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'Alas； no；' said Elrond。 'We cannot use the Ruling Ring。 That we now knowtoo well。 It belongs to Sauron and was made by him alone； and is altogetherevil。 Its strength； Boromir； is too great for anyone to wield at will； saveonly those who have already a great power of their own。 But for them it holdsan even deadlier peril。 The very desire of it corrupts the heart。 ConsiderSaruman。 If any of the Wise should with this Ring overthrow the Lord ofMordor； using his own arts； he would then set himself on Sauron's throne； andyet another Dark Lord would appear。 And that is another reason why the Ringshould be destroyed： as long as it is in the world it will be a danger even tothe Wise。 For nothing is evil in the beginning。 Even Sauron was not so。 I fearto take the Ring to hide it。 I will not take the Ring to wield it。'
‘Nor I；' said Gandalf。
Boromir looked at them doubtfully； but he bowed his head。 ‘So be it；' hesaid。 ‘Then in Gondor we must trust to such weapons as we have。 And at theleast； while the Wise ones guard this Ring； we will fight on。 Mayhap theSword…that…was…Broken may still stem the tide – if the hand that wields it has
inherited not an heirloom only； but the sinews of the Kings of Men。'
‘Who can tell？' said Aragorn。 ‘But we will put it to the test one day。'
‘May the day not be too long delayed；' said Boromir。 'For though I do notask for aid； we need it。 It would fort us to know that others fought alsowith all the means that they have。'
‘Then be forted；' said Elrond。 ‘For there are other powers and realmsthat you know not； and they are hidden from you。 Anduin the Great flows pastmany shores； ere it es to Argonath and the Gates of Gondor。'
'Still it might be well for all；' said Glóin the Dwarf； 'if all thesestrengths were joined； and the powers of each were used in league。 Other ringsthere may be； less treacherous； that might be used in our need。 The Seven arelost to us – if Balin has not found the ring of Thrór which was the last；
naught has been heard of it since Thrór perished in Moria。 Indeed I may nowreveal that it was partly in hope to find that ring that Balin went away。'
‘Balin will find no ring in Moria；' said Gandalf。 ‘Thrór gave it toThráin his son； but not Thráin to Thorin。 It was taken with torment fromThráin in the dungeons of Dol Guldur。 I came too late。'
'Ah； alas！' cried Glóin。 'When will the day e of our revenge？ Butstill there are the Three。 What of the Three Rings of the Elves？ Very mightyRings； it is said。 Do not the Elf…lords keep them？ Yet they too were made bythe Dark Lord long ago。 Are they idle？ I see Elf…lords here。 Will they notsay？'
The Elves returned no answer。 ‘Did you not hear me； Glóin？' said Elrond。
‘The Three were not made by Sauron； nor did he ever touch them。 But of them itis not permitted to speak。 So much only in this hour of doubt I may now say。
They are not idle。 But they were not made as weapons of war or conquest： thatis not their power。 Those who made them did not desire strength or dominationor hoarded wealth； but understanding； making； and healing； to preserve allthings unstained。 These things the Elves of Middle…earth have in some measuregained； though with sorrow。 But all that has been wrought by those who wieldthe Three will turn to their undoing； and their minds and hearts will beerevealed to Sauron； if he regains the One。 It would be better if the Three hadnever been。 That is his purpose。'
‘But what then would happen； if the Ruling Ring were destroyed as youcounsel？' asked Glóin。
'We know not for certain；' answered Elrond sadly。 ‘Some hope that theThree Rings； which Sauron has never touched； would then bee free； and theirrulers might heal the hurts of the world that he has wrought。 But maybe whenthe One has gone； the Three will fail； and many fair things will fade and beforgotten。 That is my belief。'
‘Yet all the Elves are willing to endure this chance；' said Glorfindel'if by it the power of Sauron may be broken； and the fear of his dominion betaken away for ever。'
'Thus we return once more to the destroying of the Ring；' said Erestor；
‘and yet we e no nearer。 What strength have we for the finding of the Firein which it was made？ That is the path of despair。 Of folly I would say； ifthe long wisdom of Elrond did not forbid me。'
'Despair； or folly？' said Gandalf。 ‘It is not despair； for despair isonly for those who see the end beyond all doubt。 We do not。 It is wisdom torecognize necessity； when all other courses have been weighed； though as follyit may appear to those who cling to false hope。 Well； let folly be our cloak；
a veil before the eyes of the Enemy！ For he is very wise； and weighs allthings to a nicety in the scales of his malice。 But the only measure that heknows is desire； desire for power； and so he judges all hearts。 Into his heartthe thought will not enter that any will refuse it； that having the Ring wemay seek to destroy it。 If we seek this； we shall put him out of reckoning。'
'At least for a while；' said Elrond。 ‘The road must be trod； but it willbe very hard。 And neither strength nor wisdom will carry us far upon it。 Thisquest may be attempted by the weak with as much hope as the strong。 Yet suchis oft the course of deeds that move the wheels of the world： small hands do
them because they must； while the eyes of the great are elsewhere。'
'Very well； very well； Master Elrond！' said Bilbo suddenly。 'Say no more！
It is plain enough what you are pointing at。 Bilbo the silly hobbit startedthis affair； and Bilbo had better finish it； or himself。 I was veryfortable here； and getting on with my book。 If you want to know； I am justwriting an ending for it。 I had thought of putting： _and he lived happily everafterwards to the end of his days_。 It is a good ending； and none the worsefor having been used before。 Now I shall have to alter that： it does not looklike ing true； and anyway there will evidently have to be several morechapters； if I live to write them。 It is a frightful nuisance。 When ought I tostart？
' Boromir looked in surprise at Bilbo； but the laughter died on his lipswhen he saw that all the others regarded the old hobbit with grave respect。
Only Glóin smiled； but his smile came f