Властелин колец: Две башни
Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit
Tohisamazement,ashelistenedFrodobecameawarethatitwastheElven-tonguethattheyspoke,oronebutlittledifferent;andhelookedatthemwithwonder,forheknewthenthattheymustbeDúnedainoftheSouth,menofthelineoftheLordsofWesternesse.
Afterawhilehespoketothem;buttheywereslowandcautiousinanswering.TheynamedthemselvesMablungandDamrod,soldiersofGondor,andtheywereRangersofIthilien;fortheyweredescendedfromfolkwholivedinIthilienatonetime,beforeitwasoverrun.FromsuchmentheLordDenethorchosehisforayers,whocrossedtheAnduinsecretly(howorwhere,theywouldnotsay)toharrytheOrcsandotherenemiesthatroamedbetweentheEphelDúathandtheRiver.
`Itiscloseontenleagueshencetotheeast-shoreofAnduin,’saidMablung,’andweseldomcomesofarafield.Butwehaveanewerrandonthisjourney:wecometoambushtheMenofHarad.Cursethem!’
’Aye,cursetheSouthrons!’saidDamrod.`’TissaidthatthereweredealingsofoldbetweenGondorandthekingdomsoftheHaradintheFarSouth;thoughtherewasneverfriendship.InthosedaysourboundswereawaysouthbeyondthemouthsofAnduin,andUmbar,thenearestoftheirrealms,acknowledgedoursway.Butthatislongsince.’TismanylivesofMensinceanypassedtoorfrobetweenus.NowoflatewehavelearnedthattheEnemyhasbeenamongthem,andtheyaregoneovertoHim,orbacktoHim-theywereeverreadytoHiswill-ashavesomanyalsointheEast.
