the return of the king-第33章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　　　　　The　vanguard　passed　on　through　the　ruins　of　Old　Gondor；　and　over　the　wide　River；　and　on　up　
the　long　straight　road　that　in　the　high　days　had　been　made　to　run　from　the　fair　Tower　of　the　Sun　to　
the　tall　Tower　of　the　Moon；　which　now　was　Minas　Morgul　in　its　accursed　vale。　Five　miles　beyond　
Osgiliath　they　halted；　ending　their　first　day's　march。
　　　　　But　the　horsemen　pressed　on　and　ere　evening　they　came　to　the　Cross…roads　and　the　great　ring　of　
trees；　and　all　was　silent。　No　sign　of　any　enemy　had　they　seen；　no　cry　or　call　had　been　heard；　no　
shaft　had　sped　from　rock　or　thicket　by　the　way；　yet　ever　as　they　went　forward　they　felt　the　
watchfulness　of　the　land　increase。　Tree　and　stone；　blade　and　leaf　were　listening。　The　darkness　had　
been　dispelled；　and　far　away　westward　sunset　was　on　the　Vale　of　Anduin；　and　the　white　peaks　of　
the　mountains　blushed　in　the　blue　air；　but　a　shadow　and　a　gloom　brooded　upon　the　Ephel　Dúath。
　　　　　Then　Aragorn　set　trumpeters　at　each　of　the　four　roads　that　ran　into　the　ring　of　trees；　and　they　
blew　a　great　fanfare；　and　the　heralds　cried　aloud：　'The　Lords　of　Gondor　have　returned　and　all　this　
land　that　is　theirs　they　take　back。'　The　hideous　orc…head　that　was　set　upon　the　carven　figure　was　
cast　down　and　broken　in　pieces；　and　the　old　king's　head　was　raised　and　set　in　its　place　once　more；　
still　crowned　with　white　and　golden　flowers：　and　men　laboured　to　wash　and　pare　away　all　the　foul　
scrawls　that　orcs　had　put　upon　the　stone。
　　　　　Now　in　their　debate　some　had　counselled　that　Minas　Morgul　should　first　be　assailed；　and　if　they　
might　take　it；　it　should　be　utterly　destroyed。　'And；　maybe；'　said　Imrahil；　'the　road　that　leads　thence　
to　the　pass　above　will　prove　an　easier　way　of　assault　upon　the　Dark　Lord　than　his　northern　gate。'
　　　　　But　against　this　Gandalf　had　spoken　urgently；　because　of　the　evil　that　dwelt　in　the　valley；　where　
the　minds　of　living　men　would　turn　to　madness　and　horror；　and　because　also　of　the　news　that　
Faramir　had　brought。　For　if　the　Ring…bearer　had　indeed　attempted　that　way；　then　above　all　they　
should　not　draw　the　Eye　of　Mordor　thither。　So　the　next　day　when　the　main　host　came　up；　they　set　a　
strong　guard　upon　the　Cross…roads　to　make　some　defence；　if　Mordor　should　send　a　force　over　the　
Morgul　Pass；　or　should　bring　more　men　up　from　the　South。　For　that　guard　they　chose　mostly　
archers　who　knew　the　ways　of　Ithilien　and　would　lie　hid　in　the　woods　and　slopes　about　the　meeting　
of　the　ways。　But　Gandalf　and　Aragorn　rode　with　the　vanguard　to　the　entrance　of　Morgul　Vale　and　
looked　on　the　evil　city。
　　　　　It　was　dark　and　lifeless；　for　the　Orcs　and　lesser　creatures　of　Mordor　that　had　dwelt　there　had　
been　destroyed　in　battle；　and　the　Nazg？l　were　abroad。　Yet　the　air　of　the　valley　was　heavy　with　fear　
and　enmity。　Then　they　broke　the　evil　bridge　and　set　red　flames　in　the　noisome　fields　and　departed。

　　　　　The　day　after；　being　the　third　day　since　they　set　out　from　Minas　Tirith；　the　army　began　its　
northward　march　along　the　road。　It　was　some　hundred　miles　by　that　way　from　the　Cross…roads　to　
the　Morannon；　and　what　might　befall　them　before　they　came　so　far　none　knew　They　went　openly　
but　heedfully；　with　mounted　scouts　before　them　on　the　road；　and　others　on　foot　upon　either　side；　
especially　on　the　eastward　flank；　for　there　lay　dark　thickets；　and　a　tumbled　land　of　rocky　ghylls　and　
crags；　behind　which　the　long　grim　slopes　of　the　Ephel　Dúath　clambered　up。　The　weather　of　the　
world　remained　fair　and　the　wind　held　in　the　west；　but　nothing　could　waft　away　the　glooms　and　the　
sad　mists　that　clung　about　the　Mountains　of　Shadow；　and　behind　them　at　whiles　great　smokes　
would　arise　and　hover　in　the　upper　winds。
　　　　　Ever　and　anon　Gandalf　let　blow　the　trumpets；　and　the　heralds　would　cry：　〃The　Lords　of　Gondor　
are　e！　Let　all　leave　this　land　or　yield　them　up！'　But　Imrahil　said：　'Say　not　_The　Lords　of　
Gondor_。　Say　_The　King　Elessar_。　For　that　is　true；　even　though　he　has　not　yet　sat　upon　the　throne；　
and　it　will　give　the　Enemy　more　thought；　if　the　heralds　use　that　name。'　And　thereafter　thrice　a　day　
the　heralds　proclaimed　the　ing　of　the　King　Elessar。　But　none　answered　the　challenge。
　　　　　Nonetheless；　though　they　marched　in　seeming　peace；　the　hearts　of　all　the　army；　from　the　highest　
to　the　lowest；　were　downcast；　and　with　every　mile　that　they　went　north　foreboding　of　evil　grew　
heavier　on　them。　It　was　near　the　end　of　the　second　day　of　their　march　from　the　Cross…roads　that　
they　first　met　any　offer　of　battle。　For　a　strong　force　of　Orcs　and　Easterlings　attempted　to　take　their　
leading　panies　in　an　ambush；　and　that　was　in　the　very　place　where　Faramir　had　waylaid　the　
men　of　Harad；　and　the　road　went　in　a　deep　cutting　through　an　out…thrust　of　the　eastward　hills。　But　
the　Captains　of　the　West　were　well　warned　by　their　scouts；　skilled　men　from　Henneth　Ann？n　led　by　
Mablung；　and　so　the　ambush　was　itself　trapped。　For　horsemen　went　wide　about　westward　and　came　
up　on　the　flank　of　the　enemy　and　from　behind；　and　they　were　destroyed　or　driven　east　into　the　hills。
　　　　　But　the　victory　did　little　to　enhearten　the　captains。　'It　is　but　a　feint；'　said　Aragorn；　'and　its　chief　
purpose；　I　deem；　was　rather　to　draw　us　on　by　a　false　guess　of　our　Enemy's　weakness　than　to　do　us　
much　hurt；　yet。'　And　from　that　evening　onward　the　Nazg？l　came　and　followed　every　move　of　the　
army。　They　still　flew　high　and　out　of　sight　of　all　save　Legolas；　and　yet　their　presence　could　be　felt；　
as　a　deepening　of　shadow　and　a　dimming　of　the　sun；　and　though　the　Ringwraiths　did　not　yet　stoop　
low　upon　their　foes　and　were　silent；　uttering　no　cry；　the　dread　of　them　could　not　be　shaken　off。

　　　　　So　time　and　the　hopeless　journey　wore　away。　Upon　the　fourth　day　from　the　Cross…roads　and　the　
sixth　from　Minas　Tirith　they　came　at　last　to　the　end　of　the　living　lands；　and　began　to　pass　into　the　
desolation　that　lay　before　the　gates　of　the　Pass　of　Cirith　Gorgor；　and　they　could　descry　the　marshes　
and　the　desert　that　stretched　north　and　west　to　the　Emyn　Muil。　So　desolate　were　those　places　and　so　
deep　the　horror　that　lay　on　them　that　some　of　the　host　were　unmanned；　and　they　could　neither　walk　
nor　ride　further　north。
　　　　　Aragorn　looked　at　them；　and　there　was　pity　in　his　eyes　rather　than　wrath；　for　these　were　young　
men　from　Rohan；　from　Westfold　far　away；　or　husbandmen　from　Lossarnach；　and　to　them　Mordor　
had　been　from　childhood　a　name　of　evil；　and　yet　unreal；　a　legend　that　had　no　part　in　their　simple　
life；　and　now　they　walked　like　men　in　a　hideous　dream　made　true；　and　they　understood　not　this　war　
nor　why　fate　should　lead　them　to　such　a　pass。
　　　　　'Go！'　said　Aragorn。　'But　keep　what　honour　you　may；　and　do　not　run！　And　there　is　a　task　which　
you　may　attempt　and　so　be　not　wholly　shamed。　Take　your　way　south…west　till　you　e　to　Cair　
Andros；　and　if　that　is　still　held　by　enemies；　as　I　think；　then　re…take　it；　if　you　can；　and　hold　it　to　the　
last　in　defence　of　Gondor　and　Rohan！'
　　　　　Then　some　being　shamed　by　his　mercy　overcame　their　fear　and　went　on；　and　the　others　took　
new　hope；　hearing　of　a　manful　deed　within　their　measure　that　they　could　turn　to；　and　they　departed。　
And　so；　since　many　men　had　already　been　left　at　the　Cross…roads；　it　was　with　less　than　six　
thousands　that　the　Captains　of　the　West　came　at　last　to　challenge　the　Black　Gate　and　the　might　of　
Mordor。

　　　　　They　advanced　now　slowly；　expecting　at　every　hour　some　answer　to　their　challenge；　and　they　
drew　together；　since　it　was　but　waste　of　men　to　send　out　scouts　or　small　parties　from　the　main　host。　
At　nightfall　of　the　fifth　day　of　the　march　from　Morgul　Vale　they　made　their　last　camp；　and　set　fires　
about　it　of　such　dead　wood　and　heath　as　they　could　find。　They　passed　the　hours　of　night　in　
wakefulness　and　they　were　aware　of　many　things　half…seen　that　walked　and　prowled　all　about　them；　
and　they　heard　the　howling　of　wolves。　The　wind　had　died　and　all　the　air　seemed　still。　They　could　
see　little；　for　though　it　was　cloudless　and　the　waxing　moon　was　four　nights　old；　there　were　smokes　
and　fumes　that　rose　out　of　the　earth　and　the　white　crescent　was　shrouded　in　the　mists　of　Mordor。
　　　　　It　grew　cold。　As　morning　came　the　wind　began　to　stir　again；　but　now　it　came　from　the　North；　
and　soon　it　freshened　to　a　rising　breeze。　All　the　night…walkers　were　gone；　and　the　land　seemed　
empty。　North　amid　their　noisome　pits　lay　the　first　of　the　great　heaps　and　hills　of　slag　and　broken　
rock　and　blasted　earth；　the　vomit　of　the　maggot…folk　of　Mordor；　but　south　and　now　near　loomed　the　
great　rampart　of　Cirith　Gorgor；　and　the　Black　Gate　amidmost；　and　the　two　Towers　of　the　Teeth　tall　
and　dark　upon　either　side。　For　in　their　last　march　the　Captains　had　turned　away　from　the　old　road　as　
it　bent　east；　and　avoided　the　peril　of　the　lurking　hills；　and　so　now　they　were　approaching　the　
Morannon　from　the　north…west；　even　as　Frodo　had　done。

　　　　　The　two　vast　iron　doors　of　the　Black　Gate　under　its　frowning　arch　were　fast　closed。　Upon　the　
battlement　nothing　could　be　seen。　All　was　silent　but　watchful。　They　were　e　to　the　last　end　of　
their　folly；　and　stood　forlorn　and　chill　in　the　grey　light　of　early　day　before　towers　and　walls　which　
their　army　could　not　assault　with　hope；　not　even　if　it　had　brought　thither　engines　of　great　power；　
and　the　Enemy　had　no　more　force　than　would　suffice　for　the　manning　of　the　gate　and　wall　alone。　
Yet　they　knew　that　all　the　hills　and　rocks　about　the　Morannon　were　filled　with　hidden　foes；　and　the　
shadowy　defile　beyond　was　bored　and　tunnelled　by　teeming　broods　of　evil　things。　And　as　they　
stood　they　saw　all　the　Nazg？l　gathered　together；　hovering　above　the　Towers　of　the　Teeth　like　
vultures；　and　they　knew　that　they　were　watched。　But　still　the　Enemy　made　no　sign。
　　　　　No　choice　was　left　them　but　to　play　their　part　to　its　end。　Therefore　Aragorn　now　set　the　host　in　
such　array　as　could　best　be　contrived；　and　they　were　drawn　up　on　two　great　hills　of　blasted　stone　
and　earth　that　orcs　had　piled　in　years　of　labour。　Before　them　towards　Mordor　lay　like　a　moat　a　great　
mire　of　reeking　mud　and　foul…smelling　pools。　When　all　was　ordered；　the　Captains　rode　forth　
towards　the　Black　Gate　with　a　great　guard　of　horsemen　and　the　banner　and　heralds　and　trumpeters。　
There　was　Gandalf　as　chief　herald；　and　Aragorn　with　the　sons　of　Elrond；　and　éomer　of　Rohan；　and　
Imrahil；　and　Legolas　and　Gimli　and　Peregrin　were　bidden　to　go　also；　so　that　all　the　enemies　of　
Mordor　should　have　a　witness。
　　　　　They　came　within　cry　of　the　Morannon；　and　unfurled　the　banner；　and　blew　upon　their　trumpets；　
and　the　heralds　stood　out　and　sent　their　voices　up　over　the　battlement　of　Mordor。
　　　　　'e　forth！'　they　cried。　'Let　the　Lord　of　the　Black　Land　e　forth！　Justice　shall　be　done　upon　
him。　For　wrongfully　he　has　made　war　upon　Gondor　and　wrested　its　lands。　Therefore　the　King　of　
Gondor　demands　that　he　should　atone　for　his　evils；　and　depart　then　for　ever。　e　forth！'
　　　　　There　was　a　long　silence；　and　from　wall　and　gate　no　cry　or　sound　was　heard　in　answer。　But　
Sauron　had　already　laid　his　plans；　and　he　had　a　mind　first　to　play　these　mice　cruelly　before　he　
struck　to　kill。　So　it　was　that；　even　as　the　Captains　were　about　to　turn　away；　the　silence　was　broken　
suddenly。　There　came　a　lo