友情提示:如果本网页打开太慢或显示不完整,请尝试鼠标右键“刷新”本网页!
two towers-第70部分
快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完,想下次继续接着阅读,可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能!
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
快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
温馨提示: 温看小说的同时发表评论,说出自己的看法和其它小伙伴们分享也不错哦!发表书评还可以获得积分和经验奖励,认真写原创书评 被采纳为精评可以获得大量金币、积分和经验奖励哦!