魔戒2: 双塔奇兵 The Two Towers
魔戒2: 双塔奇兵 The Two Towers
作者：约翰·罗纳德·瑞尔·托尔金 (John Ronald Reuel Tolkien) [英国]
博罗米尔被半兽人杀死之后，两个霍比特族人皮聘和梅利也被半兽人绑架，阿拉贡、莱格拉斯、金雳一路追踪半兽人，营救皮聘和梅利，遇到了“复活”的灰袍巫师甘道夫。此时，投降索伦的白袍巫师萨鲁曼控制了人类洛汗王国的王，并派出大量的半兽人军队，准备消灭人类。阿拉贡、莱格拉斯和金雳在甘道夫的带领下，帮助洛汗王国对抗邪恶力量的入侵。 幸运的皮聘和梅利被会说话的树人救了出来，并且遇到“复活”的甘道夫，在甘道夫的授意下，树人保护了两人的安全，并且带他们参加树人大会，大会上，树人们讨论对待中土大战的态度：是继续当中立者，逆来顺受，还是奋起反抗？ 身负重任的弗罗多和山姆继续向末日山前进，一路上被咕噜跟踪，弗罗多依靠至尊魔戒的力量，成为了咕噜的主人，在咕噜的带领下，他们到了末日山的入口黑门。就在他们准备进入之时，博罗米尔的弟弟法拉米尔出现，将他们带回了刚铎。弗罗多又遇上了新的危机：法拉米尔想利用至尊魔戒的力量对抗萨鲁曼的攻击。
微信搜索点学英语，使用微信小程序，阅读功能更强大！
Aragorn sped on up the hill. Every now and again he bent to the ground. Hobbits go light, and their footprints are not easy even for a Ranger to read, but not far from the top a spring crossed the path, and in the wet earth he saw what he was seeking.
阿拉贡快步跑上山丘，不停地低身察看地面上的痕迹。哈比人的脚步很轻，连游侠都没有办法轻易辨识。不过，在距离小径不远的地方，他还是找到了一些线索。
"I read the signs aright," he said to himself. "Frodo ran to the hilltop. I wonder what he saw there? But he returned by the same way, and went down the hill again."
“如果我的判断没错，”他自言自语道：“佛罗多跑到山上去了，不知道他在那边看见了什么？不过，我确定他又从原路跑了回来，再度冲下山。”
Aragorn hesitated. He desired to go to the high seat himself, hoping to see there something that would guide him in his perplexities; but time was pressing. Suddenly he leaped forward, and ran to the summit, across the great flag-stones, and up the steps. Then sitting in the high seat he looked out.
阿拉贡迟疑了。他想要坐上王座，看看是否有迹象可以协助他在这一团迷雾中找到出路，时间非常紧迫，不容许他浪费了。他箭步冲向前，奔上阶梯，然后坐上王座，往四下看去。
But the sun seemed darkened, and the world dim and remote. He turned from the North back again to North, and saw nothing save the distant hills, unless it were that far away he could see again a great bird like an eagle high in the air, descending slowly in wide circles down towards the earth.
可是，太阳似乎黯淡下来，世界变得十分遥远灰暗。他往四周看去，除了连绵不断的山丘之外还是山丘，唯一特殊的地方是他又看见远处有一只巨鹰，仿佛正在盘旋着缓缓飘降到地面去。
Even as he gazed his quick ears caught sounds in the woodlands below, on the west side of the River. He stiffened. There were cries, and among them, to his horror, he could distinguish the harsh voices of Orcs. Then suddenly with a deep-throated call a great horn blew, and the blasts of it smote the hills and echoed in the hollows, rising in a mighty shout above the roaring of the falls.
在此同时，他灵敏的听觉发现了河西边有些不寻常的动静。他浑身一僵，底下传来叫喊声，让他恐惧不已的是其中竟然有半兽人的声音。接着，在一声低沉的呐喊声之后，传来了惊天动地的号角声；如闷雷般的号角声在山谷之间来回震动，甚至压过了瀑布的巨大声响。
"The horn of Boromir!" he cried. "He is in need!" He sprang down the steps and away, leaping down the path. "Alas! An ill fate is on me this day, and all that I do goes amiss. Where is Sam?"
“波罗莫的号角声！”他大喊着：“他需要我们的帮助！”他立刻跳下阶梯，沿着小径往回跑。“该死！今天我做的每个决定都出错，山姆到哪里去了？”
As he ran the cries came louder, but fainter now and desperately the horn was blowing. Fierce and shrill rose the yells of the Orcs, and suddenly the horn-calls ceased. Aragorn raced down the last slope, but before he could reach the hill's foot, the sounds died away; and as he turned to the left and ran towards them they retreated, until at last he could hear them no more. Drawing his bright sword and crying Elendil! Elendil! he crashed through the trees.
随着他急促的脚步，此起彼落的叫喊声开始渐渐变弱，号角声变得越来越紧急；半兽人的尖厉声音此起彼落，号角声却突然间沉默了。阿拉贡迈步飞奔冲下山坡，但是，在他抵达山脚之前，那叫喊声就开始渐渐变远。当他转向左，冲向这些声音的源头时，他可以听见那声音开始往远方撤退，最后化成一片死寂。他拔出圣剑，大喊着“伊兰迪尔！伊兰迪尔”！瞬间冲入树丛间。
A mile, maybe, from Parth Galen in a little glade not far from the lake he found Boromir. He was sitting with his back to a great tree, as if he was resting. But Aragorn saw that he was pierced with many black-feathered arrows; his sword was still in his hand, but it was broken near the hilt; his horn cloven in two was at his side. Many Orcs lay slain, piled all about him and at his feet.
他在距离帕斯加兰不到一哩的草地上发现了波罗莫，他背靠着一株大树，仿佛正在休息。但是，阿拉贡注意到他浑身插满了黑羽箭；他手中虽然还紧握着宝剑，武器却已经连柄断折，他的号角也碎成两半，散落满地，许多半兽人的尸体横陈在他四周。
Aragorn knelt beside him. Boromir opened his eyes and strove to speak. At last slow words came. "I tried to take the Ring from Frodo " he said. "I am sorry. I have paid." His glance strayed to his fallen enemies; twenty at least lay there. "They have gone: the Halflings: the Orcs have taken them. I think they are not dead. Orcs bound them." He paused and his eyes closed wearily. After a moment he spoke again.
阿拉贡跪倒下来，波罗莫张开眼睛，挣扎着想要说话，最后，他终于挤出了几个字：“我试着从佛罗多手中夺走魔戒，”他说：“对不起，我罪有应得！”他的目光流连在倒下的敌人尸体上，这儿至少有二十具尸体。“哈比人已经被半兽人掳走了。我想他们还没死，半兽人把他们绑了起来。”他停了片刻，眼睛疲倦地开始闭上，又过了几秒钟，他继续道。
"Farewell, Aragorn! Go to Minas Tirith and save my people! I have failed."
“永别了，阿拉贡！去米那斯提力斯拯救我的同胞吧，我失败了。”
"No!" said Aragorn, taking his hand and kissing his brow. "You have conquered. Few have gained such a victory. Be at peace! Minas Tirith shall not fall!"
“不！”阿拉贡握住他的手，亲吻他的眉心：“不，你征服了这一切，没有多少人能赢得这种辉煌战果。安息吧！米那斯提力斯将永不陷落！”
Boromir smiled.
波罗莫笑了。
"Which way did they go? Was Frodo there?" said Aragorn.
“他们去了什么方向？佛罗多在吗？”阿拉贡追问道。
But Boromir did not speak again.
波罗莫再也无法开口了。
"Alas!" said Aragorn. "Thus passes the heir of Denethor, Lord of the Tower of Guard! This is a bitter end. Now the Company is all in ruin. It is I that have failed. Vain was Gandalf's trust in me. What shall I do now? Boromir has laid it on me to go to Minas Tirith, and my heart desires it; but where are the Ring and the Bearer? How shall I find them and save the Quest from disaster?"
“难道这是天意吗？”阿拉贡说：“卫戍塔之王迪耐瑟的王储就这样离开了人世！没想到会是这样的结局，远征队分崩离析，真正失败的是我，甘道夫托付错了人。我现在该怎么办？波罗莫把米那斯提力斯的重责大任交给了我，我也的确想要去那边；但是，魔戒和魔戒持有者呢？我要怎么找到他们，才能让这次任务不一败涂地？”
He knelt for a while, bent with weeping, still clasping Boromir's hand. So it was that Legolas and Gimli found him. They came from the western slopes of the hill, silently, creeping through the trees as if they were hunting. Gimli had his axe in hand, and Legolas his long knife: all his arrows were spent. When they came into the glade they halted in amazement; and then they stood a moment with heads bowed in grief, for it seemed to them plain what had happened.
他泪流满面地发呆了片刻，当勒苟拉斯和金雳找到他时，他依旧紧握着波罗莫的手。他们从西方的山坡下来，静悄悄地如同狩猎一般穿越了树林，金雳手中握着斧头，勒苟拉斯背着空空如也的箭袋，手拿着小刀。当他们来到草地上时，一时之间楞在当场。两人不约而同低下头，为眼前的景象哀悼，他们都明白发生了什么事情。
"Alas!" said Legolas, coming to Aragorn's side. "We have hunted and slain many Orcs in the woods, but we should have been of more use here. We came when we heard the horn-but too late, it seems. I fear you have taken deadly hurt."
“早知如此，”勒苟拉斯走到阿拉贡的身边说：“我们在森林中辛苦杀死了许多半兽人，现在一看，才知道我们其实应该早点赶来这里。我们一听到号角声就赶了过来，但是已经太迟了……你还好吧？”
"Boromir is dead," said Aragorn. "I am unscathed, for I was not here with him. He fell defending the hobbits, while I was away upon the hill."
“波罗莫死了，”阿拉贡说：“我毫发无伤，因为我根本没有和他并肩作战。当我在山坡上调查的时候，他为了保护哈比人而牺牲。”
"The hobbits!" cried Gimli "Where are they then? Where is Frodo?"
“哈比人！”金雳大喊道，“他们呢？佛罗多到哪里去了？”
"I do not know," answered Aragorn wearily. "Before he died Boromir told me that the Orcs had bound them; he did not think that they were dead. I sent him to follow Merry and Pippin; but I did not ask him if Frodo or Sam were with him: not until it was too late. All that I have done today has gone amiss. What is to be done now?"
“我不知道，”阿拉贡非常疲倦地回答：“在波罗莫死前，他告诉我半兽人绑走了他们，他认为他们还活着。我派他过来是为了保护梅里和皮聘，但是我来不及问他是否看到佛罗多和山姆。我今天所做的每个决定都是错的，现在该怎么办？”
"First we must tend the fallen," said Legolas. "We cannot leave him lying like carrion among these foul Orcs."
“我们必须先处理牺牲的弟兄，”勒苟拉斯说：“我们不能让他和这些该死的半兽人一起曝尸荒野。”
"But we must be swift," said Gimli. "He would not wish us to linger. We must follow the Orcs, if there is hope that any of our Company are living prisoners."
“但也不能耽搁太久，”金雳说：“他也不会希望我们在这边耗费太多时间，只要还有希望救回人质，我们就必须跟踪那些半兽人。”
"But we do not know whether the Ring-bearer is with them or not " said Aragorn. "Are we to abandon him? Must we not seek him first? An evil choice is now before us!"
“可是，我们不知道魔戒持有者是否和他们在一起，”阿拉贡说：“我们要舍弃他吗？我们难道不应该先去找他吗？眼前又是一个两难！”
"Then let us do first what we must do," said Legolas. "We have not the time or the tools to bury our comrade fitly, or to raise a mound over him. A cairn we might build."
“让我们先做能做的事情吧，”勒苟拉斯当机立断地说：“我们没有时间和工具来安葬伙伴，也没时间火化他的遗骸。”
"The labour would be hard and long: there are no stones that we could use nearer than the water -- side," said Gimli.
“那会花上太多时间了，水边又没有岩石可以利用，”金雳无可奈何地说。
"Then let us lay him in a boat with his weapons, and the weapons of his vanquished foes," said Aragorn. "We will send him to the Falls of Rauros and give him to Anduin. The River of Gondor will take care at least that no evil creature dishonours his bones."
“那么，我们就把他和配戴的武器，以及那些被他击杀的敌人武器一起放上船，”阿拉贡说：“我们让他航向拉洛斯瀑布，把他献给大河安都因。守护刚铎的河流，至少不会让任何邪恶的生物冒渎他的遗体。”
Quickly they searched the bodies of the Orcs, gathering their swords and cloven helms and shields into a heap.
他们很快地从半兽人的身上收集到许多刀剑、破碎的盔甲和盾牌，并且将它们堆成一堆。
...
