four arthurian romances-第45部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


；　for　without　resentment　and　hate　it　is　not　becoming　for　a　gentleman　to　continue　to　fight　and　defy　his　foe。　　But　if　this　knight　would　consent　to　come　to　my　court　and　join　our　sport　it　would　not　be　to　his　sorrow　or　hurt。　　Nephew；　make　this　request　of　him。〃　　〃Gladly；　my　lord。〃　　Cliges　has　no　desire　to　refuse；　and　gladly　consents　to　go　when　the　tourney　is　concluded。　　For　now　he　has　more　than　sufficiently　carried　out　the　injunction　of　his　father。　　And　the　King　says　he　has　no　desire　that　the　tournament　shall　last　too　long；　and　that　they　can　afford　to　stop　at　once。　　So　the　knights　drew　off；　according　to　the　wish　and　order　of　the　King。　　Now　that　he　is　to　follow　in　the　royal　suite；　Cliges　sends　for　all　his　armour。　　As　soon　as　he　can；　he　comes　to　court；　but　first；　he　completely　changed　his　gear；　and　came　dressed　in　the　style　of　the　French。　　As　soon　as　he　arrived　at　court；　all　ran　to　meet　him　without　delay；　making　such　joy　and　festival　that　never　was　there　greater　seen；　and　all　those　call　him　lord　whom　he　had　captured　in　the　joust；　but　he　would　hear　none　of　this；　and　said　they　might　all　go　free；　if　they　were　quite　sure　and　satisfied　that　it　was　he　who　had　captured　them。　　And　there　was　not　one　who　did　not　cry：　〃You　were　the　man；　we　are　sure　of　that！　　We　value　highly　your　acquaintance；　and　we　ought　to　love　and　esteem　you　and　call　you　our　lord；　for　none　of　us　can　equal　you。　　Just　as　the　sun　outshines　the　little　stars；　so　that　their　light　cannot　be　seen　in　the　sky　when　the　sun's　rays　appear；　so　is　our　prowess　extinguished　and　abased　in　the　presence　of　yours；　though　ours　too　was　once　famous　in　the　world。〃　　Cliges　knows　not　what　to　reply；　for　in　his　opinion　they　all　praise　him　more　than　he　deserves；　it　pleases　him；　but　he　feels　ashamed；　and　the　blood　rises　in　his　face；　revealing　to　all　his　modesty。　　Escorting　him　into　the　middle　of　the　hall；　they　led　him　to　the　King；　where　all　ceased　their　words　of　compliment　and　praise。　　The　time　for　the　meal　had　come；　and　those　whose　duty　it　was　hastened　to　set　the　tables。　　The　tables　in　the　hall　were　quickly　spread；　then　while　some　took　the　towels；　and　others　held　the　basins；　they　offered　water　to　all　who　came。　　When　all　had　washed；　they　took　their　seats。　　And　the　King；　taking　Cliges　by　the　hand；　made　him　sit　down　in　front　of　him；　for　he　wished　to　learn　this　very　day；　if　possible；　who　he　was。　　Of　the　meal　I　need　not　further　speak；　for　the　courses　were　as　well　supplied　as　if　beef　were　selling　at　a　penny。

（Vv。　5041…5114。）　　When　all　the　courses　had　been　served；　the　King　no　longer　held　his　peace。　　〃My　friend；〃　he　says；　〃I　wish　to　learn　if　it　was　from　pride　that　you　did　not　deign　to　come　to　court　as　soon　as　you　arrived　in　this　country；　and　why　you　kept　aloof　from　people；　and　why　you　changed　your　arms；　and　tell　me　what　your　name　is；　too；　and　from　what　race　you　spring。〃　　Cliges　replies：　〃It　shall　not　be　hid。〃　　He　told　and　related　to　the　King　everything　he　wished　to　know。　　And　when　the　King　had　heard　it　all；　he　embraced　him；　and　made　much　of　him；　while　all　joined　in　greeting　him。　　And　when　my　lord　Gawain　learned　the　truth；　he；　more　than　the　others；　cordially　welcomed　him。　　Thus；　all　unite　in　saluting　him；　saying　that　he　is　very　fair　and　brave。　　The　King　loves　and　honours　him　above　all　his　nephews。　　Cliges　tarries　with　the　King　until　the　summer　comes　around；　in　the　meantime　visiting　all　Brittany；　France；　and　Normandy；　where　he　did　so　many　knightly　deeds　that　he　thoroughly　proved　his　worth。　　But　the　love　whose　wound　he　bears　gives　him　no　peace　or　relief。　　The　inclination　of　his　heart　keeps　him　fixed　upon　a　single　thought。　　To　Fenice　his　thought　harks　back；　who　from　afar　afflicts　his　heart。　　The　desire　takes　him　to　go　back；　for　he　has　been　deprived　too　long　of　the　sight　of　the　most　desired　lady　who　was　ever　desired　by　any　one。　　He　will　not　prolong　this　privation；　but　prepares　to　return　to　Greece；　and　sets　out；　after　taking　leave。　　The　King　and　my　lord　Gawain　were　grieved；　I　can　well　believe；　when　they　could　no　longer　detain　him。　　But　he　is　anxious　to　return　to　her　whom　he　loves　and　so　covets　that　the　way　seems　long　to　him　as　he　passes　over　land　and　sea：　so　ardently　he　longs　for　the　sight　of　her　who　has　stolen　and　filched　Iris　heart　away。　　But　she　makes　him　recompense　in　full；　for　she　pays　him；　as　it　were　rent；　the　coin　of　her　own　heart；　which　is　no　less　dear　to　her。　　But　he　is　by　no　means　sure　of　that；　having　no　contract　or　agreement　to　show；　wherefore　his　anxiety　is　great。　　And　she　is　in　just　as　great　distress；　harried　and　tormented　by　love；　taking　no　pleasure　in　aught　she　sees　since　that　moment　when　she　saw　him　last。　　The　fact　that　she　does　not　even　know　whether　he　be　alive　or　not　fills　her　heart　with　anguish。　　But　Cliges　draws　nearer　day　by　day；　being　fortunate　in　having　favourable　winds；　until　he　joyfully　comes　to　port　before　Constantinople。　　When　the　news　reached　the　city；　none　need　ask　if　the　emperor　was　glad；　but　a　hundred　times　greater　was　the　empress's　joy。

（Vv。　5115…5156。）　　Cliges；　with　his　company；　having　landed　at　Constantinople；　has　now　returned　to　Greece。　　The　richest　and　most　noble　men　all　come　to　meet　him　at　the　port。　　And　when　the　emperor　encounters　him；　who　before　all　others　had　gone　to　meet　him　with　the　empress　by　his　side；　he　runs　to　embrace　and　greet　him　in　the　presence　of　them　all。　　And　when　Fenice　welcomes　him；　each　changes　colour　in　the　other's　presence；　and　it　is　indeed　a　marvel；　when　they　are　so　close　together；　how　they　keep　from　embracing　each　other　and　bestowing　such　kisses　as　love　would　have；　but　that　would　have　been　folly　and　madness。　　The　people　come　together　from　all　sides　with　the　desire　to　see　him；　and　conduct　him　through　the　city；　some　on　foot　and　some　on　horseback；　until　they　bring　him　to　the　imperial　palace。　　No　words　can　ever　tell　the　joy　and　honour　and　courteous　service　that　were　there　displayed。　　But　each　one　strove　as　best　he　might　to　do　everything　which　he　thought　would　please　and　gratify　Cliges。　　And　his　uncle　hands　over　to　him　all　his　possessions；　except　the　crown：　he　wishes　him　to　gratify　his　pleasure　fully；　and　to　take　all　he　desires　of　his　wealth；　either　in　the　form　of　land　or　treasure。　　But　he　has　no　care　for　silver　or　gold；　so　long　as　he　dares　not　reveal　his　thoughts　to　her　because　of　whom　he　can　find　no　repose；　and　yet　he　has　plenty　of　time　and　opportunity　to　speak；　if　he　were　not　afraid　of　being　repelled；　for　now　he　can　see　her　every　day；　and　sit　beside　her　〃tete…a…tete〃　without　opposition　or　hindrance；　for　no　one　sees　any　harm　in　that。

（Vv。　5157…5280。）　　Some　time　after　his　return；　he　came　alone　one　day　to　the　room　of　her　who　was　not　his　enemy；　and　you　may　be　sure　that　the　door　was　not　barred　at　his　approach。　　By　her　side　he　took　his　seat；　while　the　others　moved　away；　so　that　no　one　might　be　seated　near　them　and　hear　their　words。　　First；　Fenice　spoke　of　Britain；　and　asked　him　about　the　character　and　appearance　of　my　lord　Gawain；　until　her　words　finally　hit　upon　the　subject　which　filled　her　with　dread。　　She　asked　him　if　he　had　given　his　love　to　any　dame　or　damsel　in　that　land。　　Cliges　was　not　obstinate　or　slow　to　respond　to　this　demand；　but　he　knew　at　once　what　reply　to　make　as　soon　as　she　had　put　the　question。　　〃Lady；〃　he　says；　〃I　was　in　love　while　there；　but　not　with　any　one　of　that　land。　　In　Britain　my　body　was　without　my　heart；　as　a　piece　of　bark　without　the　wood。　　Since　leaving　Germany　I　have　not　known　what　became　of　my　heart；　except　that　it　came　here　after　you。　　My　heart　was　here；　and　my　body　was　there。　　I　was　not　really　away　from　Greece；　for　hither　my　heart　had　come；　for　which　I　now　have　come　back　again；　yet；　it　does　not　return　to　its　lodging…place；　nor　can　I　draw　it　back　to　me；　nor　do　I　wish　to　do　so；　if　I　could。　　And　youhow　has　it　fared　with　you；　since　you　came　to　this　country？　　What　joy　have　you　had　here？　　Do　you　like　the　people；　do　you　like　the　land？　I　ought　not　to　ask　you　any　other　question　than　whether　the　country　pleases　you。〃　　〃It　has　not　pleased　me　until　now；　but　at　present　I　feel　a　certain　joy　and　satisfaction；　which；　you　may　be　sure；　I　would　not　lose　for　Pavia　or　Piacenza。　　From　this　joy　I　cannot　wrest　my　heart；　nor　shall　I　ever　use　force　in　the　attempt。　Nothing　but　the　bark　is　left　in　me；　for　I　live　and　exist　without　a　heart。　　I　have　never　been　in　Britain；　and　yet　without　me　my　heart　has　been　engaged　in　business　there　I　know　not　what。〃　　〃Lady；　when　was　it　that　your　heart　was　there？　　Tell　me　when　it　went　thitherthe　time　and　seasonif　it　be　a　thing　that　you　can　fairly　tell　me　or　any　one　else。　　Was　it　there　while　I　was　there？〃　　〃Yes；　but　you　were　not　aware　of　it。　　It　was　there　as　long　as　you　were；　and　came　away　again　with　you。〃　　〃God！　　I　never　saw　it；　nor　knew　it　was　there。　　God！　　why　did　I　not　know　it？　　If　I　had　been　informed　of　this；　surely；　my　lady；　I　would　have　borne　it　pleasant　company。〃　　〃You　would　have　repaid　me　with　the　consolation　which　you　really　owed　to　me；　for　I　should　have　been　very　gracious　to　your　heart　if　it　had　been　pleased　to　come　where　it　might　have　known　I　was。〃　　〃Lady；　surely　it　came　to　you。〃　　〃To　me？　　Then　it　came　to　no　strange　place；　for　mine　also　went　to　you。〃　　〃Then；　lady；　according　to　what　you　say；　our　hearts　are　here　with　us　now；　for　my　heart　is　altogether　in　your　hands。〃　　〃You　in　turn　have　mine；　my　friend；　so　we　are　in　perfect　accord。　And　you　may　be　sure；　so　help　me　God；　that　your　uncle　has　never　shared　in　me；　for　it　was　not　my　pleasure；　　and　he　could　not。　Never　has　he　yet　known　me　as　Adam　knew　his　wife。　　In　error　I　am　called　a　wife；　but　I　am　sure　that　whoever　calls　me　wife　does　not　know　that　I　am　still　a　maid。　　Even　your　uncle　is　not　aware　of　it；　for；　having　drunk　of　the　sleeping　potion；　he　thinks　he　is　awake　when　he　is　asleep；　and　he　fancies　he　has　his　sport　with　me　while　I　lie　in　his　embrace。　　But　his　exclusion　has　been　complete。　　My　heart　is　yours；　and　my　body　too；　and　from　me　no　one　shall　ever　learn　how　to　practise　villainy。　　For　when　my　heart　went　over　to　you　it　presented　you　with　the　body　too；　and　it　made　a　pledge　that　none　other　should　ever　share　in　it。　　Love　for　you　has　wounded　me　so　deep　that　I　should　never　recover　from　it；　any　more　than　the　sea　can　dry　up。　　If　I　love　you；　and　you　love　me；　you　shall　never　be　called　Tristan；　nor　I　Iseut；　（37）　for　then　our　love　would　not　be　honourable。　　But　I　make　you　this　promise；　that　you