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stand on their heads；' he growled； gripping the handle of his axe。 'In the
language of Orthanc help means ruin； and saving means slaying； that is
plain。 But we do not e here to beg。'
'Peace！' said Saruman； and for a fleeting moment his voice was less
suave； and a light flickered in his eyes and was gone。 'I do not speak to
you yet； Gimli Gluin's son；' he said。 'Far away is your home and small
concern of yours are the troubles of this land。 But it was not by design of
your own that you became embroiled in them； and so I will not blame such
part as you have played…a valiant one； I doubt not。 But I pray you； allow me
first to speak with the King of Rohan； my neighbour； and once my friend。
'What have you to say； Thjoden King？ Will you have peace with me； and
all the aid that my knowledge； founded in long years； can bring？ Shall we
make our counsels together against evil days； and repair our injuries with
such good will that our estates shall both e to fairer flower than ever
before？'
Still Thjoden did not answer。 Whether he strove with anger or doubt
none could say。 Jomer spoke。
'Lord； hear me！' he said。 'Now we feel the peril that we were warned
of。 Have we ridden forth to victory； only to stand at last amazed by an old
liar with honey on his forked tongue？ So would the trapped wolf speak to the
hounds； if he could。 What aid can he give to you； forsooth？ All he desires
is to escape from his plight。 But will you parley with this dealer in
treachery and murder？ Remember Thjodred at the Fords； and the grave of Hbma
in Helm's Deep！'
'If we speak of poisoned tongues what shall we say of yours； young
serpent？' said Saruman； and the flash of his anger was now plain to see。
'But e； Jomer； Jomund's son！' he went on in his soft voice again。 To
every man h part。 Valour in arms is yours； and you win high honour thereby。
Slay whom your lord names as enemies； and be content。 Meddle not in policies
which you do not understand。 But maybe。 if you bee a king； you Will find
that he must choose his friends with care。 The friendship of Saruman and the
power of Orthanc cannot be lightly thrown aside； whatever grievances； real
or fancied； may lie behind。 You have won a battle but not a war and that
with help on which you cannot count again。 You may find the Shadow of the
Wood at your own door next： it is wayward； and senseless； and has no love
for Men。
'But my lord of Rohan； am I to be called a murderer； because valiant
men have fallen in battle？ If you go to war； needlessly； for I did not
desire it； then men will be slain。 But if I am a murderer on that account；
then all the House of Eorl is stained with murder； for they have fought many
wars； and assailed many who defied them。 Yet with some they have afterwards
made peace； none the worse for being politic。 I say； Thjoden King： shall we
have peace and friendship； you and I？ It is ours to mand '
'We will have peace；' said Thjoden at last thickly and with an effort。
Several of the Riders cried out gladly。 Thjoden held up his hand。 'Yes； we
will have peace；' he said； now in a clear voice； 'we will have peace； when
you and all your works have perished and the works of your dark master to
whom you would deliver us。 You are a liar。 Saruman； and a corrupter of men's
hearts。 You hold out your hand to me； and I perceive only a finger of the
claw of Mordor。 Cruel and cold！ Even if your war on me was just as it was
not； for were you ten times as wise you would have no right to rule me and
mine for your own profit as you desired even so； what will you say of
your torches in Westfold and the children that lie dead there？ And they
hewed Hbma's body before the gates of the Hornburg； after he was dead。 When
you hang from a gibbet at your window for the sport of your own crows； I
will have peace with you and Orthanc。 So much for the House of Eorl。 A
lesser son of great sires am I； but I do not need to lick your fingers。 Turn
elsewhither。 But I fear your voice has lost its charm。'
The Riders gazed up at Thjoden like men startled out of a dream。 Harsh
as an old raven's their master's voice sounded in their ears after the music
of Saruman。 But Saruman for a while was beside himself with wrath。 He leaned
over the rail as if he would smite the King with his staff。 To some suddenly
it seemed that they saw a snake coiling itself to strike。
'Gibbets and crows！' he hissed； and they shuddered at the hideous
change。 'Dotard！ What is the house of Eorl but a thatched barn where
brigands drink in the reek； and their brats roll on the floor among the
dogs？ Too long have they escaped the gibbet themselves。 But the noose es；
slow in the drawing； tight and hard in the end。 Hang if you will！' Now his
voice changed； as he slowly mastered himself。 'I know not why I have had the
patience to speak to you。 For I need you not； nor your little band of
gallopers； as swift to fly as to advance； Thjoden Horsemaster。 Long ago I
offered you a state beyond your merit and your wit。 I have offered it again；
so that those whom you mislead may clearly see the choice of roads。 You give
me brag and abuse。 So be it。 Go back to your huts！
'But you； Gandalf！ For you at least I am grieved； feeling for your
shame。 How es it that you can endure such pany？ For you are proud；
Gandalf…and not without reason； having a noble mind and eyes that look both
deep and far。 Even now will you not listen to my counsel？'
Gandalf stirred； and looked up。 'What have you to say that you did not
say at our last meeting？' he asked。 'Or； perhaps； you have things to unsay？'
Saruman paused。 'Unsay？' he mused； as if puzzled。 'Unsay？ I endeavoured
to advise you for your own good； but you scarcely listened。 You are proud
and do not love advice； having indeed a store of your own wisdom。 But on
that occasion you erred； I think； misconstruing my intentions wilfully。 I
fear that in my eagerness to persuade you； I lost patience。 And indeed I
regret it。 For I bore you no ill…will； and even now I bear none； though you
return to me in the pany of the violent and the ignorant。 How should I？
Are we not both members of a high and ancient order； most excellent in
Middle…earth？ Our friendship would profit us both alike。 Much we could still
acplish together； to heal the disorders of the world。 Let us understand
one another； and dismiss from thought these lesser folk！ Let them wait on
our decisions！ For the mon good I am willing to redress the past； and to
receive you。 Will you not consult with me？ Will you not e up？'
So great was the power that Saruman exerted in this last effort that
none that stood within hearing were unmoved。 But now the spell was wholly
different。 They heard the gentle remonstrance of a kindly king with an
erring but much…loved minister。 But they were shut out； listening at a door
to words not meant for them： ill…man