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dy inflowof chill air through the eastern archway。 All about them as they lay hung thedarkness； hollow and immense； and they were oppressed by the loneliness andvastness of the dolven halls and endlessly branching stairs and passages。 Thewildest imaginings that dark rumour had ever suggested to the hobbits fellaltogether short of the actual dread and wonder of Moria。
‘There must have been a mighty crowd of dwarves here at one time ' saidSam； ‘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'tlive in these darksome holes surely？ '
‘These are not holes；' said Gimli。 ‘This is the great realm and city ofthe Dwarrowdelf。 And of old it was not darksome； but full of light andsplendour； as is still remembered in our songs。'
He rose and standing in the dark he began to chant in a deep voice； whilethe 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； inKhazad…d。m！_ But it makes the darkness seem heavier； thinking of all thoselamps。 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 plunderedMoria； 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： theyare drowned in water–or 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 goldand jewels； the toys of the Dwarves； nor in iron； their servant。 Such thingsthey found here； it is true； especially iron； but they did not need to delvefor them： all things that they desired they could obtain in traffic。 For herealone in the world was found Moria…silver； or true…silver as some have calledit： _mithril_ is the Elvish name。 The Dwarves have a name which they do nottell。 Its worth was ten times that of gold； and now it is beyond price； forlittle is left above ground； and even the Orcs dare not delve here for it。 Thelodes lead away north towards Caradhras； and down to darkness。 The Dwarvestell no tale； but even as _mithril_ was the foundation of their wealth； soalso it was their destruction： they delved too greedily and too deep； anddisturbed that from which they fled； Durin's Bane。 Of what they brought tolight 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； andpolished like glass； and the Dwarves could make of it a metal； light and yetharder than tempered steel。 Its beauty was like to that of mon silver； butthe beauty of _mithril_ did not tarnish or grow dim。 The Elves dearly lovedit； and among many uses they made of it _ithildin_； starmoon； which you sawupon the doors。 Bilbo had a corslet of mithril…rings that Thorin gave him。 Iwonder what has bee of it？ Gathering dust still in Michel Delving Mathomhouse；
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 thanthe value of the whole Shire and everything in it。'
Frodo said nothing； but he put his hand under his tunic and touched therings of his mail…shirt。 He felt staggered to think that he had been walkingabout with the price of the Shire under his jacket。 Had Bilbo known？ He feltno doubt that Bilbo knew quite well。 It was indeed a kingly gift。 But now histhoughts 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 hisheart that he was back there； and in those days； mowing the lawn； or potteringamong the flowers； and that he had never heard of Moria； or _mithril …_or theRing。
A deep silence fell。 One by one the others fell asleep。 Frodo was onguard。 As if it were a breath that came in through unseen doors out of deepplaces； dread came over him。 His hands were cold and his brow damp。 Helistened。 All his mind was given to listening and nothing else for two slowhours； but he heard no sound； not even the imagined echo of a footfall。
His watch was nearly over； when； far off where he guessed that thewestern archway stood； he fancied that he could see two pale points of light；
almost like luminous eyes。 He started。 His head had nodded。 ‘I must havenearly falle