霍比特人：火與水 Fire and Water

FIRE AND WATER

火與水 Fire and Water

Now if you wish, like the dwarves, to hear news of Smaug, you must go back again to the evening when he smashed the door and flew off in rage, two days before.

如果你和矮人們一樣，想要知道史矛革的消息，那我們就必須把時(shí)光倒轉(zhuǎn)回兩天前，來到史矛革打碎密門，氣呼呼飛走的那一刻。

The men of the lake-town Esgaroth were mostly indoors, for the breeze was from the black East and chill, but a few were walking on the quays, and watching, as they were fond of doing, the stars shine out from the smooth patches of the lake as they opened in the sky. From their town the Lonely Mountain was mostly screened by the low hills at the far end of the lake, through a gap in which the Running River came down from the North. Only its high peak could they see in clear weather, and they looked seldom at it, for it was ominous and drear even in the light of morning. Now it was lost and gone, blotted in the dark.

湖中鎮(zhèn)埃斯加洛斯的人們大多待在屋內(nèi)，因?yàn)橥黹g黑暗的東方會吹來十分凜冽的寒風(fēng)。但也有那么一些人行走在碼頭上，做他們愛做的事情，那就是從平靜的湖面中看倒映的閃爍星光。從他們的鎮(zhèn)子望過去，孤山大部分都被長湖遠(yuǎn)端的小山丘給擋住了，只有從奔流河自北方而來所形成的一個(gè)缺口才能看見。只有在清朗的天氣才能看見孤山的山頂，而他們很少朝孤山眺望，因?yàn)榧词乖诔抗庵?，那地方也透著一股不祥與陰沉。而此刻，孤山則完全被籠罩在了黑暗里，一點(diǎn)蹤影也見不到。

Suddenly it flickered back to view; a brief glow touched it and faded.

突然，他在一閃之間又出現(xiàn)在了眾人的視野中，那是山上冒出一道短暫的閃亮，稍縱即逝。

“Look!” said one. “The lights again! Last night the watchmen saw them start and fade from midnight until dawn. Something is happening up there.”

“看哪!”有人說，“又是那種光!昨天晚上我們守夜的人看見那光從半夜一直亮到清晨，山里面一定有什么事情在發(fā)生。”

“Perhaps the King under the Mountain is forging gold,” said another. “It is long since he went North. It is time the songs began to prove themselves again.”

“也許是山下之王正在鑄造金子。”另一個(gè)人說，“他去北方已經(jīng)有好些日子了，那些歌曲的內(nèi)容該要開始應(yīng)驗(yàn)了。”

“Which king?” said another with a grim voice. “As like as not it is the marauding fire of the Dragon, the only king under the Mountain we have ever known.”

“哪個(gè)國王?”另一個(gè)人冷冷地說道，“那很有可能是惡龍劫掠時(shí)噴射的火焰，他才是我們所知道的惟一的山下之王。”

“You are always foreboding gloomy things!” said the others. “Anything from floods to poisoned fish. Think of something cheerful!”

“你這個(gè)烏鴉嘴!”其他人不滿地反駁他，“不是說有洪水，就是說魚有毒，想點(diǎn)讓人開心的事情吧!”

Then suddenly a great light appeared in the low place in the hills and the northern end of the lake turned golden. “The King beneath the Mountain!” they shouted. “His wealth is like the Sun, his silver like a fountain, his rivers golden run! The river is running gold from the Mountain!” they cried, and everywhere windows were opening and feet were hurrying.

這時(shí)，一陣刺眼的光芒突然出現(xiàn)在了山丘的低處，湖的北端被染成了一片金色。“山下之王!”他們叫了起來，“他的財(cái)富如太陽，他的白銀像噴泉，他的河里流黃金!河里流著山上下來的黃金!”他們喊了起來，家家戶戶都打開了窗子，匆匆忙忙地往外跑。

There was once more a tremendous excitement and enthusiasm. But the grim-voiced fellow ran hotfoot to the Master. “The dragon is coming or I am a fool!” he cried. “Cut the bridges! To arms! To arms!”

小鎮(zhèn)再次掀起了興奮與熱烈的浪潮。但那個(gè)聲音冷冷的人卻飛奔著找到了鎮(zhèn)長。“肯定是惡龍來了，否則我就是個(gè)大傻瓜!”他大喊道，“砍斷橋梁!拿起武器!拿起武器!”

Then warning trumpets were suddenly sounded, and echoed along the rocky shores. The cheering stopped and the joy was turned to dread. So it was that the dragon did not find them quite unprepared.

這時(shí)，報(bào)警的號角聲突然響起，在岸邊的巖石間不斷回蕩。歡呼聲停了下來，興奮瞬間就轉(zhuǎn)為了恐懼。正因?yàn)槿绱耍瑦糊垇硪u時(shí)發(fā)現(xiàn)人們已經(jīng)作好了準(zhǔn)備。

Before long, so great was his speed, they could see him as a spark of fire rushing towards them and growing ever huger and more bright, and not the most foolish doubted that the prophecies had gone rather wrong. Still they had a little time. Every vessel in the town was filled with water, every warrior was armed, every arrow and dart was ready, and the bridge to the land was thrown down and destroyed, before the roar of Smaug’s terrible approach grew loud, and the lake rippled red as fire beneath the awful beating of his wings. Amid shrieks and wailing and the shouts of men he came over them, swept towards the bridges and was foiled! The bridge was gone, and his enemies were on an island in deep water—too deep and dark and cool for his liking. If he plunged into it, a vapour and a steam would arise enough to cover all the land with a mist for days; but the lake was mightier than he, it would quench him before he could pass through.

沒過多久，隨著惡龍的高速飛行，人們看見它像一顆火星那樣朝他們直撲而來，越變越大，越變越亮，即使是最愚笨的人也毫不懷疑古老歌謠中的預(yù)言出錯(cuò)了。不過他們還有一點(diǎn)點(diǎn)時(shí)間，就利用這點(diǎn)時(shí)間，鎮(zhèn)上的每一個(gè)容器都裝滿了水，每一個(gè)戰(zhàn)士都全副武裝，嚴(yán)陣以待，每一把弓箭與每一支飛鏢都準(zhǔn)備妥當(dāng)，通往陸地的大橋也被砍斷弄倒。不一會兒，史矛革漸漸逼近的咆哮聲變得震耳欲聾，他的翅膀可怕地扇動著，在湖面上激蕩起火紅的漣漪。

Roaring he swept back over the town. A hail of dark arrows leaped up and snapped and rattled on his scales and jewels, and their shafts fell back kindled by his breath burning and hissing into the lake. No fireworks you ever imagined equalled the sights that night. At the twanging of the bows and the shrilling of the trumpets the dragon’s wrath blazed to its height, till he was blind and mad with it. No one had dared to give battle to him for many an age; nor would they have dared now, if it had not been for the grim-voiced man (Bard was his name), who ran to and fro cheering on the archers and urging the Master to order them to fight to the last arrow.

惡龍飛過人們的上空，在人群中激起一片尖叫與嚎哭。他向著大橋沖去，卻意外遭遇了挫折!橋已經(jīng)沒有了，他的敵人躲在一個(gè)位于深水中的島上。水太深、太黑，也太涼了，不是他喜歡的。如果他沖進(jìn)湖中，大量的蒸汽會冒上來，足夠一連好幾天都把這附近籠罩在濃霧中。但是湖水的力量要比他強(qiáng)大，沒等他通過湖水，湖水就會把他的火焰熄滅。

Fire leaped from the dragon’s jaws. He circled for a while high in the air above them lighting all the lake; the trees by the shores shone like copper and like blood with leaping shadows of dense black at their feet. Then down he swooped straight through the arrow-storm, reckless in his rage, taking no heed to turn his scaly sides towards his foes, seeking only to set their town ablaze.

他咆哮著再次從城鎮(zhèn)上空掠過，一蓬黑黑的箭雨騰空而起，發(fā)出“啪啪”“簌簌”的聲音，射中他的鱗甲和珠寶后，箭頭折斷，箭尾則被他吐出的氣息點(diǎn)著，燃燒著落人湖中，發(fā)出一陣“嘶撕”的聲響。那夜的情景遠(yuǎn)勝過你能想像出來的任何煙火。在弓弦彈動和號角鳴響的刺耳聲音中，惡龍的怒氣爆發(fā)到了頂點(diǎn)，令他終于失去了理智。已經(jīng)有許多年沒有人膽敢向他挑戰(zhàn)了，現(xiàn)在其實(shí)他們也不敢，若不是有那個(gè)聲音冷冷的人(他的名字叫巴德)跑前跑后地鼓舞著弓箭手，并且逼迫鎮(zhèn)長下令他們戰(zhàn)到最后一弓一矢。

Fire leaped from thatched roofs and wooden beam-ends as he hurtled down and past and round again, though all had been drenched with water before he came. Once more water was flung by a hundred hands wherever a spark appeared. Back swirled the dragon. A sweep of his tail and the roof of the Great House crumbled and smashed down. Flames unquenchable sprang high into the night. Another swoop and another, and another house and then another sprang afire and fell; and still no arrow hindered Smaug or hurt him more than a fly from the marshes.

烈焰從惡龍口中噴出。他在空中高高地盤旋了一陣子，火焰照亮了整個(gè)湖面，湖邊的樹木都化做金黃色和血紅的火柱，漆黑的陰影則在它們腳下不停舞動。接著，他一氣之下冒著箭雨直直地俯沖下去，根本沒有費(fèi)心將自己的鱗甲朝向敵人，一心一意只想把他們的鎮(zhèn)子變成火海。在惡龍呼嘯著俯沖而下，掠過，又繞回來的過程中，火苗從鋪著茅草的屋頂和梁柱間騰起，不過，在它繞回來再度發(fā)動攻擊之前，這些火焰就都被撲滅了。只要一有火星出現(xiàn)，就有一百雙手潑水灌救。惡龍又轉(zhuǎn)了過來，他尾巴一掃，鎮(zhèn)長的大屋就被化做碎片倒塌了。無法撲滅的火焰直沖天際。他一次又一次地俯沖，屋子一棟接一棟地陷入火海，轟然倒塌。弓箭阻擋不了史矛革，如雨的箭矢不過像是來自沼澤地的蒼蠅一樣，根本奈何他不得。

Already men were jumping into the water on every side. Women and children were being huddled into laden boats in the market-pool. Weapons were flung down. There was mourning and weeping, where but a little time ago the old songs of mirth to come had been sung about the dwarves. Now men cursed their names. The Master himself was turning to his great gilded boat, hoping to row away in the confusion and save himself. Soon all the town would be deserted and burned down to the surface of the lake.

人們開始從城鎮(zhèn)的各處跳入水中，女人和小孩則被集中起來，送到鎮(zhèn)中央市集的水潭中停泊著的小船里。武器被扔了一地，到處是哀嚎與悲泣。不久前，人們還唱著歌頌矮人的古老歌謠，預(yù)言著歡樂即將到來，而現(xiàn)在人們則在咒罵著他們的名字。鎮(zhèn)長已經(jīng)跳上了自己貼著金箔的大船，準(zhǔn)備趁亂劃走，保住自己的性命。用不了多久，整座城鎮(zhèn)就將被眾人舍棄，被火焰焚毀。被湖面吞噬。

That was the dragon’s hope. They could all get into boats for all he cared. There he could have fine sport hunting them, or they could stop till they starved. Let them try to get to land and he would be ready. Soon he would set all the shoreland woods ablaze and wither every field and pasture. Just now he was enjoying the sport of town-baiting more than he had enjoyed anything for years.

那正是惡龍所期望的。他巴不得人們都上船，這樣他就可以好好地來一場狩獵游戲了。如果他們停住不動，那他們也會在船上餓死的。就讓他們試著逃上岸去也行，反正他也已經(jīng)作好了準(zhǔn)備。很快，他就會讓湖岸邊所有的森林變成一片火海，讓所有的田地和牧場變成焦土。此刻，他正饒有興味地玩弄著給鎮(zhèn)上人下圈套的游戲，這份樂趣他已經(jīng)有好多年沒有享受過了。

But there was still a company of archers that held their ground among the burning houses. Their captain was Bard, grim-voiced and grim-faced, whose friends had accused him of prophesying floods and poisoned fish, though they knew his worth and courage. He was a descendant in long line of Girion, Lord of Dale, whose wife and child had escaped down the Running River from the ruin long ago. Now he shot with a great yew bow, till all his arrows but one were spent. The flames were near him. His companions were leaving him. He bent his bow for the last time.

但是，在燃燒著的房屋之間，依舊有一群弓箭手堅(jiān)守著陣地，率領(lǐng)他們的隊(duì)長就是巴德，那位聲音陰沉，臉色也同樣陰沉的人，那個(gè)朋友們經(jīng)常罵他烏鴉嘴，怪他預(yù)言了洪水和有毒的魚，但是，他們都明白他的人品和勇氣。他是河谷邦之王吉瑞安的直系后人，當(dāng)年吉瑞安的妻兒從奔流河逃出了河谷城的廢墟。巴德拿著一柄巨大的紫杉木弓不停地射擊，最后只剩下了一支箭。此時(shí)，火焰已經(jīng)從四面向他逼來，同伴們也開始棄他而去了，可他不管不顧依然最后一次彎弓搭箭。

Suddenly out of the dark something fluttered to his shoulder. He started—but it was only an old thrush. Unafraid it perched by his ear and it brought him news. Marvelling he found he could understand its tongue, for he was of the race of Dale.

突然間，一個(gè)黑影從黑暗中躥出，拍打著翅膀落到了他的肩膀上。他吃了一驚——但那只是一只老畫眉鳥，它毫不畏懼地站在他耳邊，給他帶來了最新的消息。他驚訝地發(fā)現(xiàn)自己竟然可以聽懂畫眉鳥說的話，那是因?yàn)樗呛庸劝钜蛔宓障档木壒省?/p>

“Wait! Wait!” it said to him. “The moon is rising. Look for the hollow of the left breast as he flies and turns above you!” And while Bard paused in wonder it told him of tidings up in the Mountain and of all that it had heard.

“等等!等等!”畫眉鳥對他說，“月亮正在升起，當(dāng)惡龍飛回來經(jīng)過你頭頂?shù)臅r(shí)候，注意他左胸上一塊禿的地方!”在巴德停下來思索的時(shí)候，畫眉鳥又把孤山上最近發(fā)生的事情和自己全部的所見所聞都告訴了他。

Then Bard drew his bow-string to his ear. The dragon was circling back, flying low, and as he came the moon rose above the eastern shore and silvered his great wings.

接著，巴德將弓弦拉滿，直到耳際。惡龍又盤旋而回，低低地飛行著，當(dāng)他靠近的時(shí)候，月亮升起在東邊的湖岸上，將他那巨大的雙翼染成了銀色。

“Arrow!” said the bowman. “Black arrow! I have saved you to the last. You have never failed me and always I have recovered you. I had you from my father and he from of old. If ever you came from the forges of the true king under the Mountain, go now and speed well!”

“箭啊!”射手祝禱道，“黑箭啊!我把你留到最后，你從來沒有讓我失望過，而我每次射出后也總是將你撿回。我從父親手中繼承了你，而他也是從先祖那里得到了你。如果你是從真正的山下之王的熔爐里來的，那么就請你速速飛去，一擊中的吧!”

The dragon swooped once more lower than ever, and as he turned and dived down his belly glittered white with sparkling fires of gems in the moon—but not in one place. The great bow twanged. The black arrow sped straight from the string, straight for the hollow by the left breast where the foreleg was flung wide. In it smote and vanished, barb, shaft and feather, so fierce was its flight. With a shriek that deafened men, felled trees and split stone, Smaug shot spouting into the air, turned over and crashed down from on high in ruin.

惡龍?jiān)俅伍_始俯沖，高度比以前歷次都低。當(dāng)它翻轉(zhuǎn)過來，向下滑行時(shí)，月色中它的腹部因?yàn)閷毷幕鹧娑W耀出白光——但只有一處例外。巨弓嗖的一響，黑色的羽箭從弓弦上激射而出，直朝惡龍左胸那塊光禿禿沒有遮蔽的地方飛去。惡龍前臂展開，因此這里毫無防護(hù)，黑箭來勢迅疾，一下便擊中，從箭尖的倒鉤到箭身再到箭尾的羽毛全都沒人了惡龍的胸口。史矛革發(fā)出了一聲痛苦的嘶叫，震聾了人們的耳朵，震倒了湖邊的樹木，震裂了岸邊的石頭，然后往高空奮力一沖，最后翻轉(zhuǎn)身，從極高的高處向著火焰與灰燼中的長湖鎮(zhèn)廢墟摔落。

Full on the town he fell. His last throes splintered it to sparks and gledes. The lake roared in. A vast steam leaped up, white in the sudden dark under the moon. There was a hiss, a gushing whirl, and then silence. And that was the end of Smaug and Esgaroth, but not of Bard.

他正正地跌落在鎮(zhèn)子上，用他最后的掙扎將鎮(zhèn)子砸成一片飛舞著火星的空地，周圍的湖水怒吼著涌了進(jìn)來，大量的蒸汽騰然而起，月光下突然出現(xiàn)的一片黑暗瞬間便被包裹在了茫茫白煙之中。耳邊先聽到一陣巨大的嘶嘶聲，然后是湖水噴濺旋動，最后一切都?xì)w于了沉寂。這就是史矛革和埃斯加洛斯的末日，但不是巴德的末日。

The waxing moon rose higher and higher and the wind grew loud and cold. It twisted the white fog into bending pillars and hurrying clouds and drove it off to the West to scatter in tattered shreds over the marshes before Mirkwood. Then the many boats could be seen dotted dark on the surface of the lake, and down the wind came the voices of the people of Esgaroth lamenting their lost town and goods and ruined houses. But they had really much to be thankful for, had they thought of it, though it could hardly be expected that they should just then: three quarters of the people of the town had at least escaped alive; their woods and fields and pastures and cattle and most of their boats remained undamaged; and the dragon was dead. What that meant they had not yet realized.

漸盈的月亮越升越高，寒風(fēng)也刮得一陣緊似一陣。它將白色的煙霧扭成彎曲的巨柱和狼奔豕突的流云，然后將其向西方驅(qū)趕，散成支離破碎的—條條，趕進(jìn)黑森林前面的沼澤地里。白霧散去后，可以看到許多小船黑黢黢地分布在湖面上，隨風(fēng)傳來了埃斯加洛斯居民的哀哭聲，他們在悲悼著自己失去的小鎮(zhèn)、財(cái)物和毀壞的房屋。不過，如果他們仔細(xì)想一想的話，他們其實(shí)還有很多值得謝天謝地的地方，雖然當(dāng)時(shí)要他們想到這一點(diǎn)是不太可能的：小鎮(zhèn)居民中的四分之三至少得以逃生，他們的森林、農(nóng)田、牧場、牲畜以及大部分的船只沒有受到破壞，而惡龍也已經(jīng)死了。當(dāng)時(shí)他們并沒有意識到這一點(diǎn)意味著什么。

They gathered in mournful crowds upon the western shores, shivering in the cold wind, and their first complaints and anger were against the Master, who had left the town so soon, while some were still willing to defend it.

哀傷的人們在湖的西岸聚集起來，在寒風(fēng)中瑟瑟發(fā)抖，他們最初的抱怨和怒氣是針對鎮(zhèn)長的，認(rèn)為他在還有人愿意保衛(wèi)城鎮(zhèn)的時(shí)候，竟然早早地就棄鎮(zhèn)逃跑。

“He may have a good head for business—especially his own business,” some murmured, “but he is no good when anything serious happens!” And they praised the courage of Bard and his last mighty shot. “If only he had not been killed,” they all said, “we would make him a king. Bard the Dragon-shooter of the line of Girion! Alas that he is lost!”

“他做生意或許頭腦不錯(cuò)，特別是他自己的生意，”有些人抱怨道，“但有重大事情發(fā)生的時(shí)候，他一點(diǎn)用也沒有!”接著他們就稱贊起巴德的勇氣和他最后那有力的一箭。“如果他沒被殺就好了，”他們異口同聲地說，“我們會把他擁戴為王。吉瑞安的后代，射龍者巴德!真可惜他死了!”

And in the very midst of their talk a tall figure stepped from the shadows. He was drenched with water, his black hair hung wet over his face and shoulders, and a fierce light was in his eyes.

就在他們說到一半的時(shí)候，一個(gè)高大的身影從陰影中走了出來，渾身濕透，黑發(fā)緊貼在他的肩膀和臉上，眼中閃動著銳利的光芒。

“Bard is not lost!” he cried. “He dived from Esgaroth, when the enemy was slain. I am Bard, of the line of Girion; I am the slayer of the dragon!”

“巴德沒有死!”他大喊道，“當(dāng)敵人被殺死的時(shí)候，他從埃斯加洛斯跳進(jìn)了水里——我就是巴德，吉瑞安的后代，我就是屠龍勇士!”

“King Bard! King Bard!” they shouted; but the Master ground his chattering teeth.

“巴德王!巴德王!”他們大喊著，鎮(zhèn)長卻磨著顫抖的牙齒表示了異議。

“Girion was lord of Dale, not king of Esgaroth,” he said. “In the Lake-town we have always elected masters from among the old and wise, and have not endured the rule of mere fighting men. Let ‘King Bard’ go back to his own kingdom—Dale is now freed by his valour, and nothing hinders his return. And any that wish can go with him, if they prefer the cold stones under the shadow of the Mountain to the green shores of the lake. The wise will stay here and hope to rebuild our town, and enjoy again in time its peace and riches.”

“吉瑞安是河谷邦之王，不是埃斯加洛斯之王。在長湖鎮(zhèn)，我們一向從年長和睿智的人中選出鎮(zhèn)長，從來也沒有忍受過武夫的統(tǒng)治。讓‘巴德王’回到他自己的國度去吧，河谷城已經(jīng)被他的英勇給解放了，再也沒有任何東西可以阻擋他的回歸。任何愿意待在被孤山陰影所籠罩的冰冷石頭間，而不愿留在湖畔綠地的人盡可以跟他去。聰明的人會留在這里，希望能夠重建我們的家園，在不久以后重享它的祥和與富庶。”

“We will have King Bard!” the people near at hand shouted in reply. “We have had enough of the old men and the money-counters!” And people further off took up the cry: “Up the Bowman, and down with Moneybags,” till the clamour echoed along the shore.

“我們要巴德王留在這里!”附近的人們大喊著回答，“我們已經(jīng)受夠了老頭子和守財(cái)奴了!”離得稍遠(yuǎn)的人也應(yīng)和道：“神箭手上臺，錢袋子下臺!”不久湖邊的喊聲就連成了一片。

“I am the last man to undervalue Bard the Bowman,” said the Master warily (for Bard now stood close beside him). “He has tonight earned an eminent place in the roll of the benefactors of our town; and he is worthy of many imperishable songs. But, why O People?”—and here the Master rose to his feet and spoke very loud and clear—“Why do I get all your blame? For what fault am I to be deposed? Who aroused the dragon from his slumber, I might ask? Who obtained of us rich gifts and ample help, and led us to believe that old songs could come true? Who played on our soft hearts and our pleasant fancies? What sort of gold have they sent down the river to reward us? Dragon-fire and ruin! From whom should we claim the recompense of our damage, and aid for our widows and orphans?”

“我絕不是小看神箭手巴德，”鎮(zhèn)長小心翼翼地說道(因?yàn)榘偷卢F(xiàn)在就站在他背后)，“他今晚的所作所為為他在我們鎮(zhèn)的恩人冊中贏得了顯赫的地位，他值得人們?yōu)樗麑懴略S多永不衰朽的頌歌。但是，鎮(zhèn)民們，為什么?”——講到這里，鎮(zhèn)長突然站了起來，用響亮而又清晰的聲音說，“為什么你們要把所有的不滿都對著我呢?我犯了什么錯(cuò)該當(dāng)被罷免呢?可否容我問一句，究竟是誰把惡龍從睡眠中喚醒?是誰從我們這里獲得了豐厚的禮物和充足的幫助，讓我們相信古代的歌謠將會成真?是誰利用了我們的善心和對未來的美好期盼?他們有沒有順著河流送來黃金作為對我們的報(bào)答?沒有!他們送來了惡龍的火焰和毀滅!我們應(yīng)該向誰要求對我們的損失作出賠償，來安置我們的孤兒和寡母?向誰?”

As you see, the Master had not got his position for nothing. The result of his words was that for the moment the people quite forgot their idea of a new king, and turned their angry thoughts towards Thorin and his company. Wild and bitter words were shouted from many sides; and some of those who had before sung the old songs loudest, were now heard as loudly crying that the dwarves had stirred the dragon up against them deliberately!

大家看到了吧，鎮(zhèn)長能得到這個(gè)位置并不是毫無理由的。他的這番話讓人們暫時(shí)忘記了推舉新王的主張，而是將怒氣轉(zhuǎn)到了索林和他的伙伴們身上。人群中有許多地方開始冒出狂熱狠毒的咒罵來，有些之前把古老的頌歌唱得最大聲的人，現(xiàn)在又同樣大聲地指責(zé)他們故意吵醒了惡龍來禍害長湖鎮(zhèn)!

“Fools!” said Bard. “Why waste words and wrath on those unhappy creatures? Doubtless they perished first in fire, before Smaug came to us.” Then even as he was speaking, the thought came into his heart of the fabled treasure of the Mountain lying without guard or owner, and he fell suddenly silent. He thought of the Master’s words, and of Dale rebuilt, and filled with golden bells, if he could but find the men.

“傻瓜!”巴德說，“為什么要把你們的言語和憤怒浪費(fèi)在那些可憐家伙的身上?毫無疑問，在史矛革飛來我們這里之前，他們肯定先就葬身火海了!”話還沒說完，他就想到，大山里傳說中的寶藏現(xiàn)正處于無人看守或是無主的狀態(tài)中，于是他突然打住了話頭。他想到了鎮(zhèn)長說的話，想到要重建河谷城，鑄造無數(shù)的金鐘，而這一切只要他能找到人手就可以辦到。

At length he spoke again: “This is no time for angry words, Master, or for considering weighty plans of change. There is work to do. I serve you still—though after a while I may think again of your words and go North with any that will follow me.”

最后，他又開口說話了：“現(xiàn)在不是發(fā)牢騷的時(shí)候，鎮(zhèn)長先生，也不是醞釀驚天動地的變化的時(shí)候。我們有工作要做。我依然服從您的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)，不過，或許過一陣子，我會考慮您的建議，帶著愿意跟隨我的人一起北上。”

Then he strode off to help in the ordering of the camps and in the care of the sick and the wounded. But the Master scowled at his back as he went, and remained sitting on the ground. He thought much but said little, unless it was to call loudly for men to bring him fire and food.

然后，他就走開去，忙著安排搭建帳篷和照顧傷病的工作。但鎮(zhèn)長卻在他遠(yuǎn)去時(shí)對他的背影怒目而視，依然坐在地上一動不動。他腦子里想了很多，話卻沒說幾句，除了叫人給他帶來柴火和食物。

Now everywhere Bard went he found talk running like fire among the people concerning the vast treasure that was now unguarded. Men spoke of the recompense for all their harm that they would soon get from it, and wealth over and to spare with which to buy rich things from the South; and it cheered them greatly in their plight. That was as well, for the night was bitter and miserable. Shelters could be contrived for few (the Master had one) and there was little food (even the Master went short). Many took ill of wet and cold and sorrow that night, and afterwards died, who had escaped uninjured from the ruin of the town; and in the days that followed there was much sickness and great hunger.

現(xiàn)在，巴德不管走到哪里，都發(fā)現(xiàn)關(guān)于那些無人看守的寶藏的話題在人們之中如星星之火般蔓延著。人們談?wù)撜f，得到財(cái)寶以后，就可以很快補(bǔ)償他們所受到的損失，可以讓他們擁有足夠的錢從南方購買商品，這讓他們在困境中大受鼓舞。這一點(diǎn)是很有好處的，因?yàn)橐雇韺λ麄儊碚f還是艱苦而又凄慘的。遮風(fēng)避雨的地方很少(鎮(zhèn)長有一個(gè))，食物也很少(連鉞長也吃不飽)。許多在鎮(zhèn)子的毀滅中毫發(fā)無傷地逃出來的人，卻在那天晚上因?yàn)槌睗?、寒冷和傷悲而染了病，后來竟死去了。在后來的日子里，人們?jīng)歷了相當(dāng)嚴(yán)重的疫病和一場大饑荒。

Meanwhile Bard took the lead, and ordered things as he wished, though always in the Master’s name, and he had a hard task to govern the people and direct the preparations for their protection and housing. Probably most of them would have perished in the winter that now hurried after autumn, if help had not been to hand. But help came swiftly; for Bard at once had speedy messengers sent up the river to the Forest to ask the aid of the King of the Elves of the Wood, and these messengers had found a host already on the move, although it was then only the third day after the fall of Smaug.

在此同時(shí)，巴德扛起了領(lǐng)導(dǎo)眾人的責(zé)任，他按自己的想法對事情作出安排，盡管總是以鎮(zhèn)長的名義，而他在管理鎮(zhèn)民，指揮他們?yōu)榉烙鳒?zhǔn)備和解決住宿等方面真可謂是嘔心瀝血。秋天一過眼看著冬天就要來了，如果援助不能到手的話，他們之中的大部分人肯定熬不過這個(gè)冬天。但幸運(yùn)的是，援助很快就來到了，因?yàn)榘偷庐?dāng)機(jī)立斷派出信使沿河進(jìn)入森林，請求森林中的精靈國王給予援助。這些信使發(fā)現(xiàn)精靈國王率領(lǐng)著一支部隊(duì)已經(jīng)在行動了，而此時(shí)還只是史矛革死后的第三天。

The Elvenking had received news from his own messengers and from the birds that loved his folk, and already knew much of what had happened. Very great indeed was the commotion among all things with wings that dwelt on the borders of the Desolation of the Dragon. The air was filled with circling flocks, and their swift-flying messengers flew here and there across the sky. Above the borders of the Forest there was whistling, crying and piping. Far over Mirkwood tidings spread: “Smaug is dead!” Leaves rustled and startled ears were lifted. Even before the Elvenking rode forth the news had passed west right to the pinewoods of the Misty Mountains; Beorn had heard it in his wooden house, and the goblins were at council in their caves.

精靈國王是從他自己的信使和與他子民友好的鳥類口中得到消息的，這些鳥兒早已經(jīng)知道了大部分所發(fā)生的事情。在惡龍所造成的蠻荒帶周圍，惡龍之死在所有長翅膀的生物中都引起了很大的騷動?？罩袧M是各種盤旋的鳥類，它們之中那些飛行迅捷的信使在空中飛來飛去傳遞著消息，森林邊緣的上空一時(shí)間充斥著鳥兒興奮的啁啾。“史矛革死了!”消息很快就傳遍了黑森林。樹葉簌簌地響著，一雙雙受驚的耳朵全都豎了起來。還不等精靈國王騎馬出發(fā)，這些消息就已經(jīng)一路向西，來到了迷霧山脈的松林之中。貝奧恩在自己的木屋中聽到了這個(gè)消息，半獸人們則在洞穴中商討起了對策。

“That will be the last we shall hear of Thorin Oakenshield, I fear,” said the king. “He would have done better to have remained my guest. It is an ill wind, all the same,” he added, “that blows no one any good.” For he too had not forgotten the legend of the wealth of Thror. So it was that Bard’s messengers found him now marching with many spearmen and bowmen; and crows were gathered thick above him, for they thought that war was awakening again, such as had not been in those parts for a long age.

“我想，這只怕是我們最后一次聽到索林·橡木盾的消息了。”國王說，“如果他留在這邊繼續(xù)當(dāng)我的客人，或許下場還好些。不過，沒有什么風(fēng)會給誰都不帶來好處。”他說這話是因?yàn)樗矝]有忘記傳說中瑟羅爾王的財(cái)富。正因?yàn)槿绱?，巴德的信差才會遇到他率領(lǐng)著弓箭手和長矛兵浩浩蕩蕩地行進(jìn)著。烏鴉們密集地聚集在他的頭上，因?yàn)樗鼈冋J(rèn)為戰(zhàn)火又將重新燃起，而這一帶已經(jīng)很久沒有打過仗了。

But the king, when he received the prayers of Bard, had pity, for he was the lord of a good and kindly people; so turning his march, which had at first been direct towards the Mountain, he hastened now down the river to the Long Lake. He had not boats or rafts enough for his host, and they were forced to go the slower way by foot; but great store of goods he sent ahead by water. Still elves are light-footed, and though they were not in these days much used to the marches and the treacherous lands between the Forest and the Lake, their going was swift. Only five days after the death of the dragon they came upon the shores and looked on the ruins of the town. Their welcome was good, as may be expected, and the men and their Master were ready to make any bargain for the future in return for the Elvenking’s aid.

不過，當(dāng)精靈國王收到巴德的求援信時(shí)，起了同情之心，他畢竟還是善良種族的國王。于是，他將原先直指孤山的大軍調(diào)轉(zhuǎn)方向，沿河而下，往長湖進(jìn)發(fā)。他沒有足夠的船只或木筏來裝載所有的部隊(duì)，許多士兵被迫以較慢的方式沿陸路步行前進(jìn)，不過，他預(yù)先將許多物資通過水路運(yùn)了過去。精靈們的腳程再怎么說也是很快的，雖然這些年來，他們已經(jīng)不像過去一樣熟悉長湖和森林之間的沼澤和險(xiǎn)惡平原了，但他們的行軍速度依然很快。在惡龍死后剛剛五天，他們就來到了湖邊，眺望著長湖鎮(zhèn)的廢墟。正如預(yù)期的一樣，人們十分歡迎他們的到來，鎮(zhèn)長和人們已經(jīng)準(zhǔn)備在將來付出任何代價(jià)，以換取精靈國王現(xiàn)在對他們的援助。

Their plans were soon made. With the women and the children, the old and the unfit, the Master remained behind; and with him were some men of crafts and many skilled elves; and they busied themselves felling trees, and collecting the timber sent down from the Forest. Then they set about raising many huts by the shore against the oncoming winter; and also under the Master’s direction they began the planning of a new town, designed more fair and large even than before, but not in the same place. They removed northward higher up the shore; for ever after they had a dread of the water where the dragon lay. He would never again return to his golden bed, but was stretched cold as stone, twisted upon the floor of the shallows. There for ages his huge bones could be seen in calm weather amid the ruined piles of the old town. But few dared to cross the cursed spot, and none dared to dive into the shivering water or recover the precious stones that fell from his rotting carcase.

他們很快就制訂好了重建的計(jì)劃。鎮(zhèn)長和老弱婦孺都留在了后方，工匠和許多有手藝的精靈也跟他一起留下。他們忙碌著砍伐樹木，收集從森林里順流漂下的木材，然后動手在湖邊搭建許多小屋，抵御即將到來的寒冬。在鎮(zhèn)長的指揮下，他們開始興建一座比以前更大、更好的新鎮(zhèn)子，只是位置不在原先的地方了。他們將城鎮(zhèn)沿著湖岸又往北挪上去了一點(diǎn)，因?yàn)樗麄儗糊堅(jiān)嵘淼乃驈拇诵纳窇?。他再也回不到他那黃金睡榻上去了，只能如巖石般僵臥在冰冷的淺灘水底。此后的許多年里，每當(dāng)天氣晴朗，人們便能在舊鎮(zhèn)的廢墟間看見它那巨大的尸骨。很少有人膽敢越過這受詛咒的地方，更沒有哪一個(gè)敢冒險(xiǎn)潛入這令人渾身打戰(zhàn)的水中，打撈從他那腐爛尸身上掉落下來的寶石。

But all the men of arms who were still able, and the most of the Elvenking’s array, got ready to march north to the Mountain. It was thus that in eleven days from the ruin of the town the head of their host passed the rock-gates at the end of the lake and came into the desolate lands.

其余所有還能拿起武器的成年男子，和精靈國王的大部分兵力，全都準(zhǔn)備向北進(jìn)入孤山。就這樣，在長湖鎮(zhèn)被毀之后的第十一天，其先頭部隊(duì)就已經(jīng)越過了長湖另一端的石門，進(jìn)入了惡龍盤踞多年的荒涼之地。