Chapter 5 THE RIDE OF THE ROHIRRIM It was dark and Merry could see nothing as he lay on the ground rolled in a blanket; yet though the night was airless and windless, all about him hidden trees were sighing softly. He lifted his head. Then he heard it again: a sound like faint drums in the wooded hills and mountain-steps. The throb would cease suddenly and then be taken up again at some other point, now nearer, now further off. He wondered if the watchmen had heard it. He could not see them, but he knew that all round him were the companies of the Rohirrim. He could smell the horses in the dark, and could hear their shiftings and their soft stamping on the needlecovered ground. The host was bivouacked in the pine-woods that clustered about Eilenach Beacon, a tall hill standing up from the long ridges of the Druiadan Forest that lay beside the great road in East Anorien. Tired as he was Merry could not sleep. He had ridden now for four days on end, and the ever-deepening gloom had slowly weighed down his heart. He began to wonder why he had been so eager to come, when he had been given every excuse, even his lord’s command, to stay behind. He wondered, too, if the old King knew that he had been disobeyed and was angry. Perhaps not. There seemed to be some understanding between Dernhelm and Elfhelm, the Marshal who commanded the éored in which they were riding. He and all his men ignored Merry and pretended not to hear if he spoke. He might have been just another bag that Dernhelm was carrying. Dernhelm was no comfort: he never spoke to anyone. Merry felt small, unwanted, and lonely. Now the time was anxious, and the host was in peril. They were less than a day’s ride from the out-walls of Minas Tirith that encircled the townlands. Scouts had been sent ahead. Some had not returned. Others hastening back had reported that the road was held in force against them. A host of the enemy was encamped upon it, three miles west of Amon Din, and some strength of men was already thrusting along the road and was no more than three leagues away. Orcs were roving in the hills and woods along the roadside. The king and Eomer held council in the watches of the night. Merry wanted somebody to talk to, and he thought of Pippin. But that only increased his restlessness. Poor Pippin, shut up in the great city of stone, lonely and afraid. Merry wished he was a tall Rider like
第五章 洛汗驃騎的馳援 天色漆黑，梅里裹著毯子躺在地上，什麼也看不見；然而，儘管夜晚毫無空氣流動也無風，他周遭隱藏的樹木卻在輕輕嘆息。他抬起頭，又聽見了那個聲音：一陣像是從林木叢生的山丘和山麓階地傳來的微弱鼓聲。那悸動會突然停止，然後又在別處響起，時而靠近，時而遠離。他想知道守衛是否也聽見了。他看不見他們，但他知道洛汗人(Rohirrim)的部隊就在他四周。他在黑暗中能聞到馬匹的氣味，也能聽見牠們移動身體、在鋪滿松針的地上輕輕跺腳的聲音。大軍在艾雷那赫烽火台周圍的松林中露營，那是一座高聳的山丘，從位於東安諾瑞安大道旁的督伊頓森林的長嶺中拔地而起。儘管疲憊不堪，梅里卻無法入睡。他已經連續騎了四天的馬，而那不斷加深的陰鬱也慢慢地壓得他心頭沉重。他開始納悶自己當初為何如此渴望前來，明明他有各種藉口，甚至是他領主的命令，可以讓他留下。他也想知道，老國王是否知道他違背了命令，並為此生氣。也許沒有。德海姆和他們所屬騎兵隊(éored)的指揮官艾夫海姆元帥之間似乎有某種默契。他和他的手下都無視梅里，如果他說話，他們也假裝沒聽見。他或許就像是德海姆攜帶的另一個行李袋。德海姆也給不了任何安慰：他從不跟任何人說話。梅里感到自己渺小、多餘又孤單。此刻情勢危急，大軍身陷險境。他們距離環繞著米那斯提力斯城郊的拉馬斯外牆已不到一天的路程。斥候已被派往前方，有些沒有回來。其他匆忙趕回的則回報說，道路被重兵把守，阻擋他們前進。一支敵軍在路上紮營，位於阿蒙丁以西三英里處，且部分兵力已沿路推進，距離不過三里格之遙。半獸人在路邊的山丘與林間遊蕩。國王與伊歐墨在夜間的守望時段商議對策。梅里想找個人說說話，他想到了皮聘。但這只讓他的不安加劇。可憐的皮聘，被關在那座巨大的石頭城裡，孤單又害怕。梅里希望自己是個像……一樣高大的騎士。
THE RIDE OF THE ROHIRRIM 831 Eomer and could blow a horn or something and go galloping to his rescue. He sat up, listening to the drums that were beating again, now nearer at hand. Presently he heard voices speaking low, and he saw dim half-shrouded lanterns passing through the trees. Men nearby began to move uncertainly in the dark. A tall figure loomed up and stumbled over him, cursing the treeroots. He recognized the voice of Elfhelm the Marshal. ‘Iam not a tree-root, Sir,’ he said, ‘nor a bag, but a bruised hobbit. The least you can do in amends is to tell me what is afoot.’ ‘Anything that can keep so in this devil’s mirk,’ answered Elfhelm. ‘But my lord sends word that we must set ourselves in readiness: orders may come for a sudden move.’ ‘Is the enemy coming then?’ asked Merry anxiously. ‘Are those their drums? I began to think I was imagining them, as no one else seemed to take any notice of them.’ ‘Nay, nay,’ said Elfhelm, ‘the enemy is on the road not in the hills. You hear the Woses, the Wild Men of the Woods: thus they talk together from afar. They still haunt Druadan Forest, it is said. Remnants of an older time they be, living few and secretly, wild and wary as the beasts. They go not to war with Gondor or the Mark; but now they are troubled by the darkness and the coming of the orcs: they fear lest the Dark Years be returning, as seems likely enough. Let us be thankful that they are not hunting us: for they use poisoned arrows, it is said, and they are woodcrafty beyond compare. But they have offered their services to Théoden. Even now one of their headmen is being taken to the king. Yonder go the lights. So much I have heard but no more. And now I must busy myself with my lord’s commands. Pack yourself up, Master Bag!’ He vanished into the shadows. Merry did not like this talk of wild men and poisoned darts, but quite apart from that a great weight of dread was on him. Waiting was unbearable. He longed to know what was going to happen. He got up and soon was walking warily in pursuit of the last lantern before it disappeared among the trees. Presently he came to an open space where a small tent had been set up for the king under a great tree. A large lantern, covered above, was hanging from a bough and cast a pale circle of light below. There sat Théoden and Eomer, and before them on the ground sat a strange squat shape of a man, gnarled as an old stone, and the hairs of his scanty beard straggled on his lumpy chin like dry moss. He was short-legged and fat-armed, thick and stumpy, and clad only with grass about his waist. Merry felt that he had seen him before somewhere, and suddenly he remembered the Pukel-men of Dunharrow.
伊歐墨，然後吹響號角之類的，飛馳去救他。他坐起身，聽著再次響起的鼓聲，這次更近了。不久，他聽到低語聲，看見幾盞昏暗、半遮半掩的燈籠在樹林間穿梭。附近的人們開始在黑暗中不確定地移動。一個高大的身影赫然出現，絆到他身上，咒罵著樹根。他認出那是元帥艾夫海姆的聲音。「先生，我不是樹根，」他說，「也不是個袋子，而是一個受了傷的哈比人。你至少可以告訴我發生了什麼事，作為補償。」「在這該死的黑暗中，任何能動的東西都算吧，」艾夫海姆回答。「但我的主人傳話說，我們必須做好準備：隨時可能有突然行動的命令。」「那麼敵人要來了嗎？」梅里焦急地問。「那些是他們的鼓聲嗎？我還以為是我自己想像的，因為似乎沒人注意到。」「不，不，」艾夫海姆說，「敵人在大路上，不在山裡。你聽到的是沃斯人，林中野人的聲音：他們就是這樣遠距離交談的。據說他們至今仍在督伊頓森林出沒。他們是更古老時代的遺民，人數稀少，隱秘地生活著，像野獸一樣狂野而警惕。他們不與剛鐸或馬克國交戰；但現在他們被黑暗和半獸人的到來所困擾：他們擔心黑暗年代會重臨，這看起來很有可能。我們該慶幸他們不是在獵捕我們：據說他們使用毒箭，而且他們的林野技能無與倫比。但他們已向希優頓王表示願意效力。此刻，他們的一位首領正被帶去見國王。燈光往那邊去了。我就只聽到這麼多。現在我得忙我主人的命令了。收拾好你自己，袋子大師！」他消失在陰影中。梅里不喜歡這番關於野人和毒鏢的談話，但除此之外，一股沉重的恐懼壓在他心頭。等待令人難以忍受。他渴望知道將要發生什麼。他站起來，很快便小心翼翼地跟著最後一盞燈籠，以免它在樹林中消失。不久，他來到一處空地，那裡在一棵大樹下為國王搭起了一頂小帳篷。一盞上方有遮蓋的大燈籠從樹枝上垂下，在下方投射出一個蒼白的光圈。希優頓和伊歐墨坐在那裡，他們面前的地上坐著一個奇怪的矮壯人形，像塊古老的石頭一樣疙疙瘩瘩，稀疏的鬍鬚像乾苔蘚一樣散亂在他凹凸不平的下巴上。他腿短臂粗，又厚又壯，腰間只圍著些草。梅里覺得自己以前在哪裡見過他，突然間，他想起了登哈洛的普克爾人。
832 THE LORD OF THE RINGS Here was one of those old images brought to life, or maybe a creature descended in true line through endless years from the models used by the forgotten craftsmen long ago. There was a silence as Merry crept nearer, and then the Wild Man began to speak, in answer to some question, it seemed. His voice was deep and guttural, yet to Merry’s surprise he spoke the Common Speech, though in a halting fashion, and uncouth words were mingled with it. ‘No, father of Horse-men,’ he said, ‘we fight not. Hunt only. Kill gorgun in woods, hate orc-folk. You hate gorgiin too. We help as we can. Wild Men have long ears and long eyes; know all paths. Wild Men live here before Stone-houses; before Tall Men come up out of Water.’ ‘But our need is for aid in battle,’ said Eomer. ‘How will you and your folk help us?’ ‘Bring news,’ said the Wild Man. ‘We look out from hills. We climb big mountain and look down. Stone-city is shut. Fire burns there outside; now inside too. You wish to come there? Then you must be quick. But gorgiin and men out of far-away,’ he waved a short gnarled arm eastward, ‘sit on horse-road. Very many, more than Horse-men.’ ‘How do you know that?’ said Eomer. The old man’s flat face and dark eyes showed nothing, but his voice was sullen with displeasure. ‘Wild Men are wild, free, but not children,’ he answered. ‘I am great headman, Ghan-buri-Ghan. I count many things: stars in sky, leaves on trees, men in the dark. You have a score of scores counted ten times and five. They have more. Big fight, and who will win? And many more walk round walls of Stone-houses.’ ‘Alas! he speaks all too shrewdly,’ said Theoden. ‘And our scouts say that they have cast trenches and stakes across the road. We cannot sweep them away in sudden onset.’ ‘And yet we need great haste,’ said Eomer. ‘Mundburg is on fire!’ ‘Let Ghan-buri-Ghan finish!’ said the Wild Man. ‘More than one road he knows. He will lead you by road where no pits are, no gorgun walk, only Wild Men and beasts. Many paths were made when Stonehouse-folk were stronger. They carved hills as hunters carve beast-flesh. Wild Men think they ate stone for food. They went through Drtiadan to Rimmon with great wains. They go no longer. Road is forgotten, but not by Wild Men. Over hill and behind hill it lies still under grass and tree, there behind Rimmon and down to Din, and back at the end to Horse-men’s road. Wild Men will show you that road. Then you will kill gorgdin and drive away bad dark with bright iron, and Wild Men can go back to sleep in the wild woods.’
THE RIDE OF THE ROHIRRIM 833 Eomer and the king spoke together in their own tongue. At length Theoden turned to the Wild Man. ‘We will receive your offer,’ he said. ‘For though we leave a host of foes behind, what matter? If the Stone-city falls, then we shall have no returning. If it is saved, then the orc-host itself will be cut off. If you are faithful, Ghan-buri-Ghan, then we will give you rich reward, and you shall have the friendship of the Mark for ever.’ ‘Dead men are not friends to living men, and give them no gifts,’ said the Wild Man. ‘But if you live after the Darkness, then leave Wild Men alone in the woods and do not hunt them like beasts any more. Ghan-buri-Ghan will not lead you into trap. He will go himself with father of Horse-men, and if he leads you wrong, you will kill him.’ ‘So be it!’ said Théoden. ‘How long will it take to pass by the enemy and come back to the road?’ asked Eomer. ‘We must go at foot-pace, if you guide us; and I doubt not the way is narrow.’ ‘Wild Men go quick on feet,’ said Ghan. ‘Way is wide for four horses in Stonewain Valley yonder,’ he waved his hand southwards; ‘but narrow at beginning and at end. Wild Man could walk from here to Din between sunrise and noon.’ “Then we must allow at least seven hours for the leaders,’ said Eomer; ‘but we must reckon rather on some ten hours for all. Things unforeseen may hinder us, and if our host is all strung out, it will be long ere it can be set in order when we issue from the hills. What is the hour now?’ ‘Who knows?’ said Theoden. ‘All is night now.’ ‘It is all dark, but it is not all night,’ said Ghan. ‘When Sun comes we feel her, even when she is hidden. Already she climbs over East-mountains. It is the opening of day in the sky-fields.’ “Then we must set out as soon as may be,’ said Eomer. ‘Even so we cannot hope to come to Gondor’s aid today.’ Merry waited to hear no more, but slipped away to get ready for the summons to the march. This was the last stage before the battle. It did not seem likely to him that many of them would survive it. But he thought of Pippin and the flames in Minas Tirith and thrust down his own dread. All went well that day, and no sight or sound had they of the enemy waiting to waylay them. The Wild Men had put out a screen of wary hunters, so that no orc or roving spy should learn of the movements in the hills. The light was more dim than ever as they drew nearer to the beleaguered city, and the Riders passed in long files like dark shadows of men and horses. Each company was guided
《洛汗驃騎的馳援》833 伊歐墨和國王用他們自己的語言交談著。最後，希優頓轉向野人。「我們接受你的提議，」他說。「雖然我們將大批敵人拋在身後，但那又何妨？如果石城陷落，我們就無路可歸。如果它得救，那麼半獸人大軍自己就會被切斷後路。如果你忠誠，葛恩-布里-葛恩，我們將給你豐厚的獎賞，你將永遠擁有馬克邦的友誼。」「死人不是活人的朋友，也不會給他們禮物，」野人說。「但如果你們在黑暗之後還活著，那就讓野人們獨自在森林裡，別再像對待野獸一樣獵捕他們。葛恩-布里-葛恩不會帶你們進陷阱。他會親自跟著馬王走，如果他帶錯了路，你們就殺了他。」「就這麼辦！」希優頓說。「繞過敵人回到大路上需要多久？」伊歐墨問。「如果你帶路，我們就得用步行的速度；而且我毫不懷疑路很窄。」「野人用腳走得很快，」葛恩說。「那邊的石車谷裡的路寬得能容四匹馬並行，」他朝南揮了揮手；「但頭尾兩端很窄。野人從這裡走到丁默山，從日出到中午就夠了。」「那麼我們至少要給領隊們留七個小時，」伊歐墨說；「但我們最好估算全部人馬要花上十個小時。意料之外的事可能會耽擱我們，而且如果我們的大軍隊伍拉得太長，從山裡出來時要花很久才能整頓好隊形。現在是什麼時辰？」「誰知道呢？」希優頓說。「現在一片漆黑。」「天色全黑，但還沒到深夜，」葛恩說。「太陽出來時，我們能感覺到她，即使她被遮住了。她已經在翻越東方山脈了。天際的田野正迎來白晝。」「那我們必須盡快出發，」伊歐墨說。「即便如此，我們也別指望今天能趕到剛鐸援助了。」梅里沒再聽下去，他溜走去為行軍的召集做準備。這是戰鬥前的最後一程。在他看來，他們之中似乎沒有多少人能活下來。但他想到了皮聘和米那斯提力斯的火焰，便壓下了自己的恐懼。那天一切順利，他們沒有看到也沒有聽到任何埋伏的敵人。野人們派出了一道由警惕獵人組成的屏障，這樣就沒有半獸人或遊蕩的間諜能得知他們在山中的動向。當他們越靠近被圍困的城市，光線就越發昏暗，驃騎們排成長列前行，如同人與馬的黑色魅影。每個連隊都由人引導著。
834 THE LORD OF THE RINGS by a wild woodman; but old Ghan walked beside the king. The start had been slower than was hoped, for it had taken time for the Riders, walking and leading their horses, to find paths over the thickly wooded ridges behind their camp and down into the hidden Stonewain Valley. It was late in the afternoon when the leaders came to wide grey thickets stretching beyond the eastward side of Amon Din, and masking a great gap in the line of hills that from Nardol to Din ran east and west. Through the gap the forgotten wain-road long ago had run down, back into the main horse-way from the City through Anorien; but now for many lives of men trees had had their way with it, and it had vanished, broken and buried under the leaves of uncounted years. But the thickets offered to the Riders their last hope of cover before they went into open battle; for beyond them lay the road and the plains of Anduin, while east and southwards the slopes were bare and rocky, as the writhen hills gathered themselves together and climbed up, bastion upon bastion, into the great mass and shoulders of Mindolluin. The leading company was halted, and as those behind filed up out of the trough of the Stonewain Valley they spread out and passed to camping-places under the grey trees. The king summoned the captains to council. Eomer sent out scouts to spy upon the road; but old Ghan shook his head. ‘No good to send Horse-men,’ he said. ‘Wild Men have already seen all that can be seen in the bad air. They will come soon and speak to me here.’ The captains came; and then out of the trees crept warily other pukel-shapes so like old Ghan that Merry could hardly tell them apart. They spoke to Ghan in a strange throaty language. Presently Ghan turned to the king. ‘Wild Men say many things,’ he said. ‘First, be wary! Still many men in camp beyond Din, an hour’s walk yonder,’ he waved his arm west towards the black beacon. ‘But none to see between here and Stone-folk’s new walls. Many busy there. Walls stand up no longer: gorgiin knock them down with earth-thunder and with clubs of black iron. They are unwary and do not look about them. They think their friends watch all roads!’ At that old Ghan made a curious gurgling noise, and it seemed that he was laughing. ‘Good tidings!’ cried Eomer. ‘Even in this gloom hope gleams again. Our Enemy’s devices oft serve us in his despite. The accursed darkness itself has been a cloak to us. And now, lusting to destroy Gondor and throw it down stone from stone, his orcs have taken away my greatest fear. The out-wall could have been held long against us. Now we can sweep through — if once we win so far.’ ‘Once again I thank you, Ghan-buri-Ghan of the woods,’ said
《魔戒》834頁，像個野生的林中人；但老葛恩走在國王身旁。出發比預期的要慢，因為騎兵們得步行牽著馬，花了不少時間才在營地後方林木茂密的崎嶇山脊上找到路，往下進入隱蔽的石馬車山谷。時近傍晚，領頭的隊伍來到阿蒙丁東側外一大片延伸的灰色灌木叢，這片灌木叢遮蔽了從納多到丁之間東西走向的山脈中的一個巨大缺口。很久以前，那條被遺忘的馬車路曾穿過這個缺口，一路向下，接回從剛鐸主城經安諾瑞安通往主幹道的馬道；但如今，經過了許多代人的歲月，樹木早已在此恣意生長，那條路已然消失，在無數年歲的落葉下斷裂、掩埋。然而，這片灌木叢為騎兵們提供了投入公開戰鬥前最後的掩護希望；因為灌木叢之外就是大路和安都因平原，而東面和南面的山坡則光禿多石，扭曲的山巒在此匯集，一層層堡壘般地向上攀升，融入明多陸安山的巨大山體與山肩。領頭的部隊停了下來，後方的隊伍陸續從石馬車山谷的谷底上來，他們散開，到灰色的樹下尋找地方紮營。國王召集隊長們商議。伊歐墨派出探子去偵察大路；但老葛恩搖了搖頭。「派馬民去沒用，」他說。「在這麼糟的空氣裡，能看見的野人早就看光了。他們很快會來這裡跟我說話。」隊長們到齊了；接著，從樹林裡小心翼翼地爬出幾個其他的「普克爾人形」，他們跟老葛恩長得太像了，梅里幾乎分不出來。他們用一種奇怪的喉音跟葛恩說話。不久，葛恩轉向國王。「野人說了很多事，」他說。「首先，要小心！丁山那邊的營地裡還有很多人，從那邊走過來要一小時，」他揮臂指向西邊那座黑色的烽火台。「但從這裡到石民新牆之間沒看到人。那裡很多人在忙。牆已經倒了：『哥剛』用大地之雷和黑鐵棍把它們敲垮了。他們沒什麼戒心，也沒在四處張望。他們以為自己的朋友看守著所有道路！」說到這裡，老葛恩發出一個古怪的咯咯聲，聽起來像是在笑。「好消息！」伊歐墨喊道。「即便在這樣的陰霾中，希望也再次閃現。我們敵人的計謀往往反過來為我們所用，讓他自食其果。這該死的黑暗本身就成了我們的斗篷。而現在，他的半獸人渴望摧毀剛鐸，將其夷為平地，反而消除了我最大的恐懼。那道外牆本可以阻擋我們很久。現在我們可以橫掃而過——只要我們能打到那裡。」「我再次感謝您，林中的葛恩-布里-葛恩，」
THE RIDE OF THE ROHIRRIM 835 Théoden. ‘Good fortune go with you for tidings and for guidance!’ ‘Kill gorgiin! Kill orc-folk! No other words please Wild Men,’ answered Ghan. ‘Drive away bad air and darkness with bright iron!’ “To do these things we have ridden far,’ said the king, ‘and we shall attempt them. But what we shall achieve only tomorrow will show.’ Ghan-buri-Ghan squatted down and touched the earth with his horny brow in token of farewell. Then he got up as if to depart. But suddenly he stood looking up like some startled woodland animal snuffling a strange air. A light came in his eyes. ‘Wind is changing!’ he cried, and with that, in a twinkling as it seemed, he and his fellows had vanished into the glooms, never to be seen by any Rider of Rohan again. Not long after far away eastward the faint drums throbbed again. Yet to no heart in all the host came any fear that the Wild Men were unfaithful, strange and unlovely though they might appear. ‘We need no further guidance,’ said Elfhelm; ‘for there are riders in the host who have ridden down to Mundburg in days of peace. I for one. When we come to the road it will veer south, and there will lie before us still seven leagues ere we reach the wall of the townlands. Along most of that way there is much grass on either side of the road. On that stretch the errand-riders of Gondor reckoned to make their greatest speed. We may ride it swiftly and without great rumour.’ “Then since we must look for fell deeds and the need of all our strength,’ said Eomer, ‘I counsel that we rest now, and set out hence by night, and so time our going that we come upon the fields when tomorrow is as light as it will be, or when our lord gives the signal.’ To this the king assented, and the captains departed. But soon Elfhelm returned. “The scouts have found naught to report beyond the Grey Wood, lord,’ he said, ‘save two men only: two dead men and two dead horses.’ ‘Well?’ said Eomer. ‘What of it?’ ‘This, lord: they were errand-riders of Gondor; Hirgon was one maybe. At least his hand still clasped the Red Arrow, but his head was hewn off. And this also: it would seem by the signs that they were fleeing westward when they fell. As I read it, they found the enemy already on the out-wall, or assailing it, when they returned — and that would be two nights ago, if they used fresh horses from the posts, as is their wont. They could not reach the City and turned back.’ ‘Alas!’ said Théoden. ‘Then Denethor has heard no news of our riding and will despair of our coming.’ ‘Need brooks no delay, yet late is better than never,’ said Eomer. ‘And mayhap in this time shall the old saw be proved truer than ever before since men spoke with mouth.’ ok K
希優頓說：「願你好運，感謝你的消息和指引！」 「殺 gorgûn！殺半獸人！野人只喜歡這幾句話，」甘恩回答。「用閃亮的鐵器驅散濁氣與黑暗！」 「我們遠道而來，正是為此，」國王說，「我們將會嘗試。但成果如何，只有明日方能分曉。」 甘-布里-甘恩蹲下，用他那角質化的額頭輕觸地面，以示告別。然後他起身，似乎準備離開。但突然間，他抬頭站著，像一隻受驚的林地野獸，嗅聞著陌生的氣息。他眼中閃現一道光芒。 「風向變了！」他喊道。話音剛落，彷彿一眨眼間，他和他的同伴們便消失在幽暗之中，從此再也沒有任何洛汗騎士見過他們。 不久之後，遠方東邊再次傳來微弱的鼓聲。然而，大軍中沒有任何人心中感到恐懼，認為野人不忠，儘管他們的外表奇特且不討喜。 「我們不再需要指引了，」伊爾夫海姆說，「因為軍中有騎士在和平時期曾騎馬到過蒙德堡。我就是其中之一。我們走到大路上時，路會轉向南邊，前方還有七里格的路程，我們才能到達城鎮的圍牆。那段路大部分兩旁都有許多草地。剛鐸的傳令騎士們都指望在那段路上跑出最快的速度。我們可以迅速騎過，且不發出太大聲響。」 「既然我們必須面對惡戰，需要傾盡全力，」伊歐墨說，「我建議我們現在休息，待到夜間再出發，並算好時間，以便在明天天色最亮時，或在吾主發出信號時，抵達戰場。」 國王同意了，隊長們便各自離去。但很快伊爾夫海姆又回來了。 「領主，斥侯在灰森林外沒有發現任何值得報告的事，」他說，「除了兩個人：兩具屍體和兩匹死馬。」 「嗯？」伊歐墨說。「那又如何？」 「是這樣的，領主：他們是剛鐸的傳令騎士；其中一個或許是希爾剛。至少他的手還緊握著紅箭，但他的頭被砍掉了。還有：從跡象看來，他們倒下時正向西逃。依我判斷，他們回來時發現敵人已經佔領了外牆，或正在攻擊外牆——如果他們像往常一樣在驛站換了新馬，那應該是兩天前的事了。他們無法抵達聖城，於是轉頭回返。」 「唉！」希優頓說。「那麼迪耐瑟就沒有聽到我們馳援的消息，會對我們的到來感到絕望了。」 「事不容遲，但遲到總比不到好，」伊歐墨說。「而且或許這次，自從人類開口說話以來，這句古老的諺語將被證明比以往任何時候都更加真實。」
836 THE LORD OF THE RINGS It was night. On either side of the road the host of Rohan was moving silently. Now the road passing about the skirts of Mindolluin turned southward. Far away and almost straight ahead there was a red glow under the black sky and the sides of the great mountain loomed dark against it. They were drawing near the Rammas of the Pelennor; but the day was not yet come. The king rode in the midst of the leading company, his householdmen about him. Elfhelm’s éored came next; and now Merry noticed that Dernhelm had left his place and in the darkness was moving steadily forward, until at last he was riding just in rear of the king’s guard. There came a check. Merry heard voices in front speaking softly. Out-riders had come back who had ventured forward almost to the wall. They came to the king. “There are great fires, lord,’ said one. “The City is all set about with flame, and the field is full of foes. But all seem drawn off to the assault. As well as we could guess, there are few left upon the out-wall, and they are heedless, busy in destruction.’ ‘Do you remember the Wild Man’s words, lord?’ said another. ‘I live upon the open Wold in days of peace; Widfara is my name, and to me also the air brings messages. Already the wind is turning. There comes a breath out of the South; there is a sea-tang in it, faint though it be. The morning will bring new things. Above the reek it will be dawn when you pass the wall.’ ‘If you speak truly, Widfara, then may you live beyond this day in years of blessedness!’ said Théoden. He turned to the men of his household who were near, and he spoke now in a clear voice so that many also of the riders of the first éored heard him: ‘Now is the hour come, Riders of the Mark, sons of Eorl! Foes and fire are before you, and your homes far behind. Yet, though you fight upon an alien field, the glory that you reap there shall be your own for ever. Oaths ye have taken: now fulfil them all, to lord and land and league of friendship!’ Men clashed spear upon shield. ‘Eomer, my son! You lead the first gored,’ said Théoden; ‘and it shall go behind the king’s banner in the centre. Elfhelm, lead your company to the right when we pass the wall. And Grimbold shall lead his towards the left. Let the other companies behind follow these three that lead, as they have chance. Strike wherever the enemy gathers. Other plans we cannot make, for we know not yet how things stand upon the field. Forth now, and fear no darkness!’ The leading company rode off as swiftly as they could, for it was still deep dark, whatever change Widfara might forebode. Merry was riding behind Dernhelm, clutching with the left hand while with the
夜幕已降臨。羅翰大軍在道路兩側靜默行進。此刻，繞行民都路因山山腳的道路轉向南方。遠方幾乎正前方的位置，黑色的天際下透出一片紅光，雄偉山脈的側影在紅光映襯下顯得格外幽暗。他們正逼近佩蘭諾的拉姆斯防線，但白晝尚未到來。國王騎在領頭的連隊中央，身邊圍繞著他的近衛。艾夫海姆的艾奧雷德緊隨其後；這時梅里注意到，德海姆已離開自己的位置，在黑暗中穩步向前，最後騎到了國王護衛的正後方。隊伍停了下來。梅里聽見前方有人輕聲說話。是冒險前行至幾乎城牆下的斥候回來了。他們來到國王面前。「王上，那裡火光沖天，」其中一人說。「整座城都被火焰包圍，平原上滿是敵人。但他們似乎全被吸引去攻城了。據我們猜測，外牆上只剩下很少的敵人，而且他們毫無戒備，正忙於破壞。」「王上，您還記得那野人的話嗎？」另一人說。「和平時期我住在開闊的沃德高地；我名叫維德法拉，空氣也同樣會為我帶來訊息。風向已經在變了。有一股氣息從南方吹來；裡面帶著海的鹹味，雖然還很微弱。清晨將會帶來新氣象。當您越過城牆時，煙霧之上將會是黎明。」「如果你說的是真的，維德法拉，願你度過此劫，歲歲平安！」希優頓說。他轉向身邊的近衛，此刻用清晰的聲音說話，讓第一艾奧雷德的許多騎士也都聽見了：「時辰已到，馬克國的騎士們，伊歐的子孫！敵人與烈火在你們面前，你們的家園遠在身後。然而，即便你們在異鄉的戰場上奮戰，在那裡收穫的榮耀將永遠屬於你們自己。你們已立下誓言：現在就去履行全部，為了君主、土地與友誼的盟約！」眾人以矛擊盾。「伊歐墨，吾兒！你率領第一艾奧雷德，」希優頓說，「它將跟在王旗之後，居於中央。艾夫海姆，當我們越過城牆時，你帶領你的連隊向右。葛林博則率領他的部隊向左。其餘連隊跟在這三支領頭部隊之後，見機行事。敵人聚集之處，便是你們打擊之處。我們無法制定更多計畫，因為我們還不知道戰場上的情況。即刻前進，無懼黑暗！」領頭的連隊盡可能迅速地騎馬出發，因為無論維德法拉預言了何種變化，此刻仍是伸手不見五指的深夜。梅里騎在德海姆身後，左手緊緊抓著，同時用
THE RIDE OF THE ROHIRRIM 837 other he tried to loosen his sword in its sheath. He felt now bitterly the truth of the old king’s words: in such a battle what would you do, Meriadoc? Just this,’ he thought: ‘encumber a rider, and hope at best to stay in my seat and not be pounded to death by galloping hoofs!’ It was no more than a league to where the out-walls had stood. They soon reached them; too soon for Merry. Wild cries broke out, and there was some clash of arms, but it was brief. The orcs busy about the walls were few and amazed, and they were quickly slain or driven off. Before the ruin of the north-gate in the Rammas the king halted again. The first éored drew up behind him and about him on either side. Dernhelm kept close to the king, though Elfhelm’s company was away on the right. Grimbold’s men turned aside and passed round to a great gap in the wall further eastward. Merry peered from behind Dernhelm’s back. Far away, maybe ten miles or more, there was a great burning, but between it and the Riders lines of fire blazed in a vast crescent, at the nearest point less than a league distant. He could make out little more on the dark plain, and as yet he neither saw any hope of morning, nor felt any wind, changed or unchanged. Now silently the host of Rohan moved forward into the field of Gondor, pouring in slowly but steadily, like the rising tide through breaches in a dike that men have thought secure. But the mind and will of the Black Captain were bent wholly on the falling city, and as yet no tidings came to him warning that his designs held any flaw. After a while the king led his men away somewhat eastward, to come between the fires of the siege and the outer fields. Still they were unchallenged, and still Theoden gave no signal. At last he halted once again. The City was now nearer. A smell of burning was in the air and a very shadow of death. The horses were uneasy. But the king sat upon Snowmane, motionless, gazing upon the agony of Minas Tirith, as if stricken suddenly by anguish, or by dread. He seemed to shrink down, cowed by age. Merry himself felt as if a great weight of horror and doubt had settled on him. His heart beat slowly. Time seemed poised in uncertainty. They were too late! Too late was worse than never! Perhaps Théoden would quail, bow his old head, turn, slink away to hide in the hills. Then suddenly Merry felt it at last, beyond doubt: a change. Wind was in his face! Light was glimmering. Far, far away, in the South the clouds could be dimly seen as remote grey shapes, rolling up, drifting: morning lay beyond them. But at that same moment there was a flash, as if lightning had sprung from the earth beneath the City. For a searing second it stood
他此刻痛苦地體會到老國王話中的真意：在這樣的戰鬥中，你能做什麼，梅里雅達？「就只有這樣，」他想：「成為騎士的累贅，頂多期盼自己能好好待在馬鞍上，不被奔騰的馬蹄踩死！」到外牆舊址不過一里格之遙。他們很快就到了；對梅里來說，太快了。野蠻的喊叫聲爆發，伴隨著短暫的兵器交擊聲。在牆邊忙碌的半獸人為數不多，又驚慌失措，很快就被殺掉或趕跑了。國王在拉馬斯北門的廢墟前再次停下。第一支騎兵連隊在他身後和兩側集結。德海姆緊跟在國王身邊，儘管精靈盔的連隊在右翼遠處。葛林伯的部下則轉向，繞到東邊更遠處牆上的一個大缺口。梅里從德海姆背後探頭張望。遠方，也許十英里或更遠的地方，有大火在燃燒，但在火光與騎士們之間，火線以巨大的新月形燃燒著，最近處不到一里格遠。在黑暗的平原上，他看不清更多東西，既沒看到任何清晨的希望，也沒感覺到任何風，無論是變了還是沒變。此刻，羅翰大軍默默地進入了剛鐸的戰場，緩慢而穩定地湧入，就像漲潮穿過人們以為安全的堤防缺口。但黑魔王隊長的全部心神都集中在即將陷落的城市上，尚未有任何消息警告他，他的計畫存有任何瑕疵。過了一會兒，國王帶領部下稍稍向東移動，以便處於圍城之火與外圍田野之間。他們依然未受挑戰，希優頓也依然沒有發出任何信號。他終於再次停下。城市現在更近了。空氣中瀰漫著燒焦的氣味和死亡的陰影。馬匹們焦躁不安。但國王騎在雪鬃上，一動不動，凝視著米那斯提力斯的苦難，彷彿突然被劇痛或恐懼所擊倒。他似乎因年老而畏縮，整個人都縮小了。梅里自己也感到一股沉重的恐懼和懷疑壓在心頭。他的心跳變慢了。時間似乎在不確定中凝滯。他們太遲了！遲到比不到更糟！也許希優頓會退縮，低下他年邁的頭，轉身，偷偷溜走到山裡躲起來。然後，梅里終於感覺到了，千真萬確：一個變化。風拂過他的臉！微光在閃爍。遠方，極遠的南方，雲層依稀可見，如同遙遠的灰色形體，翻滾而上，飄移著：晨曦就在它們之後。但就在同一時刻，一道閃光出現，彷彿閃電從城市下方的地底迸出。在灼人的一秒鐘裡，它矗立著
838 THE LORD OF THE RINGS dazzling far off in black and white, its topmost tower like a glittering needle; and then as the darkness closed again there came rolling over the fields a great boom. At that sound the bent shape of the king sprang suddenly erect. Tall and proud he seemed again; and rising in his stirrups he cried in a loud voice, more clear than any there had ever heard a mortal man achieve before: Arise, arise, Riders of Théoden! Fell deeds awake: fire and slaughter! spear shall be shaken, shield be splintered, a sword-day, a red day, ere the sun rises! Ride now, ride now! Ride to Gondor! With that he seized a great horn from Guthlaf his banner-bearer, and he blew such a blast upon it that it burst asunder. And straightway all the horns in the host were lifted up in music, and the blowing of the horns of Rohan in that hour was like a storm upon the plain and a thunder in the mountains. Ride now, ride now! Ride to Gondor! Suddenly the king cried to Snowmane and the horse sprang away. Behind him his banner blew in the wind, white horse upon a field of green, but he outpaced it. After him thundered the knights of his house, but he was ever before them. Eomer rode there, the white horsetail on his helm floating in his speed, and the front of the first éored roared like a breaker foaming to the shore, but Theoden could not be overtaken. Fey he seemed, or the battle-fury of his fathers ran like new fire in his veins, and he was borne up on Snowmane like a god of old, even as Oromé the Great in the battle of the Valar when the world was young. His golden shield was uncovered, and lo! it shone like an image of the Sun, and the grass flamed into green about the white feet of his steed. For morning came, morning and a wind from the sea; and darkness was removed, and the hosts of Mordor wailed, and terror took them, and they fled, and died, and the hoofs of wrath rode over them. And then all the host of Rohan burst into song, and they sang as they slew, for the joy of battle was on them, and the sound of their singing that was fair and terrible came even to the City.
遠方那黑白分明的炫目高塔，其頂尖如一根閃亮的針；接著，當黑暗再次籠罩時，一陣巨大的轟鳴聲滾過田野。聽到這聲音，國王佝僂的身影猛然挺直。他似乎又變得高大而驕傲；他站上馬鐙，用宏亮的聲音高喊，那聲音比在場任何人聽過的凡人聲音都更加清晰：『起來，起來，希優頓的騎士們！惡行已醒：烈火與屠殺！長矛將被撼動，盾牌將被擊碎，這是劍之日，血之日，在太陽升起之前！馳騁吧，立即馳騁！奔向剛鐸！』說罷，他從他的掌旗官古斯拉夫手中奪過一支巨大的號角，吹出了一陣驚天動地的響聲，號角應聲爆裂。剎那間，軍中所有的號角都響起了音樂，那一刻羅翰號角的吹奏聲，就像平原上的風暴，山脈中的雷鳴。『馳騁吧，立即馳騁！奔向剛鐸！』國王突然對雪鬃大喊一聲，那匹馬便飛馳而去。他身後，綠色原野上的白馬旗幟在風中飄揚，但他跑得比旗幟還快。他家族的騎士們在他身後雷鳴般地跟進，但他始終在他們前方。伊歐墨也在那裡，他頭盔上的白色馬尾在疾馳中飄動，第一支驃騎隊的前鋒如沖向岸邊的碎浪般咆哮，但希優頓無人能及。他看似註定赴死，或者說他祖先的戰鬥狂怒如新燃的火焰在他血管中奔流，他被雪鬃承載著，宛如一位古老的神祇，就像世界尚且年輕時，維拉之戰中的大神歐羅米。他金色的盾牌已揭開，看啊！它像太陽的影像般閃耀，草地在他駿馬的白蹄周圍燃燒成一片翠綠。因為清晨來臨了，清晨與一陣來自海洋的風；黑暗被驅散，魔多的軍隊哀嚎著，恐懼攫住了他們，他們逃竄、死亡，憤怒的蹄聲踐踏過他們。然後，所有羅翰大軍齊聲高歌，他們邊殺戮邊歌唱，因為戰鬥的喜悅降臨在他們身上，他們那既優美又駭人的歌聲，甚至傳到了那座聖城。