the fellowship of the ring-第21部分

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'But　we　have　no　need　of　other　pany；　and　hobbits　are　so　dull；'　theylaughed。　'And　how　do　you　know　that　we　go　the　same　way　as　you；　for　you　do　notknow　whither　we　are　going？'　
'And　how　do　you　know　my　name？'　asked　Frodo　in　return。　
'We　know　many　things；'　they　said。　'We　have　seen　you　often　before　withBilbo；　though　you　may　not　have　seen　us。'　
'Who　are　you；　and　who　is　your　lord？'　asked　Frodo。　
'I　am　Gildor；'　answered　their　leader；　the　Elf　who　had　first　hailed　him。　
'Gildor　Inglorion　of　the　House　of　Finrod。　We　are　Exiles；　and　most　of　ourkindred　have　long　ago　departed　and　we　too　are　now　only　tarrying　here　a　while；　
ere　we　return　over　the　Great　Sea。　But　some　of　our　kinsfolk　dwell　still　in　　
peace　in　Rivendell。　e　now；　Frodo；　tell　us　what　you　are　doing？　For　we　seethat　there　is　some　shadow　of　fear　upon　you。'　　
　
'O　Wise　People！'　interrupted　Pippin　eagerly。　'Tell　us　about　the　BlackRiders！'　　
'Black　Riders？'　they　said　in　low　voices。　'Why　do　you　ask　about　BlackRiders？'　　
'Because　two　Black　Riders　have　overtaken　us　today；　or　one　has　done　sotwice；'　said　Pippin；　'only　a　little　while　ago　he　slipped　away　as　you　drewnear。'　　
The　Elves　did　not　answer　at　once；　but　spoke　together　softly　in　their　owntongue。　At　length　Gildor　turned　to　the　hobbits。　'We　will　not　speak　of　thishere；'　he　said。　'We　think　you　had　best　e　now　with　us。　It　is　not　our　custom；　
but　for　this　time　we　will　lake　you　on　our　road；　and　you　shall　lodge　with　ustonight；　if　you　will。'　
'O　Fair　Folk！　This　is　good　fortune　beyond　my　hope；'　said　Pippin。　Sam　wasspeechless。　'I　thank　you　indeed；　Gildor　Inglorion；'　said　Frodo　bowing。　_'Elensíla　lúmenn'　omentielvo；_　a　star　shines　on　the　hour　of　our　meeting；'　he　addedin　the　high…elven　speech。　
'Be　careful；　friends！'　cried　Gildor　laughing。　'Speak　no　secrets！　Here　isa　scholar　in　the　Ancient　Tongue。　Bilbo　was　a　good　master。　Hail；　Elf…friend！'　
he　said；　bowing　to　Frodo。　'e　now　with　your　friends　and　join　our　pany！　
You　had　best　walk　in　the　middle　so　that　you　may　not　stray。　You　may　be　wearybefore　we　halt。'　　
'Why？　Where　are　you　going？'　asked　Frodo。　
'For　tonight　we　go　to　the　woods　on　the　hills　above　Woodhall。　It　is　somemiles；　but　you　shall　have　rest　at　the　end　of　it；　and　it　will　shorten　yourjourney　tomorrow。'　
They　now　marched　on　again　in　silence；　and　passed　like　shadows　and　faintlights：　for　Elves　（even　more　than　hobbits）　could　walk　when　they　wished　withoutsound　or　footfall。　Pippin　soon　began　to　feel　sleepy；　and　staggered　once　ortwice；　but　each　time　a　tall　Elf　at　his　side　put　out　his　arm　and　saved　him　froma　fall。　Sam　walked　along　at　Frodo's　side；　as　if　in　a　dream；　with　an　expressionon　his　face　half　of　fear　and　half　of　astonished　joy。　　
The　woods　on　either　side　became　denser；　the　trees　were　now　younger　andthicker；　and　as　the　lane　went　lower；　running　down　into　a　fold　of　the　hills；　
there　were　many　deep　brakes　of　hazel　on　the　rising　slopes　at　either　hand。　Atlast　the　Elves　turned　aside　from　the　path。　A　green　ride　lay　almost　unseenthrough　the　thickets　on　the　right；　and　this　they　followed　as　it　wound　awayback　up　the　wooded　slopes　on　to　the　top　of　a　shoulder　of　the　hills　that　stoodout　into　the　lower　land　of　the　river…valley。　Suddenly　they　came　out　of　theshadow　of　the　trees；　and　before　them　lay　a　wide　space　of　grass；　grey　under　thenight。　On　three　sides　the　woods　pressed　upon　it；　but　eastward　the　ground　fellsteeply　and　the　tops　of　the　dark　trees；　growing　at　the　bottom　of　the　slope；　
were　below　their　feet。　Beyond；　the　low　lands　lay　dim　and　flat　under　the　stars。　
Nearer　at　hand　a　few　lights　twinkled　in　the　village　of　Woodhall。　
The　Elves　sat　on　the　grass　and　spoke　together　in　soft　voices；　they　seemedto　take　no　further　notice　of　the　hobbits。　Frodo　and　his　panions　wrappedthemselves　in　cloaks　and　blankets；　and　drowsiness　stole　over　them。　The　nightgrew　on；　and　the　lights　in　the　valley　went　out。　Pippin　fell　asleep；　pillowedon　a　green　hillock。　
Away　high　in　the　East　swung　Remmirath；　the　Netted　Stars；　and　slowly　abovethe　mists　red　Borgil　rose；　glowing　like　a　jewel　of　fire。　Then　by　some　shift　ofairs　all　the　mist　was　drawn　away　like　a　veil；　and　there　leaned　up；　as　heclimbed　over　the　rim　of　the　world；　the　Swordsman　of　the　Sky；　Menelvagor　withhis　shining　belt。　The　Elves　all　burst　into　song。　Suddenly　under　the　trees　afire　sprang　up　with　a　red　light。　
'e！'　the　Elves　called　to　the　hobbits。　'e！　Now　is　the　time　for　　
speech　and　merriment！'　
Pippin　sat　up　and　rubbed　his　eyes。　He　shivered。　'There　is　a　fire　in　thehall；　and　food　for　hungry　guests；'　said　an　Elf　standing　before　him。　
At　the　south　end　of　the　greensward　there　was　an　opening。　There　the　green　　
　
floor　ran　on　into　the　wood；　and　formed　a　wide　space　like　a　hall；　roofed　by　theboughs　of　trees。　Their　great　trunks　ran　like　pillars　down　each　side。　In　themiddle　there　was　a　wood…fire　blazing；　and　upon　the　tree…pillars　torches　withlights　of　gold　and　silver　were　burning　steadily。　The　Elves　sat　round　the　fireupon　the　grass　or　upon　the　sawn　rings　of　old　trunks。　Some　went　to　and　frobearing　cups　and　pouring　drink；　others　brought　food　on　heaped　plates　anddishes。　　
'This　is　poor　fare；'　they　said　to　the　hobbits；　'for　we　are　lodging　in　thegreenwood　far　from　our　halls。　If　ever　you　are　our　guests　at　home；　we　willtreat　you　better。'　
'It　seems　to　me　good　enough　for　a　birthday…party；'　said　Frodo。　
Pippin　afterwards　recalled　little　of　either　food　or　drink；　for　his　mindwas　filled　with　the　light　upon　the　elf…faces；　and　the　sound　of　voices　sovarious　and　so　beautiful　that　he　felt　in　a　waking　dream。　But　he　rememberedthat　there　was　bread；　surpassing　the　savour　of　a　fair　white　loaf　to　one　who　isstarving；　and　fruits　sweet　as　wildberries　and　richer　than　the　tended　fruits　ofgardens；　he　drained　a　cup　that　was　filled　with　a　fragrant　draught；　cool　as　aclear　fountain；　golden　as　a　summer　afternoon。　
Sam　could　never　describe　in　words；　nor　picture　clearly　to　himself；　whathe　felt　or　thought　that　night；　though　it　remained　in　his　memory　as　one　of　thechief　events　of　his　life。　The　nearest　he　ever　got　was　to　say：　'Well；　sir；　if　Icould　grow　apples　like　that；　I　would　call　myself　a　gardener。　But　it　was　thesinging　that　went　to　my　heart；　if　you　know　what　I　mean。'　
Frodo　sat；　eating；　drinking；　and　talking　with　delight；　but　his　mind　waschiefly　on　the　words　spoken。　He　knew　a　little　of　the　elf…speech　and　listenedeagerly。　Now　and　again　he　spoke　to　those　that　served　him　and　thanked　them　intheir　own　language。　They　smiled　at　him　and　said　laughing：　'Here　is　a　jewelamong　hobbits！'　
After　a　while　Pippin　fell　fast　asleep；　and　was　lifted　up　and　borne　awayto　a　bower　under　the　trees；　there　he　was　laid　upon　a　soft　bed　and　slept　therest　of　the　night　away。　Sam　refused　to　leave　his　master。　When　Pippin　had　gone；　
he　came　and　sat　curled　up　at　Frodo's　feet；　where　at　last　he　nodded　and　closedhis　eyes。　Frodo　remained　long　awake；　talking　with　Gildor。　
They　spoke　of　many　things；　old　and　new；　and　Frodo　questioned　Gildor　muchabout　happenings　in　the　wide　world　outside　the　Shire。　The　tidings　were　mostlysad　and　ominous：　of　gathering　darkness；　the　wars　of　Men；　and　the　flight　of　theElves。　At　last　Frodo　asked　the　question　that　was　nearest　to　his　heart：　
'Tell　me；　Gildor；　have　you　ever　seen　Bilbo　since　he　left　us？'　
Gildor　smiled。　'Yes；'　he　answered。　'Twice。　He　said　farewell　to　us　on　thisvery　spot。　But　I　saw　him　once　again；　far　from　here。'　He　would　say　no　moreabout　Bilbo；　and　Frodo　fell　silent。　
'You　do　not　ask　me　or　tell　me　much　that　concerns　yourself；　Frodo；'　saidGildor。　'But　I　already　know　a　little；　and　I　can　read　more　in　your　face　and　inthe　thought　behind　your　questions。　You　are　leaving　the　Shire；　and　yet　youdoubt　that　you　will　find　what　you　seek；　or　acplish　what　you　intend；　or　thatyou　will　ever　return。　Is　not　that　so？'　
'It　is；'　said　Frodo；　'but　I　thought　my　going　was　a　secret　known　only　toGandalf　and　my　faithful　Sam。'　He　looked　down　at　Sam；　who　was　snoring　gently。　
'The　secret　will　not　reach　the　Enemy　from　us；'　said　Gildor。　
'The　Enemy？'　said　Frodo。　'Then　you　know　why　I　am　leaving　the　Shire？'　
'I　do　not　know　for　what　reason　the　Enemy　is　pursuing　you；'　answeredGildor；　'but　I　perceive　that　he　is　–　strange　indeed　though　that　seems　to　me。　
And　I　warn　you　that　peril　is　now　both　before　you　and　behind　you；　and　uponeither　side。'　　
'You　mean　the　Riders？　I　feared　that　they　were　servants　of　the　Enemy。　What_are_　the　Black　Riders？'　　
'Has　Gandalf　told　you　nothing？'　
'Nothing　about　such　creatures。'　
'Then　I　think　it　is　not　for　me　to　say　more　–　lest　terror　should　keep　youfrom　your　journey。　For　it　seems　to　me　that　you　have　set　out　only　just　in　time；　　
　
if　indeed　you　are　in　time。　You　must　now　make　haste；　and　neither　stay　nor　turnback；　for　the　Shire　is　no　longer　any　protection　to　you。'　
'I　cannot　imagine　what　information　could　be　more　terrifying　than　yourhints　and　warnings；'　exclaimed　Frodo。　'I　knew　that　danger　lay　ahead；　ofcourse；　but　I　did　not　expect　to　meet　it　in　our　own　Shire。　Can't　a　hobbit　walkfrom　the　Water　to　the　River　in　peace？'　
'But　it　is　not　your　own　Shire；'　said　Gildor。　'Others　dwelt　here　beforehobbits　were；　and　others　will　dwell　here　again　when　hobbits　are　no　more。　Thewide　world　is　all　about　you：　you　can　fence　yourselves　in；　but　you　cannot　forever　fence　it　out。'　　
'I　know　–　and　yet　it　has　always　seemed　so　safe　and　familiar。　What　can　Ido　now？　My　plan　was　to　leave　the　Shire　secretly；　and　make　my　way　to　Rivendell；　
but　now　my　footsteps　are　dogged；　before　ever　I　get　to　Buckland。'　
'I　think　you　should　still　follow　that　plan；'　said　Gildor。　'I　do　not　thinkthe　Road　will　prove　too　hard　for　your　courage。　But　if　you　desire　clearercounsel；　you　should　ask　Gandalf。　I　do　not　know　the　reason　for　your　flight；　andtherefore　I　do　not　know　by　what　means　your　pursuers　will　assail　you。　Thesethings　Gandalf　must　know。　I　suppose　that　you　will　see　him　before　you　leave　theShire？'　　
'I　hope　so。　But　that　is　another　thing　that　makes　me　anxious。　I　have　beenexpecting　Gandalf　for　many　days。　He　was　to　have　e　to　Hobbiton　at　the　latesttwo　nights　ago；　but　he　has　never　appeared。　Now　I　am　wondering　what　can　havehappened。　Should　I　wait　for　him？'　
Gildor　was　silent　for　a　moment。　'I　do　not　like　this　news；'　he　said　atlast。　'That　Gandalf　should　be　late；　does　not　bode　well。　But　it　is　said：　_Donot　meddle　in　the　affairs　of　Wizards；　for　they　are　subtle　and　quick　to　anger。_　
The　choice　is　yours：　to　go　or　wait。'