four arthurian romances-第15部分

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e　her　lord。　　Well　she　knows　how　to　deceive　a　fool；　when　she　puts　her　mind　upon　it。　　Better　it　were　to　lie　to　him　than　that　her　lord　should　be　cut　off。　　The　Count　now　rose　from　her　side；　and　commends　her　to　God　a　hundred　times。　　But　of　little　use　to　him　will　be　the　faith　which　she　has　pledged　to　him。　　Erec　knew　nothing　at　all　of　this　that　they　were　plotting　to　work　his　death；　but　God　will　be　able　to　lend　him　aid；　and　I　think　He　will　do　so。　　Now　Erec　is　in　great　peril；　and　does　not　know　that　he　must　be　on　his　guard。　　The　Count's　intentions　are　very　base　in　planning　to　steal　away　his　wife　and　kill　him　when　he　is　without　defence。　　In　treacherous　guise　he　takes　his　leave：　〃To　God　I　commend　you；〃　says　he；　and　Erec　replies：　〃And　so　do　I　you；　sire。〃　　Thus　they　separated。　　Already　a　good　part　of　the　night　was　passed。　　Out　of　the　way；　in　one　of　the　rooms；　two　beds　were　made　upon　the　floor。　　In　one　of　them　Erec　lays　him　down；　in　the　other　Enide　went　to　rest。　　Full　of　grief　and　anxiety；　she　never　closed　her　eyes　that　night；　but　remained　on　watch　for　her　lord's　sake；　for　from　what　she　had　seen　of　the　Count；　she　knew　him　to　be　full　of　wickedness。　　She　knows　full　well　that　if　he　once　gets　possession　of　her　lord；　he　will　not　fail　to　do　him　harm。　　He　may　be　sure　of　being　killed：　so　for　his　sake　she　is　in　distress。　　All　night　she　must　needs　keep　her　vigil；　but　before　the　dawn；　if　she　can　bring　it　about；　and　if　her　lord　will　take　her　word；　they　will　be　ready　to　depart。

（Vv。　3459…3662。）　　Erec　slept　all　night　long　securely　until　daylight。　　Then　Enide　realised　and　suspected　that　she　might　hesitate　too　long。　　Her　heart　was　tender　toward　her　lord；　like　a　good　and　loyal　lady。　　Her　heart　was　neither　deceitful　nor　false。　So　she　rises　and　makes　ready；　and　drew　near　to　her　lord　to　wake　him　up。　　〃Ah；　sire；〃　says　she；　〃I　crave　your　pardon。　　Rise　quickly　now；　for　you　are　betrayed　beyond　all　doubt；　though　guiltless　and　free　from　any　crime。　　The　Count　is　a　proven　traitor；　and　if　he　can　but　catch　you　here；　you　will　never　get　away　without　his　having　cut　you　in　pieces。　　He　hates　you　because　he　desires　me。　But　if　it　please　God；　who　knows　all　things；　you　shall　be　neither　slain　nor　caught。　　Last　evening　he　would　have　killed　you　had　I　not　assured　him　that　I　would　be　his　mistress　and　his　wife。　　You　will　see　him　return　here　soon：　he　wants　to　seize　me　and　keep　me　here　and　kill　you　if　he　can　find　you。〃　　Now　Erec　learns　how　loyal　his　wife　is　to　him。　　〃Lady；〃　says　he；　〃have　our　horses　quickly　saddled；　then　run　and　call　our　host；　and　tell　him　quickly　to　come　here。　　Treason　has　been　long　abroad。〃　　Now　the　horses　are　saddled；　and　the　lady　summoned　the　host。　　Erec　has　armed　and　dressed　himself；　and　into　his　presence　came　the　host。　〃Sire；〃　said　he；　〃what　haste　is　this；　that　you　are　risen　at　such　an　hour；　before　the　day　and　the　sun　appear？〃　　Erec　replies　that　he　has　a　long　road　and　a　full　day　before　him；　and　therefore　he　has　made　ready　to　set　out；　having　it　much　upon　his　mind；　and　he　added：　〃Sire；　you　have　nor　yet　handed　me　any　statement　of　my　expenses。　　You　have　received　me　with　honour　and　kindness；　and　therein　great　merit　redounds　to　you。　　Cancel　my　indebtedness　with　these　seven　horses　that　I　brought　here　with　me。　　Do　not　disdain　them；　but　keep　them　for　your　own。　　I　cannot　increase　my　gift　to　you　by　so　much　as　the　value　of　a　halter。〃　　The　burgher　was　delighted　with　this　gift　and　bowed　low；　expressing　his　thanks　and　gratitude。　　Then　Erec　mounts　and　takes　his　leave；　and　they　set　out　upon　their　way。　　As　they　ride；　he　frequently　warns　Enide　that　if　she　sees　anything　she　should　not　be　so　bold　as　to　speak　to　him　about　it。　　Meanwhile；　there　entered　the　house　a　hundred　knights　well　armed；　and　very　much　dismayed　they　were　to　find　Erec　no　longer　there。　　Then　the　Count　learned　that　the　lady　had　deceived　him。　　He　discovered　the　footsteps　of　the　horses；　and　they　all　followed　the　trail；　the　Count　threatening　Erec　and　vowing　that；　if　he　can　come　up　with　him；　nothing　can　keep　him　from　having　his　head　on　the　spot。　　〃A　curse　on　him　who　now　hangs　back；　and　does　not　spur　on　fast！〃　quoth　he；　〃he　who　presents　me　with　the　head　of　the　knight　whom　I　hate　so　bitterly；　will　have　served　me　to　my　taste。〃　　Then　they　plunge　on　at　topmost　speed；　filled　with　hostility　toward　him　who　had　never　laid　eyes　on　them　and　had　never　harmed　them　by　deed　or　word。　　They　ride　ahead　until　they　made　him　out；　at　the　edge　of　a　forest　they　catch　sight　of　him　before　he　was　hid　by　the　forest　trees。　　Not　one　of　them　halted　then；　but　all　rushed　on　in　rivalry。　　Enide　hears　the　clang　and　noise　of　their　arms　and　horses；　and　sees　that　the　valley　is　full　of　them。　　As　soon　as　she　saw　them；　she　could　not　restrain　her　tongue。　　〃Ah；　sire；〃　she　cries。　〃alas；　how　this　Count　has　attacked　you；　when　he　leads　against　you　such　a　host！　　Sire；　ride　faster　now；　until　we　be　within　this　wood。　　I　think　we　can　easily　distance　them；　for　they　are　still　a　long　way　behind。　　If　you　go　on　at　this　pace；　you　can　never　escape　from　death；　for　you　are　no　match　for　them。〃　　Erec　replies：　〃Little　esteem　you　have　for　me；　and　lightly　you　hold　my　words。　　It　seems　I　cannot　correct　you　by　fair　request。　　But　as　the　Lord　have　mercy　upon　me　until　I　escape　from　here；　I　swear　that　you　shall　pay　dearly　for　this　speech　of　yours；　that　is；　unless　my　mind　should　change。〃　　Then　he　straightway　turns　about；　and　sees　the　seneschal　drawing　near　upon　a　horse　both　strong　and　fleet。　　Before　them　all　he　takes　his　stand　at　the　distance　of　four　cross…bow　shots。　　He　had　not　disposed　of　his　arms；　but　was　thoroughly　well　equipped。　　Erec　reckons　up　his　opponents'　strength；　and　sees　there　are　fully　a　hundred　of　them。　　Then　he　who　thus　is　pressing　him　thinks　he　had　better　call　a　hair。　　Then　they　ride　to　meet　each　other；　and　strike　upon　each　other's　shield　great　blows　with　their　sharp　and　trenchant　swords。　　Erec　caused　his　stout　steel　sword　to　pierce　his　body　through　and　through；　so　that　his　shield　and　hauberk　protected　him　no　more　than　a　shred　of　dark…blue　silk。　　And　next　the　Count　comes　spurring　on；　who；　as　the　story　tells；　was　a　strong　and　doughty　knight。　　But　the　Count　in　this　was　ill　advised　when　he　came　with　only　shield　and　lance。　　He　placed　such　trust　in　his　own　prowess　that　he　thought　that　he　needed　no　other　arms。　　He　showed　his　exceeding　boldness　by　rushing　on　ahead　of　all　his　men　more　than　the　space　of　nine　acres。　　When　Erec　saw　him　stand　alone；　he　turned　toward　him；　the　Count　is　not　afraid　of　him；　and　they　come　together　with　clash　of　arms。　　First　the　Count　strikes　him　with　such　violence　upon　the　breast　that　he　would　have　lost　his　stirrups　if　he　had　not　been　well　set。　　He　makes　the　wood　of　his　shield　to　split　so　that　the　iron　of　his　lance　protrudes　on　the　other　side。　　But　Erec's　hauberk　was　very　solid　and　protected　him　from　death　without　the　tear　of　a　single　mesh。　　The　Count　was　strong　and　breaks　his　lance；　then　Erec　strikes　him　with　such　force　on　his　yellow　painted　shield　that　he　ran　more　than　a　yard　of　his　lance　through　his　abdomen；　knocking　him　senseless　from　his　steed。　　Then　he　turned　and　rode　away　without　further　tarrying　on　the　spot。　　Straight　into　the　forest　he　spurs　at　full　speed。　　Now　Erec　is　in　the　woods；　and　the　others　paused　a　while　over　those　who　lay　in　the　middle　of　the　field。　　Loudly　they　swear　and　vow　that　they　will　rather　follow　after　him　for　two　or　three　days　than　fail　to　capture　and　slaughter　him。　　The　Count；　though　grievously　wounded　in　the　abdomen；　hears　what　they　say。　　He　draws　himself　up　a　little　and　opens　his　eyes　a　tiny　bit。　　Now　he　realises　what　an　evil　deed　he　had　begun　to　execute。　　He　makes　the　knights　step　back；　and　says：　〃My　lords；　I　bid　you　all；　both　strong　and　weak；　high　and　low；　that　none　of　you　be　so　bold　as　to　dare　to　advance　a　single　step。　　All　of　you　return　now　quickly！　　I　have　done　a　villainous　deed；　and　I　repent　me　of　my　foul　design。　　The　lady　who　outwitted　me　is　very　honourable；　prudent；　and　courteous。　　Her　beauty　fired　me　with　love　for　her；　because　I　desired　her；　I　wished　to　kill　her　lord　and　keep　her　back　with　me　by　force。　　I　well　deserved　this　woe；　and　now　it　has　come　upon　me。　　How　abominably　disloyal　and　treacherous　I　was　in　my　madness！　　Never　was　there　a　better　knight　born　of　mother　than　he。　　Never　shall　he　receive　harm　through　me　if　I　can　in　any　way　prevent　it。　　I　command　you　all　to　retrace　your　steps。〃　　Back　they　go　disconsolate；　carrying　the　lifeless　seneschal　on　the　shield　reversed。　　The　Count；　whose　wound　was　not　mortal；　lived　on　for　some　time　after。　　Thus　was　Erec　delivered。

（Vv。　3663…3930。）　　Erec　goes　off　at　full　speed　down　a　road　between　two　hedgerowshe　and　his　wife　with　him。　　Both　putting　spurs　to　their　horses；　they　rode　until　they　came　to　a　meadow　which　had　been　mown。　　After　emerging　from　the　hedged　enclosure　they　came　upon　a　drawbridge　before　a　high　tower；　which　was　all　closed　about　with　a　wall　and　a　broad　and　deep　moat。　　They　quickly　pass　over　the　bridge；　but　had　not　gone　far　before　the　lord　of　the　place　espied　them　from　up　in　his　tower。　　About　this　man　I　can　tell　you　the　truth：　that　he　was　very　small　o？　stature；　but　very　courageous　of　heart。　　When　he　sees　Erec　cross　the　bridge；　he　comes　down　quickly　from　his　tower；　and　on　a　great　sorrel　steed　of　his　he　causes　a　saddle　to　be　placed；　which　showed　portrayed　a　golden　lion。　　Then　he　orders　to　be　brought　his　shield；　his　stiff；　straight　lance；　a　sharp　polished　sword；　his　bright　shining　helmet；　his　gleaming　hauberk；　and　triple…woven　greaves；　for　he　has　seen　an　armed　knight　pass　before　his　list　against　whom　he　wishes　to　strive　in　arms；　or　else　this　stranger　will　strive　against　him　until　he　shall　confess　defeat。　　His　command　was　quickly　done：　behold　the　horse　now　led　forth；　a　squire　brought　him　around　already　bridled　and　with　saddle　on。　　Another　fellow　brings　the　arms。　　The　knight　passed　out　through　the　gate；　as　quickly　as　possible；　all　alone；　without　companion。　　Erec　is　riding　along　a　hill…side；　when　behold　the　knight　comes　tearing　down　over　the　top　of　the　hill；　mounted　upon　a　powerful　steed　which　tore　along　at　such　a　pace　that　he　crushed　the　stones　beneath　his　hoofs　finer　than　a　millstone　grinds　the　corn；　and　bright　gleaming　sparks　flew　off　in　all　directions；　so　that　it　seemed　as　if　his　four　feet　were　all　ablaze　with　fire。　　Enide　heard　the　noise　and　commotion；　and　almost　fell　from　her　palfrey；　helple