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！
' 〃I will go to Saruman；〃 I said。
' 〃Then you must go _now_；〃 said Radagast； 〃for I have wasted time inlooking for you； and the days are running short。 I was told to find you beforeMidsummer； and that is now here。 Even if you set out from this spot； you willhardly reach him before the Nine discover the land that they seek。 I myselfshall turn back at once。〃 And with that he mounted and would have ridden
straight off。
‘ 〃Stay a moment！ 〃 I said。 〃We shall need your help； and the help of allthings that will give it。 Send out messages to all the beasts and birds thatare your friends。 Tell them to bring news of anything that bears on thismatter to Saruman and Gandalf。 Let messages be sent to Orthanc。〃
‘ 〃I will do that；〃 he said； and rode off as if the Nine were after him。
‘I could not follow him then and there。 I had ridden very far alreadythat day； and I was as weary as my horse； and I needed to consider matters。 Istayed the night in Bree； and decided that I had no time to return to theShire。 Never did I make a greater mistake！
‘However； I wrote a message to Frodo； and trusted to my friend theinnkeeper to send it to him。 I rode away at dawn； and I came at long last tothe dwelling of Saruman。 That is far south in Isengard； in the end of theMisty Mountains； not far from the Gap of Rohan。 And Boromir will tell you thatthat is a great open vale that lies between the Misty Mountains and thenorthmost foothills of Ered Nimrais； the White Mountains of his home。 ButIsengard is a circle of sheer rocks that enclose a valley as with a wall； andin the midst of that valley is a tower of stone called Orthanc。 It was notmade by Saruman； but by the Men of Númenor long ago； and it is very tall andhas many secrets； yet it looks not to be a work of craft。 It cannot be reachedsave by passing the circle of Isengard； and in that circle there is only one
gate。
'Late one evening I came to the gate； like a great arch in the wall ofrock； and it was strongly guarded。 But the keepers of the gate were on thewatch for me and told me that Saruman awaited me。 I rode under the arch； andthe gate closed silently behind me； and suddenly I was afraid； though I knewno reason for it。
'But I rode to the foot of Orthanc； and came to the stair of Saruman andthere he met me and led me up to his high chamber。 He wore a ring on hisfinger。
‘ 〃So you have e； Gandalf；〃 he said to me gravely； but in his eyesthere seemed to be a white light； as if a cold laughter was in his heart。
‘ 〃Yes； I have e；〃 I said。 〃I have e for your aid； Saruman theWhite。〃 And that title seemed to anger him。
' 〃Have you indeed； Gandalf the _Grey_！ 〃 he scoffed。 〃For aid？ It hasseldom been heard of that Gandalf the Grey sought for aid； one so cunning andso wise； wandering about the lands； and concerning himself in every business；
whether it belongs to him or not。〃
'I looked at him and wondered。 〃But if I am not deceived；〃 said I；
〃things are now moving which will require the union of all our strength。〃
' 〃That may be so；〃 he said； 〃but the thought is late in ing to you。
How long。 I wonder； have you concealed from me； the head of the Council； amatter of greatest import？ What brings you now from your lurking…place in theShire？ 〃
' 〃The Nine have e forth again；〃 I answered。 〃They have crossed theRiver。 So Radagast said to me。〃
‘ 〃Radagast the Brown！ 〃 laughed Saruman； and he no longer concealed hisscorn。 〃Radagast the Bird…tamer！ Radagast the Simple！ Radagast the Fool！ Yethe had just the wit to play the part that I set him。 For you have e； andthat was all the purpose of my message。 And here you will stay； Gandalf theGrey； and rest from journeys。 For I am Saruman the Wise； Saruman Ring…maker；
Saruman of Many Colours！ 〃
'I looked then and saw that his robes； which had seemed white； were not
so； but were woven of all colours。 and if he moved they shimmered and changed
hue so that the eye was bewildered。
' 〃I liked white better；〃 I said。
' 〃White！ 〃 he sneered。 〃It serves as a beginning。 White cloth may bedyed。 The white page can be overwritten； and the white light can be broken。〃
' 〃In which case it is no longer white；〃 said I。 〃And he that breaks athing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom。〃
' 〃You need not speak to me as to one of the fools that you take forfriends；〃 said he。 〃I have not brought you hither to be instructed by you； butto give you a choice。〃
'He drew himself up then and began to declaim； as if he were making aspeech long rehearsed。 〃The Elder Days are gone。 The Middle Days are passing。
The Younger Days are beginning。 The time of the Elves is over； but our time isat hand： the world of Men； which we must rule。 But we must have power； powerto order all things as we will； for that good which only the Wise can see。
' 〃And listen； Gandalf； my old friend and helper！ 〃 he said； ing nearand speaking now in a softer voice。 〃I said we； for we it may be； if you willjoin with me。 A new Power is rising。 Against it the old allies and policieswill not avail us at all。 There is no hope left in Elves or dying Númenor。
This then is one choice before you。 before us。 We may join with that Power。 Itwould be wise； Gandalf。 There is hope that way。 Its victory is at hand； andthere will be rich reward for those that aided it。 As the Power grows； itsproved friends will also grow； and the Wise； such as you and I； may withpatience e at last to direct its courses； to control it。 We can bide ourtime； we can keep our thoughts in our hearts； deploring maybe evils done bythe way； but approving the high and ultimate purpose： Knowledge； Rule； Order；
all the things that we have so far striven in vain to acplish； hinderedrather than helped by our weak or idle friends。 There need not be； there wouldnot be； any real change in our designs； only in our means。〃
' 〃Saruman；〃 I said； 〃I have heard speeches of this kind before； but onlyin the mouths of emissaries sent from Mordor to deceive the ignorant。 I cannotthink that you brought me so far only to weary my ears。〃
'He looked at me sidelong； and paused a while considering。 〃Well； I seethat this wise course does not mend itself to you；〃 he said。 〃Not yet？ Notif some better way can be contrived？ 〃
‘He came and laid his long hand on my arm。 〃And why not； Gandalf？ 〃 hewhispered。 〃Why not？ The Ruling Ring？ If we could mand that； then the Powerwould pass to us。 That is in truth why I brought you here。 For I have manyeyes in my service； and I believe that you know where this precious thing nowlies。 Is it not so？ Or why do the Nine ask for the Shire； and what is yourbusiness there？ 〃 As he said this a lust which he could not conceal shone
suddenly in his eyes。
' 〃Saruman；〃 I said； standing away from him； 〃only one hand at a time canwield the One； and you know that well； so do not trouble to say we！ But Iwould not give it； nay； I would not give even news of it to you； now that Ilearn your mind。 You were head of the Council； but you have unmasked yourselfat last。 Well； the choices are； it seems； to submit to Sauron； or to yourself。
I will take neither。 Have you others to offer？ 〃
'He was cold now and perilous。 〃Yes；〃 he said。 〃I did not expect you toshow wisdom； even in your own behalf； but I g