Властелин колец: Две башни
The Road to Isengard
Meriadoc,sonofSaradocismyname;andmycompanion,who,alas!isovercomewithweariness’-herehegavetheotheradigwithhisfoot-’isPeregrin,sonofPaladin,ofthehouseofTook.FarintheNorthisourhome.TheLordSarumaniswithin;butatthemomentheisclosetedwithoneWormtongue,ordoubtlesshewouldbeheretowelcomesuchhonourableguests.’
’Doubtlesshewould!’laughedGandalf.’AndwasitSarumanthatorderedyoutoguardhisdamageddoors,andwatchforthearrivalofguests,whenyourattentioncouldbesparedfromplateandbottle?’
’No,goodsir,thematterescapedhim,’answeredMerrygravely’Hehasbeenmuchoccupied.OurorderscamefromTreebeard,whohastakenoverthemanagementofIsengard.HecommandedmetowelcometheLordofRohanwithfittingwords.Ihavedonemybest.’
’Andwhataboutyourcompanions?WhataboutLegolasandme?’criedGimli,unabletocontainhimselflonger.’Yourascals,youwoolly-footedandwool-patedtruants!Afinehuntyouhaveledus!Twohundredleagues,throughfenandforest,battleanddeath,torescueyou!Andherewefindyoufeastingandidling-andsmoking!Smoking!Wheredidyoucomebytheweed,youvillains?Hammerandtongs!Iamsotornbetweenrageandjoy,thatifIdonotburst.itwillbeamarvel!’
’Youspeakforme,Gimli,’laughedLegolas.’ThoughIwouldsoonerlearnhowtheycamebythewine.’
’Onethingyouhavenotfoundinyourhunting,andthat’sbrighterwits,’saidPippin,openinganeye.
