four arthurian romances-第20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！


nd　rest　assured　that　you　love　me　with　a　perfect　love。　　From　this　time　on　for　evermore；　I　offer　myself　to　do　your　will　just　as　I　used　to　do　before。　　And　if　you　have　spoken　ill　of　me；　I　pardon　you　and　call　you　quit　of　both　the　offence　and　the　word　you　spoke。〃　　Then　he　kisses　her　again　and　clasps　her　tight。　　Now　Enide　is　not　ill　at　ease　when　her　lord　clasps　and　kisses　her　and　tells　her　again　that　he　loves　her　still。　　Rapidly　through　the　night　they　ride；　and　they　are　very　glad　that　the　moon　shines　bright。

（Vv。　4939…5058。）　　Meanwhile；　the　news　has　travelled　fast；　and　there　is　nothing　else　so　quick。　　The　news　had　reached　Guivret　the　Little　that　a　knight　wounded　with　arms　had　been　found　dead　in　the　forest；　and　that　with　him　was　a　lady　making　moan；　and　so　wondrous　fair　that　Iseut　would　have　seemed　her　waiting…maid。　　Count　Oringle　of　Limors　had　found　them　both；　and　had　caused　the　corpse　to　be　borne　away；　and　wished　himself　to　espouse　the　lady；　but　she　refused　him。　　When　Guivret　heard　this　news；　he　was　by　no　means　pleased；　for　at　once　the　thought　of　Erec　occurred　to　him。　　It　came　into　his　heart　and　mind　to　go　and　seek　out　the　lady；　and　to　have　the　body　honourably　interred。　if　it　should　turn　out　to　be　he。　　He　assembled　a　thousand　men…at…arms　and　knights　to　take　the　town。　　If　the　Count　would　not　surrender　of　his　own　accord　the　body　and　the　lady；　he　would　put　all　to　fire　and　flame。　　In　the　moonlight　shining　clear　he　led　his　men　on　toward　Limors；　with　helmets　laced；　in　hauberks　clad；　and　from　their　necks　the　shields　were　hung。　　Thus；　under　arms；　they　all　advanced　until　nearly　midnight；　when　Erec　espied　them。　　Now　he　expects　to　be　ensnared　or　killed　or　captured　inevitably。　　He　makes　Enide　dismount　beside　a　thicket…hedge。　　No　wonder　if　he　is　dismayed。　　〃Lady；　do　you　stay　here；〃　he　says；　〃beside　this　thicket…hedge　a　while；　until　these　people　shall　have　passed。　　I　do　not　wish　them　to　catch　sight　of　you；　for　I　do　not　know　what　manner　of　people　they　are；　nor　of　what　they　go　in　search。　　I　trust　we　may　not　attract　their　attention。　　But　I　see　nowhere　any　place　where　we　could　take　refuge；　should　they　wish　to　injure　us。　　I　know　not　if　any　harm　may　come　to　me；　but　not　from　fear　shall　I　fail　to　sally　out　against　them。　　And　if　any　one　assails　me；　I　shall　not　fail　to　joust　with　him。　　Yet；　I　am　so　sore　and　weary　that　it　is　no　wonder　if　I　grieve。　　Now　to　meet　them　I　must　go；　and　do　you　stay　quiet　here。　　Take　care　that　no　one　see　you；　until　they　shall　have　left　you　far　behind。〃　　Behold　now　Guivret；　with　lance　outstretched；　who　espied　him　from　afar。　　They　did　not　recognise　each　other；　for　the　moon　had　gone　behind　the　shadow　of　a　dark　cloud。　　Erec　was　weak　and　exhausted；　and　his　antagonist　was　quite　recovered　from　his　wounds　and　blows。　　Now　Erec　will　be　far　from　wise　if　he　does　not　promptly　make　himself　known。　　He　steps　out　from　the　hedge。　And　Guivret　spurs　toward　him　without　speaking　to　him　at　all；　nor　does　Erec　utter　a　word　to　him：　he　thought　he　could　do　more　than　he　could。　　Whoever　tries　to　run　farther　than　he　is　able　must　perforce　give　up　or　take　a　rest。　　They　clash　against　each　other；　but　the　fight　was　unequal；　for　one　was　weak　and　the　other　strong。　Guivret　strikes　him　with　such　force　that　he　carries　him　down　to　earth　from　his　horse's　back。　　Enide；　who　was　in　hiding；　when　she　sees　her　lord　on　the　ground；　expects　to　be　killed　and　badly　used。　Springing　forth　from　the　hedge；　she　runs　to　help　her　lord。　　If　she　grieved　before；　now　her　anguish　is　greater。　　Coming　up　to　Guivret；　she　seized　his　horse's　rein；　and　then　said：　〃Cursed　be　thou；　knight！　　For　thou　hast　attacked　a　weak　and　exhausted　man；　who　is　in　pain　and　mortally　wounded；　with　such　injustice　that　thou　canst　not　find　reason　for　thy　deed。　　If　thou　hadst　been　alone　and　helpless；　thou　wouldst　have　rued　this　attack；　provided　my　lord　had　been　in　health。　　Now　be　generous　and　courteous；　and　kindly　let　cease　this　battle　which　thou　hast　begun。　　For　thy　reputation　would　be　no　better　for　having　killed　or　captured　a　knight　who　has　not　the　strength　to　rise；　as　thou　canst　see。　　For　he　has　suffered　so　many　blows　of　arms　that　he　is　all　covered　with　wounds〃　　And　he　replies：　〃Fear　not；　lady！　　I　see　that　loyally　you　love　your　lord；　and　I　commend　you　for　it。　　Have　no　fear　whatsoever　of　me　or　of　my　company。　　But　tell　me　now　without　concealment　what　is　the　name　of　your　lord；　for　only　advantage　will　you　get　from　telling　me。　　Whoever　he　be；　tell　me　his　name；　then　he　shall　go　safe　and　unmolested。　　Neither　he　nor　you　have　aught　to　fear；　for　you　are　both　in　safe　hands。〃

（Vv。　5059…5172。）　　Then　Enide　learns　that　she　is　safe；　she　answers　him　briefly　in　a　word：　〃His　name　is　Erec；　I　ought　not　to　lie；　for　I　see　you　are　honest　and　of　good　intent。〃　　Guivret；　in　his　delight；　dismounts　and　goes　to　fall　at　Erec's　feet；　where　he　was　lying　on　the　ground。　　〃My　lord；〃　he　says；　〃I　was　going　to　seek　for　you；　and　was　on　my　way　to　Limors；　where　I　expected　to　find　you　dead。　　It　was　told　and　recounted　to　me　as　true　that　Count　Oringle　had　carried　off　to　Limors　a　knight　who　was　mortally　wounded；　and　that　he　wickedly　intended　to　marry　a　lady　whom　he　had　found　in　his　company；　but　that　she　would　have　nothing　to　do　with　him。　　And　I　was　coming　urgently　to　aid　and　deliver　her。　　If　he　refused　to　hand　over　to　me　both　the　lady　and　you　without　resistance；　I　should　esteem　myself　of　little　worth　if　I　left　him　a　foot　of　earth　to　stand　upon。　　Be　sure　that　had　I　not　loved　you　dearly　I　should　never　have　taken　this　upon　myself。　　I　am　Guivret；　your　friend；　but　if　I　have　done　you　any　hurt　through　my　failure　to　recognise　you；　you　surely　ought　to　pardon　me。〃　　At　this　Erec　sat　up；　for　he　could　do　no　more；　and　said：　〃Rise　up；　my　friend。　Be　absolved　of　the　harm　you　have　done　me；　since　you　did　not　recognise　me。〃　　Guivret　gets　up；　and　Erec　tells　him　how　he　has　killed　the　Count　while　he　sat　at　meat；　and　how　he　had　gained　possession　again　of　his　steed　in　front　of　the　stable；　and　how　the　sergeants　and　the　squires　had　fled　across　the　yard；　crying：　〃Flee；　flee；　the　corpse　is　chasing　us；〃　then；　how　he　came　near　being　caught；　and　how　he　escaped　through　the　town　and　down　the　hill；　carrying　his　wife　on　his　horse's　neck：　all　this　adventure　of　his　he　told　him。　　Then　Guivret　said；　〃Sire；　I　have　a　castle　here　close　by；　which　is　well　placed　in　a　healthful　site。　　For　your　comfort　and　benefit　I　wish　to　take　you　there　to…morrow　and　have　your　wounds　cared　for。　　I　have　two　charming　and　sprightly　sisters　who　are　skilful　in　the　care　of　wounds：　they　will　soon　completely　cure　you。　（34）　　To…night　we　shall　let　our　company　lodge　here　in　the　fields　until　morning；　for　I　think　a　little　rest　to…night　will　do　you　much　good。　　My　advice　is　that　we　spend　the　night　here。〃　　Erec　replies：　〃I　am　in　favour　of　doing　so。〃　　So　there　they　stayed　and　spent　the　night。　　They　were　not　reluctant　to　prepare　a　lodging…place；　but　they　found　few　accommodations；　for　the　company　was　quite　numerous。　　They　lodge　as　best　they　may　among　the　bushes：　Guivret　had　his　tent　set　up；　and　ordered　tinder　to　be　kindled；　that　they　might　have　light　and　cheer。　　He　has　tapers　taken　out　from　the　boxes；　and　they　light　them　within　the　tent。　　Now　Enide　no　longer　grieves；　for　all　has　turned　out　well。　She　strips　her　lord　of　his　arms　and　clothes；　and　having　washed　his　wounds；　she　dried　them　and　bound　them　up　again；　for　she　would　let　no　one　else　touch　him。　　Now　Erec　knows　no　further　reason　to　reproach　her；　for　he　has　tried　her　well　and　found　that　she　bears　great　love　to　him。　　And　Guivret；　who　treats　them　kindly；　had　a　high；　long　bed　constructed　of　quilted　coverlids；　laid　upon　grass　and　reed；　which　they　found　in　abundance。　　There　they　laid　Erec　and　covered　him　up。　　Then　Guivret　opened　a　box　and　took　out　two　patties。　　〃Friend；〃　says　he；　〃now　try　a　little　of　these　cold　patties；　and　drink　some　wine　mixed　with　water。　　I　have　as　much　as　six　barrels　of　it；　but　undiluted　it　is　not　good　for　you；　for　you　are　injured　and　covered　with　wounds。　　Fair　sweet　friend；　now　try　to　eat；　for　it　will　do　you　good。　　And　my　lady　will　eat　some　too　　your　wife　who　has　been　to…day　in　sore　distress　on　your　account。　　But　you　have　received　full　satisfaction　for　all　that；　and　have　escaped。　　So　eat　now；　and　I　will　eat　too；　fair　friend。〃　Then　Guivret　sat　down　by　Erec's　side；　and　so　did　Enide　who　was　much　pleased　by　all　that　Guivret　did。　　Both　of　them　urge　him　to　eat；　giving　him　wine　mixed　with　water'；　for　unmixed　it　is　too　strong　and　heating。　　Erec　ate　as　a　sick　man　eats；　and　drank　a　littleall　he　dared。　　But　he　rested　comfortably　and　slept　all　night；　for　on　his　account　no　noise　or　disturbance　was　made。

（Vv。　5173…5366。）　　In　the　early　morning　they　awoke；　and　prepared　again　to　mount　and　ride。　　Erec　was　so　devoted　to　his　own　horse　that　he　would　ride　no　other。　　They　gave　to　Enide　a　mule；　for　she　had　lost　her　palfrey。　　But　she　was　not　concerned；　to　judge　by　her　looks；　she　gave　the　matter　no　thought。　She　had　a　good　mule　with　an　easy　gait　that　bore　her　very　comfortably。　　And　it　gave　her　great　satisfaction　that　Erec　was　not　cast　down；　but　rather　assured　them　that　he　would　recover　completely。　　Before　the　third　hour　they　reached　Penevric；　a　strong　castle；　well　and　handsomely　situated。　　There　dwelt　the　two　sisters　of　Guivret；　for　the　place　was　agreeable　enough。　　Guivret　escorted　Erec　to　a　delightful；　airy　room　in　a　remote　part　of　the　castle。　　His　sisters；　at　his　request；　exerted　themselves　to　cure　Erec；　and　Erec　placed　himself　in　their　hands；　for　they　inspired　him　with　perfect　confidence。　First；　they　removed　the　dead　flesh；　then　applied　plaster　and　lint；　devoting　to　his　care　all　their　skill；　like　women　who　knew　their　business　well。　　Again　and　again　they　washed　his　wounds　and　applied　the　plaster。　　Four　times　or　more　each　day　they　made　him　eat　and　drink；　allowing　him；　however；　no　garlic　or　pepper。　　But　whoever　might　go　in　or　out　Enide　was　always　with　him；　being　more　than　any　one　else　concerned。　　Guivret　often　came　in　to　ask　and　inquire　if　he　wanted　anything。　　He　was　well　kept　and　well　served；　and　everything　that　he　wished　was　willingly　done。　　But　the　damsels　cheerfully　and　gladly　showed　such　devotion　in　caring　for　him　that　by　the　end　of　a　fortnight　he　felt　no　hurt　or　pain。　　Then；　to　bring　his　colour　back；　they　began　to　give　him　baths。　There　was　no　need　to　instruct　the　damsels；　for　they　understood　the　treatment　w