The Lord of the Rings-指环王(英文版)- 第83部分

'I　do　not　doubt　the　valour　of　your　people。　But　the　world　is　changing。　The　walls　of　Minas　Tirith　may　be　strong；　but　they　are　not　strong　enough。　If　they　fail；　what　then？　'

'We　shall　fall　in　battle　valiantly。　Yet　there　is　still　hope　that　they　will　not　fail。'

'No　hope　while　the　Ring　lasts；'　said　Frodo。

'Ah！　The　Ring！'　said　Boromir；　his　eyes　lighting。　'The　Ring！　Is　it　not　a　strange　fate　that　we　should　suffer　so　much　fear　and　doubt　for　so　small　a　thing？　So　small　a　thing！　And　I　have　seen　it　only　for　an　instant　in　the　House　of　Elrond。　Could　I　not　have　a　sight　of　it　again？　'

Frodo　looked　up。　His　heart　went　suddenly　cold。　He　caught　the　strange　gleam　in　Boromir's　eyes；　yet　his　face　was　still　kind　and　friendly。　'It　is　best　that　it　should　lie　hidden；'　he　answered。

'As　you　wish。　I　care　not；'　said　Boromir。　'Yet　may　I　not　even　speak　of　it？　For　you　seem　ever　to　think　only　of　its　power　in　the　hands　of　the　Enemy：　of　its　evil　uses　not　of　its　good。　The　world　is　changing；　you　say。　Minas　Tirith　will　fall；　if　the　Ring　lasts。　But　why？　Certainly；　if　the　Ring　were　with　the　Enemy。　But　why；　if　it　were　with　us？　'

'Were　you　not　at　the　Council？　'　answered　Frodo。　'Because　we　cannot　use　it；　and　what　is　done　with　it　turns　to　evil。'

Boromir　got　up　and　walked　about　impatiently。　'So　you　go　on；'　he　cried。　'Gandalf；　Elrond　。　all　these　folk　have　taught　you　to　say　so。　For　themselves　they　may　be　right。　These　elves　and　halfelves　and　wizards；　they　would　e　to　grief　perhaps。　Yet　often　I　doubt　if　they　are　wise　and　not　merely　timid。　But　each　to　his　own　kind。　Truehearted　Men；　they　will　not　be　corrupted。　We　of　Minas　Tirith　have　been　staunch　through　long　years　of　trial。　We　do　not　desire　the　power　of　wizardlords；　only　strength　to　defend　ourselves；　strength　in　a　just　cause。　And　behold！　in　our　need　chance　brings　to　light　the　Ring　of　Power。　It　is　a　gift；　I　say；　a　gift　to　the　foes　of　Mordor。　It　is　mad　not　to　use　it；　to　use　the　power　of　the　Enemy　against　him。　The　fearless；　the　ruthless；　these　alone　will　achieve　victory。　What　could　not　a　warrior　do　in　this　hour；　a　great　leader？　What　could　not　Aragorn　do？　Or　if　he　refuses；　why　not　Boromir？　The　Ring　would　give　me　power　of　mand。　How　I　would　drive　the　hosts　of　Mordor；　and　all　men　would　flock　to　my　banner！'

Boromir　strode　up　and　down；　speaking　ever　more　loudly：　Almost　he　seemed　to　have　fotten　Frodo；　while　his　talk　dwelt　on　walls　and　weapons；　and　the　mustering　of　men；　and　he　drew　plans　for　great　alliances　and　glorious　victories　to　be；　and　he　cast　down　Mordor；　and　became　himself　a　mighty　king；　benevolent　and　wise。　Suddenly　he　stopped　and　waved　his　arms。

'And　they　tell　us　to　throw　it　away！'　he　cried。　'I　do　not　say　destroy　it。　That　might　be　well；　if　reason　could　show　any　hope　of　doing　so。　It　does　not。　The　only　plan　that　is　proposed　to　us　is　that　a　halfling　should　walk　blindly　into　Mordor　and　offer　the　Enemy　every　chance　of　recapturing　it　for　himself。　Folly！

'Surely　you　see　it；　my　friend？'　he　said；　turning　now　suddenly　to　Frodo　again。　'You　say　that　you　are　afraid。　If　it　is　so；　the　boldest　should　pardon　you。　But　is　it　not　really　your　good　sense　that　revolts？'

'No；　I　am　afraid；'　said　Frodo。　'Simply　afraid。　But　I　am　glad　to　have　heard　you　speak　so　fully。　My　mind　is　clearer　now。'

'Then　you　will　e　to　Minas　Tirith？　'　cried　Boromir。　His　eyes　were　shining　and　his　face　eager。

'You　misunderstand　me；'　said　Frodo。

'But　you　will　e；　at　least　for　a　while？　'　Boromir　persisted。　'My　city　is　not　far　now；　and　it　is　little　further　from　there　to　Mordor　than　from　here。　We　have　been　long　in　the　wilderness；　and　you　need　news　of　what　the　Enemy　is　doing　before　you　make　a　move。　e　with　me；　Frodo；'　he　said。　'You　need　rest　before　your　venture。　if　go　you　must。'　He　laid　his　hand　on　the　hobbit's　shoulder　in　friendly　fashion；　but　Frodo　felt　the　hand　trembling　with　suppressed　excitement。　He　stepped　quickly　away；　and　eyed　with　alarm　the　tall　Man；　nearly　twice　his　height　and　many　times　his　match　in　strength。

'Why　are　you　so　unfriendly？　'　said　Boromir。　'I　am　a　true　man；　neither　thief　nor　tracker。　I　need　your　Ring：　that　you　know　now；　but　I　give　you　my　word　that　I　do　not　desire　to　keep　it。　Will　you　not　at　least　let　me　make　trial　of　my　plan？　Lend　me　the　Ring！'

'No！　no！'　cried　Frodo。　'The　Council　laid　it　upon　me　to　bear　it。'

'It　is　by　our　own　folly　that　the　Enemy　will　defeat　us；'　cried　Boromir。　'How　it　angers　me！　Fool！　Obstinate　fool！　Running　wilfully　to　death　and　ruining　our　cause。　If　any　mortals　have　claim　to　the　Ring；　it　is　the　men　of　Númenor；　and　not　Halflings。　It　is　not　yours　save　by　unhappy　chance。　It　might　have　been　mine。　It　should　be　mine。　Give　it　to　me！'

Frodo　did　not　answer；　but　moved　away　till　the　great　flat　stone　stood　between　them。　'e；　e；　my　friend！'　said　Boromir　in　a　softer　voice。　'Why　not　get　rid　of　it？　Why　not　be　free　of　your　doubt　and　fear？　You　can　lay　the　blame　on　me；　if　you　will。　You　can　say　that　I　was　too　strong　and　took　it　by　force。　For　I　am　too　strong　for　you；　halfling；'　he　cried；　and　suddenly　he　sprang　over　the　stone　and　leaped　at　Frodo。　His　fair　and　pleasant　face　was　hideously　changed；　a　raging　fire　was　in　his　eyes。

Frodo　dodged　aside　and　again　put　the　stone　between　them。　There　was　only　one　thing　he　could　do：　trembling　he　pulled　out　the　Ring　upon　its　chain　and　quickly　slipped　it　on　his　finger；　even　as　Boromir　sprang　at　him　again。　The　Man　gasped；　stared　for　a　moment　amazed；　and　then　ran　wildly　about；　seeking　here　and　there　among　the　rocks　and　trees。

'Miserable　trickster！'　he　shouted。　'Let　me　get　my　hands　on　you！　Now　I　see　your　mind。　You　will　take　the　Ring　to　Sauron　and　sell　us　all。　You　have　only　waited　your　chance　to　leave　us　in　the　lurch。　Curse　you　and　all　halflings　to　death　and　darkness！'　Then；　catching　his　foot　on　a　stone；　he　fell　sprawling　and　lay　upon　his　face。　For　a　while　he　was　as　still　as　if　his　own　curse　had　struck　him　down；　then　suddenly　he　wept。

He　rose　and　passed　his　hand　over　his　eyes；　dashing　away　the　tears。　'What　have　I　said？　'　he　cried。　'What　have　I　done？　Frodo；　Frodo！'　he　called。　'e　back！　A　madness　took　me；　but　it　has　passed。　e　back！'

There　was　no　answer。　Frodo　did　not　even　hear　his　cries。　He　was　already　far　away；　leaping　blindly　up　the　path　to　the　hilltop。　Terror　and　grief　shook　him；　seeing　in　his　thought　the　mad　fierce　face　of　Boromir；　and　his　burning　eyes。

Soon　he　came　out　alone　on　the　summit　of　Amon　Hen；　and　halted；　gasping　for　breath。　He　saw　as　through　a　mist　a　wide　flat　circle；　paved　with　mighty　flags；　and　surrounded　with　a　crumbling　battlement；　and　in　the　middle；　set　upon　four　carven　pillars；　was　a　high　seat；　reached　by　a　stair　of　many　steps。　Up　he　went　and　sat　upon　the　ancient　chair；　feeling　like　a　lost　child　that　had　clambered　upon　the　throne　of　mountainkings。

At　first　he　could　see　little。　He　seemed　to　be　in　a　world　of　mist　in　which　there　were　only　shadows：　the　Ring　was　upon　him。　Then　here　and　there　the　mist　gave　way　and　he　saw　many　visions：　small　and　clear　as　if　they　were　under　his　eyes　upon　a　table；　and　yet　remote。　There　was　no　sound；　only　bright　living　images。　The　world　seemed　to　have　shrunk　and　fallen　silent。　He　was　sitting　upon　the　Seat　of　Seeing；　on　Amon　Hen；　the　Hill　of　the　Eye　of　the　Men　of　Númenor。　Eastward　he　looked　into　wide　uncharted　lands；　nameless　plains；　and　forests　unexplored。　Northward　he　looked；　and　the　Great　River　lay　like　a　ribbon　beneath　him；　and　the　Misty　Mountains　stood　small　and　hard　as　broken　teeth。　Westward　he　looked　and　saw　the　broad　pastures　of　Rohan；　and　Orthanc；　the　pinnacle　of　Isengard；　like　a　black　spike。　Southward　he　looked；　and　below　his　very　feet　the　Great　River　curled　like　a　toppling　wave　and　plunged　over　the　falls　of　Rauros　into　a　foaming　pit；　a　glimmering　rainbow　played　upon　the　fume。　And　Ethir　Anduin　he　saw；　the　mighty　delta　of　the　River；　and　myriads　of　seabirds　whirling　like　a　white　dust　in　the　sun；　and　beneath　them　a　green　and　silver　sea；　rippling　in　endless　lines。

But　everywhere　he　looked　he　saw　the　signs　of　war。　The　Misty　Mountains　were　crawling　like　anthills：　orcs　were　issuing　out　of　a　thousand　holes。　Under　the　boughs　of　Mirkwood　there　was　deadly　strife　of　Elves　and　Men　and　fell　beasts。　The　land　of　the　Beornings　was　aflame；　a　cloud　was　over　Moria；　smoke　rose　on　the　borders　of　Lórien。

Horsemen　were　galloping　on　the　grass　of　Rohan；　wolves　poured　from　Isengard。　From　the　havens　of　Harad　ships　of　war　put　out　to　sea；　and　out　of　the　East　Men　were　moving　endlessly：　swordsmen；　spearmen；　bowmen　upon　horses；　chariots　of　chieftains　and　laden　wains。　All　the　power　of　the　Dark　Lord　was　in　motion。　Then　turning　south　again　he　beheld　Minas　Tirith。　Far　away　it　seemed。　and　beautiful：　whitewalled；　manytowered；　proud　and　fair　upon　its　mountain　seat；　its　battlements　glittered　with　steel；　and　its　turrets　were　bright　with　many　banners。　Hope　leaped　in　his　heart。　But　against　Minas　Tirith　was　set　another　fortress；　greater　and　more　strong。　Thither；　eastward；　unwilling　his　eye　was　drawn。　It　passed　the　ruined　bridges　of　Osgiliath；　the　grinning　gates　of　Minas　Mul。　and　the　haunted　Mountains；　and　it　looked　upon　Goroth；　the　valley　of　terror　in　the　Land　of　Mordor。　Darkness　lay　there　under　the　Sun。　Fire　glowed　amid　the　smoke。　Mount　Doom　was　burning；　and　a　great　reek　rising。　Then　at　last　his　gaze　was　held：　wall　upon　wall；　battlement　upon　battlement；　black；　immeasurably　strong；　mountain　of　iron；　gate　of　steel；　tower　of　adamant；　he　saw　it：　Baradd？r；　Fortress　of　Sauron。　All　hope　left　him。

And　suddenly　he　felt　the　Eye。　There　was　an　eye　in　the　Dark　Tower　that　did　not　sleep。　He　knew　that　it　had　bee　aware　of　his　gaze。　A　fierce　eager　will　was　there。　It　leaped　towards　him；　almost　like　a　finger　he　felt　it；　searching　for　him。　Very　soon　it　would　nail　him　down；　know　just　exactly　where　he　was。　Amon　Lhaw　it　touched。　It　glanced　upon　Tol　Brandir　he　threw　himself　from　the　seat；　crouching；　covering　his　head　with　his　grey　hood。

He　heard　himself　crying　out：　Never；　never！　Or　was　it：　Verily　I　e；　I　e　to　you？　He　could　not　tell。　Then　as　a　flash　from　some　other　point　of　power　there　came　to　his　mind　another　thought：　Take　it　off！　Take　it　off！　Fool；　take　it　off！　Take　off　the　Ring！

The　two　powers　strove　in　him。　For　a　moment；　perfectly　balanced　between　their　piercing　points；　he　writhed；　tormented。　Suddenly　he　was　aware　of　himself　again。　Frodo；　neither　the　Voice　nor　the　Eye：　free　to　choose；　and　with　one　remaining　instant　in　which　to　do　so。　He　took　the　Ring　off　his　finger。　He　was　kneeling　in　clear　sunlight　before　the　high　seat。　A　black　shadow　seemed　to　pass　like　an　arm　above　him；　it　missed　Amon　Hen　and　groped　out　west；　and　faded。　Then　all　the　sky　was　clean　and　blue　and　birds　sang　in　every　tree。

Frodo　rose　to　his　feet。　A　great　weariness　was　on　him；　but　his　will　was　firm　and　his　heart　lighter。　He　spoke　aloud　to　himself。　'I　will　do　now　what　I　must；'　he　said。　'This　at　least　is　plain：　the　evil　of　the　Ring　is　already　at　work　even　in　the　pany；　and　the　Ring　must　leave　them　before　it　does　more　harm。　I　will　go　alone。　Some　I　cannot　trust；　and　those　I　can　trust　are　too　dear　to　me：　poor　old　Sam；　and　Merry　and　Pippin。　Strider；　too：　his　heart　yearns　for　Minas　Tirith；　and　he　will　be　needed　there；　now　Boromir　has　fallen　into　evil。　I　will　go　alone。　At　once。'

He　went　quickly　down　the　path　and　came　back　to　the　lawn　where　Boromir　had　found　him。　Then　he　halted；　listening。　He　thought　he　could　hear　cries　and　call