Властелин колец: Две башни

           somethinglike,butmuchworse.IdonotdoubtthereissomeshadowoftheGreatDarknesslyingtherestillawaynorth;andbadmemoriesarehandeddown.ButtherearehollowdalesinthislandwheretheDarknesshasneverbeenlifted,andthetreesareolderthanIam.Still,wedowhatwecan.Wekeepoffstrangersandthefoolhardy;andwetrainandweteach,wewalkandweweed.

           ’Wearetree-herds,weoldEnts.Fewenoughofusareleftnow.Sheepgetlikeshepherd,andshepherdslikesheep,itissaid;butslowly,andneitherhavelongintheworld.ItisquickerandcloserwithtreesandEnts,andtheywalkdowntheagestogether.ForEntsaremorelikeElves:lessinterestedinthemselvesthanMenare,andbetteratgettinginsideotherthings.AndyetagainEntsaremorelikeMen,morechangeablethanElvesare,andquickerattakingthecolouroftheoutside,youmightsay.Orbetterthanboth:fortheyaresteadierandkeeptheirmindsonthingslonger.’Someofmykinlookjustliketreesnow,andneedsomethinggreattorousethem;andtheyspeakonlyinwhispers.Butsomeofmytreesarelimb-lithe,andmanycantalktome.Elvesbeganit,ofcourse,wakingtreesupandteachingthemtospeakandlearningtheirtree-talk.Theyalwayswishedtotalktoeverything,theoldElvesdid.ButthentheGreatDarknesscame,andtheypassedawayovertheSea,orfledintofarvalleys,andhidthemselves,andmadesongsaboutdaysthatwouldnevercomeagain.Neveragain.