four arthurian romances-第19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！


The　truth　of　this　I　have　tried　and　proved　in　more　ways　than　one。〃　　Beside　her　lord　she　took　her　seat；　holding　his　head　upon　her　lap。　　Then　she　begins　her　dole　anew。　　〃Alas；〃　she　says；　〃my　lord；　unhappy　thou；　thou　who　never　hadst　a　peer；　for　in　thee　was　beauty　seen　and　prowess　was　made　manifest；　wisdom　had　given　thee　its　heart；　and　largess　set　a　crown　upon　thee；　without　which　no　one　is　esteemed。　But　what　did　I　say？　　A　grievous　mistake　I　made　in　uttering　the　word　which　has　killed　my　lordthat　fatal　poisoned　word　for　which　I　must　justly　be　reproached；　and　I　recognise　and　admit　that　no　one　is　guilty　but　myself；　I　alone　must　be　blamed　for　this。〃　Then　fainting　she　falls　upon　the　ground；　and　when　she　later　sat　up　again；　she　only　moans　again　the　more：　〃God；　what　shall　I　do；　and　why　live　on？　　Why　does　Death　delay　and　hesitate　to　come　and　seize　me　without　respite？　　Truly；　Death　holds　me　in　great　contempt！　　Since　Death　does　not　deign　to　take　my　life；　I　must　myself　perforce　achieve　the　vengeance　for　my　sinful　deed。　　Thus　shall　I　die　in　spite　of　Death；　who　will　not　heed　my　call　for　aid。　Yet；　I　cannot　die　through　mere　desire；　nor　would　complaining　avail　me　aught。　　The　sword；　which　my　lord　had　gilded　on；　ought　by　right　to　avenge　his　death。　　I　will　not　longer　consume　myself　in　distress；　in　prayer；　and　vain　desire。〃　　She　draws　the　sword　forth　from　its　sheath　and　begins　to　consider　it。　　God；　who　is　full　of　mercy；　caused　her　to　delay　a　little；　and　while　she　passes　in　review　her　sorrow　and　her　misfortune；　behold　there　comes　riding　apace　a　Count　with　numerous　suite；　who　from　afar　had　heard　the　lady's　loud　outcry。　　God　did　not　wish　to　desert　her；　for　now　she　would　have　killed　herself；　had　she　not　been　surprised　by　those　who　took　away　from　her　the　sword　and　thrust　it　back　into　its　sheath。　　The　Count　then　dismounted　from　his　horse　and　began　to　inquire　of　her　concerning　the　knight；　and　whether　she　was　his　wife　or　his　lady…love。　　〃Both　one　and　the　other；　sire；〃　she　says；　〃my　sorrow　is　such　as　I　cannot　tell。　　Woe　is　me　that　I　am　not　dead。〃　　And　the　Count　begins　to　comfort　her：　〃Lady；〃　he　says；　〃by　the　Lord；　I　pray　you；　to　take　some　pity　on　yourself！　　It　is　meet　that　you　should　mourn；　but　it　is　no　use　to　be　disconsolate；　for　you　may　yet　rise　to　high　estate。　　Do　not　sink　into　apathy；　but　comfort　yourself；　that　will　be　wise；　and　God　will　give　you　joy　again。　　Your　wondrous　beauty　holds　good　fortune　in　store　for　you；　for　I　will　take　you　as　my　wife；　and　make　you　a　countess　and　dame　of　rank：　this　ought　to　bring　you　much　consolation。　　And　I　shall　have　the　body　removed　and　laid　away　with　great　honour。　　Leave　off　now　this　grief　of　yours　which　in　your　frenzy　you　display。〃　　And　she　replies：　〃Sire；　begone！　　For　God's　sake；　let　me　be！　　You　can　accomplish　nothing　here。　　Nothing　that　one　could　say　or　do　could　ever　make　me　glad　again。〃　　At　this　the　Count　drew　back　and　said：　〃Let　us　make　a　bier；　whereon　to　carry　away　this　body　with　the　lady　to　the　town　of　Limors。　　There　the　body　shall　be　interred。　Then　will　I　espouse　the　lady；　whether　or　not　she　give　consent：　for　never　did　I　see　any　one　so　fair；　nor　desire　any　as　I　do　her。　Happy　I　am　to　have　met　with　her。　　Now　make　quickly　and　without　delay　a　proper　bier　for　this　dead　knight。　　Halt　not　for　the　trouble；　nor　from　sloth。〃　　Then　some　of　his　men　draw　out　their　swords　and　soon　cut　two　saplings；　upon　which　they　laid　branches　cross…wise。　　Upon　this　litter　they　laid　Erec　down；　then　hitched　two　horses　to　it。　　Enide　rides　alongside；　not　ceasing　to　make　lament；　and　often　fainting　and　falling　back；　but　the　horsemen　hold　her　tight；　and　try　to　support　her　with　their　arms；　and　raise　her　up　and　comfort　her。　　All　the　way　to　Limors　they　escort　the　body；　until　they　come　to　the　palace　of　the　Count。　　All　the　people　follow　up　after　themladies；　knights；　and　townspeople。　　In　the　middle　off　the　hall　upon　a　dais　they　stretched　the　body　out　full　length；　with　his　lance　and　shield　alongside。　　The　hall　is　full；　the　crowd　is　dense。　　Each　one　is　anxious　to　inquire　what　is　this　trouble；　what　marvel　here。　　Meanwhile　the　Count　takes　counsel　with　his　barons　privily。　　〃My　lords；〃　he　says；　〃upon　the　spot　I　wish　to　espouse　this　lady　here。　　We　can　plainly　judge　by　her　beauty　and　prudent　mien　that　she　is　of　very　gentle　rank。　　Her　beauty　and　noble　bearing　show　that　the　honour　of　a　kingdom　or　empire　might　well　be　bestowed　upon　her。　　I　shall　never　suffer　disgrace　through　her；　rather　I　think　to　win　more　honour。　　Have　my　chaplain　summoned　now；　and　do　you　go　and　fetch　the　lady。　　The　half　of　all　my　land　I　will　give　her　as　her　dower　if　she　will　comply　with　my　desire。〃　　Then　they　bade　the　chaplain　come；　in　accordance　with　the　Count's　command；　and　the　dame　they　brought　there；　too；　and　made　her　marry　him　perforce；　for　she　flatly　refused　to　give　consent。　　But　in　spite　of　all；　the　Count　married　her　in　accordance　with　his　wish。　　And　when　he　had　married　her；　the　constable　at　once　had　the　tables　set　in　the　palace；　and　had　the　food　prepared；　for　already　it　was　time　for　the　evening　meal。

（Vv。　4779…4852。）　　After　vespers；　that　day　in　May；　Enide　was　in　sore　distress；　nor　did　her　grief　cease　to　trouble　her。　　And　the　Count　urged　her　mildly　by　prayer　and　threat　to　make　her　peace　and　be　consoled；　and　he　made　her　sit　down　upon　a　chair；　though　it　was　against　her　will。　　In　spite　of　her；　they　made　her　take　a　seat　and　placed　the　table　in　front　of　her。　　The　Count　takes　his　place　on　the　other　side；　almost　beside　himself　with　rage　to　find　that　he　cannot　comfort　her。　　〃Lady；〃　he　says；　〃you　must　now　leave　off　this　grief　and　banish　it。　　You　can　have　full　trust　in　me；　that　honour　and　riches　will　be　yours。　　You　must　surely　realise　that　mourning　will　not　revive　the　dead；　for　no　one　ever　saw　such　a　thing　come　about。　　Remember　now；　though　poor　you　were；　that　great　riches　are　within　your　reach。　　Once　you　were　poor；　rich　now　you　will　be。　　Fortune　has　not　been　stingy　toward　you；　in　bestowing　upon　you　the　honour　of　being　henceforth　hailed　as　Countess。　　It　is　true　that　your　lord　is　dead。　　If　you　grieve　and　lament　because　of　this；　do　you　think　that　I　am　surprised？　　Nay。　　But　I　am　giving　you　the　best　advice　I　know　how　to　give。　　In　that　I　have　married　you；　you　ought　to　be　content。　　Take　care　you　do　not　anger　me！　　Eat　now；　as　I　bid　you　do。〃　　And　she　replies：　〃Not　I；　my　lord。　　In　faith；　as　long　as　I　live　I　will　neither　eat　nor　drink　unless　I　first　see　my　lord　eat　who　is　lying　on　yonder　dais〃　　〃Lady；　that　can　never　be。　　People　will　think　that　you　are　mad　when　you　talk　such　great　nonsense。　　You　will　receive　a　poor　reward　if　you　give　occasion　to…day　for　further　reproof。〃　　To　this　she　vouchsafed　no　reply；　holding　his　threats　in　slight　esteem；　and　the　Count　strikes　her　upon　the　face。　　At　this　she　shrieks；　and　the　barons　present　blame　the　Count。　　〃Hold。　sire！〃　they　cry　to　the　Count；　〃you　ought　to　be　ashamed　of　having　struck　this　lady　because　she　will　not　eat。　　You　have　done　a　very　ugly　deed。　　If　this　lady　is　distressed　because　of　her　lord　whom　she　now　sees　dead；　no　one　should　say　that　she　is　wrong。〃　　〃Keep　silence；　all。〃　the　Count　replies；　〃the　dame　is　mine　and　I　am　hers；　and　I　will　do　with　her　as　I　please。〃　　At　this　she　could　not　hold　her　peace；　but　swears　she　will　never　be　his。　　And　the　Count　springs　up　and　strikes　her　again；　and　she　cries　out　aloud。　　〃Ha！　　wretch；〃　she　says；　〃I　care　not　what　thou　say　to　me；　or　what　thou　do！　　I　fear　not　thy　blows；　nor　yet　thy　threats。　　Beat　me　and　strike　me；　as　thou　wilt。　　I　shall　never　heed　thy　power　so　much　as　to　do　thy　bidding　more　or　less；　even　were　thou　with　thy　hands　fight　now　to　snatch　out　my　eyes　or　flay　me　alive。〃

（Vv。　4853…4938。）　　In　the　midst　of　these　words　and　disputes　Erec　recovered　from　his　swoon；　like　a　man　who　awakes　from　sleep。　　No　wonder　that　he　was　amazed　at　the　crowd　of　people　he　saw　around。　But　great　was　his　grief　and　great　his　woe　when　he　heard　the　voice　of　his　wife。　　He　stepped　to　the　floor　from　off　the　dais　and　quickly　drew　his　sword。　　Wrath　and　the　love　he　bore　his　wife　gave　him　courage。　　He　runs　thither　where　he　sees　her；　and　strikes　the　Count　squarely　upon　the　head；　so　that　he　beats　out　his　brains　and；　knocking　in　his　forehead；　leaves　him　senseless　and　speechless；　his　blood　and　brains　flow　out。　　The　knights　spring　from　the　tables；　persuaded　that　it　is　the　devil　who　had　made　his　way　among　them　there。　　Of　young　or　old　there　none　remains；　for　all　were　thrown　in　great　dismay。　　Each　one　tries　to　outrun　the　other　in　beating　a　hasty　retreat。　　Soon　they　were　all　clear　of　the　palace；　and　cry　aloud；　both　weak　and　strong：　〃Flee；　flee；　here　comes　the　corpse！〃　　At　the　door　the　press　is　great：　each　one　strives　to　make　his　escape；　and　pushes　and　shoves　as　best　he　may。　He　who　is　last　in　the　surging　throng　would　fain　get　into　the　foremost　line。　　Thus　they　make　good　their　escape　in　flight；　for　one　dares　not　stand　upon　another's　going。　　Erec　ran　to　seize　his　shield；　hanging　it　about　his　neck　by　the　strap；　while　Enide　lays　hands　upon　the　lance。　　Then　they　step　out　into　the　courtyard。　There　is　no　one　so　bold　as　to　offer　resistance；　for　they　did　not　believe　it　could　be　a　man　who　had　thus　expelled　them；　but　a　devil　or　some　enemy　who　had　entered　the　dead　body。　　Erec　pursues　them　as　they　flee；　and　finds　outside　in　the　castle…yard　a　stable…boy　in　the　act　of　leading　his　steed　to　the　watering…place；　all　equipped　with　bridle　and　saddle。　　This　chance　encounter　pleased　Erec　well：　as　he　steps　up　quickly　to　the　horse；　the　boy　in　fear　straightway　yields　him　up。　　Erec　takes　his　seat　between　the　saddle…bows；　while　Enide；　seizing　the　stirrup；　springs　up　on　to　the　horse's　neck；　as　Erec；　who　bade　her　mount；　commanded　and　instructed　her　to　do。　　The　horse　bears　them　both　away；　and　finding　open　the　town　gate；　they　make　their　escape　without　detention。　　In　the　town　there　was　great　anxiety　about　the　Count　who　had　been　killed；　but　there　is　no　one；　however　brave；　who　follows　Erec　to　take　revenge。　　At　his　table　the　Count　was　slain；　while　Erec；　who　bears　his　wife　away；　embraces　and　kisses　and　gives　her　cheer。　　In　his　arms　he　clasps　her　against　his　heart；　and　says：　〃Sweet　sister　mine；　my　proof　of　you　has　been　complete！　Be　no　more　concerned　in　any　wise；　for　I　love　you　now　more　than　ever　I　did　before；　and　I　am　certain　and　rest　assured　that　you　love　me　with　a　perfect　love。　　From　this　time　on　for　evermore；　I　offer　mysel