four arthurian romances-第46部分

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nor　I　Iseut；　（37）　for　then　our　love　would　not　be　honourable。　　But　I　make　you　this　promise；　that　you　shall　never　have　other　joy　of　me　than　that　you　now　have；　unless　you　can　devise　some　means　whereby　I　can　be　removed　from　your　uncle　and　his　society　without　his　finding　me　again；　or　being　able　to　blame　either　you　or　me；　or　having　any　ground　for　accusation。　　And　to…morrow　you　shall　tell　me　of　the　best　plan　you　have　devised；　and　I；　too；　will　think　of　it。　　To…morrow；　as　soon　as　I　arise；　come　and　speak　with　me；　then　each　of　us　will　speak　his　mind；　and　we　shall　proceed　to　execute　whatever　seems　best。

（Vv。　5281…5400。）　　As　soon　as　Cliges　heard　her　will　he　fully　agreed　with　her；　and　said　that　would　be　the　best　thing　to　do。　　He　leaves　her　happy；　and　goes　off　with　a　light　heart　himself。　　That　night　each　one　lies　awake　thinking　over；　with　great　delight；　what　the　best　plan　will　be。　　The　next　morning；　as　soon　as　they　had　arisen；　they　meet　again　to　take　counsel　privately；　as　indeed　they　must。　　Cliges　speaks　first　and　says　what　he　had　thought　of　in　the　night：　〃My　lady；〃　says　he；　〃I　think；　and　am　of　the　opinion；　that　we　could　not　do　better　than　go　to　Britain；　I　thought　I　might　take　you　there；　now　do　not　refuse；　for　never　was　Helen　so　joyfully　received　at　Troy　when　Paris　took　her　thither　but　that　still　greater　joy　would　be　felt　over　you　and　me　in　the　land　of　the　King；　my　uncle。　　And　if　this　plan　does　not　meet　with　your　favour；　tell　me　what　you　think；　for　I　am　ready；　whatever　may　happen；　to　abide　by　your　decision。〃　　And　she　replies：　〃This　is　my　answer：　I　will　never　go　off　with　you　thus；　for　after　we　had　gone　away；　every　one　would　speak　of　us　as　they　do　of　Iseut　the　Blond　and　of　Tristan。　　And　everywhere　all　men　and　women　would　speak　evil　of　our　love。　　No　one　would　believe；　nor　is　it　natural　that　they　should　do　so；　the　truth　of　the　matter。　　Who　would　believe　that　I　have　thus；　all　to　no　purpose；　evaded　and　escaped　from　your　uncle　still　a　maid？　　I　should　be　regarded　simply　as　wanton　and　dissolute；　and　you　would　be　thought　mad。　　It　is　well　to　remember　and　observe　the　injunction　of　St。　Paul：　if　any　one　is　unwilling　to　live　chaste；　St。　Paul　counsels　him　to　act　so　that　he　shall　receive　no　criticism；　or　blame；　or　reproach。　（38）　　It　is　well　to　stop　evil　mouths；　and　therefore；　if　you　agree；　I　have　a　proposal　to　make：　it　seems　best　to　me　to　consent　to　feign　that　I　am　dead。　　I　shall　fall　sick　in　a　little　while。　　And　you　in　the　meantime　may　plan　some　preparations　for　a　place　of　burial。　　Put　all　your　wits　to　work　to　the　end　that　a　sepulchre　and　bier　be　so　constructed　that　I　shall　not　die　in　it；　or　be　stifled；　and　that　no　one　shall　mount　guard　over　it　at　night　when　you　come　to　take　me　out。　　So　now　seek　such　a　retreat　for　me；　where　no　one　may　see　me　excepting　you；　and　let　no　one　provide　for　any　need　of　mine　except　you；　to　whom　I　surrender　and　give　myself。　　Never；　my　whole　life　long；　do　I　wish　to　be　served　by　other　man　than　you。　　My　lord　and　my　servant　you　shall　be；　whatever　you　do　shall　seem　good　to　me；　and　never　shall　I　be　mistress　of　any　empire　unless　you　are　its　master。　　Any　wretched　place；　however　dark　and　foul；　will　seem　brighter　to　me　than　all　these　halls　if　you　are　with　me。　　If　I　have　you　where　I　can　see　you；　I　shall　be　mistress　of　boundless　treasure；　and　the　world　will　belong　to　me。　　And　if　the　business　is　carefully　managed；　no　harm　will　come　of　it；　and　no　one　will　ever　be　able　to　speak　ill　of　it；　for　it　will　be　believed　throughout　the　empire　that　I　am　mouldering　in　the　ground。　　My　maid；　Thessala；　who　has　been　my　nurse；　and　in　whom　I　have　great　confidence；　will　give　me　faithful　aid；　for　she　is　very　clever；　and　I　trust　her　fully。〃　　And　Cliges；　when　he　heard　his　sweetheart；　replies：　〃My　lady；　if　this　is　feasible；　and　if　you　think　your　nurse's　advice　reliable；　we　have　nothing　to　do　but　make　our　preparations　without　delay；　but　if　we　commit　any　imprudence；　we　are　lost　without　escape。　　In　this　city　there　is　an　artisan　who　cuts　and　carves　wonderful　images：　there　is　no　land　where　he　is　not　known　for　the　figures　which　he　has　shapen　and　carved　and　made。　　John　is　his　name；　and　he　is　a　serf　o？　mine。　　No　one　could　cope　with　John's　best　efforts　in　any　art；　however　varied　it　might　be。　　For；　compared　with　him；　they　are　all　novices；　and　like　a　child　with　nurse。　　By　imitating　his　handiwork　the　artisans　of　Antioch　and　Rome　have　learned　all　they　know　how　to　doand　besides　there　is　no　more　loyal　man。　　Now　I　want　to　make　a　test；　and　if　I　can　put　trust　in　him　I　will　set　him　and　all　his　descendants　free；　and　I　shall　not　fail　to　tell　him　of　all　our　plan　if　he　will　swear　and　give　his　word　to　me　that　he　will　aid　me　loyally；　and　will　never　divulge　my　secret。〃

（Vv。　5401…5466。）　　And　she　replies：　〃So　let　it　be。〃　　With　her　permission　Cliges　left　the　room　and　went　away。　　And　she　sends　for　Thessala；　her　maid；　whom　she　brought　with　her　from　her　native　land。　　Thessala　came　at　once　without　delay；　yet　not　knowing　why　she　was　summoned。　　When　she　asked　Fenice　privately　what　was　her　desire　and　pleasure；　she　concealed　none　of　her　intentions　from　her。　　〃Nurse；〃　she　said；　〃I　know　full　well　that　anything　I　tell　you　will　go　no　further；　for　I　have　tried　you　thoroughly　and　have　found　you　very　prudent。　　I　love　you　for　all　you　have　done　for　me。　In　all　my　troubles　I　appeal　to　you　without　seeking　counsel　elsewhere。　　You　know　why　I　lie　awake；　and　what　my　thoughts　and　wishes　are。　　My　eyes　behold　only　one　object　which　pleases　me；　but　I　can　have　no　pleasure　or　joy　in　it　if　I　do　not　first　buy　it　with　a　heavy　price。　　For　I　have　now　found　my　peer；　and　if　I　love　him　he　loves　me　in　return；　and　if　I　grieve　he　grieves　too　for　my　pain　and　sorrow。　　Now　I　must　acquaint　you　with　a　plan　and　project　upon　which　we　two　have　privately　agreed。〃　　Then　she　told　and　explained　to　her　how　she　was　willing　to　feign　illness；　and　would　complain　so　bitterly　that　at　last　she　would　pretend　to　be　dead；　and　how　Cliges　would　steal　her　away　at　night；　and　then　they　would　be　together　all　their　days。　　She　thinks　that　in　no　other　way　she　could　longer　bear　to　live。　　But　if　she　was　sure　that　she　would　consent　to　lend　her　aid；　the　matter　would　be　arranged　in　accordance　with　their　wishes。　　〃But　I　am　tired　of　waiting　for　my　joy　and　luck。〃　　Then　her　nurse　assured　her　that　she　would　help　her　in　every　way；　telling　her　to　have　no　further　fear。　　She　said　that　as　soon　as　she　set　to　work　she　would　bring　it　about　that　there　would　be　no　man；　upon　seeing　her；　who　would　not　certainly　believe　that　the　soul　had　left　the　body　after　she　had　drunk　of　a　potion　which　would　leave　her　cold；　colourless；　pale；　and　stiff；　without　power　of　speech　and　deprived　of　health；　yet　she　would　be　alive　and　well；　and　would　have　no　sensations　of　any　kind；　and　would　be　none　the　worse　for　a　day　and　a　night　entire　spent　in　the　sepulchre　and　bier。　（39）

（Vv。　5467…5554。）　　When　Fenice　heard　these　words；　she　thus　spoke　in　reply：　〃Nurse；　I　commit　myself　to　you；　and；　with　full　confidence　in　you；　will　take　no　steps　in　my　own　behalf。　　I　am　in　your　hands；　so　think　of　my　interests；　and　tell　all　the　people　who　are　here　to　betake　themselves　away；　for　I　am　ill；　and　they　bother　me。〃　　So；　like　a　prudent　woman；　she　said　to　them：　〃My　lords；　my　lady　is　not　well；　and　desires　you　all　to　go　away。　　You　are　talking　loud　and　making　a　noise；　and　the　noise　is　disagreeable　to　her。　　She　can　get　no　rest　or　repose　so　long　as　you　are　in　the　room。　　I　never　remember　her　to　have　complained　of　such　a　sickness　as　this　so　violent　and　serious　does　it　seem。　　So　go　away；　and　don't　feel　hurt。〃　　As　soon　as　she　had　issued　this　command；　they　all　quickly　go　away。　　And　Cliges　sent　for　John　to　come　quickly；　and　thus　in　private　spoke　to　him：　〃John；　dost　thou　know　what　I　am　about　to　say？　　Thou　art　my　slave　and　I　thy　master；　and　I　can　give　away　or　sell　thy　body　like　a　thing　which　is　my　own。　　But　if　I　could　trust　thee　in　an　affair　I　meditate；　thou　wouldst　go　for　ever　free；　as　well　as　the　heirs　which　may　be　born　of　thee。〃　　John；　in　his　desire　for　freedom；　replies　at　once：　〃My　lord；　there　is　nothing　I　would　not　gladly　do　to　see　myself；　my　wife；　and　children　free。　　Tell　me　what　your　orders　are；　for　nothing　can　be　so　hard　as　to　cause　me　any　work　or　pain　or　be　hard　for　me　to　execute。　　For　that　matter；　even　were　it　against　my　will；　I　must　needs　obey　your　commands　and　give　up　my　own　affairs。〃　　〃True；　John；　but　this　is　a　matter　of　which　I　hardly　dare　to　speak；　unless　thou　wilt　assure　me　upon　thy　oath　thou　wilt　faithfully　give　me　aid　and　never　betray　me。〃　　〃Willingly；　sire；〃　John　makes　reply：　〃have　never　a　fear　on　that　account！　　For　I　will　swear　and　pledge　my　word　that；　so　long　as　I　live；　I　will　never　say　a　word　which　I　think　will　grieve　you　or　cause　you　harm。〃　　〃Ah　John；　even　were　I　to　die　for　it；　there　is　no　man　to　whom　I　would　dare　mention　the　matter　in　which　I　desire　thy　counsel；　I　would　rather　have　my　eye　plucked　out；　I　would　rather　be　put　to　death　by　thee　than　that　thou　shouldst　speak　of　it　to　another　man。　　But　I　hold　thee　to　be　so　loyal　and　prudent　that　I　will　reveal　to　thee　all　my　thought。　　I　am　sure　thou　wilt　observe　my　wishes；　both　by　aiding　me　and　holding　thy　peace。〃　　〃Truly；　sire　so；　help　me　God！〃　　Then　Cliges　speaks　and　explains　to　him　openly　the　adventurous　plan。　And　when　he　had　revealed　the　projectas　you　have　heard　me　set　it　forththen　John　said　that　he　would　promise　to　construct　the　sepulchre　in　accordance　with　his　best　skill；　and　said　that　he　would　take　him　to　see　a　certain　house　of　his　which　no　one　yet　had　ever　seennot　even　his　wife　or　any　child　of　his。　　This　house；　which　he　had　built；　he　would　show　him；　if　he　cared　to　go　with　him　to　the　place　where　in　absolute　privacy　he　works　and　paints　and　carves。　　He　would　show　him　the　finest　and　prettiest　place　that　he　had　ever　seen。　　Cliges　replies：　〃Let　us　go　thither　then。〃

（Vv。　5555…5662。）　　Below　the　city；　in　a　remote　spot；　John　had　expended　much　labour　in　the　construction　of　a　tower。　　Thither　he　conducted　Cliges；　leading　him　through　the　different　storeys；　which　were　decorated　with　fine　painted　pictures。　　He　shows　him　the　rooms　and　the　fire…places；　taking　him　everywhere　up　and　down。　Cliges　examines　this　lonely　house　where　no　one　lives　or　has　access。　　He　passes　from　one　room　to　another；　until　he　thinks　he　has　seen　it　all；　and　he　is　much　pleased　with　the　tower　and　says　he　thinks　it　is　very　fine。　　The