‘From the first my heart misgave me； against all reason that I knew；'
said Gandalf； ‘and I desired to know how this thing came to Gollum； and howlong he had possessed it。 So I set a watch for him； guessing that he would erelong e forth from his darkness to seek for his treasure。 He came； but heescaped and was not found。 And then alas！ I let the matter rest； watching andwaiting only； as we have too often done。
‘Time passed with many cares； until my doubts were awakened again tosudden fear。 Whence came the hobbit's ring？ What； if my fear was true； shouldbe done with it？ Those things I must decide。 But I spoke yet of my dread tonone； knowing the peril of an untimely whisper； if it went astray。 In all thelong wars with the Dark Tower treason has ever been our greatest foe。
'That was seventeen years ago。 Soon I became aware that spies of manysorts； even beasts and birds； were gathered round the Shire； and my fear grew。
I called for the help of the Dúnedain； and their watch was doubled； and Iopened my heart to Aragorn； the heir of Isildur。'
‘And I；' said Aragorn； ‘counselled that we should hunt for Gollum。 toolate though it may seem。 And since it seemed fit that Isildur's heir shouldlabour to repair Isildur's fault； I went with Gandalf on the long and hopelesssearch。'
Then Gandalf told how they had explored the whole length of Wilderland；
down even to the Mountains of Shadow and the fences of Mordor。 ‘There we had
rumour of him； and we guess that he dwelt there long in the dark hills； but wenever found him； and at last I despaired。 And then in my despair I thoughtagain of a test that might make the finding of Gollum unneeded。 The ringitself might tell if it were the One。 The memory of words at the Council cameback to me： words of Saruman； half…heeded at the time。 I heard them nowclearly in my heart。
‘ 〃The Nine； the Seven； and the Three；〃 he said； 〃had each their propergem。 Not so the One。 It was round and unadorned； as it were one of the lesserrings； but its maker set marks upon it that the skilled； maybe； could stillsee and read。〃
‘What those marks were he had not said。 Who now would know？ The maker。
And Saruman？ But great though his lore may be； it must have a source。 Whathand save Sauron's ever held this thing； ere it was lost？ The hand of Isilduralone。
‘With that thought； I forsook the chase； and passed swiftly to Gondor。 Informer days the members of my order had been well received there； but Sarumanmost of all。 Often he had been for long the guest of the Lords of the City。
Less wele did the Lord Denethor show me then than of old； and grudgingly hepermitted me to search among his hoarded scrolls and books。
' 〃If indeed you look only； as you say； for records of ancient days； andthe beginnings of the City； read on！ 〃 he said。 〃For to me what was is lessdark than what is to e； and that is my care。 But unless you have more skilleven than Saruman； who has studied here long； you will find naught that is notwell known to me； who am master of the lore of this City。〃
‘So said Denethor。 And yet there lie in his hoards many records that fewnow can read； even of the lore…masters； for their scripts and tongues havebee dark to later men。 And Boromir； there lies in Minas Tirith still；
unread； I guess； by any save Saruman and myself since the kings failed； ascroll that Isildur made himself。 For Isildur did not march away straight fromthe war in Mordor； as some have told the tale。'
'Some in the North； maybe；' Boromir broke in。 'All know in Gondor that hewent first to Minas Anor and dwelt a while with his nephew Meneldil；
instructing him； before he mitted to him the rule of the South Kingdom。 Inthat time he planted there the last sapling of the White Tree in memory of hisbrother。'
‘But in that time also he made this scroll；' said Gandalf； ‘and that isnot remembered in Gondor； it would seem。 For this scroll concerns the Ring；
and thus wrote Isildur therein：
_The Great Ring shall go now to be an heirloom of the North Kingdom； butrecords of it shall be left in Gondor； where also dwell the heirs of Elendil；
lest a time e when the memory of these great matters shall grow dim。_
‘And after these words Isildur described the Ring； such as he found it。
_It was hot when I first took it； hot as a glede； and my hand wasscorched； so that I doubt if ever again I shall be free of the pain of it。 Yeteven as I write it is cooled； and it seemeth to shrink； though it losethneither its beauty nor its shape。 Already the writing upon it； which at firstwas as clear as red flame； fadeth and is now only barely to be read。 It isfashioned in an elven…script of Eregion； for they have no letters in Mordorfor such subtle work； but the language is unknown to me。 I deem it to be atongue of the Black Land； since it is foul and uncouth。 What evil it saith Ido not know； but I trace here a copy of it； lest it fade beyond recall。 TheRing misseth； maybe； the heat of Sauron's hand； which was black and yet burnedlike fire； and so Gil…galad was destroyed； and maybe were the gold made hot
again； the writing would be refreshed。 But for my part I will risk no hurt tothis 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 wasindeed as Isildur guessed； in the tongue of Mordor and the servants of theTower。 And what was said therein was already known。 For in the day that Sauronfirst put on the One； Celebrimbor； maker of the Three； was aware of him； andfrom afar he heard him speak these words； and so his evil purposes wererevealed。
‘At once I took my leave of Denethor； but even as I went northwards；
messages came to me out of Lórien that Aragorn had passed that way； and thathe 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 notguess。'
‘There is little need to tell of them；' said Aragorn。 ‘If a man mustneeds walk in sight of the Black Gate； or tread the deadly flowers of MorgulVale； then perils he will have。 I； too； despaired at last； and I began myhomeward journey。 And then； by fortune； I came suddenly on what I sought： themarks 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 Ifollowed it； and then I had him。 Lurking by a stagnant mere； peering in thewater as the dark eve fell； I caught him； Gollum。 He was covered with greenslime。 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。 Ideemed it the worst part of all my journey； the road back； watching him dayand night； making him walk before me with a halter on his neck； gagged； untilhe was tamed by lack of drink and food； driving him ever towards Mirkwood。 Ibrought him there at last and gave him to the Elves； for we had agreed thatthis 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 enduredlong speech with him。'
‘Yes； long and weary；' said Gandalf； ‘but not without profit。 For onething； the tale he told of his loss agreed with that which Bilbo has now toldopenly for the first time； but that mattered little； since I had alreadyguessed it。 But I learned then first that Gollum's ring came out of the GreatRiver nigh to the Gladden Fields。 And I learned also that he had possessed itlong。 Many lives of his small kind。 The power of the ring had lengthened hisyears 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 Ispoke of。 Upon this very ring which you have here seen held aloft； round andunadorned； the letters that Isildur reported may still be read； if one has thestrength of will to set the golden thing in the fire a while。 That I havedone； and this I have read：
_Ash nazg durbatul。k； ash nazg gimbatul； ash nazg thrakatul。kagh burzum…ishi krimpatul。'_
The change in the wizard's voice was astounding。 Suddenly it becamemenacing； 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 stoppedtheir ears。
‘Never before has any voice dared to utter the words of that tongue inImladris； Gandalf the Grey；' said Elrond； as the shadow passed and the panybreathed once more。
‘And let us hope that none will ever speak it here again；' answeredGandalf。 ‘Nonetheless I do not ask your pardon； Master Elrond。 For if thattongue is not soon to be heard in every corner of the West； then let all putdoubt 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 greatpart of his strength of old。 Out of the Black Years e the words that theSmiths of Eregion heard； and knew that they had been betrayed：
_One Ring to rule them all； One Ring to find them； One Ringto bring them all and in the Darkness bind them。_
‘Know also； my friends； that I learned more yet from Gollum。 He was lothto speak and his tale was unclear； but it is beyond all doubt that he went toMordor； and there all that he knew was forced from him。 Thus the Enemy knowsnow that the One is found； that it was long in the Shire； and since hisservants have pursued it almost to our door； he soon will know； already he mayknow； even as I speak； that we have it here。'
All sat silent for a while； until at length Boromir spoke。 ‘He is a smallthing； 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 onhis heart。 Still I for one am glad that he is safely kept by the watchfulElves of Mirkwood。 His malice is great and gives him a strength hardly to bebelieved in one so lean and withered。 He could work much mischief still； if hewere 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 greatdistress。 ‘The tid