the fellowship of the ring-第12章

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ng　I　had　that　all　wasnot　well。　I　told　Bilbo　often　that　such　rings　were　better　left　unused；　but　heresented　it；　and　soon　got　angry。　There　was　little　else　that　I　could　do。　I　　
　
could　not　take　it　from　him　without　doing　greater　harm；　and　I　had　no　right　todo　so　anyway。　I　could　only　watch　and　wait。　I　might　perhaps　have　consultedSaruman　the　White；　but　something　always　held　me　back。'　
'Who　is　he？'　asked　Frodo。　I　have　never　heard　of　him　before。'　　
'Maybe　not；'　answered　Gandalf。　'Hobbits　are；　or　were；　no　concern　of　his。　
Yet　he　is　great　among　the　Wise。　He　is　the　chief　of　my　order　and　the　head　ofthe　Council。　His　knowledge　is　deep；　but　his　pride　has　grown　with　it；　and　hetakes　ill　any　meddling。　The　lore　of　the　Elven…rings；　great　and　small；　is　hisprovince。　He　has　long　studied　it；　seeking　the　lost　secrets　of　their　making；　
but　when　the　Rings　were　debated　in　the　Council；　all　that　he　would　reveal　to　usof　his　ring…lore　told　against　my　fears。　So　my　doubt　slept　–　but　uneasily。　
Still　I　watched　and　I　waited。　　
'And　all　seemed　well　with　Bilbo。　And　the　years　passed。　Yes；　they　passed；　
and　they　seemed　not　to　touch　him。　He　showed　no　signs　of　age。　The　shadow　fellon　me　again。　But　I　said　to　myself：　〃After　all　he　es　of　a　long…lived　familyon　his　mother's　side。　There　is　time　yet。　Wait！〃　
'And　I　waited。　Until　that　night　when　he　left　this　house。　He　said　and　didthings　then　that　filled　me　with　a　fear　that　no　words　of　Saruman　could　allay。　Iknew　at　last　that　something　dark　and　deadly　was　at　work。　And　I　have　spent　mostof　the　years　since　then　in　finding　out　the　truth　of　it。'　
'There　wasn't　any　permanent　harm　done；　was　there？'　asked　Frodo　anxiously。　
'He　would　get　all　right　in　time；　wouldn't　he？　Be　able　to　rest　in　peace；　Imean？'　　
'He　felt　better　at　once；'　said　Gandalf。　'But　there　is　only　one　Power　inthis　world　that　knows　all　about　the　Rings　and　their　effects；　and　as　far　as　Iknow　there　is　no　Power　in　the　world　that　knows　all　about　hobbits。　Among　theWise　I　am　the　only　one　that　goes　in　for　hobbit…lore：　an　obscure　branch　ofknowledge；　but　full　of　surprises。　Soft　as　butter　they　can　be；　and　yetsometimes　as　tough　as　old　tree…roots。　I　think　it　likely　that　some　would　resistthe　Rings　far　longer　than　most　of　the　Wise　would　believe。　I　don't　think　youneed　worry　about　Bilbo。　
'Of　course；　he　possessed　the　ring　for　many　years；　and　used　it；　so　itmight　take　a　long　while　for　the　influence　to　wear　off　–　before　it　was　safe　forhim　to　see　it　again；　for　instance。　Otherwise；　he　might　live　on　for　years；　
quite　happily：　just　stop　as　he　was　when　he　parted　with　it。　For　he　gave　it　upin　the　end　of　his　own　accord：　an　important　point。　No；　I　was　not　troubled　aboutdear　Bilbo　any　more；　once　he　had　let　the　thing　go。　It　is　for　_you_　that　I　feelresponsible。　
'Ever　since　Bilbo　left　I　have　been　deeply　concerned　about　you；　and　aboutall　these　charming；　absurd；　helpless　hobbits。　It　would　be　a　grievous　blow　tothe　world；　if　the　Dark　Power　overcame　the　Shire；　if　all　your　kind；　jolly；　
stupid　Bolgers；　Hornblowers；　Boffins；　Bracegirdles；　and　the　rest；　not　tomention　the　ridiculous　Bagginses；　became　enslaved。'　
Frodo　shuddered。　'But　why　should　we　be？'　he　asked。　'And　why　should　hewant　such　slaves？'　　
'To　tell　you　the　truth；'　replied　Gandalf；　'I　believe　that　hitherto　–　
_hitherto；_mark　you　–　he　has　entirely　overlooked　the　existence　of　hobbits。　Youshould　be　thankful。　But　your　safety　has　passed。　He　does　not　need　you　–　he　hasmany　more　useful　servants　–　but　he　won't　forget　you　again。　And　hobbits　asmiserable　slaves　would　please　him　far　more　than　hobbits　happy　and　free。　Thereis　such　a　thing　as　malice　and　revenge。'　
'Revenge？'　said　Frodo。　'Revenge　for　what？　I　still　don't　understand　whatall　this　has　to　do　with　Bilbo　and　myself；　and　our　ring。'　
'It　has　everything　to　do　with　it；'　said　Gandalf。　'You　do　not　know　thereal　peril　yet；　but　you　shall。　I　was　not　sure　of　it　myself　when　I　was　lasthere；　but　the　time　has　e　to　speak。　Give　me　the　ring　for　a　moment。'　　
Frodo　took　it　from　his　breeches…pocket；　where　it　was　clasped　to　a　chainthat　hung　from　his　belt。　He　unfastened　it　and　handed　it　slowly　to　the　wizard。　
It　felt　suddenly　very　heavy；　as　if　either　it　or　Frodo　himself　was　in　some　way　　
　
reluctant　for　Gandalf　to　touch　it。　　
Gandalf　held　it　up。　It　looked　to　be　made　of　pure　and　solid　gold。　'Can　yousee　any　markings　on　it？'　he　asked。　
'No；'　said　Frodo。　'There　are　none。　It　is　quite　plain；　and　it　never　showsa　scratch　or　sign　of　wear。'　
'Well　then；　look！'　To　Frodo's　astonishment　and　distress　the　wizard　threwit　suddenly　into　the　middle　of　a　glowing　corner　of　the　fire。　Frodo　gave　a　cryand　groped　for　the　tongs；　but　Gandalf　held　him　back。　
'Wait！'　he　said　in　a　manding　voice；　giving　Frodo　a　quick　look　fromunder　his　bristling　brows。　
No　apparent　change　came　over　the　ring。　After　a　while　Gandalf　got　up；　
closed　the　shutters　outside　the　window；　and　drew　the　curtains。　The　room　becamedark　and　silent；　though　the　clack　of　Sam's　shears；　now　nearer　to　the　windows；　
could　still　be　heard　faintly　from　the　garden。　For　a　moment　the　wizard　stoodlooking　at　the　fire；　then　he　stooped　and　removed　the　ring　to　the　hearth　withthe　tongs；　and　at　once　picked　it　up。　Frodo　gasped。　
It　is　quite　cool；'　said　Gandalf。　'Take　it！'　Frodo　received　it　on　hisshrinking　palm：　it　seemed　to　have　bee　thicker　and　heavier　than　ever。　
'Hold　it　up！'　said　Gandalf。　'And　look　closely！'　
As　Frodo　did　so；　he　now　saw　fine　lines；　finer　than　the　finest　pen…　
strokes；　running　along　the　ring；　outside　and　inside：　lines　of　fire　that　seemedto　form　the　letters　of　a　flowing　script。　They　shone　piercingly　bright；　and　yetremote；　as　if　out　of　a　great　depth。　　
'I　cannot　read　the　fiery　letters；'　said　Frodo　in　a　quavering　voice。　
'No；'　said　Gandalf；　'but　I　can。　The　letters　are　Elvish；　of　an　ancientmode；　but　the　language　is　that　of　Mordor；　which　I　will　not　utter　here。　Butthis　in　the　mon　Tongue　is　what　is　said；　close　enough：　　
_One　Ring　to　rule　them　all；　One　Ring　to　find　them；　
One　Ring　to　bring　them　all　and　in　the　darkness　bind　them。_　　
It　is　only　two　lines　of　a　verse　long　known　in　Elven…lore：　　
_Three　Rings　for　the　Elven…kings　under　the　sky；　
Seven　for　the　Dwarf…lords　in　their　halls　of　stone；　
Nine　for　Mortal　Men　doomed　to　die；　
One　for　the　Dark　Lord　on　his　dark　throne　　
In　the　Land　of　Mordor　where　the　Shadows　lie。　　
One　Ring　to　rule　them　all。　One　Ring　to　find　them；　
One　Ring　to　bring　them　all　and　in　the　darkness　bind　themIn　the　Land　of　Mordor　where　the　Shadows　lie。'_　　
He　paused；　and　then　said　slowly　in　a　deep　voice：　'This　is　the　Master…　
ring；　the　One　Ring　to　rule　them　all。　This　is　the　One　Ring　that　he　lost　manyages　ago；　to　the　great　weakening　of　his　power。　He　greatly　desires　it　–　but　hemust　_not_　get　it。'　
Frodo　sat　silent　and　motionless。　Fear　seemed　to　stretch　out　a　vast　hand；　
like　a　dark　cloud　rising　in　the　East　and　looming　up　to　engulf　him。　'Thisring！'　he　stammered。　'How；　how　on　earth　did　it　e　to　me？'　　
'Ah！'　said　Gandalf。　'That　is　a　very　long　story。　The　beginnings　lie　backin　the　Black　Years；　which　only　the　lore…masters　now　remember。　If　I　were　totell　you　all　that　tale；　we　should　still　be　sitting　here　when　Spring　had　passedinto　Winter。　　
'But　last　night　I　told　you　of　Sauron　the　Great；　the　Dark　Lord。　Therumours　that　you　have　heard　are　true：　he　has　indeed　arisen　again　and　left　hishold　in　Mirkwood　and　returned　to　his　ancient　fastness　in　the　Dark　Tower　of　　
Mordor。　That　name　even　you　hobbits　have　heard　of；　like　a　shadow　on　the　bordersof　old　stories。　Always　after　a　defeat　and　a　respite；　the　Shadow　takes　another　　
　
shape　and　grows　again。'　
'I　wish　it　need　not　have　happened　in　my　time；'　said　Frodo。　
'So　do　I；'　said　Gandalf；　'and　so　do　all　who　live　to　see　such　times。　Butthat　is　not　for　them　to　decide。　All　we　have　to　decide　is　what　to　do　with　the　　
time　that　is　given；　us。　And　already；　Frodo；　our　time　is　beginning　to　lookblack。　The　Enemy　is　fast　being　very　strong。　His　plans　are　far　from　ripe；　Ithink；　but　they　are　ripening。　We　shall　be　hard　put　to　it。　We　should　be　veryhard　put　to　it；　even　if　it　were　not　for　this　dreadful　chance。　
'The　Enemy　still　lacks　one　thing　to　give　him　strength　and　knowledge　tobeat　down　all　resistance；　break　the　last　defences；　and　cover　all　the　lands　ina　second　darkness。　He　lacks　the　One　Ring。　
'The　Three；　fairest　of　all；　the　Elf…lords　hid　from　him；　and　his　handnever　touched　them　or　sullied　them。　Seven　the　Dwarf…kings　possessed；　but　threehe　has　recovered；　and　the　others　the　dragons　have　consumed。　Nine　he　gave　toMortal　Men；　proud　and　great；　and　so　ensnared　them。　Long　ago　they　fell　underthe　dominion　of　the　One；　and　they　became　Ringwraiths；　shadows　under　his　greatShadow；　his　most　terrible　servants。　Long　ago。　It　is　many　a　year　since　the　Ninewalked　abroad。　Yet　who　knows？　As　the　Shadow　grows　once　more；　they　too　may　walkagain。　But　e！　We　will　not　speak　of　such　things　even　in　the　morning　of　theShire。　　
'So　it　is　now：　the　Nine　he　has　gathered　to　himself；　the　Seven　also；　orelse　they　are　destroyed。　The　Three　are　hidden　still。　But　that　no　longertroubles　him。　He　only　needs　the　One；　for　he　made　that　Ring　himself；　it　is　his；　
and　he　let　a　great　part　of　his　own　former　power　pass　into　it；　so　that　he　couldrule　all　the　others。　If　he　recovers　it；　then　he　will　mand　them　all　again；　
wherever　they　be；　even　the　Three；　and　all　that　has　been　wrought　with　them　willbe　laid　bare；　and　he　will　be　stronger　than　ever。　
'And　this　is　the　dreadful　chance；　Frodo。　He　believed　that　the　One　hadperished；　that　the　Elves　had　destroyed　it；　as　should　have　been　done。　But　heknows　now　that　it　has　_not_　perished；　that　it　has　been　found。　So　he　is　seekingit；　seeking　it；　and　all　his　thought　is　bent　on　it。　It　is　his　great　hope　andour　great　fear。'　
'Why；　why　wasn't　it　destroyed？'　cried　Frodo。　'And　how　did　the　Enemy　evere　to　lose　it；　if　he　was　so　strong；　and　it　was　so　precious　to　him？'　Heclutched　the　Ring　in　his　hand；　as　if　he　saw　already　dark　fingers　stretchingout　to　seize　it。　　
'It　was　taken　from　him；'　said　Gandalf。　'The　strength　of　the　Elves　toresist　him　was　greater　long　ago；　and　not　all　Men　were　estranged　from　them。　TheMen　of　Westernesse　came　to　their　aid。　That　is　a　chapter　of　ancient　historywhich　it　might　be　good　to　recall；　for　there　was　sorrow　then　too；　and　gatheringdark；　but　great　valour；　and　great　deeds　that　were　not　wholly　vain。　One　day；　
perhaps；　I　will　tell　you　all　the　tale；　or　you　shall　hear　it　told　in　full　byone　who　knows　it　best。　　
'But　for　the　moment；　since　most　of　all　you　need　to　know　how　this　thingcame　to　you；　and　that　will　be　tale　enough；　this　is　all　that　I　will　say。　It　wasGil…galad；　Elven…king　and　Elendil　of　Westernesse　who　overthrew　Sauron；　thoughthey　themselves　perished　in　the　deed；　and　Isildur　Elendil's　son　cut　the　Ringfrom　Sauron's　hand　and　took　it　for　his　own。　Then　Sauron　was　vanquished　and　hisspirit　fled　and　was　hidden　for　long　years；　until　his　shadow　took　shape　againin　Mirkwood。　　
'But　the　Ring　was　lost。　It　fell　into　the　Great　River；　Anduin；　andvanished。　For　Isildur　was　marching　north　along　the　east　banks　of　the　River；　
and　near　the　Gladden　Fields　he　was　waylaid　by　the　Orcs　of　the　Mountains；　andalmost　all　his　folk　were　slain。　He　leaped　into　the　waters；　but　the　Ringslipped　from　his　finger　as　he　swam；　and　then　the　Orcs　saw　him　and　killed　himwith　arrows。'　　
Gandalf　paused。　'And　there　in　the　dark　pools　amid　the　Gladden　Fields；'　hesaid；　'the　Ring　passed　out　of　knowledge