four arthurian romances-第55部分

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h　a　gentleman。　　My　lord　Yvain　was　well　content　with　the　excellent　lodging　he　had　that　night；　and　when　he　entered　the　clearing　the　next　day；　he　met　the　bulls　and　the　rustic　boor　who　showed　him　the　way　to　take。　　But　more　than　a　hundred　times　he　crossed　himself　at　sight　of　the　monster　before　himhow　Nature　had　ever　been　able　to　form　such　a　hideous；　ugly　creature。　　Then　to　the　spring　he　made　his　way；　and　found　there　all　that　he　wished　to　see。　　Without　hesitation　and　without　sitting　down　he　poured　the　basin　full　of　water　upon　the　stone；　when　straightway　it　began　to　blow　and　rain；　and　such　a　storm　was　caused　as　had　been　foretold。　　And　when　God　had　appeased　the　storm；　the　birds　came　to　perch　upon　the　pine；　and　sang　their　joyous　songs　up　above　the　perilous　spring。　　But　before　their　jubilee　had　ceased　there　came　the　knight；　more　blazing　with　wrath　than　a　burning　log；　and　making　as　much　noise　as　if　he　were　chasing　a　lusty　stag。　　As　soon　as　they　espied　each　other　they　rushed　together　and　displayed　the　mortal　hate　they　bore。　　Each　one　carried　a　stiff；　stout　lance；　with　which　they　dealt　such　mighty　blows　that　they　pierced　the　shields　about　their　necks；　and　cut　the　meshes　of　their　hauberks；　their　lances　are　splintered　and　sprung；　while　the　fragments　are　cast　high　in　air。　　Then　each　attacks　the　other　with　his　sword；　and　in　the　strife　they　cut　the　straps　of　the　shields　away；　and　cut　the　shields　all　to　bits　from　end　to　end；　so　that　the　shreds　hang　down；　no　longer　serving　as　covering　or　defence；　for　they　have　so　split　them　up　that　they　bring　down　the　gleaming　blades　upon　their　sides；　their　arms；　and　hips。　　Fierce；　indeed；　is　their　assault；　yet　they　do　not　budge　from　their　standing…place　any　more　than　would　two　blocks　of　stone。　　Never　were　there　two　knights　so　intent　upon　each　other's　death。　　They　are　careful　not　to　waste　their　blows；　but　lay　them　on　as　best　they　may；　they　strike　and　bend　their　helmets；　and　they　send　the　meshes　of　their　hauberks　flying　so；　that　they　draw　not　a　little　blood；　for　the　hauberks　are　so　hot　with　their　body's　heat　that　they　hardly　serve　as　more　protection　than　a　coat。　　As　they　drive　the　sword…point　at　the　face；　it　is　marvellous　that　so　fierce　and　bitter　a　strife　should　last　so　long。　　But　both　are　possessed　of　such　courage　that　one　would　not　for　aught　retreat　a　foot　before　his　adversary　until　he　had　wounded　him　to　death。　　Yet；　in　this　respect　they　were　very　honourable　in　not　trying　or　deigning　to　strike　or　harm　their　steeds　in　any　way；　but　they　sat　astride　their　steeds　without　putting　foot　to　earth；　which　made　the　fight　more　elegant。　　At　last　my　lord　Yvain　crushed　the　helmet　of　the　knight；　whom　the　blow　stunned　and　made　so　faint　that　he　swooned　away；　never　having　received　such　a　cruel　blow　before。　　Beneath　his　kerchief　his　head　was　split　to　the　very　brains；　so　that　the　meshes　of　his　bright　hauberk　were　stained　with　the　brains　and　blood；　all　of　which　caused　him　such　intense　pain　that　his　heart　almost　ceased　to　beat。　　He　had　good　reason　then　to　flee；　for　he　felt　that　he　had　a　mortal　wound；　and　that　further　resistance　would　not　avail。　　With　this　thought　in　mind　he　quickly　made　his　escape　toward　his　town；　where　the　bridge　was　lowered　and　the　gate　quickly　opened　for　him；　meanwhile　my　lord　Yvain　at　once　spurs　after　him　at　topmost　speed。　As　a　gerfalcon　swoops　upon　a　crane　when　he　sees　him　rising　from　afar；　and　then　draws　so　near　to　him　that　he　is　about　to　seize　him；　yet　misses　him；　so　flees　the　knight；　with　Yvain　pressing　him　so　close　that　he　can　almost　throw　his　arm　about　him；　and　yet　cannot　quite　come　up　with　him；　though　he　is　so　close　that　he　can　hear　him　groan　for　the　pain　he　feels。　　While　the　one　exerts　himself　in　flight　the　other　strives　in　pursuit　of　him；　fearing　to　have　wasted　his　effort　unless　he　takes　him　alive　or　dead；　for　he　still　recalls　the　mocking　words　which　my　lord　Kay　had　addressed　to　him。　　He　had　not　yet　carried　out　the　pledge　which　he　had　given　to　his　cousin；　nor　will　they　believe　his　word　unless　he　returns　with　the　evidence。　　The　knight　led　him　a　rapid　chase　to　the　gate　of　his　town；　where　they　entered　in；　but　finding　no　man　or　woman　in　the　streets　through　which　they　passed；　they　both　rode　swiftly　on　till　they　came　to　the　palace…gate。

（Vv。　907…1054。）　　The　gate　was　very　high　and　wide；　yet　it　had　such　a　narrow　entrance…way　that　two　men　or　two　horses　could　scarcely　enter　abreast　or　pass　without　interference　or　great　difficulty；　for　it　was　constructed　just　like　a　trap　which　is　set　for　the　rat　on　mischief　bent；　and　which　has　a　blade　above　ready　to　fall　and　strike　and　catch；　and　which　is　suddenly　released　whenever　anything；　however　gently；　comes　in　contact　with　the　spring。　　In　like　fashion；　beneath　the　gate　there　were　two　springs　connected　with　a　portcullis　up　above；　edged　with　iron　and　very　sharp。　　If　anything　stepped　upon　this　contrivance　the　gate　descended　from　above；　and　whoever　below　was　struck　by　the　gate　was　caught　and　mangled。　　Precisely　in　the　middle　the　passage　lay　as　narrow　as　if　it　were　a　beaten　track。　　Straight　through　it　exactly　the　knight　rushed　on；　with　my　lord　Yvain　madly　following　him　apace；　and　so　close　to　him　that　he　held　him　by　the　saddle…bow　behind。　　It　was　well　for　him　that　he　was　stretched　forward；　for　had　it　not　been　for　this　piece　of　luck　he　would　have　been　cut　quite　through；　for　his　horse　stepped　upon　the　wooden　spring　which　kept　the　portcullis　in　place。　　Like　a　hellish　devil　the　gate　dropped　down；　catching　the　saddle　and　the　horse's　haunches；　which　it　cut　off　clean。　　But；　thank　God；　my　lord　Yvain　was　only　slightly　touched　when　it　grazed　his　back　so　closely　that　it　cut　both　his　spurs　off　even　with　his　heels。　　And　while　he　thus　fell　in　dismay；　the　other　with　his　mortal　wound　escaped　him；　as　you　now　shall　see。　　Farther　on　there　was　another　gate　just　like　the　one　they　had　just　passed；　through　this　the　knight　made　his　escape；　and　the　gate　descended　behind　him。　　Thus　my　lord　Yvain　was　caught；　very　much　concerned　and　discomfited　as　he　finds　himself　shut　in　this　hallway；　which　was　all　studded　with　gilded　nails；　and　whose　walls　were　cunningly　decorated　with　precious　paints。　（10）　　But　about　nothing　was　he　so　worried　as　not　to　know　what　had　become　of　the　knight。　　While　he　was　in　this　narrow　place；　he　heard　open　the　door　of　a　little　adjoining　room；　and　there　came　forth　alone　a　fair　and　charming　maiden　who　closed　the　door　again　after　her。　　When　she　found　my　lord　Yvain；　at　first　she　was　sore　dismayed。　（11）　　〃Surely；　sir　knight；〃　she　says；　〃I　fear　you　have　come　in　an　evil　hour。　　If　you　are　seen　here；　you　will　be　all　cut　to　pieces。　　For　my　lord　is　mortally　wounded；　and　I　know　it　is　you　who　have　been　the　death　of　him。　　My　lady　is　in　such　a　state　of　grief；　and　her　people　about　her　are　crying　so　that　they　are　ready　to　die　with　rage；　and；　moreover；　they　know　you　to　be　inside。　　But　as　yet　their　grief　is　such　that　they　are　unable　to　attend　to　you。　　The　moment　they　come　to　attack　you；　they　cannot　fail　to　kill　or　capture　you；　as　they　may　choose。〃　　And　my　lord　Yvain　replies　to　her：　〃If　God　will　they　shall　never　kill　me；　nor　shall　I　fall　into　their　hands。〃　　〃No；〃　she　says；　〃for　I　shall　do　my　utmost　to　assist　you。　　It　is　not　manly　to　cherish　fear。　　So　I　hold　you　to　be　a　man　of　courage；　when　you　are　not　dismayed。　　And　rest　assured　that　if　I　could　I　would　help　you　and　treat　you　honourably；　as　you　in　turn　would　do　for　me。　　Once　my　lady　sent　me　on　an　errand　to　the　King's　court；　and　I　suppose　I　was　not　so　experienced　or　courteous　or　so　well　behaved　as　a　maiden　ought　to　be；　at　any　rate；　there　was　not　a　knight　there　who　deigned　to　say　a　word　to　me　except　you　alone　who　stand　here　now；　but　you；　in　your　kindness；　honoured　and　aided　me。　For　the　honour　you　did　me　then　I　shall　now　reward　you。　　I　know　full　well　what　your　name　is；　and　I　recognised　you　at　once：　your　name　is　my　lord　Yvain。　　You　may　be　sure　and　certain　that　if　you　take　my　advice　you　will　never　be　caught　or　treated　ill。　　Please　take　this　little　ring　of　mine；　which　you　will　return　when　I　shall　have　delivered　you。〃　（12）　　Then　she　handed　him　the　little　ring　and　told　him　that　its　effect　was　like　that　of　the　bark　which　covers　the　wood　so　that　it　cannot　be　seen；　but　it　must　be　worn　so　that　the　stone　is　within　the　palm；　then　he　who　wears　the　ring　upon　his　finger　need　have　no　concern　for　anything；　for　no　one；　however　sharp　his　eyes　may　be；　will　be　able　to　see　him　any　more　than　the　wood　which　is　covered　by　the　outside　bark。　　All　this　is　pleasing　to　my　lord　Yvain。　　And　when　she　had　told　him　this；　she　led　him　to　a　seat　upon　a　couch　covered　with　a　quilt　so　rich　that　the　Duke　of　Austria　had　none　such；　and　she　told　him　that　if　he　cared　for　something　to　eat　she　would　fetch　it　for　him；　and　he　replied　that　he　would　gladly　do　so。　　Running　quickly　into　the　chamber；　she　presently　returned；　bringing　a　roasted　fowl　and　a　cake；　a　cloth；　a　full　pot　of　good　grape…wine　covered　with　a　white　drinking…cup；　all　this　she　offered　to　him　to　eat。　　And　he；　who　stood　in　need　of　food；　very　gladly　ate　and　drank。

（Vv。　1055…1172。）　　By　the　time　he　had　finished　his　meal　the　knights　were　astir　inside　looking　for　him　and　eager　to　avenge　their　lord；　who　was　already　stretched　upon　his　bier。　　Then　the　damsel　said　to　Yvain：　〃Friend；　do　you　hear　them　all　seeking　you？　There　is　a　great　noise　and　uproar　brewing。　　But　whoever　may　come　or　go；　do　not　stir　for　any　noise　of　theirs；　for　they　can　never　discover　you　if　you　do　not　move　from　this　couch。　　Presently　you　will　see　this　room　all　full　of　ill…disposed　and　hostile　people；　who　will　think　to　find　you　here；　and　I　make　no　doubt　that　they　will　bring　the　body　here　before　interment；　and　they　will　begin　to　search　for　you　under　the　seats　and　the　beds。　　It　will　be　amusing　for　a　man　who　is　not　afraid　when　he　sees　people　searching　so　fruitlessly；　for　they　will　all　be　so　blind；　so　undone；　and　so　misguided　that　they　will　be　beside　themselves　with　rage。　　I　cannot　tell　you　more　just　now；　for　I　dare　no　longer　tarry　here。　But　I　may　thank　God　for　giving　me　the　chance　and　the　opportunity　to　do　some　service　to　please　you；　as　I　yearned　to　do。〃　　Then　she　turned　away；　and　when　she　was　gone　all　the　crowd　with　one　accord　had　come　from　both　sides　to　the　gates；　armed　with　clubs　and　swords。　　There　was　a　mighty　crowd　and　press　of　hostile　people　surging　about；　when　they　espied　in　front　of　the　gate　the　half