Starflower
09-17-2004, 10:13 AM
Merry led the pony over a gangway on to the ferry, and the others
followed. Merry then pushed slowly off with a long pole. The Brandywine flowed slow and broad before them. On the other side the bank was steep, and up it a winding path climbed from the further landing. Lamps were twinkling there.
Behind loomed up the Buck Hill; and out of it, through stray shrouds of mist,
shone many round windows, yellow and red. They were the windows of Brandy Hall, the ancient home of the Brandybucks.
Long ago Gorhendad Oldbuck, head of the Oldbuck family, one of the oldest
in the Marish or indeed in the Shire, had crossed the river, which was the
original boundary of the land eastwards. He built (and excavated) Brandy Hall,
changed his name to Brandybuck, and settled down to become master of what was virtually a small independent country. His family grew and grew, and after his days continued to grow, until Brandy Hall occupied the whole of the low hill, and had three large front-doors, many side-doors, and about a hundred windows. The Brandybucks and their numerous dependants then began to burrow, and later to build, all round about. That was the origin of Buckland, a thickly inhabited strip between the river and the Old Forest, a sort of colony from the Shire. Its chief village was Bucklebury, clustering in the banks and slopes behind Brandy Hall.
The people in the Marish were friendly with the Bucklanders, and the
authority of the Master of the Hall (as the head of the Brandybuck family was
called) was still acknowledged by the farmers between Stock and Rushey. But
most of the folk of the old Shire regarded the Bucklanders as peculiar, half
foreigners as it were. Though, as a matter of fact, they were not very
different from the other hobbits of the Four Farthings. Except in one point:
they were fond of boats, and some of them could swim.
Their land was originally unprotected from the East; but on that side
they had built a hedge: the High Hay. It had been planted many generations
ago, and was now thick and tail, for it was constantly tended. It ran all the
way from Brandywine Bridge, in a big loop curving away from the river, to
Haysend (where the Withywindle flowed out of the Forest into the Brandywine):well over twenty miles from end to end. But, of course, it was not a complete protection. The Forest drew close to the hedge in many places. The Bucklanders kept their doors locked after dark, and that also was not usual in the Shire.
This is probably the most detailed description of any part of the Shire found in the book. Buckland makes me think of Wales, a small 'independent country' west of the main settlement, widely regarded as 'odd' by the majority. :)
This passage also seems to explain why Frodo's claim that he was moving to Buckland was taken seriously, and why he would choose to make that claim - it is easy to blend in and 'disappear' amongst the numerous Brandybucks.
Then we see the house in Crickhollow - a small idyllic cottage- and Frodo feels for the first time the burden of keeping his secret from his dear friends:
Frodo looked round. It did look like home. Many of his own favourite
things or Bilbo's things (they reminded him sharply of him in their new
selling) were arranged as nearly as possible as they had been at Bag End. It
was a pleasant, comfortable, welcoming place; and he found himself wishing
that he was really coming here to settle down in quiet retirement. It seemed
unfair to have put his friends to all this trouble; and he wondered again how
he was going to break the news to them that he must leave them so soon, indeed at once. Yet that would have to be done that very night, before they all went to bed. 'It's delightful!' he said with an effort. 'I hardly feel that I have moved at all.'
Then follows another delightful passage that is full of the innocence and exuberance of young hobbits with no cares in the world, involving young Pippin and a lot of spilled bathwater! Then they settle down for dinner with Mrs Maggot's mushrooms and Frodo gets anxious as the time nears to tell his friends that he is going to leave them. But before Frodo gets it off his chest-something quite unexpected happens:
'Well!' said Frodo at last, sitting up and straightening his back, as if
he had made a decision. 'I can't keep it dark any longer. I have got something
to tell you all. But I don't know quite how to begin.'
'I think I could help you,' said Merry quietly, 'by telling you some of
it myself.'
'What do you mean?' said Frodo, looking at him anxiously.
'Just this, my dear old Frodo: you are miserable, because you don't know how to say good-bye. You meant to leave the Shire, of course. But danger has come on you sooner than you expected, and now you are making up your mind to go at once. And you don't want to. We are very sorry for you.'
Frodo opened his mouth and shut it again. His look of surprise was so
comical that they laughed.
'Dear old Frodo!' said Pippin. 'Did you really think you had thrown dust in all our eyes? You have not been nearly careful or clever enough for that! You have obviously been planning to go and saying farewell to all your haunts all this year since April. We have constantly heard you muttering: "Shall I ever look down into that valley again, I wonder", and things like that. And pretending that you had come to the end of your money, and actually selling your beloved Bag End to those Sackville- Bagginses! And all those close talks with Gandalf.'
This is the first hint that the journey ahead might be more complex than we thought at first. We are going to see four hobbits on the road instead of two.
The surprises continue:
...'You do not understand!' said Pippin. 'You must go and therefore we must, too. Merry and I are coming with you. Sam is an excellent fellow, and would jump down a dragon's throat to save you, if he did not trip over his own feet; but you will need more than one companion in your dangerous adventure.'
'My dear and most beloved hobbits!' said Frodo deeply moved. 'But I could
not allow it. I decided that long ago, too. You speak of danger, but you do
not understand. This is no treasure-hunt, no there-and-back journey. I am
flying from deadly peril into deadly peril.'
'Of course we understand,' said Merry firmly. 'That is why we have
decided to come. We know the Ring is no laughing-matter; but we are going to do our best to help you against the Enemy.'
'The Ring!' said Frodo, now completely amazed.
'Yes, the Ring,' said Merry. 'My dear old hobbit, you don't allow for the
inquisitiveness of friends. I have known about the existence of the Ring for
years before Bilbo went away, in fact; but since he obviously regarded it as
secret, I kept the knowledge in my head, until we formed our conspiracy. I did
not know Bilbo, of course, as well as I know you; I was too young, and he was also more careful but he was not careful enough.....We are horribly afraid but we are coming with you; or following you like hounds.'
On the surface it seems the hobbits are only concerned about eating and drinking and are excessively keen on genealogy, but thsi passage really shows that Gandalf's assessment of the hobbits was not amiss- they are tough little folk when it really comes to business.
The chapter ends with the hobbits deciding to leave at sunrise and Fatty Bolger is going to stay behind to keep up the pretense of Mr Baggins still living in Crickhollow.
followed. Merry then pushed slowly off with a long pole. The Brandywine flowed slow and broad before them. On the other side the bank was steep, and up it a winding path climbed from the further landing. Lamps were twinkling there.
Behind loomed up the Buck Hill; and out of it, through stray shrouds of mist,
shone many round windows, yellow and red. They were the windows of Brandy Hall, the ancient home of the Brandybucks.
Long ago Gorhendad Oldbuck, head of the Oldbuck family, one of the oldest
in the Marish or indeed in the Shire, had crossed the river, which was the
original boundary of the land eastwards. He built (and excavated) Brandy Hall,
changed his name to Brandybuck, and settled down to become master of what was virtually a small independent country. His family grew and grew, and after his days continued to grow, until Brandy Hall occupied the whole of the low hill, and had three large front-doors, many side-doors, and about a hundred windows. The Brandybucks and their numerous dependants then began to burrow, and later to build, all round about. That was the origin of Buckland, a thickly inhabited strip between the river and the Old Forest, a sort of colony from the Shire. Its chief village was Bucklebury, clustering in the banks and slopes behind Brandy Hall.
The people in the Marish were friendly with the Bucklanders, and the
authority of the Master of the Hall (as the head of the Brandybuck family was
called) was still acknowledged by the farmers between Stock and Rushey. But
most of the folk of the old Shire regarded the Bucklanders as peculiar, half
foreigners as it were. Though, as a matter of fact, they were not very
different from the other hobbits of the Four Farthings. Except in one point:
they were fond of boats, and some of them could swim.
Their land was originally unprotected from the East; but on that side
they had built a hedge: the High Hay. It had been planted many generations
ago, and was now thick and tail, for it was constantly tended. It ran all the
way from Brandywine Bridge, in a big loop curving away from the river, to
Haysend (where the Withywindle flowed out of the Forest into the Brandywine):well over twenty miles from end to end. But, of course, it was not a complete protection. The Forest drew close to the hedge in many places. The Bucklanders kept their doors locked after dark, and that also was not usual in the Shire.
This is probably the most detailed description of any part of the Shire found in the book. Buckland makes me think of Wales, a small 'independent country' west of the main settlement, widely regarded as 'odd' by the majority. :)
This passage also seems to explain why Frodo's claim that he was moving to Buckland was taken seriously, and why he would choose to make that claim - it is easy to blend in and 'disappear' amongst the numerous Brandybucks.
Then we see the house in Crickhollow - a small idyllic cottage- and Frodo feels for the first time the burden of keeping his secret from his dear friends:
Frodo looked round. It did look like home. Many of his own favourite
things or Bilbo's things (they reminded him sharply of him in their new
selling) were arranged as nearly as possible as they had been at Bag End. It
was a pleasant, comfortable, welcoming place; and he found himself wishing
that he was really coming here to settle down in quiet retirement. It seemed
unfair to have put his friends to all this trouble; and he wondered again how
he was going to break the news to them that he must leave them so soon, indeed at once. Yet that would have to be done that very night, before they all went to bed. 'It's delightful!' he said with an effort. 'I hardly feel that I have moved at all.'
Then follows another delightful passage that is full of the innocence and exuberance of young hobbits with no cares in the world, involving young Pippin and a lot of spilled bathwater! Then they settle down for dinner with Mrs Maggot's mushrooms and Frodo gets anxious as the time nears to tell his friends that he is going to leave them. But before Frodo gets it off his chest-something quite unexpected happens:
'Well!' said Frodo at last, sitting up and straightening his back, as if
he had made a decision. 'I can't keep it dark any longer. I have got something
to tell you all. But I don't know quite how to begin.'
'I think I could help you,' said Merry quietly, 'by telling you some of
it myself.'
'What do you mean?' said Frodo, looking at him anxiously.
'Just this, my dear old Frodo: you are miserable, because you don't know how to say good-bye. You meant to leave the Shire, of course. But danger has come on you sooner than you expected, and now you are making up your mind to go at once. And you don't want to. We are very sorry for you.'
Frodo opened his mouth and shut it again. His look of surprise was so
comical that they laughed.
'Dear old Frodo!' said Pippin. 'Did you really think you had thrown dust in all our eyes? You have not been nearly careful or clever enough for that! You have obviously been planning to go and saying farewell to all your haunts all this year since April. We have constantly heard you muttering: "Shall I ever look down into that valley again, I wonder", and things like that. And pretending that you had come to the end of your money, and actually selling your beloved Bag End to those Sackville- Bagginses! And all those close talks with Gandalf.'
This is the first hint that the journey ahead might be more complex than we thought at first. We are going to see four hobbits on the road instead of two.
The surprises continue:
...'You do not understand!' said Pippin. 'You must go and therefore we must, too. Merry and I are coming with you. Sam is an excellent fellow, and would jump down a dragon's throat to save you, if he did not trip over his own feet; but you will need more than one companion in your dangerous adventure.'
'My dear and most beloved hobbits!' said Frodo deeply moved. 'But I could
not allow it. I decided that long ago, too. You speak of danger, but you do
not understand. This is no treasure-hunt, no there-and-back journey. I am
flying from deadly peril into deadly peril.'
'Of course we understand,' said Merry firmly. 'That is why we have
decided to come. We know the Ring is no laughing-matter; but we are going to do our best to help you against the Enemy.'
'The Ring!' said Frodo, now completely amazed.
'Yes, the Ring,' said Merry. 'My dear old hobbit, you don't allow for the
inquisitiveness of friends. I have known about the existence of the Ring for
years before Bilbo went away, in fact; but since he obviously regarded it as
secret, I kept the knowledge in my head, until we formed our conspiracy. I did
not know Bilbo, of course, as well as I know you; I was too young, and he was also more careful but he was not careful enough.....We are horribly afraid but we are coming with you; or following you like hounds.'
On the surface it seems the hobbits are only concerned about eating and drinking and are excessively keen on genealogy, but thsi passage really shows that Gandalf's assessment of the hobbits was not amiss- they are tough little folk when it really comes to business.
The chapter ends with the hobbits deciding to leave at sunrise and Fatty Bolger is going to stay behind to keep up the pretense of Mr Baggins still living in Crickhollow.