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ty roaring mingled with a deep throbbing boom。
He sat down upon the stone and cupped his chin in his hands； staring eastwards but seeing little with his eyes。 All that had happened since Bilbo left the Shire was passing through his mind； and he recalled and pondered everything that he could remember of Gandalf's words。 Time went on； and still he was no nearer to a choice。
Suddenly he awoke from his thoughts： a strange feeling came to him that something was behind him； that unfriendly eyes were upon him。 He sprang up and turned； but all that he saw to his surprise was Boromir； and his face was smiling and kind。
'I was afraid for you； Frodo；' he said； ing forward。 'If Aragorn is right and Orcs are near； then none of us should wander alone； and you least of all： so much depends on you。 And my heart too is heavy。 May I stay now and talk for a while； since I have found you？ It would fort me。 Where there are so many； all speech bees a debate without end。 But two together may perhaps find wisdom。'
'You are kind；' answered Frodo。 'But I do not think that any speech will help me。 For I know what I should do； but I am afraid of doing it； Boromir： afraid。'
Boromir stood silent。 Rauros roared endlessly on。 The wind murmured in the branches of the trees。 Frodo shivered。
Suddenly Boromir came and sat beside him。 'Are you sure that you do not suffer needlessly？ ' he said。 'I wish to help you。 You need counsel in your hard choice。 Will you not take mine？ '
'I think I know already what counsel you would give； Boromir；' said Frodo。 'And it would seem like wisdom but for the warning of my heart。'
'Warning？ Warning against what？ ' said Boromir sharply。
'Against delay。 Against the way that seems easier。 Against refusal of the burden that is laid on me。 Againstwell； if it must be said； against trust in the strength and truth of Men。'
'Yet that strength has long protected you far away in your little country； though you knew it not。'
'I do not doubt the valour of your people。 But the world is changing。 The walls of Minas Tirith may be strong； but they are not strong enough。 If they fail； what then？ '
'We shall fall in battle valiantly。 Yet there is still hope that they will not fail。'
'No hope while the Ring lasts；' said Frodo。
'Ah！ The Ring！' said Boromir； his eyes lighting。 'The Ring！ Is it not a strange fate that we should suffer so much fear and doubt for so small a thing？ So small a thing！ And I have seen it only for an instant in the House of Elrond。 Could I not have a sight of it again？ '
Frodo looked up。 His heart went suddenly cold。 He caught the strange gleam in Boromir's eyes； yet his face was still kind and friendly。 'It is best that it should lie hidden；' he answered。
'As you wish。 I care not；' said Boromir。 'Yet may I not even speak of it？ For you seem ever to think only of its power in the hands of the Enemy： of its evil uses not of its good。 The world is changing； you say。 Minas Tirith will fall； if the Ring lasts。 But why？ Certainly； if the Ring were with the Enemy。 But why； if it were with us？ '
'Were you not at the Council？ ' answered Frodo。 'Because we cannot use it； and what is done with it turns to evil。'
Boromir got up and walked about impatiently。 'So you go on；' he cried。 'Gandalf； Elrond 。 all these folk have taught you to say so。 For themselves they may be right。 These elves and halfelves and wizards； they would e to grief perhaps。 Yet often I doubt if they are wise and not merely timid。 But each to his own kind。 Truehearted Men； they will not be corrupted。 We of Minas Tirith have been staunch through long years of trial。 We do not desire the power of wizardlords； only strength to defend ourselves； strength in a just cause。 And behold！ in our need chance brings to light the Ring of Power。 It is a gift； I say； a gift to the foes of Mordor。 It is mad not to use it； to use the power of the Enemy against him。 The fearless； the ruthless； these alone will achieve victory。 What could not a warrior do in this hour； a great leader？ What could not Aragorn do？ Or if he refuses； why not Boromir？ The Ring would give me power of mand。 How I would drive the hosts of Mordor； and all men would flock to my banner！'
Boromir strode up and down； speaking ever more loudly： Almost he seemed to have fotten Frodo； while his talk dwelt on walls and weapons； and the mustering of men； and he drew plans for great alliances and glorious victories to be； and he cast down Mordor； and became himself a mighty king； benevolent and wise。 Suddenly he stopped and waved his arms。
'And they tell us to throw it away！' he cried。 'I do not say destroy it。 That might be well； if reason could show any hope of doing so。 It does not。 The only plan that is proposed to us is that a halfling should walk blindly into Mordor and offer the Enemy every chance of recapturing it for himself。 Folly！
'Surely you see it； my friend？' he said； turning now suddenly to Frodo again。 'You say that you are afraid。 If it is so； the boldest should pardon you。 But is it not really your good sense that revolts？'
'No； I am afraid；' said Frodo。 'Simply afraid。 But I am glad to have heard you speak so fully。 My mind is clearer now。'
'Then you will e to Minas Tirith？ ' cried Boromir。 His eyes were shining and his face eager。
'You misunderstand me；' said Frodo。
'But you will e； at least for a while？ ' Boromir persisted。 'My city is not far now； and it is little further from there to Mordor than from here。 We have been long in the wilderness； and you need news of what the Enemy is doing before you make a move。 e with me； Frodo；' he said。 'You need rest before your venture。 if go you must。' He laid his hand on the hobbit's shoulder in friendly fashion； but Frodo felt the hand trembling with suppressed excitement。 He stepped quickly away； and eyed with alarm the tall Man； nearly twice his height and many times his match in strength。
'Why are you so unfriendly？ ' said Boromir。 'I am a true man； neither thief nor tracker。 I need your Ring： that you know now； but I give you my word that I do not desire to keep it。 Will you not at least let me make trial of my plan？ Lend me the Ring！'
'No！ no！' cried Frodo。 'The Council laid it upon me to bear it。'
'It is by our own folly that the Enemy will defeat us；' cried Boromir。 'How it angers me！ Fool！ Obstinate fool！ Running wilfully to death and ruining our cause。 If any mortals have claim to the Ring； it is the men of Númenor； and not Halflings。 It is not yours save by unhappy chance。 It might have been mine。 It should be mine。 Give it to me！'
Frodo did not answer； but moved away till the great flat stone stood between them。 'e； e； my friend！' said Boromir in a softer voice。 'Why not get rid of it？ Why not be free of your doubt and fear？ You can lay the blame on me； if you will。 You can say that I was too strong and took it by force。 For I am too strong for you； halfling；' he cried； and suddenly he sprang over the stone and leaped at Frodo。 His fair and pleasant face was hideously changed； a raging fire was in his eyes。
Frodo dodged aside and again put the stone between them。 There was only one thing he could do： trembling he pulled out the Ring upon its chain and quickly slipped it on his finger； even as Boromir sprang at him again。 The Man gasped； stared for a moment amazed； and then ran wildly about； seeking here and there among the rocks and trees。
'Miserable trickster！' he shouted。 'Let me get my hands on you！ Now I see your mind。 You will take the Ring to Sauron and sell us all。 You have only waited your chance to leave us in the lurch。 Curse you and all halflings to death and darkness！' Then； catching his foot on a stone； he fell sprawling and lay upon his face。 For a while he was as still as if his own curse had struck him down； then suddenly he wept。
He rose and passed his hand over his eyes； dashing away the tears。 'What have I said？ ' he cried。 'What have I done？ Frodo； Frodo！' he called。 'e back！ A madness took me； but it has passed。 e back！'
There was no answer。 Frodo did not even hear his cries。 He was already far away； leaping blindly up the path to the hilltop。 Terror and grief shook him； seeing in his thought the mad fierce face of Boromir； and his burning eyes。
Soon he came out alone on the summit of Amon Hen； and halted； gasping for breath。 He saw as through a mist a wide flat circle； paved with mighty flags； and surrounded with a crumbling battlement； and in the middle； set upon four carven pillars； was a high seat； reached by a stair of many steps。 Up he went and sat upon the ancient chair； feeling like a lost child that had clambered upon the throne of mountainkings。
At first he could see little。 He seemed to be in a world of mist in which there were only shadows： the Ring was upon him。 Then here and there the mist gave way and he saw many visions： small and clear as if they were under his eyes upon a table； and yet remote。 There was no sound； only bright living images。 The world seemed to have shrunk and fallen silent。 He was sitting upon the Seat of Seeing； on Amon Hen； the Hill of the Eye of the Men of Númenor。 Eastward he looked into wide uncharted lands； nameless plains； and forests unexplored。 Northward he looked； and the Great River lay like a ribbon beneath him； and the Misty Mountains stood small and hard as broken teeth。 Westward he looked and saw the broad pastures of Rohan； and Orthanc； the pinnacle of Isengard； like a black spike。 Southward he looked； and below his very feet the Great River curled like a toppling wave and plunged over the falls of Rauros into a foaming pit； a glimmering rainbow played upon the fume。 And Ethir Anduin he saw； the mighty delta of the River； and myriads of seabirds whirling like a white dust in the sun； and beneath them a green and silver sea； rippling in endless lines。
But everywhere he looked he saw the signs of war。 The Misty Mountains were crawling like anthills： orcs were issuing out of a thousand holes。 Under the boughs of Mirkwood there was deadly strife of Elves and Men and fell beasts。 The land of the Beornings was aflame； a cloud was over Moria； smoke rose on the borders of Lórien。
Horsemen were galloping on the grass of Rohan； wolves poured from Isengard。 From the havens of Harad ships of war put out to sea； and out of the East Men were moving endlessly： swordsmen； spearmen； bowmen upon horses； chariots of chieftains and laden wains。 All the power of the Dark Lord was in motion。 Then turning south again he beheld Minas Tirith。 Far away it seemed。 and beautiful： whitewalled； manytowered； proud and fair upon its mountain seat； its battlements glittered with steel； and its turrets were bright with many banners。 Hope leaped in his heart。 But against Minas Tirith was set another fortress； greater and more strong。 Thither； eastward； unwilling his eye was drawn。 It passed the ruined bridges of Osgiliath； the grinning gates of Minas Mul。 and the haunted Mountains； and it looked upon Goroth； the valley of terror in the Land of Mordor。 Darkness lay there under the Sun。 Fire glowed amid the smoke。 Mount Doom was burning； and a great reek rising。 Then at last his gaze was held： wall upon wall； battlement upon battlement； black； immeasurably strong； mountain of iron； gate of steel； tower of adamant； he saw it： Baradd？r； Fortress of Sauron。 All hope left him。
And suddenly he felt the Eye。 There was an eye in the Dark Tower that did not sleep。 He knew that it had bee aware of his gaze。 A fierce eager will was there。 It leaped towards him； almost like a finger he felt it； searching for him。 Very soon it would nail him down； know just exactly where he was。 Amon Lhaw it touched。 It glanced upon Tol Brandir he threw himself from the seat； crouching； covering his head with his grey hood。
He heard himself crying out： Never； never！ Or was it： Verily I e； I e to you？ He could not tell。 Then as a flash from some other point of power there came to his mind another thought： Take it off！ Take it off！ Fool； take it off！ Take off the Ring！
The two powers strove in him。 For a moment； perfectly balanced between their piercing points； he writhed； tormented。 Suddenly he was aware of himself again。 Frodo； neither the Voice nor the Eye： free to choose； and with one remaining instant in which to do so。 He took the Ring off h