four arthurian romances-第54部分

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here　was　any　quarrel　between　us　you　should　first　have　challenged　me；　or　at　least　sought　justice　before　attacking　me。　　But；　sir　vassal；　if　it　be　within　my　power；　upon　you　shall　fall　the　punishment　for　the　damage　which　is　evident。　　About　me　here　lies　the　evidence　of　my　woods　destroyed。　He　who　has　suffered　has　the　right　to　complain。　　And　I　have　good　reason　to　complain　that　you　have　driven　me　from　my　house　with　lightning…bolt　and　rain。　　You　have　made　trouble　for　me；　and　cursed　be　he　who　thinks　it　fair。　　For　within　my　own　woods　and　town　you　have　made　such　an　attack　upon　me　that　resources　of　men　of　arms　and　of　fortifications　would　have　been　of　no　avail　to　me；　no　man　could　have　been　secure；　even　if　he　had　been　in　a　fortress　of　solid　stone　and　wood。　　But　be　assured　that　from　this　moment　there　shall　be　neither　truce　nor　peace　between　us。'　　At　these　words　we　rushed　together；　each　one　holding　his　shield　well　gripped　and　covering　himself　with　it。　　The　knight　had　a　good　horse　and　a　stout　lance；　and　was　doubtless　a　whole　head　taller　than　I。　　Thus；　I　was　altogether　at　a　disadvantage；　being　shorter　than　he；　while　his　horse　was　stronger　than　mine。　　You　may　be　sure　that　I　will　tell　the　facts；　in　order　to　cover　up　my　shame。　　With　intent　to　do　my　best；　I　dealt　him　as　hard　a　blow　as　I　could　give；　striking　the　top　of　his　shield；　and　I　put　all　my　strength　into　it　with　such　effect　that　my　lance　flew　all　to　splinters。　　His　lance　remained　entire；　being　very　heavy　and　bigger　than　any　knight's　lance　I　ever　saw。　　And　the　knight　struck　me　with　it　so　heavily　that　he　knocked　me　over　my　horse's　crupper　and　laid　me　flat　upon　the　ground；　where　he　left　me　ashamed　and　exhausted；　without　bestowing　another　glance　upon　me。　　He　took　my　horse；　but　me　he　left；　and　started　back　by　the　way　he　came。　　And　I；　who　knew　not　what　to　do；　remained　there　in　pain　and　with　troubled　thoughts。　Seating　myself　beside　the　spring　I　rested　there　awhile；　not　daring　to　follow　after　the　knight　for　fear　of　committing　some　rash　act　of　madness。　　And；　indeed；　had　I　had　the　courage；　I　knew　not　what　had　become　of　him。　　Finally；　it　occurred　to　me　that　I　would　keep　my　promise　to　my　host　and　would　return　by　way　of　his　dwelling。　　This　idea　pleased　me；　and　so　I　did。　　I　laid　off　all　my　arms　in　order　to　proceed　more　easily；　and　thus　with　shame　I　retraced　my　steps。　　When　I　reached　his　home　that　night；　I　found　my　host　to　be　the　same　good…natured　and　courteous　man　as　I　had　before　discovered　him　to　be。　　I　could　not　observe　that　either　his　daughter　or　he　himself　welcomed　me　any　less　gladly；　or　did　me　any　less　honour　than　they　had　done　the　night　before。　　I　am　indebted　to　them　for　the　great　honour　they　all　did　me　in　that　house；　and　they　even　said　that；　so　far　as　they　knew　or　had　heard　tell；　no　one　had　ever　escaped；　without　being　killed　or　kept　a　prisoner；　from　the　place　whence　I　returned。　　Thus　I　went　and　thus　I　returned；　feeling；　as　I　did　so；　deeply　ashamed。　　So　I　have　foolishly　told　you　the　story　which　I　never　wished　to　tell　again。〃

（Vv。　581…648。）　　〃By　my　head；〃　cries　my　lord　Yvain；　〃you　are　my　own　cousin…german；　and　we　ought　to　love　each　other　well。　　But　I　must　consider　you　as　mad　to　have　concealed　this　from　me　so　long。　If　I　call　you　mad；　I　beg　you　not　to　be　incensed。　　For　if　I　can；　and　if　I　obtain　the　leave；　I　shall　go　to　avenge　your　shame。〃　　〃It　is　evident　that　we　have　dined；〃　says　Kay；　with　his　ever…ready　speech；　〃there　are　more　words　in　a　pot　full　of　wine　than　in　a　whole　barrel　of　beer。　（8）　　They　say　that　a　cat　is　merry　when　full。　　After　dinner　no　one　stirs；　but　each　one　is　ready　to　slay　Noradin；　（9）　and　you　will　take　vengeance　on　Forre！　　Are　your　saddle…cloths　ready　stuffed；　and　your　iron　greaves　polished；　and　your　banners　unfurled？　　Come　now；　in　God's　name；　my　lord　Yvain；　is　it　to…night　or　to…morrow　that　you　start？　　Tell　us；　fair　sire；　when　you　will　start　for　this　rude　test；　for　we　would　fain　convoy　you　thither。　　There　will　be　no　provost　or　constable　who　will　not　gladly　escort　you。　　And　however　it　may　be；　I　beg　that　you　will　not　go　without　taking　leave　of　us；　and　if　you　have　a　bad　dream　to…night；　by　all　means　stay　at　home！〃　　〃The　devil；　Sir　Kay；〃　the　Queen　replies；　〃are　you　beside　yourself　that　your　tongue　always　runs　on　so？　　Cursed　be　your　tongue　which　is　so　full　of　bitterness！　　Surely　your　tongue　must　hate　you；　for　it　says　the　worst　it　knows　to　every　man。　　Damned　be　any　tongue　that　never　ceases　to　speak　ill！　　As　for　your　tongue；　it　babbles　so　that　it　makes　you　hated　everywhere。　　It　cannot　do　you　greater　treachery。　　See　here：　if　it　were　mine；　I　would　accuse　it　of　treason。　　Any　man　that　cannot　be　cured　by　punishment　ought　to　be　tied　like　a　madman　in　front　of　the　chancel　in　the　church。〃　　〃Really；　madame；〃　says　my　lord　Yvain；　〃his　impudence　matters　not　to　me。　　In　every　court　my　lord　Kay　has　so　much　ability；　knowledge；　and　worth　that　he　will　never　be　deaf　or　dumb。　　He　has　the　wit　to　reply　wisely　and　courteously　to　all　that　is　mean；　and　this　he　has　always　done。　　You　well　know　if　I　lie　in　saying　so。　　But　I　have　no　desire　to　dispute　or　to　begin　our　foolishness　again。　　For　he　who　deals　the　first　blow　does　not　always　win　the　fight；　but　rather　he　who　gains　revenge。　　He　who　fights　with　his　companion　had　better　fight　against　some　stranger。　　I　do　not　wish　to　be　like　the　hound　that　stiffens　up　and　growls　when　another　dog　yaps　at　him。〃

（Vv。　649…722。）　　While　they　were　talking　thus；　the　King　came　out　of　his　room　where　he　had　been　all　this　time　asleep。　　And　when　the　knights　saw　him　they　all　sprang　to　their　feet　before　him；　but　he　made　them　at　once　sit　down　again。　　He　took　his　place　beside　the　Queen；　who　repeated　to　him　word　for　word；　with　her　customary　skill；　the　story　of　Calogrenant。　　The　King　listened　eagerly　to　it；　and　then　he　swore　three　mighty　oaths　by　the　soul　of　his　father　Utherpendragon；　and　by　the　soul　of　his　son；　and　of　his　mother　too；　that　he　would　go　to　see　that　spring　before　a　fortnight　should　have　passed；　and　he　would　see　the　storm　and　the　marvels　there　by　reaching　it　on　the　eve　of　my　lord　Saint　John　the　Baptist's　feast；　there　he　would　spend　the　night；　and　all　who　wished　might　accompany　him。　　All　the　court　thought　well　of　this；　for　the　knights　and　the　young　bachelors　were　very　eager　to　make　the　expedition。　　But　despite　the　general　joy　and　satisfaction　my　lord　Yvain　was　much　chagrined；　for　he　intended　to　go　there　all　alone；　so　he　was　grieved　and　much　put　out　because　of　the　King　who　planned　to　go。　　The　chief　cause　of　his　displeasure　was　that　he　knew　that　my　lord　Kay；　to　whom　the　favour　would　not　be　refused　if　he　should　solicit　it；　would　secure　the　battle　rather　than　he　himself；　or　else　perchance　my　lord　Gawain　would　first　ask　for　it。　If　either　one　of　these　two　should　make　request；　the　favour　would　never　be　refused　him。　　But；　having　no　desire　for　their　company；　he　resolves　not　to　wait　for　them；　but　to　go　off　alone；　if　possible；　whether　it　be　to　his　gain　or　hurt。　　And　whoever　may　stay　behind；　he　intends　to　be　on　the　third　day　in　the　forest　of　Broceliande；　and　there　to　seek　if　possibly　he　may　find　the　narrow　wooded　path　for　which　he　yearns　eagerly；　and　the　plain　with　the　strong　castle；　and　the　pleasure　and　delight　of　the　courteous　damsel；　who　is　so　charming　and　fair；　and　with　the　damsel　her　worthy　sire；　who　is　so　honourable　and　nobly　born　that　he　strives　to　dispense　honour。　　Then　he　will　see　the　bulls　in　the　clearing；　with　the　giant　boor　who　watches　them。　　Great　is　his　desire　to　see　this　fellow；　who　is　so　stout　and　big　and　ugly　and　deformed；　and　as　black　as　a　smith。　　Then；　too；　he　will　see；　if　possible；　the　stone　and　the　spring　itself；　and　the　basin　and　the　birds　in　the　pine…tree；　and　he　will　make　it　rain　and　blow。　　But　of　all　this　he　will　not　boast；　nor；　if　he　can　help　it；　shall　any　one　know　of　his　purpose　until　he　shall　have　received　from　it　either　great　humiliation　or　great　renown：　then　let　the　facts　be　known。

（Vv。　723…746。）　　My　lord　Yvain　gets　away　from　the　court　without　any　one　meeting　him；　and　proceeds　alone　to　his　lodging　place。　There　he　found　all　his　household；　and　gave　orders　to　have　his　horse　saddled；　then；　calling　one　of　his　squires　who　was　privy　to　his　every　thought；　he　says：　〃Come　now；　follow　me　outside　yonder；　and　bring　me　my　arms。　　I　shall　go　out　at　once　through　yonder　gate　upon　my　palfrey。　　For　thy　part；　do　not　delay；　for　I　have　a　long　road　to　travel。　　Have　my　steed　well　shod；　and　bring　him　quickly　where　I　am；　then　shalt　thou　lead　back　my　palfrey。　　But　take　good　care；　I　adjure　thee；　if　any　one　questions　thee　about　me；　to　give　him　no　satisfaction。　　Otherwise；　whatever　thy　confidence　in　me；　thou　need　never　again　count　on　my　goodwill。〃　　〃Sire；〃　he　says；　〃all　will　be　well；　for　no　one　shall　learn　anything　from　me。　Proceed；　and　I　shall　follow　you。〃

（Vv。　747…906。）　　My　lord　Yvain　mounts　at　once；　intending　to　avenge；　if　possible；　his　cousin's　disgrace　before　he　returns。　　The　squire　ran　for　the　arms　and　steed；　he　mounted　at　once　without　delay；　since　he　was　already　equipped　with　shoes　and　nails。　　Then　he　followed　his　master's　track　until　he　saw　him　standing　mounted；　waiting　to　one　side　of　the　road　in　a　place　apart。　　He　brought　him　his　harness　and　equipment；　and　then　accoutred　him。　　My　lord　Yvain　made　no　delay　after　putting　on　his　arms；　but　hastily　made　his　way　each　day　over　the　mountains　and　through　the　valleys；　through　the　forests　long　and　wide；　through　strange　and　wild　country；　passing　through　many　gruesome　spots；　many　a　danger　and　many　a　strait；　until　he　came　directly　to　the　path；　which　was　full　of　brambles　and　dark　enough；　then　he　felt　he　was　safe　at　last；　and　could　not　now　lose　his　way。　　Whoever　may　have　to　pay　the　cost；　he　will　not　stop　until　he　sees　the　pine　which　shades　the　spring　and　stone；　and　the　tempest　of　hail　and　rain　and　thunder　and　wind。　　That　night；　you　may　be　sure；　he　had　such　lodging　as　he　desired；　for　he　found　the　vavasor　to　be　even　more　polite　and　courteous　than　he　had　been　told；　and　in　the　damsel　he　perceived　a　hundred　times　more　sense　and　beauty　than　Calogrenant　had　spoken　of；　for　one　cannot　rehearse　the　sum　of　a　lady's　or　a　good　man's　qualities。　The　moment　such　a　man　devotes　himself　to　virtue；　his　story　cannot　be　summed　up　or　told；　for　no　tongue　could　estimate　the　honourable　deeds　of　such　a　gentleman。　　My　lord　Yvain　was　well　content　with　the　excellent　lodging　he　had　that　night；　and　whe