'Pity？ It was Pity that stayed his hand。 Pity； and Mercy： not to strikewithout need。 And he has been well rewarded； Frodo。 Be sure that he took solittle hurt from the evil； and escaped in the end； because he began hisownership of the Ring so。 With Pity。'
'I am sorry；' said Frodo。 'But I am frightened； and I do not feel anypity for Gollum。'
'You have not seen him；' Gandalf broke in。
'No； and I don't want to；' said Frodo。 I can't understand you。 Do youmean to say that you； and the Elves； have let him live on after all thosehorrible deeds？ Now at any rate he is as bad as an Orc； and just an enemy。 Hedeserves death。'
'Deserves it！ I daresay he does。 Many that live deserve death。 And somethat die deserve life。 Can you give it to them？ Then do not be too eager todeal out death in judgement。 For even the very wise cannot see all ends。 Ihave not much hope that Gollum can be cured before he dies； but there is achance of it。 And he is bound up with the fate of the Ring。 My heart tells methat he has some part to play yet； for good or ill； before the end； and whenthat es； the pity of Bilbo may rule the fate of many – yours not least。 Inany case we did not kill him： he is very old and very wretched。 The Wood…elveshave him in prison； but they treat him with such kindness as they can find intheir wise hearts。'
'All the same；' said Frodo； 'even if Bilbo could not kill Gollum； I wishhe had not kept the Ring。 I wish he had never found it； and that I had not gotit！ Why did you let me keep it？ Why didn't you make me throw it away； or； ordestroy it？'
'Let you？ Make you？' said the wizard。 'Haven't you been listening to allthat I have said？ You are not thinking of what you are saying。 But as forthrowing it away； that was obviously wrong。 These Rings have a way of beingfound。 In evil hands it might have done great evil。 Worst of all； it mighthave fallen into the hands of the Enemy。 Indeed it certainly would； for thisis the One； and he is exerting all his power to find it or draw it to himself。
'Of course； my dear Frodo； it was dangerous for you； and that hastroubled me deeply。 But there was so much at stake that I had to take somerisk – though even when I was far away there has never been a day when theShire has not been guarded by watchful eyes。 As long as you never used it； Idid not think that the Ring would have any lasting effect on you； not forevil； not at any rate for a very long time。 And you must remember that nine
years ago； when I last saw you； I still knew little for certain。'
'But why not destroy it； as you say should have been done long ago？'
cried Frodo again。 If you had warned me； or even sent me a message； I wouldhave done away with it。'
'Would you？ How would you do that？ Have you ever tried？'
'No。 But I suppose one could hammer it or melt it。'
'Try！' said Gandalf。 Try now！'
Frodo drew the Ring out of his pocket again and looked at it。 It nowappeared plain and smooth； without mark or device that he could see。 The goldlooked very fair and pure； and Frodo thought how rich and beautiful was itscolour； how perfect was its roundness。 It was an admirable thing andaltogether precious。 When he took it out he had intended to fling it from himinto the very hottest part of the fire。 But he found now that he could not doso； not without a great struggle。 He weighed the Ring in his hand； hesitating；
and forcing himself to remember all that Gandalf had told him； and then withan effort of will he made a movement； as if to cast it away – but he foundthat he had put it back in his pocket。
Gandalf laughed grimly。 'You see？ Already you too； Frodo； cannot easilylet it go； nor will to damage it。 And I could not 〃make〃 you – except byforce； which would break your mind。 But as for breaking the Ring； force isuseless。 Even if you took it and struck it with a heavy sledge…hammer； itwould make no dint in it。 It cannot be unmade by your hands； or by mine。
'Your small fire； of course； would not melt even ordinary gold。 This Ringhas already passed through it unscathed； and even unheated。 But there is nosmith's forge in this Shire that could change it at all。 Not even the anvilsand furnaces of the Dwarves could do that。 It has been said that dragon…firecould melt and consume the Rings of Power； but there is not now any dragonleft on earth in which the old fire is hot enough； nor was there ever anydragon； not even Ancalagon the Black； who could have harmed the One Ring； theRuling Ring； for that was made by Sauron himself。 There is only one way： tofind the Cracks of Doom in the depths of Orodruin； the Fire…mountain； and castthe Ring in there； if you really wish to destroy it； to put it beyond thegrasp of the Enemy for ever。'
'I do really wish to destroy it！' cried Frodo。 'Or； well； to have itdestroyed。 I am not made for perilous quests。 I wish I had never seen theRing！ Why did it e to me？ Why was I chosen？'
'Such questions cannot be answered；' said Gandalf。 'You may be sure thatit was not for any merit that others do not possess： not for power or wisdom；
at any rate。 But you have been chosen； and you must therefore use suchstrength and heart and wits as you have。'
'But I have so little of any of these things！ You are wise and powerful。
Will you not take the Ring？'
'No！' cried Gandalf； springing to his feet。 'With that power I shouldhave power too great and terrible。 And over me the Ring would gain a powerstill greater and more deadly。' His eyes flashed and his face was lit as by afire within。 'Do not tempt me！ For I do not wish to bee like the Dark Lordhimself。 Yet the way of the Ring to my heart is by pity； pity for weakness andthe desire of strength to do good。 Do not tempt me！ I dare not take it； noteven to keep it safe； unused。 The wish to wield it would be too great； for mystrength。 I shall have such need of it。 Great perils lie before me。'
He went to the window and drew aside the curtains and the shutters。
Sunlight streamed back again into the room。 Sam passed along the path outsidewhistling。 'And now；' said the wizard； turning back to Frodo； 'the decisionlies with you。 But I will always help you。' He laid his hand on Frodo'sshoulder。 'I will help you bear this burden； as long as It is yours to bear。
But we must do something； soon。 The Enemy is moving。'
There was a long silence。 Gandalf sat down again and puffed at his pipe；
as if lost in thought。 His eyes seemed closed； but under the lids he waswatching Frodo intently。 Frodo gazed fixedly at the red embers on the hearth；
until they filled all his vision； and he seemed to be looking down intoprofound wells of fire。 He was thinking of the fabled Cracks of Doom and theterror of the Fiery Mountain。
'Well！' said Gandalf at last。 'What are you thinking about？ Have youdecided what to do？'
'No！' answered Frodo； ing back to himself out of darkness； and findingto his surprise that it was not dark； and that out of the window he could seethe sunlit garden。 'Or perhaps； yes。 As far as I understand what you havesaid； I suppose I must keep the Ring and guard it； at least for the present；
whatever it may do to me。'
'Whatever it may do； it will be slow； slow to evil； if you keep it withthat purpose；' said Gandalf。
'I hope so；' said Frodo。 'But I hope that you may find some other betterkeeper soon。 But in the meanwhile it seems that I am a danger； a danger to allthat live near me。 I cannot keep the Ring and stay here。 I ought to leave BagEnd； leave the Shire； leave everything and go away。' He sighed。
'I should like to save the Shire； if I could – though there have beentimes when I thought the inhabitants too stupid and dull for words； and havefelt that an earthquake or an invasion of dragons might be good for them。 ButI don't feel like that now。 I feel that as long as the Shire lies behind； safeand fortable； I shall find wandering more bearable： I shall know thatsomewhere there is a firm foothold； even if my feet cannot stand there again。
'Of course； I have sometimes thought of going away； but I imagined thatas a kind of holiday； a series of adventures like Bilbo's or better； ending inpeace。 But this would mean exile； a flight from danger into danger； drawing itafter me。 And I suppose I must go alone； if I am to do that and save theShire。 But I feel very small； and very uprooted； and well – desperate。 TheEnemy is so strong and terrible。'
He did not tell Gandalf； but as he was speaking a great desire to followBilbo flamed up in his heart – to follow Bilbo； and even perhaps to find himagain。 It was so strong that it overcame his fear： he could almost have runout there and then down the road without his hat； as Bilbo had done on asimilar morning long ago。
'My dear Frodo！' exclaimed Gandalf。 'Hobbits really are amazingcreatures； as I have said before。 You can learn all that there is to knowabout their ways in a month； and yet after a hundred years they can stillsurprise you at a pinch。 I hardly expected to get such an answer； not evenfrom you。 But Bilbo made no mistake in choosing his heir； though he littlethought how important it would prove。 I am afraid you are right。 The Ring willnot be able to stay hidden in the Shire much longer； and for your own sake； aswell as for others； you will have to go； and leave the name of Baggins behindyou。 That name will not be safe to have； outside the Shire or in the Wild。 Iwill give you a travelling name now。 When you go； go as Mr。 Underhill。
'But I don't think you need go alone。 Not if you know of anyone you cantrust； and who would be willing to go by your side – and that you would bewilling to take into unknown perils。 But if you look for a panion； becareful in choosing！ And be careful of what you say； even to your closestfriends！ The enemy has many spies and many ways of hearing。'
Suddenly he stopped as if listening。 Frodo became aware that all was veryquiet； inside and outside。 Gandalf crept to one side of the window。 Then witha dart he sprang to the sill； and thrust a long arm out and downwards。 Therewas a squawk； and up came Sam Gamgee's curly head hauled by one ear。
'Well； well； bless my beard！' said Gandalf。 'Sam Gamgee is it？ Now whatmay you be doing？'
'Lor bless you； Mr。 Gandalf； sir！' said Sam。 'Nothing！ Leastways I wasjust trimming the grass…border under the window； if you follow me。' He pickedup