four arthurian romances-第74部分

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y　force　or　fear。　　In　fear　and　apprehension；　she　replied　to　him：　〃Fair　lord；　I　must　now　respect　your　desire；　though　my　heart　is　very　loath　to　yield。　　Yet；　however　hard　it　may　go　with　me；　I　shall　do　it；　and　my　sister　shall　have　what　belongs　to　her。　　I　give　her　your　own　person　as　a　pledge　of　her　share　in　my　inheritance；　in　order　that　she　may　be　more　assured　of　it。〃　〃Endow　her　with　it；　then；　at　once；〃　the　King　replies；　〃let　her　receive　it　from　your　hands；　and　let　her　vow　fidelity　to　you！　　Do　you　love　her　as　your　vassal；　and　let　her　love　you　as　her　sovereign　lady　and　as　her　sister。〃　　Thus　the　King　conducts　the　affair　until　the　damsel　takes　possession　of　her　land；　and　offers　her　thanks　to　him　for　it。　　Then　the　King　asked　the　valiant　and　brave　knight　who　was　his　nephew　to　allow　himself　to　be　disarmed；　and　he　requested　my　lord　Yvain　to　lay　aside　his　arms　also；　for　now　they　may　well　dispense　with　them。　　Then　the　two　vassals　lay　aside　their　arms　and　separate　on　equal　terms。　　And　while　they　are　taking　off　their　armour；　they　see　the　lion　running　up　in　search　of　his　master。　　As　soon　as　he　catches　sight　of　him；　he　begins　to　show　his　joy。　　Then　you　would　have　seen　people　draw　aside；　and　the　boldest　among　them　takes　to　flight。　　My　lord　Yvain　cries　out：　〃Stand　still；　all！　　Why　do　you　flee？　　No　one　is　chasing　you。　　Have　no　fear　that　yonder　lion　will　do　you　harm。　　Believe　me；　please；　when　I　say　that　he　is　mine；　and　I　am　his；　and　we　are　both　companions。〃　　Then　it　was　known　of　a　truth　by　all　those　who　had　heard　tell　of　the　adventures　of　the　lion　and　of　his　companion　that　this　must　be　the　very　man　who　had　killed　the　wicked　giant。　And　my　lord　Gawain　said　to　him：　〃Sir　companion；　so　help　me　God；　you　have　overwhelmed　me　with　shame　this　day。　　I　did　not　deserve　the　service　that　you　did　me　in　killing　the　giant　to　save　my　nephews　and　my　niece。　　I　have　been　thinking　about　you　for　some　time；　and　I　was　troubled　because　it　was　said　that　we　were　acquainted　as　loving　friends。　　I　have　surely　thought　much　upon　the　subject：　but　I　could　not　hit　upon　the　truth；　and　had　never　heard　of　any　knight　that　I　had　known　in　any　land　where　I　had　been；　who　was　called　‘The　Knight　with　the　Lion。'〃　　While　they　chatted　thus　they　took　their　armour　off；　and　the　lion　came　with　no　slow　step　to　the　place　where　his　master　sat；　and　showed　such　joy　as　a　dumb　beast　could。　　Then　the　two　knights　had　to　be　removed　to　a　sick…room　and　infirmary；　for　they　needed　a　doctor　and　piaster　to　cure　their　wounds。　　King　Arthur；　who　loved　them　well；　had　them　both　brought　before　him；　and　summoned　a　surgeon　whose　knowledge　of　surgery　was　supreme。　　He　exercised　his　art　in　curing　them；　until　he　had　healed　their　wounds　as　well　and　as　quickly　as　possible。　　When　he　had　cured　them　both；　my　lord　Yvain。　who　had　his　heart　set　fast　on　love；　saw　clearly　that　he　could　not　live；　but　that　he　finally　would　die　unless　his　lady　took　pity　upon　him；　for　he　was　dying　for　love　of　her；　so　he　thought　he　would　go　away　from　the　court　alone；　and　would　go　to　fight　at　the　spring　that　belonged　to　her；　where　he　would　cause　such　a　storm　of　wind　and　rain　that　she　would　be　compelled　perforce　to　make　peace　with　him；　otherwise；　there　would　be　no　end　to　the　disturbance　of　the　spring；　and　to　the　rain　and　wind。

（Vv。　6527…6658。）　　As　soon　as　my　lord　Yvain　felt　that　he　was　cured　and　sound　again；　he　departed　without　the　knowledge　of　any　one。　But　he　had　with　him　his　lion；　who　never　in　his　life　wished　to　desert　him。　　They　travelled　until　they　saw　the　spring　and　made　the　rain　descend。　　Think　not　that　this　is　a　lie　of　mine；　when　I　tell　you　that　the　disturbance　was　so　violent　that　no　one　could　tell　the　tenth　part　of　it：　for　it　seemed　as　if　the　whole　forest　must　surely　be　engulfed。　　The　lady　fears　for　her　town；　lest　it；　too；　will　crumble　away；　the　walls　totter；　and　the　tower　rocks　so　that　it　is　on　the　verge　of　falling　down。　　The　bravest　Turk　would　rather　be　a　captive　in　Persia　than　be　shut　up　within　those　walls。　The　people　are　so　stricken　with　terror　that　they　curse　all　their　ancestors；　saying：　〃Confounded　be　the　man　who　first　constructed　a　house　in　this　neighbourhood；　and　all　those　who　built　this　town！　For　in　the　wide　world　they　could　not　have　found　so　detestable　a　spot；　for　a　single　man　is　able　here　to　invade　and　worry　and　harry　us。〃　　〃You　must　take　counsel　in　this　matter；　my　lady；〃　says　Lunete；　〃you　will　find　no　one　who　will　undertake　to　aid　you　in　this　time　of　need　unless　you　seek　for　him　afar。　　In　the　future　we　shall　never　be　secure　in　this　town；　nor　dare　to　pass　beyond　the　walls　and　gate。　　You　know　full　well　that；　were　some　one　to　summon　together　all　your　knights　for　this　cause；　the　best　of　them　would　not　dare　to　step　forward。　　If　it　is　true　that　you　have　no　one　to　defend　your　spring；　you　will　appear　ridiculous　and　humiliated。　　It　will　redound　greatly　to　your　honour；　forsooth；　if　he　who　has　attacked　you　shall　retire　without　a　fight！　　Surely　you　are　in　a　bad　predicament　if　you　do　not　devise　some　other　plan　to　benefit　yourself。〃　　The　lady　replies：　〃Do　thou；　who　art　so　wise；　tell　me　what　plan　I　can　devise；　and　I　will　follow　thy　advice。〃　　〃Indeed；　lady；　if　I　had　any　plan；　I　should　gladly　propose　it　to　you。　　But　you　have　great　need　of　a　wiser　counsellor。　　So　I　shall　certainly　not　dare　to　intrude；　and　in　common　with　the　others　I　shall　endure　the　rain　and　wind　until；　if　it　please　God；　I　shall　see　some　worthy　man　appear　here　in　your　court　who　will　assume　the　responsibility　and　burden　of　the　battle；　but　I　do　not　believe　that　that　will　happen　to…day；　and　we　have　not　yet　seen　the　worst　of　your　urgent　need。〃　　Then　the　lady　replies　at　once：　〃Damsel；　speak　now　of　something　else！　　Say　no　more　of　the　people　of　my　household；　for　I　cherish　no　further　expectation　that　the　spring　and　its　marble　brim　will　ever　be　defended　by　any　of　them。　　But；　if　it　please　God；　let　us　hear　now　what　is　your　opinion　and　plan；　for　people　always　say　that　in　time　of　need　one　can　test　his　friend。〃　（30）　　〃My　lady；　if　there　is　any　one　who　thinks　he　could　find　him　who　slew　the　giant　and　defeated　the　three　knights；　he　would　do　well　to　go　to　search　for　him。　　But　so　long　as　he　shall　incur　the　enmity；　wrath；　and　displeasure　of　his　lady；　I　fancy　there　is　not　under　heaven　any　man　or　woman　whom　he　would　follow；　until　he　had　been　assured　upon　oath　that　everything　possible　would　be　done　to　appease　the　hostility　which　his　lady　feels　for　him；　and　which　is　so　bitter　that　he　is　dying　of　the　grief　and　anxiety　it　causes　him。〃　　And　the　lady　said：　〃Before　you　enter　upon　the　quest；　I　am　prepared　to　promise　you　upon　my　word　and　to　swear　that；　if　he　will　return　to　me；　I　will　openly　and　frankly　do　all　I　can　to　bring　about　his　peace　of　mind。〃　　Then　Lunete　replies　to　her：　〃Lady；　have　no　fear　that　you　cannot　easily　effect　his　reconciliation；　when　once　it　is　your　desire　to　do　so；　but；　if　you　do　not　object；　I　will　take　your　oath　before　I　start。〃　　〃I　have　no　objection；〃　the　lady　says。　　With　delicate　courtesy；　Lunete　procured　at　once　for　her　a　very　precious　relic；　and　the　lady　fell　upon　her　knees。　　Thus　Lunete　very　courteously　accepted　her　upon　her　oath。　　In　administering　the　oath；　she　forgot　nothing　which　it　might　be　an　advantage　to　insert。　　〃Lady；〃　she　says；　〃now　raise　your　hand！　　I　do　not　wish　that　the　day　after　to…morrow　you　should　lay　any　charge　upon　me；　for　you　are　not　doing　anything　for　me；　but　you　are　acting　for　your　own　good。　　If　you　please　now；　you　shall　swear　that　you　will　exert　yourself　in　the　interests　of　the　Knight　with　the　Lion　until　he　recover　his　lady's　love　as　completely　as　he　ever　possessed　it。〃　　The　lady　then　raised　her　right　hand　and　said：　〃I　swear　to　all　that　thou　hast　said；　so　help　me　God　and　His　holy　saint；　that　my　heart　may　never　fail　to　do　all　within　my　power。　　If　I　have　the　strength　and　ability；　I　will　restore　to　him　the　love　and　favour　which　with　his　lady　he　once　enjoyed。〃

（Vv。　6659…6716。）　　Lunete　has　now　done　well　her　work；　there　was　nothing　which　she　had　desired　so　much　as　the　object　which　she　had　now　attained。　　They　had　already　got　out　for　her　a　palfrey　with　an　easy　pace。　　Gladly　and　in　a　happy　frame　of　mind　Lunete　mounts　and　rides　away；　until　she　finds　beneath　the　pine…tree　him　whom　she　did　not　expect　to　find　so　near　at　hand。　　Indeed；　she　had　thought　that　she　would　have　to　seek　afar　before　discovering　him。　　As　soon　as　she　saw　him；　she　recognised　him　by　the　lion；　and　coming　toward　him　rapidly；　she　dismounted　upon　the　solid　earth。　　And　my　lord　Yvain　recognised　her　as　soon　as　he　saw　her；　and　greeted　her；　as　she　saluted　him　with　the　words：　〃Sire；　I　am　very　happy　to　have　found　you　so　near　at　hand。〃　　And　my　lord　Yvain　said　in　reply：　〃How　is　that？　　Were　you　looking　for　me；　then？〃　　〃Yes；　sire；　and　in　all　my　life　I　have　never　felt　so　glad；　for　I　have　made　my　mistress　promise；　if　she　does　not　go　back　upon　her　word；　that　she　will　be　again　your　lady　as　was　once　the　case；　and　that　you　shall　be　her　lord；　this　truth　I　make　bold　to　tell。〃　　My　lord　Yvain　was　greatly　elated　at　the　news　he　hears；　and　which　he　had　never　expected　to　hear　again。　　He　could　not　sufficiently　show　his　gratitude　to　her　who　had　accomplished　this　for　him。　　He　kisses　her　eyes；　and　then　her　face；　saying：　〃Surely；　my　sweet　friend；　I　can　never　repay　you　for　this　service。　　I　fear　that　ability　and　time　will　fail　me　to　do　you　the　honour　and　service　which　is　your　due。〃　　〃Sire；　she　replies；　〃have　no　concern；　and　let　not　that　thought　worry　you！　　For　you　will　have　an　abundance　of　strength　and　time　to　show　me　and　others　your　good　will。　　If　I　have　paid　this　debt　I　owed；　I　am　entitled　to　only　so　much　gratitude　as　the　man　who　borrows　another's　goods　and　then　discharges　the　obligation。　　Even　now　I　do　not　consider　that　I　have　paid　you　the　debt　I　owed。〃　　〃Indeed　you　have；　as　God　sees　me；　more　than　five　hundred　thousand　times。　　Now；　when　you　are　ready；　let　us　go。　　But　have　you　told　her　who　I　am？〃　　〃No；　I　have　not；　upon　my　word。　　She　knows　you　only　by　the　name　of　‘The　Knight　with　the　Lion。'〃

（Vv。　6717…6758。）　　Thus　conversing　they　went　along；　with　the　lion　following　after　them；　until　they　all　three　came　to　the　town。　　　They　said　not　a　word　to　any　man　or　woman　there；　until　they　arrived　where　the　lady　was。　　And　the　lady　was　greatly　pleased　as　soon　as　she　heard　that　the　damsel　was　approaching；　and　that　she　was　bringing　with　her　the　lion　and　the　knight；　whom　she　was　very