Хоббит
A Warm Welcome
Atthesouthernendthedoubledwaterspouredoutagainoverhighwaterfallsandranawayhurriedlytounknownlands.Inthestilleveningairthenoiseofthefallscouldbeheardlikeadistantroar.
NotfarfromthemouthoftheForestRiverwasthestrangetownheheardtheelvesspeakofintheking’scellars.Itwasnotbuiltontheshore,thoughtherewereafewhutsandbuildingsthere,butrightoutonthesurfaceofthelake,protectedfromtheswirloftheenteringriverbyapromontoryofrockwhichformedacalmbay.Agreat.bridgemadeofwoodranouttowhereonhugepilesmadeofforesttreeswasbuiltabusywoodentown,notatownofelvesbutofMen,whostilldaredtodwellhereundertheshadowofthedistantdragon-mountain.TheystillthroveonthetradethatcameupthegreatriverfromtheSouthandwascartedpastthefallstotheirtown;butinthegreatdaysofold,whenDaleintheNorthwasrichandprosperous,theyhadbeenwealthyandpowerful,andtherehadbeenfleetsofboatsonthewaters,andsomewerefilledwithgoldandsomewithwarriorsinarmour,andtherehadbeenwarsanddeedswhichwerenowonlyalegend.Therottingpilesofagreatertowncouldstillbeseenalongtheshoreswhenthewaterssankinadrought.
Butmenrememberedlittleofallthat,thoughsomestillsangoldsongsofthedwarf-kingsoftheMountain,ThrorandThrainoftheraceofDurin,andofthecomingoftheDragon,andthefallofthelordsofDale.
