按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
In the westlands of Eriador； between the Misty Mountains and theMountains of Lune； the Hobbits found both Men and Elves。 Indeed； a remnantstill dwelt there of the Dúnedain； the kings of Men that came over the Sea outof Westernesse； but they were dwindling fast and the lands of their NorthKingdom were falling far and wide into waste。 There was room and to spare foriners； and ere long the Hobbits began to settle in ordered munities。
Most of their earlier settlements had long disappeared and been forgotten inBilbo's time； but one of the first to bee important still endured； thoughreduced in size； this was at Bree and in the Chetwood that lay round about；
some forty miles east of the Shire。
It was in these early days； doubtless； that the Hobbits learned theirletters and began to write after the manner of the Dúnedain； who had in theirturn long before learned the art from the Elves。 And in those days also theyforgot whatever languages they had used before； and spoke ever after themon Speech； the Westron as it was named； that was current through all thelands of the kings from Arnor to Gondor； and about all the coasts of the Seafrom Belfalas to Lune。 Yet they kept a few words of their own； as well astheir own names of months and days； and a great store of personal names out ofthe past。
About this time legend among the Hobbits first bees history with areckoning of years。 For it was in the one thousand six hundred and first yearof the Third Age that the Fallohide brothers； Marcho and Blanco； set out fromBree； and having obtained permission from the high king at Fornost； theycrossed the brown river Baranduin with a great following of Hobbits。 Theypassed over the Bridge of Stonebows； that had been built in the days of thepower of the North Kingdom； and they took ail the land beyond to dwell in；
between the river and the Far Downs。 All that was demanded of them was that
they should keep the Great Bridge in repair； and all other bridges and roads；
speed the king's messengers； and acknowledge his lordship。
Thus began the _Shire…reckoning；_ for the year of the crossing of theBrandywine （as the Hobbits turned the name） became Year One of the Shire； andall later dates were reckoned from it。 At once the western Hobbits fell in
love with their new land； and they remained there； and soon passed once moreout of the history of Men and of Elves。 While there was still a king they werein name his subjects； but they were； in fact； ruled by their own chieftainsand meddled not at all with events in the world outside。 To the last battle at
Fornost with the Witch…lord of Angmar they sent some bowmen to the aid of theking； or so they maintained； though no tales of Men record it。 But in that warthe North Kingdom ended； and then the Hobbits took the land for their own； and
they chose from their own chiefs a Thain to hold the authority of the kingthat was gone。 There for a thousand years they were little troubled by wars；
and they prospered and multiplied after the Dark Plague （S。R。 37） until thedisaster of the Long Winter and the famine that followed it。 Many thousandsthen perished； but the Days of Dearth （1158…60） were at the time of this talelong past and the Hobbits had again bee accustomed to plenty。 The land wasrich and kindly； and though it had long been deserted when they entered it； ithad before been well tilled； and there the king had once had many farms；
cornlands； vineyards； and woods。
Forty leagues it stretched from the Far Downs to the Brandywine Bridge；
and fifty from the northern moors to the marshes in the south。 The Hobbitsnamed it the Shire； as the region of the authority of their Thain； and adistrict of well…ordered business； and there in that pleasant er of theworld they plied their well…ordered business of living； and they heeded lessand less the world outside where dark things moved； until they came to thinkthat peace and plenty were the rule in Middle…earth and the right of allsensible folk。 They forgot or ignored what little they had ever known of theGuardians； and of the labours of those that made possible the long peace ofthe Shire。 They were； in fact； sheltered； but they had ceased to remember it。
At no time had Hobbits of any kind been warlike； and they had neverfought among themselves。 In olden days they had； of course； been often obligedto fight to maintain themselves in a hard world； but in Bilbo's time that wasvery ancient history。 The last battle； before this story opens； and indeed theonly one that had ever been fought within the borders of the Shire； was beyondliving memory： the Battle of Greenfields； S。R。 1147； in which Bandobras Tookrouted an invasion of Orcs。 Even the weathers had grown milder； and the wolvesthat had once e ravening out of the North in bitter white winters were nowonly a grandfather's tale。 So； though there was still some store of weapons inthe Shire； these were used mostly as trophies； hanging above hearths or onwalls； or gathered into the museum at Michel Delving。 The Mathom…house it wascalled； for anything that Hobbits had no immediate use for； but were unwillingto throw away； they called a _mathom_。 Their dwellings were apt to beerather crowded with mathoms； and many of the presents that passed from hand tohand were of that son。
Nonetheless； ease and peace had left this people still curiously tough。
They were； if it came to it； difficult to daunt or to kill； and they were；
perhaps； so unwearyingly fond of good things not least because they could；
when put to it； do without them； and could survive rough handling by grief；
foe； or weather in a way that astonished those who did not know them well andlooked no further than their bellies and their well…fed faces。 Though slow toquarrel； and for sport killing nothing that lived； they were doughty at bay；
and at need could still handle arms。 They shot well with the bow； for theywere keen…eyed and sure at the mark。 Not only with bows and arrows。 If anyHobbit stooped for a stone； it was well to get quickly under cover； as alltrespassing beasts knew very well。
All Hobbits had originally lived in holes in the ground； or so theybelieved； and in such dwellings they still felt most at home； but in thecourse of time they had been obliged to adopt other forms of abode。 Actuallyin the Shire in Bilbo's days it was； as a rule； only the richest and thepoorest Hobbits that maintained the old custom。 The poorest went on living inburrows of the most primitive kind； mere holes indeed； with only one window ornone； while the well…to…do still constructed more luxurious versions of thesimple diggings of old。 But suitable sites for these large and ramifyingtunnels （or _smials_ as they called them） were not everywhere to be found； andin the flats and the low…lying districts the Hobbits； as they multiplied；
began to build above ground。 Indeed； even in the hilly regions and the oldervillages； such as Hobbiton or Tuckborough； or in the chief township of theShire； Michel Delving on the White Downs； there were now many houses of wood；
brick； or stone。 These were specially favoured by millers； smiths； ropers； andcartwrights； and others of that sort； for even when they had holes to live in。
Hobbits had long been accustomed to b