Властелин колец: Возвращение короля
The Last Debate
Thiswartheniswithoutfinalhope,asDenethorperceived.Victorycannotbeachievedbyarms,whetheryousitheretoenduresiegeaftersiege,ormarchouttobeoverwhelmedbeyondtheRiver.Youhaveonlyachoiceofevils;andprudencewouldcounselyoutostrengthensuchstrongplacesasyouhave,andthereawaittheonset;forsoshallthetimebeforeyourendbemadealittlelonger.’
‘ThenyouwouldhaveusretreattoMinasTirith,orDolAmroth,ortoDunharrow,andtheresitlikechildrenonsand-castleswhenthetideisflowing?’saidImrahil.
‘Thatwouldbenonewcounsel,’saidGandalf.‘HaveyounotdonethisandlittlemoreinallthedaysofDenethor?Butno!Isaidthiswouldbeprudent.Idonotcounselprudence.Isaidvictorycouldnotbeachievedbyarms.Istillhopeforvictory,butnotbyarms.ForintothemidstofallthesepoliciescomestheRingofPower,thefoundationofBarad-dûr,andthehopeofSauron.
‘Concerningthisthing,mylords,younowallknowenoughfortheunderstandingofourplight,andofSauron’s.Ifheregainsit,yourvalourisvain,andhisvictorywillbeswiftandcomplete:socompletethatnonecanforeseetheendofitwhilethisworldlasts.Ifitisdestroyed,thenhewillfall;andhisfallwillbesolowthatnonecanforeseehisarisingeveragain.
