four arthurian romances-第41部分

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e　the　meshes　of　his　hauberk。　And　whatever　Cliges　reaches　cannot　stand　against　his　blow；　but　must　needs　be　split　and　torn　apart；　for　he　turns　faster　than　a　top　driven　and　lashed　by　the　whip。　　Boldness　and　love；　which　holds　him　enthralled；　make　him　eager　for　the　fray。　　He　pressed　the　Saxons　so　hard　that　he　left　them　all　dead　and　defeated；　some　only　wounded；　and　others　deadexcept　one　whom　he　let　escape；　disdaining　to　kill　him　when　left　alone　at　his　mercy；　besides；　he　wished　him　to　tell　the　duke　of　the　loss　and　injury　he　had　sustained。　　But　before　this　fellow　left　Cliges；　he　begged　him　to　tell　him　his　name；　which　later　he　repeated　to　the　duke；　thus　rousing　his　bitter　ire。

（Vv。　3817…3864。）　　Now　bad　luck　had　fallen　to　the　duke；　who　was　in　great　distress　and　grief。　　And　Cliges　takes　back　Fenice；　whose　love　torments　and　troubles　him。　　If　he　does　not　confess　to　her　now；　love　will　long　be　his　enemy；　and　hers　too；　if　she　holds　her　peace　and　speaks　not　the　word　which　will　bring　him　joy；　for　now　each　can　tell　the　other　privily　the　thoughts　that　lie　within　the　heart。　　But　they　so　fear　to　be　refused　that　they　dare　not　reveal　their　hearts。　　For　his　part；　he　fears　lest　she　will　not　accept　his　love；　whereas　she；　too；　would　have　spoken　out　had　she　not　feared　to　be　rejected。　　In　spite　of　this；　the　eyes　of　each　reveal　the　hidden　thought；　if　only　they　had　heeded　this　evidence。　　They　converse　by　glance　of　eye；　but　their　tongues　are　so　cowardly　that　they　dare　not　speak　in　any　wise　of　the　love　which　possesses　them。　No　wonder　if　she　hesitates　to　begin；　for　a　maid　must　be　a　simple　and　shrinking　thing；　but　hewhy　does　he　wait　and　hold　back　who　was　so　bold　for　her　just　now；　but　now　in　her　presence　is　cowardly？　　God！　　whence　comes　this　fear；　that　he　should　shrink　from　a　lonely　girl；　feeble　and　timid；　simple　and　mild？　　It　is　as　if　I　should　see　the　dog　flee　before　the　hare；　and　the　fish　chase　the　beaver；　the　lamb　the　wolf；　and　the　dove　the　eagle。　　In　the　same　fashion　the　labourer　would　forsake　his　pick　with　which　he　strives　to　earn　a　livelihood；　and　the　falcon　would　flee　from　the　duck；　and　the　gerfalcon　from　the　heron；　and　the　pike　from　the　minnow；　and　the　stag　would　chase　the　lion；　and　everything　would　be　reversed。　　Now　I　feel　within　me　the　desire　to　give　some　reason　why　it　should　happen　to　true　lovers　that　they　lose　their　sense　and　boldness　to　say　what　they　have　in　mind　when　they　have　leisure　and　place　and　time。

（Vv。　3865…3914。）　　Ye　who　are　interested　in　the　art　of　Love；　who　do　faithfully　maintain　the　customs　and　usage　of　his　court；　who　never　failed　to　obey　his　law；　whatever　the　result　might　be；　tell　me　if　there　is　anything　that　pleases　because　of　love　without　causing　us　to　tremble　and　grow　pale。　　If　any　one　oppose　me　in　this；　I　can　at　once　refute　his　argument；　for　whoever　does　not　grow　pale　and　tremble；　whoever　does　not　lose　his　senses　and　memory；　is　trying　to　filch　and　get　by　stealth　what　does　not　by　right　belong　to　him。　　The　servant　who　does　not　fear　his　master　ought　not　to　remain　in　his　employ　nor　do　his　service。　　He　who　does　not　esteem　his　lord　does　not　fear　him；　and　whoever　does　not　esteem　him　does　not　hold　him　dear；　but　rather　tries　to　deceive　him　and　to　steal　from　him　what　is　his。　　The　servant　ought　to　tremble　with　fear　when　his　master　calls　or　summons　him。　　And　whoever　commits　himself　to　Love　owns　him　as　his　lord　and　master；　and　is　bound　to　do　him　reverence　and　fear　him　much　and　honour　him；　if　he　wishes　to　be　numbered　in　his　court。　　Love　without　alarm　or　fear　is　like　a　fire　without　flame　or　heat；　day　without　sun；　comb　without　honey；　summer　without　flowers；　winter　without　frost；　sky　without　moon；　and　a　book　without　letters。　　Such　is　my　argument　in　refutation；　for　where　fear　is　absent　love　is　not　to　be　mentioned。　　Whoever　would　love　must　needs　feel　fear；　for　otherwise　he　cannot　be　in　love。　　But　let　him　fear　only　her　whom　he　loves；　and　for　her　sake　be　brave　against　all　others。　　Then　if　he　stands　in　awe　of　his　lady…love　Cliges　is　guilty　of　nothing　wrong。　　Even　so；　he　would　not　have　failed　to　speak　straightway　with　her　of　love；　whatever　the　outcome　might　have　been；　had　it　not　been　that　she　was　his　uncle's　wife。　　This　causes　the　festering　of　his　wound；　and　it　torments　and　pains　him　the　more　because　he　dares　not　utter　what　he　fain　would　say。

（Vv。　3915…3962。）　　Thus　they　make　their　way　back　to　their　own　people；　and　if　they　speak　of　anything　it　is　nothing　of　much　concern。　　Each　seated　on　a　white　horse；　they　rode　rapidly　toward　the　camp；　which　was　plunged　in　great　sorrow。　　The　whole　army　is　beside　itself　with　grief；　but　they　are　altogether　wrong　in　supposing　Cliges　to　be　dead：　hence　their　bitter　and　poignant　grief。　　And　for　Fenice；　too；　they　are　in　dismay；　thinking　never　to　win　her　back　again。　　Thus；　for　her　and　him　the　whole　army　is　in　great　distress。　　But　soon　upon　their　return　the　whole　affair　will　change　its　aspect；　for　now　they　have　reached　the　camp　again；　and　have　quickly　changed　the　grief　to　joy。　　Joy　returns　and　sorrow　flees。　　All　the　troops　come　together　and　sally　forth　to　welcome　them。　　The　two　emperors；　upon　hearing　the　report　about　Cliges　and　the　damsel；　go　to　meet　them　with　joyful　hearts；　and　each　can　hardly　wait　to　hear　how　Cliges　found　and　recovered　the　empress。　　Cliges　tells　them；　and；　as　they　listen；　they　are　amazed　and　are　loud　in　their　praises　of　his　courage　and　devotion。　　But；　for　his　part；　the　duke　is　furious；　swearing　and　proclaiming　his　determination　to　fight　Cliges；　if　he　dares；　in　single　combat；　and　it　shall　be　agreed　that　if　Cliges　wins　the　battle　the　emperor　shall　proceed　unchallenged；　and　freely　take　the　maiden　with　him；　and　if　he　should　kill　or　defeat　Cliges；　who　had　done　him　such　injury；　then　let　there　be　no　truce　or　stay　to　prevent　each　party　from　doing　its　best。　　This　is　what　the　duke　desires；　and　by　an　interpreter　of　his；　who　knew　both　the　Greek　and　the　German　tongues；　he　announces　to　the　two　emperors　his　desire　thus　to　arrange　the　battle。

（Vv。　3963…4010。）　　The　messenger　delivered　his　message　so　well　in　both　languages　that　all　could　understand　it。　　The　entire　army　was　in　an　uproar；　saying　that　may　God　forbid　that　Cliges　ever　engage　in　the　battle。　　Both　emperors　are　in　a　fright；　but　Cliges　throws　himself　at　their　feet　and　begs　them　not　to　grieve；　but　if　ever　he　did　them　any　favour；　he　prays　them　to　grant　him　this　battle　as　a　guerdon　and　reward。　　And　if　the　right　to　fight　should　be　denied　him；　then　he　will　never　again　serve　for　a　single　day　his　uncle's　cause　and　honour。　　The　emperor；　who　loved　his　nephew　as　he　should；　raised　him　by　the　hand　and　said：　〃Fair　nephew；　I　am　deeply　grieved　to　know　you　are　so　keen　to　fight；　for　after　joy；　sorrow　is　to　be　expected。　（32）　　You　have　made　me　glad；　I　cannot　deny　it；　but　it　is　hard　for　me　to　yield　the　point　and　send　you　forth　to　this　battle；　when　I　see　you　still　so　young。　　And　yet　I　know　you　to　be　so　confident　of　yourself　that　I　dare　not　ever　refuse　anything　that　you　choose　to　ask　of　me。　　Be　assured　that；　merely　to　gratify　you；　it　should　be　done；　but　if　my　request　has　any　power；　you　would　never　assume　this　task。〃　　〃My　lord；　there　is　no　need　of　further　speech；〃　said　Cliges；　〃may　God　damn　me；　if　I　would　take　the　whole　world；　and　miss　this　battle！　　I　do　not　know　why　I　should　seek　from　you　any　postponement　or　long　delay。〃　　The　emperor　weeps　with　pity；　while　Cliges　sheds　tears　of　joy　when　the　permission　to　fight　is　granted　him。　　Many　a　tear　was　shed　that　day；　and　no　respite　or　delay　was　asked。　　Before　the　hour　of　prime；　by　the　duke's　own　messenger　the　challenge　to　battle　was　sent　back　to　him　accepted　as　he　had　proposed。

（Vv。　4011…4036。）　　The　duke；　who　thinks　and　confidently　trusts　that　Cliges　will　be　unable　to　stave　off　death　and　defeat　at　his　hands；　has　himself　quickly　armed。　　Cliges；　who　is　anxious　for　the　fight；　feels　no　concern　as　to　how　he　shall　defend　himself。　　He　asks　the　emperor　for　his　arms；　and　desires　him　to　dub　him　a　knight。　　So　the　emperor　generously　gives　him　his　arms；　and　he　takes　them；　his　heart　being　keen　for　the　battle　which　he　anticipates　with　joy　and　eagerness。　　No　time　is　lost　in　arming　him。　　And　when　he　was　armed　from　head　to　foot；　the　emperor；　all　sorrowing；　girds　the　sword　upon　his　side。　　Thus　Cliges　completely　armed　mounts　his　white　Arab　steed；　from　his　neck　he　hangs　by　the　straps　an　ivory　shield；　such　as　will　never　break　or　split；　and　upon　it　there　was　neither　colour　nor　design。　　All　his　armour　was　white；　and　the　steed；　and　the　harness；　too；　was　all　whiter　than　any　snow。

（Vv。　4037…4094。）　　Cliges　and　the　duke；　now　being　armed；　summon　each　other　to　meet　half　way；　and　they　stipulate　that　their　men　shall　take　their　stand　on　either　side；　but　without　their　swords　and　lances；　under　oath　and　pledge　that　not　a　man　will　be　so　rash；　so　long　as　the　battle　lasts；　as　to　dare　to　move　for　any　reason；　any　more　than　he　would　dare　to　pluck　out　his　own　eye。　　When　this　had　been　agreed　upon；　they　came　together；　each　yearning　ardently　for　the　glory　he　hopes　to　win　and　for　the　joy　of　victory。　　But　before　a　single　blow　was　dealt；　the　empress　has　herself　borne　thither；　solicitous　for　Cliges'　fate。　　It　seems　to　her　that　if　he　dies；　she；　too；　must　needs　do　so。　　No　comfort　can　avail　to　keep　her　from　joining　him　in　death；　for；　without　him；　life　has　no　joys　for　her。　　When　all　were　gathered　on　the　fieldhigh　and　low；　young　and　oldand　the　guards　had　taken　their　place；　then　both　seized　their　lances　and　rushed　together　so　savagely　that　they　both　broke　their　lances　and　fell　to　the　ground；　unable　to　keep　their　saddles。　　But　not　being　wounded；　they　quickly　get　upon　their　feet　and　attack　each　other　without　delay。　　Upon　their　resonant　helmets　they　play　such　a　tune　with　swords　that　it　seems　to　those　who　are　looking　on　that　the　helmets　are　on　fire　and　send　forth　sparks。　　And　when　the　swords　rebound　in　air；　gleaming　sparks　fly　off　from　them　as　from　a　smoking　piece　of　iron　which　the　smith　beats　upon　his　anvil　after；　drawing　it　from　the　forge。　Both　of　the　vassals　are　generous　in　dealing　blows　in　great　plenty；　and　each　has　the　best　of　intentions　to　repay　quickly　what　he　borrows；　neither　one　holds　back　from　repaying　promptly　capital　and　interest；　without　accounting　and　without　measure。　　But　the　duke　is　much　chagrined　with　anger　and　discomfiture　when　he　fails　to　defeat　and　slay　Cliges　in　the　first　assault。　　Such　a　mar