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***Mithadan*** · 12-04-2000, 04:16 PM

<font face="Verdana"><table><TR><TD><FONT SIZE="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Shade of Carn Dûm
Posts: 368</TD><TD></TD></TR></TABLE>
<img src="http://www.barrowdowns.com/images/posticons/onering.jpg" align=absmiddle> Re: Bilbo cheated?

Bilbo reached into his pocket at least in part due to the influence of the Ring? Probably not.

Chapter 5 was revised when LoTR came out (first edition, fifth printing I think). The older version was, believe it or not, Bilbo's "lie" as told to the dwarves and Gandalf. If Gollum won Bilbo gets eaten. If Bilbo wins, Gollum gives Bilbo a "present". Gollum loses and goes back to the island to fetch Bilbo his present, the ring (lower case "r" intended), and can't find it. He returns to shore and Bilbo demands that Gollum show him the way out, which Gollum does. The end of the Chapter is similar to the revised edition, except he calmly puts the ring back on when the goblins see him. There is no panic or pang of loss in the earlier version.

I guess this answers my question about the "what do I have in my pocket" question. When written, JRRT did not know Bilbo had found THE Ring, so Bilbo's question was not motivated by its influence. I forgot about the revisions to that Chapter.

So anyway, did Bilbo cheat?

--Mithadan--
"The Silmarils with living light
were kindled clear, and waxing bright
shone like stars that in the North
above the reek of earth leap forth." </p>Edited by: <A HREF=http://www.barrowdowns.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_profile&u=00000004>Mithadan </A> at: 12/5/00 6:38:23 pm

12-04-2000, 04:16 PM	#3
*Mithadan* Spirit of Mist Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Tol Eressea Posts: 3,313	<font face="Verdana"><table><TR><TD><FONT SIZE="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Shade of Carn Dûm Posts: 368</TD><TD></TD></TR></TABLE> <img src="http://www.barrowdowns.com/images/posticons/onering.jpg" align=absmiddle> Re: Bilbo cheated? Bilbo reached into his pocket at least in part due to the influence of the Ring? Probably not. Chapter 5 was revised when LoTR came out (first edition, fifth printing I think). The older version was, believe it or not, Bilbo's "lie" as told to the dwarves and Gandalf. If Gollum won Bilbo gets eaten. If Bilbo wins, Gollum gives Bilbo a "present". Gollum loses and goes back to the island to fetch Bilbo his present, the ring (lower case "r" intended), and can't find it. He returns to shore and Bilbo demands that Gollum show him the way out, which Gollum does. The end of the Chapter is similar to the revised edition, except he calmly puts the ring back on when the goblins see him. There is no panic or pang of loss in the earlier version. I guess this answers my question about the "what do I have in my pocket" question. When written, JRRT did not know Bilbo had found THE Ring, so Bilbo's question was not motivated by its influence. I forgot about the revisions to that Chapter. So anyway, did Bilbo cheat? --Mithadan-- "The Silmarils with living light were kindled clear, and waxing bright shone like stars that in the North above the reek of earth leap forth." </p>Edited by: <A HREF=http://www.barrowdowns.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_profile&u=00000004>Mithadan </A> at: 12/5/00 6:38:23 pm __________________ Beleriand, Beleriand, the borders of the Elven-land.