按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
y historical books and records。
The largest of these collections were probably at Undertowers； at Great Smials； and at Brandy Hall。 This account of the end of the Third Age is drawn mainly from the Red Book of Westmarch。 That most important source for the history of the War of the Ring was so called because it was long preserved at Undertowers； the home of the Fairbairns； Wardens of the Westmarch。3 It was in origin Bilbo's private diary； which he took with him to Rivendell。 Frodo brought it back to the Shire； together with many loose leaves of notes； and during S。R。 1420…1 he nearly filled its pages with his account of the War。 But annexed to it and preserved with it； probably m a single red case； were the three large volumes； bound in red leather； that Bilbo gave to him as a parting gift。 To these four volumes there was added in Westmarch a fifth containing mentaries； genealogies； and various other matter concerning the hobbit members of the Fellowship。
The original Red Book has not been preserved； but many copies were made； especially of the first volume； for the use of the descendants of the children of Master Samwise。 The most important copy； however； has a different history。 It was kept at Great Smials； but it was written in Condor； probably at the request of the great…grandson of Peregrin； and pleted in S。R。 1592 （F。A。 172）。 Its southern scribe appended this note： Findegil； King's Writer； finished this work in IV 172。 It is an exact copy in all details of the Thain's Book m Minas Tirith。 That book was a copy； made at the request of King Elessar； of the Red Book of the Periannath； and was brought to him by the Thain Peregrin when he retired to Gondor in IV 64。
The Thain's Book was thus the first copy made of the Red Book and contained much that was later omitted or lost。 In Minas Tirith it received much annotation； and many corrections； especially of names； words； and quotations in the Elvish languages； and there was added to it an abbreviated version of those parts of The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen which lie outside the account of the War。 The full tale is stated to have been written by Barahir； grandson of the Steward Faramir； some time after the passing of the King。 But the chief importance of Findegil's copy is that it alone contains the whole of Bilbo's 'Translations from the Elvish'。 These three volumes were found to be a work of great skill and learning in which； between 1403 and 1418； he had used all the sources available to him in Rivendell； both living and written。 But since they were little used by Frodo； being almost entirely concerned with the Elder Days； no more is said of them here。
Since Meriadoc and Peregrin became the heads of their great families； and at the same time kept up their connexions with Rohan and Gondor； the libraries at Bucklebury and Tuckborough contained much that did not appear in the Red Book。 In Brandy Hall there were many works dealing with Eriador and the history of Rohan。 Some of these were posed or begun by Meriadoc himself； though in the Shire he was chiefly remembered for his Herblore of the Shire； and for his Reckoning of Years m which he discussed the relation of the calendars of the Shire and Bree to those of Rivendell； Gondor； and Rohan。 He also wrote a short treatise on Old Words and Names in the Shire； having special interest in discovering the kinship with the language of the Rohirrim of such 'shire…words' as mathom and old elements in place names。
At Great Smials the books were of less interest to Shire…folk； though more important for larger history。 None of them was written by Peregrin； but he and his successors collected many manuscripts written by scribes of Gondor： mainly copies or summaries of histories or legends relating to Elendil and his heirs。 Only here in the Shire were to be found extensive materials for the history of Númenor and the arising of Sauron。 It was probably at Great Smials that The Tale of Years4 was put together； with the assistance of material collected by Meriadoc。 Though the dates given are often conjectural； especially for the Second Age； they deserve attention。 It is probable that Meriadoc obtained assistance and information from Rivendell； which he visited more than once。 There； though Elrond had departed； his sons long remained； together with some of the High…elven folk。 It is said that Celeborn went to dwell there after the departure of Galadriel； but there is no record of the day when at last he sought the Grey Havens； and with him went the last living memory of the Elder Days in Middle…earth。
Book I
Chapter 1
A Long…expected Party
When Mr。 Bilbo Baggins of Bag End announced that he would shortly be celebrating his eleventy…first birthday with a party of special magnificence； there was much talk and excitement in Hobbiton。
Bilbo was very rich and very peculiar； and had been the wonder of the Shire for sixty years； ever since his remarkable disappearance and unexpected return。 The riches he had brought back from his travels had now bee a local legend； and it was popularly believed； whatever the old folk might say； that the Hill at Bag End was full of tunnels stuffed with treasure。 And if that was not enough for fame； there was also his prolonged vigour to marvel at。 Time wore on； but it seemed to have little effect on Mr。 Baggins。 At ninety he was much the same as at fifty。 At ninety…nine they began to call him well…preserved； but unchanged would have been nearer the mark。 There were some that shook their heads and thought this was too much of a good thing； it seemed unfair that anyone should possess （apparently） perpetual youth as well as （reputedly） inexhaustible wealth。
'It will have to be paid for；' they said。 'It isn't natural； and trouble will e of it！'
But so far trouble had not e； and as Mr。 Baggins was generous with his money； most people were willing to forgive him his oddities and his good fortune。 He remained on visiting terms with his relatives （except； of course； the Sackville…Bagginses）； and he had many devoted admirers among the hobbits of poor and unimportant families。 But he had no close friends； until some of his younger cousins began to grow up。
The eldest of these； and Bilbo's favourite； was young Frodo Baggins。 When Bilbo was ninety…nine； he adopted Frodo as his heir； and brought him to live at Bag End； and the hopes of the Sackville…Bagginses were finally dashed。 Bilbo and Frodo happened to have the same birthday； September 22nd。 'You had better e and live here； Frodo my lad；' said Bilbo one day； 'and then we can celebrate our birthday…parties fortably together。' At that time Frodo was still in his tweens； as the hobbits called the irresponsible twenties between childhood and ing of age at thirty…three。
Twelve more years passed。 Each year the Bagginses had given very lively bined birthday…parties at Bag End； but now it was understood that something quite exceptional was being planned for that autumn。 Bilbo was going to be eleventy…one； 111； a rather curious number and a very respectable age for a hobbit （the Old Took himself had only reached 130）； and Frodo was going to be thirty…three； 33） an important number： the date of his 'ing of age'。
Tongues began to wag in Hobbiton and Bywater； and rumour of the ing event travelled all over the Shire。 The history and character of Mr。 Bilbo Baggins became once again the chief topic of conversation； and the older folk suddenly found their reminiscences in wele demand。
No one had a more attentive audience than old Ham Gamgee； monly known as the Gaffer。 He held forth at The Ivy Bush； a small inn on the Bywater road； and he spoke with some authority； for he had tended the garden at Bag End for forty years； and had helped old Holman in the same job before that。 Now that he was himself growing old and stiff in the joints； the job was mainly carried on by his youngest son； Sam Gamgee。 Both father and son were on very friendly terms with Bilbo and Frodo。 They lived on the Hill itself； in Number 3 Bagshot Row just below Bag End。
'A very nice well…spoken gentlehobbit is Mr。 Bilbo； as I've always said；' the Gaffer declared。 With perfect truth： for Bilbo was very polite to him； calling him 'Master Hamfast'； and consulting him constantly upon the growing of vegetables … in the matter of 'roots'； especially potatoes； the Gaffer was recognized as the leading authority by all in the neighbourhood （including himself）。
'But what about this Frodo that lives with him？' asked Old Noakes of Bywater。 'Baggins is his name； but he's more than half a Brandybuck； they say。 It beats me why any Baggins of Hobbiton should go looking for a wife away there in Buckland； where folks are so queer。'
'And no wonder they're queer；' put in Daddy Twofoot （the Gaffer's next…door neighbour）； 'if they live on the wrong side of the Brandywine River； and right agin the Old Forest。 That's a dark bad place； if half the tales be true。'
'You're right； Dad！' said the Gaffer。 'Not that the Brandybucks of Buck…land live in the Old Forest； but they're a queer breed； seemingly。 They fool about with boats on that big river … and that isn't natural。 Small wonder that trouble came of it； I say。 But be that as it may； Mr。 Frodo is as nice a young hobbit as