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！
een wall encircling a green hill thronged with mallorntrees taller than any they had yet seen in all the land。 Their height could not be guessed； but they stood up in the twilight like living towers。 In their； manytiered branches and amid their evermoving leaves countless lights were gleaming； green and gold and silver。 Haldir turned towards the pany。
'Wele to Caras Galadhon！' he said。 'Here is the city of the Galadhrim where dwell the Lord Celeborn and Galadriel the Lady of Lórien。 But we cannot enter here； for the gates do not look northward。 We must go round to the southern side； and the way is not short； for the city is great。'
There was a road paved with white stone running on the outer brink of the fosse。 Along this they went westward； with the city ever climbing up like a green cloud upon their left； and as the night deepened more lights sprang forth； until all the hill seemed afire with stars。 They came at last to a white bridge； and crossing found the great gates of the city： they faced southwest； set between the ends of the encircling wall that here overlapped； and they were tall and strong； and hung with many lamps。
Haldir knocked and spoke； and the gates opened soundlessly； but of guards Frodo could see no sign。 The travellers passed within； and the gates shut behind them。 They were in a deep lane between the ends of the wall； and passing quickly through it they entered the City of the Trees。 No folk could they see； nor hear any feet upon the paths； but there were many voices； about them； and in the air above。 Far away up on the hill they could hear the sound of singing falling from on high like soft rain upon leaves。
They went along many paths and climbed many stairs； until they came to the high places and saw before them amid a wide lawn a fountain shimmering。 It was lit by silver lamps that swung from the boughs of trees； and it fell into a basin of silver； from which a white stream spilled。 Upon the south side of the lawn there stood the mightiest of all the trees； its great smooth bole gleamed like grey silk； and up it towered； until its first branches； far above； opened their huge limbs under shadowy clouds of leaves。 Beside it a broad white ladder stood； and at its foot three Elves were seated。 They sprang up as the travellers approached； and Frodo saw that they were tall and clad in grey mail； and from their shoulders hung long white cloaks。
'Here dwell Celeborn and Galadriel；' said Haldir。 'It is their wish that you should ascend and speak with them。'
One of the Elfwardens then blew a clear note on a small horn； and it was answered three times from far above。 'I will go first；' said Haldir。 'Let Frodo e next and with him Legolas。 The others may follow as they wish。 It is a long climb for those that are not accustomed to such stairs； but you may rest upon the way。'
As he climbed slowly up Frodo passed many flets： some on one side； some on another； and some set about the bole of the tree； so that the ladder passed through them。 At a great height above the ground he came to a wide talan； like the deck of a great ship。 On it was built a house； so large that almost it would have served for a hall of Men upon the earth。 He entered behind Haldir； and found that he was in a chamber of oval shape； in the midst of which grew the trunk of the great mallorn； now tapering towards its crown； and yet making still a pillar of wide girth。
The chamber was filled with a soft light； its walls were green and silver and its roof of gold。 Many Elves were seated there。 On two chairs beneath the bole of the tree and canopied by a living bough there sat； side by side； Celeborn and Galadriel。 They stood up to greet their guests； after the manner of Elves； even those who were accounted mighty kings。 Very tall they were； and the Lady no less tall than the Lord； and they were grave and beautiful。 They were clad wholly in white； and the hair of the Lady was of deep gold； and the hair of the Lord Celeborn was of silver long and bright； but no sign of age was upon them； unless it were in the depths of their eyes； for these were keen as lances in the starlight； and yet profound； the wells of deep memory。
Haldir led Frodo before them； and the Lord weled him in his own tongue。 The Lady Galadriel said no word but looked long upon his face。
'Sit now beside my chair； Frodo of the Shire！' said Celeborn。 'When all have e we will speak together。'
Each of the panions he greeted courteously by name as they entered。 'Wele Aragorn son of Arathorn！' he said。 'It is eight and thirty years of the world outside since you came to this land； and those years lie heavy on you。 But the end is near； for good or ill。 Here lay aside your burden for a while！'
'Wele son of Thranduil！ Too seldom do my kindred journey hither from the North。'
'Wele Gimli son of Glóin！ It is long indeed since we saw one of Durin's folk in Caras Galadhon。 But today we have broken our long law。 May it be a sign that though the world is now dark better days are at hand； and that friendship shall be renewed between our peoples。' Gimli bowed low。
When all the guests were seated before his chair the Lord looked at them again。 'Here there are eight；' he said。 'Nine were to set out： so said the messages。 But maybe there has been some change of counsel that we have not heard。 Elrond is far away； and darkness gathers between us； and all this year the shadows have grown longer。'
'Nay； there was no change of counsel；' said the Lady Galadriel speaking for the first time。 Her voice was clear and musical； but deeper than woman's wont。 'Gandalf the Grey set out with the pany； but he did not pass the borders of this land。 Now tell us where he is； for I much desired to speak with him again。 But I cannot see him from afar； unless he es within the fences of Lothlórien： a grey mist is about him； and the ways of his feet and of his mind are hidden from me。'
'Alas！' said Aragorn。 'Gandalf the Grey fell into shadow。 He remained in Moria and did not escape。'
At these words all the Elves in the hall cried aloud in grief and amazement。 'These are evil tidings；' said Celeborn； 'the most evil that have been spoken here in long years full of grievous deeds。' He turned to Haldir。 'Why has nothing of this been told to me before？ ' he asked in the Elven tongue。
'We have not spoken to Haldir of our deeds or our purpose；' said Legolas。 'At first we were weary and danger was too close behind and afterwards we almost fot our grief for a time； as we walked in gladness on the fair paths of Lórien。'
'Yet our grief is great and our loss cannot be mended；' said Frodo。 'Gandalf was our guide； and he led us through Moria； and when our escape seemed beyond hope he saved us； and he fell。'
'Tell us now the full tale！' said Celeborn：
Then Aragorn recounted all that had happened upon the pass of Caradhras； and in the days that followed； and he spoke of Balin and his book； and the fight in the Chamber of Mazarbul； and the fire； and the narrow bridge； and the ing of the Terror。 'An evil of the Ancient World it seemed； such as I have never seen before；' said Aragorn。 'It was both a shadow and a flame； strong and terrible。'
'It was a Balrog of Moth；' said Legolas； 'of all elfbanes the most deadly； save the One who sits in the Dark Tower。'
'Indeed I saw upon the bridge that which haunts our darkest dreams I saw Durin's Bane；' said Gimli in a low voice； and dread was in his eyes。
'Alas！' said Celeborn。 'We long have feared that under Caradhras a terror slept。 But had I known that the Dwarves had stirred up this evil in Moria again； I would have forbidden you to pass the northern borders； you and all that went with you。 And if it were possible； one would say that at the last Gandalf fell from wisdom into folly； going needlessly into the of Moria。'
'He would be rash indeed that said that thing；' said Galadriel gravely。 'Needless were none of the deeds of Gandalf in life。 Those that followed him knew not his mind and cannot report his full purpose。 But however it may be with the guide； the followers are blameless。 Do not repent of your wele to the Dwarf。 If our folk had been exiled long and far from Lothlórien； who of the Galadhrim； even Celeborn the Wise； would pass nig