Властелин колец: Возвращение короля
The Scouring of the Shire
Butmanyofthestrongestandmostdesperategotoutonthewestside,andattackedtheirenemiesfiercely,beingnowmorebentonkillingthanescaping.Severalhobbitsfell,andtherestwerewavering,whenMerryandPippin,whowereontheeastside,cameacrossandchargedtheruffians.Merryhimselfslewtheleader,agreatsquint-eyedbrutelikeahugeorc.Thenhedrewhisforcesoff,encirclingthelastremnantoftheMeninawideringofarchers.
Atlastallwasover.Nearlyseventyoftheruffianslaydeadonthefield,andadozenwereprisoners.Nineteenhobbitswerekilled,andsomethirtywerewounded.Thedeadruffianswereladenonwaggonsandhauledofftoanoldsand-pitnearbyandthereburied:intheBattlePit,asitwasafterwardscalled.Thefallenhobbitswerelaidtogetherinagraveonthehill-side,wherelateragreatstonewassetupwithagardenaboutit.SoendedtheBattleofBywater,1419,thelastbattlefoughtintheShire,andtheonlybattlesincetheGreenfields,1147,awayupintheNorthfarthing.Inconsequence,thoughithappilycostveryfewlives,ithasachaptertoitselfintheRedBook,andthenamesofallthosewhotookpartweremadeintoaRoll,andlearnedbyheartbyShire-historians.TheveryconsiderableriseinthefameandfortuneoftheCottonsdatesfromthistime;butatthetopoftheRollinallaccountsstandthenamesofCaptainsMeriadocandPeregrin.
