The world is changed.
世界已变
I feel it in the water.
我从水中感觉到
I feel it in the Earth.
从土地中触到
I smell it in the air.
从空气中闻到
Much that once was is lost. For none now live who remember it.
许多过往之事都已失落，如今已无人能忆。
It began with the forging of the great rings.
故事始于魔戒被铸造之时。
Three were given to the Elves, immortal, wisest and fairest of all beings.
其中三枚给予了精灵族，他们是永生的、世间最具智慧、最高尚的生灵。
Seven to the Dwarf lords, great miners and craftsmen of the mountain halls.
七枚归属于矮人列王，他们是山厅之中伟大的开拓者与工匠。
And nine, nine rings were gifted to the race of Men, who above all else, desire power.
而另九枚，则赐予了凡人，除了权利之外，他们漠视一切。
For within these rings was bound the strength and will to govern each race.
在这些戒指之中都被倾注了能够统治各种族的力量与意愿。

But they were all of them deceived, for another ring was made.
但所有人却都落入了圈套，因为另有一枚戒指被铸造了。
In the land of Mordor, in the fires of Mount Doom, the Dark Lord Sauron forged in secret a master ring, to control all others.
在魔多之地，在那厄运山的火焰之中，黑暗魔君索隆秘密制造了一枚统领之戒，来掌控其余的魔戒。
And into this Ring, he poured his cruelty, his malice and his will to dominate all life.
在这枚戒指之中，他灌输进了自己的残忍、邪恶以及那要凌驾于所有生灵的欲念。
One Ring to rule them all.
至尊戒驭众戒。
One by one, the free lands of Middle-Earth fell to the power of the Ring.
中土的自由之地一一陷落于魔戒的威力之下。
But there were some who resisted. A last alliance of Men and Elves marched against the armies of Mordor,
但仍有一些人在抵抗着，人类与精灵组成了一支最后的联盟来抵御魔多的军队，
and on the slopes of Mount Doom they fought for the freedom of Middle-Earth.
在厄运山脚下，他们为了中土的自由而战。
Victory was near. But the power of the Ring could not be undone.
胜利近在咫尺，但魔戒之威始终无人能敌。
It was in this moment when all hope had faded, that Isildur, son of the King, took up his father's sword.
就在此刻，当一切的希望即将散去之际，伊西尔德，国王之子，执起了他父王的剑。
Sauron, the enemy of the free-peoples of Middle-Earth was defeated.
索隆，中土自由人民的敌人，终于被击败了。
The Ring passed to Isildur, who had this one chance to destroy evil forever.
伊西尔德得到了魔戒，他便有这一次机会来永远消除邪恶。
But the hearts of men are easily corrupted. And the Ring of Power has a will of its own.
但人类的心灵最易受到腐化，而至尊戒是不为人所控制的。
It betrayed Isildur to his death.
它背叛了伊西尔德，导致了他的死亡。
And some things that should not have been forgotten were lost.
而一些不该被遗忘的事，也失传了。
History became legend, legend became myth and for two and a half thousand years, the Ring passed out of all knowledge.
历史成为传说，传说成为神话，两千五百多年来，无人得知魔戒的下落。
Until, when chance came, it ensnared a new bearer.
直到，当机缘来临，它又俘获了一名新的持有者。