the fellowship of the ring-第15章

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warves　could　do　that。　It　has　been　said　that　dragon…firecould　melt　and　consume　the　Rings　of　Power；　but　there　is　not　now　any　dragonleft　on　earth　in　which　the　old　fire　is　hot　enough；　nor　was　there　ever　anydragon；　not　even　Ancalagon　the　Black；　who　could　have　harmed　the　One　Ring；　theRuling　Ring；　for　that　was　made　by　Sauron　himself。　There　is　only　one　way：　tofind　the　Cracks　of　Doom　in　the　depths　of　Orodruin；　the　Fire…mountain；　and　castthe　Ring　in　there；　if　you　really　wish　to　destroy　it；　to　put　it　beyond　thegrasp　of　the　Enemy　for　ever。'　
'I　do　really　wish　to　destroy　it！'　cried　Frodo。　'Or；　well；　to　have　itdestroyed。　I　am　not　made　for　perilous　quests。　I　wish　I　had　never　seen　theRing！　Why　did　it　e　to　me？　Why　was　I　chosen？'　
'Such　questions　cannot　be　answered；'　said　Gandalf。　'You　may　be　sure　thatit　was　not　for　any　merit　that　others　do　not　possess：　not　for　power　or　wisdom；　
at　any　rate。　But　you　have　been　chosen；　and　you　must　therefore　use　suchstrength　and　heart　and　wits　as　you　have。'　
'But　I　have　so　little　of　any　of　these　things！　You　are　wise　and　powerful。　
Will　you　not　take　the　Ring？'　
'No！'　cried　Gandalf；　springing　to　his　feet。　'With　that　power　I　shouldhave　power　too　great　and　terrible。　And　over　me　the　Ring　would　gain　a　powerstill　greater　and　more　deadly。'　His　eyes　flashed　and　his　face　was　lit　as　by　afire　within。　'Do　not　tempt　me！　For　I　do　not　wish　to　bee　like　the　Dark　Lordhimself。　Yet　the　way　of　the　Ring　to　my　heart　is　by　pity；　pity　for　weakness　andthe　desire　of　strength　to　do　good。　Do　not　tempt　me！　I　dare　not　take　it；　noteven　to　keep　it　safe；　unused。　The　wish　to　wield　it　would　be　too　great；　for　mystrength。　I　shall　have　such　need　of　it。　Great　perils　lie　before　me。'　
He　went　to　the　window　and　drew　aside　the　curtains　and　the　shutters。　　
Sunlight　streamed　back　again　into　the　room。　Sam　passed　along　the　path　outsidewhistling。　'And　now；'　said　the　wizard；　turning　back　to　Frodo；　'the　decisionlies　with　you。　But　I　will　always　help　you。'　He　laid　his　hand　on　Frodo'sshoulder。　'I　will　help　you　bear　this　burden；　as　long　as　It　is　yours　to　bear。　
But　we　must　do　something；　soon。　The　Enemy　is　moving。'　　
There　was　a　long　silence。　Gandalf　sat　down　again　and　puffed　at　his　pipe；　
as　if　lost　in　thought。　His　eyes　seemed　closed；　but　under　the　lids　he　waswatching　Frodo　intently。　Frodo　gazed　fixedly　at　the　red　embers　on　the　hearth；　　
　
until　they　filled　all　his　vision；　and　he　seemed　to　be　looking　down　intoprofound　wells　of　fire。　He　was　thinking　of　the　fabled　Cracks　of　Doom　and　theterror　of　the　Fiery　Mountain。　
'Well！'　said　Gandalf　at　last。　'What　are　you　thinking　about？　Have　youdecided　what　to　do？'　　
'No！'　answered　Frodo；　ing　back　to　himself　out　of　darkness；　and　findingto　his　surprise　that　it　was　not　dark；　and　that　out　of　the　window　he　could　seethe　sunlit　garden。　'Or　perhaps；　yes。　As　far　as　I　understand　what　you　havesaid；　I　suppose　I　must　keep　the　Ring　and　guard　it；　at　least　for　the　present；　
whatever　it　may　do　to　me。'　
'Whatever　it　may　do；　it　will　be　slow；　slow　to　evil；　if　you　keep　it　withthat　purpose；'　said　Gandalf。　
'I　hope　so；'　said　Frodo。　'But　I　hope　that　you　may　find　some　other　betterkeeper　soon。　But　in　the　meanwhile　it　seems　that　I　am　a　danger；　a　danger　to　allthat　live　near　me。　I　cannot　keep　the　Ring　and　stay　here。　I　ought　to　leave　BagEnd；　leave　the　Shire；　leave　everything　and　go　away。'　He　sighed。　
'I　should　like　to　save　the　Shire；　if　I　could　–　though　there　have　beentimes　when　I　thought　the　inhabitants　too　stupid　and　dull　for　words；　and　havefelt　that　an　earthquake　or　an　invasion　of　dragons　might　be　good　for　them。　ButI　don't　feel　like　that　now。　I　feel　that　as　long　as　the　Shire　lies　behind；　safeand　fortable；　I　shall　find　wandering　more　bearable：　I　shall　know　thatsomewhere　there　is　a　firm　foothold；　even　if　my　feet　cannot　stand　there　again。　
'Of　course；　I　have　sometimes　thought　of　going　away；　but　I　imagined　thatas　a　kind　of　holiday；　a　series　of　adventures　like　Bilbo's　or　better；　ending　inpeace。　But　this　would　mean　exile；　a　flight　from　danger　into　danger；　drawing　itafter　me。　And　I　suppose　I　must　go　alone；　if　I　am　to　do　that　and　save　theShire。　But　I　feel　very　small；　and　very　uprooted；　and　well　–　desperate。　TheEnemy　is　so　strong　and　terrible。'　
He　did　not　tell　Gandalf；　but　as　he　was　speaking　a　great　desire　to　followBilbo　flamed　up　in　his　heart　–　to　follow　Bilbo；　and　even　perhaps　to　find　himagain。　It　was　so　strong　that　it　overcame　his　fear：　he　could　almost　have　runout　there　and　then　down　the　road　without　his　hat；　as　Bilbo　had　done　on　asimilar　morning　long　ago。　
'My　dear　Frodo！'　exclaimed　Gandalf。　'Hobbits　really　are　amazingcreatures；　as　I　have　said　before。　You　can　learn　all　that　there　is　to　knowabout　their　ways　in　a　month；　and　yet　after　a　hundred　years　they　can　stillsurprise　you　at　a　pinch。　I　hardly　expected　to　get　such　an　answer；　not　evenfrom　you。　But　Bilbo　made　no　mistake　in　choosing　his　heir；　though　he　littlethought　how　important　it　would　prove。　I　am　afraid　you　are　right。　The　Ring　willnot　be　able　to　stay　hidden　in　the　Shire　much　longer；　and　for　your　own　sake；　aswell　as　for　others；　you　will　have　to　go；　and　leave　the　name　of　Baggins　behindyou。　That　name　will　not　be　safe　to　have；　outside　the　Shire　or　in　the　Wild。　Iwill　give　you　a　travelling　name　now。　When　you　go；　go　as　Mr。　Underhill。　
'But　I　don't　think　you　need　go　alone。　Not　if　you　know　of　anyone　you　cantrust；　and　who　would　be　willing　to　go　by　your　side　–　and　that　you　would　bewilling　to　take　into　unknown　perils。　But　if　you　look　for　a　panion；　becareful　in　choosing！　And　be　careful　of　what　you　say；　even　to　your　closestfriends！　The　enemy　has　many　spies　and　many　ways　of　hearing。'　
Suddenly　he　stopped　as　if　listening。　Frodo　became　aware　that　all　was　veryquiet；　inside　and　outside。　Gandalf　crept　to　one　side　of　the　window。　Then　witha　dart　he　sprang　to　the　sill；　and　thrust　a　long　arm　out　and　downwards。　Therewas　a　squawk；　and　up　came　Sam　Gamgee's　curly　head　hauled　by　one　ear。　
'Well；　well；　bless　my　beard！'　said　Gandalf。　'Sam　Gamgee　is　it？　Now　whatmay　you　be　doing？'　
'Lor　bless　you；　Mr。　Gandalf；　sir！'　said　Sam。　'Nothing！　Leastways　I　wasjust　trimming　the　grass…border　under　the　window；　if　you　follow　me。'　He　pickedup　his　shears　and　exhibited　them　as　evidence。　
'I　don't；'　said　Gandalf　grimly。　It　is　some　time　since　I　last　heard　thesound　of　your　shears。　How　long　have　you　been　eavesdropping？'　
'Eavesdropping；　sir？　I　don't　follow　you；　begging　your　pardon。　There　ain't　　
　
no　eaves　at　Bag　End；　and　that's　a　fact。'　
'Don't　be　a　fool！　What　have　you　heard；　and　why　did　you　listen？'　Gandalf'seyes　flashed　and　his　brows　stuck　out　like　bristles。　
'Mr。　Frodo；　sir！'　cried　Sam　quaking。　'Don't　let　him　hurt　me；　sir！　Don'tlet　him　turn　me　into　anything　unnatural！　My　old　dad　would　take　on　so。　I　meantno　harm；　on　my　honour；　sir！'　
'He　won't　hurt　you；'　said　Frodo；　hardly　able　to　keep　from　laughing；　
although　he　was　himself　startled　and　rather　puzzled。　'He　knows；　as　well　as　Ido；　that　you　mean　no　harm。　But　just　you　up　and　answer　his　questions　straightaway！'　
'Well；　sir；'　said　Sam　dithering　a　little。　'I　heard　a　deal　that　I　didn'trightly　understand；　about　an　enemy；　and　rings；　and　Mr。　Bilbo；　sir；　anddragons；　and　a　fiery　mountain；　and　–　and　Elves；　sir。　I　listened　because　Icouldn't　help　myself；　if　you　know　what　I　mean。　Lor　bless　me；　sir；　but　I　dolove　tales　of　that　sort。　And　I　believe　them　too；　whatever　Ted　may　say。　Elves；　
sir！　I　would　dearly　love　to　see　_them。_　Couldn't　you　take　me　to　see　Elves；　
sir；　when　you　go？'　
Suddenly　Gandalf　laughed。　'e　inside！'　he　shouted；　and　putting　out　bothhis　arms　he　lifted　the　astonished　Sam；　shears；　grass…clippings　and　all；　rightthrough　the　window　and　stood　him　on　the　floor。　'Take　you　to　see　Elves；　eh？'　hesaid；　eyeing　Sam　closely；　but　with　a　smile　flickering　on　his　face。　'So　youheard　that　Mr。　Frodo　is　going　away？'　
'I　did；　sir。　And　that's　why　I　choked：　which　you　heard　seemingly。　I　triednot　to；　sir；　but　it　burst　out　of　me：　I　was　so　upset。'　
'It　can't　be　helped；　Sam；'　said　Frodo　sadly。　He　had　suddenly　realizedthat　flying　from　the　Shire　would　mean　more　painful　partings　than　merely　sayingfarewell　to　the　familiar　forts　of　Bag　End。　'I　shall　have　to　go。　But'　–　andhere　he　looked　hard　at　Sam　–　'if　you　really　care　about　me；　you　will　keep　that_dead_　secret。　See？　If　you　don't；　if　you　even　breathe　a　word　of　what　you'veheard　here；　then　I　hope　Gandalf　will　turn　you　into　a　spotted　toad　and　fill　thegarden　full　of　grass…snakes。'　
Sam　fell　on　his　knees；　trembling。　'Get　up；　Sam！'　said　Gandalf。　I　havethought　of　something　better　than　that。　Something　to　shut　your　mouth；　andpunish　you　properly　for　listening。　You　shall　go　away　with　Mr。　Frodo！'　
'Me；　sir！'　cried　Sam；　springing　up　like　a　dog　invited　for　a　walk。　'Me　goand　see　Elves　and　all！　Hooray！'　he　shouted；　and　then　burst　into　tears。　　
Three　is　pany_Chapter　3_　　
'You　ought　to　go　quietly；　and　you　ought　to　go　soon；'　said　Gandalf。　Two　orthree　weeks　had　passed；　and　still　Frodo　made　no　sign　of　getting　ready　to　go。　
'I　know。　But　it　is　difficult　to　do　both；'　he　objected。　If　I　just　vanishlike　Bilbo；　the　tale　will　be　all　over　the　Shire　in　no　time。'　
'Of　course　you　mustn't　vanish！'　said　Gandalf。　'That　wouldn't　do　at　all！　Isaid　_soon；_　not　_instantly。_　If　you　can　think　of　any　way　of　slipping　out　ofthe　Shire　without　its　being　generally　known；　it　will　be　worth　a　little　delay。　
But　you　must　not　delay　too　long。'　
'What　about　the　autumn；　on　or　after　Our　Birthday？'　asked　Frodo。　'I　thinkI　could　probably　make　some　arrangements　by　then。'　
To　tell　the　truth；　he　was　very　reluctant　to　start；　now　that　it　had　eto　the　point。　Bag　End　seemed　a　more　desirable　residence　than　it　had　for　years；　
and　he　wanted　to　savour　as　much　as　he　could　of　his　last　summer　in　the　Shire。　　
When　autumn　came；　he　knew　that　part　at　least　of　his　heart　would　think　morekindly　of　journeying；　as　it　always　did　at　that　season。　He　had　indeed　privatelymade　up　his　mind　to　leave　on　his　fiftieth　birthday：　Bilbo's　one　hundred　andtwenty…eighth。　It　seemed　somehow　the　proper　day　on　which　to　set　out　and　followhim。　Following　Bilbo　was　uppermost　in　his　mind；　and　the　one　thing　that　madethe　thought　of　leaving　bearable。　He　thought　as　little　as　possible　about　the　　
　
Ring；　and　where　it　might　lead　him　in　the　end。　But　he　did　not　tell　all　histhoughts　to　Gandalf。　What　the　wizard　guessed　was　always　difficult　to　tell。　
He　looked　at　Frodo　and　smiled。　'Very　well；'　he　said。　'I　think　that　willdo　–　but　it　must　not　be　any　later。　I　am　getting　very　anxious。　In　the　meanwhile；　　
do　take　care；　and　don't　let　out　any　hint　of　where　you　are　going！　Andsee　that　Sam　Gamgee　does　not　talk。　If　he　does；　I　really　shall　turn　him　into　atoad。'　　
'As　for　_where　I_　am　going；'　said　Frodo；　'it　would　be　difficult　to　givethat　away；　for　I　have　no　clear　idea　myself；　yet。'　
'Don't　be　absurd！'　said　Gandalf。　'I　am　not　warning　you　against　leaving　anaddress　at　the　post…office！　But　you　are　leaving　the　Shire　–　and　that　shouldnot　be　known；　until　you　are　far　away。　And　you　must　go；　or　at　least　set　out；　
either　North；　South；　West　or　East　–　and　the　direction　should　certainly　not　beknown。'　　
'I　have　been　so　taken　up　with　the　thoughts　of　leaving　Bag　End；　and　ofsaying　farewell；　that　I　have　never　even　considered　the　direction；'　said　Frodo。　
'For　where　am　I　to　go？　And　by　what　shall　I　steer？　What　is　to　be　my　quest？　
Bilbo　went　to　find　a　treasure；　there　and　back　again；　but　I　go　to　lose