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'Such counsels will make the Enemy's victory certain indeed;' said Gandalf。
'Hope on then!' laughed Denethor。 'Do I not know thee; Mithrandir? Thy hope is to rule in my
stead; to stand behind every throne; north; south; or west。 I have read thy mind and its policies。 Do I
not know that you manded this halfling here to keep silence? That you brought him hither to be
a spy within my very chamber? And yet in our speech together I have learned the names and
purpose of all thy panions。 So! With the left hand thou wouldst use me for a little while as a
shield against Mordor; and with the right bring up this Ranger of the North to supplant me。
'But I say to thee; Gandalf Mithrandir; I will not be thy tool! I am Steward of the House of
Anárion。 I will not step down to be the dotard chamberlain of an upstart。 Even were his claim
proved to me; still he es but of the line of Isildur。 I will not bow to such a one; last of a ragged
house long bereft of lordship and dignity。'
'What then would you have;' said Gandalf; 'if your will could have its way?'
'I would have things as they were in all the days of my life;' answered Denethor; 'and in the days
of my longfathers before me: to be the Lord of this City in peace; and leave my chair to a son after
me; who would be his own master and no wizard's pupil。 But if doom denies this to me; then I will
have _naught_: neither life diminished; nor love halved; nor honour abated。'
'To me it would not seem that a Steward who faithfully surrenders his charge is diminished in
love or in honour;' said Gandalf。 'And at the least you shall not rob your son of his choice while his
death is still in doubt。'
At those words Denethor's eyes flamed again; and taking the Stone under his arm he drew a
knife and strode towards the bier。 But Beregond sprang forward and set himself before Faramir。
'So!' cried Denethor。 'Thou hadst already stolen half my son's love。 Now thou stealest the hearts
of my knights also; so that they rob me wholly of my son at the last。 But in this at least thou shalt
not defy my will: to rule my own end。'
'e hither!' he cried to his servants。 'e; if you are not all recreant!' Then two of them ran
up the steps to him。 Swiftly he snatched a torch from the hand of one and sprang back into the
house。 Before Gandalf could hinder him he thrust the brand amid the fuel; and at once it crackled
and roared into flame。
Then Denethor leaped upon the table; and standing there wreathed in fire and smoke he took up
the staff of his stewardship that lay at his feet and broke it on his knee。 Casting the pieces into the
blaze he bowed and laid himself on the table; clasping the _palantír_ with both hands upon his
breast。 And it was said that ever after; if any man looked in that Stone; unless he had a great
strength of will to turn it to other purpose; he saw only two aged hands withering in flame。
Gandalf in grief and horror turned his face away and closed the door。 For a while he stood in
thought; silent upon the threshold; while those outside heard the greedy roaring of the fire within。
And then Denethor gave a great cry; and afterwards spoke no more; nor was ever again seen by
mortal men。
'So passes Denethor; son of Ecthelion;' said Gandalf: Then he turned to Beregond and the Lord's
servants that stood there aghast。 'And so pass also the days of Gondor that you have known; for
good or evil they are ended。 Ill deeds have been done here; but let now all enmity that lies between
you be put away; for it was contrived by the Enemy and works his will。 You have been caught in a
net of warring duties that you did not weave。 But think; you servants of the Lord; blind in your
obedience; that but for the treason of Beregond Faramir; Captain of the White Tower; would now
also be burned。
'Bear away from this unhappy place your rades who have fallen。 And we will bear Faramir;
Steward of Gondor; to a place where he can sleep in peace; or die if that be his doom。'
Then Gandalf and Beregond taking up the bier bore it away towards the Houses of Healing;
while behind them walked Pippin with downcast head。 But the servants of the Lord stood gazing as
stricken men at the house of the dead; and even as Gandalf came to the end of Rath Dínen there
was a great noise。 Looking back they saw the dome of the house crack and smokes issue forth; and
then with a rush and rumble of stone it fell in a flurry of fire; but still unabated the flames danced
and flickered among the ruins。 Then in terror the servants fled and followed Gandalf。
At length they came back to the Steward's Door; and Beregond looked with grief at the porter。
'This deed I shall ever rue;' he said; 'but a madness of haste was on me; and he would not listen; but
drew sword against me。' Then taking the key that he had wrested from the slain man he closed the
door and locked it。 'This should now be given to the Lord Faramir;' he said。
'The Prince of Dol Amroth is in mand in the absence of the Lord;' said Gandalf; 'but since
he is not here; I must take this on myself。 I bid you keep the key and guard it; until the City is set in
order again。'
Now at last they passed into the high circles of the City; and in the light of morning they went
their way towards the Houses of Healing; and these were fair houses set apart; for the care of those
who were grievously sick; but now they were prepared for the tending of men hurt in battle or
dying。 They stood not far from the Citadel…gate; in the sixth circle; nigh to its southward wall; and
about them was a garden and a greensward with trees; the only such place in the City。 There dwelt
the few women that had been permitted to remain in Minas Tirith; since they were skilled in
healing or in the service of the healers。
But even as Gandalf and his panions came carrying the bier to the main door of the Houses;
they heard a great cry that went up from the field before the Gate and rising shrill and piercing into
the sky passed; and died away on the wind。 So terrible was the cry that for a moment all stood still;
and yet when it h