four arthurian romances-第5部分

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all　alone；　seeming　to　be　engaged　in　thought。　　Erec　took　him　for　an　honest　man　who　would　at　once　give　him　lodging。　　When　he　turned　through　the　gate　into　the　yard；　the　vavasor　ran　to　meet　him；　and　saluted　him　before　Erec　had　said　a　word。　　〃Fair　sir；〃　says　he；　〃be　welcome。　　If　you　will　deign　to　lodge　with　me；　here　is　my　house　all　ready　for　you。〃　　Erec　replies：　〃Thank　you！　　For　no　other　purpose　have　I　come；　I　need　a　lodging　place　this　night。〃

（Vv。　393…410。）　　Erec　dismounts　from　his　horse；　which　the　host　himself　leads　away　by　the　bridle；　and　does　great　honour　to　his　guest。　　The　vavasor　summons　his　wife　and　his　beautiful　daughter；　who　were　busy　in　a　work…roomdoing　I　know　not　what。　　The　lady　came　out　with　her　daughter；　who　was　dressed　in　a　soft　white　under…robe　with　wide　skirts　hanging　loose　in　folds。　　Over　it　she　wore　a　white　linen　garment；　which　completed　her　attire。　　And　this　garment　was　so　old　that　it　was　full　of　holes　down　the　sides。　Poor；　indeed；　was　her　garb　without；　but　within　her　body　was　fair。

（Vv。　411…458。）　　The　maid　was　charming；　in　sooth；　for　Nature　had　used　all　her　skill　in　forming　her。　　Nature　herself　had　marvelled　more　than　five　hundred　times　how　upon　this　one　occasion　she　had　succeeded　in　creating　such　a　perfect　thing。　　Never　again　could　she　so　strive　successfully　to　reproduce　her　pattern。　　Nature　bears　witness　concerning　her　that　never　was　so　fair　a　creature　seen　in　all　the　world。　　In　truth　I　say　that　never　did　Iseut　the　Fair　have　such　radiant　golden　tresses　that　she　could　be　compared　with　this　maiden。　（8）　　The　complexion　of　her　forehead　and　face　was　clearer　and　more　delicate　than　the　lily。　　But　with　wondrous　art　her　face　with　all　its　delicate　pallor　was　suffused　with　a　fresh　crimson　which　Nature　had　bestowed　upon　her。　　Her　eyes　were　so　bright　that　they　seemed　like　two　stars。　　God　never　formed　better　nose；　mouth；　and　eyes。　　What　shall　I　say　of　her　beauty？　　In　sooth；　she　was　made　to　be　looked　at；　for　in　her　one　could　have　seen　himself　as　in　a　mirror。　　So　she　came　forth　from　the　work…　room：　and　when　she　saw　the　knight　whom　she　had　never　seen　before；　she　drew　back　a　little；　because　she　did　not　know　him；　and　in　her　modesty　she　blushed。　　Erec；　for　his　part；　was　amazed　when　he　beheld　such　beauty　in　her；　and　the　vavasor　said　to　her：　〃Fair　daughter　dear；　take　this　horse　and　lead　him　to　the　stable　along　with　my　own　horses。　　See　that　he　lack　for　nothing：　take　off　his　saddle　and　bridle；　give　him　oats　and　hay；　look　after　him　and　curry　him；　that　he　may　be　in　good　condition。〃

（Vv。　459…546）　　The　maiden　takes　the　horse；　unlaces　his　breast…　strap；　and　takes　off　his　bridle　and　saddle。　　Now　the　horse　is　in　good　hands；　for　she　takes　excellent　care　of　him。　　She　throws　a　halter　over　his　head；　rubs　him　down；　curries　him；　and　makes　him　comfortable。　　Then　she　ties　him　to　the　manger　and　puts　plenty　of　fresh　sweet　hay　and　oats　before　him。　　Then　she　went　back　to　her　father；　who　said　to　her：　〃Fair　daughter　dear；　take　now　this　gentleman　by　the　hand　and　show　him　all　honour。　　Take　him　by　the　hand　upstairs。〃　　The　maiden　did　not　delay　（for　in　her　there　was　no　lack　of　courtesy）　and　led　him　by　the　hand　upstairs。　　The　lady　had　gone　before　and　prepared　the　house。　　She　had　laid　embroidered　cushions　and　spreads　upon　the　couches；　where　they　all　three　sat　down　Erec　with　his　host　beside　him；　and　the　maiden　opposite。　Before　them；　the　fire　burns　brightly。　　The　vavasor　had　only　one　man…servant；　and　no　maid　for　chamber　or　kitchen　work。　　This　one　man　was　busy　in　the　kitchen　preparing　meat　and　birds　for　supper。　A　skilful　cook　was　he；　who　knew　how　to　prepare　meal　in　boiling　water　and　birds　on　the　spit。　　When　he　had　the　meal　prepared　in　accordance　with　the　orders　which　had　been　given　him；　he　brought　them　water　for　washing　in　two　basins。　　The　table　was　soon　set；　cloths；　bread；　and　wine　set　out；　and　they　sat　down　to　supper。　They　had　their　fill　of　all　they　needed。　　When　they　had　finished　and　when　the　table　was　cleared；　Erec　thus　addressed　his　host；　the　master　of　the　house：　〃Tell　me；　fair　host。〃　he　asked；　〃why　your　daughter；　who　is　so　passing　fair　and　clever；　is　so　poorly　and　unsuitably　attired。〃　　〃Fair　friend；〃　the　vavasor　replies；　〃many　a　man　is　harmed　by　poverty；　and　even　so　am　I。　　I　grieve　to　see　her　so　poorly　clad；　and　yet　I　cannot　help　it；　for　I　have　been　so　long　involved　in　war　that　I　have　lost　or　mortgaged　or　sold　all　my　land。　（9）　　And　yet　she　would　be　well　enough　dressed　if　I　allowed　her　to　accept　everything　that　people　wish　to　give　her。　　The　lord　of　this　castle　himself　would　have　dressed　her　in　becoming　fashion　and　would　have　done　her　every　manner　of　favour；　for　she　is　his　niece　and　he　is　a　count。　　And　there　is　no　nobleman　in　this　region；　however　rich　and　powerful；　who　would　not　willingly　have　taken　her　to　wife　had　I　given　my　consent。　　But　I　am　waiting　yet　for　some　better　occasion；　when　God　shall　bestow　still　greater　honour　upon　her；　when　fortune　shall　bring　hither　some　king　or　count　who　shall　lead　her　away；　for　there　is　under　Heaven　no　king　or　count　who　would　be　ashamed　of　my　daughter；　who　is　so　wondrous　fair　that　her　match　cannot　be　found。　　Fair；　indeed；　she　is；　but　yet　greater　far　than　her　beauty；　is　her　intelligence。　　God　never　created　any　one　so　discreet　and　of　such　open　heart。　　When　I　have　my　daughter　beside　me；　I　don't　care　a　marble　about　all　the　rest　of　the　world。　　She　is　my　delight　and　my　pastime；　she　is　my　joy　and　comfort；　my　wealth　and　my　treasure；　and　I　love　nothing　so　much　as　her　own　precious　self。〃

（Vv。　547…690。）　　When　Erec　had　listened　to　all　that　his　host　told　him；　he　asked　him　to　inform　him　whence　came　all　the　chivalry　that　was　quartered　in　the　town。　　For　there　was　no　street　or　house　so　poor　and　small　but　it　was　full　of　knights　and　ladies　and　squires。　And　the　vavasor　said　to　him：　〃Fair　friend；　these　are　the　nobles　of　the　country　round；　all；　both　young　and　old；　have　come　to　a　fete　which　is　to　be　held　in　this　town　tomorrow；　therefore　the　houses　are　so　full。　　When　they　shall　all　have　gathered；　there　will　be　a　great　stir　to…morrow；　for　in　the　presence　of　all　the　people　there　will　be　set　upon　a　silver　perch　a　sparrow…hawk　of　five　or　six　moultingsthe　best　you　can　imagine。　　Whoever　wishes　to　gain　the　hawk　must　have　a　mistress　who　is　fair；　prudent；　and　courteous。　　And　if　there　be　a　knight　so　bold　as　to　wish　to　defend　the　worth　and　the　name　of　the　fairest　in　his　eyes；　he　will　cause　his　mistress　to　step　forward　and　lift　the　hawk　from　the　perch；　if　no　one　dares　to　interpose。　　This　is　the　custom　they　are　observing；　and　for　this　each　year　they　gather　here。〃　Thereupon　Erec　speaks　and　asks　him：　〃Fair　host；　may　it　not　displease　you；　but　tell　me；　if　you　know；　who　is　a　certain　knight　bearing　arms　of　azure　and　gold；　who　passed　by　here　not　long　ago；　having　close　beside　him　a　courtly　damsel；　preceded　by　a　hump…　backed　dwarf。〃　　To　him　the　host　then　made　reply：　〃That　is　he　who　will　win　the　hawk　without　any　opposition　from　the　other　knights。　I　don't　believe　that　any　one　will　offer　opposition；　this　time　there　will　be　no　blows　or　wounds。　　For　two　years　already　he　has　won　it　without　being　challenged；　and　if　he　wins　it　again　this　year；　he　will　have　gained　permanent　possession　of　it。　　Every　succeeding　year　he　may　keep　it　without　contest　or　challenge。〃　Quickly　Erec　makes　reply：　〃I　do　not　like　that　knight。　　Upon　my　word；　had　I　some　arms　I　should　challenge　him　for　the　hawk。　　Fair　host；　I　beg　you　as　a　boon　to　advise　me　how　I　may　be　equipped　with　arms　whether　old　or　new；　poor　or　rich；　it　matters　not。〃　　And　he　replies　to　him　generously：　〃It　were　a　pity　for　you　to　feel　concern　on　that　score！　　I　have　good　fine　arms　which　I　shall　be　glad　to　lend　you。　　In　the　house　I　have　a　triple…woven　hauberk；　（10）　which　was　selected　from　among　five　hundred。　　And　I　have　some　fine　valuable　greaves；　polished；　handsome；　and　light　in　weight。　　The　helmet　is　bright　and　handsome；　and　the　shield　fresh　and　new。　Horse；　sword；　and　lance　all　I　will　lend　you；　of　course；　so　let　no　more　be　said。〃　　〃Thank　you　kindly；　fair　gentle　host！　　But　I　wish　for　no　better　sword　that　this　one　which　I　have　brought　with　me；　nor　for　any　other　horse　than　my　own；　for　I　can　get　along　well　enough　with　him。　　If　you　will　lend　me　the　rest；　I　shall　esteem　it　a　great　favour。　　But　there　is　one　more　boon　I　wish　to　ask　of　you；　for　which　I　shall　make　just　return　if　God　grant　that　I　come　off　from　the　battle　with　honour。〃　　And　frankly　he　replies　to　him：　〃Ask　confidently　for　what　you　want；　whatever　it　be；　for　nothing　of　mine　shall　lack　you。〃　　Then　Erec　said　that　he　wished　to　defend　the　hawk　on　behalf　of　his　daughter；　for　surely　there　will　be　no　damsel　who　is　one　hundredth　part　as　beautiful　as　she。　　And　if　he　takes　her　with　him；　he　will　have　good　and　just　reason　to　maintain　and　to　prove　that　she　is　entitled　to　carry　away　the　hawk。　　Then　he　added：　〃Sire；　you　know　not　what　guest　you　have　sheltered　here；　nor　do　you　know　my　estate　and　kin。　　I　am　the　son　of　a　rich　and　puissant　king：　my　father's　name　is　King　Lac；　and　the　Bretons　call　me　Erec。　　I　belong　to　King　Arthur's　court；　and　have　been　with　him　now　three　years。　　I　know　not　if　any　report　of　my　father　or　of　me　has　ever　reached　this　land。　　But　I　promise　you　and　vow　that　if　you　will　fit　me　out　with　arms；　and　will　give　me　your　daughter　to…morrow　when　I　strive　for　the　hawk；　I　will　take　her　to　my　country；　if　God　grant　me　the　victory；　and　I　will　give　her　a　crown　to　wear；　and　she　shall　be　queen　of　three　cities。〃　　〃Ah；　fair　sir！　Is　it　true　that　you　are　Erec；　the　son　of　Lac？〃　　〃That　is　who　I　am；　indeed〃　quoth　he。　　Then　the　host　was　greatly　delighted　and　said：　〃We　have　indeed　heard　of　you　in　this　country。　　Now　I　think　all　the　more　of　you；　for　you　are　very　valiant　and　brave。　　Nothing　now　shall　you　be　refused　by　me。　　At　your　request　I　give　you　my　fair　daughter。〃　　Then　taking　her　by　the　hand；　he　says：　〃Here；　I　give　her　to　you。〃　　Erec　received　her　joyfully；　and　now　has　all　he　desired。　　Now　they　are　all　happy　there：　the　father　is　greatly　delighted；　and　the　mother　weeps　for　joy。　　The　maiden　sat　quiet；　but　she　was　very　happy　and　glad　that　she　was　betrothed　to　him；　because　he　was　valiant　and　courteous：　and　she　knew　that　he　would　some　day　be　king；　and　she　should　receive　honour　and　be　crowned　rich　queen。

（Vv。　691…746。）　　They　had　sat　up　very　late　that　night。　　But　now　the　beds　were　prepared　with　white　sheets　and　soft　pil