Властелин колец: Возвращение короля
The Last Debate
Baretimewasgivenmetocometoyouraid.’
‘Buthowisthis?’askedÉomer.‘Allisvain,yousay,ifhehastheRing.Whyshouldhethinkitnotvaintoassailus,ifwehaveit?’
‘Heisnotyetsure,’saidGandalf,‘andhehasnotbuiltuphispowerbywaitinguntilhisenemiesaresecure,aswehavedone.Alsowecouldnotlearnhowtowieldthefullpowerallinaday.Indeeditcanbeusedonlybyonemasteralone,notbymany;andhewilllookforatimeofstrife,ereoneofthegreatamongusmakeshimselfmasterandputsdowntheothers.InthattimetheRingmightaidhim,ifheweresudden.
‘Heiswatching.Heseesmuchandhearsmuch.HisNazgûlarestillabroad.Theypassedoverthisfielderethesunrise,thoughfewofthewearyandsleepingwereawareofthem.Hestudiesthesigns:theSwordthatrobbedhimofhistreasurere-made;thewindsoffortuneturninginourfavour,andthedefeatunlooked-forofhisfirstassaultthefallofhisgreatCaptain.
‘Hisdoubtwillbegrowing,evenaswespeakhere.HisEyeisnowstrainingtowardsus,blindalmosttoallelsethatismoving.Sowemustkeepit.Thereinliesallourhope.This,then,ismycounsel.WehavenottheRing.Inwisdomorgreatfollyithasbeensentawaytobedestroyed,lestitdestroyus.Withoutitwecannotbyforcedefeathisforce.ButwemustatallcostskeephisEyefromhistrueperil.Wecannotachievevictorybyarms,butbyarmswecangivetheRing-bearerhisonlychance,frailthoughitbe.
‘AsAragornhasbegun,sowemustgoon.
