the fellowship of the ring-第60部分

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‘I　know；'　said　Frodo。　‘They　were　terrible　to　behold！　But　why　could　we　allsee　their　horses？'　　
‘Because　they　are　real　horses；　just　as　the　black　robes　are　real　robesthat　they　wear　to　give　shape　to　their　nothingness　when　they　have　dealings　withthe　living。'　
‘Then　why　do　these　black　horses　endure　such　riders？　All　other　animals　areterrified　when　they　draw　near；　even　the　elf…horse　of　Glorfindel。　The　dogs　howland　the　geese　scream　at　them。'　
‘Because　these　horses　are　born　and　bred　to　the　service　of　the　Dark　Lord　　
in　Mordor。　Not　all　his　servants　and　chattels　are　wraiths！　There　are　orcs　and　　
trolls；　there　are　wargs　and　werewolves；　and　there　have　been　and　still　are　manyMen；　warriors　and　kings；　that　walk　alive　under　the　Sun；　and　yet　are　under　hissway。　And　their　number　is　growing　daily。'　
‘What　about　Rivendell　and　the　Elves？　Is　Rivendell　safe？'　　
‘Yes；　at　present；　until　all　else　is　conquered。　The　Elves　may　fear　theDark　Lord；　and　they　may　fly　before　him；　but　never　again　will　they　listen　tohim　or　serve　him。　And　here　in　Rivendell　there　live　still　some　of　his　chief　　
foes：　the　Elven…wise；　lords　of　the　Eldar　from　beyond　the　furthest　seas。　Theydo　not　fear　the　Ringwraiths；　for　those　who　have　dwelt　in　the　Blessed　Realmlive　at　once　in　both　worlds；　and　against　both　the　Seen　and　the　Unseen　theyhave　great　power。'　
'I　thought　that　I　saw　a　white　figure　that　shone　and　did　not　grow　dim　like　　
　
the　others。　Was　that　Glorfindel　then？'　　
'Yes；　you　saw　him　for　a　moment　as　he　is　upon　the　other　side：　one　of　themighty　of　the　Firstborn。　He　is　an　Elf…lord　of　a　house　of　princes。　Indeed　thereis　a　power　in　Rivendell　to　withstand　the　might　of　Mordor；　for　a　while：　andelsewhere　other　powers　still　dwell。　There　is　power；　too；　of　another　kind　inthe　Shire。　But　all　such　places　will　soon　bee　islands　under　siege；　if　thingsgo　on　as　they　are　going。　The　Dark　Lord　is　putting　forth　all　his　strength。　
‘Still；'　he　said；　standing　suddenly　up　and　sticking　out　his　chin。　whilehis　beard　went　stiff　and　straight　like　bristling　wire；　‘we　must　keep　up　ourcourage。　You　will　soon　be　well；　if　I　do　not　talk　you　to　death。　You　are　inRivendell；　and　you　need　not　worry　about　anything　for　the　present。'　
'I　haven't　any　courage　to　keep　up；'　said　Frodo；　‘but　I　am　not　worried　atthe　moment。　Just　give　me　news　of　my　friends；　and　tell　me　the　end　of　the　affairat　the　Ford；　as　I　keep　on　asking；　and　I　shall　be　content　for　the　present。　
After　that　I　shall　have　another　sleep；　I　think；　but　I　shan't　be　able　to　closemy　eyes　until　you　have　finished　the　story　for　me。'　
Gandalf　moved　his　chair　to　the　bedside；　and　took　a　good　look　at　Frodo。　
The　colour　had　e　back　to　his　face；　and　his　eyes　were　clear；　and　fully　awakeand　aware。　He　was　smiling；　and　there　seemed　to　be　little　wrong　with　him。　Butto　the　wizard's　eye　there　was　a　faint　change　just　a　hint　as　it　were　oftransparency；　about　him；　and　especially　about　the　left　hand　that　lay　outsideupon　the　coverlet。　
‘Still　that　must　be　expected；'　said　Gandalf　to　himself。　‘He　is　not　halfthrough　yet；　and　to　what　he　will　e　in　the　end　not　even　Elrond　can　foretell。　
Not　to　evil；　I　think。　He　may　bee　like　a　glass　filled　with　a　clear　light　foreyes　to　see　that　can。'　
‘You　look　splendid；'　he　said　aloud。　‘I　will　risk　a　brief　tale　withoutconsulting　Elrond。　But　quite　brief；　mind　you；　and　then　you　must　sleep　again。　
This　is　what　happened；　as　far　as　I　can　gather。　The　Riders　made　straight　foryou；　as　soon　as　you　fled。　They　did　not　need　the　guidance　of　their　horses　anylonger：　you　had　bee　visible　to　them；　being　already　on　the　threshold　oftheir　world。　And　also　the　Ring　drew　them。　Your　friends　sprang　aside；　off　theroad；　or　they　would　have　been　ridden　down。　They　knew　that　nothing　could　saveyou；　if　the　white　horse　could　not。　The　Riders　were　too　swift　to　overtake；　andtoo　many　to　oppose。　On　foot　even　Glorfindel　and　Aragorn　together　could　notwith　stand　all　the　Nine　at　once。　　
‘When　the　Ringwraiths　swept　by；　your　friends　ran　up　behind。　Close　to　theFord　there　is　a　small　hollow　beside　the　road　masked　by　a　few　stunted　trees。　
There　they　hastily　kindled　fire；　for　Glorfindel　knew　that　a　flood　would　edown；　if　the　Riders　tried　to　cross；　and　then　he　would　have　to　deal　with　anythat　were　left　on　his　side　of　the　river。　The　moment　the　flood　appeared；　herushed　out；　followed　by　Aragorn　and　the。　others　with　flaming　brands。　Caughtbetween　fire　and　water；　and　seeing　an　Elf…lord　revealed　in　his　wrath；　theywere　dismayed；　and　their　horses　were　stricken　with　madness。　Three　were　carriedaway　by　the　first　assault　of　the　flood；　the　others　were　now　hurled　into　thewater　by　their　horses　and　overwhelmed。'　
'And　is　that　the　end　of　the　Black　Riders？'　asked　Frodo。　　
'No；'　said　Gandalf。　'Their　horses　must　have　perished；　and　without　themthey　are　crippled。　But　the　Ringwraiths　themselves　cannot　be　so　easilydestroyed。　However；　there　is　nothing　more　to　fear　from　them　at　present。　Yourfriends　crossed　after　the　flood　had　passed；　and　they　found　you　lying　on　yourface　at　the　top　of　the　bank；　with　a　broken　sword　under　you。　The　horse　wasstanding　guard　beside　you。　You　were　pale　and　cold；　and　they　feared　that　youwere　dead；　or　worse。　Elrond's　folk　met　them；　carrying　you　slowly　towardsRivendell。'　　
‘Who　made　the　flood？'　asked　Frodo。　　
'Elrond　manded　it；'　answered　Gandalf。　‘The　river　of　this　valley　isunder　his　power；　and　it　will　rise　in　anger　when　he　has　great　need　to　bar　theFord。　As　soon　as　the　captain　of　the　Ringwraiths　rode　into　the　water　the　floodwas　released。　If　I　may　say　so；　I　added　a　few　touches　of　my　own：　you　may　not　　
　
have　noticed；　but　some　of　the　waves　took　the　form　of　great　white　horses　withshining　white　riders；　and　there　were　many　rolling　and　grinding　boulders。　For　amoment　I　was　afraid　that　we　had　let　loose　too　fierce　a　wrath；　and　the　floodwould　get　out　of　hand　and　wash　you　all　away。　There　is　great　vigour　in　thewaters　that　e　down　from　the　snows　of　the　Misty　Mountains。'　
‘Yes；　it　all　es　back　to　me　now；'　said　Frodo：　'the　tremendous　roaring。　
I　thought　I　was　drowning；　with　my　friends　and　enemies　and　all。　But　now　we　aresafe！'　　
Gandalf　looked　quickly　at　Frodo；　but　he　had　shut　his　eyes。　'Yes；　you　areall　safe　for　the　present。　Soon　there　will　be　feasting　and　merrymaking　tocelebrate　the　victory　at　the　Ford　of　Bruinen；　and　you　will　all　be　there　inplaces　of　honour。'　
'Splendid！'　said　Frodo。　‘It　is　wonderful　that　Elrond；　and　Glorfindel　andsuch　great　lords；　not　to　mention　Strider；　should　take　so　much　trouble　and　showme　so　much　kindness。'　　
‘Well；　there　are　many　reasons　why　they　should；'　said　Gandalf；　smiling。　‘Iam　one　good　reason。　The　Ring　is　another：　you　are　the　Ring…bearer。　And　you　arethe　heir　of　Bilbo；　the　Ring…finder。'　
‘Dear　Bilbo！'　said　Frodo　sleepily。　‘I　wonder　where　he　is。　I　wish　he　washere　and　could　hear　all　about　it。　It　would　have　made　him　laugh；　The　cow　jumpedover　the　Moon！　And　the　poor　old　troll！'　With　that　he　fell　fast　asleep。　　
Frodo　was　now　safe　in　the　Last　Homely　House　east　of　the　Sea。　That　housewas；　as　Bilbo　had　long　ago　reported；　‘a　perfect　house；　whether　you　like　foodor　sleep；　or　story…telling　or　singing；　or　just　sitting　and　thinking　best；　or　apleasant　mixture　of　them　all'。　Merely　to　be　there　was　a　cure　for　weariness；　
fear；　and　sadness。　
As　the　evening　drew　on；　Frodo　woke　up　again；　and　he　found　that　he　nolonger　felt　in　need　of　rest　or　sleep；　but　had　a　mind　for　food　and　drink；　andprobably　for　singing　and　story…telling　afterwards。　He　got　out　of　bed　anddiscovered　that　his　arm　was　already　nearly　as　useful　again　as　it　ever　hadbeen。　He　found　laid　ready　clean　garments　of　green　cloth　that　fitted　himexcellently。　Looking　in　a　mirror　he　was　startled　to　see　a　much　thinnerreflection　of　himself　than　he　remembered：　it　looked　remarkably　like　the　youngnephew　of　Bilbo　who　used　to　go　tramping　with　his　uncle　in　the　Shire；　but　theeyes　looked　out　at　him　thoughtfully。　
‘Yes；　you　have　seen　a　thing　or　two　since　you　last　peeped　out　of　alooking…glass；'　he　said　to　his　reflection。　'But　now　for　a　merry　meeting！'　
He　stretched　out　his　arms　and　whistled　a　tune。　　
At　that　moment　there　was　a　knock　on　the　door；　and　Sam　came　in。　He　ran　toFrodo　and　took　his　left　hand；　awkwardly　and　shyly。　He　stroked　it　gently　andthen　he　blushed　and　turned　hastily　away。　
‘Hullo；　Sam！'　said　Frodo。　
‘It's　warm！'　said　Sam。　‘Meaning　your　hand；　Mr。　Frodo。　It　has　felt　so　coldthrough　the　long　nights。　But　glory　and　trumpets！'　he　cried；　turning　roundagain　with　shining　eyes　and　dancing　on　the　floor。　'It's　fine　to　see　you　up　andyourself　again；　sir！　Gandalf　asked　me　to　e　and　see　if　you　were　ready　toe　down；　and　I　thought　he　was　joking。'　
'I　am　ready；'　said　Frodo。　'Let's　go　and　look　for　the　rest　of　the　party！'　
‘I　can　take　you　to　them；　sir；'　said　Sam。　‘It's　a　big　house　this；　and　verypeculiar。　Always　a　bit　more　to　discover；　and　no　knowing　what　you'll　find　rounda　corner。　And　Elves；　sir！　Elves　here；　and　Elves　there！　Some　like　kings；　
terrible　and　splendid；　and　some　as　merry　as　children。　And　the　music　and　thesinging…not　that　I　have　had　the　time　or　the　heart　for　much　listening　since　wegot　here。　But　I'm　getting　to　know　some　of　the　ways　of　the　place。'　
'I　know　what　you　have　been　doing；　Sam；'　said　Frodo；　taking　his　arm。　'Butyou　shall　be　merry　tonight；　and　listen　to　your　heart's　content。　e　on；　guideme　round　the　corners！'　　
Sam　led　him　along　several　passages　and　down　many　steps　and　o