'The trouble is that there are so few of us left；' he said turning towards
the hobbits。 'Only three remain of the first Ents that walked in the woods
before the Darkness： only myself； Fangorn； and Finglas and Fladrif to
give them their Elvish names； you may call them Leaflock and Skinbark if you
like that better。 And of us three Leaflock and Skinbark are not much use for
this business。 Leaflock has grown sleepy。 almost tree…ish； you might say： he
has taken to standing by himself half…asleep all through the summer with the
deep grass of the meadows round his knees。 Covered with leafy hair he is。 He
used to rouse up in winter； but of late he has been too drowsy to walk far
even then。 Skinbark lived on the mountain…slopes west of Isengard。 That is
where the worst trouble has been。 He was wounded by the Orcs； and many of
his folk and his tree…herds have been murdered and destroyed。 He has gone up
into the high places； among the birches that he loves best； and he will not
e down。 Still； I daresay I could get together a fair pany of our
younger folks…if I could make them understand the need： if I could rouse
them： we are not a hasty folk。 What a pity there are so few of us！'
'Why are there so few when you have lived in this country so long？'
asked Pippin。 'Have a great many died？'
'Oh； no！' said Treebeard。 'None have died from inside； as you might
say。 Some have fallen in the evil chances of the long years； of course： and
more have grown tree…ish。 But there were never many of us and we have not
increased。 There have been no Entings no children； you would say； not for
a terrible long count of years。 You see； we lost the Entwives。'
'How very sad！' said Pippin。 'How was it that they all died？'
'They did not die！' said Treebeard。 'I never said died。 We lost them； I
said。 We lost them and we cannot find them。' He sighed。 'I thought most folk
knew that。 There were songs about the hunt of the Ents for the Entwives sung
among Elves and Men from Mirkwood to Gondor。 They cannot be quite
forgotten。'
'Well； I am afraid the songs have not e west over the Mountains to
the Shire；' said Merry。 'Won't you tell us some more； or sing us one of the
songs？'
'Yes； I will indeed；' said Treebeard； seeming pleased with the request。
'But I cannot tell it properly； only in short； and then we must end our
talk： tomorrow we have councils to call； and work to do； and maybe a journey
to begin。'
'It is rather a strange and sad story；' he went on after a pause。 'When
the world was young； and the woods were wide and wild； the Ents and the
Entwives and there were Entmaidens then： ah！ the loveliness of
Fimbrethil； of Wandlimb the lightfooted； in the days of our youth！ they
walked together and they housed together。 But our hearts did not go on
growing in the same way： the Ents gave their love to things that they met in
the world； and the Entwives gave their thought to other things； for the Ents
loved the great trees； and the wild woods； and the slopes of the high hills；
and they drank of the mountain…streams； and ate only such fruit as the trees
let fall in their path； and they learned of the Elves and spoke with the
Trees。 But the Entwives gave their minds to the lesser trees； and to the
meads in the sunshine beyond the feet of the forests； and they saw the sloe
in the thicket； and the wild apple and the cherry blossoming in spring； and
the green herbs in the waterlands in summer； and the seeding grasses in the
autumn fields。 They did not desire to speak with these things； but they
wished them to hear and obey what was said to them。 The Entwives ordered
them to grow according to their wishes； and bear leaf and fruit to their
liking； for the Entwives desired order； and plenty； and peace （by which they
meant that things should remain where they had set them）。 So the Entwives
made gardens to live in。 But we Ents went on wandering； and we only came to
the gardens now and again。 Then when the Darkness came in the North； the
Entwives crossed the Great River； and made new gardens； and tilled new
fields； and we saw them more seldom。 After the Darkness was overthrown the
land of the Entwives blossomed richly； and their fields were full of corn。
Many men learned the crafts of the Entwives and honoured them greatly； but
we were only a legend to them； a secret in the heart of the forest。 Yet here
we still are； while all the gardens of the Entwives are wasted： Men call
them the Brown Lands now。
'I remember it was long ago in the time of the war between Sauron
and the Men of the Sea desire came over me to see Fimbrethil again。 Very
fair she was still in my eyes； when I had last seen her； though little like
the Entmaiden of old。 For the Entwives were bent and browned by their
labour； their hair parched by the sun to the hue of ripe corn and their
cheeks like red apples。 Yet their eyes were still the eyes of our own
people。 We crossed over Anduin and came to their land： but we found a
desert： it was all burned and uprooted； for war had passed over it。 But the
Entwives were not there。 Long we called； and long we searched； and we asked
all folk that we met which way the Entwives had gone。 Some said they had
never seen them； and some said that they had seen them walking away west；
and some said east； and others south。 But nowhere that we went could we find
them。 Our sorrow was very great。 Yet the wild wood called； and we returned
to it。 For many years we used to go out every now and again and look for the
Entwives。 walking far and wide and calling them by their beautiful names。
But as time passed we went more seldom and wandered less far。 And now the
Entwives are only a memory for us； and our beards are long and grey。 The
Elves made many songs concerning the Search of the Ents； and some of the
songs passed into the tongues of Men。 But we made no songs about it； being
content to chant their beautiful names when we thought of the Entwives。 We
believe that we may meet again in a time to e； and perhaps we shall find
somewhere a land where we can live together and both be content。 But it is
foreboded that that will only be when we have both lost all that we now
have。 And it may well be that that time is drawing near at last。 For if
Sauron of old destroyed the gardens； the Enemy today seems likely to wither
all the woods。
'There was an Elvish song that spoke of this； or at least so I
understand it。 It used to be sung up and down the Great River。 It was never
an Entish song； mark you： it would have been a very long song in Entish！ But
we know it by heart； and hum it now and again。 This is how it runs in your
tongue：
ENT。
When Spring unfolds the beechen leaf； and sap is in the bough；
When light is on the wild…wood stream； and wind is on the brow；
When stride is long； and breath is deep； and keen the mountain…air；
e bac