four arthurian romances-第33部分

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aids…in…　waiting。　　While　his　twelve　companions　conversed　with　them；　Alexander　uttered　not　a　word。　　Soredamors　took　note　of　this；　seated　as　she　was　close　by　his　side。　　Her　head　resting　upon　her　hand；　it　was　plain　that　she　was　lost　in　thought。　（18）　　Thus　they　sat　a　long　time；　until　Soredamors　saw　on　his　sleeve　and　about　his　neck　the　hair　which　she　had　stitched　into　the　shirt。　　Then　she　drew　a　little　closer　thinking　now　to　find　an　excuse　for　speaking　a　word　to　him。　　She　considers　how　she　can　address　him　first；　and　what　the　first　word　is　to　bewhether　she　should　address　him　by　his　name；　and　thus　she　takes　counsel　with　herself：　〃What　shall　I　say　first？〃　she　says；　〃shall　I　address　him　by　his　name；　or　shall　I　call　him　‘friend'？　　Friend？　　Not　I。　　How　then？　　Shall　I　call　him　by　his　name？　　God！　　The　name　of　‘friend'　is　fair　and　sweet　to　take　upon　the　lips。　　If　I　should　dare　to　call　him　‘friend。！　Should　I　dare？　　What　forbids　me　to　do　so？　　The　fact　that　that　implies　a　lie。　　A　lie？　　I　know　not　what　the　result　will　be；　but　I　shall　be　sorry　if　I　do　not　speak　the　truth。　　Therefore；　it　is　best　to　admit　that　I　should　not　like　to　speak　a　lie。　　God！　　yet　he　would　not　speak　a　lie　were　he　to　call　me　his　sweet　friend！　　And　should　I　lie　in　thus　addressing　him？　　We　ought　both　to　tell　the　truth。　　But　if　I　lie　the　fault　is　his。　　But　why　does　his　name　seem　so　hard　to　me　that　I　should　wish　to　replace　it　by　a　surname？　I　think　it　is　because　it　is　so　long　that　I　should　stop　in　the　middle。　　But　if　I　simply　called　him　‘friend'；　I　could　soon　utter　so　short　a　name。　　Fearing　lest　I　should　break　down　in　uttering　his　proper　name；　I　would　fain　shed　my　blood　if　his　name　were　simply　‘my　sweet　friend。'〃

（Vv。　1419…1448。）　　She　turns　this　thought　over　in　her　mind　until　the　Queen　returns　from　the　King　who　had　summoned　her。　　Alexander；　seeing　her　come；　goes　to　meet　her；　and　inquires　what　is　the　King's　command　concerning　the　prisoners；　and　what　is　to　be　their　fate。　　〃Friend；〃　says　she；　〃he　requires　of　me　to　surrender　them　at　his　discretion；　and　to　let　his　justice　be　carried　out。　　Indeed；　he　is　much　incensed　that　I　have　not　already　handed　them　over。　　So　I　must　needs　send　them　to　him；　since　I　see　no　help　for　it。〃　　Thus　they　passed　that　day；　and　the　next　day　there　was　a　great　assembly　of　all　the　good　and　loyal　knights　before　the　royal　tent　to　sit　in　judgment　and　decide　by　what　punishment　and　torture　the　four　traitors　should　die。　　Some　hold　that　they　should　be　flayed　alive；　and　others　that　they　should　be　hanged　or　burned。　And　the　King；　for　his　part；　maintains　that　traitors　ought　to　be　torn　asunder。　　Then　he　commands　them　to　be　brought　in。　　When　they　are　brought；　he　orders　them　to　be　bound；　and　says　that　they　shall　not　be　torn　asunder　until　they　are　taken　beneath　the　town；　so　that　those　within　may　see　the　sight。　（19）

（Vv。　1449…1472。）　　When　this　sentence　was　pronounced；　the　King　addresses　Alexander；　calling　him　his　dear　friend。　　〃My　friend；〃　he　says；　〃yesterday　I　saw　you　attack　and　defend　yourself　with　great　bravery。　　I　wish　now　to　reward　your　action！　　I　will　add　to　your　company　five　hundred　Welsh　knights　and　one　thousand　troopers　from　that　land。　　In　addition　to　what　I　have　given　you；　when　the　war　is　over　I　will　crown　you　king　of　the　best　kingdom　in　Wales。　Towns　and　castles；　cities　and　halls　will　I　give　you　until　the　time　you　receive　the　land　which　your　father　holds；　and　of　which　you　are　to　be　emperor。〃　　Alexander's　companions　join　him　in　thanking　the　King　kindly　for　this　boon；　and　all　the　nobles　of　the　court　say　that　the　honour　which　the　King　has　bestowed　upon　Alexander　is　well　deserved。

（Vv。　1473…1490。）　　As　soon　as　Alexander　sees　his　force；　consisting　of　the　companions　and　the　men…at…arms　whom　it　had　pleased　the　King　to　give　him；　straightway　they　begin　to　sound　the　horns　and　trumpets　throughout　the　camp。　　Men　of　Wales　and　Britain；　of　Scotland　and　Cornwall；　both　good　and　bad　without　exceptionall　take　arms；　for　the　forces　of　the　host　were　recruited　from　all　quarters。　　The　Thames　was　low　because　of　the　drought　resulting　from　a　summer　without　rain；　so　that　all　the　fish　were　dead；　and　the　ships　were　stranded　upon　the　shore；　and　it　was　possible　to　ford　the　stream　even　in　the　widest　part。

（Vv。　1491…1514。）　　After　fording　the　Thames；　the　army　divided；　some　taking　possession　of　the　valley；　and　others　occupying　the　high　ground。　　Those　in　the　town　take　notice　of　them；　and　when　they　see　approaching　the　wonderful　array；　bent　upon　reducing　and　taking　the　town；　they　prepare　on　their　side　to　defend　it。　　But　before　any　assault　is　made；　the　King　has　the　traitors　drawn　by　four　horses　through　the　valleys　and　over　the　hills　and　unploughed　fields。　　At　this　Count　Angres　is　much　distressed；　when　he　sees　those　whom　he　held　dear　dragged　around　outside　the　town。　　And　his　people；　too；　are　much　dismayed；　but　in　spite　of　the　anxiety　which　they　feel；　they　have　no　mind　to　yield　the　place。　　They　must　needs　defend　themselves；　for　the　King　makes　it　plain　to　all　that　he　is　angry；　and　ill…disposed；　and　they　see　that　if　he　should　lay　hands　upon　them　he　would　make　them　die　a　shameful　death。

（Vv。1515…1552。）　　When　the　four　had　been　torn　asunder　and　their　limbs　lay　strewn　upon　the　field；　then　the　assault　begins。　　But　all　their　labour　is　in　vain；　for　no　matter　how　much　they　cast　and　shoot；　their　efforts　are　of　no　effect。　　Yet　they　strive　to　do　their　utmost；　hurling　their　javelins　amain；　and　shooting　darts　and　bolts。　　On　all　sides　is　heard　the　din　of　cross…bows　and　slings　as　the　arrows　and　the　round　stones　fly　thick；　like　rain　mixed　with　hail。　　Thus　all　day　long　the　struggle　of　attack　and　defence　continues；　until　the　night　separates　them。　　And　the　King　causes　to　be　proclaimed　what　gift　he　will　bestow　upon　him　who　shall　effect　the　surrender　of　the　town：　a　cup　of　great　price　weighing　fifteen　marks　of　gold；　the　richest　in　his　treasure；　shall　be　his　reward。　　The　cup　will　be　very　fine　and　rich；　and；　to　tell　the　truth；　the　cup　is　to　be　esteemed　for　the　workmanship　rather　than　for　the　material　of　which　it　is　made。　　But　good　as　the　workmanship　may　be；　and　fine　though　the　gold；　if　the　truth　be　told；　the　precious　stones　set　in　the　outside　of　the　cup　were　of　most　value。　　He　through　whose　efforts　the　town　shall　be　taken　is　to　have　the　cup；　if　he　be　only　a　foot　soldier；　and　if　the　town　is　taken　by　a　knight；　with　the　cup　in　his　possession　he　shall　never　seek　his　fortune　in　vain；　if　there　is　any　to　be　found　in　the　world。

（Vv。　1553…1712。）　　When　this　news　was　announced；　Alexander　had　not　forgotten　his　custom　of　going　to　see　the　Queen　each　evening。　　That　night；　too；　he　had　gone　thither　and　was　seated　beside　the　Queen。　　Soredamors　was　sitting　alone　close　by　them；　looking　at　him　with　such　satisfaction　that　she　would　not　have　exchanged　her　lot　for　Paradise。　　The　Queen　took　Alexander　by　the　hand；　and　examined　the　golden　thread　which　was　showing　the　effects　of　wear；　but　the　strand　of　hair　was　becoming　more　lustrous；　while　the　golden　thread　was　tarnishing。　　And　she　laughed　as　she　happened　to　recall　that　the　embroidery　was　the　work　of　Soredamors。　　Alexander　noticed　this；　and　begged　her　to　tell　him；　if　suitable；　why　she　laughed。　　The　Queen　was　slow　to　make　reply；　and　looking　toward　Soredamors；　bade　her　come　to　her。　　Gladly　she　went　and　knelt　before　her。　　Alexander　was　overjoyed　when　he　saw　her　draw　so　near　that　he　could　have　touched　her。　　But　he　is　not　so　bold　as　even　to　look　at　her；　but　rather　does　he　so　lose　his　senses　that　he　is　well…nigh　speechless。　　And　she；　for　her　part；　is　so　overcome　that　she　has　not　the　use　of　her　eyes；　but　she　casts　her　glance　upon　the　ground　without　fastening　it　upon　anything。　　The　Queen　marvels　greatly　at　seeing　her　now　pale；　now　crimson；　and　she　notes　well　in　her　heart　the　bearing　and　expression　of　each　of　them。　　She　notices　and　thinks　she　sees　that　these　changes　of　colour　are　the　fruit　of　love。　　But　not　wishing　to　embarrass　them；　she　pretends　to　understand　nothing　of　what　she　sees。　　In　this　she　did　well；　for　she　gave　no　evidence　of　what　was　in　her　mind　beyond　saying：　〃Look　here；　damsel；　and　tell　us　truly　where　the　shirt　was　sewed　that　this　knight　has　on；　and　if　you　had　any　hand　in　it　or　worked　anything　of　yours　into　it。〃　　Though　the　maiden　feels　some　shame；　yet　she　tells　the　story　gladly；　for　she　wishes　the　truth　to　be　known　by　him；　who；　when　he　hears　her　tell　of　how　the　shirt　was　made；　can　hardly　restrain　himself　for　joy　from　worshipping　and　adoring　the　golden　hair。　　His　companions　and　the　Queen；　who　were　with　him；　annoy　him　and　embarrass　him；　for　their　presence　prevents　him　from　raising　the　hair　to　his　eyes　and　mouth；　as　he　would　fain　have　done；　had　he　not　thought　that　it　would　be　remarked。　　He　is　glad　to　have　so　much　of　his　lady；　but　he　does　not　hope　or　expect　ever　to　receive　more　from　her：　his　very　desire　makes　him　dubious。　　Yet；　when　he　has　left　the　Queen　and　is　by　himself；　he　kisses　it　more　than　a　hundred　thousand　times；　feeling　how　fortunate　he　is。　　All　night　long　he　makes　much　of　it；　but　is　careful　that　no　one　shall　see　him。　　As　he　lies　upon　his　bed；　he　finds　a　vain　delight　and　solace　in　what　can　give　him　no　satisfaction。　　All　night　he　presses　the　shirt　in　his　arms；　and　when　he　looks　at　the　golden　hair；　he　feels　like　the　lord　of　the　whole　wide　world。　　Thus　Love　makes　a　fool　of　this　sensible　man；　who　finds　his　delight　in　a　single　hair　and　is　in　ecstasy　over　its　possession。　　But　this　charm　will　come　to　an　end　for　him　before　the　sun's　bright　dawn。　　For　the　traitors　are　met　in　council　to　discuss　what　they　can　do；　and　what　their　prospects　are。　　To　be　sure　they　will　be　able　to　make　a　long　defence　of　the　town　if　they　determine　so　to　do；　but　they　know　the　King's　purpose　to　be　so　firm　that　he　will　not　give　up　his　efforts　to　take　the　town　so　long　as　he　lives；　and　when　that　time　comes　they　needs　must　die。　And　if　they　should　surrender　the　town；　they　need　expect　no　mercy　for　doing　so。　　Thus　either　outcome　looks　dark　indeed；　for　they　see　no　help；　but　only　death　in　either　case。　　But　this　decision　at　last　is　reached；　that　the　next　morning；　before　dawn　appears；　they　shall　issue　secretly　from　the　town　and　find　the　camp　disarmed；　and　the　knights　still　sleeping　in　their　beds。　　Before　they　wake　and　get　their　armour　on　there　will　have　been　such　slaughter　done　that　posterity　will　always　speak　of　the　battle　of　that　night。　Having　no