The Lord Of The Rings (Collection)

[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.A few scorings.and small flake-likesplinters near the base, were all the marks that it bore of the fury of theEnts.On the eastern side, in the angle of two piers, there was a great door,high above the ground; and over it was a shuttered window, opening upon abalcony hedged with iron bars.Up to the threshold of the door there mounteda flight of twenty-seven broad stairs, hewn by some unknown art of the sameblack stone.This was the only entrance to the tower; but many tall windowswere cut with deep embrasures in the climbing walls: far up they peered likelittle eyes in the sheer faces of the horns.At the foot of the stairs Gandalf and the king dismounted.'I will goup,' said Gandalf.'I have been in Orthanc and I know my peril.''And I too will go up,' said the king.'I am old, and fear no peril anymore.I wish to speak with the enemy who has done me so much wrong.Jomershall come with me, and see that my aged feet do not falter.''As you will,' said Gandalf.'Aragorn shall come with me.Let theothers await us at the foot of the stairs.They will hear and see enough, ifthere is anything to hear or see.''Nay!' said Gimli.'Legolas and I wish for a closer view.We alone hererepresent our kindred.We also will come behind.''Come then!' said Gandalf, and with that he climbed the steps, andThjoden went beside him.The Riders of Rohan sat uneasily upon their horses, on either side ofthe stair, and looked up darkly at the great tower, fearing what mightbefall their lord.Merry and Pippin sat on the bottom step, feeling bothunimportant and unsafe.'Half a sticky mile from here to the gate!' muttered Pippin.'I wish Icould slip off back to the guardroom unnoticed! What did we come for? We arenot wanted.'Gandalf stood before the door of Orthanc and beat on it with his staff.It rang with a hollow sound.'Saruman, Saruman!' he cried in a loudcommanding voice.'Saruman come forth!'For some time there was no answer.At last the window above the doorwas unbarred, hut no figure could be seen at its dark opening.'Who is it?' said a voice.'What do you wish?'Thjoden started.'I know that voice,' he said, 'and I curse the daywhen I first listened to it.''Go and fetch Saruman, since you have become his footman, GrnmaWormtongue!' said Gandalf.'And do not waste our time!'The window closed.They waited.Suddenly another voice spoke, low andmelodious, its very sound an enchantment.Those who listened unwarily tothat voice could seldom report the words that they heard; and if they did,they wondered, for little power remained in them.Mostly they rememberedonly that it was a delight to hear the voice speaking, all that it saidseemed wise and reasonable, and desire awoke in them by swift agreement toseem wise themselves.When others spoke they seemed harsh and uncouthbycontrast; and if they gainsaid the voice, anger was kindled in the hearts ofthose under the spell.Fur some the spell lasted only while the voice spoketo them, and when it spake to another they smiled, as men do who see througha juggler's trick while others gape at it.For many the sound of the voicealone was enough to hold them enthralled; but for those whom it conqueredthe spell endured when they were far away.and ever they heard that softvoice whispering and urging them.But none were unmoved; none rejected itspleas and its commands without an effort of mind and will, so long as itsmaster had control of it.'Well?' it said now with gentle question.'Why must you disturb myrest? Will you give me no peace at all by night or day?' Its tone was thatof a kindly heart aggrieved by injuries undeserved.They looked up, astonished, for they had heard no sound of his coming;and they saw a figure standing at the rail, looking down upon them: an oldman, swathed in a great cloak, the colour of which was not easy to tell, forit changed if they moved their eyes or if he stirred.His face was long,with a high forehead, he had deep darkling eyes, hard to fathom, though thelook that they now bore was grave and benevolent, and a little weary.Hishair and beard were white, but strands of black still showed about his lipsand ears.'Like, and yet unlike,' muttered Gimli.'But come now,' said the soft voice.'Two at least of you I know byname.Gandalf I know too well to have much hope that he seeks help orcounsel here.But you, Thjoden Lord of the Mark of Rohan are declared byyour noble devices, and still more by the fair countenance of the House ofEorl.O worthy son of Thengel the Thrice-renowned! Why have you notcomebefore, and as a friend? Much have I desired to see you, mightiest king ofwestern lands, and especially in these latter years, to save you from theunwise and evil counsels that beset you! Is it yet too late? Despite theinjuries that have been done to me, in which the men of Rohan, alas! havehad some part, still I would save you, and deliver you from the ruin thatdraws nigh inevitably, if you ride upon this road which you have taken.Indeed I alone can aid you now.'Thjoden opened his mouth as if to speak, but he said nothing.He lookedup at the face of Saruman with its dark solemn eyes bent down upon him, andthen to Gandalf at his side; and he seemed to hesitate.Gandalf made nosign; but stood silent as stone, as one waiting patiently for some call thathas not yet come.The Riders stirred at first, murmuring with approval ofthe words of Saruman; and then they too were silent, as men spell-bound.Itseemed to them that Gandalf had never spoken so fair and fittingly to theirlord.Rough and proud now seemed all his dealings with Thjoden.And overtheir hearts crept a shadow, the fear of a great danger: the end of the Markin a darkness to which Gandalf was driving them, while Saruman stood besidea door of escape, holding it half open so that a ray of light came through.There was a heavy silence.It was Gimli the dwarf who broke in suddenly.'The words of this wizardstand on their heads,' he growled, gripping the handle of his axe.'In thelanguage of Orthanc help means ruin, and saving means slaying, that isplain.But we do not come here to beg.''Peace!' said Saruman, and for a fleeting moment his voice was lesssuave, and a light flickered in his eyes and was gone.'I do not speak toyou yet, Gimli Gluin's son,' he said.'Far away is your home and smallconcern of yours are the troubles of this land.But it was not by design ofyour own that you became embroiled in them, and so I will not blame suchpart as you have played-a valiant one, I doubt not.But I pray you, allow mefirst to speak with the King of Rohan, my neighbour, and once my friend.'What have you to say, Thjoden King? Will you have peace with me, andall the aid that my knowledge, founded in long years, can bring? Shall wemake our counsels together against evil days, and repair our injuries withsuch good will that our estates shall both come to fairer flower than everbefore?'Still Thjoden did not answer.Whether he strove with anger or doubtnone could say.Jomer spoke.'Lord, hear me!' he said.'Now we feel the peril that we were warnedof [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

Podstrony