19 THE LAST STAGE

Chapter 19 THE LAST STAGE It was on May the First that the two came back at last to the brink of the valley of Rivendell, where stood the Last (or the First) Homely House. Again it was evening, their ponies were tired, especially the one that carried the baggage; and they all felt in need of rest. As they rode down the steep path, Bilbo heard the elves still singing in the trees, as if they had not stopped since he left; and as soon as the riders came down into the lower glades of the wood they burst into a song of much the same kind as before. This is something like it: The dragon is withered, His bones are now crumbled; His armour is shivered, His splendour is humbled!

第19章 最后一程 五月一日这天，两人终于回到了幽谷峡谷的边缘，那座最后（也算是第一）的舒适宅邸就坐落在这里。 此时已是傍晚，他们的小马累坏了，驮行李那匹尤其疲惫，所有人都急需休息。 他们顺着陡峭小径往下走时，比尔博听见精灵仍在林间歌唱，仿佛从他离开后就从未停歇；一行人走进森林低处的空地，精灵们就唱起了一首和从前格调几乎一模一样的歌。 歌词大致是这样：恶龙已经枯朽，他的骨头早成碎渣；他的铠甲碎裂，他的荣光已然陨落！

Though sword shall be rusted, And throne and crown perish With strength that men trusted And wealth that they cherish, Here grass is still growing, And leaves are yet swinging, The white water flowing, And elves are yet singing Come! Tra-la-la-lally! Come back to the valley! The stars are far brighter Than gems without measure, The moon is far whiter Than silver in treasure; The fire is more shining On hearth in the gloaming Than gold won by mining, So why go a-roaming? O! Tra-la-la-lally Come back to the Valley. O! Where are you going, So late in returning?

哪怕利剑终将锈烂，王座王冠都会消亡，世人信赖的力量，他们珍视的财富，都会消散，但这里青草仍在生长，叶子仍在摇曳，清白河水仍在流淌，精灵仍在歌唱 来吧！ 特拉-拉-拉-拉利！ 快回到山谷来！ 星星比无价宝石更明亮，月亮比宝藏里的白银更洁亮；暮色中炉边的火光，比开采出的黄金更温暖，你为何还要四处流浪？ 哦！ 特拉-拉-拉-拉利 快回到山谷来。 哦！ 你们为何走了这么久，才回到这里？

The river is flowing, The stars are all burning! O! Whither so laden, So sad and so dreary? Here elf and elf-maiden Now welcome the weary With Tra-la-la-lally Come back to the Valley, Tra-la-la-lally Fa-la-la-lally Fa-la! Then the elves of the valley came out and greeted them and led them across the water to the house of Elrond. There a warm welcome was made them, and there were many eager ears that evening to hear the tale of their adventures. Gandalf it was who spoke, for Bilbo was fallen quiet and drowsy. Most of the tale he knew, for he had been in it, and had himself told much of it to the wizard on their homeward way or in the house of Beorn; but every now and again he would open one eye, and listen, when a part of the story which he did not yet know came in. It was in this way that he learned where Gandalf had been to; for he overheard the words of the

河水静静流淌，所有星星都在闪亮！ 哦！ 你为何满载心事，如此忧伤又疲惫？ 精灵男女在此欢迎疲惫的旅人，特拉-拉-拉-利 快回到山谷来，特拉-拉-拉-利 法-拉-拉-拉利 法-拉！ 随后幽谷的精灵出来迎接他们，领着他们渡过河，前往埃尔隆德的居所。 他们在这里受到了热烈欢迎，那天晚上，好多人都迫不及待想听他们讲冒险的故事。 是甘道夫开口讲述的，因为比尔博已经发蔫，昏昏欲睡了。 大部分故事比尔博都知道，毕竟他亲身经历，在返程路上或是贝奥恩的家中，他自己也给巫师讲过不少；不过每当讲到他还不知道的内容，他就会睁开一只耳朵听一听。 他就是这样得知甘道夫之前去了哪里，因为他偷听到了

wizard to Elrond. It appeared that Gandalf had been to a great council of the white wizards, masters of lore and good magic; and that they had at last driven the Necromancer from his dark hold in the south of Mirkwood. "Ere long now," Gandalf was saying, "the Forest will grow somewhat more wholesome. The North will be freed from that horror for many long years, I hope. Yet I wish he were banished from the world!" "It would be well indeed," said Elrond; "but I fear that will not come about in this age of the world, or for many after." When the tale of their journeyings was told, there were other tales, and yet more tales, tales of long ago, and tales of new things, and tales of no time at all, till Bilbo's head fell forward on his chest, and he snored comfortably in a corner. He woke to find himself in a white bed, and the moon shining through an open window. Below it many elves were singing loud and clear on the banks of the stream. Sing all ye joyful, now sing all together! The wind's in the tree-top, the wind's in the heather;

巫师对埃尔隆德说的话。 原来甘道夫去参加了白巫师的盛大会议，这些白巫师都是学识渊博的善良魔法大师；他们终于把死灵法师赶出了黑森林南部的黑暗巢穴。 “用不了多久，”甘道夫说道，“这片森林会慢慢变得健康安宁了。 我希望北方能在未来很多年里，都摆脱这个恐怖的阴影。 可我还是希望他能被彻底赶出这个世界！” “那样当然再好不过，”埃尔隆德说，“但我怕这在世界的当前纪元，甚至之后好多个纪元都做不到。” 等他们的旅途故事讲完，大家又讲了一个又一个别的故事，有远古的故事，有新鲜的故事，还有无边无际的奇谈，直到比尔博的脑袋垂到胸口，在角落舒舒服服打起了呼噜。 他醒来时，发现自己躺在一张洁白的床上，月光从敞开的窗户洒进来。 窗户下方，河边好多精灵正放声清晰地歌唱。 所有快乐的人儿一起来，大家一起唱！ 风吹过树梢，风吹过石南花丛；

The stars are in blossom, the moon is in flower, And bright are the windows of Night in her tower. Dance all ye joyful, now dance all together! Soft is the grass, and let foot be like feather! The river is silver, the shadows are fleeting; Merry is May-time, and merry our meeting. Sing we now softly, and dreams let us weave him! Wind him in slumber and there let us leave him! The wanderer sleepeth. Now soft be his pillow! Lullaby! Lullaby! Alder and Willow! Sigh no more Pine, till the wind of the morn! Fall Moon! Dark be the land! Hush! Hush! Oak, Ash, and Thorn! Hushed be all water, till dawn is at hand! "Well, Merry People!" said Bilbo looking out.

星星如繁花绽放，月亮像鲜花盛放，暗夜塔楼的窗棂一片明亮。 所有快乐的人儿一起来，大家一起跳！ 草地柔软舒服，让脚步轻得像羽毛！ 河面闪着银光，阴影匆匆飞逝；五月时光多欢乐，我们相会多愉快。 现在我们轻轻唱，为他编织美梦！ 让他沉入安睡，我们把他留在这里！ 流浪的人儿睡着了。 愿他的枕头柔软舒适！ 摇篮曲！ 摇篮曲！ 桤木还有柳树！ 松树别叹息，等到清晨的风吹起！ 落下吧，月亮！ 让大地沉入黑暗！ 嘘！ 嘘！ 橡树、岑树还有荆棘！ 所有流水都安静，等到黎明来临！ “唔，快乐的人们！”比尔博望着外面说道。

"What time by the moon is this? Your lullaby would waken a drunken goblin! Yet I thank you." "And your snores would waken a stone dragon— yet we thank you," they answered with laughter. "It is drawing towards dawn, and you have slept now since the night's beginning. Tomorrow, perhaps, you will be cured of weariness." "A little sleep does a great cure in the house of Elrond," said he; "but I will take all the cure I can get. A second good night, fair friends!" And with that he went back to bed and slept till late morning. Weariness fell from him soon in that house, and he had many a merry jest and dance, early and late, with the elves of the valley. Yet even that place could not long delay him now, and he thought always of his own home. After a week, therefore, he said farewell to Elrond, and giving him such small gifts as he would accept, he rode away with Gandalf. Even as they left the valley the sky darkened in the West before them, and wind and rain came up to meet them. "Merry is May-time!" said Bilbo, as the rain beat into his face. "But our back is to legends and we are coming home. I suppose this is the first taste of it." "There is a long road yet," said Gandalf.

“月亮照出来现在是几点呀？ 你的摇篮曲能把醉醺醺的哥布林都吵醒呀！ 不过我还是谢谢你们。” “你的呼噜能把石头做的恶龙都吵醒呀——不过我们还是谢谢你，”精灵们大笑着回答。 “天快破晓啦，你从入夜一直睡到现在。 明天呀，你就能赶跑所有疲惫啦。” “在埃尔隆德这里，睡一小会儿就能治好大大的疲劳，”比尔博说，“不过我可要把疲劳全治好才走。 再道一声晚安，美丽的朋友们！” 说完他就回到床上，一直睡到第二天上午很晚才醒。 住进这座宅子后，疲惫很快就从他身上消失了，他早晚都和幽谷的精灵一起说笑跳舞，开心极了。 可哪怕这里再好，也留不住他太久，他时时刻刻都想着自己的家。 所以一周之后，他向埃尔隆德告辞，送出了埃尔隆德愿意收下的小礼物，就和甘道夫一起骑马离开了。 可就在他们离开山谷时，前方西边的天空暗了下来，风雨扑面而来。 “五月时光真欢乐呀！”比尔博说，雨水打在了他的脸上。 “可我们已经告别了传奇，正在回家的路上啦。 我猜这就是回家前的第一番滋味啦。” “前面还有很长的路要走呢。”甘道夫说。