jrt.fellowshipofring-第85节
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！
The flicker for a moment showed his sharp nose。 and the puff of smoke。
It was Gandalf who roused them all from sleep。 He had sat and watched all alone for about six hours； and had let the others rest。 ‘And in the watches I have made up my mind；' he said。 ‘I do not like the feel of the middle way； and I do not like the smell of the left…hand way： there is foul air down there； or I am no guide。 I shall take the right…hand passage。 It is time we began to climb up again。'
For eight dark hours； not counting two brief halts； they marched on； and they met no danger； and heard nothing； and saw nothing but the faint gleam of the wizard's light； bobbing like a will…o'…the…wisp in front of them。 The passage they had chosen wound steadily upwards。 As far as they could judge it went in great mounting curves； and as it rose it grew loftier and wider。 There were now no openings to other galleries or tunnels on either side； and the floor was level and sound； without pits or cracks。 Evidently they had struck what once had been an important road； and they went forward quicker than they had done on their first march。
In this way they advanced some fifteen miles； measured in a direct line east； though they must have actually walked twenty miles or more。 As the road climbed upwards‘ Frodo's spirits rose a little； but he still felt oppressed； and still at times he heard； or thought he heard； away behind the pany and beyond the fall and patter of their feet； a following footstep that was not an echo。
They had marched as far as the hobbits could endure without a rest； and all were thinking of a place where they could sleep； when suddenly the walls to right and left vanished。 They seemed to have passed through some arched doorway into a black and empty space。 There was a great draught of warmer air behind them； and before them the darkness was cold on their faces。 They halted and crowded anxiously together。
Gandalf seemed pleased。 ‘I chose the right way；' he said。 ‘At last we are ing to the habitable parts； and I guess that we are not far now from the eastern side。 But we are high up； a good deal higher than the Dimrill Gate； unless I am mistaken。 From the feeling of the air we must be in a wide hall。 I will now risk a little real light。'
He raised his staff； and for a brief instant there was blaze like a flash of lightning。 Great shadows sprang up and fled； and for a second they saw a vast roof far above their heads upheld by many mighty pillars hewn of stone。 Before them and on either side stretched a huge empty hall； its black walls； polished and smooth as glass； flashed and glittered。 Three other entrances they saw； dark black arches： one straight before them eastwards； and one on either side。 Then the light went out。
‘That is all that I shall venture on for the present；' said Gandalf。 'There used to be great windows on the mountain…side； and shafts leading out to the light in the upper reaches of the Mines。 I think we have reached them now； but it is night outside again； and we cannot tell until morning。 If I am right； tomorrow we may actually see the morning peeping in。 But in the meanwhile we had better go no further。 Let us rest； if we can。 Things have gone well so far； and the greater part of the dark road is over。 But we are not through yet； and it is a long way down to the Gates that open on the world。'
The pany spent that night in the great cavernous hall； huddled close together in a corner to escape the draught： there seemed to be a steady inflow of chill air through the eastern archway。 All about them as they lay hung the darkness； hollow and immense； and they were oppressed by the loneliness and vastness of the dolven halls and endlessly branching stairs and passages。 The wildest imaginings that dark rumour had ever suggested to the hobbits fell altogether short of the actual dread and wonder of Moria。
‘There must have been a mighty crowd of dwarves here at one time ' said Sam； ‘and every one of them busier than badgers for five hundred years to make all this； and most in hard rock too！ What did they do it all for？ They didn't live in these darksome holes surely？ '
‘These are not holes；' said Gimli。 ‘This is the great realm and city of the Dwarrowdelf。 And of old it was not darksome； but full of light and splendour； as is still remembered in our songs。'
He rose and standing in the dark he began to chant in a deep voice； while the echoes ran away into the roof。
The world was young； the mountains green；
No stain yet on the Moon was seen；
No words were laid on stream or stone
When Durin woke and walked alone。
He named the nameless hills and dells；
He drank from yet untasted wells；
He stooped and looked in Mirrormere；
And saw a crown of stars appear；
As gems upon a silver thread；
Above the shadow of his head。
The world was fair； the mountains tall；
In Elder Days before the fall
Of mighty kings in Nargothrond
And Gondolin； who now beyond
The Western Seas have passed away：
The world was fair in Durin's Day。
A king he was on carven throne
In many…pillared halls of stone
With golden roof and silver floor；
And runes of power upon the door。
The light of sun and star and moon
In shining lamps of crystal hewn
Undimmed by cloud or shade of night
There shone for ever fair and bright。
There hammer on the anvil smote；
There chisel clove； and graver wrote；
There forged was blade； and bound was hilt；
The delver mined； the mason built。
There beryl； pearl； and opal pale；
And metal wrought like fishes' mail；
Buckler and corslet； axe and sword；
And shining spears were laid in hoard。
Unwearied then were Durin's folk
Beneath the mountains music woke：
The harpers harped； the minstrels sang；
And at the gates the trumpets rang。
The world is grey； the mountains old；
The forge's fire is ashen…cold
No harp is wrung； no hammer falls：
The darkness dwells in Durin's halls
The shadow lies upon his tomb
In Moria； in Khazad…d？m。
But still the sunken stars appear
In dark and windless Mirrormere；
There lies his crown in water deep；
Till Durin wakes again from sleep。
‘I like that！ ' said Sam。 ‘I should like to learn it。 In Moria； in Khazad…d？m！ But it makes the darkness seem heavier； thinking of all those lamps。 Are there piles of jewels and gold lying about here still？ '
Gimli was silent。 Having sung his song he would say no more。
‘Piles of jewels？ ' said Gandalf。 ‘No。 The Orcs have often plundered Moria； there is nothing left in the upper halls。 And since the dwarves fled； no one dares to seek the shafts and treasuries down in the deep places： they are drowned in wateror in a shadow of fear。'
‘Then what do the dwarves want to e back for？ ' asked Sam。
'For mithril；' answered Gandalf。 ‘The wealth of Moria was not in gold and jewels； the toys of the Dwarves； nor in iron； their servant。 Such things they found here； it is true； especially iron； but they did not need to delve for them： all things that they desired they could obtain in traffic。 For here alone in the world was found Moria…silver； or true…silver as some have called it： mithril is the Elvish name。 The Dwarves have a name which they do not tell。 Its worth was ten times that of gold； and now it is beyond price； for little is left above ground； and even the Orcs dare not delve here for it。 The lodes lead away north towards Caradhras； and down to darkness。 The Dwarves tell no tale； but even as mithril was the foundation of their wealth； so also it was their destruction： they delved too greedily and too deep； and disturbed that from which they fled； Durin's Bane。 Of what they brought to light the Orcs have gathered nearly all； and given it in tribute to Sauron； who covets it。
‘Mithril！ All folk desired it。 It could be beaten like copper； and polished like glass； and the Dwarves could make of it a metal； light and yet harder than tempered steel。 Its beauty was like to that of mon silver； but the beauty of mithril did not tarnish or grow dim。 The Elves dearly loved it； and among many uses they made of it ithildin； starmoon； which you saw upon the doors。 Bilbo had a corslet of mithril…rings that Thorin gave him。 I wonder what has bee of it？ Gathering dust still in Michel Delving Mathom…house； I suppose。'
‘What？ ' cried Gimli； startled out of his silence。 ‘A corslet of Moria…silver？ That was a kingly gift！ '
'Yes；' said Gandalf。 ‘I never told him； but its worth was greater than the value of the whole Shire and everything in it。'
Frodo said nothing； but he put his hand under his tunic and touched the rings of his mail…shirt。 He felt staggered to think that he had been walking about with the price of the Shire under his jacket。 Had Bilbo known？ He felt no doubt that Bilbo knew quite well。 It was indeed a kingly gift。 But now his thoughts had been carried away from the dark Mines； to Rivendell； to Bilbo； and to Bag End in the days while Bilbo was still there。 He wished with all his heart that he was back there； and in those days； mowing the lawn； or pottering among the flowers； and that he had never heard of Moria； or mithril … or the Ring。
A deep silence fell。 One by one the others fell asleep。 Frodo was on guard。 As if it were a breath that came in through unseen doors out of deep places； dread ca
