the fellowship of the ring- 第70部分

　
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　fallen　asleep　on　guard；'　he　thought。　‘I　was　on　the　edge　of　a　dream。'　Hestood　up　and　rubbed　his　eyes；　and　remained　standing；　peering　into　the　dark；　
until　he　was　relieved　by　Legolas。　
When　he　lay　down　he　quickly　went　to　sleep；　but　it　seemed　to　him　that　thedream　went　on：　he　heard　whispers；　and　saw　the　two　pale　points　of　lightapproaching；　slowly。　He　woke　and　found　that　the　others　were　speaking　softlynear　him；　and　that　a　dim　light　was　falling　on　his　face。　High　up　above　theeastern　archway　through　a　shaft　near　the　roof　came　a　long　pale　gleam；　and　　
　
across　the　hall　through　the　northern　arch　light　also　glimmered　faint　anddistantly。　
Frodo　sat　up。　‘Good　morning！　'　said　Gandalf：　‘For　morning　it　is　again　atlast。　I　was　right；　you　see。　We　are　high　up　on　the　east　side　of　Moria。　Beforetoday　is　over　we　ought　to　find　the　Great　Gates　and　see　the　waters　ofMirrormere　lying　in　the　Dimrill　Dale　before　us。'　
'I　shall　be　glad；'　said　Gimli。　‘I　have　looked　on　Moria；　and　it　is　verygreat；　but　it　has　bee　dark　and　dreadful；　and　we　have　found　no　sign　of　mykindred。　I　doubt　now　that　Balin　ever　came　here。'　　
After　they　had　breakfasted　Gandalf　decided　to　go　on　again　at　once。　‘Weare　tired；　but　we　shall　rest　better　when　we　are　outside；'　he　said。　‘I　thinkthat　none　of　us　will　wish　to　spend　another　night　in　Moria。'　
‘No　indeed！　'　said　Boromir。　‘Which　way　shall　we　take？　Yonder　eastwardarch？　'　　
'Maybe；'　said　Gandalf。　‘But　I　du　not　know　yet　exactly　where　we　are。　
Unless　I　am　quite　astray；　I　guess　that　we　are　above　and　to　the　north　of　theGreat　Gates；　and　it　may　not　be　easy　to　find　the　right　road　down　to　them。　Theeastern　arch　will　probably　prove　to　be　the　way　that　we　must　take；　but　beforewe　make　up　our　minds　we　ought　to　look　about　us。　Let　us　go　towards　that　lightin　the　north　door。　If　we　could　find　a　window　it　would　help；　but　I　fear　thatthe　light　es　only　down　deep　shafts。'　
Following　his　lead　the　pany　passed　under　the　northern　arch。　They　foundthemselves　in　a　wide　corridor。　As　they　went　along　it　the　glimmer　grewstronger；　and　they　saw　that　it　came　through　a　doorway　on　their　right。　It　washigh　and　flat…topped；　and　the　stone　door　was　still　upon　its　hinges；　standinghalf　open。　Beyond　it　was　a　large　square　chamber。　It　was　dimly　lit；　but　totheir　eyes；　after　so　long　a　time　in　the　dark；　it　seemed　dazzlingly　bright；　andthey　blinked　as　they　entered。　
Their　feet　disturbed　a　deep　dust　upon　the　floor；　and　stumbled　amongthings　lying　in　the　doorway　whose　shapes　they　could　not　at　first　make　out。　Thechamber　was　lit　by　a　wide　shaft　high　in　the　further　eastern　wall；　it　slantedupwards　and；　far　above；　a　small　square　patch　of　blue　sky　could　be　seen。　Thelight　of　the　shaft　fell　directly　on　a　table　in　the　middle　of　the　room：　asingle　oblong　block；　about　two　feet　high；　upon　which　was　laid　a　great　slab　ofwhite　stone。　　
‘It　looks　like　a　tomb；'　muttered　Frodo；　and　bent　forwards　with　a　curioussense　of　foreboding；　to　look　more　closely　at　it。　Gandalf　came　quickly　to　hisside。　On　the　slab　runes　were　deeply　graven：　　
'These　are　Daeron's　Runes；　such　as　were　used　of　old　in　Moria；'　saidGandalf。　'Here　is　written　in　the　tongues　of　Men　and　Dwarves：　
BALIN　SON　OF　FUNDIN　　
LORD　OF　MORIA。'　　
'He　is　dead　then；'　said　Frodo。　‘I　feared　it　was　so。'　Gimli　cast　his　hoodover　his　face。　　
_Chapter　5_　
The　Bridge　of　Khazad…d。m　　
The　pany　of　the　Ring　stood　silent　beside　the　tomb　of　Balin。　Frodothought　of　Bilbo　and　his　long　friendship　with　the　dwarf；　and　of　Balin's　visitto　the　Shire　long　ago。　In　that　dusty　chamber　in　the　mountains　it　seemed　athousand　years　ago　and　on　the　other　side　of　the　world。　
At　length　they　stirred　and　looked　up；　and　began　to　search　for　anythingthat　would　give　them　tidings　of　Balin's　fate；　or　show　what　had　bee　of　hisfolk。　There　was　another　smaller　door　on　the　other　side　of　the　chamber；　underthe　shaft。　By　both　the　doors　they　could　now　see　that　many　bones　were　lying；　
and　among　them　were　broken　swords　and　axe…heads；　and　cloven　shields　and　helms。　　
　
Some　of　the　swords　were　crooked：　orc…scimitars　with　blackened　blades。　　
There　were　many　recesses　cut　in　the　rock　of　the　walls；　and　in　them　werelarge　iron…bound　chests　of　wood。　All　had　been　broken　and　plundered；　but　besidethe　shattered　lid　of　one　there　lay　the　remains　of　a　book。　It　had　been　slashedand　stabbed　and　partly　burned；　and　it　was　so　stained　with　black　and　other　darkmarks　like　old　blood　that　little　of　it　could　be　read。　Gandalf　lifted　it　　
carefully；　but　the　leaves　crackled　and　broke　as　he　laid　it　on　the　slab。　Hepored　over　it　for　some　time　without　speaking。　Frodo　and　Gimli　standing　at　hisside　could　see；　as　he　gingerly　turned　the　leaves；　that　they　were　written　bymany　different　hands；　in　runes；　both　of　Moria　and　of　Dale；　and　here　and　therein　Elvish　script。　
At　last　Gandalf　looked　up。　'It　seems　to　be　a　record　of　the　fortunes　ofBalin's　folk；'　he　said。　‘I　guess　that　it　began　with　their　ing　to　DimrillDale　nigh　on　thirty　years　ago：　the　pages　seem　to　have　numbers　referring　to　theyears　after　their　arrival。　The　top　page　is　marked　_one　–　three_；　so　at　leasttwo　are　missing　from　the　beginning。　Listen　to　this！　
'_We　drove　out　orcs　from　the　great　gate　and　guard_　–　I　think；　the　nextword　is　blurred　and　burned；　probably　_room_　–　_we　slew　many　in　the　bright_　–　Ithink　–　_sun　in　the　dale。　Flói　was　killed　by　an　arrow。　He　slew　the　great_。　
Then　there　is　a　blur　followed　by　_Flói　under　grass　near　Mirror　mere_。　The　nextline　or　two　I　cannot　read。　Then　es　_We　have　taken　the　twentyfirst　hall　ofNorth　end　to　dwell　in。　There　is_I　cannot　read　what。　A　_shaft_　is　mentioned。　　
Then　_Balin　has　set　up　his　seat　in　the　Chamber　of　Mazarbul_。'　
'The　Chamber　of　Records；'　said　Gimli。　‘I　guess　that　is　where　we　nowstand。'　　
‘Well；　I　can　read　no　more　for　a　long　way；'　said　Gandalf；　'except　the　word_gold_；　and　_Durin's　Axe_　and　something　_helm_。　Then　_Balin　is　now　lord　ofMoria_。　That　seems　to　end　a　chapter。　After　some　stars　another　hand　begins；　andI　can　see　_we　found　truesilver_；　and　later　the　word　_wellforged_　and　thensomething；　I　have　it！　_mithril_；　and　the　last　two　lines　_óin　to　seek　for　theupper　armouries　of　Third　Deep_；　something　_go　westwards_；　a　blur；_　to　Hollingate_。'　　
Gandalf　paused　and　set　a　few　leaves　aside。　'There　are　several　pages　ofthe　same　sort；　rather　hastily　written　and　much　damaged；　he　said；　‘but　I　canmake　little　of　them　in　this　light。　Now　there　must　be　a　number　of　leavesmissing；　because　they　begin　to　be　numbered　_five_；　the　fifth　year　of　thecolony；　I　suppose。　Let　me　see！　No；　they　are　too　cut　and　stained；　I　cannot　readthem。　We　might　do　better　in　the　sunlight。　Wait！　Here　is　something：　a　largebold　hand　using　an　Elvish　script。'　
'That　would　be　Ori's　hand；'　said　Gimli；　looking　over　the　wizard's　arm。　
‘He　could　write　well　and　speedily；　and　often　used　the　Elvish　characters。'　
‘I　fear　he　had　ill　tidings　to　record　in　a　fair　hand；'　said　Gandalf。　'Thefirst　clear　word　is　_sorrow_；　but　the　rest　of　the　line　is　lost；　unless　it　endsin　_estre_。　Yes；　it　must　be　_yestre_　followed　by　_day　being　the　tenth　ofnovembre　Balin　lord　of　Moria　fell　in　Dimrill　Dale。　He　went　alone　to　look　in　　
Mirror　mere。　an　orc　shot　him　from　behind　a　stone。　we　slew　the　orc；　hut　manymore　。。。　up　from　east　up　the　Silverlode_。　The　remainder　of　the　page　is　soblurred　that　I　can　hardly　make　anything　out；　but　I　think　I　can　read_　we　havebarred　the　gates_；　and　then　_can　hold　them　long　if_；　and　then　perhaps_horrible_　and　_suffer_。　Poor　Balin！　He　seems　to　have　kept　the　title　that　hetook　for　less　than　five　years。　I　wonder　what　happened　afterwards；　but　there　isno　time　to　puzzle　out　the　last　few　pages。　Here　is　the　last　page　of　all。'　Hepaused　and　sighed。　
‘It　is　grim　reading；'　he　said。　'I　fear　their　end　was　cruel。　Listen！　_Wecannot　get　out。　We　cannot　get　out。　They　have　taken　the　Bridge　and　second　hall。　
Frár　and　Lóni　and　Náli　fell　there_。　Then　there　are　four　lines　smeared　so　that　　
I　can　only　_read　went　5　days　ago_。　The　last　lines　_run　the　pool　is　up　to　thewall　at　Westgate。　The　Watcher　in　the　Water　took　óin。　We　cannot　get　out。　Theend　es_；　and　then_　drums；　drums　in　the　deep_。　I　wonder　what　that　means。　The　　
　
last　thing　written　is　in　a　trailing　scrawl　of　elf…letters：　_they　are　ing_。　
There　is　nothing　more。'　Ga