the fellowship of the ring-第30章

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　his　arms　as　if　he　was　warding　off　the　rain　–　and　indeed　when　hesprang　over　the　threshold　he　seemed　quite　dry；　except　for　his　boots。　These　hetook　off　and　put　in　the　chimney…corner。　Then　he　sat　in　the　largest　chair　andcalled　the　hobbits　to　gather　round　him。　
'This　is　Goldberry's　washing　day；'　he　said；　'and　her　autumn…cleaning。　Toowet　for　hobbit…folk　–　let　them　rest　while　they　are　able！　It's　a　good　day　forlong　tales；　for　questions　and　for　answers；　so　Tom　will　start　the　talking。'　
He　then　told　them　many　remarkable　stories；　sometimes　half　as　if　speakingto　himself；　sometimes　looking　at　them　suddenly　with　a　bright　blue　eye　underhis　deep　brows。　Often　his　voice　would　turn　to　song；　and　he　would　get　out　ofhis　chair　and　dance　about。　He　told　them　tales　of　bees　and　flowers；　the　ways　oftrees；　and　the　strange　creatures　of　the　Forest；　about　the　evil　things　and　goodthings；　things　friendly　and　things　unfriendly；　cruel　things　and　kind　things；　
and　secrets　hidden　under　brambles。　　
As　they　listened；　they　began　to　understand　the　lives　of　the　Forest；　apartfrom　themselves；　indeed　to　feel　themselves　as　the　strangers　where　all　otherthings　were　at　home。　Moving　constantly　in　and　out　of　his　talk　was　Old　ManWillow；　and　Frodo　learned　now　enough　to　content　him；　indeed　more　than　enough；　
for　it　was　not　fortable　lore。　Tom's　words　laid　bare　the　hearts　of　trees　and　　
their　thoughts；　which　were　often　dark　and　strange；　and　filled　with　a　hatred　ofthings　that　go　free　upon　the　earth；　gnawing；　biting；　breaking；　hacking；　
burning：　destroyers　and　usurpers。　It　was　not　called　the　Old　Forest　withoutreason；　for　it　was　indeed　ancient；　a　survivor　of　vast　forgotten　woods；　and　init　there　lived　yet；　ageing　no　quicker　than　the　hills；　the　fathers　of　thefathers　of　trees；　remembering　times　when　they　were　lords。　The　countless　yearshad　filled　them　with　pride　and　rooted　wisdom；　and　with　malice。　But　none　weremore　dangerous　than　the　Great　Willow：　his　heart　was　rotten；　but　his　strengthwas　green；　and　he　was　cunning；　and　a　master　of　winds；　and　his　song　and　thoughtran　through　the　woods　on　both　sides　of　the　river。　His　grey　thirsty　spirit　drewpower　out　of　the　earth　and　spread　like　fine　root…threads　in　the　ground；　andinvisible　twig…fingers　in　the　air；　till　it　had　under　its　dominion　nearly　allthe　trees　of　the　Forest　from　the　Hedge　to　the　Downs。　
Suddenly　Tom's　talk　left　the　woods　and　went　leaping　up　the　young　stream；　
over　bubbling　waterfalls；　over　pebbles　and　worn　rocks；　and　among　small　flowersin　close　grass　and　wet　crannies；　wandering　at　last　up　on　to　the　Downs。　Theyheard　of　the　Great　Barrows；　and　the　green　mounds；　and　the　stone…rings　upon　the　　
　
hills　and　in　the　hollows　among　the　hills。　Sheep　were　bleating　in　flocks。　Greenwalls　and　white　walls　rose。　There　were　fortresses　on　the　heights。　Kings　oflittle　kingdoms　fought　together；　and　the　young　Sun　shone　like　fire　on　the　redmetal　of　their　new　and　greedy　swords。　There　was　victory　and　defeat；　and　towersfell；　fortresses　were　burned；　and　flames　went　up　into　the　sky。　Gold　was　piledon　the　biers　of　dead　kings　and　queens；　and　mounds　covered　them；　and　the　stonedoors　were　shut；　and　the　grass　grew　over　all。　Sheep　walked　for　a　while　bitingthe　grass；　but　soon　the　hills　were　empty　again。　A　shadow　came　out　of　darkplaces　far　away；　and　the　bones　were　stirred　in　the　mounds。　Barrow…wightswalked　in　the　hollow　places　with　a　clink　of　rings　on　cold　fingers；　and　goldchains　in　the　wind。'　Stone　rings　grinned　out　of　the　ground　like　broken　teethin　the　moonlight。　
The　hobbits　shuddered。　Even　in　the　Shire　the　rumour　of　the　Barrow…wightsof　the　Barrow…downs　beyond　the　Forest　had　been　heard。　But　it　was　not　a　talethat　any　hobbit　liked　to　listen　to；　even　by　a　fortable　fireside　far　away。　
These　four　now　suddenly　remembered　what　the　joy　of　this　house　had　driven　fromtheir　minds：　the　house　of　Tom　Bombadil　nestled　under　the　very　shoulder　ofthose　dreaded　hills。　They　lost　the　thread　of　his　tale　and　shifted　uneasily；　
looking　aside　at　one　another。　
When　they　caught　his　words　again　they　found　that　he　had　now　wandered　intostrange　regions　beyond　their　memory　and　beyond　their　waking　thought；　intolimes　when　the　world　was　wider；　and　the　seas　flowed　straight　to　the　westernShore；　and　still　on　and　back　Tom　went　singing　out　into　ancient　starlight；　whenonly　the　Elf…sires　were　awake。　Then　suddenly　he　slopped；　and　they　saw　that　henodded　as　if　he　was　falling　asleep。　The　hobbits　sat　still　before　him；　
enchanted；　and　it　seemed　as　if；　under　the　spell　of　his　words；　the　wind　hadgone；　and　the　clouds　had　dried　up；　and　the　day　had　been　withdrawn；　anddarkness　had　e　from　East　and　West；　and　all　the　sky　was　filled　with　thelight　of　white　stars。　
Whether　the　morning　and　evening　of　one　day　or　of　many　days　had　passedFrodo　could　not　tell。　He　did　not　feel　either　hungry　or　tired；　only　filled　withwonder。　The　stars　shone　through　the　window　and　the　silence　of　the　heavensseemed　to　be　round　him。　He　spoke　at　last　out　of　his　wonder　and　a　sudden　fearof　that　silence：　　
'Who　are　you；　Master？'　he　asked。　
'Eh；　what？'　said　Tom　sitting　up；　and　his　eyes　glinting　in　the　gloom。　
'Don't　you　know　my　name　yet？　That's　the　only　answer。　Tell　me；　who　are　you；　
alone；　yourself　and　nameless？　But　you　are　young　and　I　am　old。　Eldest；　that'swhat　I　am。　Mark　my　words；　my　friends：　Tom　was　here　before　the　river　and　thetrees；　Tom　remembers　the　first　raindrop　and　the　first　acorn。　He　made　pathsbefore　the　Big　People；　and　saw　the　little　People　arriving。　He　was　here　beforethe　Kings　and　the　graves　and　the　Barrow…wights。　When　the　Elves　passedwestward；　Tom　was　here　already；　before　the　seas　were　bent。　He　knew　the　darkunder　the　stars　when　it　was　fearless　–　before　the　Dark　Lord　came　from　　
Outside。'　　
A　shadow　seemed　to　pass　by　the　window；　and　the　hobbits　glanced　hastilythrough　the　panes。　When　they　turned　again；　Goldberry　stood　in　the　door　behind；　
framed　in　light。　She　held　a　candle；　shielding　its　flame　from　the　draught　withher　hand；　and　the　light　flowed　through　it；　like　sunlight　through　a　whiteshell。　　
'The　rain　has　ended；'　she　said；　'and　new　waters　are　running　downhill；　
under　the　stars。　Let　us　now　laugh　and　be　glad！'　
'And　let　us　have　food　and　drink！'　cried　Tom。　'Long　tales　are　thirsty。　Andlong　listening's　hungry　work；　morning；　noon；　and　evening！'　With　that　he　jumpedout　of　his　chair；　and　with　a　bound　took　a　candle　from　the　chimney…shelf　andlit　it　in　the　flame　that　Goldberry　held；　then　he　danced　about　the　table。　
Suddenly　he　hopped　through　the　door　and　disappeared。　
Quickly　he　returned；　bearing　a　large　and　laden　tray。　Then　Tom　andGoldberry　set　the　table；　and　the　hobbits　sat　half　in　wonder　and　half　inlaughter：　so　fair　was　the　grace　of　Goldberry　and　so　merry　and　odd　the　　
　
caperings　of　Tom。　Yet　in　some　fashion　they　seemed　to　weave　a　single　dance；　
neither　hindering　the　other；　in　and　out　of　the　room；　and　round　about　thetable；　and　with　great　speed　food　and　vessels　and　lights　were　set　in　order。　Theboards　blazed　with　candles；　white　and　yellow。　Tom　bowed　to　his　guests。　'Supperis　ready；'　said　Goldberry；　and　now　the　hobbits　saw　that　she　was　clothed　all　insilver　with　a　white　girdle；　and　her　shoes　were　like　fishes'　mail。　But　Tom　wasall　in　clean　blue；　blue　as　rain…washed　forget…me…nots；　and　he　had　greenstockings。　
It　was　a　supper　even　better　than　before。　The　hobbits　under　the　spell　ofTom's　words　may　have　missed　one　meal　or　many；　but　when　the　food　was　beforethem　it　seemed　at　least　a　week　since　they　had　eaten。　They　did　not　sing　or　evenspeak　much　for　a　while；　and　paid　close　attention　to　business。　But　after　a　timetheir　hearts　and　spirit　rose　high　again；　and　their　voices　rang　out　in　mirthand　laughter。　
After　they　had　eaten；　Goldberry　sang　many　songs　for　them；　songs　thatbegan　merrily　in　the　hills　and　fell　softly　down　into　silence；　and　in　thesilences　they　saw　in　their　minds　pools　and　waters　wider　than　any　they　hadknown；　and　looking　into　them　they　saw　the　sky　below　them　and　the　stars　likejewels　in　the　depths。　Then　once　more　she　wished　them　each　good　night　and　leftthem　by　the　fireside。　But　Tom　now　seemed　wide　awake　and　plied　them　withquestions。　
He　appeared　already　to　know　much　about　them　and　all　their　families；　andindeed　to　know　much　of　all　the　history　and　doings　of　the　Shire　down　from　dayshardly　remembered　among　the　hobbits　themselves。　It　no　longer　surprised　them；　
but　he　made　no　secret　that　he　owed　his　recent　knowledge　largely　to　FarmerMaggot；　whom　he　seemed　to　regard　as　a　person　of　more　importance　than　they　hadimagined。　'There's　earth　under　his　old　feet；　and　clay　on　his　fingers；　wisdomin　his　bones；　and　both　his　eyes　are　open；'　said　Tom。　It　was　also　clear　thatTom　had　dealings　with　the　Elves；　and　it　seemed　that　in　some　fashion；　news　hadreached　him　from　Gildor　concerning　the　flight　of　Frodo。　
Indeed　so　much　did　Tom　know；　and　so　cunning　was　his　questioning；　thatFrodo　found　himself　telling　him　more　about　Bilbo　and　his　own　hopes　and　fearsthan　he　had　told　before　even　to　Gandalf。　Tom　wagged　his　head　up　and　down；　andthere　was　a　glint　in　his　eyes　when　he　heard　of　the　Riders。　
'Show　me　the　precious　Ring！'　he　said　suddenly　in　the　midst　of　the　story：　
and　Frodo；　to　his　own　astonishment；　drew　out　the　chain　from　his　pocket；　andunfastening　the　Ring　handed　it　at　once　to　Tom。　
It　seemed　to　grow　larger　as　it　lay　for　a　moment　on　his　big　brown…skinnedhand。　Then　suddenly　he　put　it　to　his　eye　and　laughed。　For　a　second　the　hobbitshad　a　vision；　both　ical　and　alarming；　of　his　bright　blue　eye　gleamingthrough　a　circle　of　gold。　Then　Tom　put　the　Ring　round　the　end　of　his　littlefinger　and　held　it　up　to　the　candlelight。　For　a　moment　the　hobbits　noticednothing　strange　about　this。　Then　they　gasped。　There　was　no　sign　of　Tomdisappearing！　
Tom　laughed　again；　and　then　he　spun　the　Ring　in　the　air　–　and　it　vanishedwith　a　flash。　Frodo　gave　a　cry　–　and　Tom　leaned　forward　and　handed　it　back　tohim　with　a　smile。　　
Frodo　looked　at　it　closely；　and　rather　suspiciously　（like　one　who　haslent　a　trinket　to　a　juggler）。　It　was　the　same　Ring；　or　looked　the　same　andweighed　the　same：　for　that　Ring　had　always　seemed　to　Frodo　to　weigh　strangelyheavy　in　the　hand。　But　something　prompted　him　to　make　sure。　He　was　perhaps　atrifle　annoyed　with　Tom　for　seeming　to　make　so　light　of　what　even　Gandalfthought　so　perilously　important。　He　waited　for　an　opportunity；　when　the　talkwas　going　again；　and　Tom　was　telling　an　absurd　story　about　badgers　and　theirqueer　ways　–　then　he　slipped　the　Ring　on。　
Merry　turned　towards　him　to　say　something　and　gave　a　start；　and　checkedan　exclamation。　Frodo　was　delighted　（in　a　way）：　it　was　his　own　ring　all　right；　
for　Merry　was　staring　blankly　at　his　chair；　and　obviously　could　not　see　him。　
He　got　up　and　crept　quietly　away　from　the　fireside　towards　the　outer　door。　
'Hey　there！'　cried　Tom；　glancing　towards　him　with　a　most　seeing　look　in　　
　
his　shining　eyes。　'Hey！　e　Frodo；　there！　Where　be　you　a…going？　Old　TomBombadil's　not　as　blind　as　that　yet。　Take　off　your　golden　ring！　Your　hand'smore　fair　without　it。　e　back！　Leave　your　game　and　sit　down　beside　me！　Wemust　talk　a　while　more；　and　think　about　the　morning。　Tom　must　teach　the　rightroad；　and　keep　your　feet　from　wandering。'　
Frodo　laughed　（trying　to　feel　pleased）；　and　taking　off　the　Ring　he　cameand　sat　down　again。　Tom　now　told　them　that　he　reckoned　the　Sun　would　shinetomorrow；　and　it　would　be　a　glad　morning；　and　setting　out　would　be　hopeful。