THE LAST STAGE
最后一幕
It was on May the First that the two came back at last to the brink of the valley of Rivendell, where stood the Last (or the First) Homely House. Again it was evening, their ponies were tired, especially the one that carried the baggage; and they all felt in need of rest. As they rode down the steep path, Bilbo heard the elves still singing in the trees, as if they had not stopped since he left; and as soon as the riders came down into the lower glades of the wood they burst into a song of much the same kind as before. This is something like it:
五月一号的时候，两人终于来到了幽谷谷口，最后家园(或毋宁说是最初的)就矗一立在那里。时间和他们当初来时同样是晚上，小马已经跑累了，尤其是驮行李的那匹，他们也都觉得需要休息一下。两人沿着陡峭的斜坡往下骑行，比尔博听见一精一灵们依旧在森林里面唱着歌，仿佛从他离开之后就没有停过似的。当他们骑到林间低处的草地上时，一精一灵们唱起了与之前相似的歌曲，歌曲一内一容大致如下：
The dragon is withered,
恶龙已经完蛋，
His bones are now crumbled;
一尸一骨已成碎渣;
His armour is shivered,
盔甲碎成破片，
His splendour is humbled!
显赫沦为卑下!
Though sword shall be rusted,
刀剑终将生满锈，
And throne and crown perish
皇冠宝座难长久，
With strength that men trusted
愚夫依旧信强力，
And wealth that they cherish,
金银财宝迷不够。
Here grass is still growing,
惟有青草依然绿，
And lea一ves are yet swinging,
惟有树叶颤悠悠，
The white water flowing,
惟有清溪日日流，
And elves are yet singing
惟有一精一灵歌不休，
Come! Tra-la-la-lally!
来吧!哗啦啦啦哩!
Come back to the valley!
来吧，且回山谷里!
The stars are far brighter
星辰更加耀眼，
Than gems without measure,
远胜珠宝美钻，
The moon is far whiter
月一色一益发皎洁，
Than silver in treasure;
比那白银灿烂：
The fire is more shining
黄昏灶中炉火，
On hearth in the gloaming
释放阵阵暖意，
Than gold won by mining,
地底黄金难比，
So why go a-roaming?
何须追逐不息?
O! Tra-la-la-lally
来吧!哗啦啦啦哩!
Come back to the Valley.
来吧，且回山谷里!
O! Where are you going,
哦!你去了哪里，
So late in returning?
回来得如此晚?
The river is flowing,
小河还在流啊，
The stars are all burning!
星辰依旧灿烂!
O! Whither so laden,
哦!游子，你要去向何方?
So sad and so dreary?
背着沉重行囊，神情疲倦而忧伤?
Here elf and elf-maiden
这里的一精一灵和一精一灵姑一娘一，
Now welcome the weary
欢迎你暂把这里当故乡。
With Tra-la-la-lally
让我们唱起哗啦啦啦哩，
Come back to the Valley,
来吧，且回山谷里，
Tra-la-la-lally
淅沥沥沥哗，
Fa-la-la-lally
哗啦啦啦哩，
Fa-la!
哗啦!
Then the elves of the valley came out and greeted them and led them across the water to the house of Elrond. There a warm welcome was made them, and there were many eager ears that evening to hear the tale of their adventures. Gandalf it was who spoke, for Bilbo was fallen quiet and drowsy. Most of the tale he knew, for he had been in it, and had himself told much of it to the wizard on their homeward way or in the house of Beorn; but every now and again he would open one eye, and listen, when a part of the story which he did not yet know came in.
唱到这里，山谷中的一精一灵们纷纷走出来招呼他们，领着他们越过小河，来到埃尔隆德的住所。大家十分热烈地欢迎他们，到了晚上有许多人迫切地想要聆听他们的冒险故事。后来给大家讲的人是甘道夫，因为比尔博不出声地坐着，已经颇有些昏昏欲睡了。这些故事他大多数都知道，因为那是他自己亲身经历了的事情，而且在回来的路上他把大多数故事都跟巫师讲过，后来到了贝奥恩的家中又讲过一遍。不过，每当甘道夫讲到整个冒险经历中他不知道的部分时，他会时不时地睁开一只眼来，听上一会儿。
It was in this way that he learned where Gandalf had been to; for he overheard the words of the wizard to Elrond. It appeared that Gandalf had been to a great council of the white wizards, masters of lore and good magic; and that they had at last driven the Necromancer from his dark hold in the south of Mirkwood.
就这样一会儿睡一会儿醒的，他了解到了甘道夫和他们分手后的去向，因为他听到了巫师和埃尔隆德的对话。看来，甘道夫似乎去参加了一场白巫师的大会。所谓白巫师，就是专门研究口头传说和善良魔法的巫师。通过这次大会，他们终于将死灵法师赶走，结束了其对黑森林南部的黑暗控制。
“Ere long now,” Gandalf was saying, “the Forest will grow somewhat more wholesome. The North will be freed from that horror for many long years, I hope. Yet I wish he were banished from the world!”
“过不了多久，”甘道夫正在说，“森林就会恢复之前的正常状况了。我希望北方能有许多年可以摆脱那种恐惧。不过我真希望能够彻底将死灵法师从这世界上驱逐出去!”
“It would be well indeed,” said Elrond; “but I fear that will not come about in this age of the world, or for many after.”
“肯定会好起来的，”埃尔隆德说，“但恐怕不会是在我们这个时代，此后很多年里也暂时还不会太平。”
When the tale of their journeyings was told, there were other tales, and yet more tales, tales of long ago, and tales of new things, and tales of no time at all, till Bilbo’s head fell forward on his chest, and he snored comfortably in a corner.
在讲完了他们的冒险旅程之后，大家又讲了其他的故事，接着还是故事，有许多年前发生的故事，有最近发生的新故事，有不知何年何月的故事，一直讲得比尔博的脑袋耷一拉到了一胸一口，缩在角落里舒舒服服地打起鼾来。
He woke to find himself in a white bed, and the moon shining through an open window. Below it many elves were singing loud and clear on the banks of the stream.
等他醒来时，发现自己躺在一张白一色一的床上，月光从开着的窗户照进来，在月下的河岸边许多一精一灵正在高声欢唱。
Sing all ye joyful, now sing all together!
欢乐的人们唱起来吧，大家一起来唱!
The wind’s in the tree-top, the wind’s in the heather;
风儿吹过树梢，拂过石南丛生的蛮荒;
The stars are in blossom, the moon is in flower,
星光绽放，月光落在花上，
And bright are the windows of Night in her tower.
夜之高塔窗户多么明亮。
Dance all ye joyful, now dance all together!
欢乐的人们跳起来吧，大家一起来跳!
Soft is the grass, and let foot be like feather!
草地柔软，让双足如羽一毛一般轻一盈舞蹈!
The river is silver, the shadows are fleeting;
河水银闪闪，影子在飞逝;
Merry is May-time, and merry our meeting.
五月好时光，我们的聚会多逍遥!
Sing we now softly, and dreams let us wea一ve him!
我们柔声轻唱，为他编织好梦!
Wind him in slumber and there let us lea一ve him!
将沉睡的他轻轻摇动，然后留他一人在梦中!
The wanderer sleepeth. Now soft be his pillow! Lullaby!
游子熟睡，枕头柔软蓬松!
Lullaby! Alder and Willow!
睡吧!睡吧!赤杨和柳树款款摆一动!
Sigh no more Pine, till the wind of the morn!
松树不要叹息，直到早晨的风吹起!
Fall Moon! Dark be the land!
月亮落下!黑暗笼罩大地!
Hush! Hush! Oak, Ash, and Thorn!
嘘!嘘!橡树、梣树与荊棘
Hushed be all water, till dawn is at hand!
所有的水流请安静，直到黎明带来晨曦!
“Well, Merry People!” said Bilbo looking out. “What time by the moon is this? Your lullaby would waken a drunken goblin! Yet I thank you.”
“好啊，快乐的人们!”比尔博探出头去说，“看这月亮，现在都什么时候了?你们的催眠曲连喝醉的半兽人都能吵醒啦!不过，还是谢谢你们!”
“And your snores would waken a stone dragon—yet we thank you,” they answered with laughter. “It is drawing towards dawn, and you ha一ve slept now since the night’s beginning. Tomorrow, perhaps, you will be cured of weariness.”
“你的鼾声都可以把石头雕的龙给吵醒了——不过，我们还是谢谢你，”他们哈哈大笑地回答，“天已经快亮了，你从昨晚天刚黑就开始睡了。或许，明天你就不会这么累了。”
“A little sleep does a great cure in the house of Elrond,” said he; “but I will take all the cure I can get. A second good night, fair friends!” And with that he went back to bed and slept till late morning.
“在埃尔隆德的居所只要睡上一小会儿，就对治好疲倦很管用。”他说，“不过我想把身一体好好养一下。再次祝大家晚安，我可一爱一的朋友们!”说完他又回到床上，一觉睡到第二天大中午。
Weariness fell from him soon in that house, and he had many a merry jest and dance, early and late, with the elves of the valley. Yet even that place could not long delay him now, and he thought always of his own home. After a week, therefore, he said farewell to Elrond, and giving him such small gifts as he would accept, he rode away with Gandalf.
在那间屋子里，他的疲倦很快就消失了，从早到晚，他都和山谷一精一灵们说笑唱歌。不过，即使这里充满欢乐，也不能长久拖住他回家的脚步，他整天都想着自己的家。因此，一周之后，他和埃尔隆德告别，送了一些他愿意接受的小礼物，然后比尔博就和甘道夫一起骑马离开了。
Even as they left the valley the sky darkened in the West before them, and wind and rain came up to meet them.
就在他们离开山谷的时候，西方的天空黑了下来，风雨跑来与他们话别了。
“Merry is May-time!” said Bilbo, as the rain beat into his face. “But our back is to legends and we are coming home. I suppose this is the first taste of it.”
“可真是五月好时光啊!”雨点打在比尔博脸上时，他调侃道，“但我们已经告别了传奇，踏上回家路了。我想，老天这是要让我们尝尝乡愁的滋味吧!”
“There is a long road yet,” said Gandalf.
“还有一长段路要走呢。”甘道夫说。
“But it is the last road,” said Bilbo.
“可毕竟是最后一段了。”比尔博回答。
They came to the river that marked the very edge of the borderland of the Wild, and to the ford beneath the steep bank, which you may remember. The water was swollen both with the melting of the snows at the approach of summer, and with the daylong rain; but they crossed with some difficulty, and pressed forward, as evening fell, on the last stage of their journey.
他们来到了标示着野地边界的那条河，越过了陡峭河岸下一面的渡口，或许大家还记得。由于夏天将近，雪水融化，加上下了一天的大雨，河水涨了起来，但他们还是有惊无险地走了过去。随着夜晚的降临，他们踏上了旅程的最后一段。
This was much as it had been before, except that the company was smaller, and more silent; also this time there were no trolls. At each point on the road Bilbo recalled the happenings and the words of a year ago—it seemed to him more like ten—so that, of course, he quickly noted the place where the pony had fallen in the river, and they had turned aside for their nasty adventure with Tom and Bert and Bill.
旅程和来的时候差不多，除了伙伴少了，一路更安静了些，当然，也碰不到食人一妖了。路上每走到一处，比尔博都会回想起一年前——对他来说似乎更像是十年前——发生的事和大家说过的话，因此，他当然很快便注意到了小马落进河里的地方，当时他们朝边上一拐，结果就遭遇了三个食人一妖——汤姆、伯特和威尔。
Not far from the road they found the gold of the trolls, which they had buried, still hidden and untouched. “I ha一ve enough to last me my time,” said Bilbo, when they had dug it up. “You had better take this, Gandalf. I daresay you can find a use for it.”
在距离道路不远的地方，他们找到了食人一妖的黄金，那是他们之前所埋下的，依旧藏得好好的，没被人发现。“我这辈子花销的钱已经够了，”比尔博在他们挖出黄金的时候说，“甘道夫，你最好还是拿上吧，我敢说你会派到用场的。”
“Indeed I can!” said the wizard. “But share and share alike! You may find you ha一ve more needs than you expect.”
“这话倒不假!”巫师说，“不过，这话搁你身上也一样!钱等用起来会发现不够的!”
So they put the gold in bags and slung them on the ponies, who were not at all pleased about it. After that their going was slower, for most of the time they walked. But the land was green and there was much grass through which the hobbit strolled along contentedly. He mopped his face with a red silk handkerchief—no! not a single one of his own had survived, he had borrowed this one from Elrond—for now June had brought summer, and the weather was bright and hot again.
于是他们把黄金放进袋子，挂到小马背上，小马对此可一点儿都不觉得高兴。在那之后，他们前进得更慢了，因为大多数时候他们都在走路。但是大地一片翠绿，霍比特人在大片的草地上走得心旷神怡。他用一块红一色一的丝手帕抹了抹脸——手帕当然不是他自己的!他自己的连一条都不剩了，这条是从埃尔隆德那边借来的。这时已是六月初夏，天气重又变得晴朗炎热。
As all things come to an end, even this story, a day came at last when they were in sight of the country where Bilbo had been born and bred, where the shapes of the land and of the trees were as well known to him as his hands and toes. Coming to a rise he could see his own Hill in the distance, and he stopped suddenly and said:
万事万物都会有结尾，这个故事也不例外。终于有一天，比尔博出生与成长的故乡出现在了他们眼前，这里的风土地貌、一草一木对他来说，熟悉得就像是自己的手指和脚趾。当他走到一个山坡上，看见了远处他自己的小丘，禁不住停下脚步，吟诵起来：
Roads go ever ever on,
道路不停向前走，
Over rock and under tree,
越过岩石上，经过树下头，
By ca一ves where never sun has shone,
绕过一陽一光从未照到过的山洞，
By streams that never find the sea;
经过从未入过大海的溪流：
Over snow by winter sown,
越过冬日撒下的白雪，
And through the merry flowers of June,
穿过六月欢快的花海，
Over grass and over stone,
越过青草，越过石头，
And under mountains in the moon.
沿着月光笼罩下的山脉。
Roads go ever ever on
道路不停延伸，
Under cloud and under star,
顶着一天的云朵和星辰，
Yet feet that wandering ha一ve gone
漫游的双脚踏过四海红尘，
Turn at last to home afar.
而今终于朝着故乡奔。
Eyes that fire and sword ha一ve seen
游子的眼曾见过烈火与刀剑，
And horror in the halls of stone
也曾把地底石厅中的恐怖发现，
Look at last on meadows green
而今终于见到绿一色一草地，
And trees and hills they long ha一ve known.
还有那熟悉的树木与小山。
Gandalf looked at him. “My dear Bilbo!” he said. “Something is the matter with you! You are not the hobbit that you were.”
甘道夫略带诧异地望着他。“亲一爱一的比尔博!”他说，“我怎么觉得有点儿不对劲儿啊!你不再是以前的那个霍比特人了。”
And so they crossed the bridge and passed the mill by the river and came right back to Bilbo’s own door.
他们越过了小桥，经过了河边的磨坊，终于站在了比尔博自家的门前。
“Bless me! What’s going on?” he cried. There was a great commotion, and people of all sorts, respectable and unrespectable, were thick round the door, and many were going in and out—not even wiping their feet on the mat, as Bilbo noticed with annoyance.
“老天爷呀!这是怎么回事?”他惊呼道。只见乱哄哄一大一群一各一色一各样的人，不管地位高低，在门前围了一大堆，许多人还进进出出——比尔博恼怒地发现，他们进出时甚至都不在门垫上擦一擦脚。
If he was surprised, they were more surprised still. He had arrived back in the middle of an auction! There was a large notice in black and red hung on the gate, stating that on June the Twenty-second Messrs Grubb, Grubb, and Burrowes would sell by auction the effects of the late Bilbo Baggins Esquire, of Bag-End, Underhill, Hobbiton. Sale to commence at ten o’clock sharp. It was now nearly lunchtime, and most of the things had already been sold, for various prices from next to nothing to old songs (as is not unusual at auctions). Bilbo’s cousins the Sackville-Bagginses were, in fact, busy measuring his rooms to see if their own furniture would fit. In short Bilbo was “Presumed Dead”, and not everybody that said so was sorry to find the presumption wrong.
如果说他见到大家吃了一惊的话，那么大家见到他就更是吃惊了。他竟然正赶上了一场拍卖会!门上挂着黑底红字的大招牌，上面写着：六月二十二日，挖伯兄弟和掘洞先生将会主持拍卖霍比特屯山下袋底洞已故的比尔博·巴金斯先生所有的财产。拍卖将于十点准时开始。此时已经几乎是午餐时间，大多数东西都卖掉了，价格从几乎白送到惊人天价都有(这种事儿在拍卖会中经常有)。事实上，比尔博的表亲萨克维尔-巴金斯一家正在忙碌地丈量他的房间，看看他们的家具是否摆得下。简而言之，比尔博已经被“宣告死亡”了，而且也不是所有被如此宣告的人在发现宣告错误时都会感到难过。
The return of Mr. Bilbo Baggins created quite a disturbance, both under the Hill and over the Hill, and across the Water; it was a great deal more than a nine days’ wonder. The legal bother, indeed, lasted for years. It was quite a long time before Mr. Baggins was in fact admitted to be alive again. The people who had got specially good bargains at the Sale took a deal of convincing; and in the end to sa一ve time Bilbo had to buy back quite a lot of his own furniture. Many of his silver spoons mysteriously disappeared and were never accounted for. Personally he suspected the Sackville-Bagginses. On their side they never admitted that the returned Baggins was genuine, and they were not on friendly terms with Bilbo ever after. They really had wanted to live in his nice hobbit-hole so very much.
比尔博·巴金斯先生的归来在小丘下边、小丘那边和小河对面都造成了相当大的一騷一动。这可不光是一场为期九天的轰动，法律上的争议甚至持续了好几年。事实上，巴金斯先生又过了好久才重新被承认还活着。对于那些在拍卖中买到了便宜货的人们，比尔博花了不少口舌让他们把东西退回来，到后来为了节省时间，比尔博只能掏钱买回了许多他自己的家具。好多银汤匙都神秘失踪，也没人对此作出解释。比尔博个人怀疑这是萨克维尔-巴金斯一家干的。他们一直也没有承认归来的比尔博是货真价实的，从那之后也一直和比尔博处得不太融洽，这都是因为他们太想要住进比尔博的洞府的缘故。
Indeed Bilbo found he had lost more than spoons—he had lost his reputation. It is true that for ever after he remained an elf-friend, and had the honour of dwarves, wizards, and all such folk as ever passed that way; but he was no longer quite respectable. He was in fact held by all the hobbits of the neighbourhood to be ‘queer’—except by his nephews and nieces on the Took side, but even they were not encouraged in their friendship by their elders.
可比尔博失落的还不只是汤匙呢，他连好名声都弄丢一了。在那之后，他的确一直是一精一灵之友，而且凡是从那里经过的矮人与巫师之类都对他敬仰有加，但他在当地的确不再那么受人尊敬了。住在附近的霍比特人都认为他“古怪”——除了他图克家那边的外甥和外甥女们，不过，就连他们，家中的长辈也都劝他们要对这位舅舅敬而远之。
I am sorry to say he did not mind. He was quite content; and the sound of the kettle on his hearth was ever after more musical than it had been even in the quiet days before the Unexpected Party. His sword he hung over the mantelpiece. His coat of mail was arranged on a stand in the hall (until he lent it to a Museum). His gold and silver was largely spent in presents, both useful and extra一vagant—which to a certain extent accounts for the affection of his nephews and his nieces. His magic ring he kept a great secret, for he chiefly used it when unpleasant callers came.
不过他对此并不在乎。他对自己的生活相当满意，他家炉子上水壶发出的烧水声，甚至比当年那一群一不速之客来造访前他过着平静生活时的更加悦耳动听。他的宝剑挂在壁炉上，盔甲则挂在厅里的一个架子上(后来借给了一家博物馆)。他通过冒险得来的金银大都花在购买礼物上，这些礼物既有很实用的，也有很奢侈的——这在一定程度上也能解释他的外甥和外甥女们为什么这么喜欢他。他的魔戒他对谁都瞒着，他主要用它来躲开那些不愿意见的客人。
He took to writing poetry and visiting the elves; and though many shook their heads and touched their foreheads and said “Poor old Baggins!” and though few believed any of his tales, he remained very happy to the end of his days, and those were extraordinarily long.
他开始写起了诗歌，还不时拜访一精一灵。虽然许多人提到他的时候，都会摇着头，拍拍脑门儿，叹一声“可怜的老巴金斯”，而且也没有多少人相信他的故事，可他还是一辈子都活得快快乐乐，而且还是特别长的一辈子。
One autumn evening some years afterwards Bilbo was sitting in his study writing his memoirs—he thought of calling them “There and Back Again, a Hobbit’s Holiday”—when there was a ring at the door. It was Gandalf and a dwarf; and the dwarf was actually Balin.
几年后，一个秋天的晚上，比尔博正坐在书房里写回忆录(他想将其命名为《去而复返一个霍比特人的假期》)，突然门口传来了门铃声。来访者是甘道夫和一位矮人，实际上那位矮人正是巴林。
“Come in! Come in!” said Bilbo, and soon they were settled in chairs by the fire. If Balin noticed that Mr. Baggins’ waistcoat was more extensive (and had real gold buttons), Bilbo also noticed that Balin’s beard was several inches longer, and his jewelled belt was of great magnificence.
“快进来!快进来!”比尔博热情招呼道，没多久他们就在壁炉边落座。如果说巴林注意到了巴金斯先生的背心显得更宽大了(还有真金扣子)，那么比尔博也注意到巴林的胡子又长了好几寸，而他那镶着珠宝的腰带也无比耀眼。
They fell to talking of their times together, of course, and Bilbo asked how things were going in the lands of the Mountain. It seemed they were going very well. Bard had rebuilt the town in Dale and men had gathered to him from the Lake and from South and West, and all the valley had become tilled again and rich, and the desolation was now filled with birds and blossoms in spring and fruit and feasting in autumn. And Lake-town was refounded and was more prosperous than ever, and much wealth went up and down the Running River; and there was friendship in those parts between elves and dwarves and men.
谈着谈着，话题便自然落到了过去一共一度的时光，比尔博又问起孤山周边的地区近况如何，从巴林的回答听来一切似乎都发展得很顺利：巴德已经重建了河谷城，人们从长湖镇，以及南方和西方来跟随他，整座山谷又得到了耕作，重新变得兴旺起来，原先的荒地现在到了春天便充满鸟语花香，到了秋天便瓜果飘香。长湖镇也完成了重建，繁华更胜往昔，奔流河上往来着大量的财货，那些地方的一精一灵、矮人和人类都建立起了真诚的友谊。
The old Master had come to a bad end. Bard had given him much gold for the help of the Lake-people, but being of the kind that easily catches such disease he fell under the dragon-sickness, and took most of the gold and fled with it, and died of starvation in the Waste, deserted by his companions.
老镇长的下场很不好，巴德给了他很多的黄金，请他用来帮助长湖镇的人民，但是，由于他是很容易疑神疑鬼的人，住在那里他总是害怕恶龙会作祟，于是便卷了大部分金子潜逃了，最后被与他同行的人抛弃，活活饿死在了荒野中。
“The new Master is of wiser kind,” said Balin, “and very popular, for, of course, he gets most of the credit for the present prosperity. They are making songs which say that in his day the rivers run with gold.”
“新的镇长比他要聪明得多，”巴林说，“也更受欢迎，因为长湖镇现在的繁荣大部分是他的功劳。人们编出了歌谣，歌颂在他的治理下，河中黄金奔流。”
“Then the prophecies of the old songs ha一ve turned out to be true, after a fashion!” said Bilbo.
“这么说来，古代歌谣中的预言，算是以某种形式成真了!”比尔博说。
“Of course!” said Gandalf. “And why should not they prove true? Surely you don’t disbelieve the prophecies, because you had a hand in bringing them about yourself? You don’t really suppose, do you, that all your adventures and escapes were managed by mere luck, just for your sole bene-fit? You are a very fine person, Mr. Baggins, and I am very fond of you; but you are only quite a little fellow in a wide world after all!”
“当然!”甘道夫说，“为什么它们不会成真呢?难道因为你亲身参与，为促成它们出了力你就不相信它吗?你该不会以为你所有的冒险和逃脱，都只是因为你运气好，只是事关你个人的安危吧?你是个好人，巴金斯先生，我也很喜欢你，但你毕竟只是广阔天地中的一个小人物而已啊!”
“Thank goodness!” said Bilbo laughing, and handed him the tobacco-jar.
“真是谢天谢地!”比尔博听了这话大笑起来，一边将烟草罐递给了甘道夫。