The Lord of the Rings-指环王(英文版)-第64部分

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'　〃So　you　have　e；　Gandalf；〃　he　said　to　me　gravely；　but　in　his　eyes　there　seemed　to　be　a　white　light；　as　if　a　cold　laughter　was　in　his　heart。

'　〃Yes；　I　have　e；〃　I　said。　〃I　have　e　for　your　aid；　Saruman　the　White。〃　And　that　title　seemed　to　anger　him。

'　〃Have　you　indeed；　Gandalf　the　Grey！　〃　he　scoffed。　〃For　aid？　It　has　seldom　been　heard　of　that　Gandalf　the　Grey　sought　for　aid；　one　so　cunning　and　so　wise；　wandering　about　the　lands；　and　concerning　himself　in　every　business；　whether　it　belongs　to　him　or　not。〃

'I　looked　at　him　and　wondered。　〃But　if　I　am　not　deceived；〃　said　I；　〃things　are　now　moving　which　will　require　the　union　of　all　our　strength。〃

'　〃That　may　be　so；〃　he　said；　〃but　the　thought　is　late　in　ing　to　you。　How　long。　I　wonder；　have　you　concealed　from　me；　the　head　of　the　Council；　a　matter　of　greatest　import？　What　brings　you　now　from　your　lurkingplace　in　the　Shire？　〃

'　〃The　Nine　have　e　forth　again；〃　I　answered。　〃They　have　crossed　the　River。　So　Radagast　said　to　me。〃

'　〃Radagast　the　Brown！　〃　laughed　Saruman；　and　he　no　longer　concealed　his　scorn。　〃Radagast　the　Birdtamer！　Radagast　the　Simple！　Radagast　the　Fool！　Yet　he　had　just　the　wit　to　play　the　part　that　I　set　him。　For　you　have　e；　and　that　was　all　the　purpose　of　my　message。　And　here　you　will　stay；　Gandalf　the　Grey；　and　rest　from　journeys。　For　I　am　Saruman　the　Wise；　Saruman　Ringmaker；　Saruman　of　Many　Colours！　〃

'I　looked　then　and　saw　that　his　robes；　which　had　seemed　white；　were　not　so；　but　were　woven　of　all　colours。　and　if　he　moved　they　shimmered　and　changed　hue　so　that　the　eye　was　bewildered。

'　〃I　liked　white　better；〃　I　said。

'　〃White！　〃　he　sneered。　〃It　serves　as　a　beginning。　White　cloth　may　be　dyed。　The　white　page　can　be　overwritten；　and　the　white　light　can　be　broken。〃

'　〃In　which　case　it　is　no　longer　white；〃　said　I。　〃And　he　that　breaks　a　thing　to　find　out　what　it　is　has　left　the　path　of　wisdom。〃

'　〃You　need　not　speak　to　me　as　to　one　of　the　fools　that　you　take　for　friends；〃　said　he。　〃I　have　not　brought　you　hither　to　be　instructed　by　you；　but　to　give　you　a　choice。〃

'He　drew　himself　up　then　and　began　to　declaim；　as　if　he　were　making　a　speech　long　rehearsed。　〃The　Elder　Days　are　gone。　The　Middle　Days　are　passing。　The　Younger　Days　are　beginning。　The　time　of　the　Elves　is　over；　but　our　time　is　at　hand：　the　world　of　Men；　which　we　must　rule。　But　we　must　have　power；　power　to　order　all　things　as　we　will；　for　that　good　which　only　the　Wise　can　see。

'　〃And　listen；　Gandalf；　my　old　friend　and　helper！　〃　he　said；　ing　near　and　speaking　now　in　a　softer　voice。　〃I　said　we；　for　we　it　may　be；　if　you　will　join　with　me。　A　new　Power　is　rising。　Against　it　the　old　allies　and　policies　will　not　avail　us　at　all。　There　is　no　hope　left　in　Elves　or　dying　Númenor。　This　then　is　one　choice　before　you。　before　us。　We　may　join　with　that　Power。　It　would　be　wise；　Gandalf。　There　is　hope　that　way。　Its　victory　is　at　hand；　and　there　will　be　rich　reward　for　those　that　aided　it。　As　the　Power　grows；　its　proved　friends　will　also　grow；　and　the　Wise；　such　as　you　and　I；　may　with　patience　e　at　last　to　direct　its　courses；　to　control　it。　We　can　bide　our　time；　we　can　keep　our　thoughts　in　our　hearts；　deploring　maybe　evils　done　by　the　way；　but　approving　the　high　and　ultimate　purpose：　Knowledge；　Rule；　Order；　all　the　things　that　we　have　so　far　striven　in　vain　to　acplish；　hindered　rather　than　helped　by　our　weak　or　idle　friends。　There　need　not　be；　there　would　not　be；　any　real　change　in　our　designs；　only　in　our　means。〃

'　〃Saruman；〃　I　said；　〃I　have　heard　speeches　of　this　kind　before；　but　only　in　the　mouths　of　emissaries　sent　from　Mordor　to　deceive　the　ignorant。　I　cannot　think　that　you　brought　me　so　far　only　to　weary　my　ears。〃

'He　looked　at　me　sidelong；　and　paused　a　while　considering。　〃Well；　I　see　that　this　wise　course　does　not　mend　itself　to　you；〃　he　said。　〃Not　yet？　Not　if　some　better　way　can　be　contrived？　〃

'He　came　and　laid　his　long　hand　on　my　arm。　〃And　why　not；　Gandalf？　〃　he　whispered。　〃Why　not？　The　Ruling　Ring？　If　we　could　mand　that；　then　the　Power　would　pass　to　us。　That　is　in　truth　why　I　brought　you　here。　For　I　have　many　eyes　in　my　service；　and　I　believe　that　you　know　where　this　precious　thing　now　lies。　Is　it　not　so？　Or　why　do　the　Nine　ask　for　the　Shire；　and　what　is　your　business　there？　〃　As　he　said　this　a　lust　which　he　could　not　conceal　shone　suddenly　in　his　eyes。

'　〃Saruman；〃　I　said；　standing　away　from　him；　〃only　one　hand　at　a　time　can　wield　the　One；　and　you　know　that　well；　so　do　not　trouble　to　say　we！　But　I　would　not　give　it；　nay；　I　would　not　give　even　news　of　it　to　you；　now　that　I　learn　your　mind。　You　were　head　of　the　Council；　but　you　have　unmasked　yourself　at　last。　Well；　the　choices　are；　it　seems；　to　submit　to　Sauron；　or　to　yourself。　I　will　take　neither。　Have　you　others　to　offer？　〃

'He　was　cold　now　and　perilous。　〃Yes；〃　he　said。　〃I　did　not　expect　you　to　show　wisdom；　even　in　your　own　behalf；　but　I　gave　you　the　chance　of　aiding　me　willingly。　and　so　saving　yourself　much　trouble　and　pain。　The　third　choice　is　to　stay　here；　until　the　end。〃

'　〃Until　what　end？　〃

'　〃Until　you　reveal　to　me　where　the　One　may　be　found。　I　may　find　means　to　persuade　you。　Or　until　it　is　found　in　your　despite；　and　the　Ruler　has　time　to　turn　to　lighter　matters：　to　devise；　say；　a　fitting　reward　for　the　hindrance　and　insolence　of　Gandalf　the　Grey。〃

'　〃That　may　not　prove　to　be　one　of　the　lighter　matters；〃　said　I。　He　laughed　at　me；　for　my　words　were　empty；　and　he　knew　it。

'They　took　me　and　they　set　me　alone　on　the　pinnacle　of　Orthanc；　in　the　place　where　Saruman　was　accustomed　to　watch　the　stars。　There　is　no　descent　save　by　a　narrow　stair　of　many　thousand　steps；　and　the　valley　below　seems　far　away。　I　looked　on　it　and　saw　that；　whereas　it　had　once　been　green　and　fair；　it　was　now　filled　with　pits　and　fes。　Wolves　and　orcs　were　housed　in　Isengard；　for　Saruman　was　mustering　a　great　force　on　his　own　account；　in　rivalry　of　Sauron　and　not　in　his　service　yet。　Over　all　his　works　a　dark　smoke　hung　and　wrapped　itself　about　the　sides　of　Orthanc。　I　stood　alone　on　an　island　in　the　clouds；　and　I　had　no　chance　of　escape；　and　my　days　were　bitter。　I　was　pierced　with　cold；　and　I　had　but　little　room　in　which　to　pace　to　and　fro；　brooding　on　the　ing　of　the　Riders　to　the　North。

'That　the　Nine　had　indeed　arisen　I　felt　assured；　apart　from　the　words　of　Saruman　which　might　be　lies。　Long　ere　I　came　to　Isengard　I　had　heard　tidings　by　the　way　that　could　not　be　mistaken。　Fear　was　ever　in　my　heart　for　my　friends　in　the　Shire；　but　still　I　had　some　hope。　I　hoped　that　Frodo　had　set　forth　at　once；　as　my　letter　had　urged；　and　that　he　had　reached　Rivendell　before　the　deadly　pursuit　began。　And　both　my　fear　and　my　hope　proved　ill　founded。　For　my　hope　was　founded　on　a　fat　man　in　Bree；　and　my　fear　was　founded　on　the　cunning　of　Sauron。　But　fat　men　who　sell　ale　have　many　calls　to　answer；　and　the　power　of　Sauron　is　still　less　than　fear　makes　it。　But　in　the　circle　of　Isengard；　trapped　and　alone；　it　was　not　easy　to　think　that　the　hunters　before　whom　all　have　fled　or　fallen　would　falter　in　the　Shire　far　away。'

'I　saw　you！'　cried　Frodo。　'You　were　walking　backwards　and　forwards。　The　moon　shone　in　your　hair。'

Gandalf　paused　astonished　and　looked　at　him。　'It　was　only　a　dream'　said　Frodo；　'but　it　suddenly　came　back　to　me。　I　had　quite　fotten　it。　It　came　some　time　ago；　after　I　left　the　Shire；　I　think。'

'Then　it　was　late　in　ing；'　said　Gandalf；　'as　you　will　see。　I　was　in　an　evil　plight。　And　those　who　know　me　will　agree　that　I　have　seldom　been　in　such　need；　and　do　not　bear　such　misfortune　well。　Gandalf　the　Grey　caught　like　a　fly　in　a　spider's　treacherous　web！　Yet　even　the　most　subtle　spiders　may　leave　a　weak　thread。

'At　first　I　feared；　as　Saruman　no　doubt　intended；　that　Radagast　had　also　fallen。　Yet　I　had　caught　no　hint　of　anything　wrong　in　his　voice　or　in　his　eye　at　our　meeting。　If　I　had；　I　should　never　have　gone　to　Isengard；　or　I　should　have　gone　more　warily。　So　Saruman　guessed；　and　he　had　concealed　his　mind　and　deceived　his　messenger。　It　would　have　been　useless　in　any　case　to　try　and　win　over　the　honest　Radagast　to　treachery。　He　sought　me　in　good　faith；　and　so　persuaded　me。

'That　was　the　undoing　of　Saruman's　plot。　For　Radagast　knew　no　reason　why　he　should　not　do　as　I　asked；　and　he　rode　away　towards　Mirkwood　where　he　had　many　friends　of　old。　And　the　Eagles　of　the　Mountains　went　far　and　wide；　and　they　saw　many　things：　the　gathering　of　wolves　and　the　mustering　of　Orcs；　and　the　Nine　Riders　going　hither　and　thither　in　the　lands；　and　they　heard　news　of　the　escape　of　Gollum。　And　they　sent　a　messenger　to　bring　these　tidings　to　me。

'So　it　was　that　when　summer　waned；　there　came　a　night　of　moon；　and　Gwaihir　the　Windlord；　swiftest　of　the　Great　Eagles；　came　unlookedfor　to　Orthanc；　and　he　found　me　standing　on　the　pinnacle。　Then　I　spoke　to　him　and　he　bore　me　away；　before　Saruman　was　aware。　I　was　far　from　Isengard；　ere　the　wolves　and　orcs　issued　from　the　gate　to　pursue　me。

'　〃How　far　can　you　bear　me？　〃　I　said　to　Gwaihir。

'　〃Many　leagues；〃　said　he；　〃but　not　to　the　ends　of　the　earth。　I　was　sent　to　bear　tidings　not　burdens。〃

'　〃Then　I　must　have　a　steed　on　land；〃　I　said；　〃and　a　steed　surpassingly　swift；　for　I　have　never　had　such　need　of　haste　before。〃

'　〃Then