four arthurian romances-第18部分

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　going　to　hasten　in　that　direction　and　see　what　her　trouble　is。　　Do　you　dismount　and　await　me　here；　while　I　go　yonder。〃　　〃Gladly；　sire；〃　she　says。　　Leaving　her　alone；　he　makes　his　way　until　he　found　the　damsel；　who　was　going　through　the　wood；　lamenting　her　lover　whom　two　giants　had　taken　and　were　leading　away　with　very　cruel　treatment。　　The　maiden　was　rending　her　garments；　and　tearing　her　hair　and　her　tender　crimson　face。　　Erec　sees　her　and；　wondering　greatly；　begs　her　to　tell　him　why　she　cries　and　weeps　so　sore。　　The　maiden　cries　and　sighs　again；　then　sobbing；　says：　〃Fair　sire；　it　is　no　wonder　if　I　grieve；　for　I　wish　I　were　dead。　　I　neither　love　nor　prize　my　life；　for　my　lover　has　been　led　away　prisoner　by　two　wicked　and　cruel　giants　who　are　his　mortal　enemies。　　God！　　what　shall　I　do？　　Woe　is　me！　　deprived　of　the　best　knight　alive；　the　most　noble　and　the　most　courteous。　　And　now　he　is　in　great　peril　of　death。　　This　very　day；　and　without　cause；　they　will　bring　him　to　some　vile　death。　　Noble　knight；　for　God's　sake；　I　beg　you　to　succour　my　lover；　if　now　you　can　lend　him　any　aid。　　You　will　not　have　to　run　far；　for　they　must　still　be　close　by。〃　　〃Damsel；〃　says　Erec；　〃I　will　follow　them；　since　you　request　it；　and　rest　assured　that　I　shall　do　all　within　my　power：　either　I　shall　be　taken　prisoner　along　with　him；　or　I　shall　restore　him　to　you　safe　and　sound。　　If　the　giants　let　him　live　until　I　can　find　him；　I　intend　to　measure　my　strength　with　theirs。〃　　〃Noble　knight；〃　the　maiden　said；　〃I　shall　always　be　your　servant　if　you　restore　to　me　my　lover。　　Now　go　in　God's　name；　and　make　haste；　I　beseech　you。〃　　〃Which　way　lies　their　path？〃　　〃This　way；　my　lord。　　Here　is　the　path　with　the　footprints。　　Then　Erec　started　at　a　gallop；　and　told　her　ro　await　him　there。　　The　maid　commends　him　to　the　Lord；　and　prays　God　very　fervently　that　He　should　give　him　force　by　His　command　to　discomfit　those　who　intend　evil　toward　her　lover。

（Vv。　4381…4579。）　　Erec　went　off　along　the　trail；　spurring　his　horse　in　pursuit　of　the　giants。　　He　followed　in　pursuit　of　them　until　he　caught　sight　of　them　before　they　emerged　from　the　wood；　he　saw　the　knight　with　bare　limbs　mounted　naked　on　a　nag；　his　hands　and　feet　bound　as　if　he　were　arrested　for　highway　robbery。　　The　giants　had　no　lances；　shields　or　whetted　swords；　but　they　both　had　clubs　and　scourges；　with　which　they　were　beating　him　so　cruelly　that　already　they　had　cut　the　skin　on　his　back　to　the　bone。　　Down　his　sides　and　flanks　the　blood　ran；　so　that　the　nag　was　all　covered　with　blood　down　to　the　belly。　（32）　　Erec　came　along　alone　after　them。　　He　was　very　sad　and　distressed　about　the　knight　whom　he　saw　them　treat　so　spitefully。　　Between　two　woods　in　an　open　field　he　came　up　with　them；　and　asks：　〃My　lords；〃　says　he；　〃for　what　crime　do　you　treat　this　man　so　ill　and　lead　him　along　like　a　common　thief？　　You　are　treating　him　too　cruelly。　　You　are　driving　him　just　as　if　he　had　been　caught　stealing。　　It　is　a　monstrous　insult　to　strip　a　knight　naked；　and　then　bind　him　and　beat　him　so　shamefully。　　Hand　him　over　to　me；　I　beg　of　you　with　all　good…will　and　courtesy。　　I　have　no　wish　to　demand　him　of　you　forcibly。〃　　〃Vassal；〃　they　say；　〃what　business　is　this　of　yours？　　You　must　be　mad　to　make　any　demand　of　us。　　If　you　do　not　like　it；　try　and　improve　matters。〃　　Erec　replies：　〃Indeed；　I　like　it　not；　and　you　shall　not　lead　him　away　so　easily。　　Since　you　have　left　the　matter　in　my　hands；　I　say　whoever　can　get　possession　of　him　let　him　keep　him。　　Take　your　positions。　　I　challenge　you。　　You　shall　not　take　him　any　farther　before　some　blows　have　been　dealt。〃　　〃Vassal；〃　they　reply；　〃you　are　mad；　indeed；　to　wish　to　measure　your　strength　with　us。　　If　you　were　four　instead　of　one；　you　would　have　no　more　strength　against　us　than　one　lamb　against　two　wolves。〃　　〃I　do　not　know　how　it　will　turn　out；〃　Erec　replies；　〃if　the　sky　fails　and　the　earth　melts；　then　many　a　lark　will　be　caught。　　Many　a　man　boasts　loudly　who　is　of　little　worth。　　On　guard　now；　for　I　am　going　to　attack　you。〃　　The　giants　were　strong　and　fierce；　and　held　in　their　clenched　hands　their　big　clubs　tipped　with　iron。　　Erec　went　at　them　lance　in　rest。　　He　fears　neither　of　them；　in　spite　of　their　menace　and　their　pride；　and　strikes　the　foremost　of　them　through　the　eye　so　deep　into　the　brain　that　the　blood　and　brains　spurt　out　at　the　back　of　his　neck；　that　one　lies　dead　and　his　heart　stops　beating。　　When　the　other　saw　him　dead；　he　had　reason　to　be　sorely　grieved。　　Furious；　he　went　to　avenge　him：　with　both　hands　he　raised　his　club　on　high　and　thought　to　strike　him　squarely　upon　his　unprotected　head：　but　Erec　watched　the　blow；　and　received　it　on　his　shield。　　Even　so；　the　giant　landed　such　a　blow　that　it　quite　stunned　him；　and　almost　made　him　fall　to　earth　from　his　steed。　　Erec　covers　himself　with　his　shield　and　the　giant；　recovering　himself；　thinks　to　strike　again　quickly　upon　his　head。　　But　Erec　had　drawn　his　sword；　and　attacked　him　with　such　fierceness　that　the　giant　was　severely　handled：　he　strikes　him　so　hard　upon　the　neck　that　he　splits　him　down　to　the　saddle…bow。　　He　scatters　his　bowels　upon　the　earth；　and　the　body　falls　full　length；　split　in　two　halves。　　The　knight　weeps　with　joy　and；　worshipping；　praises　God　who　has　sent　him　this　aid。　　Then　Erec　unbound　him；　made　him　dress　and　arm　himself；　and　mount　one　of　the　horses；　the　other　he　made　him　lead　with　his　right　hand；　and　asks　him　who　he　is。　　And　he　replied：　〃Noble　knight；　thou　art　my　liege　lord。　　I　wish　to　regard　thee　as　my　lord；　as　by　right　I　ought　to　do；　for　thou　hast　saved　my　life；　which　but　now　would　have　been　cut　off　from　my　body　with　great　torment　and　cruelty。　　What　chance；　fair　gentle　sire；　in　God's　name；　guided　thee　hither　to　me；　to　free　me　by　thy　courage　from　the　hands　of　my　enemies？　　Sire；　I　wish　to　do　thee　homage。　　Henceforth；　I　shall　always　accompany　thee　and　serve　thee　as　my　lord。〃　　Erec　sees　that　he　is　disposed　to　serve　him　gladly；　if　he　may；　and　says：　〃Friend；　for　your　service　I　have　no　desire；　but　you　must　know　that　I　came　hither　to　succour　you　at　the　instance　of　your　lady；　whom　I　found　sorrowing　in　this　wood。　　Because　of　you；　she　grieves　and　moans；　for　full　of　sorrow　is　her　heart。　　I　wish　to　present　you　to　her　now。　　As　soon　as　I　have　reunited　you　with　her；　I　shall　continue　my　way　alone；　for　you　have　no　call　to　go　with　me。　　I　have　no　need　cf　your　company；　but　I　fain　would　know　your　name。〃　　〃Sire；〃　says　he；　〃as　you　wish。　　Since　you　desire　to　know　my　name；　it　must　not　be　kept　from　you。　　My　name　is　Cadoc　of　Tabriol：　know　that　thus　I　am　called。　　But　since　I　must　part　from　you。　　I　should　like　to　know；　if　it　may　be；　who　you　are　and　of　what　land；　where　I　may　sometime　find　and　search　for　you；　when　I　shall　go　a　way　from　here。〃　　Erec　replies：　〃Friend；　that　I　will　never　confide　to　you。　　Never　speak　of　it　again；　but　if　you　wish　to　find　it　out　and　do　me　honour　in　any　wise　go　quickly　now　without　delay　to　my　lord；　King　Arthur；　who　with　might　and　main　is　hunting　the　stag　in　yonder　wood；　as　I　take　it；　not　five　short　leagues　from　here。　　Go　thither　quickly　and　take　him　word　that　you　are　sent　to　him　as　a　gift　by　him　whom　yesterday　within　his　tent　he　joyfully　received　and　lodged。　　And　be　careful　not　to　conceal　from　him　from　what　peril　I　set　free　both　your　life　and　body。　　I　am　dearly　cherished　at　the　court；　and　if　you　present　yourself　in　my　name　you　will　do　me　a　service　and　honour。　　There　you　shall　ask　who　I　am；　but　you　cannot　know　it　otherwise。〃　　〃Sire；〃　says　Cadoc；　〃I　will　follow　your　bidding　in　all　respects。　　You　need　never　have　any　fear　that　I　do　not　go　with　a　glad　heart。　　I　shall　tell　the　King　the　full　truth　regarding　the　battle　which　you　have　fought　on　my　behalf。〃　　Thus　speaking；　they　continued　their　way　until　they　came　to　the　maiden　where　Erec　had　left　her。　　The　damsel's　joy　knew　no　bounds　when　she　saw　coming　her　lover　whom　she　never　thought　to　see　again。　　Taking　him　by　the　hand；　Erec　presents　him　to　her　with　the　words：　〃Grieve　no　longer；　demoiselle！　　Behold　your　lover　glad　and　joyous。〃　　And　she　with　prudence　makes　reply：　〃Sire；　by　right　you　have　won　us　both。　　Yours　we　should　be；　to　serve　and　honour。　　But　who　could　ever　repay　half　the　debt　we　owe　you？〃　　Erec　makes　answer：　〃My　gentle　lady；　no　recompense　do　I　ask　of　you。　　To　God　I　now　commend　you　both；　for　too　long；　methinks；　I　have　tarried　here。〃　　Then　he　turns　his　horse　about；　and　rides　away　as　fast　as　he　can。　　Cadoc　of　Tabriol　with　his　damsel　rides　off　in　another　direction；　and　soon　he　told　the　news　to　King　Arthur　and　the　Queen。

（Vv。　4580…4778。）　　Erec　continues　to　ride　at　great　speed　to　the　place　where　Enide　was　awaiting　him　in　great　concern；　thinking　that　surely　he　had　completely　deserted　her。　　And　he；　too；　was　in　great　fear　lest　some　one；　finding　her　alone；　might　have　carried　her　off。　　So　he　made　all　haste　to　return。　　But　the　heat　of　the　day　was　such；　and　his　arms　caused　him　such　distress；　that　his　wounds　broke　open　and　burst　the　bandages。　　His　wounds　never　stopped　bleeding　before　he　came　directly　to　the　spot　where　Enide　was　waiting　for　him。　　She　espied　him　and　rejoiced：　but　she　did　not　realise　or　know　the　pain　from　which　he　was　suffering；　for　all　his　body　was　bathed　in　blood；　and　his　heart　hardly　had　strength　to　beat。　　As　he　was　descending　a　hill　he　fell　suddenly　over　upon　his　horse's　neck。　　As　he　tried　to　straighten　up；　he　lost　his　saddle　and　stirrups；　falling；　as　if　lifeless；　in　a　faint。　　Then　began　such　heavy　grief；　when　Enide　saw　him　fall　to　earth。　　Full　of　fear　at　the　sight　of　him；　she　runs　toward　him　like　one　who　makes　no　concealment　of　her　grief。　　Aloud　she　cries；　and　wrings　her　hands：　not　a　shred　of　her　robe　remains　untorn　across　her　breast。　　She　begins　to　tear　her　hair　and　lacerate　her　tender　face。　（33）　　〃Ah　God！〃　she　cries；　〃fair　gentle　Lord；　why　dost　Thou　let　me　thus　live　on？　　Come　Death；　and　kill　me　hastily！〃　　With　these　words　she　faints　upon　his　body。　　When　she　recovered；　she　said　to　herself　reproachfully：　〃Woe　is　me；　wretched　Enide；　I　am　the　murderer　of　my　lord；　in　having　killed　him　by　my　speech。　　My　lord　would　still　be　now　alive；　if　I　in　my　mad　presumption　had　not　spoken　the　word　which　engaged　him　in　this　adventure。　　Silence　never　harmed　any　one；　but　speech　often　worketh　woe。　　The　truth　of　this　I　have　tried　and　proved　in　more　ways　than　one。〃　　Beside　her　lord　she　took　her　seat