the fellowship of the ring-第97部分

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ame　word　of　the　deceits　of　the　Enemy。　But　this；　ifyou　will；　is　the　magic　of　Galadriel。　Did　you　not　say　that　you　wished　to　seeElf…magic？　'　
'I　did；'　said　Sam；　trembling　a　little　between　fear　and　curiosity。　‘I'llhave　a　peep；　Lady；　if　you're　willing。'　
‘And　I'd　not　mind　a　glimpse　of　what's　going　on　at　home；'　he　said　in　anaside　to　Frodo。　'It　seems　a　terrible　long　time　that　I've　been　away。　But　there；　
like　as　not　I'll　only　see　the　stars；　or　something　that　I　won't　understand。'　
'Like　as　not；'　said　the　Lady　with　a　gentle　laugh。　‘But　e；　you　shalllook　and　see　what　you　may。　Do　not　touch　the　water！　'　
Sam　climbed　up　on　the　foot　of　the　pedestal　and　leaned　over　the　basin。　Thewater　looked　hard　and　dark。　Stars　were　reflected　in　it。　　
‘There's　only　stars；　as　I　thought；'　he　said。　Then　he　gave　a　low　gasp；　forthe　stars　went　out。　As　if　a　dark　veil　had　been　withdrawn；　the　Mirror　grewgrey；　and　then　clear。　There　was　sun　shining；　and　the　branches　of　trees　werewaving　and　tossing　in　the　wind。　But　before　Sam　could　make　up　his　mind　what　itwas　that　he　saw；　the　light　faded；　and　now　he　thought　he　saw　Frodo　with　a　paleface　lying　fast　asleep　under　a　great　dark　cliff。　Then　he　seemed　to　see　himselfgoing　along　a　dim　passage；　and　climbing　an　endless　winding　stair。　It　came　tohim　suddenly　that　he　was　looking　urgently　for　something；　but　what　it　was　hedid　not　know。　Like　a　dream　the　vision　shifted　and　went　back；　and　he　saw　thetrees　again。　But　this　time　they　were　not　so　close；　and　he　could　see　what　wasgoing　on：　they　were　not　waving　in　the　wind；　they　were　falling；　crashing　to　theground。　
‘Hi！'　cried　Sam　in　an　outraged　voice。　'There's　that　Ted　Sandyman　a…　
cutting　down　trees　as　he　shouldn't。　They　didn't　ought　to　be　felled：　it's　thatavenue　beyond　the　Mill　that　shades　the　road　to　Bywater。　I　wish　I　could　get　atTed；　and　I'd　fell　_him_！'　
But　now　Sam　noticed　that　the　Old　Mill　had　vanished；　and　a　large　red…brickbuilding　was　being　put　up　where　it　had　stood。　Lots　of　folk　were　busily　atwork。　There　was　a　tall　red　chimney　nearby。　Black　smoke　seemed　to　cloud　thesurface　of　the　Mirror。　　
'There's　some　devilry　at　work　in　the　Shire；'　he　said。　'Elrond　knew　whathe　was　about　when　he　wanted　to　send　Mr。　Merry　back。'　Then　suddenly　Sam　gave　acry　and　sprang　away。　'I　can't　stay　here；'　he　said　wildly。　‘I　must　go　home。　
They've　dug　up　Bagshot　Row；　and　there's　the　poor　old　gaffer　going　down　theHill　with　his　bits　of　things　on　a　barrow。　I　must　go　home！　'　
'You　cannot　go　home　alone；'　said　the　Lady。　'You　did　not　wish　to　go　home　　
　
without　your　master　before　you　looked　in　the　Mirror；　and　yet　you　knew　thatevil　things　might　well　be　happening　in　the　Shire。　Remember　that　the　Mirrorshows　many　things；　and　not　all　have　yet　e　to　pass。　Some　never　e　to　be；　
unless　those　that　behold　the　visions　turn　aside　from　their　path　to　preventthem。　The　Mirror　is　dangerous　as　a　guide　of　deeds。'　
Sam　sat　on　the　ground　and　put　his　head　in　his　hands。　‘I　wish　I　had　nevere　here；　and　I　don't　want　to　see　no　more　magic；'　he　said　and　fell　silent。　
After　a　moment　he　spoke　again　thickly；　as　if　struggling　with　tears。　‘No；　I'llgo　home　by　the　long　road　with　Mr。　Frodo；　or　not　at　all；'　he　said。　‘But　I　hopeI　do　get　back　some　day。　If　what　I've　seen　turns　out　true；　somebody's　going　tocatch　it　hot！　'　　
‘Do　you　now　wish　to　look；　Frodo？　'　said　the　Lady　Galadriel。　‘You　did　notwish　to　see　Elf…magic　and　were　content。'　
‘Do　you　advise　me　to　look？　'　asked　Frodo。　
'No；'　she　said。　‘I　do　not　counsel　you　one　way　or　the　other。　I　am　not　acounsellor。　You　may　learn　something；　and　whether　what　you　see　be　fair　or　evil；　
that　may　be　profitable；　and　yet　it　may　not。　Seeing　is　both　good　and　perilous。　
Yet　I　think；　Frodo；　that　you　have　courage　and　wisdom　enough　for　the　venture；　
or　I　would　not　have　brought　you　here。　Do　as　you　will！　'　
‘I　will　look；'　said　Frodo；　and　he　climbed　on　the　pedestal　and　bent　overthe　dark　water。　At　once　the　Mirror　cleared　and　he　saw　a　twilit　land。　Mountains　　
loomed　dark　in　the　distance　against　a　pale　sky。　A　long　grey　road　wound　backout　of　sight。　Far　away　a　figure　came　slowly　down　the　road；　faint　and　small　atfirst；　but　growing　larger　and　clearer　as　it　approached。　Suddenly　Frodorealized　that　it　reminded　him　of　Gandalf。　He　almost　called　aloud　the　wizard's　　
name；　and　then　he　saw　that　the　figure　was　clothed　not　in　grey　but　in　white；　ina　white　that　shone　faintly　in　the　dusk；　and　in　its　hand　there　was　a　whitestaff。　The　head　was　so　bowed　that　he　could　see　no　face；　and　presently　thefigure　turned　aside　round　a　bend　in　the　road　and　went　out　of　the　Mirror'sview。　Doubt　came　into　Frodo's　mind：　was　this　a　vision　of　Gandalf　on　one　of　his　　
many　lonely　journeys　long　ago；　or　was　it　Saruman？　
The　vision　now　changed。　Brief　and　small　but　very　vivid　he　caught　aglimpse　of　Bilbo　walking　restlessly　about　his　room。　The　table　was　litteredwith　disordered　papers；　rain　was　beating　on　the　windows。　
Then　there　was　a　pause；　and　after　it　many　swift　scenes　followed　thatFrodo　in　some　way　knew　to　be　parts　of　a　great　history　in　which　he　had　beeinvolved。　The　mist　cleared　and　he　saw　a　sight　which　he　had　never　seen　beforebut　knew　at　once：　the　Sea。　Darkness　fell。　The　sea　rose　and　raged　in　a　greatstorm。　Then　he　saw　against　the　Sun；　sinking　blood…red　into　a　wrack　of　clouds；　
the　black　outline　of　a　tall　ship　with　torn　sails　riding　up　out　of　the　West。　
Then　a　wide　river　flowing　through　a　populous　city。　Then　a　white　fortress　withseven　towers。　And　then　again　a　ship　with　black　sails；　but　now　it　was　morningagain；　and　the　water　rippled　with　light；　and　a　banner　bearing　the　emblem　of　awhite　tree　shone　in　the　sun。　A　smoke　as　of　fire　and　battle　arose；　and　againthe　sun　went　down　in　a　burning　red　that　faded　into　a　grey　mist；　and　into　themist　a　small　ship　passed　away；　twinkling　with　lights。　It　vanished；　and　Frodosighed　and　prepared　to　draw　away。　
But　suddenly　the　Mirror　went　altogether　dark；　as　dark　as　if　a　hole　hadopened　in　the　world　of　sight；　and　Frodo　looked　into　emptiness。　In　the　blackabyss　there　appeared　a　single　Eye　that　slowly　grew。　until　it　filled　nearly　allthe　Mirror。　So　terrible　was　it　that　Frodo　stood　rooted；　unable　to　cry　out　orto　withdraw　his　gaze。　The　Eye　was　rimmed　with　fire；　but　was　itself　glazed；　
yellow　as　a　cat's；　watchful　and　intent；　and　the　black　slit　of　its　pupil　openedon　a　pit；　a　window　into　nothing。　
Then　the　Eye　began　to　rove；　searching　this　way　and　that；　and　Frodo　knewwith　certainty　and　horror　that　among　the　many　things　that　it　sought　he　himselfwas　one。　But　he　also　knew　that　it　could　not　see　him…not　yet；　not　unless　hewilled　it。　The　Ring　that　hung　upon　its　chain　about　his　neck　grew　heavy；　
heavier　than　a　great　stone；　and　his　head　was　dragged　downwards。　The　Mirrorseemed　to　be　growing　hot　and　curls　of　steam　were　rising　from　the　water。　He　was　　
　
slipping　forward。　
‘Do　not　touch　the　water！'　said　the　Lady　Galadriel　softly。　The　visionfaded；　and　Frodo　found　that　he　was　looking　at　the　cool　stars　twinkling　in　thesilver　basin。　He　stepped　back　shaking　all　over　and　looked　at　the　Lady。　
‘I　know　what　it　was　that　you　last　saw；'　she　said；　‘for　that　is　also　in　mymind。　Do　not　be　afraid！　But　do　not　think　that　only　by　singing　amid　the　trees；　
nor　even　by　the　slender　arrows　of　elven…bows；　is　this　land　of　Lothlórienmaintained　and　defended　against　its　Enemy。　I　say　to　you；　Frodo；　that　even　as　Ispeak　to　you；　I　perceive　the　Dark　Lord　and　know　his　mind；　or　all　of　his　mindthat　concerns　the　Elves。　And　he　gropes　ever　to　see　me　and　my　thought。　Butstill　the　door　is　closed！　'　　
She　lifted　up　her　white　arms；　and　spread　out　her　hands　towards　the　Eastin　a　gesture　of　rejection　and　denial。　E。rendil；　the　Evening　Star；　most　belovedof　the　Elves；　shone　clear　above。　So　bright　was　it　that　the　figure　of　theElven…lady　cast　a　dim　shadow　on　the　ground。　Its　rays　glanced　upon　a　ring　abouther　finger；　it　glittered　like　polished　gold　overlaid　with　silver　light；　and　awhite　stone　in　it　twinkled　as　if　the　Even…star　had　e　down　to　rest　upon　herhand。　Frodo　gazed　at　the　ring　with　awe；　for　suddenly　it　seemed　to　him　that　heunderstood。　　
‘Yes；'　she　said；　divining　his　thought；　‘it　is　not　permitted　to　speak　ofit；　and　Elrond　could　not　do　so。　But　it　cannot　be　hidden　from　the　Ring…bearer；　
and　one　who　has　seen　the　Eye。　Verily　it　is　in　the　land　of　Lórien　upon　thefinger　of　Galadriel　that　one　of　the　Three　remains。　This　is　Nenya；　the　Ring　ofAdamant；　and　I　am　its　keeper。　
‘He　suspects；　but　he　does　not　know　–　not　yet。　Do　you　not　see　nowwherefore　your　ing　is　to　us　as　the　footstep　of　Doom？　For　if　you　fail；　thenwe　are　laid　bare　to　the　Enemy。　Yet　if　you　succeed；　then　our　power　isdiminished；　and　Lothlórien　will　fade；　and　the　tides　of　Time　will　sweep　itaway。　We　must　depart　into　the　West；　or　dwindle　to　a　rustic　folk　of　dell　andcave；　slowly　to　forget　and　to　be　forgotten。'　
Frodo　bent　his　head。　‘And　what　do　you　wish？　'　he　said　at　last。　
‘That　what　should　be　shall　be；'　she　answered。　‘The　love　of　the　Elves　fortheir　land　and　their　works　is　deeper　than　the　deeps　of　the　Sea；　and　theirregret　is　undying　and　cannot　ever　wholly　be　assuaged。　Yet　they　will　cast　allaway　rather　than　submit　to　Sauron：　for　they　know　him　now。　For　the　fate　ofLothlórien　you　are　not　answerable　but　only　for　the　doing　of　your　own　task。　YetI　could　wish；　were　it　of　any　avail；　that　the　One　Ring　had　never　been　wrought；　
or　had　remained　for　ever　lost。'