第四章: 树胡 |《（指环王）魔戒2: 双塔奇兵》

第四章: 树胡 Treebeard

“Let’s have a drink at any rate,” said Pippin. “I’m parched.” He clambered on to a great tree-root that wound down into the stream, and stooping drew up some water in his cupped hands. It was clear and cold, and he took many draughts. Merry followed him. The water refreshed them and seemed to cheer their hearts; for a while they sat together on the brink of the stream, dabbling their sore feet and legs, and peering round at the trees that stood silently about them, rank upon rank, until they faded away into grey twilight in every direction.

“至少先喝点水吧，”皮聘说：“我快渴死了！”他沿著一条延伸进小溪中的树根爬到河岸边，用手捧起溪水来啜饮。溪水十分清澈冰凉，他一连喝了好几口，梅里也跟著有样学样的大喝特喝。溪水不只让他们不再乾渴，似乎也给他们带来了新的力量。两人坐在河边轻松地泡脚，让河水释放肌肉中的酸痛，一边打量著四边沉默无声，一排接一排罗列的树木，似乎每一边都这么无边无际地延伸下去。

Meanwhile the hobbits went with as much speed as the dark and tangled forest allowed, following the line of the running stream, westward and up towards the slopes of the mountains, deeper and deeper into Fangorn. Slowly their fear of the Orcs died away, and their pace slackened. A queer stifling feeling came over them, as if the air were too thin or too scanty for breathing.

在此同时，哈比人在盘根错节的老树脚下尽可能的赶路，沿著小溪的水流向西方山脉的方向前进，同时却也越来越深入法贡森林。慢慢的，他们对于半兽人的恐惧消退了，脚步也跟著减缓，他们觉得有种异样的感觉，彷佛这里的空气稀薄到不太适合呼吸。

At last Merry halted. “We can’t go on like this,” he panted. “I want some air.”

最后梅里停了下来，气喘吁吁地说：“我们不能这样继续赶路了，我需要新鲜空气！”

“I suppose you haven’t lost us already?” said Pippin, leaning back against a great tree-trunk. “We can at least follow the course of this stream, the Entwash or whatever you call it, and get out again the way we came.”

“我猜你应该还没迷路吧？”皮聘靠著须要好几个人才能合抱的老树干躺了下来：“至少我们可以跟著这条河走，管它叫作树沐河还是什么的，一路走回原来进入森林的地方。”

“We could, if our legs would do it,” said Merry; “and if we could breathe properly.”

“只要我们还走得动就没问题，”梅里说：“还有这里的空气也让人很不舒服。”

“But the Sun at any rate must peep in sometimes,” said Merry. “It does not look or feel at all like Bilbo’s description of Mirkwood. That was all dark and black, and the home of dark black things. This is just dim, and frightfully tree-ish. You can’t imagine animals living here at all, or staying for long.”

“不过，至少太阳偶尔会照进这里来，”梅里说：“这里看起来，和比尔博对幽暗密林的描述完全不同，那里又黑又暗，是暗黑生物的大本营；这里只是光线微弱，树多得吓人而已。你根本没办法想像有动物居住在这里，甚至在这里待上一段时间也不可能。”

“Yes, it is all very dim, and stuffy, in here,” said Pippin. “It reminds me, somehow, of the old room in the Great Place of the Tooks away back in the Smials at Tuckborough: a huge place, where the furniture has never been moved or changed for generations. They say the Old Took lived in it year after year, while he and the room got older and shabbier together — and it has never been changed since he died, a century ago. And Old Gerontius was my great-great-grandfather: that puts it back a bit. But that is nothing to the old feeling of this wood. Look at all those weeping, trailing, beards and whiskers of lichen! And most of the trees seem to be half covered with ragged dry leaves that have never fallen. Untidy. I can’t imagine what spring would look like here, if it ever comes; still less a spring-cleaning.”

“没错，这里的空气似乎很稀薄，好像停滞住了一般，”皮聘说：“不知道怎么搞的，这里让我想起了在大地道那边建的图克大厅。那是个很大的地洞，那边的家具大概有好几十年都没有移动过。他们说老图克就这样年复一年的居住在那里，看著家具和自己逐渐被岁月所侵蚀。自从他一百年前去世之后，那个房间就再也没人动过了。杰龙提斯是我的曾曾祖父，这就是他告诉我的，可是，那里的古旧感觉和这边根本不能比。你看看这些四处飘汤、恣意生长、横行霸道的苔藓！几乎每棵树都挂著一大堆已经枯死的树叶，看起来真不乾净。很难想像这里的春天看起来会是什么样子，甚至我都无法想像春天会不会来呢，更别提要在这边大扫除会是什么样子了。”

Just then they became aware of a yellow light that had appeared, some way further on into the wood: shafts of sunlight seemed suddenly to have pierced the forest-roof.

就在这个时刻，他们突然发现不远的森林深处出现了一道金光，那是穿透了森林浓密顶盖的温暖阳光。

“No, nor hobbits,” said Pippin. “And I don’t like the thought of trying to get through it either. Nothing to eat for a hundred miles, I should guess. How are our supplies?”

“没错，哈比人也不例外，”皮聘回答：“我也不敢想像要穿越这座森林是什么样子，我猜大概一两百哩都不会有东西吃。我们的乾粮还够吗？”

“Hullo!” said Merry. “The Sun must have run into a cloud while we’ve been under these trees, and now she has run out again; or else she has climbed high enough to look down through some opening. It isn’t far — let’s go and investigate!”

“哇！”梅里说：“刚刚我们走进森林的时候太阳一定被云遮住了，现在它又跑了出来，或者也可能是它已经爬到半空，可以照进森林中的空隙了。这距离并不远，让我们去看看吧！”

“Low,” said Merry. “We ran off with nothing but a couple of spare packets of lembas, and left everything else behind.” They looked at what remained of the elven-cakes: broken fragments for about five meagre days, that was all. “And not a wrap or a blanket,” said Merry. “We shall be cold tonight, whichever way we go.”

“不太够了，”梅里说：“我们脱逃的时候身上只有几块！兰巴斯！，其他的都留下来了。”两人万分惋惜地看著剩下来的几块精灵乾粮，这些碎片大概只够支撑五天，然后就什么都没有了。“而且我们也没有毯子，”梅里说：“不管往那个方向走，今天晚上都要忍受风寒了。”

They found it was further than they thought. The ground was rising steeply still, and it was becoming increasingly stony. The light grew broader as they went on, and soon they saw that there was a rock-wall before them: the side of a hill, or the abrupt end of some long root thrust out by the distant mountains. No trees grew on it, and the sun was falling full on its stony face.

他们发现，那里其实比他们想像的远多了，地形依旧持续的上升，地表的岩石也越来越多。随著他们的前进，四周越来越亮，很快的他们就发现眼前出现了一堵石壁，那应该是某座山丘的一部分，或是远方山脉的延伸，石壁上没有任何的树木，太阳正照在这堵岩壁上。

“Well, we’d better decide on the way now,” said Pippin. “The morning must be getting on.”

“好吧，我们最好先决定一下该往哪里走，”皮聘说：“天色已经很亮了。”

They climbed and scrambled up the rock. If the stair had been made it was for bigger feet and longer legs than theirs. They were too eager to be surprised at the remarkable way in which the cuts and sores of their captivity had healed and their vigour had returned. They came at length to the edge of the shelf almost at the feet of the old stump; then they sprang up and turned round with their backs to the hill, breathing deep, and looking out eastward. They saw that they had only come some three or four miles into the forest: the heads of the trees marched down the slopes towards the plain. There, near the fringe of the forest, tall spires of curling black smoke went up, wavering and floating towards them.

两人高高兴兴地爬上这一连串的阶梯。如果这些阶梯真的是人工打造的，那么原先准备使用它的人一定脚大腿长。不过，由于他们太兴奋了，让两人忽略了自己身上的累累伤痕，为什么这么快就已经完全痊愈，而只顾著闷著头往上爬。最后，两人终于爬到了岩壁的顶端，正好位在那老树桩的底下。然后他们一跃而上，背对著山丘，深吸一口气，看向东方。他们这才发现自己原来只走进了森林大约三到四哩左右的距离，因为树木在斜坡上延伸很长的距离，让他们有已经走了很远的错觉。就在森林的边缘处，有著浓密的黑烟窜起，向著他们飘过来。

“Up we go!” said Merry joyfully. “Now for a breath of air, and a sight of the land!”

“我们上去吧！”梅里欢欣鼓舞地说：“终于可以呼吸新鲜空气，看看这里的样子了！”

The twigs of the trees at its foot were stretched out stiff and still, as if reaching out to the warmth. Where all had looked so shabby and grey before, the wood now gleamed with rich browns, and with the smooth black-greys of bark like polished leather. The boles of the trees glowed with a soft green like young grass: early spring or a fleeting vision of it was about them.

树木的枝枒和根茎好像都伸了出来，渴求太阳的温暖。原先看起来死气沈沈的森林，现在成了阳光下红褐饱满的美景，灰黑色的树皮也如同打磨光滑的皮革一样细致，树干也反射著如同鲜嫩青草一样的柔和绿光，这可能是早春的迹象或是它们久远活力的残迹。

In the face of the stony wall there was something like a stair: natural perhaps, and made by the weathering and splitting of the rock, for it was rough and uneven. High up, almost level with the tops of forest-trees, there was a shelf under a cliff. Nothing grew there but a few grasses and weeds at its edge, and one old stump of a tree with only two bent branches left: it looked almost like the figure of some gnarled old man, standing there, blinking in the morning-light.

在岩壁上有一系列近似阶梯的地形，从它崎岖不平的形状看来，或许这是岩石破裂和雨水冲刷所自然构成的奇观。在石壁之上，几乎与树顶平行的地方有一块空地，上面什么都没有，只有几株杂草生长在其上。还有一株老树的残干留在该处，只剩下两根弯曲的树枝，看起来像极了一位在晨光中伸懒腰的老人。

“The wind’s changing,” said Merry. “It’s turned east again. It feels cool up here.”

“风向改变了，”梅里说：“又转向东方了，这里好凉快喔。”

“Yes,” said Pippin; “I’m afraid this is only a passing gleam, and it will all go grey again. What a pity! This shaggy old forest looked so different in the sunlight. I almost felt I liked the place.”

“没错，”皮聘说：“可惜这只是昙花一现，恐怕一切又都会恢复原状。真可惜！这座老森林在阳光之下看起来好漂亮，我几乎觉得自己要喜欢上这个地方了。”

“Almost felt you liked the Forest! That’s good! That’s uncommonly kind of you,” said a strange voice. “Turn round and let me have a look at your faces. I almost feel that I dislike you both, but do not let us be hasty. Turn around!” A large knob-knuckled hand was laid on each of their shoulders, and they were twisted round, gently but irresistibly; then two great arms lifted them up.

“几乎觉得你喜欢这座森林？很好！你们真是太客气了！”一个奇异的声音说：“转过身来，让我看看你们的脸。我几乎觉得我要讨厌你们两个人了，不过，最好还是不要仓促下决定。快转过身！”一双长满了树瘤的手放在两人的肩膀上，将他们轻柔，但不可抗拒地转了过来；然后，一双大手将他们举了起来。

They found that they were looking at a most extraordinary face. It belonged to a large Man-like, almost Troll-like, figure, at least fourteen foot high, very sturdy, with a tall head, and hardly any neck. Whether it was clad in stuff like green and grey bark, or whether that was its hide, was difficult to say. At any rate the arms, at a short distance from the trunk, were not wrinkled, but covered with a brown smooth skin. The large feet had seven toes each. The lower part of the long face was covered with a sweeping grey beard, bushy, almost twiggy at the roots, thin and mossy at the ends. But at the moment the hobbits noted little but the eyes. These deep eyes were now surveying them, slow and solemn, but very penetrating. They were brown, shot with a green light. Often afterwards Pippin tried to describe his first impression of them.

梅里和皮聘发现自己面对的是一张极端不寻常的面孔，那张脸孔属于一个类似人类，几乎有着食人妖轮廓的高大身形。他至少有十四尺高，看起来非常强韧，头长得很高，好像没有脖子，两人很难推断他到底是穿著绿灰色的树皮，还是这就是他的皮肤。不过，他们至少可以确定的是，距离躯干有一段距离的双手没有任何绉折，是褐色的光滑肌肤。他的每只大脚有七根指头，那张长脸的尾端则是被掩盖在茂密的苔藓下，迎风飘扬的灰色苔藓，看起来有点像老人的灰色胡须一般丰美。不过，此时此刻，哈比人们唯一注意到的就是那双眼睛；那双深邃的眼睛正缓慢、严肃地打量著他们。他的眼睛是褐色的，中间有著绿色的光芒。事后，皮聘试著要描述对那双眼睛，就是这样的印象。

“One felt as if there was an enormous well behind them, filled up with ages of memory and long, slow, steady thinking; but their surface was sparkling with the present; like sun shimmering on the outer leaves of a vast tree, or on the ripples of a very deep lake. I don’t know, but it felt as if something that grew in the ground — asleep, you might say, or just feeling itself as something between root-tip and leaf-tip, between deep earth and sky had suddenly waked up, and was considering you with the same slow care that it had given to its own inside affairs for endless years.”

“初看到那双眼的人，会觉得那背后似乎有著十分深邃的古井，装满了远古以来的记忆和缓慢、坚定的思绪；但是水井的表面却是反射著现世的波澜，就像阳光映射在大树的枝叶上，或是阳光照射在幽深湖水中一样的感觉。我不确定，但这种感觉好像是在树顶和树根之间、大地和天空之间的什么力量突然间醒了过来，正用著亿万年以来同样的缓慢动作打量著眼前的景象。”

“Hrum, Hoom,” murmured the voice, a deep voice like a very deep woodwind instrument. “Very odd indeed! Do not be hasty, that is my motto. But if I had seen you, before I heard your voices — I liked them: nice little voices; they reminded me of something I cannot remember — if I had seen you before I heard you, I should have just trodden on you, taking you for little Orcs, and found out my mistake afterwards. Very odd you are, indeed. Root and twig, very odd!”

“哼姆，呼姆，”那低沈如同大地鸣响一般的声音呢喃道：“真是奇怪！我的座右铭是不要仓促行事。可是，如果我在听见你们的声音之前看见你们──顺道一提，我很喜欢你们小小的声音，让我想起了一些不复记忆的事物…如果我在听见你们的声音之前看见你们，我会就这样从你们身上踩过去，把你们当做矮小的半兽人，事后才会发现我犯了错。你们真的很奇怪，我的老根啊，真的很奇怪！”

“Hoo now!” replied Treebeard. “Hoo! Now that would be telling! Not so hasty. And I am doing the asking. You are in my country. What are you, I wonder? I cannot place you. You do not seem to come in the old lists that I learned when I was young. But that was a long, long time ago, and they may have made new lists. Let me see! Let me see! How did it go?

“呵，等等！”树胡回答道：“呼！这可会说上好长一阵子呢！别这么著急。问话的是我呢，你们是在我的势力范围内，我才想要问你们到底是什么？我无法将你们分类，你们似乎不属于我在年轻时候所学到列表中的种族，不过这也难怪，那已经是很久很久以前的事情了，或许有人编出了新列表也说不定。让我想想！让我想想！列表是怎么说的？

A queer look came into the old eyes, a kind of wariness; the deep wells were covered over. “Hrum, now,” answered the voice; “well, I am an Ent, or that’s what they call me. Yes, Ent is the word. The Ent, I am, you might say, in your manner of speaking. Fangorn is my name according to some, Treebeard others make it. Treebeard will do.”

那双苍老的眼中出现了诡异的光芒，似乎是某种提防的感觉──那座古井被盖了起来。“哼姆，”那声音回答道：“我是树人，其他人是这样称呼我的；没错，就是树人这两个字。你们可以用你们的语言称呼我树人，也有某些语言称呼我为！法贡！，还有人叫我树胡…叫我树胡应该就可以了。”

“An Ent?” said Merry. “What’s that? But what do you call yourself? What’s your real name?”

“树人？”梅里惊讶地问道：“这是什么？你怎么称呼你自己呢？你真正的名字是什么呢？”

Pippin, though still amazed, no longer felt afraid. Under those eyes he felt a curious suspense, but not fear. “Please,” he said, “who are you? And what are you?”

皮聘虽然依旧很吃惊，但已经不再害怕。他在那双眼睛的打量下只有感觉到好奇，但没有恐惧。“打搅您了，”他说：“但阁下是什么来头？又是什么种族？”

Learn now the lore of Living Creatures!

快学习各种生灵的知识吧！

First name the four, the free peoples:

先是四种自由民：

“Half-grown hobbits, the hole-dwellers. Put us in amongst the four, next to Man (the Big People) and you’ve got it.”

一半高的哈比人，喜欢住在洞穴中。你可以把我们放在第四行，就在人类（大家伙）的旁边，这样你就不会搞错了。

Ent the earthborn, old as mountains;

大地所生的树人和山脉一样年长；

Man the mortal, master of horses:

寿命有限的人类是马儿的主人。

hm, hm.

嗯，哼。

“Why not make a new line?” said Pippin.

皮聘说：“为什么不编一条新的句子进去？”

Bear bee-hunter, boar the fighter;

大熊爱吃蜜，野猪最好斗；

Swan the whitest, serpent coldest…

天鹅最洁白，大蛇最冰冷…

Hart horn-crownéd; hawk is swiftest,

雄鹿有美角，猛隼飞最快，

Hound is hungry, hare is fearful…

野狗吃不饱，小兔胆子小…

Dwarf the delver, dark are his houses;

矮人在黑暗的地底挖洞居住；

“Hm! Not bad, not bad,” said Treebeard. “That would do. So you live in holes, eh? It sounds very right and proper. Who calls you hobbits, though? That does not sound Elvish to me. Elves made all the old words: they began it.”

“嗯！不错，不错，”树胡说：“这样就可以了。原来你们住在洞穴中啊？听起来很恰当、很舒服呢！不过，到底是谁叫你们哈比人呢？这听起来不像是精灵的杰作，精灵是古语的创造者，一切都是由他们开始的。”

Hoom, hm; hoom, hm, how did it go? Room tum, room tum, roomty toom tum. It was a long list. But anyway you do not seem to fit in anywhere!”

呼姆，嗯，呼姆，嗯。接下来是什么？嘟姆，咚，嘟姆，东，噜滴嘟咚，这列表很长哪！反正，你们就不在列表上就对了！”

Eagle in eyrie, ox in pasture,

猎鹰在天际，水牛在草地，

Beaver the builder, buck the leaper,

水獭是工人，山羊爱跳跃，

Eldest of all, the elf-children;

最古老的是精灵们，

“We always seem to have got left out of the old lists, and the old stories,” said Merry. “Yet we’ve been about for quite a long time. We’re hobbits.”

“古老的故事和列表里面，似乎永远都不会记得我们，”梅里说：“但是我们已经在世界上活了很久了，我们是哈比人。”

Hm, hm, hm.

嗯，哼，嗯。

“Hoom, hmm! Come now! Not so hasty! You call yourselves hobbits? But you should not go telling just anybody. You’ll be letting out your own right names if you’re not careful.”

“呼姆，嗯嗯！等等！别这么急！你叫你们自己哈比人？但你们不应该这样到处跟人家说。如果不小心的话，可能会不小心把自己的真名告诉别人。”

“Nobody else calls us hobbits; we call ourselves that,” said Pippin.

“哈比不是别人叫的，是我们自己用的名字。”皮聘回答。

“We aren’t careful about that,” said Merry. “As a matter of fact I’m a Brandybuck, Meriadoc Brandybuck, though most people call me just Merry.”

“我们在这方面才不会那么小心翼翼呢，”梅里说：“事实上，我是烈酒鹿家的人，梅里雅达克·烈酒鹿，不过，大部分的人只叫我梅里。”

“And I’m a Took, Peregrin Took, but I’m generally called Pippin, or even Pip.”

“我是图克家的人，皮瑞格林·图克，不过，一般人都叫我皮聘，甚至是小皮。”

“Hm, but you are hasty folk, I see,” said Treebeard. “I am honoured by your confidence; but you should not be too free all at once. There are Ents and Ents, you know; or there are Ents and things that look like Ents but ain’t, as you might say. I’ll call you Merry and Pippin, if you please — nice names. For I am not going to tell you my name, not yet at any rate.”

“嗯，你们果然是个急急忙忙的种族，我明白了，”树胡说：“我很高兴你们这么信任我，但你们也不应该一下子就这么放心。这世界上有一些树人，你们应该知道；还有看起来像树人，但不是树人的生物。这样吧，我就叫你们梅里和皮聘好了，真是不错的名字。因为，我还不准备告诉你们我的名字，时候还没到。”

A queer half-knowing, half-humorous look came with a green flicker into his eyes. For one thing it would take a long while: my name is growing all the time, and I’ve lived a very long, long time; so my name is like a story. Real names tell you the story of the things they belong to in my language, in the Old Entish as you might say. It is a lovely language, but it takes a very long time to say anything in it, because we do not say anything in it, unless it is worth taking a long time to say, and to listen to.

他的眼中闪起了半是了解，半是幽默的绿光。一部分是因为这会花上很长的时间，我的名字会随著时光的流逝而增加，而且我活了很长很长的时间，我的名字就像是一个故事一样。我的真名会以我的语言告诉你我这一生的故事，那应该叫作树人语吧。那是种很美的语言，但是每说一次都必须花上很长的时间；因为，除非一件事值得花上很长的时间去说，也值得花上很长的时间去听，否则我们是不会使用树人语的。

“There is quite a lot going on,” said Merry; “and even if we tried to be quick, it would take a long time to tell. But you told us not to be hasty. Ought we to tell you anything so soon? Would you think it rude, if we asked what you are going to do with us, and which side you are on? And did you know Gandalf?”

“最近发生了很多事情哪！”梅里说：“即使我们说得很快，恐怕都要花上很长的时间，但你又告诉我们不要说太快，我们应该这么快告诉你这些事情吗？如果我们先问你到底要拿我们怎么办，以及你是站在哪一边的，这会不会太没礼貌了？还有，你认识甘道夫吗？”

“But now,” and the eyes became very bright and “present”, seeming to grow smaller and almost sharp, “what is going on? What are you doing in it all? I can see and hear (and smell and feel) a great deal from this, from this, from this a-lalla-lalla-rumba-kamanda-lind-or-burúmë. Excuse me: that is a part of my name for it; I do not know what the word is in the outside languages: you know, the thing we are on, where I stand and look out on fine mornings, and think about the Sun, and the grass beyond the wood, and the horses, and the clouds, and the unfolding of the world. What is going on? What is Gandalf up to? And these — burárum,” he made a deep rumbling noise like a discord on a great organ — “these Orcs, and young Saruman down at Isengard? I like news. But not too quick now.”

“不过，现在，”那双眼睛变得十分明亮，突然间回到现世来，更显得锐利：“到底发生了什么事情？你们到底和这一切有什么关系？我可以看见、听见（还有闻到和感觉到）很多事物，从这个…从这个a-llalla-lalla-rumba-kamanda-lind-or-bur里面。抱歉，这是我名字的一部分，我不知道对应的外界语言是什么。你知道的，就是我们所在的地方，我站立之处，当我在早晨的时候想到太阳，还有森林以外的草原，以及那些马匹和云朵和整个世界的变化。到底发生了什么事情？甘道夫在忙些什么？这些─布拉鲁，”他发出一阵低沉，仿佛某种巨大乐器颤音的声响：“这些半兽人，还有艾辛格那个年轻的萨鲁曼在忙些什么？我喜欢新消息，但别说得太快。”

“Hoo, come now!” said Treebeard. “Hoom, hm, ah well” He paused, looking long at the hobbits. “Hoom, ah, well I do not know what to say. Come now!”

“呼，啊！”树胡说：“呼姆，嗯，啊，好吧！”他暂停片刻，看着哈比人。“呼姆，啊，我不知道该说些什么。来吧！”

“Yes, I do know him: the only wizard that really cares about trees,” said Treebeard. “Do you know him?”

“是的，我的确认识他，他是唯一在乎树木的巫师，”树胡回答：“你们也认识他吗？”

“Then I can answer your other questions,” said Treebeard. “I am not going to do anything with you: not if you mean by that ‘do something to you’ without your leave. We might do some things together. I don’t know about sides. I go my own way; but your way may go along with mine for a while. But you speak of Master Gandalf, as if he was in a story that had come to an end.”

“那我就可以回答你的另一个问题了。”树胡说：“我不会用你们来做什么事情的，也就是说，我不会在没有经过你们同意的状况下对你们怎么样，我们可能会一起做些事情吧。我不知道什么边不边的，我通常是只管自己的，不过，你们可能会和我相处一段时间。可是，你们提到甘道夫先生时候的表情…好象他的故事已经结束了。”

“Yes, we do,” said Pippin sadly. “The story seems to be going on, but I am afraid Gandalf has fallen out of it.”

“你说的没错，”皮聘忧伤地说：“故事还在继续，但甘道夫已经不是其中的角色了。”

“Yes,” said Pippin sadly, “we did. He was a great friend, and he was our guide.”

“是的，”皮聘哀伤地回答：“我们很荣幸认识他，他是我们的好朋友，也是我们已故的向导。”

“If you would like to hear more,” said Merry, “we will tell you. But it will take some time. Wouldn’t you like to put us down? Couldn’t we sit here together in the sun, while it lasts? You must be getting tired of holding us up.”

梅里说：“如果你想要知道更多，我们会告诉你的，但得花上一段时间。你愿意先把我们放下来吗？我们可不可以坐在阳光下好好享受这难得的天气？你一直抓着我们一定累了。”

“Hill?” suggested Pippin. “Shelf? Step?” suggested Merry.

“小山？”皮聘猜测道。“石壁？楼梯？”梅里跟着帮忙。

“Hm, tired? No, I am not tired. I do not easily get tired. And I do not sit down. I am not very, hm, bendable. But there, the Sun is going in. Let us leave this — did you say what you call it?”

“嗯，累？不，我不累。我很难感觉到疲倦的，我也不会坐下来；我并不是那么的，嗯，有弹性的。不过，你们说的没错，阳光的确很舒服，让我们离开这个──你说你们怎么称呼这个地方？”

“To my home, or one of my homes,” answered Treebeard.

“去我家，我的其中一个居所。”树胡回答。

“Where shall we go?” asked Merry.

“要去哪里？”梅里问道。

“I do not know. You might call it far, perhaps. But what does that matter?”

“我不知道，或许你们会认为那里很远，但这又有什么关系呢？”

Treebeard repeated the words thoughtfully. “Hill. Yes, that was it. But it is a hasty word for a thing that has stood here ever since this part of the world was shaped. Never mind. Let us leave it, and go.”

树胡若有所思地重复这几个字：“小山，没错，是这个字。不过，用这个短短的字眼来描述耸立在此无数个纪元的地形未免太仓促了吧！算了，我们离开这里吧。”

“Is it far?”

“很远吗？”

“O! Hm! You need not trouble about that,” said Treebeard. “I can give you a drink that will keep you green and growing for a long, long while. And if we decide to part company, I can set you down outside my country at any point you choose. Let us go!”

“喔！嗯！你们不需要担心这个，”树胡说：“我可以给你们喝种东西，能让你们常保翠绿，长得又快又好。如果你们想要离开，我随时可以把你们放在森林外的任何一个地方，我们走吧！”

Holding the hobbits gently but firmly, one in the crook of each arm, Treebeard lifted up first one large foot and then the other, and moved them to the edge of the shelf. The rootlike toes grasped the rocks. Then carefully and solemnly, he stalked down from step to step, and reached the floor of the Forest.

树胡紧紧地抓住这两名哈比人，一只接一只的抬起大脚，走到高地边缘；然后，像是树根一样的脚趾抓住悬崖边缘；接着，他小心翼翼地一阶一阶走下去，最后来到了森林的地面。

“Well, you see, we have lost all our belongings,” said Merry. “We have only a little food.”

“这么说吧，你看得出来，我们的东西都弄丢了，”梅里说：“我们的食物不太够。”

“Please, Treebeard,” he said, “could I ask you something? Why did Celeborn warn us against your forest? He told us not to risk getting entangled in it.”

“打搅你了，树胡，”他说：“我可以问问题吗？为什么赛勒鹏会警告我们，不要打搅你的森林？他告诉我们最好不要和这里有所牵扯。”

The hobbits were silent for some time. They felt, oddly enough, safe and comfortable, and they had a great deal to think and wonder about. At last Pippin ventured to speak again.

哈比人沉默了很长的一段时间。十分诡异的，在这种危机四伏的状况下，他们竟然觉得安全和放心。最后，皮聘终于忍不住问道。

At once he set off with long deliberate strides through the trees, deeper and deeper into the wood, never far from the stream, climbing steadily up towards the slopes of the mountains. Many of the trees seemed asleep, or as unaware of him as of any other creature that merely passed by; but some quivered, and some raised up their branches above his head as he approached. All the while, as he walked, he talked to himself in a long running stream of musical sounds.

他立刻迈开大步，在树林间穿梭，越来越深入森林。他的步伐一直沿着河流走，稳定地朝向山脉的斜坡上爬。许多的树木似乎都陷入沉睡，对于他们的经过并没有多少反应，不过，也有许多树木开始颤抖，用枝丫遮住他们的身影。当树胡快速移动的时候，他嘴里依旧喃喃不停地念诵着如同乐音一般的语言。

“Hmm, did he now?” rumbled Treebeard. “And I might have said much the same, if you had been going the other way. Do not risk getting entangled in the woods of Laurelindórenan! That is what the Elves used to call it, but now they make the name shorter: Lothlórien they call it. Perhaps they are right: maybe it is fading, not growing. Land of the Valley of Singing Gold, that was it, once upon a time. Now it is the Dreamflower. Ah well! But it is a queer place, and not for just anyone to venture in. I am surprised that you ever got out, but much more surprised that you ever got in: that has not happened to strangers for many a year. It is a queer land.”

“嗯嗯，他知道吗？”树胡咕哝道：“以我来说，我可能也会告诉你们相同的话。不要和罗瑞尔林多立安森林有所牵扯！古时候精灵们是这么称呼那座森林的，不过现在他们把它缩短了，变成罗斯洛立安。或许他们改变称呼是对的，或许那座森林已经在渐渐消逝，不再继续成长；那里曾经是人们歌颂的黄金之谷，现在已经成了梦中花。啊，好啦！那里的确是个特殊的地方，不是每个人都能来的。我很惊讶你们能够安全出来，但你们能够进去更让人觉得不可思议，已经有好多年没有陌生人进去过了，那的确是块诡异的地方。”

“The trees and the Ents,” said Treebeard. “I do not understand all that goes on myself, so I cannot explain it to you. Some of us are still true Ents, and lively enough in our fashion, but many are growing sleepy, going tree-ish, as you might say. Most of the trees are just trees, of course; but many are half awake. Some are quite wide awake, and a few are, well, ah, well getting Entish. That is going on all the time.”

“树木和树人，”树胡回答道：“我也不完全明白自己身上的状况，所以没办法对你完整的解释。我们之中有些依然保持着树人的特征，以我们的角度来看还算活跃；但有些同伴变得昏昏欲睡，你可以说他们‘人’的成分慢慢抽离了，只剩下‘树’的成分。当然，大多数的树也还是树，不过，有些却已经处在半梦半醒的状态，有些甚至相当的清醒，变得有些──有些像树人了，这一切都是这样循环不息的。”

“What do you mean?” said Pippin. “What is true?”

“你这是什么意思？”皮聘问道：“什么东西会恒久不变？”

“And so is this. Folk have come to grief here. Aye, they have, to grief. Laurelindórenan lindelorendor malinornélion ornemalin,” he hummed to himself. “They are falling rather behind the world in there, I guess,” he said. “Neither this country, nor anything else outside the Golden Wood, is what it was when Celeborn was young. Still: Taurelilómëa-tumbalemorna Tumbaletaurëa Lómëanor that is what they used to say. Things have changed, but it is still true in places.”

“这里也是一样的，人们来这边会感觉到忧伤，没错，来这边是会忧伤的！Laurelindórenan lindelorendor malinornélion ornemalin…”他自言自语道：“我想他们在那边已经和现世隔绝了，”他说：“不管是这里，或是世界上的任何一个地方，除了黄金森林之外，都没有和赛勒鹏年轻时一样的地方了。不过：Taurelilómëa-tumbalemorna Tumbaletaurëa Lómëanor，他们以前常这样说，世事或许多变化，但在有些地方却是恒久不变的。”

“When that happens to a tree, you find that some have bad hearts. Nothing to do with their wood: I do not mean that. Why, I knew some good old willows down the Entwash, gone long ago, alas! They were quite hollow, indeed they were falling all to pieces, but as quiet and sweet-spoken as a young leaf. And then there are some trees in the valleys under the mountains, sound as a bell, and bad right through. That sort of thing seems to spread. There used to be some very dangerous parts in this country. There are still some very black patches.”

“当有些树发生这样的转变时，你会发现他们的心并不好，这和他们的木头并没有关系，我也不是说他们的心被虫咬了或得病了。对啦，我还认识一些树沐河下游的老橡树，都快变成碎片了，但还是依旧如同嫩叶一般的甜美、沉寂；当然，也有一些靠近山脉的河谷中的树木，整天响叮当，而且心又很坏。这种状况似乎会传染，附近本来有些地方相当的危险，多半还有一些地方受到这种力量的影响。”

“Like the Old Forest away to the north, do you mean?” asked Merry.

“你指的是北方的老林吗？”梅里问道。

“We are tree-herds, we old Ents. Few enough of us are left now. Sheep get like shepherd, and shepherds like sheep, it is said; but slowly, and neither have long in the world. It is quicker and closer with trees and Ents, and they walk down the ages together. For Ents are more like Elves: less interested in themselves than Men are, and better at getting inside other things. And yet again Ents are more like Men, more changeable than Elves are, and quicker at taking the colour of the outside, you might say. Or better than both: for they are steadier and keep their minds on things longer.”

“我们这些古老的树人是牧树者，已经没有多少树人残存下来。绵羊有时会变得和牧羊人一个脾气，牧羊人也会和绵羊越长越像。树木和树人之间的关系更密切，他们还一同承受岁月的变化。树人就像是精灵一样，不像人类对自己那么感兴趣，但又更能够深入事物的本质；但是，从某个角度来看，树人又更像人类，他们比精灵要容易改变，也更容易了解事物的外在。或者在某个角度来说，他比两者都要擅长这方面，因为树人更能够将精神意志集中于此。”

“Aye, aye, something like, but much worse. I do not doubt there is some shadow of the Great Darkness lying there still away north; and bad memories are handed down. But there are hollow dales in this land where the Darkness has never been lifted, and the trees are older than I am. Still, we do what we can. We keep off strangers and the foolhardy; and we train and we teach, we walk and we weed.”

“算是，算是吧，很类似，但更糟糕的是，我怀疑北方有些黑暗所留下的残影还在那边，不好的记忆有时会一直流传下来。不过，这块土地上也有黑暗从未曾染指过的清新河谷，有些树木也比我还要古老。不论如何，我们依旧会尽力的，我们会赶走陌生人，不让那些愚蠢的家伙进来；我们训练和教导他们，我们散步的时候同样也会除草。”

“Those were the broad days! Time was when I could walk and sing all day and hear no more than the echo of my own voice in the hollow hills. The woods were like the woods of Lothlórien, only thicker, stronger, younger. And the smell of the air! I used to spend a week just breathing.”

“那可是个宽广的年代！我可以吟唱、步行一整天，耳中只能听见山中的回音。这里的树林就像是罗斯洛立安的森林一样，只不过更浓密、更强壮、更有活力。那空气中的清新味道！啊，我常常一整个星期都花在深呼吸上面。”

“Some of my kin look just like trees now, and need something great to rouse them; and they speak only in whispers. But some of my trees are limb-lithe, and many can talk to me. Elves began it, of course, waking trees up and teaching them to speak and learning their tree-talk. They always wished to talk to everything, the old Elves did. But then the Great Darkness came, and they passed away over the Sea, or fled into far valleys, and hid themselves, and made songs about days that would never come again. Never again. Aye, aye, there was all one wood once upon a time from here to the Mountains of Lune, and this was just the East End.”

“我的同胞之中有些看起来像是树木一样了，必须要有巨大的变动才能够吵醒他们，而且他们也只能够用低语的方式交谈。不过，我的森林之中有许多还相当的活跃，可以和我交谈。当然，这都是从精灵开始的，他们唤醒树木，教导他们使用树木的语言。古老的精灵总是希望能够和任何生物交谈，但紧接着，黑暗就降临了，他们渡海而逃，有些躲进远方的山谷，隐藏起身份，撰写着逝去世代的歌谣；而那些世代再也不会重临了。唉，唉，从卢恩到这里曾经一度全都是一座大森林，这个区域不过是它的东方边境而已。”

Treebeard fell silent, striding along, and yet making hardly a sound with his great feet. Then he began to hum again, and passed into a murmuring chant. Gradually the hobbits became aware that he was chanting to them:

树胡沉默下来，继续往前走，但他的脚步几乎是寂静无声的。不久之后，他又开始哼歌了，慢慢地变成吟颂诗文的语调。哈比人过了一段时间之后才发现，原来他是朗诵给他们听的：

In Tauremornalómë.

在那塔瑞莫那罗亩。

Ah! the wind and the whiteness and the black branches of Winter upon Orod-na-Thôn!

啊！那风吹、那白雪，和那欧洛娜嵩冬日的黑色枝丫！

Where the roots are long,

此地的树木根深，

And I walk in Ambaróna, in Tauremorna, in Aldalómë,

我只能走在安巴伦那、塔伦莫那、阿达罗亩，

Ah! the light and the music in the Summer by the Seven Rivers of Ossir!

啊！那光芒和那欧熙七河美妙的乐声，都是夏天独有的景象，

And now all those lands lie under the wave,

这些大地现在都隐在波浪之下，

Ah! the gold and the red and the sighing of leaves in the Autumn in Taur-na-neldor!

啊！那黄金和暗红的落叶，都在塔那耐多的美丽秋天中，

In the willow-meads of Tasarinan I walked in the Spring.

在那塔沙瑞楠的柳树下，我走过春天。

My voice went up and sang in the sky.

我放开喉咙，对着苍天歌唱。

It was more than my desire.

我已经心满意足了。

And I said that was good.

那真是不错的感觉。

I wandered in Summer in the elm-woods of Ossiriand.

在那欧熙瑞安德的榆树林里，我走过夏天。

To the pine-trees upon the highland of Dorthonion I climbed in the Winter.

在冬天，我爬上了多色尼安的高地松林中。

And I thought that was best.

我本以为那是最好的美景。

The day waned, and dusk was twined about the boles of the trees. At last the hobbits saw, rising dimly before them, a steep dark land: they had come to the feet of the mountains, and to the green roots of tall Methedras. Down the hillside the young Entwash, leaping from its springs high above, ran noisily from step to step to meet them. On the right of the stream there was a long slope, clad with grass, now grey in the twilight. No trees grew there and it was open to the sky; stars were shining already in lakes between shores of cloud.

天色渐渐变黑，暮色开始落在树木的枝丫上。最后，哈比人终于看到在前方有一个陡峭的黑色斜坡：他们终于来到了山脚下，也就是翠绿的马西德拉斯峰。在此地还是小溪的树沐河沿着斜坡流下，才刚离开山上冰冷的泉源不久。在溪流的右边是座很长的斜坡，上面长满了青草，在暮色下显得灰蒙蒙的。此地没有任何的树木生长，可以直接看到顶上的天空，在云朵的空隙之间，已经可以看见闪烁的星辰。

And the years lie thicker than the leaves

年岁比树叶还要厚重，

To the beeches of Neldoreth I came in the Autumn.

我又在秋天来到了尼德瑞斯的柏木林。

Ah! the sight and the smell of the Spring in Nan-tasarion!

啊！那景象和那春天就在南塔沙瑞安！

In my own land, in the country of Fangorn,

走在我的土地上、走在法贡森林中，

He ended, and strode on silently, and in all the wood, as far as ear could reach, there was not a sound.

他颂唱完了，又开始沉默地迈进，整座森林中却没有传出任何回响。

Treebeard strode up the slope, hardly slackening his pace. Suddenly before them the hobbits saw a wide opening. Two great trees stood there, one on either side, like living gate-posts; but there was no gate save their crossing and interwoven boughs. As the old Ent approached, the trees lifted up their branches, and all their leaves quivered and rustled. For they were evergreen trees, and their leaves were dark and polished, and gleamed in the twilight. Beyond them was a wide level space, as though the floor of a great hall had been cut in the side of the hill. On either hand the walls sloped upwards, until they were fifty feet high or more, and along each wall stood an aisle of trees that also increased in height as they marched inwards.

树胡开始往斜坡上走，脚步并没有任何延迟，哈比人这才注意到眼前出现了一个宽阔的开口，两边各有一座高大的树木，彷佛是活生生的门柱一般。当树人靠近的时候，两株树举起枝丫，树叶也开始晃动，他们是长青树，树叶在夕阳下闪动着绿色的光芒。在两株树枝后则是一块平坦的空地，彷佛是山边被开凿出了一座大厅一样，两边的墙壁都一直往上延伸，一直到达五十尺高的洞顶为止；而两旁的树木，也随着他们越深入内部而越来越高耸挺拔。

At the far end the rock-wall was sheer, but at the bottom it had been hollowed back into a shallow bay with an arched roof: the only roof of the hall, save the branches of the trees, which at the inner end overshadowed all the ground leaving only a broad open path in the middle. A little stream escaped from the springs above, and leaving the main water, fell tinkling down the sheer face of the wall, pouring in silver drops, like a fine curtain in front of the arched bay. The water was gathered again into a stone basin in the floor between the trees, and thence it spilled and flowed away beside the open path, out to rejoin the Entwash in its journey through the forest.

到了房间的另一个尽头，岩壁变得十分陡峭，但底端又挖了个凹洞，成了有着圆顶的小房间，这是大厅中除了枝叶自然构成的屋顶之外，唯一的人造屋顶。在大厅的其它地方，树木的枝叶将外界的光源全都遮住，只留下正中央的一块空隙。一道涓涓细流脱离斜坡上的小河，发出清脆悦耳的声音落到地面上，在那拱型的小屋前构成了一个透明的廉幕。这些流水又再度汇集在树木间的一个石盆中，再度喧扰地沿着入口流出去，和外面的树沐河汇流。

For a moment Treebeard stood under the rain of the falling spring, and took a deep breath; then he laughed, and passed inside. A great stone table stood there, but no chairs. At the back of the bay it was already quite dark. Treebeard lifted two great vessels and stood them on the table. They seemed to be filled with water; but he held his hands over them, and immediately they began to glow, one with a golden and the other with a rich green light; and the blending of the two lights lit the bay, as if the sun of summer was shining through a roof of young leaves. Looking back, the hobbits saw that the trees in the court had also begun to glow, faintly at first, but steadily quickening, until every leaf was edged with light: some green, some gold, some red as copper; while the tree-trunks looked like pillars moulded out of luminous stone.

树胡就这么在落下的泉水中站立了片刻，然后他深吸一口气，哈哈大笑着走进房间内。里面有一张巨大的石桌，但没有任何的椅子。房间后方由于位置的问题而显得相当黑暗。树胡拿起两个大容器，将它们放在桌子上。这两个容器里面似乎装满了水，但树胡将手拿到容器上晃动一下之后，它们就开始发光，一个是黄金色的光芒，另一个则是饱满的绿色，整个房间被这两种光芒混合的色彩给照亮了，彷佛夏日阳光透过翠绿树叶投射时所构成的景象。哈比人回头一看，发现整个洞穴中的树木也都开始发光，一开始很微弱；但慢慢的，所有的树叶边缘都染上一圈光晖，有些是绿色的，有些是金色的，有些则是如同红铜一般的颜色，而树干本身看起来像是夜光石所打造的石柱一样。

“Hm! Here we are!” said Treebeard, breaking his long silence. “I have brought you about seventy thousand ent-strides, but what that comes to in the measurement of your land I do not know. Anyhow we are near the roots of the Last Mountain. Part of the name of this place might be Wellinghall, if it were turned into your language. I like it. We will stay here tonight.” He set them down on the grass between the aisles of the trees, and they followed him towards the great arch. The hobbits now noticed that as he walked his knees hardly bent, but his legs opened in a great stride. He planted his big toes (and they were indeed big, and very broad) on the ground first, before any other part of his feet.

“嗯，我们到了！”树胡打破了长久的沉默：“这里大概距离之前的位置有七千步左右，但我不知道这在你们的计算中是有多远的距离。反正我们已经到了最后山脉的根脉地区，这里的名称在你的语言中应该是威灵厅。我喜欢这个地方，今晚我们就待在这边。”他将两人在两排树木之间的草地上放下来，皮聘和梅里跟着他走到拱形屋顶之前。哈比人注意到他走路时膝盖几乎不弯曲，但他的腿却可以张得很开。他会先将大脚拇指（真的很大很宽喔）先踩到地面，然后其它部分再跟着移动。

“This is an ent-house,” he said, “and there are no seats, I fear. But you may sit on the table.” Picking up the hobbits he set them on the great stone slab, six feet above the ground, and there they sat dangling their legs, and drinking in sips. The drink was like water, indeed very like the taste of the draughts they had drunk from the Entwash near the borders of the forest, and yet there was some scent or savour in it which they could not describe: it was faint, but it reminded them of the smell of a distant wood borne from afar by a cool breeze at night. The effect of the draught began at the toes, and rose steadily through every limb, bringing refreshment and vigour as it coursed upwards, right to the tips of the hair. Indeed the hobbits felt that the hair on their heads was actually standing up, waving and curling and growing. As for Treebeard, he first laved his feet in the basin beyond the arch, and then he drained his bowl at one draught, one long, slow draught. The hobbits thought he would never stop.

“这是树人居住的地方，”他说：“所以恐怕没有可以坐的位置。不过，你们可以坐在桌上。”他将哈比人一把抓起，放到离地面六尺高的石板上，让他们踢着小脚，喝着饮料。这饮料喝起来像水一样，就和他们在森林边的树沐河中所喝到的河水味道一样，但是其中有股很难形容的香气：那味道很淡，但却让他们想起森林中晚风吹拂所带来的味道。这饮料的效力从脚指头开始，一路缓缓地往上升，让他们的四肢百骸，最后连头皮都感觉到精力充沛。哈比人觉得自己连头发都站了起来，开始迎风飘扬。至于树胡，他则是先把脚泡在大厅中央的石盆内，然后仰头缓缓地喝光碗内的东西，哈比人还以为他这一口永远都喝不完。

“Well, well, now we can talk again,” said Treebeard. “You are thirsty, I expect. Perhaps you are also tired. Drink this!” He went to the back of the bay, and then they saw that several tall stone jars stood there, with heavy lids. He removed one of the lids, and dipped in a great ladle, and with it filled three bowls, one very large bowl, and two smaller ones.

“好啦，好啦，现在才可以好好的聊天了！”树胡说：“我想你们应该已经渴了，你们多半也已经累了，快喝下这个！”他走到房间的另一头，两人看见那边有好几个盖子看来十分沉重的大瓮。树胡打开其中一个大瓮，用一个大长柄杓舀出一些液体，用它装满了三个碗，一个碗很大，另外两个碗则稍微小一点。

On the right side of the bay there was a great bed on low legs, not more than a couple of feet high, covered deep in dried grass and bracken. Treebeard lowered himself slowly on to this (with only the slightest sign of bending at his middle), until he lay at full length, with his arms behind his head, looking up at the ceiling, upon which lights were flickering, like the play of leaves in the sunshine. Merry and Pippin sat beside him on pillows of grass.

在房间右边则有一张相当低矮的床铺，不过几尺高，上面则是铺满了干草和树皮。树胡慢慢地躺上床（腰身只有些微的弯曲），直到全身都躺上去为止。然后，他用手支着脑袋，看着天花板上灿烂的光芒舞动，梅里和皮聘则是在他身边的草枕头上坐了下来。

At last he set the bowl down again. “Ah — ah,” he sighed. “Hm, hoom, now we can talk easier. You can sit on the floor, and I will lie down; that will prevent this drink from rising to my head and sending me to sleep.”

最后，他放下了碗。他满足地叹息道：“啊，哈，呼姆，嗯，这才比较适合聊天。你们可以坐在地板上，不过先让我躺下来，这样可以避免刚刚喝的东西直冲脑门，让我想睡觉。”

“Now tell me your tale, and do not hurry!” said Treebeard.

“现在可以告诉我你们的故事啦，别太快喔！”树胡说。

The hobbits began to tell him the story of their adventures ever since they left Hobbiton. They followed no very clear order, for they interrupted one another continually, and Treebeard often stopped the speaker, and went back to some earlier point, or jumped forward asking questions about later events. They said nothing whatever about the Ring, and did not tell him why they set out or where they were going to; and he did not ask for any reasons.

哈比人就从一行人离开哈比屯开始，对他描述整个旅程中的遭遇。他们的顺序有些混乱，因为两人会彼此插嘴打断对方的描述，而树胡也常阻止说话的人，询问之前的细节，或者是跳到后来的时间询问状况。他们完全没提到魔戒的事情，也没告诉他出发的理由和目的地，他也没有特别针对这方面提出质疑。

He was immensely interested in everything: in the Black Riders, in Elrond, and Rivendell, in the Old Forest, and Tom Bombadil, in the Mines of Moria, and in Lothlórien and Galadriel. He made them describe the Shire and its country over and over again. He said an odd thing at this point. “You never see any, hm, any Ents round there, do you?” he asked. “Well, not Ents, Entwives I should really say.”

他对于一切都非常感兴趣，对于黑骑士，对于爱隆，对于瑞文戴尔、老林、汤姆庞巴迪、摩瑞亚矿坑、罗斯洛立安和凯兰崔尔都十分好奇。他要求他们一遍又一遍地描述夏尔和四周的环境。这时他说了句奇怪的话语：“你们从来没看见，嗯，附近有任何树人吗？”他问道：“好吧，不对，应该是树妻才对。”

“Hm, hoom!” said Treebeard, when at last their story had wound and wandered down to the battle of the Orcs and the Riders of Rohan. “Well, well! That is a bundle of news and no mistake. You have not told me all, no indeed, not by a long way. But I do not doubt that you are doing as Gandalf would wish. There is something very big going on, that I can see, and what it is maybe I shall learn in good time, or in bad time. By root and twig, but it is a strange business: up sprout a little folk that are not in the old lists, and behold! the Nine forgotten Riders reappear to hunt them, and Gandalf takes them on a great journey, and Galadriel harbours them in Caras Galadhon, and Orcs pursue them down all the leagues of Wilderland: indeed they seem to be caught up in a great storm. I hope they weather it!”

“嗯，哼姆！”当他们的故事，最后终于来到了洛汗国骠骑和半兽人之间的战斗后，树胡说道：“好的，好的！这果然是很多新消息啊。不过，你们没有告诉我全部的内情，恐怕还差得远了，但是，我了解你们的所作所为都符合甘道夫的想法。我看得出来有什么大事正在发生，或许我可能有机会知道。以根与枝之名哪，这些事情真奇怪，就在我眼前冒出了两个没有在旧列表上的小家伙！不只如此，九名被遗忘的骑士再度出没，猎杀这些人；甘道夫带领他们踏上艰困的旅程，凯兰崔尔在卡拉斯加拉顿收留他们，半兽人在荒地上千里追踪要寻找他们…这些小家伙一定被卷入了恐怖的暴风中，我希望他们可以安全度过！”

“Yes, hm, well no: I do not really know now,” said Treebeard thoughtfully. “But they would like your country, so I just wondered.”

“是的，嗯，又不太算。我现在实在不太确定，”树胡若有所思地说：“但我想她们会喜欢你们老家的，所以我才会想要问。”

“Entwives?” said Pippin. “Are they like you at all?”

“树妻？”皮聘问道：“她们和你们长得一样吗？”

Treebeard was however especially interested in everything that concerned Gandalf; and most interested of all in Saruman’s doings. The hobbits regretted very much that they knew so little about them: only a rather vague report by Sam of what Gandalf had told the Council. But they were clear at any rate that Uglúk and his troop came from Isengard, and spoke of Saruman as their master.

树胡对于甘道夫的一切事迹都感到相当好奇，对萨鲁曼的所作所为，更是问得钜细靡遗。哈比人很遗憾自己对他知道的实在不够多，唯一的线索是山姆转述甘道夫在会议中对他的描述。不过，至少他们确定乌骨陆和部下都是来自艾辛格，并且尊称萨鲁曼为主人。

“And what about yourself?” asked Merry.

“你自己又怎么样呢？”梅里问道。

“Hoom, hm, I have not troubled about the Great Wars,” said Treebeard; “they mostly concern Elves and Men. That is the business of Wizards: Wizards are always troubled about the future. I do not like worrying about the future. I am not altogether on anybody’s side, because nobody is altogether on my side, if you understand me: nobody cares for the woods as I care for them, not even Elves nowadays. Still, I take more kindly to Elves than to others: it was the Elves that cured us of dumbness long ago, and that was a great gift that cannot be forgotten, though our ways have parted since. And there are some things, of course, whose side I am altogether not on; I am against them altogether: these — burárum” (he again made a deep rumble of disgust) “– these Orcs, and their masters.”

“呼姆，嗯，我在这场大战中并没有什么责任，”树胡说：“这大半是和精灵及人类有关，大多数也都是巫师的工作，巫师们总是喜欢担忧未来，我不喜欢担心未来，我并不和任何人站在同一边，因为也没有任何人和我站在同一边。如果你了解我的意思，没有人像我这样关心树木，连现今的精灵都已经不是这样了，不过，我对于精灵依旧比对于其它种族都要有好感。许久以前是他们给了我们智能，即使我们之后分道扬镳，但这个礼物绝不可轻易忘却。而且，还有一些人、一些东西是我绝对不会苟同的。事实上，我彻头彻尾地反对他们，这些布拉鲁，”他又再度发出厌恶的哼声：“这些半兽人和他们的主人。”

“I used to be anxious when the shadow lay on Mirkwood, but when it removed to Mordor, I did not trouble for a while: Mordor is a long way away. But it seems that the wind is setting East, and the withering of all woods may be drawing near. There is naught that an old Ent can do to hold back that storm: he must weather it or crack. But Saruman now! Saruman is a neighbour: I cannot overlook him. I must do something, I suppose. I have often wondered lately what I should do about Saruman.”

“当黑暗入侵幽暗密林的时候，我曾经紧张了一阵子，但当它又回到魔多时，我就放松下来了。魔多毕竟离这里很远，但是，看来这股邪风又再度吹向东方，所有树木枯萎的时刻或许正在渐渐逼近。没办法单凭老树人就阻止这风暴，他必须支撑过这风暴，或是就此断折。可是，现在连萨鲁曼都堕落了！萨鲁曼就在我们附近，我不能够小看他。我想，我一定得做些什么，最近我经常思索，到底要怎么对付萨鲁曼。”

“Saruman is a Wizard,” answered Treebeard. “More than that I cannot say. I do not know the history of Wizards. They appeared first after the Great Ships came over the Sea; but if they came with the Ships I never can tell. Saruman was reckoned great among them, I believe. He gave up wandering about and minding the affairs of Men and Elves, some time ago — you would call it a very long time ago; and he settled down at Angrenost, or Isengard as the Men of Rohan call it. He was very quiet to begin with, but his fame began to grow. He was chosen to be the head of the White Council, they say; but that did not turn out too well. I wonder now if even then Saruman was not turning to evil ways. But at any rate he used to give no trouble to his neighbours. I used to talk to him. There was a time when he was always walking about my woods. He was polite in those days, always asking my leave (at least when he met me); and always eager to listen. I told him many things that he would never have found out by himself; but he never repaid me in like kind. I cannot remember that he ever told me anything. And he got more and more like that; his face, as I remember it — I have not seen it for many a day — became like windows in a stone wall: windows with shutters inside.”

“萨鲁曼是名巫师，”树胡回答：“除此之外我就不清楚了，我并不知道巫师的过去，我只知道他们是在大船越过海洋时跟着出现的，但我不知道他们是否乘坐大船来到这块大陆。萨鲁曼在他们之中的地位很高，后来，他不再四处奔波或介入人类和精灵的事务──你们可能会说那是很久很久以前，他在安格林诺斯特定居下来，洛汗国的人又叫那个地方艾辛格。他一开始十分的低调，但他的名声不胫而走。他们说他接受了圣白议会议长的职务，但结果似乎并不怎么好，我怀疑是否那时萨鲁曼就已经落入邪道。反正，他以前并不会对邻居造成任何麻烦，我曾经和他说过话，他有一段时间经常在我的森林里面漫步。那时他总是很有礼貌，时常会请求我的许可（至少在他遇到我的时候会这样），总是愿意倾听；我告诉他许多单凭他的力量永远不会知道的事情，但他从来没有用同样的态度回报我。我不记得他告诉过我任何事情，而他这样的状况越来越严重。他的脸孔──那张我已经很久没有见到的脸孔，变成像是石墙上的窗户一样封闭，窗户内的窗廉还拉了起来。”

“Who is Saruman?” asked Pippin. “Do you know anything about his history?”

“谁是萨鲁曼？”皮聘问道：“你知道他的过去吗？”

Treebeard rumbled for a moment, as if he were pronouncing some deep, subterranean Entish malediction. “Some time ago I began to wonder how Orcs dared to pass through my woods so freely,” he went on. “Only lately did I guess that Saruman was to blame, and that long ago he had been spying out all the ways, and discovering my secrets. He and his foul folk are making havoc now. Down on the borders they are felling trees — good trees. Some of the trees they just cut down and leave to rot — orc-mischief that; but most are hewn up and carried off to feed the fires of Orthanc. There is always a smoke rising from Isengard these days. Curse him, root and branch! Many of those trees were my friends, creatures I had known from nut and acorn; many had voices of their own that are lost for ever now. And there are wastes of stump and bramble where once there were singing groves. I have been idle. I have let things slip. It must stop!”

树胡咕哝了片刻，彷佛正在念诵某种树人古老的谚语：“一段时间以前，我开始怀疑为什么半兽人能这么自在的穿越过我的森林，”他继续说道：“直到最近，我怀疑萨鲁曼是这幕后的黑手，许久以前他就在森林里面窥探秘密、规划道路，他和他的邪恶部下正在制造很多的混乱。他们在边界砍倒了很多树，很多好树，有些树竟然就这样被砍倒在地上，任其腐烂，这是半兽人的恶行；不过，大部分的树木都是被运到欧散克塔中当做炉火的燃料。这些天以来，艾辛格的浓烟终日不断。该死，这个连根带叶都烂光光的家伙！那很多树木都是我的朋友，是我从枝到叶都熟得不得了的老友；许多都拥有自己独特的声音，就这样永远的失去了。许多原先曾经茂密丰美的树林也都成了断枝残干的废墟。我已经袖手旁观太久了，竟然坐视这种残忍恶行，一定得阻止这一切！”

“I think that I now understand what he is up to. He is plotting to become a Power. He has a mind of metal and wheels; and he does not care for growing things, except as far as they serve him for the moment. And now it is clear that he is a black traitor. He has taken up with foul folk, with the Orcs. Brm, hoom! Worse than that: he has been doing something to them; something dangerous. For these Isengarders are more like wicked Men. It is a mark of evil things that came in the Great Darkness that they cannot abide the Sun; but Saruman’s Orcs can endure it, even if they hate it. I wonder what he has done? Are they Men he has ruined, or has he blended the races of Orcs and Men? That would be a black evil!”

“我想，我现在才明白他到底在忙些什么，他正计划要成为人们不可忽视的力量。他的脑袋就像齿轮一样乱转，他根本不在乎其它的生物，除非他们此时此刻可以帮助他称霸世界。现在，我又已经确定他沦落黑暗之道了，他收留了许多半兽人和邪恶的生物！嗯哼，呼姆！更糟糕的是，他似乎对他们做了什么危险的事情，因为，这些艾辛格的士兵看起来更像是邪恶的人类。黑暗麾下的半兽人害怕太阳，这是他们的特征；但是，萨鲁曼的部下虽然痛恨太阳，却可以忍受它。不知道他到底做了些什么？他们究竟是被污染的人类，还是他将半兽人和人类这两个种族混杂在一起？那真是邪恶的罪行！”

“I will stop it!” he boomed. “And you shall come with me. You may be able to help me. You will be helping your own friends that way, too; for if Saruman is not checked Rohan and Gondor will have an enemy behind as well as in front. Our roads go together — to Isengard!”

“我会阻止这一切！”他低吼道：“你们跟我一起来，或许可以帮上我的忙。如此一来，你们其实也在帮助自己的朋友；如果不阻止萨鲁曼，刚铎和洛汗就会面临腹背受敌的窘境。我们的方向是相同的──艾辛格！”

“Good! Good!” said Treebeard. “But I spoke hastily. We must not be hasty. I have become too hot. I must cool myself and think; for it is easier to shout stop! than to do it.”

“很好！很好！”树胡说：“但我太急躁了些，我们绝不可以操之过急，我刚刚太激动了，必须要冷静下来思考才行。因为大喊‘住手’！比实际行动要轻松多了。”

Treebeard raised himself from his bed with a jerk, stood up, and thumped his hand on the table. The vessels of light trembled and sent up two jets of flame. There was a flicker like green fire in his eyes, and his beard stood out stiff as a great besom.

树胡猛地从床上弹起来，走到桌边，用手指敲打着桌面。发出光亮的容器猛一震动，激出两道火焰来。他的眼中有着绿色的怒火，胡子也根根竖起，证明了他心情的激动。

“We will come with you,” said Merry. “We will do what we can.”

“我们愿意和你一起走，”梅里说：“我们会尽可能地帮忙。”

“Yes!” said Pippin. “I should like to see the White Hand overthrown. I should like to be there, even if I could not be of much use: I shall never forget Uglúk and the crossing of Rohan.”

“没错！”皮聘说：“我会很高兴看见白掌被推翻的，即使我派不上什么用场，我也很高兴可以在现场目击。我永远无法忘记乌骨陆和越过洛汗国的那趟噩梦。”

He strode to the archway and stood for some time under the falling rain of the spring. Then he laughed and shook himself, and wherever the drops of water fell glittering from him to the ground they glinted like red and green sparks. He came back and laid himself on the bed again and was silent.

他走到拱门前，在落下的泉水中又沉思了片刻；然后他大笑着甩甩身子，从他身上纷飞的水滴看来像是红色和绿色的火花一样。他走回来，再度躺回床上，陷入沉默中。

After some time the hobbits heard him murmuring again. He seemed to be counting on his fingers. “Fangorn, Finglas, Fladrif, aye, aye,” he sighed. “The trouble is that there are so few of us left,” he said turning towards the hobbits. “Only three remain of the first Ents that walked in the woods before the Darkness: only myself, Fangorn, and Finglas and Fladrif — to give them their Elvish names; you may call them Leaflock and Skinbark if you like that better. And of us three, Leaflock and Skinbark are not much use for this business. Leaflock has grown sleepy, almost tree-ish, you might say: he has taken to standing by himself half-asleep all through the summer with the deep grass of the meadows round his knees. Covered with leafy hair he is. He used to rouse up in winter; but of late he has been too drowsy to walk far even then. Skinbark lived on the mountain-slopes west of Isengard. That is where the worst trouble has been. He was wounded by the Orcs, and many of his folk and his tree-herds have been murdered and destroyed. He has gone up into the high places, among the birches that he loves best, and he will not come down. Still, I daresay I could get together a fair company of our younger folks — if I could make them understand the need; if I could rouse them: we are not a hasty folk. What a pity there are so few of us!”

过了一段时间之后，哈比人又听见他开始喃喃自语，他似乎在扳着手指头数数：“法贡、芬格拉斯、佛拉瑞夫，啊，啊…”他叹息道：“问题是我们的人数太少了！”他转过身对哈比人说：“在黑暗之前就诞生于这座森林的树人只剩下三位，法贡，也就是我；芬格拉斯和佛拉瑞夫，这是我们的精灵名字，你可以叫他们叶丛和树皮，这样比较好记。在我们三个之中，叶丛和树皮恐怕帮不上什么，叶丛已经变得太像树了，整天昏昏欲睡；他去年一整个夏天都站在那边，四周的荒草长到及膝高，他头上的树叶可是很丰美的呢！他以前在冬天的时候会醒来，但是最近他变得太迟钝，连那时候都无法走得太远。树皮则是居住在艾辛格西边的山坡上，也是麻烦最多的区域，他被半兽人弄伤了，许多他的同伴和树群们也都被杀死或是被摧毁了。他躲到更高的地方去，藏在他最爱的桦木林里面不敢下来。不过，我想我应该还是可以找到不少年轻的树人，只要我能够说服他们这次的危机有多大，只要我能让他们热血沸腾；我们可不是那种天性好斗的生物。真可惜，我们的数量实在太少了！”

“Oh, no!” said Treebeard. “None have died from inside, as you might say. Some have fallen in the evil chances of the long years, of course; and more have grown tree-ish. But there were never many of us and we have not increased. There have been no Entings — no children, you would say, not for a terrible long count of years. You see, we lost the Entwives.”

“喔，不！”树胡说：“没有人因为寿命的关系死去。当然，在过去那邪恶的年代中，有许多死在黑暗的手下，但有更多的树人变成一般的树木。不过，我们的数量本来就不多，而且中间也没有增加；我们已经有很多年没有小树人，也就是我们的小宝宝了。你知道，我们的树妻都消失了。”

“Why are there so few, when you have lived in this country so long?” asked Pippin. “Have a great many died?”

“既然你们在这边居住了这么久，为什么数量还是那么少呢？”皮聘问道：“是有很多人去世了吗？”

“How very sad!” said Pippin. “How was it that they all died?”

“好可怜啊！”皮聘说：“她们怎么会都死掉了呢？”

“They did not die!” said Treebeard. “I never said died. We lost them, I said. We lost them and we cannot find them.” He sighed. “I thought most folk knew that. There were songs about the hunt of the Ents for the Entwives sung among Elves and Men from Mirkwood to Gondor. They cannot be quite forgotten.”

“她们没死！”树胡抗议道：“我根本没说她们死了。我是说树妻都消失了。她们消失之后，我们就再也找不到她们了。”他叹了一口气：“我以为大多数的人都知道这件事情。有许多歌曲是有关树人寻找树妻的故事，从幽暗密林到刚铎之间的人类和精灵，都会颂唱这些歌谣，它们没有这么容易就被忘记吧。”

“Yes, I will indeed,” said Treebeard, seeming pleased with the request. “But I cannot tell it properly, only in short; and then we must end our talk: tomorrow we have councils to call, and work to do, and maybe a journey to begin.”

“好的，我会的，”树胡说，看来对这样的要求感到十分高兴：“但是我没办法详细地描述这个故事，只能简短说明，然后我们就必须休息了。明天我还要召集会议，还有很多工作要做，甚至要开始一趟旅程。”

“Well, I am afraid the songs have not come west over the Mountains to the Shire,” said Merry. “Won’t you tell us some more, or sing us one of the songs?”

“这样啊，恐怕这些歌谣都没有越过山脉，来到夏尔，”梅里说：“你可以告诉我们这个故事，或者是唱几首这类歌来听吗？”

“It is rather a strange and sad story,” he went on after a pause. “When the world was young, and the woods were wide and wild, the Ents and the Entwives — and there were Entmaidens then: ah! the loveliness of Fimbrethil, of Wandlimb the lightfooted, in the days of our youth! — they walked together and they housed together. But our hearts did not go on growing in the same way: the Ents gave their love to things that they met in the world, and the Entwives gave their thought to other things, for the Ents loved the great trees, and the wild woods, and the slopes of the high hills; and they drank of the mountain-streams, and ate only such fruit as the trees let fall in their path; and they learned of the Elves and spoke with the Trees. But the Entwives gave their minds to the lesser trees, and to the meads in the sunshine beyond the feet of the forests; and they saw the sloe in the thicket, and the wild apple and the cherry blossoming in spring, and the green herbs in the waterlands in summer, and the seeding grasses in the autumn fields. They did not desire to speak with these things; but they wished them to hear and obey what was said to them. The Entwives ordered them to grow according to their wishes, and bear leaf and fruit to their liking; for the Entwives desired order, and plenty, and peace (by which they meant that things should remain where they had set them). So the Entwives made gardens to live in. But we Ents went on wandering, and we only came to the gardens now and again. Then when the Darkness came in the North, the Entwives crossed the Great River, and made new gardens, and tilled new fields, and we saw them more seldom. After the Darkness was overthrown the land of the Entwives blossomed richly, and their fields were full of corn. Many men learned the crafts of the Entwives and honoured them greatly; but we were only a legend to them, a secret in the heart of the forest. Yet here we still are, while all the gardens of the Entwives are wasted: Men call them the Brown Lands now.”

“那是个十分哀伤的奇异故事，”他暂停了片刻之后说：“当这个世界还没有这么古老的时候，森林遍布大地，树人和树妻，当时她们还是树女──啊！我还记得芬伯希尔的可爱，风枝那轻盈的步伐，在我们年轻时那快乐的时光！她们一起行动，一起居住。但我们的思绪并没有一直朝向同一个方向发展：树人把他们的爱给了在世界上遇到的其它事物，但树妻则把思绪转移到其它的东西身上。因为树人喜爱大树、野林和高山的陡坡，他们喝的是山泉水，吃的是树木自然落下的果实，他们学习精灵语，并且和树木交谈；但树妻把关怀献给了更小的植物，献给那些在森林脚底下的草本植物，她们喜爱的是野莓和春天野生的苹果及樱桃，以及夏天在荒地上生长的药草，秋天在大地上生根的草蓟。她们不想要和这些植物说话，只想要让它们听从给予它们的命令，照着她们的喜好生长出果实和树叶来；树妻喜欢秩序、丰饶和安祥（在这里，安祥的意思是每样东西都停留在树妻当初安排的位置上），因此树妻开始打造花园，变成她们的居所。但我们这些树人则是四野游荡，只会偶尔来到这些花园。然后，北方的黑暗来袭，树妻们越过了大河，在那边种植了新的花园，驯服了新的植物，我们和她们更少见面了。在黑暗被推翻之后，树妻拥有的大地开始丰收，结满了玉米的果实。人类从树妻那边学到了这技巧，对她们十分敬重；但我们对人类来说就成为单纯的传说，只是森林中的神秘意志。但当树妻的花园全都毁弃之后，我们还好好的站在这里。人类现在称呼树妻过去的花园为褐地。”

“I remember it was long ago — in the time of the war between Sauron and the Men of the Sea — desire came over me to see Fimbrethil again. Very fair she was still in my eyes, when I had last seen her, though little like the Entmaiden of old. For the Entwives were bent and browned by their labour; their hair parched by the sun to the hue of ripe corn and their cheeks like red apples. Yet their eyes were still the eyes of our own people. We crossed over Anduin and came to their land; but we found a desert: it was all burned and uprooted, for war had passed over it. But the Entwives were not there. Long we called, and long we searched; and we asked all folk that we met which way the Entwives had gone. Some said they had never seen them; and some said that they had seen them walking away west, and some said east, and others south. But nowhere that we went could we find them. Our sorrow was very great. Yet the wild wood called, and we returned to it. For many years we used to go out every now and again and look for the Entwives, walking far and wide and calling them by their beautiful names. But as time passed we went more seldom and wandered less far. And now the Entwives are only a memory for us, and our beards are long and grey. The Elves made many songs concerning the Search of the Ents, and some of the songs passed into the tongues of Men. But we made no songs about it, being content to chant their beautiful names when we thought of the Entwives. We believe that we may meet again in a time to come, and perhaps we shall find somewhere a land where we can live together and both be content. But it is foreboded that that will only be when we have both lost all that we now have. And it may well be that that time is drawing near at last. For if Sauron of old destroyed the gardens, the Enemy today seems likely to wither all the woods.”

“我记得那是很久以前，是在索伦和来自海上的人类之间作战的那段过去，我突然间想要再看看芬伯希尔。在我的眼中她依旧十分的美丽，不过，当我最后一次看见她的时候，她已经和当年的树女外貌上有了很大的改变。由于她们经年的辛勤工作，树妻都弯腰驼背，外皮变成棕色，她们的头发在艳阳的炙烤之下成了成熟玉米的黄色，脸颊红得像熟透的苹果一样，她们的双眼依旧是我族人民的双眸。我们越过安都因河，来到她们的大地，却发现一块荒漠；一切都被烧毁破坏，战火对该处造成了莫大的破坏，但树妻们并不在那边。我们找了又找，唤了又唤，询问所有遇到的人；有些人说他们从来没看过树妻，有些人说她们往西走、有人说往北走、有人说往南走或是往东走，但不管我们怎么找，就是找不到她们。我们非常非常地哀伤，但森林再度呼唤我们，我们只好回到此处。经过了许多许多年，我们依然会离开此地，寻找树妻，在世界各地呼喊她们美丽的名字，但随着时光的流逝，慢慢地我们放弃了这项搜寻。现在，树妻已经成了我们脑海中淡薄的回忆，我们的胡子也已经斑白飘落。精灵们做了很多歌有关树人的搜寻，有些歌曲甚至翻译成人类的语言。但我们并没有作出任何的歌谣，单单是在寂寞时吟唱她们美丽的名字就已足够。我们相信终有一天会再度和她们相遇，或许可以找到一个地方和她们斯守终老，但我们有预感，只有可能在我们都失去一切的时候才会完成这个梦想。或许这个末日已经快要到来了，因为若是古代的索伦摧毁了树妻的花园，现在的魔王恐怕会让所有的树木枯死。”

When blossom like a shining snow is on the orchard laid;

当花朵像未融初雪罩在兰花树梢时；

When Summer lies upon the world, and in a noon of gold

当夏天落入世间，笼罩在黄金色的什后时，

When Spring is come to garth and field, and corn is in the blade;

当春日来到草场上，玉米结实累累时；

When Spring unfolds the beechen leaf, and sap is in the bough;

当春天吹开山毛榉的嫩叶，树汁满溢时；

I’ll linger here, and will not come, because my land is fair.

我会留在这里，不会来到你的地方，因为我的国度美丽如诗。

ENTWIFE.

树妻：

Come back to me! Come back to me, and say my land is best!

快回到我身边！快回到我身边，赞颂我的领地永不侵蚀！

When shower and Sun upon the Earth with fragrance fill the air,

当阵雨和阳光笼罩大地空气中充满芬芳时；

ENT.

树人：

Come back to me! Come back to me, and say my land is fair!

快回到我身边！快回到我身边，赞颂我的国度美丽如诗！

When light is on the wild-wood stream, and wind is on the brow;

当光芒照在野林的小溪中，风吹溪畔时；

“There was an Elvish song that spoke of this, or at least so I understand it. It used to be sung up and down the Great River. It was never an Entish song, mark you: it would have been a very long song in Entish! But we know it by heart, and hum it now and again. This is how it runs in your tongue:

“有一首精灵歌，就是描述我刚刚所叙述的故事，至少就我所知是这样的，曾经一度这首歌传唱于大河上下游。别搞错了，这不是树人的歌曲；如果要用树人语来唱，这会是很长的一首歌！不过，我们每个树人都记下这首歌，偶尔会轻轻地哼唱。翻成你们的语言是这样的：

When stride is long, and breath is deep, and keen the mountain-air,

当步伐轻快，呼吸深沉，山风冷冽时；

Beneath the roof of sleeping leaves the dreams of trees unfold;

在沉睡的叶下树木的美梦缓缓成真实；

ENT.

树人：

When woodland halls are green and cool, and wind is in the West,

当林地翠绿清凉，西风吹拂时，

Together we will take the road beneath the bitter rain!

我们将携手共淋苦雨！

BOTH.

树人与树妻合：

When broken is the barren bough, and light and labour past;

当树枝断裂，光明和劳动的时节已过去时；

When straw is gold, and ear is white, and harvest comes to town;

当稻草金黄，玉米穗洁白，村中收成满满时；

I’ll linger here beneath the Sun, because my land is best!

我将在阳光下流连，因我的土地累累结实！

When Winter comes, the winter wild that hill and wood shall slay;

当冬日到来，冷风飞舞山丘和树林也低伏时；

ENT.

树人：

And far away will find a land where both our hearts may rest.”

在那遥远的彼方将会找到我俩可安息的大陆。”

Together we will take the road that leads into the West,

我们将一同踏上前往西方的道路。

When honey spills, and apple swells, though wind be in the West,

当蜂蜜满溢，苹果成熟，西风吹拂时，

I’ll look for thee, and call to thee; I’ll come to thee again!

我将寻找你，呼唤你；我将不再让你迷失！

Treebeard ended his song. “That is how it goes,” he said. “It is Elvish, of course: lighthearted, quickworded, and soon over. I daresay it is fair enough. But the Ents could say more on their side, if they had time! But now I am going to stand up and take a little sleep. Where will you stand?”

树胡的歌唱完了。“这首歌就是这样的，”他说：“当然，原来是精灵语，因此轻松、快速，很快就结束了，我觉得这首歌很凄美。但是树人如果有时间，可能还有更多意见想表达！不过，现在我得站起来，好好睡一觉了。你们要站在那边睡？”

When Summer warms the hanging fruit and burns the berry brown;

当夏焰暖和树梢的水果烤熟了野莓时；

When Winter comes, and singing ends; when darkness falls at last;

当冬日到来，歌唱结束；黑暗终于落下时；

I’ll look for thee, and wait for thee, until we meet again:

我将寻找你，等待你，直到我们重逢的那时：

ENTWIFE.

树妻：

When trees shall fall and starless night devour the sunless day;

当树木倒下，无星的夜晚取代了无阳的白昼时；

When wind is in the deadly East, then in the bitter rain

当吹起致命的东风，下起苦雨时；

ENTWIFE.

树妻：

“We usually lie down to sleep,” said Merry. “We shall be all right where we are.”

“我们通常要躺下来才能睡的，”梅里说：“在这边应该就可以了。”

“Lie down to sleep!” said Treebeard. “Why of course you do! Hm, hoom: I was forgetting: singing that song put me in mind of old times; almost thought that I was talking to young Entings, I did. Well, you can lie on the bed. I am going to stand in the rain. Good night!”

“躺下来睡觉！”树胡重复道：“当然罗，我都忘记了，嗯，呼姆，我的记性真是有点糟糕。刚刚唱的歌让我满脑子都是过去的回忆，几乎以为我在和年轻的树人讲话呢。啊，你们就躺在这边吧，我要站在雨里面睡觉了。晚安！”

Merry and Pippin climbed on to the bed and curled up in the soft grass and fern. It was fresh, and sweet-scented, and warm. The lights died down, and the glow of the trees faded; but outside under the arch they could see old Treebeard standing, motionless, with his arms raised above his head. The bright stars peered out of the sky, and lit the falling water as it spilled on to his fingers and head, and dripped, dripped, in hundreds of silver drops on to his feet. Listening to the tinkling of the drops the hobbits fell asleep.

梅里和皮聘爬上床，蜷缩在柔软的苔藓和干草上。这张床有种新鲜的味道，而且还十分地温暖。四周的光芒慢慢地黯淡下来，树木的光线也跟着消失；但他们依旧可以看见树胡站在房间外，手举到头上，动也不动地站着。天空中星光闪灿，照亮那些洒在他身上的雨滴。哈比人们倾听着这让人心安的滴水声，最后终于睡着了。

They woke to find a cool sun shining into the great court, and on to the floor of the bay. Shreds of high cloud were overhead, running on a stiff easterly wind. Treebeard was not to be seen; but while Merry and Pippin were bathing in the basin by the arch, they heard him humming and singing, as he came up the path between the trees.

两人一醒过来，就发现阳光正照耀在这巨大的洞穴中，洒满了一地的金黄。头上可以看见稀疏的云朵，顺着东风飘移。树胡并不在附近，但是，当梅里和皮聘正在石盆旁盥洗的时候，他们听见树胡满嘴哼唱着走了进来。

“Hoo, ho! Good morning, Merry and Pippin!” he boomed, when he saw them. “You sleep long. I have been many a hundred strides already today. Now we will have a drink, and go to Entmoot.”

“呼，呵！早安哪，梅里和皮聘！”发现他们起床之后，树胡以低沉的声音问好：“你们睡得可还真久，我从早上到现在都已经走了几百步了。我们先喝一杯，然后去参加树人会议。”

He poured them out two full bowls from a stone jar; but from a different jar. The taste was not the same as it had been the night before: it was earthier and richer, more sustaining and food-like, so to speak. While the hobbits drank, sitting on the edge of the bed, and nibbling small pieces of elf-cake (more because they felt that eating was a necessary part of breakfast than because they felt hungry), Treebeard stood, humming in Entish or Elvish or some strange tongue, and looking up at the sky.

他又帮两人倒了满满一碗的饮料，但这次是从不同的大瓮中舀出来的。那味道也和前碗的不同，感觉起来更醇厚、更让人饱足，比较像食物。当哈比人坐在床边喝着饮料，边嚼着小块的精灵干粮时（这是因为他们觉得早餐一定要吃点什么，而不是因为他们肚子饿），树胡就在站在一旁，用树人语、精灵语和一些奇怪的语言喃喃自语，看着澄蓝的天空。

“Where is Entmoot?” Pippin ventured to ask.

“树人会议在哪里？”皮聘大胆问道。

“Hoo, eh? Entmoot?” said Treebeard, turning round. “It is not a place, it is a gathering of Ents-which does not often happen nowadays. But I have managed to make a fair number promise to come. We shall meet in the place where we have always met: Derndingle Men call it. It is away south from here. We must be there before noon.”

“呼？呃？树人会议？”树胡转过身说：“树人会议不是地方，而是树人集合的会议，这可是很少发生的事情喔，但我已经说服很多树人，让他们答应前来。我们集会的地方和以往一样，是人类叫作德丁哥的地方。它在这里的南方，我们必须在中午前赶到。”

Before long they set off. Treebeard carried the hobbits in his arms as on the previous day. At the entrance to the court he turned to the right, stepped over the stream, and strode away southwards along the feet of great tumbled slopes where trees were scanty. Above these the hobbits saw thickets of birch and rowan, and beyond them dark climbing pinewoods. Soon Treebeard turned a little away from the hills and plunged into deep groves, where the trees were larger, taller, and thicker than any that the hobbits had ever seen before. For a while they felt faintly the sense of stifling which they had noticed when they first ventured into Fangorn, but it soon passed. Treebeard did not talk to them. He hummed to himself deeply and thoughtfully, but Merry and Pippin caught no proper words: it sounded like boom, boom, rumboom, boorar, boom boom, dahrar boom boom, dahrar boom, and so on with a constant change of note and rhythm. Now and again they thought they heard an answer, a hum or a quiver of sound, that seemed to come out of the earth, or from boughs above their heads, or perhaps from the boles of the trees; but Treebeard did not stop or turn his head to either side.

不久之后，他们便出发了。像昨天一样，树胡抱着这两个哈比人。在洞穴的入口处，他往右边转，一脚跨过了泉水，沿着树木稀少的边坡往南边走。一路上哈比人们看见了许多丛的桦木和花楸，后方则是黑色高耸的针叶林。很快的，树胡就转了个方向，一头冲进浓密的森林里。这里的树木更大、更高，是哈比人所见过最浓密的森林。一开始，他们依旧感觉到像初进法贡森林时的气闷拥挤，但这感觉很快就过去了。树胡并不和他们交谈，他低沉的哼着曲调，似乎在思索着什么；对于梅里和皮聘来说，他口中所发出的似乎只是哼哼、呼呼、嗯嗯的节拍声，只不过音符和曲调时常变更而已。他们不时会听见森林里面传来回应，可能是哼声或是颤音，彷佛来自地面，或者是他们头上的枝叶；不过，树胡的动作丝毫没有减缓，头也没有往两边看。

They had been going for a long while — Pippin had tried to keep count of the “ent-strides” but had failed, getting lost at about three thousand — when Treebeard began to slacken his pace. Suddenly he stopped, put the hobbits down, and raised his curled hands to his mouth so that they made a hollow tube; then he blew or called through them. A great hoom, hom rang out like a deep-throated horn in the woods, and seemed to echo from the trees. Far off there came from several directions a similar hoom, hom, hoom that was not an echo but an answer.

他们走了很长的一段时间，皮聘试着想要计算树人总共走了多少步，但最后在三千步左右就搞混了；正好在同一时间，树胡也放慢了脚步。突然间，他停了下来，把哈比人放下，把手卷成杯状凑到嘴边；然后他不知道是用吹还是用喊叫的方式，发出了巨大的轰轰声，彷佛森林中独有的震耳号角声，余韵还在森林间不停地回汤。从很远的地方也传来了巨大的轰，轰，轰三声，回应他的呼唤。

Treebeard now perched Merry and Pippin on his shoulders and strode on again, every now and then sending out another horn-call, and each time the answers came louder and nearer. In this way they came at last to what looked like an impenetrable wall of dark evergreen trees, trees of a kind that the hobbits had never seen before: they branched out right from the roots, and were densely clad in dark glossy leaves like thornless holly, and they bore many stiff upright flower-spikes with large shining olive-coloured buds.

树胡接着把梅里和皮聘扛在肩膀上，再度开始往前走，偶尔还会停下来发出同样的号声；每次的回应则是越来越近、越来越大声。就这样，他们最后来到了一堵看来是由浓密的长青树所构成的高墙，哈比人从来没有看过这种植物。它们从根部就开始长出分支，暗绿色的树叶看起来有点像无刺的冬青一样，而树上还长有许多笔直的花茎，上面拱着许多翠绿色的花苞。

Several Ents had already arrived. More were coming in down the other paths, and some were now following Treebeard. As they drew near the hobbits gazed at them. They had expected to see a number of creatures as much like Treebeard as one hobbit is like another (at any rate to a stranger’s eye); and they were very much surprised to see nothing of the kind. The Ents were as different from one another as trees from trees: some as different as one tree is from another of the same name but quite different growth and history; and some as different as one tree-kind from another, as birch from beech, oak from fir. There were a few older Ents, bearded and gnarled like hale but ancient trees (though none looked as ancient as Treebeard); and there were tall strong Ents, clean-limbed and smooth-skinned like forest-trees in their prime; but there were no young Ents, no saplings. Altogether there were about two dozen standing on the wide grassy floor of the dingle, and as many more were marching in.

已经有几名树人先到了，还有许多树人则是从别的入口进来，其它人则是跟在树胡后面。当他们靠近的时候，哈比人仔细地打量他们。起初他们以为会看到和树胡没有多大差别的树人（就像哈比人在外人眼中看来没什么差异一样），但他们很惊讶地发现自己错得离谱。他们的长相就像同样种类的树一样，但因为生长过程而外貌有了极大的不同，有些甚至像是不同种类的树一样天差地别。这其中也有几名比较古老的树人，身上长满了苔藓和树瘤，但都没有一个比得上树胡这么德高望重；另外，也有许多高大、强壮的树人，枝丫和树皮都干干净净的，仿佛是正值壮年的树木一般，不过，在场的并没有小树人。当他们抵达的时候，谷地中的草地上已经大概站了三十名左右的树人，还有许多则正在进场。

Turning to the left and skirting this huge hedge Treebeard came in a few strides to a narrow entrance. Through it a worn path passed and dived suddenly down a long steep slope. The hobbits saw that they were descending into a great dingle, almost as round as a bowl, very wide and deep, crowned at the rim with the high dark evergreen hedge. It was smooth and grassclad inside, and there were no trees except three very tall and beautiful silver-birches that stood at the bottom of the bowl. Two other paths led down into the dingle: from the west and from the east.

树胡往左走，绕过这个巨大的围篱，几步之后就走进了一个狭窄的入口，穿过入口之后，眼前就是一道长长往下倾斜的陡坡。哈比人注意到他们正走入一个巨大的洼地，如同碗状的地形，十分的宽广，边缘则是被那道围篱围住。里面则是长满了青草，除了三株高大俊美的银桦树之外，草地上并没有其它的树木。另外两道来自东边和西边的信道，也同样通往这块洼地。

At first Merry and Pippin were struck chiefly by the variety that they saw: the many shapes, and colours, the differences in girth, and height, and length of leg and arm; and in the number of toes and fingers (anything from three to nine). A few seemed more or less related to Treebeard, and reminded them of beech-trees or oaks. But there were other kinds. Some recalled the chestnut: brown-skinned Ents with large splayfingered hands, and short thick legs. Some recalled the ash: tall straight grey Ents with many-fingered hands and long legs; some the fir (the tallest Ents), and others the birch, the rowan, and the linden. But when the Ents all gathered round Treebeard, bowing their heads slightly, murmuring in their slow musical voices, and looking long and intently at the strangers, then the hobbits saw that they were all of the same kindred, and all had the same eyes: not all so old or so deep as Treebeard’s, but all with the same slow, steady, thoughtful expression, and the same green flicker.

一开始，梅里和皮聘对于树人之间的多样化感到十分的惊讶，他们在树皮、枝叶、颜色、形状、手臂和脚的长度上各有不同（甚至连手指和脚指，都有从三根到九根的差异）。有几个树人看起来就和树胡有点关系，让他们想到桦木或是橡树；不过，场中也有其它种类的树木，有些人让他们想到栗树：这些树人的皮肤是深褐色的，手指又大又长，腿则是短而粗壮；有些树人让他们联想到白杨木：又高又直的身躯，手指十分细致优雅，手臂和腿都很长；有些则让他们想到杉木（最高的树人们），其它还有银杏、椴木、柏树等等。不过，等到所有的树人到齐，都低着头用音乐般的语言交谈，并且打量着两位陌生人的时候，他才清楚意识到这群型态各异的生物都属于同一个族类；他们都拥有相同的眼睛。并非每个树人的眼睛，都像树胡一样的深邃、古老；但都同样的拥有缓慢、稳定和沉思的神情，以及同样的绿色光芒。

As soon as the whole company was assembled, standing in a wide circle round Treebeard, a curious and unintelligible conversation began. The Ents began to murmur slowly: first one joined and then another, until they were all chanting together in a long rising and falling rhythm, now louder on one side of the ring, now dying away there and rising to a great boom on the other side. Though he could not catch or understand any of the words — he supposed the language was Entish — Pippin found the sound very pleasant to listen to at first; but gradually his attention wavered. After a long time (and the chant showed no signs of slackening) he found himself wondering, since Entish was such an “unhasty” language, whether they had yet got further than Good Morning; and if Treebeard was to call the roll, how many days it would take to sing all their names. “I wonder what the Entish is for yes or no,” he thought. He yawned.

等到所有的人都聚集起来，围拢在树胡身边之后，他们就开始了一连串让人无法理解的对话。树人一个接一个的开始呢喃，直到所有的人都加入这一连串漫长、高低起伏的音律中为止。有些时候这声音在一边会特别强烈，有些时候则是在一边低落下来，随即又在另一边以轰鸣声再度出现。虽然皮聘听不懂对方的语言，他推测这些都是树人语，他一开始觉得这声音听起来很悦耳；不过慢慢的，他的注意力涣散，且经过很长的一段时间之后（那呢喃声并没有丝毫缓慢下来的迹象），他发现自己开始胡思乱想：既然树人语是种很缓慢的语言，那么这些家伙到底说完“早安”了没有？如果树胡要点名，那不知道又会花上多少时间念完这些家伙的名字？“不知道树人语中的‘是’或‘不是’到底怎么说？”他边打呵欠边想道。

Treebeard was immediately aware of him. “Hm, ha, hey, my Pippin!” he said, and the other Ents all stopped their chant. “You are a hasty folk, I was forgetting; and anyway it is wearisome listening to a speech you do not understand. You may get down now. I have told your names to the Entmoot, and they have seen you, and they have agreed that you are not Orcs, and that a new line shall be put in the old lists. We have got no further yet, but that is quick work for an Entmoot. You and Merry can stroll about in the dingle, if you like. There is a well of good water, if you need refreshing, away yonder in the north bank. There are still some words to speak before the Moot really begins. I will come and see you again, and tell you how things are going.”

树胡立刻意识到他的转变：“嗯，哈，嘿，我可爱的皮聘！”他说，其它的树人都立刻停下念诵，“我都忘记你们是群很着急的生物，而且聆听你们完全不懂的语言也很累人，你们可以下来了。我刚刚才把你们的名字告诉树人会议，他们也看过你们了，也都同意你们不是半兽人，也同意将你们的那一行歌谣加入古老的列表中。我们还没有讨论到其它的地方，不过，对于树人会议来说，这样算很快了呢！你和梅里可以在附近逛逛，如果你们想要喝喝水、冲冲凉，在河北岸的地方有座水井。在会议正式开始之前，我们还有不少东西要谈，到时候我会再来找你们，告诉你们事情的发展如何。”

He put the hobbits down. Before they walked away, they bowed low. This feat seemed to amuse the Ents very much, to judge by the tone of their murmurs, and the flicker of their eyes; but they soon turned back to their own business. Merry and Pippin climbed up the path that came in from the west, and looked through the opening in the great hedge. Long tree-clad slopes rose from the lip of the dingle, and away beyond them, above the fir-trees of the furthest ridge there rose, sharp and white, the peak of a high mountain. Southwards to their left they could see the forest falling away down into the grey distance. There far away there was a pale green glimmer that Merry guessed to be a glimpse of the plains of Rohan.

他将哈比人放了下来，在他们走远之前，两人深深一鞠躬。从他们呢喃的抑扬顿挫和眼睛的眨动看来，这动作似乎让树人们大感兴趣。梅里和皮聘沿着之前下来的路又走了回去，从入口打量着外面的景象，远方的松树衬托着更远处高大的山脉。他们往南边看，可以看见森林一路延伸到天际，在更远的地方可以看见一丝翠绿的影子，梅里猜测那多半是洛汗的草原。

“I don’t know quite where we are,” said Merry; “but that peak is probably Methedras, and as far as I can remember the ring of Isengard lies in a fork or deep cleft at the end of the mountains. It is probably down behind this great ridge. There seems to be a smoke or haze over there, left of the peak, don’t you think?”

“我根本不知道自己现在在哪里，”梅里说：“但是，那座山峰多半是马西德拉峰，就我所记得的来说，艾辛格好象是在山脉尽头的一个凹谷中，多半就在座山脉后面。看起来在那山峰左边似乎有某种浓密的烟雾，你看看我说的对不对？”

“I wonder where Isengard is?” said Pippin.

“不知道艾辛格在哪里？”皮聘说。

“What is Isengard like?” said Pippin. “I wonder what Ents can do about it anyway.”

“艾辛格不知道会是什么样子？”皮聘说：“不知道树人会对他们采取什么行动？”

“So do I,” said Merry. “Isengard is a sort of ring of rocks or hills, I think, with a flat space inside and an island or pillar of rock in the middle, called Orthanc. Saruman has a tower on it. There is a gate, perhaps more than one, in the encircling wall, and I believe there is a stream running through it; it comes out of the mountains, and flows on across the Gap of Rohan. It does not seem the sort of place for Ents to tackle. But I have an odd feeling about these Ents: somehow I don’t think they are quite as safe and, well, funny as they seem. They seem slow, queer, and patient, almost sad; and yet I believe they could be roused. If that happened, I would rather not be on the other side.”

“我也很好奇，”梅里说：“我记得艾辛格是一圈岩石和小山所构成的地形，中间有块平地，再来则是正中央的一个孤岛还是高塔什么的，叫作欧散克，萨鲁曼在上面盖了座高塔。在四周的高墙上有一座门，好象还不只一座。我记得中间有条河流，是从山里面流出来的，一直流过洛汗隘口，看起来不像是树人可以轻易侵犯的地方。不过，我对这些树人有种奇怪的感觉，不知道为什么，我认为他们并不像外表看起来那么的安全和好笑。他们似乎动作很慢、诡异，而且有耐心，几乎到了让人替他们难过的地步；但是，我相信他们是可以被鼓舞起来的，如果一旦发生这种情形，我会希望自己不要和他们处在敌对的状况。”

“Yes!” said Pippin. “I know what you mean. There might be all the difference between an old cow sitting and thoughtfully chewing, and a bull charging; and the change might come suddenly. I wonder if Treebeard will rouse them. I am sure he means to try. But they don’t like being roused. Treebeard got roused himself last night, and then bottled it up again.”

“没错！”皮聘说：“我知道你的意思。一只公牛在草地上慢吞吞地吃草，或许看来很安全，但它也可能突然间气势汹汹地狂奔。不知道树胡能不能够唤醒这些沉睡的树人？昨天晚上树胡就变得很激动，后来才平静下来。”

The hobbits turned back. The voices of the Ents were still rising and falling in their conclave. The sun had now risen high enough to look over the high hedge: it gleamed on the tops of the birches and lit the northward side of the dingle with a cool yellow light. There they saw a little glittering fountain. They walked along the rim of the great bowl at the feet of the evergreens — it was pleasant to feel cool grass about their toes again, and not to be in a hurry — and then they climbed down to the gushing water. They drank a little, a clean, cold, sharp draught, and sat down on a mossy stone, watching the patches of sun on the grass and the shadows of the sailing clouds passing over the floor of the dingle. The murmur of the Ents went on. It seemed a very strange and remote place, outside their world, and far from everything that had ever happened to them. A great longing came over them for the faces and voices of their companions, especially for Frodo and Sam, and for Strider.

哈比人又往回走，树人的声音依旧在他们的会议场上不停地起起伏伏。太阳现在已经攀到半空，照着四周的树丛：阳光照在这些桦木上，让谷地的北边都笼罩在和煦的黄色光芒下，他们也在那方向发现了一道涓涓细流。两人一起走到长青树脚下的水流旁，能够再度光着脚踏在青草上，不需要赶路、不需要担心时间的感觉实在很舒服。他们到溪水旁喝了一大口冷冽的溪水；在一块长满青苔的岩石上坐了下来，看着流泻在草地上的阳光，以及蓝天上行云在地面投下的影子。树人的呢喃声融化到背景中，整个谷地似乎化成一个遥远的世外桃源，让他们忘却了一切曾经发生的遭遇。他们开始想念同伴们的声音和面孔，特别是佛罗多、山姆和神行客的身影。

At last there came a pause in the Ent-voices; and looking up they saw Treebeard coming towards them, with another Ent at his side.

好不容易树人的声音停止了，他们抬起头，发现树胡正带着另一名树人朝向他们走来。

“Hm, hoom, here I am again,” said Treebeard. “Are you getting weary, or feeling impatient, hmm, eh? Well, I am afraid that you must not get impatient yet. We have finished the first stage now; but I have still got to explain things again to those that live a long way off, far from Isengard, and those that I could not get round to before the Moot, and after that we shall have to decide what to do. However, deciding what to do does not take Ents so long as going over all the facts and events that they have to make up their minds about. Still, it is no use denying, we shall be here a long time yet: a couple of days very likely. So I have brought you a companion. He has an ent-house nearby. Bregalad is his Elvish name. He says he has already made up his mind and does not need to remain at the Moot. Hm, hm, he is the nearest thing among us to a hasty Ent. You ought to get on together. Good-bye!” Treebeard turned and left them.

“嗯，呼姆，我又来啦！”树胡说：“你们觉得累或是不耐烦了吗？希望你们不要觉得不耐烦，因为我们才刚结束第一回合的会议呢。我还必须对那些住得很远的树人，那些离艾辛格极远的人、或是我来不及在会议前通知的人解释这一切；在那之后，我们还必须决定该做些什么。不过，只要我们详细地说明了一切发生的事实，对树人来说，要下定决心执行某个决议并不会花太久的时间。我也不想否认，恐怕会议还得持续很长的时间，多半还要好几天。因此，我带了个同伴给你。他在附近有个居所，布理加拉德是他的精灵语名字。他说他已经做好决定，不需要继续待在会场中。嗯嗯，他是树人中个性勉强符合你们急躁定义的家伙了，你们应该会处得很好。再见！”树胡转身离开了他们。

Bregalad stood for some time surveying the hobbits solemnly; and they looked at him, wondering when he would show any signs of “hastiness”. He was tall, and seemed to be one of the younger Ents; he had smooth shining skin on his arms and legs; his lips were ruddy, and his hair was grey-green. He could bend and sway like a slender tree in the wind. At last he spoke, and his voice though resonant was higher and clearer than Treebeard’s.

布理加拉德站在那边，花了一些时间认真地打量哈比人；两人回瞪着他，心中怀疑不知何时可以看到他展现出“急躁”的个性来。他身材很高，应该是属于比较年轻的树人，手臂和腿的外皮都很光滑；除此之外，他的嘴唇红润，头发是灰绿色的。布理加拉德可以像是轻盈的小树在风中摇摆一样的摇晃。最后，他开口了，他的声音频率比起树胡要高，而且又比较清澈。

“Ha, hmm, my friends, let us go for a walk!” he said. “I am Bregalad, that is Quickbeam in your language. But it is only a nickname, of course. They have called me that ever since I said yes to an elder Ent before he had finished his question. Also I drink quickly, and go out while some are still wetting their beards. Come with me!”

“哈，嗯嗯，我的朋友们，让我们散散步吧！”他说：“我是布理加拉德，在你们的语言中是快枝的意思，不过，当然啦，这只是我的绰号而已。自从我在一名老树人说完问题之前，我就回答好的之后，他们就都这样叫我了。而且，我喝水的速度也很快，在其它人才刚弄湿嘴唇的时候，我就喝完出门去了。你们跟我来！”

He reached down two shapely arms and gave a long-fingered hand to each of the hobbits. All that day they walked about, in the woods with him, singing, and laughing; for Quickbeam often laughed. He laughed if the sun came out from behind a cloud, he laughed if they came upon a stream or spring: then he stooped and splashed his feet and head with water; he laughed sometimes at some sound or whisper in the trees. Whenever he saw a rowan-tree he halted a while with his arms stretched out, and sang, and swayed as he sang.

他伸出两只手，牵住两名哈比人。接下来整天他们都和他一起在森林里面漫步，唱着歌，欢笑着。快枝是个很爱笑的树人，如果太阳从云后探出头来，他会大笑，如果路上遇到一条小溪，他也会大笑，还会把头和脚伸进水中泼水；只要在树林中听见什么声音，他也都会大笑。不论何时，只要他在路上看见花楸树，他就会停下脚步，伸出手摇晃着身体高声吟唱。

At nightfall he brought them to his ent-house: nothing more than a mossy stone set upon turves under a green bank. Rowan-trees grew in a circle about it, and there was water (as in all ent-houses), a spring bubbling out from the bank. They talked for a while as darkness fell on the forest. Not far away the voices of the Entmoot could be heard still going on; but now they seemed deeper and less leisurely, and every now and again one great voice would rise in a high and quickening music, while all the others died away. But beside them Bregalad spoke gently in their own tongue, almost whispering; and they learned that he belonged to Skinbark’s people, and the country where they had lived had been ravaged. That seemed to the hobbits quite enough to explain his “hastiness”, at least in the matter of Orcs.

到了晚上，他将两人带到他的屋子里面，这不过是块长满青苔的大石，安置在树下所构成的简陋遮风之处。四周长满了花楸树，如同所有的树人屋子一样，房子旁还有山壁中冒出来的泉水。随着黑暗降临，他们又继续谈天说地，他们可以听见远处树人会议的声音，不过，他们的声音听起来似乎变得比较严肃。偶然会有一个巨大的声音变得比较快速、急促，其它的声音都跟着放低音量；不过，布理加拉德依旧在他们身边，用他们的语言呢喃着。哈比人们稍后知道他是树皮的同胞，而他们所居住的地方就正是首当其冲遭到破坏的森林，两人才明白，为什么他在对付半兽人的这个话题上，会这么的急躁。

“There were rowan-trees in my home,” said Bregalad, softly and sadly, “rowan-trees that took root when I was an Enting, many many years ago in the quiet of the world. The oldest were planted by the Ents to try and please the Entwives; but they looked at them and smiled and said that they knew where whiter blossom and richer fruit were growing. Yet there are no trees of all that race, the people of the Rose, that are so beautiful to me. And these trees grew and grew, till the shadow of each was like a green hall, and their red berries in the autumn were a burden, and a beauty and a wonder. Birds used to flock there. I like birds, even when they chatter; and the rowan has enough and to spare. But the birds became unfriendly and greedy and tore at the trees, and threw the fruit down and did not eat it. Then Orcs came with axes and cut down my trees. I came and called them by their long names, but they did not quiver, they did not hear or answer: they lay dead.

“在我的家园中有很多的花楸树，”布理加拉德幽幽地说：“在我还是小树人的时候，这些花楸树就已经落地生根。最早的花楸树是树人种下，用来取悦树妻们的；但她们看着这些树，微笑着说她们知道哪里还有更白的花朵和更饱满的果实，不过，在我眼中，全天下没有任何比它们更美丽的植物了！这些树木一直不停地生长着，每株树都俨然长成一座巨大的绿色厅堂，在秋天时，它们的红色梅子会变成它们的负担、美丽与骄傲。以前有许多的飞鸟聚集该处，我喜欢小鸟，即使它们会吱喳乱叫也不会改变我的想法，而且那时的花楸树也多得可以和任何人共享。但是，慢慢的那些鸟儿变得贪婪，它们单纯地抓下那些果实，甚至不吃它们；然后，半兽人带着斧头来了，他们砍倒我的树木。我呼唤着它们的名字，但它们听不见，也无法回应，它们躺在地上，死了。

O rowan mine, I saw you shine upon a summer’s day,

喔，我的花楸树，我看见你沐浴在金黄的阳光里，

O rowan fair, upon your hair how white the blossom lay!

喔，美哉花楸树，满树的白色花苞更衬托你的美丽，

Your rind so bright, your leaves so light, your voice so cool and soft:

你的树皮光滑，树叶清飘，声音柔软清冽：

Your crown is spilled, your voice is stilled for ever and a day.

你的皇冠粉碎，声音如花凋谢。

O Orofarnë, Lassemista, Carnimírië!

喔，欧络法恩，雷沙米塔，卡里密力！

O rowan dead, upon your head your hair is dry and grey;

喔，亡矣花楸树，你的秀发干裂灰败；

Upon your head how golden-red the crown you bore aloft!

金红色的皇冠是你头上的一切！

The next day they spent also in his company, but they did not go far from his “house”. Most of the time they sat silent under the shelter of the bank; for the wind was colder, and the clouds closer and greyer; there was little sunshine, and in the distance the voices of the Ents at the Moot still rose and fell, sometimes loud and strong, sometimes low and sad, sometimes quickening, sometimes slow and solemn as a dirge. A second night came and still the Ents held conclave under hurrying clouds and fitful stars.

第二天他们也和他一起度过，但这次三人并没有远离他的“屋子”。大多数的时间他们坐在岩石下，因为风儿变得更加冰冷，云朵变灰，更为靠近，而远处的树人说话声音依旧不停地抑扬顿挫，有时强而有力，有时低回忧伤，有时快，有时则慢得让人感伤。夜色降临，树人会议依旧在满天星斗之下继续进行着。

O Orofarnë, Lassemista, Carnimírië!”

喔，欧络法恩，雷沙米塔，卡里密力！”

The hobbits fell asleep to the sound of the soft singing of Bregalad, that seemed to lament in many tongues the fall of trees that he had loved.

哈比人在布理加拉德的温柔歌声中缓缓睡去，在梦中，彷佛也一同哀悼这许多逝去的美丽树木。

Then with a crash came a great ringing shout: ra-hoom-rah! The trees quivered and bent as if a gust had struck them. There was another pause, and then a marching music began like solemn drums, and above the rolling beats and booms there welled voices singing high and strong.

突然间在一声巨响中，传来了让人热血沸腾的叫声：啦─轰，啦！整座森林随着这声音摇摆低头，仿佛被一阵飓风吹袭。又经过了片刻的沉静，激昂雄壮的进行曲伴随着树人低沉、有力的声音和节拍声传了过来。

The third day broke, bleak and windy. At sunrise the Ents’ voices rose to a great clamour and then died down again. As the morning wore on the wind fell and the air grew heavy with expectancy. The hobbits could see that Bregalad was now listening intently, although to them, down in the dell of his ent-house, the sound of the Moot was faint.

第三天破晓的时候，风强而冷冽。天一亮，树人的声音就突然变强，随后又减弱到几乎无声的地步。随着晨光渐渐展露，风停云止，空气中充满了期待的气氛。哈比人注意到布理加拉德正专注地倾听着树人会议中的任何声响。

We come, we come with roll of drum: ta-runda runda runda rom!

出发，出发，伴随着鼓声前进：哒隆哒─隆达─隆达─轰！

The afternoon came, and the sun, going west towards the mountains, sent out long yellow beams between the cracks and fissures of the clouds. Suddenly they were aware that everything was very quiet; the whole forest stood in listening silence. Of course, the Ent-voices had stopped. What did that mean? Bregalad was standing up erect and tense, looking back northwards towards Derndingle.

到了当天下午，太阳渐渐往西方偏移，云朵空隙间的稀疏阳光是照亮大地的唯一光源。突然间，众人意识到一切的吵杂声响都停止下来，整个森林陷入沉寂之中，树人的声音早就停息。这代表着什么意思？布理加拉德站得又高又挺，回头看着树人聚集的地方。

The Ents were coming: ever nearer and louder rose their song:

树人们越走越近，歌声越来越激昂：

We come, we come with horn and drum: ta-rna rna rna rom!

出发，出发，伴随着战鼓、号角前进：哒隆哒─隆达─隆达─轰！

Bregalad picked up the hobbits and strode from his house.

布理加拉德抱起哈比人，从房子中走了出来。

“Hoom, hom! Here we come with a boom, here we come at last!” called Treebeard when he caught sight of Bregalad and the hobbits. “Come, join the Moot! We are off. We are off to Isengard!”

“呼姆，轰！我们终于来了，我们终于来了！”当树胡看见布理加拉德和哈比人的时候，他大声喊道：“来吧，加入我们！我们要出发了，我们要前往艾辛格！”

Before long they saw the marching line approaching: the Ents were swinging along with great strides down the slope towards them. Treebeard was at their head, and some fifty followers were behind him, two abreast, keeping step with their feet and beating time with their hands upon their flanks. As they drew near the flash and flicker of their eyes could be seen.

不久之后，他们就看见行进的队伍渐渐靠近，树人们跨着大步朝向他们走来。树胡站在最前方，大约有五十名树人两两并肩紧跟在后，他们的脚步齐一，手还同时打着拍子。当他们逐渐靠近的时候，双眼中的光芒也越来越明显。

“To Isengard!” the Ents cried in many voices. “To Isengard!”

“前往艾辛格！”树人们异口同声地大喊，“前往艾辛格！”

Though Isengard be strong and hard, as cold as stone and bare as bone,

纵使艾辛格是铜墙铁壁，易守难攻插翅也难飞，

To Isengard! Though Isengard be ringed and barred with doors of stone;

攻入艾辛格！无论它是否被坚不可破的盘石包围；

We go, we go, we go to war, to hew the stone and break the door;

我们冲，我们撞，我们终于要宣战，敲破那石头打开它城门；

For bole and bough are burning now, the furnace roars — we go to war!

只要邪恶的炉火不停息，我们就会不停往前进！

To Isengard with doom we come!

艾辛格的末日在眼前！

To land of gloom with tramp of doom, with roll of drum, we come, we come;

战鼓雷鸣，大地哀嚎，誓不破城绝不返，前进，前进；

With doom we come, with doom we come!

艾辛格的末日在眼前，艾辛格的末日在眼前！

Bregalad, his eyes shining, swung into the line beside Treebeard. The old Ent now took the hobbits back, and set them on his shoulders again, and so they rode proudly at the head of the singing company with beating hearts and heads held high. Though they had expected something to happen eventually, they were amazed at the change that had come over the Ents. It seemed now as sudden as the bursting of a flood that had long been held back by a dike.

布理加拉德的双眼闪动着火光，在树胡的身边走着。老树人现在把哈比人抱起来，将他们放回肩膀上，因此，他们可以抬头挺胸，血脉沸腾地跟着队伍前进。虽说他们本来就预料到会有惊天动地的变化，但他们对于这些树人的转变还是感到十分惊讶。他们的怒气彷佛山洪爆发一样的突然，势不能挡。

So they sang as they marched southwards.

他们就这么唱着战歌，一路往南而去。

“The Ents made up their minds rather quickly, after all, didn’t they?” Pippin ventured to say after some time, when for a moment the singing paused, and only the beating of hands and feet was heard.

“树人们毕竟还是很快下定了决心，对吧？”皮聘过了不久之后，趁着歌声暂歇，四周只有踏步声和挥手声的时候问道。

“Quickly?” said Treebeard. “Hoom! Yes, indeed. Quicker than I expected. Indeed I have not seen them roused like this for many an age. We Ents do not like being roused; and we never are roused unless it is clear to us that our trees and our lives are in great danger. That has not happened in this Forest since the wars of Sauron and the Men of the Sea. It is the orc-work, the wanton hewing — rárum — without even the bad excuse of feeding the fires, that has so angered us; and the treachery of a neighbour, who should have helped us. Wizards ought to know better: they do know better. There is no curse in Elvish, Entish, or the tongues of Men bad enough for such treachery. Down with Saruman!”

“快吗？”树胡回答道：“呼姆！的确很快，比我想象得快多了。我已经有很多很多年没有看过他们这么激动了。我们树人通常不喜欢情绪上的波动，除非认知到我们的性命和树群陷入极端的危险，否则我们是不能采取行动的。自从索伦和渡海的人类宣战以来，这座森林就没有这样过了。是那些半兽人肆无忌惮的砍伐激怒了我们，而且，本来应该协助我们的邻居竟然出了我们。巫师们应该知道不能犯下这种致命的错误，他们应该知道的。不管是精灵语、树人与或是人类的语言，都没有办法描述这种恶行。我们要推翻萨鲁曼！”

“Ho, hm, well, we could, you know! You do not know, perhaps, how strong we are. Maybe you have heard of Trolls? They are mighty strong. But Trolls are only counterfeits, made by the Enemy in the Great Darkness, in mockery of Ents, as Orcs were of Elves. We are stronger than Trolls. We are made of the bones of the earth. We can split stone like the roots of trees, only quicker, far quicker, if our minds are roused! If we are not hewn down, or destroyed by fire or blast of sorcery, we could split Isengard into splinters and crack its walls into rubble.”

“呵，嗯，我们真的可以！或许你还不知道我们有多强壮。你们听过食人妖吗？它们拥有一身可怕的怪力。但是，食人妖只是天魔王在黑暗时代里模仿树人所做出的仿冒品，正如同半兽人是精灵的仿制品一样。我们比食人妖强大。我们是大地的骨干所孕育，我们可以像树根一样轻易地断山裂石，只要我们一激动起来，那速度可是快多了！只要我们没有被砍倒，或是被火焰、魔法给摧毁，我们可以将艾辛格撕成两半，甚至将它的铜墙铁壁都化成废墟。”

“Will you really break the doors of Isengard?” asked Merry.

“你们真的会打破艾辛格的城门吗？”梅里问道。

“Hm, ah, yes, that is so. I have not forgotten it. Indeed I have thought long about it. But, you see, many of the Ents are younger than I am, by many lives of trees. They are all roused now, and their mind is all on one thing: breaking Isengard. But they will start thinking again before long; they will cool down a little, when we take our evening drink. What a thirst we shall have! But let them march now and sing! We have a long way to go, and there is time ahead for thought. It is something to have started.”

“嗯，啊，是的，的确是如此，我并没有忘记这一点，我的确为此思索了很久。但是，许多的树人都比我要年轻很多，他们现在都已经被唤醒了，脑海中只有一个念头：摧毁艾辛格！不过，不久之后他们的情绪就会比较平复，在我们停下脚步喝水的时候，他们会开始仔细思考这个问题，啊，到时候我们一定会很口渴的。我们还有很长的路要走，还有很长的时间可以利用，这些问题都可以在这段时间里面好好的想。”

“But Saruman will try to stop you, won’t he?”

“但萨鲁曼会试着阻止你们，对吧？”

“Of course, it is likely enough, my friends,” he said slowly, “likely enough that we are going to our doom: the last march of the Ents. But if we stayed at home and did nothing, doom would find us anyway, sooner or later. That thought has long been growing in our hearts; and that is why we are marching now. It was not a hasty resolve. Now at least the last march of the Ents may be worth a song. Aye,” he sighed, “we may help the other peoples before we pass away. Still, I should have liked to see the songs come true about the Entwives. I should dearly have liked to see Fimbrethil again. But there, my friends, songs like trees bear fruit only in their own time and their own way: and sometimes they are withered untimely.”

“当然，吾友，也是有这个可能，”他缓缓地说：“我们可能迈向的是我们自己的末日，这是树人最后一次的进军。但是，如果我们待在家中袖手旁观，迟早末日会找上我们。其实我们自己也都意识到了这件事情，这也是为什么我们会下定决心的原因之一。这并不是仓促的决定，至少，树人的最后一战或许可以换取后人的歌颂，啊…”他叹气道：“我们在彻底消失之前，或许可以对这世界作出最后的贡献。不过，我还是很希望在有生之年，能够看到我们和树妻的歌谣成真，我实在很想念芬伯希尔！好吧，这么说吧，歌曲就像树木一样，它们结实的方式和时机不是外人可以预料的，有些时候，它们会就这样枯萎凋谢。”

Treebeard marched on, singing with the others for a while. But after a time his voice died to a murmur and fell silent again. Pippin could see that his old brow was wrinkled and knotted. At last he looked up, and Pippin could see a sad look in his eyes, sad but not unhappy. There was a light in them, as if the green flame had sunk deeper into the dark wells of his thought.

树胡和其它人一起唱着歌，继续往前进。在过了一段时间之后，他的声音化成呢喃，最后甚至沉默下来。皮聘看见他的双眉紧锁在一起。最后，他抬起头，皮聘看见他的眼中有着哀伤的光芒，但那并非是不快乐的情绪，他眼中的光芒仿佛沉陷得更深了些。

Pippin looked behind. The number of the Ents had grown — or what was happening? Where the dim bare slopes that they had crossed should lie, he thought he saw groves of trees. But they were moving! Could it be that the trees of Fangorn were awake, and the forest was rising, marching over the hills to war? He rubbed his eyes wondering if sleep and shadow had deceived him; but the great grey shapes moved steadily onward. There was a noise like wind in many branches. The Ents were drawing near the crest of the ridge now, and all song had ceased. Night fell, and there was silence: nothing was to be heard save a faint quiver of the earth beneath the feet of the Ents, and a rustle, the shade of a whisper as of many drifting leaves. At last they stood upon the summit, and looked down into a dark pit: the great cleft at the end of the mountains: Nan Curunír, the Valley of Saruman.

皮聘回头看着队伍，他发现树人的数量增加了──还是他看错了？原先光秃秃的斜坡上现在长满了树木，但它们都在移动着，难道是法贡森林整个苏醒过来，越过山丘准备开战了吗？他揉揉眼睛，怀疑是否睡意让他看到了幻影？但那些灰色的身影依旧继续往前移动，许多的枝丫中都传来了如同刺耳风声一般的声响。树人们越来越靠近高地边缘，所有的歌声也都停了下来。夜色降临，四野一片寂静，只有大地在树人脚下微微颤动和枝叶骚动的声音。最后，他们走到了高地边缘，低头看着一个幽深的黑洞：那是山脉边缘的裂谷，捻苦路纳，萨鲁曼之谷。

“Night lies over Isengard,” said Treebeard.

“夜色笼罩艾辛格！”树胡说。

The Ents went striding on at a great pace. They had descended into a long fold of the land that fell away southward; now they began to climb up, and up, on to the high western ridge. The woods fell away and they came to scattered groups of birch, and then to bare slopes where only a few gaunt pine-trees grew. The sun sank behind the dark hill-back in front. Grey dusk fell.

树人们继续大步前进，他们此时已经走到一块往南方攀升的斜坡上，他们不停地往上爬，来到了西边的高地。众人离开了森林，来到了只有稀疏桦木生长的空旷高地，然后是只有几株苍老松树的荒地。太阳缓缓地落入眼前的山脉背后，暮色笼罩大地。