four arthurian romances-第29部分

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　　Nor　could　you　find　one；　however　ungracious　he　may　be；　whom　generosity　will　not　bring　into　fair　repute？　　Thus　largess　makes　the　gentleman；　which　result　can　be　accomplished　neither　by　high　birth；　courtesy；　knowledge；　gentility；　money；　strength；　chivalry；　boldness；　dominion；　beauty；　or　anything　else。　（8）　　But　just　as　the　rose　is　fairer　than　any　other　flower　when　it　is　fresh　and　newly　blown；　so　there；　where　largess　dwells；　it　takes　its　place　above　all　other　virtues；　and　increases　five　hundred　fold　the　value　of　other　good　traits　which　it　finds　in　the　man　who　acquits　himself　well。　So　great　is　the　merit　of　generosity　that　I　could　not　tell　you　the　half　of　it。〃　　The　young　man　has　now　successfully　concluded　the　negotiations　for　what　he　wished；　for　his　father　has　acceded　to　all　his　desires。　　But　the　empress　was　sorely　grieved　when　she　heard　of　the　journey　which　her　son　was　about　to　take。　　Yet；　whoever　may　grieve　or　sorrow；　and　whoever　may　attribute　his　intention　to　youthful　folly；　and　ever　may　blame　and　seek　to　dissuade　him；　the　youth　ordered　his　ships　to　be　made　ready　as　soon　as　possible；　desiring　to　tarry　no　longer　in　his　native　land。　At　his　command　the　ships　were　freighted　that　very　night　with　wine；　meat；　and　biscuit。

（Vv。　235…338。）　　The　ships　were　loaded　in　the　port；　and　the　next　morning　Alexander　came　to　the　strand　in　high　spirits；　accompanied　by　his　companions；　who　were　happy　over　the　prospective　voyage。　They　were　escorted　by　the　emperor　and　the　empress　in　her　grief。　At　the　port　they　find　the　sailors　in　the　ships　drawn　up　beside　the　cliff。　　The　sea　was　calm　and　smooth；　the　wind　was　light；　and　the　weather　clear。　　When　he　had　taken　leave　of　his　father；　and　bidden　farewell　to　the　empress；　whose　heart　was　heavy　in　her　bosom；　Alexander　first　stepped　from　the　small　boat　into　the　skip；　then　all　his　companions　hastened　by　fours；　threes；　and　twos　to　embark　without　delay。　　Soon　the　sail　was　spread　and　the　anchor　raised。　　Those　on　shore　whose　heart　is　heavy　because　of　the　men　whom　they　watch　depart；　follow　them　with　their　gaze　as　long　as　they　can：　and　in　order　to　watch　them　longer；　they　all　climb　a　high　hill　behind　the　beach。　　From　there　they　sadly　gaze；　as　long　as　their　eyes　can　follow　them。　　With　sorrow；　indeed；　they　watch　them　go；　being　solicitous　for　the　youths；　that　God　may　bring　them　to　their　haven　without　accident　and　without　peril。　　All　of　April　and　part　of　May　they　spent　at　sea。　　Without　any　great　danger　or　mishap　they　came　to　port　at　Southampton。　（9）　　One　day；　between　three　o'clock　and　vespers；　they　cast　anchor　and　went　ashore。　　The　young　men；　who　had　never　been　accustomed　to　endure　discomfort　or　pain；　had　suffered　so　long　from　their　life　at　sea　that　they　had　all　lost　their　colour；　and　even　the　strongest　and　most　vigorous　were　weak　and　faint。　　In　spite　of　that；　they　rejoice　to　have　escaped　from　the　sea　and　to　have　arrived　where　they　wished　to　be。　　Because　of　their　depleted　state；　they　spend　the　night　at　Southampton　in　happy　frame；　and　make　inquiries　whether　the　King　is　in　England。　　They　are　told　that　he　is　at　Winchester；　and　that　they　can　reach　there　in　a　very　short　time　if　they　will　start　early　in　the　morning　and　keep　to　the　straight　road。　　At　this　news　they　are　greatly　pleased；　and　the　next　morning　at　daybreak　the　youths　wake　early；　and　prepare　and　equip　themselves。　　And　when　they　were　ready；　they　left　Southampton；　and　kept　to　the　direct　road　until　they　reached　Winchester；　where　the　King　was。　　Before　six　o'clock　in　the　morning　the　Greeks　had　arrived　at　the　court。　The　squires　with　the　horses　remain　below　in　the　yard；　while　the　youths　go　up　into　the　presence　of　the　King；　who　was　the　best　that　ever　was　or　ever　will　be　in　the　world。　　And　when　the　King　sees　them　coming；　they　please　him　greatly；　and　meet　with　his　favour。　But　before　approaching　the　King's　presence；　they　remove　the　cloaks　from　about　their　necks；　lest　they　should　be　considered　ill…bred。　　Thus；　all　unmantled；　they　came　before　the　King；　while　all　the　nobles　present　held　their　peace；　greatly　pleased　at　the　sight　of　these　handsome　and　well…behaved　young　men。　　They　suppose　that　of　course　they　are　all　sons　of　counts　or　kings；　and；　to　be　sure；　so　they　were；　and　of　a　very　charming　age；　with　graceful　and　shapely　forms。　　And　the　clothes　they　wore　were　all　of　the　same　stuff　and　cut　of　the　same　appearance　and　colour。　　There　were　twelve　of　them　beside　their　lord；　of　whom　I　need　tell　you　no　more　than　that　there　was　none　better　than　he。　　With　modesty　and　orderly　mien；　he　was　handsome　and　shapely　as　he　stood　uncovered　before　the　King。　　Then　he　kneeled　before　him；　and　all　the　others；　for　honour's　sake；　did　the　same　beside　their　lord。

（Vv。　339…384。）　Alexander；　with　his　tongue　well　skilled　in　speaking　fair　and　wisely；　salutes　the　King。　　〃King；〃　he　says；　〃unless　the　report　is　false　that　spreads　abroad　your　fame；　since　God　created　the　first　man　there　was　never　born　a　God…fearing　man　of　such　puissance　as　yours。　　King；　your　widespread　renown　has　drawn　me　to　serve　and　honour　you　in　your　court；　and　if　you　will　accept　my　service；　I　would　fain　remain　here　until　I　be　dubbed　a　knight　by　your　hand　and　by　no　one　else。　　For　unless　I　receive　this　honour　from　your　hand；　I　shall　renounce　all　intention　of　being　knighted。　　If　you　will　accept　my　service　until　you　are　willing　to　dub　me　a　knight；　retain　me　now；　oh　gentle　King；　and　my　companions　gathered　here。〃　　To　which　at　once　the　King　replies：　〃Friend；　I　refuse　neither　you　nor　your　companions。　　Be　welcome　all。　　For　surely　you　seem；　and　I　doubt　it　not；　to　be　sons　of　high…born　men。　　Whence　do　you　come？〃　　〃From　Greece。〃　　〃From　Greece？〃　　〃Yes。〃　　〃Who　is　thy　father？〃　　〃Upon　my　word；　sire；　the　emperor。〃　　〃And　what　is　thy　name；　fair　friend？〃　　〃Alexander　is　the　name　that　was　given　me　when　I　received　the　salt　and　holy　oil；　and　Christianity　and　baptism。〃　　〃Alexander；　my　dear；　fair　friend。　I　will　keep　you　with　me　very　gladly；　with　great　pleasure　and　delight。　　For　you　have　done　me　signal　honour　in　thus　coming　to　my　court。　　I　wish　you　to　be　honoured　here；　as　free　vassals　who　are　wise　and　gentle。　　You　have　been　too　long　upon　your　knees；　now；　at　my　command；　and　henceforth　make　your　home　with　man　and　in　my　court；　it　is　well　that　you　have　come　to　us。〃

（Vv。　385…440。）　　Then　the　Greeks　rise　up；　joyful　that　the　King　has　so　kindly　invited　them　to　stay。　　Alexander　did　well　to　come；　for　he　lacks　nothing　that　he　desires；　and　there　is　no　noble　at　the　court　who　does　not　address　him　kindly　and　welcome　him。　　He　is　not　so　foolish　as　to　be　puffed　up；　nor　does　he　vaunt　himself　nor　boast。　　He　makes　acquaintance　with　my　lord　Gawain　and　with　the　others；　one　by　one。　　He　gains　the　good　graces　of　them　all；　but　my　lord　Gawain　grows　so　fond　of　him　that　he　chooses　him　as　his　friend　and　companion。　（10）　　The　Greeks　took　the　best　lodgings　to　be　had；　with　a　citizen　of　the　town。　　Alexander　had　brought　great　possessions　with　him　from　Constantinople；　intending　to　give　heed　above　all　to　the　advice　and　counsel　of　the　Emperor；　that　his　heart　should　be　ever　ready　to　give　and　dispense　his　riches　well。　To　this　end　he　devotes　his　efforts；　living　well　in　his　lodgings；　and　giving　and　spending　liberally；　as　is　fitting　in　one　so　rich；　and　as　his　heart　dictates。　　The　entire　court　wonders　where　he　got　all　the　wealth　that　he　bestows；　for　on　all　sides　he　presents　the　valuable　horses　which　he　had　brought　from　his　own　land。　　So　much　did　Alexander　do；　in　the　performance　of　his　service；　that　the　King；　the　Queen；　and　the　nobles　bear　him　great　affection。　　King　Arthur　about　this　time　desired　to　cross　over　into　Brittany。　　So　he　summons　all　his　barons　together　to　take　counsel　and　inquire　to　whom　he　may　entrust　England　to　be　kept　in　peace　and　safety　until　his　return。　　By　common　consent；　it　seems；　the　trust　was　assigned　to　Count　Angres　of　Windsor；　for　it　was　their　judgement　that　there　was　no　more　trustworthy　lord　in　all　the　King's　realm。　　When　this　man　had　received　the　land；　King　Arthur　set　out　the　next　day　accompanied　by　the　Queen　and　her　damsels。　　The　Bretons　make　great　rejoicing　upon　hearing　the　news　in　Brittany　that　the　King　and　his　barons　are　on　the　way。

（Vv。　441…540。）　　Into　the　ship　in　which　the　King　sailed　there　entered　no　youth　or　maiden　save　only　Alexander　and　Soredamors；　whom　the　Queen　brought　with　her。　　This　maiden　was　scornful　of　love；　for　she　had　never　heard　of　any　man　whom　she　would　deign　to　love；　whatever　might　be　his　beauty；　prowess；　lordship；　or　birth。　And　yet　the　damsel　was　so　charming　and　fair　that　she　might　fitly　have　learned　of　love；　if　it　had　pleased　her　to　lend　a　willing　ear；　but　she　would　never　give　a　thought　to　love。　　Now　Love　will　make　her　grieve；　and　will　avenge　himself　for　all　the　pride　and　scorn　with　which　she　has　always　treated　him。　　Carefully　Love　has　aimed　his　dart　with　which　he　pierced　her　to　the　heart。　　Now　she　grows　pale　and　trembles；　and　in　spite　of　herself　must　succumb　to　Love。　　Only　with　great　difficulty　can　she　restrain　herself　from　casting　a　glance　toward　Alexander；　but　she　must　be　on　her　guard　against　her　brother；　my　lord　Gawain。　　Dearly　she　pays　and　atones　for　her　great　pride　and　disdain。　　Love　has　heated　for　her　a　bath　which　heats　and　burns　her　painfully。　　At　first　it　is　grateful　to　her；　and　then　it　hurts；　one　moment　she　likes　it；　and　the　next　she　will　have　none　of　it。　　She　accuses　her　eyes　of　treason；　and　says：　（11）　〃My　eyes；　you　have　betrayed　me　now！　　My　heart；　usually　so　faithful；　now　bears　me　ill…will　because　of　you。　　Now　what　I　see　distresses　me。　　Distresses？　　Nay；　verily；　rather　do　I　like　it　well。　　And　if　I　actually　see　something　that　distresses　me；　can　I　not　control　my　eyes？　　My　strength　must　indeed　have　failed；　and　little　should　I　esteem　myself；　if　I　cannot　control　my　eyes　and　make　them　turn　their　glance　elsewhere。　　Thus；　I　shall　be　able　to　baffle　Love　in　his　efforts　to　get　control　of　me。　　The　heart　feels　no　pain　when　the　eye　does　not　see；　so；　if　I　do　not　look　at　him；　no　harm　will　come　to　me。　　He　addresses　me　no　request　or　prayer；　as　he　would　do　were　he　in　love　with　me。　　And　since　he　neither　loves　nor　esteems　me；　shall　I　love　him　without　return？　　If　his　beauty　allures　my　eyes；　and　my　eyes　listen　to　the　call；　shall　I　say　that　I　love　him　just　for　that？　　Nay；　for　that　would　be　a　lie。　Therefore；　he　has　no　ground　for　complaint；　nor　can　I　make　any　claim　against　him。　　One　cannot　love　with　th