Farmer Giles of Ham by J.R.R.Tolkien

Author:J.R.R.Tolkien [J.R.R.Tolkien]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2011-03-05T06:00:00+00:00

`Well,’ said the dragon, calculating quickly. He noticed that the crowd was rather large. `Thirteen and eightpence each

?,

‘Nonsense!’ said Giles. ‘Rubbish!’ said the people. `Rot f said the dog.

`Two golden guineas each, and children half price Y said the dragon.

`What about dogs?’ said Garm. `Go on!’ said the farmer

`We’re listening.’

`Ten pounds and a purse of silver for every soul, and gold collars for the dogs?’ said Chrysophylax anxiously.

`Kill him!’ shouted the people, getting impatient: À bag of gold for everybody, and diamonds for the ladies?’ said Chrysophylax hurriedly.

`Now you talking, but not good enough,’ said Farmer Giles.

`You’ve left dogs out again,’ said Garm. `What size of bags

?’ said the men. `How many diamonds?’said their wives.

`Dear me! dear me!’ said the

dragon. Ì shall be ruined.’

`You deserve it,’ said Giles.

`You can choose between being ruined and being killed where

you lie.’ He brandished Tailbiter, and the dragon cowered.

`Make up your mind!’ the people cried, getting bolder and drawing nearer.

Chrysophylax blinked; but deep down inside him he laughed: a silent quiver which they did not observe. Their bargaining had begun to amuse him. Evidently they expected to get something out of it. They knew very little of the ways of the wide and wicked world = indeed, there was no one now living in all the realm who had had any actual experience in dealing with dragons and their tricks.

Chrysophylax was getting his breath back, and his wits as well. He licked his lips.

`Name your own price!’ he said.

Then they all began to talk at once. Chrysophylax listened with interest. Only one voice disturbed him: that of the blacksmith.

`No good ‘ll come of it, mark my words,’ said he: À worm won’t return, say what you like. But no good will come of it, either way.’

`You can stand out of the bargain; if that’s your mind,’ they said to him, and went on haggling, taking little further notice of the dragon.

Chrysophylax raised his head; but if he thought o£

springing on them, or of slipping off during the argument he was disappointed. Farmer Giles was standing by, chewing a straw and considering; but Tailbiter was in his hand, and his eye was on the dragon.

`You lie where you be!’ said he, òr you’ll get what you deserve, gold or no gold.’

The dragon lay flat. At last the parson was made spokesman and he stepped up beside Giles. `Vile Worm!’

he said. `You must bring back to this spot all your ill-gotten wealth;

and after recompensing those whom you have injured we will share it fairly among ourselves. Then, if you make a solemn vow never to disturb our land again, nor td stir up any other monster to trouble us, we will let you depart with both your head and your tail to your own home. And now you shall take such strong oaths to return (with your ransom) as even the conscience of a worm must hold binding.’ .

Chrysophylax accepted, after a plausible show of hesitation. He even shed hot tears, lamenting his ruin, till there were steaming puddles in the road; but no one was moved by them.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.