霍比特人：奇变骤生 The Clouds Burst

THE CLOUDS BURST

奇变骤生

Next day the trumpets rang early in the camp. Soon a single runner was seen hurrying along the narrow path. At a distance he stood and hailed them, asking whether Thorin would now listen to another embassy, since new tidings had come to hand, and matters were changed.

第二天，对面的营盘中早早地便响起了号角声。不多久，便见一位信使沿着狭窄的小路向他们奔来。在一段距离之外，信使站定向他们挥手示意，问他们索林是否愿意再次接见来使，因为传来了新的消息，令事情发生了改变。

“That will be Dain!” said Thorin when he heard. “They will have got wind of his coming. I thought that would alter their mood! Bid them come few in number and weaponless, and I will hear,” he called to the messenger.

“准是戴因来了!”索林一听完就如此说道，“他们一定风闻了他正赶来的消息。哼，我就知道这会让他们改变态度!叫他们少来几个人，不准带武器，我会见他们的。”索林对着信使喊道。

About midday the banners of the Forest and the Lake were seen to be borne forth again. A company of twenty was approaching. At the beginning of the narrow way they laid aside sword and spear, and came on towards the Gate. Wondering, the dwarves saw that among them were both Bard and the Elvenking, before whom an old man wrapped in cloak and hood bore a strong casket of iron-bound wood.

大约中午时，森林与长湖联军的旗帜再度出阵，大约二十人的一支队伍朝他门走过来。在窄道的头上他们就放下了刀剑与长矛，然后继续朝着宫殿大门走来。矮人们正有点摸不着头脑，却看见巴德和精灵国王都在队伍中，走在他们前面的是一名浑身裹着斗篷与兜帽的老者，手里捧一只箍着铁环的木匣。

“Hail Thorin!” said Bard. “Are you still of the same mind?”

“你好，索林!”巴德说，“你的心意依然不改吗?”

“My mind does not change with the rising and setting of a few suns,” answered Thorin. “Did you come to ask me idle questions? Still the elf-host has not departed as I bade! Till then you come in vain to bargain with me.”

“我的心意不会在区区几次日升日落之间就更改!”索林回答道，“你就是跑来问我这种无聊问题的吗?精灵部队还是没有按照我的要求撤退!不撤兵，你们就别白费力气跑来找我谈。”

“Is there then nothing for which you would yield any of your gold?”

“难道就没有任何东西可以让你割舍一点点黄金吗?”

“Nothing that you or your friends have to offer.”

“你或者你的朋友没有什么能让我动心的。”

“What of the Arkenstone of Thrain?” said he, and at the same moment the old man opened the casket and held aloft the jewel. The light leapt from his hand, bright and white in the morning.

“那么瑟莱因的阿肯宝钻呢?”他话音刚落，老者便打开木匣的盖子，把宝石高高举起，只见熠熠的光芒从他手中跃出，在晨光中显出一片亮白。索林一下子又惊又呆，哑口无言，大家也都沉默了许多。

Then Thorin was stricken dumb with amazement and confusion. No one spoke for a long while. Thorin at length broke the silence, and his voice was thick with wrath. “That stone was my father’s, and is mine,” he said. “Why should I purchase my own?” But wonder overcame him and he added: “But how came you by the heirloom of my house—if there is need to ask such a question of thieves?”

最终还是索林先打破了寂静，只听他怒气冲冲地质问道：“这颗宝石是我父亲的，因而也是我的，我为什么要以黄金来换取自己的东西呢?”不过好奇心战胜了他，让他忍不住追问了一句：“你们是怎么得到我家的传家之宝的——如果还需要问一下谁是小偷的话?”

“We are not thieves,” Bard answered. “Your own we will give back in return for our own.”

“我们不是小偷，”巴德回答道，“只要我们得了我们应得的，便会把你应得的还给你。”

“How came you by it?” shouted Thorin in gathering rage.

“你们到底是怎么弄到的?”索林吼道，他的火气被撩拨得越来越大了。

“I gave it to them!” squeaked Bilbo, who was peering over the wall, by now in a dreadful fright.

“是我给他们的!”比尔博尖声叫道，正偷窥墙外的他至此已经害怕到了极点。

“You! You!” cried Thorin, turning upon him and grasping him with both hands. “You miserable hobbit! You undersized—burglar!” he shouted at a loss for words, and he shook poor Bilbo like a rabbit.

“你!你!”索林转身来到他跟前，伸出双手揪住了他。“你这个该死的霍比特人!你这个小矬——飞贼!”他急切间想不出适当的词来骂，只能抓住可怜的比尔博把他像只兔子一样死命摇晃。

“By the beard of Durin! I wish I had Gandalf here! Curse him for his choice of you! May his beard wither! As for you I will throw you to the rocks!” he cried and lifted Bilbo in his arms.

“以我祖先都林的胡子起誓!我真希望甘道夫就在这里!我要为他选择了你而诅咒他!愿他的胡子全掉光!至于你，我要把你扔到下面的石头上去!”他大喊着振臂将比尔博高高举起。

“Stay! Your wish is granted!” said a voice. The old man with the casket threw aside his hood and cloak. “Here is Gandalf! And none too soon it seems. If you don’t like my Burglar, please don’t damage him. Put him down, and listen first to what he has to say!”

“住手!你的愿望可以实现了!”一个声音传来。拿着木匣的老者一把扯下了兜帽和斗篷。“甘道夫在此!而且看来来得正是时候。如果你不喜欢我挑选的飞贼，请你也不要伤害他。把他放下，听听他想说些什么!”

“You all seem in league!” said Thorin dropping Bilbo on the top of the wall. “Never again will I have dealings with any wizard or his friends. What have you to say, you descendant of rats?”

“看来你们都串通好了!”索林说着把比尔博扔在了墙头上，“我以后再也不跟巫师或是巫师的朋友打交道了。你这个鼠辈，还有什么话好说?”

“Dear me! Dear me!” said Bilbo. “I am sure this is all very uncomfortable. You may remember saying that I might choose my own fourteenth share? Perhaps I took it too literally—I have been told that dwarves are sometimes politer in word than in deed. The time was, all the same, when you seemed to think that I had been of some service. Descendant of rats, indeed! Is this all the service of you and your family that I was promised, Thorin? Take it that I have disposed of my share as I wished, and let it go at that!”

“哎哟妈呀!哎哟妈呀!”比尔博说，“我就知道会很不舒服的。你还记得自己曾经说过，我可以自己挑选我那份十四分之一的财宝吧?也许我把这话太当真了——有人告诉过我，矮人们的客气只是口头上的，行动上却未必!看来这话只是你在认为我还有利用价值时才说的。鼠辈?说得好啊!这难道就是你许下的你和你家人世世代代要还我的人情吗，索林?就把这当做是我按自己的意愿处置了我应得的那份，这事儿就这样算了吧!”

“I will,” said Thorin grimly. “And I will let you go at that—and may we never meet again!” Then he turned and spoke over the wall. “I am betrayed,” he said. “It was rightly guessed that I could not forbear to redeem the Arkenstone, the treasure of my house. For it I will give one fourteenth share of the hoard in silver and gold, setting aside the gems; but that shall be accounted the promised share of this traitor, and with that reward he shall depart, and you can divide it as you will. He will get little enough, I doubt not. Take him, if you wish him to live; and no friendship of mine goes with him.

“可以，”索林用阴沉的声音说道，“我也可以放过你，希望我们以后再也不要再见了!”接着他转身对墙外说：“我被出卖了!你们的估计没错，我不可能不赎回我的阿肯宝钻。为了换回这颗宝石，我愿意付出宝藏中金银的十四分之一，宝石除外。不过这应该算成是我承诺给这个叛徒的分成，拿了这份报酬后他必须离开，你们想怎么分就怎么分。他不会分到多少的，我对此毫不怀疑。把他带走吧，如果你们想要让他活着的话，我从此跟他义断情绝!

“Get down now to your friends!” he said to Bilbo, “or I will throw you down.”

“滚到你的朋友那儿去吧!”他对比尔博说，“不然我会把你扔下去。”

“What about the gold and silver?” asked Bilbo.

“那你答应的黄金和白银呢?”比尔博问。

“That shall follow after, as can be arranged,” said he. “Get down!”

“等安排好了随后就送到。”他说，“滚吧!”

“Until then we keep the stone,” cried Bard.

“在那之前，阿肯宝钻由我们保管。”巴德大喊道。

“You are not making a very splendid figure as King under the Mountain,” said Gandalf. “But things may change yet.”

“对于拥有山下之王称号的人来说，你的所作所为可真是有损形象啊，”甘道夫说，“不过，事情还没到无法改变的地步。”

“They may indeed,” said Thorin. And already, so strong was the bewilderment of the treasure upon him, he was pondering whether by the help of Dain he might not recapture the Arkenstone and withhold the share of the reward.

“的确还有可能会改变。”索林说。由于对财宝的执念已经迷乱了他的本性，所以他心中想的其实是，依靠着戴因的帮助，他或许能重新夺回阿肯宝钻，而且还能扣下他已经应承给比尔博的酬劳。

And so Bilbo was swung down from the wall, and departed with nothing for all his trouble, except the armour which Thorin had given him already. More than one of the dwarves in their hearts felt shame and pity at his going.

于是，比尔博从高墙上被吊了下来。在经历了这么多的磨难之后，他除了索林已经给了他的那身盔甲之外，两手空空地离开了。有好几个矮人对他的离去在心中感到羞愧和惋惜。

“Farewell!” he cried to them. “We may meet again as friends.”

“再见啦!”他对矮人们喊道，“我们还会以朋友的身份再见的!”

“Be off!” called Thorin. “You have mail upon you, which was made by my folk, and is too good for you. It cannot be pierced by arrows; but if you do not hasten, I will sting your miserable feet. So be swift!”

“快滚!”索林喝道，“你身上穿着我同胞打造的盔甲，这盔甲你实在是不配用。虽然弓箭射不穿它，可要是你不赶快消失，我就要射你该死的脚了。快滚!”

“Not so hasty!” said Bard. “We will give you until tomorrow. At noon we will return, and see if you have brought from the hoard the portion that is to be set against the stone. If that is done without deceit, then we will depart, and the elf-host will go back to the Forest. In the meanwhile farewell!”

“别这么着急!”巴德说，“我们给你的最后期限是明天。我们明天中午会回来，确认你是否从宝藏中拿出了与宝石价值相等的金银。如果你没有玩花样，我们就会离开，精灵部队也会回到森林。现在，我们先告退了!”

With that they went back to the camp; but Thorin sent messengers by Roäc telling Dain of what had passed, and bidding him come with wary speed.

说完，他们就回营地去了，但索林通过罗阿克派遣信使，将发生的一切告诉戴因，并请他火速赶来。

That day passed and the night. The next day the wind shifted west, and the air was dark and gloomy. The morning was still early when a cry was heard in the camp. Runners came in to report that a host of dwarves had appeared round the eastern spur of the Mountain and was now hastening to Dale. Dain had come. He had hurried on through the night, and so had come upon them sooner than they had expected. Each one of his folk was clad in a hauberk of steel mail that hung to his knees, and his legs were covered with hose of a fine and flexible metal mesh, the secret of whose making was possessed by Dain’s people. The dwarves are exceedingly strong for their height, but most of these were strong even for dwarves. In battle they wielded heavy two-handed mattocks; but each of them had also a short broad sword at his side and a roundshield slung at his back. Their beards were forked and plaited and thrust into their belts. Their caps were of iron and they were shod with iron, and their faces were grim.

那一天连同晚上很快就过去了。第二天吹起了西风，天空变得晦暗而又阴沉。天还蒙蒙亮的时候，营地里便响起一声叫喊，传信的士兵跑来报告，说有一群矮人出现在了孤山的东角，正往山谷突进。戴因已经到了!他经过了一夜的急行军，在对手预料的时间之前赶到了山谷。每名矮人都披挂着长及膝盖的纯钢锁子甲，腿部则用精致而有弹性的金属网格软甲覆盖，这种软甲只有戴因一族矮人才打造得出来。矮人相对他们的身高来说已经是不同寻常的健硕了，可这些矮人的强壮程度在矮人中都是佼佼者。他们在战场上作战时双手持沉重的鹤嘴锄，但每人腰间还別了一柄短剑，背上挂一面小圆盾。他们的胡子都分成几股，编成辫子，然后塞进腰带中。所有人都头戴铁盔、脚蹬铁靴，一脸肃杀之气。

Trumpets called men and elves to arms. Before long the dwarves could be seen coming up the valley at a great pace. They halted between the river and the eastern spur; but a few held on their way, and crossing the river drew near the camp; and there they laid down their weapons and held up their hands in sign of peace. Bard went out to meet them, and with him went Bilbo.

号角声响起，精灵和人类纷纷拿起武器，没过多久，他们就可以看见矮人急行以极快的速度向山谷走来。部队在河边和孤山的东坡之间停了下来，但有一小部分继续前进，渡过河流向营地走近。到了营地面前时，他们放下武器，高举双手以示和平。巴德出来接见他们，比尔博也一起跟了出来。

“We are sent from Dain son of Nain,” they said when questioned. “We are hastening to our kinsmen in the Mountain, since we learn that the kingdom of old is renewed. But who are you that sit in the plain as foes before defended walls?” This, of course, in the polite and rather old-fashioned language of such occasions, meant simply: “You have no business here. We are going on, so make way or we shall fight you!” They meant to push on between the Mountain and the loop of the river; for the narrow land there did not seem to be strongly guarded.

“纳因之子戴因派我们前来，”在被问到身份的时候，他们这样答道，“我们急着赶去和山中的同胞会合，因为我们听说昔日的国度已经被收复了。可是，你们这些在平原以敌人的姿态摆出攻城阵势的人又是谁呢?”当然，这只是这种情形下双方老掉牙的客套话，说白了就是：“这儿没你们什么事儿，我们要过路，你们最好乖乖让路，不然我们就不客气了!”他们想要在山脉与河曲之间继续推进，因为那片狭窄土地的防守似乎并不坚固。

Bard, of course, refused to allow the dwarves to go straight on to the Mountain. He was determined to wait until the gold and silver had been brought out in exchange for the Arkenstone; for he did not believe that this would be done, if once the fortress was manned with so large and warlike a company. They had brought with them a great store of supplies; for the dwarves can carry very heavy burdens, and nearly all of Dain’s folk, in spite of their rapid march, bore huge packs on their backs in addition to their weapons. They would stand a siege for weeks, and by that time yet more dwarves might come, and yet more, for Thorin had many relatives. Also they would be able to reopen and guard some other gate, so that the besiegers would have to encircle the whole mountain; and for that they had not sufficient numbers.

巴德理所当然地拒绝让这些矮人直接进山，他决定要固守到山中的矮人送出交换宝钻的金银之后才让步，因为他不相信一旦堡垒中驻进了这么一大帮好斗的战士后，这笔交易还能达成。这群矮人随身携带了大量的给养。矮人们能背很重的东西，戴因的这批手下虽然刚经过急行军，但几乎个个都除了武器之外还背着巨大的背包。光这些就足够他们支撑好几星期的围困了，而在此期间又会有更多的矮人会赶来，此后又会有更多，因为索林有许多的亲族。人多了之后就可以重新打开其他的山门并派兵防守，届时围困方就必须要将整座大山团团围住才行，而这样一来他们的兵力就捉襟见肘了。

These were, in fact, precisely their plans (for the raven-messengers had been busy between Thorin and Dain); but for the moment the way was barred, so after angry words the dwarf-messengers retired muttering in their beards. Bard then sent messengers at once to the Gate; but they found no gold or payment. Arrows came forth as soon as they were within shot, and they hastened back in dismay. In the camp all was now astir, as if for battle; for the dwarves of Dain were advancing along the eastern bank.

这其实正是矮人们的计划(因为渡鸦信使一直在索林和戴因之间频繁传信)，但眼下去路被挡了，于是矮人信使们在扔下一些气话后，也只好在胡子里嘀咕着退回去了。巴德接下来马上派使者到大门口去看，结果什么黄金财宝都没发现。他们一踏进射程，箭矢就飞了过来，逼得他们只好失望地逃回来。此时营地里也全都骚动起来，似乎开战在即，因为戴因的矮人部队正沿河东岸推进。

“Fools!” laughed Bard, “to come thus beneath the Mountain’s arm! They do not understand war above ground, whatever they may know of battle in the mines. There are many of our archers and spearmen now hidden in the rocks upon their right flank. Dwarf-mail may be good, but they will soon be hard put to it. Let us set on them now from both sides, before they are fully rested!”

“愚蠢的家伙!”巴德笑道，“竟然在山坡下行军!不管他们对于矿井里的战斗懂得多少，但他们对地面上的战斗可真是一无所知。我们有许多弓箭手和长矛兵都埋伏在他们右侧的岩石后面。矮人的盔甲也许很棒，可一会还是有得他们够受的。现在让我们趁他们立足未稳，给他们来个两面夹攻!”

But the Elvenking said: “Long will I tarry, ere I begin this war for gold. The dwarves cannot pass us, unless we will, or do anything that we cannot mark. Let us hope still for something that will bring reconciliation. Our advantage in numbers will be enough, if in the end it must come to unhappy blows.”

但精灵国王却说：“在开始这场为黄金而打的战争之前，我宁愿一等再等。除非我们愿意，否则矮人们没有办法从我们这儿过去，或是做出任何我们注意不到的事情来。我们还是寄希望于出现妥协的契机，即便最后无法避免兵刃相见，我们在人数上的优势也还是足够大的。”

But he reckoned without the dwarves. The knowledge that the Arkenstone was in the hands of the besiegers burned in their thoughts; also they guessed the hesitation of Bard and his friends, and resolved to strike while they debated.

可是他只考虑了自己这一边，却没把矮人们的想法给考虑进去。阿肯宝钻落在围困者手上的消息让他们怒火中烧，而且他们也推断出巴德和他的朋友们犹豫不决的理由，决定趁他们意见不统一的时候发起进攻。

Suddenly without a signal they sprang silently forward to attack. Bows twanged and arrows whistled; battle was about to be joined.

于是突然间，没有任何信号，矮人部队悄无声息地发起了冲锋。弓弦哐哐，箭雨嗖嗖，看来不消片刻，双方就要接上火了。

Still more suddenly a darkness came on with dreadful swiftness! A black cloud hurried over the sky. Winter thunder on a wild wind rolled roaring up and rumbled in the Mountain, and lightning lit its peak. And beneath the thunder another blackness could be seen whirling forward; but it did not come with the wind, it came from the North, like a vast cloud of birds, so dense that no light could be seen between their wings.

然而更为突然的是，一阵黑暗以可怕的速度掩了过来，黑云瞬间便布满了天空，冬雷挟着狂风在大山里隆隆翻滚，闪电照亮了山峰。在雷声隆隆之中，另一团黑影旋转着急奔而至，但它不是被风卷来的，而是来自北方，如一团鸟类构成的巨大的云，稠密得没有光线能够穿透它们的翅翼。

“Halt!” cried Gandalf, who appeared suddenly, and stood alone, with arms uplifted, between the advancing dwarves and the ranks awaiting them. “Halt!” he called in a voice like thunder, and his staff blazed forth with a flash like the lightning. “Dread has come upon you all! Alas! it has come more swiftly than I guessed. The Goblins are upon you! Bolg* of the North is coming, O Dain! whose father you slew in Moria. Behold! the bats are above his army like a sea of locusts. They ride upon wolves and Wargs are in their train!”

“停!”随着一声大喝，甘道夫骤然出现，独自一人站着，双臂高举，拦在了正在推进的矮人和严阵以待的联军中间。“停!”他发出一声炸雷般的大吼，手中魔杖迸出闪电般一道耀目的白光。“可怕的东西已然降临到你们头上!啊!它来得比我估计的还要快。半兽人正在向你们袭来!北方的半兽人王，阿佐格之子波尔格正向此而来!戴因，他的父亲正是被你在墨瑞亚杀死。看哪!蝙蝠正聚集在他们队伍的上空，如同漫天的蝗虫。他们的坐骑是经他们训练过的普通狼和座狼!”

Amazement and confusion fell upon them all. Even as Gandalf had been speaking the darkness grew. The dwarves halted and gazed at the sky. The elves cried out with many voices.

一时之间，所有人都感到无比惊愕与茫然。就在甘道夫说话间，黑暗变得更浓了。矮人们停下脚步，仰望着天空，精灵们则发出一片惊呼。

“Come!” called Gandalf. “There is yet time for council. Let Dain son of Nain come swiftly to us!”

“来吧!”甘道夫说，“我们还有时间商量对策，请纳因之子戴因快快随我们同来!”

So began a battle that none had expected; and it was called the Battle of Five Armies, and it was very terrible. Upon one side were the Goblins and the Wild Wolves, and upon the other were Elves and Men and Dwarves. This is how it fell out. Ever since the fall of the Great Goblin of the Misty Mountains the hatred of their race for the dwarves had been rekindled to fury. Messengers had passed to and fro between all their cities, colonies and strongholds; for they resolved now to win the dominion of the North. Tidings they had gathered in secret ways; and in all the mountains there was a forging and an arming. Then they marched and gathered by hill and valley, going ever by tunnel or under dark, until around and beneath the great mountain Gundabad of the North, where was their capital, a vast host was assembled ready to sweep down in time of storm unawares upon the South. Then they learned of the death of Smaug, and joy was in their hearts; and they hastened night after night through the mountains, and came thus at last on a sudden from the North hard on the heels of Dain. Not even the ravens knew of their coming until they came out in the broken lands which divided the Lonely Mountain from the hills behind. How much Gandalf knew cannot be said, but it is plain that he had not expected this sudden assault.

于是，一场意料之外的战斗开始了，这场战斗被后世称为“五军之战”，整个过程异常惨烈。一边是半兽人和野狼所组成的部队，另一边则是精灵、人类和矮人们所组成的联军。事情的缘由是这样的：在迷雾山脉的半兽人头领被杀死之后，他们对矮人的仇恨重又熊熊燃起，信使们不停地往来于他们所占据的城市、殖民地和要塞，最终他们决定这次要征服整个北方大陆。半兽人们以极其秘密的方式搜集情报，在所有的大山里锻造兵器，武装人员，然后在丘陵与山谷间行军、聚集，或走地底隧道，或以夜色为掩护，直到最后在北方的贡达巴德大山之下(那里也是他们的都城所在)集结了一支大军，准备趁着暴风雨季出其不意地横扫南方。这时，他们得知了恶龙史矛革的死讯，心中不由得大喜，接着便在群山间夜复一夜地急行军，几乎是踩着戴因的脚后跟突然间便从北方杀到了此地。就连渡鸦也是直到他们踏上孤山与其他丘陵之间的平地后，才发觉他们的行迹。甘道夫对此知道多少不好说，但显然这场突然袭击也出乎他的意料。

This is the plan that he made in council with the Elven-king and with Bard; and with Dain, for the dwarf-lord now joined them: the Goblins were the foes of all, and at their coming all other quarrels were forgotten. Their only hope was to lure the goblins into the valley between the arms of the Mountain; and themselves to man the great spurs that struck south and east. Yet this would be perilous, if the goblins were in sufficient numbers to overrun the Mountain itself, and so attack them also from behind and above; but there was no time to make any other plan, or to summon any help.

因此，他便与精灵国王和巴德一起商讨作战计划，当然也有戴因，因为这位矮人的首领现在已经与他们为伍了。由于半兽人是大家的公敌，因此他们在大兵压境之时，把所有的争执都抛到九霄云外去了。联军惟一的希望是引诱半兽人深入孤山两个支脉之间的谷地，而他们自己则把兵力布置在山脉的东坡和南坡上。然而这样的策略也是很危险的，如果半兽人人数众多，冲出包围圈杀进了山里，便可以从背后和上方同时向守军发起进攻，令守军腹背受敌。然而，已经没有时间再去拟订其他的作战计划，或去召集任何援兵了。

Soon the thunder passed, rolling away to the South-East; but the bat-cloud came, flying lower, over the shoulder of the Mountain, and whirled above them shutting out the light and filling them with dread.

很快，雷声隆隆滚向东南方去了，而蝙蝠云则飞得更低，朝着山岭逼近，在他们的头顶盘旋，遮蔽了所有的光线，让他们心中充满了恐惧。

“To the Mountain!” called Bard. “To the Mountain! Let us take our places while there is yet time!”

“到山上去!”巴德大声喊道，“到山上去!趁着还有时间，赶快进入我们的防御阵地!”

On the Southern spur, in its lower slopes and in the rocks at its feet, the Elves were set; on the Eastern spur were men and dwarves. But Bard and some of the nimblest of men and elves climbed to the height of the Eastern shoulder to gain a view to the North. Soon they could see the lands before the Mountain’s feet black with a hurrying multitude. Ere long the vanguard swirled round the spur’s end and came rushing into Dale. These were the swiftest wolf-riders, and already their cries and howls rent the air afar. A few brave men were strung before them to make a feint of resistance, and many there fell before the rest drew back and fled to either side. As Gandalf had hoped, the goblin army had gathered behind the resisted vanguard, and poured now in rage into the valley, driving wildly up between the arms of the Mountain, seeking for the foe. Their banners were countless, black and red, and they came on like a tide in fury and disorder.

在南坡，精灵们在山脚的岩石间与稍微上面一点的斜坡上布置好了兵力;在东坡设伏的是人类和矮人。但巴德和一些最灵活敏捷的人类及精灵，则爬到东边的山岭上去侦察北面的情况。很快他们就看见山脚下的平原上黑压压的全是快速行进的半兽人。不久之后，敌方的前锋就涌过了谷口，向着山谷内冲来。这些前锋都是速度最快的狼骑兵，他们的呼喝声与野狼的狂嗥已经撕裂了远处的空气。一小部分勇敢散开在他们的正面，佯作抵抗。许多人倒下了，其余的人则后撤，逃向了两边的山坡。正如同甘道夫所希望的那样，半兽人大军集结在遭遇抵抗的前锋后面，狂怒地冲进了山谷，在东坡和南坡之间狼奔豕突，寻找着敌人。他们红黑色的旗帜多到难以计数，部队像一股怒潮般杂乱无章地奔涌着。

It was a terrible battle. The most dreadful of all Bilbo’s experiences, and the one which at the time he hated most—which is to say it was the one he was most proud of, and most fond of recalling long afterwards, although he was quite unimportant in it. Actually I may say he put on his ring early in the business, and vanished from sight, if not from all danger. A magic ring of that sort is not a complete protection in a goblin charge, nor does it stop flying arrows and wild spears; but it does help in getting out of the way, and it prevents your head from being specially chosen for a sweeping stroke by a goblin swordsman.

这是一场惨烈无比的战斗。它是比尔博有生以来经历过的最可怕的一场战斗，也是当时让他最痛恨的一场——也就是说这是最令他感到骄傲、最喜欢在日后回忆起的一场战斗，尽管他在其中所起的作用很不重要。事实上，我可以说他在战斗刚一打响就戴上了他的戒指，躲过了所有人的视线，不过却不见得躲过了所有的危险。在半兽人部队的冲锋中，这样的魔戒并不能够提供完全的保护，也无法阻挡住飞来的箭矢和胡乱戳来的长矛，不过，魔戒还是可以让他不挡着对战双方的路，以防他的脑袋成为半兽人剑手有心挑选的劈刺目标。

The elves were the first to charge. Their hatred for the goblins is cold and bitter. Their spears and swords shone in the gloom with a gleam of chill flame, so deadly was the wrath of the hands that held them. As soon as the host of their enemies was dense in the valley, they sent against it a shower of arrows, and each flickered as it fled as if with stinging fire. Behind the arrows a thousand of their spearmen leapt down and charged. The yells were deafening. The rocks were stained black with goblin blood.

精灵们是守军中首先发起进攻的。他们和半兽人之间的宿怨十分深重。他们的长矛和刀剑在一片昏暗中闪动着寒光，而紧握着这些武器的手又是如此充满杀气。在敌人的部队密集地涌进谷地之后，他们立刻射出了如雨的箭矢，每一支箭仿佛都带着刺人的火焰，闪烁着微光。箭雨过后，一千名精灵长矛兵一跃而下，发起了冲锋。他们喊声震天，岩石立时便被半兽人的血给染黑了。

Just as the goblins were recovering from the onslaught and the elf-charge was halted, there rose from across the valley a deep-throated roar. With cries of “Moria!” and “Dain, Dain!” the dwarves of the Iron Hills plunged in, wielding their mattocks, upon the other side; and beside them came the men of the Lake with long swords.

就在精灵部队停止了冲锋，半兽人从受到的猛攻中稍稍稳住阵脚时，山谷间响起了一片低沉的吼声。随着一声声“墨瑞亚!”和“戴因!戴因!”的呼喊，铁丘陵的矮人们又挥舞着鹤嘴锄从另外一边跃入了战团，在他们身边与他们并肩作战的则是手拿长剑来自长湖镇的人类。

Panic came upon the Goblins; and even as they turned to meet this new attack, the elves charged again with renewed numbers. Already many of the goblins were flying back down the river to escape from the trap; and many of their own wolves were turning upon them and rending the dead and the wounded. Victory seemed at hand, when a cry rang out on the heights above.

半兽人陷入了恐慌，而就在他们掉转身来迎接新的攻击时，精灵们在补充兵力后再次发起了冲锋。许多半兽人已经开始朝河边拼命逃窜，想要逃出陷阱，许多他们自己的野狼也兽性爆发，撕扯起半兽人的死尸和伤兵来。胜利眼看便唾手可得，孰料这时，从山顶上传来了一阵令人心寒的呼喊。

Goblins had scaled the Mountain from the other side and already many were on the slopes above the Gate, and others were streaming down recklessly, heedless of those that fell screaming from cliff and precipice, to attack the spurs from above. Each of these could be reached by paths that ran down from the main mass of the Mountain in the centre; and the defenders had too few to bar the way for long. Victory now vanished from hope. They had only stemmed the first onslaught of the black tide.

原来半兽人已经从另外一边爬上了山顶，许多半兽人已经出现在了矮人宫殿大门上方的斜坡，其他的半兽人则不顾生死地直冲下来，居高临下地对两面山坡上的守军发起攻击，哪怕有同伴从悬崖失足落下也不管不顾。其实，从位于正中的孤山主峰各有小道可以抵达两面山坡，而守军没有足够的兵力，无法长时间固守这两条通道。这样一来，胜利的希望瞬间化作了泡影，守军只能勉强抵挡住黑色潮水的第一波猛攻。

Day drew on. The goblins gathered again in the valley. There a host of Wargs came ravening and with them came the bodyguard of Bolg, goblins of huge size with scimitars of steel. Soon actual darkness was coming into a stormy sky; while still the great bats swirled about the heads and ears of elves and men, or fastened vampire-like on the stricken. Now Bard was fighting to defend the Eastern spur, and yet giving slowly back; and the elf-lords were at bay about their king upon the southern arm, near to the watch-post on Ravenhill.

时间慢慢地流逝，半兽人们再度在谷地中集结，一大队座狼冲进山谷啃咬起尸体，跟着进来的则是半兽人王波尔格的一队贴身卫兵，他们全都是身材异常高大，手持圆月弯刀的半兽人。不久以后，真正的夜色开始渐渐覆满乌云密布的天空。巨大的蝙蝠依旧在精灵与人类的头上和耳边飞舞，或者像吸血鬼那样牢牢地叮住受伤流血的人。巴德拼死守卫着东坡阵地，但还是被迫慢慢后退;精灵们在南坡也陷入了困境，退却到了靠近渡鸦岭瞭望台的地方，精灵国王被保护他的精灵贵族们簇拥在中心。

Suddenly there was a great shout, and from the Gate came a trumpet call. They had forgotten Thorin! Part of the wall, moved by levers, fell outward with a crash into the pool. Out leapt the King under the Mountain, and his companions followed him. Hood and cloak were gone; they were in shining armour, and red light leapt from their eyes. In the gloom the great dwarf gleamed like gold in a dying fire.

突然，人们听见了一声大叫，接着从矮人宫殿的大门里传来了号角的声音——大家都把索林给忘记了!只见高墙的一段在杠杆的推动下轰然塌落进护城池中。山下之王一马当先冲了出来，他的伙伴们紧跟在后。斗篷与兜帽都不见了，换成了闪耀的盔甲，每个人眼中都喷出红红的怒火。在黑暗中，这群矮人看起来像火焰余烬中的黄金一般耀眼。

Rocks were hurled down from on high by the goblins above; but they held on, leapt down to the falls’ foot, and rushed forward to battle. Wolf and rider fell or fled before them. Thorin wielded his axe with mighty strokes, and nothing seemed to harm him.

位于山上高处的半兽人丢下大量的石块攻击他们，但他们奋不顾身地朝着瀑布脚下冲去，杀向战场。在他们的冲杀下，狼骑兵们不是被砍倒就是四散奔逃。索林挥舞着战斧奋力砍杀，似乎没有任何兵器能伤得了他。

“To me! To me! Elves and Men! To me! O my kinsfolk!” he cried, and his voice shook like a horn in the valley.

“跟我来!跟我来!精灵和人类!跟我来!同胞们，冲啊!”他的喊声在山谷中如同号角一般震荡着。

Down, heedless of order, rushed all the dwarves of Dain to his help. Down too came many of the Lake-men, for Bard could not restrain them; and out upon the other side came many of the spearmen of the elves. Once again the goblins were stricken in the valley; and they were piled in heaps till Dale was dark and hideous with their corpses. The Wargs were scattered and Thorin drove right against the bodyguard of Bolg. But he could not pierce their ranks.

戴因旗下所有的矮人全都抛却了队列顺序，冲下来援助索林。许多长湖镇的人类也狂奔而来，连巴德都拦阻不住他们，而另一边的精灵长矛兵也冲了过来。半兽人们又被压回到山谷里，谷地中因为堆满了半兽人的尸体而变得黑暗可怕。座狼群完全被冲散，索林直向着波尔格的贴身卫兵们冲去，但他无法突破这些卫兵组成的防线。

Already behind him among the goblin dead lay many men and many dwarves, and many a fair elf that should have lived yet long ages merrily in the wood. And as the valley widened his onset grew ever slower. His numbers were too few. His flanks were unguarded. Soon the attackers were attacked, and they were forced into a great ring, facing every way, hemmed all about with goblins and wolves returning to the assault. The bodyguard of Bolg came howling against them, and drove in upon their ranks like waves upon cliffs of sand. Their friends could not help them, for the assault from the Mountain was renewed with redoubled force, and upon either side men and elves were being slowly beaten down.

此时在他身后，在半兽人的尸体中间，已经倒下了许多人类和矮人，许多本可以在森林中颐享长生的精灵也献出了他们的生命。随着山谷的地形渐渐开阔，他的攻击速度变得越来越慢了。他的兵力太少，侧翼又没有保护，于是很快，发起攻击的一方遭到了反攻，他们被迫缩成了一个大圈，承受来自四面八方的打击，被回过头来的半兽人和恶狼紧紧包围。波尔格的卫兵们狂嚎着杀了进来，像潮水推倒沙崖一般冲破了他们的阵线。包围圈外他们的朋友也无法施以援手，因为从山上往下攻的半兽人们又成倍添加了兵力，东坡和南坡上的人类与精灵正被慢慢打下山来。

On all this Bilbo looked with misery. He had taken his stand on Ravenhill among the Elves—partly because there was more chance of escape from that point, and partly (with the more Tookish part of his mind) because if he was going to be in a last desperate stand, he preferred on the whole to defend the Elvenking. Gandalf, too, I may say, was there, sitting on the ground as if in deep thought, preparing, I suppose, some last blast of magic before the end.

面对眼前这一切，比尔博只能哀伤地看着。他是和精灵们一起守渡鸦岭阵地的，之所以选择那里，部分是因为从那里逃脱的几率比较大，部分是因为(当然，这是他血管内的图克家族血统在起作用)如果难逃一死的话，他相对更愿意为保护精灵国王而战死。甘道夫也在那里，坐在地上仿佛陷入了沉思，也许是准备在结局到来前施出最后的魔法。

That did not seem far off. “It will not be long now,” thought Bilbo, “before the goblins win the Gate, and we are all slaughtered or driven down and captured. Really it is enough to make one weep, after all one has gone through. I would rather old Smaug had been left with all the wretched treasure, than that these vile creatures should get it, and poor old Bombur, and Balin and Fili and Kili and all the rest come to a bad end; and Bard too, and the Lake-men and the merry elves. Misery me! I have heard songs of many battles, and I have always understood that defeat may be glorious. It seems very uncomfortable, not to say distressing. I wish I was well out of it.”

而这一时刻看来已经不远了。“不会再有多久了。”比尔博想道，“半兽人很快就会攻下宫殿大门，我们要么惨遭屠杀，要么就是被赶下山去束手就擒。在经历了这么多事情之后，这景况还是会让我想哭。我宁愿老史矛革还活着在守护那些该死的宝藏，也不愿意看到宝藏落入那些卑鄙家伙之手，而可怜的老邦伯、巴林、菲力、奇力和所有的人都落得个悲惨的结局。还有巴德、湖区的人类和快乐的精灵们也是一样。我真是可怜!我听过了这么多关于战争的歌曲，一直都明白虽败犹荣的道理。然而战败看来是很不舒服的，简直就是令人痛苦至极。要是我没掺和进来就好了!”

The clouds were torn by the wind, and a red sunset slashed the West. Seeing the sudden gleam in the gloom Bilbo looked round. He gave a great cry: he had seen a sight that made his heart leap, dark shapes small yet majestic against the distant glow.

乌云被风吹散了，一抹红红的落日狠狠地砍破了西方的黑暗。借着这骤然出现的光亮，比尔博打量了一下四周的情形，随即发出一声大喊，他看到的景象令他的心脏加速了跳动：在远方光亮的映衬下，出现了一群黑色的身影，虽然暂时还是小小的，却显出了一种镑礴的气势。

“The Eagles! The Eagles!” he shouted. “The Eagles are coming!”

“大鹰!大鹰!”他大叫道，“大鹰们来了!”

Bilbo’s eyes were seldom wrong. The eagles were coming down the wind, line after line, in such a host as must have gathered from all the eyries of the North.

比尔博看东西很少出错。大鹰们乘着风势，一行接着一行，数量之多，似乎把整个北方鹰巢中的鹰都集结到了一起。

“The Eagles! the Eagles!” Bilbo cried, dancing and waving his arms. If the elves could not see him they could hear him. Soon they too took up the cry, and it echoed across the valley. Many wondering eyes looked up, though as yet nothing could be seen except from the southern shoulders of the Mountain.

“大鹰来了!大鹰来了!”比尔博大喊大叫，一边雀跃着，挥舞着手臂。精灵们虽然看不见他，却能听得见他的喊声。很快，他们也跟着喊了起来，喊声响遍了山谷。许多好奇的目光朝空中望去，但什么也望不见，因为此时还只有从孤山的南坡顶上才能望见鹰群的踪影。

“The Eagles!” cried Bilbo once more, but at that moment a stone hurtling from above smote heavily on his helm, and he fell with a crash and knew no more.

“大鹰来了!”比尔博又喊了一声，但就在这时，一块石头呼啸着从上面落下，重重地砸在他的头盔上。他轰然倒地，失去了知觉。