Tired as he was Merry could not sleep. He had ridden now for four days on end, and the ever-deepening gloom had slowly weighed down his heart. He began to wonder why he had been so eager to come, when he had been given every excuse, even his lord’s command, to stay behind. He wondered, too, if the old King knew that he had been disobeyed and was angry. Perhaps not. There seemed to be some understanding between Dernhelm and Elfhelm, the Marshal who commanded the éored in which they were riding. He and all his men ignored Merry and pretended not to hear if he spoke. He might have been just another bag that Dernhelm was carrying. Dernhelm was no comfort: he never spoke to anyone. Merry felt small, unwanted, and lonely. Now the time was anxious, and the host was in peril. They were less than a day’s ride from the out-walls of Minas Tirith that encircled the townlands. Scouts had been sent ahead. Some had not returned. Others hastening back had reported that the road was held in force against them. A host of the enemy was encamped upon it, three miles west of Amon Dîn, and some strength of men was already thrusting along the road and was no more than three leagues away. Orcs were roving in the hills and woods along the roadside. The king and Éomer held council in the watches of the night.
梅里虽然很累，却一直睡不着。他已经连续骑了四天，那永不消散的黑暗开始让他心情也跟着变沉重，他开始怀疑自己为什么这么急着要跟来，为什么明明有各种各样的借口，甚至连骠骑王都对他下令，他还是坚持不要留在后方。他也思索着，如果年老的国王知道他违抗命令偷偷跑来，会不会生气？或许不会吧，德海姆和统领他们马队的将军艾海姆之间似乎有某种默契。他和所有的部下都假装没看见梅里，当他说话的时候也刻意置之不理，大家可能都把他当成德海姆所携带的另一个背包，德海姆则十分满足于这情况，他也不和任何人交谈。梅里觉得自己很渺小、微不足道，非常孤单。大伙变得越来越紧张，处境也越来越危险，他们距离米那斯提力斯建造在周围平原上的外墙大概还有一天的马程。斥候被派去前线侦察状况，有些再也没有回来，其他人则是匆忙的赶回，报告前方的道路全都被敌人占领了。一支敌军驻守在道路上，大约在阿蒙丁山脉西方三哩的地方，沿着道路不过九哩的地方还有许多人类的部队驻扎，半兽人则是充斥在路旁的山丘和森林中。骠骑王和伊欧墨趁着夜色召开了多次会议。
He could not see them, but he knew that all round him were the companies of the Rohirrim. He could smell the horses in the dark, and could hear their shiftings and their soft stamping on the needle-covered ground. The host was bivouacked in the pine-woods that clustered about Eilenach Beacon, a tall hill standing up from the long ridges of the Drúadan Forest that lay beside the great road in East Anórien.
他看不见身边的景象，但他知道周遭全都是洛汗国的骠骑，他在黑暗中可以闻到马匹的气息，可以听到它们在盖满松针的地面上踱步的声音。部队在靠近爱伦那奇烽火台的松林中扎营，爱伦那奇是座突出于督伊顿森林边缘的山丘，附近就是东安诺瑞安中宽大的道路。
It was dark and Merry could see nothing as he lay on the ground rolled in a blanket; yet though the night was airless and windless, all about him hidden trees were sighing softly. He lifted his head. Then he heard it again: a sound like faint drums in the wooded hills and mountain-steps. The throb would cease suddenly and then be taken up again at some other point, now nearer, now further off. He wondered if the watchmen had heard it.
梅里躺在地上，裹在毯子内，由于四周伸手不见五指，所以他什么也看不见。可是，虽然夜空中一点微风也没有，四周的树木却都在微微地叹息。他抬起头。然后他又听见了那声音：像是在茂密的森林与山丘中回汤的微弱鼓声。这脉动声有时会突然消失，然后又在其他的地方接续下来，有时远，有时近，不知道值夜的卫兵是否听见了这声音。
A tall figure loomed up and stumbled over him, cursing the tree-roots. He recognized the voice of Elfhelm the Marshal.
一名高大的人类站起来，不小心踩到他，开始诅咒讨厌的树根。他认出那是艾海姆将军的声音。
“I am not a tree-root, Sir,” he said, “nor a bag, but a bruised hobbit. The least you can do in amends is to tell me what is afoot.”
“大人，我不是什么树根，”他说：“也不是行李，而是个浑身淤青的哈比人。你至少可以告诉我发生什么事情，补偿我所受的伤害。”
Merry wanted somebody to talk to, and he thought of Pippin. But that only increased his restlessness. Poor Pippin, shut up in the great city of stone, lonely and afraid. Merry wished he was a tall Rider like Éomer and could blow a horn or something and go galloping to his rescue. He sat up, listening to the drums that were beating again, now nearer at hand. Presently he heard voices speaking low, and he saw dim half-shrouded lanterns passing through the trees. Men nearby began to move uncertainly in the dark.
梅里很想要找个人聊天，他想到了皮聘，但这只是让他更睡不着而已。可怜的皮聘被关在那巨大的岩城中，孤单而害怕。梅里希望自己能像伊欧墨一样，是个高大的战士，可以吹响号角之类的乐器，前往救援他。最后，他坐直身，聆听那似乎越来越靠近的鼓声。他可以听见人们低声交谈，被半遮掩住的油灯在树木间移动，附近的人类开始在黑暗中游走。
“Is the enemy coming then?” asked Merry anxiously. “Are those their drums? I began to think I was imagining them, as no one else seemed to take any notice of them.”
“是敌人来了吗？”梅里紧张兮兮地问：“那是他们的鼓声吗？由于都没人作出回应，我还以为我在幻想呢！”
“Anything that can keep so in this devil’s mirk,” answered Elfhelm. “But my lord sends word that we must set ourselves in readiness: orders may come for a sudden move.”
“在这该死的黑暗中什么东西也看不清楚，”艾海姆回答道：“我王下令所有人必须立刻做好出发的准备，我们可能要紧急出动。”
Merry did not like this talk of wild men and poisoned darts, but quite apart from that a great weight of dread was on him. Waiting was unbearable. He longed to know what was going to happen. He got up and soon was walking warily in pursuit of the last lantern before it disappeared among the trees.
梅里并不太喜欢野人和淬毒的箭矢，但是，他还有比这个更沉重的事情要担心。等待实在让人难以忍受，他非常想要知道究竟会发生什么事情。他站了起来，很快就按照之前最后一盏油灯出现的路线追了过去。
“Nay, nay,” said Elfhelm, “the enemy is on the road not in the hills. You hear the Woses, the Wild Men of the Woods: thus they talk together from afar. They still haunt Drúadan Forest, it is said. Remnants of an older time they be, living few and secretly, wild and wary as the beasts. They go not to war with Gondor or the Mark; but now they are troubled by the darkness and the coming of the orcs: they fear lest the Dark Years be returning, as seems likely enough. Let us be thankful that they are not hunting us: for they use poisoned arrows, it is said, and they are woodcrafty beyond compare. But they have offered their services to Théoden. Even now one of their headmen is being taken to the king. Yonder go the lights. So much I have heard but no more. And now I must busy myself with my lord’s commands. Pack yourself up, Master Bag!” He vanished into the shadows.
“不，不是，”艾海姆说：“敌人在道路上，不在山里。你听见的是沃斯人，他们是居住在森林中的野人，靠着鼓声来交谈。据说他们还居住在督伊顿森林中。他们是远古遗留下来的少数民族，十分隐密地居住在森林中，过着像是野兽一般机饯和小心的生活。他们不会和刚铎或洛汗作战，但现在他们为了这黑暗和半兽人的出现而担心，他们害怕黑暗的年代又要重新降临了。我们最好感谢他们不准备猎杀我们，谣传他们使用的是毒箭，在野外求生和箭术上更是无人能敌。不过，他们自愿要协助希优顿王，刚刚他们的首领才被带到骠骑王身边，这也是火光的来源。我只听说了这么多，我得赶快去执行王上的命令了。赶快打包好吧，袋子先生！”他消失在阴影中。
There was a silence as Merry crept nearer, and then the Wild Man began to speak, in answer to some question, it seemed. His voice was deep and guttural, yet to Merry’s surprise he spoke the Common Speech, though in a halting fashion, and uncouth words were mingled with it.
当梅里靠近的时候，众人正陷入沉默，接着，野人开口说话了。看来似乎是在回答某个问题。他的声音十分低沉、沙哑，但梅里惊讶地发现，他所使用的竟然是通用语；只是有些迟疑，中间还夹杂着一些不标准的发音。
Presently he came to an open space where a small tent had been set up for the king under a great tree. A large lantern, covered above, was hanging from a bough and cast a pale circle of light below. There sat Théoden and Éomer, and before them on the ground sat a strange squat shape of a man, gnarled as an old stone, and the hairs of his scanty beard straggled on his lumpy chin like dry moss. He was short-legged and fat-armed, thick and stumpy, and clad only with grass about his waist. Merry felt that he had seen him before somewhere, and suddenly he remembered the Púkel-men of Dunharrow. Here was one of those old images brought to life, or maybe a creature descended in true line through endless years from the models used by the forgotten craftsmen long ago.
不久之后，他来到了一块空地上，骠骑王的帐篷就设立在一株大树下，一盏上方被遮掩住的油灯挂在树枝上，对四周投射出苍白微弱的光芒。希优顿和伊欧墨坐在地上，面前则是一个相貌奇怪的人。他看起来如同岩石一样的苍老，一头乱发和胡须，则是像苔藓一样挂在他肥胖的脑袋和下巴上。他的腿很短，身材很臃肿，只有腰间挂着蔽体的草叶。梅里觉得之前似乎看过这个人，接着，他突然想起了登哈洛的普哥人。他长得和那些雕像一模一样，或许他就是那些远古的工匠所雕琢的对象。
“Bring news,” said the Wild Man. “We look out from hills. We climb big mountain and look down. Stone-city is shut. Fire burns there outside; now inside too. You wish to come there? Then you must be quick. But gorgûn and men out of far-away,” he waved a short gnarled arm eastward, “sit on horse-road. Very many, more than Horse-men.”
“带情报回来，”野人说：“我们从山上看，我们可以爬高山往下看。石城关起来，外面失火，里面也失火，你想要去吗？那你们必须快！但哥刚和人类在那边，”他朝着东方挥舞着粗短的手，“挡在马路上，很多人，比骑马的人要多…”
“How do you know that?” said Éomer.
“你怎么知道？”伊欧墨说。
“No, father of Horse-men,” he said, “we fight not. Hunt only. Kill gorgûn in woods, hate orc-folk. You hate gorgûn too. We help as we can. Wild Men have long ears and long eyes; know all paths. Wild Men live here before Stone-houses; before Tall Men come up out of Water.”
“不，马队之父，”他说：“我们不战斗、只狩猎，杀死森林中的哥刚哥刚就是半兽人，讨厌半兽人。你们也恨哥刚，我们可以帮忙。野人耳朵和眼睛都很锐利，知道所有路。野人在石屋之前就住这里，高大人还没从海上过来。”
“But our need is for aid in battle,” said Éomer. “How will you and your folk help us?”
“但我们需要的是战场上的支援，”伊欧墨说：“你和你的同胞要怎么帮助我们？”
The old man’s flat face and dark eyes showed nothing, but his voice was sullen with displeasure. “Wild Men are wild, free, but not children,” he answered. “I am great headman, Ghân-buri-Ghân. I count many things: stars in sky, leaves on trees, men in the dark. You have a score of scores counted ten times and five. They have more. Big fight, and who will win? And many more walk round walls of Stone-houses.”
老人毫无表情的脸上没有透露什么，但从他的声音中可以感觉到他有些不悦。“野人自由生活、不拘束，但不是小孩，”他回答：“我是伟大的头目，刚布理刚。我可以数很多东西，天上的星辰、树上的枝叶、黑暗中的人类。你的人数是二十乘二十的十五倍，他们有更多。大战，谁会赢？还有更多绕着石城走…”
Éomer and the king spoke together in their own tongue. At length Théoden turned to the Wild Man. “We will receive your offer,” he said. “For though we leave a host of foes behind, what matter? If the Stone-city falls, then we shall have no returning. If it is saved, then the orc-host itself will be cut off. If you are faithful, Ghân-buri-Ghân, then we will give you rich reward, and you shall have the friendship of the Mark for ever.”
伊欧墨和骠骑王用洛汗的语言交谈了片刻。最后，希优顿转向野人说：“我们愿意接受你的协助，”他说：“虽然我们自己的家园也遭到了敌人攻击，但那又怎么样呢？如果岩城陷落，我们也不需要回去了；如果它得救了，那些部队的补给线也会被切断。刚布理刚，如果你说的是真的，我们会给予你丰厚的奖励，骠骑将永远成为你的盟友。”
“Let Ghân-buri-Ghân finish!” said the Wild Man. “More than one road he knows. He will lead you by road where no pits are, no gorgûn walk, only Wild Men and beasts. Many paths were made when Stonehouse-folk were stronger. They carved hills as hunters carve beast-flesh. Wild Men think they ate stone for food. They went through Drúadan to Rimmon with great wains. They go no longer. Road is forgotten, but not by Wild Men. Over hill and behind hill it lies still under grass and tree, there behind Rimmon and down to Dîn, and back at the end to Horse-men’s road. Wild Men will show you that road. Then you will kill gorgûn and drive away bad dark with bright iron, and Wild Men can go back to sleep in the wild woods.”
“让刚布理刚说完！”那名野人说：“他知道的不只一条路，他会带你们走那没有陷阱、没有哥刚、只有野人和野兽的道路。在住石屋的人更强大的时候，他们盖了不只一条路，他们切割山脉，就像猎人切割猎物，他们让大车从督伊顿到瑞蒙。现在他们不走这条路，路被遗忘，但野人可没有，道路依旧藏在树木和草地上，它越过山丘，来到丁山，最后又回到马路上。野人会带你走这条路，然后你们可以杀死哥刚，用明亮的钢铁赶走可怕黑暗，野人可以安心地回去森林睡觉。”
“And yet we need great haste,” said Éomer. “Mundburg is on fire!”
“可是我们却得更快赶到，”伊欧墨说：“米那斯提力斯已经陷入大火之中！”
“Alas! he speaks all too shrewdly,” said Théoden. “And our scouts say that they have cast trenches and stakes across the road. We cannot sweep them away in sudden onset.”
“没错！他说的真的非常精确。”希优顿说：“我们的斥候回报，他们在路上挖了壕沟和插了木桩。我们不可能以突袭的方式攻击他们。”
“Dead men are not friends to living men, and give them no gifts,” said the Wild Man. “But if you live after the Darkness, then leave Wild Men alone in the woods and do not hunt them like beasts any more. Ghân-buri-Ghân will not lead you into trap. He will go himself with father of Horse-men, and if he leads you wrong, you will kill him.”
“死人不会是活人的朋友，也不会送礼物，”野人回答道：“但如果你在这黑暗之后活下来，那就不能打扰野人，也不能再像动物一样追捕他们。刚布理刚不会带你进陷阱，他会亲自和马队之父一起过去，如果他带错路，你可以杀掉他。”
“So be it!” said Théoden.
“就这么办！”希优顿说。
“Wild Men go quick on feet,” said Ghân. “Way is wide for four horses in Stonewain Valley yonder,” he waved his hand southwards; “but narrow at beginning and at end. Wild Man could walk from here to Dîn between sunrise and noon.”
“野人走路就很快，”刚布理刚说：“石车谷那边的道路可以让四匹马并行，”他往南挥舞着手说：“但在开口和尾端都很窄，野人从这边走到丁山刚好是日出到中午。”
“How long will it take to pass by the enemy and come back to the road?” asked Éomer. “We must go at foot-pace, if you guide us; and I doubt not the way is narrow.”
“我们要花多久时间才能绕过敌人，回到大路上？”伊欧墨问道。“如果你带领我们，那我们必须徒步前进，我猜那条路不会很宽吧？”
“Then we must allow at least seven hours for the leaders,” said Éomer; “but we must reckon rather on some ten hours for all. Things unforeseen may hinder us, and if our host is all strung out, it will be long ere it can be set in order when we issue from the hills. What is the hour now?”
“那么先锋至少必须要七个小时才能到，”伊欧墨说：“全部队伍通过大概要十小时。路上可能还会有意料之外的阻碍；而且，如果我们的部队全都散开，离开山脉之后要重新集结也必须花很多时间。现在是什么时候了？”
“It is all dark, but it is not all night,” said Ghân. “When Sun comes we feel her, even when she is hidden. Already she climbs over East-mountains. It is the opening of day in the sky-fields.”
“的确到处都黑暗，但不是夜晚，”刚布理刚说：“太阳出来的时候，即使我们看不见她，也可以感觉到她。她已经爬出了东方山脉，目前的天空正好日出。”
“Then we must set out as soon as may be,” said Éomer. “Even so we cannot hope to come to Gondor’s aid today.”
“那么我们必须尽快出发！”伊欧墨说：“就算如此，我们今天也无法及时赶到刚铎。”
“Who knows?” said Théoden. “All is night now.”
“谁知道？”希优顿说：“随时看起来都像夜晚。”
All went well that day, and no sight or sound had they of the enemy waiting to waylay them. The Wild Men had put out a screen of wary hunters, so that no orc or roving spy should learn of the movements in the hills. The light was more dim than ever as they drew nearer to the beleaguered city, and the Riders passed in long files like dark shadows of men and horses. Each company was guided by a wild woodman; but old Ghân walked beside the king. The start had been slower than was hoped, for it had taken time for the Riders, walking and leading their horses, to find paths over the thickly wooded ridges behind their camp and down into the hidden Stonewain Valley. It was late in the afternoon when the leaders came to wide grey thickets stretching beyond the eastward side of Amon Dîn, and masking a great gap in the line of hills that from Nardol to Dîn ran east and west. Through the gap the forgotten wain-road long ago had run down, back into the main horse-way from the City through Anórien; but now for many lives of men trees had had their way with it, and it had vanished, broken and buried under the leaves of uncounted years. But the thickets offered to the Riders their last hope of cover before they went into open battle; for beyond them lay the road and the plains of Anduin, while east and southwards the slopes were bare and rocky, as the writhen hills gathered themselves together and climbed up, bastion upon bastion, into the great mass and shoulders of Mindolluin.
那天一切都进行得十分顺利，他们完全没有发现任何可能阻碍行进的敌人。野人把许多机饯的猎人派了出去，不让任何的半兽人或间谍有机会打探山中的调动。当他们靠近被包围的城市时，光线变得越来越微弱，骠骑们像是黑色的剪影一般在黑暗中穿梭。每个连队都有一名野人负责带领，刚则是亲自走在希优顿身边。出发的时间花得比预期的要久，骠骑们浪费了不少时间才把马匹牵到营地后面的浓密森林中，进入隐藏的石车谷。当先锋踏上阿蒙丁山东方的宽广平地时，大约已经是下午了，这边果然有一条被从那多到阿蒙丁山的丘陵所遮挡的道路。这条古代马车可以通行的道路穿越了隘口，一路伸展下去，在安诺瑞安再度和通往主城的马道会合。不过，这条道路已经有许多许多年没有人使用了，它已经多处断裂，被掩盖在无数年累积的树叶和浓密的树林之下，但这树林正好提供了骠骑们参战前隐藏行踪的最后机会；因为，在那之后就是通往安都因平原的道路，而东方和南方的山坡都是多岩而没有遮蔽的。这些光秃秃的山脉绵延不断，和明都陆安山的庞大身躯连结在一起。
Merry waited to hear no more, but slipped away to get ready for the summons to the march. This was the last stage before the battle. It did not seem likely to him that many of them would survive it. But he thought of Pippin and the flames in Minas Tirith and thrust down his own dread.
梅里等了片刻，没有听到什么新消息，于是他溜了回去准备听候开拔的号令，这是大战前的最后阶段。在他看来，应该不会有多少人活下来。不过，一想到皮聘和米那斯提力斯中的烈焰，他就只能强压下胸中的恐惧。
“No good to send Horse-men,” he said. “Wild Men have already seen all that can be seen in the bad air. They will come soon and speak to me here.”
“派骑马的人也没用，”他说：“野人已经都看过黑暗中能看到的景象了，他们很快就会回来，和我在这边会合。”
The captains came; and then out of the trees crept warily other púkel-shapes so like old Ghân that Merry could hardly tell them apart. They spoke to Ghân in a strange throaty language.
将军们都来了，接着是许多和刚布理刚的身材没有什么两样的普卡人，从树林中无声无息地走出来，他们用一种奇特的低沉语言和刚布理刚交谈。
The leading company was halted, and as those behind filed up out of the trough of the Stonewain Valley they spread out and passed to camping-places under the grey trees. The king summoned the captains to council. Éomer sent out scouts to spy upon the road; but old Ghân shook his head.
前锋停了下来，后方的部队则是从石车谷中快速涌出，散开在树木之间各自找掩蔽隐藏。骠骑王召集所有的将军开会，伊欧墨派出斥候打探前方的道路，但衰老的刚布理刚只是摇摇头。
Presently Ghân turned to the king. “Wild Men say many things,” he said. “First, be wary! Still many men in camp beyond Dîn, an hour’s walk yonder,” he waved his arm west towards the black beacon. “But none to see between here and Stone-folk’s new walls. Many busy there. Walls stand up no longer: gorgûn knock them down with earth-thunder and with clubs of black iron. They are unwary and do not look about them. They think their friends watch all roads!” At that old Ghân made a curious gurgling noise, and it seemed that he was laughing.
刚布理刚转过头对骠骑王说道：“野人说了很多事情，”他说：“首先，要小心！丁山之后一小时步行的路程处还有很多人类扎营。”他朝那黑色的西方挥舞着手。“但从这里到岩城人盖的新墙之间看不到敌人，许多敌人在那边忙碌，墙已经不在了，哥刚用地底的爆雷和黑铁的棍子把墙弄倒了。他们很粗心，不注意四周的状况，他们认为朋友看住了所有的道路！”一说到这里，刚布理刚发出了奇特的咕鲁声，看来他似乎在笑。
“Kill gorgûn! Kill orc-folk! No other words please Wild Men,” answered Ghân. “Drive away bad air and darkness with bright iron!”
“杀死哥刚！杀死半兽人！野人只会因这个感到高兴，”刚布理刚回答道：“用钢铁赶走臭空气和黑暗！”
“Once again I thank you, Ghân-buri-Ghân of the woods,” said Théoden. “Good fortune go with you for tidings and for guidance!”
“森林中的刚布理刚，我必须再度感谢你，”希优顿说：“愿你们能够获得好运！”
“To do these things we have ridden far,” said the king, “and we shall attempt them. But what we shall achieve only tomorrow will show.”
“我们千里迢迢赶来这边，就是为了这个目的，”骠骑王说：“我们会试着达到这目标的，不过，我们得到明天才能确定会达成什么样的成果。”
Ghân-buri-Ghân squatted down and touched the earth with his horny brow in token of farewell. Then he got up as if to depart. But suddenly he stood looking up like some startled woodland animal snuffling a strange air. A light came in his eyes.
刚布理刚趴了下来，用额头接触地面，代表告别之意，然后，他站了起来，似乎准备离开；但他突然间抬起头，像是受惊的野兽闻到陌生的味道一样嗅闻着，他的眼睛迅即一亮。
“Good tidings!” cried Éomer. “Even in this gloom hope gleams again. Our Enemy’s devices oft serve us in his despite. The accursed darkness itself has been a cloak to us. And now, lusting to destroy Gondor and throw it down stone from stone, his orcs have taken away my greatest fear. The out-wall could have been held long against us. Now we can sweep through — if once we win so far.”
“这是好消息！”伊欧莫大喊道：“即使在这么黑暗的状况下，希望之火又再度点燃了！魔王的计谋经常反而成为我们的帮手，这该死的黑暗成了我们最佳的掩护。现在，他旗下的半兽人急着想要摧毁刚铎的一草一木，同时也破坏了我之前最担心的防卫。刚铎的外墙本来会成为阻挡我们最可怕的敌人，现在，只要我们能够冲过这段路，就可以长驱直入赶到城外。”
“We need no further guidance,” said Elfhelm; “for there are riders in the host who have ridden down to Mundburg in days of peace. I for one. When we come to the road it will veer south, and there will lie before us still seven leagues ere we reach the wall of the townlands. Along most of that way there is much grass on either side of the road. On that stretch the errand-riders of Gondor reckoned to make their greatest speed. We may ride it swiftly and without great rumour.”
“我们不需要进一步的带领了，”艾海姆说：“我们的队伍中有些骑士，曾经在承平的时候去过米那斯提力斯，我就是其中一个。当我们来到路旁时，会看见它往南方转，在我们抵达主城之前还有二十一哩的距离，在这段路上两旁几乎都是青草，刚铎的信差和传令们，都是利用这段道路全力奔驰，我们可以在极短的时间内赶到城下。”
“Then since we must look for fell deeds and the need of all our strength,” said Éomer, “I counsel that we rest now, and set out hence by night, and so time our going that we come upon the fields when tomorrow is as light as it will be, or when our lord gives the signal.”
“那么，既然我们等一下就必须拼尽全力，面对险恶的敌人，”伊欧墨说：“我建议大家可以先休息，藉着夜色出发，这样我们就可明天一早出动，或是在王上下令的时候出发。”
“Wind is changing!” he cried, and with that, in a twinkling as it seemed, he and his fellows had vanished into the glooms, never to be seen by any Rider of Rohan again. Not long after far away eastward the faint drums throbbed again. Yet to no heart in all the host came any fear that the Wild Men were unfaithful, strange and unlovely though they might appear.
“风改变了！”他大喊着。话一说完，他和子民们全都消失在朦胧中，骠骑再也没有见到他们。不久之后，东方又传来了微弱的鼓声，不过，虽然这些野人看来粗鲁不文，但没有任何一名骠骑怀疑他们的承诺。
“Need brooks no delay, yet late is better than never,” said Éomer. “And mayhap in this time shall the old saw be proved truer than ever before since men spoke with mouth.”
“人们在紧急的时候不会容忍迟到，但迟到总比不到好，”伊欧墨说：“或许这次人们会发现，古人的谚语从来没有这么贴切过。”
To this the king assented, and the captains departed. But soon Elfhelm returned. “The scouts have found naught to report beyond the Grey Wood, lord,” he said, “save two men only: two dead men and two dead horses.”
骠骑王同意了，将领们也都回到各自的部队去，但艾海姆很快地返回来了。“斥候在这片灰色森林之外，没有发现任何可疑的状况，王上，”他说：“只发现了两个人──两具人尸和两匹马尸。”
“Well?” said Éomer. “What of it?”
“继续，”伊欧墨说：“有什么特别的吗？”
“This, lord: they were errand-riders of Gondor; Hirgon was one maybe. At least his hand still clasped the Red Arrow, but his head was hewn off. And this also: it would seem by the signs that they were fleeing westward when they fell. As I read it, they found the enemy already on the out-wall, or assailing it, when they returned — and that would be two nights ago, if they used fresh horses from the posts, as is their wont. They could not reach the City and turned back.”
“是这样的，大人，他们是刚铎的信差，其中一具尸体或许是贺刚，至少他的手中依旧握着朱红箭，但他的脑袋已经被砍掉了。还有一件事，从迹象看来，当他们被杀的时候，正逃往西方，我研判当他们回来的时候，发现敌人已经展开攻击，或是已经攻占了外墙。如果他们使用驿站所提供的马匹，那么多半是在两天之前抵达的，他们不能进入王城，只好转身回来。”
It was night. On either side of the road the host of Rohan was moving silently. Now the road passing about the skirts of Mindolluin turned southward. Far away and almost straight ahead there was a red glow under the black sky and the sides of the great mountain loomed dark against it. They were drawing near the Rammas of the Pelennor; but the day was not yet come.
时间正值夜晚，洛汗的部队在道路的两边无声无息地移动。这条路已经越过了明都陆安山的外环，开始往南弯。人们可以看见遥远的正前方出现冲天的火光，山脉的轮廓也被包围在红光中。他们已经靠近了帕兰诺平原的拉马斯外墙，但日出的时刻尚未到来。
“Alas!” said Théoden. “Then Denethor has heard no news of our riding and will despair of our coming.”
“真糟糕！”希优顿说：“那么迪耐瑟就根本不知道我们出发的消息，他可能会因此而感到无比的绝望。”
“There are great fires, lord,” said one. “The City is all set about with flame, and the field is full of foes. But all seem drawn off to the assault. As well as we could guess, there are few left upon the out-wall, and they are heedless, busy in destruction.”
“王上，火势非常猛烈！”一人说：“主城几乎全陷入火海中，平原上似乎全是敌人，但大部分的力量几乎都投入了突击正门的攻势中。我们推测，外墙这边没有多少人留守，没有出动的人也十分松懈，全心全意在破坏。”
The king rode in the midst of the leading company, his household-men about him. Elfhelm’s éored came next; and now Merry noticed that Dernhelm had left his place and in the darkness was moving steadily forward, until at last he was riding just in rear of the king’s guard. There came a check. Merry heard voices in front speaking softly. Out-riders had come back who had ventured forward almost to the wall. They came to the king.
骠骑王身处在先头部队的中央，家族的成员全都在他身边，艾海姆的马队紧跟在后；梅里注意到德海姆离开了原来的岗位，在黑暗中无声前进，直到贴近骠骑王的禁卫军为止。前方传来了全军停止的号令，梅里可以听见前面传来低语声，被派出去观察情况的侦查员也回来了，他们来到骠骑王面前。
“Do you remember the Wild Man’s words, lord?” said another. “I live upon the open Wold in days of peace; Wídfara is my name, and to me also the air brings messages. Already the wind is turning. There comes a breath out of the South; there is a sea-tang in it, faint though it be. The morning will bring new things. Above the reek it will be dawn when you pass the wall.”
“王上，您还记得野人所说的话吗？”另一个人说：“我在和平的年代里居住在谷地中，我叫威法拉，我也可以闻得出空气流动所带来的消息，风的确已经改变了。空气中有种来自南方的气息，是非常微弱的海咸味，明天早晨一定会有重大的变化。我们通过城墙的时候，应该正好是黎明。”
“Éomer, my son! You lead the first éored,” said Théoden; “and it shall go behind the king’s banner in the centre. Elfhelm, lead your company to the right when we pass the wall. And Grimbold shall lead his towards the left. Let the other companies behind follow these three that lead, as they have chance. Strike wherever the enemy gathers. Other plans we cannot make, for we know not yet how things stand upon the field. Forth now, and fear no darkness!”
“吾儿伊欧墨！你带领第一马队，”希优顿说：“让骠骑王的旗帜飘扬在正中央；艾海姆，你带领部队在我们通过外墙时防卫右翼，葛林伯带着部队防御左右，其余的部队找空隙跟上来，打散任何集结的敌人。我们现在不清楚战场上的情况，因此也没办法规划其他的战略。向前冲，不要畏惧黑暗！”
“Now is the hour come, Riders of the Mark, sons of Eorl! Foes and fire are before you, and your homes far behind. Yet, though you fight upon an alien field, the glory that you reap there shall be your own for ever. Oaths ye have taken: now fulfil them all, to lord and land and league of friendship!”
“英勇的骠骑们，诸位伊欧的子嗣！关键的一刻已经到来了！眼前是敌人和烈焰，你们的家园却在远方。虽然你们在异国作战，但所争取到的光荣却永远是属于你们的。我们已经承诺了盟邦，该是我们履行诺言的时候了！我们要让这块土地和他的统治者，明白我们的友谊！”
“If you speak truly, Wídfara, then may you live beyond this day in years of blessedness!” said Théoden. He turned to the men of his household who were near, and he spoke now in a clear voice so that many also of the riders of the first éored heard him:
“威法拉，如果你说的没错，愿你生生世世都生活在众人的祝福中！”希优顿说。他转过身面对四周聚集的骑士，他用雄浑的声音开口说话，连第一个马队的骑士都听得见他所说的话：
Men clashed spear upon shield.
人们纷纷用长枪敲击盾牌，制造出惊人的声响。
The leading company rode off as swiftly as they could, for it was still deep dark, whatever change Wídfara might forebode. Merry was riding behind Dernhelm, clutching with the left hand while with the other he tried to loosen his sword in its sheath. He felt now bitterly the truth of the old king’s words: in such a battle what would you do, Meriadoc? Just this,” he thought: “encumber a rider, and hope at best to stay in my seat and not be pounded to death by galloping hoofs!”
先头部队策马飞驰，不管威法拉所感受到的改变何时会出现，四周依旧是一片黑暗。梅里紧抱着德海姆，一手搂着他的腰，一手则试着松开剑鞘。他这才明白骠骑王对他所说的话：梅里雅达克，在这样的战斗中你能派上什么用场？“只有这个，”他想：“拖累一名骑士，希望自己能够保住座位，不会被后面的马匹给踩死！”
It was no more than a league to where the out-walls had stood. They soon reached them; too soon for Merry. Wild cries broke out, and there was some clash of arms, but it was brief. The orcs busy about the walls were few and amazed, and they were quickly slain or driven off. Before the ruin of the north-gate in the Rammas the king halted again. The first éored drew up behind him and about him on either side. Dernhelm kept close to the king, though Elfhelm’s company was away on the right. Grimbold’s men turned aside and passed round to a great gap in the wall further eastward.
他们距离外墙不到三哩的距离，因此很快就抵达了目标，对梅里来说还嫌太快了些。战场上传来惊慌的呼喊声，还有短暂金铁交鸣的声音。留守在外墙的半兽人数量很少，又没有预料到会遭受到这种攻击，因此，他们很快就被杀死或是驱散了。在拉马斯城墙北门的废墟前，骠骑王又再度停了下来，第一马队将他团团围住。虽然艾海姆的部队在阵形的右翼，但德海姆还是刻意靠近骠骑王，葛林伯的部下则是从更东边的城墙缺口通过。
Merry peered from behind Dernhelm’s back. Far away, maybe ten miles or more, there was a great burning, but between it and the Riders lines of fire blazed in a vast crescent, at the nearest point less than a league distant. He could make out little more on the dark plain, and as yet he neither saw any hope of morning, nor felt any wind, changed or unchanged.
梅里从德海姆的背后不停窥探，在很远的地方，至少是十哩以外的平原上，可以看见非常猛烈的火势。不过，在它和骠骑们之间，火势则像是一弯新月一样，最近的距离不过是三哩左右。在黑暗的平原上他什么也看不清楚，也没有任何晨光降临的感觉，更别提什么风的变化了。
Now silently the host of Rohan moved forward into the field of Gondor, pouring in slowly but steadily, like the rising tide through breaches in a dike that men have thought secure. But the mind and will of the Black Captain were bent wholly on the falling city, and as yet no tidings came to him warning that his designs held any flaw.
洛汗国的部队无声无息地踏上刚铎的平原，缓缓集结，就如同洪水在人们自认安全的水坝外拍打一样。黑影将军的全副心神都放在那即将陷落的城池上，没有任何情报能提醒他这万无一失的计划中出现了漏洞。
After a while the king led his men away somewhat eastward, to come between the fires of the siege and the outer fields. Still they were unchallenged, and still Théoden gave no signal. At last he halted once again. The City was now nearer. A smell of burning was in the air and a very shadow of death. The horses were uneasy. But the king sat upon Snowmane, motionless, gazing upon the agony of Minas Tirith, as if stricken suddenly by anguish, or by dread. He seemed to shrink down, cowed by age. Merry himself felt as if a great weight of horror and doubt had settled on him. His heart beat slowly. Time seemed poised in uncertainty. They were too late! Too late was worse than never! Perhaps Théoden would quail, bow his old head, turn, slink away to hide in the hills.
过了不久之后，骠骑王领着部下往东走，来到了城墙和战场火焰之间的空隙，他们依然没有受到任何阻拦，希优顿也还是没有发出任何号令。最后，他又停了下来，米那斯提力斯又更靠近了些，空气中充满了焦味和死亡的气息，马匹们非常不安，骠骑王动也不动地坐在雪鬃背上，眺望着米那斯提力斯的苦难，彷佛被这恐怖或痛苦所震撼，他的双肩似乎被沉重的岁月压低。梅里觉得自己也感觉到惊疑不定，无边无际的恐惧趁隙袭来，他的心脏缓缓地跳动着，时间似乎静止了。他们太迟了！迟到比不到还糟糕！或许希优顿会承认失败，低垂下老迈的身躯，夹着尾巴逃回山区。
Then suddenly Merry felt it at last, beyond doubt: a change. Wind was in his face! Light was glimmering. Far, far away, in the South the clouds could be dimly seen as remote grey shapes, rolling up, drifting: morning lay beyond them.
突然间，梅里终于感觉到局势改变了。起风了！晨光已经渐渐探出头来，往遥远的南方看去，人们可以依稀看见模糊的云朵在翻滚着──黎明就快到来了。
Arise, arise, Riders of Théoden!
奋起，奋起！希优顿的骠骑！
At that sound the bent shape of the king sprang suddenly erect. Tall and proud he seemed again; and rising in his stirrups he cried in a loud voice, more clear than any there had ever heard a mortal man achieve before:
一听见那声响，骠骑王老态龙钟的身躯突然挺直起来。他再度恢复了自信尊贵的仪态，他挺着胸膛，大声呼喊，这是人类所发出过最清亮的声音：
Fell deeds awake: fire and slaughter!
魔物苏醒，烧杀掳掠！
Ride now, ride now! Ride to Gondor!
冲，冲！冲向刚铎！
spear shall be shaken, shield be splintered,
长枪应挥舞，巨盾应接敌，
With that he seized a great horn from Guthláf his banner-bearer, and he blew such a blast upon it that it burst asunder. And straightway all the horns in the host were lifted up in music, and the blowing of the horns of Rohan in that hour was like a storm upon the plain and a thunder in the mountains.
话一说完，他就从掌旗官古斯拉夫手中抢过一支巨大的号角，奋力一吹，连号角都抵受不住这力量而炸成碎片。骠骑全军的号角都在同时回应，交织成一阙壮烈的交响曲。这震耳欲聋的号角声，像是天雷疾电一般席卷刚铎的平原和山丘。
But at that same moment there was a flash, as if lightning had sprung from the earth beneath the City. For a searing second it stood dazzling far off in black and white, its topmost tower like a glittering needle; and then as the darkness closed again there came rolling over the fields a great boom.
就在同一瞬间，一道刺眼的白光闪过，彷佛王城的地面被轰雷击打。那一刹那，王城变得黑白分明，最高的尖塔像是闪着光芒的细针；然后，黑暗再度掩没一切，低沉的轰隆声从城门的方向飘移过来。
a sword-day, a red day, ere the sun rises!
太阳升起前，吾等将浴血奋战！
Ride now, ride now! Ride to Gondor!
冲，冲！冲向刚铎！
Suddenly the king cried to Snowmane and the horse sprang away. Behind him his banner blew in the wind, white horse upon a field of green, but he outpaced it. After him thundered the knights of his house, but he was ever before them. Éomer rode there, the white horsetail on his helm floating in his speed, and the front of the first éored roared like a breaker foaming to the shore, but Théoden could not be overtaken. Fey he seemed, or the battle-fury of his fathers ran like new fire in his veins, and he was borne up on Snowmane like a god of old, even as Oromë the Great in the battle of the Valar when the world was young. His golden shield was uncovered, and lo! it shone like an image of the Sun, and the grass flamed into green about the white feet of his steed. For morning came, morning and a wind from the sea; and darkness was removed, and the hosts of Mordor wailed, and terror took them, and they fled, and died, and the hoofs of wrath rode over them. And then all the host of Rohan burst into song, and they sang as they slew, for the joy of battle was on them, and the sound of their singing that was fair and terrible came even to the City.
骠骑王对雪鬃大喊一声，骏马立刻撒开四蹄狂奔。他身后的旗帜在风中飞舞，白色的骏马在绿色的草原上驰骋，但连这旗帜都追不上他的冲势。骠骑全军万马奔腾地紧跟在后，骠骑王仍然一马当先地冲向敌人。伊欧墨紧追不舍，头盔上白色的马尾在风中翻飞，第一马队来势汹汹，但还是都赶不上希优顿。他看起来像是万夫莫敌的狂人，列祖列宗的血液都在他的体内沸腾，就像是主神之战中的骑神欧罗米一样威风凛凛。他高举黄金的盾牌，反射出万道金光，座骑的四蹄彷佛都被绿色的火焰包围。黎明的确降临了，曙光和南方的海风一起来临，让黑暗退却，魔多的大军忐忑不安，军心动摇；他们不停逃窜、束手无策地接受愤怒的骑士制裁，有些死在长枪下，有些死在马蹄下。洛汗国所有的骠骑唱起雄壮的战歌，同时毫不留情地斩杀敌人，因为这是他们最辉煌的一战。他们震耳的歌声随风飘送，进入动汤不安的王城中。
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