"GL3" - читать интересную книгу автора (vol06)

believing that, when you knew more, you would accept the
burden for a while out of love for him. He thought you were safe:
safe not to misuse it or to let it get into evil hands; safe from its
power for a time; and safe in the quiet Shire of the hobbits from
the knowledge of its maker. And I promised him to help you. He
relied on that. Indeed for your sake and for his I have taken many
perilous journeys.
'Also I may say that I did not discover the letters of fire or their
meaning or know for certain that this was the Ruling Ring until he
had already decided to go. I did not tell him, for then he would not
have burdened you. I let him go. He had had the Ring for sixty
years, and it was telling on him, Frodo. It would have worn him
down in the end, and I dare not guess what might then have
happened.
'But now, alas! I know more. I have seen Gollum. I have
journeyed even to the Land of Mordor. I fear that the Enemy is
searching. You are in a far graver peril than ever Bilbo dreamed of.
So do not blame him.'
'But I am not strong enough! ' said Frodo. 'You are wise and
powerful. Will you not take the Ring?'
'No!' said Gandalf springing to his feet. 'With that Ring I
should have power too great and terrible. And over me it would
gain a power still greater and more deadly.' His eyes flashed and
his face was lit as by a fire within. 'Do not tempt me! For I do not
wish to become like the Dark Lord himself. Yet the way of the
Ring to my heart is by pity for weakness and the desire of strength
to do good. Do not tempt me! '
He went to the window and drew aside the curtain and shutters.
Sunlight streamed back again into the room. Sam passed along the
path outside, whistling. 'In any case,' said the wizard, turning
back to Frodo, 'it is now too late. You would hate me and call me a
thief; and our friendship would cease. Such is the power of the
Ring. But together we will shoulder the burden that is laid on us.'
He came and laid his hand on Frodo's shoulder. 'But we must do
something soon,' he said. 'The Enemy is moving.'

The same curious idea is still present here that Gandalf discovered the
letters of fire on Bilbo's ring, and knew that it was the Ruling Ring, before
Bilbo left but without telling him (i.e. without Bilbo's knowledge that
this test had been made): see p. 266 and note 38. - Gandalf's remark
(p. 321) 'I think indeed that Gollum is the beginning of our present
troubles', retained from the second version, now perhaps becomes less

obscure (see p. 271, note 33): 'I have been to the Land of Mordor. I fear
that the Enemy is searching.'

Chapter III: 'Delays are Dangerous'.

The new text of the third chapter, now given this title (which had been