Chapter 5 A CONSPIRACY UNMASKED “Now we had better get home ourselves,’ said Merry. “There’s something funny about all this, I see; but it must wait till we get in.’ They turned down the Ferry lane, which was straight and well-kept and edged with large white-washed stones. In a hundred yards or so it brought them to the river-bank, where there was a broad wooden landing-stage. A large flat ferry-boat was moored beside it. The white bollards near the water’s edge glimmered in the light of two lamps on high posts. Behind them the mists in the flat fields were now above the hedges; but the water before them was dark, with only a few curling wisps like steam among the reeds by the bank. There seemed to be less fog on the further side. Merry led the pony over a gangway on to the ferry, and the others followed. Merry then pushed slowly off with a long pole. The Brandywine flowed slow and broad before them. On the other side the bank was steep, and up it a winding path climbed from the further landing. Lamps were twinkling there. Behind loomed up the Buck Hill; and out of it, through stray shrouds of mist, shone many round windows, yellow and red. They were the windows of Brandy Hall, the ancient home of the Brandybucks. Long ago Gorhendad Oldbuck, head of the Oldbuck family, one of the oldest in the Marish or indeed in the Shire, had crossed the river, which was the original boundary of the land eastwards. He built (and excavated) Brandy Hall, changed his name to Brandybuck, and settled down to become master of what was virtually a small independent country. His family grew and grew, and after his days continued to grow, until Brandy Hall occupied the whole of the low hill, and had three large front-doors, many side-doors, and about a hundred windows. The Brandybucks and their numerous dependants then began to burrow, and later to build, all round about. That was the origin of Buckland, a thickly inhabited strip between the river and the Old Forest, a sort of colony from the Shire. Its chief village was Bucklebury, clustering in the banks and slopes behind Brandy Hall. The people in the Marish were friendly with the Bucklanders, and the authority of the Master of the Hall (as the head of the Brandybuck family was called) was still acknowledged by the farmers between Stock and Rushey. But most of the folk of the old Shire regarded
第五章 陰謀揭露 「我們最好還是回家吧，」梅里說。「這一切有點蹊蹺，我看出來了；但這事得等我們進屋再說。」他們轉進渡口小徑，那條小徑筆直、維護良好，兩旁鑲著大塊刷白的石頭。大約一百碼後，小徑將他們帶到河岸邊，那裡有一個寬闊的木製碼頭。一艘扁平的大渡船停泊在碼頭旁。水邊的白色繫船柱在兩盞高桿燈的光芒下閃爍著。在它們後面，平坦田野上的薄霧已經高過樹籬；但他們面前的水面卻是黑暗的，只有幾縷像蒸汽一樣捲曲的薄霧在河岸邊的蘆葦叢中飄蕩。對岸的霧氣似乎少了一些。梅里牽著小馬走過跳板上了渡船，其他人也跟著上去了。梅里隨後用一根長篙慢慢地將船撐開。白蘭地河在他們面前緩緩而寬闊地流淌。對岸的河岸很陡峭，一條蜿蜒的小徑從對岸的碼頭向上攀爬。那裡燈火閃爍。後面隱約浮現出雄鹿丘；從丘上，透過零星的霧氣，許多黃色和紅色的圓窗閃耀著。它們是白蘭地廳的窗戶，那是白蘭地鹿家族的古老家園。很久以前，老鹿家族的族長戈爾亨達德·老鹿，他是沼澤區乃至夏爾最古老的家族之一，渡過了這條河，這條河是東部土地的原始邊界。他建造（並挖掘）了白蘭地廳，將自己的姓氏改為白蘭地鹿，並定居下來，成為一個實際上是小型獨立國家之主。他的家族日益壯大，在他去世後也持續增長，直到白蘭地廳佔據了整個低矮的山丘，擁有三扇大前門、許多側門和大約一百扇窗戶。白蘭地鹿家族和他們眾多的依附者隨後開始在周圍挖掘，後來又開始建造。這就是雄鹿地的由來，這是一個位於河與老林之間人口稠密的狹長地帶，某種程度上是夏爾的殖民地。它的主要村莊是雄鹿堡，聚集在白蘭地廳後面的河岸和山坡上。沼澤區的居民與雄鹿地居民很友好，廳主（白蘭地鹿家族的族長）的權威仍然受到斯托克和拉什伊之間農民的承認。但老夏爾的大多數居民都認為...
A CONSPIRACY UNMASKED 99 the Bucklanders as peculiar, half foreigners as it were. Though, as a matter of fact, they were not very different from the other hobbits of the Four Farthings. Except in one point: they were fond of boats, and some of them could swim. Their land was originally unprotected from the East; but on that side they had built a hedge: the High Hay. It had been planted many generations ago, and was now thick and tall, for it was constantly tended. It ran all the way from Brandywine Bridge, in a big loop curving away from the river, to Haysend (where the Withywindle flowed out of the Forest into the Brandywine): well over twenty miles from end to end. But, of course, it was not a complete protection. The Forest drew close to the hedge in many places. The Bucklanders kept their doors locked after dark, and that also was not usual in the Shire. The ferry-boat moved slowly across the water. The Buckland shore drew nearer. Sam was the only member of the party who had not been over the river before. He had a strange feeling as the slow gurgling stream slipped by: his old life lay behind in the mists, dark adventure lay in front. He scratched his head, and for a moment had a passing wish that Mr. Frodo could have gone on living quietly at Bag End. The four hobbits stepped off the ferry. Merry was tying it up, and Pippin was already leading the pony up the path, when Sam (who had been looking back, as if to take farewell of the Shire) said in a hoarse whisper: ‘Look back, Mr. Frodo! Do you see anything?’ On the far stage, under the distant lamps, they could just make out a figure: it looked like a dark black bundle left behind. But as they looked it seemed to move and sway this way and that, as if searching the ground. It then crawled, or went crouching, back into the gloom beyond the lamps. ‘What in the Shire is that?’ exclaimed Merry. ‘Something that is following us,’ said Frodo. ‘But don’t ask any more now! Let’s get away at once!’ They hurried up the path to the top of the bank, but when they looked back the far shore was shrouded in mist, and nothing could be seen. “Thank goodness you don’t keep any boats on the west-bank!’ said Frodo. ‘Can horses cross the river?’ “They can go ten miles north to Brandywine Bridge — or they might swim,’ answered Merry. “Though I never heard of any horse swimming the Brandywine. But what have horses to do with it?’ ‘T'll tell you later. Let’s get indoors and then we can talk.’ ‘All right! You and Pippin know your way; so [’ll just ride on and
陰謀揭露 99 巴克蘭人被視為奇特，彷彿是半個外鄉人。儘管事實上，他們與四區的其他哈比人並沒有太大不同。除了一點：他們喜歡船隻，而且其中一些人會游泳。他們的土地原本東面沒有防護；但在那一側，他們建造了一道樹籬：高籬。它是在許多代以前種植的，現在又粗又高，因為它一直受到照料。它從白蘭地橋一路延伸，形成一個大彎，遠離河流，直到海斯端（威西溫河從森林流入白蘭地河的地方）：從頭到尾超過二十英里。但當然，這並非萬無一失的保護。森林在許多地方都靠近樹籬。巴克蘭人在天黑後會鎖門，這在夏爾也不常見。渡船緩緩駛過水面。巴克蘭的岸邊越來越近。山姆是隊伍中唯一一個以前沒有過河的人。當緩緩流淌的潺潺溪水從身邊滑過時，他有種奇怪的感覺：他的舊生活已在迷霧中遠去，黑暗的冒險就在前方。他搔了搔頭，一時之間閃過一個念頭，希望佛羅多先生能繼續安靜地住在袋底洞。四個哈比人走下渡船。梅里正在繫船，皮聘已經牽著小馬沿著小徑往上走，這時山姆（他一直回頭望，彷彿在向夏爾告別）用沙啞的耳語說道：「回頭看，佛羅多先生！你看到什麼了嗎？」在遠處的碼頭上，在遙遠的燈光下，他們勉強辨認出一個身影：它看起來像一個被遺棄的深黑色包裹。但當他們看著時，它似乎左右搖擺移動，彷彿在搜尋地面。然後它爬行，或者說彎著腰，回到燈光之外的黑暗中。「那在夏爾到底是什麼？」梅里驚呼。「有東西在跟蹤我們。」佛羅多說。「但現在別再問了！我們立刻離開這裡！」他們沿著小徑匆匆爬上河岸頂部，但當他們回頭看時，遠處的河岸已被迷霧籠罩，什麼也看不見了。「謝天謝地，你們在西岸沒有停放任何船隻！」佛羅多說。「馬能過河嗎？」「牠們可以往北走十英里到白蘭地橋——或者牠們可能會游泳。」梅里回答。「雖然我從沒聽說過有馬游過白蘭地河。但這跟馬有什麼關係？」「我稍後會告訴你。我們先進屋，然後再談。」「好的！你和皮聘知道路；所以我會直接騎過去，然後
100 THE LORD OF THE RINGS tell Fatty Bolger that you are coming. We’ll see about supper and things.’ ‘We had our supper early with Farmer Maggot,’ said Frodo; ‘but we could do with another.’ “You shall have it! Give me that basket!’ said Merry, and rode ahead into the darkness. It was some distance from the Brandywine to Frodo’s new house at Crickhollow. They passed Buck Hill and Brandy Hall on their left, and on the outskirts of Bucklebury struck the main road of Buckland that ran south from the Bridge. Half a mile northward along this they came to a lane opening on their right. This they followed for a couple of miles as it climbed up and down into the country. At last they came to a narrow gate in a thick hedge. Nothing could be seen of the house in the dark: it stood back from the lane in the middle of a wide circle of lawn surrounded by a belt of low trees inside the outer hedge. Frodo had chosen it, because it stood in an out-of-the-way corner of the country, and there were no other dwellings close by. You could get in and out without being noticed. It had been built a long while before by the Brandybucks, for the use of guests, or members of the family that wished to escape from the crowded life of Brandy Hall for a time. It was an old-fashioned countrified house, as much like a hobbit-hole as possible: it was long and low, with no upper storey; and it had a roof of turf, round windows, and a large round door. As they walked up the green path from the gate no light was visible; the windows were dark and shuttered. Frodo knocked on the door, and Fatty Bolger opened it. A friendly light streamed out. They slipped in quickly and shut themselves and the light inside. They were in a wide hall with doors on either side; in front of them a passage ran back down the middle of the house. ‘Well, what do you think of it?’ asked Merry coming up the passage. ‘We have done our best in a short time to make it look like home. After all Fatty and I only got here with the last cart-load yesterday.’ Frodo looked round. It did look like home. Many of his own favourite things — or Bilbo’s things (they reminded him sharply of him in their new setting) — were arranged as nearly as possible as they had been at Bag End. It was a pleasant, comfortable, welcoming place; and he found himself wishing that he was really coming here to settle down in quiet retirement. It seemed unfair to have put his friends to all this trouble; and he wondered again how he was going to break the news to them that he must leave them so soon, indeed at once. Yet that would have to be done that very night, before they all went to bed.
100 《魔戒》告訴胖子博爾傑你們要來了。我們會準備好晚餐和其他東西的。』佛羅多說：『我們已經和馬格特農夫吃過晚餐了；不過我們還可以再來一份。』「你們當然可以！把那個籃子給我！」梅里說，然後騎馬衝入黑暗中。從白蘭地河到佛羅多在溪谷地的家還有一段距離。他們左邊經過了巴克山和白蘭地廳，在巴克伯里郊區，他們走上了巴克蘭的主要道路，這條路從橋往南延伸。沿著這條路往北走了半英里，他們來到右邊的一條小巷。他們沿著這條小巷走了幾英里，它蜿蜒起伏地進入鄉間。最後，他們來到一道厚實樹籬中的窄門。在黑暗中看不到房子：它離小巷有一段距離，坐落在一個寬闊的草坪中央，周圍環繞著一圈低矮的樹木，樹木又在外面那道樹籬之內。佛羅多選擇這裡，是因為它位於鄉間一個偏僻的角落，附近沒有其他住家。你可以不被察覺地進出。它很久以前由白蘭地鹿家族建造，供客人或希望暫時逃離白蘭地廳喧囂生活的家庭成員使用。這是一棟老式鄉村房屋，盡可能地像一個哈比人洞穴：它又長又矮，沒有上層樓；屋頂是草皮，有圓窗和一扇大圓門。當他們沿著綠色小徑從大門走進時，沒有燈光可見；窗戶漆黑一片，百葉窗緊閉。佛羅多敲了敲門，胖子博爾傑打開了它。一道友善的光芒流瀉而出。他們迅速溜進去，把門關上，將自己和光線都留在裡面。他們身處一個寬敞的大廳，兩側都有門；在他們前方，一條走廊向後延伸，穿過房子的中央。「嗯，你們覺得怎麼樣？」梅里從走廊盡頭走過來問道。「我們在短時間內盡力讓它看起來像個家。畢竟，胖子和我昨天才帶著最後一車貨物來到這裡。」佛羅多環顧四周。它確實像個家。他許多自己最喜歡的東西——或者說比爾博的東西（在新環境中，這些東西讓他強烈地想起比爾博）——都盡可能地按照它們在袋底洞的樣子擺放著。這是一個宜人、舒適、熱情的地方；他發現自己希望是真的來這裡安靜退休。讓朋友們費這麼大周章似乎很不公平；他再次思忖著該如何向他們宣布他必須這麼快就離開，而且是立刻離開。然而，這件事必須在他們上床睡覺之前，就在今晚完成。
A CONSPIRACY UNMASKED IOI ‘It’s delightful!’ he said with an effort. ‘I hardly feel that I have moved at all.’ The travellers hung up their cloaks, and piled their packs on the floor. Merry led them down the passage and threw open a door at the far end. Firelight came out, and a puff of steam. ‘A bath!’ cried Pippin. ‘O blessed Meriadoc!’ ‘Which order shall we go in?’ said Frodo. ‘Eldest first, or quickest first? You'll be last either way, Master Peregrin.’ “Trust me to arrange things better than that!’ said Merry. ‘We can’t begin life at Crickhollow with a quarrel over baths. In that room there are three tubs, and a copper full of boiling water. There are also towels, mats and soap. Get inside, and be quick!’ Merry and Fatty went into the kitchen on the other side of the passage, and busied themselves with the final preparations for a late supper. Snatches of competing songs came from the bathroom mixed with the sound of splashing and wallowing. The voice of Pippin was suddenly lifted up above the others in one of Bilbo’s favourite bath-songs. Sing hey! for the bath at close of day that washes the weary mud away! A loon 1s he that will not sing: O! Water Hot is a noble thing! O! Sweet 1s the sound of falling rain, and the brook that leaps from hill to plain; but better than rain or rippling streams 1s Water Hot that smokes and steams. O! Water cold we may pour at need down a thirsty throat and be glad indeed; but better is Beer, tf drink we lack, and Water Hot poured down the back. O! Water is fair that leaps on high in a fountain white beneath the sky; but never did fountain sound so sweet as splashing Hot Water with my feet! There was a terrific splash, and a shout of Whoa! from Frodo. It appeared that a lot of Pippin’s bath had imitated a fountain and leaped on high.
陰謀揭露 「真令人愉快！」他費力地說。「我幾乎感覺不到自己有動過。」旅人們掛好斗篷，把背包堆在地上。梅里領著他們走過通道，然後猛地推開了盡頭的一扇門。火光和一陣蒸汽撲面而來。「是浴池！」皮聘大叫。「喔，蒙福的梅里亞達克！」 「我們按什麼順序進去？」佛羅多說。「年紀最大的先，還是最快的先？無論如何，你都會是最後一個，皮瑞格林老爺。」 「相信我，我會把事情安排得更好！」梅里說。「我們不能在溪谷地以一場浴池爭吵來開始新生活。那房間裡有三個浴盆，還有一口裝滿沸水的銅鍋。還有毛巾、墊子和肥皂。快進去吧！」 梅里和胖子去了通道另一邊的廚房，忙著為遲來的晚餐做最後的準備。浴室裡傳來斷斷續續的歌聲，夾雜著水花飛濺和嬉戲的聲音。皮聘的歌聲突然蓋過了其他人，唱的是比爾博最喜歡的洗澡歌之一。 唱嘿！為那日暮時分的浴池，洗去疲憊的泥濘！ 不唱歌的人是個傻瓜：喔！熱水是多麼高貴的東西！ 喔！雨聲多麼甜美，還有那從山間躍向平原的溪流； 但比雨水或潺潺溪流更好的，是那冒著煙、蒸騰著的熱水。 喔！冷水我們可以在需要時，倒進乾渴的喉嚨，確實令人欣喜； 但如果我們缺酒，啤酒更好，還有那倒在背上的熱水。 喔！水是多麼美麗，在天空下化作白色的噴泉高高躍起； 但從未有噴泉的聲音如此甜美，比得上熱水濺在我的腳上！ 接著傳來一聲巨大的水花聲，以及佛羅多的一聲「哇！」看來皮聘洗澡時，濺起了大量的水花，像噴泉一樣高高躍起。
102 THE LORD OF THE RINGS Merry went to the door: ‘What about supper and beer in the throat?’ he called. Frodo came out drying his hair. “There’s so much water in the air that I’m coming into the kitchen to finish,’ he said. ‘Lawks!’ said Merry, looking in. The stone floor was swimming. “You ought to mop all that up before you get anything to eat, Peregrin,’ he said. ‘Hurry up, or we shan’t wait for you.’ They had supper in the kitchen on a table near the fire. ‘I suppose you three won’t want mushrooms again?’ said Fredegar without much hope. “Yes we shall!’ cried Pippin. “They’re mine!’ said Frodo. ‘Given to me by Mrs. Maggot, a queen among farmers’ wives. Take your greedy hands away, and I’ll serve them.’ Hobbits have a passion for mushrooms, surpassing even the greediest likings of Big People. A fact which partly explains young Frodo’s long expeditions to the renowned fields of the Marish, and the wrath of the injured Maggot. On this occasion there was plenty for all, even according to hobbit standards. There were also many other things to follow, and when they had finished even Fatty Bolger heaved a sigh of content. They pushed back the table, and drew chairs round the fire. ‘We'll clear up later,’ said Merry. ‘Now tell me all about it! I guess that you have been having adventures, which was not quite fair without me. I want a full account; and most of all I want to know what was the matter with old Maggot, and why he spoke to me like that. He sounded almost as if he was scared, if that is possible.’ ‘We have all been scared,’ said Pippin after a pause, in which Frodo stared at the fire and did not speak. ‘You would have been, too, if you had been chased for two days by Black Riders.’ ‘And what are they?’ ‘Black figures riding on black horses,’ answered Pippin. ‘If Frodo won’t talk, I will tell you the whole tale from the beginning.’ He then gave a full account of their journey from the time when they left Hobbiton. Sam gave various supporting nods and exclamations. Frodo remained silent. ‘I should think you were making it all up,’ said Merry, ‘if I had not seen that black shape on the landing-stage — and heard the queer sound in Maggot’s voice. What do you make of it all, Frodo?’ ‘Cousin Frodo has been very close,’ said Pippin. ‘But the time has come for him to open out. So far we have been given nothing more to go on than Farmer Maggot’s guess that it has something to do with old Bilbo’s treasure.’
102 魔戒 梅里走到門口，喊道：「晚餐和啤酒，來點嗎？」佛羅多擦著頭髮走了出來。「空氣裡水氣太重了，我要進廚房把頭髮弄乾。」他說。「天哪！」梅里往裡看了一眼，說道。石板地濕漉漉的。「你最好在吃東西之前把那些都拖乾淨，皮瑞格林。」他說。「快點，不然我們就不等你了。」他們在廚房裡，圍著火爐旁的桌子吃晚餐。「我想你們三個不會再想吃蘑菇了吧？」佛瑞德加帶著一絲無望地說。「不，我們要！」皮聘大叫。「這些是我的！」佛羅多說。「是瑪格特太太給我的，她是農婦中的女王。把你們的貪婪之手拿開，我來分。」哈比人對蘑菇有著狂熱的愛好，甚至超越了大人物最貪婪的喜好。這一事實部分解釋了年輕的佛羅多為何頻繁前往馬里什著名的田地進行長途探險，以及受傷的瑪格特的憤怒。這次，蘑菇足夠所有人吃，甚至符合哈比人的標準。還有許多其他菜餚陸續上桌，當他們吃完時，連胖子博爾格都滿足地嘆了口氣。他們推開桌子，把椅子拉到火爐邊。「我們晚點再收拾。」梅里說。「現在把一切都告訴我！我猜你們一定經歷了冒險，沒有我可不太公平。我要一個完整的敘述；最重要的是，我想知道老瑪格特怎麼了，為什麼他那樣跟我說話。他聽起來幾乎像是嚇壞了，如果那可能的話。」「我們都嚇壞了。」皮聘在佛羅多盯著火爐不說話的停頓之後說。「如果你被黑騎士追了兩天，你也會嚇壞的。」「他們是什麼？」皮聘回答：「騎著黑馬的黑色身影。」「如果佛羅多不說，我就從頭到尾把整個故事告訴你。」然後他詳細講述了他們從離開哈比屯以來的旅程。山姆給予了各種支持性的點頭和感嘆。佛羅多保持沉默。「我會以為你是在編故事。」梅里說，「如果我沒有在碼頭上看到那個黑色身影——也沒有聽到瑪格特聲音裡那奇怪的聲響。佛羅多，你對這一切有什麼看法？」「佛羅多表哥一直很沉默。」皮聘說。「但現在是他開口的時候了。到目前為止，我們除了農夫瑪格特的猜測——說這與老比爾博的寶藏有關——之外，沒有任何其他線索。」
A CONSPIRACY UNMASKED 103 “That was only a guess,’ said Frodo hastily. ‘Maggot does not know anything.’ ‘Old Maggot is a shrewd fellow,’ said Merry. ‘A lot goes on behind his round face that does not come out in his talk. ’ve heard that he used to go into the Old Forest at one time, and he has the reputation of knowing a good many strange things. But you can at least tell us, Frodo, whether you think his guess good or bad.’ ‘I think,’ answered Frodo slowly, ‘that it was a good guess, as far as it goes. There is a connexion with Bilbo’s old adventures, and the Riders are looking, or perhaps one ought to say searching, for him or for me. I also fear, if you want to know, that it is no joke at all; and that I am not safe here or anywhere else.’ He looked round at the windows and walls, as if he was afraid they would suddenly give way. The others looked at him in silence, and exchanged meaning glances among themselves. ‘It’s coming out in a minute,’ whispered Pippin to Merry. Merry nodded. ‘Well!’ said Frodo at last, sitting up and straightening his back, as if he had made a decision. ‘I can’t keep it dark any longer. I have got something to tell you all. But I don’t know quite how to begin.’ ‘I think I could help you,’ said Merry quietly, ‘by telling you some of it myself.’ ‘What do you mean?’ said Frodo, looking at him anxiously. ‘Just this, my dear old Frodo: you are miserable, because you don’t know how to say good-bye. You meant to leave the Shire, of course. But danger has come on you sooner than you expected, and now you are making up your mind to go at once. And you don’t want to. We are very sorry for you.’ Frodo opened his mouth and shut it again. His look of surprise was so comical that they laughed. ‘Dear old Frodo!’ said Pippin. ‘Did you really think you had thrown dust in all our eyes? You have not been nearly careful or clever enough for that! You have obviously been planning to go and saying farewell to all your haunts all this year since April. We have constantly heard you muttering: ‘“‘Shall I ever look down into that valley again, I wonder’’, and things like that. And pretending that you had come to the end of your money, and actually selling your beloved Bag End to those SackvilleBagginses! And all those close talks with Gandalf.’ ‘Good heavens!’ said Frodo. ‘I thought I had been both careful and clever. I don’t know what Gandalf would say. Is all the Shire discussing my departure then?’ ‘Oh no!’ said Merry. ‘Don’t worry about that! The secret won’t keep for long, of course; but at present it is, I think, only known to us conspirators. After all, you must remember that we know you well,
陰謀揭露 103 「那只是個猜測，」佛羅多急忙說道。「馬格特什麼都不知道。」 「老馬格特是個精明的人，」梅里說。「他那張圓臉後面藏著許多話，從不輕易說出口。我聽說他以前常去老林，而且他以知道許多奇異之事而聞名。但你至少可以告訴我們，佛羅多，你認為他的猜測是好是壞？」 「我想，」佛羅多緩緩回答，「就目前而言，那是一個不錯的猜測。這與比爾博的舊冒險有關，而那些騎士正在尋找，或者說是在搜查，尋找他或我。我還擔心，如果你們想知道的話，這根本不是開玩笑；而且我在這裡或任何地方都不安全。」他環顧四周的窗戶和牆壁，彷彿害怕它們會突然塌陷。其他人默默地看著他，彼此交換著意味深長的眼神。 「他馬上就要說出來了，」皮聘對梅里耳語道。梅里點了點頭。 「好吧！」佛羅多終於說道，他坐直身子，挺直了背，彷彿下定了決心。「我不能再隱瞞下去了。我有些事情要告訴你們所有人。但我不知道該如何開口。」 「我想我可以幫你，」梅里輕聲說道，「由我來告訴你一些。」 「你什麼意思？」佛羅多焦慮地看著他問道。 「就是這樣，我親愛的老佛羅多：你很痛苦，因為你不知道如何道別。你當然打算離開夏爾。但危險比你預期的來得更快，現在你正下定決心要立刻離開。而你並不想這樣。我們為你感到非常抱歉。」 佛羅多張開嘴又合上。他驚訝的表情如此滑稽，引得他們笑了起來。 「親愛的老佛羅多！」皮聘說。「你真的以為你蒙蔽了我們所有人的眼睛嗎？你根本不夠小心也不夠聰明！你顯然從四月以來，這一年都在計畫離開，並向你所有常去的地方道別。我們一直聽到你喃喃自語：『我還會再俯瞰那個山谷嗎，我不知道』，諸如此類的話。還假裝你錢用完了，竟然把你心愛的袋底洞賣給了那些薩克維爾-巴金斯家的人！還有你和甘道夫的那些密談。」 「天哪！」佛羅多說。「我以為我既小心又聰明。我不知道甘道夫會怎麼說。難道整個夏爾都在討論我的離開嗎？」 「噢，不！」梅里說。「別擔心那個！秘密當然不會保守太久；但目前，我想，只有我們這些同謀者知道。畢竟，你必須記得我們很了解你，
104 THE LORD OF THE RINGS and are often with you. We can usually guess what you are thinking. I knew Bilbo, too. To tell you the truth, I have been watching you rather closely ever since he left. I thought you would go after him sooner or later; indeed I expected you to go sooner, and lately we have been very anxious. We have been terrified that you might give us the slip, and go off suddenly, all on your own like he did. Ever since this spring we have kept our eyes open, and done a good deal of planning on our own account. You are not going to escape so easily!’ ‘But I must go,’ said Frodo. ‘It cannot be helped, dear friends. It is wretched for us all, but it is no use your trying to keep me. Since you have guessed so much, please help me and do not hinder me!’ “You do not understand!’ said Pippin. ‘You must go — and therefore we must, too. Merry and I are coming with you. Sam is an excellent fellow, and would jump down a dragon’s throat to save you, if he did not trip over his own feet; but you will need more than one companion in your dangerous adventure.’ ‘My dear and most beloved hobbits!’ said Frodo deeply moved. ‘But I could not allow it. I decided that long ago, too. You speak of danger, but you do not understand. This is no treasure-hunt, no there-andback journey. I am flying from deadly peril into deadly peril.’ ‘Of course we understand,’ said Merry firmly. “That is why we have decided to come. We know the Ring is no laughing-matter; but we are going to do our best to help you against the Enemy.’ “The Ring!’ said Frodo, now completely amazed. “Yes, the Ring,’ said Merry. ‘My dear old hobbit, you don’t allow for the inquisitiveness of friends. I have known about the existence of the Ring for years — before Bilbo went away, in fact; but since he obviously regarded it as secret, I kept the knowledge in my head, until we formed our conspiracy. I did not know Bilbo, of course, as well as I know you; I was too young, and he was also more careful — but he was not careful enough. If you want to know how I first found out, I will tell you.’ ‘Go on!’ said Frodo faintly. ‘It was the Sackville-Bagginses that were his downfall, as you might expect. One day, a year before the Party, I happened to be walking along the road, when I saw Bilbo ahead. Suddenly in the distance the S.-B.s appeared, coming towards us. Bilbo slowed down, and then hey presto! he vanished. I was so startled that I hardly had the wits to hide myself in a more ordinary fashion; but I got through the hedge and walked along the field inside. I was peeping through into the road, after the S.-B.s had passed, and was looking straight at Bilbo when he suddenly reappeared. I caught a glint of gold as he put something back in his trouser-pocket.
104 《魔戒》 而且常常和你們在一起。我們通常都能猜到你們在想什麼。我也認識比爾博。說實話，自從他離開後，我就一直在密切關注你。我以為你遲早會去找他；事實上，我預計你會更早動身，而最近我們一直非常焦慮。我們一直很害怕你會溜走，像他一樣突然獨自離開。從今年春天以來，我們就一直睜大眼睛，並私下做了很多計畫。你可沒那麼容易逃走！ 「但我必須走，」佛羅多說。「親愛的朋友們，這無可奈何。這對我們所有人來說都很痛苦，但你們試圖留住我是沒有用的。既然你們已經猜到這麼多，請幫助我，不要阻撓我！」 「你們不明白！」皮聘說。「你必須走——所以我們也必須走。梅里和我會和你一起去。山姆是個很棒的傢伙，如果他沒有絆倒自己，他會跳進龍的喉嚨裡去救你；但在你危險的冒險中，你需要的不只一個同伴。」 「我親愛又最心愛的哈比人！」佛羅多深受感動地說。「但我不能允許。我很久以前也決定了。你們談論危險，但你們不明白。這不是尋寶，也不是來回一趟的旅程。我正從致命的危險飛向另一個致命的危險。」 「我們當然明白，」梅里堅定地說。「這就是我們決定來的原因。我們知道魔戒不是鬧著玩的；但我們會盡力幫助你對抗敵人。」 「魔戒！」佛羅多說，現在他完全驚訝了。 「是的，魔戒，」梅里說。「我親愛的老哈比人，你沒有考慮到朋友的好奇心。我多年前就知道魔戒的存在了——事實上，在比爾博離開之前就知道；但既然他顯然將其視為秘密，我就把這個知識藏在心裡，直到我們形成我們的密謀。我當然不像認識你一樣認識比爾博；我當時太年輕了，而且他也更小心——但他不夠小心。如果你想知道我是怎麼發現的，我會告訴你。」 「繼續說！」佛羅多微弱地說。 「是薩克維爾-巴金斯家族導致了他的垮台，正如你所預料的。有一天，在派對前一年，我碰巧走在路上，看到比爾博在前面。突然間，遠處薩-巴家族的人出現了，朝我們走來。比爾博放慢了腳步，然後嘿，變戲法似的！他消失了。我嚇了一跳，幾乎沒有心思以更普通的方式藏起來；但我穿過樹籬，沿著田野裡面走。薩-巴家族的人經過後，我透過樹籬往路上偷看，正好看著比爾博突然重新出現。當他把什麼東西放回褲子口袋時，我看到了一道金光。
A CONSPIRACY UNMASKED 105 ‘After that I kept my eyes open. In fact, I confess that I spied. But you must admit that it was very intriguing, and I was only in my teens. I must be the only one in the Shire, besides you Frodo, that has ever seen the old fellow’s secret book.’ “You have read his book!’ cried Frodo. ‘Good heavens above! Is nothing safe?’ ‘Not too safe, I should say,’ said Merry. ‘But I have only had one rapid glance, and that was difficult to get. He never left the book about. I wonder what became of it. I should like another look. Have you got it, Frodo?’ ‘No. It was not at Bag End. He must have taken it away.’ ‘Well, as I was saying,’ Merry proceeded, ‘I kept my knowledge to myself, till this spring when things got serious. Then we formed our conspiracy; and as we were serious, too, and meant business, we have not been too scrupulous. You are not a very easy nut to crack, and Gandalf is worse. But if you want to be introduced to our chief investigator, I can produce him.’ ‘Where is he?’ said Frodo, looking round, as if he expected a masked and sinister figure to come out of a cupboard. ‘Step forward, Sam!’ said Merry; and Sam stood up with a face scarlet up to the ears. ‘Here’s our collector of information! And he collected a lot, I can tell you, before he was finally caught. After which, I may say, he seemed to regard himself as on parole, and dried up.’ ‘Sam!’ cried Frodo, feeling that amazement could go no further, and quite unable to decide whether he felt angry, amused, relieved, or merely foolish. ‘Yes, sir!’ said Sam. ‘Begging your pardon, sir! But I meant no wrong to you, Mr. Frodo, nor to Mr. Gandalf for that matter. He has some sense, mind you; and when you said go alone, he said no! take someone as you can trust.’ ‘But it does not seem that I can trust anyone,’ said Frodo. Sam looked at him unhappily. ‘It all depends on what you want,’ put in Merry. ‘You can trust us to stick to you through thick and thin — to the bitter end. And you can trust us to keep any secret of yours — closer than you keep it yourself. But you cannot trust us to let you face trouble alone, and go off without a word. We are your friends, Frodo. Anyway: there it is. We know most of what Gandalf has told you. We know a good deal about the Ring. We are horribly afraid — but we are coming with you; or following you like hounds.’ ‘And after all, sir,? added Sam, ‘you did ought to take the Elves’ advice. Gildor said you should take them as was willing, and you can’t deny it.’ ‘I don’t deny it,’ said Frodo, looking at Sam, who was now
揭露陰謀 105 「那之後我就一直留意著。事實上，我承認我偷窺了。但你必須承認那非常引人入勝，而且我當時還只是個青少年。我一定是夏爾裡唯一一個，除了你佛羅多之外，見過那個老傢伙的秘密書本的人。」 「你讀過他的書！」佛羅多大喊。「天哪！難道什麼都不安全嗎？」 「我說，不太安全。」梅里說。「但我只匆匆看了一眼，而且那也很難得。他從不把書隨意擱置。我不知道那書後來怎麼樣了。我很想再看一眼。你拿到它了嗎，佛羅多？」 「沒有。它不在袋底洞。他一定是把它帶走了。」 「嗯，就像我剛才說的，」梅里繼續說，「我一直把我的發現藏在心裡，直到今年春天事情變得嚴重起來。然後我們組成了我們的密謀團體；因為我們也很認真，而且是玩真的，所以我們沒有太過顧忌。你不是個容易對付的人，甘道夫更糟。但如果你想見見我們的首席調查員，我可以把他找來。」 「他在哪裡？」佛羅多環顧四周，彷彿他期待一個戴著面具的陰險人物會從櫥櫃裡走出來。 「山姆，上前！」梅里說；山姆站了起來，臉紅到耳根。 「這就是我們的情報收集者！我可以告訴你，在他最終被抓到之前，他收集了很多情報。之後，我得說，他似乎把自己當作是假釋犯，然後就閉口不言了。」 「山姆！」佛羅多喊道，感覺驚訝已經到了極點，完全無法決定自己是生氣、好笑、鬆了口氣，還是只是覺得自己很傻。 「是的，先生！」山姆說。「請您原諒，先生！但我對您，佛羅多先生，以及甘道夫先生，都沒有惡意。他還是有些道理的，您知道嗎；當您說要獨自一人時，他說不！帶上一個您可以信任的人。」 「但看起來我誰都不能信任了。」佛羅多說。山姆不開心地看著他。 「這一切都取決於你想要什麼。」梅里插話道。「你可以信任我們，我們會與你同甘共苦——直到最後。你也可以信任我們會保守你的任何秘密——比你自己保守得還要嚴密。但你不能信任我們會讓你獨自面對麻煩，然後不發一語地離開。我們是你的朋友，佛羅多。總之，事情就是這樣。我們知道甘道夫告訴你的大部分事情。我們對魔戒了解很多。我們非常害怕——但我們會和你一起去；或者像獵犬一樣跟著你。」 「而且，先生，」山姆補充道，「您確實應該聽精靈的建議。吉爾多說您應該帶上那些願意的人，您不能否認這點。」 「我不否認。」佛羅多說，看著山姆，山姆此時
106 THE LORD OF THE RINGS grinning. ‘I don’t deny it, but I’ll never believe you are sleeping again, whether you snore or not. I shall kick you hard to make sure. “You are a set of deceitful scoundrels!’ he said, turning to the others. ‘But bless you!’ he laughed, getting up and waving his arms, ‘I give in. I will take Gildor’s advice. If the danger were not so dark, I should dance for joy. Even so, I cannot help feeling happy; happier than I have felt for a long time. I had dreaded this evening.’ ‘Good! That’s settled. Three cheers for Captain Frodo and company!’ they shouted; and they danced round him. Merry and Pippin began a song, which they had apparently got ready for the occasion. It was made on the model of the dwarf-song that started Bilbo on his adventure long ago, and went to the same tune: Farewell we call to hearth and hall! Though wind may blow and rain may fall, We must away ere break of day Far over wood and mountain tall. To Rivendell, where Elves yet dwell In glades beneath the misty fell, Through moor and waste we ride in haste, And whither then we cannot tell. With foes ahead, behind us dread, Beneath the sky shall be our bed, Until at last our toil be passed, Our journey done, our errand sped. We must away! We must away! We ride before the break of day! ‘Very good!’ said Frodo. ‘But in that case there are a lot of things to do before we go to bed — under a roof, for tonight at any rate.’ ‘Oh! That was poetry!’ said Pippin. ‘Do you really mean to start before the break of day?’ ‘I don’t know,’ answered Frodo. ‘I fear those Black Riders, and I am sure it is unsafe to stay in one place long, especially in a place to which it is known I was going. Also Gildor advised me not to wait. But I should very much like to see Gandalf. I could see that even Gildor was disturbed when he heard that Gandalf had never appeared. It really depends on two things. How soon could the Riders get to Bucklebury? And how soon could we get off? It will take a good deal of preparation.’ “The answer to the second question,’ said Merry, ‘is that we could
106 魔戒 笑著說：「我不否認，但我再也不會相信你睡著了，不管你打不打鼾。我會狠狠地踢你一腳來確認。『你們這群騙人的惡棍！』他轉向其他人說道。『但願你們蒙福！』他笑著站起來，揮舞著手臂說：『我投降了。我會聽從吉爾多的建議。如果危險沒那麼黑暗，我真該高興得跳舞。即便如此，我還是忍不住感到高興；比我很久以來感受到的任何時候都高興。我一直很害怕今晚。』「好極了！就這麼定了。為佛羅多隊長和他的夥伴們歡呼三聲！」他們喊道；然後圍著他跳起舞來。梅里和皮聘開始唱一首歌，顯然是為這個場合準備好的。這首歌是仿照很久以前讓比爾博踏上冒險旅程的矮人歌謠創作的，而且用的是相同的曲調：我們向爐火與廳堂告別！儘管風吹雨打，我們必須在破曉前離開，遠離森林與高山。前往瑞文戴爾，那裡精靈仍居住在迷霧山下的林間空地，我們匆忙騎馬穿過荒原與曠野，然後去向何方我們無法得知。前方有敵人，身後有恐懼，天空下將是我們的床，直到我們的辛勞終於過去，我們的旅程完成，我們的任務加速。我們必須離開！我們必須離開！我們在破曉前啟程！「很好！」佛羅多說。「但在那種情況下，我們在睡覺前還有很多事情要做——至少今晚是在屋頂下睡。」「噢！那是詩歌！」皮聘說。「你真的打算在破曉前出發嗎？」「我不知道，」佛羅多回答。「我害怕那些黑騎士，而且我確信在一個地方待太久是不安全的，尤其是在一個已知我要去的地方。吉爾多也建議我不要等待。但我非常想見甘道夫。我看得出來，即使是吉爾多聽到甘道夫從未出現時也感到不安。這真的取決於兩件事。騎士們多久能到達巴克爾堡？我們多久能出發？這需要大量的準備。」「第二個問題的答案，」梅里說，「是我們能
A CONSPIRACY UNMASKED I07 get off in an hour. I have prepared practically everything. There are five ponies in a stable across the fields; stores and tackle are all packed, except for a few extra clothes, and the perishable food.’ ‘It seems to have been a very efficient conspiracy,’ said Frodo. ‘But what about the Black Riders? Would it be safe to wait one day for Gandalf?’ “That all depends on what you think the Riders would do, if they found you here,’ answered Merry. “They could have reached here by now, of course, if they were not stopped at the North-gate, where the Hedge runs down to the river-bank, just this side of the Bridge. The gate-guards would not let them through by night, though they might break through. Even in the daylight they would try to keep them out, I think, at any rate until they got a message through to the Master of the Hall — for they would not like the look of the Riders, and would certainly be frightened by them. But, of course, Buckland cannot resist a determined attack for long. And it is possible that in the morning even a Black Rider that rode up and asked for Mr. Baggins would be let through. It is pretty generally known that you are coming back to live at Crickhollow.’ Frodo sat for a while in thought. ‘I have made up my mind,’ he said finally. ‘I am starting tomorrow, as soon as it is light. But I am not going by road: it would be safer to wait here than that. If I go through the North-gate my departure from Buckland will be known at once, instead of being secret for several days at least, as it might be. And what is more, the Bridge and the East Road near the borders will certainly be watched, whether any Rider gets into Buckland or not. We don’t know how many there are; but there are at least two, and possibly more. The only thing to do is to go off in a quite unexpected direction.’ ‘But that can only mean going into the Old Forest!’ said Fredegar horrified. “You can’t be thinking of doing that. It is quite as dangerous as Black Riders.’ ‘Not quite,’ said Merry. ‘It sounds very desperate, but I believe Frodo is right. It is the only way of getting off without being followed at once. With luck we might get a considerable start.’ ‘But you won’t have any luck in the Old Forest,’ objected Fredegar. “No one ever has luck in there. You’ll get lost. People don’t go in there.’ ‘Oh yes they do!’ said Merry. “The Brandybucks go in — occasionally when the fit takes them. We have a private entrance. Frodo went in once, long ago. I have been in several times: usually in daylight, of course, when the trees are sleepy and fairly quiet.’ ‘Well, do as you think best!’ said Fredegar. ‘I am more afraid of the Old Forest than of anything I know about: the stories about it are a nightmare; but my vote hardly counts, as I am not going on
陰謀揭露 「我一個小時後就出發。我幾乎把所有東西都準備好了。田野對面馬廄裡有五匹小馬；除了幾件額外的衣服和易腐壞的食物外，補給品和裝備都已打包妥當。」 「這似乎是一個非常有效率的陰謀，」佛羅多說。「但是那些黑騎士怎麼辦？等甘道夫一天會安全嗎？」 「那完全取決於你認為騎士們如果在這裡找到你會怎麼做，」梅里回答。「他們現在當然可能已經到了這裡，如果他們沒有在北門被攔住的話，那裡是樹籬一直延伸到河岸，就在橋的這一邊。守門人晚上不會讓他們通過，儘管他們可能會強行闖入。即使在白天，我想他們也會盡力阻止他們進入，至少在他們把消息傳給廳長之前——因為他們不會喜歡那些騎士的樣子，而且肯定會被他們嚇到。但是，當然，巴克蘭無法長期抵抗一次堅決的攻擊。而且，很有可能到了早上，即使是騎著馬來詢問巴金斯先生的黑騎士也會被放行。你將回來住在溪谷地，這件事已經是眾所周知了。」 佛羅多沉思了一會兒。「我已經下定決心了，」他最後說。「我明天一亮就出發。但我不會走大路：那樣還不如留在這裡安全。如果我走北門，我離開巴克蘭的事就會立刻被知道，而不是像原本可能的那樣，至少能保密好幾天。而且，橋樑和邊界附近的東路肯定會被監視，無論是否有騎士進入巴克蘭。我們不知道有多少個；但至少有兩個，可能更多。唯一能做的就是朝一個完全意想不到的方向走。」 「但那只能意味著進入老林啊！」佛瑞德加驚恐地說。「你不可能在考慮那件事。那和黑騎士一樣危險。」 「不完全是，」梅里說。「這聽起來很絕望，但我相信佛羅多是對的。這是唯一能不被立刻追蹤而離開的方法。如果運氣好，我們可能會獲得相當大的領先。」 「但你在老林裡不會有任何運氣的，」佛瑞德加反駁道。「從來沒有人在那裡有好運。你會迷路的。人們不會進去那裡。」 「哦，他們當然會！」梅里說。「白蘭地鹿家族的人會進去——偶爾心血來潮的時候。我們有一個私人入口。佛羅多很久以前進去過一次。我進去過好幾次：當然，通常是在白天，那時候樹木比較沉靜，也比較安靜。」 「好吧，隨你便吧！」佛瑞德加說。「我對老林的恐懼勝過我所知道的任何事物：關於它的故事簡直是惡夢；但我的意見幾乎不算數，因為我不會繼續前行。
108 THE LORD OF THE RINGS the journey. Still, I am very glad someone is stopping behind, who can tell Gandalf what you have done, when he turns up, as I am sure he will before long.’ Fond as he was of Frodo, Fatty Bolger had no desire to leave the Shire, nor to see what lay outside it. His family came from the Eastfarthing, from Budgeford in Bridgefields in fact, but he had never been over the Brandywine Bridge. His task, according to the original plans of the conspirators, was to stay behind and deal with inquisitive folk, and to keep up as long as possible the pretence that Mr. Baggins was still living at Crickhollow. He had even brought along some old clothes of Frodo’s to help him in playing the part. They little thought how dangerous that part might prove. ‘Excellent!’ said Frodo, when he understood the plan. ‘We could not have left any message behind for Gandalf otherwise. I don’t know whether these Riders can read or not, of course, but I should not have dared to risk a written message, in case they got in and searched the house. But if Fatty is willing to hold the fort, and I can be sure of Gandalf knowing the way we have gone, that decides me. I am going into the Old Forest first thing tomorrow.’ ‘Well, that’s that,’ said Pippin. ‘On the whole I would rather have our job than Fatty’s — waiting here till Black Riders come.’ “You wait till you are well inside the Forest,’ said Fredegar. ‘You'll wish you were back here with me before this time tomorrow.’ ‘It’s no good arguing about it any more,’ said Merry. ‘We have still got to tidy up and put the finishing touches to the packing, before we get to bed. I shall call you all before the break of day.’ When at last he had got to bed, Frodo could not sleep for some time. His legs ached. He was glad that he was riding in the morning. Eventually he fell into a vague dream, in which he seemed to be looking out of a high window over a dark sea of tangled trees. Down below among the roots there was the sound of creatures crawling and snuffling. He felt sure they would smell him out sooner or later. Then he heard a noise in the distance. At first he thought it was a great wind coming over the leaves of the forest. Then he knew that it was not leaves, but the sound of the Sea far-off; a sound he had never heard in waking life, though it had often troubled his dreams. Suddenly he found he was out in the open. There were no trees after all. He was on a dark heath, and there was a strange salt smell in the air. Looking up he saw before him a tall white tower, standing alone on a high ridge. A great desire came over him to climb the tower and see the Sea. He started to struggle up the ridge towards the tower: but suddenly a light came in the sky, and there was a noise of thunder.
108 魔戒遠征隊。不過，我很高興有人留下來，他可以在甘道夫出現時告訴他你們做了什麼，我相信他很快就會出現的。’ 儘管胖子博爾傑很喜歡佛羅多，但他卻無意離開夏爾，也不想看看外面有什麼。他的家人來自東區，確切地說，是來自橋區的巴吉福德，但他從未跨過白蘭地酒橋。根據密謀者的最初計劃，他的任務是留下來應付那些好奇的人，並盡可能地維持巴金斯先生仍住在溪谷的假象。他甚至帶來了佛羅多的一些舊衣服，以幫助他扮演這個角色。他們幾乎沒有想到這個角色可能會有多危險。‘太好了！’佛羅多說，當他明白這個計劃時。‘否則我們就無法給甘道夫留下任何訊息了。我不知道這些戒靈是否會讀字，當然，但我不敢冒險留下書面訊息，以防他們闖進來搜查房子。但如果胖子願意堅守陣地，而我又能確定甘道夫知道我們走的路線，那我就決定了。我明天一早就進老林。’ ‘好吧，就這樣了，’皮聘說。‘總的來說，我寧願做我們的工作，也不願做胖子的工作——在這裡等著黑騎士到來。’ ‘你等到你深入森林之後再說吧，’佛瑞德加說。‘你明天這個時候就會希望你還在這裡跟我在一起了。’ ‘再爭論下去也沒有用了，’梅里說。‘我們還得收拾整理，把打包工作做完最後的潤飾，然後才能上床睡覺。我會在破曉前叫醒你們。’ 當他終於上床睡覺時，佛羅多好一陣子都睡不著。他的腿很痛。他很高興早上可以騎馬。最終他陷入了一個模糊的夢境，夢中他似乎正從高窗俯瞰一片黑暗的、糾結的樹海。下方樹根之間傳來生物爬行和哼哼的聲音。他確信它們遲早會聞到他的氣味。然後他聽到遠處傳來一陣聲響。起初他以為是森林樹葉間傳來的大風聲。然後他知道那不是樹葉，而是遠方大海的聲音；那是他清醒時從未聽過的聲音，儘管它經常困擾著他的夢境。突然他發現自己身處開闊之地。根本沒有樹。他身處一片黑暗的荒原，空氣中瀰漫著一股奇特的鹹味。他抬頭看到前方有一座高聳的白色高塔，孤獨地矗立在高高的山脊上。一股強烈的渴望湧上心頭，想爬上高塔去看看大海。他開始奮力爬上山脊朝著高塔前進：但突然間，天空中出現一道光芒，隨之而來的是一陣雷鳴。