Chapter 7 THE PYRE OF DENETHOR When the dark shadow at the Gate withdrew Gandalf still sat motionless. But Pippin rose to his feet, as if a great weight had been lifted from him; and he stood listening to the horns, and it seemed to him that they would break his heart with joy. And never in after years could he hear a horn blown in the distance without tears starting in his eyes. But now suddenly his errand returned to his memory, and he ran forward. At that moment Gandalf stirred and spoke to Shadowfax, and was about to ride through the Gate. ‘Gandalf, Gandalf!’ cried Pippin, and Shadowfax halted. ‘What are you doing here?’ said Gandalf. ‘Is it not a law in the City that those who wear the black and silver must stay in the Citadel, unless their lord gives them leave?’ ‘He has,’ said Pippin. ‘He sent me away. But I am frightened. Something terrible may happen up there. The Lord is out of his mind, I think. I am afraid he will kill himself, and kill Faramir too. Can’t you do something?’ Gandalf looked through the gaping Gate, and already on the fields he heard the gathering sound of battle. He clenched his hand. ‘I must go,’ he said. “The Black Rider is abroad, and he will yet bring ruin on us. I have no time.’ ‘But Faramir!’ cried Pippin. ‘He is not dead, and they will burn him alive, if someone does not stop them.’ ‘Burn him alive?’ said Gandalf. ‘What is this tale? Be quick!’ ‘Denethor has gone to the Tombs,’ said Pippin, ‘and he has taken Faramir, and he says we are all to burn, and he will not wait, and they are to make a pyre and burn him on it, and Faramir as well. And he has sent men to fetch wood and oil. And I have told Beregond, but I’m afraid he won’t dare to leave his post: he is on guard. And what can he do anyway?’ So Pippin poured out his tale, reaching up and touching Gandalf’s knee with trembling hands. ‘Can’t you save Faramir?’ ‘Maybe I can,’ said Gandalf; ‘but if I do, then others will die, I fear. Well, I must come, since no other help can reach him. But evil and sorrow will come of this. Even in the heart of our stronghold the Enemy has power to strike us: for his will it is that is at work.’ Then having made up his mind he acted swiftly; and catching up Pippin and setting him before him, he turned Shadowfax with a word. Up the climbing streets of Minas Tirith they clattered, while
第七章 迪耐瑟的火葬堆 當城門口的黑影退去時，甘道夫仍舊一動不動地坐著。但皮聘卻站了起來，彷彿卸下了千斤重擔；他站著聆聽號角聲，那聲音似乎要因喜悅而讓他心碎。此後的歲月裡，他每當聽到遠方傳來的號角聲，眼淚總會奪眶而出。但此刻，他突然想起了自己的任務，便向前跑去。就在那時，甘道夫動了一下，對影疾說了句話，正準備騎馬穿過城門。「甘道夫，甘道夫！」皮聘喊道，影疾便停了下來。「你在這裡做什麼？」甘道夫說。「城裡不是有條法律，凡穿黑底銀徽制服者，除非領主准許，否則必須待在城塞裡嗎？」「他准許了，」皮聘說。「他把我打發走了。但我很害怕。上面可能會發生很可怕的事。我想，宰相大人他瘋了。我怕他會自殺，還會殺了法拉墨。您能做點什麼嗎？」甘道夫望向敞開的城門，已經能聽到戰場上逐漸匯集的戰鬥聲。他握緊了拳頭。「我必須走，」他說。「黑騎士在外遊蕩，他還會給我們帶來毀滅。我沒有時間。」「可是法拉墨！」皮聘哭喊道。「他還沒死，如果沒人阻止他們，他們會把他活活燒死。」「活活燒死？」甘道夫說。「這是怎麼回事？快說！」「迪耐瑟去了陵寢，」皮聘說，「他帶走了法拉墨，他說我們全都要被燒死，他等不及了，他們要堆起火葬堆，把他和法拉墨一起燒掉。他還派人去取木柴和油。我已經告訴了貝瑞貢，但我怕他不敢擅離職守：他在站崗。再說，他又能做什麼呢？」皮聘就這樣傾訴了他的故事，伸出顫抖的雙手，觸摸著甘道夫的膝蓋。「您能救法拉墨嗎？」「或許可以，」甘道夫說，「但如果我這麼做，恐怕其他人就會死。好吧，我必須去，因為沒有其他人能幫他了。但這件事會帶來邪惡與悲傷。即使在我們堡壘的心臟地帶，敵人也有力量打擊我們：因為這正是他的意志在作祟。」他下定决心後，便迅速行動；一把抓起皮聘，將他放在身前，對影疾說了一聲，便轉過身去。他們沿著米那斯提力斯攀升的街道，發出喀噠喀噠的聲響向上馳去，而
THE PYRE OF DENETHOR 851 the noise of war rose behind them. Everywhere men were rising from their despair and dread, seizing their weapons, crying one to another: ‘Rohan has come!’ Captains were shouting, companies were mustering; many already were marching down to the Gate. They met the Prince Imrahil, and he called to them: ‘Whither now, Mithrandir? The Rohirrim are fighting on the fields of Gondor! We must gather all the strength that we can find.’ “You will need every man and more,’ said Gandalf. ‘Make all haste. I will come when I can. But I have an errand to the Lord Denethor that will not wait. Take command in the Lord’s absence!’ They passed on; and as they climbed and drew near to the Citadel they felt the wind blowing in their faces, and they caught the glimmer of morning far away, a light growing in the southern sky. But it brought little hope to them, not knowing what evil lay before them, fearing to come too late. ‘Darkness is passing,’ said Gandalf, ‘but it still lies heavy on this City.’ At the gate of the Citadel they found no guard. “Then Beregond has gone,’ said Pippin more hopefully. They turned away and hastened along the road to the Closed Door. It stood wide open, and the porter lay before it. He was slain and his key had been taken. ‘Work of the Enemy!’ said Gandalf. ‘Such deeds he loves: friend at war with friend; loyalty divided in confusion of hearts.’ Now he dismounted and bade Shadowfax return to his stable. ‘For, my friend,’ he said, ‘you and I should have ridden to the fields long ago, but other matters delay me. Yet come swiftly if I call!’ They passed the Door and walked on down the steep winding road. Light was growing, and the tall columns and carven figures beside the way went slowly by like grey ghosts. Suddenly the silence was broken, and they heard below them cries and the ringing of swords: such sounds as had not been heard in the hallowed places since the building of the City. At last they came to Rath Dinen and hastened towards the House of the Stewards, looming in the twilight under its great dome. ‘Stay! Stay!’ cried Gandalf, springing forward to the stone stair before the door. ‘Stay this madness!’ For there were the servants of Denethor with swords and torches in their hands; but alone in the porch upon the topmost step stood Beregond, clad in the black and silver of the Guard; and he held the door against them. Two of them had already fallen to his sword, staining the hallows with their blood; and the others cursed him, calling him outlaw and traitor to his master. Even as Gandalf and Pippin ran forward, they heard from within
迪耐瑟的火葬堆 851 身後戰鼓喧囂。到處都有人從絕望與恐懼中奮起，拿起武器，互相呼喊著：「羅翰人來了！」隊長們在大喊，部隊正在集結；許多人已經向大門進軍。他們遇見了印拉希爾王侯，他對他們喊道：「米斯蘭達，現在要去哪裡？羅翰騎士正在剛鐸的平原上作戰！我們必須集結所有能找到的力量。」「你們會需要每一個人，甚至更多，」甘道夫說。「盡速行動。我一有空就會過去。但我有件急事得去找迪耐瑟王，刻不容緩。在宰相缺席時，由你來指揮！」他們繼續前行；當他們攀爬、接近大城堡時，感覺到風吹拂在臉上，並瞥見遠方晨曦的微光，一道在南方天際漸強的光芒。但這並沒有帶給他們多少希望，因為他們不知道前方有什麼邪惡在等著，只怕為時已晚。「黑暗正在消逝，」甘道夫說，「但它仍沉重地籠罩著這座城市。」在大城堡的門口，他們沒看到守衛。「那麼貝瑞貢已經走了，」皮聘較有希望地說。他們轉身，沿著通往「禁門」的路上趕去。門大開著，門房倒在門前。他被殺了，鑰匙也被拿走了。「是敵人的傑作！」甘道夫說。「他最愛這種勾當：朋友與朋友反目成仇；忠誠在混亂的心緒中分裂。」此時他下了馬，吩咐影疾回到馬廄。「因為，我的朋友，」他說，「你我本該早就馳騁沙場，但別的事情耽擱了我。不過，若我呼喚，你要迅速前來！」他們穿過門，沿著陡峭蜿蜒的道路往下走。天色漸亮，路旁高聳的圓柱和雕像如灰色的鬼魂般緩緩掠過。寂靜突然被打破，他們聽到下方傳來喊叫聲和刀劍交鳴聲：自建城以來，這些神聖之地從未聽聞過這樣的聲音。他們終於來到拉斯迪南，朝著宰相之屋趕去，它在晨光熹微中，巨大的圓頂若隱若現。「住手！住手！」甘道夫大喊，向前躍上門前的石階。「停止這瘋狂的行為！」因為迪耐瑟的僕人們手持刀劍和火把；但貝瑞貢獨自一人站在門廊最高的台階上，身穿禁衛軍的黑銀制服；他守著門，對抗著他們。他們中已有兩人倒在他的劍下，用鮮血玷污了聖地；其餘的人則咒罵他，稱他為亡命之徒、主人的叛徒。就在甘道夫和皮聘向前跑去時，他們聽到從裡面傳來
852 THE LORD OF THE RINGS the house of the dead the voice of Denethor crying: ‘Haste, haste! Do as I have bidden! Slay me this renegade! Or must I do so myself?’ Thereupon the door which Beregond held shut with his left hand was wrenched open, and there behind him stood the Lord of the City, tall and fell; a light like flame was in his eyes, and he held a drawn sword. But Gandalf sprang up the steps, and the men fell back from him and covered their eyes; for his coming was like the incoming of a white light into a dark place, and he came with great anger. He lifted up his hand, and in the very stroke, the sword of Denethor flew up and left his grasp and fell behind him in the shadows of the house; and Denethor stepped backward before Gandalf as one amazed. ‘What is this, my lord?’ said the wizard. “The houses of the dead are no places for the living. And why do men fight here in the Hallows when there is war enough before the Gate? Or has our Enemy come even to Rath Dinen?’ ‘Since when has the Lord of Gondor been answerable to thee?’ said Denethor. ‘Or may I not command my own servants?’ “You may,’ said Gandalf. ‘But others may contest your will, when it is turned to madness and evil. Where is your son, Faramir?’ ‘He lies within,’ said Denethor, ‘burning, already burning. They have set a fire in his flesh. But soon all shall be burned. The West has failed. It shall all go up in a great fire, and all shall be ended. Ash! Ash and smoke blown away on the wind!’ Then Gandalf seeing the madness that was on him feared that he had already done some evil deed, and he thrust forward, with Beregond and Pippin behind him, while Denethor gave back until he stood beside the table within. But there they found Faramir, still dreaming in his fever, lying upon the table. Wood was piled under it, and high all about it, and all was drenched with oil, even the garments of Faramir and the coverlets; but as yet no fire had been set to the fuel. Then Gandalf revealed the strength that lay hid in him, even as the light of his power was hidden under his grey mantle. He leaped up on to the faggots, and raising the sick man lightly he sprang down again, and bore him towards the door. But as he did so Faramir moaned and called on his father in his dream. Denethor started as one waking from a trance, and the flame died in his eyes, and he wept; and he said: ‘Do not take my son from me! He calls for me.’ ‘He calls,’ said Gandalf, ‘but you cannot come to him yet. For he must seek healing on the threshold of death, and maybe find it not. Whereas your part is to go out to the battle of your City, where maybe death awaits you. This you know in your heart.’ ‘He will not wake again,’ said Denethor. ‘Battle is vain. Why
852《魔戒》亡者之屋，傳來迪耐瑟的哭喊聲：「快，快！照我吩咐的做！給我殺了這個叛徒！還是非得我親自動手？」隨後，貝瑞貢用左手抵住的門被猛地拉開，城市之主就站在他身後，身形高大而兇惡；他眼中閃爍著火焰般的光芒，手裡握著一把出鞘的劍。但甘道夫躍上台階，眾人紛紛從他面前退開，用手遮住眼睛；因為他的到來，就像一道白光射入黑暗之地，他帶著滿腔怒火而來。他舉起手，就在那一擊的瞬間，迪耐瑟的劍飛了起來，脫手而出，落在他身後屋內的陰影裡；迪耐瑟在甘道夫面前驚愕地後退一步。「這是怎麼回事，我的大人？」巫師說。「亡者之屋不是生者該待的地方。城門前戰事已然吃緊，為何還有人在聖陵裡爭鬥？難道我們的敵人已經攻到拉斯迪南了？」「剛鐸之主何時需要向你負責了？」迪耐瑟說。「難道我不能命令我自己的僕人嗎？」「你可以，」甘道夫說。「但當你的意志變得瘋狂邪惡時，別人可以反抗。你的兒子法拉墨在哪裡？」「他在裡面，」迪耐瑟說，「在燃燒，已經在燃燒了。他們在他血肉中點了火。但很快一切都將被燒盡。西方失敗了。一切都將在一場大火中化為烏有，一切都將終結。灰燼！灰燼和被風吹散的濃煙！」甘道夫見他瘋狂的模樣，擔心他已犯下什麼惡行，便向前衝去，貝瑞貢和皮聘跟在身後，而迪耐瑟則一直後退，直到站在裡面的桌子旁。但他們在那裡找到了法拉墨，他仍在發燒中昏睡，躺在桌子上。桌子底下和四周高高地堆滿了木柴，所有東西都浸透了油，連法拉墨的衣服和被褥也是；但燃料尚未被點燃。於是甘道夫展現出他隱藏的力量，正如他力量的光芒被藏在他的灰袍之下。他躍上柴堆，輕輕抱起病人，又跳了下來，將他抱向門口。但就在此時，法拉墨呻吟了一聲，在夢中呼喚著他的父親。迪耐瑟像從恍惚中驚醒一般，眼中的火焰熄滅了，他哭了起來；他說：「不要把我的兒子從我身邊帶走！他在叫我。」「他是在叫你，」甘道夫說，「但你還不能到他身邊去。因為他必須在死亡的門檻上尋求治癒，而且未必能找到。而你的職責，是去參與你城邦的戰鬥，那裡或許有死亡在等著你。這點你心裡明白。」「他不會再醒來了，」迪耐瑟說。「戰鬥是徒勞的。為什麼
THE PYRE OF DENETHOR 853 should we wish to live longer? Why should we not go to death side by side?’ ‘Authority is not given to you, Steward of Gondor, to order the hour of your death,’ answered Gandalf. ‘And only the heathen kings, under the domination of the Dark Power, did thus, slaying themselves in pride and despair, murdering their kin to ease their own death.’ Then passing through the door he took Faramir from the deadly house and laid him on the bier on which he had been brought, and which had now been set in the porch. Denethor followed him, and stood trembling, looking with longing on the face of his son. And for a moment, while all were silent and still, watching the Lord in his throes, he wavered. ‘Come!’ said Gandalf. ‘We are needed. There is much that you can yet do.’ Then suddenly Denethor laughed. He stood up tall and proud again, and stepping swiftly back to the table he lifted from it the pillow on which his head had lain. Then coming to the doorway he drew aside the covering, and lo! he had between his hands a palantir. And as he held it up, it seemed to those that looked on that the globe began to glow with an inner flame, so that the lean face of the Lord was lit as with a red fire, and it seemed cut out of hard stone, sharp with black shadows, noble, proud, and terrible. His eyes glittered. ‘Pride and despair!’ he cried. ‘Didst thou think that the eyes of the White Tower were blind? Nay, I have seen more than thou knowest, Grey Fool. For thy hope is but ignorance. Go then and labour in healing! Go forth and fight! Vanity. For a little space you may triumph on the field, for a day. But against the Power that now arises there is no victory. To this City only the first finger of its hand has yet been stretched. All the East is moving. And even now the wind of thy hope cheats thee and wafts up Anduin a fleet with black sails. The West has failed. It is time for all to depart who would not be slaves.’ ‘Such counsels will make the Enemy’s victory certain indeed,’ said Gandalf. ‘Hope on then!’ laughed Denethor. ‘Do I not know thee, Mithrandir? Thy hope is to rule in my stead, to stand behind every throne, north, south, or west. I have read thy mind and its policies. Do I not know that this halfling was commanded by thee to keep silence? That he was brought hither to be a spy within my very chamber? And yet in our speech together I have learned the names and purpose of all thy companions. So! With the left hand thou wouldst use me for a little while as a shield against Mordor, and with the right bring up this Ranger of the North to supplant me. ‘But I say to thee, Gandalf Mithrandir, I will not be thy tool! I
我們為何還想活得更久？我們為何不並肩走向死亡？」「剛鐸的宰相，你沒有權力決定自己死亡的時刻，」甘道夫回答。「只有那些在黑暗魔君統治下的異教國王才會這麼做，在驕傲與絕望中自殺，殺害自己的親族以求速死。」接著，他穿過門，將法拉墨從那致命的屋子裡帶走，把他放在他被抬來時用的擔架上，那擔架現在被安置在門廊裡。迪耐瑟跟著他，顫抖地站著，渴望地望著兒子的臉。有那麼一刻，當眾人寂靜無聲，看著這位統治者痛苦掙扎時，他動搖了。「來吧！」甘道夫說。「大家需要我們。你還有很多事可以做。」然後迪耐瑟突然大笑起來。他再度站得又高又傲，迅速走回桌邊，拿起他先前枕著的枕頭。然後他走到門口，掀開蓋布，看啊！他雙手之間竟捧著一顆真知晶球。當他將它舉起時，在旁觀者看來，那球體似乎開始從內部發出光芒，領主的清瘦臉龐被照得像紅色的火焰，彷彿是用堅石雕刻而成，輪廓銳利，陰影漆黑，高貴、驕傲而又可怕。他的雙眼閃閃發光。「驕傲與絕望！」他喊道。「你以為白塔的眼睛是瞎的嗎？不，我看到的比你知道的還多，灰袍傻瓜。因為你的希望不過是無知。去吧，去費力療傷！去吧，去戰鬥！都是虛空。你或許能在戰場上獲得短暫的勝利，僅僅一天。但面對那正在崛起的力量，絕無勝算。那力量之手的第一根指頭才剛伸向這座城市。整個東方都在蠢蠢欲動。而即便是現在，你那希望之風也欺騙了你，沿著安都因河吹來了一支掛著黑帆的艦隊。西方已經失敗了。所有不願為奴的人，是時候離開了。」「這樣的忠告確實只會讓敵人的勝利更加確定，」甘道夫說。「那就繼續抱持希望吧！」迪耐瑟笑道。「我還不了解你嗎，米斯蘭達？你的希望就是取代我來統治，在北方、南方或西方的每個王座背後當影武者。我已看穿你的心思和計謀。我難道不知道是你命令這個半身人保持沉默嗎？他被帶來這裡，不就是為了在我密室裡當個間諜嗎？然而，在我們交談之中，我已經得知你所有同伴的名字和目的。原來如此！你想用左手暫時利用我作為對抗魔多的盾牌，再用右手扶植那位北方遊俠來取代我。「但是我告訴你，甘道夫・米斯蘭達，我不會當你的工具！我...
854 THE LORD OF THE RINGS am Steward of the House of Anarion. I will not step down to be the dotard chamberlain of an upstart. Even were his claim proved to me, still he comes but of the line of Isildur. I will not bow to such a one, last of a ragged house long bereft of lordship and dignity.’ ‘What then would you have,’ said Gandalf, ‘if your will could have its way?’ ‘I would have things as they were in all the days of my life,’ answered Denethor, ‘and in the days of my longfathers before me: to be the Lord of this City in peace, and leave my chair to a son after me, who would be his own master and no wizard’s pupil. But if doom denies this to me, then I will have naught: neither life diminished, nor love halved, nor honour abated.’ “To me it would not seem that a Steward who faithfully surrenders his charge is diminished in love or in honour,’ said Gandalf. ‘And at the least you shall not rob your son of his choice while his death is still in doubt.’ At those words Denethor’s eyes flamed again, and taking the Stone under his arm he drew a knife and strode towards the bier. But Beregond sprang forward and set himself before Faramir. ‘So!’ cried Denethor. “Thou hadst already stolen half my son’s love. Now thou stealest the hearts of my knights also, so that they rob me wholly of my son at the last. But in this at least thou shalt not defy my will: to rule my own end.’ ‘Come hither!’ he cried to his servants. ‘Come, if you are not all recreant!’ Then two of them ran up the steps to him. Swiftly he snatched a torch from the hand of one and sprang back into the house. Before Gandalf could hinder him he thrust the brand amid the fuel, and at once it crackled and roared into flame. Then Denethor leaped upon the table, and standing there wreathed in fire and smoke he took up the staff of his stewardship that lay at his feet and broke it on his knee. Casting the pieces into the blaze he bowed and laid himself on the table, clasping the palantir with both hands upon his breast. And it was said that ever after, if any man looked in that Stone, unless he had a great strength of will to turn it to other purpose, he saw only two aged hands withering in flame. Gandalf in grief and horror turned his face away and closed the door. For a while he stood in thought, silent upon the threshold, while those outside heard the greedy roaring of the fire within. And then Denethor gave a great cry, and afterwards spoke no more, nor was ever again seen by mortal men. ‘So passes Denethor, son of Ecthelion,’ said Gandalf. Then he turned to Beregond and the Lord’s servants that stood there aghast.
我是安那瑞安家族的宰相。我絕不退位，去當一個暴發戶手下老糊塗的侍從。即便他的繼承權向我證明了，他終究也只是埃西鐸的血脈。我不會向這樣一個人鞠躬，一個早已失去統治權與尊嚴的破敗家族的最後一人。」「那麼你想要什麼，」甘道夫說，「如果你能得償所願？」「我想要事情恢復到我此生所有歲月中的樣貌，」迪耐瑟答道，「以及我歷代先祖在世時的樣貌：在和平中做這座城的主人，然後將我的座椅留給我的兒子，他將是他自己的主人，而不是什麼巫師的學生。但如果命運不允許我如此，那我將一無所求：不要殘缺的生命，不要減半的愛，也不要受損的榮譽。」「對我而言，一位忠實交出職責的宰相，其愛與榮譽並不會因此而減少，」甘道夫說。「而且，至少在他生死未卜之時，你不應剝奪你兒子的選擇權。」聽到這話，迪耐瑟眼中再次燃起怒火，他將真知晶球夾在臂下，拔出一把刀，大步走向停屍架。但貝瑞貢躍上前，擋在法拉墨面前。「好啊！」迪耐瑟喊道。「你早已偷走了我兒子一半的愛。現在你又偷走我騎士們的心，好讓他們最後將我兒子從我身邊完全奪走。但至少在這件事上，你休想違抗我的意志：由我自己主宰我的結局。」「過來！」他對僕人們喊道。「過來，如果你們不全是懦夫！」於是他們中有兩人跑上台階到他身邊。他迅速從一人手中奪過火把，躍回屋內。在甘道夫來得及阻止他之前，他已將火把插進燃料堆裡，燃料立刻劈啪作響， roaring into flame。然後迪耐瑟跳上桌子，站在那裡，被火焰與濃煙環繞，他拿起腳邊的宰相權杖，在膝蓋上將它折斷。他將斷片扔進烈火中，鞠躬後躺在桌上，雙手將真知晶球緊抱在胸前。據說從此以後，任何人若看向那顆晶球，除非他有極強的意志力將其轉作他用，否則只會看到一雙在火焰中枯萎的蒼老雙手。甘道夫在悲痛與恐懼中轉過臉去，關上了門。他站在門檻上沉思了一會兒，寂靜無聲，而外面的人則聽著屋內火焰貪婪的咆哮聲。接著迪耐瑟發出一聲淒厲的長嘯，此後便再無聲息，也再未被凡人見過。「迪耐瑟，愛克西理安之子，就這樣離世了。」甘道夫說。然後他轉向貝瑞貢和那些站在那裡驚駭不已的宰相僕人。
THE PYRE OF DENETHOR 855 ‘And so pass also the days of Gondor that you have known; for good or evil they are ended. Ill deeds have been done here; but let now all enmity that lies between you be put away, for it was contrived by the Enemy and works his will. You have been caught in a net of warring duties that you did not weave. But think, you servants of the Lord, blind in your obedience, that but for the treason of Beregond Faramir, Captain of the White Tower, would now also be burned. ‘Bear away from this unhappy place your comrades who have fallen. And we will bear Faramir, Steward of Gondor, to a place where he can sleep in peace, or die if that be his doom.’ Then Gandalf and Beregond taking up the bier bore it away towards the Houses of Healing, while behind them walked Pippin with downcast head. But the servants of the Lord stood gazing as stricken men at the house of the dead; and even as Gandalf came to the end of Rath Dinen there was a great noise. Looking back they saw the dome of the house crack and smokes issue forth; and then with a rush and rumble of stone it fell in a flurry of fire; but still unabated the flames danced and flickered among the ruins. Then in terror the servants fled and followed Gandalf. At length they came back to the Steward’s Door, and Beregond looked with grief at the porter. “This deed I shall ever rue,’ he said; ‘but a madness of haste was on me, and he would not listen, but drew sword against me.’ Then taking the key that he had wrested from the slain man he closed the door and locked it. “This should now be given to the Lord Faramir,’ he said. “The Prince of Dol Amroth is in command in the absence of the Lord,’ said Gandalf; ‘but since he is not here, I must take this on myself. I bid you keep the key and guard it, until the City is set in order again.’ Now at last they passed into the high circles of the City, and in the light of morning they went their way towards the Houses of Healing; and these were fair houses set apart for the care of those who were grievously sick, but now they were prepared for the tending of men hurt in battle or dying. They stood not far from the Citadelgate, in the sixth circle, nigh to its southward wall, and about them was a garden and a greensward with trees, the only such place in the City. There dwelt the few women that had been permitted to remain in Minas Tirith, since they were skilled in healing or in the service of the healers. But even as Gandalf and his companions came carrying the bier to the main door of the Houses, they heard a great cry that went up from the field before the Gate and rising shrill and piercing into the sky passed, and died away on the wind. So terrible was the cry that
「你所知的剛鐸歲月也將如此逝去；無論好壞，都已終結。此處確有惡行發生；但現在，讓你們之間的一切敵意都煙消雲散吧，因為那全是敵人的詭計，為遂其心願。你們陷入了一張並非由自己編織的、充滿矛盾職責的網中。但是，想想看，你們這些盲目服從的主人之僕，若非貝瑞貢的『叛國』，白塔大將法拉墨此刻也將被燒成灰燼了。「從這不幸之地帶走你們倒下的同袍吧。我們則會將剛鐸宰相法拉墨帶到一個他能安然沉睡之處，又或者，如果那是他的天命，就讓他死去。」接著，甘道夫和貝瑞貢抬起擔架，朝醫護院走去，皮聘垂著頭跟在他們身後。但那些主人的僕從們站在原地，像受了重創的人一樣凝視著那亡者之屋；就在甘道夫走到拉斯迪南盡頭時，一聲巨響傳來。他們回頭一看，只見那屋子的穹頂裂開，冒出濃煙；然後，伴隨著一陣轟隆石響，它在火光迸發中坍塌了；但火焰依舊在廢墟中未減分毫地舞動閃爍。僕從們驚恐萬分，逃離現場，跟上了甘道夫。他們終於回到宰相之門，貝瑞貢悲傷地看著那個門房。「這件事我將永遠懊悔，」他說，「但我當時急瘋了，而他不肯聽勸，還拔劍攻擊我。」然後，他拿起從那被殺之人身上奪來的鑰匙，關上門並鎖上。「這把鑰匙現在應該交給法拉墨大人。」他說。「在大人不在時，由多爾阿姆羅斯親王指揮，」甘道夫說，「但既然他不在這裡，我必須自己承擔。我命你保管好鑰匙，直到城中秩序恢復。」如今，他們總算進入了城裡的高層區域，在晨光中朝醫護院走去；那是一些漂亮的房子，原是為照顧重病者而設，但現在已準備好用來照料戰傷或垂死之人。它們位於第六層，離南牆不遠，靠近堡門，周圍有花園和長著樹的草地，是城裡唯一這樣的地方。少數被允許留在米那斯提力斯的婦女就住在那裡，因為她們擅長治療或服侍醫者。但就在甘道夫和同伴們抬著擔架來到醫護院正門時，他們聽到一聲從城門前戰場上傳來的巨大哭喊，那聲音尖銳刺耳，劃破天際，最終消逝在風中。那哭喊聲是如此駭人。
856 THE LORD OF THE RINGS for a moment all stood still, and yet when it had passed, suddenly their hearts were lifted up in such a hope as they had not known since the darkness came out of the East; and it seemed to them that the light grew clear and the sun broke through the clouds. But Gandalf’s face was grave and sad, and bidding Beregond and Pippin to take Faramir into the Houses of Healing, he went up on to the walls nearby; and there like a figure carven in white he stood in the new sun and looked out. And he beheld with the sight that was given to him all that had befallen; and when Eomer rode out from the forefront of his battle and stood beside those who lay upon the field, he sighed, and he cast his cloak about him again, and went from the walls. And Beregond and Pippin found him standing in thought before the door of the Houses when they came out. They looked at him, and for a while he was silent. At last he spoke. ‘My friends,’ he said, ‘and all you people of this city and of the Western lands! Things of great sorrow and renown have come to pass. Shall we weep or be glad? Beyond hope the Captain of our foes has been destroyed, and you have heard the echo of his last despair. But he has not gone without woe and bitter loss. And that I might have averted but for the madness of Denethor. So long has the reach of our Enemy become! Alas! but now I perceive how his will was able to enter into the very heart of the City. “Though the Stewards deemed that it was a secret kept only by themselves, long ago I guessed that here in the White Tower, one at least of the Seven Seeing Stones was preserved. In the days of his wisdom Denethor would not presume to use it to challenge Sauron, knowing the limits of his own strength. But his wisdom failed; and I fear that as the peril of his realm grew he looked in the Stone and was deceived: far too often, I guess, since Boromir departed. He was too great to be subdued to the will of the Dark Power, he saw nonetheless only those things which that Power permitted him to see. The knowledge which he obtained was, doubtless, often of service to him; yet the vision of the great might of Mordor that was shown to him fed the despair of his heart until it overthrew his mind.’ ‘Now I understand what seemed so strange to me!’ said Pippin, shuddering at his memories as he spoke. “The Lord went away from the room where Faramir lay; and it was only when he returned that I first thought he was changed, old and broken.’ ‘It was in the very hour that Faramir was brought to the Tower that many of us saw a strange light in the topmost chamber,’ said Beregond. ‘But we have seen that light before, and it has long been rumoured in the City that the Lord would at times wrestle in thought with his Enemy.’
有那麼一刻，所有人都靜止不動，然而當那一刻過去，他們的心中突然升起一股希望，是自東方黑暗降臨以來從未有過的希望；他們彷彿覺得光線變得清澈，太陽也衝破了雲層。但甘道夫的臉色凝重而悲傷，他吩咐貝瑞貢和皮聘將法拉墨帶到療養院後，便走上附近的高牆；在那裡，他沐浴在初升的陽光下，向外眺望，宛如一尊白色雕像。他以他被賦予的視覺，看見了所有已發生的事；當伊歐墨從戰線最前沿騎馬而出，站在戰場上倒下的同袍身旁時，甘道夫嘆了口氣，再次將斗篷裹緊，走下城牆。當貝瑞貢和皮聘出來時，發現他正站在療養院門前沉思。他們看著他，而他沉默了一會兒。最後他開口了。「我的朋友們，」他說，「以及這座城市和所有西方土地的人民！既悲傷又將名留青史的大事已經發生了。我們該哭泣還是該高興？出乎意料地，我們敵人的首領已被摧毀，你們也聽到了他最後絕望的回響。但他並非沒有帶來悲痛和慘重的損失。若非迪耐瑟的瘋狂，這一切我本可避免。我們敵人的魔爪竟已伸得如此之長！唉！但我現在才明白，他的意志是如何得以滲入這座城市的核心。『儘管歷代宰相認為這是一個只有他們自己才知道的秘密，我很久以前就猜到，在白塔這裡，七顆真知晶石中至少還保存著一顆。在迪耐瑟尚有智慧的日子裡，他不會冒然用它來挑戰索倫，因為他知道自己力量的極限。但他的智慧衰退了；我擔心，隨著他王國的危險加劇，他望向了晶石並被蒙蔽了：我猜，自從波羅莫離開後，他看得太頻繁了。他的意志足夠強大，不至於完全被黑暗大帝的意志所征服，然而他看到的，卻也只是那個力量允許他看到的東西。他所獲得的知識，無疑地，時常對他有所助益；但是，他所見到的魔多強大軍力的景象，卻助長了他內心的絕望，直到那絕望顛覆了他的心智。』『現在我明白那些對我來說如此奇怪的事情了！』皮聘說，一邊說一邊因回憶而顫抖。『宰相大人離開了法拉墨躺著的房間；直到他回來時，我才第一次覺得他變了，變得蒼老而頹喪。』『就在法拉墨被送到高塔的那個時刻，我們許多人都看到頂層房間裡有一道奇異的光，』貝瑞貢說。『但我們以前也見過那道光，城裡早就謠傳，宰相大人有時會與他的敵人在思想上搏鬥。』
THE PYRE OF DENETHOR 857 ‘Alas! then I have guessed rightly,’ said Gandalf. ‘Thus the will of Sauron entered into Minas Tirith; and thus I have been delayed here. And here I shall still be forced to remain, for I shall soon have other charges, not Faramir only. ‘Now I must go down to meet those who come. I have seen a sight upon the field that is very grievous to my heart, and greater sorrow may yet come to pass. Come with me, Pippin! But you, Beregond, should return to the Citadel and tell the chief of the Guard there what has befallen. It will be his duty, I fear, to withdraw you from the Guard; but say to him that, if I may give him counsel, you should be sent to the Houses of Healing, to be the guard and servant of your captain, and to be at his side when he awakes — if that shall ever be again. For by you he was saved from the fire. Go now! I shall return soon.’ With that he turned away and went with Pippin down towards the lower city. And even as they hastened on their way the wind brought a grey rain, and all the fires sank, and there arose a great smoke before them.
迪耐瑟的火葬堆 857 「唉！那我猜對了。」甘道夫說。「索倫的意志就是這樣滲入米那斯提力斯的；我也因此被耽擱在此。而且我還得被迫繼續待著，因為我很快就會有其他的責任，不只是法拉墨而已。『現在我必須下去迎接那些來者。我在戰場上看到了令我極為心痛的景象，而且更巨大的悲傷可能還會發生。皮聘，跟我來！但是你，貝瑞貢，你應該回到城塞，告訴那裡的衛戍總管發生了什麼事。恐怕，將你從衛隊中撤職會是他的職責；但告訴他，如果我能給他建言的話，你應被派往醫護院，擔任你隊長的護衛和僕人，在他醒來時陪伴在他身邊——如果他還能醒來的話。因為是你將他從火中救出的。現在去吧！我很快就回來。』說完，他轉身與皮聘一同朝下城走去。就在他們匆忙趕路時，風帶來了灰濛的雨，所有的火光都熄滅了，他們面前升起了一股濃煙。