four arthurian romances-第71部分

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me　alone　to　enjoy　our　sport；　for　the　lion　would　gladly　help　you；　if　he　could。〃　　My　lord　Yvain　then　replies　to　them：　〃Take　him　away　yourselves　if　you　are　afraid　of　him。　　For　I　shall　be　well　pleased　and　satisfied　if　he　can　contrive　to　injure　you；　and　I　shall　be　grateful　for　his　aid。〃　　They　answer：　〃Upon　my　word　that　will　not　do；　you　shall　never　receive　any　help　from　him。　　Do　the　best　you　can　alone；　without　the　help　of　any　one。　　You　must　fight　single…handed　against　us　two。　　If　you　were　not　alone；　it　would　be　two　against　two；　so　you　must　follow　our　orders；　and　remove　your　lion　from　here　at　once；　however　much　you　may　dislike　to　do　so。〃　〃Where　do　you　wish　him　to　be？〃　he　asks；　〃or　where　do　you　wish　me　to　put　him？〃　　Then　they　show　him　a　small　room；　and　say：　〃Shut　him　up　in　there。〃　　〃It　shall　be　done；　since　it　is　your　will。〃　　Then　he　takes　him　and　shuts　him　up。　　And　now　they　bring　him　arms　for　his　body；　and　lead　out　his　horse；　which　they　give　to　him；　and　he　mounts。　　The　two　champions；　being　now　assured　about　the　lion；　which　is　shut　up　in　the　room；　come　at　him　to　injure　him　and　do　him　harm。　　They　give　him　such　blows　with　the　maces　that　his　shield　and　helmet　are　of　little　use；　for　when　they　hit　him　on　the　helmet　they　batter　it　in　and　break　it；　and　the　shield　is　broken　and　dissolved　like　ice；　for　they　make　such　holes　in　it　that　one　could　thrust　his　fists　through　it：　their　onslaught　is　truly　terrible。　　And　hewhat　does　he　do　against　these　two　devils？　Urged　on　by　shame　and　fear；　he　defends　himself　with　all　his　strength。　　He　strains　every　nerve；　and　exerts　himself　to　deal　heavy；　and　telling　blows；　they　lost　nothing　by　his　gifts；　for　he　returned　their　attentions　with　double　measure。　　In　his　room；　the　lion's　heart　is　heavy　and　sad；　for　he　remembers　the　kind　deed　done　for　him　by　this　noble　man；　who　now　must　stand　in　great　need　of　his　service　and　aid。　　If　now　he　could　escape　from　there；　he　would　return　him　the　kindness　with　full　measure　and　full　bushel；　without　any　discount　whatsoever。　　He　looks　about　in　all　directions；　but　sees　no　way　of　escape。　　He　hears　the　blows　of　the　dangerous　and　desperate　fight；　and　in　his　grief　he　rages　and　is　beside　himself。　　He　investigates；　until　he　comes　to　the　threshold；　which　was　beginning　to　grow　rotten；　and　he　scratches　at　it　until　he　can　squeeze　himself　in　as　far　as　his　haunches；　when　he　sticks　fast。　　Meanwhile；　my　lord　Yvain　was　hard　pressed　and　sweating　freely；　for　he　found　that　the　two　fellows　were　very　strong；　fierce；　and　persistent。　　He　had　received　many　a　blow；　and　repaid　it　as　best　he　could；　but　without　doing　them　any　harm；　for　they　were　well　skilled　in　fencing；　and　their　shields　were　not　of　a　kind　to　be　hacked　by　any　sword；　however　sharp　and　well　tempered　it　might　be。　　So　my　lord　Yvain　had　good　reason　to　fear　his　death；　yet　he　managed　to　hold　his　own　until　the　lion　extricated　himself　by　continued　scratching　beneath　the　threshold。　　If　the　rascals　are　not　killed　now；　surely　they　will　never　be。　　For　so　long　as　the　lion　knows　them　to　be　alive；　they　can　never　obtain　truce　or　peace　with　him。　　He　seizes　one　of　them；　and　pulls　him　down　to　earth　like　a　tree…trunk。　　The　wretches　are　terrified；　and　there　is　not　a　man　present　who　does　not　rejoice。　　For　he　whom　the　lion　has　dragged　down　will　never　be　able　to　rise　again；　unless　the　other　succours　him。　　He　runs　up　to　bring　him　aid；　and　at　the　same　time　to　protect　himself；　lest　the　lion　should　attack　him　as　soon　as　he　had　despatched　the　one　whom　he　had　thrown　down；　he　was　more　afraid　of　the　lion　than　of　his　master。　　But　my　lord　Yvain　will　be　foolish　now　if　he　allows　him　longer　life；　when　he　sees　him　turn　his　back；　and　sees　his　neck　bare　and　exposed；　this　chance　turned　out　well　for　him。　　When　the　rascal　exposed　to　him　his　bare　head　and　neck；　he　dealt　him　such　a　blow　that　he　smote　his　head　from　his　shoulders　so　quietly　that　the　fellow　never　knew　a　word　about　it。　　Then　he　dismounts；　wishing　to　help　and　save　the　other　one　from　the　lion；　who　holds　him　fast。　　But　it　is　of　no　use；　for　already　he　is　in　such　straits　that　a　physician　can　never　arrive　in　time；　for　the　lion；　coming　at　him　furiously；　so　wounded　him　at　the　first　attack；　that　he　was　in　a　dreadful　state。　　Nevertheless；　he　drags　the　lion　back；　and　sees　that　he　had　torn　his　shoulder　from　its　place。　　He　is　in　no　fear　of　the　fellow　now；　for　his　club　has　fallen　from　his　hand；　and　he　lies　like　a　dead　man　without　action　or　movement；　still　he　has　enough　strength　to　speak；　and　he　said　as　clearly　as　he　could：　〃Please　take　your　lion　away；　fair　sire；　that　he　may　not　do　me　further　harm。　　Henceforth　you　may　do　with　me　whatever　may　be　your　desire。　　Whoever　begs　and　prays　for　mercy；　ought　not　to　have　his　prayer　refused；　unless　he　addresses　a　heartless　man。　　I　will　no　longer　defend　myself；　nor　will　I　ever　get　up　from　here　with　my　own　strength；　so　I　put　myself　in　your　hands。〃　　〃Speak　out　then；〃　he　says；　〃if　thou　dost　admit　that　thou　art　conquered　and　defeated。〃　　〃Sire；〃　he　says；　〃it　is　evident。　　I　am　defeated　in　spite　of　myself；　and　I　surrender；　I　promise　you。〃　〃Then　thou　needest　have　no　further　fear　of　me；　and　my　lion　will　leave　thee　alone。〃　　Then　he　is　surrounded　by　all　the　crowd；　who　arrive　on　the　scene　in　haste。　　And　both　the　lord　and　his　lady　rejoice　over　him；　and　embrace　him；　and　speak　to　him　of　their　daughter；　saying：　〃Now　you　will　be　the　lord　and　master　of　us　all；　and　our　daughter　will　be　your　wife；　for　we　bestow　her　upon　you　as　your　spouse。〃　　〃And　for　my　part；〃　he　says。　〃I　restore　her　to　you。　Let　him　who　has　her　keep　her。　　I　have　no　concern　with　her；　though　I　say　it　not　in　disparagement。　　Take　it　not　amiss　if　I　do　not　accept　her；　for　I　cannot　and　must　not　do　so。　　But　deliver　to　me　now；　if　you　will；　the　wretched　maidens　in　your　possession。　　The　agreement；　as　you　well　know；　is　that　they　shall　all　go　free。〃　〃What　you　say　is　true；〃　he　says：　〃and　I　resign　and　deliver　them　freely　to　you：　there　will　be　no　dispute　on　that　score。　　But　you　will　be　wise　to　take　my　daughter　with　all　my　wealth；　for　she　is　fair；　and　charming；　and　sensible。　　You　will　never　find　again　such　a　rich　marriage　as　this。〃　　〃Sire；〃　he　replies；　〃you　do　not　know　of　my　engagements　and　my　affairs；　and　I　do　not　dare　to　explain　them　to　you。　　But；　you　may　be　sure；　when　I　refuse　what　would　never　be　refused　by　any　one　who　was　free　to　devote　his　heart　and　intentions　to　such　a　fair　and　charming　girl；　that　I　too　would　willingly　accept　her　hand　if　I　could；　or　if　I　were　free　to　accept　her　or　any　other　maid。　　But　I　assure　you　that　I　cannot　do　it：　so　let　me　depart　in　peace。　　For　the　damsel；　who　escorted　me　hither；　is　awaiting　me。　　She　has　kept　me　company；　and　I　would　not　willingly　desert　her　whatever　the　future　may　have　in　store。〃　　〃You　wish　to　go；　fair　sire？　　But　how？　　My　gate　will　never　be　opened　for　you　unless　my　judgment　bids　me　give　the　command；　rather　shall　you　remain　here　as　my　prisoner。　　You　are　acting　haughtily　and　making　a　mistake　when　you　disdain　to　take　my　daughter　at　my　request。〃　　〃Disdain；　my　lord？　　Upon　my　soul；　I　do　not　disdain　her。　　Whatever　the　penalty　may　be；　I　cannot　marry　a　wife　or　tarry　here。　　I　shall　follow　the　damsel　who　is　my　guide：　for　otherwise　it　cannot　be。　　But；　with　your　consent；　I　will　pledge　you　my　right　hand；　and　you　may　take　my　word；　that；　just　as　you　see　me　now；　I　will　return　if　possible；　and　then　will　accept　your　daughter's　hand；　whenever　it　may　seem　good　ro　you。〃　〃Confound　any　one；〃　he　says；　〃who　asks　you　for　your　word　or　promise　or　pledge。　　If　my　daughter　pleases　you；　you　will　return　quickly　enough。　　You　will　not　return　any　sooner。　　I　think；　for　having　given　your　word　or　sworn　an　oath。　　Begone　now。　　I　release　you　from　all　oaths　and　promises。　　If　you　are　detained　by　rain　or　wind；　or　by　nothing　at　all；　it　is　of　no　consequence　to　me。　　I　do　not　hold　my　daughter　so　cheap　as　to　bestow　her　upon　you　forcibly。　　Now　go　about　your　business。　　For　it　is　quite　the　same　to　me　whether　you　go　or　whether　you　stay。〃

（Vv。　5771…5871。）　　Thereupon　my　lord　Yvain　turns　away　and　delays　no　longer　in　the　castle。　　He　escorted　the　poor　and　ill…clad　wretches；　who　were　now　released　from　captivity；　and　whom　the　lord　committed　to　his　care。　　These　maidens　feel　that　now　they　are　rich；　as　they　file　out　in　pairs　before　him　from　the　castle。　　I　do　not　believe　that　they　would　rejoice　so　much　as　they　do　now　were　He　who　created　the　whole　world　to　descend　to　earth　from　Heaven。　Now　all　those　people　who　had　insulted　him　in　every　possible　way　come　to　beseech　him　for　mercy　and　peace；　and　escort　him　on　his　way。　　He　replies　that　he　knows　nothing　of　what　they　mean。　　〃I　do　not　understand　what　you　mean；〃　he　says；　〃but　I　have　nothing　against　you。　　I　do　not　remember　that　you　ever　said　anything　that　harmed　me。〃　　They　are　very　glad　for　what　they　hear；　and　loudly　praise　his　courtesy；　and　after　escorting　him　a　long　distance；　they　all　commend　him　to　God。　　Then　the　damsels；　after　asking　his　permission；　separated　from　him。　　When　they　left　him；　they　all　bowed　to　him；　and　prayed　and　expressed　the　wish　that　God　might　grant　him　joy　and　health；　and　the　accomplishment　of　his　desire；　wherever　in　the　future　he　should　go。　　Then　he；　who　is　anxious　to　be　gone；　says　that　he　hopes　God　will　save　them　all。　　〃Go；〃　he　says；　〃and　may　God　conduct　you　into　your　countries　safe　and　happy。〃　　Then　they　continue　their　way　joyfully；　and　my　lord　Yvain　departs　in　the　other　direction。　　All　the　days　of　that　week　he　never　ceases　to　hurry　on　under　the　escort　of　the　maid；　who　was　well　acquainted　with　the　road；　and　with　the　retired　place　where　she　had　left　the　unhappy　and　disconsolate　damsel　who　had　been　deprived　of　her　inheritance。　　But　when　she　heard　news　of　the　arrival　of　the　maiden　and　of　the　Knight　with　the　Lion。　　There　never　was　such　joy　as　she　felt　within　her　heart。　　For　now　she　thinks　that；　if　she　insists；　her　sister　will　cede　her　a　part　of　her　inheritance。　　The　damsel　had　long　lain　sick；　and　had　just　recovered　from　her　malady。　　It　had　seriously　affected　her；　as　was　apparent　from　her　face。　　Straightway　she　went　forth　to　meet　them；　greeting　them　and　honouring　them　in　every　way　she　could。　　There　is　no　need　to　speak　of　the　happiness　that　prevailed　that　night　in　the　house。　　No　mention　will　be　made　of　it；　for　the　story　would　be　too　long　to　tell。　　I　pass　over　all　that；　until　they　mounted　next　morning　and　went　away。　　They　rode　until　they　saw　the　town　w