Властелин колец: Две башни
The Voice of Saruman
ForIboreyounoill-will;andevennowIbearnone,thoughyoureturntomeinthecompanyoftheviolentandtheignorant.HowshouldI?Arewenotbothmembersofahighandancientorder,mostexcellentinMiddle-earth?Ourfriendshipwouldprofitusbothalike.Muchwecouldstillaccomplishtogether,tohealthedisordersoftheworld.Letusunderstandoneanother,anddismissfromthoughttheselesserfolk!Letthemwaitonourdecisions!ForthecommongoodIamwillingtoredressthepast,andtoreceiveyou.Willyounotconsultwithme?Willyounotcomeup?’
SogreatwasthepowerthatSarumanexertedinthislasteffortthatnonethatstoodwithinhearingwereunmoved.Butnowthespellwaswhollydifferent.Theyheardthegentleremonstranceofakindlykingwithanerringbutmuch-lovedminister.Buttheywereshutout,listeningatadoortowordsnotmeantforthem:ill-manneredchildrenorstupidservantsoverhearingtheelusivediscourseoftheirelders,andwonderinghowitwouldaffecttheirlot.Ofloftiermouldthesetwoweremade:reverendandwise.Itwasinevitablethattheyshouldmakealliance.Gandalfwouldascendintothetower,todiscussdeepthingsbeyondtheircomprehensioninthehighchambersofOrthanc.Thedoorwouldbeclosed,andtheywouldbeleftoutside,dismissedtoawaitallottedworkorpunishment.EveninthemindofThéodenthethoughttookshape,likeashadowofdoubt:’Hewillbetrayus;hewillgo-weshallbelost.’
ThenGandalflaughed.Thefantasyvanishedlikeapuffofsmoke.
