four arthurian romances-第14部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


fore　three　or　even　five　armed　men。　　A　plague　for　ever　upon　my　tongue　for　having　uttered　such　pride　and　insult　as　now　compel　me　to　suffer　shame！〃　　All　night　long　she　thus　lamented　until　the　morning　dawned。　　Erec　rises　early；　and　again　they　take　the　road；　she　in　front　and　he　behind。　　At　noon　a　squire　met　them　in　a　little　valley；　accompanied　by　two　fellows　who　were　carrying　cakes　and　wine　and　some　rich　autumn　cheeses　to　those　who　were　mowing　the　hay　in　the　meadows　belonging　to　Count　Galoain。　　The　squire　was　a　clever　fellow；　and　when　he　saw　Erec　and　Enide；　who　were　coming　from　the　direction　of　the　woods；　he　perceived　that　they　must　have　spent　the　night　in　the　forest　and　had　had　nothing　to　eat　or　drink；　for　within　a　radius　of　a　day's　journey　there　was　no　town；　city　or　tower；　no　strong　place　or　abbey；　hospice　or　place　of　refuge。　　So　he　formed　an　honest　purpose　and　turned　his　steps　toward　them；　saluting　them　politely　and　saving：　〃Sire；　I　presume　that　you　have　had　a　hard　experience　last　night。　　I　am　sure　you　have　had　no　sleep　and　have　spent　the　night　in　these　woods。　　I　offer　you　some　of　this　white　cake；　if　it　please　you　to　partake　of　it。　　I　say　it　not　in　hope　of　reward：　for　I　ask　and　demand　nothing　of　you。　　The　cakes　are　made　of　good　wheat；　I　have　good　wine　and　rich　cheeses；　too；　a　white　cloth　and　fine　jugs。　　If　you　feel　like　taking　lunch；　you　need　not　seek　any　farther。　Beneath　these　white　beeches；　here　on　the　greensward；　you　might　lay　off　your　arms　and　rest　yourself　a　while。　　My　advice　is　that　you　dismount。〃　　Erec　got　down　from　his　horse　and　said：　〃Fair　gentle　friend；　I　thank　you　kindly：　I　will　eat　something；　without　going　farther。〃　　The　young　man　knew　well　what　to　do：　he　helped　the　lady　from　her　horse；　and　the　boys　who　had　come　with　the　squire　held　the　steeds。　　Then　they　go　and　sit　down　in　the　shade。　The　squire　relieves　Erec　of　his　helmet；　unlaces　the　mouth…piece　from　before　his　face；　then　he　spreads　out　the　cloth　before　them　on　the　thick　tuff。　　He　passes　them　the　cake　and　wine；　and　prepares　and　cuts　a　cheese。　　Hungry　as　they　were；　they　helped　themselves；　and　gladly　drank　of　the　wine。　　The　squire　serves　them　and　omits　no　attention。　　When　they　had　eaten　and　drunk　their　fill；　Erec　was　courteous　and　generous。　　〃Friend；〃　says　he；　〃as　a　reward；　I　wish　to　present　you　with　one　of　my　horses。　　Take　the　one　you　like　the　best。　　And　I　pray　it　may　be　no　hardship　for　you　to　return　to　the　town　and　make　ready　there　a　goodly　lodging。〃　　And　he　replies　that　he　will　gladly　do　whatever　is　his　will。　　Then　he　goes　up　to　the　horses　and；　untying　them；　chooses　the　dapple；　and　speaks　his　thanks；　for　this　one　seems　to　be　the　best。　　Up　he　springs　by　the　left　stirrup；　and　leaving　them　both　there；　he　rode　off　to　the　town　at　top　speed；　where　he　engaged　suitable　quarters。　Now　behold！　　he　is　back　again：　〃Now　mount；　sire；　quickly；〃　says　he；　〃for　you　have　a　good　fine　lodging　ready。〃　　Erec　mounted；　and　then　his　lady；　and；　as　the　town　was　hard　by；　they　soon　had　reached　their　lodging…place。　　There　they　were　received　with　joy。　The　host　with　kindness　welcomed　them；　and　with　joy　and　gladness　made　generous　provision　for　their　needs。

（Vv。　3209…3458。）　　When　the　squire　had　done　for　them　all　the　honour　that　he　could　do；　he　came　and　mounted　his　horse　again；　leading　it　off　in　front　of　the　Count's　bower　to　the　stable。　　The　Count　and　three　of　his　vassals　were　leaning　out　of　the　bower；　when　the　Count；　seeing　his　squire　mounted　on　the　dappled　steed；　asked　him　whose　it　was。　　And　he　replied　that　it　was　his。　　The　Count；　greatly　astonished；　says：　〃How　is　that？　　Where　didst　thou　get　him？〃　　〃A　knight　whom　I　esteem　highly　gave　him　to　me；　sire；〃　says　he。　〃I　have　conducted　him　within　this　town；　and　he　is　lodged　at　a　burgher's　house。　　He　is　a　very　courteous　knight　and　the　handsomest　man　I　ever　saw。　　Even　if　I　had　given　you　my　word　and　oath；　I　could　not　half　tell　you　how　handsome　he　is。〃　　The　Count　replies：　〃I　suppose　and　presume　that　he　is　not　more　handsome　than　I　am。〃　　〃Upon　my　word；　sire；〃　the　sergeant　says；　〃you　are　very　handsome　and　a　gentleman。　　There　is　not　a　knight　in　this　country；　a　native　of　this　land；　whom　you　do　not　excel　in　favour。　　But　I　dare　maintain　concerning　this　one　that　he　is　fairer　than　you；　if　he　were　not　beaten　black　and　blue　beneath　his　hauberk；　and　bruised。　　In　the　forest　he　has　been　fighting　single…handed　with　eight　knights；　and　leads　away　their　eight　horses。　　And　there　comes　with　him　a　lady　so　fair　that　never　lady　was　half　so　fair　as　she。〃　（28）　　When　the　Count　hears　this　news；　the　desire　takes　him　to　go　and　see　if　this　is　true　or　false。　　〃I　never　heard　such　a　thing；〃　says　he；　〃take　me　now　to　his　lodging…place；　for　certainly　I　wish　to　know　if　thou　dost　lie　or　speak　the　truth。〃　　He　replies：　〃Right　gladly；　sire。　　This　is　the　way　and　the　path　to　follow；　for　it　is　not　far　from　here。〃　　〃I　am　anxious　to　see　them；〃　says　the　Count。　　Then　he　comes　down；　and　the　squire　gets　off　his　horse；　and　makes　the　Count　mount　in　his　place。　　Then　he　ran　ahead　to　tell　Erec　that　the　Count　was　coming　to　visit　him。　　Erec's　lodging　was　rich　indeedthe　kind　to　which　he　was　accustomed。　　There　were　many　tapers　and　candles　lighted　all　about。　　The　Count　came　attended　by　only　three　companions。　　Erec；　who　was　of　gracious　manners；　rose　to　meet　him；　and　exclaimed：　〃Welcome；　sire！〃　　And　the　Count　returned　his　salutation。　　They　both　sat　down　side　by　side　upon　a　soft　white　couch；　where　they　chat　with　each　other。　　The　Count　makes　him　an　offer　and　urges　him　to　consent　to　accept　from　him　a　guarantee　for　the　payment　of　his　expenses　in　the　town。　　But　Erec　does　not　deign　to　accept；　saying　he　is　well　supplied　with　money；　and　has　no　need　to　accept　aught　from　him。　　They　speak　long　of　many　things；　but　the　Count　constantly　glances　about　in　the　other　direction；　where　he　caught　sight　of　the　lady。　　Because　of　her　manifest　beauty；　he　fixed　all　his　thought　on　her。　　He　looked　at　her　as　much　as　he　could；　he　coveted　her；　and　she　pleased　him　so　that　her　beauty　filled　him　with　love。　　Very　craftily　he　asked　Erec　for　permission　to　speak　with　her。　　〃Sire；〃　he　says　〃I　ask　a　favour　of　you；　and　may　it　not　displease　you。　　As　an　act　of　courtesy　and　as　a　pleasure；　I　would　fain　sit　by　yonder　lady's　side。　　With　good　intent　I　came　to　see　you　both；　and　you　should　see　no　harm　in　that。　　I　wish　to　present　to　the　lady　my　service　in　all　respects。　　Know　well　that　for　love　of　you　I　would　do　whatever　may　please　her。〃　　Erec　was　not　in　the　least　jealous　and　suspected　no　evil　or　treachery。　　〃Sire；〃　says　he；　〃I　have　no　objection。　　You　may　sit　down　and　talk　with　her。　　Don't　think　that　I　have　any　objection。　　I　give　you　permission　willingly。〃　　The　lady　was　seated　about　two　spear…lengths　away　from　him。　　And　the　Count　took　his　seat　close　beside　her　on　a　low　stool。　　Prudent　and　courteous；　the　lady　turned　toward　him。　　〃Alas；〃　quoth　he；　〃how　grieved　I　am　to　see　you　in　such　humble　state！　　I　am　sorry　and　feel　great　distress。　　But　if　you　would　believe　my　word；　you　could　have　honour　and　great　advantage；　and　much　wealth　would　accrue　to　you。　　Such　beauty　as　yours　is　entitled　to　great　honour　and　distinction。　　I　would　make　you　my　mistress；　if　it　should　please　you　and　be　your　will；　you　would　be　my　mistress　dear　and　lady　over　all　my　land。　　When　I　deign　to　woo　you　thus；　you　ought　not　to　disdain　my　suit。　　I　know　and　perceive　that　your　lord　does　not　love　and　esteem　you。　　If　you　will　remain　with　me；　you　would　be　mated　with　a　worthy　lord。〃　　〃Sire；〃　says　Enide；　〃your　proposal　is　vain。　　It　cannot　be。　　Ah！　　better　that　I　were　yet　unborn；　or　burnt　upon　a　fire　of　thorns　and　my　ashes　scattered　abroad　than　that　I　should　ever　in　any　wise　be　false　to　my　lord；　or　conceive　any　felony　or　treachery　toward　him。　　You　have　made　a　great　mistake　in　making　such　a　proposal　to　me。　　I　shall　not　agree　to　it　in　any　wise。〃　　The　Count's　ire　began　to　rise。　　〃You　disdain　to　love　me；　lady？〃　says　he；　〃upon　my　word；　you　are　too　proud。　　Neither　for　flattery　nor　for　prayer　you　will　do　my　will？　　It　is　surely　true　that　a　woman's　pride　mounts　the　more　one　prays　and　flatters　her；　but　whoever　insults　and　dishonours　her　will　often　find　her　more　tractable。　　I　give　you　my　word　that　if　you　do　not　do　my　will　there　soon　will　be　some　sword…play　here。　　Rightly　or　wrongly；　I　will　have　your　lord　slain　right　here　before　your　eyes。〃　　〃Ah；　sire；〃　says　Enide；　〃there　is　a　better　way　than　that　you　say。　　You　would　commit　a　wicked　and　treacherous　deed　if　you　killed　him　thus。　　Calm　yourself　again；　I　pray；　for　I　will　do　your　pleasure。　　You　may　regard　me　as　all　your　own；　for　I　am　yours　and　wish　to　be。　　I　did　not　speak　as　I　did　from　pride；　but　to　learn　and　prove　if　I　could　find　in　you　the　true　love　of　a　sincere　heart。　　But　I　would　not　at　any　price　have　you　commit　an　act　of　treason。　　My　lord　is　not　on　his　guard；　and　if　you　should　kill　him　thus；　you　would　do　a　very　ugly　deed；　and　I　should　have　the　blame　for　it。　　Every　one　in　the　land　would　say　that　it　had　been　done　with　my　consent。　　Go　and　rest　until　the　morrow；　when　my　lord　shall　be　about　to　rise。　　Then　you　can　better　do　him　harm　without　blame　and　without　reproach。〃　　With　her　heart's　thoughts　her　words　do　not　agree。　　〃Sire；〃　says　she；　〃believe　me　now！　　Have　no　anxiety；　but　send　here　to…morrow　your　knights　and　squires　and　have　me　carried　away　by　force。　　My　lord　will　rush　to　my　defence；　for　he　is　proud　and　bold　enough。　　Either　in　earnest　or　in　jest；　have　him　seized　and　treated　ill；　or　strike　his　head　off；　if　you　will。　　I　have　led　this　life　now　long　enough；　to　tell　the　truth。　　I　like　not　the　company　of　this　my　lord。　　Rather　would　I　feel　your　body　lying　beside　me　in　a　bed。　　And　since　we　have　reached　this　point；　of　my　love　you　may　rest　assured。〃　　The　Count　replies：　〃It　is　well；　my　lady！　　God　bless　the　hour　that　you　were　born；　in　great　estate　you　shall　be　held。〃　　〃Sire；〃　says　she；　〃indeed；　I　believe　it。　　And　yet　I　would　fain　have　your　word　that　you　will　always　hold　me　dear；　I　could　not　believe　you　otherwise。〃　　Glad　and　merry；　the　Count　replies：　〃See　here；　my　faith　I　will　pledge　to　you　loyally　as　a　Count；　Madame；　that　I　shall　do　all　your　behests。　　Have　no　further　fear　of　that。　　All　you　want　you　shall　always　have。〃　　Then　she　took　his　plighted　word；　but　little　she　valued　or　cared　for　it；　except　therewith　to　save　her　lord。　　Well　she　knows　how　to　deceive　a　fool；　when　she　puts　her　mind　upon　it。　　Better　it　were　t