按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
be great。 Therefore he sent a wolf to the bridge。 But Huan slew it silently。 Still Sauron sent others one by one； and one
by one Huan took them by the throat and slew them。 Then Sauron sent Draugluin； a dread beast； old in evil lord and sire
of the werewolves of Angband。 His might was great； and the battle of Huan and Draugluin was long and fierce。 Yet at
length Draugluin escaped； and fleeing back into the tower he died before Sauron's feet； and as he died he told his master：
'Huan is there！' Now Sauron knew well； as did all in that land； the fate that was decreed for the hound of Valinor； and it
came into his thought that he himself would acplish it。 Therefore he took upon himself the form of a werewolf； and
made himself the mightiest that had yet walked the world； and he came forth to win the passage of the bridge。
So great was the horror of his approach that Huan leaped aside。 Then Sauron sprang upon Lúthien； and she
swooned before the menace of the fell spirit in his eyes and the foul vapour of his breath。 But even as he came； falling
she cast a fold of her dark cloak before his eyes； and he stumbled； for a fleeting drowsiness came upon him。 Then Huan
sprang。 There befell the battle of Huan and Wolf…Sauron； and howls and baying echoed in the hills； and the watchers on
the walls of Ered Wethrin across the valley heard it afar and were dismayed。
But no wizardry nor spell； neither fang nor venom； nor devil's art nor beast…strength ； could overthrow Huan
without forsaking his body utterly。 Ere his foul spirit left its dark house； Lúthien came to him； ghost be sent quaking
back to Morgoth； and she said： 'There everlastingly thy naked self shall endure the torment of his scorn； pierced by his
eyes； unless thou yield to me the mastery of thy tower。'
Then Sauron yielded himself； and Lúthien took the mastery of the isle and all that was there； and Huan released
him。 And immediately he took the form of a vampire； great as a dark cloud across the moon； and he fled； dripping blood
from his throat upon the trees； and came to Tar…nu…Fuin； and dwelt there； filling it with horror。
Then Lúthien stood upon the bridge； and declare her power： and the spell was loosed that bound stone to stone；
and the gates were thrown down； and the walls opened； and the pits laid bare； and many thralls and captives came forth
in wonder and dismay； shielding their eyes against the pale moon light； for they had lain long in the darkness of Sauron。
But Beren came not。 Therefore Huan and Lúthien sought him in the isle； and Lúthien found him mourning by Felagund。
So deep was his anguish that he lay still； and did not hear her feet。 Then thinking him already dead she put her arms
about him and fell into a dark forgetfulness。 But Beren ing back to the light out of the pits of despair lifted her up；
and they looked again upon one another； and the day rising over the dark hills shone upon them。
They buried the body of Felagund upon the hill…top of his own isle； and it was clean again； and the green grave of
Finrod Finarfin's son； fairest of all the princes of the Elves； remained inviolate； until the land was changed and broken；
and foundered under destroying seas。 But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar。
Now Beren and Lúthien Tinúviel went free again and together walked through the woods renewing for a time
their joy； and though winter came it hurt them not； for flowers lingered where Lúthien went； and the birds sang beneath
the snow clad hills。 But Huan being faithful went back to Celegorm his master； yet their love was less than before。
There was tumult in Nargothrond。 For thither now returned many Elves that had been prisoners in the isle of
Sauron； and a clamour arose that no words of Celegorm could still。 They lamented bitterly the fall of Felagund their
king； saying that a maiden had dared that which the sons of F？anor had not dared to do； but many perceived that it was
treachery rather than fear that had guided Celegorm and Curufin。 There fore the hearts of the people of Nargothrond
were released from their dominion； and turned again to the house of Finarfin； and they obeyed Orodreth。 But he would
not suffer them to slay the brothers； as some desired； for the spilling of kindred blood by kin would bind the cures of
Mandos more closely upon them all。 Yet neither bread nor rest would he grant to Celegorm and Curufin within his
realm； and he swore that there should be little love between Nargothrond and the sons of F？anor there after。
'Let it be so！' said Celegorm； and there was a light of menace in his eyes； but Curufin smiled。 Ten they took horse
and rode away like fire； to find if they might their kindred in the east。 But none would go with them； not even those that
were of their own people； for all perceived that the curse lay heavily upon the brothers； and that evil followed them。 In
that time Celebrimbor the son of Curufin repudiated the deeds of his father； and remained in Nargothrond； yet Huan
followed still the horse of Celegorm his master。
Northward they rode； for they intended in their haste to pass through Dimbar； and along the north marches or
Doriath； seeking the swiftest road to Him ring； where Maedhros their brother dwelt； and still they might hope with speed
to traverse it； since it lay close to Doriath's borders； shunning Nan Dungortheb and the distant menace of the Mountains
of Terror。
Now it is told that Beren and Lúthien came in their wandering into the Forests of Brethil； and drew near at last to
the borders of Doriath。 Then Beren took thought of his vow； and against his heart he resolved； when Lúthien was e
again within the safety of her own land； to set forth once more。 But she was not willing to be parted form him again；
saying： 'You must choose； Beren； between these two： to relinquish the quest and your oath and seek a life of wandering
upon the face of the earth； or to hold to your word and challenge the power of darkness upon its throne。 But on either
road I shall go with you； and our doom shall be alike。'
Even as they spoke together of these things； walking without heed of aught else； Celegorm and Curufin rode up；
hastening through the forest； and the brothers espied them and knew them for afar。 Then Celegorm turned his horse； and
spurred it upon Beren； purposing to ride him down； but Curufin swerving stooped and lifted Lúthien to his saddle； for he
was a strong and cunning horseman。 Then Beren sprang from before Celegorm full upon the speeding horse of Curufin
that had passed hi； and the Leap of Beren is renowned among that had passed him； and the Leap of Beren is renowned
among Men and Elves。 He took Curufin by the throat from behind； and hurled him backward； and they fell to the ground
together。 The horse reared and fell； but Lúthien was flung aside； and lay upon the grass。
Then Beren throttled Curufin； but death was near him； for Celegorm rode upon him with a spear。 in that hour
Huan forsook the service or Celegorm； and sprang up＇on him； so that his horse swerved aside； and would not approach
Beren because of the terror of the great hound。 Celegorm cursed both hound and horse； but Huan was unmoved。 Then
Lúthien rising forbade the slaying of Curufin； but Beren despoiled him of his gear and weapons； and took his knife；
sheathless by his side； iron it would cleave as if it were green wood。 Then Beren lifting Curufin flung him from him； and
bade him walk now back to his noble kinsfolk； who might teach him to turn his valour to worthier use。 'Your horse；' he
said； 'I keep for the service of Lúthien； and it may be accounted happy to be free of such a master。'
Then Curufin cursed Beren under cloud and sky。 'Go hence；' he said； 'unto a swift and bitter death。' Celegorm
took him beside him on his horse； and the brothers made then as if to ride away； and Beren turned away and took no
heed of their words。 But Curufin； being filled with shame and malice； took the bow of Celegorm and shot back as they
went； and the arrow was aimed at Lúthien。 Huan leaping caught it in his mouth； but Curufin shot again； and Beren
sprang before Lúthien； and the dart smote him in the breast。
It is told that Huan pursued the sons of F？anor； and they fled in fear； and returning he brought to Lúthien a herb
out of the forest。 With that leaf he staunched Beren's wound； and by her arts and by her love she healed him； and thus at
last they returned to Doriath。 There Beren； being torn between his oath and his love； and knowing Lúthien to be now
safe； arose one morning before the sun； and mitted her to the care of Huan； then in great anguish he departed while
she yet slept upon the grass。
He rode northward again with all speed to the Pass of Sirion； and ing to the skirts of Taur…nu…Fuin he
looked out across the waste of Anfauglith and saw afar the peaks of Thangorodrim。 There he dismissed the horse of
Curufin； and bade it leave now dread and servitude and run free upon the green grass in the lands of Sirion。 Then being
now alone and upon the threshold of the final peril he made the Song of Parting；