the fellowship of the ring-第59章

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‘I　know　little　of　Iarwain　save　the　name；'　said　Galdor；　‘but　Glorfindel；　Ithink；　is　right。　Power　to　defy　our　Enemy　is　not　in　him；　unless　such　power　isin　the　earth　itself。　And　yet　we　see　that　Sauron　can　torture　and　destroy　thevery　hills。　What　power　still　remains　lies　with　us；　here　in　Imladris；　or　withCirdan　at　the　Havens；　or　in　Lórien。　But　have　they　the　strength；　have　we　herethe　strength　to　withstand　the　Enemy；　the　ing　of　Sauron　at　the　last；　whenall　else　is　overthrown？'　　
‘I　have　not　the　strength；'　said　Elrond；　‘neither　have　they。'　
‘Then　if　the　Ring　cannot　be　kept　from　him　for　ever　by　strength'　saidGlorfindel；　‘two　things　only　remain　for　us　to　attempt：　to　send　it　over　theSea；　or　to　destroy　it。'　
‘But　Gandalf　has　revealed　to　us　that　we　cannot　destroy　it　by　any　craftthat　we　here　possess；'　said　Elrond。　‘And　they　who　dwell　beyond　the　Sea　wouldnot　receive　it：　for　good　or　ill　it　belongs　to　Middle…earth；　it　is　for　us　whostill　dwell　here　to　deal　with　it。'　　
'Then；　said　Glorfindel；　'let　us　cast　it　into　the　deeps；　and　so　make　thelies　of　Saruman　e　true。　For　it　is　clear　now　that　even　at　the　Council　his　　
feet　were　already　on　a　crooked　path。　He　knew　that　the　Ring　was　not　lost　forever；　but　wished　us　to　think　so；　for　he　began　to　lust　for　it　for　himself。　Yetoft　in　lies　truth　is　hidden：　in　the　Sea　it　would　be　safe。'　　
　
‘Not　safe　for　ever；'　said　Gandalf。　‘There　are　many　things　in　the　deepwaters；　and　seas　and　lands　may　change。　And　it　is　not　our　part　here　to　takethought　only　for　a　season；　or　for　a　few　lives　of　Men；　or　for　a　passing　age　ofthe　world。　We　should　seek　a　final　end　of　this　menace；　even　if　we　do　not　hopeto　make　one。'　　
'And　that　we　shall　not　find　on　the　roads　to　the　Sea；'　said　Galdor。　'Ifthe　return　to　Iarwain　be　thought　too　dangerous；　then　flight　to　the　Séa　is　nowfraught　with　gravest　peril。　My　heart　tells　me　that　Sauron　will　expect　us　totake　the　western　way；　when　he　learns　what　has　befallen。　He　soon　will。　The　Ninehave　been　unhorsed　indeed　but　that　is　but　a　respite；　ere　they　find　new　steedsand　swifter。　Only　the　waning　might　of　Gondor　stands　now　between　him　and　amarch　in　power　along　the　coasts　into　the　North；　and　if　he　es；　assailing　theWhite　Towers　and　the　Havens；　hereafter　the　Elves　may　have　no　escape　from　thelengthening　shadows　of　Middle…earth。'　
'Long　yet　will　that　march　be　delayed；'　said　Boromir。　'Gondor　wanes；　yousay。　But　Gondor　stands；　and　even　the　end　of　its　strength　is　still　verystrong。'　
'And　yet　its　vigilance　can　no　longer　keep　back　the　Nine；'　said　Galdor。　
'And　other　roads　he　may　find　that　Gondor　does　not　guard。'　
'Then；'　said　Erestor；　‘there　are　but　two　courses；　as　Glorfindel　alreadyhas　declared：　to　hide　the　Ring　for　ever；　or　to　unmake　it。　But　both　are　beyondour　power。　Who　will　read　this　riddle　for　us？'　
'None　here　can　do　so；'　said　Elrond　gravely。　‘At　least　none　can　foretellwhat　will　e　to　pass；　if　we　take　this　road　or　that。　But　it　seems　to　me　nowclear　which　is　the　road　that　we　must　take。　The　westward　road　seems　easiest。　　
Therefore　it　must　be　shunned。　It　will　be　watched。　Too　often　the　Elves　have　　
fled　that　way。　Now　at　this　last　we　must　take　a　hard　road；　a　road　unforeseen。　
There　lies　our　hope；　if　hope　it　be。　To　walk　into　peril…to　Mordor。　We　must　sendthe　Ring　to　the　Fire。'　　
Silence　fell　again。　Frodo；　even　in　that　fair　house；　looking　out　upon　asunlit　valley　filled　with　the　noise　of　clear　waters；　felt　a　dead　darkness　inhis　heart。　Boromir　stirred；　and　Frodo　looked　at　him。　He　was　fingering　hisgreat　horn　and　frowning。　At　length　he　spoke。　
'I　do　not　understand　all　this；'　he　said。　‘Saruman　is　a　traitor；　but　didhe　not　have　a　glimpse　of　wisdom？　Why　do　you　speak　ever　of　hiding　anddestroying？　Why　should　we　not　think　that　the　Great　Ring　has　e　into　ourhands　to　serve　us　in　the　very　hour　of　need？　Wielding　it　the　Free　Lords　of　theFree　may　surely　defeat　the　Enemy。　That　is　what　he　most　fears；　I　deem。　
'The　Men　of　Gondor　are　valiant；　and　they　will　never　submit；　but　they　maybe　beaten　down。　Valour　needs　first　strength；　and　then　a　weapon。　Let　the　Ringbe　your　weapon；　if　it　has　such　power　as　you　say。　Take　it　and　go　forth　tovictory！'　
'Alas；　no；'　said　Elrond。　'We　cannot　use　the　Ruling　Ring。　That　we　now　knowtoo　well。　It　belongs　to　Sauron　and　was　made　by　him　alone；　and　is　altogetherevil。　Its　strength；　Boromir；　is　too　great　for　anyone　to　wield　at　will；　saveonly　those　who　have　already　a　great　power　of　their　own。　But　for　them　it　holdsan　even　deadlier　peril。　The　very　desire　of　it　corrupts　the　heart。　ConsiderSaruman。　If　any　of　the　Wise　should　with　this　Ring　overthrow　the　Lord　ofMordor；　using　his　own　arts；　he　would　then　set　himself　on　Sauron's　throne；　andyet　another　Dark　Lord　would　appear。　And　that　is　another　reason　why　the　Ringshould　be　destroyed：　as　long　as　it　is　in　the　world　it　will　be　a　danger　even　tothe　Wise。　For　nothing　is　evil　in　the　beginning。　Even　Sauron　was　not　so。　I　fearto　take　the　Ring　to　hide　it。　I　will　not　take　the　Ring　to　wield　it。'　
‘Nor　I；'　said　Gandalf。　
Boromir　looked　at　them　doubtfully；　but　he　bowed　his　head。　‘So　be　it；'　hesaid。　‘Then　in　Gondor　we　must　trust　to　such　weapons　as　we　have。　And　at　theleast；　while　the　Wise　ones　guard　this　Ring；　we　will　fight　on。　Mayhap　theSword…that…was…Broken　may　still　stem　the　tide　–　if　the　hand　that　wields　it　has　　
　
inherited　not　an　heirloom　only；　but　the　sinews　of　the　Kings　of　Men。'　
‘Who　can　tell？'　said　Aragorn。　‘But　we　will　put　it　to　the　test　one　day。'　
‘May　the　day　not　be　too　long　delayed；'　said　Boromir。　'For　though　I　do　notask　for　aid；　we　need　it。　It　would　fort　us　to　know　that　others　fought　alsowith　all　the　means　that　they　have。'　
‘Then　be　forted；'　said　Elrond。　‘For　there　are　other　powers　and　realmsthat　you　know　not；　and　they　are　hidden　from　you。　Anduin　the　Great　flows　pastmany　shores；　ere　it　es　to　Argonath　and　the　Gates　of　Gondor。'　
'Still　it　might　be　well　for　all；'　said　Glóin　the　Dwarf；　'if　all　thesestrengths　were　joined；　and　the　powers　of　each　were　used　in　league。　Other　ringsthere　may　be；　less　treacherous；　that　might　be　used　in　our　need。　The　Seven　arelost　to　us　–　if　Balin　has　not　found　the　ring　of　Thrór　which　was　the　last；　
naught　has　been　heard　of　it　since　Thrór　perished　in　Moria。　Indeed　I　may　nowreveal　that　it　was　partly　in　hope　to　find　that　ring　that　Balin　went　away。'　
‘Balin　will　find　no　ring　in　Moria；'　said　Gandalf。　‘Thrór　gave　it　toThráin　his　son；　but　not　Thráin　to　Thorin。　It　was　taken　with　torment　fromThráin　in　the　dungeons　of　Dol　Guldur。　I　came　too　late。'　
'Ah；　alas！'　cried　Glóin。　'When　will　the　day　e　of　our　revenge？　Butstill　there　are　the　Three。　What　of　the　Three　Rings　of　the　Elves？　Very　mightyRings；　it　is　said。　Do　not　the　Elf…lords　keep　them？　Yet　they　too　were　made　bythe　Dark　Lord　long　ago。　Are　they　idle？　I　see　Elf…lords　here。　Will　they　notsay？'　
The　Elves　returned　no　answer。　‘Did　you　not　hear　me；　Glóin？'　said　Elrond。　
‘The　Three　were　not　made　by　Sauron；　nor　did　he　ever　touch　them。　But　of　them　itis　not　permitted　to　speak。　So　much　only　in　this　hour　of　doubt　I　may　now　say。　
They　are　not　idle。　But　they　were　not　made　as　weapons　of　war　or　conquest：　thatis　not　their　power。　Those　who　made　them　did　not　desire　strength　or　dominationor　hoarded　wealth；　but　understanding；　making；　and　healing；　to　preserve　allthings　unstained。　These　things　the　Elves　of　Middle…earth　have　in　some　measuregained；　though　with　sorrow。　But　all　that　has　been　wrought　by　those　who　wieldthe　Three　will　turn　to　their　undoing；　and　their　minds　and　hearts　will　beerevealed　to　Sauron；　if　he　regains　the　One。　It　would　be　better　if　the　Three　hadnever　been。　That　is　his　purpose。'　
‘But　what　then　would　happen；　if　the　Ruling　Ring　were　destroyed　as　youcounsel？'　asked　Glóin。　　
'We　know　not　for　certain；'　answered　Elrond　sadly。　‘Some　hope　that　theThree　Rings；　which　Sauron　has　never　touched；　would　then　bee　free；　and　theirrulers　might　heal　the　hurts　of　the　world　that　he　has　wrought。　But　maybe　whenthe　One　has　gone；　the　Three　will　fail；　and　many　fair　things　will　fade　and　beforgotten。　That　is　my　belief。'　
‘Yet　all　the　Elves　are　willing　to　endure　this　chance；'　said　Glorfindel'if　by　it　the　power　of　Sauron　may　be　broken；　and　the　fear　of　his　dominion　betaken　away　for　ever。'　
'Thus　we　return　once　more　to　the　destroying　of　the　Ring；'　said　Erestor；　
‘and　yet　we　e　no　nearer。　What　strength　have　we　for　the　finding　of　the　Firein　which　it　was　made？　That　is　the　path　of　despair。　Of　folly　I　would　say；　ifthe　long　wisdom　of　Elrond　did　not　forbid　me。'　
'Despair；　or　folly？'　said　Gandalf。　‘It　is　not　despair；　for　despair　isonly　for　those　who　see　the　end　beyond　all　doubt。　We　do　not。　It　is　wisdom　torecognize　necessity；　when　all　other　courses　have　been　weighed；　though　as　follyit　may　appear　to　those　who　cling　to　false　hope。　Well；　let　folly　be　our　cloak；　
a　veil　before　the　eyes　of　the　Enemy！　For　he　is　very　wise；　and　weighs　allthings　to　a　nicety　in　the　scales　of　his　malice。　But　the　only　measure　that　heknows　is　desire；　desire　for　power；　and　so　he　judges　all　hearts。　Into　his　heartthe　thought　will　not　enter　that　any　will　refuse　it；　that　having　the　Ring　wemay　seek　to　destroy　it。　If　we　seek　this；　we　shall　put　him　out　of　reckoning。'　
'At　least　for　a　while；'　said　Elrond。　‘The　road　must　be　trod；　but　it　willbe　very　hard。　And　neither　strength　nor　wisdom　will　carry　us　far　upon　it。　Thisquest　may　be　attempted　by　the　weak　with　as　much　hope　as　the　strong。　Yet　suchis　oft　the　course　of　deeds　that　move　the　wheels　of　the　world：　small　hands　do　　
　
them　because　they　must；　while　the　eyes　of　the　great　are　elsewhere。'　　
'Very　well；　very　well；　Master　Elrond！'　said　Bilbo　suddenly。　'Say　no　more！　
It　is　plain　enough　what　you　are　pointing　at。　Bilbo　the　silly　hobbit　startedthis　affair；　and　Bilbo　had　better　finish　it；　or　himself。　I　was　veryfortable　here；　and　getting　on　with　my　book。　If　you　want　to　know；　I　am　justwriting　an　ending　for　it。　I　had　thought　of　putting：　_and　he　lived　happily　everafterwards　to　the　end　of　his　days_。　It　is　a　good　ending；　and　none　the　worsefor　having　been　used　before。　Now　I　shall　have　to　alter　that：　it　does　not　looklike　ing　true；　and　anyway　there　will　evidently　have　to　be　several　morechapters；　if　I　live　to　write　them。　It　is　a　frightful　nuisance。　When　ought　I　tostart？　　
'　Boromir　looked　in　surprise　at　Bilbo；　but　the　laughter　died　on　his　lipswhen　he　saw　that　all　the　others　regarded　the　old　hobbit　with　grave　respect。　
Only　Glóin　smiled；　but　his　smile　came　from　old　memories。　
‘Of　course；　my　dear　Bilbo；'　said　Gandalf。　‘If　you　had　really　started　thisaffair；　you　might　be　expected　to　finish　it。　But　you　know　well　enough　now　that_starting_　is　too　great　a　claim　for　any；　and　that　only　a　small　part　is　playedin　great　deeds　by　any　hero。　You　need　not　bow！　Though　the　word　was　meant；　andwe　do　not　doubt　that　under　jest　you　are　making　a　valiant　offer。　But　one　beyondyour　strength；　Bilbo。　You　cannot　take　this　thing　back。　It　has　passed　on。　Ifyou　need　my　advice　any　longer；　I　should　say　that　your　part　is　ended；　unless　asa　recorder。　Finish　your　book；　and　leave　the　ending　unaltered！　There　is　stillhope　for　it。　But　get　ready　to　write　a　sequel；　when　they　e　back。'　
Bilbo　laughed。　‘I　have　never　known　you　give　me　pleasant　advice　before。'　
he　said。　‘As　all　your　unpleasant　advice　has　been　good；　I　wonder　if　this　adviceis　not　bad。　Still；　I　don't　suppose　I　have　the　strength　or　luck　left　to　dealwith　the　Ring。　It　has　grown；　and　I　have　not。　But　tell　me：　what　do　you　mean　by_they_？'