later the dark power will devour him。'
'How terrifying！' said Frodo。 There was another long silence。 The sound of Sam Gamgee cutting the lawn came in from the garden。
'How long have you known this？' asked Frodo at length。 'And how much did Bilbo know？'
'Bilbo knew no more than he told you； I am sure；' said Gandalf。 'He would certainly never have passed on to you anything that he thought would be a danger； even though I promised to look after you。 He thought the ring was very beautiful； and very useful at need； and if anything self。 He said that it was 〃growing on his mind〃； and he was always worrying about it； but he did not suspect that the ring itself was to blame。 Though he had found out that the thing needed looking after； it did not seem always of the same size or weight； it shrank or expanded in an odd way； and might suddenly slip off a finger where it had been tight。'
'Yes； he warned me of that in his last letter；' said Frodo； 'so I have always kept it on its chain。'
'Very wise；' said Gandalf。 'But as for his long life； Bilbo never connected it with the ring at all。 He took all the credit for that to himself； and he was very proud of it。 Though he was getting restless and uneasy。 Thin and stretched he said。 A sign that the ring was getting control。'
'How long have you known all this？' asked Frodo again。
'Known？' said Gandalf。 'I have known much that only the Wise know； Frodo。 But if you mean 〃known about this ring〃； well； I still do not know； one might say。 There is a last test to make。 But I no longer doubt my guess。
'When did I first begin to guess？' he mused； searching back in memory。 'Let me see 。 it was in the year that the White Council drove the dark power from Mirkwood； just before the Battle of Five Armies； that Bilbo found his ring。 A shadow fell on my heart then； though I did not know yet what I feared。 I wondered often how Gollum came by a Great Ring； as plainly it was 。 that at least was clear from the first。 Then I heard Bilbo's strange story of how he had 〃won〃 it； and I could not believe it。 When I at last got the truth out of him； I saw at once that he had been trying to put his claim to the ring beyond doubt。 Much like Gollum with his 〃birthday present〃。 The lies were too much alike for my fort。 Clearly the ring had an unwholesome power that set to work on its keeper at once。 That was the first real warning I had that all was not well。 I told Bilbo often that such rings were better left unused； but he resented it； and soon got angry。 There was little else that I could do。 I could not take it from him without doing greater harm； and I had no right to do so anyway。 I could only watch and wait。 I might perhaps have consulted Saruman the White； but something always held me back。'
'Who is he？' asked Frodo。 I have never heard of him before。'
'Maybe not；' answered Gandalf。 'Hobbits are； or were； no concern of his。 Yet he is great among the Wise。 He is the chief of my order and the head of the Council。 His knowledge is deep； but his pride has grown with it； and he takes ill any meddling。 The lore of the Elvenrings； great and small； is his province。 He has long studied it； seeking the lost secrets of their making； but when the Rings were debated in the Council； all that he would reveal to us of his ringlore told against my fears。 So my doubt slept 。 but uneasily。 Still I watched and I waited。
'And all seemed well with Bilbo。 And the years passed。 Yes； they passed； and they seemed not to touch him。 He showed no signs of age。 The shadow fell on me again。 But I said to myself： 〃After all he es of a longlived family on his mother's side。 There is time yet。 Wait！〃
'And I waited。 Until that night when he left this house。 He said and did things then that filled me with a fear that no words of Saruman could allay。 I knew at last that something dark and deadly was at work。 And I have spent most of the years since then in finding out the truth of it。'
'There wasn't any permanent harm done； was there？' asked Frodo anxiously。 'He would get all right in time； wouldn't he？ Be able to rest in peace； I mean？'
'He felt better at once；' said Gandalf。 'But there is only one Power in this world that knows all about the Rings and their effects； and as far as I know there is no Power in the world that knows all about hobbits。 Among the Wise I am the only one that goes in for hobbitlore： an obscure branch of knowledge； but full of surprises。 Soft as butter they can be； and yet sometimes as tough as old treeroots。 I think it likely that some would resist the Rings far longer than most of the Wise would believe。 I don't think you need worry about Bilbo。
'Of course； he possessed the ring for many years； and used it； so it might take a long while for the influence to wear off 。 before it was safe for him to see it again； for instance。 Otherwise； he might live on for years； quite happily： just stop as he was when he parted with it。 For he gave it up in the end of his own accord： an important point。 No； I was not troubled about dear Bilbo any more； once he had let the thing go。 It is for you that I feel responsible。
'Ever since Bilbo left I have been deeply concerned about you； and about all these charming； absurd； helpless hobbits。 It would be a grievous blow to the world； if the Dark Power overcame the Shire； if all your kind； jolly； stupid Bolgers； Hornblowers； Boffins； Bracegirdles； and the rest； not to mention the ridiculous Bagginses； became enslaved。'
Frodo shuddered。 'But why should we be？' he asked。 'And why should he want such slaves？'
'To tell you the truth；' replied Gandalf； 'I believe that hitherto 。 hitherto； mark you 。 he has entirely overlooked the existence of hobbits。 You should be thankful。 But your safety has passed。 He does not need you 。 he has many more useful servants 。 but he won't fet you again。 And hobbits as miserable slaves would please him far more than hobbits happy and free。 There is such a thing as malice and revenge。'
'Revenge？' said Frodo。 'Revenge for what？ I still don't understand what all this has to do with Bilbo and myself； and our ring。'
'It has everything to do with it；' said Gandalf。 'You do not know the real peril yet； but you shall。 I was not sure of it myself when I was last here； but the time has e to speak。 Give me the ring for a moment。'
Frodo took it from his breechespocket； where it was clasped to a chain that hung from his belt。 He unfastened it and handed it slowly to the wizard。 It felt suddenly very heavy； as if either it or Frodo himself was in some way reluctant for Gandalf to touch it。
Gandalf held it up。 It looked to be made of pure and solid gold。 'Can you see any markings on it？' he asked。
'No；' said Frodo。 'There are none。 It is quite plain； and it never shows a scratch or sign of wear。'
'Well then； look！' To Frodo's astonishment and distress the wizard threw it suddenly into the middle of a glowing corner of the fire。 Frodo gave a cry and groped for the tongs； but Gandalf held him back。
'Wait！' he said in a manding voice； giving Frodo a quick look from under his bristling brows。
No apparent change came over the ring。 After a while Gandalf got up； closed the shutters outside the window； and drew the curtains。 The room became dark and silent； though the clack of Sam's shears； now nearer to the windows； could still be heard faintly from the garden。 For a moment the wizard stood looking at the fire； then he stooped and removed the ring to the hearth with the tongs； and at once picked it up。 Frodo gasped。
It is quite cool；' said Gandalf。 'Take it！' Frodo received it on his shrinking palm： it seemed to have bee thicker and heavier than ever。
'Hold it up！' said Gandalf。 'And look closely！'
As Frodo did so； he now saw fine lines； finer than the finest pen strokes； running along the ring； outside and inside： lines of fire that seemed to form the letters of a flowing script。 They shone piercingly bright； and yet remote； as if out of a great depth。
'I cannot read the fiery letters；' said Frodo in a quavering voice。
'No；' said Gandalf； 'but I can。 The letters are Elvish； of an ancient mode； but the language is that of Mordor； which I will not utter here。 But this in the mon Tongue is what is said； close enough：
One Ring to rule them all； One Ring to find them；
One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them。
It is only two lines of a verse long known in Elvenlore：
Three Rings for the Elvenkings under the sky；
Seven for the Dwarflords in their halls of stone；
Nine for Mortal Men doomed to die；
One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie。
One Ring to rule them all。 One Ring to find them；
One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie。'
He paused； and then said slowly in a deep voice： 'This is the Master ring； the One Ring to rule them all。 This is the One Ring that he lost many ages ago； to the great weakening of his power。 He greatly desires it 。 but he must not get it。'
Frodo sat silent and motionless。 Fear seemed to stretch out a vast hand； like a dark cloud rising in the East and looming up to engulf him。 'This ring！' he stammered。 'How； how on earth did it e to me？'
'Ah！' said Gandalf。 'That is a very long story。 The beginnings lie back in the Black Years； which only the loremasters now remember。 If I were to tell you all that tale； we should still be sitting here when Spring had passed into Winter。
'But last night I told you of Sauron the Great； the Dark Lord。 The rumours that you have heard are true： he has indeed arisen again and left his hold in Mirkwood and returned to his ancient fastness in the Dark Tower of Mordor。 That name even you hobbits have heard of； like a shadow on the borders of old stories。 Always after a defeat and a respite； the Shadow takes another shape and grows again。'
'I wish it need not have happened in my time；' said Frodo。
'So do I；' said Gandalf； 'and so do all who live to see such times。 But that is not for them to decide。 All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given； us。 And already； Frodo； our time is beginning to look black。 The Enemy is fast being very strong。 His plans are far from ripe； I think； but they are ripening。 We shall be hard put to it。 We should be very hard put to it； even if it were not for this dreadful chance。
'The Enemy still lacks one thing to give him strength and knowledge to beat down all resistance； break the last defences； and cover all the lands in a second darkness。 He lacks the One Ring。
'The Three； fairest of all； the Elflords hid from him； and his hand never touched them or sullied them。 Seven the Dwarfkings possessed； but three he has recovered； and the others the dragons have consumed。 Nine he gave to Mortal Men； proud and great； and so ensnared them。 Long ago they fell under the dominion of the One； and they became Ringwraiths； shadows under his great Shadow； his most terrible servants。 Long ago。 It is many a year since the Nine walked abroad。 Yet who knows？ As the Shadow grows once more； they too may walk again。 But e！ We will not speak of such things even in the morning of the Shire。
'So it is now： the Nine he has gathered to himself； the Seven also； or else they are destroyed。 The Three