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two towers-第70部分

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provinces。 These are the Rohirrim;  as we name them; masters  of horses; and 
we ceded to them the fields of Calenardhon  that are since called Rohan; for 
that province  had  long been sparsely peopled。 And they became  our allies; 
and have  ever  proved true  to us;  aiding us  at  need;  and  guarding our 
northern marches and the Gap of Rohan。 
     ‘Of our  lore and manners they have learned what they would;  and their 
lords speak our speech at need; yet for  the most part they hold by the ways 
of their  own  fathers and  to their  own  memories; and  they  speak  among 
themselves  their own North  tongue。 And  we  love them: tall men  and  fair 
women;  valiant  both  alike; golden…haired; bright…eyed;  and strong;  they 
remind us of the youth of Men; as they were in the  Elder Days。 Indeed it is 
said by our lore…masters that they  have from of  old  this affinity with us 
that they  are  e  from those same  Three  Houses  of  Men  as  were  the 
N甿enoreans  in  their  beginning  not  from  Hador  the  Goldenhaired;  the 
Elf…friend; maybe; yet from such of his sons and people as went not over Sea 
into the West; refusing the call。 
     'For so we reckon Men in our lore; calling them the High; or Men of the 
West; which  were N甿enoreans; and  the Middle Peoples; Men of the Twilight; 
such as are  the Rohirrim and their kin  that  dwell still far in the North; 
and the Wild; the Men of Darkness。 
     ‘Yet  now;  if the  Rohirrim are  grown in  some  ways more like to us; 
enhanced in arts and gentleness; we too  have bee more like  to them; and 
can scarce claim any longer the title High。 We are bee Middle Men; of the 
Twilight; but with memory of other things。  For  as the Rohirrim do; we  now 
love  war  and valour as things good in themselves; both a sport and an end; 
and  though  we still  hold  that  a  warrior  should have more  skills  and 
knowledge than only the craft of weapons  and slaying; we esteem a  warrior; 
nonetheless; above men  of other  crafts。  Such is the need  of our days。 So 
even was  my brother;  Boromir:  a  man of  prowess;  and for  that  he  was 
accounted the best man in Gondor。 And very valiant indeed he was: no heir of 
Minas  Tirith has  for long  years  been so hardy  in  toil; so  onward into 
battle; or blown a mightier note on the Great Horn。' Faramir sighed and fell 
silent for a while。 
     ‘You don't say much in all your tales  about the Elves; sir;' said Sam; 
suddenly plucking up courage。 He  had noted that Faramir seemed  to refer to 
Elves with reverence; and this even more than his courtesy; and his food and 
wine; had won Sam's respect and quieted his suspicions。 
     ‘No indeed; Master Samwise;' said Faramir; ‘for  I  am  not  learned in 
Elven…lore。 But there you touch upon another point in which we have changed; 
declining from N甿enor to  Middle…earth。 For as you may know; if  Mithrandir 
was  your panion and you have spoken with Elrond; the Edain;  the Fathers 
of the  N甿enoreans;  fought  beside the  Elves in the first  wars; and were 
rewarded by the gift of the kingdom in the midst of the Sea; within sight of 
Elvenhome。 But in Middle…earth Men and Elves became estranged in the days of 
darkness; by the arts of the Enemy; and by the slow changes of time in which 
each  kind  walked  further down  their sundered  roads。 Men  now  fear  and 
misdoubt the Elves; and yet know little of them。 And we of  Gondor grow like 
other  Men; like  the men of  Rohan; for even they; who are the  foes of the 
Dark Lord; shun the Elves and speak of the Golden Wood with dread。 
     ‘Yet there are among us still  some  who have dealings  with the  Elves 
when they may; and  ever and anon one will go in secret to Lurien; seldom to 
return。 Not I。  For I deem it perilous now for  mortal man  wilfully to seek 
out the Elder People。 Yet I envy you that have spoken with the White Lady。' 
     ‘The Lady of Lurien!  Galadriel!' cried Sam。 ‘You should see her indeed 
you should; sir。 I am only a hobbit; and gardening's my job at home; sir; if 
you understand me; and I'm  not much good at poetry  not  at making  it: a 
bit of  a ic rhyme; perhaps。 now and again; you know; but not real poetry 
 so I can't tell you what I mean。 It ought to  be sung。 You'd have  to get 
Strider;  Aragorn that is; or  old Mr。 Bilbo; for that。  But I wish  I could 
make a song about her。 Beautiful she is; sir! Lovely! Sometimes like a great 
tree  in flower;  sometimes like a white  daffadowndilly; small and  slender 
like。 Hard  as di'monds; soft as moonlight。 Warm as sunlight;  cold as frost 
in the stars。 Proud and far…off as a snow…mountain; and as merry as any lass 
I  ever saw with daisies  in  her hair in  springtime。  But that's a lot  o' 
nonsense; and all wide of my mark。' 
     'Then she must be lovely indeed;' said Faramir。 ‘Perilously fair。' 
     ‘I don't know about perilous;' said Sam。 ‘It strikes me that folk takes 
their  peril  with them into Lurien;  and finds  it  there  because  they've 
brought it。 But perhaps you could call her perilous; because she's so strong 
in herself。 You; you could dash yourself to pieces on her; like a ship on  a 
rock;  or drownd  yourself; like a hobbit in a  river。 But  neither rock nor 
river would be to blame。 Now Boro  ' He stopped and went red in the face。 
     ‘Yes? Now Boromir you would say?  ' said Faramir。 ‘What would  you say? 
He took his peril with him? ' 
     ‘Yes sir; begging your pardon; and a  fine man as your brother was if I 
may say  so。  But  you've  been  warm on  the scent all along。 Now I watched 
Boromir  and listened to him; from Rivendell  all down the  road   looking 
after my master; as you'll understand;  and not meaning any harm to  Boromir 
 and it's my  opinion that  in Lurien he first  saw clearly what I guessed 
sooner: what  he  wanted。  From the  moment he  first  saw it he  wanted the 
Enemy's Ring! ' 
     ‘Sam!  '  cried Frodo  aghast。 He had fallen deep into his own thoughts 
for a while; and came out of them suddenly and too late。 
     'Save me! ' said Sam turning white; and then flushing scarlet。 ‘There I 
go  again!  When ever  you open your big mouth you put your foot  in it  the 
Gaffer used to say to me; and right enough。 O dear; O dear! 
     ‘Now look here;  sir!  ' He turned; facing up  to Faramir with  all the 
courage  that he  could muster。 ‘Don't you go taking advantage of my  master 
because his servant's no better than a fool。 You've spoken very handsome all 
along;  put me off my  guard;  talking of Elves and all。 But  handsome is as 
handsome does we say。 Now's a chance to show your quality。' 
     'So  it seems;' said Faramir;  slowly and  very  softly; with a strange 
smile。  ‘So that  is the answer  to all the riddles! The One Ring  that  was 
thought to  have perished  from  the world。 And Boromir tried to take  it by 
force? And you escaped? And ran all the way  to me! And here in the wild I 
have  you:  two halflings;  and a host of men at  my  call; and the  Ring of 
Rings。 A pretty stroke of fortune!  A chance for Faramir; Captain of Gondor; 
to show his quality! Ha!'  He stood up;  very tall and stern; his  grey eyes 
glinting。 
     Frodo and Sam sprang from their stools and set themselves  side by side 
with their backs  to the wall; fumbling for their sword…hilts。  There was  a 
silence。  All the men in the cave stopped talking and looked towards them in 
wonder。 But Faramir sat down  again in his chair and began to laugh quietly; 
and then suddenly became grave again。 
     'Alas  for Boromir! It was too sore a trial!  ' he said。 ‘How you  have 
increased my sorrow; you two  strange wanderers from a  far country; bearing 
the peril of Men! But you are less judges of Men than I of Halflings。 We are 
truth…speakers; we men  of Gondor。 We boast seldom; and then perform; or die 
in the attempt。 Not if  I found it  on the  highway would I take it  I said。 
Even if I were such a man as  to desire this thing; and  even though I  knew 
not clearly what  this thing was  when  I spoke; still I should  take  those 
words as a vow; and be held by them。 
     'But I am not such a man。 Or I am wise enough  to  know that  there are 
some  perils from which a  man  must  flee。  Sit at peace! And be forted; 
Samwise。 If  you seem to have stumbled; think  that it was  fated to  be so。 
Your heart is shrewd as  well  as  faithful; and saw clearer than your eyes。 
For  strange though it  may seem;  it was safe to declare this to me。 It may 
even help the  master that you love。 It shall turn to his good; if it is  in 
my power。 So be forted。 But do not even name this thing again aloud。 Once 
is enough。' 
     The hobbits came back  to  their seats and sat very  quiet。 Men  turned 
back to  their drink and their talk; perceiving  that their captain had  had 
some jest or other with the little guests; and that it was over。 
     'Well; Frodo; now at last we understand one another;' said Faramir。 'If 
you took this thing on yourself; unwilling; at others' asking; then you have 
pity and honour from me。 And I marvel at you: to keep  it hid and not to use 
it。  You  are a  new people and a new world to me。 Are  all your kin of like 
sort? Your  land  must  be a realm  of peace  and content;  and  there  must 
gardeners be in high honour。' 
     ‘Not all  is  well  there;'  said Frodo; ‘but  certainly gardeners  are 
honoured。' 
     ‘But folk  must  grow weary  there; even  in their  gardens; as  do all 
things under the Sun  of this world。 And you are far from  home and wayworn。 
No more tonight。 Sleep; both  of you  in peace; if you can。 Fear not! I do 
not wish to  see it; or  touch  it; or know more of it than I know (which is 
enough); lest peril perchance waylay  me and I  fall lower  in the test than 
Frodo son of Drogo。 Go now to rest  but  first tell  me only; if you will; 
whither you wish to go;  and  what  to do。  For I must watch; and  wait; and 
think。  Time passes。  In the morning  we  must each  go swiftly  on the ways 
appointed to us。' 
     Frodo had felt himself trembling as the first shock of fear passed。 Now 
a great  weariness came  down on him like  a  cloud。 H
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