The Lord of the Rings-指环王(英文版)-第38部分

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ed　cloak　of　heavy　darkgreen　cloth　was　drawn　close　about　him；　and　in　spite　of　the　heat　of　the　room　he　wore　a　hood　that　overshadowed　his　face；　but　the　gleam　of　his　eyes　could　be　seen　as　he　watched　the　hobbits。

'Who　is　that？'　Frodo　asked；　when　he　got　a　chance　to　whisper　to　Mr。　Butterbur。　'I　don't　think　you　introduced　him？'

'Him？'　said　the　landlord　in　an　answering　whisper；　cocking　an　eye　without　turning　his　head。　'I　don't　rightly　know。　He　is　one　of　the　wandering　folk　　Rangers　we　call　them。　He　seldom　talks：　not　but　what　he　can　tell　a　rare　tale　when　he　has　the　mind。　He　disappears　for　a　month；　or　a　year；　and　then　he　pops　up　again。　He　was　in　and　out　pretty　often　last　spring；　but　I　haven't　seen　him　about　lately。　What　his　right　name　is　I've　never　heard：　but　he's　known　round　here　as　Strider。　Goes　about　at　a　great　pace　on　his　long　shanks；　though　he　don't　tell　nobody　what　cause　he　has　to　hurry。　But　there's　no　accounting　for　East　and　West；　as　we　say　in　Bree；　meaning　the　Rangers　and　the　Shirefolk；　begging　your　pardon。　Funny　you　should　ask　about　him。'　But　at　that　moment　Mr。　Butterbur　was　called　away　by　a　demand　for　more　ale　and　his　last　remark　remained　unexplained。

Frodo　found　that　Strider　was　now　looking　at　him；　as　if　he　had　heard　or　guessed　all　that　had　been　said。　Presently；　with　a　wave　of　his　hand　and　a　nod；　he　invited　Frodo　to　e　over　and　sit　by　him。　As　Frodo　drew　near　be　threw　back　his　hood；　showing　a　shaggy　head　of　dark　hair　necked　with　grey；　and　in　a　pale　stem　face　a　pair　of　keen　grey　eyes。

'I　am　called　Strider；'　he　said　in　a　low　voice。　'I　am　very　pleased　to　meet　you。　Master　。　Underhill；　if　old　Butterbur　got　your　name　right。'

'He　did；'　said　Frodo　stiffly。　He　felt　far　from　fortable　under　the　stare　of　those　keen　eyes。

'Well；　Master　Underhill；'　said　Strider；　'if　I　were　you；　I　should　stop　your　young　friends　from　talking　too　much。　Drink；　fire；　and　chancemeeting　are　pleasant　enough；　but；　well　。　this　isn't　the　Shire。　There　are　queer　folk　about。　Though　I　say　it　as　shouldn't；　you　may　think；'　he　added　with　a　wry　smile；　seeing　Frodo's　glance。　'And　there　have　been　even　stranger　travellers　through　Bree　lately；'　he　went　on；　watching　Frodo's　face。

Frodo　returned　his　gaze　but　said　nothing；　and　Strider　made　no　further　sign。　His　attention　seemed　suddenly　to　be　fixed　on　Pippin。　To　his　alarm　Frodo　became　aware　that　the　ridiculous　young　Took；　encouraged　by　his　success　with　the　fat　Mayor　of　Michel　Delving；　was　now　actually　giving　a　ic　account　of　Bilbo's　farewell　party。　He　was　already　giving　an　imitation　of　the　Speech；　and　was　drawing　near　to　the　astonishing　Disappearance。

Frodo　was　annoyed。　It　was　a　harmless　enough　tale　for　most　of　the　local　hobbits；　no　doubt：　just　a　funny　story　about　those　funny　people　away　beyond　the　River；　but　some　（old　Butterbur；　for　instance）　knew　a　thing　or　two；　and　had　probably　heard　rumours　long　ago　about　Bilbo's　vanishing。　It　would　bring　the　name　of　Baggins　to　their　minds；　especially　if　there　had　been　inquiries　in　Bree　after　that　name。

Frodo　fidgeted；　wondering　what　to　do。　Pippin　was　evidently　much　enjoying　the　attention　he　was　getting；　and　had　bee　quite　fetful　of　their　danger。　Frodo　had　a　sudden　fear　that　in　his　present　mood　he　might　even　mention　the　Ring；　and　that　might　well　be　disastrous。

'You　had　better　do　something　quick！'　whispered　Strider　in　his　ear。

Frodo　jumped　up　and　stood　on　a　table；　and　began　to　talk。　The　attention　of　Pippin's　audience　was　disturbed。　Some　of　the　hobbits　looked　at　Frodo　and　laughed　and　clapped；　thinking　that　Mr。　Underhill　had　taken　as　much　ale　as　was　good　for　him。

Frodo　suddenly　felt　very　foolish；　and　found　himself　（as　was　his　habit　when　making　a　speech）　fingering　the　things　in　his　pocket。　He　felt　the　Ring　on　its　chain；　and　quite　unaccountably　the　desire　came　over　him　to　slip　it　on　and　vanish　out　of　the　silly　situation。　It　seemed　to　him；　somehow；　as　if　me　suggestion　came　to　him　from　outside；　from　someone　or　something　a　the　room。　He　resisted　the　temptation　firmly；　and　clasped　the　Ring　in　his　hand；　as　if　to　keep　a　hold　on　it　and　prevent　it　from　escaping　or　doing　any　mischief。　At　any　rate　it　gave　him　no　inspiration。　He　spoke　'a　few　suitable　words'；　as　they　would　have　said　in　the　Shire：　We　are　all　very　much　gratified　by　the　kindness　of　your　reception；　and　I　venture　to　hope　that　my　brief　visit　will　help　to　renew　the　old　ties　of　friendship　between　the　Shire　and　Bree；　and　then　he　hesitated　and　coughed。

Everyone　in　the　room　was　now　looking　at　him。　'A　song！'　shouted　one　of　the　hobbits。　'A　song！　A　song！'　shouted　all　the　others。　'e　on　now；　master；　sing　us　something　that　we　haven't　heard　before！'

For　a　moment　Frodo　stood　gaping。　Then　in　desperation　he　began　a　ridiculous　song　that　Bilbo　had　been　rather　fond　of　（and　indeed　rather　proud　of；　for　he　had　made　up　the　words　himself）。　It　was　about　an　inn；　and　that　is　probably　why　it　came　into　Frodo's　mind　just　then。　Here　it　is　in　full。　Only　a　few　words　of　it　are　now；　as　a　rule；　remembered。

There　is　an　inn；　a　merry　old　inn
beneath　an　old　grey　hill；
And　there　they　brew　a　beer　so　brown
That　the　Man　in　the　Moon　himself　came　down
one　night　to　drink　his　fill。

The　ostler　has　a　tipsy　cat
that　plays　a　fivestringed　fiddle；
And　up　and　down　he　runs　his　bow；
Now　squeaking　high；　now　purring　low；
now　sawing　in　the　middle。

The　landlord　keeps　a　little　dog
that　is　mighty　fond　of　jokes；
When　there's　good　cheer　among　the　guests；
He　cocks　an　ear　at　all　the　jests
and　laughs　until　he　chokes。

They　also　keep　a　horned　cow
as　proud　as　any　queen；
But　music　turns　her　head　like　ale；
And　makes　her　wave　her　tufted　tail
and　dance　upon　the　green。

And　O！　the　rows　of　silver　dishes
and　the　store　of　silver　spoons！
For　Sunday　there's　a　special　pair；
And　these　they　polish　up　with　care
on　Saturday　afternoons。

The　Man　in　the　Moon　was　drinking　deep；
and　the　cat　began　to　wail；
A　dish　and　a　spoon　on　the　table　danced；
The　cow　in　the　garden　madly　pranced；
and　the　little　dog　chased　his　tail。

The　Man　in　the　Moon　took　another　mug；
and　then　rolled　beneath　his　chair；
And　there　he　dozed　and　dreamed　of　ale；
Till　in　the　sky　the　stars　were　pale；
and　dawn　was　in　the　air。

Then　the　ostler　said　to　his　tipsy　cat：
'The　white　horses　of　the　Moon；
They　neigh　and　champ　their　silver　bits；
But　their　master's　been　and　drowned　his　wits；
and　the　Sun'll　be　rising　soon！'

So　the　cat　on　his　fiddle　played　heydiddlediddle；
a　jig　that　would　wake　the　dead：
He　squeaked　and　sawed　and　quickened　the　tune；
While　the　landlord　shook　the　Man　in　the　Moon：
'It's　after　three！'　he　said。

They　rolled　the　Man　slowly　up　the　hill
and　bundled　him　into　the　Moon；
While　his　horses　galloped　up　in　rear；
And　the　cow　came　capering　like　a　deer；
and　a　dish　ran　up　with　the　spoon。

Now　quicker　the　fiddle　went　deedledumdiddle；
the　dog　began　to　roar；
The　cow　and　the　horses　stood　on　their　heads；
The　guests　all　bounded　from　their　beds
and　danced　upon　the　floor。

With　a　ping　and　a　pong　the　fiddlestrings　broke！
the　cow　jumped　over　the　Moon；
And　the　little　dog　laughed　to　see　such　fun；
And　the　Saturday　dish　went　off　at　a　run
with　the　silver　Sunday　spoon。

The　round　Moon　rolled　behind　the　hill
as　the　Sun　raised　up　her　head。
She　hardly　believed　her　fiery　eyes；
For　though　it　was　day；　to　her　surprise
they　all　went　back　to　bed！

There　was　loud　and　long　applause。　Frodo　had　a　good　voice；　and　the　song　tickled　their　fancy。　'Where's　old　Barley？'　they　cried。　'He　ought　to　hear　this。　Bob　ought　to　learn　his　cat　the　fiddle；　and　then　we'd　have　a　dance。'　They　called　for　more　ale；　and　began　to　shout：　'Let's　have　it　again；　master！　e　on　now！　Once　more！'

They　made　Frodo　have　another　drink；　and　then　begin　his　song　again；　while　many　of　them　joined　in；　for　the　tune　was　well　known；　and　they　were　quick　at　picking　up　words。　It　was　now　Frodo's　turn　to　feel　pleased　with　himself。　He　capered　about　on　the　table；　and　when　he　came　a　second　time　to　the　cow　jumped　over　the　Moon；　he　leaped　in　the　air。　Much　too　vigorously；　for　he　came　down；　bang；　into　a　tray　full　of　mugs；　and　slipped；　and　rolled　off　the　table　with　a　crash；　clatter；　and　bump！　The　audience　all　opened　their　mouths　wide　for　laughter；　and　stopped　short　a　gaping　silence；　for　the　singer　disappeared。　He　simply　vanished；　as　if　he　had　gone　slap　through　the　floor　without　leaving　a　hole！

The　local　hobbits　stared　in　amazement；　and　then　sprang　to　their　feet　and　shouted　for　Barliman。　All　the　pany　drew　away　from　Pippin　and　Sam；　who　found　themselves　left　alone　in　a　er；　and　eyed　darkly　and　doubtfully　from　a　distance。　It　was　plain　that　many　people　regarded　them　now　as　the　panions　of　a　travelling　magician　of　unknown　powers　and　purpose。　But　there　was　one　swarthy　Breelander；　who　stood　looking　at　them　with　a　knowing　and　halfmocking　expression　that　made　them　feel　very　unfortable。　Presently　he　slipped　out　of　the　door；　followed　by　the　squinteyed　southerner：　the　two　had　been　whispering　together　a　good　deal　during　the　evening。　Harry　the　gatekeeper　also　went　out　just　behind　them。。

Frodo　felt　a　fool。　Not　knowing　what　else　to　do；　he　crawled　away　under　the　tables　to　the　dark　er　by　Strider；　who　sat　unmoved；　giving　no　sign　of　his　thoughts。　Frodo　leaned　back　against　the　wall　and　took　off　the　Ring。　How　it　came　to　be　on　his　finger　he　could　not　tell。　He　could　only　suppos