four arthurian romances-第32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！


fe；　for　on　their　advice　he　entrusted　his　land　to　the　hands　of　the　traitor；　who　is　worse　than　Ganelon。　（15）　　There　is　not　a　single　one　who　does　not　agree　that　the　King　is　right；　for　he　had　only　followed　their　advice；　but　now　this　man　is　to　be　outlawed；　and　you　may　be　sure　that　no　town　or　city　will　avail　to　save　his　body　from　being　dragged　out　by　force。　　Thus　they　all　assure　the　King；　giving　him　their　word　upon　oath；　that　they　will　deliver　the　traitor　to　him；　or　never　again　claim　their　fiefs。　　And　the　King　proclaims　throughout　Brittany　that　no　one　who　can　bear　arms　shall　refuse　to　follow　him　at　once。

（Vv。　1093…1146。）　　All　Brittany　is　now　astir。　　Never　was　such　an　army　seen　as　King　Arthur　brought　together。　　When　the　ships　came　to　set　sail；　it　seemed　that　the　whole　world　was　putting　out　to　sea；　for　even　the　water　was　hid　from　view；　being　covered　with　the　multitude　of　ships。　　It　is　certainly　true　that；　to　judge　by　the　commotion；　all　Brittany　is　under　way。　　Now　the　ships　have　crossed　the　Channel；　and　the　assembled　host　is　quartered　on　the　shore。　Alexander　bethought　himself　to　go　and　pray　the　King　to　make　him　a　knight；　for　if　ever　he　should　win　renown　it　will　be　in　this　war。　Prompted　by　his　desire；　he　takes　his　companions　with　him　to　accomplish　what　he　has　in　mind。　　On　reaching　the　King's　quarters；　they　found　him　seated　before　his　tent。　　When　he　saw　the　Greeks　approaching；　he　summoned　them　to　him；　saying：　〃Gentlemen；　do　not　conceal　what　business　has　brought　you　here。〃　　Alexander　replied　on　behalf　of　all；　and　told　him　his　desire：　〃I　have　come；〃　he　says；　〃to　request　of　you；　as　I　ought　to　do　of　my　liege　lord；　on　behalf　of　my　companions　and　myself；　that　you　should　make　us　knights。〃　　The　King　replies：　〃Very　gladly；　nor　shall　there　be　any　delay　about　it；　since　you　have　preferred　your　request。〃　　Then　the　King　commands　that　equipment　shall　be　furnished　for　twelve　knights。　　Straightway　the　King's　command　is　done。　　As　each　one　asks　for　his　equipment；　it　is　handed　to　him　rich　arms　and　a　good　horse：　thus　each　one　received　his　outfit。　　The　arms　and　robes　and　horse　were　of　equal　value　for　each　of　the　twelve；　but　the　harness　for　Alexander　s　body；　if　it　should　be　valued　or　sold；　was　alone　worth　as　much　as　that　of　all　the　other　twelve。　　At　the　water's　edge　they　stripped；　and　then　washed　and　bathed　themselves。　　Not　wishing　that　any　other　bath　should　be　heated　for　them；　they　washed　in　the　sea　and　used　it　as　their　tub。　（16）

（Vv。　1147…1196。）　　All　this　is　known　to　the　Queen；　who　bears　Alexander　no　ill　will；　but　rather　loves；　esteems；　and　values　him。　She　wishes　to　make　Alexander　a　gift；　but　it　is　far　more　precious　than　she　thinks。　　She　seeks　and　delves　in　all　her　boxes　until　she　finds　a　white　silk　shirt；　well　made　of　delicate　texture；　and　very　soft。　　Every　thread　in　the　stitching　of　it　was　of　gold；　or　of　silver　at　least。　　Soredamors　had　taken　a　hand　in　the　stitching　of　it　here　and　there；　and　at　intervals；　in　the　sleeves　and　neck；　she　had　inserted　beside　the　gold　a　strand　of　her　own　hair；　to　see　if　any　man　could　be　found　who；　by　close　examination；　could　detect　the　difference。　　For　the　hair　was　quite　as　bright　and　golden　as　the　thread　of　gold　itself。　　The　Queen　takes　the　shirt　and　presents　it　to　Alexander。　　Ah；　God！　　What　joy　would　Alexander　have　felt　had　he　known　what　the　Queen　was　giving　him！　　And　how　glad　would　she；　too；　have　been；　who　had　inserted　her　own　hair；　if　she　had　known　that　her　lover　was　to　own　and　wear　it！　　She　could　then　have　taken　great　comfort；　for　she　would　not　have　cared　so　much　for　all　the　hair　she　still　possessed　as　for　the　little　that　Alexander　had。　　But；　more　is　the　pity；　neither　of　them　knew　the　truth。　　The　Queen's　messenger　finds　the　youths　on　the　shore　where　they　are　bathing；　and　gives　the　shirt　to　Alexander。　　He　is　greatly　pleased　with　it；　esteeming　the　present　all　the　more　because　it　was　given　him　by　the　Queen。　　But　if　he　had　known　the　rest；　he　would　have　valued　it　still　more；　in　exchange　for　it　he　would　not　have　taken　the　whole　world；　but　rather　would　have　made　a　shrine　of　it　and　worshipped　it；　doubtless；　day　and　night。

（Vv。　1197…1260。）　　Alexander　delays　no　longer；　but　dresses　himself　at　once。　　When　he　was　dressed　and　ready；　he　returned　to　the　King's　tent　with　all　his　companions。　　The　Queen；　it　seems；　had　come　there；　too；　wishing　to　see　the　new　knights　present　themselves。　　They　might　all　be　called　handsome；　but　Alexander　with　his　shapely　body　was　the　fairest　of　them　all。　　Well；　now　that　they　are　knights　I　will　say　no　more　of　them　for　the　present；　but　will　tell　of　the　King　and　of　his　host　which　came　to　London。　Most　of　the　people　remained　faithful　to　him；　though　many　allied　themselves　with　the　opposition。　　Count　Angres　assembled　his　forces；　consisting　of　all　those　whose　influence　could　be　gained　by　promises　or　gifts。　　When　he　had　gathered　all　his　strength；　he　slipped　away　quietly　at　night；　fearing　to　be　betrayed　by　the　many　who　hated　him。　　But　before　he　made　off；　he　sacked　London　as　completely　as　possible　of　provisions；　gold　and　silver；　which　he　divided　among　his　followers。　　This　news　was　told　to　the　King；　how　the　traitor　had　escaped　with　all　his　forces；　and　that　he　had　carried　off　from　the　city　so　many　supplies　that　the　distressed　citizens　were　impoverished　and　destitute。　　Then　the　King　replied　that　he　would　not　take　a　ransom　for　the　traitor；　but　rather　hang　him；　if　he　could　catch　him　or　lay　hands　on　him。　　Thereupon；　all　the　army　proceeded　to　Windsor。　　However　it　may　be　now；　in　those　days　the　castle　was　not　easy　to　take　when　any　one　chose　to　defend　it。　　The　traitor　made　it　secure；　as　soon　as　he　planned　his　treacherous　deed；　with　a　triple　line　of　walls　and　moats；　and　had　so　braced　the　walls　inside　with　sharpened　stakes　that　catapults　could　not　throw　them　down。　　They　had　taken　great　pains　with　the　fortifications；　spending　all　of　June；　July；　and　August　in　building　walls　and　barricades；　making　moats　and　drawbridges；　ditches；　obstructions；　and　barriers；　and　iron　portcullises　and　a　great　square　tower　of　stone。　　The　gate　was　never　closed　from　fear　or　against　assault。　　The　castle　stood　upon　a　high　hill；　and　around　beneath　it　flows　the　Thames。　　The　host　encamped　on　the　river　bank；　and　that　day　they　have　time　only　to　pitch　camp　and　set　up　the　tents。

（Vv。　1261…1348。）　　The　army　is　in　camp　beside　the　Thames；　and　all　the　meadow　is　filled　with　green　and　red　tents。　　The　sun；　striking　on　the　colours；　causes　the　river　to　flash　for　more　than　a　league　around。　　Those　in　the　town　had　come　down　to　disport　themselves　upon　the　river　bank　with　only　their　lances　in　their　hands　and　their　shields　grasped　before　their　breasts；　and　carrying　no　other　arms　at　all。　　In　coming　thus；　they　showed　those　without　the　walls　that　they　stood　in　no　fear　of　them。　　Alexander　stood　aloof　and　watched　the　knights　disporting　themselves　at　feats　of　arms。　　He　yearns　to　attack　them；　and　summons　his　companions　one　by　one　by　name。　　First　Cornix；　whom　he　dearly　loved；　then　the　doughty　Licorides；　then　Nabunal　of　Mvcene；　and　Acorionde　of　Athens；　and　Ferolin　of　Salonica；　and　Calcedor　from　Africa；　Parmenides　and　Francagel；　mighty　Torin　and　Pinabel；　Nerius　and　Neriolis。　　〃My　lords；〃　he　says；　〃I　feel　the　call　to　go　with　shield　and　lance　to　make　the　acquaintance　of　those　who　disport　themselves　yonder　before　our　eyes。　　I　see　they　scorn　us　and　hold　us　in　slight　esteem；　when　they　come　thus　without　their　arms　to　exercise　before　our　very　eyes。　　We　have　just　been　knighted；　and　have　not　yet　given　an　account　of　ourselves　against　any　knight　or　manikin。　（17）　　We　have　kept　our　first　lances　too　long　intact。　　And　for　what　were　our　shields　intended？　　As　yet；　they　have　not　a　hole　or　crack　to　show。　　There　is　no　use　in　having　them　except　in　a　combat　or　a　fight。　　Let's　cross　the　ford　and　rush　at　them！〃　　〃We　shall　not　fail　you；〃　all　reply；　and　each　one　adds：　〃So　help　me　God；　who　fails　you　now　is　no　friend　of　yours。〃　　Then　they　fasten　on　their　swords；　tighten　their　saddles　and　girths；　and　mount　their　steeds　with　shields　in　hand。　　When　they　had　hung　the　shields　about　their　necks；　and　taken　their　lances　with　the　gaily　coloured　ensigns；　they　all　proceed　to　the　ford　at　once。　　Those　on　the　farther　side　lower　their　lances；　and　quickly　ride　to　strike　at　them。　　But　they　（on　the　hither　bank）　knew　how　to　pay　them　back；　not　sparing　nor　avoiding　them；　nor　yielding　to　them　a　foot　of　ground。　　Rather；　each　man　struck　his　opponent　so　fiercely　that　there　is　no　knight　so　brave　but　is　compelled　to　leave　the　saddle。　　They　did　not　underestimate　the　experience；　skill；　and　bravery　of　their　antagonists；　but　made　their　first　blows　count；　and　unhorsed　thirteen　of　them。　　The　report　spread　to　the　camp　of　the　fight　and　of　the　blows　that　were　being　struck。　　There　would　soon　have　been　a　merry　strife　if　the　others　had　dared　to　stand　their　ground。　　All　through　the　camp　they　run　to　arms；　and　raising　a　shout　they　cross　the　ford。　　And　those　on　the　farther　bank　take　to　flight；　seeing　no　advantage　in　staying　where　they　are。　　And　the　Greeks　pursue　them　with　blows　of　lance　and　sword。　　Though　they　struck　off　many　a　head　they　themselves　did　not　receive　a　wound；　and　gave　a　good　account　of　themselves　that　day。　　But　Alexander　distinguished　himself；　who　by　his　own　efforts　led　off　four　captive　knights　in　bonds。　　The　sands　are　strewn　with　headless　dead；　while　many　others　lie　wounded　and　injured。

（Vv。　1349…1418。）　　Alexander　courteously　presents　the　victims　of　his　first　conquest　to　the　Queen；　not　wishing　them　to　fall　into　the　hands　of　the　King；　who　would　have　had　them　all　hanged。　　The　Queen；　however；　had　them　seized　and　safely　kept　under　guard；　as　being　charged　with　treason。　　Throughout　the　camp　they　talk　of　the　Greeks；　and　all　maintain　that　Alexander　acted　very　courteously　and　wisely　in　not　surrendering　the　knights　whom　he　had　captured　to　the　King；　who　would　surely　have　had　them　burned　or　hanged。　　But　the　King　is　not　so　well　satisfied；　and　sending　promptly　to　the　Queen　he　bids　her　come　into　his　presence　and　not　detain　those　who　have　proved　treacherous　towards　him；　for　either　she　must　give　them　up　or　offend　him　by　keeping　them。　　While　the　Queen　was　in　conference　with　the　King；　as　was　necessary；　about　the　traitors；　the　Greeks　remained　in　the　Queen's　tent　with　her　maids…in…　waiting。　　While　his　twelve　companions　conversed　with　them；　Alexander　uttered　not　a　word。　　S