four arthurian romances-第60部分

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ing　the　horse　in　his　hand　by　the　bridle；　and　wishing　to　make　it　over　to　him。　　〃Sire；〃　says　he；　〃now　take　this　steed；　for　I　should　do　wrong　to　keep　back　anything　of　yours。〃　　〃And　who　are　you？〃　the　King　replies；　〃I　should　never　know　you；　unless　I　heard　your　name；　or　saw　you　without　your　arms。〃　　Then　my　lord　told　him　who　he　was；　and　Kay　was　overcome　with　shame；　mortified；　humbled；　and　discomfited；　for　having　said　that　he　had　run　away。　　But　the　others　were　greatly　pleased；　and　made　much　of　the　honour　he　had　won。　　Even　the　King　was　greatly　gratified；　and　my　lord　Gawain　a　hundred　times　more　than　any　one　else。　　For　he　loved　his　company　more　than　that　of　any　other　knight　he　knew。　　And　the　King　requested　him　urgently　to　tell　him；　if　it　be　his　will；　how　he　had　fared；　for　he　was　very　curious　to　learn　all　about　his　adventure；　so　the　King　begs　him　to　tell　the　truth。　　And　he　soon　told　him　all　about　the　service　and　kindness　of　the　damsel；　not　passing　over　a　single　word；　not　forgetting　to　mention　anything。　　And　after　this　he　invited　the　King　and　all　his　knights　to　come　to　lodge　with　him；　saying　they　would　be　doing　him　great　honour　in　accepting　his　hospitality。　　And　the　King　said　that　for　an　entire　week　he　would　gladly　do　him　the　honour　and　pleasure；　and　would　bear　him　company。　　And　when　my　lord　Yvain　had　thanked　him；　they　tarry　no　longer　there；　but　mount　and　take　the　most　direct　road　to　the　town。　　My　lord　Yvain　sends　in　advance　of　the　company　a　squire　beating　a　crane…falcon；　in　order　that　they　might　not　take　the　lady　by　surprise；　and　that　her　people　might　decorate　the　streets　against　the　arrival　of　the　King。　　When　the　lady　heard　the　news　of　the　King's　visit　she　was　greatly　pleased；　nor　was　there　any　one　who；　upon　hearing　the　news；　was　not　happy　and　elated。　　And　the　lady　summons　them　all　and　requests　them　to　go　to　meet　him；　to　which　they　make　no　objection　or　remonstrance；　all　being　anxious　to　do　her　will。

（Vv。　2329…2414。）　　（16）　Mounted　on　great　Spanish　steeds；　they　all　go　to　meet　the　King　of　Britain；　saluting　King　Arthur　first　with　great　courtesy　and　then　all　his　company。　　〃Welcome；〃　they　say；　〃to　this　company；　so　full　of　honourable　men！　　Blessed　be　he　who　brings　them　hither　and　presents　us　with　such　fair　guests！〃　　At　the　King's　arrival　the　town　resounds　with　the　joyous　welcome　which　they　give。　　Silken　stuffs　are　taken　out　and　hung　aloft　as　decorations；　and　they　spread　tapestries　to　walk　upon　and　drape　the　streets　with　them；　while　they　wait　for　the　King's　approach。　And　they　make　still　another　preparation；　in　covering　the　streets　with　awnings　against　the　hot　rays　of　the　sun。　　Bells；　horns；　and　trumpets　cause　the　town　to　ring　so　that　God's　thunder　could　not　have　been　heard。　　The　maidens　dance　before　him；　flutes　and　pipes　are　played；　kettle…drums；　drums；　and　cymbals　are　beaten。　　On　their　part　the　nimble　youths　leap；　and　all　strive　to　show　their　delight。　　With　such　evidence　of　their　joy；　they　welcome　the　King　fittingly。　　And　the　Lady　came　forth；　dressed　in　imperial　garb　a　robe　of　fresh　ermineand　upon　her　head　she　wore　a　diadem　all　ornamented　with　rubies。　　No　cloud　was　there　upon　her　face；　but　it　was　so　gay　and　full　of　joy　that　she　was　more　beautiful；　I　think；　than　any　goddess。　　Around　her　the　crowd　pressed　close；　as　they　cried　with　one　accord：　〃Welcome　to　the　King　of　kings　and　lord　of　lords！〃　　The　King　could　not　reply　to　all　before　he　saw　the　lady　coming　toward　him　to　hold　his　stirrup。　　However；　he　would　not　wait　for　this；　but　hastened　to　dismount　himself　as　soon　as　he　caught　sight　of　her。　　Then　she　salutes　him　with　these　words：　〃Welcome　a　hundred　thousand　times　to　the　King；　my　lord；　and　blessed　be　his　nephew；　my　lord　Gawain！〃　　The　King　replies：　〃I　wish　all　happiness　and　good　luck　to　your　fair　body　and　your　face；　lovely　creature！〃　　Then　clasping　her　around　the　waist；　the　King　embraced　her　gaily　and　heartily　as　she　did　him；　throwing　her　arms　about　him。　　I　will　say　no　more　of　how　gladly　she　welcomed　them；　but　no　one　ever　heard　of　any　people　who　were　so　honourably　received　and　served。　　I　might　tell　you　much　of　the　joy　should　I　not　be　wasting　words；　but　I　wish　to　make　brief　mention　of　an　acquaintance　which　was　made　in　private　between　the　moon　and　the　sun。　　Do　you　know　of　whom　I　mean　to　speak？　　He　who　was　lord　of　the　knights；　and　who　was　renowned　above　them　all；　ought　surely　to　be　called　the　sun。　　I　refer；　of　course；　to　my　lord　Gawain；　for　chivalry　is　enhanced　by　him　just　as　when　the　morning　sun　sheds　its　rays　abroad　and　lights　all　places　where　it　shines。　　And　I　call　her　the　moon；　who　cannot　be　otherwise　because　of　her　sense　and　courtesy。　　However；　I　call　her　so　not　only　because　of　her　good　repute；　but　because　her　name　is；　in　fact；　Lunete。

（Vv。　2415…2538。）　　The　damsel's　name　was　Lunete；　and　she　was　a　charming　brunette；　prudent；　clever；　and　polite。　　As　her　acquaintance　grows　with　my　lord　Gawain；　he　values　her　highly　and　gives　her　his　love　as　to　his　sweetheart；　because　she　had　saved　from　death　his　companion　and　friend；　he　places　himself　freely　at　her　service。　　On　her　part　she　describes　and　relates　to　him　with　what　difficulty　she　persuaded　her　mistress　to　take　my　lord　Yvain　as　her　husband；　and　how　she　protected　him　from　the　hands　of　those　who　were　seeking　him；　how　he　was　in　their　midst　but　they　did　not　see　him。　　My　lord　Gawain　laughed　aloud　at　this　story　of　hers；　and　then　he　said：　〃Mademoiselle；　when　you　need　me　and　when　you　don't；　such　as　I　am；　I　place　myself　at　your　disposal。　　Never　throw　me　off　for　some　one　else　when　you　think　you　can　improve　your　lot。　　I　am　yours；　and　do　you　be　from　now　on　my　demoiselle！〃　　〃I　thank　you　kindly；　sire；〃　she　said。　　While　the　acquaintance　of　these　two　was　ripening　thus；　the　others；　too；　were　engaged　in　flirting。　　For　there　were　perhaps　ninety　ladies　there；　each　of　whom　was　fair　and　charming；　noble　and　polite；　virtuous　and　prudent；　and　a　lady　of　exalted　birth；　so　the　men　could　agreeably　employ　themselves　in　caressing　and　kissing　them；　and　in　talking　to　them　and　in　gazing　at　them　while　they　were　seated　by　their　side；　that　much　satisfaction　they　had　at　least。　　My　lord　Yvain　is　in　high　feather　because　the　King　is　lodged　with　him。　　And　the　lady　bestows　such　attention　upon　them　all；　as　individuals　and　collectively；　that　some　foolish　person　might　suppose　that　the　charming　attentions　which　she　showed　them　were　dictated　by　love。　　But　such　persons　may　properly　be　rated　as　fools　for　thinking　that　a　lady　is　in　love　with　them　just　because　she　is　courteous　and　speaks　to　some　unfortunate　fellow；　and　makes　him　happy　and　caresses　him。　　A　fool　is　made　happy　by　fair　words；　and　is　very　easily　taken　in。　　That　entire　week　they　spent　in　gaiety；　forest　and　stream　offered　plenty　of　sport　for　any　one　who　desired　it。　　And　whoever　wished　to　see　the　land　which　had　come　into　the　hands　of　my　lord　Yvain　with　the　lady　whom　he　had　married；　could　go　to　enjoy　himself　at　one　of　the　castles　which　stood　within　a　radius　of　two；　three；　or　four　leagues。　　When　the　King　had　stayed　as　long　as　he　chose；　he　made　ready　to　depart。　　But　during　the　week　they　had　all　begged　urgently；　and　with　all　the　insistence　at　their　command；　that　they　might　take　away　my　lord　Yvain　with　them。　　〃What？　　Will　you　be　one　of　those。〃　said　my　lord　Gawain　to　him；　〃who　degenerate　after　marriage？　（17）　　Cursed　be　he　by　Saint　Mary　who　marries　and　then　degenerates！　　Whoever　has　a　fair　lady　as　his　mistress　or　his　wife　should　be　the　better　for　it；　and　it　is　not　right　that　her　affection　should　be　bestowed　on　him　after　his　worth　and　reputation　are　gone。　　Surely　you；　too；　would　have　cause　to　regret　her　love　if　you　grew　soft；　for　a　woman　quickly　withdraws　her　love；　and　rightly　so；　and　despises　him　who　degenerates　in　any　way　when　he　has　become　lord　of　the　realm。　　Now　ought　your　fame　to　be　increased！　　Slip　off　the　bridle　and　halter　and　come　to　the　tournament　with　me；　that　no　one　may　say　that　you　are　jealous。　　　Now　you　must　no　longer　hesitate　to　frequent　the　lists；　to　share　in　the　onslaught；　and　to　contend　with　force；　whatever　effort　it　may　cost！　　Inaction　produces　indifference。　　But；　really；　you　must　come；　for　I　shall　be　in　your　company。　　Have　a　care　that　our　comradeship　shall　not　fail　through　any　fault　of　yours；　fair　companion；　for　my　part；　you　may　count　on　me。　　It　is　strange　how　a　man　sets　store　by　the　life　of　ease　which　has　no　end。　　Pleasures　grow　sweeter　through　postponement；　and　a　little　pleasure；　when　delayed；　is　much　sweeter　to　the　taste　than　great　pleasure　enjoyed　at　once。　　The　sweets　of　a　love　which　develops　late　are　like　a　fire　in　a　green　bush；　for　the　longer　one　delays　in　lighting　it　the　greater　will　be　the　heat　it　yields；　and　the　longer　will　its　force　endure。　　One　may　easily　fall　into　habits　which　it　is　very　difficult　to　shake　off；　for　when　one　desires　to　do　so；　he　finds　he　has　lost　the　power。　　Don't　misunderstand　my　words；　my　friend：　if　I　had　such　a　fair　mistress　as　you　have；　I　call　God　and　His　saints　to　witness；　I　should　leave　her　most　reluctantly；　indeed；　I　should　doubtless　be　infatuated。　　But　a　man　may　give　another　counsel；　which　he　would　not　take　himself；　just　as　the　preachers；　who　are　deceitful　rascals；　and　preach　and　proclaim　the　right　but　who　do　not　follow　it　themselves。〃

（Vv。　2539…2578。）　　My　lord　Gawain　spoke　at　such　length　and　so　urgently　that　he　promised　him　that　he　would　go；　but　he　said　that　he　must　consult　his　lady　and　ask　for　her　consent。　　Whether　it　be　a　foolish　or　a　prudent　thing　to　do；　he　will　not　fail　to　ask　her　leave　to　return　to　Britain。　　Then　he　took　counsel　with　his　wife；　who　had　no　inkling　of　the　permission　he　desired；　as　he　addressed　her　with　these　words：　〃My　beloved　lady；　my　heart　and　soul；　my　treasure；　joy；　and　happiness；　grant　me　now　a　favour　which　will　redound　to　your　honour　and　to　mine。〃　　The　lady　at　once　gives　her　consent。　not　knowing　what　his　desire　is；　and　says：　〃Fair　lord；　you　may　command　me　your　pleasure；　whatever　it　be。〃　　Then　my　lord　Yvain　at　once　asks　her　for　permission　to　escort　the　King　and　to　attend　at　tournaments；　that　no　one　may　reproach　his　indolence。　And　she　replies：　〃I　grant　you　leave　until　a　certain　date；　but　be　sure　that　my　love　will　change　to　hate　if　you　stay　beyond　the　term　that　I　shall　fix。　　Remember　that　I　shall　keep　my　word；　if　you　break　your　word　I　will　keep　mine。　　If　you　wish　to　possess　my　love；　and　if　you　have　any　regard　for　me；　remember　to　come　bac