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‘e！ ' said Haldir。 ‘All is now ready for you。 Enter the boats！ Buttake care at first！ '
'Heed the words！ ' said the other Elves。 'These boats are light…built；
and they are crafty and unlike the boats of other folk。 They will not sink；
lade them as you will； but they are wayward if mishandled。 It would be wise ifyou accustomed yourselves to stepping in and out； here where there is alanding…place； before you set off downstream。'
The pany was arranged in this way： Aragorn； Frodo； and Sam were in oneboat； Boromir； Merry； and Pippin in another； and in the third were Legolas andGimli； who had now bee fast friends。 In this last boat most of the goodsand packs were stowed。 The boats were moved and steered with short…handledpaddles that had broad leaf…shaped blades。 When all was ready Aragorn led themon a trial up the Silverlode。 The current was swift and they went forwardslowly。 Sam sat in the bows； clutching the sides； and looking back wistfullyto the shore。 The sunlight glittering on the water dazzled his eyes。 As theypassed beyond the green field of the Tongue； the trees drew down to theriver's brink。 Here and there golden leaves tossed and floated on the ripplingstream。 The air was very bright and still； and there was a silence； except forthe high distant song of larks。
They turned a sharp bend in the river； and there； sailing proudly downthe stream toward them； they saw a swan of great size。 The water rippled on
either side of the white breast beneath its curving neck。 Its beak shone likeburnished gold； and its eyes glinted like jet set in yellow stones； its hugewhite wings were half lifted。 A music came down the river as it drew nearer；
and suddenly they perceived that it was a ship； wrought and carved with elvenskill
in the likeness of a bird。 Two elves clad in white steered it with black
paddles。 In the midst of the vessel sat Celeborn； and behind him stoodGaladriel； tall and white； a circlet of golden flowers was in her hair； and inher hand she held a harp； and she sang。 Sad and sweet was the sound of hervoice in the cool clear air：
I sang of leaves； of leaves of gold； and leaves of gold there grew：
Of wind I sang； a wind there came and in the branches blew。
Beyond the Sun； beyond the Moon； the foam was on the Sea；
And by the strand of Ilmarin there grew a golden Tree。
Beneath the stars of Ever…eve in Eldamar it shone；
In Eldamar beside the walls of Elven Tirion。
There long the golden leaves have grown upon the branching years；
While here beyond the Sundering Seas now fall the Elven…tears。
O Lórien！ The Winter es； the bare and leafless Day；
The leaves are falling in the stream； the River flows away。
O Lórien！ Too long I have dwelt upon this Hither Shore
And in a fading crown have twined the golden elanor。
But if of ships I now should sing； what ship would e to me；
What ship would bear me ever back across so wide a Sea？
Aragorn stayed his boat as the Swan…ship drew alongside。 The Lady endedher song and greeted them。 ‘We have e to bid you our last farewell；' shesaid； ‘and to speed you with blessings from our land。'
‘Though you have been our guests；' said Celeborn； ‘you have not yet eatenwith us； and we bid you； therefore； to a parting feast； here between theflowing waters that will bear you far from Lórien。'
The Swan passed on slowly to the hythe； and they turned their boats andfollowed it。 There in the last end of Egladil upon the green grass the partingfeast was held； but Frodo ate and drank little； heeding only the beauty of theLady and her voice。 She seemed no longer perilous or terrible； nor filled withhidden power。 Already she seemed to him； as by men of later days Elves stillat times are seen： present and yet remote； a living vision of that which hasalready been left far behind by the flowing streams of Time。
After they had eaten and drunk； sitting upon the grass； Celeborn spoke tothem again of their journey； and lifting his hand he pointed south to thewoods beyond the Tongue。
‘As you go down the water；' he said； ‘you will find that the trees willfail； and you will e to a barren country。 There the River flows in stonyvale amid high moors； until at last after many leagues it es to the tallisland of the Tindrock； that we call Tol Brandir。 There it casts its armsabout the steep shores of the isle； and falls then with a great noise andsmoke over the cataracts of Rauros down into the Nindalf； the Wetwang as it iscalled in your tongue。 That is a wide region of sluggish fen where the streambees tortuous and much divided。 There the Entwash flows in by many mouthsfrom the Forest of Fangorn in the west。 About that stream； on this side of theGreat River； lies Rohan。 On the further side are the bleak hills of the EmynMuil。 The wind blows from the East there； for they look out over the DeadMarshes and the Noman…lands to Cirith Gorgor and the black gates of Mordor。
'Boromir； and any that go with him seeking Minas Tirith； will do well toleave the Great River above Rauros and cross the Entwash before it finds the
marshes。 Yet they should not go too far up that stream； nor risk beingentangled in the Forest of Fangorn。 That is a strange land； and is now littleknown。 But Boromir and Aragorn doubtless do not need this warning。'
'Indeed we have heard of Fangorn in Minas Tirith；' said Boromir。 ‘Butwhat I have heard seems to me for the most part old wives' tales； such as we
tell to our children。 All that lies north of Rohan is now to us so far awaythat fancy can wander freely there。 Of old Fangorn lay upon the borders of ourrealm； but it is now many lives of men since any of us visited it； to prove ordisprove the legends that have e down from distant years。
‘I have myself been at whiles in Rohan； but I have never crossed itnorthwards。 When I was sent out as a messenger； I passed through the Gap bythe skirts of the White Mountains； and crossed the Isen and the Greyflood intoNortherland。 A long and wearisome journey。 Four hundred leagues I reckoned it；
and it took me many months； for I lost my horse at Tharbad； at the fording ofthe Greyflood。 After that journey； and the road I have trodden with thispany； I do not much doubt that I shall find a way through Rohan； andFangorn too； if need be。'
‘Then I need say no more；' said Celeborn。 'But do not despise the lorethat has e down from distant years； for oft it may chance that old wiveskeep in memory word of things that once were needful for the wise to know。'
Now Galadriel rose from the grass； and taking a cup from one of hermaidens she filled it with white mead and gave it to Celeborn。
'Now it is time to drink the cup of farewell；' she said。 ‘Drink； Lord ofthe Galadhrim！ And let not your heart be sad though night must follow noon；
and already our evening draweth nigh。'
Then she brought the cup to each of the pany； and bade them drink andfarewell。 But when they had drunk she manded them to sit again on thegrass； and chairs were set for her and for Celeborn。 Her maidens stood silentabout her； and a while she looked upon her guests。 At last she spoke again。
'We have drunk the cup of parting；' she said； ‘and the shadows fallbetween us。 But before you go； I have brought in my ship gifts which the Lordand Lady of