four arthurian romances-第24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！


　that　there　is　in　this　garden　a　horn　which　I　doubt　not　you　have　seen。　　I　cannot　issue　forth　from　here　until　you　have　blown　the　horn；　but　then　you　will　have　released　me；　and　then　the　Joy　will　begin。　　Whoever　shall　hear　and　give　it　heed　no　hindrance　will　detain　him；　when　he　shall　hear　the　sound　of　the　horn；　from　coming　straight…way　to　the　court。　　Rise　up；　sire！　　Go　quickly　now！　　Go　take　the　horn　right　joyfully；　for　you　have　no　further　cause　to　wait；　so　do　that　which　you　must　do。〃　　Now　Erec　rose；　and　the　other　rises　with　him；　and　both　approach　the　horn。　　Erec　takes　it　and　blows　it；　putting　into　it　all　his　strength；　so　that　the　sound　of　it　reaches　far。　　Greatly　did　Enide　rejoice　when　she　heard　the　note；　and　Guivret　was　greatly　delighted　too。　　The　King　is　glad；　and　so　are　his　people；　there　is　not　one　who　is　not　well　suited　and　pleased　at　this。　　No　one　ceases　or　leaves　off　from　making　merry　and　from　song。　　Erec　could　boast　that　day；　for　never　was　such　rejoicing　made；　it　could　not　be　described　or　related　by　mouth　of　man；　but　I　will　tell　you　the　sum　of　it　briefly　and　with　few　words。　　The　news　spreads　through　the　country　that　thus　the　affair　has　turned　out。　　Then　there　was　no　holding　back　from　coming　to　the　court。　　All　the　people　hasten　thither　in　confusion；　some　on　foot　and　some　on　horse；　without　waiting　for　each　other。　And　those　who　were　in　the　garden　hastened　to　remove　Erec's　arms；　and　in　emulation　they　all　sang　a　song　about　the　Joy；　and　the　ladies　made　up　a　lay　which　they　called　‘the　Lay　of　Joy'；　（42）　but　the　lay　is　not　well　known。　　Erec　was　well　sated　with　joy　and　well　served　to　his　heart's　desire；　but　she　who　sat　on　the　silver　couch　was　not　a　bit　pleased。　　The　joy　which　she　saw　was　not　at　all　to　her　taste。　　But　many　people　have　to　keep　still　and　look　on　at　what　gives　them　pain。　　Enide　acted　graciously；　because　she　saw　her　sitting　pensive；　alone　on　the　couch；　she　felt　moved　to　go　and　speak　with　her　and　tell　her　about　her　affairs　and　about　herself；　and　to　strive；　if　possible；　to　make　her　tell　in　return　about　herself；　if　it　did　not　cause　her　too　great　distress。　　Enide　thought　to　go　alone；　wishing　to　take　no　one　with　her；　but　some　of　the　most　noble　and　fairest　dames　and　damsels　followed　her　out　of　affection　to　bear　her　company；　and　also　to　comfort　her　to　whom　the　joy　brings　great　chagrin；　for　she　assumed　that　now　her　lover　would　be　no　longer　with　her　so　much　as　he　had　been；　inasmuch　as　he　desired　to　leave　the　garden。　　However　disappointing　it　may　be；　no　one　can　prevent　his　going　away；　for　the　hour　and　the　time　have　come。　　Therefore　the　tears　ran　down　her　face　from　her　eyes。　　Much　more　than　I　can　say　was　she　grieving　and　distressed；　nevertheless　she　sat　up　straight。　　But　she　does　not　care　so　much　for　any　of　those　who　try　to　comfort　her　that　she　ceases　her　moan。　　Enide　salutes　her　kindly；　but　for　a　while　the　other　could　not　reply　a　word；　being　prevented　by　the　sighs　and　sobs　which　torment　and　distress　her。　　Some　time　it　was　before　the　damsel　returned　her　salutation；　and　when　she　had　looked　at　her　and　examined　her　for　a　while；　it　seemed　that　she　had　seen　and　known　her　before。　　But　not　being　very　certain　of　it；　she　was　not　slow　to　inquire　from　whence　she　was；　of　what　country；　and　where　her　lord　was　born；　she　inquires　who　they　both　are。　　Enide　replies　briefly　and　tells　her　the　truth；　saying：　〃I　am　the　niece　of　the　Count　who　holds　sway　over　Lalut；　the　daughter　of　his　own　sister；　at　Lalut　I　was　born　and　brought　up。〃　　The　other　cannot　help　smiling；　without　hearing　more；　for　she　is　so　delighted　that　she　forgets　her　sorrow。　　Her　heart　leaps　with　joy　which　she　cannot　conceal。　　She　runs　and　embraces　Enide；　saying：　〃I　am　your　cousin！　　This　is　the　very　truth；　and　you　are　my　father's　niece；　for　he　and　your　father　are　brothers。　　But　I　suspect　that　you　do　not　know　and　have　never　heard　how　I　came　into　this　country。　　The　Count；　your　uncle；　was　at　war；　and　to　him　there　came　to　fight　for　pay　knights　of　many　lands。　　Thus；　fair　cousin；　it　came　about；　that　with　these　hireling　knights　there　came　one　who　was　the　nephew　of　the　king　of　Brandigan。　　He　was　with　my　father　almost　a　year。　　That　was；　I　think；　twelve　years　ago；　and　I　was　still　but　a　little　child。　　He　was　very　handsome　and　attractive。　　There　we　had　an　understanding　between　us　that　pleased　us　both。　　I　never　had　any　wish　but　his；　until　at　last　he　began　to　love　me　and　promised　and　swore　to　me　that　he　would　always　be　my　lover；　and　that　he　would　bring　me　here；　that　pleased　us　both　alike。　　He　could　not　wait；　and　I　was　longing　to　come　hither　with　him；　so　we　both　came　away；　and　no　one　knew　of　it　but　ourselves。　　In　those　days　you　and　I　were　both　young　and　little　girls。　　I　have　told　you　the　truth；　so　now　tell　me　in　turn；　as　I　have　told　you；　all　about　your　lover；　and　by　what　adventure　he　won　you。〃　　〃Fair　cousin；　he　married　me　in　such　a　way　that　my　father　knew　all　about　it；　and　my　mother　was　greatly　pleased。　　All　our　relatives　knew　it　and　rejoiced　over　it；　as　they　should　do。　　Even　the　Count　was　glad。　　For　he　is　so　good　a　knight　that　better　cannot　be　found；　and　he　does　not　need　to　prove　his　honour　and　knighthood；　and　he　is　of　very　gentle　birth：　I　do　not　think　that　any　can　be　his　equal。　　He　loves　me　much；　and　I　love　him　more；　and　our　love　cannot　be　greater。　　Never　yet　could　I　withhold　my　love　from　him；　nor　should　I　do　so。　　For　is　not　my　lord　the　son　of　a　king？　　For　did　he　not　take　me　when　I　was　poor　and　naked？　　Through　him　has　such　honour　come　to　me　that　never　was　any　such　vouchsafed　to　a　poor　helpless　girl。　　And　if　it　please　you；　I　will　tell　you　without　lying　how　I　came　to　be　thus　raised　up；　for　never　will　I　be　slow　to　tell　the　story。〃　　Then　she　told　and　related　to　her　how　Erec　came　to　Lalut；　for　she　had　no　desire　to　conceal　it。　　She　told　her　the　adventure　word　for　word；　without　omission。　　But　I　pass　over　it　now；　because　he　who　tells　a　story　twice　makes　his　tale　now　tiresome。　　While　they　were　thus　conversing；　one　lady　slipped　away　alone；　who　sent　and　told　it　all　to　the　gentlemen；　in　order　to　increase　and　heighten　their　pleasure　too。　　All　those　who　heard　it　rejoiced　at　this　news。　　And　when　Mabonagrain　knew　it　he　was　delighted　for　his　sweetheart　because　now　she　was　comforted。　　And　she　who　bore　them　quickly　the　news　made　them　all　happy　in　a　short　space。　　Even　the　King　was　glad　for　it；　although　he　was　very　happy　before；　yet　now　he　is　still　happier；　and　shows　Erec　great　honour。　　Enide　leads　away　her　fair　cousin；　fairer　than　Helen；　more　graceful　and　charming。　　Now　Erec　and　Mabonagrain；　Guivret　and　King　Evrain；　and　all　the　others　run　to　meet　them　and　salute　them　and　do　them　honour；　for　no　one　is　grudging　or　holds　back。　　Mabonagrain　makes　much　of　Enide；　and　she　of　him。　　Erec　and　Guivret；　for　their　part；　rejoice　over　the　damsel　as　they　all　kiss　and　embrace　each　other。　　They　propose　to　return　to　the　castle；　for　they　have　stayed　too　long　in　the　garden。　　They　are　all　prepared　to　go　out；　so　they　sally　forth　joyfully；　kissing　each　other　on　the　way。　　All　go　out　after　the　King；　but　before　they　reached　the　castle；　the　nobles　were　assembled　from　all　the　country　around；　and　all　those　who　knew　of　the　Joy；　and　who　could　do　so；　came　hither。　　Great　was　the　gathering　and　the　press。　　Every　one；　high　and　low；　rich　and　poor；　strives　to　see　Erec。　　Each　thrusts　himself　before　the　other；　and　they　all　salute　him　and　bow　before　him；　saying　constantly：　〃May　God　save　him　through　whom　joy　and　gladness　come　to　our　court！　　God　save　the　most　blessed　man　whom　God　has　ever　brought　into　being！〃　　Thus　they　bring　him　to　the　court；　and　strive　to　show　their　glee　as　their　hearts　dictate。　　Breton　zithers；　harps；　and　viols　sound；　fiddles；　psalteries；　and　other　stringed　instruments；　and　all　kinds　of　music　that　one　could　name　or　mention。　　But　I　wish　to　conclude　the　matter　briefly　without　too　long　delay。　　The　King　honours　him　to　the　extent　of　his　power；　as　do　all　the　others　ungrudgingly。　　There　is　no　one　who　does　not　gladly　offer　to　do　his　service。　　Three　whole　days　the　Joy　lasted；　before　Erec　could　get　away。　　On　the　fourth　he　would　no　longer　tarry　for　any　reason　they　could　urge。　　There　was　a　great　crowd　to　accompany　him　and　a　very　great　press　when　it　came　to　taking　leave。　　If　he　had　wished　to　reply　to　each　one；　he　would　not　have　been　able　in　half　a　day　to　return　the　salutations　individually。　　The　nobles　he　salutes　and　embraces；　the　others　he　commends　to　God　in　a　word；　and　salutes　them。　　Enide；　for　her　part；　is　not　silent　when　she　takes　leave　of　the　nobles。　　She　salutes　them　all　by　name；　and　they　in　turn　do　the　like。　　Before　she　goes；　she　kisses　her　cousin　very　tenderly　and　embraces　her。　　Then　they　go　and　the　Joy　is　over。

（Vv。　6411…6509。）　　They　go　off　and　the　others　return。　　Erec　and　Guivret　do　not　tarry；　but　keep　joyfully　on　their　way；　until　they　came　in　nine　days　to　Robais；　where　they　were　told　the　King　was。　The　day　before　he　had　been　bled　privately　in　his　apartments；　with　him　he　had　only　five　hundred　nobles　of　his　household。　　Never　before　at　any　time　was　the　King　found　so　alone；　and　he　was　much　distressed　that　he　had　no　more　numerous　suite　at　his　court。　　At　that　time　a　messenger　comes　running；　whom　they　had　sent　ahead　to　apprise　the　King　of　their　approach。　　This　man　came　in　before　the　assembly；　found　the　King　and　all　his　people；　and　saluting　him　correctly；　said：　〃I　am　a　messenger　of　Erec　and　of　Guivret　the　Little。〃　　Then　he　told　him　how　they　were　coming　to　see　him　at　his　court。　　The　King　replies：　〃Let　them　be　welcome；　as　valiant　and　gallant　gentlemen！　　Nowhere　do　I　know　of　any　better　than　they　two。　　By　their　presence　my　court　will　be　much　enhanced。〃　　Then　he　sent　for　the　Queen　and　told　her　the　news。　　The　others　have　their　horses　saddled　to　go　and　meet　the　gentlemen。　　In　such　haste　are　they　to　mount　that　they　did　not　put　on　their　spurs。　　I　ought　to　state　briefly　that　the　crowd　of　common　people；　including　squires；　cooks；　and　butlers；　had　already　entered　the　town　to　prepare　for　the　lodgings。　　The　main　party　came　after；　and　had　already　drawn　so　near　that　they　had　entered　the　town。　　Now　the　two　parties　have　met　each　other；　and　salute　and　kiss　each　other。　　They　come　to　the　lodgings　and　make　themselves　comfortable；　removing　their　hose　and　making　their　toilet　by　donning　their　rich　robes。　　When　they　were　completely　decked　out；　they　took　their　way　to　the　court。　　They　come　to　court；　wh