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！
seemsto those whose boat is on the running stream。 But I count you blessed； Gimlison of Glóin： for your loss you suffer of your own free will； and you mighthave chosen otherwise。 But you have not forsaken your panions； and theleast reward that you shall have is that the memory of Lothlórien shall remainever clear and unstained in your heart； and shall neither fade nor growstale。'
‘Maybe；' said Gimli； ‘and I thank you for your words。 True wordsdoubtless； yet all such fort is cold。 Memory is not what the heart desires。
That is only a mirror； be it clear as Kheled…zaram。 Or so says the heart ofGimli the Dwarf。 Elves may see things otherwise。 Indeed I have heard that forthem memory is more like to the waking world than to a dream。 Not so forDwarves。
'But let us talk no more of it。 Look to the boat！ She is too low in the
water with all this baggage； and the Great River is swift。 I do not wish todrown my grief in cold water。' He took up a paddle； and steered towards thewestern bank； following Aragorn's boat ahead； which had already moved out ofthe middle stream。
So the pany went on their long way； down the wide hurrying waters；
borne ever southwards。 Bare woods stalked along either bank； and they couldnot see any glimpse of the lands behind。 The breeze died away and the Riverflowed without a sound。 No voice of bird broke the silence。 The sun grew mistyas the day grew old； until it gleamed in a pale sky like a high white pearl。
Then it faded into the West； and dusk came early； followed by a grey andstarless night。 Far into the dark quiet hours they floated on； guiding theirboats under the overhanging shadows of the western woods。 Great trees passedby like ghosts； thrusting their twisted thirsty roots through the mist downinto the water。 It was dreary and cold。 Frodo sat and listened to the faintlap and gurgle of the River fretting among the tree…roots and driftwood nearthe shore； until his head nodded and he fell into an uneasy sleep。
The Great River_Chapter 9_
Frodo was roused by Sam。 He found that he was lying； well wrapped； undertall grey…skinned trees in a quiet corner of the woodlands on the west bank ofthe Great River； Anduin。 He had slept the night away； and the grey of morningwas dim among the bare branches。 Gimli was busy with a small fire near athand。
They started again before the day was broad。 Not that most of the panywere eager to hurry southwards： they were content that the decision； whichthey must make at latest when they came to Rauros and the Tindrock Isle； stilllay some days ahead； and they let the River bear them on at its own pace；
having no desire to hasten towards the perils that lay beyond； whichevercourse they took in the end。 Aragorn let them drift with the stream as theywished； husbanding their strength against weariness to e。 But he insistedthat at least they should start early each day and journey on far into theevening； for he felt in his heart that time was pressing； and he feared thatthe Dark Lord had not been idle while they lingered in Lórien。
Nonetheless they saw no sign of an enemy that day； nor the next。 The dullgrey hours passed without event。 As the third day of their voyage wore on thelands changed slowly： the trees thinned and then failed altogether。 On theeastern bank to their left they saw long formless slopes stretching up andaway toward the sky； brown and withered they looked； as if fire had passed
over them； leaving no living blade of green： an unfriendly waste without evena broken tree or a bold stone to relieve the emptiness。 They had e to theBrown Lands that lay； vast and desolate； between Southern Mirkwood and thehills of the Emyn Muil。 What pestilence or war or evil deed of the Enemy hadso blasted all that region even Aragorn could not tell。
Upon the west to their right the land was treeless also； but it was flat；
and in many places green with wide plains of grass。 On this side of the Riverthey passed forests of great reeds； so tall that they shut out all view to thewest； as the little boats went rustling by along their fluttering borders。
Their dark withered plumes bent and tossed in the light cold airs； hissingsoftly and sadly。 Here and there through openings Frodo could catch suddenglimpses of rolling meads； and far beyond them hills in the sunset； and awayon the edge of sight a dark line； where marched the southernmost ranks of theMisty Mountains。
There was no sign of living moving things； save birds。 Of these therewere many： small fowl whistling and piping in the reeds； but they were seldomseen。 Once or twice the travellers heard the rush and whine of swan…wings； andlooking up they saw a great phalanx streaming along the sky。
‘Swans！ ' said Sam。 ‘And mighty big ones too！ '
‘Yes；' said Aragorn； 'and they are black swans。'
‘How wide and empty and mournful all this country looks！ ' said Frodo。 ‘Ialways imagined that as one journeyed south it got warmer and merrier； untilwinter was left behind for ever。'
'But we have not journeyed far south yet；' answered Aragorn。 ‘It is stillwinter； and we are far from the sea。 Here the world is cold until the suddenspring； and we may yet have snow again。 Far away down in the Bay of Belfalas；
to which Anduin runs； it is warm and merry； maybe； or would be but for theEnemy。 But here we are not above sixty leagues； I guess； south of theSouthfarthing away in your Shire； hundreds of long miles yonder。 You arelooking now south…west across the north plains of the Riddermark； Rohan theland of the Horse…lords。 Ere long we shall e to the mouth of the Limlightthat runs down from Fangorn to join the Great River。 That is the northboundary of Rohan； and of old all that lay between Limlight and the WhiteMountains belonged to the Rohirrim。 It is a rich and pleasant land； and itsgrass has no rival； but in these evil days folk do not dwell by the River orride often to its shores。 Anduin is wide； yet the orcs can shoot their arrowsfar across the stream； and of late； it is said； they have dared to cross thewater and raid the herds and studs of Rohan。'
Sam looked from bank to bank uneasily。 The trees had seemed hostilebefore； as if they harboured secret eyes and lurking dangers； now he wishedthat the trees we