霍比特人：火与水 Fire and Water

FIRE AND WATER

火与水 Fire and Water

Now if you wish, like the dwarves, to hear news of Smaug, you must go back again to the evening when he smashed the door and flew off in rage, two days before.

如果你和矮人们一样，想要知道史矛革的消息，那我们就必须把时光倒转回两天前，来到史矛革打碎密门，气呼呼飞走的那一刻。

The men of the lake-town Esgaroth were mostly indoors, for the breeze was from the black East and chill, but a few were walking on the quays, and watching, as they were fond of doing, the stars shine out from the smooth patches of the lake as they opened in the sky. From their town the Lonely Mountain was mostly screened by the low hills at the far end of the lake, through a gap in which the Running River came down from the North. Only its high peak could they see in clear weather, and they looked seldom at it, for it was ominous and drear even in the light of morning. Now it was lost and gone, blotted in the dark.

湖中镇埃斯加洛斯的人们大多待在屋内，因为晚间黑暗的东方会吹来十分凛冽的寒风。但也有那么一些人行走在码头上，做他们爱做的事情，那就是从平静的湖面中看倒映的闪烁星光。从他们的镇子望过去，孤山大部分都被长湖远端的小山丘给挡住了，只有从奔流河自北方而来所形成的一个缺口才能看见。只有在清朗的天气才能看见孤山的山顶，而他们很少朝孤山眺望，因为即使在晨光中，那地方也透着一股不祥与阴沉。而此刻，孤山则完全被笼罩在了黑暗里，一点踪影也见不到。

Suddenly it flickered back to view; a brief glow touched it and faded.

突然，他在一闪之间又出现在了众人的视野中，那是山上冒出一道短暂的闪亮，稍纵即逝。

“Look!” said one. “The lights again! Last night the watchmen saw them start and fade from midnight until dawn. Something is happening up there.”

“看哪!”有人说，“又是那种光!昨天晚上我们守夜的人看见那光从半夜一直亮到清晨，山里面一定有什么事情在发生。”

“Perhaps the King under the Mountain is forging gold,” said another. “It is long since he went North. It is time the songs began to prove themselves again.”

“也许是山下之王正在铸造金子。”另一个人说，“他去北方已经有好些日子了，那些歌曲的内容该要开始应验了。”

“Which king?” said another with a grim voice. “As like as not it is the marauding fire of the Dragon, the only king under the Mountain we have ever known.”

“哪个国王?”另一个人冷冷地说道，“那很有可能是恶龙劫掠时喷射的火焰，他才是我们所知道的惟一的山下之王。”

“You are always foreboding gloomy things!” said the others. “Anything from floods to poisoned fish. Think of something cheerful!”

“你这个乌鸦嘴!”其他人不满地反驳他，“不是说有洪水，就是说鱼有毒，想点让人开心的事情吧!”

Then suddenly a great light appeared in the low place in the hills and the northern end of the lake turned golden. “The King beneath the Mountain!” they shouted. “His wealth is like the Sun, his silver like a fountain, his rivers golden run! The river is running gold from the Mountain!” they cried, and everywhere windows were opening and feet were hurrying.

这时，一阵刺眼的光芒突然出现在了山丘的低处，湖的北端被染成了一片金色。“山下之王!”他们叫了起来，“他的财富如太阳，他的白银像喷泉，他的河里流黄金!河里流着山上下来的黄金!”他们喊了起来，家家户户都打开了窗子，匆匆忙忙地往外跑。

There was once more a tremendous excitement and enthusiasm. But the grim-voiced fellow ran hotfoot to the Master. “The dragon is coming or I am a fool!” he cried. “Cut the bridges! To arms! To arms!”

小镇再次掀起了兴奋与热烈的浪潮。但那个声音冷冷的人却飞奔着找到了镇长。“肯定是恶龙来了，否则我就是个大傻瓜!”他大喊道，“砍断桥梁!拿起武器!拿起武器!”

Then warning trumpets were suddenly sounded, and echoed along the rocky shores. The cheering stopped and the joy was turned to dread. So it was that the dragon did not find them quite unprepared.

这时，报警的号角声突然响起，在岸边的岩石间不断回荡。欢呼声停了下来，兴奋瞬间就转为了恐惧。正因为如此，恶龙来袭时发现人们已经作好了准备。

Before long, so great was his speed, they could see him as a spark of fire rushing towards them and growing ever huger and more bright, and not the most foolish doubted that the prophecies had gone rather wrong. Still they had a little time. Every vessel in the town was filled with water, every warrior was armed, every arrow and dart was ready, and the bridge to the land was thrown down and destroyed, before the roar of Smaug’s terrible approach grew loud, and the lake rippled red as fire beneath the awful beating of his wings. Amid shrieks and wailing and the shouts of men he came over them, swept towards the bridges and was foiled! The bridge was gone, and his enemies were on an island in deep water—too deep and dark and cool for his liking. If he plunged into it, a vapour and a steam would arise enough to cover all the land with a mist for days; but the lake was mightier than he, it would quench him before he could pass through.

没过多久，随着恶龙的高速飞行，人们看见它像一颗火星那样朝他们直扑而来，越变越大，越变越亮，即使是最愚笨的人也毫不怀疑古老歌谣中的预言出错了。不过他们还有一点点时间，就利用这点时间，镇上的每一个容器都装满了水，每一个战士都全副武装，严阵以待，每一把弓箭与每一支飞镖都准备妥当，通往陆地的大桥也被砍断弄倒。不一会儿，史矛革渐渐逼近的咆哮声变得震耳欲聋，他的翅膀可怕地扇动着，在湖面上激荡起火红的涟漪。

Roaring he swept back over the town. A hail of dark arrows leaped up and snapped and rattled on his scales and jewels, and their shafts fell back kindled by his breath burning and hissing into the lake. No fireworks you ever imagined equalled the sights that night. At the twanging of the bows and the shrilling of the trumpets the dragon’s wrath blazed to its height, till he was blind and mad with it. No one had dared to give battle to him for many an age; nor would they have dared now, if it had not been for the grim-voiced man (Bard was his name), who ran to and fro cheering on the archers and urging the Master to order them to fight to the last arrow.

恶龙飞过人们的上空，在人群中激起一片尖叫与嚎哭。他向着大桥冲去，却意外遭遇了挫折!桥已经没有了，他的敌人躲在一个位于深水中的岛上。水太深、太黑，也太凉了，不是他喜欢的。如果他冲进湖中，大量的蒸汽会冒上来，足够一连好几天都把这附近笼罩在浓雾中。但是湖水的力量要比他强大，没等他通过湖水，湖水就会把他的火焰熄灭。

Fire leaped from the dragon’s jaws. He circled for a while high in the air above them lighting all the lake; the trees by the shores shone like copper and like blood with leaping shadows of dense black at their feet. Then down he swooped straight through the arrow-storm, reckless in his rage, taking no heed to turn his scaly sides towards his foes, seeking only to set their town ablaze.

他咆哮着再次从城镇上空掠过，一蓬黑黑的箭雨腾空而起，发出“啪啪”“簌簌”的声音，射中他的鱗甲和珠宝后，箭头折断，箭尾则被他吐出的气息点着，燃烧着落人湖中，发出一阵“嘶撕”的声响。那夜的情景远胜过你能想像出来的任何烟火。在弓弦弹动和号角鸣响的刺耳声音中，恶龙的怒气爆发到了顶点，令他终于失去了理智。已经有许多年没有人胆敢向他挑战了，现在其实他们也不敢，若不是有那个声音冷冷的人(他的名字叫巴德)跑前跑后地鼓舞着弓箭手，并且逼迫镇长下令他们战到最后一弓一矢。

Fire leaped from thatched roofs and wooden beam-ends as he hurtled down and past and round again, though all had been drenched with water before he came. Once more water was flung by a hundred hands wherever a spark appeared. Back swirled the dragon. A sweep of his tail and the roof of the Great House crumbled and smashed down. Flames unquenchable sprang high into the night. Another swoop and another, and another house and then another sprang afire and fell; and still no arrow hindered Smaug or hurt him more than a fly from the marshes.

烈焰从恶龙口中喷出。他在空中高高地盘旋了一阵子，火焰照亮了整个湖面，湖边的树木都化做金黄色和血红的火柱，漆黑的阴影则在它们脚下不停舞动。接着，他一气之下冒着箭雨直直地俯冲下去，根本没有费心将自己的鱗甲朝向敌人，一心一意只想把他们的镇子变成火海。在恶龙呼啸着俯冲而下，掠过，又绕回来的过程中，火苗从铺着茅草的屋顶和梁柱间腾起，不过，在它绕回来再度发动攻击之前，这些火焰就都被扑灭了。只要一有火星出现，就有一百双手泼水灌救。恶龙又转了过来，他尾巴一扫，镇长的大屋就被化做碎片倒塌了。无法扑灭的火焰直冲天际。他一次又一次地俯冲，屋子一栋接一栋地陷入火海，轰然倒塌。弓箭阻挡不了史矛革，如雨的箭矢不过像是来自沼泽地的苍蝇一样，根本奈何他不得。

Already men were jumping into the water on every side. Women and children were being huddled into laden boats in the market-pool. Weapons were flung down. There was mourning and weeping, where but a little time ago the old songs of mirth to come had been sung about the dwarves. Now men cursed their names. The Master himself was turning to his great gilded boat, hoping to row away in the confusion and save himself. Soon all the town would be deserted and burned down to the surface of the lake.

人们开始从城镇的各处跳入水中，女人和小孩则被集中起来，送到镇中央市集的水潭中停泊着的小船里。武器被扔了一地，到处是哀嚎与悲泣。不久前，人们还唱着歌颂矮人的古老歌谣，预言着欢乐即将到来，而现在人们则在咒骂着他们的名字。镇长已经跳上了自己贴着金箔的大船，准备趁乱划走，保住自己的性命。用不了多久，整座城镇就将被众人舍弃，被火焰焚毁。被湖面吞噬。

That was the dragon’s hope. They could all get into boats for all he cared. There he could have fine sport hunting them, or they could stop till they starved. Let them try to get to land and he would be ready. Soon he would set all the shoreland woods ablaze and wither every field and pasture. Just now he was enjoying the sport of town-baiting more than he had enjoyed anything for years.

那正是恶龙所期望的。他巴不得人们都上船，这样他就可以好好地来一场狩猎游戏了。如果他们停住不动，那他们也会在船上饿死的。就让他们试着逃上岸去也行，反正他也已经作好了准备。很快，他就会让湖岸边所有的森林变成一片火海，让所有的田地和牧场变成焦土。此刻，他正饶有兴味地玩弄着给镇上人下圈套的游戏，这份乐趣他已经有好多年没有享受过了。

But there was still a company of archers that held their ground among the burning houses. Their captain was Bard, grim-voiced and grim-faced, whose friends had accused him of prophesying floods and poisoned fish, though they knew his worth and courage. He was a descendant in long line of Girion, Lord of Dale, whose wife and child had escaped down the Running River from the ruin long ago. Now he shot with a great yew bow, till all his arrows but one were spent. The flames were near him. His companions were leaving him. He bent his bow for the last time.

但是，在燃烧着的房屋之间，依旧有一群弓箭手坚守着阵地，率领他们的队长就是巴德，那位声音阴沉，脸色也同样阴沉的人，那个朋友们经常骂他乌鸦嘴，怪他预言了洪水和有毒的鱼，但是，他们都明白他的人品和勇气。他是河谷邦之王吉瑞安的直系后人，当年吉瑞安的妻儿从奔流河逃出了河谷城的废墟。巴德拿着一柄巨大的紫杉木弓不停地射击，最后只剩下了一支箭。此时，火焰已经从四面向他逼来，同伴们也开始弃他而去了，可他不管不顾依然最后一次弯弓搭箭。

Suddenly out of the dark something fluttered to his shoulder. He started—but it was only an old thrush. Unafraid it perched by his ear and it brought him news. Marvelling he found he could understand its tongue, for he was of the race of Dale.

突然间，一个黑影从黑暗中蹿出，拍打着翅膀落到了他的肩膀上。他吃了一惊——但那只是一只老画眉鸟，它毫不畏惧地站在他耳边，给他带来了最新的消息。他惊讶地发现自己竟然可以听懂画眉鸟说的话，那是因为他是河谷邦一族嫡系的缘故。

“Wait! Wait!” it said to him. “The moon is rising. Look for the hollow of the left breast as he flies and turns above you!” And while Bard paused in wonder it told him of tidings up in the Mountain and of all that it had heard.

“等等!等等!”画眉鸟对他说，“月亮正在升起，当恶龙飞回来经过你头顶的时候，注意他左胸上一块秃的地方!”在巴德停下来思索的时候，画眉鸟又把孤山上最近发生的事情和自己全部的所见所闻都告诉了他。

Then Bard drew his bow-string to his ear. The dragon was circling back, flying low, and as he came the moon rose above the eastern shore and silvered his great wings.

接着，巴德将弓弦拉满，直到耳际。恶龙又盘旋而回，低低地飞行着，当他靠近的时候，月亮升起在东边的湖岸上，将他那巨大的双翼染成了银色。

“Arrow!” said the bowman. “Black arrow! I have saved you to the last. You have never failed me and always I have recovered you. I had you from my father and he from of old. If ever you came from the forges of the true king under the Mountain, go now and speed well!”

“箭啊!”射手祝祷道，“黑箭啊!我把你留到最后，你从来没有让我失望过，而我每次射出后也总是将你捡回。我从父亲手中继承了你，而他也是从先祖那里得到了你。如果你是从真正的山下之王的熔炉里来的，那么就请你速速飞去，一击中的吧!”

The dragon swooped once more lower than ever, and as he turned and dived down his belly glittered white with sparkling fires of gems in the moon—but not in one place. The great bow twanged. The black arrow sped straight from the string, straight for the hollow by the left breast where the foreleg was flung wide. In it smote and vanished, barb, shaft and feather, so fierce was its flight. With a shriek that deafened men, felled trees and split stone, Smaug shot spouting into the air, turned over and crashed down from on high in ruin.

恶龙再次开始俯冲，高度比以前历次都低。当它翻转过来，向下滑行时，月色中它的腹部因为宝石的火焰而闪耀出白光——但只有一处例外。巨弓嗖的一响，黑色的羽箭从弓弦上激射而出，直朝恶龙左胸那块光秃秃没有遮蔽的地方飞去。恶龙前臂展开，因此这里毫无防护，黑箭来势迅疾，一下便击中，从箭尖的倒钩到箭身再到箭尾的羽毛全都没人了恶龙的胸口。史矛革发出了一声痛苦的嘶叫，震聋了人们的耳朵，震倒了湖边的树木，震裂了岸边的石头，然后往高空奋力一冲，最后翻转身，从极高的高处向着火焰与灰烬中的长湖镇废墟摔落。

Full on the town he fell. His last throes splintered it to sparks and gledes. The lake roared in. A vast steam leaped up, white in the sudden dark under the moon. There was a hiss, a gushing whirl, and then silence. And that was the end of Smaug and Esgaroth, but not of Bard.

他正正地跌落在镇子上，用他最后的挣扎将镇子砸成一片飞舞着火星的空地，周围的湖水怒吼着涌了进来，大量的蒸汽腾然而起，月光下突然出现的一片黑暗瞬间便被包裹在了茫茫白烟之中。耳边先听到一阵巨大的嘶嘶声，然后是湖水喷溅旋动，最后一切都归于了沉寂。这就是史矛革和埃斯加洛斯的末日，但不是巴德的末日。

The waxing moon rose higher and higher and the wind grew loud and cold. It twisted the white fog into bending pillars and hurrying clouds and drove it off to the West to scatter in tattered shreds over the marshes before Mirkwood. Then the many boats could be seen dotted dark on the surface of the lake, and down the wind came the voices of the people of Esgaroth lamenting their lost town and goods and ruined houses. But they had really much to be thankful for, had they thought of it, though it could hardly be expected that they should just then: three quarters of the people of the town had at least escaped alive; their woods and fields and pastures and cattle and most of their boats remained undamaged; and the dragon was dead. What that meant they had not yet realized.

渐盈的月亮越升越高，寒风也刮得一阵紧似一阵。它将白色的烟雾扭成弯曲的巨柱和狼奔豕突的流云，然后将其向西方驱赶，散成支离破碎的—条条，赶进黑森林前面的沼泽地里。白雾散去后，可以看到许多小船黑黢黢地分布在湖面上，随风传来了埃斯加洛斯居民的哀哭声，他们在悲悼着自己失去的小镇、财物和毁坏的房屋。不过，如果他们仔细想一想的话，他们其实还有很多值得谢天谢地的地方，虽然当时要他们想到这一点是不太可能的：小镇居民中的四分之三至少得以逃生，他们的森林、农田、牧场、牲畜以及大部分的船只没有受到破坏，而恶龙也已经死了。当时他们并没有意识到这一点意味着什么。

They gathered in mournful crowds upon the western shores, shivering in the cold wind, and their first complaints and anger were against the Master, who had left the town so soon, while some were still willing to defend it.

哀伤的人们在湖的西岸聚集起来，在寒风中瑟瑟发抖，他们最初的抱怨和怒气是针对镇长的，认为他在还有人愿意保卫城镇的时候，竟然早早地就弃镇逃跑。

“He may have a good head for business—especially his own business,” some murmured, “but he is no good when anything serious happens!” And they praised the courage of Bard and his last mighty shot. “If only he had not been killed,” they all said, “we would make him a king. Bard the Dragon-shooter of the line of Girion! Alas that he is lost!”

“他做生意或许头脑不错，特别是他自己的生意，”有些人抱怨道，“但有重大事情发生的时候，他一点用也没有!”接着他们就称赞起巴德的勇气和他最后那有力的一箭。“如果他没被杀就好了，”他们异口同声地说，“我们会把他拥戴为王。吉瑞安的后代，射龙者巴德!真可惜他死了!”

And in the very midst of their talk a tall figure stepped from the shadows. He was drenched with water, his black hair hung wet over his face and shoulders, and a fierce light was in his eyes.

就在他们说到一半的时候，一个高大的身影从阴影中走了出来，浑身湿透，黑发紧贴在他的肩膀和脸上，眼中闪动着锐利的光芒。

“Bard is not lost!” he cried. “He dived from Esgaroth, when the enemy was slain. I am Bard, of the line of Girion; I am the slayer of the dragon!”

“巴德没有死!”他大喊道，“当敌人被杀死的时候，他从埃斯加洛斯跳进了水里——我就是巴德，吉瑞安的后代，我就是屠龙勇士!”

“King Bard! King Bard!” they shouted; but the Master ground his chattering teeth.

“巴德王!巴德王!”他们大喊着，镇长却磨着颤抖的牙齿表示了异议。

“Girion was lord of Dale, not king of Esgaroth,” he said. “In the Lake-town we have always elected masters from among the old and wise, and have not endured the rule of mere fighting men. Let ‘King Bard’ go back to his own kingdom—Dale is now freed by his valour, and nothing hinders his return. And any that wish can go with him, if they prefer the cold stones under the shadow of the Mountain to the green shores of the lake. The wise will stay here and hope to rebuild our town, and enjoy again in time its peace and riches.”

“吉瑞安是河谷邦之王，不是埃斯加洛斯之王。在长湖镇，我们一向从年长和睿智的人中选出镇长，从来也没有忍受过武夫的统治。让‘巴德王’回到他自己的国度去吧，河谷城已经被他的英勇给解放了，再也没有任何东西可以阻挡他的回归。任何愿意待在被孤山阴影所笼罩的冰冷石头间，而不愿留在湖畔绿地的人尽可以跟他去。聪明的人会留在这里，希望能够重建我们的家园，在不久以后重享它的祥和与富庶。”

“We will have King Bard!” the people near at hand shouted in reply. “We have had enough of the old men and the money-counters!” And people further off took up the cry: “Up the Bowman, and down with Moneybags,” till the clamour echoed along the shore.

“我们要巴德王留在这里!”附近的人们大喊着回答，“我们已经受够了老头子和守财奴了!”离得稍远的人也应和道：“神箭手上台，钱袋子下台!”不久湖边的喊声就连成了一片。

“I am the last man to undervalue Bard the Bowman,” said the Master warily (for Bard now stood close beside him). “He has tonight earned an eminent place in the roll of the benefactors of our town; and he is worthy of many imperishable songs. But, why O People?”—and here the Master rose to his feet and spoke very loud and clear—“Why do I get all your blame? For what fault am I to be deposed? Who aroused the dragon from his slumber, I might ask? Who obtained of us rich gifts and ample help, and led us to believe that old songs could come true? Who played on our soft hearts and our pleasant fancies? What sort of gold have they sent down the river to reward us? Dragon-fire and ruin! From whom should we claim the recompense of our damage, and aid for our widows and orphans?”

“我绝不是小看神箭手巴德，”镇长小心翼翼地说道(因为巴德现在就站在他背后)，“他今晚的所作所为为他在我们镇的恩人册中贏得了显赫的地位，他值得人们为他写下许多永不衰朽的颂歌。但是，镇民们，为什么?”——讲到这里，镇长突然站了起来，用响亮而又清晰的声音说，“为什么你们要把所有的不满都对着我呢?我犯了什么错该当被罢免呢?可否容我问一句，究竟是谁把恶龙从睡眠中唤醒?是谁从我们这里获得了丰厚的礼物和充足的帮助，让我们相信古代的歌谣将会成真?是谁利用了我们的善心和对未来的美好期盼?他们有没有顺着河流送来黄金作为对我们的报答?没有!他们送来了恶龙的火焰和毁灭!我们应该向谁要求对我们的损失作出赔偿，来安置我们的孤儿和寡母?向谁?”

As you see, the Master had not got his position for nothing. The result of his words was that for the moment the people quite forgot their idea of a new king, and turned their angry thoughts towards Thorin and his company. Wild and bitter words were shouted from many sides; and some of those who had before sung the old songs loudest, were now heard as loudly crying that the dwarves had stirred the dragon up against them deliberately!

大家看到了吧，镇长能得到这个位置并不是毫无理由的。他的这番话让人们暂时忘记了推举新王的主张，而是将怒气转到了索林和他的伙伴们身上。人群中有许多地方开始冒出狂热狠毒的咒骂来，有些之前把古老的颂歌唱得最大声的人，现在又同样大声地指责他们故意吵醒了恶龙来祸害长湖镇!

“Fools!” said Bard. “Why waste words and wrath on those unhappy creatures? Doubtless they perished first in fire, before Smaug came to us.” Then even as he was speaking, the thought came into his heart of the fabled treasure of the Mountain lying without guard or owner, and he fell suddenly silent. He thought of the Master’s words, and of Dale rebuilt, and filled with golden bells, if he could but find the men.

“傻瓜!”巴德说，“为什么要把你们的言语和愤怒浪费在那些可怜家伙的身上?毫无疑问，在史矛革飞来我们这里之前，他们肯定先就葬身火海了!”话还没说完，他就想到，大山里传说中的宝藏现正处于无人看守或是无主的状态中，于是他突然打住了话头。他想到了镇长说的话，想到要重建河谷城，铸造无数的金钟，而这一切只要他能找到人手就可以办到。

At length he spoke again: “This is no time for angry words, Master, or for considering weighty plans of change. There is work to do. I serve you still—though after a while I may think again of your words and go North with any that will follow me.”

最后，他又开口说话了：“现在不是发牢骚的时候，镇长先生，也不是酝酿惊天动地的变化的时候。我们有工作要做。我依然服从您的领导，不过，或许过一阵子，我会考虑您的建议，带着愿意跟随我的人一起北上。”

Then he strode off to help in the ordering of the camps and in the care of the sick and the wounded. But the Master scowled at his back as he went, and remained sitting on the ground. He thought much but said little, unless it was to call loudly for men to bring him fire and food.

然后，他就走开去，忙着安排搭建帐篷和照顾伤病的工作。但镇长却在他远去时对他的背影怒目而视，依然坐在地上一动不动。他脑子里想了很多，话却没说几句，除了叫人给他带来柴火和食物。

Now everywhere Bard went he found talk running like fire among the people concerning the vast treasure that was now unguarded. Men spoke of the recompense for all their harm that they would soon get from it, and wealth over and to spare with which to buy rich things from the South; and it cheered them greatly in their plight. That was as well, for the night was bitter and miserable. Shelters could be contrived for few (the Master had one) and there was little food (even the Master went short). Many took ill of wet and cold and sorrow that night, and afterwards died, who had escaped uninjured from the ruin of the town; and in the days that followed there was much sickness and great hunger.

现在，巴德不管走到哪里，都发现关于那些无人看守的宝藏的话题在人们之中如星星之火般蔓延着。人们谈论说，得到财宝以后，就可以很快补偿他们所受到的损失，可以让他们拥有足够的钱从南方购买商品，这让他们在困境中大受鼓舞。这一点是很有好处的，因为夜晚对他们来说还是艰苦而又凄惨的。遮风避雨的地方很少(镇长有一个)，食物也很少(连钺长也吃不饱)。许多在镇子的毁灭中毫发无伤地逃出来的人，却在那天晚上因为潮湿、寒冷和伤悲而染了病，后来竟死去了。在后来的日子里，人们经历了相当严重的疫病和一场大饥荒。

Meanwhile Bard took the lead, and ordered things as he wished, though always in the Master’s name, and he had a hard task to govern the people and direct the preparations for their protection and housing. Probably most of them would have perished in the winter that now hurried after autumn, if help had not been to hand. But help came swiftly; for Bard at once had speedy messengers sent up the river to the Forest to ask the aid of the King of the Elves of the Wood, and these messengers had found a host already on the move, although it was then only the third day after the fall of Smaug.

在此同时，巴德扛起了领导众人的责任，他按自己的想法对事情作出安排，尽管总是以镇长的名义，而他在管理镇民，指挥他们为防御作准备和解决住宿等方面真可谓是呕心沥血。秋天一过眼看着冬天就要来了，如果援助不能到手的话，他们之中的大部分人肯定熬不过这个冬天。但幸运的是，援助很快就来到了，因为巴德当机立断派出信使沿河进入森林，请求森林中的精灵国王给予援助。这些信使发现精灵国王率领着一支部队已经在行动了，而此时还只是史矛革死后的第三天。

The Elvenking had received news from his own messengers and from the birds that loved his folk, and already knew much of what had happened. Very great indeed was the commotion among all things with wings that dwelt on the borders of the Desolation of the Dragon. The air was filled with circling flocks, and their swift-flying messengers flew here and there across the sky. Above the borders of the Forest there was whistling, crying and piping. Far over Mirkwood tidings spread: “Smaug is dead!” Leaves rustled and startled ears were lifted. Even before the Elvenking rode forth the news had passed west right to the pinewoods of the Misty Mountains; Beorn had heard it in his wooden house, and the goblins were at council in their caves.

精灵国王是从他自己的信使和与他子民友好的鸟类口中得到消息的，这些鸟儿早已经知道了大部分所发生的事情。在恶龙所造成的蛮荒带周围，恶龙之死在所有长翅膀的生物中都引起了很大的骚动。空中满是各种盘旋的鸟类，它们之中那些飞行迅捷的信使在空中飞来飞去传递着消息，森林边缘的上空一时间充斥着鸟儿兴奋的啁啾。“史矛革死了!”消息很快就传遍了黑森林。树叶簌簌地响着，一双双受惊的耳朵全都竖了起來。还不等精灵国王骑马出发，这些消息就已经一路向西，来到了迷雾山脉的松林之中。贝奥恩在自己的木屋中听到了这个消息，半兽人们则在洞穴中商讨起了对策。

“That will be the last we shall hear of Thorin Oakenshield, I fear,” said the king. “He would have done better to have remained my guest. It is an ill wind, all the same,” he added, “that blows no one any good.” For he too had not forgotten the legend of the wealth of Thror. So it was that Bard’s messengers found him now marching with many spearmen and bowmen; and crows were gathered thick above him, for they thought that war was awakening again, such as had not been in those parts for a long age.

“我想，这只怕是我们最后一次听到索林·橡木盾的消息了。”国王说，“如果他留在这边继续当我的客人，或许下场还好些。不过，没有什么风会给谁都不带来好处。”他说这话是因为他也没有忘记传说中瑟罗尔王的财富。正因为如此，巴德的信差才会遇到他率领着弓箭手和长矛兵浩浩荡荡地行进着。乌鸦们密集地聚集在他的头上，因为它们认为战火又将重新燃起，而这一带已经很久没有打过仗了。

But the king, when he received the prayers of Bard, had pity, for he was the lord of a good and kindly people; so turning his march, which had at first been direct towards the Mountain, he hastened now down the river to the Long Lake. He had not boats or rafts enough for his host, and they were forced to go the slower way by foot; but great store of goods he sent ahead by water. Still elves are light-footed, and though they were not in these days much used to the marches and the treacherous lands between the Forest and the Lake, their going was swift. Only five days after the death of the dragon they came upon the shores and looked on the ruins of the town. Their welcome was good, as may be expected, and the men and their Master were ready to make any bargain for the future in return for the Elvenking’s aid.

不过，当精灵国王收到巴德的求援信时，起了同情之心，他毕竟还是善良种族的国王。于是，他将原先直指孤山的大军调转方向，沿河而下，往长湖进发。他没有足够的船只或木筏来装载所有的部队，许多士兵被迫以较慢的方式沿陆路步行前进，不过，他预先将许多物资通过水路运了过去。精灵们的脚程再怎么说也是很快的，虽然这些年来，他们已经不像过去一样熟悉长湖和森林之间的沼泽和险恶平原了，但他们的行军速度依然很快。在恶龙死后刚刚五天，他们就来到了湖边，眺望着长湖镇的废墟。正如预期的一样，人们十分欢迎他们的到来，镇长和人们已经准备在将来付出任何代价，以换取精灵国王现在对他们的援助。

Their plans were soon made. With the women and the children, the old and the unfit, the Master remained behind; and with him were some men of crafts and many skilled elves; and they busied themselves felling trees, and collecting the timber sent down from the Forest. Then they set about raising many huts by the shore against the oncoming winter; and also under the Master’s direction they began the planning of a new town, designed more fair and large even than before, but not in the same place. They removed northward higher up the shore; for ever after they had a dread of the water where the dragon lay. He would never again return to his golden bed, but was stretched cold as stone, twisted upon the floor of the shallows. There for ages his huge bones could be seen in calm weather amid the ruined piles of the old town. But few dared to cross the cursed spot, and none dared to dive into the shivering water or recover the precious stones that fell from his rotting carcase.

他们很快就制订好了重建的计划。镇长和老弱妇孺都留在了后方，工匠和许多有手艺的精灵也跟他一起留下。他们忙碌着砍伐树木，收集从森林里顺流漂下的木材，然后动手在湖边搭建许多小屋，抵御即将到来的寒冬。在镇长的指挥下，他们开始兴建一座比以前更大、更好的新镇子，只是位置不在原先的地方了。他们将城镇沿着湖岸又往北挪上去了一点，因为他们对恶龙葬身的水域从此心生畏惧。他再也回不到他那黄金睡榻上去了，只能如岩石般僵卧在冰冷的浅滩水底。此后的许多年里，每当天气晴朗，人们便能在旧镇的废墟间看见它那巨大的尸骨。很少有人胆敢越过这受诅咒的地方，更没有哪一个敢冒险潜入这令人浑身打战的水中，打捞从他那腐烂尸身上掉落下来的宝石。

But all the men of arms who were still able, and the most of the Elvenking’s array, got ready to march north to the Mountain. It was thus that in eleven days from the ruin of the town the head of their host passed the rock-gates at the end of the lake and came into the desolate lands.

其余所有还能拿起武器的成年男子，和精灵国王的大部分兵力，全都准备向北进入孤山。就这样，在长湖镇被毁之后的第十一天，其先头部队就已经越过了长湖另一端的石门，进入了恶龙盘踞多年的荒凉之地。