four arthurian romances-第11部分

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knight。　　Erec　did　not　wish　to　stop　to　capture　either　horse　or　rider；　but　rather　to　joust　and　distinguish　himself　in　order　that　his　prowess　might　appear。　　He　thrills　the　ranks　in　front　of　him。　　Gawain　animates　those　who　were　on　his　side　by　his　prowess；　and　by　winning　horses　and　knights　to　the　discomfiture　of　his　opponents。　　I　speak　of　my　lord　Gawain；　who　did　right　well　and　valiantly。　　In　the　fight　he　unhorsed　Guincel；　and　took　Gaudin　of　the　Mountain；　he　captured　knights　and　horses　alike：　my　lord　Gawain　did　well。　　Girtlet　the　son　of　Do；　and　Yvain；　and　Sagremor　the　Impetuous；　so　evilly　entreated　their　adversaries　that　they　drove　them　back　to　the　gates；　capturing　and　unhorsing　many　of　them。　　In　front　of　the　gate　of　the　town　the　strife　began　again　between　those　within　and　those　without。　　There　Sagremor　was　thrown　down；　who　was　a　very　gallant　knight。　　He　was　on　the　point　of　being　detained　and　captured；　when　Erec　spurs　to　rescue　him；　breaking　his　lance　into　splinters　upon　one　of　the　opponents。　　So　hard　he　strikes　him　on　the　breast　that　he　made　him　quit　the　saddle。　　Then　he　made　of　his　sword　and　advances　upon　them；　crushing　and　splitting　their　helmets。　　Some　flee；　and　others　make　way　before　him；　for　even　the　boldest　fears　him。　Finally；　he　distributed　so　many　blows　and　thrusts　that　he　rescued　Sagremor　from　them；　and　drove　them　all　in　confusion　into　the　town。　　Meanwhile；　the　vesper　hour　drew　to　a　close。　　Erec　bore　himself　so　well　that　day　that　he　was　the　best　of　the　combatants。　But　on　the　morrow　he　did　much　better　yet：　for　he　took　so　many　knights　and　left　so　many　saddles　empty　that　none　could　believe　it　except　those　who　had　seen　it。　　Every　one　on　both　sides　said　that　with　his　lance　and　shield　he　had　won　the　honours　of　the　tournament。　　Now　was　Erec's　renown　so　high　that　no　one　spoke　save　of　him；　nor　was　any　one　of　such　goodly　favour。　　In　countenance　he　resembled　Absalom；　in　language　he　seemed　a　Solomon；　in　boldness　he　equalled　Samson；　（24）　and　in　generous　giving　and　spending　he　was　the　equal　of　Alexander。　　On　his　return　from　the　tourney　Erec　went　to　speak　with　the　King。　　He　went　to　ask　him　for　leave　to　go　and　visit　his　own　land；　but　first　he　thanked　him　like　a　frank；　wise；　and　courteous　man　for　the　honour　which　he　had　done　him；　for　very　deep　was　his　gratitude。　　Then　he　asked　his　permission　to　leave；　for　he　wished　to　visit　his　own　country；　and　he　wished　to　take　his　wife　with　him。　　This　request　the　King　could　not　deny；　and　yet　he　would　have　had　him　stay。　　He　gives　him　leave　and　begs　him　to　return　as　soon　as　possible：　for　in　the　whole　court　there　was　no　better　or　more　gallant　knight；　save　only　his　dear　nephew　Gawain；　（25）　with　him　no　one　could　be　compared。　　But　next　after　him；　he　prized　Erec　most；　and　held　him　more　dear　than　any　other　knight。

（Vv。　2293…2764。）　　Erec　wished　to　delay　no　longer。　　As　soon　as　he　had　the　King's　leave；　he　bid　his　wife　make　her　preparations；　and　he　retained　as　his　escort　sixty　knights　of　merit　with　horses　and　with　dappled　and　grey　furs。　　As　soon　as　he　was　ready　for　his　journey；　he　tarried　little　further　at　court；　but　took　leave　of　the　Queen　and　commended　the　knights　to　God。　　The　Queen　grants　him　leave　to　depart。　　At　the　hour　of　prime　he　set　out　from　the　royal　palace。　　In　the　presence　of　them　all　he　mounted　his　steed；　and　his　wife　mounted　the　dappled　horse　which　she　had　brought　from　her　own　country；　then　all　his　escort　mounted。　　Counting　knights　and　squires；　there　were　full　seven　score　in　the　train。　　After　four　long　days'　journey　over　hills　and　slopes；　through　forests；　plains；　and　streams；　they　came　on　the　fifth　day　to　Camant；　where　King　Lac　was　residing　in　a　very　charming　town。　　No　one　ever　saw　one　better　situated；　for　the　town　was　provided　with　forests　and　meadow…land；　with　vineyards　and　farms；　with　streams　and　orchards；　with　ladies　and　knights；　and　fine；　lively　youths；　and　polite；　well…mannered　clerks　who　spent　their　incomes　freely；　with　fair　and　charming　maidens；　and　with　prosperous　burghers。　　Before　Erec　reached　the　town；　he　sent　two　knights　ahead　to　announce　his　arrival　to　the　King。　　When　he　heard　the　news；　the　King　had　clerks；　knights；　and　damsels　quickly　mount；　and　ordered　the　bells　to　be　rung；　and　the　streets　to　be　hung　with　tapestries　and　silken　stuffs；　that　his　son　might　be　received　with　joy；　then　he　himself　got　on　his　horse。　　Of　clerks　there　were　present　fourscore；　gentle　and　honourable　men；　clad　in　grey　cloaks　bordered　with　sable。　　Of　knights　there　were　full　five　hundred；　mounted　on　bay；　sorrel；　or　white…spotted　steeds。　　There　were　so　many　burghers　and　dames　that　no　one　could　tell　the　number　of　them。　　The　King　and　his　son　galloped　and　rode　on　till　they　saw　and　recognised　each　other。　They　both　jump　down　from　their　horses　and　embrace　and　greet　each　other　for　a　long　time；　without　stirring　from　the　place　where　they　first　met。　　Each　party　wished　the　other　joy：　the　King　makes　much　of　Erec；　but　all　at　once　breaks　off　to　turn　to　Enide。　　On　all　sides　he　is　in　clover：　he　embraces　and　kisses　them　both；　and　knows　not　which　of　the　two　pleases　him　the　more。　　As　they　gaily　enter　the　castle；　the　bells　all　ring　their　peals　to　honour　Erec's　arrival。　　The　streets　are　all　strewn　with　reeds；　mint；　and　iris。　and　are　hung　overhead　with　curtains　and　tapestries　of　fancy　silk　and　satin　stuffs。　　There　was　great　rejoicing；　for　all　the　people　came　together　to　see　their　new　lord；　and　no　one　ever　saw　greater　happiness　than　was　shown　alike　by　young　and　old。　　First　they　came　to　the　church；　where　very　devoutly　they　were　received　in　a　procession。　　Erec　kneeled　before　the　altar　of　the　Crucifix；　and　two　knights　led　his　wife　to　the　image　of　Our　Lady。　　When　she　had　finished　her　prayer；　she　stepped　back　a　little　and　crossed　herself　with　her　right　hand；　as　a　well…bred　dame　should　do。　　Then　they　came　out　from　the　church　and　entered　the　royal　palace；　when　the　festivity　began。　　That　day　Erec　received　many　presents　from　the　knights　and　burghers：　from　one　a　palfrey　of　northern　stock；　and　from　another　a　golden　cup。　　One　presents　him　with　a　golden　pigeon…hawk；　another　with　a　setter…dog；　this　one　a　greyhound；　this　other　a　sparrowhawk；　and　another　a　swift　Arab　steed；　this　one　a　shield；　this　one　an　ensign；　this　one　a　sword；　and　this　a　helmet。　　Never　was　a　king　more　gladly　seen　in　his　kingdom；　nor　received　with　greater　joy；　as　all　strove　to　serve　him　well。　　Yet　greater　joy　they　made　of　Enide　than　of　him；　for　the　great　beauty　which　they　saw　in　her；　and　still　more　for　her　open　charm。　　She　was　seated　in　a　chamber　upon　a　cushion　of　brocade　which　had　been　brought　from　Thessaly。　　Round　about　her　was　many　a　fair　lady；　yet　as　the　lustrous　gem　outshines　the　brown　flint；　and　as　the　rose　excels　the　poppy；　so　was　Enide　fairer　than　any　other　lady　or　damsel　to　be　found　in　the　world；　wherever　one　might　search。　　She　was　so　gentle　and　honourable；　of　wise　speech　and　affable；　of　pleasing　character　and　kindly　mien。　　No　one　could　ever　be　so　watchful　as　to　detect　in　her　any　folly；　or　sign　of　evil　or　villainy。　　She　had　been　so　schooled　in　good　manners　that　she　had　learned　all　virtues　which　any　lady　can　possess；　as　well　as　generosity　and　knowledge。　　All　loved　her　for　her　open　heart；　and　whoever　could　do　her　any　service　was　glad　and　esteemed　himself　the　more。　　No　one　spoke　any　ill　of　her；　for　no　one　could　do　so。　In　the　realm　or　empire　there　was　no　lady　of　such　good　manners。　But　Erec　loved　her　with　such　a　tender　love　that　he　cared　no　more　for　arms；　nor　did　he　go　to　tournaments；　nor　have　any　desire　to　joust；　but　he　spent　his　time　in　cherishing　his　wife。　　He　made　of　her　his　mistress　and　his　sweetheart。　　He　devoted　all　his　heart　and　mind　to　fondling　and　kissing　her；　and　sought　no　delight　in　other　pastime。　　His　friends　grieved　over　this；　and　often　regretted　among　themselves　that　he　was　so　deep　in　love。　　Often　it　was　past　noon　before　he　left　her　side；　for　there　he　was　happy；　say　what　they　might。　　He　rarely　left　her　society；　and　yet　he　was　as　open…handed　as　ever　to　his　knights　with　arms；　dress；　and　money。　　There　was　not　a　tournament　anywhere　to　which　he　did　not　send　them　well　apparelled　and　equipped。　　Whatever　the　cost　might　be；　he　gave　them　fresh　steeds　for　the　tourney　and　joust。　　All　the　knights　said　it　was　a　great　pity　and　misfortune　that　such　a　valiant　man　as　he　was　wont　to　be　should　no　longer　wish　to　bear　arms。　　He　was　blamed　so　much　on　all　sides　by　the　knights　and　squires　that　murmurs　reached　Enide's　ears　how　that　her　lord　had　turned　craven　about　arms　and　deeds　of　chivalry；　and　that　his　manner　of　life　was　greatly　changed。　（26）　　She　grieved　sorely　over　this；　but　she　did　not　dare　to　show　her　grief；　for　her　lord　at　once　would　take　affront；　if　she　should　speak　to　him。　　So　the　matter　remained　a　secret；　until　one　morning　they　lay　in　bed　where　they　had　had　sport　together。　　There　they　lay　in　close　embrace；　like　the　true　lovers　they　were。　　He　was　asleep；　but　she　was　awake；　thinking　of　what　many　a　man　in　the　country　was　saying　of　her　lord。　　And　when　she　began　to　think　it　all　over；　she　could　not　keep　back　the　tears。　　Such　was　her　grief　and　her　chagrin　that　by　mischance　she　let　fall　a　word　for　which　she　later　felt　remorse；　though　in　her　heart　there　was　no　guile。　　She　began　to　survey　her　lord　from　head　to　foot；　his　well…shaped　body　and　his　clear　countenance；　until　her　tears　fell　fast　upon　the　bosom　of　her　lord；　and　she　said：　〃Alas；　woe　is　me　that　I　ever　left　my　country！　What　did　I　come　here　to　seek？　　The　earth　ought　by　right　to　swallow　me　up　when　the　best　knight；　the　most　hardy；　brave；　fair；　and　courteous　that　ever　was　a　count　or　king；　has　completely　abjured　all　his　deeds　of　chivalry　because　of　me。　　And　thus；　in　truth；　it　is　I　who　have　brought　shame　upon　his　head；　though　I　would　fain　not　have　done　so　at　any　price。〃　　Then　she　said　to　him：　〃Unhappy　thou！〃　　And　then　kept　silence　and　spoke　no　more。　　Erec　was　not　sound　asleep　and；　though　dozing；　heard　plainly　what　she　said。　　He　aroused　at　her　words；　and　much　surprised　to　see　her　weeping；　he　asked　her：　〃Tell　me；　my　precious　beauty；　why　do　you　weep　thus？　　What　has　caused　you　woe　or　sorrow？　　Surely　it　is　my　wish　to　know。　　Tell　me　now；　my　gentle　sweetheart；　and　raise　care　to　keep　nothing　back；　why　you　said　that　woe　was　me？　　For　you　said　it　of　me　and　of　no　one　else。　　I　heard　your　words　plainly　enough。〃　Then　was　Enide　in　a　great　plight；　afraid　and　dismayed。　　〃Sire；〃