jrt.fellowshipofring-第100节

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　Your　path　now　goes　south。'
　　　As　they　walked　through　Caras　Galadhon　the　green　ways　were　empty；　but　in　the　trees　above　them　many　voices　were　murmuring　and　singing。　They　themselves　went　silently。　At　last　Haldir　led　them　down　the　southward　slopes　of　the　hill；　and　they　came　again　to　the　great　gate　hung　with　lamps；　and　to　the　white　bridge；　and　so　they　passed　out　and　left　the　city　of　the　Elves。　Then　they　turned　away　from　the　paved　road　and　took　a　path　that　went　off　into　a　deep　thicket　of　mallorn…trees；　and　passed　on；　winding　through　rolling　woodlands　of　silver　shadow；　leading　them　ever　down；　southwards　and　eastwards；　towards　the　shores　of　the　River。
　　　They　had　gone　some　ten　miles　and　noon　was　at　hand　when　they　came　on　a　high　green　wall。　Passing　through　an　opening　they　came　suddenly　out　of　the　trees。　Before　them　lay　a　long　lawn　of　shining　grass；　studded　with　golden　elanor　that　glinted　in　the　sun。　The　lawn　ran　out　into　a　narrow　tongue　between　bright　margins：　on　the　right　and　west　the　Silverlode　flowed　glittering；　on　the　left　and　east　the　Great　River　rolled　its　broad　waters；　deep　and　dark。　On　the　further　shores　the　woodlands　still　marched　on　southwards　as　far　as　the　eye　could　see；　but　all　the　banks　were　bleak　and　bare。　No　mallorn　lifted　its　gold…hung　boughs　beyond　the　Land　of　Lórien。
　　　On　the　bank　of　the　Silverlode；　at　some　distance　up　from　the　meeting　of　the　streams；　there　was　a　hythe　of　white　stones　and　white　wood。　By　it　were　moored　many　boats　and　barges。　Some　were　brightly　painted；　and　shone　with　silver　and　gold　and　green；　but　most　were　either　white　or　grey。　Three　small　grey　boats　had　been　made　ready　for　the　travellers；　and　in　these　the　Elves　stowed　their　goods。　And　they　added　also　coils　of　rope；　three　to　each　boat。　Slender　they　looked；　but　strong；　silken　to　the　touch；　grey　of　hue　like　the　elven…cloaks。
　　　‘What　are　these？　'　asked　Sam；　handling　one　that　lay　upon　the　greensward。
　　　‘Ropes　indeed！　'　answered　an　Elf　from　the　boats。　'Never　travel　far　without　a　rope！　And　one　that　is　long　and　strong　and　light。　Such　are　these。　They　may　be　a　help　in　many　needs。'
　　　'You　don't　need　to　tell　me　that！　'　said　Sam。　‘I　came　without　any　and　I've　been　worried　ever　since。　But　I　was　wondering　what　these　were　made　of；　knowing　a　bit　about　rope…making：　it's　in　the　family　as　you　might　say。'
　　　‘They　are　made　of　hithlain；'　said　the　Elf；　‘but　there　is　no　time　now　to　instruct　you　in　the　art　of　their　making。　Had　we　known　that　this　craft　delighted　you；　we　could　have　taught　you　much。　But　now　alas！　unless　you　should　at　some　time　return　hither；　you　must　be　content　with　our　gift。　May　it　serve　you　well！　'
　　　‘e！　'　said　Haldir。　‘All　is　now　ready　for　you。　Enter　the　boats！　But　take　care　at　first！　'
　　　'Heed　the　words！　'　said　the　other　Elves。　'These　boats　are　light…built；　and　they　are　crafty　and　unlike　the　boats　of　other　folk。　They　will　not　sink；　lade　them　as　you　will；　but　they　are　wayward　if　mishandled。　It　would　be　wise　if　you　accustomed　yourselves　to　stepping　in　and　out；　here　where　there　is　a　landing…place；　before　you　set　off　downstream。'
　　　The　pany　was　arranged　in　this　way：　Aragorn；　Frodo；　and　Sam　were　in　one　boat；　Boromir；　Merry；　and　Pippin　in　another；　and　in　the　third　were　Legolas　and　Gimli；　who　had　now　bee　fast　friends。　In　this　last　boat　most　of　the　goods　and　packs　were　stowed。　The　boats　were　moved　and　steered　with　short…handled　paddles　that　had　broad　leaf…shaped　blades。　When　all　was　ready　Aragorn　led　them　on　a　trial　up　the　Silverlode。　The　current　was　swift　and　they　went　forward　slowly。　Sam　sat　in　the　bows；　clutching　the　sides；　and　looking　back　wistfully　to　the　shore。　The　sunlight　glittering　on　the　water　dazzled　his　eyes。　As　they　passed　beyond　the　green　field　of　the　Tongue；　the　trees　drew　down　to　the　river's　brink。　Here　and　there　golden　leaves　tossed　and　floated　on　the　rippling　stream。　The　air　was　very　bright　and　still；　and　there　was　a　silence；　except　for　the　high　distant　song　of　larks。
　　　They　turned　a　sharp　bend　in　the　river；　and　there；　sailing　proudly　down　the　stream　toward　them；　they　saw　a　swan　of　great　size。　The　water　rippled　on　either　side　of　the　white　breast　beneath　its　curving　neck。　Its　beak　shone　like　burnished　gold；　and　its　eyes　glinted　like　jet　set　in　yellow　stones；　its　huge　white　wings　were　half　lifted。　A　music　came　down　the　river　as　it　drew　nearer；　and　suddenly　they　perceived　that　it　was　a　ship；　wrought　and　carved　with　elven…skill　in　the　likeness　of　a　bird。　Two　elves　clad　in　white　steered　it　with　black　paddles。　In　the　midst　of　the　vessel　sat　Celeborn；　and　behind　him　stood　Galadriel；　tall　and　white；　a　circlet　of　golden　flowers　was　in　her　hair；　and　in　her　hand　she　held　a　harp；　and　she　sang。　Sad　and　sweet　was　the　sound　of　her　voice　in　the　cool　clear　air：
　　　I　sang　of　leaves；　of　leaves　of　gold；　and　leaves　of　gold　there　grew：
Of　wind　I　sang；　a　wind　there　came　and　in　the　branches　blew。
Beyond　the　Sun；　beyond　the　Moon；　the　foam　was　on　the　Sea；
And　by　the　strand　of　Ilmarin　there　grew　a　golden　Tree。
Beneath　the　stars　of　Ever…eve　in　Eldamar　it　shone；
In　Eldamar　beside　the　walls　of　Elven　Tirion。
There　long　the　golden　leaves　have　grown　upon　the　branching　years；
While　here　beyond　the　Sundering　Seas　now　fall　the　Elven…tears。
O　Lórien！　The　Winter　es；　the　bare　and　leafless　Day；
The　leaves　are　falling　in　the　stream；　the　River　flows　away。
O　Lórien！　Too　long　I　have　dwelt　upon　this　Hither　Shore
And　in　a　fading　crown　have　twined　the　golden　elanor。
But　if　of　ships　I　now　should　sing；　what　ship　would　e　to　me；
What　ship　would　bear　me　ever　back　across　so　wide　a　Sea？
　　　Aragorn　stayed　his　boat　as　the　Swan…ship　drew　alongside。　The　Lady　ended　her　song　and　greeted　them。　‘We　have　e　to　bid　you　our　last　farewell；'　she　said；　‘and　to　speed　you　with　blessings　from　our　land。'
　　　‘Though　you　have　been　our　guests；'　said　Celeborn；　‘you　have　not　yet　eaten　with　us；　and　we　bid　you；　therefore；　to　a　parting　feast；　here　between　the　flowing　waters　that　will　bear　you　far　from　Lórien。'
　　　The　Swan　passed　on　slowly　to　the　hythe；　and　they　turned　their　boats　and　followed　it。　There　in　the　last　end　of　Egladil　upon　the　green　grass　the　parting　feast　was　held；　but　Frodo　ate　and　drank　little；　heeding　only　the　beauty　of　the　Lady　and　her　voice。　She　seemed　no　longer　perilous　or　terrible；　nor　filled　with　hidden　power。　Already　she　seemed　to　him；　as　by　men　of　later　days　Elves　still　at　times　are　seen：　present　and　yet　remote；　a　living　vision　of　that　which　has　already　been　left　far　behind　by　the　flowing　streams　of　Time。
　　　After　they　had　eaten　and　drunk；　sitting　upon　the　grass；　Celeborn　spoke　to　them　again　of　their　journey；　and　lifting　his　hand　he　pointed　south　to　the　woods　beyond　the　Tongue。
　　　‘As　you　go　down　the　water；'　he　said；　‘you　will　find　that　the　trees　will　fail；　and　you　will　e　to　a　barren　country。　There　the　River　flows　in　stony　vale　amid　high　moors；　until　at　last　after　many　leagues　it　es　to　the　tall　island　of　the　Tindrock；　that　we　call　Tol　Brandir。　There　it　casts　its　arms　about　the　steep　shores　of　the　isle；　and　falls　then　with　a　great　noise　and　smoke　over　the　cataracts　of　Rauros　down　into　the　Nindalf；　the　Wetwang　as　it　is　called　in　your　tongue。　That　is　a　wide　region　of　sluggish　fen　where　the　stream　bees　tortuous　and　much　divided。　There　the　Entwash　flows　in　by　many　mouths　from　the　Forest　of　Fangorn　in　the　west。　About　that　stream；　on　this　side　of　the　Great　River；　lies　Rohan。　On　the　further　side　are　the　bleak　hills　of　the　Emyn　Muil。　The　wind　blows　from　the　East　there；　for　they　look　out　over　the　Dead　Marshes　and　the　Noman…lands　to　Cirith　Gorgor　and　the　black　gates　of　Mordor。
　　　'Boromir；　and　any　that　go　with　him　seeking　Minas　Tirith；　will　do　well　to　leave　the　Great　River　above　Rauros　and　cross　the　Entwash　before　it　finds　the　marshes。　Yet　they　should　not　go　too　far　up　that　stream；　nor　risk　being　entangled　in　the　Forest　of　Fangorn。　That　is　a　strange　land；　and　is　now　little　known。　But　Boromir　and　Aragorn　doubtless　do　not　need　this　warning。'
　　　'Indeed　we　have　heard　of　Fangorn　in　Minas　Tirith；'　said　Boromir。　‘But　what　I　have　heard　seems　to　me　for　the　most　part　old　wives'　tales；　such　as　we　tell　to　our　children。　All　that　lies　north　of　Rohan　is　now　to　us　so　far　away　that　fancy　can　wander　freely　there。　Of　old　Fangorn　lay　upon　the　borders　of　our　realm；　but　it　is　now　many　lives　of　men　since　any　of　us　visited　it；　to　prove　or　disprove　the　legends　that　have　e　down　from　distant　years。
　　　‘I　have　myself　been　at　whiles　in　Rohan；　but　I　have　never　crossed　it　northwards。　When　I　was　sent　out　as　a　messenger；　I　passed　through　the　Gap　by　the　skirts　of　the　White　Mountains；　and　crossed　the　Isen　and　the　Greyflood　into　Northerland。　A　long　and　wearisome　journey。　Four　hundred　leagues　I　reckoned　it；　and　it　took　me　many　months；　for　I　lost　my　horse　at　Tharbad；　at　the　fording　of　the　Greyflood。　After　that　journey；　and　the　road　I　have　trodden　with　this　pany；　I　do　not　much　doubt　that　I　shall　find　a　way　through　Rohan；　and　Fangorn　too；　if　need　be。'
　　　‘Then　I　need　say　no　more；'　said　Celeborn。　'But　do　not　despise　the　lore　that　has　e　down　from　distant　years；　for　oft　it　may　chance　that　old　wives　keep　in　memory　word　of　things　that　once　were　needful　for　the　wise　to　know。'
　　　Now　Galadriel　rose　from　the　grass；　and　taking　a　cup　from　one　of　her　maidens　she　filled　it　with　white　mead　and　gave　it　to　Celeborn。
　　　'Now　it　is　tim