four arthurian romances-第73部分

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　and　emerald　set　in　　their　helmets　is　crushed　and　smashed。　　For　they　give　each　other　such　a　battering　with　their　pommels　upon　the　helmets　that　they　are　quite　stunned；　as　they　almost　beat　out　each　other's　brains。　The　eyes　in　their　heads　gleam　like　sparks；　as；　with　stout　square　fists；　and　strong　nerves；　and　hard　bones；　they　strike　each　other　upon　the　mouth　as　long　as　they　can　grip　their　swords；　which　are　of　great　service　to　them　in　dealing　their　heavy　blows。

（Vv。　6149…6228。）　　When　they　had　for　a　long　time　strained　themselves；　until　the　helmets　were　crushed；　and　the　hauberks'　meshes　were　torn　apart　with　the　hammering　of　the　swords；　and　the　shields　were　split　and　cracked；　they　drew　apart　a　little　to　give　their　pulse　a　rest　and　to　catch　their　breath　again。　　However；　they　do　not　long　delay；　but　run　at　each　other　again　more　fiercely　than　before。　　And　all　declare　that　they　never　saw　two　more　courageous　knights。　　〃This　fight　between　them　is　no　jest；　but　they　are　in　grim　earnest。　　They　will　never　be　repaid　for　their　merits　and　deserts。〃　　The　two　friends；　in　their　bitter　struggle；　heard　these　words；　and　heard　how　the　people　were　talking　of　reconciling　the　two　sisters；　but　they　had　no　success　in　placating　the　elder　one。　　And　the　younger　one　said　she　would　leave　it　to　the　King；　and　would　not　gainsay　him　in　anything。　　But　the　elder　one　was　so　obstinate　that　even　the　Queen　Guinevere　and　the　knights　and　the　King　and　the　ladies　and　the　townspeople　side　with　the　younger　sister；　and　all　join　in　beseeching　the　King　to　give　her　a　third　or　a　fourth　part　of　the　land　in　spite　of　the　elder　sister；　and　to　separate　the　two　knights　who　had　displayed　such　bravery；　for　it　would　be　too　bad　if　one　should　injure　the　other　or　deprive　him　of　any　honour。　　And　the　King　replied　that　he　would　take　no　hand　in　making　peace；　for　the　elder　sister　is　so　cruel　that　she　has　no　desire　for　it。　　All　these　words　were　heard　by　the　two；　who　were　attacking　each　other　so　bitterly　that　all　were　astonished　thereat；　for　the　battle　is　waged　so　evenly　that　it　is　impossible　to　judge　which　has　the　better　and　which　the　worse。　Even　the　two　men　themselves；　who　fight；　and　who　are　purchasing　honour　with　agony；　are　filled　with　amazement　and　stand　aghast；　for　they　are　so　well　matched　in　their　attack；　that　each　wonders　who　it　can　be　that　withstands　him　with　such　bravery。　　They　fight　so　long　that　the　day　draws　on　to　night；　while　their　arms　grow　weary　and　their　bodies　sore；　and　the　hot；　boiling　blood　flows　from　many　a　spot　and　trickles　down　beneath　their　hauberks：　they　are　in　such　distress　that　it　is　no　wonder　if　they　wish　to　rest。　Then　both　withdraw　to　rest　themselves；　each　thinking　within　himself　that；　however　long　he　has　had　to　wait；　he　now　at　last　has　met　his　match。　　For　some　time　they　thus　seek　repose；　without　daring　to　resume　the　fight。　　They　feel　no　further　desire　to　fight；　because　of　the　night　which　is　growing　dark；　and　because　of　the　respect　they　feel　for　each　other's　might。　　These　two　considerations　keep　them　apart；　and　urge　them　to　keep　the　peace。　But　before　they　leave　the　field　they　will　discover　each　other's　identity；　and　joy　and　mercy　will　be　established　between　them。

（Vv。　6229…6526。）　　My　brave　and　courteous　lord　Yvain　was　the　first　to　speak。　　But　his　good　friend　was　unable　to　recognise　him　by　his　utterance；　for　he　was　prevented　by　his　low　tone　and　by　his　voice　which　was　hoarse；　weak；　and　broken；　for　his　blood　was　all　stirred　up　by　the　blows　he　had　received。　　〃My　lord；〃　he　says；　〃the　night　comes　on！　　I　think　no　blame　or　reproach　will　attach　to　us　if　the　night　comes　between　us。　　But　I　am　willing　to　admit；　for　my　own　part；　that　I　feel　great　respect　and　admiration　for　you；　and　never　in　my　life　have　I　engaged　in　a　battle　which　has　made　me　smart　so　much；　nor　did　I　ever　expect　to　see　a　knight　whose　acquaintance　I　should　so　yearn　to　make。　　You　know　well　how　to　land　your　blows　and　how　to　make　good　use　of　them：　I　have　never　known　a　knight　who　was　so　skilled　in　dealing　blows。　　It　was　against　my　will　that　I　received　all　the　blows　you　have　bestowed　on　me　to…day；　I　am　stunned　by　the　blows　you　have　I　struck　upon　my　head。〃　　〃Upon　my　word；〃　my　lord　Gawain　replies；　〃you　are　not　so　stunned　and　faint　but　that　I　am　as　much　so；　or　more。　　And　if　I　should　tell　you　the　simple　truth；　I　think　you　would　not　be　loath　to　hear　it；　for　if　I　have　lent　you　anything　of　mine；　you　have　fully　paid　me　back；　principal　and　interest；　for　you　were　more　ready　to　pay　back　than　I　was　to　accept　the　payment。　　But　however　that　may　be；　since　you　wish　me　to　inform　you　of　my　name；　it　shall　not　be　kept　from　you：　my　name　is　Gawain　the　son　of　King　Lot。〃　　As　soon　as　my　lord　Yvain　heard　that；　he　was　amazed　and　sorely　troubled；　angry　and　grief…　stricken；　he　cast　upon　the　ground　his　bloody　sword　and　broken　shield；　then　dismounted　from　his　horse；　and　cried：　〃Alas；　what　mischance　is　this！　　Through　what　unhappy　ignorance　in　not　recognising　each　other　have　we　waged　this　battle！　　For　if　I　had　known　who　you　were；　I　should　never　have　fought　with　you；　but；　upon　my　word；　I　should　have　surrendered　without　a　blow。〃　　〃How　is　that？〃　my　lord　Gawain　inquires；　〃who　are　you；　then？〃　　〃I　am　Yvain；　who　love　you　more　than　any　man　in　the　whole　wide　world；　for　you　have　always　been　fond　of　me　and　shown　me　honour　in　every　court。　　But　I　wish　to　make　you　such　amends　and　do　you　such　honour　in　this　affair　that　I　will　confess　myself　to　have　been　defeated。〃　〃Will　you　do　so　much　for　my　sake？〃　my　gentle　lord　Gawain　asks　him；　〃surely　I　should　be　presumptuous　to　accept　any　such　amends　from　you。　　This　honour　shall　never　be　claimed　as　mine；　but　it　shall　be　yours；　to　whom　I　resign　it。〃　　〃Ah；　fair　sire；　do　not　speak　so。　　For　that　could　never　be。　　I　am　so　wounded　and　exhausted　that　I　cannot　endure　more。〃　　〃Surely；　you　have　no　cause　to　be　concerned。〃　his　friend　and　companion　replies；　〃but　for　my　part；　I　am　defeated　and　overcome；　I　say　it　not　as　a　compliment；　for　there　is　no　stranger　in　the　world；　to　whom　I　would　not　say　as　much；　rather　than　receive　any　more　blows。〃　　Thus　saying；　he　got　down　from　his　horse；　and　they　threw　their　arms　about　each　other's　neck；　kissing　each　other；　and　each　continuing　to　assert　that　it　is　he　who　has　met　defeat。　　The　argument　is　still　in　progress　when　the　King　and　the　knights　come　running　up　from　every　side；　at　the　sight　of　their　reconciliation；　and　great　is　their　desire　to　hear　how　this　can　be；　and　who　these　men　are　who　manifest　such　happiness。　　The　King　says：　〃Gentlemen；　tell　us　now　who　it　is　that　has　so　suddenly　brought　about　this　friendship　and　harmony　between　you　two；　after　the　hatred　and　strife　there　has　been　this　day？〃　Then　his　nephew；　my　lord　Gawain；　thus　answers　him：　〃My　lord；　you　shall　be　informed　of　the　misfortune　and　mischance　which　have　been　the　cause　of　our　strife。　　Since　you　have　tarried　in　order　to　hear　and　learn　the　cause　of　it；　it　is　right　to　let　you　know　the　truth。　I；　Gawain；　who　am　your　nephew；　did　not　recognise　this　companion　of　mine；　my　lord　Yvain；　until　he　fortunately；　by　the　will　of　God；　asked　me　my　name。　　After　each　had　informed　the　other　of　his　name；　we　recognised　each　other；　but　not　until　we　had　fought　it　out。　　Our　struggle　already　has　been　long；　and　if　we　had　fought　yet　a　little　longer；　it　would　have　fared　ill　with　me；　for；　by　my　head；　he　would　have　killed　me；　what　with　his　prowess　and　the　evil　cause　of　her　who　chose　me　as　her　champion。　　But　I　would　rather　be　defeated　than　killed　by　a　friend　in　battle。〃　　Then　my　lord　Yvain's　blood　was　stirred；　as　he　said　to　him　in　reply：　〃Fair　dear　sire；　so　help　me　God；　you　have　no　right　to　say　so　much。　　Let　my　lord；　The　King；　well　know　in　this　battle　I　am　surely　the　one　who　has　been　defeated　and　overcome！〃　　〃I　am　the　one〃　　〃No；　I　am。〃　Thus　each　cries　out；　and　both　are　so　honest　and　courteous　that　each　allows　the　victory　and　crown　to　be　the　other's　prize；　while　neither　one　of　them　will　accept　it。　　Thus　each　strives　to　convince　the　King　and　all　the　people　that　he　has　been　defeated　and　overthrown。　　But　when　he　had　listened　to　them　for　a　while；　the　King　terminated　the　dispute。　　He　was　well　pleased　with　what　he　heard　and　with　the　sight　of　them　in　each　other's　arms；　though　they　had　wounded　and　injured　each　other　in　several　places。　　〃My　lords；〃　he　says；　〃there　is　deep　affection　between　you　two。　　You　give　clear　evidence　of　that；　when　each　insists　that　it　is　he　who　has　been　defeated。　　Now　leave　it　all　to　me！　　For　I　think　I　can　arrange　it　in　such　a　way　that　it　will　redound　to　your　honour；　and　every　one　will　give　consent。〃　　Then　they　both　promised　him　that　they　would　do　his　will　in　every　particular。　　And　the　King　says　that　he　will　decide　the　quarrel　fairly　and　faithfully。　　〃Where　is　the　damsel；〃　he　inquires；　〃who　has　ejected　her　sister　from　her　land；　and　has　forcibly　and　cruelly　disinherited　her？〃　　〃My　lord；〃　she　answers；　〃here　I　am。〃　　〃Are　you　there？　　Then　draw　near　to　me！　I　saw　plainly　some　time　ago　that　you　were　disinheriting　her。　　But　her　right　shall　no　longer　be　denied；　for　you　yourself　have　avowed　the　truth　to　me。　　You　must　now　resign　her　share　to　her。〃　　〃Sire；〃　she　says；　〃if　I　uttered　a　foolish　and　thoughtless　word；　you　ought　not　to　take　me　up　in　it。　　For　God's　sake；　sire；　do　not　be　hard　on　me！　　You　are　a　king；　and　you　ought　to　guard　against　wrong　and　error。〃　　The　King　replies：　〃That　is　precisely　why　I　wish　to　give　your　sister　her　rights；　for　I　have　never　defended　what　is　wrong。　And　you　have　surely　heard　how　your　knight　and　hers　have　left　the　matter　in　my　hands。　　I　shall　not　say　what　is　altogether　pleasing　to　you；　for　your　injustice　is　well　known。　　In　his　desire　to　honour　the　other；　each　one　says　that　he　has　been　defeated。　　But　there　is　no　need　to　delay　further：　since　the　matter　has　been　left　to　me；　either　you　will　do　in　all　respects　what　I　say；　without　resistance；　or　I　shall　announce　that　my　nephew　has　been　defeated　in　the　fight。　　That　would　be　the　worst　thing　that　could　happen　to　your　cause；　and　I　shall　be　sorry　to　make　such　a　declaration。〃　　In　reality；　he　would　not　have　said　it　for　anything；　but　he　spoke　thus　in　order　to　see　if　he　could　frighten　her　into　restoring　the　heritage　to　her　sister；　for　he　clearly　saw　that　she　never　would　surrender　anything　to　her　for　any　words　of　his　unless　she　was　influenced　by　force　or　fear。　　In　fear　and　apprehension；　she　replied　to　him：　〃Fair　lord；　I　must　now　respect　your