Chapter 9 THE LAST DEBATE The morning came after the day of battle, and it was fair with light clouds and the wind turning westward. Legolas and Gimli were early abroad, and they begged leave to go up into the City; for they were eager to see Merry and Pippin. ‘It is good to learn that they are still alive,’ said Gimli; ‘for they cost us great pains in our march over Rohan, and I would not have such pains all wasted.’ Together the Elf and the Dwarf entered Minas Tirith, and folk that saw them pass marvelled to see such companions; for Legolas was fair of face beyond the measure of Men, and he sang an elven-song in a clear voice as he walked in the morning; but Gimli stalked beside him, stroking his beard and staring about him. “There is some good stone-work here,’ he said as he looked at the walls; ‘but also some that is less good, and the streets could be better contrived. When Aragorn comes into his own, I shall offer him the service of stonewrights of the Mountain, and we will make this a town to be proud of.’ “They need more gardens,’ said Legolas. “The houses are dead, and there is too little here that grows and is glad. If Aragorn comes into his own, the people of the Wood shall bring him birds that sing and trees that do not die.’ At length they came to the Prince Imrahil, and Legolas looked at him and bowed low; for he saw that here indeed was one who had elven-blood in his veins. ‘Hail, lord!’ he said. ‘It is long since the people of Nimrodel left the woodlands of Lorien, and yet still one may see that not all sailed from Amroth’s haven west over water.’ ‘So it is said in the lore of my land,’ said the Prince; ‘yet never has one of the fair folk been seen there for years beyond count. And I marvel to see one here now in the midst of sorrow and war. What do you seek?’ ‘I am one of the Nine Companions who set out with Mithrandir from Imladris,’ said Legolas; ‘and with this Dwarf, my friend, I came with the Lord Aragorn. But now we wish to see our friends, Meriadoc and Peregrin, who are in your keeping, we are told.’ “You will find them in the Houses of Healing, and I will lead you thither,’ said Imrahil. ‘It will be enough if you send one to guide us, lord,’ said Legolas.
戰役結束後的早晨來臨了，天氣晴朗，飄著幾朵輕雲，風轉向西吹。勒苟拉斯和金靂一早就出門了，他們請求准許進入城裡；因為他們急著想見梅里和皮聘。「得知他們還活著真是太好了，」金靂說；「因為我們在洛汗行軍時，為了他們可是費了九牛二虎之力，我可不希望這些辛苦都白費了。」精靈與矮人一同進入米那斯提力斯，看見他們經過的人們都對這樣一對同伴感到驚奇；因為勒苟拉斯的面容俊美，遠超凡人，他在晨光中行走時，用清澈的嗓音唱著一首精靈之歌；而金靂則大步走在他身旁，撫摸著鬍鬚，四處張望。「這裡有些石工還不錯，」他看著城牆說；「但也有一些不怎麼樣的，而且街道的規劃可以更好。等亞拉岡繼承王位後，我會向他提議，讓山中石匠來為他效勞，我們會把這座城市打造成一座令人驕傲的城鎮。」「他們需要更多花園，」勒苟拉斯說。「這些房子死氣沉沉的，這裡生長而快樂的東西太少了。如果亞拉岡繼承王位，森林的子民會為他帶來歌唱的鳥兒和永不凋零的樹木。」最後他們見到了印拉希爾王子，勒苟拉斯看著他深深鞠躬；因為他看出這位王子的血管裡確實流著精靈的血液。「向您致敬，大人！」他說。「自從寧若戴爾的子民離開羅瑞安的林地以來，已經過了很久了，但仍然可以看出，並非所有人都從安羅斯的港口向西航向大海。」「我國的傳說也是這麼說的，」王子說；「然而，無數年來，從未見過一位美麗的精靈族人在此現身。我很驚訝現在竟能在悲傷與戰火中見到一位。您在尋找什麼？」「我是與米斯蘭達一同從伊姆拉崔出發的九人遠征隊成員之一，」勒苟拉斯說；「我和我的朋友，這位矮人，是跟隨亞拉岡大人來的。但現在我們希望見到我們的朋友，梅里雅達和皮瑞格林，我們聽說他們在您的照看之下。」「你們會在醫護所找到他們，我會帶你們過去，」印拉希爾說。「大人，您只要派個人為我們引路就夠了，」勒苟拉斯說。
THE LAST DEBATE 873 ‘For Aragorn sends this message to you. He does not wish to enter the City again at this time. Yet there is need for the captains to hold council at once, and he prays that you and Eomer of Rohan will come down to his tents, as soon as may be. Mithrandir is already there.’ ‘We will come,’ said Imrahil; and they parted with courteous words. “That is a fair lord and a great captain of men,’ said Legolas. ‘If Gondor has such men still in these days of fading, great must have been its glory in the days of its rising.’ ‘And doubtless the good stone-work is the older and was wrought in the first building,’ said Gimli. ‘It is ever so with the things that Men begin: there is a frost in Spring, or a blight in Summer, and they fail of their promise.’ “Yet seldom do they fail of their seed,’ said Legolas. ‘And that will lie in the dust and rot to spring up again in times and places unlooked-for. The deeds of Men will outlast us, Gimli.’ ‘And yet come to naught in the end but might-have-beens, I guess,’ said the Dwarf. “To that the Elves know not the answer,’ said Legolas. With that the servant of the Prince came and led them to the Houses of Healing; and there they found their friends in the garden, and their meeting was a merry one. For a while they walked and talked, rejoicing for a brief space in peace and rest under the morning high up in the windy circles of the City. Then when Merry became weary, they went and sat upon the wall with the greensward of the Houses of Healing behind them; and away southward before them was the Anduin glittering in the sun, as it flowed away, out of the sight even of Legolas, into the wide flats and green haze of Lebennin and South Ithilien. And now Legolas fell silent, while the others talked, and he looked out against the sun, and as he gazed he saw white sea-birds beating up the River. ‘Look!’ he cried. ‘Gulls! They are flying far inland. A wonder they are to me and a trouble to my heart. Never in all my life had I met them, until we came to Pelargir, and there I heard them crying in the air as we rode to the battle of the ships. Then I stood still, forgetting war in Middle-earth; for their wailing voices spoke to me of the Sea. The Sea! Alas! I have not yet beheld it. But deep in the hearts of all my kindred lies the sea-longing, which it is perilous to stir. Alas! for the gulls. No peace shall I have again under beech or under elm.’ ‘Say not so!’ said Gimli. “There are countless things still to see in
「因為亞拉岡有話要傳給您。他目前不願再進城。但諸位將領亟需立即召開會議，他懇請您與羅翰的伊歐墨盡快前往他的營帳。米斯蘭達已經在那裡了。」「我們會去的，」印拉希爾說；他們客氣地道別。「那真是一位正直的貴族，也是一位偉大的人類將領，」勒苟拉斯說。「如果剛鐸在這衰落的時代仍有這樣的人物，那麼它崛起之時的榮光想必曾是何等偉大。」「而且毫無疑問，那些精美的石造工藝都是更古老、在最初建造時就打造好的，」金靂說。「人類開創的事物總是如此：春天來場霜害，或夏天遭場枯萎病，最終都無法兌現它們的承諾。」「但他們的種子卻很少斷絕，」勒苟拉斯說。「那種子會躺在塵土中腐爛，然後在意想不到的時間與地點重新發芽。人類的功業將比我們更長久，金靂。」「然而我猜，到頭來只會化為烏有，變成一堆『要是當初』的遺憾罷了，」矮人說。「關於這點，精靈也不知道答案，」勒苟拉斯說。說到這裡，王子的僕人前來，領他們到療養院去；他們在花園裡找到了朋友們，這次會面充滿了歡樂。他們走著聊了一會兒，在高聳多風的城環上，享受著短暫的和平與歇息。後來梅里累了，他們便去坐在牆上，身後是療養院的草坪；眼前向南是陽光下閃閃發光的安都因河，它一路流去，即使是勒苟拉斯的銳利目光也無法望盡，最終消失在萊貝寧與南伊西力安那廣闊的平原與綠色薄霧之中。這時，當其他人還在交談時，勒苟拉斯卻沉默了，他迎著陽光向外望去，凝視之間，他看見白色的海鳥正逆著河流奮力飛翔。「看！」他喊道。「是海鷗！牠們飛得這麼深入內陸。對我來說真是奇觀，卻也擾亂了我的心。我一生中從未見過牠們，直到我們抵達佩拉格，在那裡，當我們騎馬奔赴船隻之戰時，我聽見牠們在空中啼叫。當時我靜立不動，忘了中土大陸的戰爭；因為牠們哀傷的叫聲向我訴說著大海。大海！唉！我還未曾親眼見過它。但在我所有族人的內心深處，都埋藏著對海的渴望，一旦被觸動便十分危險。唉！為了這些海鷗。我在山毛櫸或榆樹下再也得不到平靜了。」「別這麼說！」金靂道。「還有數不清的事物可看呢…
874 THE LORD OF THE RINGS Middle-earth, and great works to do. But if all the fair folk take to the Havens, it will be a duller world for those who are doomed to stay.’ ‘Dull and dreary indeed!’ said Merry. ‘You must not go to the Havens, Legolas. There will always be some folk, big or little, and even a few wise dwarves like Gimli, who need you. At least I hope so. Though I feel somehow that the worst of this war is still to come. How I wish it was all over, and well over!’ ‘Don’t be so gloomy!’ cried Pippin. “The Sun is shining, and here we are together for a day or two at least. I want to hear more about you all. Come, Gimli! You and Legolas have mentioned your strange journey with Strider about a dozen times already this morning. But you haven’t told me anything about it.’ “The Sun may shine here,’ said Gimli, ‘but there are memories of that road that I do not wish to recall out of the darkness. Had I known what was before me, I think that not for any friendship would I have taken the Paths of the Dead.’ “The Paths of the Dead?’ said Pippin. ‘I heard Aragorn say that, and I wondered what he could mean. Won’t you tell us some more?’ ‘Not willingly,’ said Gimli. ‘For upon that road I was put to shame: Gimli Gldin’s son, who had deemed himself more tough than Men, and hardier under earth than any Elf. But neither did I prove; and I was held to the road only by the will of Aragorn.’ ‘And by the love of him also,’ said Legolas. ‘For all those who come to know him come to love him after their own fashion, even the cold maiden of the Rohirrim. It was at early morn of the day ere you came there, Merry, that we left Dunharrow, and such a fear was on all the folk that none would look on our going, save the Lady Eowyn, who lies now hurt in the House below. There was grief at that parting, and I was grieved to behold it.’ ‘Alas! I had heart only for myself,’ said Gimli. ‘Nay! I will not speak of that journey.’ He fell silent; but Pippin and Merry were so eager for news that at last Legolas said: ‘I will tell you enough for your peace; for I felt not the horror, and I feared not the shadows of Men, powerless and frail as I deemed them.’ Swiftly then he told of the haunted road under the mountains, and the dark tryst at Erech, and the great ride thence, ninety leagues and three, to Pelargir on Anduin. ‘Four days and nights, and on into a fifth, we rode from the Black Stone,’ he said. ‘And lo! in the darkness of Mordor my hope rose; for in that gloom the Shadow Host seemed to grow stronger and more terrible to look upon. Some I saw riding, some striding, yet all moving with the same great speed. Silent they were, but there was a gleam in their eyes. In the uplands of Lamedon
「中土世界還有874件偉大的事要完成。但如果所有美麗的子民都去了避風港，那對於那些注定要留下的人來說，這個世界將會變得更加乏味。」 「確實是乏味又沉悶！」梅里說。「你可不能去避風港，勒苟拉斯。總會有一些人，不論高大或矮小，甚至像金靂這樣有智慧的矮人，需要你。至少我希望如此。雖然我總覺得這場戰爭最糟的時刻還沒到來。我多希望這一切都結束了，而且是圓滿地結束！」 「別這麼悲觀！」皮聘喊道。「太陽正照耀著，而且我們至少能在一起一兩天。我想多聽聽你們所有人的事。來吧，金靂！今天早上你和勒苟拉斯已經提了十幾次你們和神行客那趟奇特的旅程了。但你們什麼都沒告訴我。」 「太陽或許在這裡照耀，」金靂說，「但那條路上有些記憶，我不願讓它們從黑暗中被喚起。要是我早知道前面有什麼，我想，無論為了何種友誼，我都不會走上那亡者之道。」 「亡者之道？」皮聘說。「我聽亞拉岡這麼說過，當時還想他指的是什麼意思。你不能多告訴我們一些嗎？」 「我不想說，」金靂說。「因為在那條路上，我蒙受了羞辱：葛羅音之子金靂，曾自認比人類更堅強，在地下比任何精靈都更吃苦耐勞。但我兩者都沒能證明；我之所以能堅持走下去，全憑亞拉岡的意志。」 「還有對他的愛，」勒苟拉斯說。「因為所有認識他的人，都會以自己的方式愛上他，即使是洛汗國那位冷若冰霜的少女也是。梅里，就在你來的前一天清晨，我們離開了登哈洛，所有人都充滿恐懼，沒有人敢看我們離去，除了伊歐玟女士，她現在正受傷躺在下面的療養院裡。那次離別充滿了悲傷，而我看到那景象也感到悲痛。」 「唉！我當時心裡只想到自己，」金靂說。「不！我不想再提那趟旅程了。」 他沉默了下來；但皮聘和梅里是如此渴望聽到消息，最後勒苟拉斯開口說：「我會告訴你們足夠的內容，好讓你們安心；因為我沒有感受到那種恐懼，也不害怕那些人類的鬼魂，我認為他們既無力又脆弱。」 接著，他迅速地講述了山脈底下那條鬧鬼的道路、在伊瑞赫的黑暗會合，以及從那裡到佩拉格，在安都因河畔，長達九十三里格的偉大騎行。「我們從黑石出發，騎了四天四夜，一直到第五天，」他說。「看啊！在魔多的黑暗中，我的希望反而升起了；因為在那片陰暗裡，幽影軍團似乎變得更強大，看起來也更可怕。我看到一些在騎馬，一些在大步走，但所有人都以同樣的極快速度前進。他們沉默無聲，但眼中閃爍著光芒。在拉美頓的高地上
THE LAST DEBATE 875 they overtook our horses, and swept round us, and would have passed us by, if Aragorn had not forbidden them. ‘At his command they fell back. ‘““Even the shades of Men are obedient to his will,”’ I thought. ‘““They may serve his needs yet!”’ ‘One day of light we rode, and then came the day without dawn, and still we rode on, and Ciril and Ringlo we crossed; and on the third day we came to Linhir above the mouth of Gilrain. And there men of Lamedon contested the fords with fell folk of Umbar and Harad who had sailed up the river. But defenders and foes alike gave up the battle and fled when we came, crying out that the King of the Dead was upon them. Only Angbor, Lord of Lamedon, had the heart to abide us; and Aragorn bade him gather his folk and come behind, if they dared, when the Grey Host had passed. “At Pelargir the Heir of Isildur will have need of you,”’ he said. “Thus we crossed over Gilrain, driving the allies of Mordor in rout before us; and then we rested a while. But soon Aragorn arose, saying: “Lo! already Minas Tirith is assailed. I fear that it will fall ere we come to its aid.”? So we mounted again before night had passed and went on with all the speed that our horses could endure over the plains of Lebennin.’ Legolas paused and sighed, and turning his eyes southward softly he sang: Silver flow the streams from Celos to Erui In the green fields of Lebennin! Tall grows the grass there. In the wind from the Sea The white lies sway, And the golden bells are shaken of mallos and alfirin In the green fields of Lebennin, In the wind from the Sea! ‘Green are those fields in the songs of my people; but they were dark then, grey wastes in the blackness before us. And over the wide land, trampling unheeded the grass and the flowers, we hunted our foes through a day and a night, until we came at the bitter end to the Great River at last. ‘Then I thought in my heart that we drew near to the Sea; for wide was the water in the darkness, and sea-birds innumerable cried on its shores. Alas for the wailing of the gulls! Did not the Lady tell me to beware of them? And now I cannot forget them.’ ‘For my part I heeded them not,’ said Gimli; ‘for we came then at last upon battle in earnest. There at Pelargir lay the main fleet of Umbar, fifty great ships and smaller vessels beyond count. Many of those that we pursued had reached the havens before us, and brought
他們追上了我們的馬，從我們周圍席捲而過，若不是亞拉岡阻止，他們本已超越我們。在他的命令下，他們退後了。「『連人類的鬼魂都服從他的意志，』我心想。『他們或許還能為他所用！』」「我們騎行了一個白晝，接著是無黎明之日，我們依然不停地騎著，渡過了奇瑞爾河與林格羅河；第三天，我們抵達了吉爾瑞恩河口上游的林希爾。在那裡，拉梅頓的人們正與從河上航行而來的昂巴和哈拉德的兇惡之徒爭奪渡口。但當我們到來時，無論是守軍還是敵人都放棄了戰鬥，四散奔逃，尖叫著說亡者之王已降臨在他們身上。只有拉梅頓的領主安博爾有膽量留下面對我們；亞拉岡吩咐他召集他的人民，如果他們敢的話，在灰色部隊通過後跟在後面。『在佩拉格，埃西鐸的繼承人將需要你們，』他說。『就這樣，我們渡過了吉爾瑞恩河，將魔多的盟軍在我們面前擊潰；然後我們休息了一會兒。但很快亞拉岡就起身說：「看啊！米那斯提力斯已經受到攻擊了。我擔心在我們趕到援助之前它就會陷落。」於是我們在夜色未盡時再次上馬，以我們的馬匹所能承受的最快速度，馳騁在萊貝寧的平原上。』勒苟拉斯停頓了一下，嘆了口氣，將目光轉向南方，輕柔地唱道：銀光閃閃的溪流，從凱洛斯流向埃茹伊，在萊貝寧的翠綠田野間！那裡的青草長得高。在來自大海的風中，白色的百合搖曳，馬洛斯與阿爾菲林的金色鈴鐺在萊貝寧的翠綠田野間，在來自大海的風中，被吹得叮噹作響！『在我族人的歌謠中，那些田野是翠綠的；但當時它們卻是黑暗的，是我們眼前一片漆黑中的灰色荒原。在這片廣闊的土地上，我們無視被踐踏的青草與花朵，追獵我們的敵人，歷經一晝一夜，直到最後終於在苦澀的盡頭抵達了大河。』『那時我心裡想，我們離大海不遠了；因為黑暗中的水面如此寬闊，岸邊有無數海鳥在啼叫。唉，那海鷗的哀鳴！夫人不是曾告訴我要提防它們嗎？而現在我無法忘懷。』『至於我，我可沒理會牠們，』金靂說；『因為我們終於迎來了一場真正的戰鬥。在佩拉格，停泊著昂巴的主力艦隊，五十艘大船和數不清的小船。我們追擊的許多敵人已經比我們先到達了港口，並且帶來了…
876 THE LORD OF THE RINGS their fear with them; and some of the ships had put off, seeking to escape down the River or to reach the far shore; and many of the smaller craft were ablaze. But the Haradrim, being now driven to the brink, turned at bay, and they were fierce in despair; and they laughed when they looked on us, for they were a great army still. ‘But Aragorn halted and cried with a great voice: “Now come! By the Black Stone I call you!”? And suddenly the Shadow Host that had hung back at the last came up like a grey tide, sweeping all away before it. Faint cries I heard, and dim horns blowing, and a murmur as of countless far voices: it was like the echo of some forgotten battle in the Dark Years long ago. Pale swords were drawn; but I know not whether their blades would still bite, for the Dead needed no longer any weapon but fear. None would withstand them. “To every ship they came that was drawn up, and then they passed over the water to those that were anchored; and all the mariners were filled with a madness of terror and leaped overboard, save the slaves chained to the oars. Reckless we rode among our fleeing foes, driving them like leaves, until we came to the shore. And then to each of the great ships that remained Aragorn sent one of the Dunedain, and they comforted the captives that were aboard, and bade them put aside fear and be free. ‘Ere that dark day ended none of the enemy were left to resist us; all were drowned, or were flying south in the hope to find their own lands upon foot. Strange and wonderful I thought it that the designs of Mordor should be overthrown by such wraiths of fear and darkness. With its own weapons was it worsted!’ ‘Strange indeed,’ said Legolas. ‘In that hour I looked on Aragorn and thought how great and terrible a Lord he might have become in the strength of his will, had he taken the Ring to himself. Not for naught does Mordor fear him. But nobler is his spirit than the understanding of Sauron; for is he not of the children of Luthien? Never shall that line fail, though the years may lengthen beyond count.’ ‘Beyond the eyes of the Dwarves are such foretellings,’ said Gimli. ‘But mighty indeed was Aragorn that day. Lo! all the black fleet was in his hands; and he chose the greatest ship to be his own, and he went up into it. Then he let sound a great concourse of trumpets taken from the enemy; and the Shadow Host withdrew to the shore. There they stood silent, hardly to be seen, save for a red gleam in their eyes that caught the glare of the ships that were burning. And Aragorn spoke in a loud voice to the Dead Men, crying: ‘**Hear now the words of the Heir of Isildur! Your oath is fulfilled. Go back and trouble not the valleys ever again! Depart and be at rest!”’ ‘And thereupon the King of the Dead stood out before the host
「聽我埃西鐸繼承人之言！汝等誓言已了。回去吧，莫再擾亂山谷！離去安息吧！」'「於是，亡靈之王從大軍中站了出來...
THE LAST DEBATE 877 and broke his spear and cast it down. Then he bowed low and turned away; and swiftly the whole grey host drew off and vanished like a mist that is driven back by a sudden wind; and it seemed to me that I awoke from a dream. “That night we rested while others laboured. For there were many captives set free, and many slaves released who had been folk of Gondor taken in raids; and soon also there was a great gathering of men out of Lebennin and the Ethir, and Angbor of Lamedon came up with all the horsemen that he could muster. Now that the fear of the Dead was removed they came to aid us and to look on the Heir of Isildur; for the rumour of that name had run like fire in the dark. ‘And that is near the end of our tale. For during that evening and night many ships were made ready and manned; and in the morning the fleet set forth. Long past it now seems, yet it was but the morn of the day ere yesterday, the sixth since we rode from Dunharrow. But still Aragorn was driven by fear that time was too short. ‘“Tt is forty leagues and two from Pelargir to the landings at the Harlond,”’ he said. “‘Yet to the Harlond we must come tomorrow or fail utterly.” ‘The oars were now wielded by free men, and manfully they laboured; yet slowly we passed up the Great River, for we strove against its stream, and though that is not swift down in the South, we had no help of wind. Heavy would my heart have been, for all our victory at the havens, if Legolas had not laughed suddenly. ***Up with your beard, Durin’s son!’ he said. “‘For thus is it spoken: Oft hope is born, when all is forlorn.”? But what hope he saw from afar he would not tell. When night came it did but deepen the darkness, and our hearts were hot, for away in the North we saw a red glow under the cloud, and Aragorn said: ‘‘Minas Tirith is burning.”’ ‘But at midnight hope was indeed born anew. Sea-crafty men of the Ethir gazing southward spoke of a change coming with a fresh wind from the Sea. Long ere day the masted ships hoisted sail, and our speed grew, until dawn whitened the foam at our prows. And so it was, as you know, that we came in the third hour of the morning with a fair wind and the Sun unveiled, and we unfurled the great standard in battle. It was a great day and a great hour, whatever may come after.’ ‘Follow what may, great deeds are not lessened in worth,’ said Legolas. ‘Great deed was the riding of the Paths of the Dead, and great it shall remain, though none be left in Gondor to sing of it in the days that are to come.’ ‘And that may well befall,’ said Gimli. ‘For the faces of Aragorn and Gandalf are grave. Much I wonder what counsels they are taking
……折斷了他的長矛並將其扔下。然後他深深鞠躬轉身離去；那整支灰色的軍隊迅速撤退，像一陣被突來狂風吹散的薄霧般消失了；我彷彿從一場夢中醒來。 「那一夜，當其他人忙碌時，我們休息了。因為有許多俘虜被釋放，許多奴隸被解放，他們都是在突襲中被擄走的剛鐸子民；很快地，來自萊賓寧和埃西爾的大批人馬也聚集起來，拉梅頓的安博也帶著他所能召集的所有騎兵趕來。如今，對亡靈的恐懼已經消除，他們前來援助我們，並瞻仰埃西鐸的繼承人；因為那個名號的傳聞已如野火燎原般在黑暗中傳開。 『而這就是我們故事的尾聲了。因為在那天傍晚和夜裡，許多船隻都已備妥並配置了人手；隔天早晨，艦隊便出發了。如今看來彷彿是很久以前的事，但那不過是前天早晨，也就是我們從登哈洛騎馬出發後的第六天。但亞拉岡仍然擔心時間不夠，焦急不已。「從佩拉格到哈龍德的碼頭有四十二里格，」他說。「然而我們明天必須抵達哈龍德，否則就徹底失敗了。」 『現在划槳的都是自由人，他們賣力地工作；然而我們沿著大河逆流而上，速度緩慢，雖然南方的水流並不湍急，但我們沒有風的幫助。儘管我們在港口取得了勝利，但若不是勒苟拉斯突然笑了起來，我的心會很沉重。「振作點，都靈之子！」他說。「因為有句話這麼說：希望往往誕生於絕望之時。」但他不肯說他遠遠看到了什麼希望。當夜晚降臨，只讓黑暗更深，而我們的心卻焦灼不已，因為在遙遠的北方，我們看到雲層下透著紅光，亞拉岡說：「米那斯提力斯正在燃燒。」 『但到了午夜，希望確實重燃。來自埃西爾、熟悉航海的人們望著南方，說有股來自大海的新風將帶來變化。天亮前很久，有桅杆的船隻就升起了帆，我們的速度越來越快，直到黎明染白了我們船頭的浪花。所以，如你所知，我們在清晨的第三個小時，乘著順風，在太陽露臉之際趕到，並在戰鬥中展開了那面偉大的旗幟。無論之後會發生什麼，那都是偉大的一天、偉大的時刻。』 『無論結果如何，偉大的事蹟其價值不會減損，』勒苟拉斯說。『騎行亡者之道是偉大的事蹟，而且將永遠偉大，即使未來在剛鐸已無人傳唱。』 『那很有可能發生，』金靂說。『因為亞拉岡和甘道夫的臉色很凝重。我很好奇他們正在商議什麼。
878 THE LORD OF THE RINGS in the tents there below. For my part, like Merry, I wish that with our victory the war was now over. Yet whatever is still to do, I hope to have a part in it, for the honour of the folk of the Lonely Mountain.’ ‘And I for the folk of the Great Wood,’ said Legolas, ‘and for the love of the Lord of the White Tree.’ Then the companions fell silent, but a while they sat there in the high place, each busy with his own thoughts, while the Captains debated. When the Prince Imrahil had parted from Legolas and Gimli, at once he sent for Eomer; and he went down with him from the City, and they came to the tents of Aragorn that were set up on the field not far from the place where King Theoden had fallen. And there they took counsel together with Gandalf and Aragorn and the sons of Elrond. ‘My lords,’ said Gandalf, ‘listen to the words of the Steward of Gondor before he died: You may triumph on the fields of the Pelennor for a day, but against the Power that has now arisen there 1s no victory. I do not bid you despair, as he did, but to ponder the truth in these words. “The Stones of Seeing do not lie, and not even the Lord of Baraddar can make them do so. He can, maybe, by his will choose what things shall be seen by weaker minds, or cause them to mistake the meaning of what they see. Nonetheless it cannot be doubted that when Denethor saw great forces arrayed against him in Mordor, and more still being gathered, he saw that which truly is. ‘Hardly has our strength sufficed to beat off the first great assault. The next will be greater. This war then is without final hope, as Denethor perceived. Victory cannot be achieved by arms, whether you sit here to endure siege after siege, or march out to be overwhelmed beyond the River. You have only a choice of evils; and prudence would counsel you to strengthen such strong places as you have, and there await the onset; for so shall the time before your end be made a little longer.’ ‘Then you would have us retreat to Minas Tirith, or Dol Amroth, or to Dunharrow, and there sit like children on sand-castles when the tide is flowing?’ said Imrahil. “That would be no new counsel,’ said Gandalf. ‘Have you not done this and little more in all the days of Denethor? But no! I said this would be prudent. I do not counsel prudence. I said victory could not be achieved by arms. I still hope for victory, but not by arms. For into the midst of all these policies comes the Ring of Power, the foundation of Barad-dur, and the hope of Sauron. ‘Concerning this thing, my lords, you now all know enough for
878《魔戒》在底下的帳篷裡。就我而言，像梅里一樣，我希望隨著我們的勝利，戰爭現在就結束了。然而，無論還有什麼事要做，為了孤山子民的榮譽，我希望能參與其中。」「而我，是為了大森林的子民，」勒苟拉斯說，「也為了對白樹之王的愛。」然後同伴們陷入了沉默，但他們在高處坐了一會兒，各自專注於自己的思緒，而統帥們則在辯論。當伊姆拉希爾王侯與勒苟拉斯和金靂分開後，他立刻派人去找伊歐墨；他和他一起從堅城下來，來到亞拉岡的帳篷，帳篷就設在離希優頓王倒下之地不遠的戰場上。在那裡，他們與甘道夫、亞拉岡和愛隆的兒子們一同商議。「各位大人，」甘道夫說，「請聽剛鐸宰相臨終前的話：你們或許能在帕蘭諾平原上勝利一天，但面對那如今崛起的魔君力量，是沒有勝利可言的。我不是要你們像他一樣絕望，而是要你們深思這些話中的真相。『真知晶石不會說謊，即使是巴拉多之王也無法讓它們說謊。他或許能憑藉他的意志，選擇讓較弱的心靈看到什麼，或使他們誤解所見之事的意義。儘管如此，無可置疑的是，當迪耐瑟看到魔多有大軍集結對抗他，且還有更多軍隊正在集結時，他所見的確是事實。』『我們的力量幾乎不足以擊退第一次的大規模攻擊。下一次會更強大。因此，這場戰爭沒有最終的希望，正如迪耐瑟所察覺的。勝利無法靠武力達成，無論你們是坐在這裡承受一波又一波的圍城，還是進軍到大河之外被淹沒。你們只有一個兩害相權的選擇；審慎會建議你們加固你們所擁有的據點，在那裡等待攻擊；這樣你們覆滅前的時間就能稍微延長一些。』『那麼，你的意思是要我們撤退到米那斯提力斯、多爾安羅斯或登哈洛，然後像孩子們在漲潮時守著沙堡一樣坐以待斃嗎？』伊姆拉希爾說。『那不是什麼新建議了，』甘道夫說。『在迪耐瑟的所有日子裡，你們不就是這麼做的，甚至做得更少嗎？但不！我說過那樣做是審慎的。我並不建議審慎。我說過勝利無法靠武力達成。我仍然希望能勝利，但不是靠武力。因為在這所有的策略之中，出現了至尊魔戒，巴拉多的根基，以及索倫的希望。』『關於這件事，各位大人，你們現在都已經知道得夠多了
THE LAST DEBATE 879 the understanding of our plight, and of Sauron’s. If he regains it, your valour is vain, and his victory will be swift and complete: so complete that none can foresee the end of it while this world lasts. If it is destroyed, then he will fall; and his fall will be so low that none can foresee his arising ever again. For he will lose the best part of the strength that was native to him in his beginning, and all that was made or begun with that power will crumble, and he will be maimed for ever, becoming a mere spirit of malice that gnaws itself in the shadows, but cannot again grow or take shape. And so a great evil of this world will be removed. ‘Other evils there are that may come; for Sauron is himself but a servant or emissary. Yet it is not our part to master all the tides of the world, but to do what is in us for the succour of those years wherein we are set, uprooting the evil in the fields that we know, so that those who live after may have clean earth to till. What weather they shall have is not ours to rule. ‘Now Sauron knows all this, and he knows that this precious thing which he lost has been found again; but he does not yet know where it is, or so we hope. And therefore he is now in great doubt. For if we have found this thing, there are some among us with strength enough to wield it. That too he knows. For do I not guess rightly, Aragorn, that you have shown yourself to him in the Stone of Orthanc?’ ‘I did so ere I rode from the Hornburg,’ answered Aragorn. ‘I deemed that the time was ripe, and that the Stone had come to me for just such a purpose. It was then ten days since the Ring-bearer went east from Rauros, and the Eye of Sauron, I thought, should be drawn out from his own land. Too seldom has he been challenged since he returned to his Tower. Though if I had foreseen how swift would be his onset in answer, maybe I should not have dared to show myself. Bare time was given me to come to your aid.’ ‘But how is this?’ asked Eomer. ‘All is vain, you say, if he has the Ring. Why should he think it not vain to assail us, if we have it?’ ‘He is not yet sure,’ said Gandalf, ‘and he has not built up his power by waiting until his enemies are secure, as we have done. Also we could not learn how to wield the full power all in a day. Indeed it can be used only by one master alone, not by many; and he will look for a time of strife, ere one of the great among us makes himself master and puts down the others. In that time the Ring might aid him, if he were sudden. ‘He is watching. He sees much and hears much. His Nazgitl are still abroad. They passed over this field ere the sunrise, though few of the weary and sleeping were aware of them. He studies the signs: the Sword that robbed him of his treasure re-made; the winds of
880 THE LORD OF THE RINGS fortune turning in our favour, and the defeat unlooked-for of his first assault; the fall of his great Captain. ‘His doubt will be growing, even as we speak here. His Eye is now straining towards us, blind almost to all else that is moving. So we must keep it. Therein lies all our hope. This, then, is my counsel. We have not the Ring. In wisdom or great folly it has been sent away to be destroyed, lest it destroy us. Without it we cannot by force defeat his force. But we must at all costs keep his Eye from his true peril. We cannot achieve victory by arms, but by arms we can give the Ring-bearer his only chance, frail though it be. ‘As Aragorn has begun, so we must go on. We must push Sauron to his last throw. We must call out his hidden strength, so that he shall empty his land. We must march out to meet him at once. We must make ourselves the bait, though his jaws should close on us. He will take that bait, in hope and in greed, for he will think that in such rashness he sees the pride of the new Ringlord: and he will say: “‘So! he pushes out his neck too soon and too far. Let him come on, and behold I will have him in a trap from which he cannot escape. There I will crush him, and what he has taken in his insolence shall be mine again for ever.” ‘We must walk open-eyed into that trap, with courage, but small hope for ourselves. For, my lords, it may well prove that we ourselves shall perish utterly in a black battle far from the living lands; so that even if Barad-dir be thrown down, we shall not live to see a new age. But this, I deem, is our duty. And better so than to perish nonetheless — as we surely shall, if we sit here — and know as we die that no new age shall be.’ They were silent for a while. At length Aragorn spoke. ‘As I have begun, so I will go on. We come now to the very brink, where hope and despair are akin. To waver is to fall. Let none now reject the counsels of Gandalf, whose long labours against Sauron come at last to their test. But for him all would long ago have been lost. Nonetheless I do not yet claim to command any man. Let others choose as they will.’ Then said Elrohir: ‘From the North we came with this purpose, and from Elrond our father we brought this very counsel. We will not turn back.’ ‘As for myself,’ said Eomer, ‘I have little knowledge of these deep matters; but I need it not. This I know, and it is enough, that as my friend Aragorn succoured me and my people, so I will aid him when he calls. I will go.’ ‘As for me,’ said Imrahil, ‘the Lord Aragorn I hold to be my liege-lord, whether he claim it or no. His wish is to me a command.
880《魔戒》我們的運氣轉好，他第一次的攻擊意外地失敗了；他偉大的將領也殞落了。『即使在我們說話的此刻，他的疑心仍在增長。他的魔眼現在正費力地望向我們，幾乎對其他所有動靜都視而不見。所以我們必須保持這種狀態。我們所有的希望就在於此。那麼，這就是我的建議。我們沒有魔戒。無論是出於智慧還是巨大的愚蠢，它已被送去銷毀，以免它摧毀我們。沒有它，我們無法用武力擊敗他的武力。但我們必須不惜一切代價，讓他的魔眼遠離他真正的危險。我們無法用武力取得勝利，但我們可以藉由武力，為持戒者提供他唯一的機會，儘管這機會是如此脆弱。』『正如亞拉岡已經開始的，我們必須繼續下去。我們必須逼迫索倫使出他最後的手段。我們必須引出他隱藏的力量，好讓他清空他的土地。我們必須立即出發去迎戰他。我們必須把自己當作誘餌，即使他的巨顎會將我們咬碎。他會吞下那個誘餌，出於希望和貪婪，因為他會認為，在這樣的魯莽中，他看到了新任魔戒之王的驕傲；他會說：』『「哈！他把脖子伸得太快也太遠了。讓他來吧，看我如何將他引入一個無法逃脫的陷阱。在那裡我會碾碎他，而他以傲慢奪走的東西，將永遠再次歸我所有。」』『我們必須睜大眼睛走進那個陷阱，帶著勇氣，但對自己不抱什麼希望。因為，諸位大人，很可能我們自己將在遠離人煙之地的黑暗戰役中徹底滅亡；因此，即使巴拉多被推倒，我們也活不到看見新紀元的來臨。但我認為，這是我們的職責。而且這樣總比坐困在此，同樣是死——我們若待在這裡，肯定會死——然後在臨死時知道不會有新紀元來臨要好。』他們沉默了一會兒。最後亞拉岡開口了。『我既已開始，便會繼續走下去。我們現在已來到懸崖邊緣，在此希望與絕望已無甚分別。動搖就是墜落。現在誰也不要拒絕甘道夫的建議，他對抗索倫的長期辛勞終於到了接受考驗的時刻。若不是他，一切早就失落了。儘管如此，我還不聲稱能命令任何人。讓其他人自行選擇吧。』然後伊羅何說：『我們從北方來就是為此目的，我們也從父親愛隆那裡帶來了同樣的建議。我們不會回頭。』『至於我，』伊歐墨說：『我對這些深奧的事務了解不多；但我也不需要了解。我知道這點就夠了，那就是我的朋友亞拉岡曾如何援助我和我的人民，當他召喚時，我也會同樣幫助他。我會去。』『至於我，』印拉希爾說：『無論亞拉岡大人是否如此宣稱，我都視他為我的君主。他的願望對我而言就是命令。
THE LAST DEBATE 881 I will go also. Yet for a while I stand in the place of the Steward of Gondor, and it is mine to think first of its people. To prudence some heed must still be given. For we must prepare against all chances, good as well as evil. Now, it may be that we shall triumph, and while there is any hope of this, Gondor must be protected. I would not have us return with victory to a City in ruins and a land ravaged behind us. And yet we learn from the Rohirrim that there is an army still unfought upon our northern flank.’ “That is true,’ said Gandalf. ‘I do not counsel you to leave the City all unmanned. Indeed the force that we lead east need not be great enough for any assault in earnest upon Mordor, so long as it be great enough to challenge battle. And it must move soon. Therefore I ask the Captains: what force could we muster and lead out in two days’ time at the latest? And they must be hardy men that go willingly, knowing their peril.’ ‘All are weary, and very many have wounds light or grievous,’ said Eomer, ‘and we have suffered much loss of our horses, and that is ill to bear. If we must ride soon, then I cannot hope to lead even two thousands, and yet leave as many for the defence of the City.’ ‘We have not only to reckon with those who fought on this field,’ said Aragorn. ‘New strength is on the way from the southern fiefs, now that the coasts have been rid. Four thousands I sent marching from Pelargir through Lossarnach two days ago; and Angbor the fearless rides before them. If we set out in two days more, they will draw nigh ere we depart. Moreover many were bidden to follow me up the River in any craft they could gather; and with this wind they will soon be at hand, indeed several ships have already come to the Harlond. I judge that we could lead out seven thousands of horse and foot, and yet leave the City in better defence than it was when the assault began.’ ‘The Gate is destroyed,’ said Imrahil, ‘and where now is the skill to rebuild it and set it up anew?’ ‘In Erebor in the Kingdom of Dain there is such skill,’ said Aragorn; ‘and if all our hopes do not perish, then in time I will send Gimli Gldin’s son to ask for wrights of the Mountain. But men are better than gates, and no gate will endure against our Enemy if men desert it.’ This then was the end of the debate of the lords: that they should set forth on the second morning from that day with seven thousands, if these might be found; and the great part of this force should be on foot, because of the evil lands into which they would go. Aragorn should find some two thousands of those that he had gathered to him in the South; but Imrahil should find three and a half thousands;
我也會去。然而，暫時我仍代行剛鐸宰相之職，我的首要之務是為其人民著想。我們仍須對審慎給予一些關注。因為我們必須為所有可能性做好準備，無論好壞。如今，我們或許會凱旋，而只要還存有一絲希望，剛鐸就必須受到保護。我不願我們在勝利後，回到的是一座廢墟之城，身後是一片被蹂躪的土地。然而，我們從洛汗人那裡得知，我們的北翼還有一支尚未交戰的軍隊。」「確實如此，」甘道夫說。「我不建議你們讓城中完全無人駐守。事實上，我們向東帶領的部隊，無需強大到能對魔多發動真正的猛攻，只要足以挑戰一場戰役即可。而且必須儘快行動。因此，我請問各位指揮官：我們最晚在兩天內能集結並帶領多少兵力？而且他們必須是甘願前往、明知其危險的頑強之士。」「所有人都很疲憊，許多人身負輕傷或重傷，」伊歐墨說，「而且我們的馬匹損失慘重，這實在難以承受。如果我們必須馬上騎行，那我恐怕連兩千人都帶不出來，同時還要留下同樣多的人來保衛城池。」「我們不僅要考慮那些在此戰場上奮戰過的人，」亞拉岡說。「既然海岸已肅清，新的援軍正從南方各封地前來。兩天前，我已派遣四千人從佩拉格出發，行經羅薩那奇；無畏的昂伯騎在他們前頭。如果我們再過兩天出發，他們在我們啟程前便會靠近。此外，許多人奉命集結任何能找到的船隻，沿河跟隨我；藉著這陣風，他們很快就會抵達，事實上已有幾艘船到了哈龍德。我判斷，我們可以帶領七千名騎兵和步兵出征，而城裡的防禦力量仍會比圍城之初更好。」「城門已毀，」印拉希爾說，「如今哪裡有技術能重建並將它重新立起？」「在丹恩王國的伊瑞柏有這樣的技術，」亞拉岡說；「如果我們所有的希望沒有破滅，那麼到時候我會派葛羅音之子金靂去請求山中工匠的協助。但人比城門更重要，如果人心背棄，再堅固的城門也抵擋不了我們的敵人。」這便是領主們辯論的結果：他們應於次日清晨率領七千人出發，如果能湊齊的話；這支部隊大部分將是步兵，因為他們將要進入邪惡之地。亞拉岡應從他在南方召集的人中找到約兩千人；而印拉希爾應找到三千五百人；
882 THE LORD OF THE RINGS and Eomer five hundreds of the Rohirrim who were unhorsed but themselves warworthy, and he himself should lead five hundreds of his best Riders on horse; and another company of five hundred horse there should be, among which should ride the sons of Elrond with the Dunedain and the knights of Dol Amroth: all told six thousand foot and a thousand horse. But the main strength of the Rohirrim that remained horsed and able to fight, some three thousand under the command of Elfhelm, should waylay the West Road against the enemy that was in Anorien. And at once swift riders were sent out to gather what news they could northwards; and eastwards from Osgiliath and the road to Minas Morgul. And when they had reckoned up all their strength and taken thought for the journeys they should make and the roads they should choose, Imrahil suddenly laughed aloud. ‘Surely,’ he cried, ‘this is the greatest jest in all the history of Gondor: that we should ride with seven thousands, scarce as many as the vanguard of its army in the days of its power, to assail the mountains and the impenetrable gate of the Black Land! So might a child threaten a mail-clad knight with a bow of string and green willow! If the Dark Lord knows so much as you say, Mithrandir, will he not rather smile than fear, and with his little finger crush us like a fly that tries to sting him?’ ‘No, he will try to trap the fly and take the sting,’ said Gandalf. ‘And there are names among us that are worth more than a thousand mail-clad knights apiece. No, he will not smile.’ ‘Neither shall we,’ said Aragorn. ‘If this be jest, then it is too bitter for laughter. Nay, it is the last move in a great jeopardy, and for one side or the other it will bring the end of the game.’ Then he drew Anduril and held it up glittering in the sun. ‘You shall not be sheathed again until the last battle is fought,’ he said.
《魔戒》882頁，伊歐墨率領五百名雖然失去馬匹但仍具戰力的羅翰人，他自己則將親率五百名最精銳的騎兵；另外還將有五百名騎兵組成的另一支隊伍，由愛隆的兒子們、登丹人以及多爾安羅斯的騎士們組成：總計六千步兵與一千騎兵。但是，羅翰人仍能騎馬作戰的主力，約三千人，將由艾夫海姆指揮，在西大道上埋伏阿諾瑞安的敵人。他們立即派出快馬向北、向東，從奧斯吉力亞斯和通往米那斯魔窟的道路上收集情報。當他們計算完所有兵力，並為即將踏上的旅程和選擇的道路深思熟慮後，印拉希爾突然放聲大笑。「當然，」他喊道，「這肯定是剛鐸歷史上最大的笑話了：我們竟然只帶著七千人——這數量在剛鐸全盛時期恐怕連先鋒部隊都不到——去攻擊那崇山峻嶺和黑之國度那堅不可摧的大門！這就好比一個孩子拿著細繩和綠柳條做的弓來威脅一個身穿鎖子甲的騎士！如果黑暗魔君真如你所說的那樣無所不知，米斯蘭達，他難道不會微笑而不是恐懼，用他的小指頭就把我們像隻想叮他的蒼蠅一樣捻碎嗎？」「不，他會試圖困住那隻蒼蠅，並取走它的刺。」甘道夫說。「而且我們之中有些名字，每一個都比一千個身穿鎖子甲的騎士更有價值。不，他不會笑的。」「我們也不會笑。」亞拉岡說。「如果這是個笑話，那也苦澀得笑不出來。不，這是在一場巨大險局中的最後一步棋，無論對哪一方，它都將帶來遊戲的終結。」然後他拔出安都瑞爾，高舉在陽光下，劍身閃閃發光。「直到最後一戰結束，你將不再入鞘。」他說。