four arthurian romances-第64部分

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feet；　nor　a　movement　did　he　make；　but　watched　him　steadily　until　he　had　eaten　all　that　he　could　eat　of　the　steak。　　What　remained　of　the　deer　the　lion　devoured；　even　to　the　bones。　　And　while　all　night　his　master　laid　his　head　upon　his　shield　to　gain　such　rest　as　that　afforded；　the　lion　showed　such　intelligence　that　he　kept　awake；　and　was　careful　to　guard　the　horse　as　it　fed　upon　the　grass；　which　yielded　some　slight　nourishment。

（Vv。　3485…3562。）　　In　the　morning　they　go　off　together；　and　the　same　sort　of　existence；　it　seems；　as　they　had　led　that　night；　they　two　continued　to　lead　all　the　ensuing　week；　until　chance　brought　them　to　the　spring　beneath　the　pine…tree。　　There　my　lord　Yvain　almost　lost　his　wits　a　second　time；　as　he　approached　the　spring；　with　its　stone　and　the　chapel　that　stood　close　by。　　So　great　was　his　distress　that　a　thousand　times　he　sighed　〃alas！〃　and　grieving　fell　in　a　swoon；　and　the　point　of　his　sharp　sword；　falling　from　its　scabbard；　pierced　the　meshes　of　his　hauberk　right　in　the　neck　beside　the　cheek。　　There　is　not　a　mesh　that　does　not　spread；　and　the　sword　cuts　the　flesh　of　his　neck　beneath　the　shining　mail；　so　that　it　causes　the　blood　to　start。　　Then　the　lion　thinks　that　he　sees　his　master　and　companion　dead。　　You　never　heard　greater　grief　narrated　or　told　about　anything　than　he　now　began　to　show。　　He　casts　himself　about；　and　scratches　and　cries；　and　has　the　wish　to　kill　himself　with　the　sword　with　which　he　thinks　his　master　has　killed　himself。　　Taking　the　sword　from　him　with　his　teeth　he　lays　it　on　a　fallen　tree；　and　steadies　it　on　a　trunk　behind；　so　that　it　will　not　slip　or　give　way；　when　he　hurls　his　breast　against　it；　　His　intention　was　nearly　accomplished　when　his　master　recovered　from　his　swoon；　and　the　lion　restrained　himself　as　he　was　blindly　rushing　upon　death；　like　a　wild　boar　heedless　of　where　he　wounds　himself。　　Thus　my　lord　Yvain　lies　in　a　swoon　beside　the　stone；　but；　on　recovering；　he　violently　reproached　himself　for　the　year　during　which　he　had　overstayed　his　leave；　and　for　which　he　had　incurred　his　lady's　hate；　and　he　said：　〃Why　does　this　wretch　not　kill　himself　who　has　thus　deprived　himself　of　joy？　　Alas！　　why　do　I　not　take　my　life？　How　can　I　stay　here　and　look　upon　what　belongs　to　my　lady？　　Why　does　the　soul　still　tarry　in　my　body？　　What　is　the　soul　doing　in　so　miserable　a　frame？　　If　it　had　already　escaped　away　it　would　not　be　in　such　torment。　　It　is　fitting　to　hate　and　blame　and　despise　myself；　even　as　in　fact　I　do。　　Whoever　loses　his　bliss　and　contentment　through　fault　or　error　of　his　own　ought　to　hate　himself　mortally。　　He　ought　to　hate　and　kill　himself。　　And　now；　when　no　one　is　looking　on；　why　do　I　thus　spare　myself？　　Why　do　I　not　take　my　life？　　Have　I　not　seen　this　lion　a　prey　to　such　grief　on　my　behalf　that　he　was　on　the　point　just　now　of　thrusting　my　sword　through　his　breast？　　And　ought　I　to　fear　death　who　have　changed　happiness　into　grief？　　Joy　is　now　a　stranger　to　me。　　Joy？　What　joy　is　that？　　I　shall　say　no　more　of　that；　for　no　one　could　speak　of　such　a　thing；　and　I　have　asked　a　foolish　question。　　That　was　the　greatest　joy　of　all　which　was　assured　as　my　possession；　but　it　endured　for　but　a　little　while。　　Whoever　loses　such　joy　through　his　own　misdeed　is　undeserving　of　happiness。〃

（Vv。　3563…3898。）　　While　he　thus　bemoaned　his　fate；　a　lorn　damsel　in　sorry　plight；　who　was　in　the　chapel；　saw　him　and　heard　his　words　through　a　crack　in　the　wall。　　As　soon　as　he　was　recovered　from　his　swoon；　she　called　to　him：　〃God；〃　said　she；　〃who　is　that　I　hear？　　Who　is　it　that　thus　complains？〃　　And　he　replied：　〃And　who　are　you？〃　　〃I　am　a　wretched　one；〃　she　said；　〃the　most　miserable　thing　alive。〃　　And　he　replied：　〃Be　silent；　foolish　one！　Thy　grief　is　joy　and　thy　sorrow　is　bliss　compared　with　that　in　which　I　am　cast　down。　　In　proportion　as　a　man　becomes　more　accustomed　to　happiness　and　joy；　so　is　he　more　distracted　and　stunned　than　any　other　man　by　sorrow　when　it　comes。　　A　man　of　little　strength　can　carry；　through　custom　and　habit；　a　weight　which　another　man　of　greater　strength　could　not　carry　for　anything。〃　　〃Upon　my　word；〃　she　said；　〃I　know　the　truth　of　that　remark；　but　that　is　no　reason　to　believe　that　your　misfortune　is　worse　than　mine。　　Indeed；　I　do　not　believe　it　at　all；　for　it　seems　to　me　that　you　can　go　anywhere　you　choose　to　go；　whereas　I　am　imprisoned　here；　and　such　a　fate　is　my　portion　that　to…morrow　I　shall　be　seized　and　delivered　to　mortal　judgment。〃　　〃Ah；　God！〃　said　he；　〃and　for　what　crime？〃　　〃Sir　knight；　may　God　never　have　mercy　upon　my　soul；　if　I　have　merited　such　a　fate！　　Nevertheless；　I　shall　tell　you　truly；　without　deception；　why　I　am　here　in　prison：　I　am　charged　with　treason；　and　I　cannot　find　any　one　to　defend　me　from　being　burned　or　hanged　to…morrow。〃　　〃In　the　first　place；〃　he　replied；　〃I　may　say　that　my　grief　and　woe　are　greater　than　yours；　for　you　may　yet　be　delivered　by　some　one　from　the　peril　in　which　you　are。　　Is　that　not　true：〃　　〃Yes；　but　I　know　not　yet　by　whom。　　There　are　only　two　men　in　the　world　who　would　dare　on　my　behalf　to　face　three　men　in　battle。〃　　〃What？　　In　God's　name；　are　there　three　of　them？〃　　〃Yes；　sire；　upon　my　word。　　There　are　three　who　accuse　me　of　treachery。〃　　〃And　who　are　they　who　are　so　devoted　to　you　that　either　one　of　them　would　be　bold　enough　to　fight　against　three　in　your　defence？〃　　〃I　will　answer　your　question　truthfully：　one　of　them　is　my　lord　Gawain；　and　the　other　is　my　lord　Yvain；　because　of　whom　I　shall　to…morrow　be　handed　over　unjustly　to　the　martyrdom　of　death。〃　　〃Because　of　whom？〃　he　asked；　〃what　did　you　say？〃　　〃Sire；　so　help　me　God；　because　of　the　son　of　King　Urien。〃　　〃Now　I　understand　your　words；　but　you　shall　not　die；　without　he　dies　too。　　I　myself　am　that　Yvain；　because　of　whom　you　are　in　such　distress。　　And　you；　I　take　it；　are　she　who　once　guarded　me　safely　in　the　hall；　and　saved　my　life　and　my　body　between　the　two　portcullises；　when　I　was　troubled　and　distressed；　and　alarmed　at　being　trapped。　　I　should　have　been　killed　or　seized；　had　it　not　been　for　your　kind　aid。　　Now　tell　me；　my　gentle　friend；　who　are　those　who　now　accuse　you　of　treachery；　and　have　confined　you　in　this　lonely　place？〃　　〃Sire；　I　shall　not　conceal　it　from　you；　since　you　desire　me　to　tell　you　all。　　It　is　a　fact　that　I　was　not　slow　in　honestly　aiding　you。　　Upon　my　advice　my　lady　received　you；　after　heeding　my　opinion　and　my　counsel。　　And　by　the　Holy　Paternoster；　more　for　her　welfare　than　for　your　own　I　thought　I　was　doing　it；　and　I　think　so　still。　　So　much　now　I　confess　to　you：　it　was　her　honour　and　your　desire　that　I　sought　to　serve；　so　help　me　God！　　But　when　it　became　evident　that　you　had　overstayed　the　year　when　you　should　return　to　my　mistress；　then　she　became　enraged　at　me；　and　thought　that　she　had　been　deceived　by　putting　trust　in　my　advice。　　And　when　this　was　discovered　by　the　seneschala　rascally；　underhanded；　disloyal　wretch；　who　was　jealous　of　me　because　in　many　matters　my　lady　trusted　me　more　than　she　trusted　him；　he　saw　that　he　could　now　stir　up　great　enmity　between　me　and　her。　　In　full　court　and　in　the　presence　of　all　he　accused　me　of　having　betrayed　her　in　your　favour。　　And　I　had　no　counsel　or　aid　except　my　own；　but　I　knew　that　I　had　never　done　or　conceived　any　treacherous　act　toward　my　lady；　so　I　cried　out；　as　one　beside　herself；　and　without　the　advice　of　any　one；　that　I　would　present　in　my　own　defence　one　knight　who　should　fight　against　three。　　The　fellow　was　not　courteous　enough　to　scorn　to　accept　such　odds；　nor　was　I　at　liberty　to　retreat　or　withdraw　for　anything　that　might　happen。　　So　he　took　me　at　my　word；　and　I　was　compelled　to　furnish　bail　that　I　would　present　within　forty　days　a　knight　to　do　battle　against　three　knights。　　Since　then　I　have　visited　many　courts；　I　was　at　King　Arthur's　court；　but　found　no　help　from　any　there；　nor　did　I　find　any　one　who　could　tell　me　any　good　news　of　you；　for　they　knew　nothing　of　your　affairs。〃　　〃Pray　tell　me。　　Where　then　was　my　good　and　gentle　lord　Gawain？　　No　damsel　in　distress　ever　needed　his　aid　without　its　being　extended　to　her。〃　　〃If　I　had　found　him　at　court；　I　could　not　have　asked　him　for　anything　which　would　have　been　refused　me；　but　a　certain　knight　has　carried　off　the　Queen；　so　they　told　me；　surely　the　King　was　mad　to　send　her　off　in　his　company。　（22）　　I　believe　it　was　Kay　who　escorted　her　to　meet　the　knight　who　has　taken　her　away；　and　my　lord　Gawain　in　great　distress　has　gone　in　search　for　her。　　He　will　never　have　any　rest　until　he　finds　her。　　Now　I　have　told　you　the　whole　truth　of　my　adventure。　　To…morrow　I　shall　be　put　to　a　shameful　death；　and　shall　be　burnt　inevitably；　a　victim　of　your　criminal　neglect。〃　　And　he　replies：　〃May　God　forbid　that　you　should　be　harmed　because　of　me！　　So　long　as　I　live　you　shall　not　die！　　You　may　expect　me　tomorrow；　prepared　to　the　extent　of　my　power　to　present　my　body　in　your　cause；　as　it　is　proper　that　I　should　do。　But　have　no　concern　to　tell　the　people　who　I　am！　　However　the　battle　may　turn　out；　take　care　that　I　be　not　recognised！〃　〃Surely；　sire；　no　pressure　could　make　me　reveal　your　name。　　I　would　sooner　suffer　death；　since　you　will　have　it　so。　　Yet；　after　all；　I　beg　you　not　to　return　for　my　sake。　　I　would　not　have　you　undertake　a　battle　which　will　be　so　desperate。　　I　thank　you　for　your　promised　word　that　you　would　gladly　undertake　it；　but　consider　yourself　now　released；　for　it　is　better　that　I　should　die　alone　than　that　I　should　see　them　rejoice　over　your　death　as　well　as　mine；　they　would　not　spare　my　life　after　they　had　put　you　to　death。　　So　it　is　better　for　you　to　remain　alive　than　that　we　both　should　meet　death。〃　　〃That　is　very　ungrateful　remark；　my　dear；〃　says　my　lord　Yvain；　〃I　suppose　that　either　you　do　not　wish　to　be　delivered　from　death；　or　else　that　you　scorn　the　comfort　I　bring　you　with　my　aid。　　I　will　not　discuss　the　matter　more；　for　you　have　surely　done　so　much　for　me　that　I　cannot　fail　you　in　any　need。　　I　know　that　you　are　in　great　distress；　but；　if　it　be　God's　will；　in　whom　I　trust；　they　shall　all　three　be　discomfited。　　So　no　more　upon　that　score：　I　am　going　off　now　to　find　some　shelter　in　this　wood；　for　there　is　no　dwelling　near　at　hand。〃　　〃Sire；〃　she　says；　〃may　God　give　you　both　good　shelter　and　good　night；　and　protect　you　as　I　desire　from　everything　that　might　do　you　harm！〃　The