I wonder if Gandalf said this not only to indicate his own conception of Peregrin as having grown up to "man" status, rather than the underage hobbit he is in appearance, but also to see how it would cause the others to react. Throughout the tale, hobbits are seriously undervalued by Men, most notably Boromir. Perhaps this is a test of the Men in Minas Tirith, a sort of "first impression" test to see the mood and set of the city. Just an odd thought! Carry on! I like discussions like this!
Cheers,
Lyta (serious Pippin-fancier)
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“…she laid herself to rest upon Cerin Amroth; and there is her green grave, until the world is changed, and all the days of her life are utterly forgotten by men that come after, and elanor and niphredil bloom no more east of the Sea.”
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