I finally located it! I don't know how I missed it on my numerous skims of the story, but no matter.
It's the King of the Little Kingdom (sorry, I don't feel like typing all of his names and titles
), speaking of the sitizens of Ham after Farmer Giles' first victory over the dragon.
Quote:
|
Here at least a sturdy and uncorrupted folk still retain the ancient courage of our race.
|
__________________
'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth..
.'