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
很久以前，戈亨達·老雄鹿——老雄鹿家族的族長，該家族是沼澤地乃至整個夏爾最古老的家族之一——渡過了那條河，那曾是夏爾東邊的原始邊界。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，成為一個實質上獨立小國的主人。他的家族日益壯大，在他去世後也持續繁衍，直到白蘭地廳佔據了整座低矮的山丘，擁有三個大正門、許多側門和約一百扇窗戶。接著，白蘭地鹿家族和他們眾多的依附者開始在周圍挖掘洞穴，後來更蓋起了房屋。這就是布克蘭的由來，一塊位於河流與老林之間、人口稠密的狹長地帶，算是一個來自夏爾的拓殖地。其主要村莊是鹿村，聚集在白蘭地廳後方的河岸與山坡上。沼澤地的居民與布克蘭人關係友好，而廳主的權威（白蘭地鹿家族族長的稱號）也仍受到雄鹿村與蘆葦村之間農民的承認。但大多數舊夏爾的居民認為
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
《陰謀揭穿》99頁，（夏爾人）認為布克蘭人很古怪，可說是半個外鄉人。不過，事實上，他們和四區的其他哈比人沒什麼太大的不同。除了一點：他們喜歡船，而且有些人會游泳。他們的土地東面原本毫無防備；但在那一側，他們築起了一道樹籬：高籬。它在許多代人以前就已種下，如今既濃密又高大，因為一直有人持續照料。它從白蘭地橋一路延伸，劃出一道遠離河流的大弧線，直到籬尾（柳條河從老林流入白蘭地河的地方）：從頭到尾超過二十英里長。但是，當然，這並非一道完整的防護。在許多地方，老林都緊挨著樹籬。布克蘭人天黑後會鎖上門，這在夏爾也不常見。渡船緩緩地劃過水面。布克蘭的岸邊越來越近。山姆是隊伍中唯一一個從未渡過這條河的人。當緩慢潺潺的溪水從旁流過時，他有種奇特的感覺：他的舊生活遺落在身後的迷霧中，而黑暗的冒D險就在前方。他搔了搔頭，有那麼一瞬間閃過一個念頭，希望佛羅多先生能繼續在袋底洞安靜地生活下去。四個哈比人走下渡船。梅里正在繫船，皮聘已經牽著小馬上路了，這時山姆（他一直回頭看，彷彿在向夏爾告別）用沙啞的聲音低語道：『回頭看，佛羅多先生！您看到什麼了嗎？』在遠處的渡口，遠方燈光下，他們勉強能辨認出一個身影：看起來像一個被遺留下來的黑色包裹。但他們看著看著，那東西似乎動了起來，左右搖晃，像是在地上尋找什麼。然後它爬行著，或者說蹲伏著，退回到燈光之外的陰暗中。『夏爾到底那是什麼鬼東西？』梅里驚呼道。『是跟蹤我們的東西，』佛羅多說。『但現在別再問了！我們馬上離開！』他們匆匆沿著小路跑到河岸頂端，但當他們回頭看時，遠方的岸邊已被迷霧籠罩，什麼也看不見。『謝天謝地你們在西岸沒留任何船！』佛羅多說。『馬能渡河嗎？』『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。『雖然我從沒聽過有馬游泳渡過白蘭地河的。但這跟馬有什麼關係？』『我晚點再告訴你。我們先進屋裡，然後再談。』『好吧！你和皮聘認得路；那我先騎馬走一步了，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.
「告訴胖子博格你們要來了。我們來處理晚餐什麼的。」「我們很早就跟馬嘎農夫吃過晚餐了，」佛羅多說，「不過再來一頓也無妨。」「包你會有！把籃子給我！」梅里說完，便策馬馳入前方的黑暗中。從白蘭地河到佛羅多在克里克窪的新家還有一段距離。他們經過左手邊的巴克丘和白蘭地廳，在巴克伯理的郊區接上了布克蘭的主要道路，那條路從橋邊往南延伸。沿著這條路往北走了半英里，他們來到一條通往右側的小徑。他們沿著小徑走了幾英里，路途隨著鄉間地勢起起伏伏。最後，他們來到一道位於濃密樹籬中的窄門前。在黑暗中完全看不到房子的蹤影：它坐落在小徑後方，位於一片寬闊草坪的中央，草坪外圍還有一圈低矮的樹木環繞。佛羅多之所以選擇這裡，是因為它地處鄉間的偏僻角落，附近沒有其他住家。你可以進出自如而不被察覺。這棟房子是很久以前由白蘭地鹿家族建造的，供客人或家族成員暫時逃離白蘭地廳擁擠生活時使用。這是一棟老式的鄉村風格房屋，盡可能地模仿哈比人洞穴的樣子：長而低矮，沒有樓上；屋頂鋪著草皮，有著圓形的窗戶和一扇巨大的圓門。當他們從大門沿著綠色小徑走去時，看不見任何燈光；窗戶一片漆黑，百葉窗都關著。佛羅多敲了敲門，胖子博格打開了門。一道友善的光線流瀉而出。他們迅速溜了進去，將自己和光線一同關在門內。他們身處一個寬敞的大廳，兩側都有門；正前方一條走道貫穿房子中央，通往後方。「怎麼樣，你覺得如何？」梅里從走道那頭走來問道。「我們在短時間內盡了最大努力，想讓這裡看起來像家。畢竟我和胖子昨天才跟著最後一車貨物抵達這裡。」佛羅多環顧四周。這裡確實像家。許多他自己最愛的東西——或是比爾博的東西（在新環境中，這些東西讓他猛然想起了他）——都盡可能地按照它們在袋底洞的樣子擺放著。這是一個愉快、舒適、溫馨的地方；他發現自己竟希望自己真的是要來這裡安頓下來，過著平靜的退隱生活。讓朋友們費了這麼多心思，似乎很不公平；他又一次思索著，該如何向他們透露他必須這麼快就離開他們，而且是即刻離開。然而，這件事必須在今晚，在他們所有人上床睡覺前完成。
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.
「陰謀揭穿」 「太棒了！」他費力地說。「我幾乎不覺得自己有移動過。」 旅人們掛起斗篷，把背包堆在地上。梅里帶他們走過通道，並推開盡頭的一扇門。火光透了出來，還冒出一股蒸氣。 「是澡堂！」皮聘喊道。「喔，仁慈的梅里雅達克！」 「我們該按什麼順序進去？」佛羅多說。「年紀最大的先，還是動作最快的先？不管哪種，你都會是最後一個，皮瑞格林少爺。」 「相信我，我會安排得比那更好！」梅里說。「我們在克里克窪的生活可不能從為洗澡吵架開始。那個房間裡有三個浴缸，還有一大鍋燒開的熱水。裡面還有毛巾、地墊和肥皂。快進去，動作快！」 梅里和胖胖到走廊另一頭的廚房裡，忙著準備一頓遲來的晚餐。浴室裡傳來斷斷續續、互相較勁的歌聲，夾雜著潑水和打滾的聲音。皮聘的歌聲突然蓋過了其他人，唱起了比爾博最愛的一首洗澡歌。 嘿！來歌唱，在日暮時分洗個澡， 洗去一身疲憊的泥巴！ 不歌唱的人是傻瓜： 喔！熱水真是高貴的東西！ 喔！雨滴落下的聲音多麼甜美， 小溪從山丘躍向平原； 但比雨水或潺潺溪流更好的， 是冒著煙、蒸騰的熱水。 喔！需要時我們或可將冷水， 灌進乾渴的喉嚨並感到滿足； 但若缺飲品，啤酒更佳， 而熱水則該澆在背上。 喔！那躍向高空， 在天際下化為白色噴泉的水是美的； 但從沒有噴泉的聲音， 比得上我用雙腳拍打熱水那樣甜美！ 接著是一聲巨大的潑水聲，和佛羅多的一聲「哇喔！」的喊叫。看來皮聘洗澡水的大部分都模仿了噴泉，高高地躍起了。
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.’
梅里走到門口喊道：「晚餐和啤酒潤喉的事怎麼樣啦？」佛羅多擦著頭髮走出來。「空氣裡水氣太重了，我得到廚房來弄乾才行。」他說。「天啊！」梅里往裡一看，說道。石板地面積滿了水。「佩瑞格林，你在吃東西前應該先把這些水都拖乾淨。」他說。「快點，不然我們就不等你了。」他們在廚房靠近火爐的桌子上吃了晚餐。「我想你們三個應該不想再吃蘑菇了吧？」佛瑞德加不太抱希望地說。「不，我們要吃！」皮聘大喊。「那些是我的！」佛羅多說。「是脈哥太太送的，她可是農夫妻子中的女王。把你的貪心手拿開，我來分。」哈比人對蘑菇有股熱情，甚至超過了「大人們」最貪婪的喜好。這也部分解釋了年輕的佛羅多為何會長途跋涉到知名的沼澤地田野，以及為何會惹惱受害的脈哥。這次的份量對所有人來說都綽綽有餘，即使以哈比人的標準來看也是如此。後面還有許多其他好料，當他們吃完時，就連胖子博哲也滿足地嘆了一口氣。他們推開桌子，把椅子拉到火爐邊。「我們等會兒再收拾。」梅里說。「現在，把所有事都告訴我！我猜你們經歷了些冒險，沒帶上我可不太公平。我要聽完整的報告；最重要的是，我想知道老脈哥是怎麼回事，為什麼他那樣跟我說話。他聽起來幾乎像是嚇壞了，如果那有可能的話。」「我們全都嚇壞了。」皮聘在一段沉默後說道，沉默期間佛羅多只是盯著火堆，一句話也沒說。「如果你被黑騎士追了兩天，你也會嚇壞的。」「那是什麼？」「騎著黑馬的黑影。」皮聘回答。「如果佛羅多不肯說，我就從頭到尾把整個故事告訴你。」接著，他詳細敘述了他們自離開哈比屯以來的旅程。山姆不時點頭附和，發出各種驚嘆。佛羅多依然沉默不語。「要不是我在登陸碼頭看到了那個黑影——還聽到了脈哥聲音裡的古怪聲調，我還會以為你這全是瞎編的呢。」梅里說。「佛羅多，你對這一切有什麼看法？」「佛羅多堂哥一直都守口如瓶。」皮聘說。「但現在是他該敞開心扉的時候了。到目前為止，我們唯一的線索就只有脈哥農夫的猜測，說這件事跟比爾博老爺的寶藏有關。」
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,
「那只是個猜測，」佛羅多急忙說道。「馬嘎什麼都不知道。」 「老馬嘎是個精明的人，」梅里說。「他那張圓臉背後的心思可多著呢，嘴上可不會說出來。我聽說他以前曾去過老林，而且他以知道許多奇聞異事而聞名。但你至少可以告訴我們，佛羅多，你覺得他的猜測是好是壞。」 「我想，」佛羅多緩緩地回答，「就目前來看，那算是個不錯的猜測。這件事和比爾博過去的冒險有關，而那些騎士正在尋找，或者該說是搜索，他或是我。如果你們想知道，我還擔心這根本不是玩笑；而且我在這裡或任何地方都不安全。」他環顧著窗戶和牆壁，彷彿害怕它們會突然倒塌。其他人沉默地看著他，彼此交換了意味深長的眼神。 「他馬上就要說出來了，」皮聘對梅里低聲說。梅里點了點頭。 「好吧！」佛羅多最後說道，他坐直身子，挺直了背，像是下了決心。「我再也瞞不下去了。我有件事要告訴你們大家。但我不知道該如何開頭。」 「我想我可以幫你，」梅里平靜地說，「由我來替你說一部分。」 「你這是什麼意思？」佛羅多焦急地看著他問道。 「就是這樣，我親愛的老佛羅多：你很痛苦，因為你不知道如何說再見。你本來就打算離開夏爾，當然。但危險比你預期的來得更快，所以你現在正下定決心要馬上離開。而你並不想走。我們為你感到很難過。」 佛羅多張開嘴又閉上了。他驚訝的表情實在太滑稽了，他們都笑了起來。 「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？你還不夠小心，也不夠聰明！你顯然從四月以來就一直在計畫離開，並向你所有常去的地方告別。我們一直聽到你喃喃自語：『不知道我還能不能再俯瞰一次那個山谷』之類的話。還假裝你錢花完了，竟然把你心愛的袋底洞賣給那些薩克維爾-巴金斯家的人！還有你跟甘道夫所有那些秘密談話。」 「我的天啊！」佛羅多說。「我還以為我既小心又聰明。我不知道甘道夫會怎麼說。那整個夏爾都在討論我要離開的事嗎？」 「喔不！」梅里說。「別擔心那個！這個秘密當然瞞不了多久；但目前，我想，只有我們這些共謀者知道。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.
而且時常跟你們在一起。我們通常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，我就一直在密切注意你。我原以為你遲早會跟著他走；事實上，我還以為你會更早動身，所以最近我們一直很焦慮。我們非常害怕你會偷偷溜掉，像他一樣獨自突然離開。從今年春天開始，我們就一直睜大眼睛，也為我們自己做了不少計畫。你沒那麼容易逃掉的！」「但我必須走，」佛羅多說。「這是沒辦法的事，親愛的朋友們。這對我們所有人來說都很不幸，但你們想留住我是沒有用的。既然你們都猜到這麼多了，就請幫助我，不要阻礙我！」「你不明白！」皮聘說。「你必須走——所以我們也必須走。我和梅里要跟你一起去。山姆是個很棒的傢伙，為了救你，他會願意跳進龍的喉嚨裡，只要他沒被自己的腳絆倒的話；但在你這趟危險的冒險中，你需要不只一個同伴。」「我親愛的、最敬愛的哈比人！」佛羅多深受感動地說。「但我不能允許。這件事我很久以前也決定了。你們說到危險，但你們並不了解。這不是什麼尋寶遊戲，也不是什麼去了就回的旅程。我是在從一個致命的危險逃向另一個致命的危險。」「我們當然明白，」梅里堅定地說。「這就是為什麼我們決定要來。我們知道魔戒不是鬧著玩的；但我們會盡全力幫助你對抗敵人。」「魔戒！」佛羅多說，現在完全驚呆了。「是的，魔戒，」梅里說。「我親愛的老哈比人，你沒有考慮到朋友們的好奇心。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；但既然他顯然把它當成秘密，我就把這件事藏在心裡，直到我們組成了我們的密謀。當然，我認識比爾博不如認識你那麼深；我那時太年輕了，而且他也比較小心——但他還不夠小心。如果你想知道我最初是怎麼發現的，我會告訴你。」「說吧！」佛羅多微弱地說。「不出你所料，是薩克維爾-巴金斯家族讓他栽了跟頭。在宴會前一年的一天，我碰巧在路上走，看到比爾博在前面。突然間，遠處出現了薩-巴家的人，朝我們走來。比爾博放慢了腳步，然後嘿！一聲，他就消失了。我嚇了一大跳，幾乎沒有足夠的理智用更普通的方式躲起來；但我還是穿過了樹籬，沿著裡面的田地走。在薩-巴家的人經過後，我從樹籬縫隙偷看外面的路，正好看著比爾博突然再次出現。在他把某樣東西放回褲袋時，我瞥見了一道金光。
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
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
「我不否認，但我再也不會相信你們睡著了，不管你們有沒有打呼。我會用力踢你們來確認一下。」他咧嘴笑著說。「你們真是一群騙人的無賴！」他轉向其他人說。「但真是愛死你們了！」他笑了起來，站起身揮舞著手臂，「我投降了。我會接受金花領主的建議。如果危險不是這麼深重，我真會高興得跳起舞來。即便如此，我還是忍不住感到開心；比我很久以來感受到的都還要開心。我本來很害怕今天晚上。」「太好了！就這麼定了。為佛羅多隊長和夥伴們三度歡呼！」他們大喊著，圍著他跳起舞來。梅里和皮聘唱起一首歌，顯然是為此場合準備好的。這首歌是仿照很久以前開啟比爾博冒險旅程的那首矮人歌曲，曲調也一樣： 告別爐火與廳堂！ 儘管風吹雨又打， 我們必須在破曉前遠離， 遠越高山與林地。 前往瑞文戴爾，精靈仍居住之地， 在迷霧山丘下的林間空地， 我們匆忙穿越荒野與沼地， 此後去向何方，無人能知。 前有敵人，後有恐懼， 天空之下將是我們的床鋪， 直到我們勞苦的終點， 旅程完成，任務達成。 我們必須遠離！我們必須遠離！ 我們在破曉之前啟程！ 「非常好！」佛羅多說。「但這樣的話，在我們上床睡覺前——至少今晚是在屋頂下睡——還有很多事得做。」 「喔！那只是詩歌啦！」皮聘說。「你真的打算在天亮前出發嗎？」 「我不知道，」佛羅多回答。「我害怕那些黑騎士，而且我很確定在一個地方待太久不安全，尤其是一個他們知道我要去的地方。金花領主也建議我不要等待。但我非常想見到甘道夫。我看得出來，連金花領主聽說甘道夫從未出現時都感到不安。這真的取決於兩件事：那些騎士多快能到布克鎮？我們又多快能離開？這需要大量的準備工作。」 「關於第二個問題的答案，」梅里說，「是我們可以⋯⋯
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
「一小時後出發。我幾乎把所有東西都準備好了。田野對面的馬廄裡有五匹小馬；儲備物資和裝備也都打包好了，只剩下一些額外的衣物和易腐壞的食物。」「這真是一場效率極高的密謀啊，」佛羅多說。「但黑騎士怎麼辦？為了等甘道夫而多待一天安全嗎？」「那完全要看你覺得，要是騎士們在這裡找到你，他們會怎麼做，」梅里回答。「當然，如果他們沒在北門被攔下的話，現在早就到這裡了。北門就在橋的這一側，大籬笆延伸到河岸的地方。守門人晚上不會讓他們通過，雖然他們可能會強行闖關。即使在白天，我想守門人也會試著把他們擋在外面，至少在他們把消息傳給大廳主之前會這麼做——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。不過，布克蘭當然抵擋不了堅決的攻擊太久。而且，很可能到了早上，就算有個黑騎士騎馬上前詢問巴金斯先生，也會被放進來。你回來洞穴居長住的消息，已經是眾所皆知了。」佛羅多坐著沉思了一會兒。「我決定了，」他最後說。「我明天天一亮就出發。但我不走大路：那樣的話，還不如待在這裡更安全。如果我從北門走，我離開布克蘭的消息會立刻傳開，而不是像原本那樣，至少可以保密好幾天。而且，更重要的是，無論有沒有騎士進入布克蘭，邊界附近的橋和東方大道肯定會被監視。我們不知道他們有多少人；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離開。」「但那只能代表要進入老林了！」佛瑞德加驚恐地說。「你不會是想這麼做吧。那裡跟黑騎士一樣危險。」「不完全是，」梅里說。「這聽起來很像孤注一擲，但我相信佛羅多是對的。這是唯一能出發而又不被立刻跟上的方法。運氣好的話，我們能大幅領先。」「但在老林裡你們不會有好運的，」佛瑞德加反駁道。「從來沒有人在那裡有好運。你們會迷路的。人們是不會進去那裡的。」「喔，不，他們會的！」梅里說。「白蘭地鹿家的人就會進去——偶爾一時興起的時候。我們有私人的入口。佛羅多很久以前進去過一次。我進去過好幾次了：當然，通常是在白天，那時樹木都昏昏欲睡，相當安靜。」「好吧，你們覺得怎樣最好就怎樣做吧！」佛瑞德加說。「在我所知的一切事物中，我最怕的就是老林了：關於它的故事簡直是場惡夢；但我的意見沒什麼分量，因為我不會跟著去。
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.
旅程。不過，我很高興有人能留下來，等甘道夫現身時，可以告訴他你們做了什麼，我敢說他很快就會出現的。」胖胖·博爾傑雖然喜歡佛羅多，卻絲毫不想離開夏爾，也不想去看看外面的世界。他的家族來自東區，事實上是來自橋田的巴奇福，但他從未跨越白蘭地橋。根據共謀者們最初的計畫，他的任務是留下來應付那些好奇的傢伙，並盡可能地維持巴金斯先生仍住在科瑞克河谷的假象。他甚至還帶了幾件佛羅多的舊衣服，好幫助他扮演這個角色。他們幾乎沒想到這個角色可能會有多危險。「太棒了！」佛羅多明白計畫後說。「不然我們就沒辦法給甘道夫留下任何訊息了。我當然不知道那些騎士是否識字，但我可不敢冒險留下書面訊息，以防他們闖進來搜查屋子。但如果胖胖願意守住這個據點，而且我能確定甘道夫會知道我們走的路，那我就決定了。我明天一早就進老林。」「嗯，就這麼定了。」皮聘說。「總體來說，我寧願做我們的工作，也不願做胖胖的——在這裡等著黑騎士上門。」「等你進了老林深處再說吧。」佛瑞德加說。「明天這個時候之前，你就會希望自己跟我一起待在這裡了。」「再爭論這個也沒用了。」梅里說。「我們上床前還得整理一下，把行李做最後的收尾。我會在天亮前叫醒大家。」當佛羅多終於上床時，他一時無法入睡。他的腿很痠。他很高興明天早上可以騎馬。最終，他陷入了一個模糊的夢境，夢中他似乎正從一扇高窗向外望，俯瞰一片由糾結樹木構成的黑暗海洋。在下方的樹根之間，傳來生物爬行和四處嗅聞的聲音。他確信它們遲早會把他嗅出來。然後他聽見遠處有聲響。起初他以為是穿過森林樹葉的巨風。接著他明白那不是樹葉，而是遠方大海的聲音；一個他在清醒時從未聽過，卻時常困擾他夢境的聲音。突然間，他發現自己身處一片開闊地。根本沒有樹。他在一片黑暗的荒野上，空氣中有股奇特的鹹味。他抬頭一看，見到前方一座高聳的白塔，獨自矗立在一道高峰上。一股強烈的渴望攫住了他，想要爬上高塔，看看大海。他開始奮力沿著山脊向高塔攀登：但突然間，天空中亮起一道光，隨之而來的是一陣雷鳴。