Властелин колец: Возвращение короля
The Siege of Gondor
Assoonasthegreatcatapultswereset,withmanyyellsandthecreakingofropeandwinch,theybegantothrowmissilesmarvellouslyhigh,sothattheypassedrightabovethebattlementandfellthuddingwithinthefirstcircleoftheCity;andmanyofthembysomesecretartburstintoflameastheycametopplingdown.
Soontherewasgreatperiloffirebehindthewall,andallwhocouldbesparedwerebusyquellingtheflamesthatsprangupinmanyplaces.Thenamongthegreatercaststherefellanotherhail,lessruinousbutmorehorrible.AllaboutthestreetsandlanesbehindtheGateittumbleddown,smallroundshotthatdidnotburn.Butwhenmenrantolearnwhatitmightbe,theycriedaloudorwept.FortheenemywasflingingintotheCityalltheheadsofthosewhohadfallenfightingatOsgiliath,orontheRammas,orinthefields.Theyweregrimtolookon;forthoughsomewerecrushedandshapeless,andsomehadbeencruellyhewn,yetmanyhadfeaturesthatcouldbetold,anditseemedthattheyhaddiedinpain;andallwerebrandedwiththefoultokenoftheLidlessEye.Butmarredanddishonouredastheywere,itoftenchancedthatthusamanwouldseeagainthefaceofsomeonethathehadknown,whohadwalkedproudlyonceinarms,ortilledthefields,orriddeninuponaholidayfromthegreenvalesinthehills.
InvainmenshooktheirfistsatthepitilessfoesthatswarmedbeforetheGate.Cursestheyheedednot,norunderstoodthetonguesofwesternmen;cryingwithharshvoiceslikebeastsandcarrion-birds.
