jrt.fellowshipofring-第73节

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　　　‘Yet　all　the　Elves　are　willing　to　endure　this　chance；'　said　Glorfindel　'if　by　it　the　power　of　Sauron　may　be　broken；　and　the　fear　of　his　dominion　be　taken　away　for　ever。'
　　　'Thus　we　return　once　more　to　the　destroying　of　the　Ring；'　said　Erestor；　‘and　yet　we　e　no　nearer。　What　strength　have　we　for　the　finding　of　the　Fire　in　which　it　was　made？　That　is　the　path　of　despair。　Of　folly　I　would　say；　if　the　long　wisdom　of　Elrond　did　not　forbid　me。'
　　　'Despair；　or　folly？'　said　Gandalf。　‘It　is　not　despair；　for　despair　is　only　for　those　who　see　the　end　beyond　all　doubt。　We　do　not。　It　is　wisdom　to　recognize　necessity；　when　all　other　courses　have　been　weighed；　though　as　folly　it　may　appear　to　those　who　cling　to　false　hope。　Well；　let　folly　be　our　cloak；　a　veil　before　the　eyes　of　the　Enemy！　For　he　is　very　wise；　and　weighs　all　things　to　a　nicety　in　the　scales　of　his　malice。　But　the　only　measure　that　he　knows　is　desire；　desire　for　power；　and　so　he　judges　all　hearts。　Into　his　heart　the　thought　will　not　enter　that　any　will　refuse　it；　that　having　the　Ring　we　may　seek　to　destroy　it。　If　we　seek　this；　we　shall　put　him　out　of　reckoning。'
　　　'At　least　for　a　while；'　said　Elrond。　‘The　road　must　be　trod；　but　it　will　be　very　hard。　And　neither　strength　nor　wisdom　will　carry　us　far　upon　it。　This　quest　may　be　attempted　by　the　weak　with　as　much　hope　as　the　strong。　Yet　such　is　oft　the　course　of　deeds　that　move　the　wheels　of　the　world：　small　hands　do　them　because　they　must；　while　the　eyes　of　the　great　are　elsewhere。'
　　　'Very　well；　very　well；　Master　Elrond！'　said　Bilbo　suddenly。　'Say　no　more！　It　is　plain　enough　what　you　are　pointing　at。　Bilbo　the　silly　hobbit　started　this　affair；　and　Bilbo　had　better　finish　it；　or　himself。　I　was　very　fortable　here；　and　getting　on　with　my　book。　If　you　want　to　know；　I　am　just　writing　an　ending　for　it。　I　had　thought　of　putting：　and　he　lived　happily　ever　afterwards　to　the　end　of　his　days。　It　is　a　good　ending；　and　none　the　worse　for　having　been　used　before。　Now　I　shall　have　to　alter　that：　it　does　not　look　like　ing　true；　and　anyway　there　will　evidently　have　to　be　several　more　chapters；　if　I　live　to　write　them。　It　is　a　frightful　nuisance。　When　ought　I　to　start？
　　　'　Boromir　looked　in　surprise　at　Bilbo；　but　the　laughter　died　on　his　lips　when　he　saw　that　all　the　others　regarded　the　old　hobbit　with　grave　respect。　Only　Glóin　smiled；　but　his　smile　came　from　old　memories。
　　　‘Of　course；　my　dear　Bilbo；'　said　Gandalf。　‘If　you　had　really　started　this　affair；　you　might　be　expected　to　finish　it。　But　you　know　well　enough　now　that　starting　is　too　great　a　claim　for　any；　and　that　only　a　small　part　is　played　in　great　deeds　by　any　hero。　You　need　not　bow！　Though　the　word　was　meant；　and　we　do　not　doubt　that　under　jest　you　are　making　a　valiant　offer。　But　one　beyond　your　strength；　Bilbo。　You　cannot　take　this　thing　back。　It　has　passed　on。　If　you　need　my　advice　any　longer；　I　should　say　that　your　part　is　ended；　unless　as　a　recorder。　Finish　your　book；　and　leave　the　ending　unaltered！　There　is　still　hope　for　it。　But　get　ready　to　write　a　sequel；　when　they　e　back。'
　　　Bilbo　laughed。　‘I　have　never　known　you　give　me　pleasant　advice　before。'　he　said。　‘As　all　your　unpleasant　advice　has　been　good；　I　wonder　if　this　advice　is　not　bad。　Still；　I　don't　suppose　I　have　the　strength　or　luck　left　to　deal　with　the　Ring。　It　has　grown；　and　I　have　not。　But　tell　me：　what　do　you　mean　by　they？'
　　　‘The　messengers　who　are　sent　with　the　Ring。'
　　　‘Exactly！　And　who　are　they　to　be？　That　seems　to　me　what　this　Council　has　to　decide；　and　all　that　it　has　to　decide。　Elves　may　thrive　on　speech　alone；　and　Dwarves　endure　great　weariness；　but　I　am　only　an　old　hobbit；　and　I　miss　my　meal　at　noon。　Can't　you　think　of　some　names　now？　Or　put　it　off　till　after　dinner？'
　　　No　one　answered。　The　noon…bell　rang。　Still　no　one　spoke。　Frodo　glanced　at　all　the　faces；　but　they　were　not　turned　to　him。　All　the　Council　sat　with　downcast　eyes；　as　if　in　deep　thought。　A　great　dread　fell　on　him；　as　if　he　was　awaiting　the　pronouncement　of　some　doom　that　he　had　long　foreseen　and　vainly　hoped　might　after　all　never　be　spoken。　An　overwhelming　longing　to　rest　and　remain　at　peace　by　Bilbo's　side　in　Rivendell　filled　all　his　heart。　At　last　with　an　effort　he　spoke；　and　wondered　to　hear　his　own　words；　as　if　some　other　will　was　using　his　small　voice。
　　　‘I　will　take　the　Ring；'　he　said；　‘though　I　do　not　know　the　way。'
　　　Elrond　raised　his　eyes　and　looked　at　him；　and　Frodo　felt　his　heart　pierced　by　the　sudden　keenness　of　the　glance。　‘If　I　understand　aright　all　that　I　have　heard；'　he　said；　‘I　think　that　this　task　is　appointed　for　you；　Frodo；　and　that　if　you　do　not　find　a　way；　no　one　will。　This　is　the　hour　of　the　Shire…folk；　when　they　arise　from　their　quiet　fields　to　shake　the　towers　and　counsels　of　the　Great。　Who　of　all　the　Wise　could　have　foreseen　it？　Or；　if　they　are　wise；　why　should　they　expect　to　know　it；　until　the　hour　has　struck？
　　　‘But　it　is　a　heavy　burden。　So　heavy　that　none　could　lay　it　on　another。　I　do　not　lay　it　on　you。　But　if　you　take　it　freely；　I　will　say　that　your　choice　is　right；　and　though　all　the　mighty　elf…friends　of　old；　Hador；　and　Húrin；　and　Túrin；　and　Beren　himself　were　assembled　together　your　seat　should　be　among　them。'
　　　‘But　you　won't　send　him　off　alone　surely；　Master？'　cried　Sam；　unable　to　contain　himself　any　longer；　and　jumping　up　from　the　corner　where　he　had　been　quietly　sitting　on　the　floor。
　　　‘No　indeed！'　said　Elrond；　turning　towards　him　with　a　smile。　‘You　at　least　shall　go　with　him。　It　is　hardly　possible　to　separate　you　from　him；　even　when　he　is　summoned　to　a　secret　council　and　you　are　not。'
　　　Sam　sat　down；　blushing　and　muttering。　‘A　nice　pickle　we　have　landed　ourselves　in；　Mr。　Frodo！'　he　said；　shaking　his　head。
　　　
　　　Chapter　3
The　Ring　Goes　South
　　　Later　that　day　the　hobbits　held　a　meeting　of　their　own　in　Bilbo's　room。　Merry　and　Pippin　were　indignant　when　they　heard　that　Sam　had　crept　into　the　Council；　and　had　been　chosen　as　Frodo's　panion。
　　　‘It's　most　unfair；'　said　Pippin。　‘Instead　of　throwing　him　out；　and　clapping　him　in　chains；　Elrond　goes　and　rewards　him　for　his　cheek！'
　　　‘Rewards！'　said　Frodo。　'I　can't　imagine　a　more　severe　punishment。　You　are　not　thinking　what　you　are　saying：　condemned　to　go　on　this　hopeless　journey；　a　reward？　Yesterday　I　dreamed　that　my　task　was　done；　and　I　could　rest　here；　a　long　while；　perhaps　for　good。'
　　　'I　don't　wonder；'　said　Merry；　'and　I　wish　you　could。　But　we　are　envying　Sam；　not　you。　If　you　have　to　go；　then　it　will　be　a　punishment　for　any　of　us　to　be　left　behind；　even　in　Rivendell。　We　have　e　a　long　way　with　you　and　been　through　some　stiff　times。　We　want　to　go　on。'
　　　‘That's　what　I　meant；'　said　Pippin。　‘We　hobbits　ought　to　stick　together；　and　we　will。　I　shall　go；　unless　they　chain　me　up。　There　must　be　someone　with　intelligence　in　the　party。'
　　　'Then　you　certainly　will　not　be　chosen；　Peregrin　Took！'　said　Gandalf；　looking　in　through　the　window；　which　was　near　the　ground。　‘But　you　are　all　worrying　yourselves　unnecessarily。　Nothing　is　decided　yet。'
　　　‘Nothing　decided！'　cried　Pippin。　'Then　what　were　you　all　doing？　You　were　shut　up　for　hours。'
　　　〃Talking；'　said　Bilbo。　‘There　was　a　deal　of　talk；　and　everyone　had　an　eye…opener。　Even　old　Gandalf。　I　think　Legolas's　bit　of　news　about　Gollum　caught　even　him　on　the　hop；　though　he　passed　it　off。'
　　　‘You　were　wrong；'　said　Gandalf。　'You　were　inattentive。　I　had　already　heard　of　it　from　Gwaihir。　If　you　want　to　know；　the　only　real　eye…openers；　as　you　put　it；　were　you　and　Frodo；　and　I　was　the　only　one　that　was　not　surprised。'
　　　‘Well；　anyway；'　said　Bilbo；　'nothing　was　decided　beyond　choosing　poor　Frodo　and　Sam。　I　was　afraid　all　the　time　that　it　might　e　to　that；　if　I　was　let　off。　But　if　you　ask　me；　Elrond　will　send　out　a　fair　number；　when　the　reports　e　in。　Have　they　started　yet；　Gandalf？'
　　　'Yes；'　said　the　wizard。　‘Some　of　the　scouts　have　been　sent　out　already。　More　will　go　tomorrow。　Elrond　is　sending　Elves；　and　they　will　get　in　touch　with　the　Rangers；　and　maybe　with　Thranduil's　folk　in　Mirkwood。　And　Aragorn　has　gone　with　Elrond's　sons。　We　shall　have　to　scour　the　lands　all　round　for　many　long　leagues　before　any　move　is　made。　So　cheer　up；　Frodo！　You　will　probably　make　quite　a　long　stay　here。'
　　　'Ah！'　said　Sam　gloomily。　'We'll　just　wait　long　enough　for　winter　to　e。'
　　　'That　can't　be　helped；'　said　Bilbo。　'It's　your　fault　partly；　Frodo　my　lad：　insisting　on　waiting　for　my　birthday。　A　funny　way　of　honouring　it；　I　can't　help　thinking。　Not　the　day　I　should　have　chosen　for　letting　the　S。…B。s　into　Bag　End。　But　there　it　is：　you　can't　wait　now　fill　spring；　and　you　can't　go　till　the　reports　e　back。
　　　When　winter　first　begins　to　bite
　and　stones　crack　in　the　frosty　night；
when　pools　are　black　and　trees　are　bare；
　'tis　evil　in　the　Wild　to　fare。
　　　But　that　I　am　afraid　will　be　just　your　luck。'
　　　'I　am　afraid　it　will；'　said　Gandalf。　'We　can't　start　until　we　have　found　out　about　the　Riders。'
　　　‘I　thought　they　were　all　destroyed　in　the　flood；'　said　Merry。
　　　'You　cannot　destroy　Ringwraiths　like　that；'　said　Gandalf。　‘The　power　of　their　master　is　in　them；　and　they　stand　or　fall　by　him。　We　hope　that　they　were　all　unhorsed　and　unmasked；　and　so　made　for　a　while　less　dangerous；　but　we　must　find　out　for　certain。　In