four arthurian romances-第12部分

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I　heard　your　words　plainly　enough。〃　Then　was　Enide　in　a　great　plight；　afraid　and　dismayed。　　〃Sire；〃　says　she；　〃I　know　nothing　of　what　you　say。〃　　〃Lady；　why　do　you　conceal　it？　　Concealment　is　of　no　avail。　　You　hare　been　crying；　I　can　see　that；　and　you　do　not　cry　for　nothing。　　And　in　my　sleep　I　heard　what　you　said。〃　　〃Ah！　　fair　sire；　you　never　heard　it；　and　I　dare　say　it　was　a　dream。〃　　〃Now　you　are　coming　to　me　with　lies。　　I　hear　you　calmly　lying　to　me。　　But　if　you　do　not　tell　me　the　truth　now；　you　will　come　to　repent　of　it　later。〃　　〃Sire；　since　you　torment　me　thus；　I　will　tell　you　the　whole　truth；　and　keep　nothing　back。　　But　I　am　afraid　that　you　will　not　like　it。　　In　this　land　they　all　saythe　dark；　the　fair；　and　the　ruddythat　it　is　a　great　pity　that　you　should　renounce　your　arms；　your　reputation　has　suffered　from　it。　　Every　one　used　to　say　not　long　ago　that　in　all　the　world　there　was　known　no　better　or　more　gallant　knight。　　Now　they　all　go　about　making　game　of　youold　and　young；　little　and　greatcalling　you　a　recreant。　　Do　you　suppose　it　does　not　give　me　pain　to　hear　you　thus　spoken　of　with　scorn？　　It　grieves　me　when　I　hear　it　said；　and　yet　it　grieves　me　more　that　they　put　the　blame　for　it　on　me。　　Yes；　I　am　blamed　for　it；　I　regret　to　say；　and　they　all　assert　it　is　because　I　have　so　ensnared　and　caught　you　that　you　are　losing　all　your　merit；　and　do　not　care　for　aught　but　me。　　You　must　choose　another　course；　so　that　you　may　silence　this　reproach　and　regain　your　former　fame；　for　I　have　heard　too　much　of　this　reproach；　and　yet　I　did　not　dare　to　disclose　it　to　you。　　Many　a　time；　when　I　think　of　it；　I　have　to　weep　for　very　grief。　　Such　chagrin　I　felt　just　now　that　I　could　not　keep　myself　from　saying　that　you　were　ill…starred。〃　〃Lady；〃　said　he；　〃you　were　in　the　right；　and　those　who　blame　me　do　so　with　reason。　　And　now　at　once　prepare　yourself　to　take　the　road。　　Rise　up　from　here；　and　dress　yourself　in　your　richest　robe；　and　order　your　saddle　to　be　put　on　your　best　palfrey。〃　　Now　Enide　is　in　great　distress：　very　sad　and　pensive；　she　gets　up；　blaming　and　upbraiding　herself　for　the　foolish　words　she　spoke：　she　had　now　made　her　bed；　and　must　lie　in　it。　　〃Ah！〃　said　she；　〃poor　fool！　　I　was　too　happy；　for　there　lacked　me　nothing。　　God！　why　was　I　so　forward　as　to　dare　to　utter　such　folly？　　God！　　did　not　my　lord　love　me　to　excess？　　In　faith；　alas；　he　was　too　fond　of　me。　　And　now　I　must　go　away　into　exile。　　But　I　have　yet　a　greater　grief；　that　I　shall　no　longer　see　my　lord；　who　loved　me　with　such　tenderness　that　there　was　nothing　he　held　so　dear。　　The　best　man　that　was　ever　born　had　become　so　wrapped　up　in　me　that　he　cared　for　nothing　else。　　I　lacked　for　nothing　then。　　I　was　very　happy。　　But　pride　it　is　that　stirred　me　up：　because　of　my　pride；　I　must　suffer　woe　for　telling　him　such　insulting　words；　and　it　is　right　that　I　should　suffer　woe。　　One　does　not　know　what　good　fortune　is　until　he　has　made　trial　of　evil。〃　　Thus　the　lady　bemoaned　her　fate；　while　she　dressed　herself　fitly　in　her　richest　robe。　　Yet　nothing　gave　her　any　pleasure；　but　rather　cause　for　deep　chagrin。　　Then　she　had　a　maid　call　one　of　her　squires；　and　bids　him　saddle　her　precious　palfrey　of　northern　stock；　than　which　no　count　or　king　ever　had　a　better。　　As　soon　as　she　had　given　him　the　command；　the　fellow　asked　for　no　delay；　but　straightway　went　and　saddled　the　dappled　palfrey。　And　Erec　summoned　another　squire　and　bade　him　bring　his　arms　to　arm　his　body　withal。　　Then　he　went　up　into　a　bower；　and　had　a　Limoges　rug　laid　out　before　him　on　the　floor。　　Meanwhile；　the　squire　ran　to　fetch　the　arms　and　came　back　and　laid　them　on　the　rug。　　Erec　took　a　seat　opposite；　on　the　figure　of　a　leopard　which　was　portrayed　on　the　rug。　　He　prepares　and　gets　ready　to　put　on　his　arms：　first；　he　had　laced　on　a　pair　of　greaves　of　polished　steel；　next；　he　dons　a　hauberk；　which　was　so　fine　that　not　a　mesh　could　be　cut　away　from　it。　　This　hauberk　of　his　was　rich；　indeed；　for　neither　inside　nor　outside　of　it　was　there　enough　iron　to　make　a　needle；　nor　could　it　gather　any　rust；　for　it　was　all　made　of　worked　silver　in　tiny　meshes　triple…wove；　and　it　was　made　with　such　skill　that　I　can　assure　you　that　no　one　who　had　put　it　on　would　have　been　more　uncomfortable　or　sore　because　of　it；　than　if　he　had　put　on　a　silk　jacket　over　his　undershirt。　　The　knights　and　squires　all　began　to　wonder　why　he　was　being　armed；　but　no　one　dared　to　ask　him　why。　　When　they　had　put　on　his　hauberk；　a　valet　laces　about　his　head　a　helmet　fluted　with　a　band　of　gold；　shining　brighter　than　a　mirror。　　Then　he　takes　the　sword　and　girds　it　on；　and　orders　them　to　bring　him　saddled　his　bay　steed　of　Gascony。　Then　he　calls　a　valet　to　him；　and　says：　〃Valet；　go　quickly；　run　to　the　chamber　beside　the　tower　where　my　wife　is；　and　tell　her　that　she　is　keeping　me　waiting　here　too　long。　　She　has　spent　too　much　time　on　her　attire。　　Tell　her　to　come　and　mount　at　once；　for　I　am　awaiting　her。〃　　And　the　fellow　goes　and　finds　her　all　ready；　weeping　and　making　moan：　and　he　straightway　addressed　her　thus：　〃Lady；　why　do　you　so　delay？　　My　lord　is　awaiting　you　outside　yonder；　already　fully　armed。　　He　would　have　mounted　some　time　ago；　had　you　been　ready。〃　　Enide　wondered　greatly　what　her　lord's　intention　was；　but　she　very　wisely　showed　herself　with　as　cheerful　a　countenance　as　possible；　when　she　appeared　before　him。　In　the　middle　of　the　courtyard　she　found　him；　and　King　Lac　comes　running　out。　　Knights　come　running；　too；　striving　with　each　other　to　reach　there　first。　　There　is　neither　young　nor　old　but　goes　to　learn　and　ask　if　he　will　take　any　of　them　with　him。　　So　each　offers　and　presents　himself。　　But　he　states　definitely　and　affirms　that　he　will　take　no　companion　except　his　wife；　asserting　that　he　will　go　alone。　　Then　the　King　is　in　great　distress。　　〃Fair　son；〃　says　he；　〃what　dost　thou　intend　to　do？　　Thou　shouldst　tell　me　thy　business　and　keep　nothing　back。　　Tell　me　whither　thou　will　go；　for　thou　art　unwilling　on　any　account　to　be　accompanied　by　an　escort　of　squires　or　knights。　　If　thou　hast　undertaken　to　fight　some　knight　in　single　combat；　yet　shouldst　thou　not　for　that　reason　fail　to　take　a　part　of　thy　knights　with　thee　to　betoken　thy　wealth　and　lordship。　　A　king's　son　ought　not　to　fare　alone。　　Fair　son；　have　thy　sumpters　loaded　now；　and　take　thirty　or　forty　or　more　of　thy　knights；　and　see　that　silver　and　gold　is　taken；　and　whatever　a　gentleman　needs。〃　　Finally　Erec　makes　reply　and　tells　him　all　in　detail　how　he　has　planned　his　journey。　〃Sire；〃　says　he；　〃it　must　be　so。　　I　shall　take　no　extra　horse；　nor　have　I　any　use　for　gold　or　silver；　squire　or　sergeant；　nor　do　I　ask　for　any　company　save　that　of　my　wife　alone。　　But　I　pray　you；　whatever　may　happen；　should　I　die　and　she　come　back；　to　love　her　and　hold　her　dear　for　love　of　me　and　for　my　prayer；　and　give　her　so　long　as　she　live；　without　contention　or　any　strife；　the　half　of　your　land　to　be　her　own。〃　　Upon　hearing　his　son's　request；　the　King　said：　〃Fair　son；　I　promise　it。　　But　I　grieve　much　to　see　thee　thus　go　off　without　escort；　and　if　I　had　my　way；　thou　shouldst　not　thus　depart。〃　　〃Sire；　it　cannot　be　otherwise。　　I　go　now；　and　to　God　commend　you。　　But　keep　in　mind　my　companions；　and　give　them　horses　and　arms　and　all　that　knight　may　need。〃　　The　King　cannot　keep　back　the　tears　when　he　is　parted　from　his　son。　　The　people　round　about　weep　too；　the　ladies　and　knights　shed　tears　and　make　great　moan　for　him。　　There　is　not　one　who　does　not　mourn；　and　many　a　one　in　the　courtyard　swoons。　Weeping；　they　kiss　and　embrace　him；　and　are　almost　beside　themselves　with　grief。　　I　think　they　would　not　have　been　more　sad　if　they　had　seen　him　dead　or　wounded。　　Then　Erec　said　to　comfort　them：　〃My　lords；　why　do　you　weep　so　sore？　　I　am　neither　in　prison　nor　wounded。　　You　gain　nothing　by　this　display　of　grief。　　If　I　go　away；　I　shall　come　again　when　it　please　God　and　when　I　can。　　To　God　I　commend　you　one　and　all；　so　now　let　me　go；　too　long　you　keep　me　here。　　I　am　sorry　and　grieved　to　see　you　weep。〃　　To　God　he　commends　them　and　they　him。

（Vv。　2765…2924。）　　So　they　departed；　leaving　sorrow　behind　them。　Erec　starts；　and　leads　his　wife　he　knows　not　whither；　as　chance　dictates。　　〃Ride　fast；〃　he　says；　〃and　take　good　care　not　to　be　so　rash　as　to　speak　to　me　of　anything　you　may　see。　　Take　care　never　to　speak　to　me；　unless　I　address　you　first。　　Ride　on　now　fast　and　with　confidence。〃　　〃Sire；〃　says　she；　〃it　shall　be　done。〃　　She　rode　ahead　and　held　her　peace。　　Neither　one　nor　the　other　spoke　a　word。　　But　Enide's　heart　is　very　sad；　and　within　herself　she　thus　laments；　soft　and　low　that　he　may　not　hear：　〃Alas；〃　she　says；　〃God　had　raised　and　exalted　me　to　such　great　joy；　but　now　He　has　suddenly　cast　me　down。　　Fortune　who　had　beckoned　me　has　quickly　now　withdrawn　her　hand。　　I　should　not　mind　that　so　much；　alas；　if　only　I　dared　to　address　my　lord。　　But　I　am　mortified　and　distressed　because　my　lord　has　turned　against　me；　I　see　it　clearly；　since　he　will　not　speak　to　me。　　And　I　am　not　so　bold　as　to　dare　to　look　at　him。〃　　While　she　thus　laments；　a　knight　who　lived　by　robbery　issued　forth　from　the　woods。　　He　had　two　companions　with　him；　and　all　three　were　armed。　　They　covet　the　palfrey　which　Enide　rides。　　〃My　lords；　do　you　know　the　news　I　bring？〃　says　he　to　his　two　companions。　　〃If　we　do　not　now　make　a　haul；　we　are　good…for…nothing　cowards　and　are　playing　in　bad　luck。　　Here　comes　a　lady　wondrous　fair；　whether　married　or　not　I　do　not　know；　but　she　is　very　richly　dressed。　　The　palfrey　and　saddle；　with　the　breast…strap　and　reins；　are　worth　a　thousand　livres　of　Chartres。　　I　will　take　the　palfrey　for　mine；　and　the　rest　of　the　booty　you　may　have。　　I　don't　want　any　more　for　my　share。　　The　knight　shall　not　lead　away　the　lady；　so　help　me　God。　For　I　intend　to　give　him　such　a　thrust　as　he　will　dearly　pay。　　I　it　was　who　saw　him　first；　and　so　it　is　my　right　to　go　the　first　and　offer　battle。〃　　They　give　him　leave　and　he　rides　off；　crouching　well　beneath　his　shield；　while　the　other　two　remain　aloof。　　In　those　days　it　was　the　custom　and　practice　that　in　an　attack　two　knights　should　not　join　against　one；　thus　if　they　too　had　assailed　him；　it　would　seem　that　they　had　acted　treacherously。　　Enide　saw　the　robbers；　and　was　seized　with　great　fear。　　〃God；〃　says　she；　〃what　can　I　say？　　Now　my　lord　will　be