Властелин колец: Братство кольца
A Long-expected Party
IhopeyouareallenjoyingyourselvesasmuchasIam.Deafeningcheers.CriesofYes(andNo).Noisesoftrumpetsandhorns,pipesandflutes,andothermusicalinstruments.Therewere,ashasbeensaid,manyyounghobbitspresent.Hundredsofmusicalcrackershadbeenpulled.Mostofthemborethemarkdaleonthem;whichdidnotconveymuchtomostofthehobbits,buttheyallagreedtheyweremarvellouscrackers.Theycontainedinstruments,small,butofperfectmakeandenchantingtones.Indeed,inonecornersomeoftheyoungTooksandBrandybucks,supposingUncleBilbotohavefinished(sincehehadplainlysaidallthatwasnecessary),nowgotupanimpromptuorchestra,andbeganamerrydance-tune.MasterEverardTookandMissMelilotBrandybuckgotonatableandwithbellsintheirhandsbegantodancetheSpringle-ring:aprettydance,butrathervigorous.
ButBilbohadnotfinished.Seizingahornfromayoungsternearby,heblewthreeloudhoots.Thenoisesubsided.Ishallnotkeepyoulong,hecried.Cheersfromalltheassembly.IhavecalledyoualltogetherforaPurpose.Somethinginthewaythathesaidthismadeanimpression.Therewasalmostsilence,andoneortwooftheTooksprickeduptheirears.
Indeed,forThreePurposes!Firstofall,totellyouthatIamimmenselyfondofyouall,andthateleventy-oneyearsistooshortatimetoliveamongsuchexcellentandadmirablehobbits.Tremendousoutburstofapproval.
Idon’tknowhalfofyouhalfaswellasIshouldlike;andIlikelessthanhalfofyouhalfaswellasyoudeserve.Thiswasunexpectedandratherdifficult.Therewassomescatteredclapping,butmostofthemweretryingtoworkitoutandseeifitcametoacompliment.
Secondly,tocelebratemybirthday.Cheersagain.Ishouldsay:OURbirthday.
