the hills； came falling like silver to meet them：
Now let the song begin！ Let us sing together
Of sun； stars； moon and mist； rain and cloudy weather；
Light on the budding leaf； dew on the feather；
Wind on the open hill； bells on the heather；
Reeds by the shady pool； lilies on the water：
Old Tom Bombadil and the Riverdaughter！
And with that song the hobbits stood upon the threshold； and a golden light was all about them。
Chapter 07
In the House of Tom Bombadil
The four hobbits stepped over the wide stone threshold； and stood still； blinking。 They were in a long low room； filled with the light of lamps swinging from the beams of the roof； and on the table of dark polished wood stood many candles； tall and yellow； burning brightly。
In a chair； at the far side of the room facing the outer door； sat a woman。 Her long yellow hair rippled down her shoulders； her gown was green； green as young reeds； shot with silver like beads of dew； and her belt was of gold； shaped like a chain of flaglilies set with the paleblue eyes of fetmenots。 About her feel in wide vessels of green and brown earthenware； white waterlilies were floating； so that she seemed to be enthroned in the midst of a pool。
'Enter； good guests！' she said； and as she spoke they knew that it was her clear voice they had heard singing。 They came a few timid steps further into the room； and began to bow low； feeling strangely surprised and awkward； like folk that； knocking at a cottage door to beg for a drink of water； have been answered by a fair young elfqueen clad in living flowers。 But before they could say anything； she sprang lightly up and over the lilybowls； and ran laughing towards them； and as she ran her gown rustled softly like the wind in the flowering borders of a river。
'e dear folk！' she said； taking Frodo by the hand。 'Laugh and be merry！ I am Goldberry； daughter of the River。' Then lightly she passed them and closing the door she turned her back to it； with her white arms spread out across it。 'Let us shut out the night！' she said。 'For you are still afraid； perhaps； of mist and treeshadows and deep water； and untame things。 Fear nothing！ For tonight you are under the roof of Tom Bombadil。'
The hobbits looked at her in wonder； and she looked at each of them and smiled。 'Fair lady Goldberry！' said Frodo at last； feeling his heart moved with a joy that he did not understand。 He stood as he had at times stood enchanted by fair elvenvoices； but the spell that was now laid upon him was different： less keen and lofty was the delight； but deeper and nearer to mortal heart； marvellous and yet not strange。 'Fair lady Goldberry！' he said again。 'Now the joy that was hidden in the songs we heard is made plain to me。
O slender as a willowwand！ O clearer than clear water！
O reed by the living pool！ Fair Riverdaughter！
O springtime and summertime； and spring again after！
O wind on the waterfall； and the leaves' laughter！'
Suddenly he stopped and stammered； overe with surprise to hear himself saying such things。 But Goldberry laughed。
'Wele！' she said。 'I had not heard that folk of the Shire were so sweettongued。 But I see you are an elffriend； the light in your eyes and the ring in your voice tells it。 This is a merry meeting！ Sit now； and wait for the Master of the house！ He will not be long。 He is tending your tired beasts。'
The hobbits sat down gladly in low rushseated chairs； while Goldberry busied herself about the table； and their eyes followed her； for the slender grace of her movement filled them somewhere behind the house came the sound of singing。 Every now and again they caught； among many a derry dol and a merry dol and a ring a ding dillo the repeated words：
Old Tom Bombadil is a merry fellow；
Bright blue his jacket is； and his boots are yellow。
'Fair lady！' said Frodo again after a while。 'Tell me； if my asking does not seem foolish； who is Tom Bombadil？'
'He is；' said Goldberry； staying her swift movements and smiling。
Frodo looked at her questioningly。 'He is； as you have seen him；' she said in answer to his look。 'He is the Master of wood； water； and hill。'
'Then all this strange land belongs to him？'
'No indeed！' she answered； and her smile faded。 'That would indeed be a burden；' she added in a low voice； as if to herself。 'The trees and the grasses and all things growing or living in the land belong each to themselves。 Tom Bombadil is the Master。 No one has ever caught old Tom walking in the forest； wading in the water； leaping on the hilltops under light and shadow。 He has no fear。 Tom Bombadil is master。'
A door opened and in came Tom Bombadil。 He had now no hat and his thick brown hair was crowned with autumn leaves。 He laughed； and going to Goldberry； took her hand。
'Here's my pretty lady！' he said； bowing to the hobbits。 'Here's my Goldberry clothed all in silvergreen with flowers in her girdle！ Is the table laden？ I see yellow cream and honeyb； and white bread； and butter； milk； cheese； and green herbs and ripe berries gathered。 Is that enough for us？ Is the supper ready？'
'It is；' said Goldberry； 'but the guests perhaps are not？'
Tom clapped his hands and cried： 'Tom； Tom！ your guests are tired； and you had near fotten！ e now； my merry friends； and Tom will refresh you！ You shall clean grimy hands； and wash your weary faces； cast off your muddy cloaks and b out your tangles！'
He opened the door； and they followed him down a short passage and round a sharp turn。 They came to a low room with a sloping roof （a penthouse； it seemed； built on to the north end of the house）。 Its walls were of clean stone； but they were mostly covered with green hanging mats and yellow curtains。 The floor was flagged； and strewn with fresh green rushes。 There were four deep mattresses； each piled with white blankets； laid on the floor along one side。 Against the opposite wall was a long bench laden with wide earthenware basins； and beside it stood brown ewers filled with water； some cold； some steaming hot。 There were soft green slippers set ready beside each bed。
Before long； washed and refreshed； the hobbits were seated at the table； two on each side； while at either end sat Goldberry and the Master。 It was a long and merry meal。 Though the hobbits ate； as only famished hobbits can eat； there was no lack。 The drink in their drinkingbowls seemed to be clear cold water； yet it went to their hearts like wine and set free their voices。 The guests became suddenly aware that they were singing merrily； as if it was easier and more natural than talking。
At last Tom and Goldberry rose and cleared the table swiftly。 The guests were manded to sit quiet； and were set in chairs； each with a footstool to his tired feet。 There was a fire in the wide hearth before them； and it was burning with a sweet smell； as if it were built of applewood。 When everything was set in order； all the lights in the room were put out； except one lamp and a pair of candles at each end of the chimneyshelf。 Then Goldberry came and stood before them； holding a candle； and she wished them each a good night and deep sleep。
'Have peace now；' she said； 'until the morning！ Heed no nightly noises！ For nothing passes door and window here save moonlight and starlight and the wind off the hilltop。 Good night！' She passed out of the room with a glimmer and a rustle。 The sound of her footsteps was like a stream falling gently away downhill over cool stones in the quiet of night。
Tom sat on a while beside them in silence； while each of them tried to muster the courage to ask one of the many questions he had meant to ask at supper。 Sleep gathered on their eyelids。 At last Frodo spoke：
'Did you hear me calling； Master； or was it just chance that brought you at that moment？'
Tom stirred like a man shaken out of a pleasant dream。 'Eh； what？' said he。 'Did I hear you calling？ Nay； I did not hear： I was busy singing。 Just chance brought me then； if chance you call it。 It was no plan of mine； though I was waiting for you。 We heard news of you； and learned that you were wandering。 We guessed you'd e ere long down to the water： all paths lead that way； down to Withywindle。 Old grey Willowman； he's a mighty singer； and it's hard for little folk to escape his cunning mazes。 But Tom had an errand there； that he dared not hinder。' Tom nodded as if sleep was taking him again； but he went on in a soft singing voice：
I had an errand there： gathering waterlilies；
green leaves and lilies white to please my pretty lady；
the last ere the year's end to keep them from the winter；
to flower by her pretty feet tilt the snows are melted。
Each year at summer's end I go to find them for her；
in a wide pool； deep and clear； far down Withywindle；
there they open first in spring and there they linger latest。
By that pool long ago I found the Riverdaughter；
fair young Goldberry sitting in the rushes。
Sweet was her singing then； and her heart was beating！
He opened his eyes and looked at them with a sudden glint of blue：
And that proved well for you 。 for now I shall no longer
go down deep again along the forestwater；
not while the year is old。 Nor shall I be passing
Old Man Willow's house this side of springtime；
not till the merry spring； when the Riverdaughter
dances down the withypath to bathe in the water。
He fell silent again； but Frodo could not help asking one more question： the one he most desired to have answered。 'Tell us； Master；' he said； 'about the Willowman。 What is he？ I have never heard of him before。'
'No； don't！' said Merry and Pippin together； sitting suddenly upright。 'Not now！ Not until the morning！'
'That is right！' said the old man。 'Now is the time for resting。 Some things are ill to hear when the world's in shadow。 Sleep till the morning light； rest on the pillow！ Heed no nightly noise！ Fear no grey willow！' And with that he took down the lamp and blew it out； and grasping a candle in either hand he led them out of the room。
Their mattresses and pillows were soft as down； and the blankets were of white wool。 They had hardly laid themselves on the deep beds and drawn the light covers over them before they were asleep。
In the dead night； Frodo lay in a dream without light。 Then he saw the young moon rising；