four arthurian romances-第40部分

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egs。　　Cliges　dismounted　on　the　greensward　and　disarmed　him。　　When　he　had　disarmed　him；　he　appropriated　his　weapons；　and　cut　off　his　enemy's　head　with　the　sword　which　had　just　now　been　his。　　After　severing　his　head　he　fixed　it　firmly　on　the　point　of　his　lance；　thinking　to　offer　it　to　the　duke；　to　whom　his　nephew　had　promised　to　present　his　own　if　he　could　meet　him　in　the　strife。　　Cliges　had　no　sooner　put　on　the　dead　man's　helmet　and　taken　his　shield　and　mounted　his　steed；　letting　his　own　stray　at　large　to　terrify　the　Greeks；　than　he　saw　advancing　with　more　than　a　hundred　banners　flying　several　full　squadrons　of　Greeks　and　Germans。　　Now　the　fierce　and　cruel　struggles　will　soon　begin　between　the　Saxons　and　the　Greeks。　　As　soon　as　Cliges　sees　his　men　advancing；　he　betakes　himself　toward　the　Saxons；　his　own　men　hotly　pursuing　him；　and　not　knowing　him　in　his　disguise。　　It　is　no　wonder　that　his　uncle　is　in　despair　and　fear；　when　he　sees　the　head　he　is　carrying　off。　　So　all　the　host　pursue　him　fast；　while　Cliges　leads　them　on　to　provoke　a　fight；　until　the　Saxons　see　him　drawing　near。　　But　they；　too；　are　quite　misled　by　the　arms　with　which　he　has　armed　and　equipped　himself。　　He　succeeds　in　deceiving　and　mocking　them；　for　the　duke　and　all　the　rest；　when　they　saw　him　approaching　lance　in　rest；　cried　out：　〃Here　comes　our　knight！　　On　the　point　of　his　lance　he　carries　Cliges'　head；　and　the　Greeks　are　hotly　pursuing　him！〃　Then；　as　they　give　their　horses　rein；　Cliges　spurs　to　meet　the　Saxons；　crouching　low　beneath　his　shield；　the　lance　out　straight　with　the　head　affixed。　　Now；　though　he　was　braver　than　a　lion；　he　was　no　stronger　than　any　other　man。　　Both　parties　think　that　he　is　dead；　and　while　the　Saxons　rejoice；　the　Greeks　and　Germans　grieve。　　But　before　long　the　truth　will　out。　　For　Cliges　no　longer　held　his　peace：　but；　rushing　fiercely　at　a　Saxon；　he　struck　him　with　his　ashen　lance　upon　the　head　and　in　the　breast；　so　that　he　made　him　lose　his　stirrups；　and　at　the　same　time　he　cried　aloud：　〃Strike　gentlemen；　for　I　am　Cliges　whom　you　seek。　Come　on；　my　bold　and　hardy　knights！　　Let　none　hold　back；　for　the　first　joust　is　already　won！　　He　is　a　coward　who　does　not　relish　such　a　dish。〃

（Vv。　3571…3620。）　　The　emperor's　joy　was　great　when　he　heard　the　voice　of　his　nephew　Cliges　summoning　and　exhorting　them；　he　was　greatly　pleased　and　comforted。　　But　the　duke　is　greatly　chagrined　now　when　he　sees　he　is　betrayed；　unless　his　force　should　prove　the　stronger。　　While　he　draws　together　his　troops　in　serried　lines；　the　Greeks　do　the　same；　and　pressing　them　close；　attack　and　rush　upon　them。　　On　both　sides　lances　are　lowered　as　they　meet　for　the　proper　reception　of　a　hostile　host。　　At　the　first　shock　shields　are　pierced　and　lances　shattered；　girths　are　cut　and　stirrups　broken；　while　the　horses　of　those　who　fall　to　earth　are　left　without　a　rider。　　But　regardless　of　what　any　other　does；　Cliges　and　the　duke　meet　in　the　fray；　holding　their　lances　low；　they　strike　one　another　upon　the　shield　with　such　violence　that　the　strong　and　well…made　lances　fly　into　splinters。　　Cliges　was　skilful　on　horseback；　and　sits　straight　in　his　saddle　without　shaking　or　losing　his　balance。　　But　the　duke　has　lost　his　seat；　and　in　spite　of　himself　quits　the　saddle…bows。　　Cliges　struggled　and　strove　to　capture　him　and　carry　him　away；　but　his　strength　did　not　suffice；　for　the　Saxons　were　around　about　fighting　to　rescue　him。　　Nevertheless；　Cliges　escapes　from　the　conflict　without　receiving　harm　and　with　a　precious　prize；　for　he　makes　off　with　the　duke's　steed；　which　was　whiter　than　wool；　and　was　worth　more　to　a　gentleman　than　the　fortune　of　Octavian　（31）　at　Rome。　　The　steed　was　an　Arabian。　　The　Greeks　and　Germans　are　overjoyed　to　see　Cliges　on　such　a　mount；　for　they　had　already　remarked　the　excellence　and　beauty　of　the　Arab　steed。　　But　they　were　not　on　their　guard　against　an　ambuscade；　and　before　they　are　aware　of　it　great　damage　will　be　done。

（Vv。　3621…3748。）　　A　spy　came　to　the　duke；　bringing　him　welcome　news。　　〃Duke；〃　says　the　spy；　〃not　a　man　remains　in　all　the　encampment　of　the　Greeks　who　is　able　to　defend　himself。　　If　thou　wilt　take　my　word　for　it；　now　is　the　time　to　have　the　emperor's　daughter　seized；　while　the　Greeks　are　seen　intent　upon　the　battle　and　the　strife。　　Lend　me　a　hundred　of　thy　knights；　and　I　will　put　the　lady　in　their　hands。　　By　an　old　and　secluded　path　I　will　lead　them　so　carefully　that　they　will　not　be　seen　or　met　by　any　man　of　Germany；　until　they　can　seize　the　damsel　in　her　tent　and　carry　her　off　so　handily　that　no　resistance　will　be　made。〃　　At　this　the　duke　is　highly　pleased。　　He　sent　a　hundred　and　more　tried　knights　with　the　spy；　who　so　successfully　conducted　them　that　they　carried　the　maiden　away　captive　without　exerting　any　force；　for　they　could　abduct　her　easily。　　After　carrying　her　some　distance　from　the　tents；　they　send　her　on　under　escort　of　twelve　of　their　number　whom　they　accompany　but　a　short　distance。　　While　the　twelve　led　the　damsel　on；　the　others　went　to　tell　the　duke　how　successful　they　had　been。　　The　duke's　desire　being　now　satisfied；　he　at　once　makes　a　truce　with　the　Greeks　until　next　day。　　The　truce　was　sworn　by　both　parties。　　The　duke's　men　then　turned　back；　while　the　Greeks　without　delay　repaired　each　man　to　his　own　tent。　　But　Cliges　stays　behind　alone；　stationed　upon　a　little　hill　where　no　one　caught　sight　of　him；　until　he　saw　the　twelve　pass　by　with　her　whom　they　were　carrying　off　at　topmost　speed。　Cliges；　in　his　thirst　for　glory；　rides　at　them　without　delay；　for　he　thinks　within　himself；　and　his　heart　tells　him；　that　it　is　not　for　nothing　that　they　flee。　　So；　as　soon　as　he　espied　them；　he　spurred　after　them；　and　when　they　saw　him　coming　on；　a　foolish　thought　occurred　to　them：　〃It　is　the　duke；〃　they　said；　〃who　comes。　　Let　us　rein　in　a　little；　for　he　has　left　the　troops　and　is　riding　hard　after　us　alone。〃　　Every　man　thinks　that　so　it　is。　They　all　want　to　turn　back　to　meet　him；　but　each　one　wishes　to　go　alone。　　Meanwhile；　Cliges　must　needs　descend　a　deep　valley　between　two　mountains。　　He　would　never　have　recognised　their　blazons；　if　they　had　not　come　to　meet　him；　or　if　they　had　not　awaited　him。　　Six　of　the　twelve　come　to　meet　him　in　an　encounter　they　will　soon　regret。　　The　other　six　stay　with　the　damsel；　leading　her　gently　at　a　walk　and　easy　jog。　　And　the　six　ride　quickly　on；　spurring　up　the　valley；　until　he　who　had　the　swiftest　horse　reached　him　first　and　cried　aloud：　〃Hail；　Duke　of　Saxony！　God　bless　thee！　　Duke；　we　have　recovered　thy　lady。　　The　Greeks　shall　not　get　her　now；　for　she　shall　be　placed　in　thy　hands。〃　When　Cliges　heard　the　words　this　fellow　shouts；　his　heart　is　not　gay；　rather　is　it　strange　that　he　does　not　lose　his　wits。　　Never　was　any　wild　beastleopard；　tiger；　or　lionupon　seeing　its　young　captured；　so　fierce　and　furious　as　Cliges；　who　sets　no　value　upon　his　life　if　he　deserts　his　sweetheart　now。　　He　would　rather　die　than　not　win　her　back。　　In　his　trouble　he　feels　great　wrath；　which　gives　him　the　courage　he　requires。　　He　urges　and　spurs　the　Arab　steed；　and　rushes　to　give　the　Saxon　such　a　blow　upon　his　painted　shield　that　without　exaggeration；　he　makes　his　heart　feel　the　lance。　　This　gives　Cliges　confidence。　　He　drove　and　spurred　the　Arab　charger　on　for　more　than　the　space　of　an　acre　before　he　came　upon　the　next　Saxon；　for　they　came　up　singly；　each　fearless　of　his　predecessor's　fare；　for　Cliges　fights　them　one　by　one。　　As　he　takes　them　thus　individually；　no　one　receives　another's　aid。　　He　makes　a　rush　at　the　second　one；　who；　like　the　first；　thought　to　give　him　joy　by　telling　him　of　his　own　evil　fate。　　But　Cliges　has　no　concern　to　heed　his　talk　and　idle　charter。　　Thrusting　his　lance　into　his　body　so　that　the　blood　spurts　out　when　it　is　withdrawn；　he　deprives　him　of　life　and　the　gift　of　speech。　　After　these　two　he　meets　the　third；　who　expects　to　find　him　in　good　humour　and　to　make　him　rejoice　over　his　own　mischance。　Spurring　eagerly　he　came　up　to　him；　but　before　he　has　time　to　say　a　word；　Cliges　ran　a　fathom　of　his　lance　through　the　middle　of　his　body；　leaving　him　senseless　on　the　ground。　　To　the　fourth　he　gives　such　a　blow　that　he　leaves　him　fainting　on　the　field。　　After　the　fourth　he　goes　at　the　fifth；　and　after　him　he　attacks　the　sixth。　　None　of　them　could　defend　himself；　but　each　was　left　silent　and　mute。　　He　stood　in　less　fear　of　the　others　now；　and　more　hardily　pressed　after　them；　taking　no　further　thought　of　the　six　dead　men。

（Vv。　3749…3816。）　　Feeling　no　further　care　for　them；　he　starts　to　present　a　debt　of　shame　and　woe　to　the　others　who　are　leading　the　maid　away。　　He　caught　up　with　them；　and　made　such　an　onslaught　upon　them　as　a　hungry　and　ravenous　wolf　makes　when　leaping　upon　its　prey。　　Now　he　feels　his　luck　has　come；　when　he　can　display　his　chivalry　and　bravery　openly　before　her　who　is　his　very　life。　Now　may　he　die；　if　he　does　not　rescue　her！　　And　she；　too；　is　at　death's　door　from　anxiety　for　his　sake；　though　she　does　not　know　that　he　is　no　near。　　Lance　in　rest；　Cliges　made　an　attack　which　pleased　him　well；　for　he　struck　first　one　Saxon　and　then　another；　so　that　with　a　single　rush　he　carried　them　both　to　earth；　though　it　cost　him　his　ashen　lance。　　And　they　both　fall　in　such　distress；　being　wounded　in　the　body；　that　they　have　no　power　to　rise　again　and　do　him　any　harm　or　ill。　　The　other　four　in　bitter　rage　join　in　an　attack　upon　Cliges；　but　he　neither　quails　nor　trembles；　and　they　are　unable　to　dislodge　him　from　his　seat。　Quickly　drawing　his　keen　sword　from　its　sheath；　in　order　to　please　her　who　awaits　his　love；　he　rode　hard　at　a　Saxon　and；　striking　him　with　his　whetted　blade；　he　severed　his　head　and　half　his　neck　from　the　body：　such　was　the　limit　of　his　pity。　　Fenice；　who　witnesses　what　transpires；　does　not　know　yet　that　this　is　Cliges。　　She　wishes　that　it　were　he；　indeed；　but　because　of　the　present　danger　she　says　to　herself　that　she　would　not　have　him　there。　　Thus；　doubly　she　shows　the　devotion　of　a　sweetheart；　fearing　at　once　his　death；　and　desiring　that　honour　may　be　his。　　And　Cliges　sword　in　hand　attacks　the　other　three；　who　face　him　bravely　and　puncture　and　split　his　shield。　　But　they　are　unable　to　lay　hands　upon　him；　or　to　pierce　the　meshes　of　his　hauberk。　And　whatever　Cliges　reaches　cannot　stand　against　his　blow；　but　must　nee