Хоббит
Riddles in the Dark
Buttheseordinaryabovegroundeverydaysortofriddlesweretiringforhim.Alsotheyremindedhimofdayswhenhehadbeenlesslonelyandsneakyandnasty,andthatputhimoutoftemper.Whatismoretheymadehimhungry;sothistimehetriedsomethingabitmoredifficultandmoreunpleasant:
"Itcannotbeseen,cannotbefelt,
Cannotbeheard,cannotbesmelt.
Itliesbehindstarsandunderhills,
Andemptyholesitfills.
Itcomesfirstandfollowsafter,
Endslife,killslaughter."
UnfortunatelyforGollumBilbohadheardthatsortofthingbefore;andtheanswerwasallroundhimanyway."Dark!"hesaidwithoutevenscratchinghisheadorputtingonhisthinkingcap.
"Aboxwithouthinges,key,orlid,
Yetgoldentreasureinsideishid,"
heaskedtogaintime,untilhecouldthinkofareallyhardone.Thishethoughtadreadfullyeasychestnut,thoughhehadnotaskeditintheusualwords.ButitprovedanastyposerforGollum.Hehissedtohimself,andstillhedidnotanswer;hewhisperedandspluttered.
AftersomewhileBilbobecameimpatient."Well,whatisit?"hesaid."Theanswer’snotakettleboilingover,asyouseemtothinkfromthenoiseyouaremaking."
