按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
A Elbereth Gilthoniel；
silivren penna míriel
o menel aglar elenath！
Na…chaered palan…díriel
o galadhremmin ennorath；
Fanuilos； le linnathon
nef aear； sí nef aearon！
Frodo halted for a moment； looking back。 Elrond was in his chair and thefire was on his face like summer…light upon the trees。 Near him sat the LadyArwen。 To his surprise Frodo saw that Aragorn stood beside her； his dark cloakwas thrown back； and he seemed to be clad in elven…mail； and a star shone onhis breast。 They spoke together； and then suddenly it seemed to Frodo thatArwen turned towards him； and the light of her eyes fell on him from afar andpierced his heart。
He stood still enchanted； while the sweet syllables of the elvish songfell like clear jewels of blended word and melody。 ‘It is a song toElbereth；' said Bilbo。 ‘They will sing that； and other songs of the BlessedRealm； many times tonight。 e on！'
He led Frodo back to his own little room。 It opened on to the gar densand looked south across the ravine of the Bruinen。 There they sat for somewhile； looking through the window at the bright stars above the steep…climbingwoods； and talking softly。 They spoke no more of the small news of the Shirefar away； nor of the dark shadows and perils that enpassed them； but of thefair things they had seen in the world together； of the Elves； of the stars；
of trees； and the gentle fall of the bright year in the woods。
At last there came a knock on the door。 ‘Begging your pardon；' said Sam；
putting in his head； ‘but I was just wondering if you would be wantinganything。'
‘And begging yours； Sam Gamgee；' replied Bilbo。 ‘I guess you mean that itis time your master went to bed。'
‘Well； sir； there is a Council early tomorrow； I hear and he only got uptoday for the first time。'
‘Quite right； Sam；' laughed Bilbo。 ‘You can trot off and tell Gandalfthat he has gone to bed。 Good night； Frodo！ Bless me； but it has been good tosee you again！ There are no folk like hobbits after all for a real good talk。
I am getting very old； and I began to wonder if I should ever live to see yourchapters of our story。 Good night！ I'll take a walk； I think； and look at thestars of Elbereth in the garden。 Sleep well！'
_Chapter 2_
The Council of Elrond
Next day Frodo woke early； feeling refreshed and well。 He walked alongthe terraces above the loud…flowing Bruinen and watched the pale； cool sunrise above the far mountains； and shine down。 Slanting through the thin silvermist； the dew upon the yellow leaves was glimmering； and the woven nets ofgossamer twinkled on every bush。 Sam walked beside him； saying nothing。 butsniffing the air； and looking every now and again with wonder in his eyes atthe great heights in the East。 The snow was white upon their peaks。
On a seat cut in the stone beside a turn in the path they came uponGandalf and Bilbo deep in talk。 ‘Hullo！ Good morning！' said Bilbo。 ‘Feel readyfor the great council？'
‘I feel ready for anything；' answered Frodo。 ‘But most of all I shouldlike to go walking today and explore the valley。 I should like to get intothose pine…woods up there。' He pointed away far up the side of Rivendell tothe north。
'You may have a chance later；' said Gandalf。 ‘But we cannot make anyplans yet。 There is much to hear and decide today。'
Suddenly as they were talking a single clear bell rang out。 ‘That is thewarning bell for the Council of Elrond；' cried Gandalf。 ‘e along now！ Bothyou and Bilbo are wanted。'
Frodo and Bilbo followed the wizard quickly along the winding path backto the house； behind them； uninvited and for the moment forgotten； trottedSam。
Gandalf led them to the porch where Frodo had found his friends theevening before。 The light of the clear autumn morning was now glowing in thevalley。 The noise of bubbling waters came up from the foaming river…bed。 Birdswere singing； and a wholesome peace lay on the land。 To Frodo his dangerousflight； and the rumours of the darkness growing in the world outside； alreadyseemed only the memories of a troubled dream； but the faces that were turnedto meet them as they entered were grave。
Elrond was there； and several others were seated in silence about him。
Frodo saw Glorfindel and Glóin； and in a corner alone Strider was sitting；
clad in his old travel…worn clothes again。 Elrond drew Frodo to a seat by hisside； and presented him to the pany； saying：
'Here； my friends is the hobbit； Frodo son of Drogo。 Few have ever ehither through greater peril or on an errand more urgent。'
He then pointed out and named those whom Frodo had not met before。 Therewas a younger dwarf at Glóin's side： his son Gimli。 Beside Glorfindel therewere several other counsellors of Elrond's household； of whom Erestor was thechief； and with him was Galdor； an Elf from the Grey Havens who had e on anerrand from Círdan the Shipwright。 There was also a strange Elf clad in greenand brown； Legolas； a messenger from his father； Thranduil； the King of theElves of Northern Mirkwood。 And seated a little apart was a tall man with afair and noble face； dark…haired and grey…eyed； proud and stern of glance。
He was cloaked and booted as if for a journey on horseback； and indeedthough his garments were rich； and his cloak was lined with fur； they werestained with long travel。 He had a collar of silver in which a single whitestone was set； his locks were shorn about his shoulders。 On a baldric he worea great horn tipped with silver that now was laid upon his knees。 He gazed atFrodo and Bilbo with sudden wonder。
‘Here；' said Elrond； turning to Gandalf； ‘is Boromir； a man from theSouth。 He arrived in the grey morning； and seeks for counsel。 I have biddenhim to be present； for here his questions will be answered。'
Not all that was spoken and debated in the Council need now be told。 Muchwas said of events in the world outside； especially in the South； and in thewide lands east of the Mountains。 Of these things Frodo had already heard manyrumours； but the tale of Glóin was new to him； and when the dwarf spoke helistened attentively。 It appeared that amid the splendour of their works ofhand the hearts of the Dwarves of the Lonely Mountain were troubled。
‘It is now many years ago；' said Glóin； ‘that a shadow of disquiet fellupon our people。 Whence it came we did not at first perceive。 Words began tobe whispered in secret： it was said that we were hemmed in a narrow place； andthat greater wealth and splendour would be found in a wider world。 Some spokeof Moria： the mighty works of our fathers that are called in our own tongueKhazad…d。m； and they declared that now at last we had the power and numbers toreturn。'
Glóin sighed。 ‘Moria！ Moria！ Wonder of the Northern world！ Too deep wedelved there； and woke the nameless fear。 Long have its vast mansions lain
empty since the children of Durin fled。 But now we spoke of it again withlonging； and yet with dread； for no dwarf has dared to pass the doors ofKhazad…d。m for many lives of kings； save Thrór only； and he perished。 At last；
however； Balin listened to the whispers； and resolved to go； and though Dáindid not give leave willingly； he took with him Ori and óin and many of ourfolk； and they went away south。
〃That was nigh on thirty years ag