jrt.the hobbit-第60章
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stood Gandalf； with his arm in a sling。 Even the wizard had not escaped without a wound； and there were few unharmed in all the host。
When Gandalf saw Bilbo； he was delighted。 〃Baggins！〃 he exclaimed。 〃Well I never！ Alive after all … 1 am glad！ I began to wonder if even your luck would see you through！ A terrible business； and it nearly was disastrous。 But other news can wait。 e！〃 he said more gravely。 〃You are called for；〃 and leading the hobbit he took him within the tent。
〃Hail！ Thorin；〃 he said as he entered。 〃I have brought him。〃 There indeed lay Thorin Oakenshield； wounded with many wounds； and his rent armour and notched axe were cast upon the floor。 He looked up as Bilbo came beside him。
〃Farewell； good thief；〃 he said。 〃I go now to the halls of waiting to sit beside my fathers； until the world is renewed。 Since I leave now all gold and silver； and go where it is of little worth； I wish to part in friendship from you； and I would take back my words and deeds at the Gate。〃
Bilbo knelt on one knee filled with sorrow。 〃Farewell； King under the
Mountain！〃 he said。 〃This is a bitter adventure； if it must end so； and not a mountain of gold can amend it。 Yet I am glad that I have shared in your perils … that has been more than any Baggins deserves。〃
〃No！〃 said Thorin。 〃There is more in you of good than you know； child of the kindly West。 Some courage and some wisdom； blended in measure。 If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold； it would be a merrier world。 But sad or merry； I must leave it now。 Farewell！〃 Then Bilbo turned away； and he went by himself； and sat alone wrapped in a blanket； and； whether you believe it or not； he wept until his eyes were red and his voice was hoarse。 He was a kindly little soul。 Indeed it was long before he had the heart to make a joke again。 〃A mercy it is；〃 he said at last to himself； 〃that I woke up when I did。 I wish Thorin were living； but I am glad that we parted in kindness。 You are a fool； Bilbo Baggins； and you made a great mess of that business with the stone； and there was a battle； in spite of all your efforts to buy peace and quiet； but I suppose you can hardly be blamed for that。〃
All that had happened after he was stunned； Bilbo learned later； but it gave him more sorrow than joy； and he was now weary of his adventure。 He was aching in his bones for the homeward journey。 That； however； was a little delayed； so in the meantime I will tell something of events。 The Eagles had long had suspicion of the goblins' mustering； from their watchfulness the movements in the mountains could not be altogether hid。 So they too had gathered in great numbers； under the great Eagle of the Misty Mountains； and at length smelling battle from afar they had e speeding down the gale in the nick of time。 They it was who dislodged the goblins from the mountain…slopes； casting them over precipices； or driving them down shrieking and bewildered among their foes。 It was not long before they had freed the Lonely Mountain； and elves and men on either side of the valley could e at last to the help of the battle below。
But even with the Eagles they were still outnumbered。 In that last hour Beorn himself had appeared … no one knew how or from where。 He came alone； and in bear's shape； and he seemed to have grown almost to giant…size in his wrath。 The roar of his voice was like drums and guns； and he tossed wolves and goblins from his path like straws and feathers。 He fell upon their rear； and broke like a clap of thunder through the ring。 The dwarves were making a stand still about their lords upon a low rounded hill。 Then Beorn stooped and lifted Thorin； who had fallen pierced with spears； and bore him out of the fray。 Swiftly he returned and his wrath was redoubled； so that nothing could withstand him； and no weapon seemed to bite upon him。 He scattered the bodyguard； and pulled down Bolg himself and crushed him。 Then dismay fell on the Goblins and they fled in all directions。 But weariness left their enemies with the ing of new hope； and they pursued them closely； and prevented most of them from escaping where they could。 They drove many of them into the Running River； and such as fled south or west they hunted into the marshes about the Forest River； and there the greater part of the last fugitives perished； while those that came hardly to the Wood…elves' realm were there slain； or drawn in to die in the trackless dark of Mirkwood。 Songs have said that three parts of the goblin warriors of the North perished on that day； and the mountains had peace for many a year。
Victory had been assured before the fall of night； but the pursuit was still on foot； when Bilbo returned to the camp； and not many were in the valley save the more grievously wounded。
〃Where are the Eagles？〃 he asked Gandalf that evening； as he lay wrapped in many warm blankets。
〃Some are in the hunt；〃 said the wizard； 〃but most have gone back to their eyries。 They would not stay here； and departed with the first light of morning。 Dain has crowned their chief with gold； and sworn friendship with them for ever。〃
〃I am sorry。 I mean； I should have liked to see them again；〃 said Bilbo sleepily； 〃perhaps I shall see them on the way home。 I suppose I shall be going home soon？〃
〃As soon as you like；〃 said the wizard。
Actually it was some days before Bilbo really set out。 They buried Thorin deep beneath the Mountain； and Bard laid the Arkenstone upon his breast。
〃There let it lie till the Mountain falls！〃 he said。 〃May it bring good fortune to all his folk that dwell here after！〃 Upon his tomb the Elvenking then laid Orcrist； the elvish sword that had been taken from Thorin in captivity。 It is said in songs that it gleamed ever in the dark if foes approached； and the fortress of the dwarves could not be taken by surprise。 There now Dain son of Nain took up his abode； and he became King under the Mountain； and in time many other dwarves gathered to his throne in the ancient halls。 Of the twelve panions of Thorin； ten remained。 Fili and Kili had fallen defending him with shield and body； for he was their mother's elder brother。 The others remained with Dain； for Dain dealt his treasure well。 There was； of course； no longer any question of dividing the hoard in such shares as had been planned； to Balin and Dwalin； and Dori and Nori and Ori； and Oin and Gloin； and Bifur and Bofur and Bombur…or to Bilbo。 Yet a fourteenth share of all the silver and gold； wrought and unwrought； was given up to Bard； for Dain said： 〃We will honour the agreement of the dead； and he has now the Arkenstone in his keeping。〃
Even a fourteenth share was wealth exceedingly great； greater than that of many mortal kings。 From that treasure Bard sent much gold to the Master of Lake…town； and he rewarded his followers and friends freely。 To the Elvenking he gave the emeralds of Girion； such jewels as he most loved； which Dain had restored to him。 To Bilbo he said： 〃This treasure is as much yours as it is mine； though old agreements cannot stand； since so many have a claim in its winning and defence。 Yet even though you were willing to lay aside all your claim； I should wish that the words of Thorin； of which he repented； should not prove true： that we should give you little。 I would reward you most richly of all。〃
〃Very kind of you；〃 said Bilbo。 〃But really it is a relief to me。 How on earth should I have got all that treasure home without war and murder all along the way； I don't know。 And I don't know what I should have done with it when I got home。 I am sure it is better in your hands。〃 In the end he would only take two small chests； one filled with silver； and the other with gold； such as one strong pony could carry。 〃That will be quite as much as I can manage；〃 said he。
At last the time came for him to say good…bye to his friends。 〃Farewell； Balin！〃 he said； 〃and farewell； Dwalin； and farewell Dori； Nori； Ori； Oin； Gloin； Bifur； Bofur； and Bombur！ May your beards never grow thin！〃 And turning towards the Mountain he added： 〃Farewell Thorin Oakenshield！ And Fili and Kili！ May your memory never fade！〃
Then the dwarves bowed low before their Gate； but words stuck in their throats。 〃Good…bye and good luck； wher
