Chapter 6 THE BATTLE OF THRE PELENNGOK FIELDS But it was no orc-chieftain or brigand that led the assault upon Gondor. The darkness was breaking too soon, before the date that his Master had set for it: fortune had betrayed him for the moment, and the world had turned against him; victory was slipping from his grasp even as he stretched out his hand to seize it. But his arm was long. He was still in command, wielding great powers. King, Ringwraith, Lord of the Nazgil, he had many weapons. He left the Gate and vanished. Theoden King of the Mark had reached the road from the Gate to the River, and he turned towards the City that was now less than a mile distant. He slackened his speed a little, seeking new foes, and his knights came about him, and Dernhelm was with them. Ahead nearer the walls Elfhelm’s men were among the siege-engines, hewing, slaying, driving their foes into the fire-pits. Well nigh all the northern half of the Pelennor was overrun, and there camps were blazing, orcs were flying towards the River like herds before the hunters; and the Rohirrim went hither and thither at their will. But they had not yet overthrown the siege, nor won the Gate. Many foes stood before it, and on the further half of the plain were other hosts still unfought. Southward beyond the road lay the main force of the Haradrim, and there their horsemen were gathered about the standard of their chieftain. And he looked out, and in the growing light he saw the banner of the king, and that it was far ahead of the battle with few men about it. Then he was filled with a red wrath and shouted aloud, and displaying his standard, black serpent upon scarlet, he came against the white horse and the green with great press of men; and the drawing of the scimitars of the Southrons was like a glitter of stars. Then Théoden was aware of him, and would not wait for his onset, but crying to Snowmane he charged headlong to greet him. Great was the clash of their meeting. But the white fury of the Northmen burned the hotter, and more skilled was their knighthood with long spears and bitter. Fewer were they but they clove through the Southrons like a fire-bolt in a forest. Right through the press drove Théoden Thengel’s son, and his spear was shivered as he threw
但率領大軍進攻剛鐸的，並非什麼半獸人酋長或綠林大盜。黑暗破曉得太早，早於他主人設定的日期：命運暫時背叛了他，整個世界都與他為敵；勝利彷彿就在他伸手欲取之際，從指縫間溜走。但他的手臂畢竟很長。他依然大權在握，驅使著強大的力量。身為國王、戒靈、納茲古之王，他擁有許多武器。他離開大門，消失無蹤。標幟國的希優頓王已抵達從大門通往大河的道路，他轉向那座如今不到一英里遠的城市。他稍稍放慢速度，尋找新的敵人，他的騎士們圍攏過來，德倫海姆也在其中。在前方更靠近城牆處，伊歐夫漢的部下正在圍城武器之間劈砍、殺戮，將敵人趕入火坑。帕蘭諾平原的北半部幾乎全被攻佔，營地烈焰沖天，半獸人像被獵人追趕的獸群般朝大河逃竄；洛汗人則隨心所欲地在戰場上來回馳騁。但他們尚未完全解除圍城，也未能奪下大門。門前仍有眾多敵人，平原的另外一半還有其他未曾交戰的敵軍。道路南邊是哈拉德林人的主力部隊，他們的騎兵集結在酋長的旗幟周圍。他向外望去，在漸亮的晨光中看見了王的旗幟，旗幟遠遠領先於大部隊，周圍只有寥寥數人。他頓時怒火中燒，高聲吶喊，亮出他那猩紅底襯上黑蛇的旗幟，率領大批人馬朝那白馬綠地的旗幟衝去；南方人拔出彎刀的瞬間，刀光猶如繁星閃爍。希優頓王注意到了他，不願等待對方發動攻勢，而是對著雪鬃大喊一聲，奮不顧身地衝鋒迎戰。兩軍交鋒，聲勢浩大。但北方人的白色怒火燃燒得更加熾烈，他們的騎士技藝也更為精湛，長矛犀利而致命。他們人數雖少，卻像一道劈入森林的閃電，鑿穿了南方人的陣線。希優頓，先王之子，徑直衝破敵陣，他的長矛也在投擲時碎裂了。
840 THE LORD OF THE RINGS down their chieftain. Out swept his sword, and he spurred to the standard, hewed staff and bearer; and the black serpent foundered. Then all that was left unslain of their cavalry turned and fled far away. But lo! suddenly in the midst of the glory of the king his golden shield was dimmed. The new morning was blotted from the sky. Dark fell about him. Horses reared and screamed. Men cast from the saddle lay grovelling on the ground. “To me! To me!’ cried Théoden. ‘Up Eorlingas! Fear no darkness!’ But Snowmane wild with terror stood up on high, fighting with the air, and then with a great scream he crashed upon his side: a black dart had pierced him. The king fell beneath him. The great shadow descended like a falling cloud. And behold! it was a winged creature: if bird, then greater than all other birds, and it was naked, and neither quill nor feather did it bear, and its vast pinions were as webs of hide between horned fingers; and it stank. A creature of an older world maybe it was, whose kind, lingering in forgotten mountains cold beneath the Moon, outstayed their day, and in hideous eyrie bred this last untimely brood, apt to evil. And the Dark Lord took it, and nursed it with fell meats, until it grew beyond the measure of all other things that fly; and he gave it to his servant to be his steed. Down, down it came, and then, folding its fingered webs, it gave a croaking cry, and settled upon the body of Snowmane, digging in its claws, stooping its long naked neck. Upon it sat a shape, black-mantled, huge and threatening. A crown of steel he bore, but between rim and robe naught was there to see, save only a deadly gleam of eyes: the Lord of the Nazgil. To the air he had returned, summoning his steed ere the darkness failed, and now he was come again, bringing ruin, turning hope to despair, and victory to death. A great black mace he wielded. But Theoden was not utterly forsaken. The knights of his house lay slain about him, or else mastered by the madness of their steeds were borne far away. Yet one stood there still: Dernhelm the young, faithful beyond fear; and he wept, for he had loved his lord as a father. Right through the charge Merry had been borne unharmed behind him, until the Shadow came; and then Windfola had thrown them in his terror, and now ran wild upon the plain. Merry crawled on all fours like a dazed beast, and such a horror was on him that he was blind and sick. ‘King’s man! King’s man!’ his heart cried within him. ‘You must stay by him. As a father you shall be to me, you said.’ But his will made no answer, and his body shook. He dared not open his eyes or look up.
THE BATTLE OF THE PELENNOR FIELDS 841 Then out of the blackness in his mind he thought that he heard Dernhelm speaking; yet now the voice seemed strange, recalling some other voice that he had known. ‘Begone, foul dwimmerlaik, lord of carrion! Leave the dead in peace!’ A cold voice answered: ‘Come not between the Nazgdal and his prey! Or he will not slay thee in thy turn. He will bear thee away to the houses of lamentation, beyond all darkness, where thy flesh shall be devoured, and thy shrivelled mind be left naked to the Lidless Eye.’ A sword rang as it was drawn. ‘Do what you will; but I will hinder it, if I may.’ ‘Hinder me? Thou fool. No living man may hinder me!’ Then Merry heard of all sounds in that hour the strangest. It seemed that Dernhelm laughed, and the clear voice was like the ring of steel. ‘But no living man am I! You look upon a woman. Eowyn I am, Eomund’s daughter. You stand between me and my lord and kin. Begone, if you be not deathless! For living or dark undead, I will smite you, if you touch him.’ The winged creature screamed at her, but the Ringwraith made no answer, and was silent, as if in sudden doubt. Very amazement for a moment conquered Merry’s fear. He opened his eyes and the blackness was lifted from them. There some paces from him sat the great beast, and all seemed dark about it, and above it loomed the Nazgtl Lord like a shadow of despair. A little to the left facing them stood she whom he had called Dernhelm. But the helm of her secrecy had fallen from her, and her bright hair, released from its bonds, gleamed with pale gold upon her shoulders. Her eyes grey as the sea were hard and fell, and yet tears were on her cheek. A sword was in her hand, and she raised her shield against the horror of her enemy’s eyes. Eowyn it was, and Dernhelm also. For into Merry’s mind flashed the memory of the face that he saw at the riding from Dunharrow: the face of one that goes seeking death, having no hope. Pity filled his heart and great wonder, and suddenly the slow-kindled courage of his race awoke. He clenched his hand. She should not die, so fair, so desperate! At least she should not die alone, unaided. The face of their enemy was not turned towards him, but still he hardly dared to move, dreading lest the deadly eyes should fall on him. Slowly, slowly he began to crawl aside; but the Black Captain, in doubt and malice intent upon the woman before him, heeded him no more than a worm in the mud. Suddenly the great beast beat its hideous wings, and the wind of them was foul. Again it leaped into the air, and then swiftly fell down upon Eowyn, shrieking, striking with beak and claw.
842 THE LORD OF THE RINGS Still she did not blench: maiden of the Rohirrim, child of kings, slender but as a steel-blade, fair yet terrible. A swift stroke she dealt, skilled and deadly. The outstretched neck she clove asunder, and the hewn head fell like a stone. Backward she sprang as the huge shape crashed to ruin, vast wings outspread, crumpled on the earth; and with its fall the shadow passed away. A light fell about her, and her hair shone in the sunrise. Out of the wreck rose the Black Rider, tall and threatening, towering above her. With a cry of hatred that stung the very ears like venom he let fall his mace. Her shield was shivered in many pieces, and her arm was broken; she stumbled to her knees. He bent over her like a cloud, and his eyes glittered; he raised his mace to kill. But suddenly he too stumbled forward with a cry of bitter pain, and his stroke went wide, driving into the ground. Merry’s sword had stabbed him from behind, shearing through the black mantle, and passing up beneath the hauberk had pierced the sinew behind his mighty knee. ‘Eowyn! Eowyn!’ cried Merry. Then tottering, struggling up, with her last strength she drove her sword between crown and mantle, as the great shoulders bowed before her. The sword broke sparkling into many shards. The crown rolled away with a clang. Eowyn fell forward upon her fallen foe. But lo! the mantle and hauberk were empty. Shapeless they lay now on the ground, torn and tumbled; and a cry went up into the shuddering air, and faded to a shrill wailing, passing with the wind, a voice bodiless and thin that died, and was swallowed up, and was never heard again in that age of this world. And there stood Meriadoc the hobbit in the midst of the slain, blinking like an owl in the daylight, for tears blinded him; and through a mist he looked on Eowyn’s fair head, as she lay and did not move; and he looked on the face of the king, fallen in the midst of his glory. For Snowmane in his agony had rolled away from him again; yet he was the bane of his master. Then Merry stooped and lifted his hand to kiss it, and lo! Théoden opened his eyes, and they were clear, and he spoke in a quiet voice though laboured. ‘Farewell, Master Holbytla!’ he said. ‘My body is broken. I go to my fathers. And even in their mighty company I shall not now be ashamed. I felled the black serpent. A grim morn, and a glad day, and a golden sunset!’ Merry could not speak, but wept anew. ‘Forgive me, lord,’ he said at last, ‘if I broke your command, and yet have done no more in your service than to weep at our parting.’ The old king smiled. ‘Grieve not! It is forgiven. Great heart will
然而她沒有退縮：這位洛汗的少女、王者之女，身形纖細卻如鋼刃，美麗而又可畏。她揮出迅疾的一擊，熟練而致命。她將那伸長的脖頸一劈兩斷，被砍下的頭顱如石頭般墜落。當那龐然大物轟然崩毀，巨大的翅膀攤開，皺巴巴地癱在地上時，她向後躍開；隨著它的倒下，那片陰影也隨之消散。一道光芒落在她身上，她的頭髮在晨曦中閃耀。從那片殘骸中，黑騎士站了起來，高大而充滿威脅，聳立在她面前。他發出一聲怨毒的尖嘯，像毒液般刺痛耳膜，同時揮落了他的釘頭鎚。她的盾牌碎裂成許多片，手臂也斷了；她踉蹌地跪倒在地。他像一團烏雲般俯身向她，雙眼閃著寒光；他舉起釘頭鎚，準備下殺手。但突然間，他也發出一聲痛苦的慘叫，向前一個踉蹌，攻擊打偏，擊中了地面。梅里的劍從他身後刺入，劃破了黑色的斗篷，穿過鎖子甲下方，刺穿了他強壯膝蓋後方的筋腱。「伊歐玟！伊歐玟！」梅里大喊。接著，她搖搖晃晃地掙扎起身，用盡最後的力氣，在那巨大的肩膀在她面前彎下時，將劍刺入王冠與斗篷之間。長劍迸出火花，碎成許多碎片。王冠鏗鏘一聲滾落。伊歐玟向前倒下，落在她倒下的敵人身上。但看啊！斗篷和鎖子甲裡竟是空的。它們不成形狀地躺在地上，又破又皺；一聲尖嘯衝入顫抖的空氣中，漸漸變成淒厲的哀嚎，隨風遠去，那是一個無形而微弱的聲音，終至消亡，被吞噬，在這個世界的那個紀元裡，再也無人聽聞。哈比人梅里雅達克站在遍地亡骸之中，像白晝裡的貓頭鷹一樣眨著眼，因為淚水模糊了他的視線；他透過一片迷霧，望著伊歐玟美麗的頭顱，她躺在那裡一動也不動；他又望向國王的臉，他在榮耀的頂點殞落。因為雪鬃在極度痛苦中又從他身上滾開了；然而，牠卻成了主人的禍根。接著梅里彎下腰，抬起他的手親吻，看啊！希優頓睜開了眼睛，眼神清澈，他用平靜卻費力的聲音說話。「再會了，哈比人大人！」他說。「我的身體已經破碎。我就要回到我先祖那裡去了。即使在他們偉大的行列中，我如今也無須感到羞愧。我擊倒了那條黑蛇。一個嚴峻的清晨，一個欣喜的白日，以及一個金色的日落！」梅里說不出話，只是再度哭泣。「請原諒我，陛下，」他最後說，「如果我違背了您的命令，卻在為您效勞時，除了在我們離別時哭泣之外，什麼也沒做。」老國王微笑了。「別悲傷！我原諒你。偉大的心將會
THE BATTLE OF THE PELENNOR FIELDS 843 not be denied. Live now in blessedness; and when you sit in peace with your pipe, think of me! For never now shall I sit with you in Meduseld, as I promised, or listen to your herb-lore.’ He closed his eyes, and Merry bowed beside him. Presently he spoke again. ‘Where is Eomer? For my eyes darken, and I would see him ere I go. He must be king after me. And I would send word to Eowyn. She, she would not have me leave her, and now I shall not see her again, dearer than daughter.’ ‘Lord, lord,’ began Merry brokenly, ‘she is >; but at that moment there was a great clamour, and all about them horns and trumpets were blowing. Merry looked round: he had forgotten the war, and all the world beside, and many hours it seemed since the king rode to his fall, though in truth it was only a little while. But now he saw that they were in danger of being caught in the very midst of the great battle that would soon be joined. New forces of the enemy were hastening up the road from the River; and from under the walls came the legions of Morgul; and from the southward fields came footmen of Harad with horsemen before them, and behind them rose the huge backs of the mimakil with war-towers upon them. But northward the white crest of Eomer led the great front of the Rohirrim which he had again gathered and marshalled; and out of the City came all the strength of men that was in it, and the silver swan of Dol Amroth was borne in the van, driving the enemy from the Gate. For a moment the thought flitted through Merry’s mind: ‘Where is Gandalf? Is he not here? Could he not have saved the king and Eowyn?’ But thereupon Eomer rode up in haste, and with him came the knights of the household that still lived and had now mastered their horses. They looked in wonder at the carcase of the fell beast that lay there; and their steeds would not go near. But Eomer leaped from the saddle, and grief and dismay fell upon him as he came to the king’s side and stood there in silence. Then one of the knights took the king’s banner from the hand of Guthlaf the banner-bearer who lay dead, and he lifted it up. Slowly Theoden opened his eyes. Seeing the banner he made a sign that it should be given to Eomer. ‘Hail, King of the Mark!’ he said. ‘Ride now to victory! Bid Eowyn farewell!’ And so he died, and knew not that Eowyn lay near him. And those who stood by wept, crying: “Théoden King! Théoden King!’ But Eomer said to them: Mourn not overmuch! Mighty was the fallen, meet was his ending. When his mound 1s raised, women then shall weep. War now calls us!
不容拒絕。從今以後，你要活在福佑之中；當你安坐家中，手持菸斗時，請想起我！因為我再也無法如我所承諾的，與你在梅杜塞金殿共坐，或聆聽你的藥草學問了。」他閉上雙眼，梅里在他身旁鞠躬。不久，他又開口說道。「伊歐墨在哪裡？我的眼前一片黑暗，我想在走之前見到他。他必須在我之後為王。我還想傳話給伊歐雯。她，她不願我離開她，而今我再也見不到她了，比女兒還親。」「大人，大人，」梅里泣不成聲地開口，「她……」但就在那時，一陣巨大的喧嘩聲響起，他們周遭號角與喇叭齊鳴。梅里環顧四周：他早已忘了戰爭，忘了世上的一切，感覺自國王馳騁至殞落已過了數小時，儘管事實上僅僅是片刻之前。但現在他看見，他們正處於即將全面爆發的大戰正中央，有被捲入的危險。敵人的新部隊正從河邊的道路上趕來；魔窟的軍團從城牆下湧出；南方平原則來了哈拉德的步兵，前方有騎兵，後方則聳立著穆馬克的巨大背脊，背上還載著戰塔。但在北方，伊歐墨的白色盔羽引領著他重新集結整編的洛希林大軍前鋒；城內所有的人類兵力也傾巢而出，多爾安羅斯的天鵝銀徽在軍隊最前線高舉，將敵人逐出大門。有那麼一刻，這個念頭閃過梅里的腦海：「甘道夫在哪裡？他不在這裡嗎？他難道救不了國王和伊歐雯嗎？」但就在此時，伊歐墨策馬急奔而來，與他同來的還有王室衛隊中尚存且已馴服馬匹的騎士們。他們驚奇地看著躺在那裡的凶惡野獸的屍體；他們的戰馬不敢靠近。但伊歐墨躍下馬鞍，當他來到國王身邊，靜靜地站在那裡時，悲傷與驚駭攫住了他。然後，一位騎士從已死的掌旗官古斯拉夫手中接過國王的旗幟，並將它高高舉起。希優頓緩緩睜開眼睛。看見旗幟，他示意將其交給伊歐墨。「向您致敬，驃騎王！」他說。「現在馳騁以獲取勝利吧！向伊歐雯道別！」他就這樣逝去了，不知道伊歐雯就躺在他身邊。而那些站在一旁的人們哭泣著，大喊：「希優頓王！希優頓王！」但伊歐墨對他們說：「不要過度悲傷！逝者是偉大的，他的結局是合宜的。待他的墳塚築起，屆時再讓女人們哭泣。現在，戰爭在召喚我們！
844 THE LORD OF THE RINGS Yet he himself wept as he spoke. ‘Let his knights remain here,’ he said, ‘and bear his body in honour from the field, lest the battle ride over it! Yea, and all these other of the king’s men that lie here.’ And he looked at the slain, recalling their names. Then suddenly he beheld his sister Eowyn as she lay, and he knew her. He stood a moment as a man who is pierced in the midst of a cry by an arrow through the heart; and then his face went deathly white, and a cold fury rose in him, so that all speech failed him for a while. A fey mood took him. ‘Eowyn, Eowyn!’ he cried at last. ‘Eowyn, how come you here? What madness or devilry is this? Death, death, death! Death take us all!’ Then without taking counsel or waiting for the approach of the men of the City, he spurred headlong back to the front of the great host, and blew a horn, and cried aloud for the onset. Over the field rang his clear voice calling: ‘Death! Ride, ride to ruin and the world’s ending!’ And with that the host began to move. But the Rohirrim sang no more. Death they cried with one voice loud and terrible, and gathering speed like a great tide their battle swept about their fallen king and passed, roaring away southwards. And still Meriadoc the hobbit stood there blinking through his tears, and no one spoke to him, indeed none seemed to heed him. He brushed away the tears, and stooped to pick up the green shield that Eowyn had given him, and he slung it at his back. Then he looked for his sword that he had let fall; for even as he struck his blow his arm was numbed, and now he could only use his left hand. And behold! there lay his weapon, but the blade was smoking like a dry branch that has been thrust in a fire; and as he watched it, it writhed and withered and was consumed. So passed the sword of the Barrow-downs, work of Westernesse. But glad would he have been to know its fate who wrought it slowly long ago in the North-kingdom when the Dunedain were young, and chief among their foes was the dread realm of Angmar and its sorcerer king. No other blade, not though mightier hands had wielded it, would have dealt that foe a wound so bitter, cleaving the undead flesh, breaking the spell that knit his unseen sinews to his will. Men now raised the king, and laying cloaks upon spear-truncheons they made shift to bear him away towards the City; and others lifted Eowyn gently up and bore her after him. But the men of the king’s household they could not yet bring from the field; for seven of the king’s knights had fallen there, and Déorwine their chief was among
然而他說話時自己也哭了。「讓他的騎士們留在這裡，」他說，「把他的遺體光榮地抬離戰場，免得被戰火踐踏！是啊，還有所有其他躺在這裡的國王的人。」他看著那些陣亡者，回憶著他們的名字。然後他突然看見他妹妹伊歐玟躺在那裡，他認出了她。他站了一會兒，像一個人在吶喊中被一箭穿心；接著他的臉色變得死白，一股冰冷的狂怒在他心中升起，使他一時說不出話來。一股決死的氣氛籠罩了他。「伊歐玟，伊歐玟！」他終於喊道。「伊歐玟，妳怎麼會在這裡？這是什麼瘋狂或魔鬼的伎倆？死亡，死亡，死亡！讓死亡帶走我們所有人！」然後，他不徵求意見，也不等待那座城的人靠近，就一馬當先地衝回大軍的前線，吹響號角，大聲呼喊進攻。他清亮的聲音響徹戰場，呼喊著：「死亡！前進，前進，迎向毀滅與世界的終結！」隨著他一聲令下，大軍開始移動。但洛汗人不再歌唱。他們用一個響亮而可怕的聲音齊聲吶喊著死亡，像巨大的潮水般加速，他們的戰陣繞過倒下的國王，呼嘯著向南而去。而哈比人梅里雅達克仍站在那裡，淚眼矇矓地眨著眼，沒有人對他說話，事實上似乎沒有人注意到他。他擦去眼淚，彎腰撿起伊歐玟給他的綠色盾牌，把它掛在背上。然後他尋找他掉落的劍；因為就在他擊出那一劍時，他的手臂就麻木了，現在他只能用左手。看啊！他的武器就躺在那裡，但劍刃卻像一根被扔進火裡的乾樹枝一樣冒著煙；在他注視下，它扭曲、枯萎，然後被吞噬了。就這樣，來自古墓崗的劍，西方皇族的作品，走到了盡頭。但若那位很久以前，在登丹人尚年輕，而他們的主要敵人是可怕的安格馬王國及其巫師王時，在北方王國緩慢鑄造此劍的人能知道它的命運，他會感到欣慰的。沒有任何其他的劍刃，即使由更強大的手揮舞，能給那個敵人造成如此慘痛的傷口，劈開那不死之軀，打破那將他無形筋腱與其意志連結在一起的咒語。人們現在抬起國王，將斗篷鋪在斷矛上，設法將他抬往那座城；其他人則輕輕地抬起伊歐玟，跟在他後面。但國王的侍衛們他們還無法從戰場上帶走；因為國王的七名騎士已在那裡陣亡，而他們的首領迪歐懷也在其中。
THE BATTLE OF THE PELENNOR FIELDS 845 them. So they laid them apart from their foes and the fell beast and set spears about them. And afterwards when all was over men returned and made a fire there and burned the carcase of the beast; but for Snowmane they dug a grave and set up a stone upon which was carved in the tongues of Gondor and the Mark: Faithful servant yet master’s bane, Lightfoot’s foal, swift Snowmane. Green and long grew the grass on Snowmane’s Howe, but ever black and bare was the ground where the beast was burned. Now slowly and sadly Merry walked beside the bearers, and he gave no more heed to the battle. He was weary and full of pain, and his limbs trembled as with a chill. A great rain came out of the Sea, and it seemed that all things wept for Théoden and Eowyn, quenching the fires in the City with grey tears. It was through a mist that presently he saw the van of the men of Gondor approaching. Imrahil, Prince of Dol Amroth, rode up and drew rein before them. ‘What burden do you bear, Men of Rohan?’ he cried. ‘Théoden King,’ they answered. ‘He is dead. But Eomer King now rides in the battle: he with the white crest in the wind.’ Then the prince went from his horse, and knelt by the bier in honour of the king and his great onset; and he wept. And rising he looked then on Eowyn and was amazed. ‘Surely, here is a woman?’ he said. ‘Have even the women of the Rohirrim come to war in our need?’ ‘Nay! One only,’ they answered. ‘The Lady Eowyn is she, sister of Eomer; and we knew naught of her riding until this hour, and greatly we rue it.’ Then the prince seeing her beauty, though her face was pale and cold, touched her hand as he bent to look more closely on her. ‘Men of Rohan!’ he cried. ‘Are there no leeches among you? She is hurt, to the death maybe, but I deem that she yet lives.’ And he held the bright-burnished vambrace that was upon his arm before her cold lips, and behold! a little mist was laid on it hardly to be seen. “Haste now is needed,’ he said, and he sent one riding back swiftly to the City to bring aid. But he bowing low to the fallen, bade them farewell, and mounting rode away into battle. And now the fighting waxed furious on the fields of the Pelennor; and the din of arms rose upon high, with the crying of men and the neighing of horses. Horns were blown and trumpets were braying, and the mtimakil were bellowing as they were goaded to war. Under
於是他們將他們與敵人及那兇惡的野獸分開，並在周圍立起長矛。之後，當一切結束，人們回來生了火，焚燒了野獸的屍骸；但他們為雪鬃挖了一座墳，立起一塊石頭，上面用剛鐸和驃騎國的語言刻著：忠誠的僕人，卻是主人的剋星，捷足之駒，迅捷的雪鬃。雪鬃塚上的草長得又綠又長，但焚燒野獸之地卻始終焦黑一片。此刻，梅里緩慢而悲傷地走在抬棺者身旁，再也無心戰事。他疲憊不堪，滿身疼痛，四肢像著了涼似地顫抖。一場大雨從海上襲來，彷彿萬物都在為希優頓和伊歐玟哭泣，用灰色的淚水澆熄了城中的火焰。就在一片迷霧中，他看見剛鐸部隊的先鋒正在靠近。多爾安羅斯親王印拉希爾騎馬上前，在他們面前勒住了馬。「洛汗的勇士們，你們抬的是什麼重擔？」他喊道。「是希優頓王，」他們回答。「他駕崩了。但現在是伊歐墨王在戰場上馳騁：就是那位頭戴白色盔羽、迎風作戰的王者。」於是親王下馬，在靈柩旁跪下，向國王和他偉大的衝鋒致敬；他哭了。起身後，他望向伊歐玟，大為驚訝。「這肯定是一位女士吧？」他說。「難道連洛希林人的女性都在我們危難之際前來參戰了嗎？」「不！只有一位，」他們回答。「她是伊歐玟女士，伊歐墨的妹妹；直到此刻我們才知曉她也騎馬出征，我們為此深感懊悔。」親王看見她的美貌，儘管她的臉色蒼白冰冷，他彎身細看時，觸碰了她的手。「洛汗的勇士們！」他喊道。「你們當中沒有醫者嗎？她受了傷，或許是致命傷，但我認為她還活著。」他將手臂上那面擦得光亮的護腕甲湊到她冰冷的唇前，看啊！上面蒙上了一層幾乎看不見的薄霧。「現在必須趕快，」他說，並派了一名騎士飛速回城求援。但他向倒下的人深深鞠躬，向他們告別，然後上馬馳騁，重返戰場。此刻，佩蘭諾平原上的戰鬥愈發激烈；兵器交擊聲、人們的吶喊聲和馬匹的嘶鳴聲響徹雲霄。號角吹響，喇叭齊鳴，猛獁在被驅趕上陣時發出怒吼。在
846 THE LORD OF THE RINGS the south walls of the City the footmen of Gondor now drove against the legions of Morgul that were still gathered there in strength. But the horsemen rode eastward to the succour of Eomer: Hurin the Tall, Warden of the Keys, and the Lord of Lossarnach, and Hirluin of the Green Hills, and Prince Imrahil the fair with his knights all about him. Not too soon came their aid to the Rohirrim; for fortune had turned against Eomer, and his fury had betrayed him. The great wrath of his onset had utterly overthrown the front of his enemies, and great wedges of his Riders had passed clear through the ranks of the Southrons, discomfiting their horsemen and riding their footmen to ruin. But wherever the miimakil came there the horses would not go, but blenched and swerved away; and the great monsters were unfought, and stood like towers of defence, and the Haradrim rallied about them. And if the Rohirrim at their onset were thrice outnumbered by the Haradrim alone, soon their case became worse; for new strength came now streaming to the field out of Osgiliath. There they had been mustered for the sack of the City and the rape of Gondor, waiting on the call of their Captain. He now was destroyed; but Gothmog the lieutenant of Morgul had flung them into the fray; Easterlings with axes, and Variags of Khand, Southrons in scarlet, and out of Far Harad black men like half-trolls with white eyes and red tongues. Some now hastened up behind the Rohirrim, others held westward to hold off the forces of Gondor and prevent their joining with Rohan. It was even as the day thus began to turn against Gondor and their hope wavered that a new cry went up in the City, it being then mid-morning, and a great wind blowing, and the rain flying north, and the sun shining. In that clear air watchmen on the walls saw afar a new sight of fear, and their last hope left them. For Anduin, from the bend at the Harlond, so flowed that from the City men could look down it lengthwise for some leagues, and the farsighted could see any ships that approached. And looking thither they cried in dismay; for black against the glittering stream they beheld a fleet borne up on the wind: dromunds, and ships of great draught with many oars, and with black sails bellying in the breeze. “The Corsairs of Umbar!’ men shouted. “The Corsairs of Umbar! Look! The Corsairs of Umbar are coming! So Belfalas is taken, and the Ethir, and Lebennin is gone. The Corsairs are upon us! It is the last stroke of doom!’ And some without order, for none could be found to command them in the City, ran to the bells and tolled the alarm; and some blew the trumpets sounding the retreat. ‘Back to the walls!’ they cried. ‘Back to the walls! Come back to the City before all are over
在米那斯提力斯城的南牆邊，剛鐸的步兵正奮力攻擊集結在那裡、實力依舊雄厚的魔窟軍團。但騎兵隊則向東馳援伊歐墨：高大的鑰匙官胡林、羅薩那奇領主、綠丘的希爾路因，以及俊美的印拉希爾王侯與他身邊的騎士們。他們對洛汗人的援助來得不算太遲；因為運氣已不再眷顧伊歐墨，他的怒火反而害了他。他猛烈衝鋒的巨大怒意徹底擊潰了敵人的前線，他麾下的大批騎兵以楔形陣完全鑿穿了南方人的隊伍，擊潰了他們的騎兵，將他們的步兵踐踏殆盡。但無論猛獁巨獸出現在何處，馬匹都不願靠近，只是驚恐地退縮閃避；這些巨獸無人能敵，像防禦塔般矗立著，哈拉德人便圍繞著牠們重新集結。如果說洛汗人在衝鋒之初，光是面對哈拉德人就已是三倍的劣勢，那麼他們的情況很快就變得更糟了；因為新的援軍正從奧斯吉力亞斯源源不斷地湧入戰場。他們本是為劫掠米那斯提力斯城、蹂躪剛鐸而集結，等待著他們大將的號令。如今他們的大將雖已斃命，但魔窟的副官哥斯摩已將他們投入混戰；有持斧的東方人、侃德的瓦瑞亞格人、身穿猩紅戰袍的南方人，以及來自遠哈拉德、眼白舌紅、狀如半食人妖的黑人。一部分人現在從洛汗人後方加速趕上，另一部分人則守在西邊，以阻擋剛鐸的部隊，防止他們與洛汗會合。正當這一天局勢開始對剛鐸不利、他們的希望也隨之動搖時，城裡爆發出一陣新的呼喊，當時正值上午，大風呼嘯，雨絲向北飛揚，太陽正閃耀著。在清澈的空氣中，城牆上的守望者遠遠看到一個新的可怕景象，他們最後的希望也隨之破滅。因為安都因河從哈龍德的彎道處流過，從城裡的人可以順著河道縱覽數里格之遠，視力好的人能看見任何駛近的船隻。而當他們朝那裡望去時，卻驚駭地大叫起來；因為在閃閃發光的河面上，他們看見一支順風而來的艦隊，船身漆黑：有多槳帆戰船，有吃水很深、槳手眾多的大船，黑色的船帆在風中鼓脹。「昂巴的海盜！」人們大喊。「昂巴的海盜！看啊！昂巴的海盜來了！這麼說貝爾法拉斯已經失陷，伊希爾和萊貝寧也完了。海盜已經兵臨城下了！這是末日的最後一擊！」有些人未經命令——因為城裡已找不到人來指揮他們——便跑去敲響警鐘；還有些人吹響了撤退的號角。「退回城牆！」他們哭喊著。「退回城牆！在一切都結束前快回到城裡來！」
THE BATTLE OF THE PELENNOR FIELDS 847 whelmed!’ But the wind that sped the ships blew all their clamour away. The Rohirrim indeed had no need of news or alarm. All too well they could see for themselves the black sails. For Eomer was now scarcely a mile from the Harlond, and a great press of his first foes was between him and the haven there, while new foes came swirling behind, cutting him off from the Prince. Now he looked to the River, and hope died in his heart, and the wind that he had blessed he now called accursed. But the hosts of Mordor were enheartened, and filled with a new lust and fury they came yelling to the onset. Stern now was Eomer’s mood, and his mind clear again. He let blow the horns to rally all men to his banner that could come thither; for he thought to make a great shield-wall at the last, and stand, and fight there on foot till all fell, and do deeds of song on the fields of Pelennor, though no man should be left in the West to remember the last King of the Mark. So he rode to a green hillock and there set his banner, and the White Horse ran rippling in the wind. Out of doubt, out of dark to the day’s rising I came singing in the sun, sword unsheathing. To hope’s end I rode and to heart’s breaking: Now for wrath, now for ruin and a red nightfall! These staves he spoke, yet he laughed as he said them. For once more lust of battle was on him; and he was still unscathed, and he was young, and he was king: the lord of a fell people. And lo! even as he laughed at despair he looked out again on the black ships, and he lifted up his sword to defy them. And then wonder took him, and a great joy; and he cast his sword up in the sunlight and sang as he caught it. And all eyes followed his gaze, and behold! upon the foremost ship a great standard broke, and the wind displayed it as she turned towards the Harlond. There flowered a White Tree, and that was for Gondor; but Seven Stars were about it, and a high crown above it, the signs of Elendil that no lord had borne for years beyond count. And the stars flamed in the sunlight, for they were wrought of gems by Arwen daughter of Elrond; and the crown was bright in the morning, for it was wrought of mithril and gold. Thus came Aragorn son of Arathorn, Elessar, Isildur’s heir, out of the Paths of the Dead, borne upon a wind from the Sea to the kingdom of Gondor; and the mirth of the Rohirrim was a torrent of laughter and a flashing of swords, and the joy and wonder of the City was a music of trumpets and a ringing of bells. But the hosts of Mordor were seized with bewilderment, and a great wizardry it
848 THE LORD OF THE RINGS seemed to them that their own ships should be filled with their foes; and a black dread fell on them, knowing that the tides of fate had turned against them and their doom was at hand. East rode the knights of Dol Amroth driving the enemy before them: troll-men and Variags and orcs that hated the sunlight. South strode Eomer and men fled before his face, and they were caught between the hammer and the anvil. For now men leaped from the ships to the quays of the Harlond and swept north like a storm. There came Legolas, and Gimli wielding his axe, and Halbarad with the standard, and Elladan and Elrohir with stars on their brow, and the dour-handed Dunedain, Rangers of the North, leading a great valour of the folk of Lebennin and Lamedon and the fiefs of the South. But before all went Aragorn with the Flame of the West, Anduril like a new fire kindled, Narsil re-forged as deadly as of old; and upon his brow was the Star of Elendil. And so at length Eomer and Aragorn met in the midst of the battle, and they leaned on their swords and looked on one another and were glad. “Thus we meet again, though all the hosts of Mordor lay between us,’ said Aragorn. ‘Did I not say so at the Hornburg?’ ‘So you spoke,’ said Eomer, ‘but hope oft deceives, and I knew not then that you were a man foresighted. Yet twice blessed is help unlooked for, and never was a meeting of friends more joyful.’ And they clasped hand in hand. ‘Nor indeed more timely,’ said Eomer. ‘You come none too soon, my friend. Much loss and sorrow has befallen us.’ “Then let us avenge it, ere we speak of it!’ said Aragorn, and they rode back to battle together. Hard fighting and long labour they had still; for the Southrons were bold men and grim, and fierce in despair; and the Easterlings were strong and war-hardened and asked for no quarter. And so in this place and that, by burned homestead or barn, upon hillock or mound, under wall or on field, still they gathered and rallied and fought until the day wore away. Then the Sun went at last behind Mindolluin and filled all the sky with a great burning, so that the hills and the mountains were dyed as with blood; fire glowed in the River, and the grass of the Pelennor lay red in the nightfall. And in that hour the great Battle of the field of Gondor was over; and not one living foe was left within the circuit of the Rammas. All were slain save those who fled to die, or to drown in the red foam of the River. Few ever came eastward to Morgul or Mordor; and to the land of the Haradrim came only a tale from far off: a rumour of the wrath and terror of Gondor. BS
THE BATTLE OF THE PELENNOR FIELDS 849 Aragorn and Eomer and Imrahil rode back towards the Gate of the City, and they were now weary beyond joy or sorrow. These three were unscathed, for such was their fortune and the skill and might of their arms, and few indeed had dared to abide them or look on their faces in the hour of their wrath. But many others were hurt or maimed or dead upon the field. The axes hewed Forlong as he fought alone and unhorsed; and both Duilin of Morthond and his brother were trampled to death when they assailed the mzmakil, leading their bowmen close to shoot at the eyes of the monsters. Neither Hirluin the fair would return to Pinnath Gelin, nor Grimbold to Grimslade, nor Halbarad to the Northlands, dour-handed Ranger. No few had fallen, renowned or nameless, captain or soldier; for it was a great battle and the full count of it no tale has told. So long afterward a maker in Rohan said in his song of the Mounds of Mundburg: We heard of the horns in the hills ringing, the swords shining in the South-kingdom. Steeds went striding to the Stoningland as wind in the morning. War was kindled. There Théoden fell, Thengling mighty, to his golden halls and green pastures in the Northern fields never returning, high lord of the host. Harding and Guthlaf, Dunhere and Déorwine, doughty Grimbold, Herefara and Herubrand, Horn and Fastred, fought and fell there in a far country: in the Mounds of Mundburg under mould they le with their league-fellows, lords of Gondor. Neither Hirluin the Fair to the hills by the sea, nor Forlong the old to the flowering vales ever, to Arnach, to his own country returned in triumph; nor the tall bowmen, Derufin and Duilin, to their dark waters, meres of Morthond under mountain-shadows. Death in the morning and at day’s ending lords took and lowly. Long now they sleep under grass in Gondor by the Great River. Grey now as tears, gleaming silver, red then it rolled, roaring water: foam dyed with blood flamed at sunset; as beacons mountains burned at evening; red fell the dew in Rammas Echor.
亞拉岡、伊歐墨和印拉希爾騎馬返回城門，此刻他們已疲憊不堪，心中再無喜悅或悲傷。這三人毫髮無傷，全因他們的運氣、武藝與力量，也因為在他們盛勞之時，確實沒有多少敵人敢於抵擋或直視他們的面容。但戰場上，許多人或傷或殘，或已然殞命。佛龍在戰馬倒下後孤軍奮戰，終被斧頭砍倒；摩頌谷的杜伊林與他的兄弟在率領弓箭手近身射擊猛瑪象的眼睛時，雙雙被踐踏至死。美男子希爾路因再也回不了綠丘陵，葛林伯回不了葛林斯雷德，而那位手腕強硬的遊俠哈爾巴拉德，也回不了北方故土。無論有名無名，將領或士兵，殞落者不計其數；因為這是一場大戰，其全貌未曾有任何傳說能盡述。許久之後，一位洛汗的詩人在他關於蒙德堡丘塚的歌謠中如此唱道： 我們聽聞山中號角迴響，南方王國刀劍閃亮。 戰馬如晨風，奔向石地之邦。 戰火已燃。希優頓王，先王之裔，在此殞身， 再也回不去他北方的金色殿堂與青青牧場，那位軍旅的崇高君王。 哈丁與古斯拉夫，鄧赫與迪歐懷，英勇的葛林伯，赫瑞法拉與赫魯布蘭，號角與法斯特雷德，皆戰死於異鄉：在蒙德堡的丘塚下，他們與盟友，剛鐸的眾領主們，一同長眠於塵土。 美男子希爾路因再也回不去傍海的山丘，年邁的佛龍再也回不去繁花盛開的山谷，回不去他的故鄉亞諾赫；高大的弓箭手德魯芬與杜伊林，也回不去他們在山影下摩頌谷的幽暗湖泊。 晨間與日暮，死亡帶走了貴族與平民。如今他們在剛鐸的大河之畔，長眠於綠草之下。曾如淚水般灰濛，閃爍銀光，而後翻滾咆哮的紅浪：泡沫被鮮血染紅，在日落時燃燒；群山如烽火，在黃昏中亮起；紅色的露珠，滴落在拉馬斯-艾柯之上。