n went away。'
‘Balin will find no ring in Moria；' said Gandalf。 ‘Thrór gave it toThráin his son； but not Thráin to Thorin。 It was taken with torment fromThráin in the dungeons of Dol Guldur。 I came too late。'
'Ah； alas！' cried Glóin。 'When will the day e of our revenge？ Butstill there are the Three。 What of the Three Rings of the Elves？ Very mightyRings； it is said。 Do not the Elf…lords keep them？ Yet they too were made bythe Dark Lord long ago。 Are they idle？ I see Elf…lords here。 Will they notsay？'
The Elves returned no answer。 ‘Did you not hear me； Glóin？' said Elrond。
‘The Three were not made by Sauron； nor did he ever touch them。 But of them itis not permitted to speak。 So much only in this hour of doubt I may now say。
They are not idle。 But they were not made as weapons of war or conquest： thatis not their power。 Those who made them did not desire strength or dominationor hoarded wealth； but understanding； making； and healing； to preserve allthings unstained。 These things the Elves of Middle…earth have in some measuregained； though with sorrow。 But all that has been wrought by those who wieldthe Three will turn to their undoing； and their minds and hearts will beerevealed to Sauron； if he regains the One。 It would be better if the Three hadnever been。 That is his purpose。'
‘But what then would happen； if the Ruling Ring were destroyed as youcounsel？' asked Glóin。
'We know not for certain；' answered Elrond sadly。 ‘Some hope that theThree Rings； which Sauron has never touched； would then bee free； and theirrulers might heal the hurts of the world that he has wrought。 But maybe whenthe One has gone； the Three will fail； and many fair things will fade and beforgotten。 That is my belief。'
‘Yet all the Elves are willing to endure this chance；' said Glorfindel'if by it the power of Sauron may be broken； and the fear of his dominion betaken away for ever。'
'Thus we return once more to the destroying of the Ring；' said Erestor；
‘and yet we e no nearer。 What strength have we for the finding of the Firein which it was made？ That is the path of despair。 Of folly I would say； ifthe long wisdom of Elrond did not forbid me。'
'Despair； or folly？' said Gandalf。 ‘It is not despair； for despair isonly for those who see the end beyond all doubt。 We do not。 It is wisdom torecognize necessity； when all other courses have been weighed； though as follyit may appear to those who cling to false hope。 Well； let folly be our cloak；
a veil before the eyes of the Enemy！ For he is very wise； and weighs allthings to a nicety in the scales of his malice。 But the only measure that heknows is desire； desire for power； and so he judges all hearts。 Into his heartthe thought will not enter that any will refuse it； that having the Ring wemay seek to destroy it。 If we seek this； we shall put him out of reckoning。'
'At least for a while；' said Elrond。 ‘The road must be trod； but it willbe very hard。 And neither strength nor wisdom will carry us far upon it。 Thisquest may be attempted by the weak with as much hope as the strong。 Yet suchis oft the course of deeds that move the wheels of the world： small hands do
them because they must； while the eyes of the great are elsewhere。'
'Very well； very well； Master Elrond！' said Bilbo suddenly。 'Say no more！
It is plain enough what you are pointing at。 Bilbo the silly hobbit startedthis affair； and Bilbo had better finish it； or himself。 I was veryfortable here； and getting on with my book。 If you want to know； I am justwriting an ending for it。 I had thought of putting： _and he lived happily everafterwards to the end of his days_。 It is a good ending； and none the worsefor having been used before。 Now I shall have to alter that： it does not looklike ing true； and anyway there will evidently have to be several morechapters； if I live to write them。 It is a frightful nuisance。 When ought I tostart？
' Boromir looked in surprise at Bilbo； but the laughter died on his lipswhen he saw that all the others regarded the old hobbit with grave respect。
Only Glóin smiled； but his smile came from old memories。
‘Of course； my dear Bilbo；' said Gandalf。 ‘If you had really started thisaffair； you might be expected to finish it。 But you know well enough now that_starting_ is too great a claim for any； and that only a small part is playedin great deeds by any hero。 You need not bow！ Though the word was meant； andwe do not doubt that under jest you are making a valiant offer。 But one beyondyour strength； Bilbo。 You cannot take this thing back。 It has passed on。 Ifyou need my advice any longer； I should say that your part is ended； unless asa recorder。 Finish your book； and leave the ending unaltered！ There is stillhope for it。 But get ready to write a sequel； when they e back。'
Bilbo laughed。 ‘I have never known you give me pleasant advice before。'
he said。 ‘As all your unpleasant advice has been good； I wonder if this adviceis not bad。 Still； I don't suppose I have the strength or luck left to dealwith the Ring。 It has grown； and I have not。 But tell me： what do you mean by_they_？'
‘The messengers who are sent with the Ring。'
‘Exactly！ And who are they to be？ That seems to me what this Council hasto decide； and all that it has to decide。 Elves may thrive on speech alone；
and Dwarves endure great weariness； but I am only an old hobbit； and I miss mymeal at noon。 Can't you think of some names now？ Or put it off till afterdinner？'
No one answered。 The noon…bell rang。 Still no one spoke。 Frodo glanced atall the faces； but they were not turned to him。 All the Council sat withdowncast eyes； as if in deep thought。 A great dread fell on him； as if he wasawaiting the pronouncement of some doom that he had long foreseen and vainlyhoped might after all never be spoken。 An overwhelming longing to rest andremain at peace by Bilbo's side in Rivendell filled all his heart。 At lastwith an effort he spoke； and wondered to hear his own words； as if some otherwill was using his small voice。
‘I will take the Ring；' he said； ‘though I do not know the way。'
Elrond raised his eyes and looked at him； and Frodo felt his heartpierced by the sudden keenness of the glance。 ‘If I understand aright all thatI have heard；' he said； ‘I think that this task is appointed for you； Frodo；
and that if you do not find a way； no one will。 This is the hour of the Shire…
folk； when they arise from their quiet fields to shake the towers and counselsof the Great。 Who of all the Wise could have foreseen it？ Or； if they arewise； why should they expect to know it； until the hour has struck？
‘But it is a heavy burden。 So heavy that none could lay it on another。 Ido not lay it on you。 But if you take it freely； I will say that your choiceis right； and though all the mighty elf…friends of old； Hador； and Húrin； andTúrin； and Beren himself were assembled together your seat should be among
them。'
‘But you won't send him off alone surely； Master？' cried Sam； unable tocontain himself any longer； and jumping up from the corner where he had beenquietly sitting on the floor。
‘No indeed！' said Elrond； turning towards him with a smile。 ‘You at leastshall go with him。 It is hardly possible to separate you from