霍比特人：返鄉(xiāng)之路 The Return Journey

THE RETURN JOURNEY

返鄉(xiāng)之路

When Bilbo came to himself, he was literally by himself. He was lying on the flat stones of Ravenhill, and no one was near. A cloudless day, but cold, was broad above him. He was shaking, and as chilled as stone, but his head burned with fire.

當(dāng)比爾博醒過來之后，他真的只有孤身一人。此刻，他正躺在渡鴉嶺的平坦石頭上，附近什么人也沒有。頭頂?shù)奶炜杖f里無云，但天氣卻有點(diǎn)冷。他渾身發(fā)著抖，身子跟石頭一樣冷，但腦袋卻火燙火燙的。

“Now I wonder what has happened?” he said to himself. “At any rate I am not yet one of the fallen heroes; but I suppose there is still time enough for that!”

“到底發(fā)生什么事了呢?”他自言自語道，“至少我還沒成為犧牲的英雄，不過估計(jì)還有時(shí)間能趕上!”

He sat up painfully. Looking into the valley he could see no living goblins. After a while as his head cleared a little, he thought he could see elves moving in the rocks below. He rubbed his eyes. Surely there was a camp still in the plain some distance off; and there was a coming and going about the Gate? Dwarves seemed to be busy removing the wall. But all was deadly still. There was no call and no echo of a song. Sorrow seemed to be in the air.

他痛苦地坐起身來朝山谷里望去，結(jié)果連一個(gè)活的半獸人也沒看到。又過了一會(huì)兒，他的腦袋稍稍清醒了一點(diǎn)，覺得自己似乎可以看見精靈在下面的巖石間走動(dòng)。他揉了揉眼睛，發(fā)現(xiàn)營(yíng)盤依然還在一段距離之外的平原上。咦?宮殿的大門口怎么有人在出出進(jìn)進(jìn)?矮人們似乎正在忙碌著拆除城墻，但到處都一片死寂，沒有呼喊，也沒有歌聲的回響，空氣中似乎彌漫著憂傷。

“Victory after all, I suppose!” he said, feeling his aching head. “Well, it seems a very gloomy business.”

“我想應(yīng)該還是勝利了吧!”他摸著疼痛的腦袋說，“不過看來勝得也不怎么高興啊。”

Suddenly he was aware of a man climbing up and coming towards him.

突然，他發(fā)現(xiàn)有個(gè)人正朝山坡上爬來，向他靠近。

“Hullo there!” he called with a shaky voice. “Hullo there! What news?”

“喂!”他用顫抖的聲音喊道，“喂!有什么消息嗎?”

“What voice is it that speaks among the stones?” said the man halting and peering about him not far from where Bilbo sat.

“石頭堆里怎么會(huì)有人的聲音?”那人停下腳步，在離他不遠(yuǎn)的地方向他看來。

Then Bilbo remembered his ring! “Well I’m blessed!” said he. “This invisibility has its drawbacks after all. Otherwise I suppose I might have spent a warm and comfortable night in bed!”

比爾博這才想起自己還戴著戒指呢!“天哪!我可真糊涂!”他說，“原來隱形也有不好的地方啊。不然我昨晚就能在床上暖暖和和、舒舒服服地睡覺了!”

“It’s me, Bilbo Baggins, companion of Thorin!” he cried, hurriedly taking off the ring.

“是我，比爾博·巴金斯，索林的伙伴!”他一邊喊著，一邊飛快地脫下了戒指。

“It is well that I have found you!” said the man striding forward. “You are needed and we have looked for you long. You would have been numbered among the dead, who are many, if Gandalf the wizard had not said that your voice was last heard in this place. I have been sent to look here for the last time. Are you much hurt?”

“能讓我找到你可真好!”那人大步走上前來，“我們找了你好久，要不是巫師甘道夫說最后聽到你的聲音是在這附近，我們?cè)绨涯懔羞M(jìn)長(zhǎng)長(zhǎng)的死者名單了。我是被派來最后察看一遍的。你傷得重嗎?”

“A nasty knock on the head, I think,” said Bilbo. “But I have a helm and a hard skull. All the same I feel sick and my legs are like straws.”

“我想是頭上被狠狠敲了一下，”比爾博說，“不過我有頭盔，腦殼也夠硬。不過，我還是覺得暈乎乎的，兩腿發(fā)軟。”

“I will carry you down to the camp in the valley,” said the man, and picked him lightly up.

“我來抱你到山谷里的營(yíng)地中去吧。”那人輕松地一把將他抱了起來。那人腳程很快，步子很踏實(shí)。沒多久，比爾博就被送到了河谷中的一個(gè)營(yíng)帳前。

The man was swift and sure-footed. It was not long before Bilbo was set down before a tent in Dale; and there stood Gandalf, with his arm in a sling. Even the wizard had not escaped without a wound; and there were few unharmed in all the host.

甘道夫站在那里，手臂上吊著繃帶。就連巫師都不能毫發(fā)無傷地逃脫，整個(gè)部隊(duì)中幾乎人人都掛了彩。

When Gandalf saw Bilbo, he was delighted. “Baggins!” he exclaimed. “Well I never! Alive after all—I am glad! I began to wonder if even your luck would see you through! A terrible business, and it nearly was disastrous. But other news can wait. Come!” he said more gravely. “You are called for;” and leading the hobbit he took him within the tent.

甘道夫看見比爾博很是高興。“巴金斯!”他大喊道，“真沒想到!總算還活著——我真是高興!我還以為你的好運(yùn)都已經(jīng)用盡了呢!這真是慘烈的一仗，簡(jiǎn)直是一場(chǎng)災(zāi)難。不過，先不忙說這些。來吧!”他的語氣變得凝重了，“有人在等你，”說著把霍比特人領(lǐng)進(jìn)了營(yíng)帳。

“Hail! Thorin,” he said as he entered. “I have brought him.”

“嘿，索林!”他邊進(jìn)門邊說，“我把他帶來了。”

There indeed lay Thorin Oakenshield, wounded with many wounds, and his rent armour and notched axe were cast upon the floor. He looked up as Bilbo came beside him.

渾身是傷的索林·橡木盾就躺在他眼前，他那開裂了的盔甲和砍卷了刃的斧頭都撂在地上。比爾博來到他身邊，索林抬眼望著他。

“Farewell, good thief,” he said. “I go now to the halls of waiting to sit beside my fathers, until the world is renewed. Since I leave now all gold and silver, and go where it is of little worth, I wish to part in friendship from you, and I would take back my words and deeds at the Gate.”

“永別了，身懷絕技的小偷，”他說，“我現(xiàn)在即將要到先祖?zhèn)兊膹d堂中和他們坐到一起了，一直到世界再次輪回。既然我現(xiàn)在要離開所有的金銀，前往金銀毫無價(jià)值的地方，我希望能在分別時(shí)還擁有你的友誼。對(duì)于我在大門那里對(duì)你說過的話和做過的事，我統(tǒng)統(tǒng)收回。”

Bilbo knelt on one knee filled with sorrow. “Farewell, King under the Mountain!” he said. “This is a bitter adventure, if it must end so; and not a mountain of gold can amend it. Yet I am glad that I have shared in your perils—that has been more than any Baggins deserves.”

比爾博滿心傷悲地單膝跪下。“別了，山下之王!”他說，“如果結(jié)局必須是這樣的話，那這真是一場(chǎng)令人心碎的冒險(xiǎn)，即便是滿山的黃金也無法彌補(bǔ)。但是，我很高興能與你共赴患難——我們巴金斯家可不是人人都有這種榮耀的。”

“No!” said Thorin. “There is more in you of good than you know, child of the kindly West. Some courage and some wisdom, blended in measure. If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world. But sad or merry, I must leave it now. Farewell!”

“不!”索林說，“來自民風(fēng)厚樸的西部的好孩子啊，你身上的優(yōu)點(diǎn)比你自己知道的還多。你智勇兼?zhèn)?，融合得恰到好處。如果我們都能把食物和笑語歡歌看得比黃金寶藏還重，世界將會(huì)比現(xiàn)在快樂許多?？刹还苓@個(gè)世界未來是喜是悲，我現(xiàn)在都得離開了。永別了!”

Then Bilbo turned away, and he went by himself, and sat alone wrapped in a blanket, and, whether you believe it or not, he wept until his eyes were red and his voice was hoarse. He was a kindly little soul. Indeed it was long before he had the heart to make a joke again. “A mercy it is,” he said at last to himself, “that I woke up when I did. I wish Thorin were living, but I am glad that we parted in kindness. You are a fool, Bilbo Baggins, and you made a great mess of that business with the stone; and there was a battle, in spite of all your efforts to buy peace and quiet, but I suppose you can hardly be blamed for that.”

比爾博黯然轉(zhuǎn)身離開，裹著毯子獨(dú)自坐下來。不管你相不相信，比爾博就這么哭啊哭，一直哭到眼睛紅腫，嗓子沙啞。他是個(gè)心地非常善良的小家伙，事實(shí)上，他從悲痛中恢復(fù)，再次和人開起玩笑來已經(jīng)是許久以后的事情了。“我能夠在那時(shí)醒來，”他對(duì)自己說，“也算得是老天的一種慈悲。我固然希望索林還活著，但我們能像這樣捐棄前嫌，讓他了無遺憾地離開，是件很值得高興的事情。比爾博·巴金斯，你可真是個(gè)笨蛋，在寶石那件事上惹出這么大的麻煩，還弄出一場(chǎng)大戰(zhàn)來，雖然你努力想要買到和平與安寧，不過我想這也不能怪在你頭上。”

All that had happened after he was stunned, Bilbo learned later; but it gave him more sorrow than joy, and he was now weary of his adventure. He was aching in his bones for the homeward journey. That, however, was a little delayed, so in the meantime I will tell something of events. The Eagles had long had suspicion of the goblins’ mustering; from their watchfulness the movements in the mountains could not be altogether hid. So they too had gathered in great numbers, under the great Eagle of the Misty Mountains; and at length smelling battle from afar they had come speeding down the gale in the nick of time. They it was who dislodged the goblins from the mountain-slopes, casting them over precipices, or driving them down shrieking and bewildered among their foes. It was not long before they had freed the Lonely Mountain, and elves and men on either side of the valley could come at last to the help of the battle below.

在他被打昏之后發(fā)生了什么事情，比爾博是后來才知道的。但這給他帶來的更多是傷悲，而不是歡愉，弄得他對(duì)冒險(xiǎn)產(chǎn)生了厭倦，變得歸心似箭起來。不過，那還得要再過一陣子，所以我還來得及把詳情跟你們講一講。大鷹們?cè)缇蛻岩砂氆F人可能在暗中集結(jié)，因?yàn)樯嚼锩娴哪切┟孛芑顒?dòng)并不能完全躲過大鷹的監(jiān)視。因此，它們也在迷霧山脈的鷹王號(hào)召下集合了大軍，在終于嗅到開戰(zhàn)的氣氛后，就立刻于千鈞一發(fā)之際順風(fēng)飛了過來。它們?cè)谏狡律向?qū)趕半獸人，讓他們摔下懸崖，或是追得他們嗷嗷直叫，還納悶為什么大鷹只追他們而不追他們的敵人。不久之后，他們就收復(fù)了整個(gè)孤山，令兩邊山坡上的精靈和人類終于可以合力來支援下面山谷中的戰(zhàn)斗。

But even with the Eagles they were still outnumbered. In that last hour Beorn himself had appeared—no one knew how or from where. He came alone, and in bear’s shape; and he seemed to have grown almost to giant-size in his wrath.

不過，即使在加上了大鷹之后，他們?cè)跀?shù)量上仍處于劣勢(shì)。在最后一刻，貝奧恩出現(xiàn)了——沒有人知道他是從何而來，又是如何而來的。他孤身一人以熊的外形出現(xiàn)。在沖天的怒氣中，他的身形儼然變得如巨人般高大魁偉。

The roar of his voice was like drums and guns; and he tossed wolves and goblins from his path like straws and feathers. He fell upon their rear, and broke like a clap of thunder through the ring. The dwarves were making a stand still about their lords upon a low rounded hill. Then Beorn stooped and lifted Thorin, who had fallen pierced with spears, and bore him out of the fray.

他的怒吼如同戰(zhàn)鼓和火銃一般驚天動(dòng)地，他把所經(jīng)道路上的半獸人和惡狼隨手抓起丟棄，仿佛他們都只是稻草和羽毛。他從敵陣后方突然出現(xiàn)，像一記奔雷般炸進(jìn)戰(zhàn)團(tuán)中央。矮人們依舊將他們的國(guó)王團(tuán)團(tuán)護(hù)住在一座小圓山丘上。這時(shí)貝奧恩沖進(jìn)來，彎下腰扛起了已經(jīng)被好幾支長(zhǎng)矛刺穿了的索林，將他帶離了戰(zhàn)場(chǎng)。

Swiftly he returned and his wrath was redoubled, so that nothing could withstand him, and no weapon seemed to bite upon him. He scattered the bodyguard, and pulled down Bolg himself and crushed him. Then dismay fell on the Goblins and they fled in all directions. But weariness left their enemies with the coming of new hope, and they pursued them closely, and prevented most of them from escaping where they could. They drove many of them into the Running River, and such as fled south or west they hunted into the marshes about the Forest River; and there the greater part of the last fugitives perished, while those that came hardly to the Wood-elves’ realm were there slain, or drawn in to die deep in the trackless dark of Mirkwood. Songs have said that three parts of the goblin warriors of the North perished on that day, and the mountains had peace for many a year.

他很快就重新殺了回來，滿腔怒火更勝之前，這時(shí)的他已經(jīng)無人可擋，也似乎沒有什么武器能傷到他了。他將半獸人王的貼身衛(wèi)隊(duì)沖散，將波爾格一把抓過扯成兩半，接著摔成了一團(tuán)肉泥。半獸人眼見主帥被殺，嚇得魂飛魄散，頓作鳥獸散去。而他們的敵人則隨著希望的到來，身上平添一股力量，對(duì)他們緊追不舍，沒有讓他們拋掉。他們將許多半獸人趕進(jìn)了奔流河，而對(duì)于那些逃往南面或西面的半獸人，他們一路將他們趕進(jìn)了密林河周邊的沼澤地里。這批最后的窮寇大部分都死在了沼澤里，極少數(shù)命大的好不容易跑進(jìn)了森林精靈們的地盤，結(jié)果不是被精靈們殺死，就是被引入幽暗而又沒有路徑的黑森林，全都死在了里面。據(jù)日后流傳的歌謠稱，來自北方三個(gè)不同地區(qū)的半獸人戰(zhàn)士都在那一天死絕了，這一帶山區(qū)由此享有了許多年的和平。

Victory had been assured before the fall of night; but the pursuit was still on foot, when Bilbo returned to the camp; and not many were in the valley save the more grievously wounded.

天黑之前勝負(fù)便已分明了，不過，當(dāng)比爾博回到營(yíng)區(qū)的時(shí)候，追剿仍在進(jìn)行，留在山谷中的人并不多，大都是些受了重傷的戰(zhàn)士。

“Where are the Eagles?” he asked Gandalf that evening, as he lay wrapped in many warm blankets.

“大鷹們到哪兒去了?”那天晚上，他蓋著許多層溫暖的毯子躺在床上時(shí)問甘道夫。

“Some are in the hunt,” said the wizard, “but most have gone back to their eyries. They would not stay here, and departed with the first light of morning. Dain has crowned their chief with gold, and sworn friendship with them forever.”

“有些還在狩獵，”巫師說，“不過大多數(shù)都已經(jīng)回鷹巢了。它們不愿意留在這兒，天一亮就離開了。戴因獻(xiàn)給鷹王一頂金冠，發(fā)誓世世代代與它們結(jié)為盟友。”

“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?”

“真可惜!我是說，我很想再見他們一面。”比爾博倦意沉沉地說道，“說不定我在回家的路上能見到他們。我想我應(yīng)該可以很快回家了吧?”

“As soon as you like,” said the wizard.

“你想什么時(shí)候走都行。”巫師說。

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.

事實(shí)上，比爾博又過了好幾天才真正出發(fā)。他和伙伴們將索林深埋在了大山中，巴德把阿肯寶鉆放在他的胸口。

“There let it lie till the Mountain falls!” he said. “May it bring good fortune to all his folk that dwell here after!”

“愿它留在這里直到高山化為平地!”他說，“愿它為所有以后住在這里的他的同胞帶來好運(yùn)。”

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 companions 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.

精靈國(guó)王則將他當(dāng)初抓住索林時(shí)所沒收的奧克銳斯特劍置于他的墓上，據(jù)日后的歌謠說，只要有敵人靠近，它就會(huì)在黑暗中發(fā)出耀眼光芒，矮人們的堡壘再也不會(huì)遭到偷襲了。納因之子戴因繼承了他的王位，成為山下之王，許多來自各地的矮人陸續(xù)趕來，聚集到了那古老的宮殿廳堂中，成為他的臣民。在索林的十二個(gè)伙伴中，有十個(gè)活了下來。菲力和奇力用自己的身體和盾牌掩護(hù)索林，為此而付出了生命，因?yàn)樗髁质撬麄兊木司?。其他人則留了下來輔佐戴因，因?yàn)榇饕驅(qū)ψ嫦葘毑氐奶幚硎值皿w，令人心服。

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.”

對(duì)財(cái)寶的分配不再有什么問題了，給巴林、杜瓦林、多瑞、諾瑞、歐瑞、歐因、格羅因、比弗、波弗和邦伯的都是原來說定的份額，給比爾博的也是一樣。不過，戴因還把所有黃金和白銀(加工過和沒加工過的)的十四分之一給了巴德。戴因說：“我們必須尊重死者答應(yīng)過的事，而阿肯寶鉆現(xiàn)在也的確由他保管了。”

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.

即便是總數(shù)的十四分之一也是一筆超級(jí)巨大的財(cái)富，比許多人類國(guó)王的財(cái)富都巨大。巴德從這筆財(cái)富中撥出許多黃金給了長(zhǎng)湖鎮(zhèn)的鎮(zhèn)長(zhǎng)，他對(duì)自己的追隨者和朋友們也慷慨封賞。戴因?qū)⒓鸢驳聂浯漤?xiàng)鏈還給了巴德，巴德將其轉(zhuǎn)送給了精靈國(guó)王，他最喜歡這樣的珠寶了。

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.”

巴德對(duì)比爾博說：“這份財(cái)寶既可以算是你的，也可以算是我的。以前的契約沒法再維持了，因?yàn)橛羞@么多人為了贏得它、保衛(wèi)它而付出了代價(jià)。不過，即使你愿意放棄所有的權(quán)利，我也不希望讓索林說過的那句‘你不會(huì)分到多少的’在客觀上成為事實(shí)，他自己也已經(jīng)對(duì)這些話表示了悔恨。在所有人之中，我應(yīng)該給予你最豐厚的獎(jiǎng)賞。”

“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.”

“真是太感謝你了。”比爾博說，“不過，什么都不拿對(duì)我來說反而輕松，我實(shí)在想不出來，要怎樣才能把所有這些財(cái)寶運(yùn)回家中，而不在路上遭遇戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)或是謀殺。我也不知道回家之后能拿它干什么。我肯定它們還是留在你手中比較好。”

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.

幾經(jīng)推辭，他最后只收下了兩個(gè)小箱子，一個(gè)裝滿了白銀，一個(gè)裝滿了黃金，正好是一匹健壯的小馬可以承載的重量。“我能應(yīng)付的也就這么多了!”他說。

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!”

最后，到了他跟朋友們道別的時(shí)間了。“再會(huì)了，巴林!”他說，“再會(huì)了，杜瓦林，還有多瑞、諾瑞、歐瑞、歐因、格羅因、比弗、波弗和邦伯!愿你們的胡子永遠(yuǎn)茂盛!”然后，他轉(zhuǎn)過身面對(duì)孤山又加了一句：“永別了，索林·橡木盾!還有奇力和菲力!愿人們永遠(yuǎn)記住你們!”然后，矮人們?cè)趯m殿的大門前一起深深鞠躬，但道別的話卻卡在了喉間。“再見了!無論你去到哪里，都祝你好運(yùn)!”巴林最后終于開了口，“在我們修復(fù)了宮殿之后，如果哪天你再來拜訪，我們一定要辦一場(chǎng)豪華大宴席!”

“If ever you are passing my way,” said Bilbo, “don’t wait to knock! Tea is at four; but any of you are welcome at any time!”

“如果你們有機(jī)會(huì)到我家來，”比爾博說，“別客氣，只管敲門!下午茶是四點(diǎn)，但你們隨時(shí)來都會(huì)受到歡迎!”

Then he turned away.

說罷，他轉(zhuǎn)身上路。

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.

精靈的部隊(duì)正在行軍，雖然人數(shù)減少許多令人心痛，但隊(duì)伍中的許多人依舊歡欣鼓舞，因?yàn)?，北方世界將有很長(zhǎng)一段日子要比以前祥和許多了。惡龍死了，半獸人的割據(jù)被推翻，他們的心期盼著寒冬之后會(huì)有一個(gè)充滿歡愉的春天。

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.

甘道夫和比爾博騎在精靈國(guó)王后面，在他們身邊大步走著的是恢復(fù)人形的貝奧恩，一路上他都在朗聲大笑，引吭高歌。他們就這樣一路走到了黑森林的北部邊境，也就是密林河流出的地方。他們?cè)谀沁呁Ａ讼聛恚驗(yàn)楦实婪蚝捅葼柌┎辉敢膺M(jìn)入森林，盡管精靈國(guó)王邀請(qǐng)他們到自己的宮殿中去做客。他們準(zhǔn)備沿著森林的邊緣走，繞過它的北端，橫跨灰色山脈和黑森林之間的荒原。這條路比較遙遠(yuǎn)，走起來也乏味，但既然現(xiàn)在半獸人已經(jīng)被鏟除，它似乎比樹林中那些可怕的小徑要更安全些。而且，貝奧恩也準(zhǔn)備走這條路。

“Farewell! O Elvenking!” said Gandalf. “Merry be the greenwood, while the world is yet young! And merry be all your folk!”

“再見啦!精靈國(guó)王!”甘道夫告別道，“世界還如此年輕，愿森林充滿歡樂!愿你的同胞無憂無慮!”

“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!”

“再會(huì)了!甘道夫!”精靈國(guó)王說，“愿你永遠(yuǎn)都可以出其不意地出現(xiàn)在最需要你的地方!希望你能夠常常到我的宮殿來拜訪!”

“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.

“我請(qǐng)求您，”比爾博結(jié)結(jié)巴巴，躊躇地說道，“接受這個(gè)禮物!”他拿出了一條戴因臨別前送給他的白銀珍珠項(xiàng)鏈。

“In what way have I earned such a gift, O hobbit?” said the king.

“霍比特人啊，我究竟何德何能，可以獲得這件禮物呢?”國(guó)王不解地問道。

“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.”

“呃，我想，你知道吧，”比爾博頗有些語無倫次地說道，“我，這個(gè)，應(yīng)該對(duì)你有些小小的回報(bào)，呃，回報(bào)你的款待。我是說，縱然是飛賊也是有感情的。我喝過你很多酒，吃了你很多面包。”

“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!”

“偉大的比爾博，我收下你的禮物!”國(guó)王表情嚴(yán)肅地說道，“我宣布你成為精靈之友，永遠(yuǎn)受到我們的祝福。愿你的陰影永不褪色(不然偷竊對(duì)你來說簡(jiǎn)直太容易了)!再見!”

Then the elves turned towards the Forest, and Bilbo started on his long road home.

說完，精靈們就返身回森林去了，比爾博則開始了他漫長(zhǎng)的歸鄉(xiāng)路。

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 beside 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 midwinter Gandalf and Bilbo had come 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.

在他回到家之前，還有許多困難和冒險(xiǎn)要經(jīng)歷。荒原畢竟是荒原，在那個(gè)年代，帶來危險(xiǎn)的除了半獸人之外還有許多其他東西，不過好在他既有個(gè)好向?qū)?，又有個(gè)好保鏢——巫師一直和他在一起，貝奧恩也陪了他大半路——因此，他再也沒有遇到大的危險(xiǎn)。反正到了冬天過去一半的時(shí)候，甘道夫和比爾博就已經(jīng)沿著森林的邊緣，再度來到了貝奧恩的居所。兩人都在那兒又住了些日子。尤爾季節(jié)過得溫馨而又快樂，四面八方的人都被貝奧恩從大老遠(yuǎn)喊來參加歡宴。迷霧山區(qū)的半獸人如今已寥寥無幾，且都已成了驚弓之鳥，都躲在他們所能找到的最幽深的洞穴中。座狼也從森林里消失了，因此人們可以放開膽子自由來往。貝奧恩在稍后成為了這片地區(qū)的首領(lǐng)，山脈與森林之間的廣闊地區(qū)都成了他的管轄范圍。據(jù)說，他的許多代子孫都具有變化為熊的能力，雖然也出了幾個(gè)壞人，但大多數(shù)都像貝奧恩一樣心地善良、嫉惡如仇，只是力量和體形都縮減了不少。他們將迷霧山脈的半獸人全都追逐殆盡，大荒原又重新獲得了和平。

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 in springtime no less marvellous than in high summer.

第二年的春天氣候溫和，陽光燦爛，比爾博和甘道夫終于告別貝奧恩啟程了。雖然比爾博也很想家，但他走時(shí)還是很依依不舍，因?yàn)樨悐W恩花園中的鮮花開得絲毫不比夏天略遜燦爛。

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 outstretched 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.

最后，他們又踏上了漫漫長(zhǎng)路，來到了以前被半獸人抓住過的那個(gè)山口。不過他們是在早晨登上那個(gè)高點(diǎn)的，回眸望去，只見一片耀眼的陽光照在一望無際的大地上。遠(yuǎn)方青藍(lán)色的一片是黑森林，靠近他們的邊緣即使在春天也是深綠色的。再往遠(yuǎn)處望去，在目力快要不及的地方矗立著孤山，在它的最高峰，尚未融化的積雪閃耀著淡淡的光芒。

“So comes 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 armchair!” he said.

“烈火過后是冰雪，連惡龍也會(huì)有末日的!”發(fā)出了這樣一聲感慨后，比爾博在心里告別了昔日的冒險(xiǎn)。他體內(nèi)屬于圖克家族血統(tǒng)的那部分已經(jīng)很疲倦了，屬于巴金斯家血統(tǒng)的那部分則漸漸占了上風(fēng)。“我此刻只想坐在自家的安樂椅上!”他說。