the fellowship of the ring-第98部分

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ere　it　of　any　avail；　that　the　One　Ring　had　never　been　wrought；　
or　had　remained　for　ever　lost。'　　
'You　are　wise　and　fearless　and　fair；　Lady　Galadriel；'　said　Frodo。　‘I　willgive　you　the　One　Ring；　if　you　ask　for　it。　It　is　too　great　a　matter　for　me。'　
Galadriel　laughed　with　a　sudden　clear　laugh。　‘Wise　the　Lady　Galadriel　maybe；'　she　said；　‘yet　here　she　has　met　her　match　in　courtesy。　Gently　are　yourevenged　for　my　testing　of　your　heart　at　our　first　meeting。　You　begin　to　seewith　a　keen　eye。　I　do　not　deny　that　my　heart　has　greatly　desired　to　ask　whatyou　offer。　For　many　long　years　I　had　pondered　what　I　might　do；　should　theGreat　Ring　e　into　my　hands；　and　behold！　it　was　brought　within　my　grasp。　Theevil　that　was　devised　long　ago　works　on　in　many　ways；　whether　Sauron　himselfstands　or　falls。　Would　not　that　have　been　a　noble　deed　to　set　to　the　credit　of　　
his　Ring；　if　I　had　taken　it　by　force　or　fear　from　my　guest？　
‘And　now　at　last　it　es。　You　will　give　me　the　Ring　freely！　In　place　ofthe　Dark　Lord　you　will　set　up　a　Queen。　And　I　shall　not　be　dark；　but　beautifuland　terrible　as　the　Morning　and　the　Night！　Fair　as　the　Sea　and　the　Sun　and　theSnow　upon　the　Mountain！　Dreadful　as　the　Storm　and　the　Lightning！　Stronger　thanthe　foundations　of　the　earth。　All　shall　love　me　and　despair！　'　
She　lifted　up　her　hand　and　from　the　ring　that　she　wore　there　issued　agreat　light　that　illuminated　her　alone　and　left　all　else　dark。　She　stoodbefore　Frodo　seeming　now　tall　beyond　measurement；　and　beautiful　beyondenduring；　terrible　and　worshipful。　Then　she　let　her　hand　fall；　and　the　lightfaded；　and　suddenly　she　laughed　again；　and　lo！　she　was　shrunken：　a　slenderelf…woman；　clad　in　simple　white；　whose　gentle　voice　was　soft　and　sad。　　
　
'I　pass　the　test；'　she　said。　‘I　will　diminish；　and　go　into　the　West　andremain　Galadriel。'　　
They　stood　for　a　long　while　in　silence。　At　length　the　Lady　spoke　again。　
‘Let　us　return！　'　she　said。　‘In　the　morning　you　must　depart　for　now　we　havechosen；　and　the　tides　of　fate　are　flowing。'　
‘I　would　ask　one　thing　before　we　go；'　said　Frodo；　‘a　thing　which　I　oftenmeant　to　ask　Gandalf　in　Rivendell。　I　am　permitted　to　wear　the　One　Ring：　whycannot　I　see　all　the　others　and　know　the　thoughts　of　those　that　wear　them？　'　
‘You　have　not　tried；'　she　said。　‘Only　thrice　have　you　set　the　Ring　uponyour　finger　since　you　knew　what　you　possessed。　Do　not　try！　It　would　destroyyou。　Did　not　Gandalf　tell　you　that　the　rings　give　power　according　to　themeasure　of　each　possessor？　Before　you　could　use　that　power　you　would　need　tobee　far　stronger；　and　to　train　your　will　to　the　domination　of　others。　Yeteven　so；　as　Ring…bearer　and　as　one　that　has　borne　it　on　finger　and　seen　thatwhich　is　hidden；　your　sight　is　grown　keener。　You　have　perceived　my　thoughtmore　clearly　than　many　that　are　accounted　wise。　You　saw　the　Eye　of　him　thatholds　the　Seven　and　the　Nine。　And　did　you　not　see　and　recognize　the　ring　uponmy　finger？　Did　you　see　my　ring？　'　she　asked　turning　again　to　Sam。　
'No；　Lady；'　he　answered。　‘To　tell　you　the　truth；　I　wondered　what　you　weretalking　about。　I　saw　a　star　through　your　finger。　But　if　you'll　pardon　myspeaking　out；　I　think　my　master　was　right。　I　wish　you'd　take　his　Ring。　You'dput　things　to　rights。　You'd　stop　them　digging　up　the　gaffer　and　turning　himadrift。　You'd　make　some　folk　pay　for　their　dirty　work。'　
‘I　would；'　she　said。　‘That　is　how　it　would　begin。　But　it　would　not　stopwith　that；　alas！　We　will　not　speak　more　of　it。　Let　us　go！'　　
_Chapter　8_　
Farewell　to　Lórien　　
That　night　the　pany　was　again　summoned　to　the　chamber　of　Celeborn；　andthere　the　Lord　and　Lady　greeted　them　with　fair　words。　At　length　Celeborn　spokeof　their　departure。　
‘Now　is　the　time；'　he　said；　‘when　those　who　wish　to　continue　the　Questmust　harden　their　hearts　to　leave　this　land。　Those　who　no　longer　wish　to　goforward　may　remain　here；　for　a　while。　But　whether　they　stay　or　go；　none　can　besure　of　peace。　For　we　are　e　now　to　the　edge　of　doom。　Here　those　who　wishmay　await　the　oning　of　the　hour　till　either　the　ways　of　the　world　lie　openagain。　or　we　summon　them　to　the　last　need　of　Lórien。　Then　they　may　return　totheir　own　lands；　or　else　go　to　the　long　home　of　those　that　fall　in　battle。'　
There　was　a　silence。　‘They　all　resolved　to　go　forward；'　said　Galadriellooking　in　their　eyes。　
‘As　for　me；'　said　Boromir；　‘my　way　home　lies　onward　and　not　back。'　
‘That　is　true；'　said　Celeborn；　‘but　is　all　this　pany　going　with　you　toMinas　Tirith？　'　　
‘We　have　not　decided　our　course；'　said　Aragorn。　'Beyond　Lothlórien　I　donot　know　what　Gandalf　intended　to　do。　Indeed　I　do　not　think　that　even　he　had　　
any　clear　purpose。'　
‘Maybe　not；'　said　Celeborn；　‘yet　when　you　leave　this　land；　you　can　nolonger　forget　the　Great　River。　As　some　of　you　know　well；　it　cannot　be　crossedby　travellers　with　baggage　between　Lórien　and　Gondor；　save　by　boat。　And　arenot　the　bridges　of　Osgiliath　broken　down　and　all　the　landings　held　now　by　the　
Enemy？　
‘On　which　side　will　you　journey？　The　way　to　Minas　Tirith　lies　upon　thisside；　upon　the　west；　but　the　straight　road　of　the　Quest　lies　east　of　theRiver；　upon　the　darker　shore。　Which　shore　will　you　now　take？　'　
‘If　my　advice　is　heeded；　it　will　be　the　western　shore；　and　the　way　toMinas　Tirith；'　answered　Boromir。　‘But　I　am　not　the　leader　of　the　pany。'　Theothers　said　nothing；　and　Aragorn　looked　doubtful　and　troubled。　
‘I　see　that　you　do　not　yet　know　what　to　do；'　said　Celeborn。　‘It　is　not　my　　
　
part　to　choose　for　you；　but　I　will　help　you　as　I　may。　There　are　some　among　youwho　can　handle　boats：　Legolas；　whose　folk　know　the　swift　Forest　River；　andBoromir　of　Gondor；　and　Aragorn　the　traveller。'　
‘And　one　Hobbit！　'　cried　Merry。　‘Not　all　of　us　look　on　boats　as　wildhorses。　My　people　live　by　the　banks　of　the　Brandywine。'　
‘That　is　well；'　said　Celeborn。　‘Then　I　will　furnish　your　pany　withboats。　They　must　be　small　and　light；　for　if　you　go　far　by　water；　there　areplaces　where　you　will　be　forced　to　carry　them。　You　will　e　to　the　rapids　ofSarn　Gebir；　and　maybe　at　last　to　the　great　falls　of　Rauros　where　the　Riverthunders　down　from　Nen　Hithoel；　and　there　are　other　perils。　Boats　may　makeyour　journey　less　toilsome　for　a　while。　Yet　they　will　not　give　you　counsel：　inthe　end　you　must　leave　them　and　the　River；　and　turn　west…or　east。'　
Aragorn　thanked　Celeborn　many　times。　The　gift　of　boats　forted　himmuch；　not　least　because　there　would　now　be　no　need　to　decide　his　course　forsome　days。　The　others；　too；　looked　more　hopeful。　Whatever　perils　lay　ahead；　itseemed　better　to　float　down　the　broad　tide　of　Anduin　to　meet　them　than　to　plodforward　with　bent　backs。　Only　Sam　was　doubtful：　he　at　any　rate　still　thoughtboats　as　bad　as　wild　horses；　or　worse；　and　not　all　the　dangers　that　he　hadsurvived　made　him　think　better　of　them。　　
‘All　shall　be　prepared　for　you　and　await　you　at　the　haven　before　noontomorrow；'　said　Celeborn。　'I　will　send　my　people　to　you　in　the　morning　to　helpyou　make　ready　for　the　journey。　Now　we　will　wish　you　all　a　fair　night　anduntroubled　sleep。'　
'Good　night；　my　friends！　'　said　Galadriel。　'Sleep　in　peace！　Do　nottrouble　your　hearts　overmuch　with　thought　of　the　road　tonight。　Maybe　the　pathsthat　you　each　shall　tread　are　already　laid　before　your　feet；　though　you　do　notsee　them。　Good　night！　'　
The　pany　now　took　their　leave　and　returned　to　their　pavilion。　Legolaswent　with　them；　for　this　was　to　be　their　last　night　in　Lothlórien；　and　inspite　of　the　words　of　Galadriel　they　wished　to　take　counsel　together。　
For　a　long　time　they　debated　what　they　should　do；　and　how　it　would　bebest　to　attempt　the　fulfilling　of　their　purpose　with　the　Ring：　but　they　cameto　no　decision。　It　was　plain　that　most　of　them　desired　to　go　first　to　MinasTirith；　and　to　escape　at　least　for　a　while　from　the　terror　of　the　Enemy。　Theywould　have　been　willing　to　follow　a　leader　over　the　River　and　into　the　shadowof　Mordor；　but　Frodo　spoke　no　word；　and　Aragorn　was　still　divided　in　his　mind。　
His　own　plan；　while　Gandalf　remained　with　them；　had　been　to　go　withBoromir；　and　with　his　sword　help　to　deliver　Gondor。　For　he　believed　that　themessage　of　the　dreams　was　a　summons；　and　that　the　hour　had　e　at　last　whenthe　heir　of　Elendil　should　e　forth　and　strive　with　Sauron　for　the　mastery。　
But　in　Moria　the　burden　of　Gandalf　had　been　laid　on　him；　and　he　knew　that　hecould　not　now　forsake　the　Ring；　if　Frodo　refused　in　the　end　to　go　withBoromir。　And　yet　what　help　could　he　or　any　of　the　pany　give　to　Frodo；　saveto　walk　blindly　with　him　into　the　darkness？　
‘I　shall　go　to　Minas　Tirith；　alone　if　need　be；　for　it　is　my　duty；'　saidBoromir；　and　after　that　he　was　silent　for　a　while；　sitting　with　his　eyes　fixedon　Frodo；　as　if　he　was　trying　to　read　the　Halfling's　thoughts。　At　length　hespoke　again；　softly；　as　if　he　was　debating　with　himself。　‘If　you　wish　only　todestroy　the　Ring；'　he　said；　‘then　there　is　little　use　in　war　and　weapons；　andthe　Men　of　Minas　Tirith　cannot　help。　But　if　you　wish　to　destroy　the　armedmight　of　the　Dark　Lord；　then　it　is　folly　to　go　without　force　into　his　domain；　
and　folly　to　throw　away。'　He　paused　suddenly；　as　if　he　had　bee　aware　thathe　was　speaking　his　thoughts　aloud。　‘It　would　be　folly　to　throw　lives　away；　Imean；'　he　ended。　‘It　is　a　choice　between　defending　a　strong　place　and　walkingopenly　into　the　arms　of　death。　At　least；　that　is　how　I　see　it。'　
Frodo　caught　something