beforeits fall； and my mother was Elwing； daughter of Dior； son of Lúthien ofDoriath。 I have seen three ages in the West of the world； and many defeats；
and many fruitless victories。
‘I was the herald of Gil…galad and marched with his host。 I was at theBattle of Dagorlad before the Black Gate of Mordor； where we had the mastery：
for the Spear of Gil…galad and the Sword of Elendil； Aiglos and Narsil； nonecould withstand。 I beheld the last bat on the slopes of Orodruin； whereGil…galad died； and Elendil fell； and Narsil broke beneath him； but Sauronhimself was overthrown； and Isildur cut the Ring from his hand with the hilt…
shard of his father's sword； and took it for his own。'
At this the stranger； Boromir； broke in。 ‘So that is what became of theRing！' he cried。 ‘If ever such a tale was told in the South； it has long beenforgotten。 I have heard of the Great Ring of him that we do not name； but webelieved that it perished from the world in the ruin of his first realm。
Isildur took it！ That is tidings indeed。'
‘Alas！ yes；' said Elrond。 ‘Isildur took it； as should not have been。 Itshould have been cast then into Orodruin's fire nigh at hand where it wasmade。 But few marked what Isildur did。 He alone stood by his father in thatlast mortal contest； and by Gil…galad only Círdan stood； and I。 But Isildurwould not listen to our counsel。
' 〃This I will have as weregild for my father； and my brother；〃 he said；
and therefore whether we would or no； he took it to treasure it。 But soon hewas betrayed by it to his death； and so it is named in the North Isildur'sBane。 Yet death maybe was better than what else might have befallen him。
'Only to the North did these tidings e； and only to a few。 Smallwonder it is that you have not heard them； Boromir。 From the ruin of theGladden Fields； where Isildur perished； three men only came ever back over themountains after long wandering。 One of these was Ohtar； the esquire of
Isildur； who bore the shards of the sword of Elendil； and he brought them toValandil； the heir of Isildur； who being but a child had remained here inRivendell。 But Narsil was broken and its light extinguished； and it has notyet been forged again。
‘Fruitless did I call the victory of the Last Alliance？ Not wholly so；
yet it did not achieve its end。 Sauron was diminished； but not destroyed。 HisRing was lost but not unmade。 The Dark Tower was broken； but its foundationswere not removed； for they were made with the power of the Ring； and while itremains they will endure。 Many Elves and many mighty Men； and many of theirfriends。 had perished in the war。 Anárion was slain； and Isildur was slain；
and Gil…galad and Elendil were no more。 Never again shall there be any suchleague of Elves and Men； for Men multiply and the Firstborn decrease； and thetwo kindreds are estranged。 And ever since that day the race of Númenor hasdecayed； and the span of their years has lessened。
'In the North after the war and the slaughter of the Gladden Fields theMen of Westernesse were diminished； and their city of Annúminas beside LakeEvendim fell into ruin； and the heirs of Valandil removed and dwelt at Fornoston the high North Downs； and that now too is desolate。 Men call it Deadmen'sDike； and they fear to tread there。 For the folk of Arnor dwindled； and theirfoes devoured them； and their lordship passed； leaving only green mounds inthe grassy hills。
'In the South the realm of Gondor long endured； and for a while itssplendour grew； recalling somewhat of the might of Númenor； ere it fell。 Hightowers that people built； and strong places。 and havens of many ships； and thewinged crown of the Kings of Men was held in awe by folk of many tongues。
Their chief city was Osgiliath； Citadel of the Stars。 through the midst ofwhich the River flowed。 And Minas Ithil they built； Tower of the Rising Moon；
eastward upon a shoulder of the Mountains of Shadow； and westward at the feetof the White Mountains Minas Anor they made； Tower of the Setting Sun。 Therein the courts of the King grew a white tree； from the seed of that tree whichIsildur brought over the deep waters； and the seed of that tree before camefrom Eress。a； and before that out of the Uttermost West in the Day before dayswhen the world was young。
‘But in the wearing of the swift years of Middle…earth the line ofMeneldil son of Anárion failed； and the Tree withered； and the blood of theNúmenoreans became mingled with that of lesser men。 Then the watch upon thewalls of Mordor slept； and dark things crept back to Gorgoroth。 And on a timeevil things came forth； and they took Minas Ithil and abode in it； and theymade it into a place of dread； and it is called Minas Morgul； the Tower ofSorcery。 Then Minas Anor was named anew Minas Tirith； the Tower of Guard； andthese two cities were ever at war； but Osgiliath which lay between wasdeserted and in its ruins shadows walked。
'So it has been for many lives of men。 But the Lords of Minas Tirithstill fight on； defying our enemies； keeping the passage of the River fromArgonath to the Sea。 And now that part of the tale that I shall tell is drawnto its close。 For in the days of Isildur the Ruling Ring passed out of allknowledge； and the Three were released from its dominion。 But now in thislatter day they are in peril once more； for to our sorrow the One has beenfound。 Others shall speak of its finding； for in that I played small part。'
He ceased； but at once Boromir stood up； tall and proud； before them。
Give me leave； Master Elrond； said he； first to say more of Gondor； for verilyfrom the land of Gondor I am e。 And it would be well for all to know what
passes there。 For few； I deem； know of our deeds； and therefore guess littleof their peril； if we should fail at last。
‘Believe not that in the land of Gondor the blood of Númenor is spent；
nor all its pride and dignity forgotten。 By our valour the wild folk of theEast are still restrained； and the terror of Morgul kept at bay； and thusalone are peace and freedom maintained in the lands behind us； bulwark of theWest。 But if the passages of the River should be won； what then？
‘Yet that hour； maybe； is not now far away。 The Nameless Enemy has arisen
again。 Smoke rises once more from Orodruin that we call Mount Doom。 The powerof the Black Land grows and we are hard beset。 When the Enemy returned ourfolk were driven from Ithilien； our fair domain east of the River； though wekept a foothold there and strength of arms。 But this very year； in the days ofJune； sudden war came upon us out of Mordor； and we were swept away。 We wereoutnumbered； for Mordor has allied itself with the Easterlings and the cruelHaradrim； but it was not by numbers that we were defeated。 A power was therethat we have not felt before。
‘Some said that it could be seen； like a great black horseman； a darkshadow under the moon。 Wherever he came a madness filled our foes； but fearfell on our boldest； so that horse and man gave way and fled。 Only a remnantof our eastern force came back； destroying the last bridge that still stoodamid the ruins of Osgiliath。
'I was in the pany that held the bridge； until it was cast down behindus。 Four only were saved by swimming： my brother and myself and two others。
But still we fight on； holding all the west shores of Anduin； and those whoshelter behind us give us praise； if ever they hear our name： much praise butlittle help。 Only from Rohan now will any men ride to us when we call。
‘In this evil hour I have e on an errand over many dangerous leaguesto Elrond： a hundred and ten days I have journeyed all alone。 But I do notseek allies in war。 The might of Elrond is in wisdom not in weapons； it issaid。 I e to ask for counsel and the unravelling of hard words。 For on theeve of the sudden assault a dream came to my brother in a troubled sleep； andafterwards a like dream came oft to him again； and once to me。
'In that dream I thought the eastern sky grew dark and there was agrowing thunder； but in the West a pale light lingered； and out of it I hearda voice； remote but clear； crying：
Seek for the Sword that was broken：
In Imladris it dwells；
There shall be counsels taken
Stronger than Morgul…spells。
There shall be shown a token
That Doom is near at hand；
For Isildur's Bane shall waken；
And the Halfling forth shall stand。
Of these words we could understand little； and we spoke to our father；
Denethor； Lord of Minas Tirith； wise in the lore of Gondor。 This only would hesay； that Imladris was of old the name among the Elves of a far northern dale；
where Elrond the Halfelven dwelt； greatest of lore…masters。 Therefore mybrother； seeing how desperate was our need； was eager to heed the dream andseek for Imladris； but since the way was full of doubt and danger； I took thejourney upon myself。 Loth was my father to give me leave； and long have Iwandered by roads forgotten； seeking the house of Elrond； of which many hadheard； but few knew where it lay。'
'And here in the house of Elrond more shall be made clear to you' saidAragorn； standing up。 He cast his sword upon the table that stood beforeElrond； and the blade was in two pieces。 ‘Here is the Sword that was Broken！'
he said。
‘And who are you； and what have you to do with Minas Tirith？' askedBoromir； looking in wonder at the lean face of the Ranger and his weather…
stained cloak。
‘He is Aragorn son of Arathorn；' said Elrond； ‘and he is descendedthrough many fathers from Isildur Elendil's son of Minas Ithil。 He is theChief of the Dúnedain in the North； and few are now left of that folk。'
‘Then it belongs to you； and not to me at all！' cried Frodo in amazement；
springing to his feet； as if he expected the Ring to be demanded at once。
'It does not belong to either of us；' said Aragorn； ‘but it has beenordained that you should hold it for a while。'
'Bring out the Ring； Frodo！' said Gandalf solemnly。 ‘The time has e。
Hold it up； and then Boromir will understand the remainder of his riddle。'
There was a hush； and all turned their eyes on Frodo。 He was shaken by asudden shame and fear； and he felt a great reluctance to reveal the Ring； anda loathing of its touch。 He wished he was far away。 The Ring gleamed andflickered as he held it up before them in his trembling hand。
'Behold I