the fellowship of the ring-第31部分

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ive　noises　ran　among　the　bushes　and　reeds　oneither　side　of　them；　and　if　they　looked　up　to　the　pale　sky；　they　caught　sightof　queer　gnarled　and　knobbly　faces　that　gloomed　dark　against　the　twilight；　andleered　down　at　them　from　the　high　bank　and　the　edges　of　the　wood。　They　beganto　feel　that　all　this　country　was　unreal；　and　that　they　were　stumbling　throughan　ominous　dream　that　led　to　no　awakening。　
Just　as　they　felt　their　feet　slowing　down　to　a　standstill；　they　noticedthat　the　ground　was　gently　rising。　The　water　began　to　murmur。　In　the　darknessthey　caught　the　white　glimmer　of　foam；　where　the　river　flowed　over　a　shortfall。　Then　suddenly　the　trees　came　to　an　end　and　the　mists　were　left　behind。　
They　stepped　out　from　the　Forest；　and　found　a　wide　sweep　of　grass　welling　upbefore　them。　The　river；　now　small　and　swift；　was　leaping　merrily　down　to　meetthem；　glinting　here　and　there　in　the　light　of　the　stars；　which　were　alreadyshining　in　the　sky。　
The　grass　under　their　feet　was　smooth　and　short；　as　if　it　had　been　mownor　shaven。　The　eaves　of　the　Forest　behind　were　clipped；　and　trim　as　a　hedge。　
The　path　was　now　plain　before　them；　well…tended　and　bordered　with　stone。　Itwound　up　on　to　the　top　of　a　grassy　knoll；　now　grey　under　the　pale　starrynight；　and　there；　still　high　above　them　on　a　further　slope；　they　saw　thetwinkling　lights　of　a　house。　Down　again　the　path　went；　and　then　up　again；　up　along　smooth　hillside　of　turf；　towards　the　light。　Suddenly　a　wide　yellow　beamflowed　out　brightly　from　a　door　that　was　opened。　There　was　Tom　Bombadil'shouse　before　them；　up；　down；　under　hill。　Behind　it　a　steep　shoulder　of　theland　lay　grey　and　bare；　and　beyond　that　the　dark　shapes　of　the　Barrow…downsstalked　away　into　the　eastern　night。　
They　all　hurried　forward；　hobbits　and　ponies。　Already　half　theirweariness　and　all　their　fears　had　fallen　from　them。　_Hey！　e　merry　dol！_　
rolled　out　the　song　to　greet　them。　　
Hey！　e　derry　dol！　Hop　along；　my　hearties！　
Hobbits！　Ponies　all！　We　are　fond　of　parties。　
Now　let　the　fun　begin！　Let　us　sing　together！　　
Then　another　clear　voice；　as　young　and　as　ancient　as　Spring；　like　thesong　of　a　glad　water　flowing　down　into　the　night　from　a　bright　morning　in　thehills；　came　falling　like　silver　to　meet　them：　　
Now　let　the　song　begin！　Let　us　sing　together　
Of　sun；　stars；　moon　and　mist；　rain　and　cloudy　weather；　
Light　on　the　budding　leaf；　dew　on　the　feather；　
Wind　on　the　open　hill；　bells　on　the　heather；　
Reeds　by　the　shady　pool；　lilies　on　the　water：　
Old　Tom　Bombadil　and　the　River…daughter！　　
　
And　with　that　song　the　hobbits　stood　upon　the　threshold；　and　a　goldenlight　was　all　about　them。　　
_Chapter　7_　
In　the　House　of　Tom　Bombadil　　
The　four　hobbits　stepped　over　the　wide　stone　threshold；　and　stood　still；　
blinking。　They　were　in　a　long　low　room；　filled　with　the　light　of　lampsswinging　from　the　beams　of　the　roof；　and　on　the　table　of　dark　polished　woodstood　many　candles；　tall　and　yellow；　burning　brightly。　
In　a　chair；　at　the　far　side　of　the　room　facing　the　outer　door；　sat　awoman。　Her　long　yellow　hair　rippled　down　her　shoulders；　her　gown　was　green；　
green　as　young　reeds；　shot　with　silver　like　beads　of　dew；　and　her　belt　was　ofgold；　shaped　like　a　chain　of　flag…lilies　set　with　the　pale…blue　eyes　offorget…me…nots。　About　her　feel　in　wide　vessels　of　green　and　brown　earthenware；　
white　water…lilies　were　floating；　so　that　she　seemed　to　be　enthroned　in　themidst　of　a　pool。　
'Enter；　good　guests！'　she　said；　and　as　she　spoke　they　knew　that　it　washer　clear　voice　they　had　heard　singing。　They　came　a　few　timid　steps　furtherinto　the　room；　and　began　to　bow　low；　feeling　strangely　surprised　and　awkward；　
like　folk　that；　knocking　at　a　cottage　door　to　beg　for　a　drink　of　water；　havebeen　answered　by　a　fair　young　elf…queen　clad　in　living　flowers。　But　beforethey　could　say　anything；　she　sprang　lightly　up　and　over　the　lily…bowls；　andran　laughing　towards　them；　and　as　she　ran　her　gown　rustled　softly　like　thewind　in　the　flowering　borders　of　a　river。　
'e　dear　folk！'　she　said；　taking　Frodo　by　the　hand。　'Laugh　and　bemerry！　I　am　Goldberry；　daughter　of　the　River。'　Then　lightly　she　passed　themand　closing　the　door　she　turned　her　back　to　it；　with　her　white　arms　spread　outacross　it。　'Let　us　shut　out　the　night！'　she　said。　'For　you　are　still　afraid；　
perhaps；　of　mist　and　tree…shadows　and　deep　water；　and　untame　things。　Fearnothing！　For　tonight　you　are　under　the　roof　of　Tom　Bombadil。'　
The　hobbits　looked　at　her　in　wonder；　and　she　looked　at　each　of　them　andsmiled。　'Fair　lady　Goldberry！'　said　Frodo　at　last；　feeling　his　heart　movedwith　a　joy　that　he　did　not　understand。　He　stood　as　he　had　at　times　stoodenchanted　by　fair　elven…voices；　but　the　spell　that　was　now　laid　upon　him　wasdifferent：　less　keen　and　lofty　was　the　delight；　but　deeper　and　nearer　tomortal　heart；　marvellous　and　yet　not　strange。　'Fair　lady　Goldberry！'　he　saidagain。　'Now　the　joy　that　was　hidden　in　the　songs　we　heard　is　made　plain　to　me。　　
O　slender　as　a　willow…wand！　O　clearer　than　clear　water！　　
O　reed　by　the　living　pool！　Fair　River…daughter！　
O　spring…time　and　summer…time；　and　spring　again　after！　
O　wind　on　the　waterfall；　and　the　leaves'　laughter！'　　
Suddenly　he　stopped　and　stammered；　overe　with　surprise　to　hear　himselfsaying　such　things。　But　Goldberry　laughed。　
'Wele！'　she　said。　'I　had　not　heard　that　folk　of　the　Shire　were　so　　
sweet…tongued。　But　I　see　you　are　an　elf…friend；　the　light　in　your　eyes　and　thering　in　your　voice　tells　it。　This　is　a　merry　meeting！　Sit　now；　and　wait　forthe　Master　of　the　house！　He　will　not　be　long。　He　is　tending　your　tiredbeasts。'　　
The　hobbits　sat　down　gladly　in　low　rush…seated　chairs；　while　Goldberrybusied　herself　about　the　table；　and　their　eyes　followed　her；　for　the　slendergrace　of　her　movement　filled　them　with　quiet　delight。　From　somewhere　behindthe　house　came　the　sound　of　singing。　Every　now　and　again　they　caught；　amongmany　a　_derry　dol_　and　a　_merry　dol_　and　a　_ring　a　ding　dillo_　the　repeatedwords：　　
　
Old　Tom　Bombadil　is　a　merry　fellow；　
Bright　blue　his　jacket　is；　and　his　boots　are　yellow。　　
'Fair　lady！'　said　Frodo　again　after　a　while。　'Tell　me；　if　my　asking　doesnot　seem　foolish；　who　is　Tom　Bombadil？'　
'He　is；'　said　Goldberry；　staying　her　swift　movements　and　smiling。　
Frodo　looked　at　her　questioningly。　'He　is；　as　you　have　seen　him；'　shesaid　in　answer　to　his　look。　'He　is　the　Master　of　wood；　water；　and　hill。'　
'Then　all　this　strange　land　belongs　to　him？'　
'No　indeed！'　she　answered；　and　her　smile　faded。　'That　would　indeed　be　aburden；'　she　added　in　a　low　voice；　as　if　to　herself。　'The　trees　and　thegrasses　and　all　things　growing　or　living　in　the　land　belong　each　tothemselves。　Tom　Bombadil　is　the　Master。　No　one　has　ever　caught　old　Tom　walkingin　the　forest；　wading　in　the　water；　leaping　on　the　hill…tops　under　light　andshadow。　He　has　no　fear。　Tom　Bombadil　is　master。'　　
A　door　opened　and　in　came　Tom　Bombadil。　He　had　now　no　hat　and　his　thickbrown　hair　was　crowned　with　autumn　leaves。　He　laughed；　and　going　to　Goldberry；　
took　her　hand。　　
'Here's　my　pretty　lady！'　he　said；　bowing　to　the　hobbits。　'Here's　myGoldberry　clothed　all　in　silver…green　with　flowers　in　her　girdle！　Is　the　tableladen？　I　see　yellow　cream　and　honeyb；　and　white　bread；　and　butter；　milk；　
cheese；　and　green　herbs　and　ripe　berries　gathered。　Is　that　enough　for　us？　Isthe　supper　ready？'　
'It　is；'　said　Goldberry；　'but　the　guests　perhaps　are　not？'　
Tom　clapped　his　hands　and　cried：　'Tom；　Tom！　your　guests　are　tired；　andyou　had　near　forgotten！　e　now；　my　merry　friends；　and　Tom　will　refresh　you！　
You　shall　clean　grimy　hands；　and　wash　your　weary　faces；　cast　off　your　muddycloaks　and　b　out　your　tangles！'　
He　opened　the　door；　and　they　followed　him　down　a　short　passage　and　rounda　sharp　turn。　They　came　to　a　low　room　with　a　sloping　roof　（a　penthouse；　itseemed；　built　on　to　the　north　end　of　the　house）。　Its　walls　were　of　cleanstone；　but　they　were　mostly　covered　with　green　hanging　mats　and　yellowcurtains。　The　floor　was　flagged；　and　strewn　with　fresh　green　rushes。　Therewere　four　deep　mattresses；　each　piled　with　white　blankets；　laid　on　the　flooralong　one　side。　Against　the　opposite　wall　was　a　long　bench　laden　with　wideearthenware　basins；　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。