Властелин колец: Братство кольца
The Shadow of the Past
’Yoursmallfire,ofcourse,wouldnotmeltevenordinarygold.ThisRinghasalreadypassedthroughitunscathed,andevenunheated.Butthereisnosmith’sforgeinthisShirethatcouldchangeitatall.NoteventheanvilsandfurnacesoftheDwarvescoulddothat.Ithasbeensaidthatdragon-firecouldmeltandconsumetheRingsofPower,butthereisnotnowanydragonleftonearthinwhichtheoldfireishotenough;norwasthereeveranydragon,notevenAncalagontheBlack,whocouldhaveharmedtheOneRing,theRulingRing,forthatwasmadebySauronhimself.Thereisonlyoneway:tofindtheCracksofDoominthedepthsofOrodruin,theFire-mountain,andcasttheRinginthere,ifyoureallywishtodestroyit,toputitbeyondthegraspoftheEnemyforever.’
’Idoreallywishtodestroyit!’criedFrodo.’Or,well,tohaveitdestroyed.Iamnotmadeforperilousquests.IwishIhadneverseentheRing!Whydiditcometome?WhywasIchosen?’
’Suchquestionscannotbeanswered,’saidGandalf.’Youmaybesurethatitwasnotforanymeritthatothersdonotpossess:notforpowerorwisdom,atanyrate.Butyouhavebeenchosen,andyoumustthereforeusesuchstrengthandheartandwitsasyouhave.’
’ButIhavesolittleofanyofthesethings!Youarewiseandpowerful.WillyounottaketheRing?’
’No!’criedGandalf,springingtohisfeet.’WiththatpowerIshouldhavepowertoogreatandterrible.AndovermetheRingwouldgainapowerstillgreaterandmoredeadly.’Hiseyesflashedandhisfacewaslitasbyafirewithin.’Donottemptme!ForIdonotwishtobecomeliketheDarkLordhimself.YetthewayoftheRingtomyheartisbypity,pityforweaknessandthedesireofstrengthtodogood.
