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！
‘So it is；' they answered。 ‘But we call it lembas or waybread； and it is more strengthening than any food made by Men； and it is more pleasant than cram； by all accounts。'
‘Indeed it is；' said Gimli。 'Why it is better than the honey…cakes of the Beornings； and that is great praise； for the Beornings are the best bakers that I know of； but they are none too willing to deal out their cakes to travellers in these days。 You are kindly hosts！ '
'All the same； we bid you spare the food；' they said。 'Eat little at a time； and only at need。 For these things are given to serve you when all else fails。 The cakes will keep sweet for many many days； if they are unbroken and left in their leaf…wrappings； as we have brought them。 One will keep a traveller on his feet for a day of long labour； even if he be one of the tall Men of Minas Tirith。'
The Elves next unwrapped and gave to each of the pany the clothes they had brought。 For each they had provided a hood and cloak； made according to his size； of the light but warm silken stuff that the Galadhrim wove。 It was hard to say of what colour they were： grey with the hue of twilight under the trees they seemed to be； and yet if they were moved； or set in another light； they were green as shadowed leaves； or brown as fallow fields by night； dusk…silver as water under the stars。 Each cloak was fastened about the neck with a brooch like a green leaf veined with silver。
‘Are these magic cloaks？ ' asked Pippin； looking at them with wonder。
‘I do not know what you mean by that；' answered the leader of the Elves。 ‘They are fair garments； and the web is good； for it was made in this land。 They are elvish robes certainly； if that is what you mean。 Leaf and branch； water and stone： they have the hue and beauty of all these things under the twilight of Lórien that we love； for we put the thought of all that we love into all that we make。 Yet they are garments； not armour； and they will not turn shaft or blade。 But they should serve you well： they are light to wear； and warm enough or cool enough at need。 And you will find them a great aid in keeping out of the sight of unfriendly eyes； whether you walk among the stones or the trees。 You are indeed high in the favour of the Lady！ For she herself and her maidens wove this stuff； and never before have we clad strangers in the garb of our own people。'
After their morning meal the pany said farewell to the lawn by the fountain。 Their hearts were heavy； for it was a fair place； and it had bee like home to them； though they could not count the days and nights that they had passed there。 As they stood for a moment looking at the white water in the sunlight； Haldir came walking towards them over the green grass of the glade。 Frodo greeted him with delight。
'I have returned from the Northern Fences；' said the Elf； ‘and I am sent now to be your guide again。 The Dimrill Dale is full of vapour and clouds of smoke； and the mountains are troubled。 There are noises in the deeps of the earth。 If any of you had thought of returning northwards to your homes； you would not have been able to pass that way。 But e！ Your path now goes south。'
As they walked through Caras Galadhon the green ways were empty； but in the trees above them many voices were murmuring and singing。 They themselves went silently。 At last Haldir led them down the southward slopes of the hill； and they came again to the great gate hung with lamps； and to the white bridge； and so they passed out and left the city of the Elves。 Then they turned away from the paved road and took a path that went off into a deep thicket of mallorn…trees； and passed on； winding through rolling woodlands of silver shadow； leading them ever down； southwards and eastwards； towards the shores of the River。
They had gone some ten miles and noon was at hand when they came on a high green wall。 Passing through an opening they came suddenly out of the trees。 Before them lay a long lawn of shining grass； studded with golden elanor that glinted in the sun。 The lawn ran out into a narrow tongue between bright margins： on the right and west the Silverlode flowed glittering； on the left and east the Great River rolled its broad waters； deep and dark。 On the further shores the woodlands still marched on southwards as far as the eye could see； but all the banks were bleak and bare。 No mallorn lifted its gold…hung boughs beyond the Land of Lórien。
On the bank of the Silverlode； at some distance up from the meeting of the streams； there was a hythe of white stones and white wood。 By it were moored many boats and barges。 Some were brightly painted； and shone with silver and gold and green； but most were either white or grey。 Three small grey boats had been made ready for the travellers； and in these the Elves stowed their goods。 And they added also coils of rope； three to each boat。 Slender they looked； but strong； silken to the touch； grey of hue like the elven…cloaks。
‘What are these？ ' asked Sam； handling one that lay upon the greensward。
‘Ropes indeed！ ' answered an Elf from the boats。 'Never travel far without a rope！ And one that is long and strong and light。 Such are these。 They may be a help in many needs。'
'You don't need to tell me that！ ' said Sam。 ‘I came without any and I've been worried ever since。 But I was wondering what these were made of； knowing a bit about rope…making： it's in the family as you might say。'
‘They are made of hithlain；' said the Elf； ‘but there is no time now to instruct you in the art of their making。 Had we known that this craft delighted you； we could have taught you much。 But now alas！ unless you should at some time return hither； you must be content with our gift。 May it serve you well！ '
‘e！ ' said Haldir。 ‘All is now ready for you。 Enter the boats！ But take care at first！ '
'Heed the words！ ' said the other Elves。 'These boats are light…built； and they are crafty and unlike the boats of other folk。 They will not sink； lade them as you will； but they are wayward if mishandled。 It would be wise if you accustomed yourselves to stepping in and out； here where there is a landing…place； before you set off downstream。'
The pany was arranged in this way： Aragorn； Frodo； and Sam were in one boat； Boromir； Merry； and Pippin in another； and in the third were Legolas and Gimli； who had now bee fast friends。 In this last boat most of the goods and packs were stowed。 The boats were moved and steered with short…handled paddles that had broad leaf…shaped blades。 When all was ready Aragorn led them on a trial up the Silverlode。 The current was swift and they went forward slowly。 Sam sat in the bows； clutching the sides； and looking back wistfully to the shore。 The sunlight glittering on the water dazzled his eyes。 As they passed beyond the green field of the Tongue； the trees drew down to the river's brink。 Here and there golden leaves tossed and floated on the rippling stream。 The air was very bright and still； and there was a silence； except for the high distant song of larks。
They turned a sharp bend in the river； and there； sailing proudly down the stream toward them； they saw a swan of great size。 The water rippled on either side of the white breast beneath its curving neck。 Its beak shone like burnished gold； and its eyes glinted like jet set in yellow stones； its huge white wings were half lifted。 A music came down the river as it drew nearer； and suddenly they perceived that it was a ship； wrought and carved with elven…skill in the likeness of a bird。 Two elves clad in white steered it with black paddles。 In the midst of the vessel sat Celeborn； and behind him stood Galadriel； tall and white； a circlet of golden flowers was in her hair； and in her hand she held a harp； and she sang。 Sad and sweet was the sound of her voice in the cool clear air：
I sang of leaves； of leaves of gold； and leaves of gold there grew：
Of wind I sang； a wind there came and in the branches blew。
Beyond the Sun； beyond the Moon； the foam was on the Sea；
And by the strand of Ilmarin there grew a golden Tree。
Beneath the stars of Ever…eve in Eldamar it shone；
In Eldamar beside the walls of Elven Tirion。
There long the golden leaves have grown upon the branching years；
While here beyond the Sundering Seas now fall the Elven…tears。
O Lórien！ The Winter es； the bare and leafless Day；
The leaves are falling in the stream； the River flows away。
O Lórien！ Too long I have dwelt upon this Hither Shore
And in a fading crown have twined the golden elanor。
But if of ships I now should sing； what ship would e to me；
What ship would bear me ever back across so wide a Sea？
Aragorn stayed his boat as the Swan…ship drew alongside。 The Lady ended her song and greeted them。 ‘We have e to bid you our last farewell；' she said； ‘and to speed you with blessings from our land。'
‘Though you have been our guests；' said Celeborn； ‘you have not yet eaten with us； and we bid you； therefore； to a parting feast； here between the flowing waters that will bear you far from Lórien。'
The Swan passed on slowly to the hythe； and they turned their boats and followed it。 There in the last end of Egladil upon the green grass the parting feast was held； but Frodo ate and drank little； heeding only the beauty of the Lady and her voice。 She seemed no longer perilous or terrible； nor filled with hidden power。 Already she seemed to him； as by men of later days Elves still at times are seen： present and yet remote； a living vision of that which has already been left far behind by the flowing streams of Time。
After they had eaten and drunk； sitting upon the grass； Celeborn spoke to them again of their journey； and lifting his hand he pointed south to the woods beyond the Tongue。
‘As you go down the water；' he said； ‘you will find that the trees will fail； and you will e to a barren country。 There the River flows in stony vale amid high moors； until at last after many leagues it es to the tall island of the Tindrock； that we call Tol Brandir。 There it casts its arms about the steep shores of the isle； and falls then with a great noise and smoke over the cataracts of Rauros down into the Nindalf； the Wetwang as it is called in your tongue。 That is a wide region of sluggish fen where the stream bees tortuous and much divided。 There the Entwash flows in by many mouths from the Forest of Fangorn in the west。 About that stream； on this side of the Great River； lies Rohan。 On the further side are the bleak hills of the Emyn Muil。 The wind blows from the East there； for they look out over the Dead Marshes and the Noman…lands to Cirith Gorgor and the black gates of Mordor。
'Boromir； and any that go with him seeking Minas Tirith； will do well to leave the Great River above Rauros and cross the Entwash before it finds the marshes。 Yet they should not go too far up that stream； nor risk being entangled in the Forest of Fangorn。 That is a strange land； and is now little known。 But Boromir and Aragorn doubtless do not need this warning。'
'Indeed we have heard of Fangorn in Minas Tirith；' said Boromir。 ‘But what I have heard seems to me for the most part old wives' tales； such as we tell to our children。 All that lies north of Rohan is now to us so far away that fancy can wander freely there。 Of old Fangorn lay upon the borders of our realm； but it is now many lives of men since any of us visited it； to prove or disprove the legends that have e down from distant years。
‘I have myself been at whiles in Rohan； but I have never crossed it northwards。 When I was sent out as a messenger； I passed through the Gap by the skirts of the White Mountains； and crossed the Isen and the Greyflood into Northerland。 A long and wearisome journey。 Four hundred leagues I reckoned it； and it took me many months； for I lost my horse at Tharbad； at the fording of the Greyflood。 After that journey； and the road I have trodden with this pany； I do not much doubt that I shall find a way through Rohan； and Fangorn too； if need be。'
‘Then I need say no more；' said Celeborn。 'But do not despise the lore that has e down from distant years； for oft it may chance that old wives keep in memory word of things that once were needful for the wise to know。'
Now Galadriel rose from the grass； and taking a cup from one of her