Властелин колец: Братство кольца
At the Sign of the Prancing Pony
Therewashotsoup,coldmeats,ablackberrytart,newloaves,slabsofbutter,andhalfaripecheese:goodplainfood,asgoodastheShirecouldshow,andhomelikeenoughtodispelthelastofSam’smisgivings(alreadymuchrelievedbytheexcellenceofthebeer).
Thelandlordhoveredroundforalittle,andthenpreparedtoleavethem.‘Idon’tknowwhetheryouwouldcaretojointhecompany,whenyouhavesupped,’hesaid,standingatthedoor.‘Perhapsyouwouldrathergotoyourbeds.Stillthecompanywouldbeverypleasedtowelcomeyou,ifyouhadamind.Wedon’tgetOutsiders–travellersfromtheShire,Ishouldsay,beggingyourpardon–often;andweliketohearabitofnews,oranystoryorsongyoumayhaveinmind.Butasyouplease!Ringthebell,ifyoulackanything!’
Sorefreshedandencourageddidtheyfeelattheendoftheirsupper(aboutthreequartersofanhour’ssteadygoing,nothinderedbyunnecessarytalk)thatFrodo,Pippin,andSamdecidedtojointhecompany.Merrysaiditwouldbetoostuffy.‘Ishallsitherequietlybythefireforabit,andperhapsgooutlaterforasniffoftheair.MindyourPsandQs,anddon’tforgetthatyouaresupposedtobeescapinginsecret,andarestillonthehigh-roadandnotveryfarfromtheShire!’
‘Allright!’saidPippin.‘Mindyourself!Don’tgetlost,anddon’tforgetthatitissaferindoors!’
Thecompanywasinthebigcommon-roomoftheinn.Thegatheringwaslargeandmixed,asFrododiscovered,whenhiseyesgotusedtothelight.
