Хоббит

           Buttheravensaredifferent.ThereusedtobegreatfriendshipbetweenthemandthepeopleofThror;andtheyoftenbroughtussecretnews,andwererewardedwithsuchbrightthingsastheycovetedtohideintheirdwellings."Theylivemanyayear,andtheirmemoriesarelong,andtheyhandontheirwisdomtotheirchildren.IknewmanyamongtheravensoftherockswhenIwasadwarf-lad.ThisveryheightwasoncenamedRavenhill,becausetherewasawiseandfamouspair,oldCareandhiswife,thatlivedhereabovetheguard-chamber.ButIdon’tsupposethatanyofthatancientbreedlingerherenow."

           Nosoonerhadhefinishedspeakingthantheoldthrushgavealoudcall,andimmediatelyflewaway.

           "Wemaynotunderstandhim,butthatoldbirdunderstandsus,Iamsure,"saidBalin."Keepwatchnow,andseewhathappens!"Beforelongtherewasaflutteringofwings,andbackcamethethrush;andwithhimcameamostdecrepitoldbird.Hewasgettingblind,hecouldhardlyfly,andthetopofhisheadwasbald.Hewasanagedravenofgreatsize.Healightedstifflyonthegroundbeforethem,slowlyflappedhiswings,andbobbedtowardsThorin.

           "OThorinsonofThrain,andBalinsonofFundin,"hecroaked(andBilbocouldunderstandwhathesaid,forheusedordinarylanguageandnotbird-speech)."IamRacsonofCarc.Carcisdead,buthewaswellknowntoyouonce.ItisahundredyearsandthreeandfiftysinceIcameoutoftheegg,butIdonotforgetwhatmyfathertoldme.NowIamthechiefofthegreatravensoftheMountain.