four arthurian romances-第56部分

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hty　crowd　and　press　of　hostile　people　surging　about；　when　they　espied　in　front　of　the　gate　the　half　of　the　horse　which　had　been　cut　down。　　Then　they　felt　very　sure　that　when　the　gates　were　opened　they　would　find　inside　him　whose　life　they　wished　to　take。　　Then　they　caused　to　be　drawn　up　those　gates　which　had　been　the　death　of　many　men。　　But　since　no　spring　or　trap　was　laid　for　their　passage　they　all　came　through　abreast。　Then　they　found　at　the　threshold　the　other　half　of　the　horse　that　had　been　killed；　but　none　of　them　had　sharp　enough　eyes　to　see　my　lord　Yvain；　whom　they　would　gladly　have　killed；　and　he　saw　them　beside　themselves　with　rage　and　fury；　as　they　said：　〃How　can　this　be？　　For　there　is　no　door　or　window　here　through　which　anything　could　escape；　unless　it　be　a　bird；　a　squirrel；　or　marmot；　or　some　other　even　smaller　animal；　for　the　windows　are　barred；　and　the　gates　were　closed　as　soon　as　my　lord　passed　through。　　The　body　is　in　here；　dead　or　alive；　since　there　is　no　sign　of　it　outside　there；　we　can　see　more　than　half　of　the　saddle　in　here；　but　of　him　we　see　nothing；　except　the　spurs　which　fell　down　severed　from　his　feet。　　Now　let　us　cease　this　idle　talk；　and　search　in　all　these　comers；　for　he　is　surely　in　here　still；　or　else　we　are　all　enchanted；　or　the　evil　spirits　have　filched　him　away　from　us。〃　Thus　they　all；　aflame　with　rage；　sought　him　about　the　room；　beating　upon　the　walls；　and　beds；　and　seats。　　But　the　couch　upon　which　he　lay　was　spared　and　missed　the　blows；　so　that　he　was　not　struck　or　touched。　　But　all　about　they　thrashed　enough；　and　raised　an　uproar　in　the　room　with　their　clubs；　like　a　blind　man　who　pounds　as　he　goes　about　his　search。　　While　they　were　poking　about　under　the　beds　and　the　stools；　there　entered　one　of　the　most　beautiful　ladies　that　any　earthly　creature　ever　saw。　　Word　or　mention　was　never　made　of　such　a　fair　Christian　dame；　and　yet　she　was　so　crazed　with　grief　that　she　was　on　the　point　of　taking　her　life。　　All　at　once　she　cried　out　at　the　top　of　her　voice；　and　then　fell　prostrate　in　a　swoon。　　And　when　she　had　been　picked　up　she　began　to　claw　herself　and　tear　her　hair；　like　a　woman　who　had　lost　her　mind。　　She　tears　her　hair　and　rips　her　dress；　and　faints　at　every　step　she　takes；　nor　can　anything　comfort　her　when　she　sees　her　husband　borne　along　lifeless　in　the　bier；　for　her　happiness　is　at　an　end；　and　so　she　made　her　loud　lament。　　The　holy　water　and　the　cross　and　the　tapers　were　borne　in　advance　by　the　nuns　from　a　convent；　then　came　missals　and　censers　and　the　priests；　who　pronounce　the　final　absolution　required　for　the　wretched　soul。

（Vv。　1173…1242。）　　My　lord　Yvain　heard　the　cries　and　the　grief　that　can　never　be　described；　for　no　one　could　describe　it；　nor　was　such　ever　set　down　in　a　book。　　The　procession　passed；　but　in　the　middle　of　the　room　a　great　crowd　gathered　about　the　bier；　for　the　fresh　warm　blood　trickled　out　again　from　the　dead　man's　wound；　and　this　betokened　certainly　that　the　man　was　still　surely　present　who　had　fought　the　battle　and　had　killed　and　defeated　him。　　Then　they　sought　and　searched　everywhere；　and　turned　and　stirred　up　everything；　until　they　were　all　in　a　sweat　with　the　trouble　and　the　press　which　had　been　caused　by　the　sight　of　the　trickling　crimson　blood。　　Then　my　lord　Yvain　was　well　struck　and　beaten　where　he　lay；　but　not　for　that　did　he　stir　at　all。　　And　the　people　became　more　and　more　distraught　because　of　the　wounds　which　burst　open；　and　they　marvelled　why　they　bled；　without　knowing　whose　fault　it　was。　（13）　　And　each　one　to　his　neighbour　said：　〃The　murderer　is　among　us　here；　and　yet　we　do　not　see　him；　which　is　passing　strange　and　mysterious。〃　　At　this　the　lady　showed　such　grief　that　she　made　an　attempt　upon　her　life；　and　cried　as　if　beside　herself：　〃All　God；　then　will　the　murderer　not　be　found；　the　traitor　who　took　my　good　lord's　life？　　Good？　　Aye；　the　best　of　the　good；　indeed！　　True　God；　Thine　will　be　the　fault　if　Thou　dost　let　him　thus　escape。　　No　other　man　than　Thou　should　I　blame　for　it　who　dost　hide　him　from　my　sight。　　Such　a　wonder　was　never　seen；　nor　such　injustice；　as　Thou　dost　to　me　in　not　allowing　me　even　to　see　the　man　who　must　be　so　close　to　me。　　When　I　cannot　see　him；　I　may　well　say　that　some　demon　or　spirit　has　interposed　himself　between　us；　so　that　I　am　under　a　spell。　　Or　else　he　is　a　coward　and　is　afraid　of　me：　he　must　be　a　craven　to　stand　in　awe　of　me；　and　it　is　an　act　of　cowardice　not　to　show　himself　before　me。　　Ah；　thou　spirit；　craven　thing！　　Why　art　thou　so　in　fear　of　me；　when　before　my　lord　thou　weft　so　brave？　　O　empty　and　elusive　thing；　why　cannot　I　have　thee　in　my　power？　　Why　cannot　I　lay　hands　upon　thee　now？　　But　how　could　it　ever　come　about　that　thou　didst　kill　my　lord；　unless　it　was　done　by　treachery？　　Surely　my　lord　would　never　have　met　defeat　at　thy　hands　had　he　seen　thee　face　to　face。　　For　neither　God　nor　man　ever　knew　of　his　like；　nor　is　there　any　like　him　now。　　Surely；　hadst　thou　been　a　mortal　man；　thou　wouldst　never　have　dared　to　withstand　my　lord；　for　no　one　could　compare　with　him。〃　　Thus　the　lady　struggles　with　herself；　and　thus　she　contends　and　exhausts　herself。　　And　her　people　with　her；　for　their　part；　show　the　greatest　possible　grief　as　they　carry　off　the　body　to　burial。　　After　their　long　efforts　and　search　they　are　completely　exhausted　by　the　quest；　and　give　it　up　from　weariness；　inasmuch　as　they　can　find　no　one　who　is　in　any　way　guilty。　　The　nuns　and　priests；　having　already　finished　the　service；　had　returned　from　the　church　and　were　gone　to　the　burial。　　But　to　all　this　the　damsel　in　her　chamber　paid　no　heed。　　Her　thoughts　are　with　my　lord　Yvain；　and；　coming　quickly；　she　said　to　him：　〃Fair　sir；　these　people　have　been　seeking　you　in　force。　　They　have　raised　a　great　tumult　here；　and　have　poked　about　in　all　the　corners　more　diligently　than　a　hunting…dog　goes　ferreting　a　partridge　or　a　quail。　　Doubtless　you　have　been　afraid。〃　　〃Upon　my　word；　you　are　right；〃　says　he：　〃I　never　thought　to　be　so　afraid。　　And　yet；　if　it　were　possible　I　should　gladly　look　out　through　some　window　or　aperture　at　the　procession　and　the　corpse。〃　　Yet　he　had　no　interest　in　either　the　corpse　or　the　procession；　for　he　would　gladly　have　seen　them　all　burned；　even　had　it　cost　him　a　thousand　marks。　　A　thousand　marks？　　Three　thousand；　verily；　upon　my　word。　　But　he　said　it　because　of　the　lady　of　the　town；　of　whom　he　wished　to　catch　a　glimpse。　　So　the　damsel　placed　him　at　a　little　window；　and　repaid　him　as　well　as　she　could　for　the　honour　which　he　had　done　her。　　From　this　window　my　lord　Yvain　espies　the　fair　lady；　as　she　says：　〃Sire；　may　God　have　mercy　upon　your　soul！　　For　never；　I　verily　believe；　did　any　knight　ever　sit　in　saddle　who　was　your　equal　in　any　respect。　　No　other　knight；　my　fair　sweet　lord；　ever　possessed　your　honour　or　courtesy。　　Generosity　was　your　friend　and　boldness　your　companion。　　May　your　soul　rest　among　the　saints；　my　fair　dear　lord。〃　　Then　she　strikes　and　tears　whatever　she　can　lay　her　hands　upon。　　Whatever　the　outcome　may　be；　it　is　hard　for　my　lord　Yvain　to　restrain　himself　from　running　forward　to　seize　her　hands。　　But　the　damsel　begs　and　advises　him；　and　even　urgently　commands　him；　though　with　courtesy　and　graciousness；　not　to　commit　any　rash　deed；　saying：　〃You　are　well　off　here。　　Do　not　stir　for　any　cause　until　this　grief　shall　be　assuaged；　let　these　people　all　depart；　as　they　will　do　presently。　　If　you　act　as　I　advise；　in　accordance　with　my　views；　great　advantage　may　come　to　you。　　It　will　be　best　for　you　to　remain　seated　here；　and　watch　the　people　inside　and　out　as　they　pass　along　the　way　without　their　seeing　you。　　But　take　care　not　to　speak　violently；　for　I　hold　that　man　to　be　rather　imprudent　than　brave　who　goes　too　far　and　loses　his　self…restraint　and　commits　some　deed　of　violence　the　moment　he　has　the　time　and　chance。　　So　if　you　cherish　some　rash　thought　be　careful　not　to　utter　it。　　The　wise　man　conceals　his　imprudent　thought　and　works　out　righteousness　if　he　can。　　So　wisely　take　good　care　not　to　risk　your　head；　for　which　they　would　accept　no　ransom。　　Be　considerate　of　yourself　and　remember　my　advice。　　Rest　assured　until　I　return；　for　I　dare　not　stay　longer　now。　　I　might　stay　so　long；　I　fear；　that　they　would　suspect　me　when　they　did　not　see　me　in　the　crowd；　and　then　I　should　suffer　for　it。〃

（Vv。　1339…1506。）　　Then　she　goes　off；　and　he　remains；　not　knowing　how　to　comport　himself。　　He　is　loath　to　see　them　bury　the　corpse　without　his　securing　anything　to　take　back　as　evidence　that　he　has　defeated　and　killed　him。　　If　he　has　no　proof　or　evidence　he　will　be　held　in　contempt；　for　Kay　is　so　mean　and　obstinate；　so　given　to　mockery；　and　so　annoying；　that　he　could　never　succeed　in　convincing　him。　　He　would　go　about　for　ever　insulting　him；　flinging　his　mockery　and　taunts　as　he　did　the　other　day。　　These　taunts　are　still　fresh　and　rankling　in　his　heart。　　But　with　her　sugar　and　honey　a　new　Love　now　softened　him；　he　had　been　to　hunt　upon　his　lands　and　had　gathered　in　his　prey。　　His　enemy　carries　off　his　heart；　and　he　loves　the　creature　who　hates　him　most。　　The　lady；　all　unaware；　has　well　avenged　her　lord's　death。　　She　has　secured　greater　revenge　than　she　could　ever　have　done　unless　she　had　been　aided　by　Love；　who　attacks　him　so　gently　that　he　wounds　his　heart　through　his　eyes。　　And　this　wound　is　more　enduring　than　any　inflicted　by　lance　or　sword。　　A　sword…blow　is　cured　and　healed　at　once　as　soon　as　a　doctor　attends　to　it；　but　the　wound　of　love　is　worst　when　it　is　nearest　to　its　physician。　　This　is　the　wound　of　my　lord　Yvain；　from　which　he　will　never　more　recover；　for　Love　has　installed　himself　with　him。　　He　deserts　and　goes　away　from　the　places　he　was　wont　to　frequent。　　He　cares　for　no　lodging　or　landlord　save　this　one；　and　he　is　very　wise　in　leaving　a　poor　lodging…place　in　order　to　betake　himself　to　him。　In　order　to　devote　himself　completely　to　him；　he　will　have　no　other　lodging…place；　though　often　he　is　wont　to　seek　out　lowly　hostelries。　　It　is　a　shame　that　Love　should　ever　so　basely　conduct　himself　as　to　select　the　meanest　lodging…place　quite　as　readily　as　the　best。　　But　now　he　has　come　where　he　is　welcome；　and　where　he　will　be　treated　honourably；　and　where　he　will　do　well　to　stay。　　This　is　the　way　Love　ought　to　act；　being　such　a　noble　creature　that　it　is　marvellou