four arthurian romances-第23部分

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（Vv。　5827…6410。）　　Meanwhile　King　Evrain　leaves　his　side；　and　Erec　stoops　over　before　Enide；　whose　heart　was　in　great　distress；　although　she　held　her　peace；　for　grief　on　lips　is　of　no　account　unless　it　also　touch　the　heart。　　And　he　who　well　knew　her　heart；　said　to　her：　〃Fair　sister　dear；　gentle；　loyal；　and　prudent　lady；　I　am　acquainted　with　your　thoughts。　　You　are　in　fear；　I　see　that　well；　and　yet　you　do　not　know　for　what；　but　there　is　no　reason　for　your　dismay　until　you　shall　see　that　my　shield　is　shattered　and　that　my　body　is　wounded；　and　until　you　see　the　meshes　of　my　bright　hauberk　covered　with　blood；　and　my　helmet　broken　and　smashed；　and　me　defeated　and　weary；　so　that　I　can　no　longer　defend　myself；　but　must　beg　and　sue　for　mercy　against　my　will；　then　you　may　lament；　but　now　you　have　begun　too　soon。　　Gentle　lady；　as　yet　you　know　not　what　this　is　to　be；　no　more　do　I。　　You　are　troubled　without　cause。　　But　know　this　truly：　if　there　were　in　me　only　so　much　courage　as　your　love　inspires；　truly　I　should　not　fear　to　face　any　man　alive。　　But　I　am　foolish　to　vaunt　myself；　yet　I　say　it　not　from　any　pride；　but　because　I　wish　to　comfort　you。　　So　comfort　yourself；　and　let　it　be！　　I　cannot　longer　tarry　here；　nor　can　you　go　along　with　me；　for；　as　the　King　has　ordered；　I　must　not　take　you　beyond　this　point。〃　　Then　he　kisses　her　and　commends　her　to　God；　and　she　him。　　But　she　is　much　chagrined　that　she　cannot　follow　and　escort　him；　until　she　may　learn　and　see　what　this　adventure　is　to　be；　and　how　he　will　conduct　himself。　　But　since　she　must　stay　behind　and　cannot　follow　him；　she　remains　sorrowful　and　grieving。　　And　he　went　off　alone　down　a　path；　without　companion　of　any　sort；　until　he　came　to　a　silver　couch　with　a　cover　of　gold…embroidered　cloth；　beneath　the　shade　of　a　sycamore；　and　on　the　bed　a　maiden　of　comely　body　and　lovely　face；　completely　endowed　with　all　beauty；　was　seated　all　alone。　　I　intended　to　say　no　more　of　her；　but　whoever　could　consider　well　all　her　attire　and　her　beauty　might　well　say　that　never　did　Lavinia　of　Laurentum；　who　was　so　fair　and　comely；　possess　the　quarter　of　her　beauty。　　Erec　draws　near　to　her；　wishing　to　see　her　more　closely；　and　the　onlookers　go　and　sit　down　under　the　trees　in　the　orchard。　　Then　behold；　there　comes　a　knight　armed　with　vermilion　arms；　and　he　was　wondrous　tall；　and　if　he　were　not　so　immeasurably　tall；　under　the　heavens　there　would　be　none　fairer　than　he；　but；　as　every　one　averred；　he　was　a　foot　taller　than　any　knight　he　knew。　　Before　Erec　caught　sight　of　him；　he　cried　out：　〃Vassal；　vassal！　　You　are　mad；　upon　my　life；　thus　to　approach　my　damsel。　　I　should　say　you　are　not　worthy　to　draw　near　her。　　You　will　pay　dearly　for　your　presumption；　by　my　head！　　Stand　back！〃　　And　Erec　stops　and　looks　at　him；　and　the　other；　too；　stood　still。　　Neither　made　advance　until　Erec　had　replied　all　that　he　wished　to　say　to　him。　　〃Friend；〃　he　says；　〃one　can　speak　folly　as　well　as　good　sense。　　Threaten　as　much　as　you　please；　and　I　will　keep　silence；　for　in　threatening　there　is　no　sense。　　Do　you　know　why？　　A　man　sometimes　thinks　he　has　won　the　game　who　afterward　loses　it。　　So　he　is　manifestly　a　fool　who　is　too　presumptuous　and　who　threatens　too　much。　　If　there　are　some　who　flee　there　are　plenty　who　chase；　but　I　do　not　fear　you　so　much　that　I　am　going　to　run　away　yet。　　I　am　ready　to　make　such　defence；　if　there　is　any　who　wishes　to　offer　me　battle；　that　he　will　have　to　do　his　uttermost；　or　otherwise　he　cannot　escape。〃　〃Nay；〃　quoth　he；　〃so　help　me　God！　　know　that　you　shall　have　the　battle；　for　I　defy　and　challenge　you。〃　　And　you　may　know；　upon　my　word；　that　then　the　reins　were　not　held　in。　　The　lances　they　had　were　not　light；　but　were　big　and　square；　nor　were　they　planed　smooth；　but　were　rough　and　strong。　　Upon　the　shields　with　mighty　strength　they　smote　each　other　with　their　sharp　weapons；　so　that　a　fathom　of　each　lance　passes　through　the　gleaming　shields。　　But　neither　touches　the　other's　flesh；　nor　was　either　lance　cracked；　each　one；　as　quickly　as　he　could；　draws　back　his　lance；　and　both　rushing　together；　return　to　the　fray。　　One　against　the　other　rides；　and　so　fiercely　they　smite　each　other　that　both　lances　break　and　the　horses　fall　beneath　them。　　But　they；　being　seated　on　their　steeds；　sustain　no　harm；　so　they　quickly　rise；　for　they　were　strong　and　lithe。　　They　stand　on　foot　in　the　middle　of　the　garden；　and　straightway　attack　each　other　with　their　green　swords　of　German　steel；　and　deal　great　wicked　blows　upon　their　bright　and　gleaming　helmets；　so　that　they　hew　them　into　bits；　and　their　eyes　shoot　out　flame。　　No　greater　efforts　can　be　made　than　those　they　make　in　striving　and　toiling　to　injure　and　wound　each　other。　Both　fiercely　smite　with　the　gilded　pommel　and　the　cutting　edge。　Such　havoc　did　they　inflict　upon　each　other's　teeth；　cheeks；　nose；　hands；　arms；　and　the　rest；　upon　temples；　neck；　and　throat　that　their　bones　all　ache。　　They　are　very　sore　and　very　tired；　yet　they　do　not　desist；　but　rather　only　strive　the　more。　　Sweat；　and　the　blood　which　flows　down　with　it；　dim　their　eves；　so　that　they　can　hardly　see　a　thing；　and　very　often　they　missed　their　blows；　like　men　who　did　not　see　to　wield　their　swords　upon　each　other。　　They　can　scarcely　harm　each　other　now；　yet；　they　do　not　desist　at　all　from　exercising　all　their　strength。　　Because　their　eyes　are　so　blinded　that　they　completely　lose　their　sight；　they　let　their　shields　fall　to　the　ground；　and　seize　each　other　angrily。　　Each　pulls　and　drags　the　other；　so　that　they　fall　upon　their　knees。　　Thus；　long　they　fight　until　the　hour　of　noon　is　past；　and　the　big　knight　is　so　exhausted　that　his　breath　quite　fails　him。　　Erec　has　him　at　his　mercy；　and　pulls　and　drags　so　that　he　breaks　all　the　lacing　of　his　helmet；　and　forces　him　over　at　his　feet。　　He　falls　over　upon　his　face　against　Erec's　breast；　and　has　not　strength　to　rise　again。　　Though　it　distresses　him；　he　has　to　say　and　own：　〃I　cannot　deny　it；　you　have　beaten　me；　but　much　it　goes　against　my　will。　　And　yet　you　may　be　of　such　degree　and　fame　that　only　credit　will　redound　to　me；　and　insistently　I　would　request；　if　it　may　be　in　any　way；　that　I　might　know　your　name；　and　he　thereby　somewhat　comforted。　　If　a　better　man　has　defeated　me；　I　shall　be　glad；　I　promise　you；　but　if　it　has　so　fallen　out　that　a　baser　man　than　I　has　worsted　me；　then　I　must　feel　great　grief　indeed。〃　　〃Friend；　dost　thou　wish　to　know　my　name？〃　says　Erec；　〃Well；　I　shall　tell　thee　ere　I　leave　here；　but　it　will　be　upon　condition　that　thou　tell　me　now　why　thou　art　in　this　garden。　　Concerning　that　I　will　know　all　what　is　thy　name　and　what　the　Joy；　for　I　am　very　anxious　to　hear　the　truth　from　beginning　to　end　of　it。〃　　〃Sire；〃　says　he；　〃fearlessly　I　will　tell　you　all　you　wish　to　know。〃　　Erec　no　more　withholds　his　name；　but　says：　〃Didst　thou　ever　hear　of　King　Lac　and　of　his　son　Erec？〃　〃Yea；　sire；　I　knew　him　well；　for　I　was　at　his　father's　court　for　many　a　day　before　I　was　knighted；　and；　if　he　had　had　his　will；　I　should　never　have　left　him　for　anything。〃　　〃Then　thou　oughtest　to　know　me　well；　if　thou　weft　ever　with　me　at　the　court　of　my　father；　the　King。〃　　〃Then；　upon　my　faith；　it　has　turned　out　well。　Now　hear　who　has　detained　me　so　long　in　this　garden。　　I　will　tell　the　truth　in　accordance　with　your　injunction；　whatever　it　may　cost　me。　　That　damsel　who　yonder　sits；　loved　me　from　childhood　and　I　loved　her。　　It　pleased　us　both；　and　our　love　grew　and　increased；　until　she　asked　a　boon　of　me；　but　did　not　tell　me　what　it　was。　　Who　would　deny　his　mistress　aught？　　There　is　no　lover　but　would　surely　do　all　his　sweet…heart's　pleasure　without　default　or　guile；　whenever　he　can　in　any　way。　　I　agreed　to　her　desire；　but　when　I　had　agreed；　she　would　have　it；　too；　that　I　should　swear。　　I　would　have　done　more　than　that　for　her；　but　she　took　me　at　my　word。　　I　made　her　a　promise；　without　knowing　what。　Time　passed　until　I　was　made　a　knight。　　King　Evrain；　whose　nephew　I　am；　dubbed　me　a　knight　in　the　presence　of　many　honourable　men　in　this　very　garden　where　we　are。　　My　lady；　who　is　sitting　there；　at　once　recalled　to　me　my　word；　and　said　that　I　had　promised　her　that　I　would　never　go　forth　from　here　until　there　should　come　some　knight　who　should　conquer　me　by　trial　of　arms。　　It　was　right　that　I　should　remain；　for　rather　than　break　my　word；　I　should　never　have　pledged　it。　　Since　I　knew　the　good　there　was　in　her；　I　could　nor　reveal　or　show　to　the　one　whom　I　hold　most　dear　that　in　all　this　I　was　displeased；　for　if　she　had　noticed　it；　she　would　have　withdrawn　her　heart；　and　I　would　not　have　had　it　so　for　anything　that　might　happen。　　Thus　my　lady　thought　to　detain　me　here　for　a　long　stay；　she　did　not　think　that　there　would　ever　enter　this　garden　any　vassal　who　could　conquer　me。　　In　this　way　she　intended　to　keep　me　absolutely　shut　up　with　her　all　the　days　of　my　life。　　And　I　should　have　committed　an　offence　if　I　had　had　resort　to　guile　and　not　defeated　all　those　against　whom　I　could　prevail；　such　escape　would　have　been　a　shame。　　And　I　dare　to　assure　you　that　I　have　no　friend　so　dear　that　I　would　have　feigned　at　all　in　fighting　with　him。　　Never　did　I　weary　of　arms；　nor　did　I　ever　refuse　to　fight。　　You　have　surely　seen　the　helmets　of　those　whom　I　have　defeated　and　put　to　death；　but　the　guilt　of　it　is　not　mine；　when　one　considers　it　aright。　　I　could　not　help　myself；　unless　I　were　willing　to　be　false　and　recreant　and　disloyal。　　Now　I　have　told　you　the　truth；　and　be　assured　that　it　is　no　small　honour　which　you　have　gained。　　You　have　given　great　joy　to　the　court　of　my　uncle　and　my　friends；　for　now　I　shall　be　released　from　here；　and　because　all　those　who　are　at　the　court　will　have　joy　of　it；　therefore　those　who　awaited　the　joy　called　it　‘Joy　of　the　Court'。　　They　have　awaited　it　so　long　that　now　it　will　be　granted　them　by　you　who　have　won　it　by　your　fight。　　You　have　defeated　and　bewitched　my　prowess　and　my　chivalry。　　Now　it　is　right　that　I　tell　you　my　name；　if　you　would　know　it。　　I　am　called　Mabonagrain；　but　I　am　not　remembered　by　that　name　in　any　land　where　I　have　been；　save　only　in　this　region；　for　never；　when　I　was　a　squire；　did　I　tell　or　make　known　my　name。　　Sire；　you　knew　the　truth　concerning　all　that　you　asked　me。　　But　I　must　still　tell　you　that　there　is　in　this　garden　a　horn　which　I　doubt　not　you　have　seen。　　I　cannot　iss