four arthurian romances-第17部分

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hen　you　decline　to　come。　　I　trow　you　will　repent　of　it。　　And　however　much　it　may　be　against　your　will；　you　shall　both　go；　as　the　priest　goes　to　the　council；　willy…　nilly。　　To…night　you　will　be　badly　served；　if；　unmindful　of　my　advice；　you　go　there　as　strangers。　　Come　now　quickly；　for　I　will　take　you。〃　　At　this　word　Erec's　ire　was　roused。　　〃Vassal；〃　says　he；　〃you　are　mad　to　drag　me　thus　after　you　by　force。　　You　have　taken　me　quite　off　my　guard。　　I　tell　you　you　have　committed　an　offence。　　For　I　thought　to　be　quite　safe；　and　was　not　on　my　guard　against　you。〃　　Then　he　lays　his　hand　upon　his　sword　and　cries：　〃Hands　off　my　bridle；　vassal！　　Step　aside。　　I　consider　you　proud　and　impudent。　　I　shall　strike　you；　be　sure　of　that；　if　you　drag　me　longer　after　you。　　Leave　me　alone　now。〃　　Then　he　lets　him　go；　and　draws　off　across　the　field　more　than　an　acre's　width；　then　turns　about　and；　as　a　man　with　evil　intent；　issues　his　challenge。　　Each　rushed　at　the　other。　　But；　because　Kay　was　without　armour；　Erec　acted　courteously　and　turned　the　point　of　his　lance　about　and　presented　the　butt…end　instead。　　Even　so；　he　gave　him　such　a　blow　high　up　on　the　broad　expanse　of　his　shield　that　he　caused　it　to　wound　him　on　the　temple；　pinning　his　arm　to　his　breast：　all　prone　he　throws　him　to　the　earth。　　Then　he　went　to　catch　the　horse　and　hands　him　over　by　the　bridle　to　Enide。　　He　was　about　to　lead　it　away；　when　the　wounded　man　with　his　wonted　flattery　begs　him　to　restore　it　courteously　to　him。　　With　fair　words　he　flatters　and　wheedles　him。　　〃Vassal；〃　says　he；　〃so　help　me　God；　that　horse　is　not　mine。　　Rather　does　it　belong　to　that　knight　in　whom　dwells　the　greatest　prowess　in　the　world；　my　lord　Gawain　the　Bold。　　I　tell　you　so　much　on　his　behalf；　in　order　that　you　may　send　it　back　to　him　and　thus　win　honour。　　So　shall　you　be　courteous　and　wise；　and　I　shall　be　your　messenger。〃　　Erec　makes　answer：　〃Take　the　horse；　vassal；　and　lead　it　away。　　Since　it　belongs　to　my　lord　Gawain　it　is　not　meet　that　I　should　appropriate　it。〃　　Kay　takes　the　horse；　remounts；　and　coming　to　the　royal　tent；　tells　the　King　the　whole　truth；　keeping　nothing　back。　　And　the　King　summoned　Gawain；　saying：　〃Fair　nephew　Gawain；　if　ever　you　were　true　and　courteous；　go　quickly　after　him　and　ask　him　in　winsome　wise　who　he　is　and　what　his　business。　　And　if　you　can　influence　him　and　bring　him　along　with　you　to　us；　take　care　not　to　fail　to　do　so。〃　　Then　Gawain　mounts　his　steed；　two　squires　following　after　him。　　They　soon　made　Erec　out；　but　did　not　recognise　him。　　Gawain　salutes　him；　and　he　Gawain：　their　greetings　were　mutual。　　Then　said　my　lord　Gawain　with　his　wonted　openness：　〃Sire；〃　says　he；　〃King　Arthur　sends　me　along　this　way　to　encounter　you。　　The　Queen　and　King　send　you　their　greeting；　and　beg　you　urgently　to　come　and　spend　some　time　with　them　（it　may　benefit　you　and　cannot　harm）；　as　they　are　close　by。〃　　Erec　replies：　〃I　am　greatly　obliged　to　the　King　and　Queen　and　to　you　who　are；　it　seems；　both　kind　of　heart　and　of　gentle　mien。　　I　am　not　in　a　vigorous　state；　rather　do　I　bear　wounds　within　my　body：　yet　will　I　not　turn　aside　from　my　way　to　seek　a　lodging…place。　　So　you　need　not　longer　wait：　I　thank　you；　but　you　may　be　gone。　　Now　Gawain　was　a　man　of　sense。　　He　draws　back　and　whispers　in　the　ear　of　one　of　the　squires；　bidding　him　go　quickly　and　tell　the　King　to　take　measures　at　once　to　take　down　and　lower　his　tents　and　come　and　set　them　up　in　the　middle　of　the　road　three　or　four　leagues　in　advance　of　where　they　now　are。　　There　the　King　must　lodge　to…night；　if　he　wishes　to　meet　and　extend　hospitality　to　the　best　knight　in　truth　whom　he　can　ever　hope　to　see；　but　who　will　not　go　out　of　his　way　for　a　lodging　at　the　bidding　of　any　one。　　The　fellow　went　and　gave　his　message。　　The　King　without　delay　causes　his　tents　to　be　taken　down。　　Now　they　are　lowered；　the　sumpters　loaded；　and　off　they　set。　　The　King　mounted　Aubagu；　and　the　Queen　afterwards　mounted　a　white　Norse　palfrey。　　All　this　while；　my　lord　Gawain　did　not　cease　to　detain　Erec；　until　the　latter　said　to　him：　〃Yesterday　I　covered　more　ground　than　I　shall　do　to…day。　　Sire；　you　annoy　me；　let　me　go。　　You　have　already　disturbed　a　good　part　of　my　day。〃　　And　my　lord　Gawain　answers　him：　〃I　should　like　to　accompany　you　a　little　way；　if　you　do　not　object；　for　it　is　yet　a　long　while　until　night。　　They　spent　so　much　time　in　talking　that　all　the　tents　were　set　up　before　them；　and　Erec　sees　them；　and　perceives　that　his　lodging　is　arranged　for　him。　　〃Ah！　　Gawain；〃　he　says；　〃your　shrewdness　has　outwitted　me。　　By　your　great　cunning　you　have　kept　me　here。　　Since　it　has　turned　out　thus；　I　shall　tell　you　my　name　at　once。　　Further　concealment　would　be　useless。　　I　am　Erec；　who　was　formerly　your　companion　and　friend。〃　　Gawain　hears　him　and　straightway　embraces　him。　　He　raised　up　his　helmet　and　unlaced　his　mouthpiece。　　Joyfully　he　clasps　him　in　his　embrace；　while　Erec　embraces　him　in　turn。　　Then　Gawain　leaves　him；　saying；　〃Sire；　this　news　will　give　great　pleasure　to　my　lord；　he　and　my　lady　will　both　be　glad；　and　I　must　go　before　to　tell　them　of　it。　　But　first　I　must　embrace　and　welcome　and　speak　comfortably　to　my　lady　Enide；　your　wife。　　My　lady　the　Queen　has　a　great　desire　to　see　her。　　I　heard　her　speak　of　her　only　yesterday。〃　　Then　he　steps　up　to　Enide　and　asks　her　how　she　is；　if　she　is　well　and　in　good　case。　　She　makes　answer　courteously：　〃Sire；　I　should　have　no　cause　for　grief；　were　I　not　in　great　distress　for　my　lord；　but　as　it　is；　I　am　in　dismay；　for　he　has　hardly　a　limb　without　a　wound。〃　　Gawain　replies：　〃This　grieves　me　much。　　It　is　perfectly　evident　from　his　face；　which　is　all　pale　and　colourless。　　I　could　have　wept　myself　when　I　saw　him　so　pale　and　wan；　but　my　joy　effaced　my　grief；　for　at　sight　of　him　I　felt　so　glad　that　I　forgot　all　other　pain。　　Now　start　and　ride　along　slowly。　　I　shall　ride　ahead　at　top…speed　to　tell　the　Queen　and　the　King　that　you　are　following　after　me。　　I　am　sure　that　they　will　both　be　delighted　when　they　hear　it。〃　　Then　he　goes；　and　comes　to　the　King's　tent。　　〃Sire；〃　he　cries；　〃now　you　and　my　lady　must　be　glad；　for　here　come　Erec　and　his　wife。〃　　The　King　leaps　to　his　feet　with　joy。　　〃Upon　my　word！〃　he　says；　〃right　glad　I　am。　　I　could　hear　no　news　which　could　give　me　so　much　happiness。〃　　The　Queen　and　all　the　rest　rejoice；　and　come　out　from　the　tents　as　fast　as　they　may。　　Even　the　King　comes　forth　from　his　pavilion；　and　they　met　Erec　near　at　band。　　When　Erec　sees　the　King　coming；　he　quickly　dismounts；　and　Enide　too。　　The　King　embraces　and　meets　them；　and　the　Queen　likewise　tenderly　kisses　and　embraces　them：　there　is　no　one　that　does　not　show　his　joy。　　Right　there；　upon　the　spot；　they　took　off　Erec's　armour；　and　when　they　saw　his　wounds；　their　joy　turned　to　sadness。　　The　King　draws　a　deep　sigh　at　the　sight　of　them；　and　has　a　plaster　brought　which　Morgan；　his　sister；　had　made。　　This　piaster；　which　Morgan　had　given　to　Arthur；　was　of　such　sovereign　virtue　that　no　wound；　whether　on　nerve　or　joint；　provided　it　were　treated　with　the　piaster　once　a　day；　could　fail　to　be　completely　cured　and　healed　within　a　week。　　They　brought　to　the　King　the　piaster　which　gave　Erec　great　relief。　　When　they　had　bathed；　dried；　and　bound　up　his　wounds；　the　King　leads　him　and　Enide　into　his　own　royal　tent；　saying　that　he　intends；　out　of　love　for　Erec；　to　tarry　in　the　forest　a　full　fortnight；　until　he　be　completely　restored　to　health。　　For　this　Erec　thanks　the　King；　saying：　〃Fair　sire；　my　wounds　are　not　so　painful　that　I　should　desire　to　abandon　my　journey。　　No　one　could　detain　me；　to…morrow；　without　delay；　I　shall　wish　to　get　off　in　the　morning；　as　soon　as　I　see　the　dawn。〃　　At　this　the　King　shook　his　head　and　said：　〃This　is　a　great　mistake　for　you　not　to　remain　with　us。　　I　know　that　you　are　far　from　well。　　Stay　here；　and　you　will　do　the　right　thing。　　It　will　be　a　great　pity　and　cause　for　grief　if　you　die　in　this　forest。　　Fair　gentle　friend；　stay　here　now　until　you　are　quite　yourself　again。〃　　Erec　replies：　〃Enough　of　this。　　I　have　undertaken　this　journey；　and　shall　not　tarry　in　any　wise。〃　　The　King　hears　that　he　would　by　no　means　stay　for　prayer　of　his；　so　he　says　no　more　about　it；　and　commands　the　supper　to　be　prepared　at　once　and　the　tables　to　be　spread。　　The　servants　go　to　make　their　preparations。　　It　was　a　Saturday　night；　so　they　ate　fish　and　fruit；　pike　and　perch；　salmon　and　trout；　and　then　pears　both　raw　and　cooked。　（31）　　Soon　after　supper　they　ordered　the　beds　to　be　made　ready。　　The　King；　who　held　Erec　dear；　had　him　laid　in　a　bed　alone；　for　he　did　not　wish　that　any　one　should　lie　with　him　who　might　touch　his　wounds。　　That　night　he　was　well　lodged。　　In　another　bed　close　by　lay　Enide　with　the　Queen　under　a　cover　of　ermine；　and　they　all　slept　in　great　repose　until　the　day　broke　next　morning。

（Vv。　4281…4307。）　　Next　day；　as　soon　as　it　is　dawn。　　Erec　arises；　dresses；　commands　his　horses　to　be　saddled；　and　orders　his　arms　to　be　brought　to　him。　　The　valets　run　and　bring　them　to　him。　　Again　the　King　and　all　the　knights　urge　him　to　remain；　but　entreaty　is　of　no　avail；　for　he　will　not　stay　for　anything。　　Then　you　might　have　seen　them　all　weep　and　show　such　grief　as　if　they　already　saw　him　dead。　　He　puts　on　his　arms；　and　Enide　arises。　　All　the　knights　are　sore　distressed；　for　they　think　they　will　never　see　them　more。　　They　follow　them　out　from　the　tents；　and　send　for　their　own　horses；　that　they　may　escort　and　accompany　them。　　Erec　said　to　them：　〃Be　not　angry！　　but　you　shall　not　accompany　me　a　single　step。　　I'll　thank　you　if　you'll　stay　behind！〃　　His　horse　was　brought　to　him；　and　he　mounts　without　delay。　　Taking　his　shield　and　lance；　he　commends　them　all　to　God；　and　they　in　turn　wish　Erec　well。　　Then　Enide　mounts；　and　they　ride　away。

（Vv。　4308…4380。）　　Entering　a　forest；　they　rode　on　without　halting　till　hour　of　prime。　　While　they　thus　traversed　the　wood；　they　heard　in　the　distance　the　cry　of　a　damsel　in　great　distress。　　When　Erec　heard　the　cry；　he　felt　sure　from　the　sound　that　it　was　the　voice　of　one　in　trouble　and　in　need　of　help。　　Straightway　calling　Enide；　he　says：　〃Lady；　there　is　some　maiden　who　goes　through　the　wood　calling　aloud。　　I　take　it　that　she　is　in　need　of　aid　and　succour。　　I　am　going　to　hasten　in　that　direction　and　see　what　her　trouble　is。　　Do　you　dismount　and　await　me　here；