four arthurian romances-第50部分

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I　see？　　Is　that　not　Cliges？　　It　surely　is。　　Is　not　that　the　empress　with　him　there？　　Nay；　but　it　looks　like　her。　　Never　did　one　thing　so　resemble　another。　　Her　nose；　her　mouth；　and　brow　are　like　those　of　my　lady　the　empress。　　Never　did　Nature　make　two　creatures　of　such　similitude。　　There　is　no　feature　in　this　woman　here　which　I　have　not　seen　in　my　lady。　If　she　were　alive；　I　should　say　that　it　was　certainly　she　herself。〃　　Just　then　a　pear　falls　down　and　strikes　close　by　Fenice's　ear。　　She　jumps　and　awakes　and；　seeing　Bertrand；　cries　out　aloud：　〃My　dear；　my　dear；　we　are　lost。　　Yonder　is　Bertrand。　　If　he　escapes　you；　we　are　caught　in　a　bad　trap；　for　he　will　tell　that　he　has　seen　us。〃　　Then　Bertrand　realised　that　it　was　the　empress　beyond　any　doubt。　　He　sees　the　necessity　of　leaving　at　once；　for　Cliges　had　brought　with　him　his　sword　into　the　garden；　and　had　laid　it　down　beside　the　bed。　　He　jumped　up　now　and　grasped　his　sword；　while　Bertrand　hastily　took　his　leave。　　As　fast　as　he　could　he　scaled　the　wall；　and　was　almost　safely　over　when　Cliges　coming　after　him　raised　his　sword　and　struck　him　with　such　violence　that　he　severed　his　leg　below　the　knee；　as　if　it　had　been　a　fennel　stalk。　　In　spite　of　this；　Bertrand　got　away；　though　badly　wounded　and　maimed。　　Beside　themselves　with　grief　and　wrath　at　the　sight　of　his　sorry　state；　his　men　on　the　other　side　picked　him　up；　and　insistently　inquired　who　it　was　who　had　used　him　thus。　　〃Don't　speak　to　me　now；〃　he　says；　〃but　help　me　to　mount　my　horse。　　No　mention　shall　be　made　of　this　excepting　to　the　emperor。　　He　who　thus　has　treated　me　must　be；　and　doubtless　is；　in　great　terror；　for　he　is　in　great　danger　of　his　life。〃　　Then　they　set　him　upon　his　palfrey　and　lead　him　through　the　city；　sorely　grieved　in　their　fright　the　while。　After　them　more　than　twenty　thousand　others　come；　following　them　to　the　court。　　And　all　the　people　run　together；　each　striving　to　be　there　first。　　Bertrand　made　his　complaint　aloud；　in　the　hearing　of　all；　to　the　emperor：　but　they　took　him　for　an　idle　chatterer　when　he　said　that　he　had　seen　the　empress　all　exposed。　The　city　is　in　a　ferment　of　excitement：　some　regard　the　news　they　hear　as　simple　nonsense；　others　advise　and　urge　the　emperor　to　visit　the　tower　himself。　　Great　is　the　noise　and　confusion　of　the　people　who　prepare　to　accompany　him。　　But　they　find　nothing　in　the　tower；　for　Fenice　and　Cliges　make　their　escape；　taking　with　them　Thessala；　who　comforts　them　and　declares　to　them　that；　if　perchance　they　see　people　coming　after　them　to　arrest　them；　they　need　have　no　fear；　that　they　would　never　approach　to　do　them　harm　within　the　range　of　a　strong　cross…bow。　　And　the　emperor　within　the　tower　has　John　sought　for　and　brought。　　He　orders　him　to　be　bound　and　tied　saying　that　he　will　have　him　hanged　or　burnt；　and　will　have　his　ashes　scattered　wide。　　He　shall　receive　his　due　reward　for　the　shame　he　has　caused　the　emperor；　but　this　reward　　will　not　be　agreeable；　because　John　has　hidden　in　the　tower　his　nephew　with　his　wife。　　〃Upon　my　word；　you　tell　the　truth；〃　says　John；　〃I　will　not　lie；　but　will　go　still　further　and　declare　the　truth；　and　if　I　have　done　any　wrong　it　is　right　that　I　should　be　seized。　　But　I　offer　this　as　my　excuse：　that　a　servant　ought　to　refuse　nothing　when　his　lawful　lord　commands。　　Now；　every　one　knows　forsooth　that　I　am　his；　and　this　tower　is　too。〃　　〃It　is　not；　John。　　Rather　is　it　thine。〃　　〃Mine；　sire？　　Yes；　after　him：　but　neither　do　I　belong　to　myself；　nor　have　I　anything　which　is　mine；　except　what　he　pleased　to　bestow　on　me。　　And　if　you　should　think　to　say　that　my　lord　is　guilty　of　having　done　you　wrong；　I　am　ready　to　take　up　his　defence　without　any　command　from　him。　　But　I　feel　emboldened　to　proclaim　openly　what　is　on　my　mind；　just　as　I　have　thought　it　out；　for　I　know　full　well　that　I　must　die。　So　I　will　speak　regardless　of　results。　　For　if　I　die　for　my　lord's　sake；　I　shall　not　die　an　ignoble　death；　for　the　facts　are　generally　known　about　that　oath　and　pledge　which　you　gave　to　your　brother；　that　after　you　Cliges　should　be　emperor；　who　now　is　banished　as　a　wanderer。　　But　if　God　will；　he　shall　yet　be　emperor！　　Hence　you　are　open　to　reproach；　for　you　ought　not　to　have　taken　a　wife；　yet　you　married　her　and　did　Cliges　a　wrong；　and　he　has　done　you　no　wrong　at　all。　　And　if　I　am　punished　with　death　by　you；　and　if　I　die　wrongfully　for　his　sake；　and　if　he　is　still　alive；　he　will　avenge　my　death　on　you。　　Now　go　and　do　the　best　you　can；　for　if　I　die　you　shall　also　die。〃

（Vv。　6587…6630。）　　The　emperor　trembles　with　wrath　upon　hearing　the　mocking　words　addressed　to　him　by　John。　　〃John；〃　he　says。　〃thou　shalt　have　so　much　respite；　until　we　find　thy　lord；　who　has　done　such　wrong　to　me；　though　I　loved　him　dearly　and　had　no　thought　of　defrauding　him。　　Meanwhile；　thou　shalt　stay　in　prison。　If　thou　knowest　what　has　become　of　him；　tell　me　at　once；　I　order　thee。〃　　〃I　tell　you？　　How　can　I　commit　such　treachery？　　Were　the　life　to　be　drawn　from　my　body　I　would　not　reveal　my　lord　to　you；　even　if　I　knew　his　whereabouts。　　As　a　matter　of　fact；　I　do　not　know　any　more　than　you　where　they　have　gone；　so　help　me　God！　　But　there　is　no　need　for　your　jealousy。　　I　do　not　so　much　fear　your　wrath　that　I　should　not　say；　so　that　all　can　hear；　how　you　have　been　deceived；　even　my　words　are　not　believed。　　You　were　deceived　and　tricked　by　potion　you　drank　on　your　wedding　night。　　Unless　it　happened　in　dream；　when　you　were　asleep；　you　have　never　had　your　pleasure　with　her；　but　the　night　made　you　dream；　and　the　dream　gave　you　as　much　satisfaction　as　if　it　had　happened　in　your　waking　hours　that　she　had　held　you　in　her　arms：　that　was　the　sum　of　your　satisfaction。　　Her　heart　was　so　devoted　to　Cliges　that　she　feigned　death　for　his　sake；　and　he　had　such　confidence　in　me　that　he　explained　it　all　to　me　and　established　her　in　my　house；　which　rightfully　belongs　to　him。　　You　ought　not　to　find　fault　with　me。　　I　ought；　indeed；　to　be　burnt　or　hanged；　were　I　to　betray　my　lord　or　refuse　to　do　his　will。〃

（Vv。　6631…6784。）　　When　the　emperor's　attention　is　recalled　to　the　potion　which　he　had　been　pleased　to　drink；　and　with　which　Thessala　had　deceived　him；　then　he　realised　for　the　first　time　that　he　had　never　had　pleasure　with　his　wife；　unless　it　had　happened　in　a　dream：　thus　it　was　but　an　illusory　joy。　　And　he　says　that　if　he　does　not　take　vengeance　for　the　shame　and　disgrace　inflicted　upon　him　by　the　traitor　who　has　seduced　his　wife；　he　will　never　again　be　happy。　　〃Now　quick！〃　he　says；　〃as　far　as　Pavia；　and　from　here　to　Germany；　let　no　castle；　town；　or　city　remain　in　which　search　is　not　made。　　I　will　hold　that　man　above　all　others　dear　who　will　bring　to　me　captive　the　two　of　them。　　Now　up　and　down；　near　and　far；　go　diligently　and　search！〃　Then　they　started　out　with　zeal　and　spent　all　that　day　in　the　search。　　But　in　the　number　Cliges　had　some　friends；　who；　if　they　found　them；　would　have　led　them　to　some　hiding…place　rather　than　hale　them　back　again。　　All　that　fortnight　they　exhausted　themselves　in　a　fruitless　search。　　For　Thessala；　who　is　acting　as　their　guide；　conducts　them　by　her　arts　and　charms　in　such　security　that　they　feel　no　dread　or　fear　of　all　the　strength　of　the　emperor。　　They　seek　repose　in　no　town　or　city；　yet　they　have　all　they　wish　or　desire；　even　more　so　than　is　usually　the　case。　For　all　they　need　is　procured　for　them　by　Thessala；　who　searches　and　scours　and　purveys　for　them。　　Nor　is　there　any　who　hunts　them　now；　for　all　have　returned　to　their　homes　again。　　Meanwhile　Cliges　is　not　idle；　but　starts　to　find　his　uncle；　King　Arthur。　　He　continued　his　search　until　he　found　him；　and　to　him　he　made　his　claim　and　protest　about　his　uncle；　the　emperor；　who；　in　order　to　disinherit　him；　had　disloyally　taken　a　wife；　which　it　was　not　right　for　him　to　do；　for　he　had　sworn　to　his　father　that　he　would　never　marry　in　his　life。　　And　the　King　says　that　with　a　fleet　he　will　proceed　to　Constantinople；　and　that　he　will　fill　a　thousand　ships　with　knights；　and　three　thousand　more　with　men…at…arms；　until　no　city　or　burg；　town　or　castle；　however　strong　or　however　high；　will　be　able　to　withstand　their　assault。　　Then　Cliges　did　not　forget　to　thank　the　King　for　the　aid　he　offered　him。　　The　King　sends　out　to　seek　and　summon　all　the　high　barons　of　the　land；　and　causes　to　be　requisitioned　and　equipped　ships；　war　vessels；　boats；　and　barks。　　He　has　a　hundred　ships　loaded　and　filled　with　shields；　lances；　bucklers；　and　armour　fit　for　knights。　　The　King　makes　such　great　preparations　for　the　war　that　never　did　Caesar　or　Alexander　make　the　like。　　He　orders　to　assemble　at　his　summons　all　England；　and　all　Flanders；　Normandy；　France；　and　Brittany；　and　all　the　men　as　far　as　the　Pyrenees。　（43）　Already　they　were　about　to　set　sail；　when　messengers　arrived　from　Greece　who　delayed　the　embarkation　and　kept　the　King　and　his　people　back。　　Among　the　messengers　who　came　was　John；　that　trusty　man；　for　he　would　never　be　a　witness　or　messenger　of　any　news　which　was　not　true；　and　which　he　did　not　know　for　a　certainty。　The　messengers　were　high　born　men　of　Greece；　who　came　in　search　for　Cliges。　　They　made　inquiry　and　asked　for　him；　until　they　found　him　at　the　King's　court；　when　they　said　to　him：　〃God　save　you；　sire！　　Greece　is　made　over　to　you。　and　Constantinople　is　given　to　you　by　all　those　of　your　empire；　because　of　the　right　you　have　to　them。　　Your　uncle　（but　you　know　it　not）　is　dead　of　the　grief　he　felt　because　he　could　not　discover　you。　　His　grief　was　such　that　he　lost　his　mind；　he　would　neither　drink　nor　eat；　but　died　like　a　man　beside　himself。　　Fair　sire；　now　come　back　again！　　For　all　your　lords　have　sent　for　you。　　Greatly　they　desire　and　long　for　you；　wishing　to　make　you　their　emperor。〃　　Some　there　were　that　rejoiced　at　this；　and　others　there　were　who　would　have　gladly　seen　their　guests　elsewhere；　and　the　fleet　make　sail　for　Greece。　　But　the　expedition　is　given　up；　and　the　King　dismisses　his　men；　and　the　hosts　depart　to　their　homes　again。　　And　Cliges　hurriedly　makes　haste　in　his　desire　to　return　to　Greece。　　He　has　no　wish　to　tarry。　　His　preparations　made；　he　took　his　leave　of　the　King；　and　then　of　all　his　friends。　and　taking　Fenice　with　him；　he　goes　away。　　They　travel　until　they　arrive　in　Greece；　where　they　receive　him　with　the　jubilation　which　they　ought　to　show　to　the