Хоббит

           "Hush,hush!GoodPeople!andgoodnight!"saidGandalf,whocamelast.

           "Valleyshaveears,andsomeelveshaveovermerrytongues.Goodnight!"AndsoatlasttheyallcametotheLastHomelyHouse,andfounditsdoorsflungwide.

           Nowitisastrangething,butthingsthataregoodtohaveanddaysthataregoodtospendaresoontoldabout,andnotmuchtolistento;whilethingsthatareuncomfortable,palpitating,andevengruesome,maymakeagoodtale,andtakeadealoftellinganyway.Theystayedlonginthatgoodhouse,fourteendaysatleast,andtheyfoundithardtoleave.Bilbowouldgladlyhavestoppedthereforeverandever-evensupposingawishwouldhavetakenhimrightbacktohishobbit-holewithouttrouble.Yetthereislittletotellabouttheirstay.

           Themasterofthehousewasanelf-friend-oneofthosepeoplewhosefatherscameintothestrangestoriesbeforethebeginningofHistory,thewarsoftheevilgoblinsandtheelvesandthefirstmenintheNorth.InthosedaysofourtaletherewerestillsomepeoplewhohadbothelvesandheroesoftheNorthforancestors,andElrondthemasterofthehousewastheirchief.Hewasasnobleandasfairinfaceasanelf-lord,asstrongasawarrior,aswiseasawizard,asvenerableasakingofdwarves,andaskindassummer.Hecomesinto.manytales,buthispartinthestoryofBilbo’sgreatadventureisonlyasmallone,thoughimportant,asyouwillsee,ifweevergettotheendofit.Hishousewasperfect,whetheryoulikedfood,orsleep,orwork,orstory-telling,orsinging,orjustsittingandthinkingbest,orapleasantmixtureofthemall.Evilthingsdidnotcomeintothatvalley.

           IwishIhadtimetotellyouevenafewofthetalesoroneortwoofthesongsthattheyheardinthathouse.Allofthem,theponiesaswell,grewrefreshedandstronginafewdaysthere.