jrt.the hobbit-第3章

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　from　the　little　window　that　opened　in　the　side　of　The　Hill；　the　firelight　flickered…it　was　April…and　still　they　played　on；　while　the　shadow　of　Gandalf's　beard　wagged　against　the　wall。　　The　dark　filled　all　the　room；　and　the　fire　died　down；　and　the　shadows　were　lost；　and　still　they　played　on。　And　suddenly　first　one　and　then　another　began　to　sing　as　they　played；　deep…throated　singing　of　the　dwarves　in　the　deep　places　of　their　ancient　homes；　and　this　is　like　a　fragment　of　their　song；　if　it　can　be　like　their　song　without　their　music。
　〃Far　over　the　misty　mountains　cold
　To　dungeons　deep　and　caverns　old
　We　must　away　ere　break　of　day
　To　seek　the　pale　enchanted　gold。
　The　dwarves　of　yore　made　mighty　spells；
　While　hammers　fell　like　ringing　bells
　In　places　deep；　where　dark　things　sleep；
　In　hollow　halls　beneath　the　fells。
　For　ancient　king　and　elvish　lord
　There　many　a　gloaming　golden　hoard
　They　shaped　and　wrought；　and　light　they　caught
　To　hide　in　gems　on　hilt　of　sword。
　On　silver　necklaces　they　strung
　The　flowering　stars；　on　crowns　they　hung
　The　dragon…fire；　in　twisted　wire
　They　meshed　the　light　of　moon　and　sun。
　Far　over　the　misty　mountains　cold
　To　dungeons　deep　and　caverns　old
　We　must　away；　ere　break　of　day；
　To　claim　our　long…forgotten　gold。
　Goblets　they　carved　there　for　themselves
　And　harps　of　gold；　where　no　man　delves
　There　lay　they　long；　and　many　a　song
　Was　sung　unheard　by　men　or　elves。
　The　pines　were　roaring　on　the　height；
　The　winds　were　moaning　in　the　night。
　The　fire　was　red；　it　flaming　spread；
　The　trees　like　torches　biased　with　light；
　The　bells　were　ringing　in　the　dale
　And　men　looked　up　with　faces　pale；
　The　dragon's　ire　more　fierce　than　fire
　Laid　low　their　towers　and　houses　frail。
　The　mountain　smoked　beneath　the　moon；
　The　dwarves；　they　heard　the　tramp　of　doom。
　They　fled　their　hall　to　dying　…fall
　Beneath　his　feet；　beneath　the　moon。
　Far　over　the　misty　mountains　grim
　To　dungeons　deep　and　caverns　dim
　We　must　away；　ere　break　of　day；
　To　win　our　harps　and　gold　from　him！〃
　As　they　sang　the　hobbit　felt　the　love　of　beautiful　things　made　by　hands
　and　by　cunning　and　by　magic　moving　through　him；　a　fierce　and　jealous　love；　the　　desire　of　the　hearts　of　dwarves。　Then　something　Tookish　woke　up　inside　him；　and　he　wished　to　go　and　see　the　great　mountains；　and　hear　the　pine…trees　and　the　waterfalls；　and　explore　the　caves；　and　wear　a　sword　instead　of　a　walking…stick。　He　looked　out　of　the　window。　The　stars　were　out　in　a　dark　sky　above　the　trees。　He　thought　of　the　jewels　of　the　dwarves　shining　in　dark　caverns。　　Suddenly　in　the　wood　beyond　The　Water　a　flame　leapt　up…probably　somebody　lighting　a　wood…fire…and　he　thought　of　plundering　dragons　settling　on　his　quiet　Hill　and　kindling　it　all　to　flames。　He　shuddered；　and　very　quickly　he　was　plain　Mr。　Baggins　of　Bag…End；　Under…Hill；　again。　　He　got　up　trembling。　He　had　less　than　half　a　mind　to　fetch　the　lamp；　and　more　than　half　a　mind　to　pretend　to；　and　go　and　hide　behind　the　beer　barrels　in　the　cellar；　and　not　e　out　again　until　all　the　dwarves　had　gone　away。　　Suddenly　he　found　that　the　music　and　the　singing　had　stopped；　and　they　were　all　looking　at　him　with　eyes　shining　in　the　dark。
　〃Where　are　you　going？〃　said　Thorin；　in　a　tone　that　seemed　to　show　that　he　guessed　both　halves　of　the　hobbit's　mind。
　〃What　about　a　little　light？〃　said　Bilbo　apologetically。
　〃We　like　the　dark；〃　said　the　dwarves。　〃Dark　for　dark　business！　There　are　many　hours　before　dawn。〃
　〃Of　course！〃　said　Bilbo；　and　sat　down　in　a　hurry。　He　missed　the　stool　and　sat　in　the　fender；　knocking　over　the　poker　and　shovel　with　a　crash。　　〃Hush！〃　said　Gandalf。　〃Let　Thorin　speak！〃　And　this　is　bow　Thorin　began。　　〃Gandalf；　dwarves　and　Mr。　Baggins！　We　are　not　together　in　the　house　of　our　friend　and　fellow　conspirator；　this　most　excellent　and　audacious　hobbit…may　the　hair　on　his　toes　never　fall　out！　all　praise　to　his　wine　and　ale！…〃　He　paused　for　breath　and　for　a　polite　remark　from　the　hob…bit；　but　the　pliments　were　quite　lost　on…poor　Bilbo　Baggins；　who　was　wagging　his　mouth　in　protest　at　being　called　audacious　and　worst　of　all　fellow　conspirator；　though　no　noise　came　out；　he　was　so　flummoxed。　So　Thorin　went　on：
　〃We　are　met　to　discuss　our　plans；　our　ways；　means；　policy　and　devices。　We　shall　soon　before　the　break　of　day　start　on　our　long　journey；　a　journey　from　which　some　of　us；　or　perhaps　all　of　us　（except　our　friend　and　counsellor；　the　ingenious　wizard　Gandalf）　may　never　return。　It　is　a　solemn　moment。　Our　object　is；　I　take　it；　well　known　to　us　all。　To　the　estimable　Mr。　Baggins；　and　perhaps　to　one　or　two　of　the　younger　dwarves　（I　think　I　should　be　right　in　naming　Kili　and　Fili；　for　instance）；　the　exact　situation　at　the　moment　may　require　a　little　brief　explanation…〃　This　was　Thorin's　style。　He　was　an　important　dwarf。　If　he　had　been　allowed；　he　would　probably　have　gone　on　like　this　until　he　was　out　of　breath；　without　telling　any　one　there　'anything　that　was　not　known　already。　But　he　was　rudely　interrupted。　Poor　Bilbo　couldn't　bear　it　any　longer。　At　may　never　return　he　began　to　feel　a　shriek　ing　up　inside；　and　very　soon　it　burst　out　like　the　whistle　of　an　engine　ing　out　of　a　tunnel。　All　the　dwarves　sprang　Bp　knocking　over　the　table。　Gandalf　struck　a　blue　light　on　the　end　of　his　magic　staff；　and　in　its　firework　glare　the　poor　little　hobbit　could　be　seen　kneeling　on　the　hearth…rug；　shaking　like　a　jelly　that　was　melting。　Then　he　fell　flat　on　the　floor；　and　kept　on　calling　out　〃struck　by　lightning；　struck　by　lightning！〃　over　and　over　again；　and　that　was　all　they　could　get　out　of　him　for　a　long　time。　So　they　took　him　and　laid　him　out　of　the　way　on　the　drawing…room　sofa　with　a　drink　at　his　elbow；　and　they　went　back　to　their　dark　business。
　〃Excitable　little　fellow；〃　said　Gandalf；　as　they　sat　down　again。　〃Gets　funny　queer　fits；　but　he　is　one　of　the　best；　one　of　the　best…as　fierce　as　a　dragon　in　a　pinch。〃
　If　you　have　ever　seen　a　dragon　in　a　pinch；　you　will　realise　that　this　was
　only　poetical　exaggeration　applied　to　any　hobbit；　even　to　Old　Took's　great…
　granduncle　Bullroarer；　who　was　so　huge　（for　a　hobbit）　that　he　could　ride　a
　horse。　He　charged　the　ranks　of　the　goblins　of　Mount　Gram　in　the　Battle　of　the
　Green　Fields；　and　knocked　their　king　Gol…firnbul's　head　clean　off　with　a
　wooden　club。　It　sailed　a　hundred　yards　through　the　air　and　went　down　a　rabbit　hole；　and　in　this　way　the　battle　was　won　and　the　game　of　Golf　invented　at　the　same　moment。
　In　the　meanwhile；　however；　Bullroarer's　gentler　descendant　was　reviving　in　the　drawing…room。　After　a　while　and　a　drink　he　crept　nervously　to　the　door　of　the　parlour。　This　is　what　he　heard；　Gloin　speaking：　〃Humph！〃　（or　some　snort　more　or　less　like　that）。　〃Will　he　do；　do　you　think？　It　is　all　very　well　for　Gandalf　to　talk　about　this　hobbit　being　fierce；　but　one　shriek　like　that　in　a　moment　of　excitement　would　be　enough　to　wake　the　dragon　and　all　his　relatives；　and　kill　the　lot　of　us。　I　think　it　sounded　more　like　fright　than　excitement！　　In　fact；　if　it　bad　not　been　for　the　sign　on　the　door；　I　should　have　been　sure　we　had　e　to　the　wrong　house。　As　soon　as　I　clapped　eyes　on　the　little　fellow　bobbing　and　puffing　on　the　mat；　I　had　my　doubts。　He　looks　more　like　a　grocer…than　a　burglar！〃
　Then　Mr。　Baggins　turned　the　handle　and　went　in。　The　Took　side　had　won。　He　suddenly　felt　he　would　go　without　bed　and　breakfast　to　be　thought　fierce。　As　for　little　fellow　bobbing　on　the　mat　it　almost　made　him　really　fierce。　Many　a　time　afterwards　the　Baggins　part　regretted　what　he　did　now；　and　he　said　to　himself：　〃Bilbo；　you　were　a　fool；　you　walked　right　in　and　put　your　foot　in　it。〃
　〃Pardon　me；〃　he　said；　〃if　I　have　overheard　words　that　you　were　saying。　I　don't　pretend　to　understand　what　you　are　talking　about；　or　your　reference　to　burglars；　but　I　think　I　am　right　in　believing〃　（this　is　what　he　called　being　on　his　dignity）　〃that　you　think　I　am　no　good。　I　will　show　you。　I　have　no　signs　on　my　door…it　was　painted　a　week　ago…；　and　I　am　quite　sure　you　have　e　to　the　wrong　house。　As　soon　as　I　saw　your　funny　faces　on　the　door…step；　I　had　my　doubts。　But　treat　it　as　the　right　one。　Tell　me　what　you　want　done；　and　I　will　try　it；　if　I　have　to　walk　from　here　to　the　East　of　East　and　fight　the　wild　Were…worms　in　the　Last　Desert。　I　bad　a　great…great…great…granduncle　once；　Bullroarer　Took；　and　…〃　〃Yes；　yes；　but　that　was　long　ago；〃　said　Gloin。　〃I　was　talking　about　you。　　And　I　assure　you　there　is　a　mark　on　this　door…the　usual　one　in　the　trade；　or　used　to　be。　Burglar　wants　a　good　job；　plenty　of　Excitement　and　reasonable　Reward；　that's　how　it　is　usually　read。　You　^an　say　Expert　Treasure…hunter　instead　of　Burglar　if　you　like。　Some　of　them　do。　It's　all　the　same　to　us。　　Gandalf　told　us　that　there　was　a　man　of　the　sort　in　these　parts　looking　for　a　Job　at　once；　and　that　he　had　arranged　for　a　meeting　here　this　Wednesday　tea…time。〃
　〃Of　course　there　is　a　mark；〃　said　Gandalf。　〃I　put　it　there　myself。　For　very　good　reasons。　You　asked　me　to　find　the　fourteenth　man　for　your　expedition；　and　I　chose　Mr。　Baggins。　Just　let　any　one　say　I　chose　the　wrong　man　or　the　wrong　house；　and　you　can　stop　at　thirteen　and　have　all　the　bad　luck　you　like；　or　go　back　to　digging　coal。〃
　He　scowled　so　angrily　at　Gloin　that　the　dwarf　huddled　back　in　his　chair；　and　when　Bilbo　tried　to　open　his　mouth　to　ask　a　question；　he　turned　and　frowned　at　him　and　stuck　oat　his　bushy　eyebrows；　till　Bilbo　shut　his　mouth　tight　with　a　snap。　〃That's　right；〃　said　Gandalf。　〃Let's　have　no　more　argument。　　I　have　chosen　Mr。　Baggins　and　that　ought　to　！6te　enough　for　all　of　you。　If　I　say　he　is　a　Burglar；　a　Burglar　he　is；　or　will　be　when　the　time　es。　There　is　a　lot　more　in　him　than　you　guess；　and　a　deal　more　than　he　has　any　idea　of　himself。　You　may　（possibly）　all　live　to　thank　me　yet。　Now　Bilbo；　my　boy；　fetch　the　lamp；　and　let's　have　little　light　on　this！〃
　On　the　table　in　the　light　of　a　big　lamp　with　a　red　shad　he　spread　a　piece　of　parchment　rather　like　a　map。
　〃This　was　made　by　Thror；　your　grandfather；　Thorin；　he　said　in　answer　to　the　dwarves'　excited　questions。　〃It　is　a　plan　of　the　Mountain。〃　〃I　don't　see　that　this　will　help　us　much；〃　said　Thorin　disappointedly　after　a　glance。　〃I　remember　the　Mountain　well　enough　and　the　lands　about　it。　　And　I　know　where　Mirkwood　is；　and　the　Withered　Heath　where　the　great　dragons　bred。〃
　〃There　is　a　dragon　marked　in　red　on　the　Mountain；　said　Balin；　〃but　it　will　be　easy　enough　to　find　him　without　that；　if　ever　we　arrive　there。〃　〃There　is　one　point　that　you　haven't　noticed；〃　said　the　wizard；　〃and　that　is　the　secret　entrance。　You　see　that　rune　on　the　West　side；　and　the　hand　pointing　to　it　from　the　other　runes？　That　marks　a　hidden　passage　to　the　Lower　Halls。
　〃It　may　have　been　secret　once；〃　said　Thorin；　〃but　how　do　we　know　that　it　is　secret　any　longer？　Old　Smaug　had　lived　there　long　enough　now　to　find　out　anything　there　is　to　know　about　those　caves。〃
　〃He　may…but　he　can't　have　used　it　for　years　and　years。　〃Why？〃　〃Because　it　is　too　small。　'Five　feet　high　the　door　and　three　may　walk　abreast'　say　the　runes；　but　Smaug　could　not　creep　into　a　hole　that　size；　not　even　when　he　was　a　young　dragon；　certainly　not　after　devouring　so　many　of　the　dwarves　and　men　of　Dale。〃
　〃It　se