the fellowship of the ring-第75部分

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I　knew　you　werewearing　it。　I　have　a　fancy　it　would　turn　even　the　knives　of　the　BlackRiders；'　he　ended　in　a　low　voice。　
‘Very　well；　I　will　take　it；'　said　Frodo。　Bilbo　put　it　on　him；　andfastened　Sting　upon　the　glittering　belt；　and　then　Frodo　put　over　the　top　hisold　weather…stained　breeches；　tunic；　and　jacket。　
'Just　a　plain　hobbit　you　look；'　said　Bilbo。　'But　there　is　more　about　younow　than　appears　on　the　surface。　Good　luck　to　you！'　He　turned　away　and　lookedout　of　the　window；　trying　to　hum　a　tune。　
'I　cannot　thank　you　as　I　should；　Bilbo；　for　this；　and　for　all　our　pastkindnesses；'　said　Frodo。　
'Don't　try！'　said　the　old　hobbit；　turning　round　and　slapping　him　on　theback。　‘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　bookbefore　you　return。　I　should　like　to　write　the　second　book；　if　I　am　spared。'　Hebroke　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　wasstreaming　through　the　bare　branches　of　the　trees；　and　seething　in　the　darkpines　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　toset　out。　They　were　to　start　at　dusk；　for　Elrond　counselled　them　to　journeyunder　cover　of　night　as　often　as　they　could；　until　they　were　far　fromRivendell。　　
‘You　should　fear　the　many　eyes　of　the　servants　of　Sauron；'　he　said。　'I　donot　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　beabroad　in　the　northern　lands。　Even　of　the　sky　above　you　must　beware　as　you　goon　your　way。'　
The　pany　took　little　gear　of　war；　for　their　hope　was　in　secrecy　not　inbattle。　Aragorn　had　Andúril　but　no　other　weapon；　and　he　went　forth　clad　onlyin　rusty　green　and　brown。　as　a　Ranger　of　the　wilderness。　Boromir　had　a　longsword；　in　fashion　like　Andúril　but　of　less　lineage　and　he　bore　also　a　shieldand　his　war…horn。　　
'Loud　and　clear　it　sounds　in　the　valleys　of　the　hills；'　he　said；　‘andthen　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　inRivendell　sprang　to　their　feet。　
Slow　should　you　be　to　wind　that　horn　again；　Boromir；　said　Elrond。　'untilyou　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　settingforth；　and　though　thereafter　we　may　walk　in　the　shadows；　I　will　not　go　forthas　a　thief　in　the　night。'　
Gimli　the　dwarf　alone　wore　openly　a　short　shirt　of　steel…rings；　fordwarves　make　light　of　burdens；　and　in　his　belt　was　a　broad…bladed　axe。　Legolashad　a　bow　and　a　quiver；　and　at　his　belt　a　long　white　knife。　The　youngerhobbits　wore　the　swords　that　they　had　taken　from　the　barrow；　but　Frodo　tookonly　Sting；　and　his　mail…coat；　as　Bilbo　wished；　remained　hidden。　Gandalf　borehis　staff；　but　girt　at　his　side　was　the　elven…sword　Glamdring；　the　mate　ofOrcrist　that　lay　now　upon　the　breast　of　Thorin　under　the　Lonely　Mountain。　
All　were　well　furnished　by　Elrond　with　thick　warm　clothes；　and　they　hadjackets　and　cloaks　lined　with　fur。　Spare　food　and　clothes　and　blankets　andother　needs　were　laden　on　a　pony；　none　other　than　the　poor　beast　that　they　hadbrought　from　Bree。　
？he　stay　in　Rivendell　had　worked　a　great　wonder　of　change　on　him：　he　wasglossy　and　seemed　to　have　the　vigour　of　youth。　It　was　Sam　who　had　insisted　onchoosing　him；　declaring　that　Bill　（as　he　called　him）　would　pine；　if　he　did　note。　　
‘That　animal　can　nearly　talk；'　he　said；　‘and　would　talk；　if　he　stayedhere　much　longer。　He　gave　me　a　look　as　plain　as　Mr。　Pippin　could　speak　it：　ifyou　don't　let　me　go　with　you；　Sam；　I'll　follow　on　my　own。'　So　Bill　was　goingas　the　beast　of　burden；　yet　he　was　the　only　member　of　the　pany　that　did　notseem　depressed。　
Their　farewells　had　been　said　in　the　great　hall　by　the　fire；　and　theywere　only　waiting　now　for　Gandalf；　who　had　not　yet　e　out　of　the　house。　Agleam　of　firelight　came　from　the　open　doors；　and　soft　lights　were　glowing　inmany　windows。　Bilbo　huddled　in　a　cloak　stood　silent　on　the　doorstep　besideFrodo。　Aragorn　sat　with　his　head　bowed　to　his　knees；　only　Elrond　knew　fullywhat　this　hour　meant　to　him。　The　others　could　be　seen　as　grey　shapes　in　thedarkness。　　
Sam　was　standing　by　the　pony；　sucking　his　teeth；　and　staring　moodily　intothe　gloom　where　the　river　roared　stonily　below；　his　desire　for　adventure　wasat　its　lowest　ebb。　　
‘Bill；　my　lad；'　he　said；　‘you　oughtn't　to　have　took　up　with　us。　You　couldhave　stayed　here　and　et　the　best　hay　till　the　new　grass　es。'　Bill　swishedhis　tail　and　said　nothing。　
Sam　eased　the　pack　on　his　shoulders；　and　went　over　anxiously　in　his　mindall　the　things　that　he　had　stowed　in　it；　wondering　if　he　had　forgottenanything：　his　chief　treasure；　his　cooking　gear；　and　the　little　box　of　saltthat　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　hadstowed　to　bring　them　out　in　triumph　when　they　were　called　for。　He　went　throughthem　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　tohim。　'This　is　my　last　word；'　he　said　in　a　low　voice。　'The　Ring…bearer　issetting　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　Enemynor　indeed　to　let　any　handle　it；　save　members　of　the　pany　and　the　Council；　
and　only　then　in　gravest　need。　The　others　go　with　him　as　free　panions；　tohelp　him　on　his　way。　You　may　tarry；　or　e　back；　or　turn　aside　into　otherpaths；　as　chance　allows。　The　further　you　go；　the　less　easy　will　it　be　towithdraw；　yet　no　oath　or　bond　is　laid　on　you　to　go　further　than　you　will。　Foryou　do　not　yet　know　the　strength　of　your　hearts；　and　you　cannot　foresee　whateach　may　meet　upon　the　road。'　
‘Faithless　is　he　that　says　farewell　when　the　road　darkens；'　said　Gimli。　
'Maybe；'　said　Elrond；　‘but　let　him　not　vow　to　walk　in　the　dark；　who　hasnot　seen　the　nightfall。'　
'Yet　sworn　word　may　strengthen　quaking　heart；'　said　Gimli。　
‘Or　break　it；'　said　Elrond。　‘Look　not　too　far　ahead！　But　go　now　with　goodhearts！　Farewell；　and　may　the　blessing　of　Elves　and　Men　and　all　Free　Folk　gowith　you。　May　the　stars　shine　upon　your　faces！'　
'Good　。　。　。　good　luck！'　cried　Bilbo；　stuttering　with　the　cold。　'I　don'tsuppose　you　will　be　able　to　keep　a　diary；　Frodo　my　lad；　but　I　shall　expect　afull　account　when　you　get　back。　And　don't　be　too　long！　Farewell！'　
Many　others　of　Elrond's　household　stood　in　the　shadows　and　watched　themgo；　bidding　them　farewell　with　soft　voices。　There　was　no　laughter；　and　no　songor　music。　At　last　they　turned　away　and　faded　silently　into　the　dusk。　
They　crossed　the　bridge　and　wound　slowly　up　the　long　steep　paths　that　ledout　of　the　cloven　vale　of　Rivendell；　and　they　came　at　length　to　the　high　moorwhere　the　wind　hissed　through　the　heather。　Then　with　one　glance　at　the　LastHomely　House　twinkling　below　them　they　strode　away　far　into　the　night。　　
At　the　Ford　of　Bruinen　they　left　the　Road　and　turning　southwards　went　onby　narrow　paths　among　the　folded　lands。　Their　purpose　was　to　hold　this　coursewest　of　the　Mountains　for　many　miles　and　days。　The　country　was　much　rougherand　more　barren　than　in　the　green　vale　of　the　Great　River　in　Wilderland　on　theother　side　of　the　range；　and　their　going　would　be　slow；　but　they　hoped　in　thisway　to　escape　the　notice　of　unfriendly　eyes。　The　spies　of　Sauron　had　hithertoseldom　been　seen　in　this　empty　country；　and　the　paths　were　little　known　exceptto　the　people　of　Rivendell。　
Gandalf　walked　in　front；　and　with　him　went　Aragorn；　who　knew　this　landeven　in　the　dark。　The　others　were　in　file　behind；　and　Legolas　whose　eyes　werekeen　was　the　rearguard。　The　first　part　of　their　journey　was　hard　and　dreary；　
and　Frodo　remembered　little　of　it；　save　the　wind。　For　many　sunless　days　an　icyblast　came　from　the　Mountains　in　the　east；　and　no　garment　seemed　able　to　keepout　its　searching　fingers。　Though　the　pany