the fellowship of the ring-第69章

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！


daughter　of　Elrond；　in　whom　it　was　said　that　the　likeness　of　Lúthien　had　e　　
　
on　earth　again；　and　she　was　called　Undómiel；　for　she　was　the　Evenstar　of　herpeople。　Long　she　had　been　in　the　land　of　her　mother's　kin；　in　Lórien　beyondthe　mountains；　and　was　but　lately　returned　to　Rivendell　to　her　father's　house。　
But　her　brothers；　Elladan　and　Elrohir；　were　out　upon　errantry：　for　they　rodeoften　far　afield　with　the　Rangers　of　the　North；　forgetting　never　theirmother's　torment　in　the　dens　of　the　orcs。　　
Such　loveliness　in　living　thing　Frodo　had　never　seen　before　nor　imaginedin　his　mind；　and　he　was　both　surprised　and　abashed　to　find　that　he　had　a　seatat　Elrond's　table　among　all　these　folk　so　high　and　fair。　Though　he　had　asuitable　chair；　and　was　raised　upon　several　cushions；　he　felt　very　small；　andrather　out　of　place；　but　that　feeling　quickly　passed。　The　feast　was　merry　andthe　food　all　that　his　hunger　could　desire。　It　was　some　time　before　he　lookedabout　him　again　or　even　turned　to　his　neighbours。　
He　looked　first　for　his　friends。　Sam　had　begged　to　be　allowed　to　wait　onhis　master；　but　had　been　told　that　for　this　time　he　was　a　guest　of　honour。　
Frodo　could　see　him　now；　sitting　with　Pippin　and　Merry　at　the　upper　end　of　oneof　the　side…tables　close　to　the　dais。　He　could　see　no　sign　of　Strider。　
Next　to　Frodo　on　his　right　sat　a　dwarf　of　important　appearance；　richlydressed。　His　beard；　very　long　and　forked；　was　white；　nearly　as　white　as　thesnow…white　cloth　of　his　garments。　He　wore　a　silver　belt；　and　round　his　neckhung　a　chain　of　silver　and　diamonds。　Frodo　stopped　eating　to　look　at　him。　
'Wele　and　well　met！'　said　the　dwarf；　turning　towards　him。　Then　heactually　rose　from　his　seat　and　bowed。　‘Glóin　at　your　service；'　he　said；　andbowed　still　lower。　　
'Frodo　Baggins　at　your　service　and　your　family's；'　said　Frodo　correctly；　
rising　in　surprise　and　scattering　his　cushions。　'Am　I　right　in　guessing　thatyou　are　_the_　Glóin；　one　of　the　twelve　panions　of　the　great　ThorinOakenshield？'　　
‘Quite　right；'　answered　the　dwarf；　gathering　up　the　cushions　andcourteously　assisting　Frodo　back　into　his　seat。　'And　I　do　not　ask；　for　I　havealready　been　told　that　you　are　the　kinsman　and　adopted　heir　of　our　friendBilbo　the　renowned。　Allow　me　to　congratulate　you　on　your　recovery。'　
‘Thank　you　very　much；'　said　Frodo。　
'You　have　had　some　very　strange　adventures；　I　hear；'　said　Glóin。　'Iwonder　greatly　what　brings　_four_　hobbits　on　so　long　a　journey。　Nothing　likeit　has　happened　since　Bilbo　came　with　us。　But　perhaps　I　should　not　inquire　tooclosely；　since　Elrond　and　Gandalf　do　not　seem　disposed　to　talk　of　this？'　
'I　think　we　will　not　speak　of　it；　at　least　not　yet；'　said　Frodo　politely。　
He　guessed　that　even　in　Elrond's　house　the　matter　of　the　Ring　was　not　onefor　casual　talk；　and　in　any　case　he　wished　to　forget　his　troubles　for　a　time。　
'But　I　am　equally　curious；'　he　added；　‘to　learn　what　brings　so　important　adwarf　so　far　from　the　Lonely　Mountain。'　
Glóin　looked　at　him。　'If　you　have　not　heard；　I　think　we　will　not　speakyet　of　that　either。　Master　Elrond　will　summon　us　all　ere　long；　I　believe；　andthen　we　shall　all　hear　many　things。　But　there　is　much　else　that　may　be　told。'　
Throughout　the　rest　of　the　meal　they　talked　together；　but　Frodo　listenedmore　than　he　spoke；　for　the　news　of　the　Shire；　apart　from　the　Ring；　seemedsmall　and　far…away　and　unimportant；　while　Glóin　had　much　to　tell　of　events　inthe　northern　regions　of　Wilderland。　Frodo　learned　that　Grimbeorn　the　Old；　sonof　Beorn；　was　now　the　lord　of　many　sturdy　men；　and　to　their　land　between　theMountains　and　Mirkwood　neither　orc　nor　wolf　dared　to　go。　
'lndeed；'　said　Glóin；　‘if　it　were　not　for　the　Beornings；　the　passage　fromDale　to　Rivendell　would　long　ago　have　bee　impossible。　They　are　valiant　menand　keep　open　the　High　Pass　and　the　Ford　of　Carrock。　But　their　tolls　arehigh；'　he　added　with　a　shake　of　his　head；　‘and　like　Beorn　of　old　they　are　notover　fond　of　dwarves。　Still；　they　are　trusty；　and　that　is　much　in　these　days。　
Nowhere　are　there　any　men　so　friendly　to　us　as　the　Men　of　Dale。　They　are　goodfolk；　the　Bardings。　The　grandson　of　Bard　the　Bowman　rules　them；　Brand　son　ofBain　son　of　Bard。　He　is　a　strong　king；　and　his　realm　now　reaches　far　south　andeast　of　Esgaroth。'　　
　
'And　what　of　your　own　people？'　asked　Frodo。　
‘There　is　much　to　tell；　good　and　bad；'　said　Glóin；　'yet　it　is　mostlygood：　we　have　so　far　been　fortunate；　though　we　do　not　escape　the　shadow　ofthese　times。　If　you　really　wish　to　hear　of　us；　I　will　tell　you　tidings　gladly。　
But　stop　me　when　you　are　weary！　Dwarves'　tongues　run　on　when　speaking　of　theirhandiwork；　they　say。'　
And　with　that　Glóin　embarked　on　a　long　account　of　the　doings　of　theDwarf…kingdom。　He　was　delighted　to　have　found　so　polite　a　listener；　for　Frodoshowed　no　sign　of　weariness　and　made　no　attempt　to　change　the　subject；　thoughactually　he　soon　got　rather　lost　among　the　strange　names　of　people　and　placesthat　he　had　never　heard　of　before。　He　was　interested；　however；　to　hear　thatDáin　was　still　King　under　the　Mountain；　and　was　now　old　（having　passed　his　twohundred　and　fiftieth　year）；　venerable；　and　fabulously　rich。　Of　the　tenpanions　who　had　survived　the　Battle　of　Five　Armies　seven　were　still　withhim：　Dwalin；　Glóin；　Dori；　Nori；　Bifur；　Bofur；　and　Bombur。　Bombur　was　now　sofat　that　he　could　not　move　himself　from　his　couch　to　his　chair　at　table；　andit　took　six　young　dwarves　to　lift　him。　
'And　what　has　bee　of　Balin　and　Ori　and　óin？'　asked　Frodo。　　
A　shadow　passed　over　Glóin's　face。　‘We　do　not　know；'　he　answered。　'It　islargely　on　account　of　Balin　that　I　have　e　to　ask　the　advice　of　those　thatdwell　in　Rivendell。　But　tonight　let　us　speak　of　merrier　things！'　
Glóin　began　then　to　talk　of　the　works　of　his　people；　telling　Frodo　abouttheir　great　labours　in　Dale　and　under　the　Mountain。　'We　have　done　well；'　hesaid。　‘But　in　metalwork　we　cannot　rival　our　fathers；　many　of　whose。　secretsare　lost。　We　make　good　armour　and　keen　swords；　but　we　cannot　again　make　mailor　blade　to　match　those　that　were　made　before　the　dragon　came。　Only　in　miningand　building　have　we　surpassed　the　old　days。　You　should　see　the　waterways　ofDale；　Frodo；　and　the　fountains；　and　the　pools！　You　should　see　the　stone…pavedroads　of　many　colours！　And　the　halls　and　cavernous　streets　under　the　earthwith　arches　carved　like　trees；　and　the　terraces　and　towers　upon　the　Mountain'ssides！　Then　you　would　see　that　we　have　not　been　idle。'　
'I　will　e　and　see　them；　if　ever　I　can；'　said　Frodo。　'How　surprisedBilbo　would　have　been　to　see　all　the　changes　in　the　Desolation　of　Smaug！'　
Glóin　looked　at　Frodo　and　smiled。　'You　were　very　fond　of　Bilbo　were　younot？'　he　asked。　　
‘Yes；'　answered　Frodo。　'I　would　rather　see　him　than　all　the　towers　andpalaces　in　the　world。'　　
At　length　the　feast　came　to　an　end。　Elrond　and　Arwen　rose　and　went　downthe　hall；　and　the　pany　followed　them　in　due　order。　The　doors　were　thrownopen；　and　they　went　across　a　wide　passage　and　through　other　doors；　and　cameinto　a　further　hall。　In　it　were　no　tables；　but　a　bright　fire　was　burning　in　agreat　hearth　between　the　carven　pillars　upon　either　side。　
Frodo　found　himself　walking　with　Gandalf。　‘This　is　the　Hall　of　Fire'　saidthe　wizard。　‘Here　you　will　hear　many　songs　and　tales…if　you　can　keep　awake。　
But　except　on　high　days　it　usually　stands　empty　and　quiet；　and　people　ehere　who　wish　for　peace；　and　thought。　There　is　always　a　fire　here；　all　theyear　round；　but　there　is　little　other　light。'　
As　Elrond　entered　and　went　towards　the　seat　prepared　for　him；　elvishminstrels　began　to　make　sweet　music。　Slowly　the　hall　filled；　and　Frodo　lookedwith　delight　upon　the　many　fair　faces　that　were　gathered　together；　the　goldenfirelight　played　upon　them　and　shimmered　in　their　hair。　Suddenly　he　noticed；　
not　far　from　the　further　end　of　the　fire；　a　small　dark　figure　seated　on　astool　with　his　back　propped　against　a　pillar。　Beside　him　on　the　ground　was　adrinking…cup　and　some　bread。　Frodo　wondered　whether　he　was　ill　（if　people　wereever　ill　in　Rivendell）；　and　had　been　unable　to　e　to　the　feast。　His　headseemed　sunk　in　sleep　on　his　breast；　and　a　fold　of　his　dark　cloak　was　drawnover　his　face。　　
Elrond　went　forward　and　stood　beside　the　silent　figure。　'Awake　littlemaster。　he　said；　with　a　smile。　Then；　turning　to　Frodo；　he　beckoned