the fellowship of the ring-第54章

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f　Annúminas　beside　LakeEvendim　fell　into　ruin；　and　the　heirs　of　Valandil　removed　and　dwelt　at　Fornoston　the　high　North　Downs；　and　that　now　too　is　desolate。　Men　call　it　Deadmen'sDike；　and　they　fear　to　tread　there。　For　the　folk　of　Arnor　dwindled；　and　theirfoes　devoured　them；　and　their　lordship　passed；　leaving　only　green　mounds　inthe　grassy　hills。　
'In　the　South　the　realm　of　Gondor　long　endured；　and　for　a　while　itssplendour　grew；　recalling　somewhat　of　the　might　of　Númenor；　ere　it　fell。　Hightowers　that　people　built；　and　strong　places。　and　havens　of　many　ships；　and　thewinged　crown　of　the　Kings　of　Men　was　held　in　awe　by　folk　of　many　tongues。　
Their　chief　city　was　Osgiliath；　Citadel　of　the　Stars。　through　the　midst　ofwhich　the　River　flowed。　And　Minas　Ithil　they　built；　Tower　of　the　Rising　Moon；　
eastward　upon　a　shoulder　of　the　Mountains　of　Shadow；　and　westward　at　the　feetof　the　White　Mountains　Minas　Anor　they　made；　Tower　of　the　Setting　Sun。　Therein　the　courts　of　the　King　grew　a　white　tree；　from　the　seed　of　that　tree　whichIsildur　brought　over　the　deep　waters；　and　the　seed　of　that　tree　before　camefrom　Eress。a；　and　before　that　out　of　the　Uttermost　West　in　the　Day　before　dayswhen　the　world　was　young。　
‘But　in　the　wearing　of　the　swift　years　of　Middle…earth　the　line　ofMeneldil　son　of　Anárion　failed；　and　the　Tree　withered；　and　the　blood　of　theNúmenoreans　became　mingled　with　that　of　lesser　men。　Then　the　watch　upon　thewalls　of　Mordor　slept；　and　dark　things　crept　back　to　Gorgoroth。　And　on　a　timeevil　things　came　forth；　and　they　took　Minas　Ithil　and　abode　in　it；　and　theymade　it　into　a　place　of　dread；　and　it　is　called　Minas　Morgul；　the　Tower　ofSorcery。　Then　Minas　Anor　was　named　anew　Minas　Tirith；　the　Tower　of　Guard；　andthese　two　cities　were　ever　at　war；　but　Osgiliath　which　lay　between　wasdeserted　and　in　its　ruins　shadows　walked。　　
'So　it　has　been　for　many　lives　of　men。　But　the　Lords　of　Minas　Tirithstill　fight　on；　defying　our　enemies；　keeping　the　passage　of　the　River　fromArgonath　to　the　Sea。　And　now　that　part　of　the　tale　that　I　shall　tell　is　drawnto　its　close。　For　in　the　days　of　Isildur　the　Ruling　Ring　passed　out　of　allknowledge；　and　the　Three　were　released　from　its　dominion。　But　now　in　thislatter　day　they　are　in　peril　once　more；　for　to　our　sorrow　the　One　has　beenfound。　Others　shall　speak　of　its　finding；　for　in　that　I　played　small　part。'　
He　ceased；　but　at　once　Boromir　stood　up；　tall　and　proud；　before　them。　
Give　me　leave；　Master　Elrond；　said　he；　first　to　say　more　of　Gondor；　for　verilyfrom　the　land　of　Gondor　I　am　e。　And　it　would　be　well　for　all　to　know　what　　
passes　there。　For　few；　I　deem；　know　of　our　deeds；　and　therefore　guess　littleof　their　peril；　if　we　should　fail　at　last。　
‘Believe　not　that　in　the　land　of　Gondor　the　blood　of　Númenor　is　spent；　
nor　all　its　pride　and　dignity　forgotten。　By　our　valour　the　wild　folk　of　theEast　are　still　restrained；　and　the　terror　of　Morgul　kept　at　bay；　and　thusalone　are　peace　and　freedom　maintained　in　the　lands　behind　us；　bulwark　of　theWest。　But　if　the　passages　of　the　River　should　be　won；　what　then？　
‘Yet　that　hour；　maybe；　is　not　now　far　away。　The　Nameless　Enemy　has　arisen　　
　
again。　Smoke　rises　once　more　from　Orodruin　that　we　call　Mount　Doom。　The　powerof　the　Black　Land　grows　and　we　are　hard　beset。　When　the　Enemy　returned　ourfolk　were　driven　from　Ithilien；　our　fair　domain　east　of　the　River；　though　wekept　a　foothold　there　and　strength　of　arms。　But　this　very　year；　in　the　days　ofJune；　sudden　war　came　upon　us　out　of　Mordor；　and　we　were　swept　away。　We　wereoutnumbered；　for　Mordor　has　allied　itself　with　the　Easterlings　and　the　cruelHaradrim；　but　it　was　not　by　numbers　that　we　were　defeated。　A　power　was　therethat　we　have　not　felt　before。　　
‘Some　said　that　it　could　be　seen；　like　a　great　black　horseman；　a　darkshadow　under　the　moon。　Wherever　he　came　a　madness　filled　our　foes；　but　fearfell　on　our　boldest；　so　that　horse　and　man　gave　way　and　fled。　Only　a　remnantof　our　eastern　force　came　back；　destroying　the　last　bridge　that　still　stoodamid　the　ruins　of　Osgiliath。　
'I　was　in　the　pany　that　held　the　bridge；　until　it　was　cast　down　behindus。　Four　only　were　saved　by　swimming：　my　brother　and　myself　and　two　others。　
But　still　we　fight　on；　holding　all　the　west　shores　of　Anduin；　and　those　whoshelter　behind　us　give　us　praise；　if　ever　they　hear　our　name：　much　praise　butlittle　help。　Only　from　Rohan　now　will　any　men　ride　to　us　when　we　call。　
‘In　this　evil　hour　I　have　e　on　an　errand　over　many　dangerous　leaguesto　Elrond：　a　hundred　and　ten　days　I　have　journeyed　all　alone。　But　I　do　notseek　allies　in　war。　The　might　of　Elrond　is　in　wisdom　not　in　weapons；　it　issaid。　I　e　to　ask　for　counsel　and　the　unravelling　of　hard　words。　For　on　theeve　of　the　sudden　assault　a　dream　came　to　my　brother　in　a　troubled　sleep；　andafterwards　a　like　dream　came　oft　to　him　again；　and　once　to　me。　
'In　that　dream　I　thought　the　eastern　sky　grew　dark　and　there　was　agrowing　thunder；　but　in　the　West　a　pale　light　lingered；　and　out　of　it　I　hearda　voice；　remote　but　clear；　crying：　　
Seek　for　the　Sword　that　was　broken：　　
In　Imladris　it　dwells；　
There　shall　be　counsels　taken　　
Stronger　than　Morgul…spells。　
There　shall　be　shown　a　token　　
That　Doom　is　near　at　hand；　
For　Isildur's　Bane　shall　waken；　
And　the　Halfling　forth　shall　stand。　　
Of　these　words　we　could　understand　little；　and　we　spoke　to　our　father；　
Denethor；　Lord　of　Minas　Tirith；　wise　in　the　lore　of　Gondor。　This　only　would　hesay；　that　Imladris　was　of　old　the　name　among　the　Elves　of　a　far　northern　dale；　
where　Elrond　the　Halfelven　dwelt；　greatest　of　lore…masters。　Therefore　mybrother；　seeing　how　desperate　was　our　need；　was　eager　to　heed　the　dream　andseek　for　Imladris；　but　since　the　way　was　full　of　doubt　and　danger；　I　took　thejourney　upon　myself。　Loth　was　my　father　to　give　me　leave；　and　long　have　Iwandered　by　roads　forgotten；　seeking　the　house　of　Elrond；　of　which　many　hadheard；　but　few　knew　where　it　lay。'　
'And　here　in　the　house　of　Elrond　more　shall　be　made　clear　to　you'　saidAragorn；　standing　up。　He　cast　his　sword　upon　the　table　that　stood　beforeElrond；　and　the　blade　was　in　two　pieces。　‘Here　is　the　Sword　that　was　Broken！'　
he　said。　　
‘And　who　are　you；　and　what　have　you　to　do　with　Minas　Tirith？'　askedBoromir；　looking　in　wonder　at　the　lean　face　of　the　Ranger　and　his　weather…　
stained　cloak。　　
‘He　is　Aragorn　son　of　Arathorn；'　said　Elrond；　‘and　he　is　descendedthrough　many　fathers　from　Isildur　Elendil's　son　of　Minas　Ithil。　He　is　theChief　of　the　Dúnedain　in　the　North；　and　few　are　now　left　of　that　folk。'　
‘Then　it　belongs　to　you；　and　not　to　me　at　all！'　cried　Frodo　in　amazement；　
springing　to　his　feet；　as　if　he　expected　the　Ring　to　be　demanded　at　once。　
'It　does　not　belong　to　either　of　us；'　said　Aragorn；　‘but　it　has　beenordained　that　you　should　hold　it　for　a　while。'　　
　
'Bring　out　the　Ring；　Frodo！'　said　Gandalf　solemnly。　‘The　time　has　e。　
Hold　it　up；　and　then　Boromir　will　understand　the　remainder　of　his　riddle。'　
There　was　a　hush；　and　all　turned　their　eyes　on　Frodo。　He　was　shaken　by　asudden　shame　and　fear；　and　he　felt　a　great　reluctance　to　reveal　the　Ring；　anda　loathing　of　its　touch。　He　wished　he　was　far　away。　The　Ring　gleamed　andflickered　as　he　held　it　up　before　them　in　his　trembling　hand。　
'Behold　Isildur's　Bane！'　said　Elrond。　　
Boromir's　eyes　glinted　as　he　gazed　at　the　golden　thing。　‘The　Halfling！'　
he　muttered。　‘Is　then　the　doom　of　Minas　Tirith　e　at　last？　But　why　thenshould　we　seek　a　broken　sword？'　　
'The　words　were　not　_the　doom　of　Minas　Tirith_；'　said　Aragorn。　‘But　doomand　great　deeds　are　indeed　at　hand。　For　the　Sword　that　was　Broken　is　the　Swordof　Elendil　that　broke　beneath　him　when　he　fell。　It　has　been　treasured　by　hisheirs　when　all　other　heirlooms　were　lost；　for　it　was　spoken　of　old　among　usthat　it　should　be　made　again　when　the　Ring；　Isildur's　Bane；　was　found。　Now　youhave　seen　the　sword　that　you　have　sought；　what　would　you　ask？　Do　you　wish　forthe　House　of　Elendil　to　return　to　the　Land　of　Gondor？'　　
‘I　was　not　sent　to　beg　any　boon；　but　to　seek　only　the　meaning　of　ariddle；'　answered　Boromir　proudly。　‘Yet　we　are　hard　pressed；　and　the　Sword　ofElendil　would　be　a　help　beyond　our　hope…if　such　a　thing　could　indeed　returnout　of　the　shadows　of　the　past。'　He　looked　again　at　Aragorn；　and　doubt　was　inhis　eyes。　
Frodo　felt　Bilbo　stir　impatiently　at　his　side。　Evidently　he　was　annoyedon　his　friend's　behalf。　Standing　suddenly　up　he　burst　out：　　
All　that　is　gold　does　not　glitter；　
Not　all　those　who　wander　are　lost；　
The　old　that　is　strong　does　not　wither；　
Deep　roots　are　not　reached　by　the　frost。　　
From　the　ashes　a　fire　shall　be　woken；　
A　light　from　the　shadows　shall　spring；　
Renewed　shall　be　blade　that　was　broken：　　
The　crownless　again　shall　be　king。_　　
‘Not　very　good　perhaps；　but　to　the　point　–　if　you　need　more　beyond　theword　of　Elrond。　If　that　was　worth　a　journey　of　a　hundred　and　ten　days　to　hear；　
you　had　best　listen　to　it。'　He　sat　down　with　a　snort。　
‘I　made　that　up　myself；'　he　whispered　to　Frodo；　‘for　the　Dúnadan；　a　longtime　ago　when　he　first　told　me　about　himself。　I　almost　wish　that　my　adventureswere　not　over；　and　that　I　could　go　with　him　when　his　day　es。'　
Aragorn　smiled　at　him；　then　he　turned　to　Boromir　again。　‘For　my　part　Iforgive　your　doubt；'　he　said。　'Little　do　I　resemble　the　figures　of　Elendil　andIsildur　as　they　stand　carven　in　their　majesty　in　the　halls　of　Denethor。　I　ambut　the　heir　of　Isildur；　not　Isildur　himself。　I　have　had　a　hard　life　and　along；　and　the　leagues　that　lie　between　here　and　Gondor　are　a　small　part　in　thecount　of　my　journeys。　I　have　crossed　many　mountains　and　many　rivers；　andtrodden　many　plains；　even　into　the　far　countries　of　Rh。n　and　Harad　where　thestars　are　strange。　
'But　my　home；　such　as　I　have；　is　in　the　North。　For　here　the　heirs　ofValandil　have　ever　dwelt　in　long　line　unbroken　from　father　unto　son　for　manygenerations。　Our　days　have　darkened；　and　we　have　dwindled；　but　ever　the　Swordhas　passed　to　a　new　keeper。　And　this　I　will　say　to　you；　Boromir；　ere　I　end。　
Lonely　men　are　we；　Rangers　of　the　wild；　hunters　–　but　hunters　ever　of　theservants　of　the　Enemy；　for　they　are　found　in　many　places；　not　in　Mordor　only。　
‘If　Gondor；　Boromir；　has　been　a　stalwart　tower；　we　have　played　anotherpart。　Many　evil　things　there　are　that　your　strong　walls　and　bright　swords　donot　stay。　You　know　little　of　the　lands　beyond　your　bounds。　Peace　and　freedom；　
do　you　say？　The　North　would　have　known　them　little　but　for　us。　Fear　would　havedestroyed　them。　But　when　dark　things　e　from　the　houseless　hills；　or　creep　　
　
from　sunless　woods；　they　fly　from　us。　What　roads　would　any　dare　to　tread；　whatsafety　would　there　be　in　quiet　lands；　or　in　the　homes　of　simple　men　at　night；　
if　the　Dúnedain　were　asleep；　or　were　all　gone　into　the　grave？　
‘And　yet　less　thanks　have　we　than　you。　Travellers　scowl　at　us；　andcountrymen　give　us　scornful　names。　〃Strider〃　I　am　to　one　fat　man　who　liveswithin　a　day's　march　of　foes　that　would　freeze　his　heart　or　lay　his　littletown　in　ruin；　if　he　were　not　guarded　ceaselessly。　Yet　we　would　not　have　itotherwise。　If　simple　folk　are　free　from　care　and　fear；　simple　they　will　be；　
and　we　must　be　secret　to　keep　them　so。　That　has　been　the　task　of　my　kindred；　
while　the　years　have　lengthened　and　the　grass　has　grown。　
‘But　now　the　world　is　changing　once　again。　A　new　hour　es。　Isildur'sBane　is　f