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Emyn Muil。 But be that as it may； ancient tales teach us also the peril of
rash words concerning such things as heirlooms。'
'Ah； then it is as I thought： your trouble was with Boromir alone。 He
wished this thing brought to Minas Tirith。 Alas！ it is a crooked fate that
seals your lips who saw him last； and holds from me that which I long to
know： what was in his heart and thought in his latest hours。 Whether he
erred or no； of this I am sure： he died well； achieving some good thing。 His
face was more beautiful even than in life。
‘But； Frodo； I pressed you hard at first about Isildur's Bane。 Forgive
me！ It was unwise in such an hour and place。 I had not had time for thought。
We had had a hard fight； and there was more than enough to fill my mind。 But
even as I spoke with you； I drew nearer to the mark； and so deliberately
shot wider。 For you must know that much is still preserved of ancient lore
among the Rulers of the city that is not spread abroad。 We of my house are
not of the line of Elendil。 though the blood of N甿enor is in us。 For we
reckon back our line to Mardil； the good steward； who ruled in the king's
stead when he went away to war。 And that was King Edrnur； last of the line
of Anbrion； and childless； and he came never back。 And the stewards have
governed the city since that day； though it was many generations of Men ago。
'And this I remember of Boromir as a boy； when we together learned the
tale of our sires and the history of our city； that always it displeased him
that his father was not king。 〃How many hundreds of years needs it to make a
steward a king； if the king returns not？ 〃 he asked。 〃Few years； maybe； in
other places of less royalty；〃 my father answered。 〃In Gondor ten thousand
years would not suffice。〃 Alas！ poor Boromir。 Does that not tell you
something of him？ '
'It does；' said Frodo。 ‘Yet always he treated Aragorn with honour。'
'I doubt it not；' said Faramir。 ‘If he were satisfied of Aragorn's
claim as you say； he would greatly reverence him。 But the pinch has not yet
e。 They had not yet reached Minas Tirith or bee rivals in her wars。
‘But I stray。 We in the house of Denethor know much ancient lore by
long tradition； and there are moreover in our treasuries many things
preserved： books and tablets writ on withered parchments； yea； and on stone；
and on leaves of silver and of gold； in divers characters。 Some none can now
read； and for the rest； few ever unlock them。 I can read a little in them；
for I have had teaching。 It was these records that brought the Grey Pilgrim
to us。 I first saw him when I was a child； and he has been twice or thrice
since then。'
'The Grey Pilgrim？ ' said Frodo。 'Had he a name？'
'Mithrandir we called him in elf…fashion；' said Faramir； 'and he was
content。 Many are my names in many countries； he said。 Mithrandir among the
Elves； Tharkyn to the Dwarves； Olurin I was in my youth in the West that is
forgotten； in the South Incbnus； in the North Gandalf； to the East I go
not。'
'Gandalf！' said Frodo。 'I thought it was he。 Gandalf the Grey dearest
of counsellors。 Leader of our pany。 He was lost in Moria。'
'Mithrandir was lost！ ' said Faramir。 'An evil fate seems to have
pursued your fellowship。 It is hard indeed to believe that one of so great
wisdom； and of power for many wonderful things he did among us could
perish； and so much lore be taken from the world。 Are you sure of this； and
that he did not just leave you and depart where he would？ '
'Alas！ yes；' said Frodo。 ‘I saw him fall into the abyss。'
'I see that there is some great tale of dread in this。' said Faramir
‘which perhaps you may tell me in the evening…time。 This Mithrandir was； I
now guess； more than a lore…master： a great mover of the deeds that are done
in our time。 Had he been among us to consult concerning the hard words of
our dream； he could have made them clear to us without need of messenger。
Yet； maybe； he would not have done so； and the journey of Boromir was
doomed。 Mithrandir never spoke to us of what was to be； nor did he reveal
his purposes。 He got leave of Denethor； how I do not know； to look at the
secrets of our treasury； and I learned a little of him； when he would teach
（and that was seldom）。 Ever he would search and would question us above all
else concerning the Great Battle that was fought upon Dagorlad in the
beginning of Gondor； when He whom we do not name was overthrown。 And he was
eager for stories of Isildur； though of him we had less to tell； for nothing
certain was ever known among us of his end。'
Now Faramir's voice sank to a whisper。 'But this much I learned or
guessed； and I have kept it ever secret in my heart since： that Isildur took
somewhat from the hand of the Unnamed； ere he went away from Gondor； never
to be seen among mortal men again。 Here I thought was the answer to
Mithrandir's questioning。 But it seemed then a matter that concerned only
the seekers after ancient learning。 Nor when the riddling words of our dream
were debated among us； did I think of Isildur's Bane as being this same
thing。 For Isildur was ambushed and slain by orc…arrows； according to the
only legend that we knew； and Mithrandir had never told me more。
‘What in truth this Thing is I cannot yet guess； but some heirloom of
power and peril it must be。 A fell weapon； perchance； devised by the Dark
Lord。 If it were a thing that gave advantage in battle。 I can well believe
that Boromir； the proud and fearless； often rash； ever anxious for the
victory of Minas Tirith （and his own glory therein）； might desire such a
thing and be allured by it。 Alas that ever he went on that errand！ I should
have been chosen by my father and the elders but he put himself forward。 as
being the older and the hardier （both true）； and he would not be stayed。
'But fear no more！ I would not take this thing； if it lay by the
highway。 Not were Minas Tirith falling in ruin and I alone could save her；
so； using the weapon of the Dark Lord for her good and my glory。 No。 I do
not wish for such triumphs； Frodo son of Drogo。'
'Neither did the Council；' said Frodo。 'Nor do I。 I would have nothing
to do with such matters。'
‘For myself；' said Faramir； 'I would see the White Tree in flower again
in the courts of the kings； and the Silver Crown return； and Minas Tirith in
peace： Minas Anor again as of old； full of light； high and fair； beautiful
as a queen among other queens： not a mistress of many slaves； nay； not even
a kind mistress of willing slaves。 War must be； while we defend our lives
against a destroyer who would devour all； but I do not love the bright sword
for its sharpness； nor the arrow for its swiftness； nor the warrior for his
glory。 I love only that which they defend： the city of the Men of N甿enor；
and I would have her loved for her memory； her ancientry； her beauty；