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Fr.219.
UT/3:5. The Battles of the Fords of Isen.
Saruman's eastern force came down with unexpected speed; it was much smaller than the western force, but more dangerous. In its van were some Dunlending horse-men and a great pack of the dreadful Orcish wolfriders, feared by horses (Note 5). Behind them came two battalions of the fierce Uruks, heavily armed but trained to move at great speed for many miles. The horsemen and wolfriders fell on the horse-herds and picketed horses and slew or dispersed them. The gar-rison of the east bank surprised by the sudden assault of the massed Uruks, was swept away, and the Riders that had just crossed from the west were caught still in disarray, and though they fought desperately they were driven from the Fords along the line of the Isen with the Uruks in pursuit.
As soon as the enemy had gained possession of the eastern end of the Fords there appeared a company of men or Orc-men (evidently dispatched for the purpose), ferocious, mail-clad, and armed with axes. They hastened to the eyot and assailed it from both sides. At the same time Grimbold on the west bank was attacked by Saruman's forces on that side of the Isen. As he looked eastward, dismayed by the sounds of battle and the hideous Orc-cries of victory, he saw the axe-men driving Theodred's men from the shores of the eyot towards the low knoll in its centre, and he heard Theodred's great voice crying To me, Eorlingas! At once Grimbold, taking a few men that stood near him, ran back to the eyot. So fierce was his onset from the rear of the attackers that Grimbold, a man of great strength and stature, clove his way through, till with two others he reached Theodred standing at bay on the knoll. Too late. As he came to his side Theodred fell, hewn down by a great Orc-man. Grimbold slew him and stood over the body of Theodred, thinking him dead; and there he would himself soon have died, but for the coming of Elfhelm.
Elfhelm had been riding in haste along the horse-road from Edoras, leading four companies in answer to Thйodred's sum-mons; he was expecting battle, but not yet for some days. But near the junction of the horse-road with the road down from the Deeping his outriders on the right flank reported that two wolfriders had been seen abroad on the fields. Sensing that things were amiss, he did not turn aside to Helm's Deep for the night as he had intended but rode with all speed towards the Fords. The horse-road turned north-west after its meeting with the Deeping-road, but again bent sharply west when level with the Fords, which it approached by a straight path of some two miles long. Elfhelm thus heard and saw nothing of the fighting be-tween the retreating garrison and the Uruks south of the Fords. The sun had sunk and light was failing when he drew near the last bend in the road, and there encountered some horses run-ning wild and a few fugitives who told him of the disaster. Though his men and horses were now weary he rode as fast as he could along the straight, and as he came in sight of the east bank he ordered his companies to charge.
It was the turn of the Isengarders to be surprised. They heard the thunder of hooves, and saw coming like black shadows against the darkening East a great host (as it seemed) with Elfhelm at its head, and beside him a white standard borne as a guide to those that followed. Few stood their ground. Most fled northwards, pursued by two of Elfhelm's companies. The others he dismounted to guard the east bank, but at once with the men of his own company rushed to the eyot. The axemen were now caught between the surviving defenders and the on-slaught of Elfhelm, with both banks still held by the Rohirrim. They fought on, but before the end were slain to a man. Elf-helm himself, however, sprang up towards the knoll; and there he found Grimbold fighting two great axemen for possession of Thйodred's body. One Elfhelm at once slew, and the other fell before Grimbold.
They stooped then to lift the body, and found that Thйodred still breathed; but he lived only long enough to speak his last words: Let me lie here – to keep the Fords till Йomer comes! Night fell. A harsh horn sounded, and then all was silent. The attack on the west bank ceased, and the enemy there faded away into the dark. The Rohirrim held the Fords of Isen; but their losses were heavy, not least in horses; the King's son was dead, and they were leaderless, and did not know what might yet befall.
When after a cold and sleepless night the grey light returned there was no sign of the Isengarders, save those many that they left dead upon the field. Wolves were howling far off, waiting for the living men to depart. Many men scattered by the sudden assault of the Isengarders began to return, some still mounted, some leading horses recaptured. Later in the morning most of Thйodred's Riders that had been driven south down the river by a battalion of black Uruks came back battle-worn but in good order. They had a like tale to tell. They came to a stand on a low hill and prepared to defend. Though they had drawn off part of the attacking force of Isengard, retreat south unprovisioned was in the end hopeless. The Uruks had resisted any attempt to burst eastwards, and were driving them towards the now hostile country of the Dunlendish "west-march." But as the Riders prepared to resist their assault, though it was now full night, a horn was sounded; and soon they discovered that the enemy had gone. They had too few horses to attempt any pursuit, or even to act as scouts, so far as that would have availed by night. After some time they began cautiously to advance north again, but met no opposition. They thought that the Uruks had gone back to reinforce their hold on the Fords, and expected there to meet in battle again, and they wondered much to find the Rohirrim in command. It was not till later that they discovered whither the Uruks had gone.
So ended the First Battle of the Fords of Isen.

Note 5. They were very swift and skilled in avoiding ordered men in close array, being used mostly to destroy isolated groups or to hunt down fugitives; but at need they would pass with reckless ferocity through any gaps hi companies of horsemen, slashing at the bellies of the horses. [Author's note.]
Note 10. This /vanguard of remnants of Saruman’s host/ was the great host that Meriadoc saw leaving Isengard, as he related afterwards to Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli (The Two Towers III 9): "I saw the enemy go: endless lines of marching Orcs; and troops of them mounted on great wolves. And there were battal-ions of Men, too.
Note 11. They /men of Saruman’s hosts/ were without body-armour, having only among them a few hauberks gained by theft or in loot. The Rohirrim had the advan-tage in being supplied by the metal-workers of Gondor. In Isengard as yet only the heavy and clumsy mail of the Orcs was made, by them for their own uses. [Author's note.]

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Fr.220.
UT/4:1. The Druedain.
The Folk of Haleth called them /drughu/ by the name drug, that being a word of their own language. To the eyes of Elves and other Men they were unlovely in looks: they were stumpy (some four foot high) but very broad, with heavy buttocks and short thick legs; their wide faces had deep-set eyes with heavy brows, and flat noses, and grew no hair below their eyebrows, except in a few men (who were proud of the distinction) a small tail of black hair in the midst of the chin. Their features were usually impassive, the most mobile being their wide mouths; and the movement of their wary eyes could not be observed save from close at hand for they were so black that the pupils could not be distinguished, but in anger they glowed red. Their voices were deep and guttural, but their laughter was a surprise: it was rich and rolling, and set all who heard it. Elves or Men, laughing too for its pure merriment untainted by scorn or malice (5). In peace they often laughed at work or play when other Men might sing.
But they could be relentless enemies, and when once aroused their red wrath was slow to cool, though it showed no sign save light in their eyes; for they fought in silence and did not exult -victory, not even over Orcs, the only creatures for whom their hatred was implacable.
The Eldar called them Druedain, admitting them to the rank of Atani (6), for they were much loved while they lasted. Alas! they were not long-lived, and were ever few in number, their losses were heavy in their feud with the Orcs, who turned their hatred and delighted to capture them and torture them. When the victories of Morgoth destroyed all the realms and strongholds of Elves and Men in Beleriand, it is said that they had dwindled to a few families, mostly of women and children, some of whom came to the last refuges at the Mouth Sirion.
In their earlier days they had been of great service to those among whom they dwelt, and they were much sought after; though few would ever leave the land of the Folk of Haleth. They had a marvellous skill as trackers of all living creatures and they taught to their friends what they could of their craft; but their pupils did not equal them, for the Druedain used their scent, like hounds save that they were also keen-eyed. They boasted that they could smell an Orc to windward further away than other Men could see them, and could follow its scent for weeks except through running water. Their knowledge of all growing things was almost equal to that of the Elves (though untaught by them); and it is said that if they removed to a new country they knew within a short time all things that grew there, great or minute, and gave names to those that were new to them, discerning those that were poisonous, or useful as food.
Sometimes these imaes were strange and fantastic, or even fearful: among the grim jests to which they put their skill was the making of Orc-figures which they set at the borders of the land, shaped as if fleeing from it, shrieking in terror. They made also images of themselves and placed them at the entrances to tracks or at turnings of woodland paths. These they called "watch-stones;" of which the most notable were set near the Crossings of Teiglin, each representing a Druadan, larger than the life, squatting heavily upon a dead Orc. These figures served not merely as insults to their enemies; for the Orcs feared them and believed them to be filled with the malice of the Oghor-hai (for so they named the Druedain), and able to hold communication with them.
/.../ Marauding Orcs carried with them brimstone or some other devilish stuff that was quickly inflamed and not quenched with water./further its called Orc-fire/
Note 4. After the fashion in which in the Third Age the Men and Hobbits of Bree lived together; though there was no kinship between the Drug-folk and the Hobbits. [Author's note.]
Note 5. To the unfriendly who, not knowing them well, declared that Mor-goth must have bred the Orcs from such a stock the Eldar an-swered: "Doubtless Morgoth, since he can make no living thing, bred Orcs from various kinds of Men, but the Druedain must have escaped his Shadow; for their laughter and the laughter of Orcs are as different as is the light of Aman from the darkness of Angband." But some thought, nonetheless, that there had been a remote kinship, which accounted for their special enmity. Orcs and Drugs each regarded the other as renegades. [Author's note.]
In The Silmarillion the Orcs are said to have been bred by Melkor from captured Elves in the beginning of their days (p. 50; cf. pp. 93-4); but this was only one of several diverse speculations on the origin of the Orcs. It may be noted that in The Return of the King V 5 a laughter of Ghan-buri-Ghan is described: "At that old Ghan made a curious gurgling noise, and it seemed that he was laughing." He is described as having a scanty beard that "straggled on his lumpy chin like dry moss," and dark eyes that showed nothing.
Note 6. It is stated in isolated notes that their own name for themselves was Drughu (in which the gh represents a spirantal sound). This name adopted into Sindarin in Beleriand became Dru (plurals Druin and Druath), but when the Eldar discovered that the Dru-folk were steadfast enemies of Morgoth, and especially of the Orcs, the "title" adan was added, and they were called Druedain (singular Druadan), to mark both their humanity and friendship with the Eldar, and their racial difference from the people of the Three Houses of the Edain.
Note 9. They had a law against the use of all poisons for the hurt of any living creatures, even those who had done them injury ы save only Orcs, whose poisoned darts they countered with others more deadly. [Author's note.] Elfhelm told Meriadoc Brandybuck that the Wild Men used poisoned arrows (The Return of the King V 5), and the same was believed of them by the inhabitants of Enedwaith in the Second Age (p. 400).
Note 14. Once in The Lord of the Rings the term "Woses" is used, when Elfhelm said to Meriadoc Brandybuck: "You hear the Woses, the Wild Men of the Woods." Wose is a modernization (in this case, the form that the word would have had now if it still existed in the language) of an Anglo-Saxon word waesa, which is actually found only in the compound wudu-waesa "wild man of the woods." (Saeros the Elf of Doriath called Turin a "woodwose," p. 85 above The word survived long in English and was eventually corrupted into "wood-house.") The actual word employed by the Rohirrim (of which "wose" is a translation, according to the method employed throughout) is once mentioned: rog, plural rogin.
It seems that the term "Pukel-men" (again a translation: it represents Anglo-Saxon pucel "goblin, demon," a relative of the word puca from which Puck is derived) was only used in Rohan of the images of Dunharrow.

Fr.221.
UT/4:3. The Palantiri.
Note 7. /.../ The Council seems to have been unaware, since for many years Isengard had been closely guarded, of what went on within its Ring. The use, and possibly special breeding, of Orcs was kept secret, and cannot have begun much before 2990 at earliest. The Orc-troops seem never to have been used beyond the territory of Isengard before the attack on Rohan. Had the Council known of this they would, of course, at once have realized that Saruman had become evil. [Author's note.]

Fr.222 a-b
a. The Lord of the Rings. Appendix A. I. The Numenorean Kings. (iii). Eriador, Arnor and the Heirs of Isuildur. The North-kingdom and the Dъnedain.
‘It was in the beginning of the reign of Malvegil of Arthedain that evil came to Arnor. For at that time the realm of Angmar arose in the North beyond the Ettenmoors. Its lands lay on both sides of the Mountains, and there were gathered many evil men, and Orcs, and other fell creatures.
b. The Lord of the Rings. Appendix A. I. The Numenorean Kings. (iv). Gondor and the Heirs of Anarion.
Then /1975TA/ so utterly was Angmar defeated /by Rivendell Elves and partly Arnor/ that not a man nor an orc of that realm remained west of the Mountains.
Fr.223
The Lord of the Rings. Appendix A. I. The Numenorean Kings. Gondor and the Heirs of Anarion. The Stewards.
In the last years of Denethor I the race of uruks, black orcs of great strength, first appeared out of Mordor, and in 2475 they swept across Ithilien and took Osgiliath.

Fr.224
The Lord of the Rings. Appendix A. II. The House of Eorl.
At that time /c.2995/ Sauron had arisen again, and the shadow of Mordor reached out to Rohan. Orcs began to raid in the eastern regions and slay or steal horses. Others also came down from the Misty Mountains, many being great uruks in the service of Saruman, though it was long before that was suspected. Йomund's chief charge lay in the east marches; and he was a great lover of horses and hater of Orcs. If news came of a raid he would often ride against them in hot anger, unwarily and with few men. Thus it came about that he was slain in 3002.

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Fr.225
The Lord of the Rings. Appendix A. III. Durin’s Folk.
When Thror came to Moria the Gate was open. Nar begged him to beware, but he took no heed of him, and walked proudly in as an heir that returns. But he did not come back. Nбr stayed near by for many days in hiding. One day he heard a loud shout and the blare of a horn, and a body was flung out on the steps. Fearing that it was Thrуr, he began to creep near, but there came a voice from within the gate:
'Come on, beardling! We can see you. But there is no need to be afraid today. We need you as a messenger.'
Then Nбr came up, and found that it was indeed the body of Thrуr, but the head was severed and lay face downwards. As he knelt there, he heard orc-laughter in the shadows, and the voice said:
'If beggars will not wait at the door, but sneak in to try thieving, that is what we do to them. If any of your people poke their foul beards in here again, they will fare the same. Go and tell them so! But if his family wish to know who is now king here, the name is written on his face. I wrote it! I killed him! I am the master! '
Then Nбr turned the head and saw branded on the brow in Dwarf-runes so that he could read it the name AZOG. That name was branded in his heart and in the hearts of all the Dwarves afterwards. Nбr stooped to take the head, but the voice of Azog /Father of Bolg/ said:
'Drop it! Be off! Here's your fee, beggar-beard.' A small bag struck him. It held a few coins of little worth.
Weeping, Nбr fled down the Silverlode; but he looked back once and saw that Orcs had come from the gate and were hacking up the body and flinging the pieces to the black crows. Such was the tale that Nбr brought back to Thrбin; and when he had wept and torn his beard he fell silent. Seven days he sat and said no word. Then he stood up and said: 'This cannot be borne!' That was the beginning of the War of the Dwarves and the Orcs, which was long and deadly, and fought for the most part in deep places beneath the earth.
Thrбin at once sent messengers bearing the tale, north, east, and west; but it was three years before the Dwarves had mustered their strength. Durin's Folk gathered all their host, and they were joined by great forces sent from the Houses of other Fathers; for this dishonour to the heir of the Eldest of their race filled them with wrath. When all was ready they assailed and sacked one by one all the strongholds of the Orcs that they could from Gundabad to the Gladden. Both sides were pitiless, and there was death and cruel deeds by dark and by light. But the Dwarves had the victory through their strength, and their matchless weapons, and the fire of their anger, as they hunted for Azog in every den under mountain.
At last all the Orcs that fled before them were gathered in Moria, and the Dwarf-host in pursuit came to Azanulbizar. That was a great vale that lay between the arms of the mountains about the lake of Kheled-zвram and had been of old part of the kingdom of Khazad-dыm. When the Dwarves saw the gate of their ancient mansions upon the hill-side they sent up a great shout like thunder in the valley. But a great host of foes was arrayed on the slopes above them, and out of the gates poured a multitude of Orcs that had been held back by Azog for the last need.
At first fortune was against the Dwarves; for it was a dark day of winter without sun, and the Orcs did not waver, and they outnumbered their enemies, and had the higher ground. So began the Battle of Azanulbizar (or Nanduhirion in the Elvish tongue), at the memory of which the Orcs still shudder and the Dwarves weep. The first assault of the vanguard led by Thrбin was thrown back with loss, and Thrбin was driven into a wood of great trees that then still grew not far from Kheled-zвram. There Frerin his son fell, and Fundin his kinsman, and many others, and both Thrбin and Thorin were wounded. Elsewhere the battle swayed to and fro with great slaughter, until at last the people of the Iron Hills turned the day. Coming late and fresh to the field the mailed warriors of Nбin, Grуr's son, drove through the Orcs to the very threshold of Moria, crying 'Azog! Azog! ' as they hewed down with their mattocks all who stood in their way.
Then Nбin stood before the Gate and cried with a great voice: 'Azog! If you are in come out! Or is the play in the valley too rough?'
Thereupon Azog came forth, and he was a great Orc with a huge iron-clad head, and yet agile and strong. With him came many like him, the fighters of his guard, and as they engaged Nбin's company he turned to Nбin, and said:
'What? Yet another beggar at my doors? Must I brand you too?' With that he rushed at Nбin and they fought. But Nбin was half blind with rage, and also very weary with battle, whereas Azog was fresh and fell and full of guile. Soon Nбin made a great stroke with all his strength that remained, but Azog darted aside and kicked Nбin's leg, so that the mattock splintered on the stone where he had stood, but Nбin stumbled forward. Then Azog with a swift swing hewed his neck. His mail-collar withstood the edge, but so heavy was the blow that Nбin's neck was broken and he fell.
Then Azog laughed, and he lifted up his head to let forth a great yell of triumph; but the cry died in his throat. For he saw that all his host in the valley was in a rout, and the Dwarves went this way and that slaying as they would, and those that could escape from them were flying south, shrieking as they ran. And hard by all the soldiers of his guard lay dead. He turned and fled back towards the Gate.
Up the steps after him leaped a Dwarf with a red axe. It was Dбin Ironfoot, Nбin's son. Right before the doors he caught Azog, and there he slew him, and hewed off his head. That was held a great feat, for Dбin was then only a stripling in the reckoning of the Dwarves. But long life and many battles lay before him, until old but unbowed he fell at last in the War of the Ring. Yet hardy and full of wrath as he was, it is said that when he came down from the Gate he looked grey in the face, as one who has felt great fear.
When at last the battle was won the Dwarves that were left gathered in Azanulbizar. They took the head of Azog and thrust into its mouth the purse of small money, and then they set it on a stake. But no feast nor song was there that night; for their dead were beyond the count of grief. Barely half of their number, it is said, could still stand or had hope of healing.
/.../
Little is known of what happened to him /Thrain/ afterwards. It would now seem that as soon as he was abroad with few companions he was hunted by the emissaries of Sauron. Wolves pursued him, Orcs waylaid him, evil birds shadowed his path, and the more he strove to go north the more misfortunes opposed him.

Fr.226
The Lord of the Rings. Appendix B. The Tale of Years.
/2475 Osgiliath is taken by new Orc-breed/
2480 Orcs begin to make secret strongholds in the Misty Mountains so as to bar all the passes into Eriador. Sauron begins to people Moria with his creatures.
2509 Celebrian, journeying to Lorien, is waylaid in the Redhorn Pass, and receives a poisoned wound.
2510 Celebrian departs over Sea. -Orcs and Easterlings overrun Calenardhon. Eorl the Young wi ns the victory of the Field of Celebrant. The Rohirrim settle in Calenardhon.
2901 Most of the remaining inhabitants of Ithilien desert it owing to the attacks of Uruks of Mordor. The secret refuge of Henneth Annыn is built.

Fr.227
The Lord of the Rings. Appendix E II. Writing.
The Orcs, and some Dwarves, are said to have used a back or uvular r, a sound which the Eldar found distasteful. RH represents a voiceless r (usually derived from older initial sr-). It was written hr in Quenya. Cf. L.
/.../ SH, occurring in Dwarvish and Orkish, represents sounds similar to sh in English.
gh in the Black Speech and Orkish represents a 'back spirant' (related to g as dh to d); as in ghвsh and agh.
/.../ The Cirth in their older and simpler form spread eastward in the Second Age, and became known to many peoples, to Men and Dwarves, and even to Orcs, all of whom altered them to suit their purposes and according to their skill or lack of it.

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Fr.228a-m
/The main sketch of facts from Silmarillion-1977/
a. Silmarillion-1977. Valaquenta. Of the Valar.
Orome is a mighty lord. /.../ Orome loved the lands of Middle-earth, and he left them unwillingly and came last to Valinor; and often of old he passed back east over the mountains and returned with his host to the hills and the plains. He is a hunter of monsters and fell beasts, and he delights in horses and in hounds; and all trees he loves, for which reason he is called Aldaron, and by the Sindar Tauron, the Lord of Forests. Nahar is the name of his horse, white in the sun, and shining silver at night. The Valaroma is the name of his great horn, the sound of which is like the upgoing of the Sun in scarlet, or the sheer lightning cleaving the clouds. Above all the horns of his host it was heard in the woods that Yavanna brought forth in Valinor; for there Orome would train his folk and his beasts for the pursuit of the evil creatures of Melkor.
b. Silmarillion-1977. Valaquenta. Of the Maiar.
Yet so great was the power of his /Melkor’s/ uprising that in ages forgotten he contended with Manwe and all the Valar, and through long years in Arda held dominion over most of the lands of the Earth. But he was not alone. For of the Maiar many were drawn to his splendour in the days of his greatness, and remained in that allegiance down into his darkness; and others he corrupted afterwards to his service with lies and treacherous gifts. Dreadful among these spirits were the Valaraukar, the scourges of fire that in Middle-earth were called the Balrogs, demons of terror.
Among those of his servants that have names the greatest was that spirit whom the Eldar called Sauron, or Gorthaur the Cruel. In his beginning he was of the Maiar of Aule, and he remained mighty in the lore of that people. In all the deeds of Melkor the Morgoth upon Arda, in his vast works and in the deceits of his cunning, Sauron had a part, and was only less evil than his master in that for long he served another and not himself. But in after years he rose like a shadow of Morgoth and a ghost of his malice, and walked behind him on the same ruinous path down into the Void.
c. Silmarillion-1977. Quenta Silmarillion /Silmarillion/. 1. Of the Beginning of Days.
/After Lamps’ construction, during the «Almaren period»/. And Melkor knew of an that was done, for even then he had secret friends and spies among the Maiar whom he had converted to his cause; and far off in the darkness he was filled with hatred, being jealous of the work of his peers, whom he desired to make subject to himself. Therefore he gathered to himself spirits out of the halls of Ea that he had perverted to his service, and he deemed himself strong. And seeing now his time he drew near again to Arda, and looked down upon it, and the beauty of the Earth in its Spring filled him the more with hate.
Now therefore the Valar were gathered upon Almaren, fearing no evil, and because of the light of Illuin they did not perceive the shadow in the north that was cast from afar by Melkor; for he was grown dark as the Night of the Void. /.../ and Melkor deemed that his hour had come. And he passed therefore over the Walls of the Night with his host, and came to Middle-earth far in the north; and the Valar were not aware of him.
Now Melkor began the delving and building of a vast fortress, deep under Earth, beneath dark mountains where the beams of Illuin were cold and dim. That stronghold was named Utumno. And though the Valar knew naught of it as yet, nonetheless the evil of Melkor and the blight of his hatred flowed out thence, and the Spring of Arda was marred.
d. Silmarillion-1977. Quenta Silmarillion /Silmarillion/. 3. Of the Coming of the Elves and the Captivity of Melkor.
/Before the Awakening of Elves/
But in the north Melkor built his strength, and he slept not, but watched, and laboured; and the evil things that he had perverted walked abroad, and the dark and slumbering woods were haunted by monsters and shapes of dread. And in Utumno he gathered his demons about him, those spirits who first adhered to him in the days of his splendour, and became most like him in his corruption: their hearts were of fire, but they were cloaked in darkness, and terror went before them; they had whips of flame. Balrogs they were named in Middle-earth in later days. And in that dark time Melkor bred many other monsters of divers shapes and kinds that long troubled the world; and his realm spread now ever southward over Middle-earth.
And Melkor made also a fortress and armoury not far from the north-western shores of the sea, to resist any assault that might come from Aman. That stronghold was commanded by Sauron, lieutenant of Melkor; and it was named Angband.
e. Silmarillion-1977. Quenta Silmarillion /Silmarillion/. 3. Of the Coming of the Elves and the Captivity of Melkor.
/After Elves’ Awakening, before Battle of Powers and elves’ march to the West, long before Men’ awakening; note that in The Silmarillion Men’ awakening takes part with first Sunrise, i.e. soon after Feanor’s death /
Yet many of the Quendi were filled with dread at his /Orome’s/ coming; and this was the doing of Melkor. For by after-knowledge the wise declare that Melkor, ever watchful, was first aware of the awakening of the Quendi, and sent shadows and evil spirits to spy upon them and waylay them. So it came to pass, some years ere the coming of Orome, that if any of the Elves strayed far abroad, alone or few together, they would often vanish, and never return; and the Quendi said that the Hunter had caught them, and they were afraid. And indeed the most ancient songs of the Elves, of which echoes are remembered still in the West, tell of the shadow-shapes that walked in the hills above Cuivienen, or would pass suddenly over the stars; and of the dark Rider upon his wild horse that pursued those that wandered to take them and devour them. Now Melkor greatly hated and feared the riding of Orome, and either he sent indeed his dark servants as riders, or he set lying whispers abroad, for the purpose that the Quendi should shun Orome, if ever they should meet.
Thus it was that when Nahar neighed and Orome indeed came among them, some of the Quendi hid themselves, and some fled and were lost. But those that had courage, and stayed, perceived swiftly that the Great Rider was no shape out of darkness; for the light of Aman was in his face, and all the noblest of the Elves were drawn towards it.
But of those unhappy ones who were ensnared by Melkor little is known of a certainty. For who of the living has descended into the pits of Utumno, or has explored the darkness of the counsels of Melkor? Yet this is held true by the wise of Eressea /*/, that all those of the Quendi who came into the hands of Melkor, ere Utumno was broken, were put there in prison, and by slow arts of cruelty were corrupted and enslaved; and thus did Melkor breed the hideous race of the Orcs in envy and mockery of the Elves, of whom they were afterwards the bitterest foes. For the Orcs had life and multiplied after the manner of the Children of Iluvatar; and naught that had life of its own, nor the semblance of life, could ever Melkor make since his rebellion in the Ainulindale before the Beginning: so say the wise. And deep in their dark hearts the Orcs loathed the Master whom they served in fear, the maker only of their misery. This it may be was the vilest deed of Melkor, and the most hateful to Iluvatar.
/*Note that «held true» means not neccesary «they held it, and it is true», but more like «held to be true», so it’s opinion of the wise of Eressea, not necessarily of Simarillion’s author himself/.
f. Silmarillion-1977. Quenta Silmarillion /Silmarillion/. 3. Of the Coming of the Elves and the Captivity of Melkor.
/Battle of Powers and its aftermath - the Elves’ march to the West. Elves’ partition/.
Nonetheless the Valar did not discover all the mighty vaults and caverns hidden with deceit far under the fortresses of Angband and Utumno. Many evil things still lingered there, and others were dispersed and fled into the dark and roamed in the waste places of the world, awaiting a more evil hour; and Sauron they did not find.
/.../ Then befell the first sundering of the Elves. For the kindred of Ingwe, and the most part of the kindreds of Finwe and Elwe, were swayed by the words of their lords, and were willing to depart and follow Orome; and these were known ever after as the Eldar, by the name that Orome gave to the Elves in the beginning, in their own tongue. But many refused the summons, preferring the starlight and the wide spaces of Middle-earth to the rumour of the Trees; and these are the Avari, the Unwilling, and they were sundered in that time from the Eldar, and met never again until many ages were past.
/.../ These were the three kindreds of the Eldalie, who passing at length into the uttermost West in the days of the Trees are called the Calaquendi, Elves of the Light. But others of the Eldar there were who set out indeed upon the westward march, but became lost upon the long road, or turned aside, or lingered on the shores of Middle-earth; and these were for the most part of the kindred of the Teleri, as is told hereafter. They dwelt by the sea or wandered in the woods and mountains of the world, yet their hearts were turned towards the West. Those Elves the Calaquendi call the +manyar, since they came never to the land of Aman and the Blessed Realm; but the +manyar and the Avari alike they call the Moriquendi, Elves of the Darkness, for they never beheld the Light that was before the Sun and Moon.
g. Silmarillion-1977. Quenta Silmarillion /Silmarillion/. 10. Of the Sindar.
/At the third age of Chaining of Melkor, before its end/. And ere long the evil creatures came even to Beleriand, over passes in the mountains, or up from the south through the dark forests. Wolves there were, or creatures that walked in wolf-shapes, and other fell beings of shadow; and among them were the Orcs, who afterwards wrought ruin in Beleriand: but they were yet few and wary, and did but smell out the ways of the land, awaiting the return of their lord. Whence they came, or what they were, the Elves knew not then, thinking them perhaps to be Avari who had become evil and savage in the wild; in which they guessed all too near, it is said.
h. Silmarillion-1977. Quenta Silmarillion /Silmarillion/. 9. Of the Flight of the Noldor.
/After Melkor’s quarrel with Ungoliant/. And thus the fear of Yavanna that the Silmarils would be swallowed up and fall into nothingness did not come to pass; but they remained in the power of Morgoth. And he being freed gathered again all his servants that he could find, and came to the ruins of Angband. There he delved anew his vast vaults and dungeons, and above their gates he reared the threefold peaks of Thangorodrim, and a great reek of dark smoke was ever wreathed about them. There countless became the hosts of his beasts and his demons, and the race of the Orcs, bred long before, grew and multiplied in the bowels of the earth. Dark now fell the shadow on Beleriand, as is told hereafter, but in Angband Morgoth forged for himself a great crown of iron, and he called himself King of the World.

Moscow

i. Silmarillion-1977. Quenta Silmarillion /Silmarillion/. 10. Of the Sindar.
/After return of Melkor/. Now the Orcs that multiplied in the darkness of the earth grew strong and fell, and their dark lord filled them with a lust of rain and death; and they issued from Angband's gates under the clouds that Morgoth sent forth, and passed silently into the highlands of the north. Thence on a sudden a great army came into Beleriand and assailed King Thingol.
j. Silmarillion-1977. Quenta Silmarillion /Silmarillion/. 24. Of the Voyage of Earendil and the War of Wrath.
The meeting of the hosts of the West and of the North is named the Great Battle, and the War of Wrath. There was marshalled the whole power of the Throne of Morgoth, and it had become great beyond count, so that Anfauglith could not contain it; and all the North was aflame with war.
But it availed him not. The Balrogs were destroyed, save some few that fled and hid themselves in caverns inaccessible at the roots of the earth; and the uncounted legions of the Orcs perished like straw in a great fire, or were swept like shrivelled leaves before a burning wind. Few remained to trouble the world for long years after. And such few as were left of the three houses of the Elf-friends, Fathers of Men, fought upon the part of the Valar /.../. But a great part of the sons of Men, whether of the people of Uldor or others new-come out of the east, marched with the Enemy; and the Elves do not forget it.
Then, seeing that his hosts were overthrown and his power dispersed, Morgoth quailed, and he dared not to come forth himself. But he loosed upon his foes the last desperate assault that he had prepared, and out of the pits of Angband there issued the winged dragons, that had not before been seen; and so sudden and ruinous was the onset of that dreadful fleet that the host of the Valar was driven back, for the coming of the dragons was with great thunder, and lightning, and a tempest of fire.
But Earendil came, shining with white flame, and about Vingilot were gathered all the great birds of heaven and Thorondor was their captain, and there was battle in the air all the day and through a dark night of doubt. Before the rising of the sun Earendil slew Ancalagon the Black, the mightiest of the dragon-host, and cast him from the sky; and he fell upon the towers of Thangorodrim, and they were broken in his ruin. Then the sun rose, and the host of the Valar prevailed, and well-nigh all the dragons were destroyed; and all the pits of Morgoth were broken and unroofed, and the might of the Valar descended into the deeps of the earth. There Morgoth stood at last at bay, and yet unvaliant. He fled into the deepest of his mines, and sued for peace and pardon; but his feet were hewn from under him, and he was hurled upon his face. Then he was bound with the chain Angainor which he had worn aforetime, and his iron crown they beat into a collar for his neck, and his head was bowed upon his knees.
k. Silmarillion-1977. Akallabeth. The Downfall of Numenor.
And after the victory of the Lords of the West those of the evil Men who were not destroyed fled back into the east, where many of their race were still wandering in the unharvested lands, wild and lawless, refusing alike the summons of the Valar and of Morgoth. And the evil Men came among them, and cast over them a shadow of fear, and they took them for kings. Then the Valar forsook for a time the Men of Middle-earth who had refused their summons and had taken the friends of Morgoth to be their masters; and Men dwelt in darkness and were troubled by many evil things that Morgoth had devised in the days of his dominion: demons, and dragons, and misshapen beasts, and the unclean Orcs that are mockeries of the Children of Iluvatar. And the lot of Men was unhappy.
l. Silmarillion-1977. Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age.
/III mill. of SA/.
Now Sauron's lust and pride increased, until he knew no bounds, and he determined to make himself master of all things in Middle-earth, and to destroy the Elves, and to compass, if he might, the downfall of Numenor. He brooked no freedom nor any rivalry, and he named himself Lord of the Earth. A mask he still could wear so that if he wished he might deceive the eyes of Men, seeming to them wise and fair. But he ruled rather by force and fear, if they might avail; and those who perceived his shadow spreading over the world called him the Dark Lord and named him the Enemy; and he gathered again under his government all the evil things of the days of Morgoth that remained on earth or beneath it, and the Orcs were at his command and multiplied like flies. Thus the Black Years began, which the Elves call the Days of Flight. In that time many of the Elves of Middle-earth fled to Lindon and thence over the seas never to return; and many were destroyed by Sauron and his servants. But in Lindon Gil-galad still maintained his power, and Sauron dared not as yet to pass the Mountains of Ered Luin nor to assail the Havens; and Gil-galad was aided by the Numenoreans. Elsewhere Sauron reigned, and those who would be free took refuge in the fastnesses of wood and mountain, and ever fear pursued them. In the east and south well nigh all Men were under his dominion, and they grew strong in those days and built many towns and walls of stone, and they were numerous and fierce in war and aimed with iron. To them Sauron was both king and god; and they feared him exceedingly, for he surrounded his abode with fire.
m. Silmarillion-1977. Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age.
Many things of beauty and wonder remained on earth in that time /TA/, and many things also of evil and dread: Orcs there were and trolls and dragons and fell beasts, and strange creatures old and wise in the woods whose names are forgotten; Dwarves still laboured in the hills and wrought with patient craft works of metal and stone that none now can rival. But the Dominion of Men was preparing and all things were changing, until at last the Dark Lord arose in Mirkwood again.


Fr.229
Silmarillion-1977. Quenta Silmarillion /Silmarillion/. 5. Of Eldamar and the Princes of the Eldalie.
For all living things that are or have been in the Kingdom of Arda, save only the fell and evil creatures of Melkor, lived then in the land of Aman; and there also were many other creatures that have not been seen upon Middle-earth, and perhaps never now shall be, since the fashion of the world was changed.
Fr.230
Silmarillion-1977. Quenta Silmarillion /Silmarillion/. 13. Of the Return of the Noldor.
Then in defiance of the Orcs, who cowered still in the dark vaults beneath the earth, he /Fingon/ took his harp and sang...
Fr.231
Silmarillion-1977. Quenta Silmarillion /Silmarillion/. 17. Of the Coming of Men into the West.
/A man, hostile to Elves, says at the Men’ counsil/:
Let the Orcs have the realm that is theirs, and we will have ours. There is room in the world, if the Eldar will let us be!'
Fr.232
Silmarillion-1977. Quenta Silmarillion /Silmarillion/. 18. Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin.
The valour of the Elves and the Men of the North, which neither Orc nor Balrog could yet overcome.
Fr.233
Silmarillion-1977. Quenta Silmarillion /Silmarillion/. 19. Of Beren and Luthien.
The Orcs did at times ride upon great wolves.

Fr.234
Silmarillion-1977. Quenta Silmarillion /Silmarillion/. 21. Of Turin Turambar.
and their hands were turned against all who came in their path Elves and Men and Orcs.

Fr.235
Silmarillion-1977. Quenta Silmarillion /Silmarillion/. 21. Of Turin Turambar.
'I ask then for a sword of worth,' said Beleg; 'for the Orcs come now too thick and close for a bow only, and such blade as I have is no match for their armour.'

Moscow

Fr.236
Silmarillion-1977. Quenta Silmarillion /Silmarillion/. 21. Of Turin Turambar.
For Mim came of Dwarves that were banished in ancient days from the great Dwarf-cities of the east, and long before the return of Morgoth they wandered westward into Beleriand; but they became diminished in stature and in smith-craft, and they took to lives of stealth, walking with bowed shoulders and furtive steps. Before the Dwarves of Nogrod and Belegost came west over the mountains the Elves of Beleriand knew not what these others were, and they hunted them, and slew them; but afterwards they let them alone, and they were called Noegyth Nibin, the Petty-Dwarves, in the Sindarin tongue. They loved none but themselves, and if they feared and hated the Orcs, they hated the Eldar no less, and the Exiles most of all; for the Noldor, they said, had stolen their lands and their homes.
Fr.237
Silmarillion-1977. Quenta Silmarillion /Silmarillion/. 21. Of Turin Turambar.
In the waning of the year Mim the Dwarf and Ibun his son went out from Bar-en-Danwedh to gather roots in the wild for their winter store; and they were taken captive by Orcs. Then for a second time Mim promised to guide his enemies by the secret paths to his home on Amon Rudh; but yet he sought to delay the fulfilment of his promise, and demanded that Gorthol should not be slain. Then the Orc-captain laughed, and he said to Mim: 'Assuredly Turin son of Hurin shall not be slain.'
Fr.238
Silmarillion-1977. Quenta Silmarillion /Silmarillion/. 21. Of Turin Turambar.
A great company of Orcs passing northwards, and wolves went with them; and among them was a Man, whose hands were chained, and they drove him onward with whips. /.../ /They came/ on the high slopes that ran down to the barren dunes of Anfauglith. There within sight of the peaks of Thangorodrim the Orcs made their encampment in a bare dell as the light of day was failing, and setting wolf-sentinels all about they fell to carousing.

Fr.239
Silmarillion-1977. Quenta Silmarillion /Silmarillion/. 21. Of Turin Turambar.
/495-496 y. of F.A./ From their far journeys they brought tidings of a great mustering of Orcs and evil creatures under the eaves of Ered Wethrin and in the Pass of Sirion.

Fr.240
Silmarillion-1977. Quenta Silmarillion /Silmarillion/. 23. Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin.
Now when Tuor was sixteen years old the Elves were minded to leave the caves of Androth where they dwelt, and to make their way secretly to the Havens of Sirion in the distant south; but they were assailed by Orcs and Easterlings before they made good their escape, and Tuor was taken captive and enslaved by Lorgan, chief of the Easterlings of Hithlum.

Fr.241
Silmarillion-1977. Quenta Silmarillion /Silmarillion/. 23. Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin.
At last, in the year when Earendil was seven years old, Morgoth was ready, and he loosed upon Gondolin his Balrogs, and his Orcs, and his wolves; and with them came dragons of the brood of Glaurung, and they were become now many and terrible.

Fr.242
Silmarillion-1977. Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age.
/Isildur, due to the Ring, was/ invisible to all eyes; but the Orcs hunted him by scent and slot, until he came to the River and plunged in. There the Ring betrayed him and avenged its maker, for it slipped from his finger as he swam, and it was lost in the water. Then the Orcs saw him as he laboured in the stream, and they shot him with many arrows, and that was his end.

Fr.243
Silmarillion-1977. Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age.
The remnant of the Numenoreans still defended the passage of the River against the terrors of Minas Morgul and against all the enemies of the West, Orcs and monsters and evil Men; and thus the lands behind them, west of Anduin, were protected from war and destruction.

Fr.244
Silmarillion-1977. Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age.
And in Lothlorien, the hidden land between Celebrant and Anduin, where the trees bore flowers of gold and no Orc or evil thing dared ever come.

Fr.245
Silmarillion-1977. Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age. /Note appearing absence of Orcs/.
/On Mirkwood/ After many years, when well nigh a third of that age of the world had passed, a darkness crept slowly through the wood from the southward, and fear walked there in shadowy glades; fell beasts came hunting, and cruel and evil creatures laid there their snares.
Then the name of the forest was changed and Mirkwood it was called, for the nightshade lay deep there, and few dared to pass through, save only in the north where Thranduil’s people still held the evil at bay.
Fr.246
Silmarillion-1977. Index of Names.
Balrog -'Demon of Might', Sindarin form (Quenya Valarauko) of the name of the demons of fire that served Morgoth.
Fr.247
Silmarillion-1977. Appendix. Elements in Quenya and Sindarin names.
rauko - 'demon' in Valaraukar; Sindarin raug, rog in Balrog.

Fr.248
Letters. Letter 66.
/On the situation of 1944/ But all Big Things planned in a big way feel like that to the toad under the harrow, though on a general view they do function and do their job. An ultimately evil job. For we are attempting to conquer Sauron with the Ring /=defeat Hitler by purely secular Force and in alliance with atheist Soviets/. And we shall (it seems) succeed. But the penalty is, as you will know, to breed new Saurons, and slowly turn Men and Elves into Orcs /=to promote further Machinery and Materialism/. Not that in real life things are as clear cut as in a story, and we started out with a great many Orcs /=Soviets/ on our side. .... Well, there you are: a hobbit amongst the Urukhai. Keep up your hobbitry in heart, and think that all stories feel like that when you are in them.

Fr.249
Letters. Letter 71.
Yes, I think the orcs as real a creation as anything in 'realistic' fiction: your vigorous words well describe the tribe /on some example of African tribe/; only in real life they are on both sides /so in Tolkienns imaginatory world they are on one side only/, of course. For 'romance' has grown out of 'allegory', and its wars are still derived from the 'inner war' of allegory in which good is on one side and various modes of badness on the other. In real (exterior) life men are on both sides: which means a motley alliance of orcs, beasts, demons, plain naturally honest men, and angels. But it does make some difference who are your captains and whether they are orc-like per se!

Moscow

Fr.250a-b
a. Letters. Letter 144.
Orcs (the word is as far as I am concerned actually derived from Old English orc 'demon', but only because of its phonetic suitability) are nowhere clearly stated to be of any particular origin. But since they are servants of the Dark Power, and later of Sauron, neither of whom could, or would, produce living things, they must be 'corruptions'. They are not based on direct experience of mine; but owe, I suppose, a good deal to the goblin tradition (goblin is used as a translation in The Hobbit, where orc only occurs once, I think), especially as it appears in George MacDonald, except for the soft feet which I never believed in. The name has the form orch (pl. yrch) in Sindarin and uruk in the Black Speech.
The Black Speech was only used in Mordor; it only occurs in the Ring inscription, and a sentence uttered by the Orcs of Barad-dur (Vol. II p. 48), and in the word Nazgul (cf. nazg in the Ring inscription). It was never used willingly by any other people, and consequently even the names of places in Mordor are in English (for the C.S.) or Elvish. Morannon is just the Elvish for Black Gate; cf. Mordor Black Land, Mor-ia Black Chasm, Mor-thond Black-root (river-name). Rohir-rim is the Elvish (Gondorian) name for the people that called themselves Riders of the Mark or Eorlings. The formation is not meant to resemble Hebrew. The Eldarin languages distinguish in forms and use between a 'partitive' or 'particular' plural, and the general or total plural. Thus yrch 'orcs, some orcs, des orques' occurs in vol I pp. 359,402; the Orcs, as a race, or the whole of a group previously mentioned would have been orchoth. In Grey-elven the general plurals were very frequently made by adding to a name (or a place-name) some word meaning 'tribe, host, horde, people'. So Haradrim the Southrons: Q. rimbe, S. rim, host; Onod-rim the Ents. The Rohirrim is derived from roch (Q. rokko) horse, and the Elvish stem kher- 'possess'; whence Sindarin Rochir 'horse-lord', and Rochir-rim 'the host of the Horse-lords'. In the pronunciation of Gondor the ch (as in German, Welsh, etc) had been softened to a sounded h; so in Rochann 'Hippia' to Rohan.
Beorn is dead; see vol. I p. 241. He appeared in The Hobbit. It was then the year Third Age 2940 (Shire-reckoning 1340). We are now in the years 3018-19 (1418-19). Though a skin-changer and no doubt a bit of a magician /NB. To the question of magucs’ existence in Middle-Earth/, Beorn was a Man.
Tom Bombadil is not an important person to the narrative. I suppose he has some importance as a 'comment'. I mean, I do not really write like that: he is just an invention (who first appeared in the Oxford Magazine about 1933), and he represents something that I feel important, though I would not be prepared to analyze the feeling precisely. I would not, however, have left him in, if he did not have some kind of function. I might put it this way. The story is cast in terms of a good side, and a bad side, beauty against ruthless ugliness, tyranny against kingship, moderated freedom with consent against compulsion that has long lost any object save mere power, and so on; but both sides in some degree, conservative or destructive, want a measure of control. but if you have, as it were taken 'a vow of poverty', renounced control, and take your delight in things for themselves without reference to yourself, watching, observing, and to some extent knowing, then the question of the rights and wrongs of power and control might become utterly meaningless to you, and the means of power quite valueless. It is a natural pacifist view, which always arises in the mind when there is a war. But the view of Rivendell seems to be that it is an excellent thing to have represented, but that there are in fact things with which it cannot cope; and upon which its existence nonetheless depends. Ultimately only the victory of the West will allow Bombadil to continue, or even to survive. Nothing would be left for him in the world of Sauron.
He has no connexion in my mind with the Entwives. What had happened to them is not resolved in this book. He is in a way the answer to them in the sense that he is almost the opposite, being say, Botany and Zoology (as sciences) and Poetry as opposed to Cattle-breeding and Agriculture and practicality.
I think that in fact the Entwives had disappeared for good, being destroyed with their gardens in the War of the Last Alliance (Second Age 3429-3441) when Sauron pursued a scorched earth policy and burned their land against the advance of the Allies down the Anduin (vol. II p. 79 refers to it). They survived only in the 'agriculture' transmitted to Men (and Hobbits). Some, of course, may have fled east, or even have become enslaved: tyrants even in such tales must have an economic and agricultural background to their soldiers and metal-workers. If any survived so, they would indeed be far estranged from the Ents, and any rapprochement would be difficult, unless experience of industrialized and militarized agriculture had made them a little more anarchic. I hope so. I don't know.
...The Balrog is a survivor from the Silmarillion and the legends of the First Age. So is Shelob. The Balrogs, of whom the whips were the chief weapons, were primeval spirits of destroying fire, chief servants of the primeval Dark Power of the First Age. They were supposed to have been all destroyed in the overthrow of Thangorodrim, his fortress in the North. But it is here found (there is usually a hang-over especially of evil from one age to another) that one had escaped and taken refuge under the mountains of Hithaeglin (the Misty Mountains). It is observable that only the Elf knows what the thing is, and doubtless Gandalf.
Shelob (English representing C.S 'she-lob' = female spider) is a translation of Elvish Ungol 'spider'. She is represented in vol. II p. 332 as descendant of the giant spiders of the glens of Nandungorthin, which come into the legends of the First Age, especially into the chief of them, the tale of Beren and L·thien. This is constantly referred to, since as Sam points out (vol. II p. 321) this history is in a sense only a further continuation of it. Both Elrond (and his daughter Arwen Undomiel, who resembles Luthien closely in looks and fate) are descendants of Beren and Luthien; and so at very many more removes is Aragorn. The giant spiders were themselves only the offspring of Ungoliante the primeval devourer of light, that in spider-form assisted the Dark Power, but ultimately quarrelled with him. There is thus no alliance between Shelob and Sauron, the Dark Power's deputy; only a common hatred.
Galadriel is as old, or older than Shelob. She is the last remaining of the Great among the High Elves, and 'awoke' in Eldamar beyond the Sea, long before Ungoliante came to Middle-earth and produced her broods there. ....
b. Letters. Letter 149.
…Orcs – who are fundamentally a race of 'rational incarnate' creatures, though horribly corrupted, if no more so than many Men to be met today… ...Suffering and experience (and possibly the Ring itself) gave Frodo more insight; and you will read in Ch. I of Book VI the words to Sam. 'The Shadow that bred them can only mock, it cannot make real new things of its own. I don't think it gave life to the Orcs, it only ruined them and twisted them.' In the legends of the Elder Days it is suggested that the Diabolus subjugated and corrupted some of the earliest Elves, before they had ever heard of the 'gods', let alone of God.

Fr.251
Letters. Letter 151.
Your preference of goblins to orcs involves a large question and a matter of taste, and perhaps historical pedantry on my pan. Personally I prefer Orcs (since these creatures are not 'goblins', not even the goblins of George MacDonald, which they do to some extent resemble). Also I now deeply regret having used Elves, though this is a word in ancestry and original meaning suitable enough. But the disastrous debasement of this word, in which Shakespeare played an unforgiveable pan, has really overloaded it with regrettable tones, which are too much to overcome. I hope in the Appendices to Vol. III to be able to include a note 'On translation' in which the matter of equivalences and my uses may be made clearly. My difficulty has been that, since I have tried to present a kind of legendary and history of a 'forgotten epoch', all the specific terms were in a foreign language, and no precise equivalents exist in English. ....

Moscow

Fr.252
Letters. Letter 153.
As for other points. I think I agree about the 'creation by evil'. But you are more free with the word 'creation' than I am*. Treebeard does not say that the Dark Lord 'created' Trolls and Orcs. He says he 'made' them in counterfeit of certain creatures pre-existing. There is, to me, a wide gulf between the two statements, so wide that Treebeard's statement could (in my world) have possibly been true. It is not true actually of the Orcs who are fundamentally a race of 'rational incarnate' creatures, though horribly corrupted, if no more so than many Men to be met today. Treebeard is a character in my story, not me; and though he has a great memory and some earthy wisdom, he is not one of the Wise, and there is quite a lot he does not know or understand. He does not know what 'wizards' are, or whence they came (though I do, even if exercising my subcreator's right I have thought it best in this Tale to leave the question a 'mystery', not without pointers to the solution).
Suffering and experience (and possibly the Ring itself) gave Frodo more insight; and you will read in Ch. I of Book VI the words to Sam. 'The Shadow that bred them can only mock, it cannot make real new things of its own. I don't think it gave life to the Orcs, it only ruined them and twisted them.' In the legends of the Elder Days it is suggested that the Diabolus subjugated and corrupted some of the earliest Elves, before they had ever heard of the 'gods', let alone of God.
I am not sure about Trolls. I think they are mere 'counterfeits', and hence (though here I am of course only using elements of old barbarous mythmaking that had no 'aware' metaphysic) they return to mere stone images when not in the dark. But there are other sorts of Trolls beside these rather ridiculous, if brutal, Stone-trolls, for which other origins are suggested. Of course (since inevitably my world is highly imperfect even on its own plane nor made wholly coherent ы our Real World does not appear to be wholly coherent either; and I am actually not myself convinced that, though in every world on every plane all must ultimately be under the Will of God, even in ours there are not some 'tolerated' sub-creational counterfeits!) when you make Trolls speak you are giving them a power, which in our world (probably) connotes the possession of a 'soul'. But I do not agree (if you admit that fairy-story element) that my trolls show any sign of 'good', strictly and unsentimentally viewed. I do not say William felt pity, a word to me of moral and imaginative worth: it is the Pity of Bilbo and later Frodo that ultimately allows the Quest to be achieved, and I do not think he showed Pity. I might not (if The Hobbit had been more carefully written, and my world so much thought about 20 years ago) have used the expression 'poor little blighter', just as I should not have called the troll William. But I discerned no pity even then, and put in a plain caveat. Pity must restrain one from doing something immediately desirable and seemingly advantageous. There is no more 'pity' here than in a beast of prey yawning, or lazily patting a creature it could eat, but does not want to, since it is not hungry. Or indeed than there is in many of men's actions, whose real roots are in satiety, sloth, or a purely non-moral natural softness, though they may dignify them by 'pity's' name.
...To conclude: having mentioned Free Will, I might say that in my myth I have used 'subcreation' in a special way (not the same as 'subcreation' as a term in criticism of art, though I tried to show allegorically how that might come to be taken up into Creation in some plane in my 'purgatorial' story Leaf by Niggle (Dublin Review 1945)) to make visible and physical the effects of Sin or misused Free Will by men. Free Will is derivative, and is.'. only operative within provided circumstances; but in order that it may exist, it is necessary that the Author should guarantee it, whatever betides : sc. when it is 'against His Will', as we say, at any rate as it appears on a finite view. He does not stop or make 'unreal' sinful acts and their consequences. So in this myth, it is 'feigned' (legitimately whether that is a feature of the real world or not) that He gave special 'sub-creative' powers to certain of His highest created beings: that is a guarantee that what they devised and made should be given the reality of Creation. Of course within limits, and of course subject to certain commands or prohibitions. But if they 'fell', as the Diabolus Morgoth did, and started making things 'for himself, to be their Lord', these would then 'be', even if Morgoth broke the supreme ban against making other 'rational' creatures like Elves or Men. They would at least 'be' real physical realities in the physical world, however evil they might prove, even 'mocking' the Children of God. They would be Morgoth's greatest Sins, abuses of his highest privilege, and would be creatures begotten of Sin, and naturally bad. (I nearly wrote 'irredeemably bad'; but that would be going too far. Because by accepting or tolerating their making necessary to their actual existence even Orcs would become part of the World, which is God's and ultimately good.) But whether they could have 'souls' or 'spirits' seems a different question; and since in my myth at any rate I do not conceive of the making of souls or spirits, things of an equal order if not an equal power to the Valar, as a possible 'delegation', I have represented at least the Orcs as pre-existing real beings on whom the Dark Lord has exerted the fullness of his power in remodelling and corrupting them, not making them. That God would 'tolerate' that, seems no worse theology than the toleration of the calculated dehumanizing of Men by tyrants that goes on today. There might be other 'makings' all the same which were more like puppets filled (only at a distance) with their maker's mind and will, or ant-like operating under direction of a queen-centre.

*Inside this mythical history (as its metaphysic is, not necessarily as a metaphysic of the real World) Creation, the act of Will of Eru the One that gives Reality to conceptions, is distinguished from Making, which is permissive.

Fr.253
Letters. Letter 154.
This /LotR/ is a tale about a war, and if war is allowed (at least as a topic and a setting) it is not much good complaining that all the people on one side are against those on the other. Not that I have made even this issue quite so simple: there are Saruman, and Denethor, and Boromir; and there are treacheries and strife even among the Orcs.

Fr.254
Letters. Letter 183.
Denethor despised lesser men, and one may be sure did not distinguish between orcs and the allies of Mordor. If he had survived as victor, even without use of the Ring, he would have taken a long stride towards becoming himself a tyrant, and the terms and treatment he accorded to the deluded peoples of east and south would have been cruel and vengeful. He had become a 'political' leader: sc. Gondor against the rest.
...In my story I do not deal in Absolute Evil. I do not think there is such a thing, since that is Zero. I do not think that at any rate any 'rational being' is wholly evil. Satan fell. In my myth Morgoth fell before Creation of the physical world. In my story Sauron represents as near an approach to the wholly evil will as is possible. He had gone the way of all tyrants: beginning well, at least on the level that while desiring to order all things according to his own wisdom he still at first considered the (economic) well-being of other inhabitants of the Earth. But he went further than human tyrants in pride and the lust for domination, being in origin an immortal (angelic) spirit*. In The Lord of the Rings the conflict is not basically about ‘freedom’, though that is naturally involved. It is about God, and His sole right to divine honour. The Eldar and the Numenoreans believed in The One, the true God, and held worship of any other person an abomination. Sauron desired to be a God-King, and was held to be this by his servants**; if he had been victorious he would have demanded divine honour from all rational creatures and absolute temporal power over the whole world. So even if in desperation 'the West' had bred or hired hordes of orcs and had cruelly ravaged the lands of other Men as allies of Sauron, or merely to prevent them from aiding him, their Cause would have remained indefeasibly right. As does the Cause of those who oppose now the State-God and Marshal This or That as its High Priest, even if it is true (as it unfortunately is) that many of their deeds are wrong, even if it were true (as it is not) that the inhabitants of 'The West', except for a minority of wealthy bosses, live in fear and squalor, while the worshippers of the State-God live in peace and abundance and in mutual esteem and trust.
So I feel that the fiddle-faddle in reviews, and correspondence about them, as to whether my 'good people' were kind and merciful and gave quarter (in fact they do), or not, is quite beside the point.

*Of the same kind as Gandalf and Saruman, but of a far higher order.
**By a triple treachery: 1. Because of his admiration of Strength he had become a follower of Morgoth and fell with him down into the depths of evil, becoming his chief agent in Middle Earth. 2. when Morgoth was defeated by the Valar finally he forsook his allegiance; but out of fear only; he did not present himself to the Valar or sue for pardon, and remained in Middle Earth. 3. When he found how greatly his knowledge was admired by all other rational creatures and how easy it was to influence them, his pride became boundless. By the end of the Second Age he assumed the position of Morgoth's representative. By the end of the Third Age (though actually much weaker than before) he claimed to be Morgoth returned.

Fr.255
Letters. Letter 210.
§ 19. Why does Z put beaks and feathers on Orcs!? (Orcs is not a form of Auks). The Orcs are definitely stated to be corruptions of the 'human' form seen in Elves and Men. They are (or were) squat, broad, flat-nosed, sallow-skinned, with wide mouths and slant eyes: in fact degraded and repulsive versions of the (to Europeans) least lovely Mongol-types.

Moscow

Fr.256
Letters. Letter 212.
I suppose a difference between this Myth and what may be perhaps called Christian mythology is this. In the latter the Fall of Man is subsequent to and a consequence (though not a necessary consequence) of the 'Fall of the Angels' : a rebellion of created free-will at a higher level than Man; but it is not clearly held (and in many versions is not held at all) that this affected the 'World' in its nature: evil was brought in from outside, by Satan. In this Myth the rebellion of created free-will precedes creation of the World (Ea); and Ea has in it, subcreatively introduced, evil, rebellions, discordant elements of its own nature already when the Let it Be was spoken. The Fall or corruption, therefore, of all things in it and all inhabitants of it, was a possibility if not inevitable. Trees may 'go bad' as in the Old Forest; Elves may turn into Orcs, and if this required the special perversive malice of Morgoth, still Elves themselves could do evil deeds. Even the 'good' Valar as inhabiting the World could at least err; as the Great Valar did in their dealings with the Elves; or as the lesser of their kind (as the Istari or wizards) could in various ways become self-seeking. Aule, for instance, one of the Great, in a sense 'fell'; for he so desired to see the Children, that he became impatient and tried to anticipate the will of the Creator. Being the greatest of all craftsmen he tried to make children according to his imperfect knowledge of their kind. When he had made thirteen, God spoke to him in anger, but not without pity: for Aule had done this thing not out of evil desire to have slaves and subjects of his own, but out of impatient love, desiring children to talk to and teach, sharing with them the praise of Iluvatar and his great love of the materials of which the world is made.
The One rebuked Aule, saying that he had tried to usurp the Creator's power; but he could not give independent life to his makings. He had only one life, his own derived from the One, and could at most only distribute it. 'Behold' said the One: 'these creatures of thine have only thy will, and thy movement. Though you have devised a language for them, they can only report to thee thine own thought. This is a mockery of me.'
Then Aule in grief and repentance humbled himself and asked for pardon. And he said: 'I will destroy these images of my presumption, and wait upon thy will.' And he took a great hammer, raising it to smite the eldest of his images; but it flinched and cowered from him. And as he withheld his stroke, astonished, he heard the laughter of Iluvatar.
'Do you wonder at this?' he said. 'Behold! thy creatures now live, free from thy will! For I have seen thy humility, and taken pity on your impatience. Thy making I have taken up into my design.'
This is the Elvish legend of the making of the Dwarves ; but the Elves report that Iluvatar said thus also: 'Nonetheless I will not suffer my design to be forestalled: thy children shall not awake before mine own.' And he commanded Aule to lay the fathers of the Dwarves severally in deep places, each with his mate, save Durin the eldest who had none. There they should sleep long, until Iluvatar bade them awake. Nonetheless there has been for the most part little love between the Dwarves and the children of Iluvatar. And of the fate that Iluvatar has set upon the children of Aule beyond the Circles of the world Elves and men know nothing, and if Dwarves know they do not speak of it.

Fr.257
Letters. Letter 244.
Until much had been done by the restored King, the P. of Ithilien /Faramir/ would be the resident march-warden of Gondor, in its main eastward outpost and also would have many duties in rehabilitating the lost territory, and clearing it of outlaws and orc-remnants, not to speak of the dreadful vale of Minas Ithil (Morgul).

Fr.258
Letters. Letter 256.
[An account of Tolkien's unfinished story 'The New Shadow'. (See also no. 338.)]
I did begin a story placed about 100 years after the Downfall [of Mordor], but it proved both sinister and depressing. Since we are dealing with Men it is inevitable that we should be concerned with the most regrettable feature of their nature: their quick satiety with good. So that the people of Gondor in times of peace, justice and prosperity, would become discontented and restless, while the dynasts descended from Aragorn would become just kings and governors like Denethor or worse. I found that even so early there was an outcrop of revolutionary plots, about a centre of secret Satanistic religion; while Gondorian boys were playing at being Orcs and going round doing damage. I could have written a 'thriller' about the plot and its discovery and overthrow, but it would be just that. Not worth doing.

Fr.259
Letters. Letter 338.
[Answering the question: did the Ents ever find the Entwives?]
As for the Entwives: I do not know. I have written nothing beyond the first few years of the Fourth Age. (Except the beginning of a tale supposed to refer to the end of the reign of Eldaron about 100 years after the death of Aragorn. Then I of course discovered that the King's Peace would contain no tales worth recounting; and his wars would have little interest after the overthrow of Sauron; but that almost certainly a restlessness would appear about then, owing to the (it seems) inevitable boredom of Men with the good: there would be secret societies practising dark cults, and 'orc-cults' among adolescents.) But I think in Vol. II pp. 80-81 it is plain that there would be for Ents no re-union in 'history', but Ents and their wives being rational creatures would find some 'earthly paradise' until the end of this world: beyond which the wisdom neither of Elves nor Ents could see. Though maybe they shared the hope of Aragorn that they were 'not bound for ever to the circles of the world and beyond them is more than memory.'....

Fr.260
Letters. Letter 269.
[Auden had asked Tolkien if the notion of the Orcs, an entire race that was irredeemably wicked, was not heretical.]
With regard to The Lord of the Rings, I cannot claim to be a sufficient theologian to say whether my notion of orcs is heretical or not. I don't feel under any obligation to make my story fit with formalized Christian theology, though I actually intended it to be consonant with Christian thought and belief, which is asserted somewhere, Book Five, page 190, where Frodo asserts that the orcs are not evil in origin. We believe that, I suppose, of all human kinds and sons and breeds, though some appear, both as individuals and groups to be, by us at any rate, unredeemable.....

Fr.261=262
LotR. Prologue:4. Of the finding of the Ring.
The party was assailed by Orcs in a high pass of the Misty Mountains as they went towards Wilderland; and so it happened that Bilbo was lost for a while in the black orc-mines deep under the mountains.
Fr.263
LotR. 1:1. A Long-expected Party.
The fireworks were by Gandalf: they were not only brought by him, but designed and made by him /.../ But there was also a generous distribution of squibs, crackers, backarappers, sparklers, torches, dwarf-candles, elf-fountains, goblin-barkers and thunder-claps. They were all superb.

Fr.264
LotR. 2:4. A Journey in the Dark.
/Gandalf says/ `I once knew every spell in all the tongues of Elves or Men or Orcs that was ever used for such a purpose. I can still remember ten score of them without searching in my mind.

Fr.265
LotR. 2:5 The Bridge of Khazad-dum.
At length they stirred and looked up, and began to search for anything that would give them tidings of Balin's fate, or show what had become of his folk. There was another smaller door on the other side of the chamber, under the shaft. By both the doors they could now see that many bones were lying, and among them were broken swords and axe-heads, and cloven shields and helms. Some of the swords were crooked: orc-scimitars with blackened blades.

Fr.266
LotR. 2:5 The Bridge of Khazad-dum.
'There are Orcs, very many of them,' he said. `And some are large and evil: black Uruks of Mordor. For the moment they are hanging back, but there is something else there. A great cave-troll, I think, or more than one. There is no hope of escape that way.'

Fr.267
LotR. 2:6. Lothlorien.
'Not a sound but the wind,' he said. `There are no goblins near, or my ears are made of wood. It is to be hoped that the Orcs will be content with driving us from Moria. And maybe that was all their purpose, and they had nothing else to do with us-with the Ring. Though Orcs will often pursue foes for many leagues into the plain, if they have a fallen captain to avenge.'

Fr.268
LotR. 2:6. Lothlorien.
Orcs were as keen as hounds on a scent, it was said, but they could also climb.

Fr.269
LotR. 2:6. Lothlorien.
'I did not shoot, for I dared not arouse any cries: we cannot risk battle. A strong company of Orcs has passed. They crossed the Nimrodel-curse their foul feet in its clean water!-and went on down the old road beside the river. They seemed to pick up some scent, and they searched the ground for a while near the place where you halted’.

Fr.270
LotR. 3:1. The Departure of Boromir.
Quickly they searched the bodies of the Orcs, gathering their swords and cloven helms and shields into a heap. 'See!' cried Aragorn. 'Here we find tokens!' He picked out from the pile of grim weapons two knives, leaf-bladed, damasked in gold and red; and searching further he found also the sheaths, black, set with small red gems. 'No orc-tools these!' he said. 'They were borne by the hobbits. Doubtless the Orcs despoiled them, but feared to keep the knives, knowing them for what they are: work of Westernesse, wound about with spells for the bane of Mordor. Well, now, if they still live, our friends are weaponless. I will take these things, hoping against hope, to give them back.'
'And I,' said Legolas, 'will take all the arrows that I can find, for my quiver is empty.' He searched in the pile and on the ground about and found not a few that were undamaged and longer in the shaft than such arrows as the Orcs were accustomed to use. He looked at them closely.
And Aragorn looked on the slain, and he said: 'Here lie many that are not folk of Mordor. Some are from the North, from the Misty Mountains, if I know anything of Orcs and their kinds. And here are others strange to me. Their gear is not after the manner of Orcs at all!'
There were four goblin-soldiers of greater stature, swart, slant-eyed, with thick legs and large hands. They were armed with short broad-bladed swords, not with the curved scimitars usual with Orcs: and they had bows of yew, in length and shape like the bows of Men. Upon their shields they bore a strange device: a small white hand in the centre of a black field; on the front of their iron helms was set an S-rune, wrought of some white metal.
'I have not seen these tokens before,' said Aragorn. 'What do they mean?'
'S is for Sauron,' said Gimli. 'That is easy to read.'
'Nay!' said Legolas. 'Sauron does not use the Elf-runes.'
'Neither does he use his right name, nor permit it to be spelt or spoken,' said Aragorn. 'And he does not use white. The Orcs in the service of Barad-dыr use the sign of the Red Eye.' He stood for a moment in thought. 'S is for Saruman, I guess,' he said at length. 'There is evil afoot in Isengard, and the West is no longer safe. It is as Gandalf feared: by some means the traitor Saruman has had news of our journey. It is likely too that he knows of Gandalf's fall. Pursuers from Moria may have escaped the vigilance of Lorien, or they may have avoided that land and come to Isengard by other paths. Orcs travel fast.

Moscow

Fr.271
LotR. 3:2. The Riders of Rohan.
'I think that the enemy brought his own enemy with him,' answered Aragorn. 'These are Northern Orcs from far away. Among the slain are none of the great Orcs with the strange badges. There was a quarrel, I guess: it is no uncommon thing with these foul folk. Maybe there was some dispute about the road.'
'Light feet may run swiftly here,' said Aragorn. 'More swiftly, maybe, than iron-shod Orcs. Now we have a chance to lessen their lead!'
They went in single file, running like hounds on a strong scent, and an eager light was in their eyes. Nearly due west the broad swath of the marching Orcs tramped its ugly slot; the sweet grass of Rohan had been bruised and blackened as they passed.
'Surely even Orcs must pause on the march?' said Gimli. 'Seldom will Orcs journey in the open under the sun. yet these have done so,' said Legolas. 'Certainly they will not rest by night.'

Fr.272
LotR. 3:2. The Riders of Rohan.
'Then you do not pay tribute to Sauron?' said Gimli.
'We do not and we never have.' said Йomer with a flash of his eyes; 'though it comes to my ears that that lie has been told. Some years ago the Lord of the Black Land wished to purchase horses of us at great price, but we refused him, for he puts beasts to evil use. Then he sent plundering Orcs, and they carry off what they can, choosing always the black horses: few of these are now left. For that reason our feud with the Orcs is bitter.
'But at this time our chief concern is with Saruman. He has claimed lordship over all this land, and there has been war between us for many months. He has taken Orcs into his service, and Wolf-riders, and evil Men, and he has closed the Gap against us, so that we are likely to be beset both east and west.
'Indeed in this riding north I went without the king's leave, for in my absence his house is left with little guard. But scouts warned me of the orc-host coming down out of the East Wall three nights ago, and among them they reported that some bore the white badges of Saruman. So suspecting what I most fear, a league between Orthanc and the Dark Tower, I led forth my йored, men of my own household; and we overtook the Orcs at nightfall two days ago, near to the borders of the Entwood. There we surrounded them, and gave battle yesterday at dawn. Fifteen of my men I lost, and twelve horses alas! For the Orcs were greater in number than we counted on. Others joined them, coming out of the East across the Great River: their trail is plain to see a little north of this spot. And others, too, came out of the forest. Great Orcs, who also bore the White Hand of Isengard: that kind is stronger and more fell than all others.

Fr.273
LotR. 3:2. The Riders of Rohan.
At last as the afternoon was waning they came to the eaves of the forest, and in an open glade among the first trees they found the place of the great burning: the ashes were still hot and smoking. Beside it was a great pile of helms and mail, cloven shields, and broken swords, bows and darts and other gear of war. Upon a stake in the middle was set a great goblin head; upon its shattered helm the white badge could still be seen. Further away, not far from the river, where it came streaming out from the edge of the wood, there was a mound. It was newly raised: the raw earth was covered with fresh-cut turves: about it were planted fifteen spears.

Fr.274
LotR. 3:3. The Uruk-Hai.
They had run a long way shouting--he could not remember how far or how long; and then suddenly they had crashed right into a group of Orcs: they were standing listening, and they did not appear to see Merry and Pippin until they were almost in their arms. Then they yelled and dozens of other goblins had sprung out of the trees. Merry and he had drawn their swords, but the Orcs did not wish to fight, and had tried only to lay hold of them, even when Merry had cut off several of their arms and hands. Good old Merry!
/.../
He struggled a little, quite uselessly. One of the Orcs sitting near laughed and said something to a companion in their abominable tongue. 'Rest while you can, little fool!' he said then to Pippin, in the Common Speech, which he made almost as hideous as his own language. 'Rest while you can! We'll find a use for your legs before long. You'll wish you had got none before we get home.'
'If I had my way, you'd wish you were dead now,' said the other. 'I'd make you squeak, you miserable rat.' He stooped over Pippin bringing his yellow fangs close to his face. He had a black knife with a long jagged blade in his hand. 'Lie quiet, or I'll tickle you with this,' he hissed. 'Don't draw attention to yourself, or I may forget my orders. Curse the Isengarders! Ugluk u bagronk sha pushdug Saruman-glob bubhosh skai': he passed into a long angry speech in his own tongue that slowly died away into muttering and snarling.
Terrified Pippin lay still, though the pain at his wrists and ankles was growing, and the stones beneath him were boring into his back. To take his mind off himself he listened intently to all that he could hear. There were many voices round about, and though orc-speech sounded at all times full of hate and anger, it seemed plain that something like a quarrel had begun, and was getting hotter.
To Pippin's surprise he found that much of the talk was intelligible many of the Orcs were using ordinary language. Apparently the members of two or three quite different tribes were present, and they could not understand one another's orc-speech. There was an angry debate concerning what they were to do now: which way they were to take and what should be done with the prisoners.
'There's no time to kill them properly,' said one. 'No time for play on this trip.'
'That can't be helped,' said another. 'But why not kill them quick, kill them now? They're a cursed nuisance, and we're in a hurry. Evening's coming on, and we ought to get a move on.'
'Orders.' said a third voice in a deep growl. 'Kill all but NOT the Halfings; they are to be brought back ALIVE as quickly as possible. That's my orders.'
'What are they wanted for?' asked several voices. 'Why alive? Do they give good sport?'
'No! I heard that one of them has got something, something that's wanted for the War, some elvish plot or other. Anyway they'll both be questioned.'
'Is that all you know? Why don't we search them and find out? We might find something that we could use ourselves.'
'That is a very interesting remark,' sneered a voice, softer than the others but more evil. 'I may have to report that. The prisoners are NOT to be searched or plundered: those are my orders.'
'And mine too,' said the deep voice. 'Alive and as captured; no spoiling. That's my orders.'
'Not our orders!' said one of the earlier voices. 'We have come all the way from the Mines to kill, and avenge our folk. I wish to kill, and then go back north.'
'Then you can wish again,' said the growling voice. 'I am Uglъk. I command. I return to Isengard by the shortest road.'
'Is Saruman the master or the Great Eye?' said the evil voice. 'We should go back at once to Lugbъrz.'
'If we could cross the Great River, we might,' said another voice. 'But there are not enough of us to venture down to the bridges.'
'I came across,' said the evil voice. 'A winged Nazgыl awaits us northward on the east-bank.'
'Maybe, maybe! Then you'll fly off with our prisoners, and get all the pay and praise in Lugbъrz, and leave us to foot it as best we can through the Horse-country. No, we must stick together. These lands are dangerous: full of foul rebels and brigands.'
'Aye, we must stick together,' growled Uglъk. 'I don't trust you little swine. You've no guts outside your own sties. But for us you'd all have run away. We are the fighting Uruk-hai! We slew the great warrior. We took the prisoners. We are the servants of Saruman the Wise, the White Hand: the Hand that gives us man's-flesh to eat. We came out of Isengard, and led you here, and we shall lead you back by the way we choose. I am Uglъk. I have spoken.'
'You have spoken more than enough, Uglъk,' sneered the evil voice. 'I wonder how they would like it in Lugbъrz. They might think that Uglъk's shoulders needed relieving of a swollen head. They might ask where his strange ideas came from. Did they come from Saruman, perhaps? Who does he think he is, setting up on his own with his filthy white badges? They might agree with me, with Grishnбkh their trusted messenger; and I Grishnбkh say this: Saruman is a fool. and a dirty treacherous fool. But the Great Eye is on him.
'Swine is it? How do you folk like being called swine by the muck-rakers of a dirty little wizard? It's orc-flesh they eat, I'll warrant.'
Many loud yells in orc-speech answered him, and the ringing clash of weapons being drawn. Cautiously Pippin rolled over, hoping to see what would happen. His guards had gone to join in the fray. In the twilight he saw a large black Orc, probably Uglъk, standing facing Grishnбkh, a short crook-legged creature, very broad and with long arms that hung almost to the ground. Round them were many smaller goblins. Pippin supposed that these were the ones from the North. They had drawn their knives and swords, but hesitated to attack Uglъk.
Uglъk shouted, and a number of other Orcs of nearly his own size ran up. Then suddenly, without warning, Uglъk sprang forwards, and with two swift strokes swept the heads off two of his opponents. Grishnбkh stepped aside and vanished into the shadows. The others gave way, and one stepped backwards and fell over Merry's prostrate form with a curse. Yet that probably saved his life, for Uglъk's followers leaped over him and cut down another with their broad-bladed swords. It was the yellow-fanged guard. His body fell right on top of Pippin, still clutching its long saw-edged knife.
'Put up your weapons!' shouted Uglъk. 'And let's have no more nonsense! We go straight west from here, and down the stair. From there straight to the downs, then along the river to the forest. And we march day and night. That clear?'
'Now,' thought Pippin, 'if only it takes that ugly fellow a little while to get his troop under control, I've got a chance.' A gleam of hope had come to him. The edge of the black knife had snicked his arm, and then slid down to his wrist. He felt the blood trickling on to his hand, but he also felt the cold touch of steel against his skin.
The Orcs were getting ready to march again, but some of the Northerners were still unwilling, and the Isengarders slew two more before the rest were cowed. There was much cursing and confusion. For the moment Pippin was unwatched. His legs were securely bound, but his arms were only tied about the wrists, and his hands were in front of him. He could move them both together, though the bonds were cruelly tight. He pushed the dead Orc to one side, then hardly daring to breathe, he drew the knot of the wrist-cord up and down against the blade of the knife. It was sharp and the dead hand held it fast. The cord was cut! Quickly Pippin took it in his fingers and knotted it again into a loose bracelet of two loops and slipped it over his hands. Then he lay very still.
/.../
'Pick up those prisoners!' shouted Uglъk. 'Don't play any tricks with them! If they are not alive when we get back, someone else will die too.'
An Orc seized Pippin like a sack. put its head between his tied hands, grabbed his arms and dragged them down, until Pippin's face was crushed against its neck; then it jolted off with him. Another treated Merry in the same way. The Orc's clawlike hand gripped Pippin's arms like iron; the nails bit into him. He shut his eyes and slipped back into evil dreams.

Moscow

Suddenly he was thrown on to the stony floor again. It was early night, but the slim moon was already falling westward. They were on the edge of a cliff that seemed to look out over a sea of pale mist. There was a sound of water falling nearby.
'The scouts have come back at last,' said an Orc close at hand.
'Well, what did you discover?' growled the voice of Uglъk.
'Only a single horseman, and he made off westwards. All's clear now.'
'Now, I daresay. But how long? You fools! You should have shot him. He'll raise the alarm. The cursed horsebreeders will hear of us by morning. Now we'll have to leg it double quick.'
A shadow bent over Pippin. It was Uglъk. 'Sit up!' said the Orc. 'My lads are tired of lugging you about. We have got to climb down and you must use your legs. Be helpful now. No crying out, no trying to escape. We have ways of paying for tricks that you won't like, though they won't spoil your usefulness for the Master.'
He cut the thongs round Pippin's legs and ankles, picked him up by his hair and stood him on his feet. Pippin fell down, and Uglъk dragged him up by his hair again. Several Orcs laughed. Uglъk thrust a flask between his teeth and poured some burning liquid down his throat: he felt a hot fierce glow flow through him. The pain in his legs and ankles vanished. He could stand.
'Now for the other!' said Uglъk. Pippin saw him go to Merry, who was lying close by, and kick him. Merry groaned. Seizing him roughly Uglъk pulled him into a sitting position, and tore the bandage off his head. Then he smeared the wound with some dark stuff out of a small wooden box. Merry cried out and struggled wildly.
The Orcs clapped and hooted. 'Can't take his medicine,' they jeered. 'Doesn't know what's good for him. Ai! We shall have some fun later.'
But at the moment Uglъk was not engaged in sport. He needed speed and had to humour unwilling followers. He was healing Merry in orc-fashion; and his treatment worked swiftly. When he had forced a drink from his flask down the hobbit's throat, cut his leg-bonds, and dragged him to his feet, Merry stood up, looking pale but grim and defiant, and very much alive. The gash in his forehead gave him no more trouble, but he bore a brown scar to the end of his days.
'Hullo, Pippin!' he said. 'So you've come on this little expedition, too? Where do we get bed and breakfast?'
'Now then!' said Uglъk. 'None of that! Hold your tongues. No talk to one another. Any trouble will be reported at the other end, and He'll know how to pay you. You'll get bed and breakfast all right: more than you can stomach.'
/.../
The orc-band began to descend a narrow ravine leading down into the misty plain below. Merry and Pippin, separated by a dozen Orcs or more, climbed down with them. At the bottom they stepped on to grass, and the hearts of the hobbits rose.
'Now straight on!' shouted Uglъk. 'West and a little north. Follow Lugdush.'
'But what are we going to do at sunrise?' said some of the Northerners.
'Go on running,' said Uglъk. 'What do you think? Sit on the grass and wait for the Whiteskins to join the picnic?'
'But we can't run in the sunlight.'
'You'll run with me behind you,' said Uglъk. 'Run! Or you'll never see your beloved holes again. By the White Hand! What's the use of sending out mountain-maggots on a trip, only half trained. Run, curse you! Run while night lasts!'
Then the whole company began to run with the long loping strides of Orcs. They kept no order, thrusting, jostling, and cursing; yet their speed was very great. Each hobbit had a guard of three. Pippin was far back in the line. He wondered how long he would be able to go on at this pace: he had had no food since the morning. One of his guards had a whip. But at present the orc-liquor was still hot in him. His wits, too, were wide-awake.
Every now and again there came into his mind unbidden a vision of the keen face of Strider bending over a dark trail, and running, running behind. But what could even a Ranger see except a confused trail of orc-feet? His own little prints and Merry's were overwhelmed by the trampling of the iron-shod shoes before them and behind them and about them.
They had gone only a mile or so from the cliff when the land sloped down into a wide shallow depression, where the ground was soft and wet. Mist lay there, pale-glimmering in the last rays of the sickle moon. The dark shapes of the Orcs in front grew dim, and then were swallowed up.
'Ai! Steady now!' shouted Uglъk from the rear.
A sudden thought leaped into Pippin's mind, and he acted on it at once. He swerved aside to the right, and dived out of the reach of his clutching guard, headfirst into the mist; he landed sprawling on the grass.
'Halt!' yelled Uglъk.
There was for a moment turmoil and confusion. Pippin sprang up and ran. But the Orcs were after him. Some suddenly loomed up right in front of him.
'No hope of escape!' thought Pippin. 'But there is a hope that I have left some of my own marks unspoilt on the wet ground.' He groped with his two tied hands at his throat, and unclasped the brooch of his cloak. Just as long arms and hard claws seized him. he let it fall. 'There I suppose it will lie until the end of time,' he thought. 'I don't know why I did it. If the others have escaped, they've probably all gone with Frodo.'
A whip-thong curled round his legs, and he stifled a cry.
'Enough!' shouted Uglъk running up. 'He's still got to run a long way yet. Make 'em both run! Just use the whip as a reminder.'
'But that's not all,' he snarled, turning to Pippin. 'I shan't forget. Payment is only put off. Leg it!'
/.../
Neither Pippin nor Merry remembered much of the later part of the journey. Evil dreams and evil waking were blended into a long tunnel of misery, with hope growing ever fainter behind. They ran, and they ran, striving to keep up the pace set by the Orcs, licked every now and again with a cruel thong cunningly handled. If they halted or stumbled, they were seized and dragged for some distance.
The warmth of the orc-draught had gone. Pippin felt cold and sick again. Suddenly he fell face downward on the turf. Hard hands with rending nails gripped and lifted him. He was carried like a sack once more, and darkness grew about him: whether the darkness of another night, or a blindness of his eyes, he could not tell.
Dimly he became aware of voices clamouring: it seemed that many of the Orcs were demanding a halt. Uglъk was shouting. He felt himself flung to the ground, and he lay as he fell, till black dreams took him. But he did not long escape from pain; soon the iron grip of merciless hands was on him again. For a long time he was tossed and shaken, and then slowly the darkness gave way, and he came back to the waking world and found that it was morning. Orders were shouted and he was thrown roughly on the grass.
There he lay for a while, fighting with despair. His head swam, but from the heat in his body he guessed that he had been given another draught. An Orc stooped over him, and flung him some bread and a strip of raw dried flesh. He ate the stale grey bread hungrily, but not the meat. He was famished but not yet so famished as to eat flesh flung to him by an Orc, the flesh of he dared not guess what creature.
He sat up and looked about. Merry was not far away. They were by the banks of a swift narrow river. Ahead mountains loomed: a tall peak was catching the first rays of the sun. A dark smudge of forest lay on the lower slopes before them.
There was much shouting and debating among the Orcs; a quarrel seemed on the point of breaking out again between the Northerners and the Isengarders. Some were pointing back away south, and some were pointing eastward.
'Very well,' said Uglъk. 'Leave them to me then! No killing, as I've told you before; but if you want to throw away what we've come all the way to get, throw it away! I'll look after it. Let the fighting Uruk-hai do the work, as usual. If you're afraid of the Whiteskins, run! Run! There's the forest,' he shouted, pointing ahead. 'Get to it! It's your best hope. Off you go! And quick, before I knock a few more heads off, to put some sense into the others.'
There was some cursing and scuffling, and then most of the Northerners broke away and dashed off, over a hundred of them, running wildly along the river towards the mountains. The hobbits were left with the Isengarders: a grim dark band, four score at least of large, swart, slant-eyed Orcs with great bows and short broad-bladed swords. A few of the larger and bolder Northerners remained with them.
'Now we'll deal with Grishnбkh,' said Uglъk; but some even of his own followers were looking uneasily southwards.
'I know,' growled Uglъk. 'The cursed horse-boys have got wind of us. But that's all your fault, Snaga. You and the other scouts ought to have your ears cut off. But we are the fighters. We'll feast on horseflesh yet, or something better.'
At that moment Pippin saw why some of the troop had been pointing eastward. From that direction there now came hoarse cries, and there was Grishnбkh again, and at his back a couple of score of others like him: long-armed crook-legged Orcs. They had a red eye painted on their shields. Uglъk stepped forward to meet them. 'So you've come back?' he said. 'Thought better of it, eh?'
'I've returned to see that Orders are carried out and the prisoners safe,' answered Grishnбkh.
'Indeed!' said Uglъk. 'Waste of effort. I'll see that orders are carried out in my command. And what else did you come back for? You went in a hurry. Did you leave anything behind?'
'I left a fool,' snarled Grishnбkh. 'But there were some stout fellows with him that are too good to lose. I knew you'd lead them into a mess. I've come to help them.'
'Splendid!' laughed Uglъk. 'But unless you've got some guts for fighting, you've taken the wrong way. Lugbъrz was your road. The Whiteskins are coming. What's happened to your precious Nazgыl? Has he had another mount shot under him? Now, if you'd brought him along, that might have been useful-if these Nazgыl are all they make out.'
'Nazgыl, Nazgыl,' said Grishnбkh, shivering and licking his lips, as if the word had a foul taste that he savoured painfully. 'You speak of what is deep beyond the reach of your muddy dreams, Uglъk,' he said. 'Nazgыl! Ah! All that they make out! One day you'll wish that you had not said that. Ape!' he snarled fiercely. 'You ought to know that they're the apple of the Great Eye. But the winged Nazgыl: not yet, not yet. He won't let them show themselves across the Great River yet, not too soon. They're for the War-and other purposes.'
'You seem to know a lot,' said Uglъk. 'More than is good for you, I guess. Perhaps those in Lugbъrz might wonder how, and why. But in the meantime the Uruk-hai of Isengard can do the dirty work, as usual. Don't stand slavering there! Get your rabble together! The other swine are legging it to the forest. You'd better follow. You wouldn't get back to the Great River alive. Right off the mark! Now! I'll be on your heels.'
/.../
The Isengarders seized Merry and Pippin again and slung them on their backs. Then the troop started off. Hour after hour they ran, pausing now and again only to sling the hobbits to fresh carriers. Either because they were quicker and hardier, or because of some plan of Grishnбkh's, the Isengarders gradually passed through the Orcs of Mordor, and Grishnбkh's folk closed in behind. Soon they were gaining also on the Northerners ahead. The forest began to draw nearer.

Moscow

Pippin was bruised and torn, his aching head was grated by the filthy jowl and hairy ear of the Orc that held him. Immediately in front were bowed backs, and tough thick legs going up and down, up and down, unresting, as if they were made of wire and horn, beating out the nightmare seconds of an endless time.
In the afternoon Uglъk's troop overtook the Northerners. They were flagging in the rays of the bright sun, winter sun shining in a pale cool sky though it was; their heads were down and their tongues lolling out.
'Maggots!' jeered the Isengarders. 'You're cooked. The Whiteskins will catch you and eat you. They're coming!'
A cry from Grishnбkh showed that this was not mere jest. Horsemen, riding very swiftly, had indeed been sighted: still far behind, but gaining on the Orcs, gaining on them like a tide over the flats on folk straying in a quicksand.
The Isengarders began to run with a redoubled pace that astonished Pippin, a terrific spurt it seemed for the end of a race. Then he saw that the sun was sinking, falling behind the Misty Mountains; shadows reached over the land. The soldiers of Mordor lifted their heads and also began to put on speed. The forest was dark and close. Already they had passed a few outlying trees. The land was beginning to slope upwards. ever more steeply; but the Orcs did not halt. Both Uglъk and Grishnбkh shouted, spurring them on to a last effort.
/.../
'They will make it yet. They will escape,' thought Pippin. And then he managed to twist his neck. so as to glance back with one eye over his shoulder. He saw that riders away eastward were already level with the Orcs, galloping over the plain. The sunset gilded their spears and helmets, and glinted in their pale flowing hair. They were hemming the Orcs in, preventing them from scattering, and driving them along the line of the river.
He wondered very much what kind of folk they were. He wished now that he had learned more in Rivendell, and looked more at maps and things; but in those days the plans for the journey seemed to be in more competent hands, and he had never reckoned with being cut off from Gandalf, or from Strider, and even from Frodo. All that he could remember about Rohan was that Gandalf's horse, Shadowfax, had come from that land. That sounded hopeful, as far as it went.
'But how will they know that we are not Orcs?' he thought. 'I don't suppose they've ever heard of hobbits down here. I suppose I ought to be glad that the beastly Orcs look like being destroyed, but I would rather be saved myself.' The chances were that he and Merry would be killed together with their captors, before ever the Men of Rohan were aware of them.
A few of the riders appeared to be bowmen, skilled at shooting from a running horse. Riding swiftly into range they shot arrows at the Orcs that straggled behind, and several of them fell; then the riders wheeled away out of the range of the answering bows of their enemies, who shot wildly, not daring to halt. This happened many times, and on one occasion arrows fell among the Isengarders. One of them, just in front of Pippin, stumbled and did not get up again.
/.../
Night came down without the Riders closing in for battle. Many Orcs had fallen, but fully two hundred remained. In the early darkness the Orcs came to a hillock. The eaves of the forest were very near, probably no more than three furlongs away, but they could go no further. The horsemen had encircled them. A small band disobeyed Uglъk's command, and ran on towards the forest: only three returned.
'Well, here we are,' sneered Grishnбkh. 'Fine leadership! I hope the great Uglъk will lead us out again.'
'Put those Halflings down!' ordered Uglъk, taking no notice of Grishnбkh. 'You, Lugdush, get two others and stand guard over them! They're not to be killed, unless the filthy Whiteskins break through. Understand? As long as I'm alive, I want 'em. But they're not to cry out, and they're not to be rescued. Bind their legs!'
The last part of the order was carried out mercilessly. But Pippin found that for the first time he was close to Merry. The Orcs were making a great deal of noise, shouting and clashing their weapons, and the hobbits managed to whisper together for a while.
'I don't think much of this,' said Merry. 'I feel nearly done in. Don't think I could crawl away far, even if I was free.'
'Lembas!' whispered Pippin. 'Lembas: I've got some. Have you? I don't think they've taken anything but our swords.'
'Yes, I had a packet in my pocket,' answered Merry, 'but it must be battered to crumbs. Anyway I can't put my mouth in my pocket!'
'You won't have to. I've—'; but just then a savage kick warned Pippin that the noise had died down, and the guards were watchful.
/.../
The night was cold and still. All round the knoll on which the Orcs were gathered little watch-fires sprang up, golden-red in the darkness, a complete ring of them. They were within a long bowshot. but the riders did not show themselves against the light, and the Orcs wasted many arrows shooting at the fires, until Uglъk stopped them. The riders made no sound. Later in the night when the moon came out of the mist, then occasionally they could be seen, shadowy shapes that glinted now and again in the white light, as they moved in ceaseless patrol.
'They'll wait for the Sun, curse them!' growled one of the guards. 'Why don't we get together and charge through? What's old Uglъk think he's doing, I should like to know?'
'I daresay you would,' snarled Uglъk stepping up from behind. 'Meaning I don't think at all, eh? Curse you! You're as bad as the other rabble: the maggots and the apes of Lugbъrz. No good trying to charge with them. They'd just squeal and bolt, and there are more than enough of these filthy horse-boys to mop up our lot on the flat.
'There's only one thing those maggots can do: they can see like gimlets in the dark. But these Whiteskins have better night-eyes than most Men, from all I've heard; and don't forget their horses! They can see the night-breeze, or so it's said. Still there's one thing the fine fellows don't know: Mauhъr and his lads are in the forest, and they should turn up any time now.'
Uglъk's words were enough, apparently, to satisfy the Isengarders; but the other Orcs were both dispirited and rebellious. They posted a few watchers, but most of them lay on the ground, resting in the pleasant darkness. It did indeed become very dark again; for the moon passed westward into thick cloud, and Pippin could not see anything a few feet away. The fires brought no light to the hillock. The riders were not, however, content merely to wait for the dawn and let their enemies rest. A sudden outcry on the east side of the knoll showed that something was wrong. It seemed that some of the Men had ridden in close, slipped off their horses, crawled to the edge of the camp and killed several Orcs, and then had faded away again. Uglъk dashed off to stop a stampede.
Pippin and Merry sat up. Their guards, Isengarders, had gone with Uglъk. But if the hobbits had any thought of escape, it was soon dashed. A long hairy arm took each of them by the neck and drew them close together. Dimly they were aware of Grishnбkh's great head and hideous face between them; his foul breath was on their cheeks. He began to paw them and feel them. Pippin shuddered as hard cold fingers groped down his back.
'Well, my little ones!' said Grishnбkh in a soft whisper. 'Enjoying your nice rest? Or not? A little awkwardly placed, perhaps: swords and whips on one side, and nasty spears on the other! Little people should not meddle in affairs that are too big for them.' His fingers continued to grope. There was a light like a pale but hot fire behind his eyes.
The thought came suddenly into Pippin's mind, as if caught direct from the urgent thought of his enemy: 'Grishnбkh knows about the Ring! He's looking for it, while Uglъk is busy: he probably wants it for himself.' Cold fear was in Pippin's heart, yet at the same time he was wondering what use he could make of Grishnбkh's desire.
'I don't think you will find it that way,' he whispered. 'It isn't easy to find.'
'Find it?' said Grishnбkh: his fingers stopped crawling and gripped Pippin's shoulder. 'Find what? What are you talking about, little one?'. For a moment Pippin was silent. Then suddenly in the darkness he made a noise in his throat: gollum, gollum. 'Nothing, my precious,' he added.
The hobbits felt Grishnбkh's fingers twitch. 'O ho!' hissed the goblin softly. 'That's what he means, is it? O ho! Very ve-ry dangerous, my little ones.'
'Perhaps,' said Merry, now alert and aware of Pippin's guess. 'Perhaps; and not only for us. Still you know your own business best. Do you want it, or not? And what would you give for it?'
'Do I want it? Do I want it?' said Grishnбkh, as if puzzled; but his arms were trembling. 'What would I give for it? What do you mean?'
'We mean,' said Pippin, choosing his words carefully, 'that it's no good groping in the dark. We could save you time and trouble. But you must untie our legs first, or we'll do nothing, and say nothing.'
'My dear tender little fools,' hissed Grishnбkh, 'everything you have, and everything you know, will be got out of you in due time: everything! You'll wish there was more that you could tell to satisfy the Questioner, indeed you will: quite soon. We shan't hurry the enquiry. Oh dear no! What do you think you've been kept alive for? My dear little fellows, please believe me when I say that it was not out of kindness: that's not even one of Uglъk's faults.'
'I find it quite easy to believe,' said Merry. 'But you haven't got your prey home yet. And it doesn't seem to be going your way, whatever happens. If we come to Isengard, it won't be the great Grishnбkh that benefits: Saruman will take all that he can find. If you want anything for yourself, now's the time to do a deal.'
Grishnбkh began to lose his temper. The name of Saruman seemed specially to enrage him. Time was passing and the disturbance was dying down. Uglъk or the Isengarders might return at any minute.
'Have you got it – either of you?' he snarled.
'Gollum, gollum!' said Pippin.
'Untie our legs!' said Merry.
They felt the Orc's arms trembling violently. 'Curse you, you filthy little vermin!' he hissed. 'Untie your legs? I'll untie every string in your bodies. Do you think I can't search you to the bones? Search you! I'll cut you both to quivering shreds. I don't need the help of your legs to get you away-and have you all to myself!'
Suddenly he seized them. The strength in his long arms and shoulders was terrifying. He tucked them one under each armpit, and crushed them fiercely to his sides; a great stifling hand was clapped over each of their mouths. Then he sprang forward, stooping low. Quickly and silently he went, until he came to the edge of the knoll. There, choosing a gap between the watchers, he passed like an evil shadow out into the night, down the slope and away westward towards the river that flowed out of the forest. In that direction there was a wide open space with only one fire.
After going a dozen yards he halted, peering and listening. Nothing could be seen or heard. He crept slowly on, bent almost double. Then he squatted and listened again. Then he stood up, as if to risk a sudden dash. At that very moment the dark form of a rider loomed up right in front of him. A horse snorted and reared. A man called out.
Grishnбkh flung himself on the ground flat, dragging the hobbits under him; then he drew his sword. No doubt he meant to kill his captives, rather than allow them to escape or to be rescued; but it was his undoing. The sword rang faintly, and glinted a little in the light of the fire away to his left. An arrow came whistling out of the gloom: it was aimed with skill, or guided by fate, and it pierced his right hand. He dropped the sword and shrieked. There was a quick beat of hoofs, and even as Grishnбkh leaped up and ran, he was ridden down and a spear passed through him. He gave a hideous shivering cry and lay still.

Moscow

The hobbits remained flat on the ground, as Grishnбkh had left them. Another horseman came riding swiftly to his comrade's aid. Whether because of some special keenness of sight, or because of some other sense, the horse lifted and sprang lightly over them; but its rider did not see them, lying covered in their elven-cloaks, too crushed for the moment, and too afraid to move.
/.../
At last Merry stirred and whispered softly: 'So far so good: but how are we to avoid being spitted?'
The answer came almost immediately. The cries of Grishnбkh had roused the Orcs. From the yells and screeches that came from the knoll the hobbits guessed that their disappearance had been discovered: Uglъk was probably knocking off a few more heads. Then suddenly the answering cries of orc-voices came from the right, outside the circle of watch-fires, from the direction of the forest and the mountains. Mauhъr had apparently arrived and was attacking the besiegers. There was the sound of galloping horses. The Riders were drawing in their ring close round the knoll, risking the orc-arrows, so as to prevent any sortie, while a company rode off to deal with the newcomers. Suddenly Merry and Pippin realized that without moving they were now outside the circle: there was nothing between them and escape. /.../ Pippin was the first to come back to the present.
'We must be off,' he said. 'Half a moment!' Grishnбkh's sword was lying close at hand, but it was too heavy and clumsy for him to use; so he crawled forward, and finding the body of the goblin he drew from its sheath a long sharp knife. With this he quickly cut their bonds.
'Now for it!' he said. 'When we've warmed up a bit, perhaps we shall be able to stand again, and walk. But in any case we had better start by crawling.'
They crawled. The turf was deep and yielding, and that helped them: but it seemed a long slow business. They gave the watch-fire a wide berth, and wormed their way forward bit by bit, until they came to the edge of the river, gurgling away in the black shadows under its deep banks. Then they looked back.
The sounds had died away. Evidently Mauhъr and his 'lads' had been killed or driven off. The Riders had returned to their silent ominous vigil. It would not last very much longer. Already the night was old. In the East, which had remained unclouded, the sky was beginning to grow pale.
'We must get under cover,' said Pippin, 'or we shall be seen. It will not be any comfort to us, if these riders discover that we are not Orcs after we are dead.' He got up and stamped his feet. 'Those cords have cut me like wires; but my feet are getting warm again. I could stagger on now. What about you, Merry?' /They decide to escape from Rohirrim to the Forest/.
/.../
Far over the Great River, and the Brown Lands, leagues upon grey leagues away, the Dawn came, red as flame. Loud rang the hunting-horns to greet it. The Riders of Rohan sprang suddenly to life. Horn answered horn again.
Merry and Pippin heard, clear in the cold air, the neighing of war-horses, and the sudden singing of many men. The Sun's limb was lifted, an arc of fire, above the margin of the world. Then with a great cry the Riders charged from the East; the red light gleamed on mail and spear. The Orcs yelled and shot all the arrows that remained to them. The hobbits saw several horsemen fall; but their line held on up the hill and over it, and wheeled round and charged again. Most of the raiders that were left alive then broke and fled, this way and that, pursued one by one to the death. But one band, holding together in a black wedge, drove forward resolutely in the direction of the forest. Straight up the slope they charged towards the watchers. Now they were drawing near, and it seemed certain that they would escape: they had already hewn down three Riders that barred their way.
'We have watched too long,' said Merry. 'There's Uglъk! I don't want to meet him again.' The hobbits turned and fled deep into the shadows of the wood.
So it was that they did not sec the last stand, when Uglъk was overtaken and brought to bay at the very edge of Fangorn. There he was slain at last by Йomer, the Third Marshal of the Mark, who dismounted and fought him sword to sword. And over the wide fields the keen-eyed Riders hunted down the few Orcs that had escaped and still had strength to fly.
Then when they had laid their fallen comrades in a mound and had sung their praises, the Riders made a great fire and scattered the ashes of their enemies. So ended the raid, and no news of it came ever back either to Mordor or to Isengard; but the smoke of the burning rose high to heaven and was seen by many watchful eyes.

Fr.275
LotR. 3:4. Treebeard.
'Hrum, Hoom,' murmured the voice, a deep voice like a very deep woodwind instrument. 'Very odd indeed! Do not be hasty, that is my motto. But if I had seen you, before I heard your voices – I liked them: nice little voices; they reminded me of something I cannot remember – if I had seen you before I heard you, I should have just trodden on you, taking you for little Orcs, and found out my mistake afterwards. Very odd you are, indeed. Root and twig, very odd!'

Fr.276
LotR. 3:4. Treebeard.
I have told your names to the Entmoot, and they have seen you, and they have agreed that you are not- Orcs, and that a new line shall be put in the old lists. We have got no further yet, but that is quick work for an Entmoot.

Fr.277
LotR. 3:4. Treebeard.
'You do not know, perhaps, how strong we /the Ents/ are. Maybe you have heard of Trolls? They are mighty strong. But Trolls are only counterfeits, made by the Enemy in the Great Darkness, in mockery of Ents, as Orcs were of Elves. We are stronger than Trolls. We are made of the bones of the earth. We can split stone like the roots of trees, only quicker, far quicker, if our minds are roused!'

Fr.278
LotR. 3:5. The White Rider.
'Here at last we find news!' said Aragorn. He lifted up a broken leaf for them to see, a large pale leaf of golden hue, now fading and turning brown. 'Here is a mallorn-leaf of Lуrien, and there are small crumbs on it, and a few more crumbs in the grass. And see! there are some pieces of cut cord lying nearby!'
'And here is the knife that cut them!' said Gimli. He stooped and drew out of a tussock, into which some heavy foot had trampled it, a short jagged blade. The haft from which it had been snapped was beside it. 'It was an orc-weapon,' he said, holding it gingerly, and looking with disgust at the carved handle: it had been shaped like a hideous head with squinting eyes and leering mouth.
They did not seek out the rest of us, nor attack our camp; but instead they went with all speed towards Isengard. Did they suppose they had captured the Ring-bearer and his faithful comrade? I think not. Their masters would not dare to give such plain orders to Orcs, even if they knew so much themselves; they would not speak openly to them of the Ring: they are not trusty servants. But I think the Orcs had been commanded to capture hobbits, alive, at all costs. An attempt was made to slip out with the precious prisoners before the battle. Treachery perhaps, likely enough with such folk; some large and bold Orc may have been trying to escape with the prize alone, for his own ends. There, that is my tale.

Fr.279
LotR. 3:7. Helm's Deep.
Behind them orc-archers crowded, sending a hail of darts against the bowmen on the walls. They gained the gates. The trees, swung by strong arms, smote the timbers with a rending boom. If any man fell, crushed by a stone hurtling from above, two others sprang to take his place. Again and again the great rams swung and crashed.

Fr.280
LotR. 3:7. Helm's Deep.
'Yet we cannot stay here beyond the walls to defend them,' said Йomer. 'Look!' He pointed to the causeway. Already a great press of Orcs and Men were gathering again beyond the stream. Arrows whined, and skipped on the stones about them.

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LotR. 3:7. Helm's Deep.
'But the Orcs have brought a devilry from Orthanc,' said Aragorn. 'They have a blasting fire, and with it they took the Wall. If they cannot come in the caves, they may seal up those that are inside. But now we must turn all our thoughts to our own defence.'
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LotR. 3:7. Helm's Deep.
At last Aragorn stood above the great gates, heedless of the darts of the enemy. As he looked forth he saw the eastern sky grow pale. Then he raised his empty hand, palm outward in token of parley.
The Orcs yelled and jeered. 'Come down! Come down!' they cried. 'If you wish to speak to us, come down! Bring out your king! We are the fighting Uruk-hai. We will fetch him from his hole, if he does not come. Bring out your skulking king!'
'The king stays or comes at his own will,' said Aragorn.
'Then what are you doing here?' they answered. 'Why do you look out? Do you wish to see the greatness of our army? We are the fighting Uruk-hai.'
'I looked out to see the dawn,' said Aragorn.
'What of the dawn?' they jeered. 'We are the Uruk-hai: we do not stop the fight for night or day, for fair weather or for storm. We come to kill, by sun or moon. What of the dawn?'
'None knows what the new day shall bring him,' said Aragorn. 'Get you gone, ere it turn to your evil.'
'Get down or we will shoot you from the wall,' they cried. 'This is no parley. You have nothing to say.' /The Orcs have respect to parley!/
'I have still this to say,' answered Aragorn. 'No enemy has yet taken the Hornburg. Depart, or not one of you will be spared. Not one will be left alive to take back tidings to the North. You do not know your peril.'
So great a power and royalty was revealed in Aragorn, as he stood there alone above the ruined gates before the host of his enemies, that many of the wild men paused, and looked back over their shoulders to the valley, and some looked up doubtfully at the sky. But the Orcs laughed with loud voices; and a hail of darts and arrows whistled over the wall, as Aragorn leaped down.
There was a roar and a blast of fire. The archway of the gate above which he had stood a moment before crumbled and crashed in smoke and dust. The barricade was scattered as if by a thunderbolt. Aragorn ran to the king's tower.

Fr.283
LotR. 3:8. The Road to Isengard.
No Orcs remained alive; their bodies were uncounted. But a great many of the hillmen had given themselves up; and they were afraid, and cried for mercy. The Men of the Mark took their weapons from them, and set them to work.

Fr.284
LotR. 3:8. The Road to Isengard.
'This is our way,' said Gandalf. 'Grievous is the fall of your men; but you shall see that at least the wolves of the mountains do not devour them. It is with their friends, the Orcs, that they hold their feast: such indeed is the friendship of their kind.'

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LotR. 3:9. Flotsam and Jetsam.
'Less than an eye!' said Gimli. 'But I will not go into any orc-house nor touch Orcs' meat or anything that they have mauled.'
'We wouldn't ask you to,' said Merry. 'We have had enough of Orcs ourselves to last a life-time. But there were many other folk in Isengard. Saruman kept enough wisdom not to trust his Orcs. He had Men to guard his gates: some of his most faithful servants, I suppose. Anyway they were favoured and got good provisions.'

Moscow

Fr.286
LotR. 4:2. The Passage of the Marshes.
'I don't know,' said Frodo in a dreamlike voice. 'But I have seen them too. In the pools when the candles were lit. They lie in all the pools, pale faces, deep deep under the dark water. I saw them: grim faces and evil, and noble faces and sad. Many faces proud and fair, and weeds in their silver hair. But all foul, all rotting, all dead. A fell light is in them.' Frodo hid his eyes in his hands. 'I know not who they are; but I thought I saw there Men and Elves, and Orcs beside them.'
`Yes, yes,' said Gollum. `All dead, all rotten. Elves and Men and Orcs. The Dead Marshes. There was a great battle long ago, yes, so they told him when Smйagol was young, when I was young before the Precious came. It was a great battle. Tall Men with long swords, and terrible Elves, and Orcses shrieking. They fought on the plain for days and months at the Black Gates. But the Marshes have grown since then, swallowed up the graves; always creeping, creeping.

Fr.287
LotR. 4:5. The Window on the West.
/Faramir on Gollum/ 'Yes, the skulking fellow that we saw with his nose in the pool down yonder. He had an ill-favoured look. Some spying breed of Orc, I guess, or a creature of theirs.'

Fr.288
LotR. 4:5. The Window on the West.
/Frodo to Faramir/ ‘Or are you now trying to snare me with a falsehood?'
`I would not snare even an orc with a falsehood,' said Faramir.

Fr.289
LotR. 4:8. The Stairs of Cirith Ungol.
`I wonder when we'll find water again? ' said Sam. 'But I suppose even over there they drink? Orcs drink, don't they? '
'Yes, they drink,' said Frodo. 'But do not let us speak of that. Such drink is not for us.'
`Then all the more need to fill our bottles,' said Sam. `But there isn't any water up here: not a sound or a trickle have I heard. And anyway Faramir said we were not to drink any water in Morgul.'

Fr.290
LotR. 4:10. The Choices of Master Samwise.
He could not tell how near the voices were, the words seemed almost in his ears.
'Hola! Gorbag! What are you doing up here? Had enough of war already? '
'Orders, you lubber. And what are you doing, Shagrat? Tired of lurking up there? Thinking of coming down to fight? '
'Orders to you. I'm in command of this pass. So speak civil. What's your report? '
'Nothing.'
`Hai! hai! yoi!' A yell broke into the exchanges of the leaders. The Orcs lower down had suddenly seen something. They began to run. So did the others.
`Hai! Hola! Here's something! Lying right in the road. A spy, a spy! ' There was a hoot of snarling horns and a babel of baying voices. /.../
There was a wild clamour, hooting and laughing, as something was lifted from the ground. 'Ya hoi! Ya harri hoi! Up! Up! '
Then a voice shouted: `Now off! The quick way. Back to the Undergate! She'll not trouble us tonight by all the signs.' The whole band of orc-figures began to move. Four in the middle were carrying a body high on their shoulders. `Ya hoi! ' /../
/Orcs/ gabbled and yammered after the fashion of their kind. Sam heard the noise of their harsh voices, flat and hard in the dead air, and he could distinguish two voices from among all the rest: they were louder, and nearer to him. The captains of the two parties seemed to be bringing up the rear, debating as they went.
'Can't you stop your rabble making such a racket, Shagrat? ' grunted the one. `We don't want Shelob on us.'
`Go on, Gorbag! Yours are making more than half the noise,' said the other. `But let the lads play! No need to worry about Shelob for a bit, I reckon. She's sat on a nail, it seems, and we shan't cry about that. Didn't you see: a nasty mess all the way back to that cursed crack of hers? If we've stopped it once, we've stopped it a hundred times. So let 'em laugh. And we've struck a bit of luck at last: got something that Lugbъrz wants.'
'Lugbъrz wants it, eh? What is it, d'you think? Elvish it looked to me, but undersized. What's the danger in a thing like that? '
'Don't know till we've had a look.'
'Oho! So they haven't told you what to expect? They don't tell us all they know, do they? Not by half. But they can make mistakes, even the Top Ones can.'
`Sh, Gorbag!' Shagrat's voice was lowered, so that even with his strangely sharpened hearing Sam could only just catch what was said. 'They may, but they've got eyes and ears everywhere; some among my lot, as like as not. But there's no doubt about it, they're troubled about something. The Nazgыl down below are, by your account; and Lugbъrz is too. Something nearly slipped.'
`Nearly, you say! ' said Gorbag.
`All right,' said Shagrat, `but we'll talk of that later: Wait till we get to the Under-way. There's a place there where we can talk a bit, while the lads go on.'
Shortly afterwards Sam saw the torches disappear. Then there was a rumbling noise, and just as he hurried up, a bump. As far as he could guess the Orcs had turned and gone into the very opening which Frodo and he had tried and found blocked. It was still blocked.
There seemed to be a great stone in the way, but the Orcs had got through somehow, for he could hear their voices on the other side. They were still running along, deeper and deeper into the mountain, back towards the tower. Sam felt desperate. They were carrying off his master's body for some foul purpose and he could not follow. He thrust and pushed at the block, and he threw himself against it, but it did not yield. Then not far inside, or so he thought, he heard the two captains' voices talking again. He stood still listening for a little hoping perhaps to learn something useful. Perhaps Gorbag, who seemed to belong to Minas Morgul, would come out, and he could then slip in.
`No, I don't know,' said Gorbag's voice. `The messages go through quicker than anything could fly, as a rule. But I don't enquire how it's done. Safest not to. Grr! Those Nazgыl give me the creeps. And they skin the body off you as soon as look at you, and leave you all cold in the dark on the other side. But He likes 'em; they're His favourites nowadays, so it's no use grumbling. I tell you, it's no game serving down in the city.'
`You should try being up here with Shelob for company,' said Shagrat.
'I'd like to try somewhere where there's none of 'em. But the war's on now, and when that's over things may be easier.'
`It's going well, they say.'
'They would.' grunted Gorbag. `We'll see. But anyway, if it does go well, there should be a lot more room. What d'you say? – if we get a chance, you and me'll slip off and set up somewhere on our own with a few trusty lads, somewhere where there's good loot nice and handy, and no big bosses.'
'Ah! ' said Shagrat. `Like old times.'
`Yes,' said Gorbag. 'But don't count on it. I'm not easy in my mind. As I said, the Big Bosses, ay,' his voice sank almost to a whisper, `ay, even the Biggest, can make mistakes. Something nearly slipped you say. I say, something has slipped. And we've got to look out. Always the poor Uruks to put slips right, and small thanks. But don't forget: the enemies don't love us any more than they love Him, and if they get topsides on Him, we're done too. But see here: when were you ordered out? '
`About an hour ago, just before you saw us. A message came: Nazgыl uneasy. Spies feared on Stairs. Double vigilance. Patrol to head of Stairs. I came at once.'
'Bad business,' said Gorbag. `See here – our Silent Watchers were uneasy more than two days ago. that I know. But my patrol wasn't ordered out for another day, nor any message sent to Lugbъrz either: owing to the Great Signal going up, and the High Nazgыl going off to the war, and all that. And then they couldn't get Lugbъrz to pay attention for a good while, I'm told.'
`The Eye was busy elsewhere, I suppose,' said Shagrat. `Big things going on away west, they say.'
'I daresay,' growled Gorbag. `But in the meantime enemies have got up the Stairs. And what were you up to? You're supposed to keep watch, aren't you, special orders or no? What are you for?'
`That's enough! Don't try and teach me my job. We were awake all right. We knew there were funny things going on.'
`Very funny! '
`Yes, very funny: lights and shouting and all. But Shelob was on the go. My lads saw her and her Sneak.'
`Her Sneak? What's that? '
`You must have seen him: little thin black fellow; like a spider himself, or perhaps more like a starved frog. He's been here before. Came out of Lugbъrz the first time, years ago, and we had word from High Up to let him pass. He's been up the Stairs once or twice since then, but we've left him alone: seems to have some understanding with Her Ladyship. I suppose he's no good to eat: she wouldn't worry about words from High Up. But a fine guard you keep in the valley: he was up here a day before all this racket. Early last night we saw him. Anyway my lads reported that Her Ladyship was having some fun, and that seemed good enough for me, until the message came. I thought her Sneak had brought her a toy. or that you'd perhaps sent her a present, a prisoner of war or something. I don't interfere when she's playing. Nothing gets by Shelob when she's on the hunt.'
'Nothing, say you! Didn't you use your eyes back there? I tell you I'm not easy in my mind. Whatever came up the Stairs, did get by. It cut her web and got clean out of the hole. That's something to think about! '
`Ah well, but she got him in the end, didn't she? '
`Got him? Got who? This little fellow? But if he was the only one then she'd have had him off to her larder long before, and there he'd be now. And if Lugbъrz wanted him, you'd have to go and get him. Nice for you. But there was more than one.'
At this point Sam began to listen more attentively and pressed his ear against the stone.
'Who cut the cords she'd put round him, Shagrat? Same one as cut the web. Didn't you see that? And who stuck a pin into Her Ladyship? Same one, I reckon. And where is he? Where is he, Shagrat? '
Shagrat made no reply.
`You may well put your thinking cap on, if you've got one. It's no laughing matter. No one, no one has ever stuck a pin in Shelob before, as you should know well enough. There's no grief in that; but think-there's someone loose hereabouts as is more dangerous than any other damned rebel that ever walked since the bad old times, since the Great Siege. Something has slipped.'
`And what is it then? ' growled Shagrat.
`By all the signs, Captain Shagrat, I'd say there's a large warrior loose, Elf most likely, with an elf-sword anyway, and an axe as well maybe: and he's loose in your bounds, too, and you've never spotted him. Very funny indeed! ' Gorbag spat. Sam smiled grimly at this description of himself.
'Ah well, you always did take a gloomy view.' said Shagrat. 'You can read the signs how you like, but there may be other ways to explain them. Anyhow. I've got watchers at every point, and I'm going to deal with one thing at a time. When I've had a look at the fellow we have caught, then I'll begin to worry about something else.'
`It's my guess you won't find much in that little fellow,' said Gorbag. 'He may have had nothing to do with the real mischief. The big fellow with the sharp sword doesn't seem to have thought him worth much anyhow – just left him lying: regular elvish trick.'
`We'll see. Come on now! We've talked enough. Let's go and have a look at the prisoner!
`What are you going to do with him? Don't forget I spotted him first. If there's any game, me and my lads must be in it.'

Moscow

'Now, now,' growled Shagrat. 'I have my orders. And it's more than my belly's worth, or yours, to break 'em. Any trespasser found by the guard is to be held at the tower. Prisoner is to be stripped. Full description of every article, garment, weapon, letter, ring. or trinket is to be sent to Lugbъrz at once, and to Lugbъrz only. And the prisoner is to be kept safe and intact, under pain of death for every member of the guard, until He sends or comes Himself. That's plain enough, and that's what I'm going to do.'
'Stripped, eh? ' said Gorbag. 'What, teeth, nails, hair, and all? '
`No, none of that. He's for Lugbъrz, I tell you. He's wanted safe and whole.'
'You'll find that difficult,' laughed Gorbag. 'He's nothing but carrion now. What Lugbъrz will do with such stuff I can't guess. He might as well go in the pot.'
'You fool,' snarled Shagrat. 'You've been talking very clever, but there's a lot you don't know, though most other folk do. You'll be for the pot or for Shelob, if you don't take care. Carrion! Is that all you know of Her Ladyship? When she binds with cords, she's after meat. She doesn't eat dead meat, nor suck cold blood. This fellow isn't dead! '/.../
`Garn!' said Shagrat. 'She's got more than one poison. When she's hunting, she just gives 'em a dab in the neck and they go as limp as boned fish, and then she has her way with them. D'you remember old Ufthak? We lost him for days. Then we found him in a corner; hanging up he was, but he was wide awake and glaring. How we laughed! She'd forgotten him, maybe, but we didn't touch him-no good interfering with Her. Nar – this little filth, he'll wake up, in a few hours; and beyond feeling a bit sick for a hit, he'll be all right. Or would be, if Lugbъrz would let him alone. And of course, beyond wondering where he is and what's happened to him.'
'And what's going to happen to him,' laughed Gorbag. 'We can tell him a few stories at any rate, if we can't do anything else. I don't suppose he's ever been in lovely Lugbъrz, so he may like to know what to expect. This is going to be more funny than I thought. Let's go!'
`There's going to be no fun, I tell you,' said Shagrat. 'And he's got to be kept safe, or we're all as good as dead.'
`All right! But if I were you, I'd catch the big one that's loose, before you send in any report to Lugbъrz. It won't sound too pretty to say you've caught the kitten and let the cat escape.'
The voices began to move away. /.../

He was catching the two Orcs up: their voices were growing nearer again. Now they seemed quite close.
`That's what I'm going to do,' said Shagrat in angry tones. 'Put him right up in the top chamber.'
`What for? ' growled Gorbag. `Haven't you any lock-ups down below? '
`He's going out of harm's way, I tell you,' answered Shagrat. 'See? He's precious. I don't trust all my lads, and none of yours; nor you neither, when you're mad for fun. He's going where I want him, and where you won't come, if you don't keep civil. Up to the top, I say. He'll be safe there.'

Gorbag and Shagrat were drawing near the gate.
Sam heard a burst of hoarse singing, blaring of horns and banging of gongs, a hideous clamour. Gorbag and Shagrat were already on the threshold.

Fr.291
LotR. 5:4. The Siege of Gondor.
Then suddenly there was a tumult of fierce cries. Horsemen of the enemy swept up. The lines of fire became flowing torrents, file upon file of Orcs bearing flames, and wild Southron men with red banners, shouting with harsh tongues, surging up, overtaking the retreat. And with a piercing cry out of the dim sky fell the winged shadows, the Nazgыl stooping to the kill.

Fr.292
LotR. 5:4. The Siege of Gondor.
‘There is no news of the Rohirrim,’ he said. ‘Rohan will not come now. Or if they come, it will not avail us. The new host that we had tidings of has come first, from over the River by way of Andros, it is said. They are strong: battalions of Orcs of the Eye, and countless companies of Men of a new sort that we have not met before. Not tall, but broad and grim, bearded like dwarves, wielding great axes. Out of some savage land in the wide East they come, we deem’.
Fr.293
LotR. 5:4. The Siege of Gondor.
Busy as ants hurrying orcs were digging, digging lines of deep trenches in a huge ring, just out of bowshot from the walls; and as the trenches were made each was filled with fire, though how it was kindled or fed, by art or devilry, none could see. All day the labour went forward, while the men of Minas Tirith looked on, unable to hinder it. And as each length of trench was completed, they could see great wains approaching; and soon yet more companies of the enemy were swiftly setting up, each behind the cover of a trench, great engines for the casting of missiles. There were none upon the City walls large enough to reach so far or to stay the work.

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LotR. 5:5. The Ride of the Rohirrim.
‘No, father of Horse-men,’ he said, ‘we fight not. Hunt only. Kill gorgыn in woods, hate orc-folk. You hate gorgыn too. We help as we can. Wild Men have long ears and long eyes; know all paths. Wild Men live here before Stone-houses; before Tall Men come up out of Water.’
‘But our need is for aid in battle,’ said Eomer. ‘How will you and your folk help us?’
‘Bring news,’ said the Wild Man. ‘We look out from hills. We climb big mountain and look down. Stone-city is shut. Fire burns there outside; now inside too. You wish to come there? Then you must be quick. But gorgыn and men out of far-away,’ he waved a short gnarled arm eastward, ‘sit on horse-road. Very many, more than Horse-men.’
‘How do you know that?’ said Eomer.
The old man’s flat face and dark eyes showed nothing, but his voice was sullen with displeasure. ‘Wild men are wild, free, but not children,’ he answered. ‘I am great headman, Ghвn-buri-Ghвn. I count many things: stars in sky, leaves on trees, men in the dark. You have a score of scores counted ten times and five. They have more. Big fight, and who will win? And many more walk round walls of Stone-houses.’
‘Alas! he speaks all too shrewdly,’ said Theoden. ‘And our scouts say that they have cast trenches and stakes across the road. We cannot sweep them away in sudden onset.’
‘And yet we need great haste,’ said Eomer. ‘Mundburg is on fire!’
‘Let Ghвn-buri-Ghвn finish!’ said the Wild Man. ‘More than one road he knows. He will lead you by road where no pits are, no gorgыn walk, only Wild Men and beasts. Many paths were made when Stonehouse-folk were stronger. They carved hills as hunters carve beast-flesh. Wild Men think they ate stone for food. They went through Drъadan to Rimmon with great wains. They go no longer. Road is forgotten, but not by Wild Men. Over hill and behind hill it lies still under grass and tree, there behind Rimmon and down to Dоn, and back at the end to Horse-men’s road. Wild Men will show you that road. Then you will kill gorgыn and drive away bad dark with bright iron, and Wild Men can go back to sleep in the wild woods.’
Йomer and the king spoke together in their own tongue. At length Thйoden turned to the Wild Man. ‘We will receive your offer,’ he said. ‘For though we leave a host of foes behind, what matter? If the Stone-city falls, then we shall have no returning. If it is saved, then the orc-host itself will be cut off. If you are faithful, Ghвn-buri-Ghвn, then we will give you rich reward, and you shall have the friendship of the Mark for ever.’
‘Dead men are not friends to living men, and give them no gifts,’ said the Wild Man. ‘But if you live after the Darkness, then leave Wild Men alone in the woods and do not hunt them like beasts any more. Ghвn-buri-Ghвn will not lead you into trap. He will go himself with father of Horse-men, and if he leads you wrong, you will kill him.’
‘So be it!’ said Thйoden.

Fr.295.
LotR. 5:6. The Battle of the Pelennor Fields.
East rode the knights of Dol Amroth driving the enemy before them: troll-men and Variags and orcs that hated the sunlight.


Fr.296
LotR. 5:10. The Black Gate Opens.
It was dark and lifeless; for the Orcs and lesser creatures of Mordor that had dwelt there had been destroyed in battle, and the Nazgыl were abroad.
Fr.297
LotR. 5:10. The Black Gate Opens.
For a strong force of Orcs and Easterlings attempted to take their leading companies in an ambush; and that was in the very place where Faramir had waylaid the men of Harad, and the road went in a deep cutting through an out-thrust of the eastward hills.

Fr.298
LotR. 6:1. The Tower of Cirith Ungol.
He /Sam/ could not go far on the guarded road beyond: not even the black shadows, lying deep where the red glow could not reach, would shield him long from the night-eyed orcs.

Fr.299
LotR. 6:1. The Tower of Cirith Ungol.
At first Sam did not listen; he took a pace out of the eastward door and looked about. At once he saw that up here the fighting had been fiercest. All the court was choked with dead orcs or their severed and scattered heads and limbs. The place stank of death. A snarl followed by a blow and a cry sent him darting back into hiding. An orc-voice rose in anger, and he knew it again at once, harsh, brutal, cold. It was Shagrat speaking, Captain of the Tower.
`You won’t go again, you say? Curse you, Snaga, you little maggot! If you think I’m so damaged that it’s safe to flout me, you’re mistaken Come here, and I’ll squeeze your eyes out, like I did to Radbug just now. And when some new lads come, I’ll deal with you: I’ll send you to Shelob.’
`They won’t come, not before you’re dead anyway,’ answered Snaga surlily. ‘I’ve told you twice that Gorbag’s swine got to the gate first, and none of ours got out. Lagduf and Muzgash ran through, but they were shot. I saw it from a window, I tell you. And they were the last.’
‘Then you must go. I must stay here anyway. But I’m hurt. The Black Pits take that filthy rebel Gorbag!’ Shagrat’s voice trailed off into a string of foul names and curses. `I gave him better than I got, but he knifed me, the dung, before I throttled him. You must go, or I’ll eat you. News must get through to Lugbъrz, or we’ll both be for the Black Pits. Yes, you too. You won’t escape by skulking here.’
`I’m not going down those stairs again,’ growled Snaga, `be you captain or no. Nar! Keep your hands off your knife, or I’ll put an arrow in your guts. You won’t be a captain long when They hear about all these goings-on. I’ve fought for the Tower against those stinking Morgul-rats, but a nice mess you two precious captains have made of things, fighting over the swag.’
‘That’s enough from you,’ snarled Shagrat. `I had my orders. It was Gorbag started it, trying to pinch that pretty shirt.’
`Well, you put his back up, being so high and mighty. And he had more sense than you anyway. He told you more than once that the most dangerous of these spies was still loose, and you wouldn’t listen. And you won’t listen now. Gorbag was right, I tell you. There’s a great fighter about, one of those bloody-handed Elves, or one of the filthy tarks /«The Men of Gondor» in Orkish, from elv.-adun ‘tarkil’/. He’s coming here, I tell you. You heard the bell. He’s got past the Watchers, and that’s tark’s work. He’s on the stairs. And until he’s off them, I’m not going down. Not if you were a Nazgыl, I wouldn’t.’
`So that’s it, is it?’ yelled Shagrat. ‘You’ll do this, and you’ll not do that? And when he does come, you’ll bolt and leave me? No, you won’t! I’ll put red maggot-holes in your belly first.’
Out of the turret-door the smaller orc came flying. Behind him came Shagrat, a large orc with long arms that, as he ran crouching, reached to the ground. But one arm hung limp and seemed to be bleeding; the other hugged a large black bundle. In the red glare Sam, cowering behind the stair-door, caught a glimpse of his evil face as it passed: it was scored as if by rending claws and smeared with blood; slaver dripped from its protruding fangs; the mouth snarled like an animal.

Moscow

As far as Sam could see, Shagrat hunted Snaga round the roof, until ducking and eluding him the smaller orc with a yelp darted back into the turret and disappeared. Then Shagrat halted. Out of the eastward door Sam could see him now by the parapet, panting, his left claw clenching and unclenching feebly. He put the bundle on the floor and with his right claw drew out a long red knife and spat on it. Going to the parapet he leaned over, looking down into the outer court far below. Twice he shouted but no answer came.
Suddenly, as Shagrat was stooped over the battlement, his back to the roof-top, Sam to his amazement saw that one of the sprawling bodies was moving. It was crawling. It put out a claw and clutched the bundle. It staggered up. In its other hand it held a broad-headed spear with a short broken haft. It was poised for a stabbing thrust. But at that very moment a hiss escaped its teeth, a gasp of pain or hate. Quick as a snake Shagrat slipped aside, twisted round, and drove his knife into his enemy’s throat.
`Got you, Gorbag!’ he cried. ‘Not quite dead, eh? Well, I’ll finish my job now.’ He sprang on to the fallen body, and stamped and trampled it in his fury, stooping now and again to stab and slash it with his knife. Satisfied at last, he threw back his head and let out a horrible gurgling yell of triumph. Then he licked his knife, and put it between his teeth, and catching up the bundle he came loping towards the near door of the stairs.
Sam had no time to think. He might have slipped out of the other door, but hardly without being seen; and he could not have played hide-and-seek with this hideous orc for long. He did what was probably the best thing he could have done. He sprang out to meet Shagrat with a shout. He was no longer holding the Ring, but it was there, a hidden power, a cowing menace to the slaves of Mordor; and in his hand was Sting, and its light smote the eyes of the orc like the glitter of cruel stars in the terrible elf-countries, the dream of which was a cold fear to all his kind. And Shagrat could not both fight and keep hold of his treasure. He stopped, growling, baring his fangs. Then once more, orc-fashion, he leapt aside, and as Sam sprang at him, using the heavy bundle as both shield and weapon, he thrust it hard into his enemy’s face. Sam staggered, and before he could recover, Shagrat darted past and down the stairs.
Sam ran after him, cursing, but he did not go far. Soon the thought of Frodo returned to him, and he remembered that the other orc had gone back into the turret. Here was another dreadful choice, and he had no time to ponder it. If Shagrat got away, he would soon get help and come back. But if Sam pursued him, the other orc might do some horrible deed up there. And anyway Sam might miss Shagrat or be killed by him. He turned quickly and ran back up the stairs. `Wrong again, I expect,’ he sighed. `But it’s my job to go right up to the top first, whatever happens afterwards.’
Away below Shagrat went leaping down the stairs and out over the court and through the gate, bearing his precious burden.

Fr.300
LotR. 6:1. The Tower of Cirith Ungol.
The door closed with a dull thud; and then a snarling orc-voice rang out.
‘Ho la! You up there, you dunghill rat! Stop your squeaking, or I’ll come and deal with you. D’you hear?’
There was no answer.
‘All right,’ growled Snaga. `But I’ll come and have a look at you all the same, and see what you’re up to.’
The hinges creaked again, and Sam, now peering over the corner of the passage-threshold, saw a flicker of light in an open doorway, and the dim shape of an orc coming out. He seemed to be carrying a ladder. Suddenly the answer dawned on Sam: the topmost chamber was reached by a trap-door in the roof of the passage. Snaga thrust the ladder upwards, steadied it, and then clambered out of sight. Sam heard a bolt drawn back. Then he heard the hideous voice speaking again.
`You lie quiet, or you’ll pay for it! You’ve not got long to live in peace, I guess; but if you don’t want the fun to begin right now, keep your trap shut, see? There’s a reminder for you!’ There was a sound like the crack of a whip.
At that rage blazed in Sam’s heart to a sudden fury. He sprang up, ran, and went up the ladder like a cat. His head came out in the middle of the floor of a large round chamber. A red lamp hung from its roof; the westward window-slit was high and dark. Something was lying on the floor by the wall under the window, but over it a black orc-shape was straddled. It raised a whip a second time, but the blow never fell.
With a cry Sam leapt across the floor, Sting in hand. The orc wheeled round, but before it could make a move Sam slashed its whip-hand from its arm. Howling with pain and fear but desperate the orc charged head-down at him. Sam’s next blow went wide, and thrown off his balance he fell backwards, clutching at the orc as it stumbled over him. Before he could scramble up he heard a cry and a thud. The orc in its wild haste had tripped on the ladder-head and fallen through the open trap-door.

Fr.301
LotR. 6:1. The Tower of Cirith Ungol.
He opened the bundle. Frodo looked in disgust at the contents, but there was nothing for it: he had to put the things on, or go naked. There were long hairy breeches of some unclean beast-fell, and a tunic of dirty leather. He drew them on. Over the tunic went a coat of stout ring-mail, short for a full-sized orc, too long for Frodo and heavy. About it he clasped a belt, at which there hung a short sheath holding a broad-bladed stabbing-sword. Sam had brought several orc-helmets. One of them fitted Frodo well enough, a black cap with iron rim, and iron hoops covered with leather upon which the evil Eye was painted in red above the beaklike nose-guard.
`The Morgul-stuff, Gorbag’s gear, was a better fit and better made,’ said Sam; `but it wouldn’t do, I guess, to go carrying his tokens into Mordor, not after this business here. Well, there you are, Mr. Frodo. A perfect little orc, if I may make so bold-at least you would be, if we could cover your face with a mask, give you longer arms, and make you bow-legged. This will hide some of the tell-tales.’ He put a large black cloak round Frodo’s shoulders. `Now you’re ready! You can pick up a shield as we go.’

Fr.302
LotR. 6:1. The Tower of Cirith Ungol.
Don’t orcs eat, and don’t they drink? Or do they just live on foul air and poison?’
`No, they eat and drink, Sam. The Shadow that bred them can only mock, it cannot make: not real new things of its own. I don’t think it gave life to the orcs, it only ruined them and twisted them; and if they are to live at all, they have to live like other living creatures. Foul waters and foul meats they’ll take, if they can get no better, but not poison. They’ve fed me, and so I’m better off than you. There must be food and water somewhere in this place.’

Fr.303
LotR. 6:2. The Land of Shadow
When the sound of hoof and foot had passed he ventured a whisper. ‘Bless me, Mr. Frodo, but I didn’t know as anything grew in Mordor! But if I had a’known, this is just what I’d have looked for. These thorns must be a foot long by the feel of them; they’ve stuck through everything I’ve got on. Wish I’d a’put that mail-shirt on!’
‘Orc-mail doesn’t keep these thorns out,’ said Frodo. ‘Not even a leather jerkin is any good.’

Fr.304
LotR. 6:2. The Land of Shadow
Hardly twenty paces from where the hobbits lurked the small orc stopped. ‘Nar!’ it snarled. ‘I’m going home.’ It pointed across the valley to the orc-hold. ‘No good wearing my nose out on stones any more. There’s not a trace left, I say. I’ve lost the scent through giving way to you. It went up into the hills, not along the valley, I tell you.’
‘Not much use are you, you little snufflers?’ said the big orc. ‘I reckon eyes are better than your snotty noses.’
‘Then what have you seen with them?’ snarled the other. ‘Garn! You don’t even know what you’re looking for.’
‘Whose blame’s that?’ said the soldier. ‘Not mine. That comes from Higher Up. First they say it’s a great Elf in bright armour, then it’s a sort of small dwarf-man, then it must be a pack of rebel Uruk-hai; or maybe it’s all the lot together.’
‘Ar!’ said the tracker. ‘They’ve lost their heads, that’s what it is. And some of the bosses are going to lose their skins too, I guess, if what I hear is true: Tower raided and all, and hundreds of your lads done in, and prisoner got away. If that’s the way you fighters go on, small wonder there’s bad news from the battles.’
‘Who says there’s bad news?’ shouted the soldier.
‘Ar! Who says there isn’t?’
‘That’s cursed rebel-talk, and I’ll stick you, if you don’t shut it down, see?’
‘All right, all right!’ said the tracker. ‘I’ll say no more and go on thinking. But what’s the black sneak got to do with it all? That gobbler with the flapping hands?’
‘I don’t know. Nothing, maybe. But he’s up to no good, nosing around, I’ll wager. Curse him! No sooner had he slipped us and run off than word came he’s wanted alive, wanted quick.’
‘Well, I hope they get him and put him through it,’ growled the tracker. ‘He messed up the scent back there, pinching that cast-off mail-shirt that he found, and paddling all round the place before I could get there.’
‘It saved his life anyhow,’ said the soldier. ‘Why, before I knew he was wanted I shot him, as neat as neat, at fifty paces right in the back; but he ran on.’
‘Garn! You missed him,’ said the tracker. ‘First you shoot wild, then you run too slow, and then you send for the poor trackers. I’ve had enough of you.’ He loped off.
‘You come back,’ shouted the soldier, ‘or I’ll report you!’
‘Who to? Not to your precious Shagrat. He won’t be captain any more.’
‘I’ll give your name and number to the Nazgыl,’ said the soldier lowering his voice to a hiss. ‘One of them’s in charge at the Tower now.’
The other halted, and his voice was full of fear and rage. ‘You cursed peaching sneakthief!’ he yelled. ‘You can’t do your job, and you can’t even stick by your own folk. Go to your filthy Shriekers, and may they freeze the flesh off you! If the enemy doesn’t get them first. They’ve done in Number One, I’ve heard, and I hope it’s true!’
The big orc, spear in hand, leapt after him. But the tracker, springing behind a stone, put an arrow in his eye as he ran up, and he fell with a crash. The other ran off across the valley and disappeared.
For a while the hobbits sat in silence. At length Sam stirred. ‘Well I call that neat as neat,’ he said. ‘If this nice friendliness would spread about in Mordor, half our trouble would be over.’
‘Quietly, Sam,’ Frodo whispered. ‘There may be others about. We have evidently had a very narrow escape, and the hunt was hotter on our tracks than we guessed. But that is the spirit of Mordor, Sam; and it has spread to every corner of it. Orcs have always behaved like that, or so all tales say, when they are on their own. But you can’t get much hope out of it. They hate us far more, altogether and all the time. If those two had seen us, they would have dropped all their quarrel until we were dead.’

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Fr.305
LotR. 6:2. The Land of Shadow
They /Sam and Frodo/ did not have to wait long. The orcs were going at a great pace. Those in the foremost files bore torches. On they came, red flames in the dark, swiftly growing. Now Sam too bowed his head, hoping that it would hide his face when the torches reached them; and he set their shields before their knees to hide their feet.
‘If only they are in a hurry and will let a couple of tired soldiers alone and pass on!’ he thought.
And so it seemed that they would. The leading orcs came loping along, panting, holding their heads down. They were a gang of the smaller breeds being driven unwilling to their Dark Lord’s wars; all they cared for was to get the march over and escape the whip. Beside them, running up and down the line, went two of the large fierce uruks, cracking lashes and shouting. File after file passed, and the tell-tale torchlight was already some way ahead. Sam held his breath. Now more than half the line had gone by. Then suddenly one of the slave-drivers spied the two figures by the road-side. He flicked a whip at them and yelled: ‘Hi, you! Get up!’ They did not answer, and with a shout he halted the whole company.
‘Come on, you slugs!’ he cried. ‘This is no time for slouching.’ He took a step towards them, and even in the gloom he recognized the devices on their shields. ‘Deserting, eh?’ he snarled. ‘Or thinking of it? All your folk should have been inside Udыn before yesterday evening. You know that. Up you get and fall in, or I’ll have your numbers and report you.’
They struggled to their feet, and keeping bent, limping like footsore soldiers, they shuffled back towards the rear of the line. ‘No, not at the rear!’ the slave-driver shouted. ‘Three files up. And stay there, or you’ll know it, when I come down the line!’ He sent his long whip-lash cracking over their heads; then with another crack and a yell he started the company off again at a brisk trot.
It was hard enough for poor Sam, tired as he was; but for Frodo it was a torment, and soon a nightmare. He set his teeth and tried to stop his mind from thinking, and he struggled on. The stench of the sweating orcs about him was stifling, and he began to gasp with thirst. On, on they went, and he bent all his will to draw his breath and to make his legs keep going; and yet to what evil end he toiled and endured he did not dare to think. There was no hope of falling out unseen: Now and again the orc-driver fell back and jeered at them.
‘There now!’ he laughed, flicking at their legs. ‘Where there’s a whip there’s a will, my slugs. Hold up! I’d give you a nice freshener now, only you’ll get as much lash as your skins will carry when you come in late to your camp. Do you good. Don’t you know we’re at war?’
They had gone some miles, and the road was at last running down a long slope into the plain, when Frodo’s strength began to give out and his will wavered. He lurched and stumbled. Desperately Sam tried to help him and hold him up, though he felt that he could himself hardly stay the pace much longer. At any moment now he knew that the end would come: his master would faint or fall, and all would be discovered, and their bitter efforts be in vain. ‘I’ll have that big slave-driving devil anyway,’ he thought.
Then just as he was putting his hand to the hilt of his sword, there came an unexpected relief. They were out on the plain now and drawing near the entrance to Udыn. Some way in front of it, before the gate at the bridge-end, the road from the west converged with others coming from the south, and from Barad-dыr. Along all the roads troops were moving; for the Captains of the West were advancing and the Dark Lord was speeding his forces north. So it chanced that several companies came together at the road-meeting, in the dark beyond the light of the watch-fires on the wall. At once there was great jostling and cursing as each troop tried to get first to the gate and the ending of their march. Though the drivers yelled and plied their whips, scuffles broke out and some blades were drawn. A troop of heavy-armed uruks from Barad-dыr charged into the Durthang line and threw them into confusion.
Dazed as he was with pain and weariness, Sam woke up, grasped quickly at his chance, and threw himself to the ground, dragging Frodo down with him. Orcs fell over them, snarling and cursing. Slowly on hand and knee the hobbits crawled away out of the turmoil, until at last unnoticed they dropped over the further edge of the road. It had a high kerb by which troop-leaders could guide themselves in black night or fog, and it was banked up some feet above the level of the open land.
Fr.306
LotR. 6:3. Mount Doom.
Frodo looked again towards the Mountain. ‘No,’ he said, ‘we shan’t need much on that road. And at its end nothing.’ Picking up his orc-shield he flung it away and threw his helmet after it. Then pulling off the grey cloak he undid the heavy belt and let it fall to the ground, and the sheathed sword with it. The shreds of the black cloak he tore off and scattered.
‘There, I’ll be an orc no more,’ he cried, ‘and I’ll bear no weapon fair or foul. Let them take me, if they will!’
Fr.307
LotR. 6:4. The Field of Cormallen
...the power of Mordor was scattering like dust in the wind. As when death smites the swollen brooding thing that inhabits their crawling hill and holds them all in sway, ants will wander witless and purposeless and then feebly die, so the creatures of Sauron, orc or troll or beast spell-enslaved, ran hither and thither mindless; and some slew themselves, or cast themselves in pits, or fled wailing back to hide in holes and dark lightless places far from hope. But the Men of Rhыn and of Harad, Easterling and Southron, saw the ruin of their war and the great majesty and glory of the Captains of the West. And those that were deepest and longest in evil servitude, hating the West, and yet were men proud and bold, in their turn now gathered themselves for a last stand of desperate battle. But the most part fled eastward as they could; and some cast their weapons down and sued for mercy.

Fr.308
Hobbit 1. An Unexpected Party
The four dwarves sat around the table, and talked about mines and gold and troubles with the goblins, and the depredations of dragons.

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Hobbit 1. An Unexpected Party
...Old Took's great-granduncle Bullroarer, who was so huge (for a hobbit) that he could ride a horse. He charged the ranks of the goblins of Mount Gram in the Battle of the Green Fields, and knocked their king Golfimbul's head clean off with a wooden club. It sailed a hundred yards through the air and went down a rabbit hole, and in this way the battle was won and the game of Golf invented at the same moment.

Fr.309a-c
Hobbit 3. A Short Rest
a. The master of the house /Elrond/ was an elf-friend-one of those people whose fathers came into the strange stories before the beginning of History, the wars of the evil goblins and the elves and the first men in the North.
b. «They are old swords, very old swords of the High Elves of the West, my kin. They were made in Gondolin for the Goblin-wars. They must have come from a dragon's hoard or goblin plunder, for dragons and goblins destroyed that city many ages ago. This, Thorin, the runes name Orcrist, the Goblin-cleaver in the ancient tongue of Gondolin; it was a famous blade».
c. /TA 3300e/ Evil and danger had grown and thriven in the Wild, since the dragons had driven men from the lands, and the goblins had spread in secret after the battle of the Mines of Moria.

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Fr.310
Hobbit 4. Over Hill and Under Hill
Out jumped the goblins, big goblins, great ugly-looking goblins, lots of goblins, before you could say rocks and blocks. There were six to each dwarf, at least, and two even for Bilbo; and they were all grabbed and carried through the crack, before you could say tinder and flint ....Where was Gandalf? Of that neither they nor the goblins had any idea, and the goblins did not wait to find out. It was deep, deep, dark, such as only goblins that have taken to living in the heart of the mountains can see through. The passages there were crossed and tangled in all directions, but the goblins knew their way, as well as you do to the nearest post-office; and the way went down and down, and it was most horribly stuffy. The goblins were very rough, and pinched unmercifully, and chuckled and laughed in their horrible stony voices; and Bilbo was more unhappy even than when the troll had picked him up by his toes. He wished again and again for his nice bright hobbit-hole. Not for the last time.
Now there came a glimmer of a red light before them. The goblins began to sing, or croak, keeping time with the flap of their flat feet on the stone, and shaking their prisoners as well.

Clap! Snap! the black crack!
Grip, grab! Pinch, nab!
And down down to Goblin-town
You go, my lad!

Clash, crash! Crush, smash!
Hammer and tongs! Knocker and gongs!
Pound, pound, far underground!
Ho, ho! my lad!

Swish, smack! Whip crack!
Batter and beat! Yammer and bleat!
Work, work! Nor dare to shirk,
While Goblins quaff, and Goblins laugh,
Round and round far underground
Below, my lad!

It sounded truly terrifying. The walls echoed to the clap, snap! and the crush, smash! and to the ugly laughter of their ho, ho! my lad! The general meaning of the song was only too plain; for now the goblins took out whips and whipped them with a swish, smack!, and set them running as fast as they could in front of them; and more than one of the dwarves were already yammering and bleating like anything, when they stumbled into a big cavern.
It was lit by a great red fire in the middle, and by torches along the walls, and it was full of goblins. They all laughed and stamped and clapped their hands, when the dwarves (with poor little Bilbo at the back and nearest to the whips) came running in, while the goblin-drivers whooped and cracked their whips behind. The ponies were already there huddled in a corner; and there were all the baggages and packages lying broken open, and being rummaged by goblins, and smelt by goblins, and fingered by goblins, and quarreled over by goblins.
I am afraid that was the last they ever saw of those excellent little ponies, including a jolly sturdy little white fellow that Elrond had lent to Gandalf, since his horse was not suitable for the mountain-paths. For goblins eat horses and ponies and donkeys (and other much more dreadful things), and they are always hungry. Just now however the prisoners were thinking only of themselves. The goblins chained their hands behind their backs and linked them all together in a line and dragged them to the far end of the cavern with little Bilbo tugging at the end of the row.
There in the shadows on a large flat stone sat a tremendous goblin with a huge head, and armed goblins were standing round him carrying the axes and the bent swords that they use. Now goblins are cruel, wicked, and bad-hearted. They make no beautiful things, but they make many clever ones. They can tunnel and mine as well as any but the most skilled dwarves, when they take the trouble, though they are usually untidy and dirty. Hammers, axes, swords, daggers, pickaxes, tongs, and also instruments of torture, they make very well, or get other people to make to their design, prisoners and slaves that have to work till they die for want of air and light. It is not unlikely that they invented some of the machines that have since troubled the world, especially the ingenious devices for killing large numbers of people at once, for wheels and engines and explosions always delighted them, and also not working with their own hands more than they could help; but in those days and those wild parts they had not advanced (as it is called) so far. They did not hate dwarves especially, no more than they hated everybody and everything, and particularly the orderly and prosperous; in some parts wicked dwarves had even made alliances with them. But they had a special grudge against Thorin's people, because of the war which you have heard mentioned, but which does not come into this tale; and anyway goblins don't care who they catch, as long as it is done smart and secret, and the prisoners are not able to defend themselves.
"Who are these miserable persons?" said the Great Goblin.
"Dwarves, and this!" said one of the drivers, pulling at Bilbo's chain so that he fell forward onto his knees.
"We found them sheltering in our Front Porch."
"What do you mean by it?" said the Great Goblin turning to Thorin. "Up to no good, I'll warrant! Spying on the private business of my people, I guess! Thieves, I shouldn't be surprised to learn! Murderers and friends of Elves, not unlikely! Come! What have you got to say?"
"Thorin the dwarf at your service!" he replied-it was merely a polite nothing. "Of the things which you suspect and imagine we had no idea at all. We sheltered from a storm in what seemed a convenient cave and unused; nothing was further from our thoughts than inconveniencing goblins in any way whatever." That was true enough!
"Urn!" said the Great Goblin. "So you say! Might I ask what you were doing up in the mountains at all, and where you were coming from, and where you were going to? In fact I should like to know all about you. Not that it will do you much good, Thorin Oakenshield, I know too much about your folk already; but let's have the truth, or I will prepare something particularly uncomfortable for you!"
"We were on a journey to visit our relatives, our nephews and nieces, and first, second, and third cousins, and the other descendants of our grandfathers, who live on the East side of these truly hospitable mountains," said Thorin, not quite knowing what to say all at once in a moment, when obviously the exact truth would not do at all.
"He is a liar, O truly tremendous one!" said one of the drivers. "Several of our people were struck by lightning in the cave, when we invited these creatures to come below; and they are as dead as stones. Also he has not explained this!" He held out the sword which Thorin had worn, the sword which came from the Trolls' lair.
The Great Goblin gave a truly awful howl of rage when he looked at it, and all his soldiers gnashed their teeth, clashed their shields, and stamped. They knew the sword at once. It had killed hundreds of goblins in its time, when the fair elves of Gondolin hunted them in the hills or did battle before their walls. They had called it Orcrist, Goblin-cleaver, but the goblins called it simply Biter. They hated it and hated worse any one that carried it.
"Murderers' and elf-friends!" the Great Goblin shouted. "Slash them! Beat them! Bite them! Gnash them! Take them away to dark holes full of snakes, and never let them see the light again!" He was in such a rage that he jumped off his seat and himself rushed at Thorin with his mouth open.
Just at that moment all the lights in the cavern went out, and the great fire went off poof! into a tower of blue glowing smoke, right up to the roof, that scattered piercing white sparks all among the goblins.
The yells and yammering, croaking, jibbering and jabbering; howls, growls and curses; shrieking and skriking, that followed were beyond description. Several hundred wild cats and wolves being roasted slowly alive together would not have compared with it. The sparks were burning holes in the goblins, and the smoke that now fell from the roof made the air too thick for even their eyes to see through. Soon they were falling over one another and rolling in heaps on the floor, biting and kicking and fighting as if they had all gone mad.
Suddenly a sword flashed in its own light. Bilbo saw it go right through the Great Goblin as he stood dumbfounded in the middle of his rage. He fell dead, and the goblin soldiers fled before the sword shrieking into the darkness.
/.../
This sword's name was Glamdring the Foe-hammer, if you remember. The goblins just called it Beater, and hated it worse than Biter if possible.
/.../
On they went. Gandalf was quite right: they began to hear goblin noises and horrible cries far behind in the passages they had come through. /.../ Still goblins go faster than dwarves, and these goblins knew the way better (they had made the paths themselves), and were madly angry; so that do what they could the dwarves heard the cries and howls getting closer and closer. Soon they could hear even the flap of the goblin feet, many many feet which seemed only just round the last corner. The blink of red torches could be seen behind them in the tunnel they were following; and they were getting deadly tired.
/.../
At this point Gandalf fell behind, and Thorin with him. They turned a sharp corner. "About turn!" he shouted. "Draw your sword, Thorin!"
There was nothing else to be done; and the goblins did not like it. They came scurrying round the corner in full cry, and found Goblin-cleaver and Foe-hammer shining cold and bright right in their astonished eyes. The ones in front dropped their torches and gave one yell before they were killed. The ones behind yelled still more, and leaped back knocking over those that were running after them. "Biter and Beater!" they shrieked; and soon they were all in confusion, and most of them were hustling back the way they had come.
It was quite a long while before any of them dared to turn that comer. By that time the dwarves had gone on again, a long, long, way on into the dark tunnels of the goblins' realm. When the goblins discovered that, they put out their torches and they slipped on soft shoes, and they chose out their very quickest runners with the sharpest ears and eyes. These ran forward, as swift as weasels in the dark, and with hardly any more noise than bats.
That is why neither Bilbo, nor the dwarves, nor even Gandalf heard them coming. Nor did they see them. But they were seen by the goblins that ran silently up behind.

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Fr.311a-e
Hobbit 5. Riddles in the Dark.
a. But somehow /Bilbo/ he was comforted. It was rather splendid to be wearing a blade made in Gondolin for the goblin-wars of which so many songs had sung; and also he had noticed that such weapons made a great impression on goblins that came upon them suddenly.
b. He /Gollum/ liked meat too. Goblin he thought good, when he could get it; but he took care they never found him out. He just throttled them from behind, if they ever came down alone anywhere near the edge of the water, while he was prowling about. They very seldom did, for they had a feeling that something unpleasant was lurking down there, down at the very roots of the mountain. They had come on the lake, when they were tunnelling down long ago, and they found they could go no further; so there their road ended in that direction, and there was no reason to go that way – unless the Great Goblin sent them. Sometimes he took a fancy for fish from the lake, and sometimes neither goblin nor fish came back.
c. No one would see him /Gollum/, no one would notice him, till he had his fingers on their throat. Only a few hours ago he had worn it, and caught a small goblin-imp. How it squeaked! He still had a bone or two left to gnaw, but he wanted something softer.
с-1. Любезно указано Дм. Виноходовым:
/Gollum's words mentioning that 'imp' of Fr.311c/ "My birhtday-present! Curse it! How did we lose it, my precious! Yes, that's it. When we came this way last, when we twisted that nassty _young_ squeaker. That's it."
d. The passage was low and roughly made... "A bit low for goblins, at least for the big ones," thought Bilbo, not knowing that even the big ones, the orcs of the mountains, go along at a great speed stooping low with their hands almost on the ground.
e. Bilbo blinked, and then suddenly he saw the goblins: goblins in full armour with drawn swords sitting just inside the door, and watching it with wide eyes, and watching the passage that led to it. They were aroused, alert, ready for anything.
They saw him sooner than he saw them. Yes, they saw him. Whether it was .an accident, or a last trick of the ring before it took a new master, it was not on his finger. With yells of delight the goblins rushed upon him.
A pang of fear and loss, like an echo of Gollum's misery, smote Bilbo, and forgetting even to draw his sword he struck his hands into his pockets. And- there was the ring still, in his left pocket, and it slipped on his finger. The goblins stopped short. They could not see a sign of him. He had vanished. They yelled twice as loud as before, but not so delightedly.
"Where is it?" they cried.
"Go back up the passage!" some shouted.
"This way!" some yelled. "That way!" others yelled.
"Look out for the door," bellowed the captain.
Whistles blew, armour clashed, swords rattled, goblins cursed and swore and ran hither and thither, falling over one another and getting very angry. There was a terrible outcry, to-do, and disturbance.
Bilbo was dreadfully frightened, but he had the sense to understand what had happened and to sneak behind a big barrel which held drink for the goblin-guards, and so get out of the way and avoid being bumped into, trampled to death, or caught by feel.
"I must get to the door, I must get to the door!" he kept on saying to himself, but it was a long time before he ventured to try. Then it was like a horrible game of blind-man's buff. The place was full of goblins running about, and the poor little hobbit dodged this way and that, was knocked over by a goblin who could not make out what he had bumped into, scrambled away on all fours, slipped between the legs of the captain just in time, got up, and ran for the door.
It was still ajar, but a goblin had pushed it nearly to. Bilbo struggled but he could not move it. He tried to squeeze through the crack. He squeezed and squeezed, and he stuck! It was awful. His buttons had got wedged on the edge of the door and the door-post. He could see outside into the open air: there were a few steps running down into a narrow valley between tall mountains; the sun came out from behind a cloud and shone bright on the outside of the door-but he could not get through.
Suddenly one of the goblins inside shouted: "There is a shadow by the door. Something is outside!"
Bilbo's heart jumped into his mouth. He gave a terrific squirm. Buttons burst off in all directions. He was through, with a torn coat and waistcoat, leaping down the steps like a goat, while bewildered goblins were still picking up his nice brass buttons on the doorstep.
Of course they soon came down after him, hooting and hallooing, and hunting among the trees. But they don't like the sun: it makes their legs wobble and their heads giddy. They could not find Bilbo with the ring on, slipping in and out of the shadow of the trees, running quick and quiet, and keeping out of the sun; so soon they went back grumbling and cursing to guard the door.

Fr.312a-e
Hobbit 6. Out of the Frying-Pan into the Fire
a. "Good heavens! Can you ask! Goblins fighting and biting in the dark, everybody falling over bodies and hitting one another! You nearly chopped off my head with Glamdring, and Thorin Was stabbing here there and everywhere with Orcrist... All of a sudden you gave one of your blinding flashes, and we saw the goblins running back yelping.
b. "What shall we do, what shall we do!" he cried. "Escaping goblins to be caught by wolves!" he said, and it became a proverb, though we now say 'out of the frying-pan into the fire' in the same sort of uncomfortable situations.
c. The Wargs and the goblins often helped one another in wicked deeds. Goblins do not usually venture very far from their mountains, unless they are driven out and are looking for new homes, or are marching to war (which I am glad to say has not happened for a long while). But in those days they sometimes used to go on raids, especially to get food or slaves to work for them. Then they often got the Wargs to help and shared the plunder with them. Sometimes they rode on wolves like men do on horses. Now it seemed that a great goblin-raid had been planned for that very night. The Wargs had come to meet the goblins and the goblins were late. The reason, no doubt, was the death of the Great Goblin, and all the excitement caused by the dwarves and Bilbo and the wizard, for whom they were probably still hunting.
/.../ The Wargs dared not attack them /men of local/ if there were many together, or in the bright day. But now they had planned with the goblins' help to come by night upon some of the villages nearest the mountains. If their plan had been carried out, there would have been none left there next day; all would have been killed except the few the goblins kept from the wolves and carried back as prisoners to their caves. /.../ The Wargs were angry and puzzled at finding them here in their very meeting-place. They thought they were friends of the woodmen, and were come to spy on them, and would take news of their plans down into the valleys, and then the goblins and the wolves would have to fight a terrible battle instead of capturing prisoners and devouring people waked suddenly from their sleep. So the Wargs had no intention of going away and letting the people up the trees escape, at any rate not until morning. And long before that, they said, goblin soldiers would be coming down from the mountains; and goblins can climb trees, or cut them down.
d. So though he could not see the people in the trees, he could make out the commotion among the wolves and see the tiny flashes of fire, and hear the howling and yelping come up faint from far beneath him. Also he could see the glint of the moon on goblin spears and helmets, as long lines of the wicked folk crept down the hillsides from their gate and wound into the wood.
Eagles are not kindly birds. Some are cowardly and cruel. But the ancient race of the northern mountains were the greatest of all birds; they were proud and strong and noble-hearted. They did not love goblins, or fear them. When they took any notice of them at all (which was seldom, for they did not eat such creatures ), they swooped on them and drove them shrieking back to their caves, and stopped whatever wickedness they were doing. The goblins hated the eagles and feared them, but could not reach their lofty seats, or drive them from the mountains.
e. Then suddenly goblins came running up yelling. They thought a battle with the woodmen was going on; but they goon learned what had really happened. Some of them actually sat down and laughed. Others waved their spears and clashed the shafts against their shields. Goblins are not afraid of fire, and they soon had a plan which seemed to them most amusing.
Some got all the wolves together in a pack. Some stacked fern and brushwood round the tree-trunks. Others rushed round and stamped and beat, and beat and stamped, until nearly all the flames were put out-but they did not put out the fire nearest to the trees where the dwarves were. That fire they fed with leaves and dead branches and bracken. Soon they had a ring of smoke and flame all round the dwarves, a ring which they kept from spreading outwards; but it closed slowly in, till the running fire was licking the fuel piled under the trees. Smoke was in Bilbo's eyes, he could feel the heat of the flames; and through the reek he could see the goblins dancing round and round in a circle like people round a midsummer bonfire. Outside the ring of dancing warriors with spears and axes stood the wolves at a respectful distance, watching and waiting.
He could hear the goblins beginning a horrible song:

Fifteen birds in five firtrees,
their feathers were fanned in a fiery breeze!
But, funny little birds, they had no wings!
O what shall we do with the funny little things?
Roast 'em alive, or stew them in a pot;
fry them, boil them and eat them hot?

Then they stopped and shouted out: "Fly away little birds! Fly away if you can! Come down little birds, or you will get roasted in your nests! Sing, sing little birds! Why don't you sing?"
"Go away! little boys!" shouted Gandalf in answer. "It isn't bird-nesting time. Also naughty little boys that play with fire get punished." He said it to make them angry, and to show them he was not frightened of them-though of course he was, wizard though he was. But they took no notice, and they went on singing.

Burn, burn tree and fern!
Shrivel and scorch! A fizzling torch
To light the night for our delight,
Ya hey!

Bake and toast 'em, fry and roast 'em
till beards blaze, and eyes glaze;
till hair smells and skins crack,
fat melts, and bones black
in cinders lie
beneath the sky!

So dwarves shall die,
and light the night for our delight,
Ya hey!
Ya-harri-heyl
Ya hoy!

And with that Ya hoy! the flames were under Gandalf’s tree. In a moment it spread to the others. The bark caught fire, the lower branches cracked.
Then Gandalf climbed to the top of his tree. The sudden splendour flashed from his wand like lightning, as he got ready to spring down from on high right among the spears of the goblins. That would have been the end of him, though he would probably have killed many of them as he came hurtling down like a thunderbolt. But he never leaped.
Just at that moment the Lord of the Eagles swept down from above, seized him in his talons, and was gone.
There was a howl of anger and surprise from the goblins. Loud cried the Lord of the Eagles, to whom Gandalf had now spoken. Back swept the great birds that were with him, and down they came like huge black shadows. The wolves yammered and gnashed their teeth; the goblins yelled and stamped with rage, and flung their heavy spears in the air in vain. Over them swooped the eagles; the dark rush of their beating wings smote them to the floor or drove them far away; their talons tore at goblin faces. Other birds flew to the tree-tops and seized the dwarves, who were scrambling up now as far as ever they dared to go.
Poor little Bilbo was very nearly left behind again! He just managed to catch hold of Dori's legs, as Dori was borne off last of all; and they went together above the tumult and the burning, Bilbo swinging in the air with his arms nearly breaking.
Now far below the goblins and the wolves were scattering far and wide in the woods. A few eagles were still circling and sweeping above the battle-ground. The flames about the trees sprang suddenly up above the highest branches.

Исправлено (Mogultaj, 10.06.2003 10:22).

Moscow

Fr.313a-d
Hobbit 7. Queer Lodgings.
a. /Ganfalf says to Beorn/ I followed down into the main hall, which was crowded with goblins. The Great Goblin was there with thirty or forty armed guards. I thought to myself 'even if they were not all chained together, what can a dozen do against so many?'
b. He /Beorn/ picked up the hobbit and laughed: "Not eaten up by Wargs or goblins or wicked bears yet I see".
c. He /Beorn/ had found more than that: he had caught a Warg and a goblin wandering in the woods. From these he had got news: the goblin patrols were still hunting with Wargs for the dwarves, and they were fiercely angry because of the death of the Great Goblin, and also because of the burning of the chief wolf's nose and the death from the wizard's fire of many of his chief servants. So much they told him when he forced them, but he guessed there was more wickedness than this afoot, and that a great raid of the whole goblin army with their wolf-allies into the lands shadowed by the mountains might soon be made to find the dwarves, or to take vengeance on the men and creatures that lived there, and who they thought must be sheltering them.
"It was a good story, that of yours," said Beorn, "but I like it still better now I am sure it is true. You must forgive my not taking your word. If you lived near the edge of Mirkwood, you would take the word of no one that you did not know as well as your brother or better. As it is, I can only say that I have hurried home as fast as I could to see that you were safe, and to offer you any help that I can. I shall think more kindly of dwarves after this. Killed the Great Goblin, killed the Great Goblin!" he chuckled fiercely to himself.
"What did you do with the goblin and the Warg?" asked Bilbo suddenly.
"Come and see!" said Beorn, and they followed round the house. A goblin's head was stuck outside the gate and a warg-skin was nailed to a tree just beyond. Beorn was a fierce enemy.
d. /Gandalf to Bilbo/ Before you could get round Mirkwood in the North you would be right among the slopes of the Grey Mountains, and they are simply stiff with goblins, hobgoblins, and rest of the worst description.

Fr.314
Hobbit 8. Flies and Spiders
Wood-elves were not goblins, and were reasonably well-behaved even to their worst enemies, when they captured them. The giant spiders were the only living things that they had no mercy upon

Fr.315
Hobbit 14. Fire and Water.
And the goblins were at council in their caves

Fr.316a-b
/Five Hosts’ Battle/
a. Hobbit 17. The Clouds Burst
"Halt!" cried Gandalf, who appeared suddenly, and stood alone, with arms uplifted, between the advancing dwarves and the ranks awaiting them. "Halt!" he called in a voice like thunder, and his staff blazed forth with a flash like the lightning. "Dread has come upon you all! Alas! it has come more swiftly than I guessed. The Goblins are upon you! Bolg /Son of Azog/ of the North is coming. O Dain! whose father you slew in Moria. Behold! the bats are above his army like a sea of locusts. They ride upon wolves and Wargs are in their train!"
...So began a battle that none had expected; and it was called the Battle of Five Armies, and it was very terrible. Upon one side were the Goblins and the wild Wolves, and upon the other were Elves and Men and Dwarves. This is how it fell out. Ever since the fall of the Great Goblin of the Misty Mountains the hatred of their race for the dwarves had been rekindled to fury. Messengers had passed to and fro between all their cities, colonies and strongholds; for they resolved now to win the dominion of the North. Tidings they had gathered in secret ways; and in all the mountains there was a forging and an arming. Then they marched and gathered by hill and valley, going ever by tunnel or under dark, until around and beneath the great mountain Gundabad of the North, where was their capital, a vast host was assembled ready to sweep down in time of storm unawares upon the South. Then they learned of the death of Smaug, and joy was in their hearts: and they hastened night after night through the mountains, and came thus at last on a sudden from the North hard on the heels of Dain. Not even the ravens knew of their coming until they came out in the broken lands which divided the Lonely Mountain from the hills behind. How much Gandalf knew cannot be said, but it is plain that he had not expected this sudden assault.
This is the plan that he made in council with the Elvenking and with Bard; and with Dain, for the dwarf-lord now joined them: the Goblins were the foes of all, and at their coming all other quarrels were forgotten. Their only hope was to lure the goblins into the valley between the arms of the Mountain; and themselves to man the great spurs that struck south and east. Yet this would be perilous, if the goblins were in sufficient numbers to overrun the Mountain itself, and so attack them also from behind and above; but there was no time for make any other plan, or to summon any help.
Soon the thunder passed, rolling away to the South-East; but the bat-cloud came, flying lower, over the shoulder of the Mountain, and whirled above them shutting out the light and filling them with dread.
"To the Mountain!" called Bard. "To the Mountain! Let us take our places while there is yet time!"
On the Southern spur, in its lower slopes and in the rocks at its feet, the Elves were set; on the Eastern spur were men and dwarves. But Bard and some of the nimblest of men and elves climbed to the height of the Eastern shoulder to gain a view to the North. Soon they could see the lands before the Mountain's feet black with a hurrying multitude. Ere long the vanguard swirled round the spur's end and came rushing into Dale. These were the swiftest wolf-riders, and already their cries and howls rent the air afar. A few brave men were strung before them to make a feint of resistance, and many there fell before the rest drew back and fled to either side. As Gandalf had hoped, the goblin army had gathered behind the resisted vanguard, and poured now in rage into the valley, driving wildly up between the arms of the Mountain, seeking for the foe. Their banners were countless, black and red, and they came on like a tide in fury and disorder.
It was a terrible battle. The most dreadful of all Bilbo's experiences, and the one which at the time he hated most – which is to say it was the one he was most proud of, and most fond of recalling long afterwards, although he was quite unimportant in it. Actually I must say he put on his ring early in the business, and vanished from sight, if not from all danger. A magic ring of that sort is not a complete protection in a goblin charge, nor does it stop flying arrows and wild spears; but it does help in getting out of the way, and it prevents your head from being specially chosen for a sweeping stroke by a goblin swordsman.
The elves were the first to charge. Their hatred for the goblins is cold and bitter. Their spears and swords shone in the gloom with a gleam of chill flame, so deadly was the wrath of the hands that held them. As soon as the host of their enemies was dense in the valley, they sent against it a shower of arrows, and each flickered as it fled as if with stinging fire. Behind the arrows a thousand of their spearmen leapt down and charged. The yells were deafening. The rocks were stained black with goblin blood. Just as the goblins were recovering from the onslaught and the elf-charge was halted, there rose from across the valley a deep-throated roar. With cries of "Moria!" and "Dain, Dain!" the dwarves of the Iron Hills plunged in, wielding their mattocks, upon the other side; and beside them came the men of the Lake with long swords. Panic came upon the Goblins; and even as they turned to meet this new attack, the elves charged again with renewed numbers. Already many of the goblins were flying back down the river to escape from the trap: and many of their own wolves were turning upon them and rending the dead and the wounded. Victory seemed at hand, when a cry rang out on the heights above.
Goblins had scaled the Mountain from the other side and already many were on the slopes above the Gate, and others were streaming down recklessly, heedless of those that fell screaming from cliff and precipice, to attack the spurs from above. Each of these could be reached by paths that ran down from the main mass of the Mountain in the centre; and the defenders had too few to bar the way for long. Victory now vanished from hope. They had only stemmed the first onslaught of the black tide.
Day drew on. The goblins gathered again in the valley. There a host of Wargs came ravening and with them came the bodyguard of Bolg, goblins of huge size with scimitars of steel. Soon actual darkness was coming into a stormy sky; while still the great bats swirled about the heads and ears of elves and men, or fastened vampire-like on the stricken. Now Bard was fighting to defend the Eastern spur, and yet giving slowly back; and the elf-lords were at bay about their king upon the southern arm, near to the watch-post on Ravenhill.
Suddenly there was a great shout, and from the Gate came a trumpet call. They had forgotten Thorin! Part of the wall, moved by levers, fell outward with a crash into the pool. Out leapt the King under the Mountain, and his companions followed him. Hood and cloak were gone; they were in shining armour, and red light leapt from their eyes. In the gloom the great dwarf gleamed like gold in a dying fire.
Rocks were buried down from on high by the goblins above; but they held on. leapt down to the falls' foot, and rushed forward to battle. Wolf and rider fell or fled before them. Thorin wielded his axe with mighty strokes, and nothing seemed to harm him.
"To me! To me! Elves and Men! To me! O my kinsfolk!" he cried, and his voice shook like a horn in the valley.
Down, heedless of order, rushed all the dwarves of Dain to his help. Down too came many of the Lake-men, for Bard could not restrain them; and out upon the other side came many of the spearmen of the elves. Once again the goblins were stricken in the valley; and they were piled in heaps till Dale was dark and hideous with their corpses. The Wargs were scattered and Thorin drove right against the bodyguards of Bolg. But he could not pierce their ranks. Already behind him among the goblin dead lay many men and many dwarves, and many a fair elf that should have lived yet long ages merrily in the wood. And as the valley widened his onset grew ever slower. His numbers were too few. His flanks were unguarded. Soon the attackers were attacked, and they were forced into a great ring, facing every way, hemmed all about with goblins and wolves returning to the assault. The bodyguard of Bolg came howling against them, and drove in upon their ranks like waves upon cliffs of sand. Their friends could not help them, for the assault from the Mountain was renewed with redoubled force, and upon either side men and elves were being slowly beaten down.

Moscow

On all this Bilbo looked with misery. He had taken his stand on Ravenhill among the Elves-partly because there was more chance of escape from that point, and partly (with the more Tookish part of his mind) because if he was going to be in a last desperate stand, he preferred on the whole to defend the Elvenking. Gandalf, too, I may say, was there, sitting on the ground as if in deep thought, preparing, I suppose, some last blast of magic before the end. That did not seem far off. "It will not be long now," thought Bilbo, "before the goblins win the Gate, and we are all slaughtered or driven down and captured. Really it is enough to make one weep, after all one has gone through. I would rather old Smaug had been left with all the wretched treasure, than that these vile creatures should get it, and poor old Bombur, and Balin and Fili and Kili and all the rest come to a bad end; and Bard too, and the Lake-men and the merry elves. Misery me! I have heard songs of many battles, and I have always understood that defeat may be glorious. It seems very uncomfortable, not to say distressing. I wish I was well out of it."
The clouds were torn by the wind, and a red sunset slashed the West. Seeing the sudden gleam in the gloom Bilbo looked round. He gave a great cry: he had seen a sight that made his heart leap, dark shapes small yet majestic against the distant glow.
"The Eagles! The Eagles!" he shouted. "The Eagles are coming!"
b. Hobbit 18. The Return Journey
The Eagles had long had suspicion of the goblins' mustering; from their watchfulness the movements in the mountains could not be altogether hid. So they too had gathered in great numbers, under the great Eagle of the Misty Mountains; and at length smelling battle from afar they had come speeding down the gale in the nick of time. They it was who dislodged the goblins from the mountain-slopes, casting them over precipices, or driving them down shrieking and bewildered among their foes. It was not long before they had freed the Lonely Mountain, and elves and men on either side of the valley could come at last to the help of the battle below.
But even with the Eagles they were still outnumbered.
In that last hour Beorn himself had appeared – no one knew how or from where. He came alone, and in bear's shape; and he seemed to have grown almost to giant-size in his wrath. The roar of his voice was like drums and guns; and he tossed wolves and goblins from his path like straws and feathers. He fell upon their rear, and broke like a clap of thunder through the ring. The dwarves were making a stand still about their lords upon a low rounded hill. Then Beorn stooped and lifted Thorin, who had fallen pierced with spears, and bore him out of the fray. Swiftly he returned and his wrath was redoubled, so that nothing could withstand him, and no weapon seemed to bite upon him. He scattered the bodyguard, and pulled down Bolg himself and crushed him. Then dismay fell on the Goblins and they fled in all directions. But weariness left their enemies with the coming of new hope, and they pursued them closely, and prevented most of them from escaping where they could. They drove many of them into the Running River, and such as fled south or west they hunted into the marshes about the Forest River; and there the greater part of the last fugitives perished, while those that came hardly to the Wood-elves' realm were there slain, or drawn in to die in the trackless dark of Mirkwood. Songs have said that three parts of the goblin warriors of the North perished on that day, and the mountains had peace for many a year.
Victory had been assured before the fall of night, but the pursuit was still on foot, when Bilbo returned to the camp; and not many were in the valley save the more grievously wounded.
/.../ The goblins of the Misty Mountains were now few and terrified, and hidden in the deepest holes they could find; and the Wargs had vanished from the woods, so that men went abroad without fear. Beorn indeed became a great chief afterwards in those regions and ruled a wide land between the mountains and the wood; and it is said that for many generations the men of his line had the power of taking bear's shape, and some were grim men and bad, but most were in heart like Beorn, if less in size and strength. In their day the last goblins were hunted from the Misty Mountains and a new peace came over the edge of the Wild.

Fr.317
Hobbit 19. The Last Stage.
"Well, Merry People!" said Bilbo looking out. "What time by the moon is this? Your lullaby would waken a drunken goblin!"

Fr.318
ATB. THE MEWLIPS.
/«Стихотворение, написанное Ширским хоббитом. Хотя, возможно, оно является чистым вымыслом, в стихотворении можно увидеть отголоски сведений о Мглистых («Мерлокских») горах, Лихолесье («spider-shadows» и «wood of hanging trees and the gallows-weed») и Долгих Болот. Образ самих мьюлипов, возможно, отражает смутные слухи об орках» - RFCG, s.v. Mewlips, the/.

The shadows where the Mewlips dwell
Are dark and wet as ink,
And slow and softly rings their bell,
As in the slime you sink.

You sink into the slime, who dare
To knock upon their door,
While down the grinning gargoyles stare
And noisome waters pour.

Beside the rotting river-strand
The drooping willows weep,
And gloomily the gorcrows stand
Croaking in their sleep.

Over the Merlock Mountains a long and weary way,
In a mouldy valley where the trees are grey,
By a dark pool's borders without wind or tide,
Moonless and sunless, the Mewlips hide.

The cellars where the Mewlips sit
Are deep and dank and cold
With single sickly candle lit;
And there they count their gold.

Their walls are wet, their ceilings drip;
Their feet upon the floor
Go softly with a squish-flap-flip,
As they sidle to the door.

They peep out slyly; through a crack
Their feeling fingers creep,
And when they've finished, in a sack
Your bones they lake to keep.

Beyond the Merlock Mountains, a long and lonely road.
Through the spider-shadows and the marsh of Tode,
And through the wood of hanging trees and the gallows-weed,
You go to find the Mewlips — and the Mewlips feed.


Fr.319.
/Фрагмент любезно сообщен Дмитрием Виноходовым, Наталией Семеновой и Аллой Хананашвили, которым составитель приносит благодарность/

LOTR-RK. 1st edition. /Aragorn's words to Gimli/
What do you fear that I should say to him: that I had a rascal of a rebel dwarf here that I would gladly exchange for a serviceable orc?


*** THE END ***

Исправлено (Mogultaj, 21.06.2003 13:10).

Ораниенбаум

Наконец-то этот бесценный материал появился на открытом доступе.

Возможно, есть смысл в том, чтобы дополнить его такой цитатой из "Хоббита", о которой обычно предпочитают забывать:

=====
Hobbit. 5. Riddles in the Dark.

"My birhtday-present! Curse it! How did we lose it, my precious! Yes, that's it. When we came this way last, when we twisted that nassty _young_ squeaker. That's it."
=====

С наилучшими пожеланиями,
Дмитрий.

[Спасибо! Соответствующее дополнение внесено, как Ваш контрибюшн, в корпус как Фр.311с-1 и указано в индексе. - Могултай]

Исправлено (Mogultaj, 10.06.2003 10:31).

Нью-Йорк

Рассуждения Ингвалла Колдуна о природе орочьей популяции юго-восточного Эриадора в XXIX – XXXI веках Третьей Эпохи.


Начнём с еськовщины. То есть - с дел и рассчётов экономических.
Долина Лезвенграда* описывается Толкиеном как огромный военно-промышленный комплекс, включающий бараки для рабочих и казармы для солдат. Долина изрыта ямами и наполнена дымящими кузнями. Позволю себе предположить, что ни в ямах, ни в кузнях не производилось еды для той "великой мощи", которую собирал в Лезвенграде Саруман.
Помимо того, для поддержания деятельности подобного комплекса необходимы стройматериалы, топливо и сырьё. Никаких свидетельств того, что в Лезвенграде добывался уголь, у нас нет. Вырубленного в долине леса на топливо и строительство хватило бы только у Джексона, да и то на первых порах.
Следовательно, у Сарумана должен быть под рукой источник ресурсов - без них даже в Средьземье армию не соберёшь и крепости, а тем более завода, не построишь. Магия в качестве этого источника не проходит - в Арде такого масштаба магии просто не существует. Магия Сарумана имеет два известных нам проявления - Голос и научно-технические исследования. Запомним это.
Правдоподобный кандидат в источники сарумановских ресурсов у нас есть только один. К северу от Лезвенграда, у подножия Мглистых, лежит целая страна - Дунланд. Страна, против которой, по идее, Саруман должен охранять Рохан и Гондор. Страна, из населения которой состоят практически все человеческие войска Сарумана. Дабы не умножать сущностей и не предполагать существования посреди Энедвэйта некоей "страны Сарумании", предположим, что Саруман являлся де-факто правителем Дунланда (если не де-юре королём, против чего свидетельствует следующий отрывок из "Неоконченных Сказаний") :

Some while ago one of Saruman's most trusted servants (yet a ruffianly fellow, an outlaw driven from
Dunland, where many said that he had Orc-blood) had returned from the borders of the Shire.

Вышеприведённый отрывок может указывать на то, что Дунланд не был формально подчинён Саруману или же, вопреки нашему первоначальному предположению, вообще был страной независимой. В таком случае нам придётся допустить существование "страны Сарумании", населённой всё же дунлендингами. Термин "дунлендинги" в этом случае будет применим к обитателям Сарумании настолько же, насколько термин "нуменорцы" применим к гондорцам, или термин "монголы" к орде Мамая.
Так или иначе, страна у Сарумана по всем признакам есть. Нормальная страна, с сельским хозяйством и мирным населением. Плюс к тому, с хорошо обученной регулярной армией. Марширующие батальоны людей, которых видят Мериадок и Перегрин выходящими из ворот Лезвенграда, не очень подходят по роханское описание "вооружил и напустил на нас диких дунландских пастухов"
А теперь вернёмся к обсуждению вопроса об орках. Как именно "скрестил" Саруман орков и людей? Как вообще можно себе это представить? Как было недавно предположено в рецензии Альвдис на фильм "Властелин Колец", как "изнасилование женщин в промышленных масштабах"? Не выдерживает никакой критики - это действительно нельзя себе представить. КПД, если нам будет позволено так выразиться, маловат - женщин надо где-то содержать, как-то обеспечивать зачатие и сохранность ребёнка, где-то этих детей воспитывать и пр. Да плюс ещё смотреть, чтобы мужья-братья-отцы этих женщин нормально за тебя воевали. На такую программу никакого Сарумана не хватит.
Выращивание в "инкубаторах" тоже не проходит. Уровень технологии для таких кунштюков а-ля "Атака клонов" необходим несравненно больший, нежели "ямы и кузни". Армию в несколько тысяч в пробирках не вырастишь. Тем более, биологией Саруман не занимался. Как мы уже говорили, специальности Сарумана - высокие технологии и Голос.
А вот чем Саруман занимался, так это социальными экспериментами. Вспомним переделку Шира. Вряд ли Саруман только что придумал тот эрзац-социализм, который насаждали там посланцы Лезвенграда. Переделка Шира сильно отдаёт колонизацией, перестройкой по уже имеющемуся испытанному образцу. Каковым образцом может быть исключительно Сарумания-Дунланд.
Таким образом, учитывая жёсткий контроль над частной жизнью, существовавший, по всем признакам, в Сарумания-Дунланде, мы можем смело предположить, что скрещивание людей и орков происходило наиболее простым и эффективным способом - размножением мирного населения. Что стоит в подобном тоталитарном государстве переселить, допустим, молодёжь из пары-тройки дунледингских и орочьих деревень в два новых поселение - да так, чтобы в одном оказались орки и женщины, в другом - орчанки и мужчины? Жить-то надо, и ничего не поделаешь - свобода передвижений ограничена, паспортов нет... Тут мужика на козу потянет, не то что на орчанку. А мы ме-е-естные...
Ещё одним подтверждением того, что в Сарумания-Дунланде существовала мирная популяция орков, является тот факт, что в Лезвенграде живёт несколько тысяч волков. Откуда они взялись? Волки боевые, обученные. Кто их разводит, кто содержит, кто дрессирует? Саруман лично, как говорится, без ансамбля? Дунландские пастухи? Кроме орков, некому.
Когда именно в Сарумания-Дунланде появляются орки и откуда? Семнадцати-восемнадцати лет (столько времени Саруман считается предателем и приспешником Мордора) явно не хватает для появления на свет стольких оркометисов (лазутчику из “Гарцующего Пони” и оккупантам в Шире явно не по шестнадцать лет). Для этого требуется как минимум поколения два.
По всей видимости, орочья популяция Сарумании-Дунланда состоит из хитаэглирских орков, беженцев и эвакуантов Гномье-Орочей Войны 2793-99 годов. Известно, что орки бежали из разоряемых гномами укреплений на юг, и последний заслон выставили в Мории. Теперь становится ясно, какой именно цели послужил этот заслон – прикрыть отход на юг мирного населения, раненых и т.п. К этому моменту Саруман сидит в Лезвенграде уже около сорока лет.
Поскольку в течение ста пятидесяти-двухсот лет (с 2864 по 3018 или с 2800 по 3018 мы ничего не слышим об этих орках (в период с 2800 по 2864 какие-то орки проникают на территорию Рохана и строят там укрепления, но сказать, сарумановские это орки или нет, нельзя; возможно, не все те, кто уцелел после Азанулбизарской битвы, пошли под руку Сарумана), то остаётся заключить, что всё это время в Сарумания-Дунланде существовала мирная популяция орков, являвшихся подданными главы Белого Совета.





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*Согласно руководству для переводчиков, Isengard следует переводить так: старинный корень, родственный слову "железо" + корень, родственный "gard, garth, ward" - т.е., в русском это будет-таки "град". Отсюда Лезвенград. Я рассматривал вариант "Жлезенград", но больно уж на Шлиссельбург похоже.

Бес цвета, вкуса и запаха

Это сообщение с НеоДо, кажется, здесь в тему (в начале речь о реакции орков на исчезновение главнокомандующей Силы в Пеленорской и Комаленской битвах).
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"Это смутно мне напоминает индо-пакистанский инцидент" (С)Высоцкий.
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1) Реакция орков действительно несравнима с реакцией эльфов, но... что-то иное она очень и очень напоминает:

Реакцию Гая Гаала (и всех не-выродков Саракша) на лучевое голодание!

Ведь реакция на артефакт, подброшенный Фродо в Ородруин, точь-в-точь та же, что и на артефакт, подброшенный Каммерером в подвал Центра!

2) + Другой вопрос: должно же быть у орков какое-то свойство, из-за которого все Враги и кандидаты в оные (типа Сарумана) упорно загоняли в своё войско вовсе не желающих этого орков и прежде всего именно их?
Хотя к ним (Врагам) неплохо и порой - добровольно - шли и люди, от Ульдора до харадрим и прочих варваров, и гномы кроме клана Мак-Дурин:), и даже отдельные эльфы типа Маэглина. Чего им так дались-полюбились орки? Ведь средний орк помельче и, видимо, послабее среднего человека. Зачем Саруман выводит метисов?: орков он улучшает, но людей-то ослабляет! Чего б ему просто не набирать здоровенных окрестных горцев?

Сложим эти два вопроса - и получим ответ: орки, похоже, имели несчастье обладать чем-то вроде "реакции на излучение" гуманоидов Саракша: достаточно квалифицированный Тёмный Властелин имел техническую/магическую возможность - как Анонимные Отцы Саракша - просто отключать их волю и превращать в своё орудие.
С людьми, пусть самыми злобными и верными, это не проходило - надо было постоянно беспокоиться о поддержании их верности, надо было как-то что-то им объяснять, обещать и вести прочую партполитработу. Морока! Причём 100% верности всё равно не гарантирующая.
А орк, попав в поле действия излучения башен противобаллистической защиты... пардон, башен Барад-Дура... или Ортханка... или Кольца (Саруманова Радужного Кольца, например)... или Ока Багрового... в общем - Саурон его знает (и Саруман догадывается) чего - твой раз и навсегда со всеми потрохами, не вывернется.
За исключением, возможно, отдельных выродков (в семье не без урода, биология этого не позволит) - типа Шаграта и прочих офицеров, которые кое-какой (не более!) уровень самостоятельности сохраняют (скажем, память о старых добрых вольных временах) - армия из одних тупых автоматов небоеспособна...

Тогда понятны действия Сарумана (который кто угодно, но не дурак же): физические кондиции людей он малость подпортит, зато привьёт урук-хаям орочью _управляемость_. Вечная мечта об Универсальном Солдате...

Понятно, откуда могло взяться такое свойство: Моргот, создавая орков именно как своё _орудие_ просто должен был о чём-то подобном позаботиться.
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Если гипотеза работает, и Враги так любили (причём - безо всякой взаимности!) именно орков не за одну лишь зелёную щетину, но и за что-то более практичное - возникает вопрос: а что с ними делать?

С одной стороны, сами по себе они ни в чём особенном не виноваты/невменяемы - с другой стороны, потенциально опасны тем, что этой их слабостью кто-то может воспользоваться...

Moscow

1. Шаграт и Горбаг не просто орки - они потомки майар-в-телах-орков (вофэйрившихся орков-майар). Это видно из того, что орки жили меньше нуменорцев, по прямому указанию Толкиена, т.е. менее 200-300 лет, а Ш. и Г.помнят Великую Осаду, то есть им минимум тысячи по три с половиной лет.

2. Орки ценны своей реклессностью, которая их не покидает и без всякого "излучения" Темных Властелинов.
Также легко заметить, что орочьи сообщества выживают и успешно плодятся в течение тысяч лет без всяких Властелинов с их "излучениями" вовсе (первая тысяча с лишним лет Второй Эпохи, значительная часть Третьей)

Бес цвета, вкуса и запаха

Что такое "реклессность"?

и

Причём здесь жизнь без излучения? Это 2х2=4 - на Саракше тоже не в доисторические времена Центр построили. Разве кто-то утверждал, что они "без излучения" жить не могут?
Это всё равно, как на утверждение "Европейские короли любили брать в слуги именно негров, а в стражу - именно швейцарцев" ответить - "А негры и швейцарцы прекрасно жили и без королей" ( - и без дядьки в Киеве :).)

Просто у негров, швейцарцев и орков должны быть какие-то объективные качества, вызывающие эту "любовь".
"Излучение" - лишь вариант объяснения. Первый попавшийся. Не нравиться этот - приветствуются любые другие. Но эффект есть - объяснять как-то надо.

Бес цвета, вкуса и запаха

"Прямое указание Толкина" (где, кстати? В письме?) - это хорошо, но как быть с не более кривым указанием, на то, что ВСЕ гоблины, бывшие в пешере в момент допроса Торина Веровным Гоблином дружно и мгновенно УЗНАЛИ _гондолинский_ меч?

Сколько лет прошло с тех пор?
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Если надо выбирать между письмами и "Хоббитом" - Э-эхо выберет "Хоббита". Как говорит Сиоре - ардология.

Moscow

Змея Горыныча, если его увидят, тоже мгновенно признают все, кто читал русские сказки, хотя бы до этого никогда его не видели. Кто слона видел на картинке, тот и живого слона признает, даже если ддо этого не видел живых слонов. Толкиен сам пишет, что эти мечи были постоянной частью фольклора/эпоса орков - несомненно, вместе с описанием их примет. Когда их вытащили, орки их по приметам немедленно и признали. Глаз у них острый, способности к распознаванию - гигантские.
Это все равно что сейчас российским любителям военной истории выкатить танк "Королевский Тигр". Они его немедленно признают, даже если до этого никогда Тэ-шесть-бэ не видели живьем.

Moscow

ПС. "реклессность" - самозабвение в бою, берсекерство.

Орки - в основном плод СЕЛЕКЦИИ, это же сказано прямо. Можно вывести повышенно агрессивных, повышенно бесстрашных и повышенно преданных хозяину боевых собак. Они не автоматы - они и взбунтоваться, и ослушаться, и струсить могут. Но - гораздо реже, чем левретки. И в драку пойдут с ними, а не с левретками.

А можно то же самое сделать с гуманоидами (людьми, эльфами, человекоподобными фэйри). И тогда Вы и получите орков - повышенно агрессивных, повышенно бесстрашных и повышенно ненавидящих врага и преданных вожаку. Но не абсолютно.
И опираться будут поэтому именно на них.

Вот каков был, ИМХО, механизм. Этот взгляд основан на прямом упоминании в источниках селекции как главного пути появления орков.

В ответ на:

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Зачем Саруман выводит метисов?: орков он улучшает, но людей-то ослабляет! Чего б ему просто не набирать здоровенных окрестных горцев?

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Бес цвета, вкуса и запаха

В ответ на:

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Mogultaj пишет:
Змея Горыныча, если его увидят, тоже мгновенно признают все, кто читал русские сказки, хотя бы до этого никогда его не видели. Кто слона видел на картинке, тот и живого слона признает, даже если ддо этого не видел живых слонов. Толкиен сам пишет, что эти мечи были постоянной частью фольклора/эпоса орков - несомненно, вместе с описанием их примет. Когда их вытащили, орки их по приметам немедленно и признали. Глаз у них острый, способности к распознаванию - гигантские.
Это все равно что сейчас российским любителям военной истории выкатить танк "Королевский Тигр". Они его немедленно признают, даже если до этого никогда Тэ-шесть-бэ не видели живьем.

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Исправлено (Mogultaj, 16.06.2003 01:43).

Бес цвета, вкуса и запаха

ОК - при таком определении реклессности (поиск в словарях и интернете такого русского слова не даёт) она практически тождественна "излучению" (звучащему, конечно, более коряво) - "повышенная агрессивность и преданность", оно самое.
Это стоит некоторой потери физических кондиций.

Аналогично с селекцией: мы придумали разные названия одному и тому же.
Моргот запрограммировал.

Принято.

Ораниенбаум

По информации, содержащейся в книге Т. Шиппи "Дорога в Средиземье", в первом издании ВК присутствовала нижеприведенная фраза. К сожалению, в настоящий момент проверить эту информацию не имею возможности, равно как и привести указанную цитату на языке оригинала. В переводе М. Каменкович эта фраза звучит следующим образом:

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ВК (первое издание), кн. III, глава "Серая Дружина":

[Гимли, узнав, что Арагорн посмотрел в палантир, позволяет себе высказать удивление.]

"Ты забываешь, с кем говоришь, - сказал Арагорн сурово, и глаза его сверкнули. - Не боишься ли ты, что теперь я скажу: вот непокорный, мятежный гном, которого я с удовольствием поменял бы на услужливого орка?"

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С наилучшими пожеланиями,
Дмитрий.

Нью-Йорк

Рассмотрим так называемое пророчество о геноциде орков.

(цитируется по своду Могултая)

After the Last Battle and Morgoth’s capture/ Thus did the Gods adjudge when Fionwe and the sons of the Valar returned unto Valmar: the Outer Lands should thereafter be for Men, the younger children of the world; but to the Elves alone should the gateways of the West stand ever open; but if they would not come thither and tarried in the world of Men, then should they slowly fade and fail. And so hath it been; and this is the most grievous of the fruits of the works and lies of Morgoth. For a while his Orcs and Dragons breeding again in dark places troubled and affrighted the world, as in far places they do yet; but ere the End /еще до Конца Света/ all shall perish by the valour of mortal Men.

После слов "Так судили боги" (Thus did the Gods adjudge), следует пассаж о том, что Люди унаследуют землю, а эльфы угаснут, либо уйдут в Валинор. Этими словами цитирование воли богов заканчивается. На словах "Так оно и случилось" (And so hath it been) начинается авторский текст и авторская оценка: "это был прискорбнейший плод деяний и лжи Моргота". Последующий текст, говорящий о том, что некоторое время орки и драконы беспокоили мир, а кое-где беспокоят и сейчас, но до Конца Света погибнут доблестью смертных, тоже является авторским текстом, а не решением богов. Два других текста построены аналогичным же образом.
Далее в тексте встречается пассаж о том, что «Sauron escaped from the Great Battle, and dwelt in dark places and perverted Men to his dreadful allegiance and his foul worship.», что указывает на то, что текст писался во Вторую эпоху, как мне кажется, после XVIII века, во время долгого мира на западе. В любом случае грядущее истребление орков является не частью Пророчества Мандоса, а историческим прогнозом автора: нуменорцы и впрямь проявили большую доблесть в войне с орками, и автор надеялся, что эта доблесть приведёт к искоренению орков. Выводы о том, что 1) геноцид орков доблестью людей состоялся, и 2) что при написании этих строк автор серьёзно задумывался о технических деталях поголовного истребления орков, а также этических вопросов, при этом возникающих, по моему мнению, из вышеприведённой цитаты прямо не следуют.

Мне показалось нелишним опубликовать здесь подборку Алины Немировой.
Из солидарности с Ингваллом... :-))
ПРОИСХОЖДЕНИЕ ОРКОВ

В архивах Толкиена сохранилось большое число отрывков и законченных заметок, посвященных этой проблеме. Они написаны в разное время и отражают разные этапы разработки вопроса. К окончательному решению автор, видимо, не пришёл, но частично все его заметки пересекаются между собою. Приводим их ниже в порядке очередности, сокращая те части, которые в разных отрывках совпадают.

А. Первое упоминание об орках в первом варианте "Хроник Амана", которые представляют собой нечто вроде конспекта событий, впоследствии составивших содержание книги "Сильмариллион".
"После того, как Моргот вырвался на свободу, он собрал под свою руку столько своих слуг, сколько смог найти, и заново вырыл обширные подземелья своей твердыни, в том месте, которое впоследствии Нольдоры называли Ангбандом, и над ними нагромоздил он дышащие огнем горы Тангородрима. Там собрал он бесчисленные орды своих зверей и своих демонов;и оттуда стало являться в мир зловредное племя Оркор (!) которое росло и множилось в недрах земли, словно чумные крысы. Этих существ Моргот выкормил из зависти и в насмешку над Эльдарами. По внешнему виду они напоминали обычных Питомцев Эру, но смотреть на них было неприятно; ибо взращены они были в ненависти и ненавистью были исполнены их души. И сам он глядел с отвращением на существа, созданные им, и те с отвращением служили ему. Голоса их звучали, слово камнепад, а смеялись они лишь при виде чьих-то мучений или злодеяний. Нольдоры называли их Glamhoth, воинство раздора.(А мы можем назвать их орками, как называли в старину
злых духов ночи; ибо в былые времена были они сильны и зловредны, как демоны. Однако они не были демонами по сути своей, но детьми земли, совращенными Морготом, и их можно было убить и повергнуть оружием, если держала его отважная рука. Но на Эрессеи смутно вспоминают и другие рассказы; говорят, будто изначально орки были эльфами, Квенди, одним из племен Авари, Моргот сперва соблазнил этих несчастных, а затем сделал своими слугами и погубил навек. Ибо Мелькор не мог, как утверждают мудрецы, создавать живые существа по собственной воле, а мог пользоваться лишь тем, что уже создано было Творцом.

Б. Об орках (рассуждение автора)

Происхождение и природа их ещё неясны и требуют обдумывания.
Представления о них нелегко оформить в виде теоретической системы.
1.Как показывает случай с Ауле и созданием гномов,лишь Эру способен было создавать существа, неделенные независимой волей и способностью к рассуждению. Но орки, по-видимому, наделены и тем, и другим: они могут
надеяться обмануть Моргота или Саурона, могут восстать против них или хотя бы критиковать их.
2. Следовательно,они должны представлять собою извращенные существа, ещё ранее созданные Творцом.
3. Однако Люди ещё не появились, когда Орки уже существовали. Ауле создал гномов, основываясь на своём воспоминании о том, что было показано ему Музыкой; но вряд ли кто-то из Валаров мог получить благословение Эру на создание существ вроде Орков. (А может, Орки ещё могли быть "излечены" и "спасены"?)
Кажется также ясным (см. "беседу Финрода и Андрет"), что Мелькор хотя и умел полностью извращать и разрушать отдельные личности, но не мог сделать то же самое с целым племенем или народом и тем более закрепить это превращение как наследственное.
В таком случае весьма мало вероятно, чтобы эльфы послужили основой для создания Орков. Тогда ведь орки должны быть "бессмертными", как и эльфы? А откуда тогда взялись тролли? Из "Властелина Колец" ясно, что тролли обладали собственной волей, хотя и были совращены Мелькором.
4. Возможно ли, что Мелькор использовал зверей и птиц, наделив их способностью говорить и мыслить? Они, конечно, мало упоминаются в мифах, однако составляли неотъемлемую часть мира, естественное его наполнение, хотя их роль в замыслах Творца представить точно нам трудно.
Однако все народы, наделенные речью и разумом, имеют человекообразный, "гуманоидный" вид. Лишь Валары и Майяры представляют собою разум, способный принимать форму любого существа, имеющегося на Арде, по желанию. Пес Хьюэн и орел Соронтар могут быть Майярами - посланниками Манве.
Но, к сожаленению, в "Властелине колец" уже сказано, что и Гваихор, и Ландроваль - потомки орла Соронтара,то есть изначально имели облик птиц.
В любом случае, рассмотрим, возможно ли, чтобы кто-либо из Майяров стал Орком? Да, потому что и в пределах Арды, и за ними до падения Утумно Мелькор совратил множество духов - некоторые из них были велики, как Саурон, другие менее значительны, как Барлоги. Подобные им меньшие духи, достаточно примитивные, могли стать Орками, притом довольно могущественными и опасными; однако (вспомним Мелиан),существуя в воплощенном облике, они постепенно должны стать более привязаны к земле, теряют возможность по желанию менять оболочку, вернуться в состояние духа или хотя бы демона - это становится возможно лишь путем смерти, то есть убиения,
и сила их непременно убывает. Осовобожденные от плоти они, несомненно, станут "проклятыми", как Саурон, то есть потеряют силу, и хотя ненависть по-прежнему будет пылать в них, они не смогут удовлетворять её какими-либо действиями в физическом мире.
Но снова возникает вопрос - согласен ли Эру "выделить" души, fеаr, для таких злых созданий? Одно дело - орлы и т.п. Но не Орки!
Однако представляется наилучшим представлять себе силу совращения, присущую Мелькору, на уровне морали или теологии. Любое создание, которое признало его своим Господином, (а особенно те,кто кощунственно называли его Отцом или Создателем), вскоре подвергалось превращению, касавшемуся всех частей его существа, и душа вместе с телом проникались духом Моргота - ненавистью и страстью к разрушению. (...)
Таким образом, я думаю, следует считать, что владение речью не является обязательно признаком обладания душой. или разумом. Орки, видимо, были животными, приобретшими человекообразную форму, ради насмешки над эльфами и людьми, и когда они говорили, то, в сущности, лишь воспроизводили речи, посланные им от Мелькора. Даже если они произносили слова, поносящие его или критикующие, он об этом знал. Мелькор научил их говорить, и они стали передавать это умение по наследству, обладая той же независимостью, какая возможна, например, у собаки или лошади, служащей своему господину-человеку. Сохранились сведения (см.во "Властелине Колец"), что Саурон сам придумал язык для них.
То же самое можно сказать о Хьюэне и орлах - они научились говорить с помощью Валаров, но не обладали душой как таковой.
Однако Финрод, возможно, заходил слишком далеко в своем утверждении, что Мелькор не способен был полностью исказить какое-либо творение Эру или что Эру обязательно вмешается, чтобы прервать эту работу или лишит жизни свои творения только потому, что они предались злу.
Потому, к сожалению, остаётся ужасная возможность, что некая часть эльфийской крови всё же была у Орков, так же как и человеческой. В таком случае после смерти они должны были отправляться к Мандосу и там оставаться в заключении во веки веков."

От переводчика: текст этого отрывка, как указано издателем, на этом кончается, но впоследствии Толкиен добавил к нему ещё один абзац, где уточнил соотношение между волей Мелькора и его созданий:

"Следует указать, что воля Орков - лишь частица той воли, которую рассеял в мире Мелькор. Их дух - это дух ненависти. Но ненависть лишает их возможности сотрудничества (разве только под серьёзной угрозой). Отсюда следует непослушание, смуты и т.п., когда Моргот удаляется от них.
Орки - это животные и Барлоги, совращенные Майяры. Саурон же - лишь один из приспешников Моргота, хотя и одаренный большей силой. Орки могут восставать против него, не теряя непосредственной связи с источником зла (Морготом). Ауле хотел любви, но он и не помышлял о том, чтобы рассеивать свою силу по другим душам. Но лишь Эру может даровать любовь и независимость. Если некто пытается сотворить что-либо подобное, ему удастся создать полное любви подчинение, но оно неизбежно приводит к рабской покорности, напоминающей покорность робота, и обращается во зло.


В. Вот ещё одна заметка о происхождении Орков, написанная торопливо карандашом и без указания даты, как описывает Кр.Толкиен:

(...) "Мелькор, как и все Первосозданные, каждый в своей мере, мог менять свои телесные формы, а также подчинять себе разум других существ, включая эльфов и людей, силой, или страхом, или обманом, или просто за счёт своего величия.
Эльфы с самых ранних времен своего существования придумали и использовали слово или слова с корнем "о(рок)" для обозначения всего того, что вызывало у них страх или ужас. Первоначально оно применялось к призракам, (духам, принимающим видимую форму), а также к любым независимо существующим созданиям. Его применение (во всех эльфийских языках) к существам, получившим фиксированное название орков, относится к более опзднему периоду.
Поскольку Мелькор не способен был создавать нечто новое в области живых существ, но мог развратить и подчинить себе любое существо, вероятно, что Орки имели смешанное происхождение. Большинство из них было всё-таки (биологически) в основе своей эльфами (а впоследствии,вероятно, также и людьми). Но среди них всегда были (в качестве приближенных слуг Моргота и главарей) многочисленные младшие духи, также совращенные им и приобретшие аналогичную телесную форму. (Они должны были отличаться
особо демоническими, ужасными характерами).
Эльфы могли бы отнести к тому классу существ, которых они именовали орками, также и троллей, но те были крупнее по размеру и медлительнее.
Вероятно, они произошли от каких-то первобытных людей, предавшихся злу."

Г. По поводу отрывка, приводимого ниже, Кр.Толкиен пишет,что здесь, по-видимому, выражено хронологические последнее мнение автора по вопросу происхождения орков: они произошли от людей...

" Происхождение орков является спорным вопросом. Некоторые называют их Melkorhini, или Детьми Мелькора, но более мудрые возражают: нет,
они рабы его, но не дети, ибо у Мелькора не могло быть детей. Тем не менее, именно по злому замыслу Мелькора возникли орки, и без сомнения он стремился поиздеваться над Питомцами Эру, и воспитал их так, чтобы они полностью подчинялись его воле и наполнил их души неутолимой ненавистью к эльфам и людям.
Орки, участвовавшие в тех войнах, которые разразились после бегства Мелькора и его возвращения в Средиземье, не были ни духами, ни привидениями, но живыми существами, владеющими речью и способными как-то устраивать свое общество и заниматься ремеслами; по меньшей мере, они способны были учиться этому от существ высшего ранга и от своего Господина.
Они плодились и быстро размножались, если их никто не тревожил. Насколько можно судить по легендам, дошедшим до нас от самых ранних времен, Квенди, повидимому, не встречались с орками такого типа до появления Ороме у Кэйвиэнена.
Те, кто утверждает, что орки были созданы на основе людей, плененных и искалеченных Мелькором, убеждены, что Квенди не могли встретиться с орками до того, как племена их разделились и Эльдары отправились в поход на Запад. Ибо, хотя точное время пробуждения племени человеческого неизвестно, даже по расчетам тех мудрецов, которые приводят наиболее ранние даты, это произошло незадолго до того, как этот великий поход начался, и у врага не было достаточно времени, чтобы успеть настолько переделать людей. С другой стороны, очевидно, что вскоре после возвращения у Моргота под началом уже были огромные орды этих существ, и он сразу начал посылать их на эльфов. Но между его возвращением и началом нападе ний на эльфов прошло ещё меньше времени, чтобы успеть взрастить и умножить новую породу существ и отправить их в западные области.
Таким образом, подобный взгляд на происхождение орков наталкивается на трудности хронологического порядка. Но, хотя люди могут найти в этом утешение, теоретически это мнение остается наиболее вероятным. Оно согласуется со всем, что нам известно о Мелькоре, а также о природе и поведении Орков... и людей. Мелькор не способен был сам создавать живы существа, но он прекрасно умел извращать созданное другими, подчиняя их
своему господству. Но если бы он действительно попытался создать подобие жизни самостоятельно, у него не получилось бы ничего иного, кроме марионеток, действующих по его воле, как это вышло у Ауле, неспособных предпринять что-либо, когда его внимание не сконцентрировано на них; он не могли бы отказаться выполнить его приказы, даже если бы он приказал им покончить с собою.
Но Орки были не таковы. Они несомненно находились в подчинении у своего Господина, однако причиной подчинения был страх, и они осознавали свой страх перед ним и ненавидели его. Несомненно, души их были настолько развращены, что они не ведали жалости, и не было такой жестокости или преступления, на которое они не были бы способны; однако делали они это по собственному усмотрению, и получали удовольствие от своих действий. Они способны были действовать по собственной воле, совершая злые
дела ради удовольствия, и они могли пренебречь приказами Моргота, если он сам или его агенты были далеко. Они ненавидели друг друга и вступали в драки, часто нанося тем ущерб замыслам своего повелителя.
Кроме того, орки продолжали жить и плодиться и заниматься привычным делом грабежа и разбоя долго после того, как Моргот был низвергнут.
Они также обладали другими свойствами, характерными для живых существ, имеющих душу. У них были собственные языки, которые различались между разными племенами, и различие это они сами осознавали. Они нуждались пище и питье, а также в отдыхе, хотя, за счёт соответствующей подготовки, были закалены и способны выносить трудные условия жизни, как и гномы. Их можно было убить, и они страдали от болезней; но и помимо этого они умирали и не были бессмертны даже на манер Квенди; похоже, что жизнь их была даже короче, чем жизнь людей высокого рода, например, Эдайнов.
Этот последний момент не понимали с достаточной ясностью в более поздние времена. Ибо у Моргота было много слуг, и самые древние и могущественные среди них принадлежали к бессмертному племени, Майярам; и эти злые духи, подобно их повелителю, обладали способностью принимать любые видимые формы. Те их них, кому было поручено руководить воинством орков, часто сами принимали облик орков, хотя были больше ростом и ужаснее с виду. Отсюда и легенды о предводителях орков, Великих орках, которых невозможно было убить и которых видели на поле боя в течение многих лет, превышающих длительность человеческой жизни.
Наконец, имеется ещё один вопрос, который необходимо рассмотреть, как бы страшен он ни был. Со временем стало ясно, что люди, попадая под влияние самого Моргота либо его главных приспешников, на протяжении нескольких поколений могли выродиться почти до орковского уровня сознания и привычек; и тогда их можно было скрещивать с орками, получая новые породы, часто более крупные ростом и более хитроумные. Несомненно, что много лет спустя, в Третью эпоху, Саруман вновь сделал это открытие или нашел сведения о нём, и в своем неуёмном стремлении к власти совершил это зловреднейшее из деяний: скрещивание орков с людьми, в результате чего появились люди, напоминающие орков, рослые и хитроумные, и орки, напоминающие людей, подлые и злобные.
Но ещё до того, как это ужасное деяние Моргота открылось мудрецам, в Первоначальную эпоху, было известно, что орки не были сотворены Мелькором и следовательно изначально не были носителями зла. Они, возможно, были испорчены непоправимо (во всяком случае, ни эльфы, ни люди, видимо, не могли уже спасти их), но не стояли вне закона, то есть, хотя с ними, как с пальцами руки Морготовой, надлежало бороться с предельной суровостью, с ними всё же не следовало обращаться на их собственный лад, с жестокостью и предательством. Пленных не следовало подвергать мучениям, даже для того, чтобы выведать сведения, необходимые для защиты эльфов и людей от их нападений. Если какие-то орки сдавались и просили о
пощаде, их следовало отпускать (*). Так учили мудрые, хотя среди ужасов войны к их словам не всегда прислушивались.

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* В Первоначальную эпоху орки редко поступали так. И в любое время ни один орк не стал бы вступать в контакт с эльфами. Ибо главное, что удалось Морготу, это убедить орков, что эльфы ещё более жестоки, чем они сами и берут пленных только для того, чтобы "позабавиться" с ними или просто съесть (как в случае нужды поступали орки).

Верно, конечно, что Моргот держал орков в самом жалком рабстве, ибо, развращенные им, они потеряли почти всякую волю и способность сопротивляться чужому господству. И настолько сильно было давление его воли во времена до падения Ангбанда, что они ощущали его "глаз", когда он мысленно обращался к ним, где бы они ни находились; а когда наконец Моргота изгнали из пределов Арды, оставшиеся в живых орки на Западе рассеялись, лишенные вождей и почти лишенные рассудка, и в течение долгого времени не имели ни управления, ни каких-либо целей.
Это рабское служение, приведшее орков на уровень существования, почти не отличающийся от муравьиного, было особенно заметно во Вторую и Третью эпоху, когда ими властвовал Саурон, главный приспешник Моргоота и его наместник. Саурон, в сущности, достиг намного большего контроля над орками, чем это удалось Морготу. Он, конечно, действовал не в таких крупных масштабах и у него не было таких великих и могучих врагов, какими были Нольдоры Первоначальной эпохи, но ему достались в наследство от тех времен такие трудности, как многообразие пород орков, их языков и наречий и распри между ними; во многих местах Средиземья в то время,
когда Тангородрим пал, а Саурон скрывался, Орки, восстановив часть былой независимости, основали свои собственные небольшие государства и приучились сами распоряжаться собою. Тем не менее, Саурону удалось объединить их всех, разжигая ненависть к эльфам и к тем людям, которые стали союзниками эльфов; и орки, вступившие в его воинство, были настолько предан Саурону, что готовы были пожертвовать собою без колебаний, чтобы выполнить его приказ. И он оказался даже искуснее, нежели его наставник, в совращении людей, которые не попали под влияние Мудрых и становились его вассалами, и ходили в походы наравне с орками, соревнуясь с ними в жестокости и страсти к разрушению.
Именно учитывая деятельность Саурона мы можем, видимо, разрешить проблему хронологии. Наделенный намного меньшим могуществом, чем его учитель, Саурон всё же меньше поддался развращению, он был хладнокровнее и способнее к расчету. По меньшей мере в Первоначальную эпоху и до того, как он лишился своего повелителя и впал в безумное желание подражать ему, пожелав сам стать властелином над Средиземьем, это было именно так.
Пока Моргот оставался на Арде, Саурон не искал собственного превосходства, а работал и осуществлял планы своего наставника, желая добиться торжества того, кто первоначально вызывал у него преклонение. Поэтому он был часто способен достичь таких результатов, по замыслам Мелькора, которые оказывались недоступны его наставнику из-за его спешки, подстегиваемой яростной злобой.
Мы можем, таким образом, считать верным, что идея выведения породы орков принадлежала Мелькору, причём первоначально он стремился не столько заполучить слуг и солдат для разрушительных войн, сколько поиздеваться над замыслами Эру, создав как бы кощунственную карикатуру на его питомцев. Но подробности выполнения этого злого плана были оставлены на усмотрение Саурона, способного на разработку тонких деталей.Тогда нет противоречия между чёрным замыслом Моргота и осуществлением его, которое могло и подождать до момента появления людей на Арде.
Когда Мелькор был пленен, Саурону удалось бежать и спрятаться в Средиземье; таким образом можно понять, отчего выведение орков (без сомнения, уже начатое) продолжалось с возрастающей скоростью в те века, пока Нольдоры жили в Амане; и потому, когда они вернулись в Средиземье, они нашли эти земли уже зараженными чумою, мучавшей всех обитателей их,
и эльфов, и людей, и гномов. Саурон также втайне восстановил Ангбанд, чтобы помочь своему повелителю , когда он вернется; и в тех тёмных подземельях уже обитали множества орков, прежде чем Мелькор наконец вернулся, уже в облике Моргота, Чёрного врага мира, и послал их воевать, чтобы разрушить всё, что было в мире прекрасного и светлого. И хотя Ангбанд пал и Моргот был изгнан, они продолжают являться из тёмных мест, не менее тёмных, чем тьма их душ, и земля горит под их безжалостными ногами.
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Исправлено (Айрен Най, 22.06.2003 07:26).

Ораниенбаум

Наталья Семенова и Алла Хананашвили помогли найти оригинальное написание вышеприведенной цитаты (огромное им спасибо!):

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The Return of the King
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What do you fear that I should say to him: that I had a rascal of a rebel dwarf here that I would gladly exchange for a serviceable orc?
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С наилучшими пожеланиями,
Дмитрий.

Moscow

Great thanks to Dmitry Vinohodov, Natalya Semenova and Alla Hananashvili. Fragment vklyuchen v korpus i indeks kak Fr.319.

Moscow

По поводу происхождения орков: републикую здесь свою старую работу, скорее стремящуюся поставить обсуждение некоторых вопросов на верный, с моей точки зрния, путь, чем окончательно ответить на них.


"Животная природа орков у Толкиена"


Давайте рассмотрим заново все наши источники по «животной» идентификации орков. Имеем:

1. Этот вопрос разбирается в одном-единственом автокомментаторском эссе и приписке к нему. Это эссе - эссе VIII (HME 10:V:VIII) - лежало в одной «папке» с эссе VI и эссе III, завернутой в газету 1959 года. И в эссе VIII, и в эссе VI содержатся отсылки на текст «Финрод и Андрет»; этот текст, таким образом, предшествовал написанию всей группы эссе.

Финрод в указанном тексте даже не упоминает орков. Но само ключевое для нашей темы эссе VIII разворачивается следующим образом:
Сначала Дж.Р.Р.Т. отталкивается от самостоятельности поведения орков и выводит отсюда (как мы помним, ошибочно), что они - живые существа. Кроме того, начинает он эссе VIII в том убеждении, что независимость поведения - это именно свобода воли и что она свидетельствует о наличии феа (ср. ниже). А поскольку Мелкор не творит живого, а уж тем более феа, то он и не мог положить начало оркам, «(2) следовательно, они (орки) должны быть искажением кого-то, существовавшего ранее». Встает вопрос: кого именно? Первые ответы, которые обсуждает сам с собой Толкиен (и которые приходят, таким образом, ему на ум первыми!) - людей или эльфов. Вариант с людьми тут же отвергается по хронологическим соображениям: «(3) Но Люди еще не появились, когда Орки уже существовали».

Далее идет логически не связанная с начатым было рассуждением фраза о том, что Эру согласился задним числом даровать самостоятельность поведения созданиям Ауле - дварфам, но не стал бы делать этого для созданий Моргота (Aule constructed the Dwarves out of his memory of the Music; but Eru would not sanction the work of Melkor so as to allow the independence of the Orcs). И тут же следует сомнение в этом тезисе (Not unless Orcs were ultimately remediable, or could be amended and 'saved'?). Обе эти фразы вновь возвращают нас к оставленной было линии дискуссии - а не могли ли орки все-таки быть изначальными созданиями Моргота, которые получили независимость поведения лишь задним числом от Эру, подобно дварфам? Толкиен предполагает, что это могло случиться, если бы Эру замыслил в будущем простить и спасти орков; тогда он и мог бы дать им самостоятельность поведения задним числом. При этом слова remediable, amended и ’saved’ применительно к оркам недвусмысленно показывают, что в пределах двух разбираемых фраз Толкиен обсуждает гипотезу именно о наделении орков (как первоначальных псевдосуществ, тварей Моргота) разом и жизнью, и феа по решению Эру «задним числом».

Толкиен не заканчивает анализ этой гипотезы, но внезапно бросает ее после двух указанных фраз и возвращается к предыдущей линии рассуждения: орки - коррупция ранее существовавших живых существ, но каких? От кандидатуры людей он уже отказался; следующий вероятный кандидат - эльфы. И вот тут, при оценке этой версии, Толкиен обращается к Финроду. Следующая фраза эссе: «Кажется также ясным, см. «Финрод и Андрет», что Мелкор... не мог извратить целый народ... и сделать это извращение наследственным. В этом случае эльфы как источник (для орков) становятся весьма маловероятными» (It also seems clear (see 'Finrod and Andreth') that though Melkor could utterly corrupt and ruin individuals, it is not possible to contemplate his absolute perversion of a whole people, or group of peoples, and his making that state heritable. [Added later: This latter must (if a fact) be an act of Eru.] In that case Elves, as a source, are very unlikely).

Итак, эльфийское происхождение орков Толкиен отвел здесь именно и только со ссылкой на мнение Финрода о возможностях Моргота! После этого, в п. (4), он делает экскурс, посвященный проблеме феа говорящих животных, к оркам не имеющий никакого отношения, а затем предполагает, что орки могли быть воплощенными «наименьшими духами», «наименьшими майар», чья коррупция привела к тому, что они утратили способность существовать без тела (In any case is it likely or possible that even the least of the Maiar would become Orcs? Yes: both outside Arda and in it, before the fall of Utumno. Melkor had corrupted many spirits — some great, as Sauron, or less so, as Balrogs. The least could have been primitive (and much more powerful and perilous) Orcs; but by practising when embodied procreation they would (cf. Melian) [become] more and more earthbound, unable to return to spirit-state (even demon-form), until released by death (killing), and they would dwindle in force...).

Затем с красной строки следует неожиданный вопрос: «Но вновь: дарует ли Эа феа таким созданиям? (Говорящим) Орлам - может быть. Но не оркам» (But again - would Eru provide fëar for such creatures? For the Eagles etc. perhaps. But not for Orcs). И здесь же стоит пометка на полях: «Критика пп. 1, 2, 3. У них было мало или вовсе не было своей воли, которая не была бы на самм деле связана с мыслью Саурона. Не походит ли их злословие и непокорство на то, что возможно для таких зверей, как собаки и т.д.» (They had little or no will when not actually 'attended to' by the mind of Sauron. Does their cheating and rebellion pass that possible to such animals as dogs etc.).

Разберем эти две фразы подробнее. Во-первых, к чему относится фраза насчет того, что Эру даровал бы феа орлам, но не оркам? В предыдущей фразе речь шла о искаженных майар, которым вообще не надо даровать феа, она у них есть по определению! Значит, наша фраза (потому-то она и идет с красной строки) вновь обрывает ход предшествующего рассуждения, и вновь возвращает нас к неотступно преследовавшей Толкиена мысли: не были ли орки, подобно дварфам, тварями Моргота, наделенными феа задним числом?

Затем эта идея без всякого продолжения бросается вторично, и Толкиена (в пометке на полях) впервые озаряет та мысль, что самостоятельность поведения вовсе не обязательно говорит о наличии феа (на самом деле она даже и о наличии жизни не говорит), и может быть свойственна и животным. Итак, мы видим, как у нас на глазах ЗАРОЖДАЕТСЯ идея животной природы орков у Толкиена; это никакое не твердое мнение, а гипотеза, зародившаяся в ходе внутренней полемики с самим собой «с ручкой в руках», когда мысль автора блуждала в разных направлениях, то и дело перескакивая с одного на другое. Здесь Толкиен - не визионер, а гипотетический и не особенно успешный истолкователь собственного мира, так что никакой силы «источника» все эти рассуждения не имеют во всяком случае.

И вот, наконец, от пометки на полях Толкиен переходит к прямой развернутой констатации того, что самостоятельность поведения не есть признак феа, и что орки - животные (и что феа нет также у Орлов): In summary: I think it must be assumed that 'talking' is not necessarily the sign of the possession of a 'rational soul' or fea. The Orcs were beasts of humanized shape (to mock Men and Elves) deliberately perverted / converted into a more close resemblance to Men. Their 'talking' was really reeling off 'records' set in them by Melkor. Even their rebellious critical words — he knew about them. Melkor taught them speech and as they bred they inherited this; and they had just as much independence as have, say, dogs or horses of their human masters. This talking was largely echoic (cf. parrots), in The Lord of the Rings Sauron is said to have devised a language for them. The same sort of thing may be said of Húan and the Eagles: they were taught language by the Valar, and raised to a higher level - but they still had no fëar.

А дальше следует, наоборот, прямое отрицание этой "животной" версии, причем опять в связи с мнением Финрода - но на этот раз не с опорой на него, а, наоборот, вследствие его отведения: «Но Финрод, вероятно, зашел слишком далеко, приняв ту идею, что Мелкор не мог полностью исказить труд Эру, или что Эру непременно вмешался бы, чтобы покончить с искажением или с искаженными и впавшими во Зло тварями Своими. Поэтому остается ужасающе/исключительно возможным, что Орки пошли от эльфов; потом их могли даже скрещивать с животными (бесплодными!), а позднее - с людьми», и т.д. Развитием и подытоживанием этой версии (применительно к посмертной судьбе феа орков в Мандосе) и кончается связный непрерывный текст эссе VIII (But Finrod probably went too far in his assertion that Melkor could not wholly corrupt any work of Eru, or that Eru would (necessarily) interfere to abrogate the corruption, or to end the being of His own creatures because they had been corrupted and fallen into evil. It remains therefore terribly possible there was an Elvish strain in the Orcs. These may then even have been mated with beasts (sterile!) - and later Men. Their life-span would be diminished. And dying they would go to Mandos and be held in prison till the End).

Самое главное здесь в том, что противительная (начинающаяся с «но») конструкция «Но Финрод, вероятно, был неправ в своем мнении о Морготе - следовательно, орки, вероятно, происходят от эльфов», следует прямо за высказыванием отвергаемого ей тезиса: «орки - животные» (и гораздо позже предыдущего упоминания о Финроде!). Тем самым эта конструкция увязывает воедино мнение Финрода о возможностях Моргота и с «эльфийской», и с «животной» гипотезами о природе орков по следующей жесткой схеме: «Если Финрод прав - то орки, скорее всего, животные, если же неправ - то, скорее всего, эльфы». Еще раз: тот факт, что сразу после изложения «животной» гипотезы следует начинающаяся с «но» и тем самым прямо противопоставленная этой гипотезе конструкция вида «Но Финрод мог быть неправ, и тогда орки (не животные, а эльфы», просто не оставляет нам других возможностей интерпретации.

А такая связь мнения Финрода, эльфийской и животной гипотезы однозначно восстанавливает логику основной (очищенной от отскоков в сторону) линии рассуждений Толкиена в эссе VIII следующим образом:
*Орки способны к самостоятельной деятельности; следовательно, у них есть свобода воли и они живые; следовательно, Моргот не создавал их, а исказил кого-то уже существовавшего. Но кого? Люди отпадают: орки появились раньше людей. Остаются эльфы. Но по мнению Финрода Моргот не смог бы наследственно исказить эльфов - Детей Эру, и сам Эру не потерпел бы такого. Значит, отпадают и эльфы. Мы зашли в тупик. В таком случае, может быть, мы ошиблись с самого начала (resp. "критика пп.1-3"), и самостоятельная деятельность не свидетельствует о свободе воли? Тогда орки могут быть человекоподобными животными, и проблемы снимаются. Но если Финрод все же ошибся, и Моргот мог исказить Детей Эру, то тогда орки, скорее всего - искаженные эльфы, и у них есть феа, которая после их смерти отправляется в Мандос.

Еще раз: связка воедино мнения Финрода с выбором между животной и эльфийской природами орков, жестко установленная конструкцией с союзом but, категорически требует именно такой реконструкции.
Итак, значит, вся гипотеза о животной природе орков - это гипотеза самого Толкиена, но появилась она лишь в ходе гипотетического РАЗВИТИЯ И ПРИЛОЖЕНИЯ Толкиеном МНЕНИЯ ФИНРОДА о возможностях Моргота. Стоит Толкиену усомниться в самом этом мнении Финрода - и автоматическим следствием этого сомнения для самого же Толкиена оказывается отказ от «животной» гипотезы в пользу «эльфийской».

Итак, «животная» версия в эссе VIII - никоим образом не канон и не независимое мнение Толкиена. Это вторичная гипотеза Толкиена, целиком привязанная к мнению Финрода о «творческом потенциале» Мелкора, отталкивающаяся только от этого мнения и всецело зависящая (согласно самому же Толкиену) от того, наколько он этому мнению может доверять. В целом в эссе VIII Толкиен, перебивая самого себя, обсуждает сразу несколько таких гипотез, и в конце концов объявляет наиболее вероятным тот тезис, что Финрод был все-таки неправ, орки - потомки эльфов (с примесью людей), а феа их отправляются в Мандос.
Здесь, кстати, существенно и то, что происхождение от эльфов, пусть даже прошедшее сколько угодно звеньев искажения, в глазах Толкиена подразумевает наличие феа, попадающей в Мандос (в полном соответствии с христианской концепции о наличии души у любого биологического потомка осоей, имеющих душу, независимо от его т.н. «сущности»).

2. Нам осталось обсудить приписку к эссе VIII, где Толкиен вновь объявляет орков животными. Вот эта приписка, содержащая роковую фразу «Орки - животные»:
See 'Melkor'. It will there be seen that the wills of Orcs and Balrogs etc. are part of Melkor's power 'dispersed'. Their spirit is one of hate. But hate is non-coöperative (except under direct fear). Hence the rebellions, mutinies, etc. when Morgoth seems far off. Orcs are beasts and Balrogs corrupted Maiar. Also (n.b.) Morgoth not Sauron is the source of Orc-wills. Sauron is just another (if greater) agent. Orcs can rebel against him without losing their own irremediable allegiance to evil (Morgoth). Aulë wanted love. But of course had no thought of dispersing his power. Only Eru can give love and independence. If a finite sub-creator tries to do this he really wants absolute loving obedience, but it turns into robotic servitude and becomes evil.

Некоторые толкиеноведы (Курт) считают эту приписку окончательным, дописанным позднее финалом эссе VIII. Между тем видно, что:

1) Эти несколько строк НЕ продолжают и НЕ заключают эссе VIII! Они не имеют никакой связи с предшествующими заключительными пассажами эссе, и начинаются как бы «ниоткуда», более того, с отсылки к эссе VI (See ‘Melkor’). Попробуйте прочитать подряд конец связного, основного текста эссе VIII и эту приписку, и вы сами убедитесь, что одно другим не продолжается, между ними - полный обрыв логико-синтаксических связей.

2) Сам текст приписки - сугубо беглый, конспективный, с упрощенным синтаксисом, с пропусками членов предложения. Ничего общего с законченными развернутыми фразами эссе VIII.
Вывод: приписка к эссе VIII - это никакой не «окончательный финал» этого эссе, а особый изолированный, беглый и незаконченный по характеру, стилю и объему текст, который оказался просто приписан к эссе VIII потому, что Толкиену попался под руку именно этот листок. Неким отдаленным образом эта приписка если и продолжает, о не эссе VIII, а эссе VI, к которому и отсылает.

Будем называть этот текст протоэссе VIII-A (напоминаю: по своей изолированности, краткости и сугубой конспективности это именно зародыш эссе, а не эссе, в отличие от вполне законченных развернутых текстов VIII, IX, X. Характер текста определяется не тем, ЧЕМ он написан - карандашом, ручкой или каламом, - а тем, КАК он написан).
Что же нового дает нам это протоэссе? Ничего. Толкиен ЕЩЕ РАЗ вернулся к идее «животной» природы орков. А из полного текста эссе VIII мы уже знаем, что сама эта идея - не более, чем гипотетическое толкиеновское приложению мнения Финрода к прочему материалу - мнения, в котором сам Толкиен далеко не уверен. В эссе VIII все это проговорено полностью и со ссылкой на Финрода, в протоэсссе VIII-а Толкиен, в силу его краткости, Финрода не упоминает и излагает соответствующую гипотезу изолированно и аподиктически. Можно допустить, что в момент написания этого протоэссе сам Толкиен определенно склонялся именно к этой гипотезе, - но что это меняет, если мы уже знаем, что это именно гипотеза, и что она строится на развитии спорной концепции Финрода, а не на прямом «видении» Дж.Р.Р.Т.? Толкиен и посередине эссе VIII склонялся к этой гипотезе, а в конце того же эссе ее отверг.

При этом надо иметь в виду, что протоэссе VIII-A -это текст НЕзаконченный, а вот во всех своих законченных текстах Толкиен «животную» гипотезу происхождения орков либо не упоминает, либо, по обсуждении, отводит как менее вероятную (само эссе VIII).

3. Итак, мы остались при том, что «животная природа» орков - не более, чем гипотеза Толкиена, которую он гипотически развивает, отталкиваясь от не менее гипотетического мнения Финрода о способностях Моргота. В законченном эссе VIII Толкиен эту гипотезу обсуждает и осторожно отвергает, в более позднем (но так и не вышедшем за стадию конспетивного наброска) протоэссе VIII-A - наоборот, только эта гипотеза и излагается. Но автокомментаторской гипотезой, построенной на двукратном допущении, она от этого быть не перестает.

Что же ей противостоит? Какие тексты говорят об эльфийско-человеческом происхождении орков (то есть об их происхождении от Детей Илуватара)?
А вот какие.

1) Выводы ВСЕХ ЗАКОНЧЕННЫХ автокомментаторских эссе - то есть эссе VIII, IX, X - о том, что орки - биологические потомки Детей Эру - эльфов и людей /прим.1/. Причем эссе IX-X написаны ПОЗЖЕ пресловутого протоэссе VIII-A=«приписки» к эссе VIII!

2) ВСЕ поздние «Анналы» и «Сильмариллионы», согласно которым сами эльфы считали, что орки происходят от них (с примесью людей) - да еще и не просто эльфы, а их «мудрые» с Тол-Эрессеа, обзавшиеся непосредственно с валар! /прим.2/. В одном месте «Анналов Амана» стоит на полях одна-единственная помета: «Изменить это. Орки не от эльфов» - но никаких изменений при этом так за пятнадцать лет и не внесено!

3) ПИСЬМА Толкиена, где говорится о возможном прощении и очищении орков Богом /прим.3/. Животных нельзя ни прощать, ни не-прощать - за отсутствием у них души.

4) «Властелин Колец», где Арагорн и хоббиты Братства, а также рохиррим уверенно говорят о «полуорках», выведенных Саруманом (а Фангорн, не употребляя этого термина и СОВЕРШЕННО НЕЗАВИСИМО от Арагорна, предполагает, что Саруман смешал расы орков и людей, и ничего невозможного в этом тоже не видит). /прим.4/. Разумеется, это лишь мнения героев - членов Братства Кольца, рохиррим и Фангорна - но, пожалуй, в орках они понимали побольше нашего и ПОБОЛЬШЕ САМОГО ТОЛКИЕНА - там, где он выступал не как «мэйкер» или «открыватель» своего мира, а как его комментатор и интерпретатор «со стороны» (а в гипотезе о животной природе орков Толкиен выступает именно в последнем качестве, см. выше).

Иногда предполагают, что речь идет не о скрещивании, а о пересадке органов. Идея эта (выдвинутая впревые Куртом) остроумна, но: а) отличительной приметой «полуорков» является получеловеческая, полуоркская внешность, в частности, оркоподобная кожа лица и форма глаз. Какие внутренние органы понадбилось пересаживать для достижения этого эффекта и вообще зачем его достигать специально? Ведь такая внешность только мешает полуоркам внедряться в мир людей. А вот при скрещивании именно такие явления и происходят естественно и неизбежно...; б) в Эссе X, написанном лет через 6 после первого издания «Властелина», сказано четко: There is no doubt that long afterwards, in the Third Age, Saruman rediscovered this, or learned of it in lore, and in his lust for mastery committed this, his wickedest deed: the interbreeding of Orcs and Men, producing both Men-orcs large and cunning, and Orc-men treacherous and vile.
«Интербридинг - скрещивание - орков и людей - с производством и человекоорков, и орколюдей».
Cкрещивание с получением потомства, черным по белому, и, дословно, «без всяких сомнений», there is no doubt.

5) Контексты самых разных источников, в которых орки прямо ПРОТИВОПОСТАВЛЯЮТСЯ животным, в том числе говорящим /прим.5/.

6) Не где-нибудь, а в специальном трактате об эльфах, Толкиен прямо называет орков «воплощенными (душами-феар)» в одном ряду с людьми, эльфами и дварфами!
WJ (HME11)/3:4. Quendi and Eldar.
Essekenta Eldarinwa. Enquiry into the origins of the Elvish names for Elves and their varieties clans and divisions: with Appendices on their names for the other Incarnates: Men, Dwarves, and Orcs.

Hа фоне всего этого описанная выше гипотеза о «животном» происхождении орков, отвергнутая в одном законченном гипотетическом автокомментарии и принятая в наброске другого, не может считаться конкурентоспособной.




ПРИМЕЧАНИЯ.

/прим.1/.
MR (HME 10)/5:7. Myths Transformed. Notes on motives in the Silmarillion. /Autocomm./ VII (iii) As for Orcs, the Eldar believed Morgoth had actually 'bred' them by capturing Men , (and Elves) early and increasing to the utmost any corrupt tendencies they possessed.
MR (HME 10)/5:9. Myths Transformed. /Orcs-II/. /Autocomm./ IX. This suggests - though it is not explicit - that the 'Orcs' were of Elvish origin. ...It is probable that these Orks had a mixed origin. Most of them plainly (and biologically) were corruptions of Elves (and probably later also of Men).
MR (HME 10)/5:10. Myths Transformed. /Orcs-III/. /Autocomm./ X. .. Those who believe that the Orcs were bred from some kind of Men, captured and perverted by Melkor... /-/ this view of the origin of the Orcs thus meets with difficulties of chronology. But though Men may take comfort in this, the theory remains nonetheless the most probable.... There is no doubt that long afterwards, in the Third Age, Saruman rediscovered this, or learned of it in lore, and in his lust for mastery committed this, his wickedest deed: the interbreeding of Orcs and Men, producing both Men-orcs large and cunning, and Orc-men treacherous and vile.
/Сomm./ This then, as it may appear, was my father's final view of the question: Orcs were bred from Men.

/прим.2/.
MR (HME 10)/2. The Annals of Aman /AAm / [§42] Yet by after-knowledge the masters of lore say sadly that... his /Melkor’s/ servants had led astray some of the Quendi that ventured afield, and they took them as captives to Utumno, and there enslaved them. Of these slaves it is held came the Orkor that were afterward chief foes of the Eldar.
Впоследствии Толкиен дописал на полях: 'Alter this. Orcs are not Elvish.' - но так ничего и не изменил.
MR (HME 10)/2. The Annals of Aman /AAm/ [§ 127], один из вариантов*: But indeed a darker tale some yet tell in Eressea, saying that the Orcs were verily in their beginning of the Quendi themselves, a kindred of the Avari unhappy whom Morgoth cozened, and then made captive.
* В другом варианте этот пассаж вычеркнут. Спрашивается, какой извод эльфийской мифологии вызывает меньше подозрений в тенденциозности и, тем самым, больше доверия - тот, в котором орки признаются родичами эльфов или тот, в котором они отвергаются в этом качестве?..
WJ (HME11)/1. The Grey Annals (The Annals of the Beleriand). /GA1+GA2/ [§5]. The text that follows in this draft is very close - much of it indeed virtually identical - to the long passage interpolated into AAm (§§43-5 /Fr.161/) on the fear of Orome among the Quendi, the ensnaring of them by the servants of Melkor, and the breeding of the Orcs from those captured.
WJ (HME11)/1. The Grey Annals (The Annals of the Beleriand). /GA1+GA2/ [§27]. Among these were the Orkor... Whence they came, or what they were, the Elves knew not then, deeming them to be Avari, maybe, that had become evil and savage in the wild. In which they guessed all too near, it is said.
Silmarillion-1977. Quenta Silmarillion /Silmarillion/. 3. Of the Coming of the Elves and the Captivity of Melkor.
But of those unhappy Quendi/ ones who were ensnared by Melkor little is known of a certainty. For who of the living has descended into the pits of Utumno, or has explored the darkness of the counsels of Melkor? Yet this is held true by the wise of Eressea, that all those of the Quendi who came into the hands of Melkor, ere Utumno was broken, were put there in prison, and by slow arts of cruelty were corrupted and enslaved; and thus did Melkor breed the hideous race of the Orcs in envy and mockery of the Elves, of whom they were afterwards the bitterest foes.
Silmarillion-1977. Quenta Silmarillion /Silmarillion/. 10. Of the Sindar.
Whence they /Orcs/ came, or what they were, the Elves knew not then, thinking them perhaps to be Avari who had become evil and savage in the wild; in which they guessed all too near, it is said.

/прим.3/.
Letters. Letter 153.
Because by accepting or tolerating their making necessary to their actual existence even Orcs would become part of the World, which is God's and ultimately good... That God would 'tolerate' that, seems no worse theology than the toleration of the calculated dehumanizing of Men by tyrants that goes on today.
Letters. Letter 269.
[Auden had asked Tolkien if the notion of the Orcs, an entire race that was irredeemably wicked, was not heretical.]
With regard to The Lord of the Rings, I cannot claim to be a sufficient theologian to say whether my notion of orcs is heretical or not. ...I actually intended it to be consonant with Christian thought and belief, which is asserted somewhere, Book Five, page 190, where Frodo asserts that the orcs are not evil in origin. We believe that, I suppose, of all human kinds and sons and breeds, though some appear, both as individuals and groups to be, by us at any rate, unredeemable.....

/прим.4/.
'Dawn is not far off,' said Gamling, who had now climbed up beside him. 'But dawn will not help us, I fear.''Yet dawn is ever the hope of men,' said Aragorn.'But these creatures of Isengard, these half-orcs and goblin-men that the foul craft of Saruman has bred, they will not quail at the sun,' said Gamling.

All Saruman's people were marching away. ...And there were battalions of Men, too. ...Most of them were ordinary men, rather tall and dark-haired, and grim but not particularly evil-looking. But there were some others that were horrible: man-high, but with goblin-faces, sallow, leering, squint-eyed. Do you kµµnow, they reminded me at once of that Southerner at Bree: only he was not so obviously orc-like as most of these were.' 'I thought of him too,' said Aragorn. 'We had many of these half-orcs to deal with at Helm's Deep.

«Well I am staggered! - Said Pippin /to Frodo/: «To all the ends of our journey that is the very last I should have hought of: to have to fight half-orcs and ruffians in the Shire itself - to resque Lotho Pimple!» /Frodo and other hearing hobbits make no contradiction/.

/Fangorn’s speech/: Saruman's Orcs can endure it, even if they hate it. I wonder what he has done? Are they Men he has ruined, or has he blended the races of Orcs and Men? That would be a black evil!'

/прим.5/.
MR (HME 10)/3:2. The Later Quenta Silmarillion. /LQ 1+ LQ 2 /. The Second Phase. Laws and Customs among the Eldar. [?Thus] questions were also asked concerning the fate and death of Men. All [?read Also] concerning other 'speaking', and therefore 'reasonable', kinds: Ents, Dwarves, Trolls, Orcs - and the speaking of beasts such as Huan, or the Great Eagles.
BLT2/2 Lost Story 2-2. Turambar and the Foaloke /Glaurung, Glorund/ /HME 2. P.76/ Beleg the Elf and Turin the Man...with beast and with goblin they warred
LB (HME 3)/1. The Lay of the Children of Hurin. /l.556-558/
Long time alone he lived in the hills
a hunter of beast and hater of Men,
or Orcs, or Elves.
LB (HME 3)/3. The Lay of Leithian /l.3698-3701/
/Carcharoth/ would lie and glare,
nor suffer Balrog, Orc, nor beast
to touch him.
LB (HME 3)/3. The Lay of Leithian /l.4170-4175/
as Orc and beast
turned in their dreams of hideous feast
WJ (HME11)/1. The Grey Annals (The Annals of the Beleriand). /GA1+GA2/ 472 Year of Sun. /Nirnaeth Arnoedidad/ [§231]. the host of Maidros being assailed now on three sides, by the Orcs, and the beasts, and by the Swarthy Men
WJ (HME11)/1. The Grey Annals (The Annals of the Beleriand). /GA1+GA2/ [§272]. And they drove the Orcs and beasts of Angband out.
WJ (HME11)/3:3. Maeglin. [§35]. For the Eldar never used any poison, not even against their most cruel enemies, beast, ork, or man.
Letters. Letter 71.
In real (exterior) life men are on both sides: which means a motley alliance of orcs, beasts, demons, plain naturally honest men, and angels

Moscow

Адденда: в связи с обсуждавшимся выше вопросом о сроке жизни орков.

В ХМЕ 10, разд.5, сказано, что обычные орки - из-за своей "корраптности" - жили меньше, чем даже высшие люди (нуменорцы начала Второй эпохи). То есть обычный срок естественной смерти обычного орка - это лет 300.

Однако, - говорится там же, - были майар, вселившиеся в тела орков, и уже неспособные покидать их, то есть "орки с духами майар". Они считались великими орками. Вот они-то были, как и эльфы, неуязвимы для естественной смерти (и, надо думать, от скорби им тоже некогда было истаивать); однако их можно было, - как и эльфов, - убить, хотя это и было очень сложно. Именно по впечатлению от этих майар, замечает Толкиен, люди и думали, что орки сами по себе не умирают. (Кстати, люди думают так по сей день - в справочнике Роберта Фостера высказывается с большой уверенностью то предположение, что орки, как и их предки-эльфы, умирать своей смертью не должны; но Фостер принципиально не работал с ХМЕ и УТ; да и вышел 10 том ХМЕ уже после выхода справочника Фостера).

Наконец, во Властелине Кольца Шаграт с Горбагом поминают Большую Осаду (не то Ангбанда - за 6 тысяч лет до того, не то Барад-Дура - за 3 тысячи лет до того) явно как нечто, им знакомое. При этом Шаграт и Горбаг никак не тянут на майар в орочьих телах! Стало быть, были и помимо таких майар орки, живущие по нескольку тысяч лет. Думается мне, что это были потомки от смешанных браков таких майар-орков и обычных орков (подобно тому, как Эарендил был потомком майар по одной из линий).

Вообще, изобилие рас, чья кровь смешалась в орках (какие-то особые, довольно крупные древнейшие фэйри, из среды которых, как можно продемонстрировать, вышли первые орки; какие-то иные, более мелкие мелкие фэйри - собственно "гоблины"; неразделенные эльфы-квенди; эльфы-авари; отступники-нолдо, "смешавшиеся с орками"; люди разных рас, в том числе особенно друаданы; наконец, черные майар) естественно должно было давать большой разброс физических характеристик, в том числе продолжительности жизни.

Сидней/Сидней

Кстати, опять недоразумение в переводе.
Serviceable - это не "услужливый" - это "пристойный", "пригодный к использованию" и даже "исправный" ;).

С уважением,
Антрекот

(Ya v Indeks tak i vnes, so smyslom: "prigodnyj k uslugam" v osnovnom znachenii. Ispolnitel'nyj i usluzlivyj - vozmozhnye podrazumevaemye ottenki, voznikauyush`ie v e`tom semantiocheskom pole /"chem prigoden, pochemu prigoden?"/ - Mogultaj)

Исправлено (Mogultaj, 21.06.2003 16:24).