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！
and tumbled； and a cry went up into the shuddering air； and faded to a shrill wailing； passing with
the wind； a voice bodiless and thin that died； and was swallowed up； and was never heard again in
that age of this world。
And there stood Meriadoc the hobbit in the midst of the slain； blinking like an owl in the
daylight； for tears blinded him； and through a mist he looked on éowyn's fair head； as she lay and
did not move； and he looked on the face of the king； fallen in the midst of his glory； For Snowmane
in his agony had rolled away from him again； yet he was the bane of his master。
Then Merry stooped and lifted his hand to kiss it； and lo！ Théoden opened his eyes； and they
were clear； and he spoke in a quiet voice though laboured。
'Farewell； Master Holbytla！' he said。 'My body is broken。 I go to my fathers。 And even in their
mighty pany I shall not now be ashamed。 I felled the black serpent。 A grim morn； and a glad
day； and a golden sunset！'
Merry could not speak； but wept anew。 'Forgive me； lord；' he said at last； 'if I broke your
mand； and yet have done no more in your service than to weep at our parting。'
The old king smiled。 'Grieve not！ It is forgiven。 Great heart will not be denied。 Live now in
blessedness； and when you sit in peace with your pipe； think of me！ For never now shall I sit with
you in Meduseld； as I promised； or listen to your herb…lore。' He closed his eyes； and Merry bowed
beside him。 Presently he spoke again。 'Where is éomer？ For my eyes darken； and I would see him
ere I go。 He must be king after me。 And I would send word to éowyn。 She； she would not have me
leave her； and now I shall not see her again； dearer than daughter。'
'Lord； lord；' began Merry brokenly； 'she is…'； but at that moment there was a great clamour； and
all about them horns and trumpets were blowing。 Merry looked round： he had forgotten the war；
and all the world beside； and many hours it seemed since the king rode to his fall； though in truth it
was only a little while。 But now he saw that they were in danger of being caught in the very midst
of the great battle that would soon be joined。
New forces of the enemy were hastening up the road from the River； and from under the walls
came the legions of Morgul； and from the southward fields came footmen of Harad with horsemen
before them； and behind them rose the huge backs of the _m？makil_ with war…towers upon them。
But northward the white crest of éomer led the great front of the Rohirrim which he had again
gathered and marshalled； and out of the City came all the strength of men that was in it； and the
silver swan of Dol Amroth was borne in the van； driving the enemy from the Gate。
For a moment the thought flitted through Merry's mind： 'Where is Gandalf？ Is he not here？
Could he not have saved the king and éowyn？' But thereupon éomer rode up in haste； and with him
came the knights of the household that still lived and had now mastered their horses。 They looked
in wonder at the carcase of the fell beast that lay there： and their steeds would not go near。 But
éomer leaped from the saddle； and grief and dismay fell upon him as he came to the king's side and
stood there in silence。
Then one of the knights took the king's banner from the hand of Guthláf the banner…bearer who
lay dead； and he lifted it up。 Slowly Théoden opened his eyes。 Seeing the banner he made a sign
that it should be given to éomer。
'Hail； King of the Mark！' he said。 'Ride now to victory！ Bid éowyn farewell！' And so he died；
and knew not that éowyn lay near him。 And those who stood by wept； crying： 'Théoden King！
Théoden King！'
But éomer said to them：
Mourn not overmuch！ Mighty was the fallen；
meet was his ending。 When his mound is raised；
women then shall weep。 War now calls us！
Yet he himself wept as he spoke。 'Let his knights remain here；' he said； 'and bear his body in
honour from the field； lest the battle ride over it！ Yea； and all these other of the king's men that lie
here。' And he looked at the slain； recalling their names。 Then suddenly he beheld his sister éowyn
as she lay； and he knew her。 He stood a moment as a man who is pierced in the midst of a cry by an
arrow through the heart； and then his face went deathly white； and a cold fury rose in him； so that
all speech failed him for a while。 A fey mood took him。
'éowyn； éowyn！' he cried at last： 'éowyn； how e you here？ What madness or devilry is this？
Death； death； death！ Death take us all！'
Then without taking counsel or waiting for the approach of the men of the City； he spurred
headlong back to the front of the great host； and blew a horn； and cried aloud for the onset。 Over
the field rang his clear voice calling： 'Death！ Ride； ride to ruin and the world's ending！'
And with that the host began to move。 But the Rohirrim sang no more。 _Death_ they cried with
one voice loud and terrible； and gathering speed like a great tide their battle swept about their fallen
king and passed； roaring away southwards。
And still Meriadoc the hobbit stood there blinking through his tears and no one spoke to him；
indeed none seemed to heed him。 He brushed away the tears； and stooped to pick up the green
shield that éowyn had given him； and he slung it at his back。 Then he looked for his sword that he
had let fall； for even as he struck his blow his arm was numbed； and now he could only use his left
hand。 And behold！ there lay his weapon； but the blade was smoking like a dry branch that has been
thrust in a fire； and as he watched it； it writhed and withered and was consumed。
So passed the sword of the Barrow…downs； work of Westernesse。 But glad would he have been
to know its fate who wrought it slowly long ago in the North…kingdom when the Dúnedain were
young； and chief among their foes was the dread realm of Angmar and its sorcerer king。 No other
blade； not though mightier hands had wielded it； would have dealt that foe a wound so bitter；
cleaving the undead flesh； breaking the spell that knit his unseen sinews to his will。
Men now raised the king； and laying cloaks upon spear…truncheons they made shift to bear him
away towards the City； and others lifted éowyn gently up and bore her after him。 But the men of
the king's household they could not yet bring from the field； for seven of the king's knights had
fallen there； and Déorwine their chief was among them。 So they laid them apart from their foes and
the fell beast and set spears about them。 And afterwards when all was over men returned and made
a fire there and burned the carcase of the beast； but for Snowmane they dug a grave and set up a
stone upon which was carved in the tongues of Gondor and the Mark：
Faithful servant yet master's bane
Lightfoot's foal； swift Snowmane。
Green and long grew the grass on Snowmane's Howe； but ever black and bare was the ground
where the beast was burned。
Now slowly and sadly Merry walked beside the bearers； and he gave no more heed to the battle。
He was weary and full of pain； and his limbs trembled as with a chill。 A great rain came out of the
Sea； and it seemed that all things wept for Théoden and éowyn； quenching the fires in the City with
grey tears。 It was through a mist that presently he saw the van of the men of Gondor approaching。
Imrahil； Prince of Dol Amroth； rode up and drew rein before them。
'What burden do you bear； Men of Rohan？' he cried。
'Théoden King；' they answered。 'He is dead。 But éomer King now rides in the battle： he with the
white crest in the wind。'
Then the prince went from his horse； and knelt by the bier in honour of the king and his great
onset； and he wept。 And rising he looked then on éowyn and was amazed。 'Surely； here is a
woman？' he said。 'Have even the women of the Rohirrim e to war in our need？'
'Nay！ One only；' they answered。 'The Lady éowyn is she； sister of éomer； and we knew naught
of her riding until this hour； and greatly we rue it。'
Then the prince seeing her beauty； though her face was pale and cold； touched her hand as he
bent to look more closely on her。 'Men of Rohan！' he cried。 'Are there no leeches among you？ She
is hurt to the death maybe； but I deem that she yet lives。' And he held the bright…burnished
vambrace that was upon his arm before her cold tips； and behold！ a little mist was laid on it hardly
to be seen。
'Haste now is needed；' he said； and he sent one riding back swiftly to the City to bring aid。 But
he bowing low to the fallen； bade them farewell； and mounting rode away into battle。
And now the fighting waxed furious on the fields of the Pelennor； and the din of arms rose upon
high； with the crying of men and the neighing of horses。 Horns were blown and trumpets were
braying； and the _m？makil_ were bellowing as they were goaded to war。 Under the south walls of
the City the footmen of Gondor now drove against the legions of Morgul that were still gathered
there in strength。 But the horsemen rode eastward to the succour of éomer： Húrin the Tall Warden
of the Keys； and the Lord of Lossarnach； and Hirluin of the Green Hills； and Prince Imrahil the fair
with his knights all about him。
Not too soon came their aid to the Rohirrim； for fortune had turned against éomer； and his fury
had betrayed him。 The great wrath of his onset had utterly overthrown the front of his enemies； and
great wedges of his Riders had passed clear through the ranks of the Southrons； disfiting their
horsemen and riding their footmen to ruin。 But wherever the _m？makil_ came there the horses
would not go； but blenched and swerved away； and the great monsters were unfought； and stood
like towers of defence； and the Haradrim rallied about them。 And if the Rohirrim at their onset were
thrice outnumbered by the Haradrim alone； soon their case became worse； for new strength came
now streaming to the field out of Osgiliath。 There they had been mustered for the sack of the City
and the rape of Gondor； waiting on the call of their Captain。 He now was destroyed； but Gothmog
the lieutenant of Morgul had flung them into the fray； Easterlings with axes； and Variags of Khand。
Southrons in scarlet； and out of Far Harad black men like half…trolls with white eyes and red
tongues。 Some now hastened up behind the Rohirrim； others held westward to hold off the forces of
Gondor and prevent their joining with Rohan。
It was even as the day thus began to turn against Gondor and their hope wavered that a new cry
went up in the City； it being then midmorning； and a great wind blowing； and the rain flying north；
and the sun shining。 In that clear air watchmen on the walls saw afar a new sight of fear； and their
last hope left them。
For Anduin； from the bend at the Harlond； so flowed that from the City men could look down it
lengthwise for some leagues； and the far…sighted could see any ships that approached。 And looking
thither they cried in dismay； for black against the glittering stream they beheld a fleet borne up on
the wind： dromunds； and ships of great draught with many oars； and with black sails bellying in the
breeze。
'The Corsairs of Umbar！' men shouted。 'The Corsairs of Umbar！ Look！ The Corsairs of Umbar
are ing！ So Belfalas is taken； and the Ethir； and Lebennin is gone。 The Corsairs are upon us！ It
is the last stroke of doom！'
And some without order； for none could he found to mand them in the City； ran to the bells
and tolled the alarm； and some blew the trumpets sounding the retreat。 'Back to the walls！' they
cried。 'Back to the walls！ e back to the City before all are overwhelmed！' But the wind that
sped the ships blew all their clamour away。
The Rohirrim indeed had no need of news or alarm。 All too well they could see for themselves
the black sails。 For éomer was now scarcely a mile from the Harlond； and a great press of his first
foes was between him and the haven there； while new foes came swirling behind； cutting him off
from the Prince。 Now he looked to the River； and hope died in his heart； and the wind that he had
blessed he now called accursed。 But the hosts of Mordor were enheartened； and filled with a new
lust and fury they came yelling to the onset。
Stern now was éomer's mood； and his mind clear again。 He let blow the horns to rally all men to
his banner that could e thither； for he thought to make a great shield…wall at the last； and stand；
and fight there on foot till all fell； and do deeds of song on the fields of Pelennor； though no man
should be left in the West to remember the last King of the Mark。 So he rode to a green hillock and
there set his banner； and the White Horse ran rippling in the wind。
Out of doubt； out of dark to the day's rising
I came singing in the sun； sword unsheathing。
To hope's end I rode and to heart's breaking：
Now for wrath； now for ruin and a red nightfall！
These staves he spoke； yet he laughed as he said them。 For once more lust of battle was on him；
and he was still unscathed； a