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hip with them for ever。〃
〃I am sorry。 I mean； I should have liked to see them again；〃 said Bilbo sleepily； 〃perhaps I shall see them on the way home。 I suppose I shall be going home soon？〃
〃As soon as you like；〃 said the wizard。
Actually it was some days before Bilbo really set out。 They buried Thorin deep beneath the Mountain； and Bard laid the Arkenstone upon his breast。
〃There let it lie till the Mountain falls！〃 he said。 〃May it bring good fortune to all his folk that dwell here after！〃 Upon his tomb the Elvenking then laid Orcrist； the elvish sword that had been taken from Thorin in captivity。 It is said in songs that it gleamed ever in the dark if foes approached； and the fortress of the dwarves could not be taken by surprise。 There now Dain son of Nain took up his abode； and he became King under the Mountain； and in time many other dwarves gathered to his throne in the ancient halls。 Of the twelve panions of Thorin； ten remained。 Fili and Kili had fallen defending him with shield and body； for he was their mother's elder brother。 The others remained with Dain； for Dain dealt his treasure well。 There was； of course； no longer any question of dividing the hoard in such shares as had been planned； to Balin and Dwalin； and Dori and Nori and Ori； and Oin and Gloin； and Bifur and Bofur and Bombur…or to Bilbo。 Yet a fourteenth share of all the silver and gold； wrought and unwrought； was given up to Bard； for Dain said： 〃We will honour the agreement of the dead； and he has now the Arkenstone in his keeping。〃
Even a fourteenth share was wealth exceedingly great； greater than that of many mortal kings。 From that treasure Bard sent much gold to the Master of Lake…town； and he rewarded his followers and friends freely。 To the Elvenking he gave the emeralds of Girion； such jewels as he most loved； which Dain had restored to him。 To Bilbo he said： 〃This treasure is as much yours as it is mine； though old agreements cannot stand； since so many have a claim in its winning and defence。 Yet even though you were willing to lay aside all your claim； I should wish that the words of Thorin； of which he repented； should not prove true： that we should give you little。 I would reward you most richly of all。〃
〃Very kind of you；〃 said Bilbo。 〃But really it is a relief to me。 How on earth should I have got all that treasure home without war and murder all along the way； I don't know。 And I don't know what I should have done with it when I got home。 I am sure it is better in your hands。〃 In the end he would only take two small chests； one filled with silver； and the other with gold； such as one strong pony could carry。 〃That will be quite as much as I can manage；〃 said he。
At last the time came for him to say good…bye to his friends。 〃Farewell； Balin！〃 he said； 〃and farewell； Dwalin； and farewell Dori； Nori； Ori； Oin； Gloin； Bifur； Bofur； and Bombur！ May your beards never grow thin！〃 And turning towards the Mountain he added： 〃Farewell Thorin Oakenshield！ And Fili and Kili！ May your memory never fade！〃
Then the dwarves bowed low before their Gate； but words stuck in their throats。 〃Good…bye and good luck； wherever you fare！〃 said Balin at last。 〃If ever you visit us again； when our halls are made fair once more； then the feast shall indeed be splendid！〃
〃If ever you are passing my way；〃 said Bilbo； 〃don't wait to knock！ Tea is at four； but any of you are wele at any time！〃
Then he turned away。
The elf…host was on the march；。 and if it was sadly lessened； yet many were glad； for now the northern world would be merrier for many a long day。 The dragon was dead； and the goblins overthrown； and their hearts looked forward after winter to a spring of joy。 Gandalf and Bilbo rode behind the Elvenking； and beside them strode Beorn； once again in man's shape； and he laughed and sang in a loud voice upon the road。 So they went on until they drew near to the borders of Mirkwood； to the north of the place where the Forest River ran out。
Then they halted； for the wizard and Bilbo would not enter the wood； even though the king bade them stay a while in his halls。 They intended to go along the edge of the forest； and round its northern end in the waste that lay between it and the beginning of the Grey Mountains。 It was a long and cheerless road； but now that the goblins were crushed； it seemed safer to them than the dreadful pathways under the trees。 Moreover Beorn was going that way too。
〃Farewell！ O Elvenking！〃 said Gandalf。 〃Merry be the greenwood； while the world is yet young！ And merry be all your folk！〃
〃Farewell！ O Gandalf！〃 said the king。 〃May you ever appear where you are most needed and least expected！ The oftener you appear in my halls the better shall I be pleased！〃
〃I beg of you；〃 said Bilbo stammering and standing on one foot； 〃to accept this gift！〃 and he brought out a necklace of silver and pearls that Dain had given him at their parting。
〃In what way have I earned such a gift； O hobbit？〃 said the king。 〃Well； er； I thought； don't you know；〃 said Bilbo rather confused； 〃that； er； some little return should be made for your； er； hospitality。 I mean even a burglar has his feelings。 I have drunk much of your wine and eaten much of your bread。〃
〃I will take your gift； O Bilbo the Magnificent！〃 said the king gravely。 〃And I name you elf…friend and blessed。 May your shadow never grow less （or stealing would be too easy）！ Farewell！〃
Then the elves turned towards the Forest； and Bilbo started on his long road home。
He had many hardships and adventures before he got back。 The Wild was still the Wild； and there were many other things in it in those days besides goblins； but he was well guided and well guarded…the wizard was with him； and Beorn for much of the way…and he was never in great danger again。 Anyway by mid…winter Gandalf and Bilbo had e all the way back； along both edges of the Forest； to the doors of Beorn's house； and there for a while they both stayed。 Yule…tide was warm and merry there； and men came from far and wide to feast at Beorn's bidding。 The goblins of the Misty Mountains were now few and terrified； and hidden in the deepest holes they could find； and the Wargs had vanished from the woods； so that men went abroad without fear。 Beorn indeed became a great chief afterwards in those regions and ruled a wide land between the mountains and the wood； and it is said that for many generations the men of his line had the power of taking bear's shape； and some were grim men and bad； but most were in heart like Beorn； if less in size and strength。 In their day the last goblins were hunted from the Misty Mountains and a new peace came over the edge of the Wild。 It was spring； and a fair one with mild weathers and a bright sun； before Bilbo and Gandalf took their leave at last of Beorn； and though he longed for home。 Bilbo left with regret； for the flowers of the gardens of Beorn were m springtime no less marvellous than in high summer。 At last they came up the long road； and reached the very pass where the goblins had captured them before。 But they came to that high point at morning； and looking backward they saw a white sun shining over the out…stretched lands。 There behind lay Mirkwood； blue in the distance； and darkly green at the nearer edge even in the spring。 There far away was the Lonely Mountain on the edge of eyesight。 On its highest peak snow yet unmelted was gleaming pale。 〃So es snow after fire； and even dragons have their ending！〃 said Bilbo； and he turned his back on his adventure。 The Tookish part was getting very tired； and the Baggins was daily getting stronger。 〃I wish now only to be in my own arm…chair！〃 he said。
Chapter 19
The Last Stage
It was on May the First that the two came back at last to the brink of the valley of Rivendell； where stood the Last （or the First） Homely House。
Again it was evening； their ponies were tired； especially the one that carried the baggage； and they all felt in need of rest。 As they rode down the steep path； Bilbo heard the elves still singing in the trees； as if they had not stopped since he left； and as soon as their riders came down into the lower glades of the wood they burst into a song of much the same kind as before。
This is something like it：
〃The dragon is withered；
His bones are now crumbled；
His armour is shivered；
His splendour is humbled！
Though sword shall be rusted；
And throne and crown perish
With strength that men trusted
And wealth that they cherish；
Here grass is still growing；
And leaves are yet swinging；
The white water flowing；
And elves are yet singing
e！ Tra…la…la…lally！
e back to the valley！
The stars are far brighter
Than gems without measure；
The moon is far whiter
Than silver in treasure：
The fire is more shining
On hearth in the gloaming
Than gold won by mining；
So why go a…roaming？
O！ Tra…la…la…lally
e back to the Valley。
O！ Where are you going；
So late in returning？
The river is flowing；
The stars are all burning！
O！ Whither so laden；
So sad and so dreary？
Here elf and elf…maiden
Now wele the weary
With Tra…la…la…lally
e back to the Valley；
Tra…la…la…lally
Fa…la…la…lally
Fa…la！〃
The