four arthurian romances-第42部分

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ith　anger　and　discomfiture　when　he　fails　to　defeat　and　slay　Cliges　in　the　first　assault。　　Such　a　marvellously　great　and　mighty　blow　he　deals　him　that　he　falls　at　his　feet　upon　his　knee。

（Vv。　4095…4138。）　　When　this　blow　brought　Cliges　down；　the　emperor　was　struck　with　fear；　and　would　have　been　no　more　dismayed　had　he　himself　been　beneath　the　shield。　　Nor　could　Fenice　in　her　fear　longer　contain　herself；　whatever　the　effect　might　be；　from　crying：　〃God　help　him！〃　as　loud　as　she　could。　　But　that　was　the　only　word　she　uttered；　for　straightway　her　voice　failed　her；　and　she　fell　forward　upon　her　face；　which　was　somewhat　wounded　by　the　fall。　　Two　high　nobles　raised　her　up　and　supported　her　upon　her　feet　until　she　returned　to　consciousness。　　But　in　spite　of　her　countenance；　none　who　saw　her　guessed　why　she　had　swooned。　　Not　a　man　there　blamed　her；　but　rather　praised　her　for　her　act；　for　each　one　supposes　that　she　would　have　done　the　same　thing　for　him；　if　he　had　been　in　Cliges'　place；　but　in　all　this　they　are　quite　astray。　　Cliges　heard；　and　well　understood；　the　sound　of　Fenice's　cry。　　Her　voice　restored　his　strength　and　courage；　as　he　leaped　up　quickly；　and　came　with　fury；　toward　the　duke；　so　charging　and　attacking　him　that　the　duke　in　turn　was　now　dismayed。　　For　now　he　found　him　more　fierce　for　the　fray；　stronger　and　more　agile　and　energetic　than　when　at　first　they　came　together。　　And　because　he　feared　his　onslaught；　he　cried：　〃Young　man；　so　help　me　God；　I　see　thou　art　brave　and　very　bold。　If　it　were　not　for　my　nephew　now；　whom　I　shall　never　more　forget；　I　would　gladly　make　peace　with　thee；　and　leave　thy　quarrel　without　interfering　in　it　more。〃

（Vv。　4139…4236。）　　〃Duke；〃　says　Cliges；　〃what　is　your　pleasure　now？　　Must　one　not　surrender　his　right　when　he　is　unable　to　recover　it？　　When　one　of　two　evils　must　be　faced；　one　should　choose　the　lesser　one。　　Your　nephew　was　not　wise　to　become　angrily　embroiled　with　me。　　You　may　be　sure　that　I　shall　treat　you　in　like　fashion；　if　I　get　the　chance；　unless　you　agree　to　my　terms　of　peace。〃　　The　duke；　to　whom　it　seems　that　Cliges'　vigour　is　steadily　growing；　thinks　that　he　had　better　desist　in　mid…　career　before　he　is　utterly　undone。　　Nevertheless；　he　does　not　openly　give　in；　but　says：　〃Young　man；　I　see　thou　art　skilful　and　alert　and　not　lacking　in　courage。　　But　thou　art　yet　too　young；　therefore　I　feel　assured　that　if　I　defeat　and　kill　thee　I　shall　gain　no　praise　or　fame；　and　I　should　never　like　to　confess　in　the　hearing　of　a　man　of　honour　that　I　had　fought　with　thee；　for　I　should　but　do　thee　honour；　and　myself　win　shame。　　But　if　thou　art　aware　of　honour's　worth；　it　will　always　be　a　glorious　thing　for　thee　to　have　withstood　me　for　two　rounds　at　arms。　　So　now　my　heart　and　feeling　bid　me　let　thee　have　thy　way；　and　no　longer　fight　with　thee。〃　（33）　　〃Duke；〃　says　Cliges；　〃that　will　not　do。　　In　the　hearing　of　all　you　must　repeat　those　words；　for　it　shall　never　be　said　and　noised　abroad　that　you　let　me　off　and　had　mercy　on　me。　　In　the　hearing　of　all　those　who　are　gathered　here；　you　must　repeat　your　words；　if　you　wish　to　be　reconciled　with　me。〃　　So　the　duke　repeats　his　words　in　the　hearing　of　all。　　Then　they　make　peace　and　are　reconciled。　　But　however　the　matter　be　regarded　Cliges　had　all　the　honour　and　glory　of　it；　and　the　Greeks　were　greatly　pleased。　　For　their　part；　the　Saxons　could　not　laugh；　all　of　them　having　plainly　seen　that　their　lord　was　worn　out　and　exhausted　just　now；　but　there　is　no　doubt　at　all　that；　if　he　could　have　helped　himself；　this　peace　would　never　have　been　made；　and　that　Cliges'　soul　would　have　been　drawn　from　his　body　had　it　proven　possible。　　The　duke　goes　back　to　Saxony　sorrowing；　downcast；　and　filled　with　shame；　for　of　his　men　there　are　not　even　two　who　do　not　regard　him　as　worsted；　defeated；　and　disgraced。　　The　Saxons　with　all　their　shame　have　now　returned　to　Saxony；　while　the　Greeks　without　delay　make　their　way　with　joy　and　gladness　toward　Constantinople；　for　Cliges　by　his　prowess　has　opened　the　way　for　them。　　The　emperor　of　Germany　no　longer　follows　and　convoys　them。　　Taking　leave　o？　the　Greek　troops　and　of　his　daughter　and　Cliges；　and　finally　of　the　emperor；　he　stayed　behind　in　Germany。　　And　the　emperor　of　the　Greeks　goes　off　happily　and　in　joyous　mood。　　Cliges；　brave　and　courteous；　calls　to　mind　his　sire's　command。　　If　his　uncle；　the　emperor；　will　give　him　his　permission；　he　will　go　and　ask　him　for　leave　to　return　to　Britain　and　there　converse　with　his　great…uncle；　the　King；　for　he　is　desirous　of　seeing　and　knowing　him。　　So　he　presents　himself　before　the　emperor；　and　requests　that　he　consent　to　let　him　go　to　Britain　to　see　his　uncle　and　his　friends。　　Gently　he　proffered　his　request。　　But　his　uncle　refused；　when　he　had　listened　to　the　request　he　made。　　〃Fair　nephew；〃　he　said；　〃it　is　not　my　will　that　you　should　wish　to　leave　me。　　I　shall　never　give　you　without　regret　this　permission　to　go　away。　　For　it　is　my　pleasure　and　desire　that　you　should　be　my　companion　and　lord；　with　me；　of　all　my　empire。〃

（Vv。　4237…4282。）　　Now　Cliges　hears　something　that　does　not　suit　him　when　his　uncle　refuses　the　prayer　and　request　he　made。　　〃Fair　sire；〃　said　he；　〃I　am　not　brave　and　wise　enough；　nor　would　it　be　seemly　for　me　to　join　myself　with　you　or　any　one　else　in　the　duty　of　governing　this　empire；　I　am　too　young　and　inexperienced。　　They　put　gold　to　the　test　when　they　wish　to　learn　if　it　is　fine。　　And　so　it　is　my　wish；　in　brief；　to　try　to　prove　myself；　wherever　I　can　find　the　test。　　In　Britain；　if　I　am　brave；　I　can　apply　myself　to　the　whetstone　and　to　the　real　true　test；　whereby　my　prowess　shall　be　proved。　　In　Britain　are　the　gentlemen　whom　honour　and　prowess　distinguish。　　And　he　who　wishes　to　win　honour　should　associate　himself　with　them；　for　honour　is　won　and　gained　by　him　who　associates　with　gentlemen。　　And　so　I　ask　you　for　leave　to　go；　and　you　may　be　very　sure　that　if　you　do　not　grant　me　the　boon　and　send　me　thither　I　shall　go　without　your　leave。〃　　〃Fair　nephew；　I　will　give　you　leave；　seeing　you　are　so　disposed　that　I　cannot　keep　you　back　either　by　force　or　prayer　of　mine。　　Now　since　prayer；　prohibition；　and　force　do　not　avail；　may　God　give　you　the　desire　and　inclination　promptly　to　return。　　I　wish　you　to　take　with　you　more　than　a　bushel　of　gold　and　silver；　and　I　will　give　for　your　pleasure　such　horses　as　you　may　choose。〃　　He　had　no　sooner　spoken　than　Cliges　bowed　before　him。　　All　that　the　emperor；　mentioned　and　promised　him　was　straightway　brought　thither。

（Vv。　4283…4574。）　　Cliges　took　all　the　money　and　companions　that　he　wished　and　needed。　　For　his　personal　use　he　took　four　horses　of　different　colours：　one　white；　one　sorrel；　one　fallow　red；　and　one　black。　　But　I　must　have　passed　over　something　which　it　is　not　proper　to　omit。　　Cliges　goes　to　ask　and　obtain　leave　to　depart　from　his　sweetheart　Fenice；　for　he　wishes　to　commend　her　to　God's　safe　keeping。　　Coming　before　her；　he　throws　himself　upon　his　knees；　weeping　so　bitterly　that　the　tears　moisten　his　tunic　and　ermine；　the　while　keeping　his　eyes　upon　the　ground；　for　he　dares　not　raise　his　eyes　to　her；　as　if　he　were　guilty　of　some　crime　and　misdeed　toward　her；　for　which　he　seems　overcome　with　shame。　　And　Fenice；　who　timidly　and　fearfully　looks　at　him；　does　not　know　the　occasion　of　his　coming；　and　speaks　to　him　with　difficulty。　　〃Rise；　friend　and　fair　sir！　　Sit　here　beside　me。　and　weep　no　more；　and　tell　me　what　your　pleasure　is。〃　　〃Lady；　what　shall　I　say；　and　what　leave　unsaid？　　I　come　to　ask　your　leave。〃　　〃Leave？　To　do　what？〃　　〃Lady；　I　must　go　off　to　Britain。〃　　〃Then　tell　me　what　your　business　is；　before　I　give　you　leave　to　go。〃　　〃Lady；　my　father；　before　he　departed　this　life　and　died；　begged　me　not　to　fail　to　go　to　Britain　as　soon　as　I　should　be　made　a　knight。　　I　should　not　wish　for　any　reason　to　disregard　his　command。　　I　must　not　falter　until　I　have　accomplished　the　journey。　　It　is　a　long　road　from　here　to　Greece；　and　if　I　should　go　thither；　the　journey　would　be　too　long　from　Constantinople　to　Britain。　　But　it　is　right　that　I　should　ask　leave　from　you　to　whom　I　altogether　belong。〃　　Many　a　covert　sigh　and　sob　marked　the　separation。　　But　the　eyes　of　none　were　keen　enough；　nor　the　ears　of　any　sharp　enough；　to　learn　from　what　he　saw　and　heard　that　there　was　any　love　between　these　two。　　Cliges；　in　spite　of　the　grief　he　felt；　took　his　leave　at　the　first　opportunity。　　He　is　full　of　thought　as　he　goes　away；　and　so　are　the　emperor　and　many　others　who　stay　behind。　　But　more　than　all　the　others；　Fenice　is　pensive：　she　finds　no　bottom　or　bound　to　the　reflections　which　occupy　her；　so　abundantly　are　her　cares　multiplied。　　She　was　still　oppressed　with　thought　when　she　arrived　in　Greece。　　There　she　was　held　in　great　honour　as　mistress　and　empress；　but　her　heart　and　mind　belong　to　Cliges；　wherever　he　goes；　and　she　wishes　her　heart　never　to　return　to　her；　unless　it　is　brought　back　to　her　by　him　who　is　perishing　of　the　same　disease　with　which　he　has　smitten　her。　　If　he　should　get　well；　she　would　recover　too；　but　he　will　never　be　its　victim　without　her　being　so　as　well。　　Her　trouble　appears　in　her　pale　and　changed　colour；　for　the　fresh；　clear；　and　radiant　colour　which　Nature　had　given　her　is　now　a　stranger　to　her　face。　　She　often　weeps　and　often　sighs。　　Little　she　cares　for　her　empire　and　for　the　riches　that　are　hers。　　She　always　cherishes　in　her　remembrance　the　hour　when　Cliges　went　away；　and　the　leave　he　took　of　her；　how　he　changed　colour　and　grew　pale；　and　how　tearful　his　expression　was；　for　he　came　to　weep　in　her　presence　humbly　and　simply　upon　his　knees；　as　if　constrained　to　worship　her。　　All　this　is　sweet　and　pleasant　for　her　to　remember　and　think　about。　　And　afterward；　as　a　little　treat；　she　takes　on　her　tongue　instead　of　spice　a　sweet　word　which　for　all　Greece　she　would　not　wish　him　to　have　used　contrary　to　the　sense　she　had　understood　when　he　first　had　uttered　it；　for　she　lives　upon　no　other　dainty；　and　there　is　nothing　else　that　pleases　her。　　This　word　alone　sustains　and　nourishes　her；　and　assuages　all　her　pain。　She　cares　to　eat　and　drink　of　no　other　dish　or　beverage；　for　when　the　two　lovers　came　to　part；　Cliges　had　said　he　was　〃altogether　hers。〃　　This　word　is　so　sweet　and　tastes　so　good　that　from　the　tongue　it　stirs　her　heart；　and　she　takes　it　into　her　mouth　a