Хоббит
A Warm Welcome
Thetalkwasallofthetradethatcameandwentonthewaterwaysandthegrowthofthetrafficontheriver,astheroadsoutoftheEasttowardsMirkwoodvanishedorfellintodisuse;andofthebickeringsoftheLake-menandtheWood-elvesabouttheupkeepoftheForestRiverandthecareofthebanks.
ThoselandshadchangedmuchsincethedayswhendwarvesdweltintheMountain,dayswhichmostpeoplenowrememberedonlyasaveryshadowytradition.Theyhadchangedeveninrecentyears,andsincethelastnewsthatGandalfhadhadofthem.Greatfloodsandrainshadswollenthewatersthatflowedeast;andtherehadbeenanearthquakeortwo(whichsomewereinclinedtoattributetothedragon-alludingtohimchieflywithacurseandanominousnodinthedirectionoftheMountain).Themarshesandbogshadspreadwiderandwideroneitherside.Pathshadvanished,andmanyariderandwanderertoo,iftheyhadtriedtofindthelostwaysacross.Theelf-roadthroughthewoodwhichthedwarveshadfollowedontheadviceofBeornnowcametoadoubtfulandlittleusedendattheeasternedgeoftheforest;onlytheriverofferedanylongerasafewayfromtheskirtsofMirkwoodintheNorthtothemountain-shadowedplainsbeyond,andtheriverwasguardedbytheWood-elves’king.
SoyouseeBilbohadcomeintheendbytheonlyroadthatwasanygood.ItmighthavebeensomecomforttoMr.
