four arthurian romances-第77部分

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（Vv。　247…398。）　　The　horses　are　at　once　brought　out；　all　ready　and　with　the　saddles　on。　　First　the　King　mounts；　then　my　lord　Gawain；　and　all　the　others　rapidly。　　Each　one；　wishing　to　be　of　the　party；　follows　his　own　will　and　starts　away。　　Some　were　armed；　but　there　were　not　a　few　without　their　arms。　　My　lord　Gawain　was　armed；　and　he　bade　two　squires　lead　by　the　bridle　two　extra　steeds。　　And　as　they　thus　approached　the　forest；　they　saw　Kay's　horse　running　out；　and　they　recognised　him；　and　saw　that　both　reins　of　the　bridle　were　broken。　　The　horse　was　running　wild；　the　stirrup…straps　all　stained　with　blood；　and　the　saddle…bow　was　broken　and　damaged。　　Every　one　was　chagrined　at　this；　and　they　nudged　each　other　and　shook　their　heads。　　My　lord　Gawain　was　riding　far　in　advance　of　the　rest　of　the　party；　and　it　was　not　long　before　he　saw　coming　slowly　a　knight　on　a　horse　that　was　sore；　painfully　tired；　and　covered　with　sweat。　　The　knight　first　saluted　my　lord　Gawain；　and　his　greeting　my　lord　Gawain　returned。　Then　the　knight；　recognising　my　lord　Gawain；　stopped　and　thus　spoke　to　him：　〃You　see；　sir；　my　horse　is　in　a　sweat　and　in　such　case　as　to　be　no　longer　serviceable。　　I　suppose　that　those　two　horses　belong　to　you　now；　with　the　understanding　that　I　shall　return　the　service　and　the　favour；　I　beg　you　to　let　me　have　one　or　the　other　of　them；　either　as　a　loan　or　outright　as　a　gift。〃　And　he　answers　him：　〃Choose　whichever　you　prefer。〃　　Then　he　who　was　in　dire　distress　did　not　try　to　select　the　better　or　the　fairer　or　the　larger　of　the　horses；　but　leaped　quickly　upon　the　one　which　was　nearer　to　him；　and　rode　him　off。　　Then　the　one　he　had　just　left　fell　dead；　for　he　had　ridden　him　hard　that　day；　so　that　he　was　used　up　and　overworked。　　The　knight　without　delay　goes　pricking　through　the　forest；　and　my　lord　Gawain　follows　in　pursuit　of　him　with　all　speed；　until　he　reaches　the　bottom　of　a　hill。　　And　when　he　had　gone　some　distance；　he　found　the　horse　dead　which　he　had　given　to　the　knight；　and　noticed　that　the　ground　had　been　trampled　by　horses；　and　that　broken　shields　and　lances　lay　strewn　about；　so　that　it　seemed　that　there　had　been　a　great　combat　between　several　knights；　and　he　was　very　sorry　and　grieved　not　to　have　been　there。　　However；　he　did　not　stay　there　long；　but　rapidly　passed　on　until　he　saw　again　by　chance　the　knight　all　alone　on　foot；　completely　armed；　with　helmet　laced；　shield　hanging　from　his　neck；　and　with　his　sword　girt　on。　　He　had　overtaken　a　cart。　　In　those　days　such　a　cart　served　the　same　purpose　as　does　a　pillory　now；　and　in　each　good　town　where　there　are　more　than　three　thousand　such　carts　nowadays；　in　those　times　there　was　only　one；　and　this；　like　our　pillories；　had　to　do　service　for　all　those　who　commit　murder　or　treason；　and　those　who　are　guilty　of　any　delinquency；　and　for　thieves　who　have　stolen　others'　property　or　have　forcibly　seized　it　on　the　roads。　　Whoever　was　convicted　of　any　crime　was　placed　upon　a　cart　and　dragged　through　all　the　streets；　and　he　lost　henceforth　all　his　legal　rights；　and　was　never　afterward　heard；　honoured；　or　welcomed　in　any　court。　　The　carts　were　so　dreadful　in　those　days　that　the　saying　was　then　first　used：　〃When　thou　dost　see　and　meet　a　cart；　cross　thyself　and　call　upon　God；　that　no　evil　may　befall　thee。〃　　The　knight　on　foot；　and　without　a　lance；　walked　behind　the　cart；　and　saw　a　dwarf　sitting　on　the　shafts；　who　held；　as　a　driver　does；　a　long　goad　in　his　hand。　　Then　he　cries　out：　〃Dwarf；　for　God's　sake；　tell　me　now　if　thou　hast　seen　my　lady；　the　Queen；　pass　by　here。〃　　The　miserable；　low…born　dwarf　would　not　give　him　any　news　of　her；　but　replied：　〃If　thou　wilt　get　up　into　the　cart　I　am　driving　thou　shalt　hear　to…morrow　what　has　happened　to　the　Queen。〃　　Then　he　kept　on　his　way　without　giving　further　heed。　　The　knight　hesitated　only　for　a　couple　of　steps　before　getting　in。　　Yet；　it　was　unlucky　for　him　that　he　shrank　from　the　disgrace；　and　did　not　jump　in　at　once；　for　he　will　later　rue　his　delay。　　But　common　sense；　which　is　inconsistent　with　love's　dictates；　bids　him　refrain　from　getting　in；　warning　him　and　counselling　him　to　do　and　undertake　nothing　for　which　he　may　reap　shame　and　disgrace。　　Reason；　which　dares　thus　speak　to　him；　reaches　only　his　lips；　but　not　his　heart；　but　love　is　enclosed　within　his　heart；　bidding　him　and　urging　him　to　mount　at　once　upon　the　cart。　　So　he　jumps　in；　since　love　will　have　it　so；　feeling　no　concern　about　the　shame；　since　he　is　prompted　by　love's　commands。　　And　my　lord　Gawain　presses　on　in　haste　after　the　cart；　and　when　he　finds　the　knight　sitting　in　it；　his　surprise　is　great。　　〃Tell　me；〃　he　shouted　to　the　dwarf；　〃if　thou　knowest　anything　of　the　Queen。〃　　And　he　replied：　〃If　thou　art　so　much　thy　own　enemy　as　is　this　knight　who　is　sitting　here；　get　in　with　him；　if　it　be　thy　pleasure；　and　I　will　drive　thee　along　with　him。〃　　When　my　lord　Gawain　heard　that；　he　considered　it　great　foolishness；　and　said　that　he　would　not　get　in；　for　it　would　be　dishonourable　to　exchange　a　horse　for　a　cart：　〃Go　on；　and　wherever　thy　journey　lies；　I　will　follow　after　thee。〃

（Vv。　399…462。）　　Thereupon　they　start　ahead；　one　mounted　on　his　horse；　the　other　two　riding　in　the　cart；　and　thus　they　proceed　in　company。　　Late　in　the　afternoon　they　arrive　at　a　town；　which；　you　must　know；　was　very　rich　and　beautiful。　　All　three　entered　through　the　gate；　the　people　are　greatly　amazed　to　see　the　knight　borne　upon　the　cart；　and　they　take　no　pains　to　conceal　their　feelings；　but　small　and　great　and　old　and　young　shout　taunts　at　him　in　the　streets；　so　that　the　knight　hears　many　vile　and　scornful　words　at　his　expense。　（5）　　They　all　inquire：　〃To　what　punishment　is　this　knight　to　be　consigned？　　Is　he　to　be　rayed；　or　hanged；　or　drowned；　or　burned　upon　a　fire　of　thorns？　　Tell　us；　thou　dwarf；　who　art　driving　him；　in　what　crime　was　he　caught？　　Is　he　convicted　of　robbery？　　Is　he　a　murderer；　or　a　criminal？〃　　And　to　all　this　the　dwarf　made　no　response；　vouchsafing　to　them　no　reply。　　He　conducts　the　knight　to　a　lodging…place；　and　Gawain　follows　the　dwarf　closely　to　a　tower；　which　stood　on　the　same　level　over　against　the　town。　　Beyond　there　stretched　a　meadow；　and　the　tower　was　built　close　by；　up　on　a　lofty　eminence　of　rock；　whose　face　formed　a　sharp　precipice。　　Following　the　horse　and　cart；　Gawain　entered　the　tower。　　In　the　hall　they　met　a　damsel　elegantly　attired；　than　whom　there　was　none　fairer　in　the　land；　and　with　her　they　saw　coming　two　fair　and　charming　maidens。　　As　soon　as　they　saw　my　lord　Gawain；　they　received　him　joyously　and　saluted　him；　and　then　asked　news　about　the　other　knight：　〃Dwarf；　of　what　crime　is　this　knight　guilty；　whom　thou　dost　drive　like　a　lame　man？〃　　He　would　not　answer　her　question；　but　he　made　the　knight　get　out　of　the　cart；　and　then　he　withdrew；　without　their　knowing　whither　he　went。　　Then　my　lord　Gawain　dismounts；　and　valets　come　forward　to　relieve　the　two　knights　of　their　armour。　The　damsel　ordered　two　green　mantles　to　be　brought；　which　they　put　on。　　When　the　hour　for　supper　came；　a　sumptuous　repast　was　set。　　The　damsel　sat　at　table　beside　my　lord　Gawain。　　They　would　not　have　changed　their　lodging…place　to　seek　any　other；　for　all　that　evening　the　damsel　showed　them　gear　honour；　and　provided　them　with　fair　and　pleasant　company。

（Vv。　463…538。）　　When　they　had　sat　up　long　enough；　two　long；　high　beds　were　prepared　in　the　middle　of　the　hall；　and　there　was　another　bed　alongside；　fairer　and　more　splendid　than　the　rest；　for；　as　the　story　testifies；　it　possessed　all　the　excellence　that　one　could　think　of　in　a　bed。　　When　the　time　came　to　retire；　the　damsel　took　both　the　guests　to　whom　she　had　offered　her　hospitality；　she　shows　them　the　two　fine；　long；　wide　beds；　and　says：　〃These　two　beds　are　set　up　here　for　the　accommodation　of　your　bodies；　but　in　that　one　yonder　no　one　ever　lay　who　did　not　merit　it：　it　was　not　set　up　to　be　used　by　you。〃　　The　knight　who　came　riding　on　the　cart　replies　at　once：　〃Tell　me；　he　says；　〃for　what　cause　this　bed　is　inaccessible。〃　　Being　thoroughly　informed　of　this；　she　answers　unhesitatingly：　〃It　is　not　your　place　to　ask　or　make　such　an　inquiry。　　Any　knight　is　disgraced　in　the　land　after　being　in　a　cart；　and　it　is　not　fitting　that　he　should　concern　himself　with　the　matter　upon　which　you　have　questioned　me；　and　most　of　all　it　is　not　right　that　he　should　lie　upon　the　bed；　for　he　would　soon　pay　dearly　for　his　act。　　So　rich　a　couch　has　not　been　prepared　for　you；　and　you　would　pay　dearly　for　ever　harbouring　such　a　thought。〃　　He　replies：　〃You　will　see　about　that　presently。〃　。。。。　〃Am　I　to　see　it？〃　。。。。　〃Yes。〃　。。。。　〃It　will　soon　appear。〃　。。。。　〃By　my　head；〃　the　knight　replies；　〃I　know　not　who　is　to　pay　the　penalty。　　But　whoever　may　object　or　disapprove；　I　intend　to　lie　upon　this　bed　and　repose　there　at　my　ease。〃　　Then　he　at　once　disrobed　in　the　bed；　which　was　long　and　raised　half　an　ell　above　the　other　two；　and　was　covered　with　a　yellow　cloth　of　silk　and　a　coverlet　with　gilded　stars。　　The　furs　were　not　of　skinned　vair　but　of　sable；　the　covering　he　had　on　him　would　have　been　fitting　for　a　king。　　The　mattress　was　not　made　of　straw　or　rushes　or　of　old　mats。　　At　midnight　there　descended　from　the　rafters　suddenly　a　lance；　as　with　the　intention　of　pinning　the　knight　through　the　flanks　to　the　coverlet　and　the　white　sheets　where　he　lay。　（6）　　To　the　lance　there　was　attached　a　pennon　all　ablaze。　　The　coverlet；　the　bedclothes；　and　the　bed　itself　all　caught　fire　at　once。　　And　the　tip　of　the　lance　passed　so　close　to　the　knight's　side　that　it　cut　the　skin　a　little；　without　seriously　wounding　him。　　Then　the　knight　got　up；　put　out　the　fire　and；　taking　the　lance；　swung　it　in　the　middle　of　the　hall；　all　this　without　leaving　his　bed；　rather　did　he　lie　down　again　and　slept　as　securely　as　at　first。

（Vv。　539…982。）　　In　the　morning；　at　daybreak；　the　damsel　of　the　tower　had　Mass　celebrated　on　their　account；　and　had　them　rise　and　dress。　　When　Mass　had　been　celebrated　for　them；　the　knight　who　had　ridden　in　the　cart　sat　down　pensively　at　a　window；　which　looked　out　upon　the　meadow；　and　he　gazed　upon　the　fields　below。　The　damsel　came　to　another　window　close　by；　and　there　my　lord　Gawain　conversed　with　her　privately　for　a　while　about　something；　I　know　not　what。　　I　do　not　know　what　words　were　uttered；　but　while　they　were　leaning