the fellowship of the ring-第77章

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e　centre　of　all　there　gleamed　awhite　flet。　At　the　feet　of　the　trees；　and　all　about　the　green　hillsides　thegrass　was　studded　with　small　golden　flowers　shaped　like　stars。　Among　them；　
nodding　on　slender　stalks；　were　other　flowers；　white　and　palest　green：　theyglimmered　as　a　mist　amid　the　rich　hue　of　the　grass。　Over　all　the　sky　was　blue；　
and　the　sun　of　afternoon　glowed　upon　the　hill　and　cast　long　green　shadowsbeneath　the　trees。　　
'Behold！　You　are　e　to　Cerin　Amroth；'　said　Haldir。　‘For　this　is　the　　
　
heart　of　the　ancient　realm　as　it　was　long　ago；　and　here　is　the　mound　ofAmroth；　where　in　happier　days　his　high　house　was　built。　Here　ever　bloom　thewinter　flowers　in　the　unfading　grass：　the　yellow　_elanor_；　and　the　pale_niphredil_。　Here　we　will　stay　awhile；　and　e　to　the　city　of　the　Galadhrimat　dusk。'　　
The　others　cast　themselves　down　upon　the　fragrant　grass；　but　Frodo　stoodawhile　still　lost　in　wonder。　It　seemed　to　him　that　he　had　stepped　through　ahigh　window　that　looked　on　a　vanished　world。　A　light　was　upon　it　for　which　hislanguage　had　no　name。　All　that　he　saw　was　shapely；　but　the　shapes　seemed　atonce　clear　cut；　as　if　they　had　been　first　conceived　and　drawn　at　theuncovering　of　his　eyes；　and　ancient　as　if　they　had　endured　for　ever。　He　saw　nocolour　but　those　he　knew；　gold　and　white　and　blue　and　green；　but　they　werefresh　and　poignant；　as　if　he　had　at　that　moment　first　perceived　them　and　madefor　them　names　new　and　wonderful。　In　winter　here　no　heart　could　mourn　for　　
summer　or　for　spring。　No　blemish　or　sickness　or　deformity　could　be　seen　inanything　that　grew　upon　the　earth。　On　the　land　of　Lórien　there　was　no　stain。　
He　turned　and　saw　that　Sam　was　now　standing　beside　him；　looking　roundwith　a　puzzled　expression；　and　rubbing　his　eyes　as　if　he　was　not　sure　that　hewas　awake。　‘It's　sunlight　and　bright　day；　right　enough；'　he　said。　‘I　thoughtthat　Elves　were　all　for　moon　and　stars：　but　this　is　more　elvish　than　anythingI　ever　heard　tell　of。　I　feel　as　if　I　was　_inside_　a　song。　if　you　take　mymeaning。'　
Haldir　looked　at　them；　and　he　seemed　indeed　to　take　the　meaning　of　boththought　and　word。　He　smiled。　‘You　feel　the　power　of　the　Lady　of　theGaladhrim；'　he　said。　‘Would　it　please　you　to　climb　with　me　up　Cerin　Amroth？　'　
They　followed　him　as　he　stepped　lightly　up　the　grass…clad　slopes。　Thoughhe　walked　and　breathed；　and　about　him　living　leaves　and　flowers　were　stirredby　the　same　cool　wind　as　fanned　his　face；　Frodo　felt　that　he　was　in　a　timelessland　that　did　not　fade　or　change　or　fall　into　forgetfulness。　When　he　had　goneand　passed　again　into　the　outer　world；　still　Frodo　the　wanderer　from　the　Shirewould　walk　there；　upon　the　grass　among　_elanor_　and　_niphredil_　in　fairLothlórien。　　
They　entered　the　circle　of　white　trees。　As　they　did　so　the　South　Windblew　upon　Cerin　Amroth　and　sighed　among　the　branches。　Frodo　stood　still；　
hearing　far　off_　great　seas　upon　beaches　that　had　long　ago　been　washed　away；　
and　sea…birds　crying　whose　race　had　perished　from　the　earth。　
Haldir　had　gone　on　and　was　now　climbing　to　the　high　flet。　As　Frodoprepared　to　follow　him；　he　laid　his　hand　upon　the　tree　beside　the　ladder：　
never　before　had　he　been　so　suddenly　and　so　keenly　aware　of　the　feel　andtexture　of　a　tree's　skin　and　of　the　life　within　it。　He　felt　a　delight　in　woodand　the　touch　of　it；　neither　as　forester　nor　as　carpenter；　it　was　the　delightof　the　living　tree　itself。　
As　he　stepped　out　at　last　upon　the　lofty　platform；　Haldir　took　his　handand　turned　him　toward　the　South。　‘Look　this　way　first！　'　he　said。　
Frodo　looked　and　saw；　still　at　some　distance；　a　hill　of　many　mightytrees；　or　a　city　of　green　towers：　which　it　was　he　could　not　tell。　Out　of　it；　
it　seemed　to　him　that　the　power　and　light　came　that　held　all　the　land　in　sway。　
He　longed　suddenly　to　fly　like　a　bird　to　rest　in　the　green　city。　Then　helooked　eastward　and　saw　all　the　land　of　Lórien　running　down　to　the　pale　gleamof　Anduin；　the　Great　River。　He　lifted　his　eyes　across　the　river　and　all　thelight　went　out；　and　he　was　back　again　in　the　world　he　knew。　Beyond　the　riverthe　land　appeared　flat　and　empty；　formless　and　vague；　until　far　away　it　roseagain　like　a　wall；　dark　and　drear。　The　sun　that　lay　on　Lothlórien　had　no　powerto　enlighten　the　shadow　of　that　distant　height。　
‘There　lies　the　fastness　of　Southern　Mirkwood；'　said　Haldir。　‘It　is　cladin　a　forest　of　dark　fir；　where　the　trees　strive　one　against　another　and　theirbranches　rot　and　wither。　In　the　midst　upon　a　stony　height　stands　Dol　Guldur；　
where　long　the　hidden　Enemy　had　his　dwelling。　We　fear　that　now　it　is　inhabitedagain；　and　with　power　sevenfold。　A　black　cloud　lies　often　over　it　of　late。　In　　
　
this　high　place　you　may　see　the　two　powers　that　are　opposed　one　to　another；　
and　ever　they　strive　now　in　thought；　but　whereas　the　light　perceives　the　veryheart　of　the　darkness；　its　own　secret　has　not　been　discovered。　Not　yet。'　Heturned　and　climbed　swiftly　down；　and　they　followed　him。　
At　the　hill's　foot　Frodo　found　Aragorn；　standing　still　and　silent　as　atree；　but　in　his　hand　was　a　small　golden　bloom　of　elanor；　and　a　light　was　inhis　eyes。　He　was　wrapped　in　some　fair　memory：　and　as　Frodo　looked　at　him　heknew　that　he　beheld　things　as　they　once　had　been　in　this　same　place。　For　thegrim　years　were　removed　from　the　face　of　Aragorn；　and　he　seemed　clothed　inwhite；　a　young　lord　tall　and　fair；　and　he　spoke　words　in　the　Elvish　tongue　toone　whom　Frodo　could　not　see_。　Arwen　vanimelda；　namári。！_　he　said；　and　then　hedrew　a　breath；　and　returning　out　of　his　thought　he　looked　at　Frodo　and　smiled。　
‘Here　is　the　heart　of　Elvendom　on　earth；'　he　said；　‘and　here　my　heartdwells　ever；　unless　there　be　a　light　beyond　the　dark　roads　that　we　still　musttread；　you　and　I。　e　with　me！　'　And　taking　Frodo's　hand　in　his；　he　left　thehill　of　Cerin　Amroth　and　came　there　never　again　as　living　man。　　
_Chapter　7_　
The　Mirror　of　Galadriel　　
The　sun　was　sinking　behind　the　mountains；　and　the　shadows　were　deepeningin　the　woods；　when　they　went　on　again。　Their　paths　now　went　into　thicketswhere　the　dusk　had　already　gathered。　Night　came　beneath　the　trees　as　theywalked；　and　the　Elves　uncovered　their　silver　lamps。　
Suddenly　they　came　out　into　the　open　again　and　found　themselves　under　apale　evening　sky　pricked　by　a　few　early　stars。　There　was　a　wide　treeless　spacebefore　them；　running　in　a　great　circle　and　bending　away　on　either　hand。　Beyondit　was　a　deep　fosse　lost　in　soft　shadow；　but　the　grass　upon　its　brink　wasgreen；　as　if　it　glowed　still　in　memory　of　the　sun　that　had　gone。　Upon　thefurther　side　there　rose　to　a　great　height　a　green　wall　encircling　a　green　hillthronged　with　mallorn…trees　taller　than　any　they　had　yet　seen　in　all　the　land。　
Their　height　could　not　be　guessed；　but　they　stood　up　in　the　twilight　likeliving　towers。　In　their；　many…tiered　branches　and　amid　their　ever…movingleaves　countless　lights　were　gleaming；　green　and　gold　and　silver。　Haldirturned　towards　the　pany。　
‘Wele　to　Caras　Galadhon！　'　he　said。　'Here　is　the　city　of　the　Galadhrimwhere　dwell　the　Lord　Celeborn　and　Galadriel　the　Lady　of　Lórien。　But　we　cannotenter　here；　for　the　gates　do　not　look　northward。　We　must　go　round　to　thesouthern　side；　and　the　way　is　not　short；　for　the　city　is　great。'　　
There　was　a　road　paved　with　white　stone　running　on　the　outer　brink　of　thefosse。　Along　this　they　went　westward；　with　the　city　ever　climbing　up　like　agreen　cloud　upon　their　left；　and　as　the　night　deepened　more　lights　sprangforth；　until　all　the　hill　seemed　afire　with　stars。　They　came　at　last　to　awhite　bridge；　and　crossing　found　the　great　gates　of　the　city：　they　facedsouth…west；　set　between　the　ends　of　the　encircling　wall　that　here　overlapped；　
and　they　were　tall　and　strong；　and　hung　with　many　lamps。　
Haldir　knocked　and　spoke；　and　the　gates　opened　soundlessly；　but　of　guardsFrodo　could　see　no　sign。　The　travellers　passed　within；　and　the　gates　shutbehind　them。　They　were　in　a　deep　lane　between　the　ends　of　the　wall；　andpassing　quickly　through　it　they　entered　the　City　of　the　Trees。　No　folk　couldthey　see；　nor　hear　any　feet　upon　the　paths；　but　there　were　many　voices；　aboutthem；　and　in　the　air　above。　Far　away　up　on　the　hill　they　could　hear　the　soundof　singing　falling　from　on　high　like　soft　rain　upon　leaves。　
They　went　along　many　paths　and　climbed　many　stairs；　until　they　came　tothe　high　places　and　saw　before　them　amid　a　wide　lawn　a　fountain　shimmering。　Itwas　lit　by　silver　lamps　that　swung　from　the　boughs　of　trees；　and　it　fell　intoa　basin　of　silver；　from　which　a　white　stream　spilled。　Upon　the　south　side　ofthe　lawn　there　stood　the　mightiest　of　all　the　trees；　its　great　smooth　bole　　
　
gleamed　like　grey　silk；　and　up　it　towered；　until　its　first　branches；　farabove；　opened　their　huge　limbs　under　shadowy　clouds　of　leaves。　Beside　it　abroad　white　ladder　stood；　and　at　its　foot　three　Elves　were　seated。　They　sprangup　as　the　travellers　approached；　and　Frodo　saw　that　they　were　tall　and　clad　ingrey　mail；　and　from　their　shoulders　hung　long　white　cloaks。　
'Here　dwell　Celeborn　and　Galadriel；'　said　Haldir。　‘It　is　their　wish　thatyou　should　ascend　and　speak　with　them。'　
One　of　the　Elf…wardens　then　blew　a　clear　note　on　a　small　horn；　and　it　wasanswered　three　times　from　far　above。　‘I　will　go　first；'　said　Haldir。　'LetFrodo　e　next　and　with　him　Legolas。　The　others　may　follow　as　they　wish。　Itis　a　long　climb　for　those　that　are　not　accustomed　to　such　stairs；　but　you　mayrest　upon　the　way。'　　
As　he　climbed　slowly　up　Frodo　passed　many　flets：　some　on　one　side；　someon　another；　and　some　set　about　the　bole　of　the　tree；　so　that　the　ladder　passedthrough　them。　At　a　great　height　above　the　ground　he　came　to　a　wide　_talan_；　
like　the　deck　of　a　great　ship。　On　it　was　built　a　house；　so　large　that　almostit　would　have　served　for　a　hall　of　Men　upon　the　earth。　He　entered　behindHaldir；　and　found　that　he　was　in　a　chamber　of　oval　shape；　in　the　midst　ofwhich　grew　the　trunk　of　the　great　mallorn；　now　tapering　towards　its　crown；　andyet　making　still　a　pillar　of　wide　girth。　
The　chamber　was　filled　with　a　soft　light；　its　walls　were　green　and　silverand　its　roof　of　gold。　Many　Elves　were　seated　there。　On　two　chairs　beneath　thebole　of　the　tree　and　canopied　by　a　living　bough　there　sat；　side　by　side；　
Celeborn　and　Galadriel。　They　stood　up　to　greet　their　guests；　after　the　mannerof　Elves；　even　those　who　were　accounted　mighty　kings。　Very　tall　they　were；　andthe　Lady　no　less　tall　than　the　Lord；　and　they　were　grave　and　beautiful。　Theywere　clad　wholly　in　white；　and　the　hair　of　the　Lady　was　of　deep　gold；　and　thehair　of　the　Lord　Celeborn　was　of　silver　long　and　bright；　but　no　sign　of　agewas　upon　them；　unless　it　were　in　the　depths　of　their　eyes；　for　these　were　keenas　lances　in　the　starlight；　and　yet　profound；　the　wells　of　deep　memory。　
Haldir　led　Frodo　before　them；　and　the　Lord　weled　him　in　his　owntongue。　The　Lady　Galadriel　said　no　word　but　looked　long　upon　his　face。　
‘Sit　now　beside　my　chair；　Frodo　of　the　Shire！　'　said　Celeborn。　‘When　allhave　e　we　will　speak　together。'　
Each　of　the　panions　he　greeted　courteously　by　name　as　they　entered。　
‘Wele　Aragorn　son　of　Arathorn！　'　he　said。　‘It　is　eight　and　thirty　years　ofthe　world　outside　since　you　came　to　this　land；　and　those　years　lie　heavy　onyou。　But　the　end　is　near；　for　good　or　ill。　Here　lay　aside　your　burden　for　awhile！　'　　
'Wele　son　of　Thranduil！　Too　seldom　do　my　kindred　journey　hither　fromthe　North。'