Властелин колец: Возвращение короля
The Last Debate
AragornshouldfindsometwothousandsofthosethathehadgatheredtohimintheSouth;butImrahilshouldfindthreeandahalfthousands;andÉomerfivehundredsoftheRohirrimwhowereunhorsedbutthemselveswarworthy,andhehimselfshouldleadfivehundredsofhisbestRidersonhorse;andanothercompanyoffivehundredhorsethereshouldbe,amongwhichshouldridethesonsofElrondwiththeDúnedainandtheknightsofDolAmroth:alltoldsixthousandfootandathousandhorse.ButthemainstrengthoftheRohirrimthatremainedhorsedandabletofight,somethreethousandunderthecommandofElfhelm,shouldwaylaytheWestRoadagainsttheenemythatwasinAnórien.Andatonceswiftridersweresentouttogatherwhatnewstheycouldnorthwards;andeastwardsfromOsgiliathandtheroadtoMinasMorgul.
Andwhentheyhadreckonedupalltheirstrengthandtakenthoughtforthejourneystheyshouldmakeandtheroadstheyshouldchoose,Imrahilsuddenlylaughedaloud.
‘Surely,’hecried,‘thisisthegreatestjestinallthehistoryofGondor:thatweshouldridewithseventhousands,scarceasmanyasthevanguardofitsarmyinthedaysofitspower,toassailthemountainsandtheimpenetrablegateoftheBlackLand!Somightachildthreatenamail-cladknightwithabowofstringandgreenwillow!IftheDarkLordknowssomuchasyousay,Mithrandir,willhenotrathersmilethanfear,andwithhislittlefingercrushuslikeaflythattriestostinghim?’
‘No,hewilltrytotraptheflyandtakethesting,’saidGandalf
