"J.R.R. Tolkien - Farmer Giles of Ham" - читать интересную книгу автора (Tolkien J.R.R)

maybe I shall go back one day when I have a mind. And anyway
I went there once, which is-more than most folk can say. Now
about that copper pot.'

`And these rich lands,' they would hurriedly ask, `these
delectable regions full of undefended cattle, which way do they
lie? And how far off?'

`Oh,' he would answer, `away east or sou'east. But it's a long
journey.' And then he would give such an exaggerated account
of the distance that he had walked, and the woods, hills, and
plains that he had crossed, that none of the other less long-
legged giants ever set out. Still, the talk got about.

Then the warm summer was followed by a hard winter. It was
bitter cold in the mountains and food. was scarce.

The talk got louder. Lowland sheep and lone from the deep
pastures were much discussed. The dragons pricked up their
ears. They were hungry, and these rumours were attractive.
`So knights are mythical!' said the younger and less
experienced dragons. `We always thought so.'

`At least they may be getting rare,' thought the older and
wiser worms; `far and few and no longer to be feared.'

There was one dragon who was deeply moved.
Chrysophylax Dives was his name, for he was of ancient
and imperial lineage, and very rich. He was cunning,
inquisitive, greedy, well-armoured, but not over bold. But
at any rate he was not in the least afraid of flies or insects
of any sort or size; and he was mortally hungry.

So one winter's day, about a week before Christmas,
Chrysophylax spread his wings and took off. He landed
quietly in the middle of the night plump in the heart of the
midland realm of Augustus Bonifacius rex et basileus. He
did a deal of damage in a short while, smashing and
burning, and devouring sheep, cattle, and horses.

This was in a part of the land a long way from Ham, but
Garm got the fright of his life. He had gone off on a long
expedition, and taking advantage of his master's favour he
had ventured to spend a night or two away from home. He
was following an engaging scent along the eaves of a
wood, when he turned a corner and came suddenly upon a
new and alarming smell; he ran indeed slap into the tail of
Chrysophylax Dives, who had just landed. Never did a dog
turn his own tail round and bolt home swifter than Garm.
The dragon, hearing his yelp, turned and snorted; but Garm