four arthurian romances-第13部分

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he　robbers；　and　was　seized　with　great　fear。　　〃God；〃　says　she；　〃what　can　I　say？　　Now　my　lord　will　be　either　killed　or　made　a　prisoner；　for　there　are　three　of　them　and　he　is　alone。　　The　contest　is　not　fair　between　one　knight　and　three。　　That　fellow　will　strike　him　now　at　a　disadvantage；　for　my　lord　is　off　his　guard。　　God；　shall　I　be　then　such　a　craven　as　not　to　dare　to　raise　my　voice？　　Such　a　coward　I　will　not　be：　I　will　not　fail　to　speak　to　him。〃　　On　the　spot　she　turns　about　and　calls　to　him：　〃Fair　sire；　of　what　are　you　thinking？　　There　come　riding　after　you　three　knights　who　press　you　hard。　　I　greatly　fear　they　will　do　you　harm。〃　　〃What？〃　says　Erec；　〃what's　that　you　say？　　You　have　surely　been　very　bold　to　disdain　my　command　and　prohibition。　This　time　you　shall　be　pardoned；　but　if　it　should　happen　another　time；　you　would　not　be　forgiven。〃　　Then　turning　his　shield　and　lance；　he　rushes　at　the　knight。　　The　latter　sees　him　coming　and　challenges　him。　　When　Erec　hears　him；　he　defies　him。　　Both　give　spur　and　clash　together；　holding　their　lances　at　full　extent。　　But　he　missed　Erec；　while　Erec　used　him　hard；　for　he　knew　well　the　right　attack。　　He　strikes　him　on　the　shield　so　fiercely　that　he　cracks　it　from　top　to　bottom。　　Nor　is　his　hauberk　any　protection：　Erec　pierces　and　crushes　it　in　the　middle　of　his　breast；　and　thrusts　a　foot　and　a　half　of　his　lance　into　his　body。　When　he　drew　back；　he　pulled　out　the　shaft。　　And　the　other　fell　to　earth。　　He　must　needs　die；　for　the　blade　had　drunk　of　his　life's　blood。　　Then　one　of　the　other　two　rushes　forward；　leaving　his　companion　behind；　and　spurs　toward　Erec；　threatening　him。　Erec　firmly　grasps　his　shield；　and　attacks　him　with　a　stout　heart。　　The　other　holds　his　shield　before　his　breast。　　Then　they　strike　upon　the　emblazoned　shields。　　The　knight's　lance　flies　into　two　bits；　while　Erec　drives　a　quarter　of　lance's　length　through　the　other's　breast。　　He　will　give　him　no　more　trouble。　Erec　unhorses　him　and　leaves　him　in　a　faint；　while　he　spurs　at　an　angle　toward　the　third　robber。　　When　the　latter　saw　him　coming　on　he　began　to　make　his　escape。　　He　was　afraid；　and　did　not　dare　to　face　him；　so　he　hastened　to　take　refuge　in　the　woods。　　But　his　flight　is　of　small　avail；　for　Erec　follows　him　close　and　cries　aloud：　〃Vassal；　vassal；　turn　about　now；　and　prepare　to　defend　yourself；　so　that　I　may　not　slay　you　in　act　of　flight。　　It　is　useless　to　try　to　escape。〃　　But　the　fellow　has　no　desire　to　turn　about；　and　continues　to　flee　with　might　and　main。　　Following　and　overtaking　him；　Erec　hits　him　squarely　on　his　painted　shield；　and　throws　him　over　on　the　other　side。　　To　these　three　robbers　he　gives　no　further　heed：　one　he　has　killed；　another　wounded；　and　of　the　third　he　got　rid　by　throwing　him　to　earth　from　his　steed。　　He　took　the　horses　of　all　three　and　tied　them　together　by　the　bridles。　　In　colour　they　were　not　alike：　the　first　was　white　as　milk；　the　second　black　and　not　at　all　bad　looking；　while　the　third　was　dappled　all　over。　　He　came　back　to　the　road　where　Enide　was　awaiting　him。　　He　bade　her　lead　and　drive　the　three　horses　in　front　of　her；　warning　her　harshly　never　again　to　be　so　bold　as　to　speak　a　single　word　unless　he　give　her　leave。　　She　makes　answer：　〃I　will　never　do　so；　fair　sire；　if　it　be　your　will。〃　　Then　they　ride　on；　and　she　holds　her　peace。

（Vv。　2925…3085。）　　They　had　not　yet　gone　a　league　when　before　them　in　a　valley　there　came　five　other　knights；　with　lances　in　rest；　shields　held　close　in　to　the　neck；　and　their　shining　helmets　laced　up　tight；　they；　too；　were　on　plunder　bent。　　All　at　once　they　saw　the　lady　approach　in　charge　of　the　three　horses；　and　Erec　who　followed　after。　　As　soon　as　they　saw　them；　they　divided　their　equipment　among　themselves；　just　as　if　they　had　already　taken　possession　of　it。　　Covetousness　is　a　bad　thing。　　But　it　did　not　turn　out　as　they　expected；　for　vigorous　defence　was　made。　Much　that　a　fool　plans　is　not　executed；　and　many　a　man　misses　what　he　thinks　to　obtain。　　So　it　befell　them　in　this　attack。　　One　said　that　he　would　take　the　maid　or　lose　his　life　in　the　attempt；　and　another　said　that　the　dappled　steed　shall　be　his；　and　that　he　will　be　satisfied　with　that。　　The　third　said　that　he　would　take　the　black　horse。　　〃And　the　white　one　for　me；〃　said　the　fourth。　The　fifth　was　not　at　all　backward；　and　vowed　that　he　would　have　the　horse　and　arms　of　the　knight　himself。　　He　wished　to　win　them　by　himself；　and　would　fain　attack　him　first；　if　they　would　give　him　leave：　and　they　willingly　gave　consent。　　Then　he　leaves　them　and　rides　ahead　on　a　good　and　nimble　steed。　　Erec　saw　him；　but　made　pretence　that　he　did　not　yet　notice　him。　　When　Enide　saw　them；　her　heart　jumped　with　fear　and　great　dismay。　　〃Alas！〃　said　she；　〃I　know　not　what　to　say　or　do；　for　my　lord　severely　threatens　me；　and　says　that　he　will　punish　me；　if　I　speak　a　word　to　him。　　But　if　my　lord　were　dead　now；　there　would　be　no　comfort　for　me。　　I　should　be　killed　and　roughly　treated。　　God！　　my　lord　does　not　see　them！　　Why；　then；　do　I　hesitate；　crazed　as　I　am？　　I　am　indeed　too　chary　of　my　words；　when　I　have　not　already　spoken　to　him。　　I　know　well　enough　that　those　who　are　coming　yonder　are　intent　upon　some　wicked　deed。　　And　God！　　how　shall　I　speak　to　him？　　He　will　kill　me。　　Well；　let　him　kill　me！　　Yet　I　will　not　fail　to　speak　to　him。〃　　Then　she　softly　calls　him：　〃Sire！〃　　〃What？〃　says　he；　〃what　do　you　want？〃　　〃Your　pardon；　sire。　　I　want　to　tell　you　that　five　knights　have　emerged　from　yonder　thicket；　of　whom　I　am　in　mortal　fear。　　Having　noticed　them；　I　am　of　the　opinion　that　they　intend　to　fight　with　you。　　Four　of　them　have　stayed　behind；　and　the　other　comes　toward　you　as　fast　as　his　steed　can　carry　him。　　I　am　afraid　every　moment　lest　he　will　strike　you。　　'Tis　true；　the　four　have　stayed　behind；　but　still　they　are　not　far　away；　and　will　quickly　aid　him；　if　need　arise。〃　Erec　replies：　〃You　had　an　evil　thought；　when　you　transgressed　my　commanda　thing　which　I　had　forbidden　you。　　And　yet　I　knew　all　the　time　that　you　did　not　hold　me　in　esteem。　　Your　service　has　been　ill　employed；　for　it　has　not　awakened　my　gratitude；　but　rather　kindled　the　more　my　ire。　　I　have　told　you　that　once；　and　I　say　it　again。　　This　once　again　I　will　pardon　you；　but　another　time　restrain　yourself；　and　do　not　again　turn　around　to　watch　me：　for　in　doing　so　you　would　be　very　foolish。　　I　do　not　relish　your　words。〃　　Then　he　spurs　across　the　field　toward　his　adversary；　and　they　come　together。　　Each　seeks　out　and　assails　the　other。　　Erec　strikes　him　with　such　force　that　his　shield　flies　from　his　neck；　and　thus　he　breaks　his　collar…bone。　　His　stirrups　break；　and　he　falls　without　the　strength　to　rise　again；　for　he　was　badly　bruised　and　wounded。　　One　of　the　others　then　appeared；　and　they　attack　each　other　fiercely。　　Without　difficulty　Erec　thrusts　the　sharp　and　well　forged　steel　into　his　neck　beneath　the　chin；　severing　thus　the　bones　and　nerves。　　At　the　back　of　his　neck　the　blade　protrudes；　and　the　hot　red　blood　flows　down　on　both　sides　from　the　wound。　　He　yields　his　spirit；　and　his　heart　is　still。　The　third　sallies　forth　from　his　hiding…place　on　the　other　side　of　a　ford。　　Straight　through　the　water；　on　he　comes。　　Erec　spurs　forward　and　meets　him　before　he　came　out　of　the　water；　striking　him　so　hard　that　he　beats　down　flat　both　rider　and　horse。　　The　steed　lay　upon　the　body　long　enough　to　drown　him　in　the　stream；　and　then　struggled　until　with　difficulty　he　got　upon　his　feet。　Thus　he　conquered　three　of　them；　when　the　other　two　thought　it　wise　to　quit　the　conflict　and　not　to　strive　with　him。　　In　flight　they　follow　the　stream；　and　Erec　after　them　in　hot　pursuit；　until　he　strikes　one　upon　the　spine　so　hard　that　he　throws　him　forward　upon　the　saddle…bow。　　He　put　all　his　strength　into　the　blow；　and　breaks　his　lance　upon　his　body；　so　that　the　fellow　fell　head　foremost。　　Erec　makes　him　pay　dearly　for　the　lance　which　he　has　broken　on　him；　and　drew　his　sword　from　the　scabbard。　　The　fellow　unwisely　straightened　up；　for　Erec　gave　him　three　such　strokes　that　he　slaked　his　sword's　thirst　in　his　blood。　　He　severs　the　shoulder　from　his　body；　so　that　it　fell　down　on　the　ground。　　Then；　with　sword　drawn；　he　attacked　the　other；　as　he　sought　to　escape　without　company　or　escort。　　When　he　sees　Erec　pursuing　him；　he　is　so　afraid　that　he　knows　not　what　to　do：　he　does　not　dare　to　face　him；　and　cannot　turn　aside；　he　has　to　leave　his　horse；　for　he　has　no　more　trust　in　him。　　He　throws　away　his　shield　and　lance；　and　slips　from　his　horse　to　earth。　　When　he　saw　him　on　his　feet；　Erec　no　longer　cared　to　pursue　him；　but　he　stooped　over　for　the　lance；　not　wishing　to　leave　that；　because　of　his　own　which　had　been　broken。　　He　carries　off　his　lance　and　goes　away；　not　leaving　the　horses　behind：　he　catches　all　five　of　them　and　leads　them　off。　　Enide　had　hard　work　to　lead　them　all；　for　he　hands　over　all　five　of　them　to　her　with　the　other　three；　and　commands　her　to　go　along　smartly；　and　to　keep　from　addressing　him　in　order　that　no　evil　or　harm　may　come　to　her。　　So　not　a　word　does　she　reply；　but　rather　keeps　silence；　and　thus　they　go；　leading　with　them　all　the　eight　horses。

（Vv。　3086…3208。）　　They　rode　till　nightfall　without　coming　to　any　town　or　shelter。　　When　night　came　on；　they　took　refuge　beneath　a　tree　in　an　open　field。　　Erec　bids　his　lady　sleep；　and　he　will　watch。　　She　replies　that　she　will　not；　for　it　is　not　right；　and　she　does　not　wish　to　do　so。　　It　is　for　him　to　sleep　who　is　more　weary。　　Well　pleased　at　this；　Erec　accedes。　　Beneath　his　head　he　placed　his　shield；　and　the　lady　took　her　cloak；　and　stretched　it　over　him　from　head　to　foot。　　Thus；　he　slept　and　she　kept　watch；　never　dozing　the　whole　night；　but　holding　tight　in　her　hand　by　the　bridle　the　horses　until　the　morning　broke；　and　much　she　blamed　and　reproached　herself　for　the　words　which　she　had　uttered；　and　said　that　she　acted　badly；　and　was　not　half　so　ill…　treated　as　she　deserved　to　be。　〃Alas；〃　said　she；　〃in　what　an　evil　hour　have　I　witnessed　my　pride　and　presumption！　　I　might　have　known　without　doubt　that　there　was　no　knight　better　than；　or　so　good　as；　my　lord。　　I　knew　it　well　enough　before；　but　now　I　know　it　better。　　For　I　have　seen　with　my　own　eyes　how　he　has　not　quailed　before　three　or　even　five　armed　men。　　A　plague　for　ever　upon　my　tongue　for　having　uttered　such　pride　a