four arthurian romances-第39部分

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ve。〃　　Then　the　nurse　tells　her　and　assures　her　that　she　will　cast　so　many　charms；　and　prepare　so　many　potions　and　enchantments　that　she　need　never　have　any　worry　or　fear　concerning　the　emperor　after　he　shall　have　drunk　of　the　potion　which　she　will　give　him；　even　when　they　shall　lie　together　and　she　be　at　his　side；　she　may　be　as　secure　as　if　there　were　a　wall　between　them。　　〃But　do　not　be　alarmed；　if；　in　his　sleep；　he　sports　with　you；　for　when　he　is　plunged　in　sleep　he　will　have　his　sport　with　you；　and　he　will　be　convinced　that　he　has　had　you　when　wide　awake；　nor　will　he　think　it　is　all　a　dream；　a　fiction；　and　illusion。　　Thus　he　will　have　his　sport　with　you　when　asleep；　he　will　think　he　is　awake。〃

（Vv。　3217…3250。）　　The　maiden　is　highly　pleased　and　delighted　by　the　nurse's　kindness　and　offer　of　help。　　Her　nurse　inspires　good　hope　in　her　by　the　promise　which　she　makes；　and　which　she　binds　herself　to　keep；　with　this　hope　she　expects　to　obtain　her　desire；　in　spite　of　wearisome　delay；　for　if　Cliges'　nature　is　as　noble　as　she　takes　it　to　be　he　cannot　fail　to　take　pity　upon　her　when　he　learns　that　she　loves　him；　and　that　she　has　imposed　virginity　upon　herself　in　order　to　insure　his　inheritance。　　So　the　maiden　believes　her　nurse；　and　puts　full　confidence　in　her。　　One　promises　to　the　other；　and　gives　her　word；　that　this　plot　shall　be　kept　so　secret　as　never　to　be　revealed。　　At　this　point　their　conversation　ceases；　and　the　next　morning　the　emperor　summons　his　daughter。　　At　his　command　she　goes　to　him。　　But　why　should　I　weary　you　with　details？　　The　two　emperors　have　so　settled　the　matter　that　the　marriage　is　solemnised；　and　joy　reigns　in　the　palace。　　But　I　do　not　wish　to　stop　to　describe　all　this　in　detail。　　Rather　will　I　address　myself　to　Thessala；　as　she　diligently　prepares　and　tempers　her　potions。

（Vv。　3251…3328。）　　Thessala　steeps　her　drink；　putting　in　spices　in　abundance　to　sweeten　and　temper　it。　　After　having　well　beaten　and　mixed　it；　she　strains　it　clear；　with　no　sharp　or　bitter　taste；　for　the　spices　she　puts　in　give　it　a　sweet　and　pleasant　fragrance。　　When　the　potion　was　prepared；　the　day　had　drawn　to　a　close；　the　tables　were　set　for　supper；　and　the　cloths　were　spread。　　But　Thessala　delays　the　supper；　because　she　must　discover　by　what　device　and　what　agent　she　can　have　the　potion　served。　　At　supper；　finally；　all　were　seated；　and　more　than　six　dishes　had　been　passed；　and　Cliges　served　behind　his　uncle's　place。　　Thessala；　as　she　watches　him；　thinks　how　ill　he　serves　his　own　interests；　and　how　he　is　assisting　in　his　own　disinheritance；　and　the　thought　torments　and　worries　her。　　Then　in　her　kindness　she　conceives　the　plan　of　having　the　potion　served　by　him　to　whom　it　will　bring　both　joy　and　honour。　　So　Thessala　summoned　Cliges；　and　when　he　had　come　to　her；　he　asked　her　why　she　had　sent　for　him。　　〃Friend；〃　said　she；　〃I　wish　to　present　the　emperor　at　this　meal　with　a　beverage　which　he　will　esteem　highly；　and　I　want　him　to　taste　no　other　to…night；　either　at　supper　or　when　he　goes　to　bed。　　I　think　he　cannot　fail　to　relish　it；　for　he　never　has　tasted　a　better　drink　or　one　that　has　cost　so　much。　　And　I　warn　you；　take　good　care　to　let　no　one　else　drink　of　it；　for　there　is　but　a　little　of　it。　　And　this；　too；　I　beg　of　you；　not　to　let　him　know　whence　it　came；　but　tell　him　it　came　about　by　chance　that　you　found　it　among　the　presents；　and　tasted　it　yourself；　and　detected　the　aroma　of　the　sweet　spices　in　the　air；　then；　seeing　the　wine　to　be　all　clear　you　poured　it　into　his　cup。　　If　by　chance　he　should　inquire；　you　can　satisfy　him　with　this　reply。　　But　have　no　suspicion　yourself；　after　what　I　have　said；　for　the　drink　is　pure　and　healthful；　full　excellent　spices；　and　I　think　it　may　some　day　bring　you　joy。〃　　When　he　heard　that　advantage　would　come　to　him；　he　took　the　potion　and　went　away；　for　he　did　not　know　there　was　any　harm　in　it。　　He　set　it　in　a　crystal　cup　before　the　emperor；　who　took　it　without　question；　trusting　in　his　nephew。　　After　taking　a　long　draught　of　the　beverage；　he　straightway　feels　its　strength；　as　it　descends　from　head　to　heart；　and　rises　again　from　heart　to　head；　and　penetrates　every　part　of　him　without　doing　the　slightest　harm。　And　by　the　time　they　left　the　tables；　the　emperor　had　drunk　so　much　of　the　pleasing　drink　that　he　can　never　escape　it　　influence。　Every　night　he　will　sleep　under　its　influence；　and　its　effects　will　be　such　that　he　will　think　he　is　awake　when　sound　asleep。

（Vv。　3329…3394。）　　Now　the　emperor　has　been　deceived。　　Many　bishops　and　abbots　were　present　to　bless　and　hallow　the　marriage…　bed。　　When　the　time　came　to　retire；　the　emperor；　as　was　his　right；　lay　beside　his　wife　that　night。　　〃As　was　his　right；〃　but　the　statement　is　inexact；　for　he　neither　kissed　nor　fondled　her；　yet　they　lay　together　in　one　bed。　　At　first　the　maiden　trembled　with　fear　and　anxiety　lest　the　potion　should　not　act。　　But　it　has　so　mastered　him　that　he　will　never　desire　her　or　any　other　woman　except　in　his　sleep。　　But　when　asleep　he　will　have　such　sport　with　her　as　one　may　have　in　dreams；　and　he　will　think　the　dream　is　true。　　Nevertheless；　she　is　on　her　guard；　and　at　first；　holds　aloof　from　him；　so　that　he　cannot　approach　her。　　But　now　he　must　needs　fall　asleep；　then　he　sleeps　and　dreams；　though；　the　senses　are　awake；　and　he　exerts　himself　to　win　the　favours　of　the　maid。　while　she；　realising　the　danger；　defends　her　virginity。　　He　woos　her　and　calls　her　gently　his　sweetheart；　and　thinks　he　possesses　her；　but　in　vain。　　But　he　is　gratified　by　this　vain　semblance；　embracing；　kissing；　and　fondling　an　empty　thing；　seeing　and　speaking　to　no　purpose；　struggling　and　striving　without　effect。　Surely　the　potion　was　effective　in　thus　possessing　and　mastering　him。　　All　his　pains　are　of　no　avail；　as　he　thinks　and　is　persuaded　that　the　fortress　is　won。　　Thus　he　thinks　and　is　convinced；　when　he　desists　after　his　vain　efforts。　　But　now　I　may　say　once　for　all　that　his　satisfaction　was　never　more　than　this。　To　such　relations　with　her　he　will　for　ever　be　condemned　if　indeed　he　can　lead　her　to　his　own　land；　but　before　he　can　get　her　to　safety；　I　judge　that　there　is　trouble　in　store　for　him。　　For　while　he　is　on　his　journey　home；　the　duke；　to　whom　his　bride　had　been　betrothed；　will　appear　upon　the　scene。　　The　duke　gathered　a　numerous　force；　and　garrisoned　the　frontiers；　while　at　court　he　had　his　spies　to　inform　him　each　day　of　the　emperor's　doings　and　preparations；　and　how　long　they　are　going　to　stay；　and　by　what　route　they　intend　to　return。　　The　emperor　did　not　tarry　long　after　the　marriage；　but　left　Cologne　in　high　spirits。　　The　German　emperor　escorted　him　with　a　numerous　company；　fearing　and　dreading　the　force　of　the　Duke　of　Saxony。

（Vv。　3395…3424。）　　The　two　emperors　pursued　their　journey　until　they　were　beyond　Regensburg；　where　one　evening　they　were　encamped　in　a　meadow　by　the　Danube。　　The　Greeks　were　in　their　tents　in　the　fields　bordering　upon　the　Black　Forest。　　Opposite　to　them　the　Saxons　were　lodged；　spying　upon　them。　　The　duke's　nephew　stood　alone　upon　a　hill；　whence　he　could　reconnoitre　for　a　chance　to　inflict　some　loss　or　harm　on　the　enemy。　　From　that　point　of　vantage　he　espied　Cliges　with　three　of　his　young　men　disporting　themselves　with　lances　and　shields；　eager　for　a　conflict　and　shock　of　arms。　　If　he　could　get　the　chance　the　duke's　nephew　would　gladly　attack　them　and　do　them　harm。　　Starting　out　with　five　companions　he　concealed　them　in　a　valley　close　by　a　wood；　so　that　the　Greeks　never　saw　them　until　they　emerged　from　the　valley；　then　the　duke's　nephew　made　an　attack；　and　striking　Cliges；　wounded　him　slightly　in　the　back。　　Cliges；　bending　over；　avoids　the　lance　which　passed　him；　inflicting　only　a　slight　hurt。

（Vv。　3425…3570。）　　When　Cliges　felt　himself　wounded；　he　charged　the　youth；　and　struck　him　with　such　force　that　he　drove　his　lance　quite　through　his　heart；　and　stretched　him　dead。　　Then　all　the　Saxons　in　fear　of　him　betook　themselves　to　flight　through　the　woods。　　And　Cliges；　ignorant　of　the　ambuscade；　courageously　but　imprudently　leaving　his　companions　behind；　pursues　them　to　the　place　where　the　duke's　troops　were　in　force　preparing　to　attack　the　Greeks。　　Alone　he　goes　in　hot　pursuit　after　the　youths；　who；　in　despair　over　their　lord　whom　they　had　lost；　come　running　to　the　duke　and　tell　him　weeping　of　his　nephew's　death。　　The　duke　saw　no　joke　in　this　affair；　and；　swearing　by　God　and　all　His　saints　that　he　will　take　no　joy　or　pride　in　life　so　long　as　the　slayer　of　his　nephew　remains　alive；　he　adds　that　whoever　will　bring　him　his　head　will　be　his　friend　and　will　serve　him　well。　Then　a　knight　made　boast　that　if　he　can　find　the　guilty　man；　he　will　present　him　with　Cliges'　head。　　Cliges　follows　the　young　men　until　he　falls　among　the　Saxons；　when　he　is　seen　by　him　who　had　undertaken　to　carry　off　his　head；　and　who　starts　after　him　without　delay。　　But　Cliges　haste　had　turned　back　to　escape　from　his　enemies　and　came　in　to　where　he　had　left　his　companions；　he　found　none　there；　for　they　had　returned　to　camp　to　relate　their　adventure。　　And　the　emperor　ordered　to　horse　the　Greeks　and　Germans　in　one　band。　　Soon　all　through　the　camp　the　knights　are　arming　and　mounting。　　Meanwhile　Cliges　is　hotly　pursued　by　his　enemy；　all　armed　and　with　helmet　closed。　　Cliges；　who　never　wished　to　be　numbered　among　the　coward　and　craven…hearted；　notices　that　he　comes　alone。　　First；　the　knight　challenged　him；　calling　him　〃fellow；〃　unable　to　conceal　his　rage：　〃Young　fellow；〃　he　cried；　〃thou　shalt　leave　me　here　a　pledge　for　my　lord　whom　thou　hast　killed。　　If　I　do　not　carry　away　thy　head　with　me；　I　am　not　worth　a　counterfeit　besant。　　I　must　make　of　it　a　present　to　the　duke；　and　will　accept　no　other　forfeit。　　In　return　for　his　nephew；　I　shall　make　such　restitution　that　he　will　profit　by　the　exchange。〃　　Cliges　hears　him　reproaching　him　thus　boldly　and　with　impudence。　　〃Vassal；〃　he　says；　〃be　on　your　guard！　　For　I　will　defend　my　head；　and　you　shall　not　get　it　without　my　leave。〃　　Then　the　attack　begins。　　The　other　missed　his　blow；　while　Cliges　struck　him　with　such　force　that　horse　and　rider　went　down　together　in　one　heap。　　The　horse　fell　upon　him　so　heavily　that　he　shattered　completely　one　of　his　legs。　　Cliges　dismounted　on　the　greensward　and　disarmed　him。　　When　he　had　disarmed　him；　he　appropriat