Chapter 1 MINAS TIRITH Pippin looked out from the shelter of Gandalf’s cloak. He wondered if he was awake or still sleeping, still in the swift-moving dream in which he had been wrapped so long since the great ride began. The dark world was rushing by and the wind sang loudly in his ears. He could see nothing but the wheeling stars, and away to his right vast shadows against the sky where the mountains of the South marched past. Sleepily he tried to reckon the times and stages of their journey, but his memory was drowsy and uncertain. There had been the first ride at terrible speed without a halt, and then in the dawn he had seen a pale gleam of gold, and they had come to the silent town and the great empty house on the hill. And hardly had they reached its shelter when the winged shadow had passed over once again, and men wilted with fear. But Gandalf had spoken soft words to him, and he had slept in a corner, tired but uneasy, dimly aware of comings and goings and of men talking and Gandalf giving orders. And then again riding, riding in the night. This was the second, no, the third night since he had looked in the Stone. And with that hideous memory he woke fully, and shivered, and the noise of the wind became filled with menacing voices. A light kindled in the sky, a blaze of yellow fire behind dark barriers. Pippin cowered back, afraid for a moment, wondering into what dreadful country Gandalf was bearing him. He rubbed his eyes, and then he saw that it was the moon rising above the eastern shadows, now almost at the full. So the night was not yet old and for hours the dark journey would go on. He stirred and spoke. ‘Where are we, Gandalf?’ he asked. ‘In the realm of Gondor,’ the wizard answered. “The land of Anorien is still passing by.’ There was a silence again for a while. Then, ‘What is that?’ cried Pippin suddenly, clutching at Gandalf’s cloak. ‘Look! Fire, red fire! Are there dragons in this land? Look, there is another!’ For answer Gandalf cried aloud to his horse. ‘On, Shadowfax! We must hasten. Time is short. See! The beacons of Gondor are alight, calling for aid. War is kindled. See, there is the fire on Amon Din, and flame on Eilenach; and there they go speeding west: Nardol, Erelas, Min-Rimmon, Calenhad, and the Halifirien on the borders of Rohan.’ But Shadowfax paused in his stride, slowing to a walk, and then

第一章 米那斯提力斯 皮聘從甘道夫斗篷的庇護下向外望去。他不知道自己是醒著還是仍在睡夢中，仍在那場自大奔馳開始以來就將他包裹其中的飛速移動的夢境裡。黑暗的世界飛速掠過，風在他耳邊大聲歌唱。他什麼也看不見，只有旋轉的星辰，以及右方遠處，南方山脈行進般經過時投在天際的巨大陰影。他睡眼惺忪地試圖計算他們旅程的時間和階段，但他的記憶昏沉而不確定。先是第一段毫不停歇的極速奔馳，然後在黎明時分，他看到一抹淡淡的金色微光，接著他們來到那座寂靜的城鎮和山丘上空蕩蕩的大屋。他們幾乎才剛進到那庇護所，那有翼的陰影就再次掠過，人們都因恐懼而精神萎靡。但甘道夫對他說了些溫和的話，他便在一個角落睡著了，雖然疲憊卻心神不寧，隱約意識到有人來來去去，有人在交談，還有甘道夫在下達指令。然後又是騎行，在夜色中奔馳。這是他窺看晶石以來的第二個，不，第三個夜晚了。那駭人的記憶讓他完全清醒過來，他打了個寒顫，風的噪音也充滿了威脅的聲音。天空中燃起一道光，一團黃色的火焰在黑暗的屏障後熊熊燃燒。皮聘畏縮了一下，一時之間感到害怕，心想甘道夫究竟要把他帶到哪個可怕的國度。他揉了揉眼睛，然後才看清那是月亮正從東方的陰影之上緩緩升起，幾乎已是滿月。所以夜還未深，這趟黑暗的旅程還會持續好幾個小時。他動了動身子，開口問道：『我們在哪裡，甘道夫？』他問。『在剛鐸的國度裡，』巫師回答。『我們還在安諾瑞安的土地上穿行。』接著又是一陣沉默。然後，『那是什麼？』皮聘突然大喊，緊緊抓住甘道夫的斗篷。『看！火，紅色的火！這地方有龍嗎？看，又有一個！』甘道夫沒有直接回答，而是對他的馬大喊：『前進，影疾！我們必須加快腳步。時間緊迫。看！剛鐸的烽火點燃了，正在請求援助。戰火已燃。看，那是阿蒙丁上的火，還有伊萊那赫上的火焰；它們正一路向西快速傳遞：納多、伊瑞拉斯、明里蒙、卡倫哈德，以及位於羅翰邊境的哈利菲瑞恩。』但影疾卻停下了腳步，放慢為步行，然後

748 THE LORD OF THE RINGS he lifted up his head and neighed. And out of the darkness the answering neigh of other horses came; and presently the thudding of hoofs was heard, and three riders swept up and passed like flying ghosts in the moon and vanished into the West. Then Shadowfax gathered himself together and sprang away, and the night flowed over him like a roaring wind. Pippin became drowsy again and paid little attention to Gandalf telling him of the customs of Gondor, and how the Lord of the City had beacons built on the tops of outlying hills along both borders of the great range, and maintained posts at these points where fresh horses were always in readiness to bear his errand-riders to Rohan in the North, or to Belfalas in the South. ‘It is long since the beacons of the North were lit,’ he said; ‘and in the ancient days of Gondor they were not needed, for they had the Seven Stones.’ Pippin stirred uneasily. ‘Sleep again, and do not be afraid!’ said Gandalf. ‘For you are not going like Frodo to Mordor, but to Minas Tirith, and there you will be as safe as you can be anywhere in these days. If Gondor falls, or the Ring is taken, then the Shire will be no refuge.’ “You do not comfort me,’ said Pippin, but nonetheless sleep crept over him. The last thing that he remembered before he fell into deep dream was a glimpse of high white peaks, glimmering like floating isles above the clouds as they caught the light of the westering moon. He wondered where Frodo was, and if he was already in Mordor, or if he was dead; and he did not know that Frodo from far away looked on that same moon as it set beyond Gondor ere the coming of the day. Pippin woke to the sound of voices. Another day of hiding and a night of journey had fleeted by. It was twilight: the cold dawn was at hand again, and chill grey mists were about them. Shadowfax stood steaming with sweat, but he held his neck proudly and showed no sign of weariness. Many tall men heavily cloaked stood beside him, and behind them in the mist loomed a wall of stone. Partly ruinous it seemed, but already before the night was passed the sound of hurried labour could be heard: beat of hammers, clink of trowels, and the creak of wheels. Torches and flares glowed dully here and there in the fog. Gandalf was speaking to the men that barred his way, and as he listened Pippin became aware that he himself was being discussed. “Yea truly, we know you, Mithrandir,’ said the leader of the men, ‘and you know the pass-words of the Seven Gates and are free to go forward. But we do not know your companion. What is he? A dwarf out of the mountains in the North? We wish for no strangers in the

「是的，我們確實認識您，米斯蘭達，」那些人的首領說，「而且您知道七大門的口令，可以自由前進。但我們不認識您的同伴。他是什麼人？一個來自北方山脈的矮人嗎？我們不希望有任何陌生人——」

MINAS TIRITH 749 land at this time, unless they be mighty men of arms in whose faith and help we can trust.’ ‘I will vouch for him before the seat of Denethor,’ said Gandalf. ‘And as for valour, that cannot be computed by stature. He has passed through more battles and perils than you have, Ingold, though you be twice his height; and he comes now from the storming of Isengard, of which we bear tidings, and great weariness is on him, or I would wake him. His name is Peregrin, a very valiant man.’ ‘Man?’ said Ingold dubiously, and the others laughed. ‘Man!’ cried Pippin, now thoroughly roused. ‘Man! Indeed not! I am a hobbit and no more valiant than I am a man, save perhaps now and again by necessity. Do not let Gandalf deceive you!’ ‘Many a doer of great deeds might say no more,’ said Ingold. ‘But what is a hobbit?’ ‘A Halfling,’ answered Gandalf. ‘Nay, not the one that was spoken of,’ he added seeing the wonder in the men’s faces. ‘Not he, yet one of his kindred.’ “Yes, and one who journeyed with him,’ said Pippin. ‘And Boromir of your City was with us, and he saved me in the snows of the North, and at the last he was slain defending me from many foes.’ ‘Peace!’ said Gandalf. ‘The news of that grief should have been told first to the father.’ ‘It has been guessed already,’ said Ingold; ‘for there have been strange portents here of late. But pass on now quickly! For the Lord of Minas Tirith will be eager to see any that bear the latest tidings of his son, be he man o : ‘Hobbit,’ said Pippin. ‘Little service can I offer to your lord, but what I can do, I would do, remembering Boromir the brave.’ ‘Fare you well!’ said Ingold; and the men made way for Shadowfax, and he passed through a narrow gate in the wall. ‘May you bring good counsel to Denethor in his need, and to us all, Mithrandir!’ Ingold cried. ‘But you come with tidings of grief and danger, as is your wont, they say.’ ‘Because I come seldom but when my help is needed,’ answered Gandalf. ‘And as for counsel, to you I would say that you are over-late in repairing the wall of the Pelennor. Courage will now be your best defence against the storm that is at hand — that and such hope as I bring. For not all the tidings that I bring are evil. But leave your trowels and sharpen your swords!’ “The work will be finished ere evening,’ said Ingold. “This is the last portion of the wall to be put in defence: the least open to attack, for it looks towards our friends of Rohan. Do you know aught of them? Will they answer the summons, think you?’ “Yes, they will come. But they have fought many battles at your >

除非是我們能信任其信念和幫助的強大戰士，否則此時此地任何外人不得進入米那斯提力斯。」「我會在迪耐瑟的王座前為他擔保，」甘道夫說。「至於勇氣，那可不是用身高來衡量的。因戈德，他經歷過的戰鬥和危險比你還多，雖然你的身高是他的兩倍；他剛從艾辛格的猛攻中歸來，我們正帶來那裡的消息，他極度疲憊，否則我就會叫醒他。他的名字是皮瑞格林，一個非常英勇的人。」「人？」因戈德懷疑地說，其他人則笑了起來。「人！」皮聘大喊，現在他完全清醒了。「人！當然不是！我是一個哈比人，我的英勇程度不比我是一個『人』的程度高多少，除非偶爾出於必要。別讓甘道夫騙了你們！」「許多成就偉業的人也只會這麼說，」因戈德說。「但什麼是哈比人？」「一個半身人，」甘道夫回答。「不，不是預言中提到的那一位，」他看到那些人臉上的驚奇神色，補充道。「不是他，但是他的親族之一。」「是的，而且是與他一同旅行的夥伴，」皮聘說。「你們城裡的波羅莫也和我們在一起，他在北地的雪中救了我，最後為了保護我抵禦眾多敵人而犧牲了。」「住口！」甘道夫說。「這件悲傷的消息應該先告訴他的父親。」「我們已經猜到了，」因戈德說；「因為最近這裡出現了一些奇怪的預兆。但現在請快點通過吧！因為米那斯提力斯之主會急於見到任何帶來他兒子最新消息的人，無論他是人還是……」「哈比人，」皮聘說。「我能為您的主人提供的幫助不多，但凡我能做的，我都會去做，以紀念勇敢的波羅莫。」「祝您順利！」因戈德說；士兵們為影疾讓開路，他穿過了城牆上一道狹窄的門。「米斯蘭達，願您在迪耐瑟危難之時，為他和我們所有人帶來好的建議！」因戈德喊道。「但據說，您總是伴隨著悲傷和危險的消息而來，一如您的習慣。」「因為我鮮少前來，除非需要我的幫助，」甘道夫回答。「至於建議，我會對你說，你們修復帕蘭諾城牆已經太遲了。勇氣將是你們對抗即將到來風暴的最佳防禦——勇氣，以及我帶來的希望。因為我帶來的消息不全是壞事。但是，放下你的泥瓦刀，磨利你的劍吧！」「傍晚前工程就會完成，」因戈德說。「這是城牆最後一段需要防禦的部分：最不容易受到攻擊，因為它面向我們羅翰的朋友。您知道他們任何消息嗎？您認為他們會回應召集嗎？」「是的，他們會來。但他們在你們……」

750 THE LORD OF THE RINGS back. This road and no road looks towards safety any longer. Be vigilant! But for Gandalf Stormcrow you would have seen a host of foes coming out of Anorien and no Riders of Rohan. And you may yet. Fare you well, and sleep not!’ Gandalf passed now into the wide land beyond the Rammas Echor. So the men of Gondor called the out-wall that they had built with great labour, after Ithilien fell under the shadow of their Enemy. For ten leagues or more it ran from the mountains’ feet and so back again, enclosing in its fence the fields of the Pelennor: fair and fertile townlands on the long slopes and terraces falling to the deep levels of the Anduin. At its furthest point from the Great Gate of the City, north-eastward, the wall was four leagues distant, and there from a frowning bank it overlooked the long flats beside the river, and men had made it high and strong; for at that point, upon a walled causeway, the road came in from the fords and bridges of Osgiliath and passed through a guarded gate between embattled towers. At its nearest point the wall was little more than one league from the City, and that was south-eastward. There Anduin, going in a wide knee about the hills of Emyn Arnen in South Ithilien, bent sharply west, and the out-wall rose upon its very brink; and beneath it lay the quays and landings of the Harlond for craft that came upstream from the southern fiefs. The townlands were rich, with wide tilth and many orchards, and homesteads there were with oast and garner, fold and byre, and many rills rippling through the green from the highlands down to Anduin. Yet the herdsmen and husbandmen that dwelt there were not many, and the most part of the people of Gondor lived in the seven circles of the City, or in the high vales of the mountain-borders, in Lossarnach, or further south in fair Lebennin with its five swift streams. There dwelt a hardy folk between the mountains and the sea. They were reckoned men of Gondor, yet their blood was mingled, and there were short and swarthy folk among them whose sires came more from the forgotten men who housed in the shadow of the hills in the Dark Years ere the coming of the kings. But beyond, in the great fief of Belfalas, dwelt Prince Imrahil in his castle of Dol Amroth by the sea, and he was of high blood, and his folk also, tall men and proud with sea-grey eyes. Now after Gandalf had ridden for some time the light of day grew in the sky, and Pippin roused himself and looked up. To his left lay a sea of mist, rising to a bleak shadow in the East; but to his right great mountains reared their heads, ranging from the West to a steep and sudden end, as if in the making of the land the River had burst through a great barrier, carving out a mighty valley to be a land of

「這條路和任何一條路都不再通往安全。保持警惕！要不是因為『暴風烏鴉』甘道夫，你們看到的會是從安諾瑞安傾巢而出的敵軍，而不是洛汗騎士。而且你們可能還是會看到。祝你們好運，別睡著了！」甘道夫此刻進入了拉馬斯安澈之外的廣闊土地。剛鐸人如此稱呼這道外牆，是在伊西力安落入大敵的陰影後，他們耗費巨力建造的。它從山腳下綿延十里格或更遠，然後再繞回來，將帕蘭諾平原圈在其圍籬之內：那是在緩坡與階地上美麗而肥沃的城鎮田地，一路向下延伸至安都因河的深處。在離城中巨門最遠的東北角，城牆距離城市有四里格遠，在那裡，它從一道壁立的河岸上俯瞰著河邊狹長的平地，人們將它建得又高又堅固；因為在那一點上，道路從奧斯吉力亞斯的淺灘和橋樑，沿著一道有牆的堤道而來，穿過一座位於雉堞高塔之間、有衛兵把守的大門。在離城市最近的地方，城牆距離不過一里格多一點，那是在東南方。在那裡，安都因河在南伊西力安的艾明亞南丘陵周圍拐了一個大彎，驟然向西，而外牆就矗立在河岸邊緣；牆下是哈龍德的碼頭和渡口，供從南方封邑逆流而上的船隻使用。城鎮田地富饒，有著廣闊的耕地和許多果園，農莊裡有烤窯與穀倉，羊圈與牛棚，還有許多潺潺溪流從高地穿過綠地，奔流至安都因河。然而，居住在那裡的牧人與農夫並不多，大部分的剛鐸人民都住在城裡的七環之內，或是在山區邊界的高谷中，在羅薩那奇，或更南邊有著五條湍急溪流的美麗萊貝寧。在山與海之間，居住著一支強健的民族。他們被視為剛鐸人，但血統混雜，其中有些身材矮小、皮膚黝黑的人，他們的祖先更多是來自黑暗年代、在王者降臨前棲身於山影之下的被遺忘的民族。但在更遠處，在貝爾法拉斯這片大封邑裡，住著印拉希爾王子，在他的海邊城堡多爾安羅斯裡，他血統高貴，其子民也是如此，他們身材高大，神情驕傲，有著海灰色的眼眸。甘道夫騎行了一段時間後，天色漸亮，皮聘振作起來，抬頭張望。他的左邊是一片霧海，向東方升起一道淒涼的陰影；但他的右邊，群山昂然聳立，從西方綿延而來，到一處陡峭之處戛然而止，彷彿在開天闢地之時，大河曾衝破一道巨大屏障，鑿出了一條宏偉的山谷，成為一片……

MINAS TIRITH 751 battle and debate in times to come. And there where the White Mountains of Ered Nimrais came to their end he saw, as Gandalf had promised, the dark mass of Mount Mindolluin, the deep purple shadows of its high glens, and its tall face whitening in the rising day. And upon its out-thrust knee was the Guarded City, with its seven walls of stone so strong and old that it seemed to have been not builded but carven by giants out of the bones of the earth. Even as Pippin gazed in wonder the walls passed from looming grey to white, blushing faintly in the dawn; and suddenly the sun climbed over the eastern shadow and sent forth a shaft that smote the face of the City. Then Pippin cried aloud, for the Tower of Ecthelion, standing high within the topmost wall, shone out against the sky, glimmering like a spike of pearl and silver, tall and fair and shapely, and its pinnacle glittered as if it were wrought of crystals; and white banners broke and fluttered from the battlements in the morning breeze, and high and far he heard a clear ringing as of silver trumpets. So Gandalf and Peregrin rode to the Great Gate of the Men of Gondor at the rising of the sun, and its iron doors rolled back before them. ‘Mithrandir! Mithrandir!’ men cried. ‘Now we know that the storm is indeed nigh!’ ‘It is upon you,’ said Gandalf. ‘I have ridden on its wings. Let me pass! I must come to your Lord Denethor, while his stewardship lasts. Whatever betide, you have come to the end of the Gondor that you have known. Let me pass!’ Then men fell back before the command of his voice and questioned him no further, though they gazed in wonder at the hobbit that sat before him and at the horse that bore him. For the people of the City used horses very little and they were seldom seen in their streets, save only those ridden by the errand-riders of their lord. And they said: ‘Surely that is one of the great steeds of the King of Rohan? Maybe the Rohirrim will come soon to strengthen us.’ But Shadowfax walked proudly up the long winding road. For the fashion of Minas Tirith was such that it was built on seven levels, each delved into the hill, and about each was set a wall, and in each wall was a gate. But the gates were not set in a line: the Great Gate in the City Wall was at the east point of the circuit, but the next faced half south, and the third half north, and so to and fro upwards; so that the paved way that climbed towards the Citadel turned first this way and then that across the face of the hill. And each time that it passed the line of the Great Gate it went through

在那白色山脈埃瑞德尼姆拉斯的盡頭，他看見了，正如甘道夫所承諾的，明多路因山的黝黑巨影，其高處峽谷深紫色的陰影，以及它在晨光中逐漸泛白的高聳面貌。在它伸出的山麓上，座落著那座守衛之城，七堵石牆如此堅固古老，彷彿不是建造而成，而是由巨人用大地之骨雕鑿出來的。就在皮聘驚奇凝視之際，城牆從朦朧的灰色轉為白色，在黎明中泛起淡淡紅暈；太陽倏地越過東方的陰影，射出一道光束，猛擊在城池的正面。皮聘不禁高喊出聲，因為愛克西里昂之塔，高聳於最頂層的城牆之內，在天際下熠熠生輝，閃爍著宛如珍珠與白銀的尖頂，高挑、美麗而勻稱，其尖塔閃閃發光，彷彿由水晶精雕而成；白色的旗幟在城垛上迎著晨風展開飄揚，他還聽到高處遠方傳來一陣清脆的響聲，宛如銀製的號角。就這樣，甘道夫與培瑞格林在日出時分馳至剛鐸子民的宏偉大門前，鐵門在他們面前隆隆開啟。「米斯蘭達！米斯蘭達！」人們喊道。「現在我們知道暴風雨真的近了！」「暴風雨已在你們頭頂了，」甘道夫說。「我正是乘著它的翅膀來的。讓我過去！我必須去見你們的宰相迪耐瑟，趁他的宰相之職還在。無論將發生什麼，你們所熟知的那個剛鐸已經走到了盡頭。讓我過去！」眾人在他充滿威嚴的聲音前退開，不再追問，儘管他們驚奇地注視著坐在他身前的哈比人，以及承載他的那匹馬。因為城裡的居民極少使用馬匹，街上也很少見到牠們的蹤影，除非是他們宰相的傳令使所騎的馬。他們說：「那肯定是羅翰國王的駿馬之一吧？或許羅翰人很快就會來增援我們了。」但影疾驕傲地走上那條漫長蜿蜒的道路。因為米那斯提力斯的建造樣式是這樣的：它建在七個層級上，每一層都深入山丘，每一層外都設有一道牆，而每道牆上都有一扇門。但這些門並非排成一直線：城牆上的大門位於環路的最東點，但下一扇門朝向東南，第三扇門朝向東北，如此來回向上；因此，那條通往堡壘的鋪石路在山坡上忽東忽西地蜿蜒而上。每當它經過大門的垂直線時，它會穿過

752 THE LORD OF THE RINGS an arched tunnel, piercing a vast pier of rock whose huge out-thrust bulk divided in two all the circles of the City save the first. For partly in the primeval shaping of the hill, partly by the mighty craft and labour of old, there stood up from the rear of the wide court behind the Gate a towering bastion of stone, its edge sharp as a ship-keel facing east. Up it rose, even to the level of the topmost circle, and there was crowned by a battlement; so that those in the Citadel might, like mariners in a mountainous ship, look from its peak sheer down upon the Gate seven hundred feet below. The entrance to the Citadel also looked eastward, but was delved in the heart of the rock; thence a long lamp-lit slope ran up to the seventh gate. Thus men reached at last the High Court, and the Place of the Fountain before the feet of the White Tower: tall and shapely, fifty fathoms from its base to the pinnacle, where the banner of the Stewards floated a thousand feet above the plain. A strong citadel it was indeed, and not to be taken by a host of enemies, if there were any within that could hold weapons; unless some foe could come behind and scale the lower skirts of Mindolluin, and so come upon the narrow shoulder that joined the Hill of Guard to the mountain mass. But that shoulder, which rose to the height of the fifth wall, was hedged with great ramparts right up to the precipice that overhung its western end; and in that space stood the houses and domed tombs of bygone kings and lords, for ever silent between the mountain and the tower. Pippin gazed in growing wonder at the great stone city, vaster and more splendid than anything that he had dreamed of; greater and stronger than Isengard, and far more beautiful. Yet it was in truth falling year by year into decay; and already it lacked half the men that could have dwelt at ease there. In every street they passed some great house or court over whose doors and arched gates were carved many fair letters of strange and ancient shapes: names Pippin guessed of great men and kindreds that had once dwelt there; and yet now they were silent, and no footsteps rang on their wide pavements, nor voice was heard in their halls, nor any face looked out from door or empty window. At last they came out of shadow to the seventh gate, and the warm sun that shone down beyond the river, as Frodo walked in the glades of Ithilien, glowed here on the smooth walls and rooted pillars, and the great arch with keystone carven in the likeness of a crowned and kingly head. Gandalf dismounted, for no horse was allowed in the Citadel, and Shadowfax suffered himself to be led away at the soft word of his master. The Guards of the gate were robed in black, and their helms were

一條拱形隧道穿過一塊巨大的岩墩，這岩墩龐然突出，將除了第一層之外的所有城郭一分為二。因為，部分由於山丘原始的形貌，部分也藉由古人高超的工藝與勞力，一座高聳的石砌稜堡從大門後方寬闊的庭院拔地而起，其朝東的邊緣銳利如船的龍骨。它向上高聳，直達最頂層城郭的高度，頂端加冕著城垛；如此一來，大城裡的人們便能像置身於巍峨如山的船艦上的水手，從其頂峰垂直俯瞰七百英尺下的大門。大城的入口也朝向東方，但深鑿於岩石心臟地帶；從那裡，一條燈火通明的長坡向上延伸至第七道門。人們就這樣終於抵達了高等法院，以及白塔腳下的噴泉廣場。白塔高聳而優美，從基座到尖頂共五十噚，宰相的旗幟在其上飄揚，離下方平原足有一千英尺高。這確實是一座堅固的堡壘，只要城內有能持械之人，便非千軍萬馬所能攻下；除非有敵人能從後方繞進，攀上明多陸安山的低矮山麓，進而登上那連接衛戍山與主山脈的狹窄山肩。但那山肩升至第五道城牆的高度，四周圍繞著巨大的壁壘，一直延伸到其西端懸垂的峭壁；在那片空間裡，矗立著昔日君王與貴族的宅邸和圓頂陵墓，在山與塔之間永恆沉寂。皮聘日益驚奇地凝視著這座宏偉的石城，它比他夢想中的任何事物都更廣闊、更壯麗；比艾辛格更宏偉、更堅固，且遠為美麗。然而，它實際上正年復一年地衰敗；城裡的人口已不及原可安居於此的一半。在他們經過的每條街道上，都有些宏偉的宅邸或庭院，其門扉與拱門上雕刻著許多字形奇特古老的優美字母：皮聘猜想，那是一些曾居住於此的偉人與家族之名；但如今，它們寂靜無聲，寬闊的石板路上聽不見腳步聲響，廳堂裡沒有人語，也無人從門扉或空蕩的窗戶向外探看。最後，他們走出陰影，來到第七道門前，那照耀在河對岸、佛羅多正漫步其間的伊西力安林間空地上的溫暖陽光，此刻也映照在此處光滑的牆壁、根深柢固的石柱，以及那座拱心石上雕刻著一戴冠的國王頭像的宏偉拱門上。甘道夫下了馬，因為大城內不許馬匹進入，影疾在主人的輕聲安撫下，任由自己被牽走。城門的衛兵身穿黑袍，他們的頭盔是

MINAS TIRITH 753 of strange shape, high-crowned, with long cheek-guards close-fitting to the face, and above the cheek-guards were set the white wings of sea-birds; but the helms gleamed with a flame of silver, for they were indeed wrought of mzthril, heirlooms from the glory of old days. Upon the black surcoats were embroidered in white a tree blossoming like snow beneath a silver crown and many-pointed stars. This was the livery of the heirs of Elendil, and none wore it now in all Gondor, save the Guards of the Citadel before the Court of the Fountain where the White Tree once had grown. Already it seemed that word of their coming had gone before them; and at once they were admitted, silently, and without question. Quickly Gandalf strode across the white-paved court. A sweet fountain played there in the morning sun, and a sward of bright green lay about it; but in the midst, drooping over the pool, stood a dead tree, and the falling drops dripped sadly from its barren and broken branches back into the clear water. Pippin glanced at it as he hurried after Gandalf. It looked mournful, he thought, and he wondered why the dead tree was left in this place where everything else was well tended. Seven stars and seven stones and one white tree. The words that Gandalf had murmured came back into his mind. And then he found himself at the doors of the great hall beneath the gleaming tower; and behind the wizard he passed the tall silent door-wardens and entered the cool echoing shadows of the house of stone. They walked down a paved passage, long and empty, and as they went Gandalf spoke softly to Pippin. ‘Be careful of your words, Master Peregrin! This is no time for hobbit pertness. Théoden is a kindly old man. Denethor is of another sort, proud and subtle, a man of far greater lineage and power, though he is not called a king. But he will speak most to you, and question you much, since you can tell him of his son Boromir. He loved him greatly: too much perhaps; and the more so because they were unlike. But under cover of this love he will think it easier to learn what he wishes from you rather than from me. Do not tell him more than you need, and leave quiet the matter of Frodo’s errand. I will deal with that in due time. And say nothing about Aragorn either, unless you must.’ ‘Why not? What is wrong with Strider?’ Pippin whispered. ‘He meant to come here, didn’t he? And he’ll be arriving soon himself, anyway.’ ‘Maybe, maybe,’ said Gandalf. “Though if he comes, it is likely to be in some way that no one expects, not even Denethor. It will be better so. At least he should come unheralded by us.’

米那斯提力斯753號衛兵的頭盔形狀奇特，高頂，配有貼合臉部的長護頰，護頰上方鑲著海鳥的白翼；但頭盔閃爍著銀色的火焰，因為它們確實是由秘銀打造，是昔日輝煌時期流傳下來的傳家寶。黑色外袍上用白色絲線繡著一棵在銀色王冠下如雪般盛開的樹，以及許多尖角的星星。這是伊蘭迪爾繼承人的制服，如今在整個剛鐸，除了聖白樹曾經生長的噴泉庭院前的堡壘禁衛軍外，已無人穿戴。似乎他們到來的消息早已傳開；他們立刻被允許進入，沒有人盤問，一片靜默。甘道夫快步穿過白色鋪砌的庭院。一座優美的噴泉在晨光中嬉戲，周圍是一片翠綠的草地；但在庭院中央，一棵枯樹垂掛在水池上，水滴悲傷地從它光禿禿的枯枝上滴落，回到清澈的水中。皮聘跟在甘道夫身後匆匆走過，瞥了它一眼。他覺得這棵樹看起來很悲傷，並想知道為什麼在這個其他一切都照料得很好的地方，會留著一棵死樹。「七星、七石、一白樹。」甘道夫曾喃喃自語的話語回到了他的腦海中。然後他發現自己已來到閃亮高塔下宏偉大廳的門前；他跟在巫師身後，經過高大沉默的守門人，進入了這座石頭宮殿涼爽而回音繚繞的陰影中。他們走在一條鋪砌的走道上，又長又空，甘道夫邊走邊輕聲對皮聘說。「說話要小心，培瑞格林先生！現在不是展現哈比人式魯莽輕率的時候。希優頓是位和藹的老人。但迪耐瑟是另一種類型的人，驕傲而深沉，一個血統和權力遠超於前者的男人，雖然他並未被稱為國王。但他會主要跟你說話，問你很多問題，因為你可以告訴他關於他兒子波羅莫的事。他非常愛他，或許是太愛了；而且正因為他們父子性格不同，他愛得更深。但在這份愛的掩護下，他會覺得從你這裡探聽他想知道的事，比從我這裡更容易。不要告訴他超出必要的資訊，對於佛羅多的任務要保持沉默。我會在適當的時候處理那件事。也別提亞拉岡，除非你非說不可。」「為什麼不？躍馬有什麼問題嗎？」皮聘低聲問。「他本來就打算來這裡，不是嗎？而且他自己也快到了。」「或許吧，或許吧，」甘道夫說。「不過，如果他來了，很可能會以一種誰也沒想到的方式，連迪耐瑟也想不到。這樣會更好。至少，他不應該由我們來預告他的到來。」

754 THE LORD OF THE RINGS Gandalf halted before a tall door of polished metal. ‘See, Master Pippin, there is no time to instruct you now in the history of Gondor; though it might have been better, if you had learned something of it, when you were still birds-nesting and playing truant in the woods of the Shire. Do as I bid! It is scarcely wise when bringing the news of the death of his heir to a mighty lord to speak over much of the coming of one who will, if he comes, claim the kingship. Is that enough?’ ‘Kingship?’ said Pippin amazed. “Yes,” said Gandalf. ‘If you have walked all these days with closed ears and mind asleep, wake up now!’ He knocked on the door. The door opened, but no one could be seen to open it. Pippin looked into a great hall. It was lit by deep windows in the wide aisles at either side, beyond the rows of tall pillars that upheld the roof. Monoliths of black marble, they rose to great capitals carved in many strange figures of beasts and leaves; and far above in shadow the wide vaulting gleamed with dull gold. The floor was of polished stone, white-gleaming, inset with flowing traceries of many colours. No hangings nor storied webs, nor any things of woven stuff or of wood, were to be seen in that long solemn hall; but between the pillars there stood a silent company of tall images graven in cold stone. Suddenly Pippin was reminded of the hewn rocks of Argonath, and awe fell on him, as he looked down that avenue of kings long dead. At the far end upon a dais of many steps was set a high throne under a canopy of marble shaped like a crowned helm; behind it was carved upon the wall and set with gems an image of a tree in flower. But the throne was empty. At the foot of the dais, upon the lowest step which was broad and deep, there was a stone chair, black and unadorned, and on it sat an old man gazing at his lap. In his hand was a white rod with a golden knob. He did not look up. Solemnly they paced the long floor towards him, until they stood three paces from his footstool. Then Gandalf spoke. ‘Hail, Lord and Steward of Minas Tirith, Denethor son of Ecthelion! I am come with counsel and tidings in this dark hour.’ Then the old man looked up. Pippin saw his carven face with its proud bones and skin like ivory, and the long curved nose between the dark deep eyes; and he was reminded not so much of Boromir as of Aragorn. ‘Dark indeed is the hour,’ said the old man, ‘and at such times you are wont to come, Mithrandir. But though all the signs forebode that the doom of Gondor is drawing nigh, less now to me is that darkness than my own darkness. It has been told to me that you bring with you one who saw my son die. Is this he?’ ‘It is,’ said Gandalf. ‘One of the twain. The other is with Théoden

《魔戒》754頁 甘道夫在一扇高大的拋光金屬門前停下腳步。「聽著，皮聘大師，現在沒時間向你講解剛鐸的歷史了；雖然，要是你當初還在夏爾的樹林裡掏鳥窩、逃學鬼混的時候，能學到一些，情況可能會好得多。照我說的做！在向一位強大的統治者稟報他繼承人死訊的同時，過多地談論另一位若前來便會索求王位的人，這實在談不上明智。這樣說夠清楚了嗎？」「王位？」皮聘驚訝地說。「是的，」甘道夫說。「如果你這些天來都是閉著耳朵、腦袋昏睡地走過來的，現在就醒醒吧！」他敲了敲門。門開了，卻不見有人開門。皮聘望進一個宏偉的大廳。廳內光線來自兩側寬闊走道上的深窗，窗外是支撐著屋頂的一排排高大石柱。它們是黑色大理石的獨石柱，向上延伸至雕刻著許多奇特野獸與葉片形象的巨大柱頭；而在遠高處的陰影中，寬闊的拱頂閃爍著暗淡的金色光芒。地板是拋光的石頭，潔白閃亮，鑲嵌著流暢的多色花紋。在這長而莊嚴的大廳裡，看不到任何掛飾、敘事掛毯，也沒見到任何織物或木製的物品；但在石柱之間，佇立著一列由冰冷石頭雕刻而成的高大雕像，靜默無聲。皮聘突然想起了亞苟那斯的鑿岩巨像，當他沿著這條由早已逝去的君王們構成的長廊望去時，敬畏之情油然而生。在大廳遠端，一個多級台階的壇台上，安放著一張高背王座，上方是形如加冕頭盔的大理石華蓋；王座後面，牆上雕刻並鑲嵌著寶石，是一棵開花的樹的圖像。但王座是空的。在壇台腳下，最寬深的第一級台階上，放著一張黑色無飾的石椅，上面坐著一位老人，凝視著自己的膝頭。他手中握著一根帶有金色圓頭的白杖。他沒有抬頭。他們莊嚴地走過長長的地面，朝他走去，直到在他腳凳前三步遠的地方停下。然後甘道夫開口了。「向您致敬，米那斯提力斯的宰相、艾克希里昂之子迪耐瑟大人！在這黑暗的時刻，我帶來了忠告與消息。」老人這才抬起頭。皮聘看見他那輪廓分明的臉，有著高傲的骨相和象牙般的皮膚，以及深邃黑眼之間那長而彎曲的鼻子；這讓他想到的不是波羅莫，反而是亞拉岡。「這時刻確實黑暗，」老人說，「而你總是在這種時候到來，米斯蘭達。但儘管所有跡象都預示著剛鐸的末日即將來臨，那黑暗對我而言，卻不如我自身的黑暗。我聽說你帶來了一位目睹我兒子死去的人。就是他嗎？」「是的，」甘道夫說。「兩人中的一位。另一位和希優頓在一起。」

MINAS TIRITH 755 of Rohan and may come hereafter. Halflings they are, as you see, yet this is not he of whom the omens spoke.’ “Yet a Halfling still,’ said Denethor grimly, ‘and little love do I bear the name, since those accursed words came to trouble our counsels and drew away my son on the wild errand to his death. My Boromir! Now we have need of you. Faramir should have gone in his stead.’ ‘He would have gone,’ said Gandalf. ‘Be not unjust in your grief! Boromir claimed the errand and would not suffer any other to have it. He was a masterful man, and one to take what he desired. I journeyed far with him and learned much of his mood. But you speak of his death. You have had news of that ere we came?’ ‘I have received this,’ said Denethor, and laying down his rod he lifted from his lap the thing that he had been gazing at. In each hand he held up one half of a great horn cloven through the middle: a wild-ox horn bound with silver. “That is the horn that Boromir always wore!’ cried Pippin. ‘Verily,’ said Denethor. ‘And in my turn I bore it, and so did each eldest son of our house, far back into the vanished years before the failing of the kings, since Vorondil father of Mardil hunted the wild kine of Araw in the far fields of Rhtin. I heard it blowing dim upon the northern marches thirteen days ago, and the River brought it to me, broken: it will wind no more.’ He paused and there was a heavy silence. Suddenly he turned his black glance upon Pippin. ‘What say you to that, Halfling?’ ‘Thirteen, thirteen days,’ faltered Pippin. ‘Yes, I think that would be so. Yes, I stood beside him, as he blew the horn. But no help came. Only more orcs.’ ‘So,’ said Denethor, looking keenly at Pippin’s face. “You were there? Tell me more! Why did no help come? And how did you escape, and yet he did not, so mighty a man as he was, and only orcs to withstand him?’ Pippin flushed and forgot his fear. “The mightiest man may be slain by one arrow,’ he said; ‘and Boromir was pierced by many. When last I saw him he sank beside a tree and plucked a blackfeathered shaft from his side. Then I swooned and was made captive. I saw him no more, and know no more. But I honour his memory, for he was very valiant. He died to save us, my kinsman Meriadoc and myself, waylaid in the woods by the soldiery of the Dark Lord; and though he fell and failed, my gratitude is none the less.’ Then Pippin looked the old man in the eye, for pride stirred strangely within him, still stung by the scorn and suspicion in that cold voice. ‘Little service, no doubt, will so great a lord of Men think to find in a hobbit, a halfling from the northern Shire; yet such as it

「他們是半身人，如你所見，但預言所說的並不是他。」「但終究是個半身人，」迪耐瑟冷酷地說，「我對這名字可沒什麼好感，自從那些該死的預言擾亂了我們的議會，還引誘我兒踏上那趟有去無回的瘋狂差事，最終喪命。我的波羅莫啊！我們現在多麼需要你。法拉墨本該代替他去的。」「他本來就會去的，」甘道夫說。「別因悲傷而有失公允！是波羅莫自己爭取了那趟差事，不容他人插手。他是個霸氣十足的人，想要什麼就非得拿到手。我與他遠行多日，對他的脾性了解甚深。但你說到他的死。難道在我們來之前，你已收到消息？」「我收到了這個，」迪耐瑟說著，放下權杖，從膝上舉起他一直凝視的東西。他雙手各執一半裂開的號角：那是一支鑲銀的野牛角，從中間斷為兩截。「那是波羅莫一直佩戴的號角！」皮聘驚呼。「正是，」迪耐瑟說。「我也曾佩戴過它，我們家族的每個長子都如此，可以追溯到久遠的、在王室衰微前的逝去歲月，自從馬迪爾之父佛龍迪爾在遙遠的盧恩原野獵捕亞若的野牛以來。十三天前，我聽見它在北方邊境隱約響起，然後大河將它送到我面前，已經碎了：它再也無法吹響了。」他頓了頓，現場一片沉寂。突然，他將黑色的目光轉向皮聘。「對此，你有何話說，半身人？」「十三……十三天，」皮聘結結巴巴地說。「是的，我想是這樣。是的，他吹響號角時，我就在他身邊。但沒有任何援助到來。只有更多的半獸人。」「原來如此，」迪耐瑟說，銳利地盯著皮聘的臉。「你當時在場？告訴我更多細節！為何沒有援助？你又是如何逃脫的，而他，那樣一個強大的人，面對的不過是些半獸人，卻沒能倖免？」皮聘臉一紅，忘記了恐懼。「最強大的人也可能被一箭殺死，」他說，「而波羅莫身中數箭。我最後見到他時，他倒在一棵樹旁，從身側拔出一支黑羽箭。然後我便昏過去，被俘虜了。我再也沒見到他，也不知道更多的事了。但我敬重他的記憶，因為他非常英勇。他為了拯救我們——我的親族梅里雅達克和我自己——而死，我們在樹林裡遭到黑暗魔君的士兵伏擊；雖然他倒下了，失敗了，我的感激卻絲毫不減。」接著，皮聘直視著這位老人的眼睛，一股奇特的驕傲在他心中油然而生，那冰冷聲音裡的輕蔑與懷疑仍刺痛著他。「想必，像您這樣一位偉大的人類領主，不會指望在一個來自北方夏爾的哈比人、一個半身人身上，找到什麼用處；然而，僅管如此

756 THE LORD OF THE RINGS is, I will offer it, in payment of my debt.’ Twitching aside his grey cloak, Pippin drew forth his small sword and laid it at Denethor’s feet. A pale smile, like a gleam of cold sun on a winter’s evening, passed over the old man’s face; but he bent his head and held out his hand, laying the shards of the horn aside. ‘Give me the weapon!’ he said. Pippin lifted it and presented the hilt to him. ‘Whence came this?’ said Denethor. ‘Many, many years lie on it. Surely this is a blade wrought by our own kindred in the North in the deep past?’ ‘It came out of the mounds that lie on the borders of my country,’ said Pippin. ‘But only evil wights dwell there now, and I will not willingly tell more of them.’ ‘I see that strange tales are woven about you,’ said Denethor, ‘and once again it is shown that looks may belie the man — or the halfling. I accept your service. For you are not daunted by words; and you have courteous speech, strange though the sound of it may be to us in the South. And we shall have need of all folk of courtesy, be they great or small, in the days to come. Swear to me now!’ “Take the hilt,’ said Gandalf, ‘and speak after the Lord, if you are resolved on this.’ ‘I am,’ said Pippin. The old man laid the sword along his lap, and Pippin put his hand to the hilt, and said slowly after Denethor: ‘Here do I swear fealty and service to Gondor, and to the Lord and Steward of the realm, to speak and to be silent, to do and to let be, to come and to go, in need or plenty, in peace or war, in living or dying, from this hour henceforth, until my lord release me, or death take me, or the world end. So say I, Peregrin son of Paladin of the Shire of the Halflings.’ ‘And this do I hear, Denethor son of Ecthelion, Lord of Gondor, Steward of the High King, and I will not forget it, nor fail to reward that which is given: fealty with love, valour with honour, oathbreaking with vengeance.’ Then Pippin received back his sword and put it in its sheath. ‘And now,’ said Denethor, ‘my first command to you: speak and be not silent! Tell me your full tale, and see that you recall all that you can of Boromir, my son. Sit now and begin!’ As he spoke he struck a small silver gong that stood near his footstool, and at once servants came forward. Pippin saw then that they had been standing in alcoves on either side of the door, unseen as he and Gandalf entered. ‘Bring wine and food and seats for the guests,’ said Denethor, ‘and see that none trouble us for one hour.’ ‘It is all that I have to spare, for there is much else to heed,’ he

MINAS TIRITH 757 said to Gandalf. ‘Much of more import, it may seem, and yet to me less pressing. But maybe we can speak again at the end of the day.’ ‘And earlier, it is to be hoped,’ said Gandalf. ‘For I have not ridden hither from Isengard, one hundred and fifty leagues, with the speed of wind, only to bring you one small warrior, however courteous. Is it naught to you that Théoden has fought a great battle, and that Isengard is overthrown, and that I have broken the staff of Saruman?”’ ‘It is much to me. But I know already sufficient of these deeds for my own counsel against the menace of the East.’ He turned his dark eyes on Gandalf, and now Pippin saw a likeness between the two, and he felt the strain between them, almost as if he saw a line of smouldering fire, drawn from eye to eye, that might suddenly burst into flame. Denethor looked indeed much more like a great wizard than Gandalf did, more kingly, beautiful, and powerful; and older. Yet by a sense other than sight Pippin perceived that Gandalf had the greater power and the deeper wisdom, and a majesty that was veiled. And he was older, far older. ‘How much older?’ he wondered, and then he thought how odd it was that he had never thought about it before. Treebeard had said something about wizards, but even then he had not thought of Gandalf as one of them. What was Gandalf? In what far time and place did he come into the world, and when would he leave it? And then his musings broke off, and he saw that Denethor and Gandalf still looked each other in the eye, as if reading the other’s mind. But it was Denethor who first withdrew his gaze. ‘Yea,’ he said; ‘for though the Stones be lost, they say, still the lords of Gondor have keener sight than lesser men, and many messages come to them. But sit now!’ Then men came bearing a chair and a low stool, and one brought a salver with a silver flagon and cups, and white cakes. Pippin sat down, but he could not take his eyes from the old lord. Was it so, or had he only imagined it, that as he spoke of the Stones a sudden gleam of his eye had glanced upon Pippin’s face? ‘Now tell me your tale, my liege,’ said Denethor, half kindly, half mockingly. ‘For the words of one whom my son so befriended will be welcome indeed.’ Pippin never forgot that hour in the great hall under the piercing eye of the Lord of Gondor, stabbed ever and anon by his shrewd questions, and all the while conscious of Gandalf at his side, watching and listening, and (so Pippin felt) holding in check a rising wrath and impatience. When the hour was over and Denethor again rang the gong, Pippin felt worn out. ‘It cannot be more than nine o’clock,’ he thought. ‘I could now eat three breakfasts on end.’

「也許有更重要的事，」迪耐瑟對甘道夫說，「但對我而言，卻沒那麼緊迫。或許我們今天傍晚可以再談。」「希望能更早一點，」甘道夫說。「我可不是為了只帶給你一個雖有禮卻渺小的戰士，才以風速從一百五十里格外的艾辛格趕來。希優頓打了一場大勝仗，艾辛格被推翻，我還折斷了薩魯曼的法杖，這些對你來說都無關緊要嗎？」「對我來說很重要。但對於這些事蹟，我已掌握足夠的資訊，足以應對東方的威脅。」他用漆黑的雙眼看著甘道夫，此刻皮聘看見兩人之間有種相似之處，他感覺到他們之間的緊繃，幾乎就像看見一條悶燒的火線，從一隻眼睛牽引到另一隻，隨時可能突然爆成火焰。迪耐瑟看起來確實比甘道夫更像一位偉大的巫師，更具王者風範、更俊美、更有力量；也更年長。然而，透過視覺以外的另一種感覺，皮聘察覺到甘道夫擁有更強大的力量和更深邃的智慧，以及一股被隱藏起來的威嚴。而且他更老，老得多。「老多少呢？」他心想，然後又覺得自己以前從未想過這個問題，真是奇怪。樹鬍曾說過一些關於巫師的事，但即使是那時，他也沒把甘道夫當成其中一員。甘道夫究竟是什麼？他在哪個遙遠的時空來到這個世界，又將在何時離去？接著他的思緒被打斷了，他看見迪耐瑟和甘道夫仍然凝視著對方，彷彿在閱讀彼此的心思。但先移開目光的是迪耐瑟。「是的，」他說，「因為他們說，儘管晶石已失落，剛鐸的統治者們仍比尋常人有更敏銳的洞察力，許多訊息會傳到他們這裡。不過，請坐吧！」接著有人搬來一張椅子和一個矮凳，另一個人端來一個托盤，上面放著銀製酒瓶、酒杯和白色蛋糕。皮聘坐了下來，但他的眼睛無法從這位年邁的統治者身上移開。是這樣嗎，還是他只是想像出來的？當迪耐瑟提到晶石時，他眼中一道突如其來的閃光，是否掃過了皮聘的臉？「現在，我的貴客，請說說你的故事吧，」迪耐瑟半是親切、半是嘲諷地說。「因為我兒子如此看重的朋友，他說的話想必會很受歡迎。」皮聘永遠忘不了在大廳裡的那一個小時，在剛鐸之主的銳利目光下，不時被他精明問題所刺探，同時一直意識到甘道夫就在身邊，觀看著、傾聽著，並且（皮聘感覺）抑制著一股升騰的怒火與不耐。當一個小時過去，迪耐瑟再次敲響銅鑼時，皮聘感到筋疲力盡。「現在頂多九點吧，」他想。「我現在可以一口氣吃掉三份早餐。」

758 THE LORD OF THE RINGS ‘Lead the Lord Mithrandir to the housing prepared for him,’ said Denethor, ‘and his companion may lodge with him for the present, if he will. But be it known that I have now sworn him to my service, and he shall be known as Peregrin son of Paladin and taught the lesser pass-words. Send word to the Captains that they shall wait on me here, as soon as may be after the third hour has rung. ‘And you, my Lord Mithrandir, shall come too, as and when you will. None shall hinder your coming to me at any time, save only in my brief hours of sleep. Let your wrath at an old man’s folly run off, and then return to my comfort!’ ‘Folly?’ said Gandalf. ‘Nay, my lord, when you are a dotard you will die. You can use even your grief as a cloak. Do you think that I do not understand your purpose in questioning for an hour one who knows the least, while I sit by?’ ‘If you understand it, then be content,’ returned Denethor. ‘Pride would be folly that disdained help and counsel at need; but you deal out such gifts according to your own designs. Yet the Lord of Gondor is not to be made the tool of other men’s purposes, however worthy. And to him there is no purpose higher in the world as it now stands than the good of Gondor; and the rule of Gondor, my lord, is mine and no other man’s, unless the king should come again.’ “Unless the king should come again?’ said Gandalf. ‘Well, my lord Steward, it is your task to keep some kingdom still against that event, which few now look to see. In that task you shall have all the aid that you are pleased to ask for. But I will say this: the rule of no realm is mine, neither of Gondor nor any other, great or small. But all worthy things that are in peril as the world now stands, those are my care. And for my part, I shall not wholly fail of my task, though Gondor should perish, if anything passes through this night that can still grow fair or bear fruit and flower again in days to come. For I also am a steward. Did you not know?’ And with that he turned and strode from the hall with Pippin running at his side. Gandalf did not look at Pippin or speak a word to him as they went. Their guide brought them from the doors of the hall, and then led them across the Court of the Fountain into a lane between tall buildings of stone. After several turns they came to a house close to the wall of the citadel upon the north side, not far from the shoulder that linked the hill with the mountain. Within, upon the first floor above the street, up a wide carven stair, he showed them to a fair room, light and airy, with goodly hangings of dull gold sheen unfigured. It was sparely furnished, having but a small table, two chairs and a bench; but at either side there were curtained alcoves and well-clad beds within with vessels and basins for washing. There were three high narrow windows that looked northward over the great

「帶米斯蘭達大人到為他準備的住所去，」迪耐瑟說，「如果他願意，他的同伴暫時可以與他同住。但在此宣告，我已讓他宣誓為我效命，此後他將被稱為帕拉丁之子皮瑞格林，並會被授予較低階的通行口令。傳話給諸位將軍，讓他們在第三聲鐘響後盡快在此等候我。」 「而您，米斯蘭達大人，您隨時都可以過來。任何時候您來見我，無人會阻攔，唯獨我短暫的睡眠時間除外。讓您對一個老頭子蠢行的怒氣消了吧，然後再回來尋求我的慰藉！」 「蠢行？」甘道夫說。「不，大人，當您老到糊塗時，您就離死不遠了。您甚至能把悲傷當作斗篷。您以為我看不出您的目的嗎？在我旁邊坐著的情況下，花一個小時去盤問那個知道最少的人？」 「如果您看得出，那就滿足吧，」迪耐瑟回道。「在需要幫助與忠告時卻不屑一顧，那樣的驕傲才是愚蠢；但您施予此類恩惠，卻是依據您自己的盤算。然而，剛鐸之主不能成為他人意圖的工具，無論其意圖多麼高尚。對他而言，在當今世上，沒有比剛鐸的福祉更高的目標；而剛鐸的治權，大人，是我的，不是任何別人的，除非國王歸來。」 「除非國王歸來？」甘道夫說。「好吧，宰相大人，您的任務便是在此變故發生前，保全一個尚存的王國，如今已少有人指望能見到這一天了。在這項任務中，您所樂意請求的一切援助，您都將得到。但我得這麼說：沒有任何一個國度的治權是我的，無論是剛鐸還是其他大小國度。但當今世上所有處於危難中的高貴事物，皆是我所關懷的。就我而言，我將不辱使命，即便剛鐸毀滅，只要有任何事物能度過今夜，在未來的日子裡仍能美麗地生長、開花結果。因為我也是一名宰相。您不知道嗎？」說完，他轉身大步走出大廳，皮聘在他身旁小跑跟著。一路上，甘道夫沒有看皮聘，也沒對他說一個字。他們的嚮導將他們從大廳門口帶出，接著領他們穿過噴泉庭院，進入一條兩旁是高聳石造建築的巷弄。轉了幾個彎後，他們來到一座靠近城堡北牆的房子，離連接山丘與山脈的肩狀山脊不遠。在裡面，沿著一道寬闊的雕花樓梯往上，嚮導帶他們來到街面上方一樓一個漂亮的房間。房間明亮通風，掛著沒有圖案、帶有暗金色光澤的華美帷幔。房內陳設稀疏，只有一張小桌、兩張椅子和一條長凳；但兩側都有帶簾子的壁龕，裡面有鋪設整齊的床鋪，以及盥洗用的盆和水罐。有三扇高而窄的窗戶朝北，可以俯瞰那片廣大的

MINAS TIRITH 759 curve of Anduin, still shrouded in mists, towards the Emyn Muil and Rauros far away. Pippin had to climb on the bench to look out over the deep stone sill. ‘Are you angry with me, Gandalf?’ he said, as their guide went out and closed the door. ‘I did the best I could.’ “You did indeed!’ said Gandalf, laughing suddenly; and he came and stood beside Pippin, putting his arm about the hobbit’s shoulders, and gazing out of the window. Pippin glanced in some wonder at the face now close beside his own, for the sound of that laugh had been gay and merry. Yet in the wizard’s face he saw at first only lines of care and sorrow; though as he looked more intently he perceived that under all there was a great joy: a fountain of mirth enough to set a kingdom laughing, were it to gush forth. ‘Indeed you did your best,’ said the wizard; ‘and I hope that it may be long before you find yourself in such a tight corner again between two such terrible old men. Still the Lord of Gondor learned more from you than you may have guessed, Pippin. You could not hide the fact that Boromir did not lead the Company from Moria, and that there was one among you of high honour who was coming to Minas Tirith; and that he had a famous sword. Men think much about the stories of old days in Gondor; and Denethor has given long thought to the rhyme and to the words Isildur’s Bane, since Boromir went away. ‘He is not as other men of this time, Pippin, and whatever be his descent from father to son, by some chance the blood of Westernesse runs nearly true in him; as it does in his other son, Faramir, and yet did not in Boromir whom he loved best. He has long sight. He can perceive, if he bends his will thither, much of what is passing in the minds of men, even of those that dwell far off. It is difficult to deceive him, and dangerous to try. ‘Remember that! For you are now sworn to his service. I do not know what put it into your head, or your heart, to do that. But it was well done. I did not hinder it, for generous deed should not be checked by cold counsel. It touched his heart, as well (may I say it) as pleasing his humour. And at least you are free now to move about as you will in Minas Tirith — when you are not on duty. For there is another side to it. You are at his command; and he will not forget. Be wary still!’ He fell silent and sighed. ‘Well, no need to brood on what tomorrow may bring. For one thing, tomorrow will be certain to bring worse than today, for many days to come. And there is nothing more that I can do to help it. The board is set, and the pieces are moving. One piece that I greatly desire to find is Faramir, now the heir of Denethor. I do not think that he is in the City; but I have

皮聘得爬上長凳，才能越過厚實的石窗台向外望。「甘道夫，你在生我的氣嗎？」當他們的嚮導走出去並關上門時，他說。「我已經盡力了。」「你確實盡力了！」甘道夫突然大笑著說；他走過來站在皮聘身邊，一隻手臂環繞著哈比人的肩膀，凝視著窗外。皮聘有些驚奇地瞥了一眼近在咫尺的臉龐，因為那笑聲聽起來既開心又快活。然而，起初他在巫師臉上只看到憂慮和悲傷的紋路；不過當他更專注地看時，他察覺到在那一切之下，藏著巨大的喜悅：一道歡樂的泉源，若能湧出，足以讓整個王國都跟著歡笑。「你確實盡了全力，」巫師說；「我希望要過很久很久，你才會再次發現自己陷入像這樣，夾在兩個如此可怕的老頭之間的窘境。不過，剛鐸之王從你身上得知的，比你可能猜想的要多，皮聘。你無法隱瞞波羅莫並非帶領遠征隊離開摩瑞亞的人，也無法隱瞞你們當中有一位身份崇高之人正要前來米那斯提力斯；而且他還帶著一把著名的寶劍。在剛鐸，人們很看重古老傳說；自從波羅莫離開後，迪耐瑟就一直在思索那首詩謠以及『埃西鐸的剋星』這幾個字。「皮聘，他不像這個時代的其他人，無論他的血脈如何父子相傳，不知怎地，西方皇族的血統在他體內幾乎純正地流淌著；就像在他另一個兒子法拉墨身上一樣，卻沒有在他最愛的波羅莫身上體現。他有遠見。只要他將意志專注於此，就能感知到人們心中的許多念頭，即使是那些住在遠方的人。要欺騙他很難，嘗試這麼做則很危險。「記住這點！因為你現在已宣誓為他效力。我不知道是什麼讓你腦中或心中產生這個念頭。但你做得很好。我沒有阻止，因為慷慨的行為不應被冷酷的忠告所阻礙。這觸動了他的心，同時（恕我直言）也取悅了他的性情。至少你現在可以在米那斯提力斯自由行動了——當你沒有值勤的時候。但事情還有另一面。你受他指揮；他不會忘記的。務必保持警惕！」他沉默下來，嘆了口氣。「唉，不必為明天可能發生的事憂心忡忡。首先，在未來許多日子裡，明天肯定會比今天更糟。而對此我已無能為力。棋盤已經擺好，棋子正在移動。我極度渴望找到的一枚棋子是法拉墨，他現在是迪耐瑟的繼承人。我不認為他在城裡；但我有

760 THE LORD OF THE RINGS had no time to gather news. I must go, Pippin. I must go to this lords’ council and learn what I can. But the Enemy has the move, and he is about to open his full game. And pawns are likely to see as much of it as any, Peregrin son of Paladin, soldier of Gondor. Sharpen your blade!’ Gandalf went to the door, and there he turned. ‘I am in haste, Pippin,’ he said. ‘Do me a favour when you go out. Even before you rest, if you are not too weary. Go and find Shadowfax and see how he is housed. These people are kindly to beasts, for they are a good and wise folk, but they have less skill with horses than some.’ With that Gandalf went out; and as he did so, there came the note of a clear sweet bell ringing in a tower of the citadel. Three strokes it rang, like silver in the air, and ceased: the third hour from the rising of the sun. After a minute Pippin went to the door and down the stair and looked about the street. The sun was now shining warm and bright, and the towers and tall houses cast long clear-cut shadows westward. High in the blue air Mount Mindolluin lifted its white helm and snowy cloak. Armed men went to and fro in the ways of the City, as if going at the striking of the hour to changes of post and duty. ‘Nine o’clock we’d call it in the Shire,’ said Pippin aloud to himself. ‘Just the time for a nice breakfast by the open window in spring sunshine. And how I should like breakfast! Do these people ever have it, or is it over? And when do they have dinner, and where?’ Presently he noticed a man, clad in black and white, coming along the narrow street from the centre of the citadel towards him. Pippin felt lonely and made up his mind to speak as the man passed; but he had no need. The man came straight up to him. “You are Peregrin the Halfling?’ he said. ‘I am told that you have been sworn to the service of the Lord and of the City. Welcome!’ He held out his hand and Pippin took it. ‘I am named Beregond son of Baranor. I have no duty this morning, and I have been sent to you to teach you the pass-words, and to tell you some of the many things that no doubt you will wish to know. And for my part, I would learn of you also. For never before have we seen a halfling in this land and though we have heard rumour of them, little is said of them in any tale that we know. Moreover you are a friend of Mithrandir. Do you know him well?’ ‘Well,’ said Pippin. ‘I have known of him all my short life, as you might say; and lately I have travelled far with him. But there is much to read in that book, and I cannot claim to have seen more than a page or two. Yet perhaps I know him as well as any but a few. Aragorn was the only one of our Company, I think, who really knew him.’

我沒時間收集情報了。我必須走，皮聘。我必須去參加那些大人物的會議，盡可能地了解情況。但敵人已經掌握了主動權，而且他即將要使出全力了。而像我們這樣的小兵，派拉丁之子皮瑞格林，剛鐸的士兵，很可能跟任何人一樣，都會親眼見證這一切。磨利你的劍吧！」甘道夫走到門口，然後轉過身。「我很趕時間，皮聘，」他說。「你出去的時候幫我個忙。如果你不太累的話，甚至在休息之前就去。去找影疾，看看牠被安置得怎麼樣。這裡的人對待動物很友善，因為他們是善良又有智慧的民族，但他們對馬的了解不如某些人。」說完，甘道夫便出去了；就在他出去的同時，城堡高塔上響起了清脆悅耳的鐘聲。鐘聲敲了三下，如銀鈴在空中迴盪，然後停止了：這是日出後的第三個小時。過了一分鐘，皮聘走到門口，走下樓梯，環顧街道。此刻陽光溫暖明亮地照耀著，高塔和高大的房屋向西投下長長而輪廓分明的影子。在高高的藍天中，明多陸安山高舉著它白色的盔頂和雪白的披風。武裝的士兵在城裡的路上來來往往，彷彿是隨著鐘聲的敲響而去換崗交班。「在夏爾我們會叫它九點鐘，」皮聘對自己大聲說。「正好是在春日陽光下，靠著敞開的窗戶享用一頓美味早餐的時間。我多想吃早餐啊！這裡的人到底吃不吃早餐？還是已經結束了？他們又在何時何地吃晚餐呢？」不久，他注意到一個穿著黑白相間衣服的男人，正從城堡中心沿著窄街向他走來。皮聘感到孤單，便下定決心在男人經過時與他說話；但他並不需要這麼做。那男人徑直向他走來。「您是半身人皮瑞格林嗎？」他說。「我聽說您已宣誓效忠於宰相大人和這座城市。歡迎您！」他伸出手，皮聘握住了它。「我名叫貝瑞貢，巴拉諾之子。我今天早上沒有勤務，被派來教您口令，並告訴您一些您無疑會想知道的許多事情。而我自己，也想向您請教。因為我們在這片土地上從未見過半身人，雖然聽過關於他們的謠言，但在我們所知的任何故事中都很少提及他們。此外，您還是米斯蘭達的朋友。您很了解他嗎？」「嗯，」皮聘說。「您或許可以說，在我短暫的一生中，我一直都知道他；最近我還與他遠行了一段路。但那本書內容太多了，我不敢說自己看過超過一兩頁。不過，除了少數幾個人之外，我也許跟任何人一樣了解他。我想，在我們的遠征隊中，只有亞拉岡是唯一真正了解他的人。」

MINAS TIRITH 761 ‘Aragorn?’ said Beregond. ‘Who is he?’ ‘Oh,’ stammered Pippin, ‘he was a man who went about with us. I think he is in Rohan now.’ “You have been in Rohan, I hear. There is much that I would ask you of that land also; for we put much of what little hope we have in its people. But I am forgetting my errand, which was first to answer what you would ask. What would you know, Master Peregrin?’ ‘Er well,’ said Pippin, ‘if I may venture to say so, rather a burning question in my mind at present is, well, what about breakfast and all that? I mean, what are the meal-times, if you understand me, and where is the dining-room, if there is one? And the inns? I looked, but never a one could I see as we rode up, though I had been borne up by the hope of a draught of ale as soon as we came to the homes of wise and courtly men.’ Beregond looked at him gravely. ‘An old campaigner, I see,’ he said. “They say that men who go warring afield look ever to the next hope of food and of drink; though I am not a travelled man myself. Then you have not yet eaten today?’ ‘Well, yes, to speak in courtesy, yes,’ said Pippin. ‘But no more than a cup of wine and a white cake or two by the kindness of your lord; but he racked me for it with an hour of questions, and that is hungry work.’ Beregond laughed. ‘At the table small men may do the greater deeds, we say. But you have broken your fast as well as any man in the Citadel, and with greater honour. This is a fortress and a tower of guard and is now in posture of war. We rise ere the Sun, and take a morsel in the grey light, and go to our duties at the opening hour. But do not despair!’ He laughed again, seeing the dismay in Pippin’s face. “Those who have had heavy duty take somewhat to refresh their strength in the mid-morning. Then there is the nuncheon, at noon or after as duties allow; and men gather for the daymeal, and such mirth as there still may be, about the hour of sunset. ‘Come! We will walk a little and then go find us some refreshment, and eat and drink on the battlement, and survey the fair morning.’ ‘One moment!’ said Pippin blushing. ‘Greed, or hunger by your courtesy, put it out of my mind. But Gandalf, Mithrandir as you call him, asked me to see to his horse — Shadowfax, a great steed of Rohan, and the apple of the king’s eye, I am told, though he has given him to Mithrandir for his services. I think his new master loves the beast better than he loves many men, and if his good will is of any value to this city, you will treat Shadowfax with all honour: with greater kindness than you have treated this hobbit, if it is possible.’ ‘Hobbit?’ said Beregond. “That is what we call ourselves,’ said Pippin.

「亞拉岡？」貝瑞貢問。「他是誰？」「喔，」皮聘結結巴巴地說，「他是一個和我們一起旅行的人。我想他現在在洛汗。」「我聽說你去過洛汗。關於那片土地，我也有很多事想請教你；因為我們僅存的希望，大多寄託在他們的人民身上。但我忘了我的差事，本該是先回答你的問題。你想知道什麼呢，培瑞格林大師？」「呃，這個嘛，」皮聘說，「如果我斗膽這麼說，我現在心裡有個相當迫切的問題，就是，那個，早餐什麼的怎麼說？我的意思是，用餐時間是幾點，如果你明白我的話，還有餐廳在哪裡，如果有的話？還有旅店呢？我一路騎上來時都在找，但連一家也沒看到，儘管我一直被一個希望支撐著，盼望一到這些有智慧又文雅的人的家裡，就能喝上一杯麥酒。」貝瑞貢嚴肅地看著他。「我看，是個老兵了。」他說。「他們說，出外征戰的人，心心念念的總是下一頓能吃喝的希望；雖然我自己沒出過遠門。那麼，你今天還沒吃東西？」「嗯，是的，客氣點說，是這樣沒錯，」皮聘說。「不過承蒙你們大人好意，只給了一杯酒和一兩塊白蛋糕；但他為此用一小時的問題折磨我，那可是件餓人的活兒。」貝瑞貢笑了。「我們說，在餐桌上，小人物也能成就大事業。但你破曉時吃的早餐，和城寨裡任何人都一樣好，而且還更有榮譽。這裡是堡壘和守衛塔，現在正處於備戰狀態。我們在日出前起床，在晨光熹微中吃點東西，在開門的時刻就去執行勤務。但別絕望！」他看到皮聘臉上的沮喪，又笑了起來。「那些勤務繁重的人，會在上午時分吃點東西補充體力。然後是午餐，在中午或勤務允許之後；人們在日落時分聚集，享用晚餐，並享受所剩無幾的歡樂時光。」「來吧！我們先走一走，然後去找點提神的食物，在城垛上邊吃邊喝，欣賞這美好的早晨。」「等一下！」皮聘紅著臉說。「貪吃，或者照您的客氣說法是飢餓，讓我忘了正事。但甘道夫，也就是你們稱呼的米斯蘭達，要我照看他的馬——影疾，洛汗的一匹駿馬，聽說還是國王的掌上明珠，雖然國王因為米斯蘭達的功勞已將牠贈予他。我想牠的新主人愛這頭牲口勝過愛許多人，如果他的善意對這座城市有任何價值，你們就該用最高的敬意對待影疾：如果可能的話，要比對待我這個哈比人更友善。」「哈比人？」貝瑞貢說。「我們是這麼稱呼自己的。」皮聘說。

762 THE LORD OF THE RINGS ‘I am glad to learn it,’ said Beregond, ‘for now I may say that strange accents do not mar fair speech, and hobbits are a fair-spoken folk. But come! You shall make me acquainted with this good horse. I love beasts, and we see them seldom in this stony city; for my people came from the mountain-vales, and before that from Ithilien. But fear not! The visit shall be short, a mere call of courtesy, and we will go thence to the butteries.’ Pippin found that Shadowfax had been well housed and tended. For in the sixth circle, outside the walls of the citadel, there were some fair stables where a few swift horses were kept, hard by the lodgings of the errand-riders of the Lord: messengers always ready to go at the urgent command of Denethor or his chief captains. But now all the horses and the riders were out and away. Shadowfax whinnied as Pippin entered the stable and turned his head. ‘Good morning!’ said Pippin. ‘Gandalf will come as soon as he may. He is busy, but he sends greetings, and I am to see that all is well with you; and you resting, I hope, after your long labours.’ Shadowfax tossed his head and stamped. But he allowed Beregond to handle his head gently and stroke his great flanks. ‘He looks as if he were spoiling for a race, and not newly come from a great journey,’ said Beregond. ‘How strong and proud he is! Where is his harness? It should be rich and fair.’ ‘None is rich and fair enough for him,’ said Pippin. ‘He will have none. If he will consent to bear you, bear you he does; and if not, well, no bit, bridle, whip, or thong will tame him. Farewell, Shadowfax! Have patience. Battle is coming.’ Shadowfax lifted up his head and neighed, so that the stable shook, and they covered their ears. Then they took their leave, seeing that the manger was well filled. ‘And now for our manger,’ said Beregond, and he led Pippin back to the citadel, and so to a door in the north side of the great tower. There they went down a long cool stair into a wide alley lit with lamps. There were hatches in the walls at the side, and one of these was open. “This is the storehouse and buttery of my company of the Guard,’ said Beregond. ‘Greetings, Targon!’ he called through the hatch. ‘It is early yet, but here is a newcomer that the Lord has taken into his service. He has ridden long and far with a tight belt, and has had sore labour this morning, and he is hungry. Give us what you have!’ They got there bread, and butter, and cheese and apples: the last of the winter store, wrinkled but sound and sweet; and a leather flagon of new-drawn ale, and wooden platters and cups. They put all into a wicker basket and climbed back into the sun; and Beregond

MINAS TIRITH 763 brought Pippin to a place at the east end of the great out-thrust battlement where there was an embrasure in the walls with a stone seat beneath the sill. From there they could look out on the morning over the world. They ate and drank; and they talked now of Gondor and its ways and customs, now of the Shire and the strange countries that Pippin had seen. And ever as they talked Beregond was more amazed, and looked with greater wonder at the hobbit, swinging his short legs as he sat on the seat, or standing tiptoe upon it to peer over the sill at the lands below. ‘I will not hide from you, Master Peregrin,’ said Beregond, ‘that to us you look almost as one of our children, a lad of nine summers or so; and yet you have endured perils and seen marvels that few of our greybeards could boast of. I thought it was the whim of our Lord to take him a noble page, after the manner of the kings of old, they say. But I see that it is not so, and you must pardon my foolishness.’ ‘I do,’ said Pippin. “Though you are not far wrong. I am still little more than a boy in the reckoning of my own people, and it will be four years yet before I ““come of age”’, as we say in the Shire. But do not bother about me. Come and look and tell me what I can see.’ The sun was now climbing, and the mists in the vale below had been drawn up. The last of them were floating away, just overhead, as wisps of white cloud borne on the stiffening breeze from the East, that was now flapping and tugging the flags and white standards of the citadel. Away down in the valley-bottom, five leagues or so as the eye leaps, the Great River could now be seen grey and glittering, coming out of the north-west, and bending in a mighty sweep south and west again, till it was lost to view in a haze and shimmer, far beyond which lay the Sea fifty leagues away. Pippin could see all the Pelennor laid out before him, dotted into the distance with farmsteads and little walls, barns and byres, but nowhere could he see any kine or other beasts. Many roads and tracks crossed the green fields, and there was much coming and going: wains moving in lines towards the Great Gate, and others passing out. Now and again a horseman would ride up, and leap from the saddle and hasten into the City. But most of the traffic went out along the chief highway, and that turned south, and then bending swifter than the River skirted the hills and passed soon from sight. It was wide and well-paved, and along its eastern edge ran a broad green riding-track, and beyond that a wall. On the ride horsemen galloped to and fro, but all the street seemed to be choked with great covered wains going south. But soon Pippin saw that all was in fact well-ordered: the wains were moving in three lines, one swifter drawn

貝瑞貢帶領皮聘來到巨大突出城牆東端的一處地方，那裡牆上有個砲眼，窗台下有張石凳。他們從那裡可以俯瞰整個世界的清晨。他們吃著喝著；時而談論剛鐸及其風俗習慣，時而聊起夏爾和皮聘見過的奇異國度。他們越是交談，貝瑞貢就越是驚訝，他以更加驚奇的目光看著這位哈比人，看著他坐在凳子上晃動著短腿，或踮起腳尖站在凳子上，越過窗台窺視下方的土地。「培瑞格林大師，我不瞞您說，」貝瑞貢說，「在我們看來，您幾乎就像我們的一個孩子，一個九歲左右的男孩；然而您卻經歷了險境，見識了奇觀，連我們當中許多白髮長者都無法誇耀。我本以為是我們大人一時興起，想仿效古時的國王，收您為一名高貴的侍童。但我現在明白並非如此，您一定要原諒我的愚蠢。」「我原諒你，」皮聘說。「雖然你說的也差不遠。以我們族人的算法，我還不過是個男孩，還要再過四年才算『成年』，我們在夏爾是這麼說的。但別管我了。快來看，告訴我能看到些什麼。」此時太陽正緩緩爬升，下方山谷裡的薄霧已被抽散。最後一絲霧氣正從他們頭頂飄散，宛如一縷縷白雲，被東方漸強的微風帶走，那風正吹得城堡的旗幟和白色軍旗啪啪作響、使勁拉扯。遠望山谷底部，目測約有五里格之遙，大河如今清晰可見，呈灰銀色閃閃發光，從西北方流來，劃出一道雄偉的弧線，再次向南再向西彎去，最終消失在一片朦朧微光中，在那遙遠的彼方，五十里格之外便是大海。皮聘可以看到整個佩蘭諾在他面前展開，遠處點綴著農莊和小牆、穀倉和牛棚，但卻看不到任何牛隻或其他牲畜。許多道路和小徑縱橫交錯在翠綠的田野上，人來車往絡繹不絕：一列列大馬車朝著大門移動，另一些則駛出城外。不時有騎士策馬而來，躍下馬鞍，匆匆進城。但大部分的交通都沿著主幹道向外而去，那條路轉向南方，然後比河流更急地繞過山丘，很快就消失在視線之外。那條路寬闊且鋪設良好，沿其東側有一條寬闊的綠色騎馬道，再過去則是一堵牆。騎馬道上，騎士們來回馳騁，但整條街道似乎都被向南行駛的巨大有篷馬車給堵塞了。但皮聘很快就發現，一切其實井然有序：大馬車分三列行進，其中一列速度較快。

764 THE LORD OF THE RINGS by horses; another slower, great waggons with fair housings of many colours, drawn by oxen; and along the west rim of the road many smaller carts hauled by trudging men. “That is the road to the vales of Tumladen and Lossarnach, and the mountain-villages, and then on to Lebennin,’ said Beregond. “There go the last of the wains that bear away to refuge the aged, the children, and the women that must go with them. They must all be gone from the Gate and the road clear for a league before noon: that was the order. It is a sad necessity.’ He sighed. ‘Few, maybe, of those now sundered will meet again. And there were always too few children in this city; but now there are none — save some young lads that will not depart, and may find some task to do: my own son is one of them.’ They fell silent for a while. Pippin gazed anxiously eastward, as if at any moment he might see thousands of orcs pouring over the fields. ‘What can I see there?’ he asked, pointing down to the middle of the great curve of the Anduin. ‘Is that another city, or what is it?’ ‘It was a city,’ said Beregond, ‘the chief city of Gondor, of which this was only a fortress. For that is the ruin of Osgiliath on either side of Anduin, which our enemies took and burned long ago. Yet we won it back in the days of the youth of Denethor: not to dwell in, but to hold as an outpost, and to rebuild the bridge for the passage of our arms. And then came the Fell Riders out of Minas Morgul.’ “The Black Riders?’ said Pippin, opening his eyes, and they were wide and dark with an old fear re-awakened. “Yes, they were black,’ said Beregond, ‘and I see that you know something of them, though you have not spoken of them in any of your tales.’ ‘I know of them,” said Pippin softly, ‘but I will not speak of them now, so near, so near.’ He broke off and lifted his eyes above the River, and it seemed to him that all he could see was a vast and threatening shadow. Perhaps it was mountains looming on the verge of sight, their jagged edges softened by wellnigh twenty leagues of misty air; perhaps it was but a cloud-wall, and beyond that again a yet deeper gloom. But even as he looked it seemed to his eyes that the gloom was growing and gathering, very slowly, slowly rising to smother the regions of the sun. ‘So near to Mordor?’ said Beregond quietly. ‘Yes, there it lies. We seldom name it; but we have dwelt ever in sight of that shadow: sometimes it seems fainter and more distant; sometimes nearer and darker. It is growing and darkening now; and therefore our fear and disquiet grow too. And the Fell Riders, less than a year ago they won back the crossings, and many of our best men were slain. Boromir it was that drove the enemy at last back from this western shore, and

「那是通往塔姆拉登與羅薩那奇河谷、以及山中村莊的道路，然後會一直通到萊班寧。」貝瑞貢說。「最後一批載著老弱婦孺前往避難所的貨車正從那裡離開。命令是：中午之前，他們必須全部離開城門，讓道路淨空一里格。這是個悲哀的必要之舉。」他嘆了口氣。「現在這些離散的人們，恐怕很少有機會能再相見了。而且這座城裡的孩子總是太少；但現在一個也沒了——除了一些不肯離開的年輕小伙子，他們或許能找點事做：我兒子就是其中之一。」他們沉默了一會兒。皮聘焦慮地凝視著東方，彷彿隨時會看到成千上萬的半獸人湧過田野。「我在那裡看到的是什麼？」他指著安都因大河灣的中央問道。「那是另一座城市，還是什麼？」「那曾經是座城市，」貝瑞貢說，「是剛鐸的首都，而這裡只是它的一座堡壘。那是奧斯吉力亞斯的廢墟，位於安都因河兩岸，很久以前被我們的敵人攻佔並燒毀了。然而，在迪耐瑟年輕的時候，我們又把它奪了回來：不是為了居住，而是作為一個前哨站，並重建橋樑以供我方軍隊通行。然後，惡靈騎士就從米那斯魔窟出來了。」「黑騎士？」皮聘說，他的眼睛睜得大大的，因舊日的恐懼被喚醒而顯得又大又黑。「是的，他們是黑色的，」貝瑞貢說，「而且我看得出來你對他們有所了解，雖然你在你的故事中從未提過他們。」「我知道他們，」皮聘輕聲說，「但我現在不想說，他們太近了，太近了。」他話說到一半，抬眼望向河的上方，在他看來，所能見到的一切，只是一片巨大而帶有威脅性的陰影。或許那是隱現在視線邊緣的山脈，其鋸齒狀的稜線被將近二十里格的霧氣所柔化；又或許那只是一道雲牆，雲牆之後是更深沉的黑暗。但就在他注視之際，他眼中的黑暗似乎正在增長、聚集，非常緩慢、緩慢地升起，彷彿要窒息陽光普照的區域。「離魔多這麼近嗎？」貝瑞貢輕聲說。「是的，它就在那裡。我們很少提起它的名字；但我們一直都活在那片陰影的視線之內：有時它似乎較為黯淡遙遠；有時則更近、更黑。現在它正在增長、變暗；因此我們的恐懼與不安也隨之增長。而那些惡靈騎士，在不到一年前，他們奪回了渡口，我們許多最優秀的戰士都犧牲了。最後是波羅莫將敵人從這西岸擊退，而且⋯⋯

MINAS TIRITH 765 we hold still the near half of Osgiliath. For a little while. But we await now a new onslaught there. Maybe the chief onslaught of the war that comes.’ ‘When?’ said Pippin. ‘Have you a guess? For I saw the beacons two nights ago and the errand-riders; and Gandalf said that it was a sign that war had begun. He seemed in a desperate hurry. But now everything seems to have slowed up again.’ ‘Only because everything is now ready,’ said Beregond. ‘It is but the deep breath before the plunge.’ ‘But why were the beacons lit two nights ago?’ ‘It is over-late to send for aid when you are already besieged,’ answered Beregond. ‘But I do not know the counsel of the Lord and his captains. They have many ways of gathering news. And the Lord Denethor is unlike other men: he sees far. Some say that as he sits alone in his high chamber in the Tower at night, and bends his thought this way and that, he can read somewhat of the future; and that he will at times search even the mind of the Enemy, wrestling with him. And so it is that he is old, worn before his time. But however that may be, my lord Faramir is abroad, beyond the River on some perilous errand, and he may have sent tidings. ‘But if you would know what I think set the beacons ablaze, it was the news that came that eve out of Lebennin. There is a great fleet drawing near to the mouths of Anduin, manned by the corsairs of Umbar in the South. They have long ceased to fear the might of Gondor, and they have allied them with the Enemy, and now make a heavy stroke in his cause. For this attack will draw off much of the help that we looked to have from Lebennin and Belfalas, where folk are hardy and numerous. All the more do our thoughts go north to Rohan; and the more glad are we for these tidings of victory that you bring. ‘And yet’ — he paused and stood up, and looked round, north, east, and south — ‘the doings at Isengard should warn us that we are caught now in a great net and strategy. This is no longer a bickering at the fords, raiding from Ithilien and from Anoérien, ambushing and pillaging. This is a great war long-planned, and we are but one piece in it, whatever pride may say. Things move in the far East beyond the Inland Sea, it is reported; and north in Mirkwood and beyond; and south in Harad. And now all realms shall be put to the test, to stand, or fall — under the Shadow. “Yet, Master Peregrin, we have this honour: ever we bear the brunt of the chief hatred of the Dark Lord, for that hatred comes down out of the depths of time and over the deeps of the Sea. Here will the hammer-stroke fall hardest. And for that reason Mithrandir came hither in such haste. For if we fall, who shall stand? And, Master Peregrin, do you see any hope that we shall stand?’

米那斯提力斯 765 我們仍佔有著奧斯吉力亞斯將近一半的土地。暫時是如此。但我們正等著那裡的新一波猛攻。或許是這場戰爭即將到來的主力猛攻。」「何時？」皮聘問。「您有猜到嗎？因為我兩天前看到了烽火和傳訊騎士；甘道夫說那是戰爭開始的信號。他看起來非常匆忙。但現在一切似乎又慢下來了。」「只因為一切都已準備就緒，」貝瑞貢說。「這不過是縱身一躍前的深呼吸罷了。」「但為何烽火在兩天前點燃？」「等到你被圍困時才求援就太晚了，」貝瑞貢回答。「但我不知道國君和他的將領們的計策。他們有很多收集消息的管道。而且迪耐瑟國君不同於常人：他看得非常遠。有人說，當他夜晚獨自坐在高塔的密室裡，思緒百轉千迴之時，他能讀到一些未來的景象；有時他甚至會探查敵人的心靈，與他角力。也正因如此，他才顯得蒼老，未屆其時便已憔悴。但無論如何，我的主人法拉墨正在外，在安都因河對岸執行某項危險的任務，或許是他傳回了消息。『但若你想知道我認為是什麼點燃了烽火，那是當晚從萊本寧傳來的消息。有一支龐大的艦隊正駛近安都因河口，船員是南方昂巴的海盜。他們早已不再畏懼剛鐸的威力，並已與敵人結盟，現在正為其大業發動猛烈一擊。因為這次攻擊將會牽制住我們原本期望從萊本寧和貝爾法拉斯獲得的大部分援助，那裡的人民既強悍又眾多。因此，我們的思緒更加轉向北方的羅翰；也更加為你帶來的勝利消息感到高興。『然而』——他頓了一下，站起身，環顧四周——北、東、南——『艾辛格的所作所為應當警示我們，我們現已陷入一個巨大的羅網和策略之中。這不再是渡口的口角之爭，不再是從伊西立安和安諾瑞安發動的突襲、伏擊和掠奪。這是一場籌謀已久的偉大戰爭，而我們只是其中的一枚棋子，無論自尊心怎麼說。據報，在內陸之海以東的遠方，在幽暗密林及其更遠的北方，以及在哈拉德的南方，都有事態在變動。現在，所有的王國都將受到考驗，是屹立不搖，還是——在闇影之下——殞落。「然而，皮瑞格林先生，我們有此榮譽：我們永遠承受著黑暗魔君最主要仇恨的衝擊，因為那仇恨源自時間的深淵，跨越了海洋的深處。錘擊將會在這裡落下得最為猛烈。也正因如此，米斯蘭達才如此匆忙地來到此地。因為如果我們倒下，誰又能屹立不倒？而且，皮瑞格林先生，你看我們有任何屹立不倒的希望嗎？

766 THE LORD OF THE RINGS Pippin did not answer. He looked at the great walls, and the towers and brave banners, and the sun in the high sky, and then at the gathering gloom in the East; and he thought of the long fingers of that Shadow: of the orcs in the woods and the mountains, the treason of Isengard, the birds of evil eye, and the Black Riders even in the lanes of the Shire — and of the winged terror, the Nazgil. He shuddered, and hope seemed to wither. And even at that moment the sun for a second faltered and was obscured, as though a dark wing had passed across it. Almost beyond hearing he thought he caught, high and far up in the heavens, a cry: faint, but heart-quelling, cruel and cold. He blanched and cowered against the wall. ‘What was that?’ asked Beregond. ‘You also felt something?’ ‘Yes,’ muttered Pippin. ‘It is the sign of our fall, and the shadow of doom, a Fell Rider of the air.’ “Yes, the shadow of doom,’ said Beregond. ‘I fear that Minas Tirith shall fall. Night comes. The very warmth of my blood seems stolen away.’ For a time they sat together with bowed heads and did not speak. Then suddenly Pippin looked up and saw that the sun was still shining and the banners still streaming in the breeze. He shook himself. ‘It is passed,’ he said. ‘No, my heart will not yet despair. Gandalf fell and has returned and is with us. We may stand, if only on one leg, or at least be left still upon our knees.’ ‘Rightly said!’ cried Beregond, rising and striding to and fro. ‘Nay, though all things must come utterly to an end in time, Gondor shall not perish yet. Not though the walls be taken by a reckless foe that will build a hill of carrion before them. There are still other fastnesses, and secret ways of escape into the mountains. Hope and memory shall live still in some hidden valley where the grass is green.’ ‘All the same, I wish it was over for good or ill,’ said Pippin. ‘I am no warrior at all and dislike any thought of battle; but waiting on the edge of one that I can’t escape is worst of all. What a long day it seems already! I should be happier, if we were not obliged to stand and watch, making no move, striking nowhere first. No stroke would have been struck in Rohan, I think, but for Gandalf.’ ‘Ah, there you lay your finger on the sore that many feel!’ said Beregond. ‘But things may change when Faramir returns. He is bold, more bold than many deem; for in these days men are slow to believe that a captain can be wise and learned in the scrolls of lore and song, as he is, and yet a man of hardihood and swift judgement in the field. But such is Faramir. Less reckless and eager than Boromir, but not less resolute. Yet what indeed can he do? We cannot assault the mountains of — of yonder realm. Our reach is shortened, and we

皮聘沒有回答。他望著宏偉的城牆、高塔和英勇的旗幟，望著高掛天空的太陽，然後又望向東方聚集的陰霾；他想起了那黑影伸出的長長指爪：林中與山裡的半獸人、艾辛格的背叛、邪惡之眼的飛鳥，甚至在夏爾小徑上出現的黑騎士——還有那有翼的恐怖，納茲古。他打了個寒顫，希望似乎也隨之枯萎。就在那一刻，太陽彷彿也動搖了，黯淡了一秒，好像有一隻黑色的翅膀從它面前掠過。他幾乎以為自己聽見了，在高遠的天際，一聲尖嘯：微弱，卻令人心膽俱裂，殘酷而冰冷。他臉色發白，畏縮地靠在牆上。「那是什麼？」貝瑞貢問。「你也感覺到了什麼？」「是的，」皮聘咕噥道。「那是我們敗亡的徵兆，是末日的陰影，一個來自空中的凶惡騎士。」「是的，末日的陰影，」貝瑞貢說。「我恐怕米那斯提力斯將會陷落。黑夜降臨了。我血液中的溫暖似乎都被偷走了。」他們一度低頭坐著，誰也沒有說話。然後皮聘突然抬起頭，看見太陽依舊照耀，旗幟仍在微風中飄揚。他抖擻精神。「都過去了，」他說。「不，我的心還不會絕望。甘道夫曾墜落，但他回來了，和我們在一起。我們還能站著，哪怕只靠一條腿，或至少還能跪著。」「說得對！」貝瑞貢大喊，站起來來回踱步。「不，雖然萬物終將有徹底結束的一天，但剛鐸還不會滅亡。即使城牆被魯莽的敵人攻破，即使他們在城前堆起一座腐屍山。我們還有其他的要塞，還有通往山中的秘密逃生路線。希望與記憶仍會活在某個草地青翠的隱密山谷中。」「即便如此，我還是希望這一切不論好壞都趕快結束，」皮聘說。「我根本不是戰士，一想到戰鬥就討厭；但等待一場我無法逃脫的戰鬥，那感覺最糟了。這一天感覺已經好漫長了！如果我們不必被迫站著觀望，一動不動，不先發制人，我會更快樂些。我想，若不是甘道夫，在羅翰根本不會有任何反擊。」「啊，你這可說中了許多人的痛處！」貝瑞貢說。「但當法拉墨回來時，情況可能會改變。他很勇敢，比許多人想像的更勇敢；因為在現今，人們很難相信一位將領可以像他那樣，既睿智又博覽傳說與詩歌的卷軸，同時在戰場上又是一位堅毅果決的人。但法拉墨就是這樣。他不像波羅莫那樣魯莽和急切，但同樣堅決。然而，他又能做什麼呢？我們無法攻擊——那個遠方國度的山脈。我們的力量已今非昔比，而我們

MINAS TIRITH 767 cannot strike till some foe comes within it. Then our hand must be heavy!’ He smote the hilt of his sword. Pippin looked at him: tall and proud and noble, as all the men that he had yet seen in that land; and with a glitter in his eye as he thought of the battle. ‘Alas! my own hand feels as light as a feather,’ he thought, but he said nothing. ‘A pawn did Gandalf say? Perhaps; but on the wrong chessboard.’ So they talked until the sun reached its height, and suddenly the noon-bells were rung, and there was a stir in the citadel; for all save the watchmen were going to their meal. ‘Will you come with me?’ said Beregond. ‘You may join my mess for this day. I do not know to what company you will be assigned; or the Lord may hold you at his own command. But you will be welcome. And it will be well to meet as many men as you may, while there is yet time.’ ‘I shall be glad to come,’ said Pippin. ‘I am lonely, to tell you the truth. I left my best friend behind in Rohan, and I have had no one to talk to or jest with. Perhaps I could really join your company? Are you the captain? If so, you could take me on, or speak for me?’ ‘Nay, nay,’ Beregond laughed, ‘I am no captain. Neither office nor rank nor lordship have I, being but a plain man of arms of the Third Company of the Citadel. Yet, Master Peregrin, to be only a man of arms of the Guard of the Tower of Gondor is held worthy in the City, and such men have honour in the land.’ ‘Then it is far beyond me,’ said Pippin. “Take me back to our room, and if Gandalf is not there, I will go where you like — as your guest.’ Gandalf was not in the lodging and had sent no message; so Pippin went with Beregond and was made known to the men of the Third Company. And it seemed that Beregond got as much honour from it as his guest, for Pippin was very welcome. There had already been much talk in the citadel about Mithrandir’s companion and his long closeting with the Lord; and rumour declared that a Prince of the Halflings had come out of the North to offer allegiance to Gondor and five thousand swords. And some said that when the Riders came from Rohan each would bring behind him a halfling warrior, small maybe, but doughty. Though Pippin had regretfully to destroy this hopeful tale, he could not be rid of his new rank, only fitting, men thought, to one befriended by Boromir and honoured by the Lord Denethor; and they thanked him for coming among them, and hung on his words and stories of the outlands, and gave him as much food and ale as

米那斯提力斯 767 直到有敵人進入範圍才能攻擊。屆時我們出手必須要重！』他敲了一下劍柄。皮聘看著他：高大、驕傲而高貴，就像他在這片土地上見過的所有人一樣；當他想到戰鬥時，眼中閃爍著光芒。『唉！我自己的手感覺輕如羽毛，』他想，但什麼也沒說。『甘道夫說我是個棋子？也許吧；但在錯誤的棋盤上。』他們就這樣聊著，直到太陽升到最高點，午時的鐘聲突然響起，禁城裡一陣騷動；因為除了守望者，所有人都去用餐了。『你願意跟我來嗎？』貝瑞貢說。『今天你可以加入我的伙食團。我不知道你會被分配到哪個連隊；或者迪耐瑟王會把你留在身邊聽候差遣。但你會受歡迎的。趁還有時間，盡可能多認識一些人是件好事。』『我很樂意來，』皮聘說。『說實話，我很孤單。我把我最好的朋友留在了洛汗，一直沒人可以說話或開玩笑。也許我真的可以加入你的連隊？你是隊長嗎？如果是，你可以收留我，或為我說句話？』『不，不，』貝瑞貢笑了，『我不是隊長。我沒有官職、軍階或爵位，只不過是禁城第三分隊的一名普通士兵。然而，培瑞格林大師，僅僅作為一名剛鐸塔衛隊的士兵，在城裡就被認為是很有價值的，這樣的人在這片土地上享有榮譽。』『那這對我來說就太遙遠了，』皮聘說。『帶我回我們的房間吧，如果甘道夫不在，我就隨你喜歡去哪裡——作為你的客人。』甘道夫不在住所，也沒留下任何訊息；於是皮聘跟著貝瑞貢去認識了第三分隊的士兵們。看來貝瑞貢從中得到的榮譽和他的客人一樣多，因為皮聘非常受歡迎。禁城裡早已對米斯蘭達的同伴以及他與迪耐瑟王長時間的密談議論紛紛；謠言宣稱，一位來自北方的半身人王子前來向剛鐸宣誓效忠，並帶來五千名劍士。還有人說，當洛汗騎士到來時，每個人身後都會帶著一名半身人戰士，也許個子小，但英勇善戰。雖然皮聘不得不遺憾地打破這個充滿希望的傳說，但他無法擺脫自己的新身份，人們認為這才配得上波羅莫的朋友、迪耐瑟王所尊敬的人；他們感謝他的到來，專心聆聽他講述外地的話語和故事，並給了他盡可能多的食物和啤酒。

768 THE LORD OF THE RINGS he could wish. Indeed his only trouble was to be ‘wary’ according to the counsel of Gandalf, and not to let his tongue wag freely after the manner of a hobbit among friends. At length Beregond rose. ‘Farewell for this time!’ he said. ‘I have duty now till sundown, as have all the others here, I think. But if you are lonely, as you say, maybe you would like a merry guide about the City. My son would go with you gladly. A good lad, I may say. If that pleases you, go down to the lowest circle and ask for the Old Guesthouse in the Rath Celerdain, the Lampwrights’ Street. You will find him there with other lads that are remaining in the City. There may be things worth seeing down at the Great Gate ere the closing.’ He went out, and soon after all the others followed. The day was still fine, though it was growing hazy, and it was hot for March, even so far southwards. Pippin felt sleepy, but the lodging seemed cheerless, and he decided to go down and explore the City. He took a few morsels that he had saved to Shadowfax, and they were graciously accepted, though the horse seemed to have no lack. Then he walked on down many winding ways. People stared much as he passed. To his face men were gravely courteous, saluting him after the manner of Gondor with bowed head and hands upon the breast; but behind him he heard many calls, as those out of doors cried to others within to come and see the Prince of the Halflings, the companion of Mithrandir. Many used some other tongue than the Common Speech, but it was not long before he learned at least what was meant by Ernil 1 Pheriannath and knew that his title had gone down before him into the City. He came at last by arched streets and many fair alleys and pavements to the lowest and widest circle, and there he was directed to the Lampwrights’ Street, a broad way running towards the Great Gate. In it he found the Old Guesthouse, a large building of grey weathered stone with two wings running back from the street, and between them a narrow greensward, behind which was the manywindowed house, fronted along its whole width by a pillared porch and a flight of steps down on to the grass. Boys were playing among the pillars, the only children that Pippin had seen in Minas Tirith, and he stopped to look at them. Presently one of them caught sight of him, and with a shout he sprang across the grass and came into the street, followed by several others. There he stood in front of Pippin, looking him up and down. ‘Greetings!’ said the lad. ‘Where do you come from? You are a stranger in the City.’ ‘I was,’ said Pippin; ‘but they say I have become a man of Gondor.’

他所能期望的。事實上，他唯一的麻煩就是得遵照甘道夫的忠告「保持警惕」，不要像哈比人與朋友相處時那樣，讓自己的舌頭隨意擺動。終於，貝瑞貢站起身來。「暫且告辭了！」他說。「我現在有勤務，直到日落，我想這裡的其他人也是。但如果你像你說的那樣感到孤單，也許你會想要一個愉快的嚮導帶你逛逛這座城市。我的兒子會很樂意陪你。我得說，他是個好孩子。如果你願意，就到最下層去，問問在拉斯凱勒丹，也就是燈匠街上的舊迎賓館。你會在那裡找到他，還有其他留在城裡的年輕人。在大門關閉前，那裡或許有些值得一看的東西。」他走了出去，不久後其他人也都跟著離開了。天氣依然晴朗，儘管漸漸起了薄霧，而且以三月來說，即便在這麼南邊的地方也算炎熱。皮聘感到睏倦，但住處似乎很冷清，他決定下樓去探索這座城市。他把省下來的幾口食物拿給影疾，影疾也欣然接受了，雖然這匹馬似乎並不匱乏。然後他沿著許多蜿蜒的道路往下走。人們在他經過時都好奇地盯著他。當著他的面，人們都嚴肅而有禮，用剛鐸的方式向他致敬，低下頭，雙手放在胸前；但在他身後，他聽到許多呼喊聲，是那些在戶外的人叫屋裡的人出來看那位半身人王子，米斯蘭達的同伴。許多人說的不是通用語，但他很快就至少明白了「艾尼爾・伊・佩里安納斯」是什麼意思，也知道他的頭銜已經在他抵達前傳遍了整座城市。他最後穿過拱形的街道和許多美麗的小巷與人行道，來到最下層也最寬闊的一圈，在那裡他被指引到燈匠街，一條通往大門的寬闊大道。他在街上找到了舊迎賓館，那是一棟用灰色風化石頭建成的大型建築，有兩翼從街道向後延伸，兩翼之間是一片狹長的草坪，草坪後面是那棟有許多窗戶的房子，整個房子的正面都有一個帶柱子的門廊和一道通往草地的階梯。有些男孩在柱子間玩耍，這是皮聘在米那斯提力斯見過的唯一的孩子們，他停下來看著他們。不一會兒，其中一個孩子看見了他，大喊一聲，跳過草地來到街上，後面跟著其他幾個孩子。他站在皮聘面前，將他上下打量。「你好！」那男孩說。「你從哪裡來？你是城裡來的陌生人。」「我曾經是，」皮聘說，「但他們說我已經成為一個剛鐸人了。」

MINAS TIRITH 769 ‘Oh come!’ said the lad. “Then we are all men here. But how old are you, and what is your name? I am ten years already, and shall soon be five feet. I am taller than you. But then my father is a Guard, one of the tallest. What is your father?’ ‘Which question shall I answer first?’ said Pippin. ‘My father farms the lands round Whitwell near Tuckborough in the Shire. I am nearly twenty-nine, so I pass you there; though I am but four feet, and not likely to grow any more, save sideways.’ ‘Twenty-nine!’ said the lad and whistled. ‘Why, you are quite old! As old as my uncle Iorlas. Still,’ he added hopefully, ‘I wager I could stand you on your head or lay you on your back.’ ‘Maybe you could, if I let you,’ said Pippin with a laugh. ‘And maybe I could do the same to you: we know some wrestling tricks in my little country. Where, let me tell you, Iam considered uncommonly large and strong; and I have never allowed anyone to stand me on my head. So if it came to a trial and nothing else would serve, I might have to kill you. For when you are older, you will learn that folk are not always what they seem; and though you may have taken me for a soft stranger-lad and easy prey, let me warn you: I am not, I am a halfling, hard, bold, and wicked!’ Pippin pulled such a grim face that the boy stepped back a pace, but at once he returned with clenched fists and the light of battle in his eye. ‘No!’ Pippin laughed. ‘Don’t believe what strangers say of themselves either! I am not a fighter. But it would be politer in any case for the challenger to say who he is.’ The boy drew himself up proudly. ‘I am Bergil son of Beregond of the Guards,’ he said. ‘So I thought,’ said Pippin, ‘for you look like your father. I know him and he sent me to find you.’ “Then why did you not say so at once?’ said Bergil, and suddenly a look of dismay came over his face. ‘Do not tell me that he has changed his mind, and will send me away with the maidens! But no, the last wains have gone.’ ‘His message is less bad than that, if not good,’ said Pippin. ‘He says that if you would prefer it to standing me on my head, you might show me round the City for a while and cheer my loneliness. I can tell you some tales of far countries in return.’ Bergil clapped his hands, and laughed with relief. ‘All is well,’ he cried. ‘Come then! We were soon going to the Gate to look on. We will go now.’ ‘What is happening there?’ “The Captains of the Outlands are expected up the South Road ere sundown. Come with us and you will see.’ 1 BS BS

「噢，來吧！」那男孩說。「那我們這裡都是男人了。但你幾歲了，叫什麼名字？我已經十歲了，很快就要五呎高了。我比你高。不過我爸爸是禁衛軍，是最高的人之一。你爸爸是做什麼的？」「我該先回答哪個問題呢？」皮聘說。「我父親在夏爾的塔克鎮附近的白井一帶種地。我快二十九歲了，所以這點我贏你；雖然我只有四呎高，而且大概不會再長高了，除非是橫著長。」「二十九歲！」男孩說著吹了聲口哨。「哇，你好老了！跟我伊歐拉斯叔叔一樣老。不過，」他滿懷希望地補充道，「我打賭我能把你倒立過來，或是把你摔個四腳朝天。」「如果你讓我這麼做，或許你辦得到，」皮聘笑著說。「而且或許我也能對你做同樣的事：在我的小國家裡，我們也懂一些摔角技巧。而且，跟你說吧，我在那裡可是被認為異常高大強壯的；我從沒讓任何人把我倒立過來。所以如果真要比試一場，非如此不可的話，我可能得殺了你。因為等你再大一點，你就會學到，人不可貌相；雖然你可能把我當成一個好欺負的陌生小夥子，一個容易下手的獵物，但我警告你：我不是，我是個半身人，強悍、大膽，而且很壞！」皮聘擺出一副極其嚇人的表情，那男孩嚇得後退了一步，但立刻又握緊拳頭，眼裡閃著戰鬥的光芒，走了回來。「不！」皮聘笑了。「也別相信陌生人對自己的描述！我不是個鬥士。但無論如何，挑戰者先報上自己的名號會更有禮貌。」男孩驕傲地挺起胸膛。「我是禁衛軍貝瑞貢之子，貝爾吉爾。」他說。「我就是這麼想的，」皮聘說，「因為你看起來像你父親。我認識他，是他派我來找你的。」「那你為什麼不早說？」貝爾吉爾說，臉上突然掠過一絲沮喪。「別告訴我他改變主意了，要把我和姑娘們一起送走！但不會的，最後一批貨車已經走了。」「他的訊息沒那麼糟，雖然也不算好，」皮聘說。「他說，如果你不想把我倒立過來，或許可以帶我逛逛這座城市，解解我的寂寞。作為回報，我可以告訴你一些遠方國度的故事。」貝爾吉爾拍著手，如釋重負地笑了起來。「太好了，」他喊道。「那就來吧！我們本來正要去城門那邊看熱鬧。我們現在就去。」「那裡發生什麼事了？」「邊境地區的將領們預計在日落前會從南方大道抵達。跟我們一起來，你就會看到了。」

77O THE LORD OF THE RINGS Bergil proved a good comrade, the best company Pippin had had since he parted from Merry, and soon they were laughing and talking gaily as they went about the streets, heedless of the many glances that men gave them. Before long they found themselves in a throng going towards the Great Gate. There Pippin went up much in the esteem of Bergil, for when he spoke his name and the pass-word the guard saluted him and let him pass through; and what was more, he allowed him to take his companion with him. “That is good!’ said Bergil. “We boys are no longer allowed to pass the Gate without an elder. Now we shall see better.’ Beyond the Gate there was a crowd of men along the verge of the road and of the great paved space into which all the ways to Minas Tirith ran. All eyes were turned southwards, and soon a murmur rose: “There is dust away there! They are coming!’ Pippin and Bergil edged their way forward to the front of the crowd, and waited. Horns sounded at some distance, and the noise of cheering rolled towards them like a gathering wind. Then there was a loud trumpet-blast, and all about them people were shouting. ‘Forlong! Forlong!’ Pippin heard men calling. ‘What do they say?’ he asked. ‘Forlong has come,’ Bergil answered; ‘old Forlong the Fat, the Lord of Lossarnach. That is where my grandsire lives. Hurrah! Here he is. Good old Forlong!’ Leading the line there came walking a big thick-limbed horse, and on it sat a man of wide shoulders and huge girth, but old and grey-bearded, yet mail-clad and black-helmed and bearing a long heavy spear. Behind him marched proudly a dusty line of men, wellarmed and bearing great battle-axes; grim-faced they were, and shorter and somewhat swarthier than any men that Pippin had yet seen in Gondor. ‘Forlong!’? men shouted. “True heart, true friend! Forlong!’ But when the men of Lossarnach had passed they muttered: ‘So few! Two hundreds, what are they? We hoped for ten times the number. That will be the new tidings of the black fleet. They are sparing only a tithe of their strength. Still every little is a gain.’ And so the companies came and were hailed and cheered and passed through the Gate, men of the Outlands marching to defend the City of Gondor in a dark hour; but always too few, always less than hope looked for or need asked. The men of Ringl6 Vale behind the son of their lord, Dervorin striding on foot: three hundreds. From the uplands of Morthond, the great Blackroot Vale, tall Duinhir with his sons, Duilin and Derufin, and five hundred bowmen. From the Anfalas, the Langstrand far away, a long line of men of many sorts,

貝爾吉爾證明是個好夥伴，是皮聘自從和梅里分開後所遇到最好的伴侶。很快地，他們就在街上開心地有說有笑，不在意路人投來的許多目光。不久後，他們發現自己身處一群朝著宏偉大門走去的人潮中。在那裡，皮聘在貝爾吉爾心中的地位大大提升，因為當他說出自己的名字和通關密語時，衛兵向他敬禮並讓他通過；更棒的是，衛兵還允許他帶著同伴一起進去。「太好了！」貝爾吉爾說。「我們這些小孩子沒有長輩陪同，已經不准通過大門了。現在我們能看得更清楚了。」大門外，沿著路邊和那片通往米那斯提力斯所有道路匯集的巨大鋪石廣場，都擠滿了人。所有人的眼睛都望向南方，很快地，一陣低語聲響起：「遠處有塵土！他們來了！」皮聘和貝爾吉爾奮力擠到人群的最前面等待。遠處響起了號角聲，歡呼聲像漸起的風一般朝他們席捲而來。接著是一聲響亮的喇叭，他們周遭的人們都在大喊。「佛龍！佛龍！」皮聘聽見人們呼喊著。「他們在說什麼？」他問。「佛龍來了，」貝爾吉爾回答；「是肥胖的老佛龍，羅薩那奇的領主。我祖父就住在那裡。太棒了！他來了。好樣的老佛龍！」隊伍最前方走來一匹腿粗體壯的大馬，馬上坐着一個肩膀寬闊、腰圍巨大的人，雖然年老且灰鬚，卻身穿鎖子甲、頭戴黑盔，手持一根又長又重的矛。他身後跟著一列滿身塵土的士兵，他們驕傲地行進，裝備精良，手持巨大的戰斧；他們面容嚴肅，比皮聘在剛鐸見過的任何人都更矮、膚色也更黝黑一些。「佛龍！」人們大喊。「真心人，真朋友！佛龍！」但當羅薩那奇的人馬走過後，他們卻低聲議論：「這麼少！兩百人，算得了什麼？我們本來期望有十倍的人數。這一定是黑色艦隊的新消息害的。他們只肯分出一小部分兵力。不過，聊勝於無。」就這樣，一隊隊的援軍到來，受到歡迎和歡呼，然後穿過大門，這些來自外圍領地的戰士，在黑暗的時刻前來保衛剛鐸之城；但人數總是太少，總是比期望的或需要的要少。林格羅谷的人馬跟在他們領主的兒子德佛林身後，他徒步大步前進：三百人。來自高地的黑根谷，高大的督因赫和他兩個兒子督伊林與德茹芬，以及五百名弓箭手。來自遙遠的安法拉斯，長灘，一長列各式各樣的人，

MINAS TIRITH 771 hunters and herdsmen and men of little villages, scantily equipped save for the household of Golasgil their lord. From Lamedon, a few grim hillmen without a captain. Fisher-folk of the Ethir, some hundred or more spared from the ships. Hirluin the Fair of the Green Hills from Pinnath Gelin with three hundreds of gallant green-clad men. And last and proudest, Imrahil, Prince of Dol Amroth, kinsman of the Lord, with gilded banners bearing his token of the Ship and the Silver Swan, and a company of knights in full harness riding grey horses; and behind them seven hundreds of men at arms, tall as lords, grey-eyed, dark-haired, singing as they came. And that was all, less than three thousands full told. No more would come. Their cries and the tramp of their feet passed into the City and died away. The onlookers stood silent for a while. Dust hung in the air, for the wind had died and the evening was heavy. Already the closing hour was drawing nigh, and the red sun had gone behind Mindolluin. Shadow came down on the City. Pippin looked up, and it seemed to him that the sky had grown ashen-grey, as if a vast dust and smoke hung above them, and light came dully through it. But in the West the dying sun had set all the fume on fire, and now Mindolluin stood black against a burning smoulder flecked with embers. ‘So ends a fair day in wrath!’ he said, forgetful of the lad at his side. ‘So it will, if I have not returned before the sundown-bells,’ said Bergil. ‘Come! There goes the trumpet for the closing of the Gate.’ Hand in hand they went back into the City, the last to pass the Gate before it was shut; and as they reached the Lampwrights’ Street all the bells in the towers tolled solemnly. Lights sprang in many windows, and from the houses and wards of the men at arms along the walls there came the sound of song. ‘Farewell for this time,’ said Bergil. “Take my greetings to my father, and thank him for the company that he sent. Come again soon, I beg. Almost I wish now that there was no war, for we might have had some merry times. We might have journeyed to Lossarnach, to my grandsire’s house; it is good to be there in spring, the woods and fields are full of flowers. But maybe we will go thither together yet. They will never overcome our Lord, and my father is very valiant. Farewell and return!’ They parted and Pippin hurried back towards the citadel. It seemed a long way, and he grew hot and very hungry; and night closed down swift and dark. Not a star pricked the sky. He was late for the daymeal in the mess, and Beregond greeted him gladly, and sat him at his side to hear news of his son. After the meal Pippin stayed a while, and then took his leave, for a strange gloom

獵人、牧人與來自小村莊的居民，除了他們領主戈拉斯吉爾的家臣外，其餘皆裝備簡陋。從拉梅頓來了幾位神情嚴峻、沒有隊長的山地人。埃希爾河口的漁民，約百餘人，是從船上抽調來的。來自平納斯傑林的綠丘領主，美男子希爾路因，率領三百名身穿綠衣的英勇部下。最後，也是最令人驕傲的一支隊伍，是多爾安羅斯親王印拉希爾，攝政王的親族。他帶著鍍金的旗幟，上面繡著他的船與銀天鵝徽記；身後跟著一隊騎士，身著全套盔甲，騎著灰馬；再後面是七百名士兵，他們身形高大如貴族，灰眼黑髮，一路歌唱而來。這就是全部了，總計不到三千人。不會再有更多援軍了。他們的呼喊與腳步聲傳入城內，隨後漸漸消逝。圍觀的人們靜默地站了一會兒。風停了，暮色沉沉，塵土懸浮在空中。關門的時刻即將來臨，紅日已沉入明多路因山後。陰影降臨在城上。皮聘抬頭望去，天空似乎已變成灰燼般的顏色，彷彿巨大的塵埃與濃煙籠罩在他們上方，光線也因此變得黯淡。但在西方，垂死的太陽點燃了所有的煙霧，此刻的明多路因山在帶有餘燼斑點的悶燒火光前，只剩下一道黑色的剪影。「美好的一天就這樣在憤怒中結束了！」他說，忘了身旁的男孩。「是啊，如果我沒在日落鐘響前回去，那可就糟了。」貝爾吉爾說。「來吧！關門的號角響了。」他們手牽手走回城裡，是最後一批在城門關閉前通過的人；當他們抵達燈匠街時，所有塔樓的鐘都莊嚴地敲響了。許多窗戶亮起了燈光，從城牆邊的房舍和士兵營房裡傳來了歌聲。「這次先告別了。」貝爾吉爾說。「請代我向你父親問好，並感謝他派人陪伴你。我求你，很快再來吧。我現在幾乎希望沒有戰爭，那樣我們就能享受一些快樂時光了。我們本可以去洛斯阿爾那赫，去我外公家；春天那裡很棒，樹林和田野開滿了花。不過，也許我們將來還是能一起去。他們永遠無法戰勝我們的攝政王，我父親也非常英勇。再會，盼你平安歸來！」他們分開後，皮聘匆匆趕回衛城。路途似乎很長，他走得又熱又餓；夜幕迅速降臨，一片漆黑。沒有一顆星星刺破夜空。他錯過了餐廳的晚餐時間，但貝瑞貢高興地迎接他，讓他坐在身邊，聽聽他兒子的消息。飯後，皮聘待了一會兒，然後便告辭了，因為一股奇異的憂鬱

772 THE LORD OF THE RINGS was on him, and now he desired very much to see Gandalf again. ‘Can you find your way?’ said Beregond at the door of the small hall, on the north side of the citadel, where they had sat. ‘It is a black night, and all the blacker since orders came that lights are to be dimmed within the City, and none are to shine out from the walls. And I can give you news of another order: you will be summoned to the Lord Denethor early tomorrow. I fear you will not be for the Third Company. Still we may hope to meet again. Farewell and sleep in peace!’ The lodging was dark, save for a little lantern set on the table. Gandalf was not there. Gloom settled still more heavily on Pippin. He climbed on the bench and tried to peer out of a window, but it was like looking into a pool of ink. He got down and closed the shutter and went to bed. For a while he lay and listened for sounds of Gandalf’s return, and then he fell into an uneasy sleep. In the night he was wakened by a light, and he saw that Gandalf had come and was pacing to and fro in the room beyond the curtain of the alcove. There were candles on the table and rolls of parchment. He heard the wizard sigh, and mutter: ‘When will Faramir return?’ ‘Hullo!’ said Pippin, poking his head round the curtain. ‘I thought you had forgotten all about me. I am glad to see you back. It has been a long day.’ ‘But the night will be too short,’ said Gandalf. ‘I have come back here, for I must have a little peace, alone. You should sleep, in a bed while you still may. At the sunrise I shall take you to the Lord Denethor again. No, when the summons comes, not at sunrise. The Darkness has begun. There will be no dawn.’

他心頭沉重，此刻非常渴望能再見到甘道夫。「你找得到路嗎？」貝瑞貢德在小廳門口問道，他們剛才就坐在那裡，位於堡壘的北側。「今晚一片漆黑，而且自從命令下達，城內燈火必須調暗，城牆上也不得有任何光亮透出後，就更顯漆黑了。我還有另一個命令的消息要告訴你：迪耐瑟王明天一早會傳喚你。恐怕你不會被分到第三連隊了。不過我們還是希望能再見面。再會，祝你安睡！」住處一片漆黑，只有桌上一盞小燈籠。甘道夫不在那裡。皮聘心頭的憂鬱更加沉重了。他爬上長凳，試圖從窗戶向外窺看，但窗外就像一池墨水。他下來關上窗板，然後上床睡覺。他躺了一會兒，聽著甘道夫回來的動靜，接著便不安地睡著了。夜裡，他被一道光驚醒，看見甘道夫已經回來，正在布簾後壁龕外的房間裡來回踱步。桌上有蠟燭和幾卷羊皮紙。他聽見巫師嘆息，喃喃自語：「法拉墨什麼時候回來？」「哈囉！」皮聘從布簾後探出頭來說。「我還以為你把我忘得一乾二淨了。很高興看到你回來。今天真是漫長的一天。」「但夜晚將會太短暫了，」甘道夫說。「我回到這裡，是因為我需要獨自享受片刻的寧靜。你應該趁還能睡的時候，在床上好好睡一覺。日出時我會再帶你去見迪耐瑟王。不，是傳喚令來的時候，不是日出時。黑暗已經開始了。將不會有黎明。」