Властелин колец: Братство кольца

           ’Longafter,butstillverylongago,therelivedbythebanksoftheGreatRiverontheedgeofWilderlandaclever-handedandquiet-footedlittlepeople.Iguesstheywereofhobbit-kind;akintothefathersofthefathersoftheStoors,fortheylovedtheRiver,andoftenswaminit,ormadelittleboatsofreeds.Therewasamongthemafamilyofhighrepute,foritwaslargeandwealthierthanmost,anditwasruledbyagrandmotherofthefolk,sternandwiseinoldlore,suchastheyhad.Themostinquisitiveandcurious-mindedofthatfamilywascalledSmeagol.Hewasinterestedinrootsandbeginnings;hedivedintodeeppools;heburrowedundertreesandgrowingplants;hetunnelledintogreenmounds;andheceasedtolookupatthehill-tops,ortheleavesontrees,ortheflowersopeningintheair:hisheadandhiseyesweredownward.

           ’HehadafriendcalledDeagol,ofsimilarsort,sharper-eyedbutnotsoquickandstrong.OnatimetheytookaboatandwentdowntotheGladdenFields,wherethereweregreatbedsofirisandfloweringreeds.ThereSmeagolgotoutandwentnosingaboutthebanksbutDeagolsatintheboatandfished.Suddenlyagreatfishtookhishook,andbeforeheknewwherehewas,hewasdraggedoutanddownintothewater,tothebottom.Thenheletgoofhisline,forhethoughthesawsomethingshiningintheriver-bed;andholdinghisbreathhegrabbedatit.

           ’Thenuphecamespluttering,withweedsinhishairandahandfulofmud;andheswamtothebank.Andbehold!whenhewashedthemudaway,thereinhishandlayabeautifulgoldenring;anditshoneandglitteredinthesun,sothathisheartwasglad.ButSmeagolhadbeenwatchinghimfrombehindatree,andasDeagolgloatedoverthering,Smeagolcamesoftlyupbehind.

           ’"Giveusthat,Deagol,mylove,"saidSmeagol,overhisfriend’sshoulder.