jrt.fellowshipofring-第75节

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the　storied　and　figured　maps　and　books　of　lore　that　were　in　the　house　of　Elrond。　Sometimes　Frodo　was　with　them；　but　he　was　content　to　lean　on　their　guidance；　and　he　spent　as　much　time　as　he　could　with　Bilbo。
　　　In　those　last　days　the　hobbits　sat　together　in　the　evening　in　the　Hall　of　Fire；　and　there　among　many　tales　they　heard　told　in　full　the　lay　of　Beren　and　Lúthien　and　the　winning　of　the　Great　Jewel；　but　in　the　day；　while　Merry　and　Pippin　were　out　and　about；　Frodo　and　Sam　were　to　be　found　with　Bilbo　in　his　own　small　room。　Then　Bilbo　would　read　passages　from　his　book　（which　still　seemed　very　inplete）。　or　scraps　of　his　verses；　or　would　take　notes　of　Frodo's　adventures。
　　　On　the　morning　of　the　last　day　Frodo　was　alone　with　Bilbo；　and　the　old　hobbit　pulled　out　from　under　his　bed　a　wooden　box。　He　lifted　the　lid　and　fumbled　inside。
　　　'Here　is　your　sword；'　he　said。　'But　it　was　broken；　you　know。　I　took　it　to　keep　it　safe　but　I've　forgotten　to　ask　if　the　smiths　could　mend　it。　No　time　now。。　So　I　thought；　perhaps；　you　would　care　to　have　this；　don't　you　know？'
　　　He　took　from　the　box　a　small　sword　in　an　old　shabby　leathern　scabbard。　Then　he　drew　it；　and　its　polished　and　well…tended　blade　glittered　suddenly；　cold　and　bright。　'This　is　Sting；'　he　said；　and　thrust　it　with　little　effort　deep　into　a　wooden　beam。　‘Take　it；　if　you　like。　I　shan't　want　it　again；　I　expect。'
　　　Frodo　accepted　it　gratefully。
　　　'Also　there　is　this！'　said　Bilbo；　bringing　out　a　parcel　which　seemed　to　be　rather　heavy　for　its　size。　He　unwound　several　folds　of　old　cloth；　and　held　up　a　small　shirt　of　mail。　It　was　close…woven　of　many　rings；　as　supple　almost　as　linen；　cold　as　ice；　and　harder　than　steel。　It　shone　like　moonlit　silver；　and　was　studded　with　white　gems。　With　it　was　a　belt　of　pearl　and　crystal。
　　　'It's　a　pretty　thing；　isn't　it？'　said　Bilbo；　moving　it　in　the　light。　‘And　useful。　It　is　my　dwarf…mail　that　Thorin　gave　me。　I　got　it　back　from　Michel　Delving　before　I　started；　and　packed　it　with　my　luggage：　I　brought　all　the　mementoes　of　my　Journey　away　with　me；　except　the　Ring。　But　I　did　not　expect　to　use　this；　and　I　don't　need　it　now；　except　to　look　at　sometimes。　You　hardly　feel　any　weight　when　you　put　it　on。'
　　　‘I　should　look　…　well；　I　don't　think　I　should　look　right　in　it；'　said　Frodo。
　　　‘Just　what　I　said　myself；'　said　Bilbo。　'But　never　mind　about　looks。　You　can　wear　it　under　your　outer　clothes。　e　on！　You　must　share　this　secret　with　me。　Don't　tell　anybody　else！　But　I　should　feel　happier　if　I　knew　you　were　wearing　it。　I　have　a　fancy　it　would　turn　even　the　knives　of　the　Black　Riders；'　he　ended　in　a　low　voice。
　　　‘Very　well；　I　will　take　it；'　said　Frodo。　Bilbo　put　it　on　him；　and　fastened　Sting　upon　the　glittering　belt；　and　then　Frodo　put　over　the　top　his　old　weather…stained　breeches；　tunic；　and　jacket。
　　　'Just　a　plain　hobbit　you　look；'　said　Bilbo。　'But　there　is　more　about　you　now　than　appears　on　the　surface。　Good　luck　to　you！'　He　turned　away　and　looked　out　of　the　window；　trying　to　hum　a　tune。
　　　'I　cannot　thank　you　as　I　should；　Bilbo；　for　this；　and　for　all　our　past　kindnesses；'　said　Frodo。
　　　'Don't　try！'　said　the　old　hobbit；　turning　round　and　slapping　him　on　the　back。　‘Ow！'　he　cried。　‘You　are　too　hard　now　to　slap！　But　there　you　are：　Hobbits　must　stick　together；　and　especially　Bagginses。　All　I　ask　in　return　is：　take　as　much　care　of　yourself　as　you　can。　and　bring　back　all　the　news　you　can；　and　any　old　songs　and　tales　you　can　e　by。　I'll　do　my　best　to　finish　my　book　before　you　return。　I　should　like　to　write　the　second　book；　if　I　am　spared。'　He　broke　off　and　turned　to　the　window　again；　singing　softly。
　　　I　sit　beside　the　fire　and　think
　of　all　that　I　have　seen；
of　meadow…flowers　and　butterflies
　in　summers　that　have　been；

Of　yellow　leaves　and　gossamer
　in　autumns　that　there　were；
with　morning　mist　and　silver　sun
　and　wind　upon　my　hair。

I　sit　beside　the　fire　and　think
　of　how　the　world　will　be
when　winter　es　without　a　spring
　that　I　shall　ever　see。

For　still　there　are　so　many　things
　that　I　have　never　seen：
in　every　wood　in　every　spring
　there　is　a　different　green。

I　sit　beside　the　fire　and　think
　of　people　long　ago；
and　people　who　will　see　a　world
　that　I　shall　never　know。

But　all　the　while　I　sit　and　think
　of　times　there　were　before；
I　listen　for　returning　feet
　and　voices　at　the　door。
　　　It　was　a　cold　grey　day　near　the　end　of　December。　The　East　Wind　was　streaming　through　the　bare　branches　of　the　trees；　and　seething　in　the　dark　pines　on　the　hills。　Ragged　clouds　were　hurrying　overhead；　dark　and　low。　As　the　cheerless　shadows　of　the　early　evening　began　to　fall　the　pany　made　ready　to　set　out。　They　were　to　start　at　dusk；　for　Elrond　counselled　them　to　journey　under　cover　of　night　as　often　as　they　could；　until　they　were　far　from　Rivendell。
　　　‘You　should　fear　the　many　eyes　of　the　servants　of　Sauron；'　he　said。　'I　do　not　doubt　that　news　of　the　disfiture　of　the　Riders　has　already　reached　him；　and　he　will　be　filled　with　wrath。　Soon　now　his　spies　on　foot　and　wing　will　be　abroad　in　the　northern　lands。　Even　of　the　sky　above　you　must　beware　as　you　go　on　your　way。'
　　　The　pany　took　little　gear　of　war；　for　their　hope　was　in　secrecy　not　in　battle。　Aragorn　had　Andúril　but　no　other　weapon；　and　he　went　forth　clad　only　in　rusty　green　and　brown。　as　a　Ranger　of　the　wilderness。　Boromir　had　a　long　sword；　in　fashion　like　Andúril　but　of　less　lineage　and　he　bore　also　a　shield　and　his　war…horn。
　　　'Loud　and　clear　it　sounds　in　the　valleys　of　the　hills；'　he　said；　‘and　then　let　all　the　foes　of　Gondor　flee！'　Putting　it　to　his　lips　he　blew　a　blast；　and　the　echoes　leapt　from　rock　to　rock；　and　all　that　heard　that　voice　in　Rivendell　sprang　to　their　feet。
　　　Slow　should　you　be　to　wind　that　horn　again；　Boromir；　said　Elrond。　'until　you　stand　once　more　on　the　borders　of　your　land；　and　dire　need　is　on　you。'
　　　‘Maybe；'　said　Boromir。　'But　always　I　have　let　my　horn　cry　at　setting　forth；　and　though　thereafter　we　may　walk　in　the　shadows；　I　will　not　go　forth　as　a　thief　in　the　night。'
　　　Gimli　the　dwarf　alone　wore　openly　a　short　shirt　of　steel…rings；　for　dwarves　make　light　of　burdens；　and　in　his　belt　was　a　broad…bladed　axe。　Legolas　had　a　bow　and　a　quiver；　and　at　his　belt　a　long　white　knife。　The　younger　hobbits　wore　the　swords　that　they　had　taken　from　the　barrow；　but　Frodo　took　only　Sting；　and　his　mail…coat；　as　Bilbo　wished；　remained　hidden。　Gandalf　bore　his　staff；　but　girt　at　his　side　was　the　elven…sword　Glamdring；　the　mate　of　Orcrist　that　lay　now　upon　the　breast　of　Thorin　under　the　Lonely　Mountain。
　　　All　were　well　furnished　by　Elrond　with　thick　warm　clothes；　and　they　had　jackets　and　cloaks　lined　with　fur。　Spare　food　and　clothes　and　blankets　and　other　needs　were　laden　on　a　pony；　none　other　than　the　poor　beast　that　they　had　brought　from　Bree。
　　　？he　stay　in　Rivendell　had　worked　a　great　wonder　of　change　on　him：　he　was　glossy　and　seemed　to　have　the　vigour　of　youth。　It　was　Sam　who　had　insisted　on　choosing　him；　declaring　that　Bill　（as　he　called　him）　would　pine；　if　he　did　not　e。
　　　‘That　animal　can　nearly　talk；'　he　said；　‘and　would　talk；　if　he　stayed　here　much　longer。　He　gave　me　a　look　as　plain　as　Mr。　Pippin　could　speak　it：　if　you　don't　let　me　go　with　you；　Sam；　I'll　follow　on　my　own。'　So　Bill　was　going　as　the　beast　of　burden；　yet　he　was　the　only　member　of　the　pany　that　did　not　seem　depressed。
　　　Their　farewells　had　been　said　in　the　great　hall　by　the　fire；　and　they　were　only　waiting　now　for　Gandalf；　who　had　not　yet　e　out　of　the　house。　A　gleam　of　firelight　came　from　the　open　doors；　and　soft　lights　were　glowing　in　many　windows。　Bilbo　huddled　in　a　cloak　stood　silent　on　the　doorstep　beside　Frodo。　Aragorn　sat　with　his　head　bowed　to　his　knees；　only　Elrond　knew　fully　what　this　hour　meant　to　him。　The　others　could　be　seen　as　grey　shapes　in　the　darkness。
　　　Sam　was　standing　by　the　pony；　sucking　his　teeth；　and　staring　moodily　into　the　gloom　where　the　river　roared　stonily　below；　his　desire　for　adventure　was　at　its　lowest　ebb。
　　　‘Bill；　my　lad；'　he　said；　‘you　oughtn't　to　have　took　up　with　us。　You　could　have　stayed　here　and　et　the　best　hay　till　the　new　grass　es。'　Bill　swished　his　tail　and　said　nothing。
　　　Sam　eased　the　pack　on　his　shoulders；　and　went　over　anxiously　in　his　mind　all　the　things　that　he　had　stowed　in　it；　wondering　if　he　had　forgotten　anything：　his　chief　treasure；　his　cooking　gear；　and　the　little　box　of　salt　that　he　always　carried　and　refilled　when　he　could；　a　good　supply　of　pipe…weed　（but　not　near　enough；　I'll　warrant）；　flint　and　tinder；　woollen　hose：　linen；　various　small　belongings　of　his　master's　that　Frodo　had　forgotten　and　Sam　had　stowed　to　bring　them　out　in　triumph　when　they　were　called　for。　He　went　through　them　all。
　　　'Rope！'　he　muttered。　‘No　rope！　And　only　last　night　you　said　to　yourself：　〃Sam；　what　about　a　bit　of　rope？　You'll　want　it；　if　you　haven't　got　it：〃　Well；　I'll　want　it。　I　can't　get　it　now。'
　　　At　that　moment　Elrond　came　out　with　Gandalf；　and　he　called　the　pany　to　him。　'This　is　my　last　word；'　he　said　in　a　low　voice。　'The　Ring…bearer　is　setting　out　on　the　Quest　of　Mount　Doom。　On　him　alone　is　any　charge　laid：　neither　to　cast　away　the　Ring；　nor　to　deliver　it　to　any　servant　of　the　Enemy　nor　indeed　to　let　any　handle　it；　save　members　of　the　pany　and　the　Counci