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of the N甿enoreans； fought beside the Elves in the first wars； and were
rewarded by the gift of the kingdom in the midst of the Sea； within sight of
Elvenhome。 But in Middle…earth Men and Elves became estranged in the days of
darkness； by the arts of the Enemy； and by the slow changes of time in which
each kind walked further down their sundered roads。 Men now fear and
misdoubt the Elves； and yet know little of them。 And we of Gondor grow like
other Men； like the men of Rohan； for even they； who are the foes of the
Dark Lord； shun the Elves and speak of the Golden Wood with dread。
‘Yet there are among us still some who have dealings with the Elves
when they may； and ever and anon one will go in secret to Lurien； seldom to
return。 Not I。 For I deem it perilous now for mortal man wilfully to seek
out the Elder People。 Yet I envy you that have spoken with the White Lady。'
‘The Lady of Lurien！ Galadriel！' cried Sam。 ‘You should see her indeed
you should； sir。 I am only a hobbit； and gardening's my job at home； sir； if
you understand me； and I'm not much good at poetry not at making it： a
bit of a ic rhyme； perhaps。 now and again； you know； but not real poetry
so I can't tell you what I mean。 It ought to be sung。 You'd have to get
Strider； Aragorn that is； or old Mr。 Bilbo； for that。 But I wish I could
make a song about her。 Beautiful she is； sir！ Lovely！ Sometimes like a great
tree in flower； sometimes like a white daffadowndilly； small and slender
like。 Hard as di'monds； soft as moonlight。 Warm as sunlight； cold as frost
in the stars。 Proud and far…off as a snow…mountain； and as merry as any lass
I ever saw with daisies in her hair in springtime。 But that's a lot o'
nonsense； and all wide of my mark。'
'Then she must be lovely indeed；' said Faramir。 ‘Perilously fair。'
‘I don't know about perilous；' said Sam。 ‘It strikes me that folk takes
their peril with them into Lurien； and finds it there because they've
brought it。 But perhaps you could call her perilous； because she's so strong
in herself。 You； you could dash yourself to pieces on her； like a ship on a
rock； or drownd yourself； like a hobbit in a river。 But neither rock nor
river would be to blame。 Now Boro ' He stopped and went red in the face。
‘Yes？ Now Boromir you would say？ ' said Faramir。 ‘What would you say？
He took his peril with him？ '
‘Yes sir； begging your pardon； and a fine man as your brother was if I
may say so。 But you've been warm on the scent all along。 Now I watched
Boromir and listened to him； from Rivendell all down the road looking
after my master； as you'll understand； and not meaning any harm to Boromir
and it's my opinion that in Lurien he first saw clearly what I guessed
sooner： what he wanted。 From the moment he first saw it he wanted the
Enemy's Ring！ '
‘Sam！ ' cried Frodo aghast。 He had fallen deep into his own thoughts
for a while； and came out of them suddenly and too late。
'Save me！ ' said Sam turning white； and then flushing scarlet。 ‘There I
go again！ When ever you open your big mouth you put your foot in it the
Gaffer used to say to me； and right enough。 O dear； O dear！
‘Now look here； sir！ ' He turned； facing up to Faramir with all the
courage that he could muster。 ‘Don't you go taking advantage of my master
because his servant's no better than a fool。 You've spoken very handsome all
along； put me off my guard； talking of Elves and all。 But handsome is as
handsome does we say。 Now's a chance to show your quality。'
'So it seems；' said Faramir； slowly and very softly； with a strange
smile。 ‘So that is the answer to all the riddles！ The One Ring that was
thought to have perished from the world。 And Boromir tried to take it by
force？ And you escaped？ And ran all the way to me！ And here in the wild I
have you： two halflings； and a host of men at my call； and the Ring of
Rings。 A pretty stroke of fortune！ A chance for Faramir； Captain of Gondor；
to show his quality！ Ha！' He stood up； very tall and stern； his grey eyes
glinting。
Frodo and Sam sprang from their stools and set themselves side by side
with their backs to the wall； fumbling for their sword…hilts。 There was a
silence。 All the men in the cave stopped talking and looked towards them in
wonder。 But Faramir sat down again in his chair and began to laugh quietly；
and then suddenly became grave again。
'Alas for Boromir！ It was too sore a trial！ ' he said。 ‘How you have
increased my sorrow； you two strange wanderers from a far country； bearing
the peril of Men！ But you are less judges of Men than I of Halflings。 We are
truth…speakers； we men of Gondor。 We boast seldom； and then perform； or die
in the attempt。 Not if I found it on the highway would I take it I said。
Even if I were such a man as to desire this thing； and even though I knew
not clearly what this thing was when I spoke； still I should take those
words as a vow； and be held by them。
'But I am not such a man。 Or I am wise enough to know that there are
some perils from which a man must flee。 Sit at peace！ And be forted；
Samwise。 If you seem to have stumbled； think that it was fated to be so。
Your heart is shrewd as well as faithful； and saw clearer than your eyes。
For strange though it may seem； it was safe to declare this to me。 It may
even help the master that you love。 It shall turn to his good； if it is in
my power。 So be forted。 But do not even name this thing again aloud。 Once
is enough。'
The hobbits came back to their seats and sat very quiet。 Men turned
back to their drink and their talk； perceiving that their captain had had
some jest or other with the little guests； and that it was over。
'Well； Frodo； now at last we understand one another；' said Faramir。 'If
you took this thing on yourself； unwilling； at others' asking； then you have
pity and honour from me。 And I marvel at you： to keep it hid and not to use
it。 You are a new people and a new world to me。 Are all your kin of like
sort？ Your land must be a realm of peace and content； and there must
gardeners be in high honour。'
‘Not all is well there；' said Frodo； ‘but certainly gardeners are
honoured。'
‘But folk must grow weary there； even in their gardens； as do all
things under the Sun of this world。 And you are far from home and wayworn。
No more tonight。 Sleep； both of you in peace； if you can。 Fear not！ I do
not wish to see it； or touch it； or know more of it than I know （which is
enough）； lest peril perchance waylay me and I fall lower in the test than
Frodo son of Drogo。 Go now to rest but first tell me only； if you will；
whither you wish to go； and what to do。 For I must watch； and wait； and
think。 Time passes。 In the morning we must each go swiftly on the ways
appointed to us。'
Frodo had felt himself trembling as the first shock of fear passed。 Now
a great