Властелин колец: Братство кольца
The Shadow of the Past
andasfarasIknowthereisnoPowerintheworldthatknowsallabouthobbits.AmongtheWiseIamtheonlyonethatgoesinforhobbit-lore:anobscurebranchofknowledge,butfullofsurprises.Softasbuttertheycanbe,andyetsometimesastoughasoldtree-roots.IthinkitlikelythatsomewouldresisttheRingsfarlongerthanmostoftheWisewouldbelieve.Idon’tthinkyouneedworryaboutBilbo.
’Ofcourse,hepossessedtheringformanyyears,andusedit,soitmighttakealongwhilefortheinfluencetowearoff—beforeitwassafeforhimtoseeitagain,forinstance.Otherwise,hemightliveonforyears,quitehappily:juststopashewaswhenhepartedwithit.Forhegaveitupintheendofhisownaccord:animportantpoint.No,IwasnottroubledaboutdearBilboanymore,oncehehadletthethinggo.ItisforyouthatIfeelresponsible.
’EversinceBilboleftIhavebeendeeplyconcernedaboutyou,andaboutallthesecharming,absurd,helplesshobbits.Itwouldbeagrievousblowtotheworld,iftheDarkPowerovercametheShire;ifallyourkind,jolly,stupidBolgers,Hornblowers,Boffins,Bracegirdles,andtherest,nottomentiontheridiculousBagginses,becameenslaved.’
Frodoshuddered.’Butwhyshouldwebe?’heasked.’Andwhyshouldhewantsuchslaves?’
’Totellyouthetruth,’repliedGandalf,’Ibelievethathitherto—hitherto,markyou—hehasentirelyoverlookedtheexistenceofhobbits.Youshouldbethankful.Butyoursafetyhaspassed.Hedoesnotneedyou—hehasmanymoreusefulservants—buthewon’tforgetyouagain.Andhobbitsasmiserableslaveswouldpleasehimfarmorethanhobbitshappyandfree.Thereissuchathingasmaliceandrevenge.’
