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！
westward of the accursed Tower。 At swiftest they could not e there before today； and maybe
they have not e there yet。 Indeed I see what you fear。 But the darkness is not due to their
venture。 It began yestereve； and all Ithilien was under shadow last night。 It is clear to me that the
Enemy has long planned an assault on us； and its hour had already been determined before ever the
travellers left my keeping。'
Gandalf paced the floor。 'The morning of two days ago； nigh on three days of journey！ How far
is the place where you parted？'
'Some twenty…five leagues as a bird flies；' answered Faramir。 'But I could not e more swiftly。
Yestereve I lay at Cair Andros； the long isle in the River northward which we hold in defence； and
horses are kept on the hither bank。 As the dark drew on I knew that haste was needed； so I rode
thence with three others that could also be horsed。 The rest of my pany I sent south to
strengthen the garrison at the fords of Osgiliath。 I hope that I have not done ill？' He looked at his
father。
'Ill？' cried Denethor； and his eyes flashed suddenly。 'Why do you ask？ The men were under your
mand。 Or do you ask for my judgement on all your deeds？ Your bearing is lowly in my
presence； yet it is long now since you turned from your own way at my counsel。 See； you have
spoken skilfully； as ever； but I； have I not seen your eye fixed on Mithrandir； seeking whether you
said well or too much？ He has long had your heart in his keeping。
'My son； your father is old but not yet dotard。 I can see and hear； as was my wont； and little of
what you have half said or left unsaid is now hidden from me。 I know the answer to many riddles。
Alas； alas for Boromir！'
'If what I have done displeases you； my father；' said Faramir quietly； 'I wish I had known your
counsel before the burden of so weighty a judgement was thrust on me。'
'Would that have availed to change your judgement？' said Denethor。 'You would still have done
just so； I deem。 I know you well。 Ever your desire is to appear lordly and generous as a king of old；
gracious； gentle。 That may well befit one of high race； if he sits in power and peace。 But in
desperate hours gentleness may be repaid with death。'
'So be it；' said Faramir。
'So be it！' cried Denethor。 'But not with your death only； Lord Faramir： with the death also of
your father； and of all your people； whom it is your part to protect now that Boromir is gone。'
'Do you wish then；' said Faramir； 'that our places had been exchanged？'
'Yes； I wish that indeed；' said Denethor。 'For Boromir was loyal to me and no wizard's pupil。 He
would have remembered his father's need； and would not have squandered what fortune gave。 He
would have brought me a mighty gift。'
For a moment Faramir's restraint gave way。 'I would ask you； my father； to remember why it
was that I； not he； was in Ithilien。 On one occasion at least your counsel has prevailed； not long ago。
It was the Lord of the City that gave the errand to him。'
'Stir not the bitterness in the cup that I mixed for myself；' said Denethor。 'Have I not tasted it
now many nights upon my tongue foreboding that worse yet lay in the dregs？ As now indeed I find。
Would it were not so！ Would that this thing had e to me！'
'fort yourself！' said Gandalf。 'In no case would Boromir have brought it to you。 He is dead；
and died well； may he sleep in peace！ Yet you deceive yourself。 He would have stretched out his
hand to this thing； and taking it he would have fallen。 He would have kept it for his own； and when
he returned you would not have known your son。'
The face of Denethor set hard and cold。 'You found Boromir less apt to your hand； did you not？'
he said softly。 'But I who was his father say that he would have brought it to me。 You are wise；
maybe； Mithrandir； yet with all your subtleties you have not all wisdom。 Counsels may be found
that are neither the webs of wizards nor the haste of fools。 I have in this matter more lore and
wisdom than you deem。 '
'What then is your wisdom？' said Gandalf。
'Enough to perceive that there are two follies to avoid。 To use this thing is perilous。 At this hour；
to send it in the hands of a witless halfling into the land of the Enemy himself； as you have done；
and this son of mine； that is madness。'
'And the Lord Denethor what would he have done？'
'Neither。 But most surely not for any argument would he have set this thing at a hazard beyond
all but a fool's hope； risking our utter ruin； if the Enemy should recover what he lost。 Nay； it should
have been kept； hidden； hidden dark and deep。 Not used； I say； unless at the uttermost end of need；
but set beyond his grasp； save by a victory so final that what then befell would not trouble us； being
dead。'
'You think； as is your wont； my lord； of Gondor only；' said Gandalf。 'Yet there are other men and
other lives； and time still to be。 And for me； I pity even his slaves。'
'And where will other men look for help； if Gondor falls？' answered Denethor。 'If I had this thing
now in the deep vaults of this citadel； we should not then shake with dread under this gloom；
fearing the worst； and our counsels would be undisturbed。 If you do not trust me to endure the test；
you do not know me yet。'
'Nonetheless I do not trust you；' said Gandalf。 'Had I done so； I could have sent this thing hither
to your keeping and spared myself and others much anguish。 And now hearing you speak I trust
you less； no more than Boromir。 Nay； stay your wrath！ I do not trust myself in this； and I refused
this thing； even as a freely given gift。 You are strong and can still in some matters govern yourself；
Denethor； yet if you had received this thing； it would have overthrown you。 Were it buried beneath
the roots of Mindolluin； still it would burn your mind away； as the darkness grows； and the yet
worse things follow that soon shall e upon us。'
For a moment the eyes of Denethor glowed again as he faced Gandalf； and Pippin felt once
more the strain between their wills； but now almost it seemed as if their glances were like blades
from eye to eye； flickering as they fenced。 Pippin trembled fearing some dreadful stroke。 But
suddenly Denethor relaxed and grew cold again。 He shrugged his shoulders。
'If I had！ If you had！' he said。 'Such words and ifs are vain。 It has gone into the Shadow； and only
time will show what doom awaits it and us。 The time will not be long。 In what is left； let all who
fight the Enemy in their fashion be at one； and keep hope while they may； and after hope still the
hardihood to die free。' He turned to Faramir。 'What think you of the garrison at Osgiliath？'
'It is not strong；' said Faramir。 'I have sent the pany of Ithilien to strengthen it； as I have
said。'
'Not enough； I deem；' said Denethor。 'It is there that the first blow will fall。 They will have need
of some stout captain there。'
'There and elsewhere in many places；' said Faramir； and sighed。 'Alas for my brother； whom I
too loved！' He rose。 'May I have your leave； father？' And then he swayed and leaned