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of the might of Númenor； ere it fell。 High towers that people built； and strong places。 and havens of many ships； and the winged crown of the Kings of Men was held in awe by folk of many tongues。 Their chief city was Osgiliath； Citadel of the Stars。 through the midst of which the River flowed。 And Minas Ithil they built； Tower of the Rising Moon； eastward upon a shoulder of the Mountains of Shadow； and westward at the feet of the White Mountains Minas Anor they made； Tower of the Setting Sun。 There in the courts of the King grew a white tree； from the seed of that tree which Isildur brought over the deep waters； and the seed of that tree before came from Eress？a； and before that out of the Uttermost West in the Day before days when the world was young。
‘But in the wearing of the swift years of Middle…earth the line of Meneldil son of Anárion failed； and the Tree withered； and the blood of the Númenoreans became mingled with that of lesser men。 Then the watch upon the walls of Mordor slept； and dark things crept back to Gorgoroth。 And on a time evil things came forth； and they took Minas Ithil and abode in it； and they made it into a place of dread； and it is called Minas Morgul； the Tower of Sorcery。 Then Minas Anor was named anew Minas Tirith； the Tower of Guard； and these two cities were ever at war； but Osgiliath which lay between was deserted and in its ruins shadows walked。
'So it has been for many lives of men。 But the Lords of Minas Tirith still fight on； defying our enemies； keeping the passage of the River from Argonath to the Sea。 And now that part of the tale that I shall tell is drawn to its close。 For in the days of Isildur the Ruling Ring passed out of all knowledge； and the Three were released from its dominion。 But now in this latter day they are in peril once more； for to our sorrow the One has been found。 Others shall speak of its finding； for in that I played small part。'
He ceased； but at once Boromir stood up； tall and proud； before them。 Give me leave； Master Elrond； said he； first to say more of Gondor； for verily from the land of Gondor I am e。 And it would be well for all to know what passes there。 For few； I deem； know of our deeds； and therefore guess little of their peril； if we should fail at last。
‘Believe not that in the land of Gondor the blood of Númenor is spent； nor all its pride and dignity forgotten。 By our valour the wild folk of the East are still restrained； and the terror of Morgul kept at bay； and thus alone are peace and freedom maintained in the lands behind us； bulwark of the West。 But if the passages of the River should be won； what then？
‘Yet that hour； maybe； is not now far away。 The Nameless Enemy has arisen again。 Smoke rises once more from Orodruin that we call Mount Doom。 The power of the Black Land grows and we are hard beset。 When the Enemy returned our folk were driven from Ithilien； our fair domain east of the River； though we kept a foothold there and strength of arms。 But this very year； in the days of June； sudden war came upon us out of Mordor； and we were swept away。 We were outnumbered； for Mordor has allied itself with the Easterlings and the cruel Haradrim； but it was not by numbers that we were defeated。 A power was there that we have not felt before。
‘Some said that it could be seen； like a great black horseman； a dark shadow under the moon。 Wherever he came a madness filled our foes； but fear fell on our boldest； so that horse and man gave way and fled。 Only a remnant of our eastern force came back； destroying the last bridge that still stood amid the ruins of Osgiliath。
'I was in the pany that held the bridge； until it was cast down behind us。 Four only were saved by swimming： my brother and myself and two others。 But still we fight on； holding all the west shores of Anduin； and those who shelter behind us give us praise； if ever they hear our name： much praise but little help。 Only from Rohan now will any men ride to us when we call。
‘In this evil hour I have e on an errand over many dangerous leagues to Elrond： a hundred and ten days I have journeyed all alone。 But I do not seek allies in war。 The might of Elrond is in wisdom not in weapons； it is said。 I e to ask for counsel and the unravelling of hard words。 For on the eve of the sudden assault a dream came to my brother in a troubled sleep； and afterwards a like dream came oft to him again； and once to me。
'In that dream I thought the eastern sky grew dark and there was a growing thunder； but in the West a pale light lingered； and out of it I heard a voice； remote but clear； crying：
Seek for the Sword that was broken：
In Imladris it dwells；
There shall be counsels taken
Stronger than Morgul…spells。
There shall be shown a token
That Doom is near at hand；
For Isildur's Bane shall waken；
And the Halfling forth shall stand。
Of these words we could understand little； and we spoke to our father； Denethor； Lord of Minas Tirith； wise in the lore of Gondor。 This only would he say； that Imladris was of old the name among the Elves of a far northern dale； where Elrond the Halfelven dwelt； greatest of lore…masters。 Therefore my brother； seeing how desperate was our need； was eager to heed the dream and seek for Imladris； but since the way was full of doubt and danger； I took the journey upon myself。 Loth was my father to give me leave； and long have I wandered by roads forgotten； seeking the house of Elrond； of which many had heard； but few knew where it lay。'
'And here in the house of Elrond more shall be made clear to you' said Aragorn； standing up。 He cast his sword upon the table that stood before Elrond； and the blade was in two pieces。 ‘Here is the Sword that was Broken！' he said。
‘And who are you； and what have you to do with Minas Tirith？' asked Boromir； looking in wonder at the lean face of the Ranger and his weather…stained cloak。
‘He is Aragorn son of Arathorn；' said Elrond； ‘and he is descended through many fathers from Isildur Elendil's son of Minas Ithil。 He is the Chief of the Dúnedain in the North； and few are now left of that folk。'
‘Then it belongs to you； and not to me at all！' cried Frodo in amazement； springing to his feet； as if he expected the Ring to be demanded at once。
'It does not belong to either of us；' said Aragorn； ‘but it has been ordained that you should hold it for a while。'
'Bring out the Ring； Frodo！' said Gandalf solemnly。 ‘The time has e。 Hold it up； and then Boromir will understand the remainder of his riddle。'
There was a hush； and all turned their eyes on Frodo。 He was shaken by a sudden shame and fear； and he felt a great reluctance to reveal the Ring； and a loathing of its touch。 He wished he was far away。 The Ring gleamed and flickered as he held it up before them in his trembling hand。
'Behold Isildur's Bane！' said Elrond。
Boromir's eyes glinted as he gazed at the golden thing。 ‘The Halfling！' he muttered。 ‘Is then the doom of Minas Tirith e at last？ But why then should we seek a broken sword？'
'The words were not the doom of Minas Tirith；' said Aragorn。 ‘But doom and great deeds are indeed at hand。 For the Sword that was Broken is the Sword of Elendil that broke beneath him when he fell。 It has been treasured by his heirs when all other heirlooms were lost； for it was spoken of old among us that it should be made again when the Ring； Isildur's Bane； was found。 Now you have seen the sword that you have sought； what would you ask？ Do you wish for the House of Elendil to return to the Land of Gondor？'
‘I was not sent to beg any boon； but to seek only the meaning of a riddle；' answered Boromir proudly。 ‘Yet we are hard pressed； and the Sword of Elendil would be a help beyond our hope…if such a thing could indeed return out of the shadows of the past。' He looked again at Aragorn； and doubt was in his eyes。
Frodo felt Bilbo stir impatiently at his side。 Evidently he was annoyed on his friend's behalf。 Standing suddenly up he burst out：
All that is gold does not glitter；
Not all those who wander are lost；
The old that is strong does not wither；
Deep roots are not reached by the frost。
From the ashes a fire shall be woken；
A light from the shadows shall spring；
Renewed shall be blade that was broken：
The crownless again shall be king。
‘Not very good perhaps； but to the point … if you need more beyond the word of Elrond。 If that was worth a journey of a hundred and ten days to hear； you had best listen to it。' He sat down with a snort。
‘I made that up myself；' he whispered to Frodo； ‘for the Dúnadan； a long time ago when he first told me about himself。 I almost wish that my adventures were not over； and that I could go with him when his day es。'
Aragorn smiled at him； then he turned to Boromir again。 ‘For my part I forgive your doubt；' he said。 'Little do I resemble the figures of Elendil and Isildur as they stand carven in their majesty in the halls of Denethor。 I am but the heir of Isildur； not Isildur himself。 I have had a hard life and a long； and the leagues that lie between here and Gondor are a small part in the count of my journeys。 I have crossed many mountains and many rivers； and trodden many plains； even into the far countries of Rh？n and Harad