four arthurian romances-第68部分

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　him　a　litter　of　moss　and　ferns　in　his　shield。　When　he　has　made　a　bed　for　him　there；　he　lays　him　in　it　as　gently　as　he　can；　and　carries　him　thus　stretched　out　full　length　on　the　inner　side　of　his　shield。　　Thus；　in　his　shield　he　bears　him　off；　until　he　arrives　before　the　gate　of　a　mansion；　strong　and　fair。　Finding　it　closed；　he　called；　and　the　porter　opened　it　so　promptly　that　he　had　no　need　to　call　but　once。　　He　reaches　out　to　take　his　rein；　and　greets　him　thus：　〃Come　in；　fair　sire。　　I　offer　you　the　dwelling　of　my　lord；　if　it　please　you　to　dismount。〃　　〃I　accept　the　offer　gladly；〃　he　replies；　〃for　I　stand　in　great　need　of　it；　and　it　is　time　to　find　a　lodging。〃

（Vv。　4675…4702。）　　Thereupon；　he　passed　through　the　gate；　and　saw　the　retainers　in　a　mass　coming　to　meet　him。　　They　greeted　him　and　helped　him　from　his　horse；　and　laid　down　upon　the　pavement　his　shield　with　the　lion　on　it。　　And　some；　taking　his　horse；　put　it　in　a　stable：　while　others　very　properly　relieved　him　of　his　arms　and　took　them。　　Then　the　lord　of　the　castle　heard　the　news；　and　at　once　came　down　into　the　courtyard；　and　greeted　him。　　And　his　lady　came　down；　too；　with　all　her　sons　and　daughters　and　a　great　crowd　of　other　people；　who　all　rejoiced　to　offer　him　a　lodging。　They　gave　him　a　quiet　room；　because　they　deemed　that　he　was　sick；　but　their　good　nature　was　put　to　a　test　when　they　allowed　the　lion　to　go　with　him。　　His　cure　was　undertaken　by　two　maidens　skilled　in　surgery；　who　were　daughters　of　the　lord。　　I　do　not　know　how　many　days　he　stayed　there；　until　he　and　his　lion；　being　cured；　were　compelled　to　proceed　upon　their　way。

（Vv。　4703…4736。）　　But　within　this　time　it　came　about　that　my　lord　of　Noire　Espine　had　a　struggle　with　Death；　and　so　fierce　was　Death's　attack　that　he　was　forced　to　die。　　After　his　death　it　happened　that　the　elder　of　two　daughters　whom　he　had；　announced　that　she　would　possess　uncontested　all　the　estates　for　herself　during　her　entire　lifetime；　and　that　she　would　give　no　share　to　her　sister。　　And　the　other　one　said　that　she　would　go　to　King　Arthur's　court　to　seek　help　for　the　defence　of　her　claim　to　the　land。　　When　the　former　saw　that　her　sister　would　by　no　means　concede　all　the　estates　to　her　without　contest；　she　was　greatly　concerned；　and　thought　that；　if　possible；　she　would　get　to　court　before　her。　　At　once　she　prepared　and　equipped　herself；　and　without　any　tarrying　or　delay；　she　proceeded　to　the　court。　　The　other　followed　her；　and　made　all　the　haste　she　could；　but　her　journey　was　all　in　vain；　for　her　eider　sister　had　already　presented　her　case　to　my　lord　Gawain；　and　he　had　promised　to　execute　her　will。　　But　there　was　an　agreement　between　them　that　if　any　one　should　learn　of　the　facts　from　her；　he　would　never　again　take　arms　for　her；　and　to　this　arrangement　she　gave　consent。

（Vv。　4737…4758。）　　Just　then　the　other　sister　arrived　at　court；　clad　in　a　short　mantle　of　scarlet　cloth　and　fresh　ermine。　　It　happened　to　be　the　third　day　after　the　Queen　had　returned　from　the　captivity　in　which　Maleagant　had　detained　her　with　all　the　other　prisoners；　but　Lancelot　had　remained　behind；　treacherously　confined　within　a　tower。　　And　on　that　very　day；　when　the　damsel　came　to　court；　news　was　received　of　the　cruel　and　wicked　giant　whom　the　knight　with　the　lion　had　killed　in　battle。　　In　his　name；　my　lord　Gawain　was　greeted　by　his　nephews　and　niece；　who　told　him　in　detail　of　all　the　great　service　and　great　deeds　of　prowess　he　had　done　for　them　for　his　sake；　and　how　that　he　was　well　acquainted　with　him；　though　not　aware　of　his　identity。

（Vv。　4759…4820。）　　All　this　was　heard　by　her；　who　was　plunged　thereby　into　great　despair　and　sorrow　and　dejection；　for；　since　the　best　of　the　knights　was　absent；　she　thought　she　would　find　no　aid　or　counsel　at　the　court。　　She　had　already　made　several　loving　and　insistent　appeals　to　my　lord　Gawain；　but　he　had　said　to　her：　　〃My　dear；　it　is　useless　to　appeal　to　me；　I　cannot　do　it；　I　have　another　affair　on　hand；　which　I　shall　in　no　wise　give　up。〃　　Then　the　damsel　at　once　left　him；　and　presented　herself　before　the　King。　　〃O　King；〃　said　she；　〃I　have　come　to　thee　and　to　thy　court　for　aid。　　But　I　find　none；　and　I　am　very　much　mazed　that　I　can　get　no　counsel　here。　　Yet　it　would　not　be　right　for　me　to　go　away　without　taking　leave。　　My　sister　may　know；　however；　that　she　might　obtain　by　kindness　whatever　she　desired　of　my　property；　but　I　will　never　surrender　my　heritage　to　her　by　force；　if　I　can　help　it；　and　if　I　can　find　any　aid　or　counsel。〃　　〃You　have　spoken　wisely；〃　said　the　King；　〃since　she　is　present　here；　I　advise；　recommend；　and　urge　her　to　surrender　to　you　what　is　your　right。〃　Then　the　other；　who　was　confident　of　the　best　knight　in　the　world；　replied：　〃Sire；　may　God　confound　me；　if　ever　I　bestow　on　her　from　my　estates　any　castle；　town；　clearing；　forest；　land；　or　anything　else。　　But　if　any　knight　dares　to　take　arms　on　her　behalf　and　desires　to　defend　her　cause；　let　him　step　forth　at　once。〃　　〃Your　offer　to　her　is　not　fair；　she　needs　more　time；〃　the　King　replied；　〃if　she　desires；　she　may　have　forty　days　to　secure　a　champion；　according　to　the　practice　of　all　courts。〃　　To　which　the　elder　sister　replied：　〃Fair　King；　my　lord；　you　may　establish　your　laws　as　it　pleases　you；　and　as　seems　good；　nor　is　it　my　place　to　gainsay　you；　so　I　must　consent　to　the　postponement；　if　she　desires　it。〃　　Whereupon；　the　other　says　that　she　does　desire　it；　and　she　makes　formal　request　for　it。　　Then　she　commended　the　King　to　God；　and　left　the　court　resolving　to　devote　her　life　to　the　search　through　all　the　land　for　the　Knight　with　the　Lion；　who　devotes　himself　to　succouring　women　in　need　of　aid。

（Vv。　4821…4928。）　　Thus　she　entered　upon　her　quest；　and　traversed　many　a　country　without　hearing　any　news　of　him；　which　caused　her　such　grief　that　she　fell　sick。　　But　it　was　well　for　her　that　it　happened　so；　for　she　came　to　the　dwelling　of　a　friend　of　hers；　by　whom　she　was　dearly　loved。　　By　this　time　her　face　showed　clearly　that　she　was　not　in　good　health。　　They　insisted　upon　detaining　her　until　she　told　them　of　her　plight；　whereupon；　another　damsel　took　up　the　quest　wherein　she　had　been　engaged；　and　continued　the　search　on　her　behalf。　　So　while　the　one　remained　in　this　retreat；　the　other　rode　rapidly　all　day　long；　until　the　darkness　of　night　came　on；　and　caused　her　great　anxiety。　（24）　　And　her　trouble　was　doubled　when　the　rain　came　on　with　terrible　violence；　as　if　God　Himself　were　doing　His　worst；　while　she　was　in　the　depths　of　the　forest。　　The　night　and　the　woods　cause　her　great　distress；　but　she　is　more　tormented　by　the　rain　than　by　either　the　woods　or　the　night。　　And　the　road　was　so　bad　that　her　horse　was　often　up　to　the　girth　in　mud；　any　damsel　might　well　be　terrified　to　be　in　the　woods；　without　escort；　in　such　bad　weather　and　in　such　darkness　that　she　could　not　see　the　horse　she　was　riding。　　So　she　called　on　God　first；　and　His　mother　next；　and　then　on　all　the　saints　in　turn；　and　offered　up　many　a　prayer　that　God　would　lead　her　out　from　this　forest　and　conduct　her　to　some　lodging…place。　　She　continued　in　prayer　until　she　heard　a　horn；　at　which　she　greatly　rejoiced；　for　she　thought　now　she　would　find　shelter；　if　she　could　only　reach　the　place。　　So　she　turned　in　the　direction　of　the　sound；　and　came　upon　a　paved　road　which　led　straight　toward　the　horn　whose　sound　she　heard；　for　the　horn　had　given　three　long；　loud　blasts。　　And　she　made　her　way　straight　toward　the　sound；　until　she　came　to　a　cross　which　stood　on　the　right　side　of　the　road；　and　there　she　thought　that　she　might　find　the　horn　and　the　person　who　had　sounded　it。　　So　she　spurred　her　horse　in　that　direction；　until　she　drew　near　a　bridge；　and　descried　the　white　walls　and　the　barbican　of　a　circular　castle。　　Thus；　by　chance　she　came　upon　the　castle；　setting　her　course　by　the　sound　which　had　led　her　thither。　　She　had　been　attracted　by　the　sound　of　the　horn　blown　by　a　watchman　upon　the　walls。　　As　soon　as　the　watchman　caught　sight　of　her；　he　called　to　her；　then　came　down；　and　taking　the　key　of　the　gate；　opened　it　for　her　and　said：　〃Welcome；　damsel；　whoe'er　you　be。　　You　shall　be　well　lodged　this　night。〃　　〃I　have　no　other　desire　than　that；〃　the　damsel　replied；　as　he　let　her　in。　　After　the　toil　and　anxiety　she　had　endured　that　day；　she　was　fortunate　to　find　such　a　lodging…place；　for　she　was　very　comfortable　there。　　After　the　meal　the　host　addressed　her；　and　inquired　where　she　was　going　and　what　was　her　quest。　　Whereupon；　she　thus　replied：　〃I　am　seeking　one　whom　I　never　saw；　so　far　as　I　am　aware；　and　never　knew；　but　he　has　a　lion　with　him；　and　I　am　told　that；　if　I　find　him；　I　can　place　great　confidence　in　him。〃　〃I　can　testify　to　that；〃　the　other　said：　〃for　the　day　before　yesterday　God　sent　him　here　to　me　in　my　dire　need。　　Blessed　be　the　paths　which　led　him　to　my　dwelling。　　For　he　made　me　glad　by　avenging　me　of　a　mortal　enemy　and　killing　him　before　my　eyes。　Outside　yonder　gate　you　may　see　to…morrow　the　body　of　a　mighty　giant；　whom　he　slew　with　such　ease　that　he　hardly　had　to　sweat。〃　〃For　God's　sake；　sire；〃　the　damsel　said；　〃tell　me　now　the　truth；　if　you　know　whither　he　went；　and　where　he　is。〃　　〃I　don't　know；〃　he　said；　〃as　God　sees　me　here；　but　to…morrow　I　will　start　you　on　the　road　by　which　he　went　away　from　here。〃　　〃And　may　God；〃　said　she；　〃lead　me　where　I　may　hear　true　news　of　him。　　For　if　I　find　him；　I　shall　be　very　glad。〃

（Vv。　4929…4964。）　　Thus　they　continued　in　long　converse　until　at　last　they　went　to　bed。　　When　the　day　dawned；　the　maid　arose；　being　in　great　concern　to　find　the　object　of　her　quest。　　And　the　master　of　the　house　arose　with　all　his　companions；　and　set　her　upon　the　road　which　led　straight　to　the　spring　beneath　the　pine。　And　she；　hastening　on　her　way　toward　the　town；　came　and　asked　the　first　men　whom　she　met；　if　they　could　tell　her　where　she　would　find　the　lion　and　the　knight　who　travelled　in　company。　　And　they　told　her　that　they　had　seen　him　defeat　three　knights　in　that　very　place。　　Whereupon；　she　said　at　once：　〃For　God's　sake；　since　you　have　said　so　much；　do　not　keep　back　from　me　anything　that　you　can　add。〃　　〃No；〃　they　replied；　〃we　know　nothing　more　than　we　have　said；　nor　do　we　know　what　became　of　him。　　If　she　for　whose　sake　he　came　here；　cannot　give　you　further　news；　there　will　be　no　one　here　to　enlighten　you。　　Y