jrt.fellowshipofring-第18节

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！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


r　still　greater　and　more　deadly。'　His　eyes　flashed　and　his　face　was　lit　as　by　a　fire　within。　'Do　not　tempt　me！　For　I　do　not　wish　to　bee　like　the　Dark　Lord　himself。　Yet　the　way　of　the　Ring　to　my　heart　is　by　pity；　pity　for　weakness　and　the　desire　of　strength　to　do　good。　Do　not　tempt　me！　I　dare　not　take　it；　not　even　to　keep　it　safe；　unused。　The　wish　to　wield　it　would　be　too　great；　for　my　strength。　I　shall　have　such　need　of　it。　Great　perils　lie　before　me。'
　　　He　went　to　the　window　and　drew　aside　the　curtains　and　the　shutters。　Sunlight　streamed　back　again　into　the　room。　Sam　passed　along　the　path　outside　whistling。　'And　now；'　said　the　wizard；　turning　back　to　Frodo；　'the　decision　lies　with　you。　But　I　will　always　help　you。'　He　laid　his　hand　on　Frodo's　shoulder。　'I　will　help　you　bear　this　burden；　as　long　as　It　is　yours　to　bear。　But　we　must　do　something；　soon。　The　Enemy　is　moving。'
　　　There　was　a　long　silence。　Gandalf　sat　down　again　and　puffed　at　his　pipe；　as　if　lost　in　thought。　His　eyes　seemed　closed；　but　under　the　lids　he　was　watching　Frodo　intently。　Frodo　gazed　fixedly　at　the　red　embers　on　the　hearth；　until　they　filled　all　his　vision；　and　he　seemed　to　be　looking　down　into　profound　wells　of　fire。　He　was　thinking　of　the　fabled　Cracks　of　Doom　and　the　terror　of　the　Fiery　Mountain。
　　　'Well！'　said　Gandalf　at　last。　'What　are　you　thinking　about？　Have　you　decided　what　to　do？'
　　　'No！'　answered　Frodo；　ing　back　to　himself　out　of　darkness；　and　finding　to　his　surprise　that　it　was　not　dark；　and　that　out　of　the　window　he　could　see　the　sunlit　garden。　'Or　perhaps；　yes。　As　far　as　I　understand　what　you　have　said；　I　suppose　I　must　keep　the　Ring　and　guard　it；　at　least　for　the　present；　whatever　it　may　do　to　me。'
　　　'Whatever　it　may　do；　it　will　be　slow；　slow　to　evil；　if　you　keep　it　with　that　purpose；'　said　Gandalf。
　　　'I　hope　so；'　said　Frodo。　'But　I　hope　that　you　may　find　some　other　better　keeper　soon。　But　in　the　meanwhile　it　seems　that　I　am　a　danger；　a　danger　to　all　that　live　near　me。　I　cannot　keep　the　Ring　and　stay　here。　I　ought　to　leave　Bag　End；　leave　the　Shire；　leave　everything　and　go　away。'　He　sighed。
　　　'I　should　like　to　save　the　Shire；　if　I　could　…　though　there　have　been　times　when　I　thought　the　inhabitants　too　stupid　and　dull　for　words；　and　have　felt　that　an　earthquake　or　an　invasion　of　dragons　might　be　good　for　them。　But　I　don't　feel　like　that　now。　I　feel　that　as　long　as　the　Shire　lies　behind；　safe　and　fortable；　I　shall　find　wandering　more　bearable：　I　shall　know　that　somewhere　there　is　a　firm　foothold；　even　if　my　feet　cannot　stand　there　again。
　　　'Of　course；　I　have　sometimes　thought　of　going　away；　but　I　imagined　that　as　a　kind　of　holiday；　a　series　of　adventures　like　Bilbo's　or　better；　ending　in　peace。　But　this　would　mean　exile；　a　flight　from　danger　into　danger；　drawing　it　after　me。　And　I　suppose　I　must　go　alone；　if　I　am　to　do　that　and　save　the　Shire。　But　I　feel　very　small；　and　very　uprooted；　and　well　…　desperate。　The　Enemy　is　so　strong　and　terrible。'
　　　He　did　not　tell　Gandalf；　but　as　he　was　speaking　a　great　desire　to　follow　Bilbo　flamed　up　in　his　heart　…　to　follow　Bilbo；　and　even　perhaps　to　find　him　again。　It　was　so　strong　that　it　overcame　his　fear：　he　could　almost　have　run　out　there　and　then　down　the　road　without　his　hat；　as　Bilbo　had　done　on　a　similar　morning　long　ago。
　　　'My　dear　Frodo！'　exclaimed　Gandalf。　'Hobbits　really　are　amazing　creatures；　as　I　have　said　before。　You　can　learn　all　that　there　is　to　know　about　their　ways　in　a　month；　and　yet　after　a　hundred　years　they　can　still　surprise　you　at　a　pinch。　I　hardly　expected　to　get　such　an　answer；　not　even　from　you。　But　Bilbo　made　no　mistake　in　choosing　his　heir；　though　he　little　thought　how　important　it　would　prove。　I　am　afraid　you　are　right。　The　Ring　will　not　be　able　to　stay　hidden　in　the　Shire　much　longer；　and　for　your　own　sake；　as　well　as　for　others；　you　will　have　to　go；　and　leave　the　name　of　Baggins　behind　you。　That　name　will　not　be　safe　to　have；　outside　the　Shire　or　in　the　Wild。　I　will　give　you　a　travelling　name　now。　When　you　go；　go　as　Mr。　Underhill。
　　　'But　I　don't　think　you　need　go　alone。　Not　if　you　know　of　anyone　you　can　trust；　and　who　would　be　willing　to　go　by　your　side　…　and　that　you　would　be　willing　to　take　into　unknown　perils。　But　if　you　look　for　a　panion；　be　careful　in　choosing！　And　be　careful　of　what　you　say；　even　to　your　closest　friends！　The　enemy　has　many　spies　and　many　ways　of　hearing。'
　　　Suddenly　he　stopped　as　if　listening。　Frodo　became　aware　that　all　was　very　quiet；　inside　and　outside。　Gandalf　crept　to　one　side　of　the　window。　Then　with　a　dart　he　sprang　to　the　sill；　and　thrust　a　long　arm　out　and　downwards。　There　was　a　squawk；　and　up　came　Sam　Gamgee's　curly　head　hauled　by　one　ear。
　　　'Well；　well；　bless　my　beard！'　said　Gandalf。　'Sam　Gamgee　is　it？　Now　what　may　you　be　doing？'
　　　'Lor　bless　you；　Mr。　Gandalf；　sir！'　said　Sam。　'Nothing！　Leastways　I　was　just　trimming　the　grass…border　under　the　window；　if　you　follow　me。'　He　picked　up　his　shears　and　exhibited　them　as　evidence。
　　　'I　don't；'　said　Gandalf　grimly。　It　is　some　time　since　I　last　heard　the　sound　of　your　shears。　How　long　have　you　been　eavesdropping？'
　　　'Eavesdropping；　sir？　I　don't　follow　you；　begging　your　pardon。　There　ain't　no　eaves　at　Bag　End；　and　that's　a　fact。'
　　　'Don't　be　a　fool！　What　have　you　heard；　and　why　did　you　listen？'　Gandalf's　eyes　flashed　and　his　brows　stuck　out　like　bristles。
　　　'Mr。　Frodo；　sir！'　cried　Sam　quaking。　'Don't　let　him　hurt　me；　sir！　Don't　let　him　turn　me　into　anything　unnatural！　My　old　dad　would　take　on　so。　I　meant　no　harm；　on　my　honour；　sir！'
　　　'He　won't　hurt　you；'　said　Frodo；　hardly　able　to　keep　from　laughing；　although　he　was　himself　startled　and　rather　puzzled。　'He　knows；　as　well　as　I　do；　that　you　mean　no　harm。　But　just　you　up　and　answer　his　questions　straight　away！'
　　　'Well；　sir；'　said　Sam　dithering　a　little。　'I　heard　a　deal　that　I　didn't　rightly　understand；　about　an　enemy；　and　rings；　and　Mr。　Bilbo；　sir；　and　dragons；　and　a　fiery　mountain；　and　…　and　Elves；　sir。　I　listened　because　I　couldn't　help　myself；　if　you　know　what　I　mean。　Lor　bless　me；　sir；　but　I　do　love　tales　of　that　sort。　And　I　believe　them　too；　whatever　Ted　may　say。　Elves；　sir！　I　would　dearly　love　to　see　them。　Couldn't　you　take　me　to　see　Elves；　sir；　when　you　go？'
　　　Suddenly　Gandalf　laughed。　'e　inside！'　he　shouted；　and　putting　out　both　his　arms　he　lifted　the　astonished　Sam；　shears；　grass…clippings　and　all；　right　through　the　window　and　stood　him　on　the　floor。　'Take　you　to　see　Elves；　eh？'　he　said；　eyeing　Sam　closely；　but　with　a　smile　flickering　on　his　face。　'So　you　heard　that　Mr。　Frodo　is　going　away？'
　　　'I　did；　sir。　And　that's　why　I　choked：　which　you　heard　seemingly。　I　tried　not　to；　sir；　but　it　burst　out　of　me：　I　was　so　upset。'
　　　'It　can't　be　helped；　Sam；'　said　Frodo　sadly。　He　had　suddenly　realized　that　flying　from　the　Shire　would　mean　more　painful　partings　than　merely　saying　farewell　to　the　familiar　forts　of　Bag　End。　'I　shall　have　to　go。　But'　…　and　here　he　looked　hard　at　Sam　…　'if　you　really　care　about　me；　you　will　keep　that　dead　secret。　See？　If　you　don't；　if　you　even　breathe　a　word　of　what　you've　heard　here；　then　I　hope　Gandalf　will　turn　you　into　a　spotted　toad　and　fill　the　garden　full　of　grass…snakes。'
　　　Sam　fell　on　his　knees；　trembling。　'Get　up；　Sam！'　said　Gandalf。　I　have　thought　of　something　better　than　that。　Something　to　shut　your　mouth；　and　punish　you　properly　for　listening。　You　shall　go　away　with　Mr。　Frodo！'
　　　'Me；　sir！'　cried　Sam；　springing　up　like　a　dog　invited　for　a　walk。　'Me　go　and　see　Elves　and　all！　Hooray！'　he　shouted；　and　then　burst　into　tears。
　　　
　　　Chapter　3
Three　is　pany
　　　'You　ought　to　go　quietly；　and　you　ought　to　go　soon；'　said　Gandalf。　Two　or　three　weeks　had　passed；　and　still　Frodo　made　no　sign　of　getting　ready　to　go。
　　　'I　know。　But　it　is　difficult　to　do　both；'　he　objected。　If　I　just　vanish　like　Bilbo；　the　tale　will　be　all　over　the　Shire　in　no　time。'
　　　'Of　course　you　mustn't　vanish！'　said　Gandalf。　'That　wouldn't　do　at　all！　I　said　soon；　not　instantly。　If　you　can　think　of　any　way　of　slipping　out　of　the　Shire　without　its　being　generally　known；　it　will　be　worth　a　little　delay。　But　you　must　not　delay　too　long。'
　　　'What　about　the　autumn；　on　or　after　Our　Birthday？'　asked　Frodo。　'I　think　I　could　probably　make　some　arrangements　by　then。'
　　　To　tell　the　truth；　he　was　very　reluctant　to　start；　now　that　it　had　e　to　the　point。　Bag　End　seemed　a　more　desirable　residence　than　it　had　for　years；　and　he　wanted　to　savour　as　much　as　he　could　of　his　last　summer　in　the　Shire。　When　autumn　came；　he　knew　that　part　at　least　of　his　heart　would　think　more　kindly　of　journeying；　as　it　always　did　at　that　season。　He　had　indeed　privately　made　up　his　mind　to　leave　on　his　fiftieth　birthday：　Bilbo's　one　hundred　and　twenty…eighth。　It　seemed　somehow　the　proper　day　on　which　to　set　out　and　follow　him。　Following　Bilbo　was　uppermost　in　his　mind；　and　the　one　thing　that　made　the　thought　of　leaving　bearable。　He　thought　as　little　as　possible　about　the　Ring；　and　where　it　might　lead　him　in　the　end。　But　he　did　not　tell　all　his　thoughts　to　Gandalf。　What　the　wizard　guessed　was　always　difficult　to　tell。
　　　He　looked　at　Frodo　and　smiled。　'Very　well；'　he　said。　'I　think　that　will　do　…　but　it　must　not　be　any　later。　I　am　getting　very　anxious。　In