The Lord of the Rings-指环王(英文版)-第52部分

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l　have　returned　in　greater　numbers；　and　Mirkwood　is　again　an　evil　place；　save　where　our　realm　is　maintained。

'We　have　failed　to　recapture　Gollum。　We　came　on　his　trail　among　those　of　many　Orcs；　and　it　plunged　deep　into　the　Forest；　going　south。　But　ere　long　it　escaped　our　skill；　and　we　dared　not　continue　the　hunt；　for　we　were　drawing　nigh　to　Dol　Guldur；　and　that　is　still　a　very　evil　place；　we　do　not　go　that　way。'

'Well；　well；　he　is　gone；'　said　Gandalf。　'We　have　no　time　to　seek　for　him　again。　He　must　do　what　he　will。　But　he　may　play　a　part　yet　that　neither　he　nor　Sauron　have　foreseen。

'And　now　I　will　answer　Galdor's　other　questions。　What　of　Saruman？　What　are　his　counsels　to　us　in　this　need？　This　tale　I　must　tell　in　full；　for　only　Elrond　has　heard　it　yet；　and　that　in　brief；　but　it　will　bear　on　all　that　we　must　resolve。　It　is　the　last　chapter　in　the　Tale　of　the　Ring；　so　far　as　it　has　yet　gone。

'At　the　end　of　June　I　was　in　the　Shire；　but　a　cloud　of　anxiety　was　on　my　mind；　and　I　rode　to　the　southern　borders　of　the　little　land；　for　I　had　a　foreboding　of　some　danger；　still　hidden　from　me　but　drawing　near。　There　messages　reached　me　telling　me　of　war　and　defeat　in　Gondor；　and　when　I　heard　of　the　Black　Shadow　a　chill　smote　my　heart。　But　I　found　nothing　save　a　few　fugitives　from　the　South；　yet　it　seemed　to　me　that　on　them　sat　a　fear　of　which　they　would　not　speak。　I　turned　then　east　and　north　and　journeyed　along　the　Greenway；　and　not　far　from　Bree　I　came　upon　a　traveller　sitting　on　a　bank　beside　the　road　with　his　grazing　horse　beside　him。　It　was　Radagast　the　Brown；　who　at　one　time　dwelt　at　Rhosgobel；　near　the　borders　of　Mirkwood。　He　is　one　of　my　order；　but　I　had　not　seen　him　for　many　a　year。

'　〃Gandalf！　〃　he　cried。　〃I　was　seeking　you。　But　I　am　a　stranger　in　these　parts。　All　I　knew　was　that　you　might　be　found　in　a　wild　region　with　the　uncouth　name　of　Shire。〃

'　〃Your　information　was　correct；〃　I　said。　〃But　do　not　put　it　that　way；　if　you　meet　any　of　the　inhabitants。　You　are　near　the　borders　of　the　Shire　now。　And　what　do　you　want　with　me？　It　must　be　pressing。　You　were　never　a　traveller；　unless　driven　by　great　need。〃

'　〃I　have　an　urgent　errand；〃　he　said。　〃My　news　is　evil。〃　Then　he　looked　about　him；　as　if　the　hedges　might　have　ears。　〃Nazg。l；〃　he　whispered。　〃The　Nine　are　abroad　again。　They　have　crossed　the　River　secretly　and　are　moving　westward。　They　have　taken　the　guise　of　riders　in　black。〃

'I　knew　then　what　I　had　dreaded　without　knowing　it。

'　〃The　enemy　must　have　some　great　need　or　purpose；〃　said　Radagast；　〃but　what　it　is　that　makes　him　look　to　these　distant　and　desolate　parts；　I　cannot　guess。〃

'　〃What　do　you　mean？　〃　said　I。

'　〃I　have　been　told　that　wherever　they　go　the　Riders　ask　for　news　of　a　land　called　Shire。〃

'　〃The　Shire；〃　I　said；　but　my　heart　sank。　For　even　the　Wise　might　fear　to　withstand　the　Nine；　when　they　are　gathered　together　under　their　fell　chieftain。　A　great　king　and　sorcerer　he　was　of　old；　and　now　he　wields　a　deadly　fear。　〃Who　told　you；　and　who　sent　you？　〃　I　asked。

'　〃Saruman　the　White；〃　answered　Radagast。　〃And　he　told　me　to　say　that　if　you　feel　the　need；　he　will　help；　but　you　must　seek　his　aid　at　once；　or　it　will　be　too　late。〃

'And　that　message　brought　me　hope。　For　Saruman　the　White　is　the　greatest　of　my　order。　Radagast　is；　of　course；　a　worthy　Wizard；　a　master　of　shapes　and　changes　of　hue；　and　he　has　much　lore　of　herbs　and　beasts；　and　birds　are　especially　his　friends。　But　Saruman　has　long　studied　the　arts　of　the　Enemy　himself；　and　thus　we　have　often　been　able　to　forestall　him。　It　was　by　the　devices　of　Saruman　that　we　drove　him　from　Dol　Guldur。　It　might　be　that　he　had　found　some　weapons　that　would　drive　back　the　Nine。

'　〃I　will　go　to　Saruman；〃　I　said。

'　〃Then　you　must　go　now；〃　said　Radagast；　〃for　I　have　wasted　time　in　looking　for　you；　and　the　days　are　running　short。　I　was　told　to　find　you　before　Midsummer；　and　that　is　now　here。　Even　if　you　set　out　from　this　spot；　you　will　hardly　reach　him　before　the　Nine　discover　the　land　that　they　seek。　I　myself　shall　turn　back　at　once。〃　And　with　that　he　mounted　and　would　have　ridden　straight　off。

'　〃Stay　a　moment！　〃　I　said。　〃We　shall　need　your　help；　and　the　help　of　all　things　that　will　give　it。　Send　out　messages　to　all　the　beasts　and　birds　that　are　your　friends。　Tell　them　to　bring　news　of　anything　that　bears　on　this　matter　to　Saruman　and　Gandalf。　Let　messages　be　sent　to　Orthanc。〃

'　〃I　will　do　that；〃　he　said；　and　rode　off　as　if　the　Nine　were　after　him。

'I　could　not　follow　him　then　and　there。　I　had　ridden　very　far　already　that　day；　and　I　was　as　weary　as　my　horse；　and　I　needed　to　consider　matters。　I　stayed　the　night　in　Bree；　and　decided　that　I　had　no　time　to　return　to　the　Shire。　Never　did　I　make　a　greater　mistake！

'However；　I　wrote　a　message　to　Frodo；　and　trusted　to　my　friend　the　innkeeper　to　send　it　to　him。　I　rode　away　at　dawn；　and　I　came　at　long　last　to　the　dwelling　of　Saruman。　That　is　far　south　in　Isengard；　in　the　end　of　the　Misty　Mountains；　not　far　from　the　Gap　of　Rohan。　And　Boromir　will　tell　you　that　that　is　a　great　open　vale　that　lies　between　the　Misty　Mountains　and　the　northmost　foothills　of　Ered　Nimrais；　the　White　Mountains　of　his　home。　But　Isengard　is　a　circle　of　sheer　rocks　that　enclose　a　valley　as　with　a　wall；　and　in　the　midst　of　that　valley　is　a　tower　of　stone　called　Orthanc。　It　was　not　made　by　Saruman；　but　by　the　Men　of　Númenor　long　ago；　and　it　is　very　tall　and　has　many　secrets；　yet　it　looks　not　to　be　a　work　of　craft。　It　cannot　be　reached　save　by　passing　the　circle　of　Isengard；　and　in　that　circle　there　is　only　one　gate。

'Late　one　evening　I　came　to　the　gate；　like　a　great　arch　in　the　wall　of　rock；　and　it　was　strongly　guarded。　But　the　keepers　of　the　gate　were　on　the　watch　for　me　and　told　me　that　Saruman　awaited　me。　I　rode　under　the　arch；　and　the　gate　closed　silently　behind　me；　and　suddenly　I　was　afraid；　though　I　knew　no　reason　for　it。

'But　I　rode　to　the　foot　of　Orthanc；　and　came　to　the　stair　of　Saruman　and　there　he　met　me　and　led　me　up　to　his　high　chamber。　He　wore　a　ring　on　his　finger。

'　〃So　you　have　e；　Gandalf；〃　he　said　to　me　gravely；　but　in　his　eyes　there　seemed　to　be　a　white　light；　as　if　a　cold　laughter　was　in　his　heart。

'　〃Yes；　I　have　e；〃　I　said。　〃I　have　e　for　your　aid；　Saruman　the　White。〃　And　that　title　seemed　to　anger　him。

'　〃Have　you　indeed；　Gandalf　the　Grey！　〃　he　scoffed。　〃For　aid？　It　has　seldom　been　heard　of　that　Gandalf　the　Grey　sought　for　aid；　one　so　cunning　and　so　wise；　wandering　about　the　lands；　and　concerning　himself　in　every　business；　whether　it　belongs　to　him　or　not。〃

'I　looked　at　him　and　wondered。　〃But　if　I　am　not　deceived；〃　said　I；　〃things　are　now　moving　which　will　require　the　union　of　all　our　strength。〃

'　〃That　may　be　so；〃　he　said；　〃but　the　thought　is　late　in　ing　to　you。　How　long。　I　wonder；　have　you　concealed　from　me；　the　head　of　the　Council；　a　matter　of　greatest　import？　What　brings　you　now　from　your　lurkingplace　in　the　Shire？　〃

'　〃The　Nine　have　e　forth　again；〃　I　answered。　〃They　have　crossed　the　River。　So　Radagast　said　to　me。〃

'　〃Radagast　the　Brown！　〃　laughed　Saruman；　and　he　no　longer　concealed　his　scorn。　〃Radagast　the　Birdtamer！　Radagast　the　Simple！　Radagast　the　Fool！　Yet　he　had　just　the　wit　to　play　the　part　that　I　set　him。　For　you　have　e；　and　that　was　all　the　purpose　of　my　message。　And　here　you　will　stay；　Gandalf　the　Grey；　and　rest　from　journeys。　For　I　am　Saruman　the　Wise；　Saruman　Ringmaker；　Saruman　of　Many　Colours！　〃

'I　looked　then　and　saw　that　his　robes；　which　had　seemed　white；　were　not　so；　but　were　woven　of　all　colours。　and　if　he　moved　they　shimmered　and　changed　hue　so　that　the　eye　was　bewildered。

'　〃I　liked　white　better；〃　I　said。

'　〃White！　〃　he　sneered。　〃It　serves　as　a　beginning。　White　cloth　may　be　dyed。　The　white　page　can　be　overwritten；　and　the　white　light　can　be　broken。〃

'　〃In　which　case　it　is　no　longer　white；〃　said　I。　〃And　he　that　breaks　a　thing　to　find　out　what　it　is　has　left　the　path　of　wisdom。〃

'　〃You　need　not　speak　to　me　as　to　one　of　the　fools　that　you　take　for　friends；〃　said　he。　〃I　have　not　brought　you　hither　to　be　instructed　by　you；　but　to　give　you　a　choice。〃

'He　drew　himself　up　then　and　began　to　declaim；　as　if　he　were　making　a　speech　long　rehearsed。　〃The　Elder　Days　are　gone。　The　Middle　Days　are　passing。　The　Younger　Days　are　beginning。　The　time　of　the　Elves　is　over；　but　our　time　is　at　hand：　the　world　of　Men；　which　we　must　rule。　But　we　must　have　power；　power　to　order　all　things　as　we　will；　for　that　good　which　only　the　Wise　can　see。

'　〃And　listen；　Gandalf；　my　old　friend　and　helper！　〃　he　said；　ing　near　and　speaking　now　in　a　softer　voice。　〃I　said　we；　for　we　it　may　be；　if　you　will　join　with　me。　A　new　Power　is　rising。　Against　it　the　old　allies　and　policies　will　not　avail　us　at　all。　There　is　no　hope　left　in　Elves　or　dying　Númenor。　This　then　is　one　choice　before　you。　before　us。　We　may　join　with　that　Power。　It　would　be　wise；　Gandalf。　There　is　hope　that　way。　Its　victory　is　at　hand；　and　there　will　be　rich　reward　for　those　that　aided　it。　As　the　Power　grows；　its　proved　friends　will　also　grow；　and　the　Wise；　such　as　you　and　I；　may　with　patience　e　at　last　to　direct　its　courses；　to　control　it。　We　can　bide　our　time；　we　can　keep　our　thoughts　in　our　hearts；　deploring　maybe　evils　done　by　the　way；　but　approving　the　high　and　ultimate　purpose：　Knowledge；　Rule；　Order；　all　the　things　that　we　have　so　far　striven　in　vain　to　acplish；　hindered　rather　than　helped　by　our　weak　or　idle　friends。　There　need　not　be；　there　would　not　be；　any　real　change　in　our　designs；　only　in　our　means。〃

'　〃Saruman；〃　I　said；　〃I　have　heard　speeches　of　this　kind　before；　but　only　in　the　mouths　of　emissaries　sent　from　Mordor　to　deceive　the　ignorant。　I　cannot　think　that　you　brought　me　so　far　only　to　weary　my　ears。〃

'He　looked　at　me　sidelong；　and　paused　a　while　considering。　〃Well；　I　see　that　this　wise　course　does　not　mend　itself　to　you；〃　he　said。　〃Not　yet？　Not　if　some　better　way　can　be　contrived？　〃

'He　came　and　laid　his　long　hand　on　my　arm。　〃And　why　not；　Gandalf？　〃　he　whispered。　〃Why　not？　The　Ruling　Ring？　If　we　could　mand　that；　then　the　Power　would　pass　to　us。　That　is　in　truth　why　I　brought　you　here。　For　I　have　many　eyes　in　my　service；　and　I　believe　that　you　know　where　this　precious　thing　now　lies。　Is　it　not　so？　Or　why　do　the　Nine　ask　for　the　Shire；　and　what　is　your　business　there？　〃　As　he　said　this　a　lust　which　he　could　not　conceal　shone　suddenly　in　his　eyes。

'　〃Saruman；〃　I　said；　standing　away　from　him；　〃only　one　hand　at　a　time　can　wield　the　One；　and　you　know　that　well；　so　do　not　trouble　to　say　we！　But　I　would　not　give　it；　nay；　I　would　not　give　even　news　of　it　to　you；　now　that　I　learn　your　mind。　You　were　head　of　the　Council；　but　you　have　unmasked　yourself　at　last。　Well；　the　choices　are；　it　seems；　to　submit　to　Sauron；　or　to　yourself。　I　will　take　neither。　Have　you　others　to　offer？　〃

'He　was　cold　now　and　perilous。　〃Yes；〃　he　said。　〃I　did　not　expect　you　to　show　wisdom；　even　in　your　own　behalf；　but　I　gave　you　the　chance　of　aiding　me　willingly。　and　so　saving　yourself　much　trouble　and　pain。　The　third　choice　is　to　stay　here；　until　the　end。〃

'　〃Until　what　end？　〃

'　〃Until　you　reveal　to　me　where　the　One　may　be　found。　I　may　find　means　to　persuade　you。　Or　until　it　is　found　in　your　despite；　and　the　Ruler　has　time　to　tu