four arthurian romances-第53部分

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n　the　bridge；　with　a　moulted　falcon　upon　his　wrist；　I　saw　the　master　of　the　castle。　　I　had　no　sooner　saluted　him　than　he　came　forward　to　hold　my　stirrup　and　invited　me　to　dismount。　　I　did　so；　for　it　was　useless　to　deny　that　I　was　in　need　of　a　lodging…place。　　Then　he　told　me　more　than　a　hundred　times　at　once　that　blessed　was　the　road　by　which　I　had　come　thither。　　Meanwhile；　we　crossed　the　bridge；　and　passing　through　the　gate；　found　ourselves　in　the　courtyard。　　In　the　middle　of　the　courtyard　of　this　vavasor；　to　whom　may　God　repay　such　joy　and　honour　as　he　bestowed　upon　me　that　night；　there　hung　a　gong　not　of　iron　or　wood；　I　trow；　but　all　of　copper。　　Upon　this　gong　the　vavasor　struck　three　times　with　a　hammer　which　hung　on　a　post　close　by。　　Those　who　were　upstairs　in　the　house；　upon　hearing　his　voice　and　the　sound；　came　out　into　the　yard　below。　　Some　took　my　horse　which　the　good　vavasor　was　holding；　and　I　saw　coming　toward　me　a　very　fair　and　gentle　maid。　　On　looking　at　her　narrowly　I　saw　she　was　tall　and　slim　and　straight。　　Skilful　she　was　in　disarming　me；　which　she　did　gently　and　with　address；　then；　when　she　had　robed　me　in　a　short　mantle　of　scarlet　stuff　spotted　with　a　peacock's　plumes；　all　the　others　left　us　there；　so　that　she　and　I　remained　alone。　This　pleased　me　well；　for　I　needed　naught　else　to　look　upon。　　Then　she　took　me　to　sit　down　in　the　prettiest　little　field；　shut　in　by　a　wall　all　round　about。　　There　I　found　her　so　elegant；　so　fair　of　speech　and　so　well　informed；　of　such　pleasing　manners　and　character；　that　it　was　a　delight　to　be　there；　and　I　could　have　wished　never　to　be　compelled　to　move。　　But　as　ill　luck　would　have　it；　when　night　came　on；　and　the　time　for　supper　had　arrived。　　The　vavasor　came　to　look　for　me。　　No　more　delay　was　possible；　so　I　complied　with　his　request。　　Of　the　supper　I　will　only　say　that　it　was　all　after　my　heart；　seeing　that　the　damsel　took　her　seat　at　the　table　just　in　front　of　me。　　After　the　supper　the　vavasor　admitted　to　me　that；　though　he　had　lodged　many　an　errant　knight；　he　knew　not　how　long　it　had　been　since　he　had　welcomed　one　in　search　of　adventure。　　Then；　as　a　favour；　he　begged　of　me　to　return　by　way　of　his　residence；　if　I　could　make　it　possible。　　So　I　said　to　him：　‘Right　gladly；　sire！'　for　a　refusal　would　have　been　impolite；　and　that　was　the　least　I　could　do　for　such　a　host。

（Vv。　269…580。）　　That　night；　indeed；　I　was　well　lodged；　and　as　soon　as　the　morning　light　appeared；　I　found　my　steed　ready　saddled；　as　I　had　requested　the　night　before；　thus　my　request　was　carried　out。　　My　kind　host　and　his　dear　daughter　I　commended　to　the　Holy　Spirit；　and；　after　taking　leave　of　all；　I　got　away　as　soon　as　possible。　　I　had　not　proceeded　far　from　my　stopping…place　when　I　came　to　a　clearing；　where　there　were　some　wild　bulls　at　large；　they　were　fighting　among　themselves　and　making　such　a　dreadful　and　horrible　noise　that　if　the　truth　be　known；　I　drew　back　in　fear；　for　there　is　no　beast　so　fierce　and　dangerous　as　a　bull。　　I　saw　sitting　upon　a　stump；　with　a　great　club　in　his　hand；　a　rustic　lout；　as　black　as　a　mulberry；　indescribably　big　and　hideous；　indeed；　so　passing　ugly　was　the　creature　that　no　word　of　mouth　could　do　him　justice。　　On　drawing　near　to　this　fellow；　I　saw　that　his　head　was　bigger　than　that　of　a　horse　or　of　any　other　beast；　that　his　hair　was　in　tufts；　leaving　his　forehead　bare　for　a　width　of　more　than　two　spans；　that　his　ears　were　big　and　mossy；　just　like　those　of　an　elephant；　his　eyebrows　were　heavy　and　his　face　was　flat；　his　eyes　were　those　of　an　owl；　and　his　nose　was　like　a　cat's；　his　jowls　were　split　like　a　wolf；　and　his　teeth　were　sharp　and　yellow　like　a　wild　boar's；　his　beard　was　black　and　his　whiskers　twisted；　his　chin　merged　into　his　chest　and　his　backbone　was　long；　but　twisted　and　hunched。　（5）　　There　he　stood；　leaning　upon　his　club　and　accoutred　in　a　strange　garb；　consisting　not　of　cotton　or　wool；　but　rather　of　the　hides　recently　flayed　from　two　bulls　or　two　beeves：　these　he　wore　hanging　from　his　neck。　　The　fellow　leaped　up　straightway　when　he　saw　me　drawing　near。　　I　do　not　know　whether　he　was　going　to　strike　me　or　what　he　intended　to　do；　but　I　was　prepared　to　stand　him　off；　until　I　saw　him　stop　and　stand　stock…still　upon　a　tree　trunk；　where　he　stood　full　seventeen　feet　in　height。　　Then　he　gazed　at　me　but　spoke　not　a　word；　any　more　than　a　beast　would　have　done。　　And　I　supposed　that　he　had　not　his　senses　or　was　drunk。　　However；　I　made　bold　to　say　to　him：　‘Come；　let　me　know　whether　thou　art　a　creature　of　good　or　not。'　　And　he　replied：　‘I　am　a　man。'　　　‘What　kind　of　a　man　art　thou？'　　‘Such　as　thou　seest　me　to　be：　I　am　by　no　means　otherwise。'　　‘What　dost　thou　here？'　　‘I　was　here；　tending　these　cattle　in　this　wood。'　　‘Wert　thou　really　tending　them？　　By　Saint　Peter　of　Rome！　　They　know　not　the　command　of　any　man。　　I　guess　one　cannot　possibly　guard　wild　beasts　in　a　plain　or　wood　or　anywhere　else　unless　they　are　tied　or　confined　inside。'　　‘Well；　I　tend　and　have　control　of　these　beasts　so　that　they　will　never　leave　this　neighbourhood。'　　‘How　dost　thou　do　that？　　Come；　tell　me　now！'　　‘There　is　not　one　of　them　that　dares　to　move　when　they　see　me　coming。　　For　when　I　can　get　hold　of　one　I　give　its　two　horns　such　a　wrench　with　my　hard；　strong　hands　that　the　others　tremble　with　fear；　and　gather　at　once　round　about　me　as　if　to　ask　for　mercy。　　No　one　could　venture　here　but　me；　for　if　he　should　go　among　them　he　would　be　straightway　done　to　death。　　In　this　way　I　am　master　of　my　beasts。　　And　now　thou　must　tell　me　in　turn　what　kind　of　a　man　thou　art；　and　what　thou　seekest　here。'　　‘I　am；　as　thou　seest；　a　knight　seeking　for　what　I　cannot　find；　long　have　I　sought　without　success。'　　‘And　what　is　this　thou　fain　wouldst　find？'　　‘Some　adventure　whereby　to　test　my　prowess　and　my　bravery。　　Now　I　beg　and　urgently　request　thee　to　give　me　some　counsel；　if　possible；　concerning　some　adventure　or　marvellous　thing。'　　Says　he：　‘Thou　wilt　have　to　do　without；　for　I　know　nothing　of　adventure；　nor　did　I　ever　hear　tell　of　such。　　But　if　thou　wouldst　go　to　a　certain　spring　here　hard　by　and　shouldst　comply　with　the　practice　there；　thou　wouldst　not　easily　come　back　again。　　Close　by　here　thou　canst　easily　find　a　path　which　will　lead　thee　thither。　If　thou　wouldst　go　aright；　follow　the　straight　path；　otherwise　thou　mayst　easily　go　astray　among　the　many　other　paths。　　Thou　shalt　see　the　spring　which　boils；　though　the　water　is　colder　than　marble。　　It　is　shadowed　by　the　fairest　tree　that　ever　Nature　formed；　for　its　foliage　is　evergreen；　regardless　of　the　winter's　cold；　and　an　iron　basin　is　hanging　there　by　a　chain　long　enough　to　reach　the　spring。　　And　beside　the　spring　thou　shalt　find　a　massive　stone；　as　thou　shalt　see；　but　whose　nature　I　cannot　explain；　never　having　seen　its　like。　　On　the　other　side　a　chapel　stands；　small；　but　very　beautiful。　　If　thou　wilt　take　of　the　water　in　the　basin　and　spill　it　upon　the　stone；　thou　shalt　see　such　a　storm　come　up　that　not　a　beast　will　remain　within　this　wood；　every　doe；　star；　deer；　boar；　and　bird　will　issue　forth。　　For　thou　shalt　see　such　lightning…bolts　descend；　such　blowing　of　gales　and　crashing　of　trees；　such　torrents　fail；　such　thunder　and　lightning；　that；　if　thou　canst　escape　from　them　without　trouble　and　mischance；　thou　wilt　be　more　fortunate　than　ever　any　knight　was　yet。'　　I　left　the　fellow　then；　after　he　had　pointed　our　the　way。　　It　must　have　been　after　nine　o'clock　and　might　have　been　drawing　on　toward　noon；　when　I　espied　the　tree　and　the　chapel。　　I　can　truly　say　that　this　tree　was　the　finest　pine　that　ever　grew　on　earth。　　I　do　not　believe　that　it　ever　rained　so　hard　that　a　drop　of　water　could　penetrate　it；　but　would　rather　drip　from　the　outer　branches。　　From　the　tree　I　saw　the　basin　hanging；　（6）　of　the　finest　gold　that　was　ever　for　sale　in　any　fair。　　As　for　the　spring；　you　may　take　my　word　that　it　was　boiling　like　hot　water。　The　stone　was　of　emerald；　with　holes　in　it　like　a　cask；　and　there　were　four　rubies　underneath；　more　radiant　and　red　than　is　the　morning　sun　when　it　rises　in　the　east。　　Now　not　one　word　will　I　say　which　is　not　true。　　I　wished　to　see　the　marvellous　appearing　of　the　tempest　and　the　storm；　but　therein　I　was　not　wise；　for　I　would　gladly　have　repented；　if　I　could；　when　I　had　sprinkled　the　perforated　stone　with　the　water　from　the　basin。　　But　I　fear　I　poured　too　much；　for　straightway　I　saw　the　heavens　so　break　loose　that　from　more　than　fourteen　directions　the　lightning　blinded　my　eyes；　and　all　at　once　the　clouds　let　fall　snow　and　rain　and　hail。　The　storm　was　so　fierce　and　terrible　that　a　hundred　times　I　thought　I　should　be　killed　by　the　bolts　which　fell　about　me　and　by　the　trees　which　were　rent　apart。　　Know　that　I　was　in　great　distress　until　the　uproar　was　appeased。　　But　God　gave　me　such　comfort　that　the　storm　did　not　continue　long；　and　all　the　winds　died　down　again。　　The　winds　dared　not　blow　against　God's　will。　And　when　I　saw　the　air　clear　and　serene　I　was　filled　with　joy　again。　　For　I　have　observed　that　joy　quickly　causes　trouble　to　be　forgot。　　As　soon　as　the　storm　was　completely　past；　I　saw　so　many　birds　gathered　in　the　pine　tree　（if　any　one　will　believe　my　words）　that　not　a　branch　or　twig　was　to　be　seen　which　was　not　entirely　covered　with　birds。　（7）　　The　tree　was　all　the　more　lovely　then；　for　all　the　birds　sang　in　harmony；　yet　the　note　of　each　was　different；　so　that　I　never　heard　one　singing　another's　note。　　I；　too；　rejoiced　in　their　joyousness；　and　listened　to　them　until　they　had　sung　their　service　through；　for　I　have　never　heard　such　happy　song；　nor　do　I　think　any　one　else　will　hear　it；　unless　he　goes　to　listen　to　what　filled　me　with　such　joy　and　bliss　that　I　was　lost　in　rapture。　　I　stayed　there　until　I　heard　some　knights　coming；　as　I　thought　it　seemed　that　there　must　be　ten　of　them。　But　all　the　noise　and　commotion　was　made　by　the　approach　of　a　single　knight。　　When　I　saw　him　coming　on　alone　I　quickly　caught　my　steed　and　made　no　delay　in　mounting　him。　　And　the　knight；　as　if　with　evil　intent；　came　on　swifter　than　an　eagle；　looking　as　fierce　as　a　lion。　　From　as　far　as　his　voice　could　reach　he　began　to　challenge　me；　and　said：　‘Vassal；　without　provocation　you　have　caused　me　shame　and　harm。　　If　there　was　any　quarrel　between　us　you　should　first　have　challenged　me；　or　at　least　sought　justice　befo