four arthurian romances-第16部分

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all　ablaze　with　fire。　　Enide　heard　the　noise　and　commotion；　and　almost　fell　from　her　palfrey；　helpless　and　in　a　faint。　　There　was　no　vein　in　her　body　in　which　the　blood　did　not　turn；　and　her　face　became　all　pale　and　white　as　if　she　were　a　corpse。　　Great　is　her　despair　and　dismay；　for　she　does　not　dare　to　address　her　lord；　who　often　threatens　and　chides　at　her　and　charges　her　to　hold　her　peace。　　She　is　distracted　between　two　courses　to　pursue；　whether　to　speak　or　to　hold　her　peace。　　She　takes　counsel　with　herself；　and　often　she　prepares　to　speak；　so　that　her　tongue　already　moves；　but　the　voice　cannot　issue　forth；　for　her　teeth　are　clenched　with　fear；　and　thus　shut　up　her　speech　within。　　Thus　she　admonishes　and　reproaches　herself；　but　she　closes　her　mouth　and　grits　her　teeth　so　that　her　speech　cannot　issue　forth。　　At　strife　with　herself；　she　said：　〃I　am　sure　and　certain　that　I　shall　incur　a　grievous　loss；　if　here　I　lose　my　lord。　　Shall　I　tell　him　all；　then；　openly？　　Not　I。　　Why　not？　　I　would　not　dare；　for　thus　I　should　enrage　my　lord。　　And　if　my　lord's　ire　is　once　aroused；　he　will　leave　me　in　this　wild　place　alone；　wretched　and　forlorn。　　Then　I　shall　be　worse　off　than　now。　Worse　off？　　What　care　I？　　May　grief　and　sorrow　always　be　mine　as　long　as　I　live；　if　my　lord　does　not　promptly　escape　from　here　without　being　delivered　to　a　violent　death。　　But　if　I　do　not　quickly　inform　him；　this　knight　who　is　spurring　hither　will　have　killed　him　before　he　is　aware；　for　he　seems　of　very　evil　intent。　　I　think　I　have　waited　too　long　from　fear　of　his　vigorous　prohibition。　　But　I　will　no　longer　hesitate　because　of　his　restraint。　　I　see　plainly　that　my　lord　is　so　deep　in　thought　that　he　forgets　himself；　so　it　is　fight　that　I　should　address　him。〃　　She　spoke　to　him。　　He　threatens　her；　but　has　no　desire　to　do　her　harm；　for　he　realises　and　knows　full　well　that　she　loves　him　above　all　else；　and　he　loves　her；　too；　to　the　utmost。　　He　rides　toward　the　knight；　who　challenges　him　to　battle；　and　they　meet　at　the　foot　of　the　hill；　where　they　attack　and　defy　each　other。　　Both　smite　each　other　with　their　iron…tipped　lances　with　all　their　strength。　　The　shields　that　hang　about　their　necks　are　not　worth　two　coats　of　bark：　the　leather　tears；　and　they　split　the　wood；　and　they　shatter　the　meshes　of　the　hauberks。　　Both　are　pierced　to　the　vitals　by　the　lances；　and　the　horses　fall　to　earth。　　Now；　both　the　warriors　were　doughty。　　Grievously；　but　not　mortally；　wounded；　they　quickly　got　upon　their　feet　and　grasped　afresh　their　lances；　which　were　not　broken　nor　the　worse　for　wear。　　But　they　cast　them　away　on　the　ground；　and　drawing　their　swords　from　the　scabbard；　they　attack　each　other　with　great　fury。　Each　wounds　and　injures　the　other；　for　there　is　no　mercy　on　either　side。　　They　deal　such　blows　upon　the　helmets　that　gleaming　sparks　fly　out　when　their　swords　recoil。　　They　split　and　splinter　the　shields；　they　batter　and　crush　the　hauberks。　　In　four　places　the　swords　are　brought　down　to　the　bare　flesh；　so　that　they　are　greatly　weakened　and　exhausted。　　And　if　both　their　swords　had　lasted　long　without　breaking；　they　would　never　have　retreated；　nor　would　the　battle　have　come　to　an　end　before　one　of　them　perforce　had　died。　　Enide；　who　was　watching　them；　was　almost　beside　herself　with　grief。　　Whoever　could　have　seen　her　then；　as　she　showed　her　great　woe　by　wringing　her　hands；　tearing　her　hair　and　shedding　tears；　could　have　seen　a　loyal　lady。　　And　any　man　would　have　been　a　vulgar　wretch　who　saw　and　did　not　pity　her。　　And　the　knights　still　fight；　knocking　the　jewels　from　the　helmets　and　dealing　at　each　other　fearful　blows。　　From　the　third　to　the　ninth　hour　the　battle　continued　so　fierce　that　no　one　could　in　any　wise　make　out　which　was　to　have　the　better　of　it。　　Erec　exerts　himself　and　strives；　he　brought　his　sword　down　upon　his　enemy's　helmet；　cleaving　it　to　the　inner　lining　of　mail　and　making　him　stagger；　but　he　stood　firmly　and　did　not　fall。　　Then　he　attacked　Erec　in　turn；　and　dealt　him　such　a　blow　upon　the　covering　of　his　shield　that　his　strong　and　precious　sword　broke　when　he　tried　to　pull　it　out。　　When　he　saw　that　his　sword　was　broken；　in　a　spite　he　threw　as　far　away　as　he　could　the　part　that　remained　in　his　hand。　　Now　he　was　afraid　and　must　needs　draw　back；　for　any　knight　that　lacks　his　sword　cannot　do　much　execution　in　battle　or　assault。　　Erec　pursues　him　until　he　begs　him；　for　God's　sake；　not　to　kill　him。　　〃Mercy；　noble　knight；〃　he　cries；　〃be　not　so　cruel　and　harsh　toward　me。　　Now　that　I　am　left　without　my　sword；　you　have　the　strength　and　the　power　to　take　my　life　or　make　me　your　prisoner；　for　I　have　no　means　of　defence。〃　Erec　replies：　〃When　thou　thus　dost　petition　me　I　fain　would　hear　thee　admit　outright　whether　thou　art　defeated　and　overcome。　　Thou　shalt　not　again　be　touched　by　me　if　thou　dost　surrender　at　my　discretion。〃　　The　knight　was　slow　to　make　reply。　　So；　when　Erec　saw　him　hesitate；　in　order　to　further　dismay　him；　he　again　attacked　him；　rushing　at　him　with　drawn　sword；　whereupon；　thoroughly　terrified；　he　cried：　〃Mercy；　sire！　　Regard　me　as　your　captive；　since　it　cannot　be　otherwise。〃　　Erec　answers：　〃More　than　that　is　necessary。　　You　shall　not　get　off　so　easily　as　that。　　Tell　me　your　station　and　your　name；　and　I　in　turn　will　tell　you　mine。〃　　〃Sire；〃　says　he；　〃you　are　right。　　I　am　king　of　this　country。　　My　liegemen　are　Irishmen；　and　there　is　none　who　does　not　have　to　pay　me　rent。　（29）　　My　name　is　Guivret　the　Little。　　I　am　very　rich　and　powerful；　for　there　is　no　landholder　whose　lands　touch　mine　in　any　direction　who　ever　transgresses　my　command　and　who　does　not　do　my　pleasure。　　I　have　no　neighbour　who　does　not　fear　me；　however　proud　and　bold　he　may　be。　　But　I　greatly　desire　to　be　your　confidant　and　friend　from　this　time　on。〃　　Erec　replies：　〃I；　too；　can　boast　that　I　am　a　noble　man。　　My　name　is　Erec；　son　of　King　Lac。　　My　father　is　king　of　Farther　Wales；　and　has　many　a　rich　city；　fine　hall；　and　strong　town；　no　king　or　emperor　has　more　than　he；　save　only　King　Arthur。　　Him；　of　course；　I　except；　for　with　him　none　can　compare。〃　　Guivret　is　greatly　astonished　at　this；　and　says：　〃Sire；　a　great　marvel　is　this　I　hear。　　I　was　never　so　glad　of　anything　as　of　your　acquaintance。　　You　may　put　full　trust　in　me！　　And　should　it　please　you　to　abide　in　my　country　within　my　estates；　I　shall　have　you　treated　with　great　honour。　　So　long　as　you　care　to　remain　here；　you　shall　be　recognised　as　my　lord。　　We　both　have　need　of　a　physician；　and　I　have　a　castle　of　mine　near　here；　not　eight　leagues　away；　nor　even　seven。　　I　wish　to　take　you　thither　with　me；　and　there　we　shall　have　our　wounds　tended。〃　　Erec　replies：　〃I　thank　you　for　what　I　have　heard　you　say。　　However；　I　will　not　go；　thank　you。　　But　only　so　much　I　request　of　you；　that　if　I　should　be　in　need；　and　you　should　hear　that　I　had　need　of　aid；　you　would　not　then　forget　me。〃　　〃Sire〃　says　he；　〃I　promise　you　that　never；　so　long　as　I　am　alive；　shall　you　have　need　of　my　help　but　that　I　shall　go　at　once　to　aid　you　with　all　the　assistance　I　can　command。〃　　〃I　have　nothing　more　to　ask　of　you；〃　says　Erec；　〃you　have　promised　me　much。　　You　are　now　my　lord　and　friend；　if　your　deed　is　as　good　as　your　word。〃　　Then　each　kisses　and　embraces　the　other。　　Never　was　there　such　an　affectionate　parting　after　such　a　fierce　battle；　for　from　very　affection　and　generosity　each　one　cut　off　long；　wide　strips　from　the　bottom　of　his　shirt　and　bound　up　the　other's　wounds。　　When　they　had　thus　bandaged　each　other；　they　commended　each　other　to　God。

（Vv。　3931…4280。）　　So　thus　they　parted。　　Guivret　takes　his　way　back　alone；　while　Erec　resumed　his　road；　in　dire　need　of　plaster　wherewith　to　heal　his　wounds。　　He　did　not　cease　to　travel　until　he　came　to　a　plain　beside　a　lofty　forest　all　full　of　stags；　hinds；　deer；　does；　and　other　beasts；　and　all　sorts　of　game。　　Now　King　Arthur　and　the　Queen　and　the　best　of　his　barons　had　come　there　that　very　day。　　The　King　wished　to　spend　three　or　four　days　in　the　forest　for　pleasure　and　sport；　and　had　commanded　tents；　pavilions；　and　canopies　to　be　brought。　　My　lord　Gawain　had　stepped　into　the　King's　tent；　all　tired　out　by　a　long　ride。　　In　front　of　the　tent　a　white　beech　stood；　and　there　he　had　left　a　shield　of　his；　together　with　his　ashen　lance。　　He　left　his　steed；　all　saddled　and　bridled；　fastened　to　a　branch　by　the　rein。　　There　the　horse　stood　until　Kay　the　seneschal　came　by。　（30）　　He　came　up　quickly　and；　as　if　to　beguile　the　time；　took　the　steed　and　mounted；　without　the　interference　of　any　one。　　He　took　the　lance　and　the　shield；　too；　which　were　close　by　under　the　tree。　　Galloping　along　on　the　steed；　Kay　rode　along　a　valley　until　it　came　about　by　chance　that　Erec　met　him。　　Now　Erec　recognised　the　seneschal；　and　he　knew　the　arms　and　the　horse；　but　Kay　did　not　recognise　him；　for　he　could　not　be　distinguished　by　his　arms。　　So　many　blows　of　sword　and　lance　had　he　received　upon　his　shield　that　all　the　painted　design　had　disappeared　from　it。　　And　the　lady；　who　did　not　wish　to　be　seen　or　recognised　by　him；　shrewdly　held　her　veil　before　her　face；　as　if　she　were　doing　it　because　of　the　sun's　glare　and　the　dust。　　Kay　approached　rapidly　and　straightway　seized　Erec's　rein；　without　so　much　as　saluting　him。　　Before　he　let　him　move；　he　presumptuously　asked　him：　〃Knight；〃　says　he；　〃I　wish　to　know　who　you　are　and　whence　you　come。〃　　〃You　must　be　mad　to　stop　me　thus；〃　says　Erec；　〃you　shall　not　know　that　just　now。〃　　And　the　other　replies：　〃Be　not　angry；　I　only　ask　it　for　your　good。　　I　can　see　and　make　out　clearly　that　you　are　wounded　and　hurt。　　If　you　will　come　along　with　me　you　shall　have　a　good　lodging　this　night；　I　shall　see　that　you　are　well　cared　for；　honoured　and　made　comfortable：　for　you　are　in　need　of　rest。　　King　Arthur　and　the　Queen　are　close　by　here　in　a　wood；　lodged　in　pavilions　and　tents。　　In　all　good　faith；　I　advise　you　to　come　with　me　to　see　the　Queen　and　King；　who　will　take　much　pleasure　in　you　and　will　show　you　great　honour。〃　　Erec　replies：　〃You　say　well；　yet　will　I　not　go　thither　for　anything。　　You　know　not　what　my　business　is：　I　must　yet　farther　pursue　my　way。　　Now　let　me　go；　too　long　I　stay。　　There　is　still　some　daylight　left。〃　　Kay　makes　answer：　〃You　speak　madness　when　you　decline　to　come。　　I　trow　you　will　repent　of　it。　　And　however　much　it　may　be　against　your　wil