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‘But within those bounds nothing seems to dismay him；' said Erestor。
‘Would he not take the Ring and keep it there； for ever harmless？'
‘No；' said Gandalf； ‘not willingly。 He might do so； if all the free folkof the world begged him； but he would not understand the need。 And if he weregiven the Ring； he would soon forget it； or most likely throw it away。 Suchthings have no hold on his mind。 He would be a most unsafe guardian； and thatalone is answer enough。'
‘But in any case；' said Glorfindel； ‘to send the Ring to him would onlypostpone the day of evil。 He is far away。 We could not now take it back tohim； unguessed； unmarked by any spy。 And even if we could； soon or late theLord of the Rings would learn of its hiding place and would bend all his powertowards it。 Could that power be defied by Bombadil alone？ I think not。 I thinkthat in the end； if all else is conquered； Bombadil will fall； Last as he wasFirst； and then Night will e。'
‘I know little of Iarwain save the name；' said Galdor； ‘but Glorfindel； Ithink； is right。 Power to defy our Enemy is not in him； unless such power isin the earth itself。 And yet we see that Sauron can torture and destroy thevery hills。 What power still remains lies with us； here in Imladris； or withCirdan at the Havens； or in Lórien。 But have they the strength； have we herethe strength to withstand the Enemy； the ing of Sauron at the last； whenall else is overthrown？'
‘I have not the strength；' said Elrond； ‘neither have they。'
‘Then if the Ring cannot be kept from him for ever by strength' saidGlorfindel； ‘two things only remain for us to attempt： to send it over theSea； or to destroy it。'
‘But Gandalf has revealed to us that we cannot destroy it by any craftthat we here possess；' said Elrond。 ‘And they who dwell beyond the Sea wouldnot receive it： for good or ill it belongs to Middle…earth； it is for us whostill dwell here to deal with it。'
'Then； said Glorfindel； 'let us cast it into the deeps； and so make thelies of Saruman e true。 For it is clear now that even at the Council his
feet were already on a crooked path。 He knew that the Ring was not lost forever； but wished us to think so； for he began to lust for it for himself。 Yetoft in lies truth is hidden： in the Sea it would be safe。'
‘Not safe for ever；' said Gandalf。 ‘There are many things in the deepwaters； and seas and lands may change。 And it is not our part here to takethought only for a season； or for a few lives of Men； or for a passing age ofthe world。 We should seek a final end of this menace； even if we do not hopeto make one。'
'And that we shall not find on the roads to the Sea；' said Galdor。 'Ifthe return to Iarwain be thought too dangerous； then flight to the Séa is nowfraught with gravest peril。 My heart tells me that Sauron will expect us totake the western way； when he learns what has befallen。 He soon will。 The Ninehave been unhorsed indeed but that is but a respite； ere they find new steedsand swifter。 Only the waning might of Gondor stands now between him and amarch in power along the coasts into the North； and if he es； assailing theWhite Towers and the Havens； hereafter the Elves may have no escape from thelengthening shadows of Middle…earth。'
'Long yet will that march be delayed；' said Boromir。 'Gondor wanes； yousay。 But Gondor stands； and even the end of its strength is still verystrong。'
'And yet its vigilance can no longer keep back the Nine；' said Galdor。
'And other roads he may find that Gondor does not guard。'
'Then；' said Erestor； ‘there are but two courses； as Glorfindel alreadyhas declared： to hide the Ring for ever； or to unmake it。 But both are beyondour power。 Who will read this riddle for us？'
'None here can do so；' said Elrond gravely。 ‘At least none can foretellwhat will e to pass； if we take this road or that。 But it seems to me nowclear which is the road that we must take。 The westward road seems easiest。
Therefore it must be shunned。 It will be watched。 Too often the Elves have
fled that way。 Now at this last we must take a hard road； a road unforeseen。
There lies our hope； if hope it be。 To walk into peril…to Mordor。 We must sendthe Ring to the Fire。'
Silence fell again。 Frodo； even in that fair house； looking out upon asunlit valley filled with the noise of clear waters； felt a dead darkness inhis heart。 Boromir stirred； and Frodo looked at him。 He was fingering hisgreat horn and frowning。 At length he spoke。
'I do not understand all this；' he said。 ‘Saruman is a traitor； but didhe not have a glimpse of wisdom？ Why do you speak ever of hiding anddestroying？ Why should we not think that the Great Ring has e into ourhands to serve us in the very hour of need？ Wielding it the Free Lords of theFree may surely defeat the Enemy。 That is what he most fears； I deem。
'The Men of Gondor are valiant； and they will never submit； but they maybe beaten down。 Valour needs first strength； and then a weapon。 Let the Ringbe your weapon； if it has such power as you say。 Take it and go forth tovictory！'
'Alas； no；' said Elrond。 'We cannot use the Ruling Ring。 That we now knowtoo well。 It belongs to Sauron and was made by him alone； and is altogetherevil。 Its strength； Boromir； is too great for anyone to wield at will； saveonly those who have already a great power of their own。 But for them it holdsan even deadlier peril。 The very desire of it corrupts the heart。 ConsiderSaruman。 If any of the Wise should with this Ring overthrow the Lord ofMordor； using his own arts； he would then set himself on Sauron's throne； andyet another Dark Lord would appear。 And that is another reason why the Ringshould be destroyed： as long as it is in the world it will be a danger even tothe Wise。 For nothing is evil in the beginning。 Even Sauron was not so。 I fearto take the Ring to hide it。 I will not take the Ring to wield it。'
‘Nor I；' said Gandalf。
Boromir looked at them doubtfully； but he bowed his head。 ‘So be it；' hesaid。 ‘Then in Gondor we must trust to such weapons as we have。 And at theleast； while the Wise ones guard this Ring； we will fight on。 Mayhap theSword…that…was…Broken may still stem the tide – if the hand that wields it has
inherited not an heirloom only； but the sinews of the Kings of Men。'
‘Who can tell？' said Aragorn。 ‘But we will put it to the test one day。'
‘May the day not be too long delayed；' said Boromir。 'For though I do notask for aid； we need it。 It would fort us to know that others fought alsowith all the means that they have。'
‘Then be forted；' said Elrond。 ‘For there are other powers and realmsthat you know not； and they are hidden from you。 Anduin the Great flows pastmany shores； ere it es to Argonath and the Gates of Gondor。'
'Still it might be well for all；' said Glóin the Dwarf； 'if all thesestrengths were joined； and the powers of each were used in league。 Other ringsthere may be； less treacherous； that might be used in our need。 The Seven arelost to us – if Balin has not found the ring of Thrór which was the last；
naught has been heard of it since Thrór perished in Moria。 Indeed I may nowreveal that it was partly in hope to find that ring that Balin went away。'
‘Balin will find no ring in Moria；' said Gandalf。 ‘Thrór gav