The Hobbit / Хоббит. 10 класс
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Even a fourteenth share was a great wealth. From that treasure Bard sent much gold to the Master of Lake-town; and he rewarded his followers and friends generously. To the Elvenking he gave the emeralds of Girion. To Bilbo he said: “This treasure is as much yours as it is mine; I would like to reward you most richly of all.”
“That’s very kind of you,” said Bilbo. “But really it is better in your hands.” In the end he agreed to take two small chests, one filled with silver, and the other with gold, such as one strong pony could carry.
At last the time came for him to say good-bye to his friends. “Farewell, Balin!” he said; “and farewell, Dwalin; and farewell Dori, Nori, Ori, Oin, Gloin, Bifur, Bofur, and Bombur!” And turning towards the Mountain he added: “Farewell Thorin Oakenshield! And Fili and Kili!”
Then the dwarves bowed low before their Gate. “Good-bye and good luck, Bilbo!” said Balin. “If ever you visit us again, when our halls are beautiful once more, then the feast will be splendid!”
“If ever you are passing my way,” said Bilbo, “don’t wait to knock! Tea is at four; but any of you are welcome at any time!”
Then he turned away.
The elves were on the march. Gandalf and Bilbo rode behind the Elvenking, and beside them was Beorn, once again in man’s shape. So they went on until they approached the borders of Mirkwood, to the north of the place where the Forest River ran out.
Then they stopped. The wizard and Bilbo intended to go along the edge of the forest. It was a long and cheerless road, but now that the goblins were crushed, it seemed safer to them than the dreadful pathways under the trees. Moreover Beorn was going that way too.
“Farewell! O Elvenking!” said Gandalf. “Merry be the greenwood! And merry be all your folk!” [123]
“Farewell! O Gandalf!” said the king. “May you ever appear where you are most needed and least expected! [124] I will be happy to see you in my halls!”
“Please,” said Bilbo, “accept this gift!” and he brought out a necklace of silver and pearls that Dain had given him at their parting.
“How have I earned such a gift?” said the king.
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Да
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Желаю тебе оказываться в тех местах, где ты нужен, но тебя не ждут.
“Well,” said Bilbo rather confused, “some little return [125] should be made for your hospitality. I mean even a burglar has his feelings. I have drunk much of your wine and eaten much of your bread.”
“I will take your gift, O Bilbo the Magnificent!” said the king seriously. “And I name you elf-friend and blessed. Farewell!”
Then the elves turned towards the Forest, and Bilbo started on his long road home.
It was spring when Bilbo and Gandalf left Beorn. At last they reached the very pass where the goblins had captured them before. Behind there was Mirkwood, blue in the distance. And far away there was the Lonely Mountain. On its highest peak snow was gleaming pale. “So comes snow after fire and even dragons have their ending!” said Bilbo. “I wish now only to be in my own arm-chair!” he said.
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Chapter 19
The Last Stage
On May the First Bilbo and Gandalf came back at last to 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; and as soon as their riders came down into the lower glades of the wood they burst into a song.
This is something like it:
“The dragon is withered,His bones are now crumbled;His armour is shivered,His splendour is humbled!And leaves are yet swinging,The white water flowing,And elves are yet singingCome! Tra-la-la-lally!”Then the elves of the valley came out and greeted them and led them across the water to the house of Elrond. There were many elves that evening who wanted to hear the tale of their adventures. Gandalf was speaking, because Bilbo was sleepy. But sometimes he opened one eye, and listened. And so he learned that Gandalf had been to a great council of the white wizards, masters of good magic; and that they had at last driven the Necromancer from his dark hold in the south of Mirkwood.
“Soon,” Gandalf was saying, “The Forest will be safer. The North will be freed from that horror for many long years, I hope.”
Bilbo woke in a white bed, and the moon was shining through an open window. Below it many elves were singing on the banks of the stream.
“The stars are in blossom, the moon is in flower,And bright are the windows of Night in her tower.Dance all you 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!”“Well, Merry People!” said Bilbo looking out. “What time is this?”
“It is drawing towards dawn, and you have slept now since the night’s beginning.”
“I would like to sleep some more,” said he; “A second good night, fair friends!” And with that he went back to bed and slept till late morning.
Soon Bilbo said farewell to Elrond and rode away with Gandalf.
“There is a long road yet,” said Gandalf.
“But it is the last road,” said Bilbo.
At each point on the road Bilbo recalled the events of a year ago. So he quickly noted the place where the pony had fallen in the river, and they had turned aside for their nasty adventure with Tom and Bert and Bill. Not far from the road they found the gold of the trolls, which they had buried, still hidden and untouched. “Take this, Gandalf,” said Bilbo, when they had dug it up. “You can find a use for it.”
“Indeed I can!” said the wizard. “But you may find you have more needs than you expect.”
So they shared the gold and put it in bags on the ponies. After that they went slower, for most of the time they walked.
As all things come to an end, even this story, a day came at last when they were in sight of the country where Bilbo had been born. Finally he could see his own Hill in the distance.
And so they crossed the bridge and passed the mill by the river and came right back to Bilbo’s own door.
“Bless me! What’s going on?” he cried.
There were people of all sorts, respectable and unrespectable, and many were going in and out. He had arrived back in the middle of an auction! There was a large notice in black and red on the gate, stating that on June the Twenty-second the things of the late [126] Bilbo Baggins Esquire would be sold, at ten o’clock sharp. It was now nearly lunch-time and most of the things had already been sold. Bilbo’s cousins were going to occupy his rooms. Bilbo was “Presumed Dead”. [127]
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вещи
покойного127
признан пропавшим без вести