Хоббит
Flies and Spiders
Itisonlyfairtosaythatthedwarvesgaveadifferentaccount,andsaidthattheyonlytookwhatwastheirdue,fortheelf-kinghadbar-gainedwiththemtoshapehisrawgoldandsilver,andhadafterwardsrefusedtogivethemtheirpay.Iftheelf-kinghadaweaknessitwasfortreasure,especiallyforsilverandwhitegems;andthoughhishoardwasrich,hewasevereagerformore,sincehehadnotyetasgreatatreasureasotherelf-lordsofold.Hispeopleneitherminednorworkedmetalsorjewels,nordidtheybothermuchwithtradeorwithtillingtheearth.Allthiswaswellknowntoeverydwarf,thoughThorin’sfamilyhadhadnothingtodowiththeoldquarrelIhavespokenof.ConsequentlyThorinwasangryattheirtreatmentofhim,whentheytooktheirspelloffhimandhecametohissenses;andalsohewasdeterminedthatnowordofgoldorjewelsshouldbedraggedoutofhim.
ThekinglookedsternlyonThorin,whenhewasbroughtbeforehim,andaskedhimmanyquestions.ButThorinwouldonlysaythathewasstarving."Whydidyouandyourfolkthreetimestrytoattackmypeopleattheirmerrymaking?"askedtheking.
"Wedidnotattackthem,"answeredThorin;"wecametobeg,becausewewerestarving."
"Whereareyourfriendsnow,andwhataretheydoing?"
"Idon’tknow,butIexpectstarvingintheforest."
"Whatwereyoudoingintheforest?"
"Lookingforfoodanddrink,becausewewerestarving."
"Butwhatbroughtyouintotheforestatall?"askedthekingangrily.
