Властелин колец: Две башни
The Voice of Saruman
’Saruman,Saruman!’saidGandalfstilllaughing.’Saruman,youmissedyourpathinlife.Youshouldhavebeentheking’sjesterandearnedyourbread,andstripestoo,bymimickinghiscounsellors.Ahme!’hepaused,gettingthebetterofhismirth.’Understandoneanother?IfearIambeyondyourcomprehension.Butyou,Saruman,Iunderstandnowtoowell.Ikeepaclearermemoryofyourarguments,anddeeds,thanyousuppose.WhenlastIvisitedyou,youwerethejailorofMordor,andthereIwastobesent.Nay,theguestwhohasescapedfromtheroof,willthinktwicebeforehecomesbackinbythedoor.Nay,IdonotthinkIwillcomeup.Butlisten,Saruman,forthelasttime!Willyounotcomedown?Isengardhasprovedlessstrongthanyourhopeandfancymadeit.Somayotherthingsinwhichyoustillhavetrust.Woulditnotbewelltoleaveitforawhile?Toturntonewthings,perhaps?Thinkwell,Saruman!Willyounotcomedown?’
AshadowpassedoverSaruman’sface;thenitwentdeathlywhite.Beforehecouldconcealit,theysawthroughthemasktheanguishofamindindoubt,loathingtostayanddreadingtoleaveitsrefuge.Forasecondhehesitated,andnoonebreathed.Thenhespoke,andhisvoicewasshrillandcold.Prideandhatewereconqueringhim.
’WillIcomedown?’hemocked.’Doesanunarmedmancomedowntospeakwithrobbersoutofdoors?Icanhearyouwellenoughhere.Iamnofool,andIdonottrustyou,Gandalf.Theydonotstandopenlyonmystairs,butIknowwherethewildwood-demonsarelurking,atyourcommand.
