the fellowship of the ring-第34部分

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Naught　worse　than　that；　eh？　That　can　soon　be　mended。　I　know　the　tune　for　him。　
Old　grey　Willow…man！　I'll　freeze　his　marrow　cold；　if　he　don't　behave　himself。　
I'll　sing　his　roots　off。　I'll　sing　a　wind　up　and　blow　leaf　and　branch　away。　
Old　Man　Willow！'　Setting　down　his　lilies　carefully　on　the　grass；　he　ran　to　thetree。　There　he　saw　Merry's　feet　still　sticking　out　–　the　rest　had　already　beendrawn　further　inside。　Tom　put　his　mouth　to　the　crack　and　began　singing　into　itin　a　low　voice。　They　could　not　catch　the　words；　but　evidently　Merry　wasaroused。　His　legs　began　to　kick。　Tom　sprang　away；　and　breaking　off　a　hangingbranch　smote　the　side　of　the　willow　with　it。　'You　let　them　out　again；　Old　ManWillow！'　he　said。　'What　be　you　a…thinking　of？　You　should　not　be　waking。　Eatearth！　Dig　deep！　Drink　water！　Go　to　sleep！　Bombadil　is　talking！'　He　thenseized　Merry's　feet　and　drew　him　out　of　the　suddenly　widening　crack。　
There　was　a　tearing　creak　and　the　other　crack　split　open；　and　out　of　itPippin　sprang；　as　if　he　had　been　kicked。　Then　with　a　loud　snap　both　cracksclosed　fast　again。　A　shudder　ran　through　the　tree　from　root　to　tip；　andplete　silence　fell。　
'Thank　you！'　said　the　hobbits；　one　after　the　other。　
Tom　Bombadil　burst　out　laughing。　'Well；　my　little　fellows！'　said　he；　
stooping　so　that　he　peered　into　their　faces。　'You　shall　e　home　with　me！　Thetable　is　all　laden　with　yellow　cream；　honeyb；　and　white　bread　and　butter。　
Goldberry　is　waiting。　Time　enough　for　questions　around　the　supper　table。　Youfollow　after　me　as　quick　as　you　are　able！'　With　that　he　picked　up　his　lilies；　
and　then　with　a　beckoning　wave　of　his　hand　went　hopping　and　dancing　along　thepath　eastward；　still　singing　loudly　and　nonsensically。　
Too　surprised　and　too　relieved　to　talk；　the　hobbits　followed　after　him　asfast　as　they　could。　But　that　was　not　fast　enough。　Tom　soon　disappeared　infront　of　them；　and　the　noise　of　his　singing　got　fainter　and　further　away。　
Suddenly　his　voice　came　floating　back　to　them　in　a　loud　halloo！　　
Hop　along；　my　little　friends；　up　the　Withywindle！　
Tom's　going　on　ahead　candles　for　to　kindle。　　
　
Down　west　sinks　the　Sun：　soon　you　will　be　groping。　
When　the　night…shadows　fall；　then　the　door　will　open；　
Out　of　the　window…panes　light　will　twinkle　yellow。　
Fear　no　alder　black！　Heed　no　hoary　willow！　
Fear　neither　root　nor　bough！　Tom　goes　on　before　you。　
Hey　now！　merry　dot！　We'll　be　waiting　for　you！　　
After　that　the　hobbits　heard　no　more。　Almost　at　once　the　sun　seemed　to　　
sink　into　the　trees　behind　them。　They　thought　of　the　slanting　light　of　eveningglittering　on　the　Brandywine　River；　and　the　windows　of　Bucklebury　beginning　togleam　with　hundreds　of　lights。　Great　shadows　fell　across　them；　trunks　andbranches　of　trees　hung　dark　and　threatening　over　the　path。　White　mists　beganto　rise　and　curl　on　the　surface　of　the　river　and　stray　about　the　roots　of　thetrees　upon　its　borders。　Out　of　the　very　ground　at　their　feet　a　shadowy　steamarose　and　mingled　with　the　swiftly　falling　dusk。　
It　became　difficult　to　follow　the　path；　and　they　were　very　tired。　Theirlegs　seemed　leaden。　Strange　furtive　noises　ran　among　the　bushes　and　reeds　oneither　side　of　them；　and　if　they　looked　up　to　the　pale　sky；　they　caught　sightof　queer　gnarled　and　knobbly　faces　that　gloomed　dark　against　the　twilight；　andleered　down　at　them　from　the　high　bank　and　the　edges　of　the　wood。　They　beganto　feel　that　all　this　country　was　unreal；　and　that　they　were　stumbling　throughan　ominous　dream　that　led　to　no　awakening。　
Just　as　they　felt　their　feet　slowing　down　to　a　standstill；　they　noticedthat　the　ground　was　gently　rising。　The　water　began　to　murmur。　In　the　darknessthey　caught　the　white　glimmer　of　foam；　where　the　river　flowed　over　a　shortfall。　Then　suddenly　the　trees　came　to　an　end　and　the　mists　were　left　behind。　
They　stepped　out　from　the　Forest；　and　found　a　wide　sweep　of　grass　welling　upbefore　them。　The　river；　now　small　and　swift；　was　leaping　merrily　down　to　meetthem；　glinting　here　and　there　in　the　light　of　the　stars；　which　were　alreadyshining　in　the　sky。　
The　grass　under　their　feet　was　smooth　and　short；　as　if　it　had　been　mownor　shaven。　The　eaves　of　the　Forest　behind　were　clipped；　and　trim　as　a　hedge。　
The　path　was　now　plain　before　them；　well…tended　and　bordered　with　stone。　Itwound　up　on　to　the　top　of　a　grassy　knoll；　now　grey　under　the　pale　starrynight；　and　there；　still　high　above　them　on　a　further　slope；　they　saw　thetwinkling　lights　of　a　house。　Down　again　the　path　went；　and　then　up　again；　up　along　smooth　hillside　of　turf；　towards　the　light。　Suddenly　a　wide　yellow　beamflowed　out　brightly　from　a　door　that　was　opened。　There　was　Tom　Bombadil'shouse　before　them；　up；　down；　under　hill。　Behind　it　a　steep　shoulder　of　theland　lay　grey　and　bare；　and　beyond　that　the　dark　shapes　of　the　Barrow…downsstalked　away　into　the　eastern　night。　
They　all　hurried　forward；　hobbits　and　ponies。　Already　half　theirweariness　and　all　their　fears　had　fallen　from　them。　_Hey！　e　merry　dol！_　
rolled　out　the　song　to　greet　them。　　
Hey！　e　derry　dol！　Hop　along；　my　hearties！　
Hobbits！　Ponies　all！　We　are　fond　of　parties。　
Now　let　the　fun　begin！　Let　us　sing　together！　　
Then　another　clear　voice；　as　young　and　as　ancient　as　Spring；　like　thesong　of　a　glad　water　flowing　down　into　the　night　from　a　bright　morning　in　thehills；　came　falling　like　silver　to　meet　them：　　
Now　let　the　song　begin！　Let　us　sing　together　
Of　sun；　stars；　moon　and　mist；　rain　and　cloudy　weather；　
Light　on　the　budding　leaf；　dew　on　the　feather；　
Wind　on　the　open　hill；　bells　on　the　heather；　
Reeds　by　the　shady　pool；　lilies　on　the　water：　
Old　Tom　Bombadil　and　the　River…daughter！　　
　
And　with　that　song　the　hobbits　stood　upon　the　threshold；　and　a　goldenlight　was　all　about　them。　　
_Chapter　7_　
In　the　House　of　Tom　Bombadil　　
The　four　hobbits　stepped　over　the　wide　stone　threshold；　and　stood　still；　
blinking。　They　were　in　a　long　low　room；　filled　with　the　light　of　lampsswinging　from　the　beams　of　the　roof；　and　on　the　table　of　dark　polished　woodstood　many　candles；　tall　and　yellow；　burning　brightly。　
In　a　chair；　at　the　far　side　of　the　room　facing　the　outer　door；　sat　awoman。　Her　long　yellow　hair　rippled　down　her　shoulders；　her　gown　was　green；　
green　as　young　reeds；　shot　with　silver　like　beads　of　dew；　and　her　belt　was　ofgold；　shaped　like　a　chain　of　flag…lilies　set　with　the　pale…blue　eyes　offorget…me…nots。　About　her　feel　in　wide　vessels　of　green　and　brown　earthenware；　
white　water…lilies　were　floating；　so　that　she　seemed　to　be　enthroned　in　themidst　of　a　pool。　
'Enter；　good　guests！'　she　said；　and　as　she　spoke　they　knew　that　it　washer　clear　voice　they　had　heard　singing。　They　came　a　few　timid　steps　furtherinto　the　room；　and　began　to　bow　low；　feeling　strangely　surprised　and　awkward；　
like　folk　that；　knocking　at　a　cottage　door　to　beg　for　a　drink　of　water；　havebeen　answered　by　a　fair　young　elf…queen　clad　in　living　flowers。　But　beforethey　could　say　anything；　she　sprang　lightly　up　and　over　the　lily…bowls；　andran　laughing　towards　them；　and　as　she　ran　her　gown　rustled　softly　like　thewind　in　the　flowering　borders　of　a　river。　
'e　dear　folk！'　she　said；　taking　Frodo　by　the　hand。　'Laugh　and　bemerry！　I　am　Goldberry；　daughter　of　the　River。'　Then　lightly　she　passed　themand　closing　the　door　she　turned　her　back　to　it；　with　her　white　arms　spread　outacross　it。　'Let　us　shut　out　the　night！'　she　said。　'For　you　are　still　afraid；　
perhaps；　of　mist　and　tree…shadows　and　deep　water；　and　untame　things。　Fearnothing！　For　tonight　you　are　under　the　roof　of　Tom　Bombadil。'　
The　hobbits　looked　at　her　in　wonder；　and　she　looked　at　each　of　them　andsmiled。　'Fair　lady　Goldberry！'　said　Frodo　at　last；　feeling　his　heart　movedwith　a　joy　that　he　did　not　understand。　He　stood　as　he　had　at　times　stoodenchanted　by　fair　elven…voices；　but　the　spell　that　was　now　laid　upon　him　wasdifferent：　less　keen　and　lofty　was　the　delight；　but　deeper　and　nearer　tomortal　heart；　marvellous　and　yet　not　strange。　'Fair　lady　Goldberry！'　he　saidagain。　'Now　the　joy　that　was　hidden　in　the　songs　we　heard　is　made　plain　to　me。　　
O　slender　as　a　willow…wand！　O　clearer　than　clear　water！　　
O　reed　by　the　living　pool！　Fair　River…daughter！　
O　spring…time　and　summer…time；　and　spring　again　after！　
O　wind　on　the　waterfall；　and　the　leaves'　laughter！'　　
Suddenly　he　stopped　and　stammered；　overe　with　surprise　to　hear　himselfsaying　such　things。　But　Goldberry　laughed。　
'Wele！'　she　said。　'I　had　not　heard　that　folk　of　the　Shire　were　so　　
sweet…tongued。　But　I　see　you　are　an　elf…friend；　the　light　in　your　eyes　and　thering　in　your　voice　tells　it。　This　is　a　merry　meeting！　Sit　now；　and　wait　forthe　Master　of　the　house！　He　will　not　be　long。　He　is　tending　your　tiredbeasts。'　　
The　hobbits　sat　down　gladly　in　low　rush…seated　chairs；　while　Goldberrybusied　herself　about　the　table；　and　their　eyes　followed　her；　for　the　slendergrace　of　her　movement　filled　them　with　quiet　delight。　From　somewhere　behindthe　house　came　the　sound　of　singing。　Every　now　and　again　they　caught；　amongmany　a　_derry　dol_　and　a　_merry　dol_　and　a　_ring　a　ding　dillo_　the　repeatedwords：　　
　
Old　Tom　Bombadil　is　a　merry　fellow；　
Bright　blue　his　jacket　is；　and　his　boots　are　yellow。　　
'Fair　lady！'　said　Frodo　again　after　a　while。　'Tell　me；　if　my　asking　doesnot　seem　foolish；　who　is　Tom　Bombadil？'　
'He　is；'　said　Goldberry；