Chapter 4 THE SIEGE OF GONDOR Pippin was roused by Gandalf. Candles were lit in their chamber, for only a dim twilight came through the windows; the air was heavy as with approaching thunder. ‘What is the time?’ said Pippin yawning. ‘Past the second hour,’ said Gandalf. “Time to get up and make yourself presentable. You are summoned to the Lord of the City to learn your new duties.’ ‘And will he provide breakfast?’ ‘No! I have provided it: all that you will get till noon. Food is now doled out by order.’ Pippin looked ruefully at the small loaf and (he thought) very inadequate pat of butter which was set out for him, beside a cup of thin milk. ‘Why did you bring me here?’ he said. “You know quite well,’ said Gandalf. “To keep you out of mischief} and if you do not like being here, you can remember that you brought it on yourself.’ Pippin said no more. Before long he was walking with Gandalf once more down the cold corridor to the door of the Tower Hall. There Denethor sat in a grey gloom, like an old patient spider, Pippin thought; he did not seem to have moved since the day before. He beckoned Gandalf to a seat, but Pippin was left for a while standing unheeded. Presently the old man turned to him: ‘Well, Master Peregrin, I hope that you used yesterday to your profit, and to your liking? Though I fear that the board is barer in this city than you could wish.’ Pippin had an uncomfortable feeling that most of what he had said or done was somehow known to the Lord of the City, and much was guessed of what he thought as well. He did not answer. ‘What would you do in my service?’ ‘I thought, sir, that you would tell me my duties.’ ‘I will, when I learn what you are fit for,’ said Denethor. ‘But that I shall learn soonest, maybe, if I keep you beside me. The esquire of my chamber has begged leave to go to the out-garrison, so you shall take his place for a while. You shall wait on me, bear errands, and talk to me, if war and council leave me any leisure. Can you sing?’ ‘Yes,’ said Pippin. ‘Well, yes, well enough for my own people. But we have no songs fit for great halls and evil times, lord. We seldom
第四章 剛鐸圍城戰 皮聘被甘道夫喚醒。他們房裡的蠟燭已經點燃，因為窗外只有昏暗的微光；空氣沉重得像是雷雨將至。「什麼時辰了？」皮聘打著呵欠問。「剛過第二個小時，」甘道夫說。「該起床打理一下儀容了。城主召見你，要讓你了解你的新職責。」「那他會提供早餐嗎？」「不！我提供了：這就是你直到中午前能得到的所有食物。現在食物都按命令配給。」皮聘懊惱地看著擺在他面前的小麵包和（他覺得）少得可憐的一小塊奶油，旁邊還有一杯稀牛奶。「你為什麼帶我來這裡？」他說。「你心裡很清楚，」甘道夫說。「為了讓你少惹麻煩。如果你不喜歡待在這裡，你可以記住，這是你自作自受。」皮聘不再多言。不久，他又跟著甘道夫走過冰冷的走廊，來到高塔大廳的門前。迪耐瑟坐在灰暗的陰影裡，皮聘心想，他就像一隻耐心等待的老蜘蛛；他似乎從前一天起就沒動過。他招手示意甘道夫坐下，但皮聘卻被晾在一旁，無人理會。過了一會兒，老人轉向他：「哦，佩瑞格林少爺，我希望你昨天過得充實又愉快？雖然我恐怕這城裡的餐桌比你期望的要空蕩許多。」皮聘有種不舒服的感覺，彷彿他說過或做過的大部分事情，城主不知怎麼地都知道了，連他心裡的想法也被猜中不少。他沒有回答。「你願意為我做些什麼？」「大人，我以為您會告訴我我的職責。」「等我了解你的能耐後，我會的，」迪耐瑟說。「不過，或許把你留在我身邊，我能最快了解。我寢室的侍從已請求准許前往外圍駐地，所以你暫時接替他的位置。你將侍候我、為我跑腿，如果戰爭和會議能給我留下任何空閒時間，就跟我說說話。你會唱歌嗎？」「會，」皮聘說。「嗯，是的，唱得還行，足以給我的同胞聽。但是大人，我們沒有適合在宏偉廳堂和邪惡時代傳唱的歌。我們很少……
THE SIEGE OF GONDOR 807 sing of anything more terrible than wind or rain. And most of my songs are about things that make us laugh; or about food and drink, of course.’ ‘And why should such songs be unfit for my halls, or for such hours as these? We who have lived long under the Shadow may surely listen to echoes from a land untroubled by it? Then we may feel that our vigil was not fruitless, though it may have been thankless.’ Pippin’s heart sank. He did not relish the idea of singing any song of the Shire to the Lord of Minas Tirith, certainly not the comic ones that he knew best; they were too, well, rustic for such an occasion. He was however spared the ordeal for the present. He was not commanded to sing. Denethor turned to Gandalf, asking questions about the Rohirrim and their policies, and the position of Eomer, the king’s nephew. Pippin marvelled at the amount that the Lord seemed to know about a people that lived far away, though it must, he thought, be many years since Denethor himself had ridden abroad. Presently Denethor waved to Pippin and dismissed him again for a while. ‘Go to the armouries of the Citadel,’ he said, ‘and get you there the livery and gear of the Tower. It will be ready. It was commanded yesterday. Return when you are clad!’ It was as he said; and Pippin soon found himself arrayed in strange garments, all of black and silver. He had a small hauberk, its rings forged of steel, maybe, yet black as jet; and a high-crowned helm with small raven-wings on either side, set with a silver star in the centre of the circlet. Above the mail was a short surcoat of black, but broidered on the breast in silver with the token of the Tree. His old clothes were folded and put away, but he was permitted to keep the grey cloak of Lorien, though not to wear it when on duty. He looked now, had he known it, verily Ernil 1 Pheriannath, the Prince of the Halflings, that folk had called him; but he felt uncomfortable. And the gloom began to weigh on his spirits. It was dark and dim all day. From the sunless dawn until evening the heavy shadow had deepened, and all hearts in the City were oppressed. Far above a great cloud streamed slowly westward from the Black Land, devouring light, borne upon a wind of war; but below the air was still and breathless, as if all the Vale of Anduin waited for the onset of a ruinous storm. About the eleventh hour, released at last for a while from service, Pippin came out and went in search of food and drink to cheer his heavy heart and make his task of waiting more supportable. In the messes he met Beregond again, who had just come from an errand over the Pelennor out to the Guard-towers upon the Causeway. Together they strolled out to the walls; for Pippin felt imprisoned
808 THE LORD OF THE RINGS indoors, and stifled even in the lofty citadel. Now they sat side by side again in the embrasure looking eastward, where they had eaten and talked the day before. It was the sunset-hour, but the great pall had now stretched far into the West, and only as it sank at last into the Sea did the Sun escape to send out a brief farewell gleam before the night, even as Frodo saw it at the Cross-roads touching the head of the fallen king. But to the fields of the Pelennor, under the shadow of Mindolluin, there came no gleam: they were brown and drear. Already it seemed years to Pippin since he had sat there before, in some half-forgotten time when he had still been a hobbit, a lighthearted wanderer touched little by the perils he had passed through. Now he was one small soldier in a city preparing for a great assault, clad in the proud but sombre manner of the Tower of Guard. In some other time and place Pippin might have been pleased with his new array, but he knew now that he was taking part in no play; he was in deadly earnest the servant of a grim master in the greatest peril. The hauberk was burdensome, and the helm weighed upon his head. His cloak he had cast aside upon the seat. He turned his tired gaze away from the darkling fields below and yawned, and then he sighed. “You are weary of this day?’ said Beregond. ‘Yes,’ said Pippin, ‘very: tired out with idleness and waiting. I have kicked my heels at the door of my master’s chamber for many slow hours, while he has debated with Gandalf and the Prince and other great persons. And I’m not used, Master Beregond, to waiting hungry on others while they eat. It is a sore trial for a hobbit, that. No doubt you will think I should feel the honour more deeply. But what is the good of such honour? Indeed what is the good even of food and drink under this creeping shadow? What does it mean? The very air seems thick and brown! Do you often have such glooms when the wind is in the East?’ ‘Nay,’ said Beregond, ‘this is no weather of the world. This is some device of his malice; some broil of fume from the Mountain of Fire that he sends to darken hearts and counsel. And so it doth indeed. I wish the Lord Faramir would return. He would not be dismayed. But now, who knows if he will ever come back across the River out of the Darkness?’ ‘Yes,’ said Pippin, ‘Gandalf, too, is anxious. He was disappointed, I think, not to find Faramir here. And where has he got to himself? He left the Lord’s council before the noon-meal, and in no good mood either, I thought. Perhaps he has some foreboding of bad news.’ Suddenly as they talked they were stricken dumb, frozen as it were to listening stones. Pippin cowered down with his hands pressed to
在室內，即使在宏偉的堡壘中也感到窒息。如今他們又並肩坐在朝東的窗臺上，也就是前一天他們吃飯聊天的地方。時值日落時分，但巨大的黑幕已向西延伸甚遠，直到太陽最終沉入大海時，才得以在夜幕降臨前，發出短暫的告別光芒，正如佛羅多在十字路口看到那道光觸及倒下國王雕像的頭顱一般。然而，在敏多路因山陰影下的帕蘭諾平原，卻沒有一絲光亮：那裡一片褐色，蕭瑟淒涼。對皮聘來說，距離他上次坐在這裡，彷彿已過了數年。那是在某個幾乎被遺忘的時光裡，他還是一個哈比人，一個無憂無慮的流浪者，經歷過的危險對他幾乎沒什麼影響。而現在，他是一個小士兵，身處一座準備迎接猛烈攻擊的城市，穿著衛戍塔那驕傲卻陰沉的服飾。若在其他時間、其他地點，皮聘或許會對自己的新裝扮感到高興，但他現在明白，自己並非在演戲；他是在極度危險中，為一位嚴峻的主人效命，這是攸關生死的。身上的鎖子甲沉重不堪，頭盔也壓得他頭疼。他把斗篷脫下扔在座位上。他把疲憊的目光從下方逐漸昏暗的田野上移開，打了个哈欠，然後嘆了口氣。「你今天累壞了吧？」貝瑞貢說。「是的，」皮聘說，「非常累：閒著和等著，把我累垮了。當我的主人和甘道夫、王子以及其他大人物辯論時，我在他房間門口踢著腳跟等了好幾個緩慢的時辰。而且，貝瑞貢大人，我不習慣在別人吃飯時，自己餓著肚子等候。對哈比人來說，那可真是個嚴峻的考驗。無疑您會認為我應該更深切地感受這份榮譽。但這種榮譽有什麼好處呢？說真的，在這蔓延的陰影下，連食物和飲料又有什麼好處？這到底是什麼意思？連空氣似乎都又厚又褐！當東風吹起時，你們這裡常有這種陰霾嗎？」「不，」貝瑞貢說，「這不是世間的氣候。這是他惡意設計的詭計；是從末日火山送來的一些煙霧騷動，用來使人心和計謀變得黑暗。而它的確如此。我希望法拉墨大人能回來。他是不會沮喪的。但現在，誰知道他是否能從黑暗中渡河回來呢？」「是的，」皮聘說，「甘道夫也很焦慮。我想，他沒在這裡找到法拉墨，感到很失望。他自己又跑到哪裡去了？他在午餐前就離開了宰相的會議，而且我看他心情也不好。或許他對壞消息有什麼預感。」正當他們說話時，兩人突然啞口無言，彷彿凍結成了傾聽的石頭。皮聘畏縮地蹲下，雙手緊緊地壓在
THE SIEGE OF GONDOR 809 his ears; but Beregond, who had been looking out from the battlement as he spoke of Faramir, remained there, stiffened, staring out with starting eyes. Pippin knew the shuddering cry that he had heard: it was the same that he had heard long ago in the Marish of the Shire, but now it was grown in power and hatred, piercing the heart with a poisonous despair. At last Beregond spoke with an effort. “They have come!’ he said. “Take courage and look! There are fell things below.’ Reluctantly Pippin climbed on to the seat and looked out over the wall. The Pelennor lay dim beneath him, fading away to the scarce guessed line of the Great River. But now wheeling swiftly across it, like shadows of untimely night, he saw in the middle airs below him five birdlike forms, horrible as carrion-fowl yet greater than eagles, cruel as death. Now they swooped near, venturing almost within bowshot of the walls, now they circled away. ‘Black Riders!’ muttered Pippin. ‘Black Riders of the air! But see, Beregond!’ he cried. “They are looking for something, surely? See how they wheel and swoop, always down to that point over there! And can you see something moving on the ground? Dark little things. Yes, men on horses: four or five. Ah! I cannot stand it! Gandalf! Gandalf save us!’ Another long screech rose and fell, and he threw himself back again from the wall, panting like a hunted animal. Faint and seemingly remote through that shuddering cry he heard winding up from below the sound of a trumpet ending on a long high note. ‘Faramir! The Lord Faramir! It is his call!’ cried Beregond. ‘Brave heart! But how can he win to the Gate, if these foul hell-hawks have other weapons than fear? But look! They hold on. They will make the Gate. No! the horses are running mad. Look! the men are thrown; they are running on foot. No, one is still up, but he rides back to the others. That will be the Captain: he can master both beasts and men. Ah! there one of the foul things is stooping on him. Help! help! Will no one go out to him? Faramir!’ With that Beregond sprang away and ran off into the gloom. Ashamed of his terror, while Beregond of the Guard thought first of the captain whom he loved, Pippin got up and peered out. At that moment he caught a flash of white and silver coming from the North, like a small star down on the dusky fields. It moved with the speed of an arrow and grew as it came, converging swiftly with the flight of the four men towards the Gate. It seemed to Pippin that a pale light was spread about it and the heavy shadows gave way before it; and then as it drew near he thought that he heard, like an echo in the walls, a great voice calling. ‘Gandalf!’ he cried. ‘Gandalf! He always turns up when things
剛鐸圍城戰 809 頁，他耳邊迴響著；但貝瑞貢，方才談論法拉墨時一直望著城垛外，此刻仍待在那裡，身子僵直，雙眼圓睜地凝視著遠方。皮聘認得他聽到的那聲顫慄尖嘯：那和他很久以前在夏爾的沼澤地聽見的一樣，但如今其力量與恨意都已增強，用一種帶毒的絕望刺穿心臟。終於，貝瑞GON用力地開口。「牠們來了！」他說。「鼓起勇氣，看！下面有邪惡的東西。」皮聘不情願地爬上座位，越過城牆向外望去。佩蘭諾平原在他下方一片昏暗，逐漸消失在大河那幾乎無法辨識的輪廓線中。但現在，有五個鳥形的東西，像不合時宜的黑夜陰影般迅速飛掠而過，在他下方的半空中盤旋。牠們醜惡如食腐鳥，卻比鷹鷲更巨大，殘酷如死亡。牠們時而俯衝靠近，幾乎冒險進入城牆的弓箭射程之內，時而又盤旋飛離。「黑騎士！」皮聘喃喃道。「空中的黑騎士！可是你看，貝瑞貢！」他喊道。「牠們肯定在找什麼東西？你看牠們如何盤旋俯衝，總是在那邊那個點的上方！你看到地上有東西在動嗎？一些黑色的小點。是的，是騎著馬的人：四、五個。啊！我受不了了！甘道夫！甘道夫救我們！」又一聲長長的尖嘯劃破天際，他從牆邊猛然退回，像被追獵的動物一樣喘著氣。在那令人戰慄的尖嘯聲中，他隱約聽到，彷彿從遠處傳來，一個以悠長高音結束的號角聲。「法拉墨！法拉墨大人！是他的號角！」貝瑞貢喊道。「多麼勇敢的心！但如果這些污穢的地獄之鷹除了恐懼之外還有別的武器，他要怎麼殺回城門？可是你看！他們堅持住了。他們快到城門了。不！馬瘋了。看！那些人被甩下馬了；他們正徒步奔跑。不，還有一個人在馬上，但他騎回去找其他人了。那一定是隊長：他能駕馭人與獸。啊！那裡有個邪惡的東西正朝他俯衝下去。救命！救命！沒有人出去救他嗎？法拉墨！」話音剛落，貝瑞貢便跳開，跑進了黑暗中。皮聘為自己的恐懼感到羞愧，禁衛軍貝瑞貢首先想到的是他所敬愛的隊長，於是他站起來，探頭向外望去。就在那時，他瞥見一道銀白色的閃光從北方而來，像一顆小星星落在昏暗的田野上。它以箭一般的速度移動，並在靠近時逐漸變大，迅速與那四名奔向城門的人的路線匯合。皮聘覺得，一道蒼白的光芒似乎圍繞著它散開，厚重的陰影在它面前退去；然後，當它靠近時，他彷彿聽到，像在牆壁間迴盪的巨大呼喊聲。「甘道夫！」他叫道。「甘道夫！他總是在事情……」
810 THE LORD OF THE RINGS are darkest. Go on! Go on, White Rider! Gandalf, Gandalf!’ he shouted wildly, like an onlooker at a great race urging on a runner who is far beyond encouragement. But now the dark swooping shadows were aware of the newcomer. One wheeled towards him; but it seemed to Pippin that he raised his hand, and from it a shaft of white light stabbed upwards. The Nazgul gave a long wailing cry and swerved away; and with that the four others wavered, and then rising in swift spirals they passed away eastward vanishing into the lowering cloud above; and down on the Pelennor it seemed for a while less dark. Pippin watched, and he saw the horseman and the White Rider meet and halt, waiting for those on foot. Men now hurried out to them from the City; and soon they all passed from sight under the outer walls, and he knew that they were entering the Gate. Guessing that they would come at once to the Tower and the Steward, he hurried to the entrance of the citadel. There he was joined by many others who had watched the race and the rescue from the high walls. It was not long before a clamour was heard in the streets leading up from the outer circles, and there was much cheering and crying of the names of Faramir and Mithrandir. Presently Pippin saw torches, and followed by a press of people two horsemen riding slowly: one was in white but shining no longer, pale in the twilight as if his fire was spent or veiled; the other was dark and his head was bowed. They dismounted, and as grooms took Shadowfax and the other horse, they walked forward to the sentinel at the gate: Gandalf steadily, his grey cloak flung back, and a fire still smouldering in his eyes; the other, clad all in green, slowly, swaying a little as a weary or a wounded man. Pippin pressed forward as they passed under the lamp beneath the gate-arch, and when he saw the pale face of Faramir he caught his breath. It was the face of one who has been assailed by a great fear or anguish, but has mastered it and now is quiet. Proud and grave he stood for a moment as he spoke to the guard, and Pippin gazing at him saw how closely he resembled his brother Boromir — whom Pippin had liked from the first, admiring the great man’s lordly but kindly manner. Yet suddenly for Faramir his heart was strangely moved with a feeling that he had not known before. Here was one with an air of high nobility such as Aragorn at times revealed, less high perhaps, yet also less incalculable and remote: one of the Kings of Men born into a later time, but touched with the wisdom and sadness of the Elder Race. He knew now why Beregond spoke his name with love. He was a captain that men would follow, that he would follow, even under the shadow of the black wings. ‘Faramir!’ he cried aloud with the others. ‘Faramir!’ And Faramir,
「最黑暗的時刻。前進！前進啊，白袍騎士！甘道夫，甘道夫！」他瘋狂地大喊，就像在一場盛大比賽中為一個早已聽不見鼓勵的跑者加油的旁觀者。但此刻，那些俯衝的黑影已注意到這位新來者。其中一個轉向他；但在皮聘看來，他似乎舉起了手，一道白光從手中向上刺出。那名戒靈發出一聲長長的哀嚎，轉身避開；其餘四名戒靈也隨之動搖，接著迅速盤旋上升，向東飛去，消失在上方陰沉的雲層中；而在帕蘭諾平原上，天色似乎暫時不那麼黑暗了。皮聘注視著，看見騎馬者與白袍騎士會合後停下，等待著徒步的人。此刻，城裡的人們匆匆出來迎接他們；很快地，他們全都消失在外牆之下，他知道他們正要進入大門。他猜想他們會立刻前往高塔面見宰相，便趕忙跑到堡壘的入口。在那裡，許多同樣在高牆上目睹了這場追逐與救援的人也加入了他的行列。沒過多久，從外環通往上層的街道上便傳來喧囂，人們大聲歡呼，呼喊著法拉墨與米斯蘭達的名字。不久，皮聘看見了火把，接著是兩名騎馬者在人群簇擁下緩緩行來：一位身穿白衣，但已不再發光，在暮色中顯得蒼白，彷彿他的火焰已耗盡或被遮蔽；另一位則身形黯淡，低著頭。他們下了馬，當馬夫接過影疾與另一匹馬時，他們走向門口的衛兵：甘道夫步伐穩健，灰色斗篷甩在身後，眼中仍有餘火悶燒；另一位則全身綠衣，步履緩慢，像個疲憊或受傷的人一樣微微搖晃。皮聘擠上前去，當他們走過門拱下的燈火時，一見到法拉墨蒼白的臉，他便倒抽了一口氣。那是一張曾被巨大恐懼或痛苦所侵襲，卻已將其克服而今歸於平靜的臉。他對衛兵說話時，驕傲而莊重地站立了片刻，皮聘凝視著他，發現他與他的兄長波羅莫有多麼相像——皮聘從一開始就很喜歡波羅莫，欣賞那位偉人高貴而親切的風度。然而，不知為何，他的心突然為法拉墨而奇異地悸動，那是一種他從未有過的情感。這是一位帶著高貴氣質的人，如同亞拉岡有時所展現的那般，或許不那麼崇高，卻也少了那份深不可測與疏離感：一位生於晚世的人類諸王之一，卻帶有上古種族的智慧與哀愁。他現在明白為何貝瑞貢會那樣鍾愛地提起他的名字。他是一位人們會追隨的將領，一位他自己也會追隨的將領，即使身處黑翼的陰影之下也一樣。「法拉墨！」他與其他人一同大喊。「法拉墨！」而法拉墨，
THE SIEGE OF GONDOR SII catching his strange voice among the clamour of the men of the City, turned and looked down at him and was amazed. ‘Whence come you?’ he said. ‘A halfling, and in the livery of the Tower! Whence...?’ But with that Gandalf stepped to his side and spoke. ‘He came with me from the land of the Halflings,’ he said. ‘He came with me. But let us not tarry here. There is much to say and to do, and you are weary. He shall come with us. Indeed he must, for if he does not forget his new duties more easily than I do, he must attend on his lord again within this hour. Come, Pippin, follow us!’ So at length they came to the private chamber of the Lord of the City. There deep seats were set about a brazier of charcoal; and wine was brought; and there Pippin, hardly noticed, stood behind the chair of Denethor and felt his weariness little, so eagerly did he listen to all that was said. When Faramir had taken white bread and drunk a draught of wine, he sat upon a low chair at his father’s left hand. Removed a little upon the other side sat Gandalf in a chair of carven wood; and he seemed at first to be asleep. For at the beginning Faramir spoke only of the errand upon which he had been sent out ten days before, and he brought tidings of Ithilien and of movements of the Enemy and his allies; and he told of the fight on the road when the men of Harad and their great beast were overthrown: a captain reporting to his master such matters as had often been heard before, small things of border-war that now seemed useless and petty, shorn of their renown. Then suddenly Faramir looked at Pippin. ‘But now we come to strange matters,’ he said. ‘For this is not the first halfling that I have seen walking out of northern legends into the Southlands.’ At that Gandalf sat up and gripped the arms of his chair; but he said nothing, and with a look stopped the exclamation on Pippin’s lips. Denethor looked at their faces and nodded his head, as though in sign that he had read much there before it was spoken. Slowly, while the others sat silent and still, Faramir told his tale, with his eyes for the most part on Gandalf, though now and again his glance strayed to Pippin, as if to refresh his memory of others that he had seen. As his story was unfolded of his meeting with Frodo and his servant and of the events at Henneth Anntn, Pippin became aware that Gandalf’s hands were trembling as they clutched the carven wood. White they seemed now and very old, and as he looked at them, suddenly with a thrill of fear Pippin knew that Gandalf, Gandalf himself, was troubled, even afraid. The air of the room was close and still. At last when Faramir spoke of his parting with the travellers,
812 THE LORD OF THE RINGS and of their resolve to go to Cirith Ungol, his voice fell, and he shook his head and sighed. Then Gandalf sprang up. ‘Cirith Ungol? Morgul Vale?’ he said. “The time, Faramir, the time? When did you part with them? When would they reach that accursed valley?’ ‘I parted with them in the morning two days ago,’ said Faramir. ‘It is fifteen leagues thence to the vale of the Morgulduin, if they went straight south; and then they would be still five leagues westward of the accursed Tower. At swiftest they could not come there before today, and maybe they have not come there yet. Indeed I see what you fear. But the darkness is not due to their venture. It began yestereve, and all Ithilien was under shadow last night. It is clear to me that the Enemy has long planned an assault on us, and its hour had already been determined before ever the travellers left my keeping.’ Gandalf paced the floor. “The morning of two days ago, nigh on three days of journey! How far is the place where you parted?’ ‘Some twenty-five leagues as a bird flies,’ answered Faramir. ‘But I could not come more swiftly. Yestereve I lay at Cair Andros, the long isle in the River northward which we hold in defence; and horses are kept on the hither bank. As the dark drew on I knew that haste was needed, so I rode thence with three others that could also be horsed. The rest of my company I sent south to strengthen the garrison at the fords of Osgiliath. I hope that I have not done ill?’ He looked at his father. ‘Ill?’ cried Denethor, and his eyes flashed suddenly. ‘Why do you ask? The men were under your command. Or do you ask for my judgement on all your deeds? Your bearing is lowly in my presence, yet it is long now since you turned from your own way at my counsel. See, you have spoken skilfully, as ever; but I, have I not seen your eye fixed on Mithrandir, seeking whether you said well or too much? He has long had your heart in his keeping. ‘My son, your father is old but not yet dotard. I can see and hear, as was my wont; and little of what you have half said or left unsaid is now hidden from me. I know the answer to many riddles. Alas, alas for Boromir!’ ‘If what I have done displeases you, my father,’ said Faramir quietly, ‘I wish I had known your counsel before the burden of so weighty a judgement was thrust on me.’ ‘Would that have availed to change your judgement?’ said Denethor. ‘You would still have done just so, I deem. I know you well. Ever your desire is to appear lordly and generous as a king of old, gracious, gentle. That may well befit one of high race, if he sits in power and peace. But in desperate hours gentleness may be repaid with death.’
《魔戒》812頁，以及他們決心前往西里斯昂哥的事，他的聲音低沉下來，搖了搖頭，嘆了口氣。這時，甘道夫跳了起來。「西里斯昂哥？魔窟谷？」他說。「法拉墨，時間呢？你什麼時候和他們分開的？他們何時會抵達那座被詛咒的山谷？」「我是在兩天前的早晨與他們分開的。」法拉墨說。「從那裡到魔影之河的河谷，如果他們筆直往南走，有十五里格遠；然後他們距離那座被詛咒的高塔還有五里格的西行路程。即使以最快的速度，他們今天之前也到不了，或許他們還沒到。我的確明白您的恐懼。但這黑暗並非因他們的冒險而起。它從昨晚開始，整個伊西力安昨夜都籠罩在陰影之下。我很清楚，敵人早已計畫好對我們發動攻擊，其時辰在旅行者離開我的看護之前就已注定。」甘道夫在地上踱步。「兩天前的早晨，將近三天的路程了！你和他們分手的地方有多遠？」「直線距離大約二十五里格。」法拉墨回答。「但我無法更快趕來。昨晚我待在凱爾安卓斯，就是我們防守的北方河流中的那座長島；馬匹都養在這岸。當黑暗降臨時，我知道必須趕快，所以我與另外三名也能騎馬的人從那裡出發。我公司的其餘部下，我派他們南下加強奧斯吉力亞斯渡口的駐軍。我希望我沒有做錯吧？」他看著他的父親。「錯？」迪耐瑟大喊，眼中突然閃現光芒。「你為什麼問？那些人歸你指揮。還是你所有行為都要來問我的判斷？你在我面前舉止卑微，但你聽從我的勸告、改變自己的行事方式，也已是很久以前的事了。瞧，你說話一如既往地巧妙；但我，難道我沒看見你的眼睛一直盯著米斯蘭達，尋求你說得是否得體或過多的認可嗎？他早已將你的心掌握在手中了。「我的兒子，你父親老了，但還沒老糊塗。我能看能聽，一如我的慣例；你那些言不由衷或欲言又止的話，現在很少能瞞得過我。我知道許多謎題的答案。唉，唉，可憐的波羅莫！」「如果我的所為讓您不悅，父親，」法拉墨平靜地說，「我希望在如此重大的判斷負擔壓在我身上之前，能先知道您的指示。」「那能夠改變你的判斷嗎？」迪耐瑟說。「我認為你還是會那麼做。我太了解你了。你總是渴望表現得像古代君王那樣尊貴大方、仁慈溫和。如果身處權力與和平之中，這或許很適合一個出身高貴的人。但在絕望的時刻，仁慈可能換來死亡。」
THE SIEGE OF GONDOR 813 ‘So be it,’ said Faramir. ‘So be it!’ cried Denethor. ‘But not with your death only, Lord Faramir: with the death also of your father, and of all your people, whom it is your part to protect now that Boromir is gone.’ ‘Do you wish then,’ said Faramir, ‘that our places had been exchanged?’ “Yes, I wish that indeed,’ said Denethor. ‘For Boromir was loyal to me and no wizard’s pupil. He would have remembered his father’s need, and would not have squandered what fortune gave. He would have brought me a mighty gift.’ For a moment Faramir’s restraint gave way. ‘I would ask you, my father, to remember why it was that I, not he, was in Ithilien. On one occasion at least your counsel has prevailed, not long ago. It was the Lord of the City that gave the errand to him.’ ‘Stir not the bitterness in the cup that I mixed for myself,’ said Denethor. ‘Have I not tasted it now many nights upon my tongue, foreboding that worse yet lay in the dregs? As now indeed I find. Would it were not so! Would that this thing had come to me!’ ‘Comfort yourself!’ said Gandalf. ‘In no case would Boromir have brought it to you. He is dead, and died well; may he sleep in peace! Yet you deceive yourself. He would have stretched out his hand to this thing, and taking it he would have fallen. He would have kept it for his own, and when he returned you would not have known your son.’ The face of Denethor set hard and cold. ‘You found Boromir less apt to your hand, did you not?’ he said softly. ‘But I who was his father say that he would have brought it to me. You are wise, maybe, Mithrandir, yet with all your subtleties you have not all wisdom. Counsels may be found that are neither the webs of wizards nor the haste of fools. I have in this matter more lore and wisdom than you deem.’ ‘What then is your wisdom?’ said Gandalf. ‘Enough to perceive that there are two follies to avoid. To use this thing is perilous. At this hour, to send it in the hands of a witless halfling into the land of the Enemy himself, as you have done, and this son of mine, that is madness.’ ‘And the Lord Denethor what would he have done?’ ‘Neither. But most surely not for any argument would he have set this thing at a hazard beyond all but a fool’s hope, risking our utter ruin, if the Enemy should recover what he lost. Nay, it should have been kept, hidden, hidden dark and deep. Not used, I say, unless at the uttermost end of need, but set beyond his grasp, save by a victory so final that what then befell would not trouble us, being dead.’ “You think, as is your wont, my lord, of Gondor only,’ said
814 THE LORD OF THE RINGS Gandalf. ‘Yet there are other men and other lives, and time still to be. And for me, I pity even his slaves.’ ‘And where will other men look for help, if Gondor falls?’ answered Denethor. ‘If I had this thing now in the deep vaults of this citadel, we should not then shake with dread under this gloom, fearing the worst, and our counsels would be undisturbed. If you do not trust me to endure the test, you do not know me yet.’ ‘Nonetheless I do not trust you,’ said Gandalf. ‘Had I done so, I could have sent this thing hither to your keeping and spared myself and others much anguish. And now hearing you speak I trust you less, no more than Boromir. Nay, stay your wrath! I do not trust myself in this, and I refused this thing, even as a freely given gift. You are strong and can still in some matters govern yourself, Denethor; yet if you had received this thing, it would have overthrown you. Were it buried beneath the roots of Mindolluin, still it would burn your mind away, as the darkness grows, and the yet worse things follow that soon shall come upon us.’ For a moment the eyes of Denethor glowed again as he faced Gandalf, and Pippin felt once more the strain between their wills; but now almost it seemed as if their glances were like blades from eye to eye, flickering as they fenced. Pippin trembled fearing some dreadful stroke. But suddenly Denethor relaxed and grew cold again. He shrugged his shoulders. ‘If I had! If you had!’ he said. ‘Such words and ifs are vain. It has gone into the Shadow, and only time will show what doom awaits it, and us. The time will not be long. In what is left, let all who fight the Enemy in their fashion be at one, and keep hope while they may, and after hope still the hardihood to die free.’ He turned to Faramir. ‘What think you of the garrison at Osgiliath?’ ‘It is not strong,’ said Faramir. ‘I have sent the company of Ithilien to strengthen it, as I have said.’ ‘Not enough, I deem,’ said Denethor. ‘It is there that the first blow will fall. They will have need of some stout captain there.’ “There and elsewhere in many places,’ said Faramir, and sighed. ‘Alas for my brother, whom I too loved!’ He rose. ‘May I have your leave, father?’ And then he swayed and leaned upon his father’s chair. “You are weary, I see,’ said Denethor. ‘You have ridden fast and far, and under shadows of evil in the air, I am told.’ ‘Let us not speak of that!’ said Faramir. “Then we will not,’ said Denethor. ‘Go now and rest as you may. Tomorrow’s need will be sterner.’ All now took leave of the Lord of the City and went to rest while they still could. Outside there was a starless blackness as Gandalf,
「然而世上還有其他的人、其他的生命，未來也還有時間。」甘道夫說。「而我，就連他的奴隸都感到憐憫。」 「如果剛鐸淪陷，其他人又能向誰求助？」迪耐瑟回答。「如果我現在能將那東西放在這座堡壘深處的寶庫裡，我們就不會在陰霾下恐懼地顫抖，擔憂最壞的情況發生，我們的商議也不會受到干擾。如果你不相信我能承受考驗，那你還不了解我。」 「即便如此，我還是不信任你。」甘道夫說。「若我信你，我大可將那東西送到你這裡保管，讓我自己和別人都免去許多苦惱。而現在聽你一席話，我更不信任你了，不比信任波羅莫多。不，息怒！在這件事上我連自己都不信任，我拒絕了這東西，即使是白白送上的禮物。迪耐瑟，你很堅強，在某些事上尚能自制；但你若收了這東西，它必會將你毀滅。即便它被埋在明多陸安山根深處，當黑暗滋長，當那即將降臨於我們的更糟之事接踵而來時，它依然會焚毀你的心智。」 有那麼一刻，迪耐瑟面對甘道夫時，雙眼再次發光，皮聘又一次感受到他們意志之間的緊繃；但此刻，他們的目光幾乎就像刀鋒一般，在雙眼之間往來，如同擊劍般閃爍。皮聘顫抖著，害怕會發生什麼可怕的一擊。但迪耐瑟突然放鬆下來，又變得冷漠。他聳聳肩。 「如果我當初！如果你當初！」他說。「這些話和『假如』都是徒勞。它已經落入暗影之中，只有時間能揭示等待著它和我們的會是什麼樣的末日。時間不會太長了。在剩下的時日裡，讓所有以各自方式對抗敵人的人團結一心，盡力保持希望，而在希望之後，仍要有自由赴死的剛毅。」 他轉向法拉墨。「你覺得奧斯吉力亞斯的守軍如何？」 「兵力不強。」法拉墨說。「如我所言，我已派遣伊西力安的部隊去增援。」 「我認為不夠。」迪耐瑟說。「第一擊將會落在那里。他們在那裡需要一位英勇的將領。」 「那裡需要，許多其他地方也需要。」法拉墨說著，嘆了口氣。「唉，為了我的兄長，我也曾深愛著他！」他站起身。「父親，我能告退了嗎？」接著他身子一晃，靠在父親的椅子上。 「你看起來很疲憊。」迪耐瑟說。「我聽說你快馬加鞭，遠道而來，一路上都籠罩在空中的邪惡陰影之下。」 「我們別說那個了！」法拉墨說。 「那我們就不說。」迪耐瑟說。「現在去吧，盡可能地休息。明日的需求將會更為嚴峻。」 所有人都向城主告退，趁還能休息時各自歇息去了。外面是無星的漆黑，甘道夫……
THE SIEGE OF GONDOR 815 with Pippin beside him bearing a small torch, made his way to their lodging. They did not speak until they were behind closed doors. Then at last Pippin took Gandalf’s hand. ‘Tell me,’ he said, ‘is there any hope? For Frodo, I mean; or at least mostly for Frodo.’ Gandalf put his hand on Pippin’s head. “There never was much hope,’ he answered. ‘Just a fool’s hope, as I have been told. And when I heard of Cirith Ungol > He broke off and strode to the window, as if his eyes could pierce the night in the East. ‘Cirith Ungol!’ he muttered. ‘Why that way, I wonder?’ He turned. ‘Just now, Pippin, my heart almost failed me, hearing that name. And yet in truth I believe that the news that Faramir brings has some hope in it. For it seems clear that our Enemy has opened his war at last and made the first move while Frodo was still free. So now for many days he will have his eye turned this way and that, away from his own land. And yet, Pippin, I feel from afar his haste and fear. He has begun sooner than he would. Something has happened to stir him.’ Gandalf stood for a moment in thought. ‘Maybe,’ he muttered. ‘Maybe even your foolishness helped, my lad. Let me see: some five days ago now he would discover that we had thrown down Saruman, and had taken the Stone. Still what of that? We could not use it to much purpose, or without his knowing. Ah! I wonder. Aragorn? His time draws near. And he is strong and stern underneath, Pippin; bold, determined, able to take his own counsel and dare great risks at need. That may be it. He may have used the Stone and shown himself to the Enemy, challenging him, for this very purpose. I wonder. Well, we shall not know the answer till the Riders of Rohan come, if they do not come too late. There are evil days ahead. To sleep while we may!’ ‘But,’ said Pippin. ‘But what?’ said Gandalf. ‘Only one but will I allow tonight.’ ‘Gollum,’ said Pippin. ‘How on earth could they be going about with him, even following him? And I could see that Faramir did not like the place he was taking them to any more than you do. What is wrong?’ ‘I cannot answer that now,’ said Gandalf. ‘Yet my heart guessed that Frodo and Gollum would meet before the end. For good, or for evil. But of Cirith Ungol I will not speak tonight. Treachery, treachery I fear; treachery of that miserable creature. But so it must be. Let us remember that a traitor may betray himself and do good that he does not intend. It can be so, sometimes. Good night!’ The next day came with a morning like a brown dusk, and the hearts of men, lifted for a while by the return of Faramir, sank low
剛鐸圍城戰 815。甘道夫帶著皮聘，皮聘舉著一支小火把，兩人回到了他們的住處。他們直到關上門後才開口說話。最後，皮聘握住甘道夫的手。「告訴我，」他說，「還有希望嗎？我是說，為佛羅多，或者說，主要是為佛羅多。」甘道夫把手放在皮聘的頭上。「從來就沒有太多希望，」他回答。「只不過是傻瓜的希望，就像別人告訴我的那樣。當我聽到西力斯昂哥——」他話說到一半，大步走向窗邊，彷彿他的雙眼能刺穿東方的黑夜。「西力斯昂哥！」他喃喃自語。「我真不懂，為什麼是那條路？」他轉過身。「剛才，皮聘，聽到那個名字時，我的心臟幾乎停止了。然而，說實話，我相信法拉墨帶來的消息中還是有些希望的。因為很明顯，我們的敵人終於發動了戰爭，在他還沒抓到佛羅多時就先出手了。所以接下來很多天，他的注意力會轉向各處，離開他自己的領土。然而，皮聘，我遠遠地感覺到他的倉促和恐懼。他比他預期的更早動手了。有什麼事刺激了他。」甘道夫站著思索了一會兒。「也許，」他喃喃道。「也許連你的愚蠢行為都幫上了忙，我的孩子。讓我想想：大約五天前，他會發現我們已經推翻了薩魯曼，並且拿到了那顆晶石。不過，那又怎樣？我們無法善用它，也無法不讓他知道。啊！我倒是在想。亞拉岡？他的時刻近了。而且他骨子裡是堅強又嚴厲的，皮聘；勇敢、果決，能夠自己拿主意，並在必要時敢於冒險。可能就是這樣了。他可能用了那顆晶石，向敵人現身，挑戰他，正是為了這個目的。我猜想。嗯，在羅翰騎士到來之前，我們不會知道答案，如果他們沒有來得太晚的話。艱難的日子還在後頭。趁還能睡的時候就睡吧！」「可是，」皮聘說。「可是什麼？」甘道夫說。「今晚我只允許一個『可是』。」「咕嚕，」皮聘說。「他們到底怎麼能跟他在一起，甚至還跟著他？而且我看得出來，法拉墨跟你一樣，一點也不喜歡他帶他們去的地方。到底出了什麼問題？」「我現在無法回答，」甘道夫說。「然而我心裡早就猜到，佛羅多和咕嚕在結束前會相遇。不論是好是壞。但關於西力斯昂哥，我今晚不想談。我擔心的是背叛，背叛；那個可悲生物的背叛。但事情必然如此。我們要記住，叛徒有時會背叛自己，無意中做了好事。有時候會是這樣。晚安！」第二天早晨來臨時，天色像棕色的黃昏，人們因法拉墨歸來而一度振奮的心，又沉了下去。
816 THE LORD OF THE RINGS again. The winged Shadows were not seen again that day, yet ever and anon, high above the city, a faint cry would come, and many who heard it would stand stricken with a passing dread, while the less stout-hearted quailed and wept. And now Faramir was gone again. “They give him no rest,’ some murmured. “The Lord drives his son too hard, and now he must do the duty of two, for himself and for the one that will not return.’ And ever men looked northward, asking: ‘Where are the Riders of Rohan?’ In truth Faramir did not go by his own choosing. But the Lord of the City was master of his Council, and he was in no mood that day to bow to others. Early in the morning the Council had been summoned. There all the captains judged that because of the threat in the South their force was too weak to make any stroke of war on their own part, unless perchance the Riders of Rohan yet should come. Meanwhile they must man the walls and wait. ‘Yet,’ said Denethor, ‘we should not lightly abandon the outer defences, the Rammas made with so great a labour. And the Enemy must pay dearly for the crossing of the River. That he cannot do, in force to assail the City, either north of Cair Andros because of the marshes, or southwards towards Lebennin because of the breadth of the River, that needs many boats. It is at Osgiliath that he will put his weight, as before when Boromir denied him the passage.’ “That was but a trial,’ said Faramir. “Today we may make the Enemy pay ten times our loss at the passage and yet rue the exchange. For he can afford to lose a host better than we to lose a company. And the retreat of those that we put out far afield will be perilous, if he wins across in force.’ ‘And what of Cair Andros?’ said the Prince. “That, too, must be held, if Osgiliath is defended. Let us not forget the danger on our left. The Rohirrim may come, and they may not. But Faramir has told us of great strength drawing ever to the Black Gate. More than one host may issue from it, and strike for more than one passage.’ ‘Much must be risked in war,’ said Denethor. ‘Cair Andros is manned, and no more can be sent so far. But I will not yield the River and the Pelennor unfought — not if there is a captain here who has still the courage to do his lord’s will.’ Then all were silent. But at length Faramir said: ‘I do not oppose your will, sire. Since you are robbed of Boromir, I will go and do what I can in his stead — if you command it.’ ‘I do so,’ said Denethor. “Then farewell!’ said Faramir. ‘But if I should return, think better of me!’ “That depends on the manner of your return,’ said Denethor.
那天，有翼的陰影沒有再出現，然而在高高的城池上空，時不時會傳來一聲微弱的哭喊，許多聽到的人都會被一陣短暫的恐懼攫住而呆立原地，而那些膽子較小的人則嚇得退縮哭泣。而此刻，法拉墨又離開了。「他們不讓他休息。」有人低語道。「城主對他兒子逼得太緊了，現在他必須一人承擔兩人的職責，為他自己，也為那個再也回不來的人。」人們不斷望向北方，問道：「羅翰的騎士在哪裡？」事實上，法拉墨並非自願前往。但城主是議會的主宰，他那天完全沒有心情向他人屈服。清晨時分，議會被召集。會上所有的將領都判定，由於南方的威脅，除非羅翰騎士及時趕到，否則我方兵力太弱，無法獨自採取任何軍事行動。在此期間，他們必須駐守城牆，靜待時機。「然而，」迪耐瑟說，「我們不應輕易放棄外圍的防禦，那耗費巨大勞力建成的拉馬斯圍牆。敵人必須為渡河付出慘痛代價。他無法集結兵力攻擊城池，無論是從凱爾安卓斯以北（因為有沼澤），還是朝萊貝寧以南（因為河面太寬，需要許多船隻）。他會將主力放在奧斯吉力亞斯，就像上次波羅莫阻止他渡河時一樣。」「那不過是一次試探。」法拉墨說。「今天，我們或許能讓敵人在渡口付出十倍於我方的損失，但我們仍會為這交換感到懊悔。因為他損失一支大軍也承受得起，我們卻連一個中隊都損失不起。而且，如果他強力渡河成功，我們那些部署在遠處的部隊撤退將會非常危險。」「那凱爾安卓斯呢？」親王說。「如果要防守奧斯吉力亞斯，那裡也必須守住。我們別忘了左翼的危險。洛汗人可能會來，也可能不會。但法拉墨告訴我們，有強大的兵力正不斷向黑門集結。從那裡出來的可能不只一支軍隊，攻擊的也不會只有一個渡口。」「戰爭中本就必須承擔許多風險。」迪耐瑟說。「凱爾安卓斯已有人駐守，無法再派更多人去那麼遠的地方。但我絕不會未戰就放棄大河與佩蘭諾平原——只要這裡還有一位將領有勇氣執行他主君的意志。」接著眾人一片沉默。但最後法拉墨開口說：「主君，我不反對您的意志。既然您失去了波羅莫，我願代替他前去，盡我所能——只要您下令。」「我下令。」迪耐瑟說。「那麼，永別了！」法拉墨說。「但若我能回來，望您能對我另眼相看！」「那要看你以什麼方式回來。」迪耐瑟說。
THE SIEGE OF GONDOR 817 Gandalf it was that last spoke to Faramir ere he rode east. ‘Do not throw your life away rashly or in bitterness,’ he said. ‘You will be needed here, for other things than war. Your father loves you, Faramir, and will remember it ere the end. Farewell!’ So now the Lord Faramir had gone forth again, and had taken with him such strength of men as were willing to go or could be spared. On the walls some gazed through the gloom towards the ruined city, and they wondered what chanced there, for nothing could be seen. And others, as ever, looked north and counted the leagues to Théoden in Rohan. ‘Will he come? Will he remember our old alliance?’ they said. “Yes, he will come,’ said Gandalf, ‘even if he comes too late. But think! At best the Red Arrow cannot have reached him more than two days ago, and the miles are long from Edoras.’ It was night again ere news came. A man rode in haste from the fords, saying that a host had issued from Minas Morgul and was already drawing nigh to Osgiliath; and it had been joined by regiments from the South, Haradrim, cruel and tall. ‘And we have learned,’ said the messenger, ‘that the Black Captain leads them once again, and the fear of him has passed before him over the River.’ With those ill-boding words the third day closed since Pippin came to Minas Tirith. Few went to rest, for small hope had any now that even Faramir could hold the fords for long. The next day, though the darkness had reached its full and grew no deeper, it weighed heavier on men’s hearts, and a great dread was on them. II] news came soon again. The passage of Anduin was won by the Enemy. Faramir was retreating to the wall of the Pelennor, rallying his men to the Causeway Forts; but he was ten times outnumbered. ‘If he wins back at all across the Pelennor, his enemies will be on his heels,’ said the messenger. “They have paid dear for the crossing, but less dearly than we hoped. The plan has been well laid. It is now seen that in secret they have long been building floats and barges in great number in East Osgiliath. They swarmed across like beetles. But it is the Black Captain that defeats us. Few will stand and abide even the rumour of his coming. His own folk quail at him, and they would slay themselves at his bidding.’ “Then I am needed there more than here,’ said Gandalf, and rode off at once, and the glimmer of him faded soon from sight. And all that night Pippin alone and sleepless stood upon the wall and gazed eastward.
818 THE LORD OF THE RINGS The bells of day had scarcely rung out again, a mockery in the unlightened dark, when far away he saw fires spring up, across in the dim spaces where the walls of the Pelennor stood. The watchmen cried aloud, and all men in the City stood to arms. Now ever and anon there was a red flash, and slowly through the heavy air dull rumbles could be heard. “They have taken the wall!’ men cried. “They are blasting breaches in it. They are coming!’ ‘Where is Faramir?’ cried Beregond in dismay. ‘Say not that he has fallen!’ It was Gandalf that brought the first tidings. With a handful of horsemen he came in the middle morning, riding as escort to a line of wains. They were filled with wounded men, all that could be saved from the wreck of the Causeway Forts. At once he went to Denethor. The Lord of the City sat now in a high chamber above the Hall of the White Tower with Pippin at his side; and through the dim windows, north and south and east, he bent his dark eyes, as if to pierce the shadows of doom that ringed him round. Most to the North he looked, and would pause at whiles to listen as if by some ancient art his ears might hear the thunder of hoofs on the plains far away. ‘Is Faramir come?’ he asked. ‘No,’ said Gandalf. ‘But he still lived when I left him. Yet he is resolved to stay with the rearguard, lest the retreat over the Pelennor become a rout. He may, perhaps, hold his men together long enough, but I doubt it. He is pitted against a foe too great. For one has come that I feared.’ ‘Not — the Dark Lord?’ cried Pippin, forgetting his place in his terror. Denethor laughed bitterly. “Nay, not yet, Master Peregrin! He will not come save only to triumph over me when all is won. He uses others as his weapons. So do all great lords, if they are wise, Master Halfling. Or why should I sit here in my tower and think, and watch, and wait, spending even my sons? For I can still wield a brand.’ He stood up and cast open his long black cloak, and behold! he was clad in mail beneath, and girt with a long sword, great-hilted in a sheath of black and silver. “Thus have I walked, and thus now for many years have I slept,’ he said, ‘lest with age the body should grow soft and timid.’ “Yet now under the Lord of Barad-dir the most fell of all his captains is already master of your outer walls,’ said Gandalf. ‘King of Angmar long ago, Sorcerer, Ringwraith, Lord of the Nazgil, a spear of terror in the hand of Sauron, shadow of despair.’ ‘Then, Mithrandir, you had a foe to match you,’ said Denethor. ‘For myself, I have long known who is the chief captain of the hosts
白日的鐘聲幾乎未曾再次響起——在這未亮的黑暗中像是一種嘲弄——他便看見遠方燃起了火光，就在帕蘭諾城牆所在的朦朧空間對面。守望者大聲呼喊，城中所有人都進入了備戰狀態。此刻，不時有紅光閃現，沉悶的隆隆聲緩緩穿過凝重的空氣傳來。「他們攻破了城牆！」人們喊道。「他們正在炸開缺口。他們來了！」「法拉墨在哪裡？」貝瑞貢驚惶地大喊。「別說他已經陣亡了！」是甘道夫帶來了第一手消息。他在清晨時分，帶著一小隊騎兵，護送著一列大貨車前來。車上滿是傷兵，都是從長堤堡壘的廢墟中能救出的所有人。他立刻去見迪耐瑟。這位剛鐸之主此刻正與皮聘一同坐在白塔大廳上方的一間高室裡；他透過昏暗的窗戶，向北、南、東方望去，深邃的目光彷彿要刺穿那環繞著他的末日陰影。他多半望向北方，偶爾會停下來傾聽，彷彿憑藉某種古老的技藝，他的耳朵能聽見遠方平原上雷鳴般的蹄聲。「法拉墨回來了嗎？」他問。「沒有，」甘道夫說。「但我離開他時，他還活著。但他決心留在後衛部隊，以免在帕蘭諾平原上的撤退演變成一場潰敗。他或許能將手下的人聚集夠久，但我懷疑。他面對的敵人太過強大。因為我所懼怕的那一位已經來了。」「不——是黑暗魔君？」皮聘在驚恐中忘了自己的身份，大叫起來。迪耐瑟苦澀地笑了。「不，還沒，培瑞格林大師！他只會在一切塵埃落定後，才會來對我耀武揚威。他利用他人作為他的武器。所有偉大的君王，如果他們夠聰明，都是如此，哈比人先生。不然我為何要坐在我的塔樓裡思考、觀望、等待，甚至犧牲我的兒子們？因為我依然能揮舞寶劍。」他站起身，敞開他長長的黑斗篷，看哪！他底下穿著鎖子甲，腰間佩著一把長劍，劍柄巨大，收在黑銀相間的劍鞘中。「我便是如此行走，多年來也如此入眠，」他說，「以免身體因年老而變得軟弱怯懦。」「然而，在巴拉多之王的麾下，他所有將領中最兇惡的那位，已經成了你外牆的主人，」甘道夫說。「他曾是古時的安格馬之王、巫師、戒靈、納茲古之主，是索倫手中的一根恐怖長矛，是絕望的陰影。」「那麼，米斯蘭達，你遇到了一個與你匹敵的對手，」迪耐瑟說。「至於我，我早就知道誰是敵軍的主帥。
THE SIEGE OF GONDOR 819 of the Dark Tower. Is this all that you have returned to say? Or can it be that you have withdrawn because you are overmatched?’ Pippin trembled, fearing that Gandalf would be stung to sudden wrath, but his fear was needless. ‘It might be so,’ Gandalf answered softly. ‘But our trial of strength is not yet come. And if words spoken of old be true, not by the hand of man shall he fall, and hidden from the Wise is the doom that awaits him. However that may be, the Captain of Despair does not press forward, yet. He rules rather according to the wisdom that you have just spoken, from the rear, driving his slaves in madness on before. ‘Nay, I came rather to guard the hurt men that can yet be healed; for the Rammas is breached far and wide, and soon the host of Morgul will enter in at many points. And I came chiefly to say this. Soon there will be battle on the fields. A sortie must be made ready. Let it be of mounted men. In them lies our brief hope, for in one thing only is the enemy still poorly provided: he has few horsemen.’ ‘And we also have few. Now would the coming of Rohan be in the nick of time,’ said Denethor. ‘We are likely to see other newcomers first,’ said Gandalf. ‘Fugitives from Cair Andros have already reached us. The isle has fallen. Another army is come from the Black Gate, crossing from the north-east.’ ‘Some have accused you, Mithrandir, of delighting to bear ill news,’ said Denethor, ‘but to me this is no longer news: it was known to me ere nightfall yesterday. As for the sortie, I had already given thought to it. Let us go down.’ Time passed. At length watchers on the walls could see the retreat of the out-companies. Small bands of weary and often wounded men came first with little order; some were running wildly as if pursued. Away to the eastward the distant fires flickered, and now it seemed that here and there they crept across the plain. Houses and barns were burning. Then from many points little rivers of red flame came hurrying on, winding through the gloom, converging towards the line of the broad road that led from the City-gate to Osgiliath. “The enemy,’ men murmured. “The dike is down. Here they come pouring through the breaches! And they carry torches, it seems. Where are our own folk?’ It drew now to evening by the hour, and the light was so dim that even far-sighted men upon the Citadel could discern little clearly out upon the fields, save only the burnings that ever multiplied, and the lines of fire that grew in length and speed. At last, less than a mile from the City, a more ordered mass of men came into view, marching not running, still holding together.
時間流逝。終於，城牆上的守望者看見了前哨部隊的撤退。最先回來的是一小隊一小隊疲憊不堪、往往還帶著傷的士兵，隊伍散亂；有些人像被追趕似地狂奔。東邊遠方的火光閃爍，此刻看來，火焰似乎已在平原上四處蔓延。房舍與穀倉都在燃燒。接著，從許多地點竄出數條細小的紅色火河，在昏暗中蜿蜒前行，匆匆地朝著那條從城門通往奧斯吉力亞斯的寬闊大路匯集。「敵人來了，」人們喃喃自語。「堤防垮了。他們從缺口湧進來了！而且他們好像還帶著火把。我們自己的人在哪裡？」時間一分一秒過去，天色已近黃昏，光線如此黯淡，即使是站在內城上視力最好的人，也無法看清遠方平原上的景象，只能看見不斷增多、蔓延得更長更快的火光與火線。最後，在離城不到一英里處，一群更有秩序的士兵映入眼簾，他們仍在整隊前進，而非奔跑，隊形依然完整。
820 THE LORD OF THE RINGS The watchers held their breath. ‘Faramir must be there,’ they said. ‘He can govern man and beast. He will make it yet.’ Now the main retreat was scarcely two furlongs distant. Out of the gloom behind a small company of horsemen galloped, all that was left of the rearguard. Once again they turned at bay, facing the oncoming lines of fire. Then suddenly there was a tumult of fierce cries. Horsemen of the enemy swept up. The lines of fire became flowing torrents, file upon file of Orcs bearing flames, and wild Southron men with red banners, shouting with harsh tongues, surging up, overtaking the retreat. And with a piercing cry out of the dim sky fell the winged shadows, the Nazgul stooping to the kill. The retreat became a rout. Already men were breaking away, flying wild and witless here and there, flinging away their weapons, crying out in fear, falling to the ground. And then a trumpet rang from the Citadel, and Denethor at last released the sortie. Drawn up within the shadow of the Gate and under the looming walls outside they had waited for his signal: all the mounted men that were left in the City. Now they sprang forward, formed, quickened to a gallop, and charged with a great shout. And from the walls an answering shout went up; for foremost on the field rode the swan-knights of Dol Amroth with their Prince and his blue banner at their head. ‘Amroth for Gondor!’ they cried. ‘Amroth to Faramir!’ Like thunder they broke upon the enemy on either flank of the retreat; but one rider outran them all, swift as the wind in the grass: Shadowfax bore him, shining, unveiled once more, a light starting from his upraised hand. The Nazgil screeched and swept away, for their Captain was not yet come to challenge the white fire of his foe. The hosts of Morgul intent on their prey, taken at unawares in wild career, broke, scattering like sparks in a gale. The out-companies with a great cheer turned and smote their pursuers. Hunters became the hunted. The retreat became an onslaught. The field was strewn with stricken orcs and men, and a reek arose of torches cast away, sputtering out in swirling smoke. The cavalry rode on. But Denethor did not permit them to go far. Though the enemy was checked, and for the moment driven back, great forces were flowing in from the East. Again the trumpet rang, sounding the retreat. The cavalry of Gondor halted. Behind their screen the outcompanies re-formed. Now steadily they came marching back. They reached the Gate of the City and entered, stepping proudly; and proudly the people of the City looked on them and cried their praise, and yet they were troubled in heart. For the companies were grievously
觀察者們屏息以待。「法拉墨一定在那裡，」他們說。「他能駕馭人與獸。他還能撐過去的。」此刻，主力撤退部隊距離僅約兩弗隆。後方幽暗中，一小隊騎兵疾馳而出，那是後衛僅存的兵力。他們再次轉身迎敵，面對著逼近的火線。接著突然間，一陣猛烈的吶喊聲響起。敵人的騎兵席捲而來。火線變成了流動的洪流，一排排半獸人高舉火焰，還有野蠻的南方人揮舞著紅旗，用刺耳的語言叫囂著，洶湧而上，追上了撤退的部隊。伴隨著一聲刺耳的尖嘯，有翼的黑影從昏暗的天空俯衝而下，那是戒靈在撲向獵物。撤退變成了潰敗。士兵們已經開始四散，驚慌失措地四處奔逃，扔掉武器，恐懼地尖叫，倒在地上。然後，一座號角從城塞中響起，迪耐瑟終於下令出擊。他們早已在城門的陰影下和外面高聳的城牆下列隊等待他的信號：城中所有剩下的騎兵。現在他們猛衝向前，整好隊形，加速至飛馳，並伴隨著巨大的吶喊發起衝鋒。城牆上響起了回應的吶喊聲；因為在戰場最前線騎乘的，是多爾安羅斯的天鵝騎士，由他們的親王率領，高舉著他的藍色旗幟。「安羅斯為剛鐸而戰！」他們高喊。「安羅斯馳援法拉墨！」他們如雷霆般衝擊敵軍在撤退部隊的兩翼；但有一名騎士超越了所有人，快如草原上的風：影疾載著他，閃耀著光芒，再次揭去遮蔽，一道光從他舉起的手中迸發。戒靈尖叫著飛散而去，因為他們的隊長尚未到來，無法挑戰他敵人的白火。魔窟的大軍一心追捕獵物，在狂野的衝鋒中被打了個措手不及，應聲潰散，如狂風中的火花般四散。外圍部隊發出巨大的歡呼，轉身痛擊他們的追擊者。獵人變成了獵物。撤退變成了猛攻。戰場上遍佈著被擊倒的半獸人和人類，被丟棄的火把冒出裊裊黑煙，發出嘶嘶聲後熄滅。騎兵隊繼續前進。但迪耐瑟不許他們走得太遠。儘管敵人被遏制，暫時被擊退，但大批部隊正從東方湧入。號角再次響起，發出撤退的信號。剛鐸的騎兵隊停了下來。在外圍部隊的掩護下，他們重新整隊。現在他們穩步地向後行軍。他們抵達了城門並進入，步伐驕傲；城裡的百姓也驕傲地看著他們，高聲讚美，但心中卻充滿憂慮。因為這些部隊傷亡慘重。
THE SIEGE OF GONDOR 821 reduced. Faramir had lost a third of his men. And where was he? Last of all he came. His men passed in. The mounted knights returned, and at their rear the banner of Dol Amroth, and the Prince. And in his arms before him on his horse he bore the body of his kinsman, Faramir son of Denethor, found upon the stricken field. ‘Faramir! Faramir!’ men cried, weeping in the streets. But he did not answer, and they bore him away up the winding road to the Citadel and his father. Even as the Nazgtl had swerved aside from the onset of the White Rider, there came flying a deadly dart, and Faramir, as he held at bay a mounted champion of Harad, had fallen to the earth. Only the charge of Dol Amroth had saved him from the red southland swords that would have hewed him as he lay. The Prince Imrahil brought Faramir to the White Tower, and he said: ‘Your son has returned, lord, after great deeds,’ and he told all that he had seen. But Denethor rose and looked on the face of his son and was silent. Then he bade them make a bed in the chamber and lay Faramir upon it and depart. But he himself went up alone into the secret room under the summit of the Tower; and many who looked up thither at that time saw a pale light that gleamed and flickered from the narrow windows for a while, and then flashed and went out. And when Denethor descended again he went to Faramir and sat beside him without speaking, but the face of the Lord was grey, more deathlike than his son’s. So now at last the City was besieged, enclosed in a ring of foes. The Rammas was broken, and all the Pelennor abandoned to the Enemy. The last word to come from outside the walls was brought by men flying down the northward road ere the Gate was shut. They were the remnant of the guard that was kept at that point where the way from Anorien and Rohan ran into the townlands. Ingold led them, the same who had admitted Gandalf and Pippin less than five days before, while the sun still rose and there was hope in the morning. “There is no news of the Rohirrim,’ he said. ‘Rohan will not come now. Or if they come, it will not avail us. The new host that we had tidings of has come first, from over the River by way of Andros, it is said. They are strong: battalions of Orcs of the Eye, and countless companies of Men of a new sort that we have not met before. Not tall, but broad and grim, bearded like dwarves, wielding great axes. Out of some savage land in the wide East they come, we deem. They hold the northward road; and many have passed on into Anorien. The Rohirrim cannot come.’ The Gate was shut. All night watchmen on the walls heard the rumour of the enemy that roamed outside, burning field and tree,
剛鐸圍城戰 821 減少了。法拉墨失去了三分之一的部下。而他在哪裡？他最後才到。他的部下進了城。騎馬的騎士們回來了，隊伍最後是多爾安羅斯的旗幟和王子。王子騎在馬上，懷裡抱著他的親人，迪耐瑟之子法拉墨的身體，他是在那滿是傷亡的戰場上被找到的。「法拉墨！法拉墨！」人們在街上哭喊著。但他沒有回應，他們將他沿著蜿蜒的道路抬上城塞，送到他父親那裡。就在納茲古因白袍騎士的衝鋒而轉向之時，一支致命的飛鏢射來，法拉墨在抵擋一名哈拉德騎馬的勇士時，倒在了地上。只有多爾安羅斯的衝鋒才將他從那些紅色南方長劍下救出，否則他躺在地上時就會被砍碎。印拉希爾王子將法拉墨帶到白塔，他說：「大人，您的兒子在立下偉大功績後回來了。」他講述了他所見到的一切。但迪耐瑟站起來，看著兒子的臉，沉默不語。然後他吩咐他們在房間裡鋪好床，將法拉墨放在上面，然後離開。但他自己獨自一人上到高塔頂端下的密室裡；當時許多抬頭望向那裡的人，都看到一束蒼白的光從狹窄的窗戶中閃爍了一會兒，然後一閃即逝。當迪耐瑟再次下來時，他走到法拉墨身邊，默默地坐在他旁邊，但這位宰相的臉色灰敗，比他兒子的臉色更像死人。於是，這座城市終於被圍困，陷入敵人的包圍圈。拉馬斯防線被攻破，整個佩蘭諾平原都落入敵人手中。城牆外傳來的最後消息，是由幾個人在城門關閉前從北邊大路飛奔而來帶到的。他們是守衛安諾瑞安和羅翰道路與城鎮土地交會處的殘餘衛兵。帶領他們的是因戈德，正是不到五天前，當太陽依舊升起、清晨尚有希望之時，准許甘道夫和皮聘進城的那個人。「沒有洛汗人的消息，」他說。「羅翰現在不會來了。就算他們來了，也對我們無濟於事。我們之前收到消息的那支新軍隊先到了，據說他們是從安德羅斯渡河而來。他們很強大：有魔眼半獸人的營隊，還有無數我們從未見過的新品種人類。他們不高，但體格寬闊、面目猙獰，留著像矮人一樣的鬍子，揮舞著巨斧。我們認為他們來自東方廣闊地域的某個野蠻之地。他們佔據了北邊的道路；許多人已經進入安諾瑞安。洛汗人來不了了。」城門關上了。整夜，城牆上的守望者都聽到敵人在外面遊蕩的聲響，他們焚燒田野與樹木。
822 THE LORD OF THE RINGS and hewing any man that they found abroad, living or dead. The numbers that had already passed over the River could not be guessed in the darkness, but when morning, or its dim shadow, stole over the plain, it was seen that even fear by night had scarcely over-counted them. The plain was dark with their marching companies, and as far as eyes could strain in the mirk there sprouted, like a foul fungusgrowth, all about the beleaguered city great camps of tents, black or sombre red. Busy as ants hurrying orcs were digging, digging lines of deep trenches in a huge ring, just out of bowshot from the walls; and as the trenches were made each was filled with fire, though how it was kindled or fed, by art or devilry, none could see. All day the labour went forward, while the men of Minas Tirith looked on, unable to hinder it. And as each length of trench was completed, they could see great wains approaching; and soon yet more companies of the enemy were swiftly setting up, each behind the cover of a trench, great engines for the casting of missiles. There were none upon the City walls large enough to reach so far or to stay the work. At first men laughed and did not greatly fear such devices. For the main wall of the City was of great height and marvellous thickness, built ere the power and craft of Numenor waned in exile; and its outward face was like to the Tower of Orthanc, hard and dark and smooth, unconquerable by steel or fire, unbreakable except by some convulsion that would rend the very earth on which it stood. ‘Nay,’ they said, ‘not if the Nameless One himself should come, not even he could enter here while we yet live.’ But some answered: ‘While we yet live? How long? He has a weapon that has brought low many strong places since the world began. Hunger. The roads are cut. Rohan will not come.’ But the engines did not waste shot upon the indomitable wall. It was no brigand or orc-chieftain that ordered the assault upon the Lord of Mordor’s greatest foe. A power and mind of malice guided it. As soon as the great catapults were set, with many yells and the creaking of rope and winch, they began to throw missiles marvellously high, so that they passed right above the battlement and fell thudding within the first circle of the City; and many of them by some secret art burst into flame as they came toppling down. Soon there was great peril of fire behind the wall, and all who could be spared were busy quelling the flames that sprang up in many places. Then among the greater casts there fell another hail, less ruinous but more horrible. All about the streets and lanes behind the Gate it tumbled down, small round shot that did not burn. But when men ran to learn what it might be, they cried aloud or wept. For the enemy was flinging into the City all the heads of those who had fallen
822《魔戒》...並砍殺他們在外面發現的任何人，無論死活。在黑暗中無法猜測已經渡河的敵人數量，但當清晨或其朦朧的影子悄悄籠罩平原時，人們才看清，即使是夜間的恐懼也幾乎沒有高估他們的數量。平原上因他們行進的隊伍而一片漆黑，在昏暗中，目光所及之處，那座被圍困的城市周圍，像惡臭的真菌般冒出了大片帳篷營地，顏色是黑色或暗紅色。獸人像螞蟻一樣忙碌地挖掘，在一大圈環形地帶挖掘深深的壕溝，正好在城牆的弓箭射程之外；壕溝一挖好，就充滿了火焰，但沒有人能看見火是如何點燃或維持的，是靠技藝還是邪術。整天勞動都在進行，而米那斯提力斯的居民只能眼睜睜看著，無法阻止。每當一段壕溝完成，他們就能看到巨大的四輪貨車駛近；很快，更多的敵軍隊伍迅速地在每條壕溝的掩護後，架設起巨大的投石機。城牆上沒有任何武器大到足以打到那麼遠或阻止這項工作。起初，人們還笑著，不太害怕這些裝置。因為城市的主牆非常高，厚度驚人，是在努曼諾爾的力量和工藝在流亡中衰退之前建造的；它的外牆就像歐散克塔一樣，堅硬、黑暗、光滑，刀劍或火焰都無法征服，除非發生能撕裂其所立基的大地本身的劇變，否則無法打破。他們說：「不，即使無名者親自前來，只要我們還活著，他也無法進入這裡。」但有些人回答：「只要我們還活著？能活多久？他有一種武器，自世界初始以來，已使許多堅固之地屈服。那就是飢餓。道路已被切斷。羅翰不會來了。」但那些投石機並未在堅不可摧的城牆上浪費彈藥。指揮這次攻擊的並非什麼盜匪或獸人酋長，而是魔多之王最強大的敵人。一股惡意的力量和心智在引導著它。巨大的投石機一架設好，伴隨著許多吼叫聲和繩索絞盤的嘎吱聲，它們開始將投射物拋得異常之高，以至於越過城垛，重重地砸在城市的第一圈內；其中許多藉由某種秘密技藝，在翻滾墜落時爆發成火焰。很快，城牆後方就出現了嚴重的火災危險，所有能抽身的人都忙於撲滅各處竄起的火焰。然後，在較大的投擲物之間，又落下另一陣冰雹，破壞性較小，但更為恐怖。在城門後的街巷各處，落下了一些不會燃燒的圓形小彈丸。但當人們跑去看到底是什麼時，他們都大聲哭喊或流淚。因為敵人正將所有陣亡者的頭顱扔進城裡。
THE SIEGE OF GONDOR 823 fighting at Osgiliath, or on the Rammas, or in the fields. They were grim to look on; for though some were crushed and shapeless, and some had been cruelly hewn, yet many had features that could be told, and it seemed that they had died in pain; and all were branded with the foul token of the Lidless Eye. But marred and dishonoured as they were, it often chanced that thus a man would see again the face of someone that he had known, who had walked proudly once in arms, or tilled the fields, or ridden in upon a holiday from the green vales in the hills. In vain men shook their fists at the pitiless foes that swarmed before the Gate. Curses they heeded not, nor understood the tongues of western men, crying with harsh voices like beasts and carrion-birds. But soon there were few left in Minas Tirith who had the heart to stand up and defy the hosts of Mordor. For yet another weapon, swifter than hunger, the Lord of the Dark Tower had: dread and despair. The Nazgil came again, and as their Dark Lord now grew and put forth his strength, so their voices, which uttered only his will and his malice, were filled with evil and horror. Ever they circled above the City, like vultures that expect their fill of doomed men’s flesh. Out of sight and shot they flew, and yet were ever present, and their deadly voices rent the air. More unbearable they became, not less, at each new cry. At length even the stout-hearted would fling themselves to the ground as the hidden menace passed over them, or they would stand, letting their weapons fall from nerveless hands while into their minds a blackness came, and they thought no more of war; but only of hiding and of crawling, and of death. During all this black day Faramir lay upon his bed in the chamber of the White Tower, wandering in a desperate fever; dying someone said, and soon ‘dying’ all men were saying upon the walls and in the streets. And by him his father sat, and said nothing, but watched, and gave no longer any heed to the defence. No hours so dark had Pippin known, not even in the clutches of the Uruk-hai. It was his duty to wait upon the Lord, and wait he did, forgotten it seemed, standing by the door of the unlit chamber, mastering his own fears as best he could. And as he watched, it seemed to him that Denethor grew old before his eyes, as if something had snapped in his proud will, and his stern mind was overthrown. Grief maybe had wrought it, and remorse. He saw tears on that once tearless face, more unbearable than wrath. ‘Do not weep, lord,’ he stammered. ‘Perhaps he will get well. Have you asked Gandalf?’ ‘Comfort me not with wizards!’ said Denethor. “The fool’s hope
在奧斯吉力亞斯、拉馬斯或在平原上戰死的戰士。他們的樣貌駭人；雖然有些人被壓得血肉模糊、不成形狀，有些人被殘酷地劈砍，但許多人的面容仍可辨認，而且他們似乎都是在痛苦中死去；所有人都被烙上了無蓋之眼那邪惡的印記。儘管他們的面容已毀損且受辱，但時常會有人在這當中，再次見到他所認識的面孔，那人曾一度驕傲地披甲執銳，或曾耕耘田地，或曾在假日從翠綠的山谷中策馬而來。人們徒勞地對著城門前蜂擁而至的無情敵人揮舞拳頭。敵人不理會詛咒，也聽不懂西方人類的語言，只用像野獸和食腐鳥般的刺耳聲音嚎叫。但很快地，米那斯提力斯城裡，還有勇氣站出來反抗魔多大軍的人已所剩無幾。因為黑暗魔塔之主還有另一樣比飢餓更迅捷的武器：那就是恐懼與絕望。納茲古又來了，而隨著他們的黑暗魔君力量增長並傾巢而出，他們那只會傳達其意志與惡意的聲音，也充滿了邪惡與恐怖。他們不斷在城巿上空盤旋，就像等著飽餐一頓垂死者血肉的禿鷹。他們飛在視線與射程之外，卻又無所不在，他們致命的聲音劃破長空。每一次新的哭號，都讓這聲音變得更難以忍受，而非減弱。最終，就連內心最堅強的人，在隱形威脅飛過頭頂時，也會撲倒在地；或者他們會站著，任武器從無力的手中滑落，同時腦中一片黑暗，再也想不到戰爭；只想到躲藏、爬行與死亡。在這整個黑暗的日子裡，法拉墨躺在白塔寢宮的床上，在絕望的高燒中神智不清；有人說他快死了，很快地，城牆上和街道上的所有人都說著「快死了」。他的父親坐在他身旁，一言不發，只是注視著，再也不理會城防。皮聘從未經歷過如此黑暗的時刻，即使在強獸人的魔爪中也沒有。他的職責是侍候城主，而他也確實候著，彷彿被遺忘了，站在未點燈的寢宮門邊，盡力克制著自己的恐懼。在他注視下，他覺得迪耐瑟在他眼前蒼老了下去，彷彿他高傲的意志中有什麼東西斷裂了，他堅毅的心智被推翻了。或許是悲傷與悔恨造成了這一切。他在那張從不流淚的臉上看到了淚水，比憤怒更令人難以承受。「別哭泣，大人，」他結結巴巴地說。「也許他會好起來的。您問過甘道夫了嗎？」「別拿巫師來安慰我！」迪耐瑟說。「那是愚人的希望。」
824 THE LORD OF THE RINGS has failed. The Enemy has found it, and now his power waxes; he sees our very thoughts, and all we do is ruinous. ‘I sent my son forth, unthanked, unblessed, out into needless peril, and here he lies with poison in his veins. Nay, nay, whatever may now betide in war, my line too is ending, even the House of the Stewards has failed. Mean folk shall rule the last remnant of the Kings of Men, lurking in the hills until all are hounded out.’ Men came to the door crying for the Lord of the City. ‘Nay, I will not come down,’ he said. ‘I must stay beside my son. He might still speak before the end. But that is near. Follow whom you will, even the Grey Fool, though his hope has failed. Here I stay.’ So it was that Gandalf took command of the last defence of the City of Gondor. Wherever he came men’s hearts would lift again, and the winged shadows pass from memory. Tirelessly he strode from Citadel to Gate, from north to south about the wall; and with him went the Prince of Dol Amroth in his shining mail. For he and his knights still held themselves like lords in whom the race of Numenor ran true. Men that saw them whispered saying: ‘Belike the old tales speak well; there is Elvish blood in the veins of that folk, for the people of Nimrodel dwelt in that land once long ago.’ And then one would sing amid the gloom some staves of the Lay of Nimrodel, or other songs of the Vale of Anduin out of vanished years. And yet — when they had gone, the shadows closed on men again, and their hearts went cold, and the valour of Gondor withered into ash. And so slowly they passed out of a dim day of fears into the darkness of a desperate night. Fires now raged unchecked in the first circle of the City, and the garrison upon the outer wall was already in many places cut off from retreat. But the faithful who remained there at their posts were few; most had fled beyond the second gate. Far behind the battle the River had been swiftly bridged, and all day more force and gear of war had poured across. Now at last in the middle night the assault was loosed. The vanguard passed through the trenches of fire by many devious paths that had been left between them. On they came, reckless of their loss as they approached, still bunched and herded, within the range of bowmen on the wall. But indeed there were too few now left there to do them great damage, though the light of the fires showed up many a mark for archers of such skill as Gondor once had boasted. Then perceiving that the valour of the City was already beaten down, the hidden Captain put forth his strength. Slowly the great siege-towers built in Osgiliath rolled forward through the dark. ok
THE SIEGE OF GONDOR 825 Messengers came again to the chamber in the White Tower, and Pippin let them enter, for they were urgent. Denethor turned his head slowly from Faramir’s face, and looked at them silently. ‘The first circle of the City is burning, lord,’ they said. ‘What are your commands? You are still the Lord and Steward. Not all will follow Mithrandir. Men are flying from the walls and leaving them unmanned.’ ‘Why? Why do the fools fly?’ said Denethor. ‘Better to burn sooner than late, for burn we must. Go back to your bonfire! And I? I will go now to my pyre. To my pyre! No tomb for Denethor and Faramir. No tomb! No long slow sleep of death embalmed. We will burn like heathen kings before ever a ship sailed hither from the West. The West has failed. Go back and burn!’ The messengers without bow or answer turned and fled. Now Denethor stood up and released the fevered hand of Faramir that he had held. ‘He is burning, already burning,’ he said sadly. “The house of his spirit crumbles.’ Then stepping softly towards Pippin he looked down at him. ‘Farewell!’ he said. ‘Farewell, Peregrin son of Paladin! Your service has been short, and now it is drawing to an end. I release you from the little that remains. Go now, and die in what way seems best to you. And with whom you will, even that friend whose folly brought you to this death. Send for my servants and then go. Farewelll’ ‘I will not say farewell, my lord,’ said Pippin kneeling. And then suddenly hobbit-like once more, he stood up and looked the old man in the eyes. ‘I will take your leave, sir,’ he said; ‘for I want to see Gandalf very much indeed. But he is no fool; and I will not think of dying until he despairs of life. But from my word and your service I do not wish to be released while you live. And if they come at last to the Citadel, I hope to be here and stand beside you and earn perhaps the arms that you have given me.’ ‘Do as you will, Master Halfling,’ said Denethor. ‘But my life is broken. Send for my servants!’ He turned back to Faramir. Pippin left him and called for the servants, and they came: six men of the household, strong and fair; yet they trembled at the summons. But in a quiet voice Denethor bade them lay warm coverlets on Faramir’s bed and take it up. And they did so, and lifting up the bed they bore it from the chamber. Slowly they paced to trouble the fevered man as little as might be, and Denethor, now bending on a staff, followed them; and last came Pippin. Out from the White Tower they walked, as if to a funeral, out into the darkness, where the overhanging cloud was lit beneath with
信使再次來到白塔的廳室，皮聘讓他們進來，因為他們神色緊急。迪耐瑟緩緩地將頭從法拉墨的臉上轉開，默默地看著他們。「大人，城裡的第一圈城牆正在燃燒，」他們說。「您有何指令？您仍然是宰相與總管。不是所有人都會跟隨米斯蘭達。士兵們正從城牆上逃離，棄守崗位。」「為什麼？那些傻瓜為什麼要逃？」迪耐瑟說。「早點燒死總比晚點好，因為我們終將焚身。回到你們的營火堆去吧！至於我？我現在就要去我的柴堆。去我的柴堆！迪耐瑟和法拉墨不需要墳墓。沒有墳墓！不要那種塗了防腐香膏、漫長緩慢的死亡沉睡。我們將像古時的異教國王一樣燃燒，在任何船隻從西方駛來此地之前。西方已經失敗了。回去燒吧！」信使們沒有鞠躬也沒有回答，轉身逃走了。此刻，迪耐瑟站起身，放開了他一直緊握著的法拉墨那隻發燙的手。「他已經在燃燒了，已經在燃燒了，」他悲傷地說。「他心靈的殿堂正在崩塌。」然後他輕步走向皮聘，低頭看著他。「再會了！」他說。「再會了，派拉丁之子，培瑞格林！你的效力很短暫，而今它即將告終。我免除你剩下那一點點的職責。去吧，用你認為最好的方式死去。跟你喜歡的人一起，即使是那個因其愚行而將你帶向這場死亡的朋友。叫我的僕人來，然後就走吧。再會了！」「我不會說再會，大人，」皮聘跪下說。然後他突然又恢復了哈比人的本性，站起來直視著這位老人的眼睛。「我向您告辭，先生，」他說；「因為我確實非常想見到甘道夫。但他不是傻瓜；在他對生命絕望之前，我不會考慮死亡。但在您還活著的時候，我不希望解除我的誓言和對您的效力。如果他們最終攻入城塞，我希望我在這裡，站在您身邊，或許能贏得您賜予我的這身盔甲。」「隨你高興吧，半身人少爺，」迪耐瑟說。「但我的生命已經破碎。叫我的僕人來！」他轉身回到法拉墨身邊。皮聘離開他，呼喚僕人，他們來了：六個家僕，強壯而面容俊秀；然而他們因這召喚而顫抖。但迪耐瑟用平靜的聲音吩咐他們在法拉墨的床上鋪上溫暖的床罩，然後將床抬起。他們照做了，抬起床，將它從廳室裡搬走。他們緩步而行，盡可能地不去驚擾那個發燒的人，迪耐瑟拄著一根手杖跟在他們後面；皮聘走在最後。他們走出白塔，彷彿在參加一場葬禮，走入黑暗之中，那裡，低垂的雲層被下方的火光照亮。
826 THE LORD OF THE RINGS flickers of dull red. Softly they paced the great courtyard, and at a word from Denethor halted beside the Withered Tree. All was silent, save for the rumour of war in the City down below, and they heard the water dripping sadly from the dead branches into the dark pool. Then they went on through the Citadel gate, where the sentinel stared at them in wonder and dismay as they passed by. Turning westward they came at length to a door in the rearward wall of the sixth circle. Fen Hollen it was called, for it was kept ever shut save at times of funeral, and only the Lord of the City might use that way, or those who bore the token of the tombs and tended the houses of the dead. Beyond it went a winding road that descended in many curves down to the narrow land under the shadow of Mindolluin’s precipice where stood the mansions of the dead Kings and of their Stewards. A porter sat in a little house beside the way, and with fear in his eyes he came forth bearing a lantern in his hand. At the Lord’s command he unlocked the door, and silently it swung back; and they passed through, taking the lantern from his hand. It was dark on the climbing road between ancient walls and many-pillared balusters looming in the swaying lantern-beam. Their slow feet echoed as they walked down, down, until at last they came to the Silent Street, Rath Dinen, between pale domes and empty halls and images of men long dead; and they entered into the House of the Stewards and set down their burden. There Pippin, staring uneasily about him, saw that he was in a wide vaulted chamber, draped as it were with the great shadows that the little lantern threw upon its shrouded walls. And dimly to be seen were many rows of tables, carved of marble; and upon each table lay a sleeping form, hands folded, head pillowed upon stone. But one table near at hand stood broad and bare. Upon it at a sign from Denethor they laid Faramir and his father side by side, and covered them with one covering, and stood then with bowed heads as mourners beside a bed of death. Then Denethor spoke in a low voice. ‘Here we will wait,’ he said. ‘But send not for the embalmers. Bring us wood quick to burn, and lay it all about us, and beneath; and pour oil upon it. And when I bid you thrust in a torch. Do this and speak no more to me. Farewell!’ ‘By your leave, lord!’ said Pippin and turned and fled in terror from the deathly house. ‘Poor Faramir!’ he thought. ‘I must find Gandalf. Poor Faramir! Quite likely he needs medicine more than tears. Oh, where can I find Gandalf? In the thick of things, I suppose; and he will have no time to spare for dying men or madmen.’ At the door he turned to one of the servants who had remained on guard there. ‘Your master is not himself,’ he said. ‘Go slow! Bring
他們輕輕地走過巨大的庭院，在迪耐瑟的一聲令下，停在了枯樹旁。四周一片寂靜，只聽得見下方城裡隱約傳來的戰爭風聲，以及水滴悲傷地從枯枝上滴落到漆黑水池中的聲音。接著，他們繼續前行，穿過大城的門，守衛的哨兵看著他們經過，眼中充滿了驚奇與沮喪。他們向西轉，終於來到第六環圍牆後方的一扇門前。這扇門被稱為芬霍倫，因為它總是緊閉著，除非在葬禮時才會開啟，而且只有剛鐸的宰相，或是那些持有陵墓信物、照料亡者之屋的人才能使用這條路。門後是一條蜿蜒的道路，盤旋下降，通往明多陸安山懸崖陰影下的狹長土地，那裡矗立著古代君王及其宰相們的陵墓。一位看門人坐在路旁的小屋裡，他眼中帶著恐懼，手持一盞燈籠走了出來。在宰相的命令下，他打開了門，門悄無聲息地向後敞開；他們走了進去，從他手中接過燈籠。在古老的牆壁與許多柱狀欄杆之間，攀升的道路一片漆黑，這些建築在搖曳的燈光中若隱若現。他們緩慢的腳步聲在向下走時迴盪著，一直走，一直走，直到最後他們來到寂靜街道，拉斯迪南，穿梭於蒼白的圓頂、空曠的廳堂與早已逝去之人的雕像之間；他們進入了宰相之屋，放下了他們的重負。在那裡，皮聘不安地環顧四周，發現自己身處一個寬闊的拱頂房間裡，小小的燈籠將巨大的陰影投射在被遮蓋的牆壁上，房間彷彿被這些陰影籠罩著。隱約可見許多排用大理石雕刻的長桌；每張桌子上都躺著一個沉睡的身影，雙手交疊，頭枕在石頭上。但近處有一張桌子，寬大而空著。在迪耐瑟的一個示意下，他們將法拉墨和他的父親並排放在上面，用一塊布覆蓋住他們，然後像哀悼者站在靈床旁一樣，低頭肅立。然後迪耐瑟低聲說話。「我們就在這裡等。」他說。「但不要派人去找防腐師。快給我們拿些易燃的木柴來，堆在我們周圍和身下；再澆上油。當我命令你們時，就把火把插進來。照做，別再跟我說話。再會了！」「領主，請恕我告退！」皮聘說完，轉身驚恐地逃離了這座死亡之屋。「可憐的法拉墨！」他想。「我必須找到甘道夫。可憐的法拉墨！他很可能需要的是藥，而不是眼淚。噢，我該去哪裡找甘道夫？大概在戰況最激烈的地方吧；他恐怕沒有時間分給垂死的人或瘋子。」在門口，他轉向一位留在那裡守衛的僕人。「你們的主人不太對勁。」他說。「慢慢來！帶...
THE SIEGE OF GONDOR 827 no fire to this place while Faramir lives! Do nothing until Gandalf comes!’ ‘Who is the master of Minas Tirith?’? the man answered. “The Lord Denethor or the Grey Wanderer?’ “The Grey Wanderer or no one, it would seem,’ said Pippin, and he sped back and up the winding way as swiftly as his feet would carry him, past the astonished porter, out through the door, and on, till he came near the gate of the Citadel. The sentinel hailed him as he went by, and he recognized the voice of Beregond. ‘Whither do you run, Master Peregrin?’ he cried. ‘To find Mithrandir,’ Pippin answered. “The Lord’s errands are urgent and should not be hindered by me,’ said Beregond; ‘but tell me quickly, if you may: what goes forward? Whither has my Lord gone? I have just come on duty, but I heard that he passed towards the Closed Door, and men were bearing Faramir before him.’ ‘Yes,’ said Pippin, ‘to the Silent Street.’ Beregond bowed his head to hide his tears. “They said that he was dying,’ he sighed, ‘and now he is dead.’ ‘No,’ said Pippin, ‘not yet. And even now his death might be prevented, I think. But the Lord of the City, Beregond, has fallen before his city is taken. He is fey and dangerous.’ Quickly he told of Denethor’s strange words and deeds. ‘I must find Gandalf at once.’ “Then you must go down to the battle.’ ‘I know. The Lord has given me leave. But, Beregond, if you can, do something to stop any dreadful thing happening.’ “The Lord does not permit those who wear the black and silver to leave their post for any cause, save at his own command.’ ‘Well, you must choose between orders and the life of Faramir,’ said Pippin. ‘And as for orders, I think you have a madman to deal with, not a lord. I must run. I will return if I can.’ He ran on, down, down towards the outer city. Men flying back from the burning passed him, and some seeing his livery turned and shouted, but he paid no heed. At last he was through the Second Gate, beyond which great fires leaped up between the walls. Yet it seemed strangely silent. No noise or shouts of battle or din of arms could be heard. Then suddenly there was a dreadful cry and a great shock, and a deep echoing boom. Forcing himself on against a gust of fear and horror that shook him almost to his knees, Pippin turned a corner opening on the wide place behind the City Gate. He stopped dead. He had found Gandalf; but he shrank back, cowering into a shadow.
「法拉米爾還活著，就不准在這地方放火！甘道夫來之前什麼都別做！」「誰才是米那斯提力斯的統治者？」那人答道。「是迪耐瑟大人，還是那個灰袍漫遊者？」「看來是灰袍漫遊者，不然就沒人了。」皮聘說道，接著他飛快地轉身，循著蜿蜒的道路向上跑去，竭盡全力地奔馳，跑過驚訝的門房，衝出門外，一直跑到城塞大門附近。他經過時，衛兵向他打了聲招呼，他認出那是貝瑞貢的聲音。「您要跑去哪兒，培瑞格林大人？」他喊道。「去找米斯蘭達。」皮聘回答。「宰相大人的差事十萬火急，我不該耽擱您。」貝瑞貢說，「但如果您方便，請快快告訴我：前面發生了什麼事？我的主君去哪兒了？我剛來值勤，但我聽說他朝著那扇關閉的門走去，還有人在他前面抬著法拉米爾。」「是的，」皮聘說，「去靜默街。」貝瑞貢低下頭，掩飾他的淚水。「他們說他快死了，」他嘆息道，「而現在他死了。」「不，」皮聘說，「還沒有。而且我認為，即使是現在，他的死或許還能阻止。但是，貝瑞貢，這座城的主人，在他的城池被攻陷前就已經垮了。他神智不清，很危險。」他迅速地講述了迪耐瑟奇怪的言行。「我必須立刻找到甘道夫。」「那麼您必須下去戰場。」「我知道。宰相大人准我去了。但是，貝瑞貢，如果你可以，做點什麼來阻止任何可怕的事情發生。」「宰相大人不允許任何穿著黑底銀紋制服的人因任何理由離開崗位，除非有他本人的命令。」「好吧，你必須在命令和法拉米爾的性命之間做選擇。」皮聘說。「而且說到命令，我認為你要應付的是個瘋子，不是一位領主。我得跑了。如果可以，我會回來。」他繼續跑，向下，向下，朝著外城跑去。從火場中逃回的人們與他擦身而過，有些人看到他的制服便轉身大喊，但他沒有理會。他終於穿過了第二道門，門後高牆之間竄起了熊熊大火。然而，四周卻出奇地安靜。聽不到任何戰鬥的喧囂或兵器碰撞的聲音。然後，突然傳來一聲可怕的尖叫和一陣巨大的衝擊，以及一聲深沉的回響。皮聘強迫自己頂著一股幾乎讓他跪倒的恐懼與驚駭，轉過一個通往城門後方寬闊廣場的街角。他猛然停住腳步。他找到了甘道夫；但他卻退縮了，畏懼地躲進一道陰影裡。
828 THE LORD OF THE RINGS Ever since the middle night the great assault had gone on. The drums rolled. To the north and to the south company upon company of the enemy pressed to the walls. There came great beasts, like moving houses in the red and fitful light, the mzmakil of the Harad dragging through the lanes amid the fires huge towers and engines. Yet their Captain cared not greatly what they did or how many might be slain: their purpose was only to test the strength of the defence and to keep the men of Gondor busy in many places. It was against the Gate that he would throw his heaviest weight. Very strong it might be, wrought of steel and iron, and guarded with towers and bastions of indomitable stone, yet it was the key, the weakest point in all that high and impenetrable wall. The drums rolled louder. Fires leaped up. Great engines crawled across the field; and in the midst was a huge ram, great as a forest-tree a hundred feet in length, swinging on mighty chains. Long had it been forging in the dark smithies of Mordor, and its hideous head, founded of black steel, was shaped in the likeness of a ravening wolf; on it spells of ruin lay. Grond they named it, in memory of the Hammer of the Underworld of old. Great beasts drew it, orcs surrounded it, and behind walked mountain-trolls to wield it. But about the Gate resistance still was stout, and there the knights of Dol Amroth and the hardiest of the garrison stood at bay. Shot and dart fell thick; siege-towers crashed or blazed suddenly like torches. All before the walls on either side of the Gate the ground was choked with wreck and with bodies of the slain; yet still driven as by a madness more and more came up. Grond crawled on. Upon its housing no fire would catch; and though now and again some great beast that hauled it would go mad and spread stamping ruin among the orcs innumerable that guarded it, their bodies were cast aside from its path and others took their place. Grond crawled on. The drums rolled wildly. Over the hills of slain a hideous shape appeared: a horseman, tall, hooded, cloaked in black. Slowly, trampling the fallen, he rode forth, heeding no longer any dart. He halted and held up a long pale sword. And as he did so a great fear fell on all, defender and foe alike; and the hands of men drooped to their sides, and no bow sang. For a moment all was still. The drums rolled and rattled. With a vast rush Grond was hurled forward by huge hands. It reached the Gate. It swung. A deep boom rumbled through the City like thunder running in the clouds. But the doors of iron and posts of steel withstood the stroke. Then the Black Captain rose in his stirrups and cried aloud in a dreadful voice, speaking in some forgotten tongue words of power and terror to rend both heart and stone.
自午夜以來，猛烈的攻擊就持續不斷。戰鼓隆隆。北方和南方，一隊又一隊的敵軍向城牆壓來。巨大的野獸，在紅色且閃爍不定的光線下如同移動的房屋，那是哈拉德人的猛獁，在火光中拖著巨大的高塔和攻城器械穿過巷道。然而，他們的統帥並不太在意牠們的作為，也不在乎有多少會被殺死：牠們的目的只是為了測試防禦的強度，並讓剛鐸的士兵在多處分身乏術。他將把最重的力量投入到城門上。那城門或許非常堅固，由鋼鐵鑄造，並由堅不可摧的石造高塔和堡壘守護，但它仍是關鍵，是整面高聳難越的城牆中最薄弱的一環。戰鼓聲愈發響亮。火焰沖天。巨大的攻城器械爬過戰場；其中央是一具巨大的攻城槌，長達百呎，宛如林中巨木，懸於巨大的鐵鍊之上。它在魔多黑暗的鐵匠鋪中鍛造已久，其可憎的槌頭由黑鋼鑄成，形狀仿如一隻貪婪的惡狼；上面附有毀滅的咒語。他們稱之為「葛龍德」，以紀念上古時代的「冥界之鎚」。巨獸拉著它，半獸人圍繞著它，後面跟著山地食人妖準備操作它。但在城門周圍，抵抗依然頑強，多爾安羅斯的騎士們和最頑強的守軍在此背水一戰。箭矢如雨般密集落下；攻城塔或轟然倒塌，或突然像火把一樣燃燒起來。城門兩側牆前的地面，都被殘骸和屍體所堵塞；然而，彷彿被瘋狂所驅使，越來越多的敵人湧了上來。葛龍德緩緩前進。火焰無法在其外殼上點燃；儘管偶爾有拉動它的巨獸發狂，在無數護衛的半獸人中踩踏破壞，牠們的屍體也會被從其路徑上拋開，由其他巨獸取而代之。葛龍德緩緩前進。戰鼓狂野地敲打著。越過屍體堆積的山丘，一個猙獰的身影出現了：一名騎士，高大、戴著兜帽、身披黑袍。他緩慢地騎行而出，踐踏著倒下的人，不再理會任何飛箭。他停下來，舉起一把蒼白的長劍。就在他這樣做的時候，一股巨大的恐懼降臨在所有人身上，不論敵我；人們的手垂到身體兩側，弓弦寂然無聲。一時間，萬籟俱寂。戰鼓隆隆作響，又嘎然而止。隨著一聲巨響，葛龍德被巨大的手向前猛推。它撞上了城門。它擺動著。一聲深沉的轟鳴聲像雲中的雷電一樣在城中迴盪。但鐵門和鋼柱抵擋住了這一擊。然後，黑魁首在他的馬鐙上站起來，用一種可怕的聲音大喊，說著一種被遺忘的語言，那充滿力量與恐怖的詞語，足以撕裂心靈與岩石。
THE SIEGE OF GONDOR 829 Thrice he cried. Thrice the great ram boomed. And suddenly upon the last stroke the Gate of Gondor broke. As if stricken by some blasting spell it burst asunder: there was a flash of searing lightning, and the doors tumbled in riven fragments to the ground. In rode the Lord of the Nazgil. A great black shape against the fires beyond he loomed up, grown to a vast menace of despair. In rode the Lord of the Nazgil, under the archway that no enemy ever yet had passed, and all fled before his face. All save one. There waiting, silent and still in the space before the Gate, sat Gandalf upon Shadowfax: Shadowfax who alone among the free horses of the earth endured the terror, unmoving, steadfast as a graven image in Rath Dinen. “You cannot enter here,’ said Gandalf, and the huge shadow halted. ‘Go back to the abyss prepared for you! Go back! Fall into the nothingness that awaits you and your Master. Go!’ The Black Rider flung back his hood, and behold! he had a kingly crown; and yet upon no head visible was it set. The red fires shone between it and the mantled shoulders vast and dark. From a mouth unseen there came a deadly laughter. ‘Old fool!’ he said. ‘Old fool! This is my hour. Do you not know Death when you see it? Die now and curse in vain!’ And with that he lifted high his sword and flames ran down the blade. Gandalf did not move. And in that very moment, away behind in some courtyard of the City, a cock crowed. Shrill and clear he crowed, recking nothing of wizardry or war, welcoming only the morning that in the sky far above the shadows of death was coming with the dawn. And as if in answer there came from far away another note. Horns, horns, horns. In dark Mindolluin’s sides they dimly echoed. Great horns of the North wildly blowing. Rohan had come at last.
他吶喊了三次。巨大的攻城槌撞擊了三次。就在最後一擊時，剛鐸的大門應聲而破。彷彿中了什麼爆破咒語，大門霍然碎裂：一道灼熱的閃電迸發，門板化為碎片，轟然倒地。戒靈之王策馬而入。在遠方火光的映襯下，他巨大的黑色身影赫然聳現，化為一個帶來絕望的龐大威脅。戒靈之王策馬而入，穿過那從無敵人能通過的拱門，所有人在他面前都倉皇逃竄。除了一人。在大門前的空地上，甘道夫騎在影疾身上，靜靜地等待著：影疾是世上唯一能承受這股恐懼的自由之馬，牠紋風不動，像拉斯迪南的一座雕像般堅定。「你不能進入此地。」甘道夫說，那巨大的黑影停了下來。「回到為你準備好的深淵去！回去！墜入那等待著你和你主人的虛無之中。滾！」黑騎士猛地掀開兜帽，看啊！他戴著一頂王冠；但那王冠下卻沒有任何可見的頭顱。猩紅的火光在他那披著斗篷的、巨大而黑暗的雙肩與王冠之間閃耀。一陣致命的笑聲從一個看不見的嘴裡發出。「老傻瓜！」他說。「老傻瓜！這是屬於我的時刻。你見到『死亡』本尊，還不明白嗎？現在就死吧，你的詛咒也是徒勞！」話音剛落，他高舉長劍，火焰順著劍刃流竄而下。甘道夫紋風不動。就在那一刻，在城市後方某個庭院裡，一隻公雞高聲啼叫。牠的啼聲尖銳而清晰，對巫術或戰爭毫不在意，只歡迎著那在死亡陰影之上、隨著黎明一同到來的天際晨光。彷彿作為回應，遠方傳來了另一種聲響。號角，號角，號角。在黑暗的明多陸安山腰，它們隱約迴響。北方宏亮的號角聲狂野地吹響。羅翰終於抵達了。