Chapter 3 THREE IS COMPANY “You ought to go quietly, and you ought to go soon,’ said Gandalf. Two or three weeks had passed, and still Frodo made no sign of getting ready to go. ‘I know. But it is difficult to do both,’ he objected. ‘If I just vanish like Bilbo, the tale will be all over the Shire in no time.’ ‘Of course you mustn’t vanish!’ said Gandalf. “That wouldn’t do at all! I said soon, not instantly. If you can think of any way of slipping out of the Shire without its being generally known, it will be worth a little delay. But you must not delay too long.’ ‘What about the autumn, on or after Our Birthday?’ asked Frodo. ‘I think I could probably make some arrangements by then.’ To tell the truth, he was very reluctant to start, now that it had come to the point: Bag End seemed a more desirable residence than it had for years, and he wanted to savour as much as he could of his last summer in the Shire. When autumn came, he knew that part at least of his heart would think more kindly of journeying, as it always did at that season. He had indeed privately made up his mind to leave on his fiftieth birthday: Bilbo’s one hundred and twenty-eighth. It seemed somehow the proper day on which to set out and follow him. Following Bilbo was uppermost in his mind, and the one thing that made the thought of leaving bearable. He thought as little as possible about the Ring, and where it might lead him in the end. But he did not tell all his thoughts to Gandalf. What the wizard guessed was always difficult to tell. He looked at Frodo and smiled. ‘Very well,’ he said. ‘I think that will do — but it must not be any later. I am getting very anxious. In the meanwhile, do take care, and don’t let out any hint of where you are going! And see that Sam Gamgee does not talk. If he does, I really shall turn him into a toad.’ ‘As for where I am going,’ said Frodo, ‘it would be difficult to give that away, for I have no clear idea myself, yet.’ ‘Don’t be absurd!’ said Gandalf. ‘I am not warning you against leaving an address at the post-office! But you are leaving the Shire — and that should not be known, until you are far away. And you must go, or at least set out, either North, South, West or East — and the direction should certainly not be known.’ ‘I have been so taken up with the thoughts of leaving Bag End, and of saying farewell, that I have never even considered the direction,’
第三章 三人成行 「你應該悄悄地走，而且應該快點走。」甘道夫說。兩三個星期過去了，佛羅多仍然沒有任何準備離開的跡象。「我知道。但兩者兼顧很難。」他反駁道。「如果我像比爾博一樣突然消失，消息很快就會傳遍夏爾。」「你當然不能消失！」甘道夫說。「那可不行！我說的是快點，不是立刻。如果你能想到任何辦法，在不為人知的情況下溜出夏爾，那麼稍微耽擱一下也是值得的。但你不能拖延太久。」「秋天怎麼樣？在我們的生日那天或之後？」佛羅多問道。「我想那時候我大概可以做好一些安排。」說實話，他現在非常不情願啟程，既然事情已經到了這個地步：袋底洞似乎比往年更令人嚮往，他想盡可能地享受他在夏爾的最後一個夏天。當秋天來臨時，他知道他心中至少有一部分會更樂意踏上旅程，就像每個季節都會有的那樣。他確實私下裡決定在他五十歲生日那天離開：那是比爾博一百二十八歲生日。這似乎是個恰當的日子，可以啟程追隨他。追隨比爾博是他心中最重要的事，也是唯一讓離開的念頭變得可以忍受的事情。他盡可能少地思考魔戒，以及它最終會把他引向何方。但他並沒有把所有的想法都告訴甘道夫。巫師猜測到的事情總是難以言喻。他看著佛羅多，笑了。「很好。」他說。「我想這樣可以——但不能再晚了。我越來越焦慮了。在此期間，務必小心，不要洩露你將要去哪裡的任何線索！而且要確保山姆·詹吉不說話。如果他敢說，我真的會把他變成一隻蟾蜍。」「至於我要去哪裡，」佛羅多說，「那很難說出口，因為我自己還沒有明確的想法。」「別傻了！」甘道夫說。「我不是在警告你不要在郵局留下地址！但你正在離開夏爾——而且這件事在你走遠之前不應該被知道。你必須走，或者至少啟程，無論是向北、向南、向西還是向東——而且方向當然也不應該被知道。」「我一直忙於思考離開袋底洞和告別的事情，以至於我從未考慮過方向。」
66 THE LORD OF THE RINGS said Frodo. ‘For where am I to go? And by what shall I steer? What is to be my quest? Bilbo went to find a treasure, there and back again; but I go to lose one, and not return, as far as I can see.’ ‘But you cannot see very far,’ said Gandalf. ‘Neither can I. It may be your task to find the Cracks of Doom; but that quest may be for others: I do not know. At any rate you are not ready for that long road yet.’ ‘No indeed!’ said Frodo. ‘But in the meantime what course am I to take?’ “Towards danger; but not too rashly, nor too straight,’ answered the wizard. ‘If you want my advice, make for Rivendell. That journey should not prove too perilous, though the Road is less easy than it was, and it will grow worse as the year fails.’ ‘Rivendell!’ said Frodo. ‘Very good: I will go east, and I will make for Rivendell. I will take Sam to visit the Elves; he will be delighted.’ He spoke lightly; but his heart was moved suddenly with a desire to see the house of Elrond Halfelven, and breathe the air of that deep valley where many of the Fair Folk still dwelt in peace. One summer’s evening an astonishing piece of news reached the Ivy Bush and Green Dragon. Giants and other portents on the borders of the Shire were forgotten for more important matters: Mr. Frodo was selling Bag End, indeed he had already sold it — to the SackvilleBagginses! ‘For a nice bit, too,’ said some. ‘At a bargain price,’ said others, ‘and that’s more likely when Mistress Lobelia’s the buyer.’ (Otho had died some years before, at the ripe but disappointed age of 102.) Just why Mr. Frodo was selling his beautiful hole was even more debatable than the price. A few held the theory — supported by the nods and hints of Mr. Baggins himself — that Frodo’s money was running out: he was going to leave Hobbiton and live in a quiet way on the proceeds of the sale down in Buckland among his Brandybuck relations. ‘As far from the Sackville-Bagginses as may be,’ some added. But so firmly fixed had the notion of the immeasurable wealth of the Bagginses of Bag End become that most found this hard to believe, harder than any other reason or unreason that their fancy could suggest: to most it suggested a dark and yet unrevealed plot by Gandalf. Though he kept himself very quiet and did not go about by day, it was well known that he was ‘hiding up in the Bag End’. But however a removal might fit in with the designs of his wizardry, there was no doubt about the fact: Frodo Baggins was going back to Buckland. “Yes, I shall be moving this autumn,’ he said. ‘Merry Brandybuck is looking out for a nice little hole for me, or perhaps a small house.’
佛羅多說：「《魔戒》？我該往哪裡去？我該依循什麼指引？我的任務是什麼？比爾博去尋找寶藏，然後又回來了；但我卻是要去失去一個，而且就我所知，不會再回來了。」甘道夫說：「但你看不遠。我也看不遠。你的任務或許是找到末日裂隙；但那個任務或許是給別人的：我不知道。無論如何，你還沒準備好走那條漫長的路。」佛羅多說：「不，的確如此！」巫師回答：「朝向危險；但不要太魯莽，也不要太直接。如果你想要我的建議，就前往瑞文戴爾。那趟旅程應該不會太危險，儘管那條路比以前難走了，而且隨著歲月流逝，它會變得更糟。」佛羅多說：「瑞文戴爾！」他說：「很好：我會往東走，我會前往瑞文戴爾。我會帶山姆去拜訪精靈；他會很高興的。」他輕聲說道；但他的心突然被一種渴望所觸動，渴望看到愛隆半精靈的家，呼吸那片深谷的空氣，那裡有許多美麗的子民仍然安居樂業。一個夏日傍晚，一則驚人的消息傳到了長春藤叢酒館和綠龍酒館。夏爾邊境的巨人和其他預兆都被遺忘了，因為有更重要的事情：佛羅多先生正在出售袋底洞，事實上他已經把它賣給了薩克維爾-巴金斯一家！有人說：「而且賣了個好價錢。」其他人說：「以便宜的價格，而且當羅貝莉亞夫人是買家時，這更有可能。」（奧索幾年前已經去世了，享年102歲，但死時心懷不滿。）佛羅多先生為何要賣掉他美麗的洞穴，這比價格本身更具爭議性。少數人持有一種理論——得到巴金斯先生本人點頭和暗示的支持——那就是佛羅多的錢快用完了：他打算離開哈比屯，靠著出售所得，在白蘭地河谷與他的白蘭地鹿親戚們過著安靜的生活。有些人補充說：「盡可能遠離薩克維爾-巴金斯一家。」但袋底洞巴金斯家族擁有無盡財富的觀念已經根深蒂固，以至於大多數人覺得這難以置信，比他們想像中任何其他理由或非理由都更難相信：對大多數人來說，這暗示著甘道夫一個黑暗而尚未揭露的陰謀。儘管他保持非常安靜，白天也不出門，但眾所周知他「躲在袋底洞裡」。但無論搬家如何符合他巫術的設計，這個事實是毋庸置疑的：佛羅多·巴金斯要回到白蘭地河谷了。「是的，我今年秋天就要搬家了，」他說。「梅里·白蘭地鹿正在為我尋找一個不錯的小洞穴，或者可能是一棟小房子。」
THREE IS COMPANY 67 As a matter of fact with Merry’s help he had already chosen and bought a little house at Crickhollow in the country beyond Bucklebury. To all but Sam he pretended he was going to settle down there permanently. The decision to set out eastwards had suggested the idea to him; for Buckland was on the eastern borders of the Shire, and as he had lived there in childhood his going back would at least seem credible. Gandalf stayed in the Shire for over two months. Then one evening, at the end of June, soon after Frodo’s plan had been finally arranged, he suddenly announced that he was going off again next morning. ‘Only for a short while, I hope,’ he said. ‘But I am going down beyond the southern borders to get some news, if I can. I have been idle longer than I should.’ He spoke lightly, but it seemed to Frodo that he looked rather worried. ‘Has anything happened?’ he asked. ‘Well no; but I have heard something that has made me anxious and needs looking into. If I think it necessary after all for you to get off at once, I shall come back immediately, or at least send word. In the meanwhile stick to your plan; but be more careful than ever, especially of the Ring. Let me impress on you once more: don’t use itl? He went off at dawn. ‘I may be back any day,’ he said. ‘At the very latest I shall come back for the farewell party. I think after all you may need my company on the Road.’ At first Frodo was a good deal disturbed, and wondered often what Gandalf could have heard; but his uneasiness wore off, and in the fine weather he forgot his troubles for a while. The Shire had seldom seen so fair a summer, or so rich an autumn: the trees were laden with apples, honey was dripping in the combs, and the corn was tall and full. Autumn was well under way before Frodo began to worry about Gandalf again. September was passing and there was still no news of him. The Birthday, and the removal, drew nearer, and still he did not come, or send word. Bag End began to be busy. Some of Frodo’s friends came to stay and help him with the packing: there was Fredegar Bolger and Folco Boffin, and of course his special friends Pippin Took and Merry Brandybuck. Between them they turned the whole place upside-down. On September 2oth two covered carts went off laden to Buckland, conveying the furniture and goods that Frodo had not sold to his new home, by way of the Brandywine Bridge.The next day Frodo became really anxious, and kept a constant look-out for Gandalf. Thursday, his birthday morning, dawned as fair and clear as it had
三人成行 67 事實上，在梅里幫助下，他已經在巴克蘭以外的鄉村，溪谷地買下了一棟小房子。除了山姆之外，他對所有人都假裝他打算永久定居在那裡。動身向東的決定給了他這個主意；因為巴克蘭位於夏爾的東部邊界，而且他童年時曾在那里居住，所以他回去似乎是可信的。甘道夫在夏爾待了兩個多月。然後，在六月底的一個傍晚，佛羅多計畫最終敲定後不久，他突然宣布他第二天早上就要再次離開。「我希望只是一小段時間，」他說。「但我會去南部邊界以外的地方打探一些消息，如果我能辦到的話。我閒置的時間比我應該的要長了。」他輕描淡寫地說，但在佛羅多看來，他似乎有些擔憂。「發生了什麼事嗎？」佛羅多問。「嗯，沒有；但我聽到了一些讓我焦慮並需要調查的事情。如果我認為你確實需要立即動身，我會立刻回來，或者至少會派人傳話。在此期間，請堅持你的計畫；但要比以往任何時候都更加小心，尤其是魔戒。讓我再次提醒你：不要使用它！」他黎明時分就離開了。「我可能隨時會回來，」他說。「最遲我會在告別派對上回來。我想你畢竟可能在旅途中需要我的陪伴。」起初佛羅多相當不安，經常想知道甘道夫可能聽到了什麼；但他的不安情緒逐漸消退，在好天氣裡，他暫時忘卻了煩惱。夏爾很少見到如此美好的夏天，或如此豐收的秋天：樹上結滿了蘋果，蜂蜜從蜂巢中滴落，玉米又高又飽滿。秋天已然過半，佛羅多才又開始擔心甘道夫。九月過去了，仍然沒有他的消息。生日和搬家之日越來越近，但他仍然沒有來，也沒有派人傳話。袋底洞開始忙碌起來。佛羅多的一些朋友前來幫他打包：有弗雷德加·博爾傑和福爾科·博芬，當然還有他的特別朋友皮聘·圖克和梅里·白蘭地鹿。他們把整個地方翻了個底朝天。九月二十日，兩輛有篷馬車滿載著佛羅多沒有賣掉的家具和物品，經由白蘭地河橋運往巴克蘭，前往他的新家。第二天，佛羅多真的焦慮起來，並不斷地留意甘道夫的蹤影。星期四，他生日的早晨，像往常一樣晴朗明亮。
68 THE LORD OF THE RINGS long ago for Bilbo’s great party. Still Gandalf did not appear. In the evening Frodo gave his farewell feast: it was quite small, just a dinner for himself and his four helpers; but he was troubled and felt in no mood for it. The thought that he would so soon have to part with his young friends weighed on his heart. He wondered how he would break it to them. The four younger hobbits were, however, in high spirits, and the party soon became very cheerful in spite of Gandalf’s absence. The dining-room was bare except for a table and chairs, but the food was good, and there was good wine: Frodo’s wine had not been included in the sale to the Sackville-Bagginses. ‘Whatever happens to the rest of my stuff, when the S.-B.s get their claws on it, at any rate I have found a good home for this!’ said Frodo, as he drained his glass. It was the last drop of Old Winyards. When they had sung many songs, and talked of many things they had done together, they toasted Bilbo’s birthday, and they drank his health and Frodo’s together according to Frodo’s custom. Then they went out for a sniff of air, and glimpse of the stars, and then they went to bed. Frodo’s party was over, and Gandalf had not come. The next morning they were busy packing another cart with the remainder of the luggage. Merry took charge of this, and drove off with Fatty (that is Fredegar Bolger). ‘Someone must get there and warm the house before you arrive,’ said Merry. ‘Well, see you later — the day after tomorrow, if you don’t go to sleep on the way!’ Folco went home after lunch, but Pippin remained behind. Frodo was restless and anxious, listening in vain for a sound of Gandalf. He decided to wait until nightfall. After that, if Gandalf wanted him urgently, he would go to Crickhollow, and might even get there first. For Frodo was going on foot. His plan — for pleasure and a last look at the Shire as much as any other reason — was to walk from Hobbiton to Bucklebury Ferry, taking it fairly easy. ‘I shall get myself a bit into training, too,’ he said, looking at himself in a dusty mirror in the half-empty hall. He had not done any strenuous walking for a long time, and the reflection looked rather flabby, he thought. After lunch, the Sackville-Bagginses, Lobelia and her sandy-haired son, Lotho, turned up, much to Frodo’s annoyance. ‘Ours at last!’ said Lobelia, as she stepped inside. It was not polite; nor strictly true, for the sale of Bag End did not take effect until midnight. But Lobelia can perhaps be forgiven: she had been obliged to wait about seventyseven years longer for Bag End than she once hoped, and she was now a hundred years old. Anyway, she had come to see that nothing
68 《魔戒》很久以前，為了比爾博的盛大宴會。甘道夫仍然沒有出現。傍晚時分，佛羅多舉辦了他的告別宴會：這場宴會規模很小，只是他與四位幫手的一頓晚餐；但他心事重重，毫無心情。他即將與年輕的朋友們分別的念頭，沉重地壓在他的心頭。他不知道該如何向他們開口。然而，四位年輕的哈比人卻興高采烈，儘管甘道夫缺席，宴會很快就變得非常歡樂。飯廳裡除了桌椅之外空無一物，但食物很美味，也有好酒：佛羅多的酒並未包含在賣給薩克維爾-巴金斯家的交易中。「不管我其他的東西會怎樣，當薩-巴家的人把它們弄到手時，至少我為這瓶酒找到了個好歸宿！」佛羅多說道，同時一飲而盡。這是老葡萄園的最後一滴酒。他們唱了許多歌，聊了許多一起做過的事，然後為比爾博的生日祝酒，並按照佛羅多的習慣，一起為他和佛羅多的健康乾杯。接著他們出去透透氣，看了一眼星星，然後就上床睡覺了。佛羅多的宴會結束了，甘道夫卻沒有來。隔天早上，他們忙著將剩下的行李裝上另一輛推車。梅里負責這件事，並和胖子（也就是佛瑞德加·博爾格）一起駕車離開。「你們抵達前，必須有人先到那裡把房子弄暖和。」梅里說。「那麼，回頭見——後天見，如果你們沒有在路上睡著的話！」午餐後，佛爾科回家了，但皮聘留了下來。佛羅多焦躁不安，徒勞地聆聽著甘道夫的聲音。他決定等到夜幕降臨。在那之後，如果甘道夫急著找他，他就會去溪谷地，甚至可能先抵達。因為佛羅多打算步行。他的計畫——為了享受樂趣，也為了最後看一眼夏爾，以及其他任何原因——是從哈比屯步行到雄鹿地渡口，輕鬆地走。「我也該稍微鍛鍊一下了。」他說道，看著半空大廳裡一面佈滿灰塵的鏡子中的自己。他很久沒有做過劇烈運動了，他想，鏡中的倒影看起來有些鬆弛。午餐後，薩克維爾-巴金斯一家，洛貝莉亞和她那沙色頭髮的兒子洛索出現了，這讓佛羅多非常惱火。「終於是我們的了！」洛貝莉亞一踏進門就說道。這既不禮貌，也不完全屬實，因為袋底洞的買賣直到午夜才生效。但洛貝莉亞或許可以被原諒：她為了袋底洞，不得不比她曾經希望的等待了約七十七年之久，而她現在已經一百歲了。無論如何，她來是為了確保沒有任何東西
THREE IS COMPANY 69 she had paid for had been carried off; and she wanted the keys. It took a long while to satisfy her, as she had brought a complete inventory with her and went right through it. In the end she departed with Lotho and the spare key and the promise that the other key would be left at the Gamgees’ in Bagshot Row. She snorted, and showed plainly that she thought the Gamgees capable of plundering the hole during the night. Frodo did not offer her any tea. He took his own tea with Pippin and Sam Gamgee in the kitchen. It had been officially announced that Sam was coming to Buckland ‘to do for Mr. Frodo and look after his bit of garden’; an arrangement that was approved by the Gaffer, though it did not console him for the prospect of having Lobelia as a neighbour. ‘Our last meal at Bag End!’ said Frodo, pushing back his chair. They left the washing up for Lobelia. Pippin and Sam strapped up their three packs and piled them in the porch. Pippin went out for a last stroll in the garden. Sam disappeared. The sun went down. Bag End seemed sad and gloomy and dishevelled. Frodo wandered round the familiar rooms, and saw the light of the sunset fade on the walls, and shadows creep out of the corners. It grew slowly dark indoors. He went out and walked down to the gate at the bottom of the path, and then on a short way down the Hill Road. He half expected to see Gandalf come striding up through the dusk. The sky was clear and the stars were growing bright. ‘It’s going to be a fine night,’ he said aloud. “That’s good for a beginning. I feel like walking. I can’t bear any more hanging about. I am going to start, and Gandalf must follow me.’ He turned to go back, and then stopped, for he heard voices, just round the corner by the end of Bagshot Row. One voice was certainly the old Gaffer’s; the other was strange, and somehow unpleasant. He could not make out what it said, but he heard the Gaffer’s answers, which were rather shrill. The old man seemed put out. ‘No, Mr. Baggins has gone away. Went this morning, and my Sam went with him: anyway all his stuff went. Yes, sold out and gone, I tell’ee. Why? Why’s none of my business, or yours. Where to? That ain’t no secret. He’s moved to Bucklebury or some such place, away down yonder. Yes it is — a tidy way. I’ve never been so far myself} they’re queer folks in Buckland. No, I can’t give no message. Good night to you!’ Footsteps went away down the Hill. Frodo wondered vaguely why the fact that they did not come on up the Hill seemed a great relief. ‘I am sick of questions and curiosity about my doings, I suppose,’ he thought. ‘What an inquisitive lot they all are!’ He had half a mind
三人成行 69 她付了錢的東西都被搬走了；她想要鑰匙。花了很長時間才讓她滿意，因為她帶著一份完整的清單，並仔細核對了一遍。最後，她帶著羅索和備用鑰匙離開了，並得到承諾說另一把鑰匙會留在袋巷的甘吉家。她哼了一聲，清楚地表明她認為甘吉家可能會在夜間洗劫這個洞穴。佛羅多沒有請她喝茶。他與皮聘和山姆·甘吉在廚房裡喝了自己的茶。官方已經宣布山姆將前往巴克蘭，「為佛羅多先生服務並照料他的一小塊花園」；這個安排得到了老爹的批准，儘管這並沒有讓他因為洛貝莉亞成為鄰居的前景而感到安慰。「我們在袋底洞的最後一餐！」佛羅多說，推開椅子。他們把碗盤留給洛貝莉亞洗。皮聘和山姆綁好他們的三個背包，堆放在門廊裡。皮聘出去在花園裡最後一次散步。山姆不見了。太陽下山了。袋底洞顯得悲傷、陰鬱而凌亂。佛羅多在熟悉的房間裡徘徊，看著夕陽的光線在牆上漸漸消逝，陰影從角落裡悄悄爬出。室內慢慢變暗。他走了出去，沿著小徑走到盡頭的門口，然後沿著山路走了一小段。他半期待著看到甘道夫在暮色中大步走來。天空晴朗，星星越來越亮。「今晚會是個好天氣，」他大聲說。「這對開始來說是個好兆頭。我想走路。我再也受不了這樣閒逛了。我要出發了，甘道夫必須跟著我。」他轉身想回去，然後停了下來，因為他聽到了聲音，就在袋巷盡頭的拐角處。其中一個聲音肯定是老爹的；另一個聲音很陌生，而且不知為何令人不快。他聽不清那聲音說了什麼，但他聽到了老爹的回答，聲音相當尖銳。這位老人似乎很不高興。「不，巴金斯先生已經走了。今天早上走的，我的山姆也跟他一起走了：反正他所有的東西都走了。是的，都賣光了，走了，我告訴你。為什麼？為什麼不關我的事，也不關你的事。去哪裡？那不是秘密。他搬到巴克伯里或類似的地方去了，就在那邊。是的，很遠。我自己從沒去過那麼遠；巴克蘭的人都很奇怪。不，我不能傳話。晚安！」腳步聲沿著山路遠去。佛羅多模糊地想知道，他們沒有上山這個事實為何讓他感到極大的解脫。「我想，我厭倦了關於我行蹤的問題和好奇心了，」他想。「他們真是群愛管閒事的人！」他有點想
7O THE LORD OF THE RINGS to go and ask the Gaffer who the inquirer was; but he thought better (or worse) of it, and turned and walked quickly back to Bag End. Pippin was sitting on his pack in the porch. Sam was not there. Frodo stepped inside the dark door. ‘Sam!’ he called. ‘Sam! Time!’ ‘Coming, sir!’ came the answer from far within, followed soon by Sam himself, wiping his mouth. He had been saying farewell to the beer-barrel in the cellar. ‘All aboard, Sam?’ said Frodo. ‘Yes, sir. Pll last for a bit now, sir.’ Frodo shut and locked the round door, and gave the key to Sam. ‘Run down with this to your home, Sam!’ he said. “Then cut along the Row and meet us as quick as you can at the gate in the lane beyond the meadows. We are not going through the village tonight. Too many ears pricking and eyes prying.’ Sam ran off at full speed. ‘Well, now we’re off at last!’ said Frodo. They shouldered their packs and took up their sticks, and walked round the corner to the west side of Bag End. ‘Good-bye!’ said Frodo, looking at the dark blank windows. He waved his hand, and then turned and (following Bilbo, if he had known it) hurried after Peregrin down the gardenpath. They jumped over the low place in the hedge at the bottom and took to the fields, passing into the darkness like a rustle in the grasses. At the bottom of the Hill on its western side they came to the gate opening on to a narrow lane. There they halted and adjusted the straps of their packs. Presently Sam appeared, trotting quickly and breathing hard; his heavy pack was hoisted high on his shoulders, and he had put on his head a tall shapeless felt bag, which he called a hat. In the gloom he looked very much like a dwarf. ‘I am sure you have given me all the heaviest stuff,’ said Frodo. ‘I pity snails, and all that carry their homes on their backs.’ ‘I could take a lot more yet, sir. My packet is quite light,’ said Sam stoutly and untruthfully. ‘No you don’t, Sam!’ said Pippin. ‘It is good for him. He’s got nothing except what he ordered us to pack. He’s been slack lately, and he’ll feel the weight less when he’s walked off some of his own.’ ‘Be kind to a poor old hobbit!’ laughed Frodo. ‘I shall be as thin as a willow-wand, I’m sure, before I get to Buckland. But I was talking nonsense. I suspect you have taken more than your share, Sam, and I shall look into it at our next packing.’ He picked up his stick again. ‘Well, we all like walking in the dark,’ he said, ‘so let’s put some miles behind us before bed.’ For a short way they followed the lane westwards. Then leaving it they turned left and took quietly to the fields again. They went in
7O 魔戒之主 前去詢問老爹是誰在打聽，但他轉念一想（無論好壞），便轉身快步走回袋底洞。皮聘正坐在門廊的背包上。山姆不在那裡。佛羅多走進黑暗的門。他喊道：「山姆！」「山姆！時間到了！」「來了，先生！」回答從屋內深處傳來，隨後山姆本人便出現了，他正擦著嘴。他剛才一直在地窖裡向啤酒桶告別。「都準備好了嗎，山姆？」佛羅多說。「是的，先生。現在可以撐一陣子了，先生。」佛羅多關上並鎖好圓門，把鑰匙交給山姆。「把這個帶回家去，山姆！」他說。「然後沿著羅街快步走，盡快到草地後面的小徑門口和我們會合。我們今晚不經過村莊。太多人會豎起耳朵偷聽，睜大眼睛窺探。」山姆全速跑開了。「好了，我們終於要出發了！」佛羅多說。他們扛起背包，拿起手杖，繞過街角走到袋底洞的西側。「再見！」佛羅多說，看著漆黑一片的窗戶。他揮了揮手，然後轉身（如果他知道的話，這是在追隨比爾博的腳步）沿著花園小徑追趕著皮瑞格林。他們跳過底部樹籬的低矮處，進入田野，像草叢中的沙沙聲一樣消失在黑暗中。在山丘西側的底部，他們來到了一扇通往狹窄小徑的門。他們在那裡停下，調整背包的肩帶。不久，山姆出現了，他快步小跑著，氣喘吁吁；他沉重的背包高高地扛在肩上，頭上戴著一個高高的、沒有形狀的氈布袋，他稱之為帽子。在昏暗中，他看起來很像一個矮人。「我敢肯定你把所有最重的東西都給我了，」佛羅多說。「我真可憐蝸牛，以及所有背著家園的生物。」「我還可以再多拿很多，先生。我的包裹很輕，」山姆堅定地、卻不實地說道。「不，你不能，山姆！」皮聘說。「這對他有好處。他除了自己吩咐我們打包的東西外，什麼都沒有。他最近一直很懶散，等他走掉一些自己的重量後，就不會覺得那麼重了。」「對一個可憐的老哈比人好一點吧！」佛羅多笑道。「我敢肯定，在到達巴克蘭之前，我會瘦得像柳枝一樣。但我剛才在胡說八道。我懷疑你拿了超過你應得的份量，山姆，下次打包時我會仔細檢查的。」他又拿起手杖。「嗯，我們都喜歡在黑暗中行走，」他說，「所以在睡覺前，讓我們多走幾英里路吧。」他們沿著小徑向西走了一小段路。然後離開小徑，左轉，再次悄悄地進入田野。他們走進
THREE IS COMPANY TI single file along hedgerows and the borders of coppices, and night fell dark about them. In their dark cloaks they were as invisible as if they all had magic rings. Since they were all hobbits, and were trying to be silent, they made no noise that even hobbits would hear. Even the wild things in the fields and woods hardly noticed their passing. After some time they crossed the Water, west of Hobbiton, by a narrow plank-bridge. The stream was there no more than a winding black ribbon, bordered with leaning alder-trees. A mile or two further south they hastily crossed the great road from the Brandywine Bridge; they were now in the Tookland and bending south-eastwards they made for the Green Hill Country. As they began to climb its first slopes they looked back and saw the lamps in Hobbiton far off twinkling in the gentle valley of the Water. Soon it disappeared in the folds of the darkened land, and was followed by Bywater beside its grey pool. When the light of the last farm was far behind, peeping among the trees, Frodo turned and waved a hand in farewell. ‘I wonder if I shall ever look down into that valley again,’ he said quietly. When they had walked for about three hours they rested. The night was clear, cool, and starry, but smoke-like wisps of mist were creeping up the hill-sides from the streams and deep meadows. Thinclad birches, swaying in a light wind above their heads, made a black net against the pale sky. They ate a very frugal supper (for hobbits), and then went on again. Soon they struck a narrow road, that went rolling up and down, fading grey into the darkness ahead: the road to Woodhall, and Stock, and the Bucklebury Ferry. It climbed away from the main road in the Water-valley, and wound over the skirts of the Green Hills towards Woody End, a wild corner of the Eastfarthing. After a while they plunged into a deeply cloven track between tall trees that rustled their dry leaves in the night. It was very dark. At first they talked, or hummed a tune softly together, being now far away from inquisitive ears. Then they marched on in silence, and Pippin began to lag behind. At last, as they began to climb a steep slope, he stopped and yawned. ‘I am so sleepy,’ he said, ‘that soon I shall fall down on the road. Are you going to sleep on your legs? It is nearly midnight.’ ‘I thought you liked walking in the dark,’ said Frodo. ‘But there is no great hurry. Merry expects us some time the day after tomorrow; but that leaves us nearly two days more. We’ll halt at the first likely spot.’ “The wind’s in the West,’ said Sam. ‘If we get to the other side of this hill, we shall find a spot that is sheltered and snug enough, sir. There is a dry fir-wood just ahead, if I remember rightly.” Sam
三人同行，他們排成一列，沿著樹籬和矮林邊緣前行，夜幕低垂，籠罩著他們。他們身披深色斗篷，隱形得彷彿都戴著魔法戒指。由於他們都是哈比人，而且正努力保持安靜，所以他們發出的聲音連其他哈比人都聽不到。就連田野和樹林裡的野獸也幾乎沒有察覺到他們的經過。過了一段時間，他們在哈比屯以西，通過一座狹窄的木板橋渡過了「水」。那裡的溪流只是一條蜿蜒的黑色緞帶，兩旁是傾斜的赤楊樹。再往南一兩英里，他們匆匆穿過了從白蘭地酒橋延伸而來的大路；他們現在身處圖克地，朝東南方彎曲前行，前往綠丘區。當他們開始攀爬第一道斜坡時，回頭望去，看見遠處哈比屯的燈火在「水」的溫和山谷中閃爍。很快地，它消失在黑暗大地的褶皺中，接著是拜水鎮及其灰色的水池。當最後一戶農家的燈光遠遠落在身後，在樹叢中若隱若現時，佛羅多轉身揮手告別。「我不知道我是否還能再次俯瞰那個山谷，」他輕聲說。他們走了大約三個小時後，便停下來休息。夜晚清澈、涼爽、繁星點點，但煙霧般的薄霧正從溪流和深邃的草地悄悄爬上山坡。頭頂上，樹皮薄薄的樺樹在微風中搖曳，在蒼白的天空中織成一張黑色的網。他們吃了一頓非常簡樸的晚餐（對哈比人來說），然後又繼續前進。很快地，他們遇到一條狹窄的道路，它蜿蜒起伏，漸漸融入前方的黑暗中，變成一片灰色：那是通往伍德霍爾、斯托克和巴克爾伯里渡口的道路。它從水谷的主幹道爬升，蜿蜒越過綠丘的邊緣，朝著東區的一個荒野角落——林木盡頭而去。過了一會兒，他們鑽進一條深深的裂開的小徑，兩旁是高大的樹木，樹葉在夜裡沙沙作響。天色非常黑。起初他們說話，或輕聲哼唱著小調，因為現在已經遠離了那些愛打聽的耳朵。接著他們默默前行，皮聘開始落後。最後，當他們開始爬一個陡峭的斜坡時，他停下來打了個哈欠。「我好睏，」他說，「我很快就要倒在路上了。你們打算站著睡覺嗎？快半夜了。」「我以為你喜歡在黑暗中行走，」佛羅多說。「但我們不急。梅里預計我們後天某個時候會到；那樣我們還有將近兩天的時間。我們會在第一個合適的地方停下來。」「風從西方來，」山姆說，「如果我們翻過這座山，我們就能找到一個足夠遮蔽和舒適的地方，先生。前面就有一片乾燥的冷杉林，如果我沒記錯的話。」
72 THE LORD OF THE RINGS knew the land well within twenty miles of Hobbiton, but that was the limit of his geography. Just over the top of the hill they came on the patch of fir-wood. Leaving the road they went into the deep resin-scented darkness of the trees, and gathered dead sticks and cones to make a fire. Soon they had a merry crackle of flame at the foot of a large fir-tree and they sat round it for a while, until they began to nod. Then, each in an angle of the great tree’s roots, they curled up in their cloaks and blankets, and were soon fast asleep. They set no watch; even Frodo feared no danger yet, for they were still in the heart of the Shire. A few creatures came and looked at them when the fire had died away. A fox passing through the wood on business of his own stopped several minutes and sniffed. ‘Hobbits!’ he thought. ‘Well, what next? I have heard of strange doings in this land, but I have seldom heard of a hobbit sleeping out of doors under a tree. Three of them! There’s something mighty queer behind this.’ He was quite right, but he never found out any more about it. The morning came, pale and clammy. Frodo woke up first, and found that a tree-root had made a hole in his back, and that his neck was stiff. ‘Walking for pleasure! Why didn’t I drive?’ he thought, as he usually did at the beginning of an expedition. ‘And all my beautiful feather beds are sold to the Sackville-Bagginses! These tree-roots would do them good.’ He stretched. ‘Wake up, hobbits!’ he cried. ‘It’s a beautiful morning.’ ‘What’s beautiful about it?’ said Pippin, peering over the edge of his blanket with one eye. ‘Sam! Get breakfast ready for half-past nine! Have you got the bath-water hot?’ Sam jumped up, looking rather bleary. ‘No, sir, I haven’t, sir!’ he said. Frodo stripped the blankets from Pippin and rolled him over, and then walked off to the edge of the wood. Away eastward the sun was rising red out of the mists that lay thick on the world. Touched with gold and red the autumn trees seemed to be sailing rootless in a shadowy sea. A little below him to the left the road ran down steeply into a hollow and disappeared. When he returned Sam and Pippin had got a good fire going. ‘Water!’ shouted Pippin. ‘Where’s the water?’ ‘I don’t keep water in my pockets,’ said Frodo. ‘We thought you had gone to find some,’ said Pippin, busy setting out the food, and cups. ‘You had better go now.’ “You can come too,’ said Frodo, ‘and bring all the water-bottles.’ There was a stream at the foot of the hill. They filled their bottles
《魔戒》中的主人翁對哈比屯周圍二十英里內的土地瞭如指掌，但那已是他的地理知識極限了。剛翻過山頂，他們就看到了一片冷杉林。他們離開道路，走進了樹林深處，那裡瀰漫著樹脂的芬芳，一片漆黑；他們撿拾枯枝和松果來生火。很快，一堆火焰在巨大的冷杉樹腳下歡快地噼啪作響，他們圍著火堆坐了一會兒，直到開始打瞌睡。接著，他們各自蜷縮在巨大樹根的角落裡，裹著斗篷和毯子，很快就沉沉睡去。他們沒有設崗哨；即使是佛羅多也還不擔心危險，因為他們仍在夏爾的中心地帶。火熄滅後，有幾隻小動物過來看了看他們。一隻狐狸路過樹林，忙著自己的事，停下來嗅了幾分鐘。「哈比人！」牠心想。「接下來會發生什麼？我聽說過這片土地上發生過一些奇怪的事情，但我很少聽說哈比人會在戶外樹下睡覺。三個人！這背後一定有什麼非常奇怪的事情。」牠說得一點沒錯，但牠從未再發現任何關於這件事的線索。早晨來臨，蒼白而濕冷。佛羅多第一個醒來，發現一根樹根在他的背上壓出了一個洞，而且他的脖子僵硬了。「為了樂趣而走路！我為什麼不開車呢？」他心想，就像他每次遠征開始時常想的那樣。「而且我所有漂亮的羽絨床墊都賣給了薩克維爾-巴金斯家！這些樹根會讓他們受益匪淺。」他伸了個懶腰。「醒醒，哈比人！」他喊道。「這是個美好的早晨。」「這有什麼美好的？」皮聘說，他只睜開一隻眼，從毯子邊緣探出頭來。「山姆！九點半準備早餐！洗澡水燒好了嗎？」山姆跳了起來，看起來有些睡眼惺忪。「不，先生，還沒有，先生！」他說。佛羅多掀開皮聘身上的毯子，把他翻了個身，然後走向樹林邊緣。東方，太陽正從籠罩大地的濃霧中泛紅升起。被金紅色點綴的秋樹，彷彿在陰影之海中無根地漂浮著。在他左下方不遠處，道路陡峭地向下延伸，沒入一個窪地，然後消失不見。當他回來時，山姆和皮聘已經生好了一堆旺火。「水！」皮聘喊道。「水在哪裡？」「我口袋裡可沒裝水。」佛羅多說。「我們以為你去找水了。」皮聘說，他正忙著擺放食物和杯子。「你最好現在就去。」「你也可以一起去。」佛羅多說，「把所有水瓶都帶上。」山腳下有一條小溪。他們裝滿了水瓶。
THREE IS COMPANY 73 and the small camping kettle at a little fall where the water fell a few feet over an outcrop of grey stone. It was icy cold; and they spluttered and puffed as they bathed their faces and hands. When their breakfast was over, and their packs all trussed up again, it was after ten o’clock, and the day was beginning to turn fine and hot. They went down the slope, and across the stream where it dived under the road, and up the next slope, and up and down another shoulder of the hills; and by that time their cloaks, blankets, water, food, and other gear already seemed a heavy burden. The day’s march promised to be warm and tiring work. After some miles, however, the road ceased to roll up and down: it climbed to the top of a steep bank in a weary zig-zagging sort of way, and then prepared to go down for the last time. In front of them they saw the lower lands dotted with small clumps of trees that melted away in the distance to a brown woodland haze. They were looking across the Woody End towards the Brandywine River. The road wound away before them like a piece of string. “The road goes on for ever,’ said Pippin; ‘but I can’t without a rest. It is high time for lunch.’ He sat down on the bank at the side of the road and looked away east into the haze, beyond which lay the River, and the end of the Shire in which he had spent all his life. Sam stood by him. His round eyes were wide open — for he was looking across lands he had never seen to a new horizon. ‘Do Elves live in those woods?’ he asked. ‘Not that I ever heard,’ said Pippin. Frodo was silent. He too was gazing eastward along the road, as if he had never seen it before. Suddenly he spoke, aloud but as if to himself, saying slowly: The Road goes ever on and on Down from the door where it began. Now far ahead the Road has gone, And I must follow, if I can, Pursuing it with weary feet, Until it joins some larger way, Where many paths and errands meet. And whither then? I cannot say. “That sounds like a bit of old Bilbo’s rhyming,’ said Pippin. ‘Or is it one of your imitations? It does not sound altogether encouraging.’ ‘I don’t know,’ said Frodo. ‘It came to me then, as if I was making it up; but I may have heard it long ago. Certainly it reminds me very much of Bilbo in the last years, before he went away. He used often to say there was only one Road; that it was like a great river: its
三人成行 73 他們把小小的露營水壺放在一個小瀑布旁，那裡的流水從一塊灰色岩石露頭上落下幾英尺。水冰冷刺骨；他們洗臉洗手時，凍得噴水喘氣。早餐結束，背包也重新紮好，這時已過了十點，天氣開始轉晴變熱。他們走下斜坡，穿過那條潛入路下的溪流，再爬上另一個斜坡，然後又翻過一個山脊；這時，他們的斗篷、毯子、水、食物和其他裝備已經顯得沉重不堪。這天的行軍預計會是炎熱而疲憊的工作。然而，走了幾英里後，道路不再起伏不定：它以一種疲憊的Z字形方式爬上陡峭的堤岸頂部，然後準備最後一次下坡。他們前方是低地，點綴著小樹叢，遠處逐漸融入一片棕色的林地薄霧中。他們正越過林地邊緣（伍迪恩德）望向白蘭地河。道路在他們前方蜿蜒而去，像一條線。「路永遠走不完，」皮聘說，「但我沒法不休息。該吃午飯了。」他坐在路邊的堤岸上，向東望向薄霧，薄霧之外是那條河，以及他一生都居住的夏爾的盡頭。山姆站在他身旁。他圓圓的眼睛睜得大大的——因為他正望向他從未見過的土地，望向一個新的地平線。「精靈住在那些樹林裡嗎？」他問道。「我從沒聽說過，」皮聘說。佛羅多沉默不語。他也沿著路向東凝視，彷彿他從未見過這條路。他突然開口，聲音很大卻又像自言自語，緩緩說道：「路途永無止境，從門前開始延伸。如今路已遙遙領先，我必須追隨，如果我能，用疲憊的雙腳，直到它匯入更寬廣的道路，那裡萬徑交會，事務繁多。然後呢？我無法言說。」「那聽起來有點像老比爾博的詩句，」皮聘說，「還是你模仿的？聽起來不太令人振奮。」「我不知道，」佛羅多說，「那時它就這麼浮現在我腦海裡，好像是我自己編的；但我可能很久以前聽過。它確實讓我想起比爾博晚年，在他離開之前。他常說只有一條路；那就像一條大河：它的
74 THE LORD OF THE RINGS springs were at every doorstep, and every path was its tributary. “‘It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out of your door,” he used to say. ‘““You step into the Road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there is no knowing where you might be swept off to. Do you realize that this is the very path that goes through Mirkwood, and that if you let it, it might take you to the Lonely Mountain or even further and to worse places?” He used to say that on the path outside the front door at Bag End, especially after he had been out for a long walk.’ ‘Well, the Road won’t sweep me anywhere for an hour at least,’ said Pippin, unslinging his pack. The others followed his example, putting their packs against the bank and their legs out into the road. After a rest they had a good lunch, and then more rest. The sun was beginning to get low and the light of afternoon was on the land as they went down the hill. So far they had not met a soul on the road. This way was not much used, being hardly fit for carts, and there was little traffic to the Woody End. They had been jogging along again for an hour or more when Sam stopped a moment as if listening. They were now on level ground, and the road after much winding lay straight ahead through grass-land sprinkled with tall trees, outliers of the approaching woods. ‘I can hear a pony or a horse coming along the road behind,’ said Sam. They looked back, but the turn of the road prevented them from seeing far. ‘I wonder if that is Gandalf coming after us,’ said Frodo; but even as he said it, he had a feeling that it was not so, and a sudden desire to hide from the view of the rider came over him. ‘It may not matter much,’ he said apologetically, ‘but I would rather not be seen on the road — by anyone. I am sick of my doings being noticed and discussed. And if it is Gandalf,’ he added as an afterthought, ‘we can give him a little surprise, to pay him out for being so late. Let’s get out of sight!’ The other two ran quickly to the left and down into a little hollow not far from the road. There they lay flat. Frodo hesitated for a second: curiosity or some other feeling was struggling with his desire to hide. The sound of hoofs drew nearer. Just in time he threw himself down in a patch of long grass behind a tree that overshadowed the road. Then he lifted his head and peered cautiously above one of the great roots. Round the corner came a black horse, no hobbit-pony but a fullsized horse; and on it sat a large man, who seemed to crouch in the saddle, wrapped in a great black cloak and hood, so that only his boots in the high stirrups showed below; his face was shadowed and invisible.
74 泉水流經每戶門前，每條小徑都是它的支流。「『佛羅多，踏出家門是件危險的事，』他常說。『「你踏上大路，要是站不穩腳跟，就不知道會被捲到哪裡去。你可知道這條路會穿過幽暗密林，如果你任由它帶領，它可能會把你帶到孤山，甚至更遠、更糟糕的地方去？」他常在袋底洞前門外的小徑上說這些話，尤其是在他長途跋涉回來之後。』「嗯，至少一個小時內，大路不會把我捲到任何地方去。」皮聘說著，卸下了他的背包。其他人也照做，把背包靠在路邊的土坡上，雙腿伸到路中央。休息過後，他們享用了一頓豐盛的午餐，然後又繼續休息。太陽漸漸西沉，當他們下山時，午後的陽光灑滿大地。到目前為止，他們在路上一個人也沒遇到。這條路不常使用，幾乎不適合馬車通行，通往林地邊緣的交通量也很小。他們又慢跑了一個多小時，山姆突然停了下來，彷彿在傾聽什麼。他們現在身處平坦的地面，蜿蜒許久的路徑此刻筆直地向前延伸，穿過點綴著高大樹木的草地，這些樹木是即將到來的森林的邊緣。「我聽到後面路上有小馬或馬匹的聲音。」山姆說。他們回頭望去，但道路的轉彎處阻礙了他們的視線。「不知道是不是甘道夫追上來了？」佛羅多說；但他話音剛落，就覺得不是這樣，一股想要躲避騎馬人視線的強烈慾望突然湧上心頭。「也許沒什麼大不了的，」他歉意地說，「但我寧願不要在路上被任何人看見。我厭倦了我的所作所為被人注意和議論。如果真是甘道夫，」他事後補充道，「我們可以給他一個小小的驚喜，報復他遲到這麼久。我們快躲起來！」另外兩人迅速跑到左邊，鑽進離路不遠的一個小窪地。他們平躺在那裡。佛羅多猶豫了一秒鐘：好奇心或其他某種感覺正在與他躲藏的慾望搏鬥。蹄聲越來越近。他及時撲倒在一棵遮蔽道路的樹後的一片長草叢中。然後他抬起頭，小心翼翼地從一根大樹根上方窺視。轉過彎來的是一匹黑馬，不是哈比人的小馬，而是一匹成年大馬；馬背上坐著一個高大的男人，他似乎弓著身子坐在馬鞍上，裹著一件巨大的黑色斗篷和兜帽，只有他穿著高鐙的靴子露在外面；他的臉被陰影籠罩，看不清楚。
THREE IS COMPANY 75 When it reached the tree and was level with Frodo the horse stopped. The riding figure sat quite still with its head bowed, as iflistening. From inside the hood came a noise as of someone sniffing to catch an elusive scent; the head turned from side to side of the road. A sudden unreasoning fear of discovery laid hold of Frodo, and he thought of his Ring. He hardly dared to breathe, and yet the desire to get it out of his pocket became so strong that he began slowly to move his hand. He felt that he had only to slip it on, and then he would be safe. The advice of Gandalf seemed absurd. Bilbo had used the Ring. ‘And I am still in the Shire,’ he thought, as his hand touched the chain on which it hung. At that moment the rider sat up, and shook the reins. The horse stepped forward, walking slowly at first, and then breaking into a quick trot. Frodo crawled to the edge of the road and watched the rider, until he dwindled into the distance. He could not be quite sure, but it seemed to him that suddenly, before it passed out of sight, the horse turned aside and went into the trees on the right. ‘Well, I call that very queer, and indeed disturbing,’ said Frodo to himself, as he walked towards his companions. Pippin and Sam had remained flat in the grass, and had seen nothing; so Frodo described the rider and his strange behaviour. ‘I can’t say why, but I felt certain he was looking or smelling for me; and also I felt certain that I did not want him to discover me. I’ve never seen or felt anything like it in the Shire before.’ ‘But what has one of the Big People got to do with us?’ said Pippin. ‘And what is he doing in this part of the world?’ “There are some Men about,’ said Frodo. ‘Down in the Southfarthing they have had trouble with Big People, I believe. But I have never heard of anything like this rider. I wonder where he comes from.’ ‘Begging your pardon,’ put in Sam suddenly, ‘I know where he comes from. It’s from Hobbiton that this here black rider comes, unless there’s more than one. And I know where he’s going to.’ ‘What do you mean?’ said Frodo sharply, looking at him in astonishment. ‘Why didn’t you speak up before?’ ‘I have only just remembered, sir. It was like this: when I got back to our hole yesterday evening with the key, my dad, he says to me: Hallo, Sam! he says. I thought you were away with Mr. Frodo this morning. There’s been a strange customer asking for Mr. Baggins of Bag End, and he’s only just gone. I’ve sent him on to Bucklebury. Not that I liked the sound of him. He seemed mighty put out, when I told him Mr. Baggins had left his old home for good. Hissed at me, he did. It gave me quite a shudder. What sort of a fellow was he? says I to the Gaffer. I don’t know, says he; but he wasn’t a hobbit. He was tall and black-like,
三人成行 75 當牠走到樹旁，與佛羅多齊高時，馬停了下來。那騎馬的身影靜靜地坐著，頭低垂著，彷彿在傾聽。從兜帽裡傳來一陣聲音，像是有人在嗅聞，試圖捕捉一種難以捉摸的氣味；頭在路邊左右轉動。一種突如其來的、莫名的被發現的恐懼攫住了佛羅多，他想起了他的魔戒。他幾乎不敢呼吸，然而將魔戒從口袋裡拿出來的渴望變得如此強烈，以至於他開始緩慢地移動他的手。他覺得只要戴上它，他就會安全了。甘道夫的建議似乎荒謬可笑。比爾博曾使用過魔戒。「而我還在夏爾呢，」他想，他的手觸摸到魔戒所懸掛的鍊子。就在那一刻，騎手坐直了身子，抖了抖韁繩。馬向前邁步，先是緩慢行走，然後突然加快成小跑。佛羅多爬到路邊，看著那騎手，直到他漸漸消失在遠方。他不能完全確定，但在他看來，突然間，在它消失之前，馬轉向一旁，走進了右邊的樹林。「嗯，我認為那非常奇怪，而且確實令人不安，」佛羅多自言自語道，他走向他的同伴。皮聘和山姆一直趴在草叢裡，什麼也沒看到；於是佛羅多描述了那騎手和他奇怪的行為。「我說不出為什麼，但我確信他是在尋找或嗅聞我；我也確信我不想讓他發現我。我在夏爾從未見過或感受過這樣的事情。」「但是那些大人物跟我們有什麼關係？」皮聘說。「他來這個地方做什麼？」「附近有一些人類，」佛羅多說。「我相信，在南區，他們曾與大人物發生過麻煩。但我從未聽說過像這個騎手這樣的事情。我不知道他從哪裡來。」「恕我直言，」山姆突然插嘴說，「我知道他從哪裡來。這個黑騎士是從哈比屯來的，除非不止一個。而且我知道他要去哪裡。」「你什麼意思？」佛羅多尖銳地說，驚訝地看著他。「你為什麼不早點說？」「我剛才才想起來，先生。事情是這樣的：昨天晚上我帶著鑰匙回到我們的洞穴時，我爸爸對我說：『哈囉，山姆！』他說。『我以為你今天早上跟佛羅多先生出去了。有個奇怪的客人來找袋底洞的巴金斯先生，他剛走。我把他打發到躍馬橋去了。倒不是說我喜歡他那副樣子。當我告訴他巴金斯先生已經永遠離開他的老家時，他似乎非常惱火。他對我嘶嘶作響，真的。這讓我嚇了一大跳。他到底是個什麼樣的人？我問老爹。我不知道，』他說，『但他不是個哈比人。他很高大，黑漆漆的，』
76 THE LORD OF THE RINGS and he stooped over me. I reckon it was one of the Big Folk from foreign parts. He spoke funny. ‘I couldn’t stay to hear more, sir, since you were waiting; and I didn’t give much heed to it myself. The Gaffer is getting old, and more than a bit blind, and it must have been near dark when this fellow come up the Hill and found him taking the air at the end of our Row. I hope he hasn’t done no harm, sir, nor me.’ “The Gaffer can’t be blamed anyway,’ said Frodo. ‘As a matter of fact I heard him talking to a stranger, who seemed to be inquiring for me, and I nearly went and asked him who it was. I wish I had, or you had told me about it before. I might have been more careful on the road.’ ‘Still, there may be no connexion between this rider and the Gaffer’s stranger,’ said Pippin. ‘We left Hobbiton secretly enough, and I don’t see how he could have followed us.’ ‘What about the smelling, sir?’ said Sam. ‘And the Gaffer said he was a black chap.’ ‘I wish I had waited for Gandalf,’ Frodo muttered. ‘But perhaps it would only have made matters worse.’ “Then you know or guess something about this rider?’ said Pippin, who had caught the muttered words. ‘I don’t know, and I would rather not guess,’ said Frodo. ‘All right, cousin Frodo! You can keep your secret for the present, if you want to be mysterious. In the meanwhile what are we to do? I should like a bite and a sup, but somehow I think we had better move on from here. Your talk of sniffing riders with invisible noses has unsettled me.’ ‘Yes, I think we will move on now,’ said Frodo; ‘but not on the road — in case that rider comes back, or another follows him. We ought to do a good step more today. Buckland is still miles away.’ The shadows of the trees were long and thin on the grass, as they started off again. They now kept a stone’s throw to the left of the road, and kept out of sight of it as much as they could. But this hindered them; for the grass was thick and tussocky, and the ground uneven, and the trees began to draw together into thickets. The sun had gone down red behind the hills at their backs, and evening was coming on before they came back to the road at the end of the long level over which it had run straight for some miles. At that point it bent left and went down into the lowlands of the Yale making for Stock; but a lane branched right, winding through a wood of ancient oak-trees on its way to Woodhall. “That is the way for us,’ said Frodo. Not far from the road-meeting they came on the huge hulk of a
76 魔戒 他彎下身子看著我。我想那是個來自外地的「大人物」。他說話很奇怪。「我不能再多聽了，先生，因為您在等我；我自己也沒太在意。老爹年紀大了，而且有點老眼昏花，當時天色一定快黑了，這個人爬上山丘，發現他在我們那排屋子的盡頭乘涼。我希望他沒做什麼壞事，先生，我也沒有。」「無論如何，老爹都不能怪罪。」佛羅多說。「事實上，我聽到他跟一個陌生人說話，那人似乎在打聽我的消息，我差點就過去問他是誰了。我真希望我當時問了，或者你早點告訴我。我可能在路上會更小心。」「不過，這個騎馬的人和老爹遇到的陌生人之間可能沒有關聯。」皮聘說。「我們離開哈比屯時夠秘密了，我不明白他怎麼可能跟蹤我們。」「那氣味呢，先生？」山姆說。「而且老爹說他是個黑衣人。」「我真希望我等了甘道夫。」佛羅多咕噥道。「但也許那只會讓事情變得更糟。」「那麼你對這個騎馬的人有所了解或猜測嗎？」皮聘問道，他聽到了那些咕噥的話。「我不知道，我寧願不猜。」佛羅多說。「好吧，佛羅多表哥！如果你想保持神秘，現在你可以保守你的秘密。同時，我們該怎麼辦？我真想吃點東西喝點水，但不知怎的，我覺得我們最好還是離開這裡。你說那些嗅探的騎馬人有隱形鼻子，這讓我心神不寧。」「是的，我想我們現在就走。」佛羅多說；「但不要走大路——以防那個騎馬的人回來，或者另一個人跟蹤他。我們今天應該再走一大段路。袋底洞還遠著呢。」當他們再次出發時，樹影在草地上又長又細。他們現在離路邊約一箭之遙，盡可能地避開視線。但這阻礙了他們；因為草很厚，長成一叢叢的，地面凹凸不平，樹木開始聚攏成灌木叢。太陽在他們身後的山丘後方紅彤彤地落下，傍晚降臨，然後他們才回到路的盡頭，那是一段筆直延伸數英里的長平地。在那一點，路向左彎，下行進入耶魯的低地，通往斯托克；但一條小徑向右分岔，蜿蜒穿過一片古老的橡樹林，通往伍德霍爾。「那是我們的路。」佛羅多說。離路口不遠，他們遇到了一個巨大的
THREE IS COMPANY qi tree: it was still alive and had leaves on the small branches that it had put out round the broken stumps of its long-fallen limbs; but it was hollow, and could be entered by a great crack on the side away from the road. The hobbits crept inside, and sat there upon a floor of old leaves and decayed wood. They rested and had a light meal, talking quietly and listening from time to time. Twilight was about them as they crept back to the lane. The West wind was sighing in the branches. Leaves were whispering. Soon the road began to fall gently but steadily into the dusk. A star came out above the trees in the darkening East before them. They went abreast and in step, to keep up their spirits. After a time, as the stars grew thicker and brighter, the feeling of disquiet left them, and they no longer listened for the sound of hoofs. They began to hum softly, as hobbits have a way of doing as they walk along, especially when they are drawing near to home at night. With most hobbits it is a supper-song or a bed-song; but these hobbits hummed a walking-song (though not, of course, without any mention of supper and bed). Bilbo Baggins had made the words, to a tune that was as old as the hills, and taught it to Frodo as they walked in the lanes of the Water-valley and talked about Adventure. Upon the hearth the fire 1s red, Beneath the roof there is a bed; But not yet weary are our feet, Still round the corner we may meet A sudden tree or standing stone That none have seen but we alone. Tree and flower and leaf and grass, Let them pass! Let them pass! Hill and water under sky, Pass them by! Pass them by! Still round the corner there may wait A new road or a secret gate, And though we pass them by today, Tomorrow we may come this way And take the hidden paths that run Towards the Moon or to the Sun. Apple, thorn, and nut and sloe, Let them go! Let them go! Sand and stone and pool and dell, Fare you well! Fare you well!
三足鼎立 (THREE IS COMPANY) 氣樹：它仍然活著，在它那些從早已斷裂的樹枝殘樁旁長出的小枝上，還掛著葉子；但它內部是中空的，可以從遠離道路的一側的一個大裂縫進入。哈比人爬了進去，坐在裡面，地上鋪滿了枯葉和腐爛的木頭。他們休息了一會兒，吃了頓便餐，輕聲交談，不時地傾聽著。當他們悄悄回到小徑時，暮色已籠罩著他們。西風在樹枝間嘆息。樹葉沙沙作響。很快，道路便開始輕柔而穩定地沒入暮色中。在他們前方，東方漸暗的天空中，一顆星星出現了。他們並肩而行，步伐一致，以保持士氣。過了一會兒，隨著星星越來越多，越來越亮，不安的感覺離開了他們，他們不再傾聽蹄聲。他們開始輕聲哼唱，因為哈比人走路時總有這種習慣，尤其是在夜晚快要回家的時候。對大多數哈比人來說，那是晚餐歌或睡前歌；但這些哈比人哼唱的是一首行路歌（當然，其中也少不了提到晚餐和睡覺）。比爾博·巴金斯為這首歌譜了詞，曲調則古老得像山丘一樣，他在水谷的小徑上行走並談論冒險時，將它教給了佛羅多。 爐火通紅， 屋簷下有張床； 但我們的雙腳尚未疲憊， 轉過街角，我們或許會遇見 一棵突如其來的樹或一塊立石， 除了我們，無人曾見。 樹木、花朵、葉子和青草， 讓它們過去！讓它們過去！ 山丘和天空下的水， 讓它們過去！讓它們過去！ 轉過街角，或許有條新路 或一道秘密的門在等待， 儘管我們今天讓它們過去， 明天我們或許會走這條路， 踏上通往月亮或太陽的隱秘小徑。 蘋果、荊棘、堅果和黑刺李， 讓它們走！讓它們走！ 沙灘、石頭、水池和小谷， 再見了！再見了！
78 THE LORD OF THE RINGS Home 1s behind, the world ahead, And there are many paths to tread Through shadows to the edge of night, Until the stars are all alight. Then world behind and home ahead, Well wander back to home and bed. Mist and twilight, cloud and shade, Away shall fade! Away shall fade! Fire and lamp, and meat and bread, And then to bed! And then to bed! The song ended. ‘And now to bed! And now to bed!’ sang Pippin in a high voice. ‘Hush!’ said Frodo. ‘I think I hear hoofs again.’ They stopped suddenly and stood as silent as tree-shadows, listening. There was a sound of hoofs in the lane, some way behind, but coming slow and clear down the wind. Quickly and quietly they slipped off the path, and ran into the deeper shade under the oaktrees. ‘Don’t let us go too far!’ said Frodo. ‘I don’t want to be seen, but I want to see if it is another Black Rider.’ ‘Very well!’ said Pippin. ‘But don’t forget the sniffing!’ The hoofs drew nearer. They had no time to find any hiding-place better than the general darkness under the trees; Sam and Pippin crouched behind a large tree-bole, while Frodo crept back a few yards towards the lane. It showed grey and pale, a line of fading light through the wood. Above it the stars were thick in the dim sky, but there was no moon. The sound of hoofs stopped. As Frodo watched he saw something dark pass across the lighter space between two trees, and then halt. It looked like the black shade of a horse led by a smaller black shadow. The black shadow stood close to the point where they had left the path, and it swayed from side to side. Frodo thought he heard the sound of snuffling. The shadow bent to the ground, and then began to crawl towards him. Once more the desire to slip on the Ring came over Frodo; but this time it was stronger than before. So strong that, almost before he realized what he was doing, his hand was groping in his pocket. But at that moment there came a sound like mingled song and laughter. Clear voices rose and fell in the starlit air. The black shadow straightened up and retreated. It climbed on to the shadowy horse and seemed to vanish across the lane into the darkness on the other side. Frodo breathed again. ‘Elves!’ exclaimed Sam in a hoarse whisper. ‘Elves, sir!’ He would
78 《魔戒》 家園在身後，世界在前方， 無數道路待我闖蕩， 穿過陰影，直到夜的邊緣， 直到星光點點，遍灑人間。 世界在身後，家園在前方， 我們將漫步歸家，安然入眠。 薄霧與暮色，浮雲與陰影， 都將消散！都將消散！ 爐火與燈光，肉食與麵包， 然後安睡！然後安睡！ 歌聲止歇。「現在該睡了！現在該睡了！」皮聘用高亢的聲音唱道。「噓！」佛羅多說，「我想我又聽到蹄聲了。」他們突然停下，像樹影般寂靜地站著，傾聽。小徑上傳來蹄聲，在他們身後不遠處，但隨著風聲緩緩而清晰地傳來。他們迅速而安靜地離開小徑，跑進橡樹下更深的陰影中。「我們別走太遠！」佛羅多說，「我不想被看見，但我想看看是不是另一個黑騎士。」「好吧！」皮聘說，「但別忘了嗅探！」蹄聲越來越近。他們沒有時間找到比樹下普遍的黑暗更好的藏身之處；山姆和皮聘蹲在一棵大樹幹後面，而佛羅多則向小徑方向悄悄退後幾碼。小徑顯得灰白，一道微弱的光線穿過樹林。上方，星星密佈在昏暗的天空中，但沒有月亮。蹄聲停了。佛羅多看著，他看到一個黑影穿過兩棵樹之間較亮的地方，然後停了下來。它看起來像一匹黑馬的陰影，由一個較小的黑影牽引著。那個黑影站在他們離開小徑的地方附近，它左右搖擺。佛羅多以為他聽到了嗅聞的聲音。那個黑影彎下身子，然後開始向他爬來。佛羅多再次產生戴上魔戒的渴望；但這次比以往任何時候都更強烈。如此強烈，以至於他幾乎還沒意識到自己在做什麼，手就已經伸進口袋裡摸索。但就在那一刻，傳來一陣歌聲與笑聲交織的聲音。清亮的聲音在星光閃爍的空氣中此起彼伏。那個黑影直起身子，然後退去。它爬上那匹陰影般的馬，似乎消失在小徑對面的黑暗中。佛羅多鬆了一口氣。「精靈！」山姆用沙啞的耳語驚呼，「精靈，先生！」他會
THREE IS COMPANY 79 have burst out of the trees and dashed off towards the voices, if they had not pulled him back. “Yes, it is Elves,’ said Frodo. ‘One can meet them sometimes in the Woody End. They don’t live in the Shire, but they wander into it in spring and autumn, out of their own lands away beyond the Tower Hills. I am thankful that they do! You did not see, but that Black Rider stopped just here and was actually crawling towards us when the song began. As soon as he heard the voices he slipped away.’ ‘What about the Elves?’ said Sam, too excited to trouble about the rider. ‘Can’t we go and see them?’ ‘Listen! They are coming this way,’ said Frodo. ‘We have only to wait.’ The singing drew nearer. One clear voice rose now above the others. It was singing in the fair elven-tongue, of which Frodo knew only a little, and the others knew nothing. Yet the sound blending with the melody seemed to shape itself in their thought into words which they only partly understood. This was the song as Frodo heard it: Snow-white! Snow-white! O Lady clear! O Queen beyond the Western Seas! O Light to us that wander here Amid the world of woven trees! Gilthoniel! O Elbereth! Clear are thy eyes and bright thy breath! Snow-white! Snow-white! We sing to thee In a far land beyond the Sea. O stars that in the Sunless Year With shining hand by her were sown, In windy fields now bright and clear We see your silver blossom blown! O Elbereth! Gilthoniel! We still remember, we who dwell In this far land beneath the trees, Thy starlight on the Western Seas. The song ended. “These are High Elves! They spoke the name of Elbereth!’ said Frodo in amazement. ‘Few of that fairest folk are ever seen in the Shire. Not many now remain in Middle-earth, east of the Great Sea. This is indeed a strange chance!’
如果不是他們把他拉了回來，他早就衝出樹林，朝著聲音的方向跑去了。「是的，是精靈。」佛羅多說，「有時在『林地盡頭』會遇到他們。他們不住在夏爾，但會在春天和秋天時，從他們位於塔丘之外的土地，遊蕩到這裡來。我很慶幸他們這麼做！你沒看見，但那個黑騎士剛才就停在這裡，當歌聲響起時，他正朝我們爬過來。他一聽到聲音就溜走了。」「精靈怎麼了？」山姆說，他太興奮了，顧不上那個騎士。「我們不能去看看他們嗎？」「聽！他們正朝這邊過來。」佛羅多說，「我們只需要等待。」歌聲越來越近。一個清亮的聲音現在高於其他聲音。那是用優美的精靈語唱的，佛羅多只懂一點點，而其他人則一無所知。然而，那聲音與旋律融合在一起，似乎在他們的思想中形成了他們只部分理解的詞語。這就是佛羅多聽到的歌：雪白！雪白！啊，清澈的女士！啊，西海之外的王后！啊，我們這些在此地遊蕩者的光芒，在編織樹木的世界中！吉爾松尼爾！啊，埃爾貝瑞絲！你的眼睛清澈，你的氣息明亮！雪白！雪白！我們向你歌唱，在遙遠的海那邊的土地。啊，在無光之年，用閃耀的手被她播種的星星，在多風的田野中，如今明亮而清澈，我們看見你們銀色的花朵綻放！啊，埃爾貝瑞絲！吉爾松尼爾！我們依然記得，我們這些居住在這樹木下的遙遠土地上的人，你在西海上的星光。歌聲結束了。「這些是高等精靈！他們提到了埃爾貝瑞絲的名字！」佛羅多驚訝地說，「這種最美麗的族群，在夏爾很少見到。現在在大海以東的中土世界，剩下的也不多了。這真是一個奇特的機緣！」
80 THE LORD OF THE RINGS The hobbits sat in shadow by the wayside. Before long the Elves came down the lane towards the valley. They passed slowly, and the hobbits could see the starlight glimmering on their hair and in their eyes. They bore no lights, yet as they walked a shimmer, like the light of the moon above the rim of the hills before it rises, seemed to fall about their feet. They were now silent, and as the last Elf passed he turned and looked towards the hobbits and laughed. ‘Hail, Frodo!’ he cried. ‘You are abroad late. Or are you perhaps lost?’ Then he called aloud to the others, and all the company stopped and gathered round. “This is indeed wonderful!’ they said. “Three hobbits in a wood at night! We have not seen such a thing since Bilbo went away. What is the meaning of it?’ ‘The meaning of it, fair people,’ said Frodo, ‘is simply that we seem to be going the same way as you are. I like walking under the stars. But I would welcome your company.’ ‘But we have no need of other company, and hobbits are so dull,’ they laughed. ‘And how do you know that we go the same way as you, for you do not know whither we are going?’ ‘And how do you know my name?’ asked Frodo in return. ‘We know many things,’ they said. ‘We have seen you often before with Bilbo, though you may not have seen us.’ ‘Who are you, and who is your lord?’ asked Frodo. ‘I am Gildor,’ answered their leader, the Elf who had first hailed him. ‘Gildor Inglorion of the House of Finrod. We are Exiles, and most of our kindred have long ago departed and we too are now only tarrying here a while, ere we return over the Great Sea. But some of our kinsfolk dwell still in peace in Rivendell. Come now, Frodo, tell us what you are doing? For we see that there is some shadow of fear upon you.’ ‘O Wise People!’ interrupted Pippin eagerly. “Tell us about the Black Riders!’ ‘Black Riders?’ they said in low voices. ‘Why do you ask about Black Riders?’ ‘Because two Black Riders have overtaken us today, or one has done so twice,’ said Pippin; ‘only a little while ago he slipped away as you drew near.’ The Elves did not answer at once, but spoke together softly in their own tongue. At length Gildor turned to the hobbits. ‘We will not speak of this here,’ he said. ‘We think you had best come now with us. It is not our custom, but for this time we will take you on our road, and you shall lodge with us tonight, if you will.’ ‘O Fair Folk! This is good fortune beyond my hope,’ said Pippin. Sam was speechless. ‘I thank you indeed, Gildor Inglorion,’ said
80 魔戒 霍比特人坐在路邊的陰影裡。沒過多久，精靈們沿著小徑走向山谷。他們緩緩走過，霍比特人能看到星光在他們的頭髮上和眼睛裡閃爍。他們沒有攜帶任何燈火，然而當他們行走時，一道微光，就像月亮在山脊上方升起前的光芒，似乎落在他們的腳邊。他們現在沉默不語，當最後一個精靈走過時，他轉身望向霍比特人，笑了起來。「哈囉，佛羅多！」他喊道。「你這麼晚還在外面。還是你迷路了？」然後他大聲呼喚其他人，所有同伴都停下來，圍攏過來。「這真是太棒了！」他們說。「三個霍比特人深夜在樹林裡！自從比爾博離開後，我們就沒見過這種事了。這是什麼意思？」 「它的意思，善良的人們啊，」佛羅多說，「只是我們似乎和你們走的是同一條路。我喜歡在星空下散步。但我會很歡迎你們的陪伴。」 「但我們不需要其他同伴，而且霍比特人太無聊了，」他們笑了。「你們怎麼知道我們和你們走的是同一條路呢，因為你們不知道我們要去哪裡？」 「你們怎麼知道我的名字？」佛羅多反問道。「我們知道很多事，」他們說。「我們以前經常和比爾博在一起時見過你，儘管你可能沒見過我們。」 「你們是誰，你們的主人是誰？」佛羅多問道。「我是吉爾多，」他們的領袖，那個首先向他打招呼的精靈回答道。「芬羅德家族的吉爾多·英格羅里昂。我們是流亡者，我們的大部分親族早已離開，我們現在也只是暫時逗留在此，然後我們將返回大海。但我們的一些親戚仍然在瑞文戴爾安居樂業。現在，佛羅多，告訴我們你在做什麼？因為我們看到你身上籠罩著一絲恐懼的陰影。」 「哦，智者們！」皮聘急切地打斷道。「告訴我們關於黑騎士的事！」 「黑騎士？」他們低聲說。「你們為什麼要問黑騎士的事？」 「因為今天有兩個黑騎士追上了我們，或者說有一個追了兩次，」皮聘說；「就在你們靠近的時候，他才溜走了。」 精靈們沒有立刻回答，而是用他們的語言輕聲交談。最後，吉爾多轉向霍比特人。「我們不會在這裡談論這件事，」他說。「我們認為你們最好現在就跟我們走。這不是我們的習俗，但這次我們會帶你們上路，如果你們願意，今晚你們將和我們住在一起。」 「哦，美麗的人們！這真是出乎我意料的好運！」皮聘說。山姆說不出話來。「我確實感謝你，吉爾多·英格羅里昂，」他說。
THREE IS COMPANY 81 Frodo bowing. ‘Elen sila limenn’ omentielvo, a star shines on the hour of our meeting,’ he added in the High-elven speech. ‘Be careful, friends!’ cried Gildor laughing. ‘Speak no secrets! Here is a scholar in the Ancient Tongue. Bilbo was a good master. Hail, Elf-friend!’ he said, bowing to Frodo. ‘Come now with your friends and join our company! You had best walk in the middle so that you may not stray. You may be weary before we halt.’ ‘Why? Where are you going?’ asked Frodo. ‘For tonight we go to the woods on the hills above Woodhall. It is some miles, but you shall have rest at the end of it, and it will shorten your journey tomorrow.’ They now marched on again in silence, and passed like shadows and faint lights: for Elves (even more than hobbits) could walk when they wished without sound or footfall. Pippin soon began to feel sleepy, and staggered once or twice; but each time a tall Elf at his side put out his arm and saved him from a fall. Sam walked along at Frodo’s side, as if in a dream, with an expression on his face half of fear and half of astonished joy. The woods on either side became denser; the trees were now younger and thicker; and as the lane went lower, running down into a fold of the hills, there were many deep brakes of hazel on the rising slopes at either hand. At last the Elves turned aside from the path. A green ride lay almost unseen through the thickets on the right; and this they followed as it wound away back up the wooded slopes on to the top of a shoulder of the hills that stood out into the lower land of the river-valley. Suddenly they came out of the shadow of the trees, and before them lay a wide space of grass, grey under the night. On three sides the woods pressed upon it; but eastward the ground fell steeply and the tops of the dark trees, growing at the bottom of the slope, were below their feet. Beyond, the low lands lay dim and flat under the stars. Nearer at hand a few lights twinkled in the village of Woodhall. The Elves sat on the grass and spoke together in soft voices; they seemed to take no further notice of the hobbits. Frodo and his companions wrapped themselves in cloaks and blankets, and drowsiness stole over them. The night grew on, and the lights in the valley went out. Pippin fell asleep, pillowed on a green hillock. Away high in the East swung Remmirath, the Netted Stars, and slowly above the mists red Borgil rose, glowing like a jewel of fire. Then by some shift of airs all the mist was drawn away like a veil, and there leaned up, as he climbed over the rim of the world, the Swordsman of the Sky, Menelvagor with his shining belt. The Elves all burst into song. Suddenly under the trees a fire sprang up with a red light.
三人成行 81 佛羅多鞠躬。「Elen sila limenn’ omentielvo，一顆星辰照耀著我們相會的時刻。」他用高等精靈語補充道。「小心，朋友們！」吉爾多大笑著喊道。「別說出秘密！這裡有位精通古語的學者。比爾博是個好老師。萬歲，精靈之友！」他向佛羅多鞠躬說道。「現在就和你的朋友們一起來加入我們的隊伍吧！你們最好走在中間，這樣才不會迷路。在我們停下來之前，你們可能會感到疲憊。」「為什麼？你們要去哪裡？」佛羅多問道。「今晚我們要去伍德霍爾上方山丘上的樹林。雖然有幾英里遠，但你們到達後就能休息，而且這會縮短你們明天的旅程。」他們現在又默默地前進，像影子和微弱的光芒般穿梭：因為精靈（甚至比哈比人更甚）想走的時候可以不發出任何聲音或腳步聲。皮聘很快就開始感到睏倦，踉蹌了一兩次；但每次他身邊的一位高大精靈都會伸出手臂，將他從跌倒中救起。山姆走在佛羅多身邊，彷彿置身夢中，臉上帶著一半恐懼一半驚訝喜悅的表情。兩旁的樹林變得越來越茂密；樹木現在更年輕、更粗壯；隨著小徑向下延伸，進入山丘的褶皺處，兩邊的斜坡上長滿了許多茂密的榛樹叢。最後，精靈們離開了小徑。一條綠色的林間小徑幾乎看不見地穿過右側的灌木叢；他們沿著這條小徑蜿蜒而上，穿過長滿樹木的斜坡，到達了伸入河谷低地的山肩頂部。突然，他們走出了樹木的陰影，眼前是一片寬闊的草地，在夜色下呈現灰色。三面樹林緊逼著草地；但東面地面陡峭下降，生長在坡底的深色樹木的樹梢在他們腳下。遠處，低地在星光下顯得昏暗而平坦。近處，伍德霍爾村裡有幾盞燈光閃爍。精靈們坐在草地上，輕聲交談；他們似乎不再注意哈比人。佛羅多和他的同伴們裹緊了斗篷和毯子，睡意襲上他們的心頭。夜色漸濃，山谷裡的燈光熄滅了。皮聘睡著了，頭枕在一個綠色的小山丘上。高高的東方，網狀星辰雷米拉斯緩緩升起，隨後在薄霧上方，紅色的博吉爾也緩緩升起，像一顆燃燒的寶石般閃耀。然後，一陣微風吹過，所有的薄霧像面紗般被吹散，天空中，當他爬過世界邊緣時，帶著閃亮腰帶的劍客梅內瓦戈爾顯現出來。精靈們突然爆發出歌聲。樹下突然燃起了一團紅色的火焰。
82 THE LORD OF THE RINGS ‘Come!’ the Elves called to the hobbits. ‘Come! Now is the time for speech and merriment!’ Pippin sat up and rubbed his eyes. He shivered. “There is a fire in the hall, and food for hungry guests,’ said an Elf standing before him. At the south end of the greensward there was an opening. There the green floor ran on into the wood, and formed a wide space like a hall, roofed by the boughs of trees. Their great trunks ran like pillars down each side. In the middle there was a wood-fire blazing, and upon the tree-pillars torches with lights of gold and silver were burning steadily. The Elves sat round the fire upon the grass or upon the sawn rings of old trunks. Some went to and fro bearing cups and pouring drink; others brought food on heaped plates and dishes. “This is poor fare,’ they said to the hobbits; ‘for we are lodging in the greenwood far from our halls. If ever you are our guests at home, we will treat you better.’ ‘It seems to me good enough for a birthday-party,’ said Frodo. Pippin afterwards recalled little of either food or drink, for his mind was filled with the light upon the elf-faces, and the sound of voices so various and so beautiful that he felt in a waking dream. But he remembered that there was bread, surpassing the savour of a fair white loaf to one who is starving; and fruits sweet as wildberries and richer than the tended fruits of gardens; he drained a cup that was filled with a fragrant draught, cool as a clear fountain, golden as a summer afternoon. Sam could never describe in words, nor picture clearly to himself, what he felt or thought that night, though it remained in his memory as one of the chief events of his life. The nearest he ever got was to say: ‘Well, sir, if I could grow apples like that, I would call myself a gardener. But it was the singing that went to my heart, if you know what I mean.’ Frodo sat, eating, drinking, and talking with delight; but his mind was chiefly on the words spoken. He knew a little of the elf-speech and listened eagerly. Now and again he spoke to those that served him and thanked them in their own language. They smiled at him and said laughing: ‘Here is a jewel among hobbits!’ After a while Pippin fell fast asleep, and was lifted up and borne away to a bower under the trees; there he was laid upon a soft bed and slept the rest of the night away. Sam refused to leave his master. When Pippin had gone, he came and sat curled up at Frodo’s feet, where at last he nodded and closed his eyes. Frodo remained long awake, talking with Gildor. They spoke of many things, old and new, and Frodo questioned Gildor much about happenings in the wide world outside the Shire.
82 《魔戒》 「來吧！」精靈們對哈比人喊道。「來吧！現在是說話和歡樂的時刻！」皮聘坐起來揉了揉眼睛。他打了個寒顫。「大廳裡有火，還有食物給飢餓的客人。」一個站在他面前的精靈說道。在草地的南端有一個開口。那裡綠色的地面延伸進樹林，形成一個寬闊的空間，像一個大廳，樹枝為其屋頂。巨大的樹幹像柱子一樣排列在兩側。中央燃燒著熊熊的篝火，樹柱上則穩穩地燃燒著金銀色的火炬。精靈們圍坐在火堆旁，或坐在草地上，或坐在鋸下的老樹幹圓環上。有些人來回穿梭，端著杯子倒著飲料；另一些人則端著堆滿食物的盤子和碟子。「這只是粗茶淡飯。」他們對哈比人說，「因為我們住在綠林裡，離我們的家園很遠。如果你們有朝一日能到我們家作客，我們一定會好好款待你們。」「在我看來，這對一場生日派對來說已經夠好了。」佛羅多說。皮聘事後幾乎不記得食物或飲料，因為他的心神被精靈臉上的光芒，以及那多變而美妙的聲音所充滿，讓他感覺置身於一場清醒的夢中。但他記得有麵包，對於飢餓的人來說，其美味超越了潔白麵包的滋味；還有甜如野莓、比園中栽種水果更豐盛的果實；他喝乾了一杯芬芳的飲料，清涼如泉水，金黃如夏日午後。山姆永遠無法用言語描述，也無法清楚地想像出他那天晚上感受或思考的一切，儘管這件事作為他生命中最重要的事件之一，一直留在他的記憶中。他最接近的說法是：「嗯，先生，如果我能種出那樣的蘋果，我就會稱自己為園丁。但真正打動我心的是歌聲，如果你明白我的意思。」佛羅多坐著，愉快地吃著、喝著、聊著；但他的心思主要放在那些話語上。他懂一點精靈語，並熱切地聆聽著。他時不時地對那些服務他的人說話，並用他們的語言感謝他們。他們對他微笑，並笑著說：「這真是哈比人中的一顆寶石！」過了一會兒，皮聘沉沉睡去，被抱起來帶到樹下的一個涼亭；他在那裡被放在一張柔軟的床上，睡過了剩下的夜晚。山姆拒絕離開他的主人。皮聘走後，他過來蜷縮在佛羅多腳邊，最終也點頭閉上了眼睛。佛羅多與吉爾多徹夜長談。他們談論了許多事情，有舊有新，佛羅多向吉爾多詢問了許多關於夏爾以外廣闊世界中發生的事情。
THREE IS COMPANY 83 The tidings were mostly sad and ominous: of gathering darkness, the wars of Men, and the flight of the Elves. At last Frodo asked the question that was nearest to his heart: ‘Tell me, Gildor, have you ever seen Bilbo since he left us?’ Gildor smiled. ‘Yes,’ he answered. “Twice. He said farewell to us on this very spot. But I saw him once again, far from here.’ He would say no more about Bilbo, and Frodo fell silent. “You do not ask me or tell me much that concerns yourself, Frodo,’ said Gildor. ‘But I already know a little, and I can read more in your face and in the thought behind your questions. You are leaving the Shire, and yet you doubt that you will find what you seek, or accomplish what you intend, or that you will ever return. Is not that so?’ ‘It is,’ said Frodo; ‘but I thought my going was a secret known only to Gandalf and my faithful Sam.’ He looked down at Sam, who was snoring gently. ‘The secret will not reach the Enemy from us,’ said Gildor. “The Enemy?’ said Frodo. “Then you know why I am leaving the Shire?’ ‘I do not know for what reason the Enemy is pursuing you,’ answered Gildor; ‘but I perceive that he is — strange indeed though that seems to me. And I warn you that peril is now both before you and behind you, and upon either side.’ “You mean the Riders? I feared that they were servants of the Enemy. What are the Black Riders?’ ‘Has Gandalf told you nothing?’ ‘Nothing about such creatures.’ “Then I think it is not for me to say more — lest terror should keep you from your journey. For it seems to me that you have set out only just in time, if indeed you are in time. You must now make haste, and neither stay nor turn back; for the Shire is no longer any protection to you.’ ‘I cannot imagine what information could be more terrifying than your hints and warnings,’ exclaimed Frodo. ‘I knew that danger lay ahead, of course; but I did not expect to meet it in our own Shire. Can’t a hobbit walk from the Water to the River in peace?’ ‘But it is not your own Shire,’ said Gildor. ‘Others dwelt here before hobbits were; and others will dwell here again when hobbits are no more. The wide world is all about you: you can fence yourselves in, but you cannot for ever fence it out.’ ‘I know - and yet it has always seemed so safe and familiar. What can I do now? My plan was to leave the Shire secretly, and make my way to Rivendell; but now my footsteps are dogged, before ever I get to Buckland.’ ‘I think you should still follow that plan,’ said Gildor. ‘I do not
「三人成行」第八十三章 這些消息大多悲傷而凶險：關於黑暗的聚集、人類的戰爭，以及精靈的遠離。佛羅多終於問出了他心中最關切的問題：「吉爾多，自從比爾博離開我們之後，你可曾見過他？」吉爾多笑了。「是的，」他回答。「兩次。他就是在這個地方向我們告別的。但我又見過他一次，那是在很遠的地方。」他不願再多談比爾博，佛羅多也沉默了下來。「佛羅多，你沒有問我，也沒有告訴我太多關於你自己的事，」吉爾多說。「但我已經知道一些了，而且我能從你的臉上和你問題背後的思緒中讀出更多。你正要離開夏爾，然而你卻懷疑自己能否找到所尋之物，能否達成所願，或者能否再回來。難道不是這樣嗎？」「是的，」佛羅多說；「但我以為我的離開只有甘道夫和我忠實的山姆知道。」他低頭看著山姆，山姆正輕輕地打著鼾。「這個秘密不會從我們這裡傳到敵人那裡去，」吉爾多說。「敵人？」佛羅多說。「那麼你知道我為何要離開夏爾了？」「我不知道敵人為何追捕你，」吉爾多回答；「但我察覺到他確實如此——儘管這對我來說確實很奇怪。我警告你，危險現在就在你前方、你後方，以及你的兩側。」「你是說那些騎手嗎？我擔心他們是敵人的僕從。那些黑騎士是什麼？」「甘道夫沒告訴你什麼嗎？」「關於這些生物，什麼也沒說。」「那麼我想我不該再多說什麼了——以免恐懼阻礙了你的旅程。因為在我看來，你出發的時間剛剛好，如果真的還來得及的話。你現在必須趕路，既不能停留也不能回頭；因為夏爾對你來說已不再是任何保護了。」「我想像不出還有什麼消息會比你的暗示和警告更令人恐懼，」佛羅多驚呼道。「我當然知道前方有危險；但我沒想到會在我們自己的夏爾遇到。難道一個哈比人不能從水路走到河邊，安安靜靜地走嗎？」「但這不是你自己的夏爾，」吉爾多說。「在哈比人出現之前，這裡就住著其他人；當哈比人不再存在時，這裡也將再次住著其他人。廣闊的世界就在你身邊：你可以把自己圍起來，但你不能永遠把世界隔絕在外。」「我知道——然而它一直以來都顯得如此安全和熟悉。我現在能做什麼？我的計劃是秘密離開夏爾，前往瑞文戴爾；但現在我的行蹤已被追蹤，甚至還沒到巴克蘭。」「我想你還是應該遵循那個計劃，」吉爾多說。「我不知道
84 THE LORD OF THE RINGS think the Road will prove too hard for your courage. But if you desire clearer counsel, you should ask Gandalf. I do not know the reason for your flight, and therefore I do not know by what means your pursuers will assail you. These things Gandalf must know. I suppose that you will see him before you leave the Shire?’ ‘I hope so. But that is another thing that makes me anxious. I have been expecting Gandalf for many days. He was to have come to Hobbiton at the latest two nights ago; but he has never appeared. Now I am wondering what can have happened. Should I wait for him?’ Gildor was silent for a moment. ‘I do not like this news,’ he said at last. “That Gandalf should be late, does not bode well. But it is said: Do not meddle in the affairs of Wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger. The choice is yours: to go or wait.’ ‘And it is also said,’ answered Frodo: ‘Go not to the Elves for counsel, for they will say both no and yes.’ ‘Is it indeed?’ laughed Gildor. ‘Elves seldom give unguarded advice, for advice is a dangerous gift, even from the wise to the wise, and all courses may run ill. But what would you? You have not told me all concerning yourself; and how then shall I choose better than your But if you demand advice, I will for friendship’s sake give it. I think you should now go at once, without delay; and if Gandalf does not come before you set out, then I also advise this: do not go alone. Take such friends as are trusty and willing. Now you should be grateful, for I do not give this counsel gladly. The Elves have their own labours and their own sorrows, and they are little concerned with the ways of hobbits, or of any other creatures upon earth. Our paths cross theirs seldom, by chance or purpose. In this meeting there may be more than chance; but the purpose is not clear to me, and I fear to say too much.’ ‘I am deeply grateful,’ said Frodo; ‘but I wish you would tell me plainly what the Black Riders are. If I take your advice I may not see Gandalf for a long while, and I ought to know what is the danger that pursues me.’ ‘Is it not enough to know that they are servants of the Enemy?’ answered Gildor. ‘Flee them! Speak no words to them! They are deadly. Ask no more of me! But my heart forbodes that, ere all is ended, you, Frodo son of Drogo, will know more of these fell things than Gildor Inglorion. May Elbereth protect you!’ ‘But where shall I find courage?’ asked Frodo. ‘That is what I chiefly need.’ ‘Courage is found in unlikely places,’ said Gildor. ‘Be of good hope! Sleep now! In the morning we shall have gone; but we will send our messages through the lands. The Wandering Companies
84 《魔戒》認為這條路對你的勇氣來說會太艱難。但如果你想得到更明確的建議，你應該去問甘道夫。我不知道你逃亡的原因，因此我也不知道你的追兵會用什麼方式襲擊你。這些事情甘道夫一定知道。我想你離開夏爾之前會見到他吧？’ ‘我希望如此。但這也是讓我焦慮的另一件事。我已經等甘道夫很多天了。他最遲應該在兩晚前就到哈比屯；但他從未出現。現在我在想可能發生了什麼事。我應該等他嗎？’ 吉爾多沉默了片刻。 ‘我不喜歡這個消息，’他終於說道。 ‘甘道夫遲到，這不是個好兆頭。但俗話說：不要干涉巫師的事務，因為他們心思縝密且易怒。選擇權在你：走還是等。’ ‘而且俗話也說，’佛羅多回答道： ‘不要向精靈尋求建議，因為他們會說又「不」又「是」。’ ‘真的嗎？’吉爾多笑了。 ‘精靈很少給予不加防備的建議，因為建議是一種危險的禮物，即使是智者給智者，而且所有事情都可能出錯。但你想要什麼呢？你沒有告訴我所有關於你自己的事；那我又怎能比你更好地選擇呢？但如果你堅持要建議，我會為了友誼而給予。我認為你現在應該立刻動身，不要耽擱；如果甘道夫在你出發前沒有來，那麼我還建議：不要獨自一人。帶上那些可靠又願意的朋友。現在你應該心存感激，因為我並非樂意給予這個建議。精靈有他們自己的勞苦和悲傷，他們對哈比人的方式，或世上任何其他生物的方式，都很少關心。我們的道路很少與他們相交，無論是偶然還是有意。這次會面可能不只是偶然；但其目的對我來說並不清楚，而且我害怕說得太多。’ ‘我深感感激，’佛羅多說； ‘但我希望你能清楚地告訴我黑騎士是什麼。如果我聽從你的建議，我可能很久都見不到甘道夫，我應該知道追逐我的危險是什麼。’ ‘知道他們是敵人的僕人還不夠嗎？’吉爾多回答道。 ‘逃離他們！不要對他們說任何話！他們是致命的。不要再問我了！但我的心預感到，在一切結束之前，你，德羅戈之子佛羅多，會比吉爾多·英格羅里昂更了解這些可怕的事物。願埃爾貝雷絲保護你！’ ‘但我該去哪裡尋找勇氣呢？’佛羅多問道。 ‘那是我最需要的。’ ‘勇氣在意想不到的地方被發現，’吉爾多說。 ‘抱持希望！現在睡覺吧！早上我們就會離開；但我們會將訊息傳遍各地。流浪公司
THREE IS COMPANY 85 shall know of your journey, and those that have power for good shall be on the watch. I name you Elf-friend; and may the stars shine upon the end of your road! Seldom have we had such delight in strangers, and it is fair to hear words of the Ancient Speech from the lips of other wanderers in the world.’ Frodo felt sleep coming upon him, even as Gildor finished speaking. ‘I will sleep now,’ he said; and the Elf led him to a bower beside Pippin, and he threw himself upon a bed and fell at once into a dreamless slumber.
三人成行 85 將會知道你的旅程，那些有能力行善的人將會守望著你。我稱你為精靈之友；願星光照耀你旅途的終點！我們很少從陌生人身上獲得如此的喜悅，能從世上其他流浪者的口中聽到古語，真是難得。就在吉爾多說完話時，佛羅多感到睡意襲來。「我現在要睡了。」他說；精靈帶他到皮聘身旁的一個涼亭，他倒在床上，立刻陷入無夢的沉睡。