Властелин колец: Возвращение короля
The Pyre of Denethor
‘ButIsaytothee,GandalfMithrandir,Iwillnotbethytool!IamStewardoftheHouseofAnárion.Iwillnotstepdowntobethedotardchamberlainofanupstart.Evenwerehisclaimprovedtome,stillhecomesbutofthelineofIsildur.Iwillnotbowtosuchaone,lastofaraggedhouselongbereftoflordshipanddignity.’
‘Whatthenwouldyouhave,’saidGandalf,‘ifyourwillcouldhaveitsway?’
‘Iwouldhavethingsastheywereinallthedaysofmylife,’answeredDenethor,‘andinthedaysofmylongfathersbeforeme:tobetheLordofthisCityinpeace,andleavemychairtoasonafterme,whowouldbehisownmasterandnowizard’spupil.Butifdoomdeniesthistome,thenIwillhavenaught:neitherlifediminished,norlovehalved,norhonourabated.’
‘TomeitwouldnotseemthataStewardwhofaithfullysurrendershischargeisdiminishedinloveorinhonour,’saidGandalf.‘Andattheleastyoushallnotrobyoursonofhischoicewhilehisdeathisstillindoubt.’
AtthosewordsDenethor’seyesflamedagain,andtakingtheStoneunderhisarmhedrewaknifeandstrodetowardsthebier.ButBeregondsprangforwardandsethimselfbeforeFaramir.
‘So!’criedDenethor.‘Thouhadstalreadystolenhalfmyson’slove.Nowthoustealesttheheartsofmyknightsalso,sothattheyrobmewhollyofmysonatthelast.Butinthisatleastthoushaltnotdefymywill:torulemyownend.’
‘Comehither!’hecriedtohisservants.
