nor its shape。 Already the writing upon it； which at first was as clear as red flame； fadeth and is now only barely to be read。 It is fashioned in an elvenscript of Eregion； for they have no letters in Mordor for such subtle work； but the language is unknown to me。 I deem it to be a tongue of the Black Land； since it is foul and uncouth。 What evil it saith I do not know； but I trace here a copy of it； lest it fade beyond recall。 The Ring misseth； maybe； the heat of Sauron's hand； which was black and yet burned like fire； and so Gilgalad was destroyed； and maybe were the gold made hot again； the writing would be refreshed。 But for my part I will risk no hurt to this thing： of all the works of Sauron the only fair。 It is precious to me； though I buy it with great pain。
'When I read these words； my quest was ended。 For the traced writing was indeed as Isildur guessed； in the tongue of Mordor and the servants of the Tower。 And what was said therein was already known。 For in the day that Sauron first put on the One； Celebrimbor； maker of the Three； was aware of him； and from afar he heard him speak these words； and so his evil purposes were revealed。
'At once I took my leave of Dehor； but even as I went northwards； messages came to me out of Lórien that Aragorn had passed that way； and that he had found the creature called Gollum。 Therefore I went first to meet him and hear his tale。 Into what deadly perils he had gone alone I dared not guess。'
'There is little need to tell of them；' said Aragorn。 'If a man must needs walk in sight of the Black Gate； or tread the deadly flowers of Mul Vale； then perils he will have。 I； too； despaired at last； and I began my homeward journey。 And then； by fortune； I came suddenly on what I sought： the marks of soft feet beside a muddy pool。 But now the trail was fresh and swift； and it led not to Mordor but away。 Along the skirts of the Dead Marshes I followed it； and then I had him。 Lurking by a stagnant mere； peering in the water as the dark eve fell； I caught him； Gollum。 He was covered with green slime。 He will never love me； I fear； for he bit me； and I was not gentle。 Nothing more did I ever get from his mouth than the marks of his teeth。 I deemed it the worst part of all my journey； the road back； watching him day and night； making him walk before me with a halter on his neck； gagged； until he was tamed by lack of drink and food； driving him ever towards Mirkwood。 I brought him there at last and gave him to the Elves； for we had agreed that this should be done； and I was glad to be rid of his pany； for he stank。 For my part I hope never to look upon him again； but Gandalf came and endured long speech with him。'
'Yes； long and weary；' said Gandalf； 'but not without profit。 For one thing； the tale he told of his loss agreed with that which Bilbo has now told openly for the first time； but that mattered little； since I had already guessed it。 But I learned then first that Gollum's ring came out of the Great River nigh to the Gladden Fields。 And I learned also that he had possessed it long。 Many lives of his small kind。 The power of the ring had lengthened his years far beyond their span； but that power only the Great Rings wield。
'And if that is not proof enough； Galdor； there is the other test that I spoke of。 Upon this very ring which you have here seen held aloft； round and unadorned； the letters that Isildur reported may still be read； if one has the strength of will to set the golden thing in the fire a while。 That I have done； and this I have read：
Ash nazg durbatul。k； ash nazg gimbatul； ash nazg thrakatul。k agh burzumishi krimpatul。'
The change in the wizard's voice was astounding。 Suddenly it became menacing； powerful； harsh as stone。 A shadow seemed to pass over the high sun； and the porch for a moment grew dark。 All trembled； and the Elves stopped their ears。
'Never before has any voice dared to utter the words of that tongue in Imladris； Gandalf the Grey；' said Elrond； as the shadow passed and the pany breathed once more。
'And let us hope that none will ever speak it here again；' answered Gandalf。 'Noheless I do not ask your pardon； Master Elrond。 For if that tongue is not soon to be heard in every corner of the West； then let all put doubt aside that this thing is indeed what the Wise have declared： the treasure of the Enemy； fraught with all his malice； and in it lies a great part of his strength of old。 Out of the Black Years e the words that the Smiths of Eregion heard； and knew that they had been betrayed：
One Ring to rule them all； One Ring to find them； One Ring to bring them all and in the Darkness bind them。
'Know also； my friends； that I learned more yet from Gollum。 He was loth to speak and his tale was unclear； but it is beyond all doubt that he went to Mordor； and there all that he knew was forced from him。 Thus the Enemy knows now that the One is found； that it was long in the Shire； and since his servants have pursued it almost to our door； he soon will know； already he may know； even as I speak； that we have it here。'
All sat silent for a while； until at length Boromir spoke。 'He is a small thing； you say； this Gollum？ Small； but great in mischief。 What became of him？ To what doom did you put him？'
'He is in prison； but no worse；' said Aragorn。 'He had suffered much。 There is no doubt that he was tormented； and the fear of Sauron lies black on his heart。 Still I for one am glad that he is safely kept by the watchful Elves of Mirkwood。 His malice is great and gives him a strength hardly to be believed in one so lean and withered。 He could work much mischief still； if he were free。 And I do not doubt that he was allowed to leave Mordor on some evil errand。'
'Alas！ alas！' cried Legolas； and in his fair elvish face there was great distress。 'The tidings that I was sent to bring must now be told。 They are not good； but only here have I learned how evil they may seem to this pany。 Sméagol； who is now called Gollum； has escaped。'
'Escaped？' cried Aragorn。 'That is ill news indeed。 We shall all rue it bitterly； I fear。 How came the folk of Thranduil to fail in their trust？'
'Not through lack of watchfulness；' said Legolas； 'but perhaps through overkindliness。 And we fear that the prisoner had aid from others； and that more is known of our doings than we could wish。 We guarded this creature day and night； at Gandalf's bidding； much though we wearied of the task。 But Gandalf bade us hope still for his cure； and we had not the heart to keep him ever in dungeons under the earth； where he would fall back into his old black thoughts。'
'You were less tender to me；' said Glóin with a flash of his eyes as old memories were stirred of his imprisonment in the deep places of the Elven king's halls。
'Now e！' said Gandalf。 'Pray do not interrupt； my good Glóin。 That was a regrettable misunderstanding； long set right。 If all the grievances that stand between Elves and Dwarves are to be brought up here； we may as well abandon this Council。'
Glóin rose and bowed； and Legolas continued。 'In the days of fair weather we led Gollum through the woods； and there was a high tree standing alone far from the others which he liked to climb。 Oft