jrt.the hobbit-第49节

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　The　light　of　stars；　on　crowns　they　hung
　The　dragon…fire；　from　twisted　wire
　The　melody　of　harps　they　wrung。
　The　mountain　throne　once　more　is　freed！
　O！　wandering　folk；　the　summons　heed！
　e　haste！　e　haste！　across　the　waste！
　The　king　of　friend　and　kin　has　need。
　Now　call　we　over　mountains　cold；
　'e　hack　unto　the　caverns　old'！
　Here　at　the　Gates　the　king　awaits；
　His　hands　are　rich　with　gems　and　gold。
　The　king　is　e　unto　his　hall
　Under　the　Mountain　dark　and　tall。
　The　Worm　of　Dread　is　slain　and　dead；
　And　ever　so　our　foes　shall　fall！〃
　This　song　appeared　to　please　Thorin；　and　he　smiled　again　and　grew　merry；　and　he　began　reckoning　the　distance　to　the　Iron　Hills　and　how　long　it　would　be　before　Dain　could　reach　the　Lonely　Mountain；　if　he　had　set　out　as　soon　as　the　message　reached　him。　But　Bilbo's　heart　fell；　both　at　the　song　and　the　talk：　they　sounded　much　too　warlike。　The　next　morning　early　a　pany　of　spearmen　was　seen　crossing　the　river；　and　marching　up　the　valley。　They　bore　with　them　the　green　banner　of　the　Elvenking　and　the　blue　banner　of　the　Lake；　and　they　advanced　until　they　stood　right　before　the　wall　at　the　Gate。　　Again　Thorin　hailed　them　in　a　loud　voice：　〃Who　are　you　that　e　armed　for　war　to　the　gates　of　Thorin　son　of　Thrain；　King　under　the　Mountain？〃　This　time　he　was　answered。
　A　tall　man　stood　forward；　dark　of　hair　and　grim　of　face；　and　he　cried：
　〃Hail　Thorin！　Why　do　you　fence　yourself　like　a　robber　in　his　hold？　We　are　not　yet　foes；　and　we　rejoice　that　you　are　alive　beyond　our　hope。　We　came　expecting　to　find　none　living　here；　yet　now　that　we　are　met　there　is　matter　for　a　parley　and　a　council。〃
　〃Who　are　you；　and　of　what　would　you　parley？〃
　〃I　am　Bard；　and　by　my　hand　was　the　dragon　slain　and　your　treasure　delivered。　Is　that　not　a　matter　that　concerns　you？　Moreover　I　am　by　right　descent　the　heir　of　Girion　of　Dale；　and　in　your　hoard　is　mingled　much　of　the　wealth　of　his　halls　and　town；　which　of　old　Smaug　stole。　Is　not　that　a　matter　of　which　we　may　speak？　Further　in　his　last　battle　Smaug　destroyed　the　dwellings　of　the　men　of　Esgaroth；　and　I　am　yet　the　servant　of　their　Master。　I　would　speak　for　him　and　ask　whether　you　have　no　thought　for　the　sorrow　and　misery　of　his　people。　They　aided　you　in　your　distress；　and　in　repense　you　have　thus　far　brought　ruin　only；　though　doubtless　undesigned。〃
　Now　these　were　fair　words　and　true；　if　proudly　and　grimly　spoken；　and　Bilbo　thought　that　Thorin　would　at　once　admit　what　justice　was　in　them。　He　did　not；　of　course；　expect　that　any　one　would　remember　that　it　was　he　who　discovered　all　by　himself　the　dragon's　weak　spot；　and　that　was　just　as　well；　for　no　one　ever　did。　But　also　he　did　not　reckon　with　the　power　that　gold　has　upon　which　a　dragon　has　long　brooded；　nor　with　dwarvish　hearts。　Long　hours　in　the　past　days　Thorin　had　spent　in　the　treasury；　and　the　lust　of　it　was　heavy　on　him。　Though　he　had　hunted　chiefly　for　the　Arkenstone；　yet　he　had　an　eye　for　many　another　wonderful　thing　that　was　lying　there；　about　which　were　wound　old　memories　of　the　labours　and　the　sorrows　of　his　race。　　〃You　put　your　worst　cause　last　and　in　the　chief　place；〃　Thorin　answered。　　〃To　the　treasure　of　my　people　no　man　has　a　claim；　because　Smaug　who　stole　it　from　us　also　robbed　him　of　life　or　home。　The　treasure　was　not　his　that　his　evil　deeds　should　be　amended　with　a　share　of　it。　The　price　of　the　goods　and　the　assistance　that　we　received　of　the　Lake…men　we　will　fairly　pay…in　due　time。　But　nothing　will　we　give；　not　even　a　loaf's　worth；　under　threat　of　force。　While　an　armed　host　lies　before　our　doors；　we　look　on　you　as　foes　and　thieves。
　〃It　is　in　my　mind　to　ask　what　share　of　their　inheritance　you　would　have　paid　to　our　kindred；　had　you　found　the　hoard　unguarded　and　us　slain。〃　〃A　just　question；〃　replied　Bard。　〃But　you　are　not　dead；　and　we　are　not　robbers。　Moreover　the　wealthy　may　have　pity　beyond　right　on　the　needy　that　befriended　them　when　they　were　in　want。　And　still　my　other　claims　remain　unanswered。〃
　〃I　will　not　parley；　as　I　have　said；　with　armed　men　at　my　gate。　Nor　at　all　with　the　people　of　the　Elvenking；　whom　I　remember　with　small　kindness。　In　this　debate　they　have　no　place。　Begone　now　ere　our　arrows　fly！　And　if　you　would　speak　with　me　again；　first　dismiss　the　elvish　host　to　the　woods　where　it　belongs；　and　then　return；　laying　down　your　arms　before　you　approach　the　threshold。〃
　〃The　Elvenking　is　my　friend；　and　he　has　succoured　the　people　of　the　Lake　in　their　need；　though　they　had　no　claim　but　friendship　on　him；〃　answered　Bard。　　〃We　will　give　you　time　to　repent　your　words。　Gather　your　wisdom　ere　we　return！〃　Then　he　departed　and　went　back　to　the　camp。　　Ere　many　hours　were　past；　the　banner…bearers　returned；　and　trumpeters　stood　forth　and　blew　a　blast：
　〃In　the　name　of　Esgaroth　and　the　Forest；〃　one　cried；　〃we　speak　unto　Thorin　Thrain's　son　Oakenshield；　calling　himself　the　King　under　the　Mountain；　and　we　bid　him　consider　well　the　claims　that　have　been　urged；　or　be　declared　our　foe。　At　the　least　he　shall　deliver　one　twelfth　portion　of　the　treasure　unto　Bard；　as　the　dragon…slayer；　and　as　the　heir　of　Girion。　From　that　portion　Bard　will　himself　contribute　to　the　aid　of　Esgaroth；　but　if　Thorin　would　have　the　friendship　and　honour　of　the　lands　about；　as　his　sires　had　of　old；　then　he　will　give　also　somewhat　of　his　own　for　the　fort　of　the　men　of　the　Lake。〃　Then　Thorin　seized　a　bow　of　horn　and　shot　an　arrow　at　the　speaker。　It　smote　into　his　shield　and　stuck　there　quivering。
　'〃Since　such　is　your　answer；〃　he　called　in　return；　〃I　declare　the　Mountain　besieged。　You　shall　not　depart　from　it；　until　you　call　on　your　side　for　a　truce　and　a　parley。　We　will　bear　no　weapons　against　you；　but　we　leave　you　to　your　gold。　You　may　eat　that；　if　you　will！〃
　With　that　the　messengers　departed　swiftly；　and　the　dwarves　were　left　to　consider　their　case。　So　grim　had　Thorin　bee；　that　even　if　they　had　wished；　the　others　would　not　have　dared　to　find　fault　with　him；　but　indeed　most　of　them　seemed　to　share　his　mind…except　perhaps　old　fat　Bombur　and　Fili　and　Kili。　　Bilbo；　of　course；　disapproved　of　the　whole　turn　of　affairs。　He　had　by　now　had　more　than　enough　of　the　Mountain；　and　being　besieged　inside　it　was　not　at　all　to　his　taste。
　〃The　whole　place　still　stinks　of　dragon；〃　he　grumbled　to　himself；　〃and　it　makes　me　sick。　And　cram　is　beginning　simply　to　stick　in　my　throat。〃
　
　Chapter　16
　A　Thief　in　the　Night
　
　Now　the　days　passed　slowly　and　wearily。　Many　of　the　dwarves　spent　their　time　piling　and　ordering　the　treasure；　and　now　Thorin　spoke　of　the　Arkenstone　of　Thrain；　and　bade　them　eagerly　to　look　for　it　in　every　er。　　〃For　the　Arkenstone　of　my　father；〃　he　said；　〃is　worth　more　than　a　river　of　gold　in　itself；　and　to　me　it　is　beyond　price。　That　stone　of　all　the　treasure　I　name　unto　myself；　and　I　will　be　avenged　on　anyone　who　finds　it　and　withholds　it。〃
　Bilbo　heard　these　words　and　he　grew　afraid；　wondering　what　would　happen；　if　the　stone　was　found…wrapped　in　an　old　bundle　of　tattered　oddments　that　he　used　as　a　pillow。　All　the　same　he　did　not　speak　of　it；　for　as　the　weariness　of　the　days　grew　heavier；　the　beginnings　of　a　plan　had　e　into　his　little　head。　　Things　had　gone　on　like　this　for　some　time；　when　the　ravens　brought　news　that　Dain　and　more　than　five　hundred　dwarves；　hurrying　from　the　Iron　Hills；　were　now　within　about　two　days'　march　of　Dale；　ing　from　the　North…East。　　〃But　they　cannot　reach　the　Mountain　unmarked；〃　said　Rac；　〃and　I　fear　lest　there　be　battle　in　the　valley。　I　do　not　call　this　counsel　good。　Though　they　are　a　grim　folk；　they　are　not　likely　to　overe　the　host　that　besets　you；　and　even　if　they　did　so；　what　will　you　gain？　Winter　and　snow　is　hastening　behind　them。　How　shall　you　be　fed　without　the　friendship　and　goodwill　of　the　lands　about　you？　The　treasure　is　likely　to　be　your　death；　though　the　dragon　is　no　more！〃'
　But　Thorin　was　not　moved。　〃Winter　and　snow　will　bite　both　men　and　elves；〃　he　said；　〃and　they　may　find　their　dwelling　in　the　Waste　grievous　to　bear。　With　my　friends　behind　them　and　winter　upon　them；　they　will　perhaps　be　in　softer　mood　to　parley　with。〃
　That　night　Bilbo　made　up　his　mind。　The　sky　was　black　and　moonless。　As　soon　as　it　was　full　dark；　he　went　to　a　corner　of　an　inner　chamber　just　within　the　gate　and　drew　from　his　bundle　a　rope；　and　also　the　Arkenstone　wrapped　in　a　rag。　Then　he　climbed　to　the　top　of　the　wall。　Only　Bombur　was　there；　for　it　was　his　turn　to　watch；　and　the　dwarves　kept　only　one　watchman　at　a　time。　　〃It　is　mighty　cold！〃　said　Bombur。　〃I　wish　we　could　have　a　fire　up　here　as　they　have　in　the　camp！〃
　〃It　is　warm　enough　inside；〃　said　Bilbo。
　〃I　daresay；　but　I　am　bound　here　till　midnight；〃　grumbled　the　fat　dwarf。　　〃A　sorry　business　altogether。　Not　that　I　venture　to　disagree　with　Thorin；　may　his　beard　grow　ever　longer；　yet　he　was　ever　a　dwarf　with　a　stiff　neck。〃　〃Not　as　stiff　as　my　legs；〃　said　Bilbo。　〃I　am　tired　of　stairs　and　stone　passages。　I　would　give　a　good　deal　for　the　feel　of　grass　at　my　toes。〃　〃I　would　give　a　good　deal　for　the　feel　of　a　strong　drink　in　my　throat；　and　for　a　soft　bed　after　a　good　supper！〃
　〃I　can't　give　you　those；　while　the　siege　is　going　on。　But　it　is　long　since　I　watched；　and　I　will　take　your　turn　for　you；　if　you　like。　There　is　no　sleep　in　m