four arthurian romances-第48部分

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courtesy；　and　knowledge；　and　all　that　a　lady　can　possess　of　goodness　has　been　taken　and　filched　from　us　by　Death；　who　has　destroyed　all　goodness　in　the　person　of　our　lady；　the　empress。　　Thus　Death　has　deprived　us　all　of　life。〃　　〃Ah；　God！〃　the　doctors　say；　〃we　know　that　Thou　art　wroth　with　this　city　because　we　did　not　reach　here　sooner。　　If　we　had　arrived　here　yesterday；　Death　might　have　boasted　of　her　strength　if　she　could　wrest　her　prey　from　us。〃　　〃Gentlemen；　madame　would　not　have　allowed　you　at　any　price　to　see　her　or　to　exercise　your　skill。　　Of　good　physicians　there　was　no　lack；　but　madame　would　not　permit　any　one　of　them　to　see　her　or　to　investigate　her　malady。〃　　〃No？〃　　〃Truly；　sirs；　that　she　would　not。〃　　Then　they　recalled　the　case　of　Solomon；　who　was　so　hated　by　his　wife　that　she　deceived　him　by　feigning　death。　（41）　　They　think　this　woman　has　done　the　same。　　But　if　they　could　in　any　way　bring　about　her　cure；　no　one　could　make　them　lie　or　keep　them　from　exposing　the　truth；　if　they　discovered　any　trickery。　　So　to　the　court　they　take　their　way；　where　there　was　such　a　noise　and　cry　that　you　could　not　have　heard　God's　thunder　crash。　　The　chief　of　these　three　doctors；　who　knew　the　most；　drew　near　the　bier。　　No　one　says　to　him　〃Keep　hands　off；〃　and　no　one　tries　to　hold　him　back。　　He　places　his　hand　on　her　breast　and　side；　and　surely　feels　that　life　is　still　in　the　body：　he　perceives　and　knows　that　well　enough。　　He　sees　the　emperor　standing　by；　mad　and　tormented　by　his　grief。　　Seeing　him；　he　calls　aloud：　〃Emperor；　console　thyself！　　I　am　sure　and　plainly　see　that　this　lady　is　not　dead。　　Leave　off　thy　grief；　and　be　comforted！　　If　I　do　not　restore　her　alive　to　thee；　thou　mayst　kill　me　or　string　me　up。〃

（Vv。　5995…5988。）　　At　once　throughout　the　palace　the　noise　is　quieted　and　hushed。　　And　the　emperor　bade　the　doctor　tell　him　fully　his　orders　and　wishes；　whatever　they　might　be。　　If　he　can　restore　life　in　the　empress　he　will　be　sire　and　lord　over　the　emperor　himself；　but　if　he　has　in　any　respect　lied　to　him　he　will　be　hanged　like　a　common　thief。　　And　the　doctor　said：　〃I　consent　to　that；　and　may　you　never　have　mercy　upon　me　if　I　do　not　cause　her　to　speak　to　you　here！　　　Without　tarrying　and　without　delay　have　the　palace　cleared　at　once；　and　let　not　a　single　soul　remain。　　I　must　examine　in　private　the　illness　which　afflicts　the　lady。　　These　two　doctors；　who　are　my　friends；　will　remain　with　me　alone　in　the　room；　and　let　every　one　else　go　out。〃　　This　order　would　have　been　opposed　by　Cliges；　John；　and　Thessala；　but　all　the　others　who　were　there　might　have　turned　against　them　if　they　had　tried　to　oppose　his　order。　　So　they　hold　their　peace　and　approve　what　they　hear　approved　by　the　others；　and　leave　the　palace。　　After　the　three　doctors　had　forcibly　tipped　apart　the　lady's　winding…sheer；　without　using　any　knife　or　scissors；　they　said　to　her：　〃Lady；　don't　be　frightened；　have　no　fear；　but　speak　to　us　with　confidence！　　We　know　well　enough　that　you　are　perfectly　sound　and　in　good　state。　　Be　sensible　and　obliging　now；　and　do　not　despair　of　anything；　for　if　you　have　any　need　of　us　we　will　all　three　assure　you　of　our　aid；　whether　for　good　or　ill。　　We　shall　be　very　loyal　to　you；　both　in　keeping　our　counsel　and　in　helping　you。　　Do　not　keep　us　talking　here！　　Since　we　put　at　your　disposal　our　skill　and　service；　you　should　surely　not　refuse。〃　Thus　they　think　to　hoodwink　and　deceive　her；　but　they　have　no　success；　for　she　has　no　need　or　care　for　the　service　which　they　promise　her；　so　they　are　wasting　their　time　in　a　vain　effort。　When　the　three　physicians　see　that　they　will　make　nothing　out　of　her　either　by　prayer　or　flattery；　then　they　take　her　from　her　bier；　and　begin　to　beat　and　belabour　her。　　But　their　efforts　are　foolish；　for　not　a　word　can　they　extract　from　her。　　Then　they　threaten　and　try　to　terrify　her　by　saying　that　if　she　does　not　speak　she　will　soon　have　reason　to　repent　of　her　folly；　for　they　are　going　to　do　such　a　wonderful　thing　to　her　that　such　a　thing　was　never　done　to　the　body　of　any　wretched　woman。　　〃We　know　that　you　are　alive；　and　will　not　deign　to　speak　to　us。　　We　know　that　you　are　feigning　death；　and　would　thus　deceive　the　emperor。　　Have　no　fear　of　us！　　If　any　of　us　has　angered　you；　before　we　do　you　further　harm；　cease　your　mad　behaviour　now；　for　you　are　acting　wickedly；　and　we　will　lend　you　our　aid　in　any　enterprisewise　or　mad。〃　　But　it　cannot　be；　they　have　no　success。　　Then　they　renew　their　attack；　striking　her　with　thongs　upon　the　back；　so　that　the　welts　are　plainly　seen；　and　they　combine　to　tear　her　tender　flesh　until　they　cause　the　blood　to　flow。

（Vv。　5989…6050。）　　When　they　had　beaten　her　with　the　thongs　until　they　had　slashed　her　flesh；　and　when　the　blood　is　dropping　down；　as　it　trickles　from　among　the　wounds；　even　then　their　efforts　are　of　no　avail　to　extract　from　her　a　sigh　or　word；　nor　to　make　her　stir　or　move。　　Then　they　say　that　they　must　procure　fire　and　lead；　which　they　will　melt　and　lay　upon　her　hands；　rather　than　fail　in　their　efforts　to　make　her　speak。　　After　securing　a　light　and　some　lead　they　kindle　a　fire　and　melt　the　lead。　　Thus　the　miserable　villains　torment　and　afflict　the　lady；　by　taking　the　lead　all　boiling　hot　from　the　fire　and　pouring　it　into　the　palms　of　her　hands。　　Not　satisfied　with　pouring　the　lead　clean　through　her　palms；　the　cowardly　rascals　say　that；　if　she　does　not　speak　at　once　they　will　straightway　stretch　her　on　the　grate　until　she　is　completely　grilled。　　Yet；　she　holds　her　peace；　and　does　not　refuse　to　have　her　body　beaten　and　maltreated　by　them。　　Now　they　were　on　the　point　of　placing　her　upon　the　fire　to　be　roasted　and　grilled　when　more　than　a　thousand　ladies；　who　were　stationed　before　the　palace；　come　to　the　door　and　through　a　little　crack　catch　sight　of　the　torture　and　anguish　which　they　were　inflicting　upon　the　lady；　as　with　coal　and　flame　they　accomplished　her　martyrdom。　　They　bring　clubs　and　hammers　to　smash　and　break　down　the　door。　　Great　was　the　noise　and　uproar　as　they　battered　and　broke　in　the　door。　　If　now　they　can　lay　hands　on　the　doctors；　the　latter　will　not　have　long　to　wait　before　they　receive　their　full　deserts。　　With　a　single　rush　the　ladies　enter　the　palace；　and　in　the　press　is　Thessala；　who　has　no　other　aim　than　to　reach　her　mistress。　　Beside　the　fire　she　finds　her　stripped；　severely　wounded　and　injured。　　She　puts　her　back　in　the　bier　again；　and　over　her　she　spreads　a　cloth；　while　the　ladies　go　to　give　their　reward　to　the　three　doctors；　without　wishing　to　wait　for　the　emperor　or　his　seneschal。　　Out　of　the　windows　they　threw　them　down　into　the　court…yard；　breaking　the　necks；　ribs；　arms；　and　legs　of　all：　no　better　piece　of　work　was　ever　done　by　any　ladies。

（Vv。　6051…6162。）　　Now　the　three　doctors　have　received　their　gruesome　reward　at　the　hands　of　the　ladies。　　But　Cliges　is　terror…stricken　and　filled　with　grief　upon　hearing　of　the　pain　and　martyrdom　which　his　sweetheart　has　endured　for　him。　　He　is　almost　beside　himself；　fearing　greatly；　and　with　good　reason；　that　she　may　be　dead　or　badly　injured　by　the　torture　inflicted　upon　her　by　the　three　physicians　who　now　are　dead。　　So　he　is　in　despair　and　despondency　when　Thessala　comes；　bringing　with　her　a　very　precious　ointment　with　which　she　has　already　gently　rubbed　the　body　and　wounds　of　her　mistress。　　When　they　laid　her　back　in　her　bier　the　ladies　wrapped　her　again　in　a　cloth　of　Syrian　stuff；　leaving　her　face　uncovered。　　All　that　night　there　is　no　abatement　of　the　cries　they　raise　unceasingly。　　Throughout　the　city。　high　and　low；　poor　and　rich；　are　beside　themselves　with　grief；　and　it　seems　as　if　each　one　boasts　that　he　will　outdo　all　others　in　his　woe；　and　would　fain　never　be　comforted。　　All　that　night　the　grief　continues。　　The　next　morning　John　came　to　the　court；　and　the　emperor　sends　for　him　and　issues　to　him　this　command：　〃John；　if　ever　thou　wroughtest　a　fine　piece　of　work；　now　put　forth　and　show　all　thy　skill　in　constructing　such　a　sepulchre　as　for　beauty　and　workmanship　shall　have　no　match。〃　　And　John；　who　had　already　performed　the　task；　says　that　he　has　already　completed　one　which　is　very　fine　and　cleverly　wrought；　but　when　he　began　the　work　he　had　no　thought　that　other　than　a　holy　body　should　be　laid　in　it。　〃Now　let　the　empress　be　laid　in　it　and　buried　in　some　sacred　place；　for　she；　I　think；　is　sanctified。〃　　〃You　have　spoken　well；〃　says　the　emperor；　〃she　shall　be　buried　yonder　in　my　lord　Saint　Peter's　Church；　where　bodies　are　wont　to　be　interred。　　For　before　her　death　she　made　this　request　of　me；　that　I　should　have　her　buried　there。　　Now　go　about　your　task；　and　place　your　sepulchre　in　the　best　position　in　the　cemetery；　where　it　ought　rightfully　to　be。〃　　John　replies：　〃Very　well；　my　lord。〃　John　　at　once　takes　his　leave；　and　prepares　the　sepulchre　with　great　skill；　a　feather…bed　he　placed　inside；　because　the　stone　was　hard　and　cold；　and　in　order　that　the　odour　may　be　sweet；　he　spreads　flowers　and　leaves　about。　　Another　reason　for　doing　this　was　that　no　one　might　perceive　the　mattress　he　had　laid　within　the　grave。　Already　Mass　had　been　said　for　the　dead　in　the　churches　and　parishes；　and　the　bells　were　tolling　continuously　as　is　proper　for　the　dead。　　Orders　are　given　to　bring　the　body　to　be　laid　in　the　sepulchre；　which　John　with　all　his　skill　has　constructed　so　richly　and　handsomely。　　In　all　Constantinople　none　remains；　whether　small　or　great；　who　does　not　follow　the　body　in　tears；　cursing　and　reproaching　Death。　　Knights　and　youths　alike　grow　faint；　while　the　ladies　and　damsels　beat　their　breasts　as　they　thus　find　fault　with　Death：　〃O　Death；〃　cries　each；　〃why　didst　thou　not　take　ransom　for　my　lady？　　Surely；　thy　gain　was　slight　enough；　whereas　the　loss　to　us　is　great。〃　　And　in　this　grief　Cliges　surely　bears　his　part；　as　he　suffers　and　laments　more　than　all　the　others　do；　and　it　is　strange　he　does　not　kill　himself。　But　still　he　decides　to　put　this　off　until　the　hour　and　the　time　shall　come　for　him　to　disinter　her　and　get　possession　of　her　and　see　whether　she　be　alive　or　not。　　Over　the　gave　stand　the　men　who　let　down　the　body　into　its　place；　but；　with　John　there；　they　do　not　meddle　with　the　adjustment　of　the　sarcophagus；　and　since　they　were　so　prostrated　that　they　could　not　see；　John　had　plenty　of　time　to　perform　his　special　task。　　When　the　coffi