15 THE GATHERING OF THE CLOUDS

Chapter 15 THE GATHERING OF THE CLOUDS Now we will return to Bilbo and the dwarves. All night one of them had watched, but when morning came they had not heard or seen any sign of danger. But ever more thickly the birds were gathering. Their companies came flying from the South; and the crows that still lived about the Mountain were wheeling and crying unceasingly above. "Something strange is happening," said Thorin. "The time has gone for the autumn wanderings; and these are birds that dwell always in the land; there are starlings and flocks of finches; and far off there are many carrion birds as if a battle were afoot!" Suddenly Bilbo pointed: "There is that old thrush again!" he cried. "He seems to have escaped, when Smaug smashed the mountain-side, but I don't suppose the snails have!"

第15章 乌云汇聚 现在我们回到比尔博和矮人们这边。 一整晚都有一人放哨，可天亮后，他们没听见也没看见任何危险的踪迹。 可是越来越多的鸟儿正往这里聚集。 一群群鸟儿从南方飞来，住在山脉周边的乌鸦也在他们头顶不停地盘旋啼叫。 “要有怪事发生了。”索林说。 “秋季迁徙的日子早就过了，这些鸟全都是常年住在这里的；有椋鸟，还有成群的雀鸟，远处还有好多食腐鸟，看起来就像要打仗了！” 突然比尔博一指：“那只老画眉又在那儿！” 他大声喊道。 “史矛革撞碎山侧的时候，他好像逃出来了，不过那些蜗牛可就逃不掉啦！”

Sure enough the old thrush was there, and as Bilbo pointed, he flew towards them and perched on a stone near by. Then he fluttered his wings and sang; then he cocked his head on one side, as if to listen; and again he sang, and again he listened. "I believe he is trying to tell us something," said Balin; "but I cannot follow the speech of such birds, it is very quick and difficult. Can you make it out Baggins?" "Not very well," said Bilbo (as a matter of fact, he could make nothing of it at all); "but the old fellow seems very excited." "I only wish he was a raven!" said Balin. "I thought you did not like them! You seemed very shy of them, when we came this way before." "Those were crows! And nasty suspicious-looking creatures at that, and rude as well. You must have heard the ugly names they were calling after us. But the ravens are different. There used to be great friendship between them and the people of Thror; and they often brought us secret news, and were rewarded with such bright things as they coveted to hide in their dwellings. "They live many a year, and their memories are long, and they hand on their wisdom to their

果不其然，那只老画眉真的在那儿，比尔博刚指向他，他就朝他们飞过来，停在了附近的一块石头上。 接着他扑扇翅膀唱起歌，然后歪着脑袋，好像在听动静，之后又唱，又听。 “我觉得他是想告诉我们什么事，”巴林说，“可我听不懂这种鸟的话，太快了，太难懂了。 你能听懂吗，巴金斯？” “不太能听懂，”比尔博说（其实他完全一个字都听不懂），“不过这老家伙看起来很激动。” “我真希望他是只渡鸦！”巴林说。 我记得你不喜欢渡鸦呀！ 我们上次走这条路的时候，你看着可怕它们了。 上次那些是乌鸦！ 那些家伙本来就长得贼眉鼠眼，还特别没礼貌。 你肯定也听见它们在我们背后骂我们了。 可渡鸦不一样。 从前它们和索尔的族人交情极好，常常给我们带秘密消息，我们会给它们亮闪闪的好东西当酬劳，它们就把这些宝贝藏在自己窝里。 它们能活很多年，记性也很好，还会把自己的智慧传给它们的

children. I knew many among the ravens of the rocks when I was a dwarf-lad. This very height was once named Ravenhill, because there was a wise and famous pair, old Carc and his wife, that lived here above the guard-chamber. But I don't suppose that any of that ancient breed linger here now." No sooner had he finished speaking than the old thrush gave a loud call, and immediately flew away. "We may not understand him, but that old bird understands us, I am sure," said Balin. "Keep watch now, and see what happens!" Before long there was a fluttering of wings, and back came the thrush; and with him came a most decrepit old bird. He was getting blind, he could hardly fly, and the top of his head was bald. He was an aged raven of great size. He alighted stiffly on the ground before them, slowly flapped his wings, and bobbed towards Thorin. "O Thorin son of Thrain, and Balin son of Fundin," he croaked (and Bilbo could understand what he said, for he used ordinary language and not bird-speech). "I am Ro.c son of Carc. Carc is dead, but he was well known to you once. It is a hundred years and three and fifty since I came out of the egg, but I do not forget what my father told me. Now I

孩子。 我还是个小矮人的时候，就认识好多住在岩山上的渡鸦。 这块高地从前叫渡鸦丘，因为一对聪明有名的老渡鸦，老卡克和他妻子，就住在瞭望室上方的这里。 不过我觉得现在那种古老血脉已经没有留下来的了。” 他刚说完话，老画眉就大叫一声，立刻飞走了。 “我们可能听不懂他的话，可我敢肯定，这只老鸟听得懂我们的话，”巴林说。 “现在好好盯着，看接下来会发生什么！” 没过多久就传来扑翅膀的声音，老画眉飞回来了，还带回来一只衰老不堪的老鸟。 他快要瞎了，几乎飞不动，头顶的毛都秃光了。 这是一只上了年纪的大渡鸦。 他僵硬地落在他们面前的地上，慢慢扑了扑翅膀，朝索林弯了弯腰。 “哦，特莱恩之子索林，方丁之子巴林，”他哑着嗓子说（比尔博能听懂他的话，因为他说的是通用语，不是鸟语）。 我是卡克之子罗克。 卡克已经死了，不过你从前和他很熟。 我破壳出生已经一百五十三年了，可我还记得父亲告诉我的一切。 现在我

am the chief of the great ravens of the Mountain. We are few, but we remember still the king that was of old. Most of my people are abroad, for there are great tidings in the South—some are tidings of joy to you, and some you will not think so good. "Behold! the birds are gathering back again to the Mountain and to Dale from South and East and West, for word has gone out that Smaug is dead!" "Dead! Dead?" shouted the dwarves. "Dead! Then we have been in needless fear—and the treasure is ours!" They all sprang up and began to caper about for joy. "Yes, dead," said Ro.c. "The thrush, may his feathers never fall, saw him die, and we may trust his words. He saw him fall in battle with the men of Esgaroth the third night back from now at the rising of the moon." It was some time before Thorin could bring the dwarves to be silent and listen to the raven's news. At length when he had told all the tale of the battle he went on: "So much for joy, Thorin Oakenshield. You may go back to your halls in safety; all the treasure is yours—for the moment. But many are gathering hither beside the birds. The news of the death of the

是这座山脉大渡鸦的首领。 我们现在数量不多了，可我们还记得古时候的国王。 我的大多数族人都出去了，因为南方传来了大消息——有些消息对你们来说是喜事，有些就没那么美好了。 “你们看！ 鸟儿们从南、东、西三面重新聚集到山脉和戴尔来，因为消息已经传开：史矛革死了！” “死了！ 死了？”矮人们大喊。 “死了！ 那我们的恐惧都是多余的——宝藏是我们的了！” 他们全都跳起来，高兴得蹦蹦跳跳。 “没错，死了，”罗克说。 “那只画眉亲眼看见他死了，愿他的羽毛永远丰茂，我们可以相信他的话。 三天前的夜里月亮升起时，他看见史矛革死在和长湖镇人的战斗里。” 过了好一会儿，索林才让矮人们安静下来，听渡鸦说后续的消息。 等他讲完战斗的全部经过，又接着说：“喜事就说到这儿，橡木盾索林。 你可以安全回到你的宫殿了，所有宝藏都是你的了——至少现在是。 可除了鸟儿，还有很多人正往这儿赶来。 有关恶龙之死的

guardian has already gone far and wide, and the legend of the wealth of Thror has not lost in the telling during many years; many are eager for a share of the spoil. Already a host of the elves is on the way, and carrion birds are with them hoping for battle and slaughter. By the lake men murmur that their sorrows are due to the dwarves; for they are homeless and many have died, and Smaug has destroyed their town. They too think to find amends from your treasure, whether you are alive or dead. "Your own wisdom must decide your course; but thirteen is small remnant of the great folk of Durin that once dwelt here, and now are scattered far. If you will listen to my counsel, you will not trust the Master of the Lake-men, but rather him that shot the dragon with his bow. Bard is he, of the race of Dale, of the line of Girion; he is a grim man but true. We would see peace once more among dwarves and men and elves after the long desolation; but it may cost you dear in gold. I have spoken." Then Thorin burst forth in anger: "Our thanks, Ro.c Carc's son. You and your people shall not be forgotten. But none of our gold shall thieves take or the violent carry off while we are alive. If you would

守护者的消息已经传遍四方，索尔宝藏的传说这么多年来非但没有被人遗忘，反而越传越广，好多人都想来分一杯羹。 一大群精灵已经在路上了，食腐鸟跟着他们，就盼着打仗能有死尸吃。 长湖边的人们都在抱怨，说他们的苦难都是矮人造成的；他们现在无家可归，还有许多人丧了命，史矛革毁了他们的城镇。 不管你们是死是活，他们都想从你的宝藏里拿到赔偿。 “该怎么做得靠你自己决定；从前住在这里的都林大族，如今只剩下十三个人，其余的都散落在远方。 要是你愿意听我的建议，那就别信任长湖镇的镇长，要信任那个用弓箭射死恶龙的人。 他叫巴德，是戴尔族人，吉瑞安的后裔；他为人严厉，但是很可靠。 我们希望经历这么多年的荒败之后，矮人、人类和精灵能重归和平，不过这可能要让你拿出不少黄金。 我的话说完了。” 接着索林愤怒地说道：“我们谢谢你，卡克之子罗克。 我们不会忘记你和你的族人的。 可只要我们还活着，小偷和强盗别想拿走我们半分黄金。 要是你愿意

earn our thanks still more, bring us news of any that draw near. Also I would beg of you, if any of you are still young and strong of wing, that you would send messengers to our kin in the mountains of the North, both west from here and east, and tell them of our plight. But go specially to my cousin Dain in the Iron Hills, for he has many people well-armed, and dwells nearest to this place. Bid him hasten!" "I will not say if this counsel be good or bad," croaked Ro.c, "but I will do what can be done." Then off he slowly flew. "Back now to the Mountain!" cried Thorin. "We have little time to lose." "And little food to use!" cried Bilbo, always practical on such points. In any case he felt that the adventure was, properly speaking, over with the death of the dragon—in which he was much mistaken—and he would have given most of his share of the profits for the peaceful winding up of these affairs. "Back to the Mountain!" cried the dwarves as if they had not heard him; so back he had to go with them.

若有任何人靠近此地，一定要给我们捎来消息，这会更让我们感激你。 另外我恳请各位，要是你们当中还有年轻力壮、翅膀矫健的，麻烦派信使去往我们住在北方山脉的同族，不管是山脉东边还是西边的，告诉他们我们现在的困境。 你们务必专门去铁山找我的堂弟戴因，他有大批武装精良的族人，而且住得离这里最近。 叫他赶紧出发前来！" "我不说这个提议是好是坏，"罗克哑着嗓子说，"但我会尽力办好这件事。" 说完，它就慢慢飞走了。 "我们回山上去！"索林大喊道。 "我们没有时间可以浪费了！" "而且我们剩下的食物也不多了！"比尔博喊道，在这种事上他向来都很务实。 不管怎么说，比尔博都觉得，巨龙一死，这场冒险说到底就结束了——当然他这想法大错特错——他宁愿拿出自己大部分的宝藏份额，只求这件事能平平安安地收尾。 "回山上去！"矮人们齐声大喊，就好像没听见他的话一样，于是比尔博只好跟着他们回去了。