the fellowship of the ring-第29章

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；　and　beside　it　stood　brown　ewers　filled　with　water；　somecold；　some　steaming　hot。　There　were　soft　green　slippers　set　ready　beside　eachbed。　　
Before　long；　washed　and　refreshed；　the　hobbits　were　seated　at　the　table；　
two　on　each　side；　while　at　either　end　sat　Goldberry　and　the　Master。　It　was　along　and　merry　meal。　Though　the　hobbits　ate；　as　only　famished　hobbits　can　eat；　
there　was　no　lack。　The　drink　in　their　drinking…bowls　seemed　to　be　clear　coldwater；　yet　it　went　to　their　hearts　like　wine　and　set　free　their　voices。　Theguests　became　suddenly　aware　that　they　were　singing　merrily；　as　if　it　waseasier　and　more　natural　than　talking。　
At　last　Tom　and　Goldberry　rose　and　cleared　the　table　swiftly。　The　guestswere　manded　to　sit　quiet；　and　were　set　in　chairs；　each　with　a　footstool　tohis　tired　feet。　There　was　a　fire　in　the　wide　hearth　before　them；　and　it　wasburning　with　a　sweet　smell；　as　if　it　were　built　of　apple…wood。　When　everythingwas　set　in　order；　all　the　lights　in　the　room　were　put　out；　except　one　lamp　anda　pair　of　candles　at　each　end　of　the　chimney…shelf。　Then　Goldberry　came　andstood　before　them；　holding　a　candle；　and　she　wished　them　each　a　good　night　anddeep　sleep。　
'Have　peace　now；'　she　said；　'until　the　morning！　Heed　no　nightly　noises！　
For　nothing　passes　door　and　window　here　save　moonlight　and　starlight　and　thewind　off　the　hill…top。　Good　night！'　She　passed　out　of　the　room　with　a　glimmerand　a　rustle。　The　sound　of　her　footsteps　was　like　a　stream　falling　gently　awaydownhill　over　cool　stones　in　the　quiet　of　night。　
Tom　sat　on　a　while　beside　them　in　silence；　while　each　of　them　tried　to　　
　
muster　the　courage　to　ask　one　of　the　many　questions　he　had　meant　to　ask　atsupper。　Sleep　gathered　on　their　eyelids。　At　last　Frodo　spoke：　
'Did　you　hear　me　calling；　Master；　or　was　it　just　chance　that　brought　youat　that　moment？'　　
Tom　stirred　like　a　man　shaken　out　of　a　pleasant　dream。　'Eh；　what？'　saidhe。　'Did　I　hear　you　calling？　Nay；　I　did　not　hear：　I　was　busy　singing。　Justchance　brought　me　then；　if　chance　you　call　it。　It　was　no　plan　of　mine；　thoughI　was　waiting　for　you。　We　heard　news　of　you；　and　learned　that　you　werewandering。　We　guessed　you'd　e　ere　long　down　to　the　water：　all　paths　leadthat　way；　down　to　Withywindle。　Old　grey　Willow…man；　he's　a　mighty　singer；　andit's　hard　for　little　folk　to　escape　his　cunning　mazes。　But　Tom　had　an　errandthere；　that　he　dared　not　hinder。'　Tom　nodded　as　if　sleep　was　taking　him　again；　
but　he　went　on　in　a　soft　singing　voice：　　
I　had　an　errand　there：　gathering　water…lilies；　
green　leaves　and　lilies　white　to　please　my　pretty　lady；　
the　last　ere　the　year's　end　to　keep　them　from　the　winter；　
to　flower　by　her　pretty　feet　tilt　the　snows　are　melted。　
Each　year　at　summer's　end　I　go　to　find　them　for　her；　
in　a　wide　pool；　deep　and　clear；　far　down　Withywindle；　
there　they　open　first　in　spring　and　there　they　linger　latest。　
By　that　pool　long　ago　I　found　the　River…daughter；　
fair　young　Goldberry　sitting　in　the　rushes。　
Sweet　was　her　singing　then；　and　her　heart　was　beating！　　
He　opened　his　eyes　and　looked　at　them　with　a　sudden　glint　of　blue：　　
And　that　proved　well　for　you　–　for　now　I　shall　no　longergo　down　deep　again　along　the　forest…water；　
not　while　the　year　is　old。　Nor　shall　I　be　passingOld　Man　Willow's　house　this　side　of　spring…time；　
not　till　the　merry　spring；　when　the　River…daughterdances　down　the　withy…path　to　bathe　in　the　water。　　
He　fell　silent　again；　but　Frodo　could　not　help　asking　one　more　question：　
the　one　he　most　desired　to　have　answered。　'Tell　us；　Master；'　he　said；　'aboutthe　Willow…man。　What　is　he？　I　have　never　heard　of　him　before。'　　
'No；　don't！'　said　Merry　and　Pippin　together；　sitting　suddenly　upright。　
'Not　now！　Not　until　the　morning！'　
'That　is　right！'　said　the　old　man。　'Now　is　the　time　for　resting。　Somethings　are　ill　to　hear　when　the　world's　in　shadow。　Sleep　till　the　morning…　
light；　rest　on　the　pillow！　Heed　no　nightly　noise！　Fear　no　grey　willow！'　Andwith　that　he　took　down　the　lamp　and　blew　it　out；　and　grasping　a　candle　ineither　hand　he　led　them　out　of　the　room。　　
Their　mattresses　and　pillows　were　soft　as　down；　and　the　blankets　were　ofwhite　wool。　They　had　hardly　laid　themselves　on　the　deep　beds　and　drawn　thelight　covers　over　them　before　they　were　asleep。　
In　the　dead　night；　Frodo　lay　in　a　dream　without　light。　Then　he　saw　theyoung　moon　rising；　under　its　thin　light　there　loomed　before　him　a　black　wallof　rock；　pierced　by　a　dark　arch　like　a　great　gate。　It　seemed　to　Frodo　that　hewas　lifted　up；　and　passing　over　he　saw　that　the　rock…wall　was　a　circle　ofhills；　and　that　within　it　was　a　plain；　and　in　the　midst　of　the　plain　stood　apinnacle　of　stone；　like　a　vast　tower　but　not　made　by　hands。　On　its　top　stoodthe　figure　of　a　man。　The　moon　as　it　rose　seemed　to　hang　for　a　moment　above　hishead　and　glistened　in　his　white　hair　as　the　wind　stirred　it。　Up　from　the　darkplain　below　came　the　crying　of　fell　voices；　and　the　howling　of　many　wolves。　
Suddenly　a　shadow；　like　the　shape　of　great　wings；　passed　across　the　moon。　Thefigure　lifted　his　arms　and　a　light　flashed　from　the　staff　that　he　wielded。　Amighty　eagle　swept　down　and　bore　him　away。　The　voices　wailed　and　the　wolvesyammered。　There　was　a　noise　like　a　strong　wind　blowing；　and　on　it　was　borne　　
　
the　sound　of　hoofs；　galloping；　galloping；　galloping　from　the　East。　'BlackRiders！'　thought　Frodo　as　he　wakened；　with　the　sound　of　the　hoofs　stillechoing　in　his　mind。　He　wondered　if　he　would　ever　again　have　the　courage　toleave　the　safety　of　these　stone　walls。　He　lay　motionless；　still　listening；　butall　was　now　silent；　and　at　last　he　turned　and　fell　asleep　again　or　wanderedinto　some　other　unremembered　dream。　　
At　his　side　Pippin　lay　dreaming　pleasantly；　but　a　change　came　over　hisdreams　and　he　turned　and　groaned。　Suddenly　he　woke；　or　thought　he　had　waked；　
and　yet　still　heard　in　the　darkness　the　sound　that　had　disturbed　his　dream：　
_tip…tap；　squeak_：　the　noise　was　like　branches　fretting　in　the　wind；　twig…　
fingers　scraping　wall　and　window：　_creak；　creak；　creak。_　He　wondered　if　therewere　willow…trees　close　to　the　house；　and　then　suddenly　he　had　a　dreadfulfeeling　that　he　was　not　in　an　ordinary　house　at　all；　but　inside　the　willow　andlistening　to　that　horrible　dry　creaking　voice　laughing　at　him　again。　He　satup；　and　felt　the　soft　pillows　yield　to　his　hands；　and　he　lay　down　againrelieved。　He　seemed　to　hear　the　echo　of　words　in　his　ears：　'Fear　nothing！　Havepeace　until　the　morning！　Heed　no　nightly　noises！'　Then　he　went　to　sleep　again。　
It　was　the　sound　of　water　that　Merry　heard　falling　into　his　quiet　sleep：　
water　streaming　down　gently；　and　then　spreading；　spreading　irresistibly　allround　the　house　into　a　dark　shoreless　pool。　It　gurgled　under　the　walls；　andwas　rising　slowly　but　surely。　'I　shall　be　drowned！'　he　thought。　It　will　findits　way　in；　and　then　I　shall　drown。'　He　felt　that　he　was　lying　in　a　soft　slimybog；　and　springing　up　he　set　his　fool　on　the　corner　of　a　cold　hard　flagstone。　
Then　he　remembered　where　he　was　and　lay　down　again。　He　seemed　to　hear　orremember　hearing：　'Nothing　passes　doors　or　windows　save　moonlight　andstarlight　and　the　wind　off　the　hill…top。'　A　little　breath　of　sweet　air　movedthe　curtain。　He　breathed　deep　and　fell　asleep　again。　
As　far　as　he　could　remember；　Sam　slept　through　the　night　in　deep　content；　
if　logs　are　contented。　
They　woke　up；　all　four　at　once；　in　the　morning　light。　Tom　was　movingabout　the　room　whistling　like　a　starling。　When　he　heard　them　stir　he　clappedhis　hands；　and　cried：　'Hey！　e　merry　dol！　derry　dol！　My　hearties！'　He　drewback　the　yellow　curtains；　and　the　hobbits　saw　that　these　had　covered　thewindows；　at　either　end　of　the　room；　one　looking　east　and　the　other　lookingwest。　　
They　leapt　up　refreshed。　Frodo　ran　to　the　eastern　window；　and　foundhimself　looking　into　a　kitchen…garden　grey　with　dew。　He　had　half　expected　tosee　turf　right　up　to　the　walls；　turf　all　pocked　with　hoof…prints。　Actually　hisview　was　screened　by　a　tall　line　of　beans　on　poles；　but　above　and　far　beyondthem　the　grey　top　of　the　hill　loomed　up　against　the　sunrise。　It　was　a　palemorning：　in　the　East；　behind　long　clouds　like　lines　of　soiled　wool　stained　redat　the　edges；　lay　glimmering　deeps　of　yellow。　The　sky　spoke　of　rain　to　e；　
but　the　light　was　broadening　quickly；　and　the　red　flowers　on　the　beans　beganto　glow　against　the　wet　green　leaves。　
Pippin　looked　out　of　the　western　window；　down　into　a　pool　of　mist。　TheForest　was　hidden　under　a　fog。　It　was　like　looking　down　on　to　a　sloping　cloud…　
roof　from　above。　There　was　a　fold　or　channel　where　the　mist　was　broken　into　　
many　plumes　and　billows；　the　valley　of　the　Withywindle。　The　stream　ran　downthe　hill　on　the　left　and　vanished　into　the　white　shadows。　Near　at　hand　was　a　　
flower…garden　and　a　clipped　hedge　silver…netted；　and　beyond　that　grey　shavengrass　pale　with　dew…drops。　There　was　no　willow…tree　to　be　seen。　
'Good　morning；　merry　friends！'　cried　Tom；　opening　the　eastern　windowwide。　A　cool　air　flowed　in；　it　had　a　rainy　smell。　'Sun　won't　show　her　facemuch　today。　I'm　thinking。　I　have　been　walking　wide；　leaping　on　the　hilltops；　
since　the　grey　dawn　began；　nosing　wind　and　weather；　wet　grass　underfoot；　wetsky　above　me。　I　wakened　Goldberry　singing　under　window；　but　nought　wakeshobbit…folk　in　the　early　morning。　In　the　night　little　folk　wake　up　in　thedarkness；　and　sleep　after　light　has　e！　Ring　a　ding　dillo！　Wake　now；　mymerry　friends！　Forget　the　nightly　noises！　Ring　a　ding　dillo　del！　derry　del；　myhearties！　If　you　e　soon　you'll　find　breakfast　on　the　table。　If　you　e　　
　
late　you'll　get　grass　and　rain…water！'　
Needless　to　say　–　not　that　Tom's　threat　sounded　very　serious　–　thehobbits　came　soon；　and　left　the　table　late　and　only　when　it　was　beginning　lolook　rather　empty。　Neither　Tom　nor　Goldberry　were　there。　Tom　could　be　heardabout　the　house；　clattering　in　the　kitchen；　and　up　and　down　the　stairs；　andsinging　here　and　there　outside。　The　room　looked　westward　over　the　mist…cloudedvalley；　and　the　window　was　open。　Water　dripped　down　from　the　thatched　eavesabove。　Before　they　had　finished　breakfast　the　clouds　had　joined　into　anunbroken　roof；　and　a　straight　grey　rain　came　softly　and　steadily　down。　Behindits　deep　curtain　the　Forest　was　pletely　veiled。　
As　they　looked　out　of　the　window　there　came　falling　gently　as　if　it　wasflowing　down　the　rain　out　of　the　sky；　the　clear　voice　of　Goldberry　singing　upabove　them。　They　could　hear　few　words；　but　it　seemed　plain　to　them　that　thesong　was　a　rain…song；　as　sweet　as　showers　on　dry　hills；　that　told　the　tale　ofa　river　from　the　spring　in　the　highlands　to　the　Sea　far　below。　The　hobbitslistened　with　delight；　and　Frodo　was　glad　in　his　heart；　and　blessed　the　kindlyweather；　because　it　delayed　them　from　departing。　The　thought　of　going　had　beenheavy　upon　him　from　the　moment　he　awoke；　but　he　guessed　now　that　they　wouldnot　go　further　that　day。　
The　upper　wind　settled　in　the　West　and　deeper　and　wetter　clouds　rolled　upto　spill　their　laden　rain　on　the　bare　heads　of　the　Downs。　Nothing　could　beseen　all　round　the　house　but　falling　water。　Frodo　stood　near　the　open　door　andwatched　the　white　chalky　path　turn　into　a　little　river　of　milk　and　go　bubblingaway　down　into　the　valley。　Tom　Bombadil　came　trotting　round　the　corner　of　thehouse；　waving　his　arms　as　if　he　was　warding　off　the　rain　–　and　indeed　when　hesprang　over　the　threshold　he　seemed