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lands where you now are。 Tell me of Boromir my brother； and of old
Mithrandir； and of the fair people of Lothlurien。'
Frodo no longer felt sleepy and he was willing to talk。 But though the
food and wine had put him at his ease； he had not lost all his caution。 Sam
was beaming and humming to himself； but when Frodo spoke he was at first
content to listen； only occasionally venturing to make an exclamation of
agreement。
Frodo told many tales； yet always he steered the matter away from the
quest of the pany and from the Ring； enlarging rather on the valiant part
Boromir had played in all their adventures。 with the wolves of the wild； in
the snows under Caradhras； and in the mines of Moria where Gandalf fell。
Faramir was most moved by the story of the fight on the bridge。
‘It must have irked Boromir to run from Orcs；' he said； ‘or even from
the fell thing you name； the Balrog even though he was the last to
leave。'
‘He was the last；' said Frodo； 'but Aragorn was forced to lead us。 He
alone knew the way after Gandalf's fall。 But had there not been us lesser
folk to care for； I do not think that either he or Boromir would have fled。'
‘Maybe； it would have been better had Boromir fallen there with
Mithrandir；' said Faramir； ‘and not gone on to the fate that waited above
the falls of Rauros。'
'Maybe。 But tell me now of your own fortunes；' said Frodo； turning the
matter aside once again。 ‘For I would learn more of Minas Ithil and
Osgiliath； and Minas Tirith the long…enduring。 What hope have you for that
city in your long war？ '
'What hope have we？ ' said Faramir。 'It is long since we had any hope。
The sword of Elendil； if it returns indeed； may rekindle it； but I do not
think that it will do more than put off the evil day； unless other help
unlooked…for also es； from Elves or Men。 For the Enemy increases and we
decrease。 We are a failing people； a springless autumn。
‘The Men of N甿enor were settled far and wide on the shores and seaward
regions of the Great Lands； but for the most part they fell into evils and
follies。 Many became enamoured of the Darkness and the black arts； some were
given over wholly to idleness and ease； and some fought among themselves；
until they were conquered in their weakness by the wild men。
‘It is not said that evil arts were ever practised in Gondor； or that
the Nameless One was ever named in honour there； and the old wisdom and
beauty brought out of the West remained long in the realm of the sons of
Elendil the Fair； and they linger there still。 Yet even so it was Gondor
that brought about its own decay； falling by degrees into dotage； and
thinking that the Enemy was asleep； who was only banished not destroyed。
'Death was ever present； because the N甿enoreans still； as they had in
their old kingdom； and so lost it； hungered after endless life unchanging。
Kings made tombs more splendid than houses of the living。 and counted old
names in the rolls of their descent dearer than the names of sons。 Childless
lords sat in aged halls musing on heraldry； in secret chambers withered men
pounded strong elixirs； or in high cold towers asked questions of the
stars。 And the last king of the line of Anbrion had no heir。
‘But the stewards were wiser and more fortunate。 Wiser； for they
recruited the strength of our people from the sturdy folk of the sea…coast；
and from the hardy mountaineers of Ered Nimrais。 And they made a truce with
the proud peoples of the North； who often had assailed us； men of fierce
valour； but our kin from afar off； unlike the wild Easterlings or the cruel
Haradrim。
'So it came to pass in the days of Cirion the Twelfth Steward （and my
father is the sit and twentieth） that they rode to our aid and at the great
Field of Celebrant they destroyed our enemies that had seized our northern
provinces。 These are the Rohirrim； as we name them； masters of horses； and
we ceded to them the fields of Calenardhon that are since called Rohan； for
that province had long been sparsely peopled。 And they became our allies；
and have ever proved true to us； aiding us at need； and guarding our
northern marches and the Gap of Rohan。
‘Of our lore and manners they have learned what they would； and their
lords speak our speech at need； yet for the most part they hold by the ways
of their own fathers and to their own memories； and they speak among
themselves their own North tongue。 And we love them： tall men and fair
women； valiant both alike； golden…haired； bright…eyed； and strong； they
remind us of the youth of Men； as they were in the Elder Days。 Indeed it is
said by our lore…masters that they have from of old this affinity with us
that they are e from those same Three Houses of Men as were the
N甿enoreans in their beginning not from Hador the Goldenhaired； the
Elf…friend； maybe； yet from such of his sons and people as went not over Sea
into the West； refusing the call。
'For so we reckon Men in our lore； calling them the High； or Men of the
West； which were N甿enoreans； and the Middle Peoples； Men of the Twilight；
such as are the Rohirrim and their kin that dwell still far in the North；
and the Wild； the Men of Darkness。
‘Yet now； if the Rohirrim are grown in some ways more like to us；
enhanced in arts and gentleness； we too have bee more like to them； and
can scarce claim any longer the title High。 We are bee Middle Men； of the
Twilight； but with memory of other things。 For as the Rohirrim do； we now
love war and valour as things good in themselves； both a sport and an end；
and though we still hold that a warrior should have more skills and
knowledge than only the craft of weapons and slaying； we esteem a warrior；
nonetheless； above men of other crafts。 Such is the need of our days。 So
even was my brother； Boromir： a man of prowess； and for that he was
accounted the best man in Gondor。 And very valiant indeed he was： no heir of
Minas Tirith has for long years been so hardy in toil； so onward into
battle； or blown a mightier note on the Great Horn。' Faramir sighed and fell
silent for a while。
‘You don't say much in all your tales about the Elves； sir；' said Sam；
suddenly plucking up courage。 He had noted that Faramir seemed to refer to
Elves with reverence； and this even more than his courtesy； and his food and
wine； had won Sam's respect and quieted his suspicions。
‘No indeed； Master Samwise；' said Faramir； ‘for I am not learned in
Elven…lore。 But there you touch upon another point in which we have changed；
declining from N甿enor to Middle…earth。 For as you may know； if Mithrandir
was your panion and you have spoken with Elrond； the Edain； the Fathers
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