four arthurian romances-第21部分

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an　to　give　him　baths。　There　was　no　need　to　instruct　the　damsels；　for　they　understood　the　treatment　well。　　When　he　was　able　to　walk　about。　Guivret　had　two　loose　gowns　made　of　two　different　kinds　of　silk；　one　trimmed　with　ermine；　the　other　with　vair。　　One　was　of　a　dark　purple　colour；　and　the　other　striped；　sent　to　him　as　a　present　by　a　cousin　of　his　from　Scotland。　　Enide　had　the　purple　gown　trimmed　with　ermine；　which　was　very　precious；　while　Erec　had　the　striped　stuff　with　the　fur；　which　was　no　less　valuable。　　Now　Erec　was　strong　and　well；　cured　and　recovered。　　Now　that　Enide　was　very　happy　and　had　everything　she　desired；　her　great　beauty　returned　to　her；　for　her　great　distress　had　affected　her　so　much　that　she　was　very　pale　and　wan。　　Now　she　was　embraced　and　kissed；　now　she　was　blessed　with　all　good　things；　now　she　had　her　joy　and　pleasures；　for　unadorned　they　lie　in　bed　and　each　enfolds　and　kisses　the　other；　nothing　gives　them　so　much　joy。　　They　have　had　so　much　pain　and　sorrow；　he　for　her；　and　she　for　him；　that　now　they　have　their　satisfaction。　　Each　vies　in　seeking　to　please　the　other。　　Of　their　further　sport　I　must　not　speak。　　Now　they　have　so　welded　their　love　and　forgotten　their　grief　that　they　scarcely　remember　it　any　more。　　But　now　they　must　go　on　their　way；　so　they　asked　his　leave　to　depart　from　Guivret；　in　whom　they　had　found　a　friend　indeed；　for　he　had　honoured　and　served　them　in　every　way。　When　he　came　to　take　leave；　Erec　said：　〃Sire；　I　do　not　wish　to　delay　longer　my　departure　for　my　own　land。　　Order　everything　to　be　prepared　and　collected；　in　order　that　I　may　have　all　I　need。　　I　shall　wish　to　start　to…morrow　morning；　as　soon　as　it　is　day。　　I　have　stayed　so　long　with　you　that　I　feel　strong　and　vigorous。　　God　grant；　if　it　please　Him；　that　I　may　live　to　meet　you　again　somewhere；　when　I　may　be　able　in　my　turn　to　serve　and　honour　you。　Unless　I　am　captured　or　detained；　I　do　not　expect　to　tarry　anywhere　until　I　reach　the　court　of　King　Arthur；　whom　I　hope　to　find　either　at　Robais　or　Carduel。〃　　To　which　Guivret　makes　prompt　reply；　〃Sire；　you　shall　not　go　off　alone！　　For　I　myself　shall　go　with　you　and　shall　take　companions　with　us；　if　it　be　your　pleasure。〃　　Erec　accedes　to　this　advice；　and　says　that；　in　accordance　with　his　plans；　he　wishes　the　journey　to　be　begun。　　That　night　they　make　preparations　for　their　journey；　not　wishing　to　delay　there　longer。　　They　all　make　ready　and　prepare。　　In　the　early　morning；　when　they　awake；　the　saddles　are　placed　upon　the　steeds。　　Before　he　leaves；　Erec　goes　to　bid　farewell　to　the　damsels　in　their　rooms；　and　Enide　（who　was　glad　and　full　of　joy）　thither　follows　him。　　When　their　preparations　for　departure　were　made；　they　took　their　leave　of　the　damsels。　　Erec；　who　was　very　courteous；　in　taking　leave　of　them；　thanks　them　for　his　health　and　life；　and　pledges　to　them　his　service。　　Then　he　took　one　of　them　by　the　hand　she　who　was　the　nearer　to　him　and　Enide　took　the　other's　hand：　hand　in　hand　they　came　up　from　the　bedroom　into　the　castle　hall。　　Guivret　urges　them　to　mount　at　once　without　delay。　Enide　thinks　the　time　will　never　come　for　them　to　mount。　　They　bring　around　to　the　block　for　her　a　good…tempered　palfrey；　a　soft　stepper；　handsome　and　well　shaped。　　The　palfrey　was　of　fine　appearance　and　a　good　mount：　it　was　no　less　valuable　than　her　own　which　had　stayed　behind　at　Limors。　　That　other　one　was　dappled；　this　one　was　sorrel；　but　the　head　was　of　another　colour：　it　was　marked　in　such　a　way　that　one　cheek　was　all　white；　while　the　other　was　raven　black。　　Between　the　two　colours　there　was　a　line；　greener　than　a　grape…vine　leaf；　which　separated　the　white　from　the　black。　　Of　the　bridle；　breast…strap；　and　saddle　I　can　surely　say　that　the　workmanship　was　rich　and　handsome。　　All　the　breast…　strap　and　bridle　was　of　gold　set　with　emeralds。　　The　saddle　was　decorated　in　another　style；　covered　with　a　precious　purple　cloth。　The　saddle…bows　were　of　ivory；　on　which　was　carved　the　story　of　how　Aeneas　came　from　Troy；　how　at　Carthage　with　great　joy　Dido　received　him　to　her　bed；　how　Aeneas　deceived　her；　and　how　for　him　she　killed　herself；　how　Aeneas　conquered　Laurentum　and　all　Lombardy；　of　which　he　was　king　all　his　life。　（35）　　Cunning　was　the　workmanship　and　well　carved；　all　decorated　with　fine　gold。　　A　skilful　craftsman；　who　made　it　spent　more　than　seven　years　in　carving　it；　without　touching　any　other　piece　of　work。　　I　do　not　know　whether　he　sold　it；　but　he　ought　to　have　obtained　a　good　price　for　it。　　Now　that　Enide　was　presented　with　this　palfrey；　she　was　well　compensated　for　the　loss　of　her　own。　　The　palfrey；　　thus　richly　apparelled；　was　given　to　her　and　she　mounted　it　gladly；　then　the　gentlemen　and　squires　quickly　mounted　too。　　For　their　pleasure　and　sport　Guivret　caused　to　be　taken　with　them　rich　falcons；　both　young　and　moulted；　many　a　tercel　and　sparrow…hawk；　and　many　a　setter　and　greyhound。

（Vv。　5367…5446。）　（36）　They　rode　straight　on　from　morn　till　eve　more　than　thirty　Welsh　leagues；　and　then　came　to　the　towers　of　a　stronghold；　rich　and　fair；　girt　all　about　with　a　new　wall。　　And　all　around；　beneath　this　wall；　ran　a　very　deep　stream；　roaring　rushing　like　a　storm。　　Erec　stops　to　look　at　it；　and　ask　and　find　out　if　any　one　could　truly　tell　him　who　was　the　lord　of　this　town。　　〃Friend；〃　said　he　to　his　kind　companion；　〃could　you　tell　me　the　name　of　this　town；　and　whose　it　is？　　Tell　me　if　it　belongs　to　a　count　or　a　king。　　Since　you　have　brought　me　here；　tell　me；　if　you　know。〃　　〃Sire；〃　he　says；　〃I　know　very　well；　and　will　tell　you　the　truth　about　it。　　The　name　of　the　town　is　Brandigant；　and　it　is　so　strong　and　fine　that　it　fears　neither　king　nor　emperor。　If　France；　and　all　of　England；　and　all　who　live　from　here　to　Liege　were　ranged　about　to　lay　a　siege；　they　would　never　take　it　in　their　lives；　for　the　isle　on　which　the　town　stands　stretches　away　four　leagues　or　more；　and　within　the　enclosure　grows　all　that　a　rich　town　needs：　fruit　and　wheat　and　wine　are　found；　and　of　wood　and　water　there　is　no　lack。　　It　fears　no　assault　on　any　side；　nor　could　anything　reduce　it　to　starvation。　　King　Evrain　had　it　fortified；　and　he　has　possessed　it　all　his　days　unmolested；　and　will　possess　it　all　his　life。　　But　not　because　he　feared　any　one　did　he　thus　fortify　it；　but　the　town　is　more　pleasing　so。　　For　if　it　had　no　wall　or　tower；　but　only　the　stream　that　encircles　it；　it　would　still　be　so　secure　and　strong　that　it　would　have　no　fear　of　the　whole　world。〃　　〃God！〃　said　Erec；　〃what　great　wealth！　　Let　us　go　and　see　the　fortress；　and　we　shall　take　lodging　in　the　town；　for　I　wish　to　stop　here。〃　　〃Sire；〃　said　the　other　in　great　distress；　〃were　it　not　to　disappoint　you；　we　should　not　stop　here。　　In　the　town　there　is　a　dangerous　passage。〃　〃Dangerous？〃　says　Erec；　〃do　you　know　about　it？　　Whatever　it　be；　tell　us　about　it；　for　very　gladly　would　I　know。〃　　〃Sire；〃　says　he；　〃I　should　fear　that　you　might　suffer　some　harm　there。　　I　know　there　is　so　much　boldness　and　excellence　in　your　heart　that；　were　I　to　tell　you　what　I　know　of　the　perilous　and　hard　adventure；　you　would　wish　to　enter　in。　　I　have　often　heard　the　story；　and　more　than　seven　years　have　passed　since　any　one　that　went　in　quest　of　the　adventure　has　come　back　from　the　town；　yet；　proud；　bold　knights　have　come　hither　from　many　a　land。　　Sire；　do　not　treat　this　as　a　jest：　for　you　will　never　learn　the　secret　from　me　until　you　shall　have　promised　me；　by　the　love　you　have　sworn　to　me；　that　never　by　you　will　be　undertaken　this　adventure；　from　which　no　one　escapes　without　receiving　shame　or　death。〃

（Vv。　5447…5492。）　　Now　Erec　hears　what　pleases　him；　and　begs　Guivret　not　to　be　grieved；　saying：　〃Ah；　fair　sweet　friend；　permit　that　our　lodging　be　made　in　the　town；　and　do　not　be　disturbed。　　It　is　time　to　halt　for　the　night；　and　so　I　trust　that　it　will　not　displease　you；　for　if　any　honour　comes　to　us　here　you　ought　to　be　very　glad。　　I　appeal　to　you　conceding　the　adventure　that　you　tell　me　just　the　name　of　it；　and　I'll　not　insist　upon　the　rest。〃　　〃Sire。〃　he　says；　〃I　cannot　be　silent　and　refuse　the　information　you　desire。　　The　name　is　very　fair　to　say；　but　the　execution　is　very　hard：　for　no　one　can　come　from　it　alive。　　The　adventure；　upon　my　word；　is　called　‘the　Joy　of　the　Court。'〃　　〃God！　　there　can　be　nothing　but　good　in　joy；〃　says　Erec；　〃I　go　to　seek　it。　Don't　go　now　and　discourage　me　about　this　or　anything　else；　fair　gentle　friend；　but　let　us　have　our　lodgings　taken；　for　great　good　may　come　to　us　of　this。　　Nothing　could　restrain　me　from　going　to　seek　the　Joy。〃　　〃Sire；〃　says　he；　〃God　grant　your　prayer；　that　you　may　find　joy　and　return　without　mishap。　　I　clearly　see　that　we　must　go　in。　　Since　otherwise　it　may　not　be；　let　us　go　in。　　Our　lodging　is　secured；　for　no　knight　of　high　degree；　as　I　have　heard　it　said　and　told；　can　enter　this　castle　with　intent　to　lodge　here　but　that　King　Evrain　offers　to　shelter　him。　　So　gentle　and　courteous　is　the　King　that　he　has　given　notice　to　all　his　townsmen；　appealing　to　their　love　for　him；　that　any　gentleman　from　afar　should　not　find　lodging　in　their　houses；　so　that　he　himself　may　do　honour　to　all　gentlemen　who　may　wish　to　tarry　here。〃

（Vv。　5493…5668。）　（37）　Thus　they　proceed　toward　the　castle；　passing　the　list　and　the　drawbridge；　and　when　they　passed　the　listing…place；　the　people　who　were　gathered　in　the　streets　in　crowds　see　Erec　in　all　his　beauty；　and　apparently　they　think　and　believe　that　all　the　others　are　in　his　train。　　Marvelling　much；　they　stare　at　him；　the　whole　town　was　stirred　and　moved；　as　they　take　counsel　and　discuss　about　him。　　Even　the　maidens　at　their　song　leave　off　their　singing　and　desist；　as　all　together　they　look　at　him；　and　because　of　his　great　beauty　they　cross　themselves；　and　marvellously　they　pity　him。　　One　to　another　whispers　low：　〃Alas！　　This　knight；　who　is　passing；　is　on　his　way　to　the　‘Joy　of　the　Court。'　　He　will　be　sorry　before　he　returns；　no　one　ever　came　from　another　land　to　claim　the　‘Joy　of　the　Court'　who　did　not　receive　shame　and　harm；　and　leave　his　head　there　as　a　forfeit。〃　　Then；　that　he　may　hear　their　words；　they　cry…aloud：　〃God　defend　thee；　knight；　from　harm；　for　thou　art　wondrously　handsome；　and　thy　beauty　is　greatly　to　be　pitied；　for　to…morrow　we　shall　see　it　quenched。　　Tomorrow　thy　death　is　come；　to…morrow　thou　shalt　surely　die　if　God　does　not