Властелин колец: Две башни
The Road to Isengard
’Hereyoufindussittingonafieldofvictory,amidtheplunderofarmies,andyouwonderhowwecamebyafewwell-earnedcomforts!’
’Well-earned?’saidGimli.’Icannotbelievethat!’
TheRiderslaughed.’Itcannotbedoubtedthatwewitnessthemeetingofdearfriends,’saidThéoden.’Sothesearethelostonesofyourcompany,Gandalf?Thedaysarefatedtobefilledwithmarvels.AlreadyIhaveseenmanysinceIleftmyhouse;andnowherebeforemyeyesstandyetanotherofthefolkoflegend.ArenotthesetheHalflings,thatsomeamonguscalltheHolbytlan?’
’Hobbits,ifyouplease,lord,’saidPippin.
’Hobbits?’saidThéoden.’Yourtongueisstrangelychanged;butthenamesoundsnotunfittingso.Hobbits!NoreportthatIhavehearddoesjusticetothetruth.’
Merrybowed;andPippingotupandbowedlow.’Youaregracious,lord;orIhopethatImaysotakeyourwords,’hesaid.’Andhereisanothermarvel!Ihavewanderedinmanylands,sinceIleftmyhome,andnevertillnowhaveIfoundpeoplethatknewanystoryconcerninghobbits.’
’MypeoplecameoutoftheNorthlongago,’saidThéoden.’ButIwillnotdeceiveyou:weknownotalesabouthobbits.Allthatissaidamongusisthatfaraway,overmanyhillsandrivers,livethehalflingfolkthatdwellinholesinsand-dunes.Buttherearenolegendsoftheirdeeds.foritissaidthattheydolittle,andavoidthesightofmen,beingabletovanishinatwinkling:andtheycanchangetheirvoicestoresemblethepipingofbirds.
