four arthurian romances-第78部分

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　something；　I　know　not　what。　　I　do　not　know　what　words　were　uttered；　but　while　they　were　leaning　on　the　window…sill　they　saw　carried　along　the　river　through　the　fields　a　bier；　upon　which　there　lay　a　knight；　（7）　and　alongside　three　damsels　walked；　mourning　bitterly。　　Behind　the　bier　they　saw　a　crowd　approaching；　with　a　tall　knight　in　front；　leading　a　fair　lady　by　the　horse's　rein。　　The　knight　at　the　window　knew　that　it　was　the　Queen。　　He　continued　to　gaze　at　her　attentively　and　with　delight　as　long　as　she　was　visible。　　And　when　he　could　no　longer　see　her；　he　was　minded　to　throw　himself　out　and　break　his　body　down　below。　　And　he　would　have　let　himself　fall　out　had　not　my　lord　Gawain　seen　him；　and　drawn　him　back；　saying：　〃I　beg　you；　sire；　be　quiet　now。　　For　God's　sake；　never　think　again　of　committing　such　a　mad　deed。　　It　is　wrong　for　you　to　despise　your　life。〃　　〃He　is　perfectly　right；〃　the　damsel　says；　〃for　will　not　the　news　of　his　disgrace　be　known　everywhere？　　Since　he　has　been　upon　the　cart；　he　has　good　reason　to　wish　to　die；　for　he　would　be　better　dead　than　alive。　　His　life　henceforth　is　sure　to　be　one　of　shame；　vexation；　and　unhappiness。〃　　Then　the　knights　asked　for　their　armour；　and　armed　themselves；　the　damsel　treating　them　courteously；　with　distinction　and　generosity；　for　when　she　had　joked　with　the　knight　and　ridiculed　him　enough；　she　presented　him　with　a　horse　and　lance　as　a　token　of　her　goodwill。　　The　knights　then　courteously　and　politely　took　leave　of　the　damsel；　first　saluting　her；　and　then　going　off　in　the　direction　taken　by　the　crowd　they　had　seen。　　Thus　they　rode　out　from　the　town　without　addressing　them。　　They　proceeded　quickly　in　the　direction　they　had　seen　taken　by　the　Queen；　but　they　did　not　overtake　the　procession；　which　had　advanced　rapidly。　　After　leaving　the　fields；　the　knights　enter　an　enclosed　place；　and　find　a　beaten　road。　　They　advanced　through　the　woods　until　it　might　be　six　o'clock；　（8）　and　then　at　a　crossroads　they　met　a　damsel；　whom　they　both　saluted；　each　asking　and　requesting　her　to　tell　them；　if　she　knows；　whither　the　Queen　has　been　taken。　　Replying　intelligently；　she　said　to　them：　〃If　you　would　pledge　me　your　word；　I　could　set　you　on　the　right　road　and　path；　and　I　would　tell　you　the　name　of　the　country　and　of　the　knight　who　is　conducting　her；　but　whoever　would　essay　to　enter　that　country　must　endure　sore　trials；　for　before　he　could　reach　there　he　must　suffer　much。〃　　Then　my　lord　Gawain　replies：　〃Damsel；　so　help　me　God；　I　promise　to　place　all　my　strength　at　your　disposal　and　service；　whenever　you　please；　if　you　will　tell　me　now　the　truth。〃　　And　he　who　had　been　on　the　cart　did　not　say　that　he　would　pledge　her　all　his　strength；　but　he　proclaims；　like　one　whom　love　makes　rich；　powerful　and　bold　for　any　enterprise；　that　at　once　and　without　hesitation　he　will　promise　her　anything　she　desires；　and　he　puts　himself　altogether　at　her　disposal。　　〃Then　I　will　tell　you　the　truth；〃　says　she。　　Then　the　damsel　relates　to　them　the　following　story：　〃In　truth；　my　lords；　Meleagant；　a　tall　and　powerful　knight；　son　of　the　King　of　Gorre；　has　taken　her　off　into　the　kingdom　whence　no　foreigner　returns；　but　where　he　must　perforce　remain　in　servitude　and　banishment。〃　　Then　they　ask　her：　〃Damsel；　where　is　this　country？　　Where　can　we　find　the　way　thither？〃　　She　replies：　〃That　you　shall　quickly　learn；　but　you　may　be　sure　that　you　will　meet　with　many　obstacles　and　difficult　passages；　for　it　is　not　easy　to　enter　there　except　with　the　permission　of　the　king；　whose　name　is　Bademagu；　however；　it　is　possible　to　enter　by　two　very　perilous　paths　and　by　two　very　difficult　passage…ways。　　One　is　called　the　water…bridge；　because　the　bridge　is　under　water；　and　there　is　the　same　amount　of　water　beneath　it　as　above　it；　so　that　the　bridge　is　exactly　in　the　middle；　and　it　is　only　a　foot　and　a　half　in　width　and　in　thickness。　　This　choice　is　certainly　to　be　avoided。　and　yet　it　is　the　less　dangerous　of　the　two。　　In　addition　there　are　a　number　of　other　obstacles　of　which　I　will　say　nothing。　　The　other　bridge　is　still　more　impracticable　and　much　more　perilous；　never　having　been　crossed　by　man。　　It　is　just　like　a　sharp　sword；　and　therefore　all　the　people　call　it　‘the　sword…bridge'。　　Now　I　have　told　you　all　the　truth　I　know。〃　　But　they　ask　of　her　once　again：　〃Damsel；　deign　to　show　us　these　two　passages。〃　　To　which　the　damsel　makes　reply：　〃This　road　here　is　the　most　direct　to　the　water…bridge；　and　that　one　yonder　leads　straight　to　the　sword…　bridge。〃　　Then　the　knight；　who　had　been　on　the　cart；　says：　〃Sire；　I　am　ready　to　share　with　you　without　prejudice：　take　one　of　these　two　routes；　and　leave　the　other　one　to　me；　take　whichever　you　prefer。〃　　〃In　truth；〃　my　lord　Gawain　replies；　〃both　of　them　are　hard　and　dangerous：　I　am　not　skilled　in　making　such　a　choice；　and　hardly　know　which　of　them　to　take；　but　it　is　not　right　for　me　to　hesitate　when　you　have　left　the　choice　to　me：　I　will　choose　the　water…bridge。〃　　The　other　answers：　〃Then　I　must　go　uncomplainingly　to　the　sword…bridge；　which　I　agree　to　do。〃　Thereupon；　they　all　three　part；　each　one　commending　the　others　very　courteously　to　God。　　And　when　she　sees　them　departing；　she　says：　〃Each　one　of　you　owes　me　a　favour　of　my　choosing；　whenever　I　may　choose　to　ask　it。　　Take　care　not　to　forget　that。〃　　〃We　shall　surely　not　forget　it；　sweet　friend；〃　both　the　knights　call　out。　　Then　each　one　goes　his　own　way；　and　he　of　the　cart　is　occupied　with　deep　reflections；　like　one　who　has　no　strength　or　defence　against　love　which　holds　him　in　its　sway。　　His　thoughts　are　such　that　he　totally　forgets　himself；　and　he　knows　not　whether　he　is　alive　or　dead；　forgetting　even　his　own　name；　not　knowing　whether　he　is　armed　or　not；　or　whither　he　is　going　or　whence　he　came。　　Only　one　creature　he　has　in　mind；　and　for　her　his　thought　is　so　occupied　that　he　neither　sees　nor　hears　aught　else。　（9）　　And　his　horse　bears　him　along　rapidly；　following　no　crooked　road；　but　the　best　and　the　most　direct；　and　thus　proceeding　unguided；　he　brings　him　into　an　open　plain。　　In　this　plain　there　was　a　ford；　on　the　other　side　of　which　a　knight　stood　armed；　who　guarded　it；　and　in　his　company　there　was　a　damsel　who　had　come　on　a　palfrey。　　By　this　time　the　afternoon　was　well　advanced；　and　yet　the　knight；　unchanged　and　unwearied；　pursued　his　thoughts。　　The　horse；　being　very　thirsty；　sees　clearly　the　ford；　and　as　soon　as　he　sees　it；　hastens　toward　it。　　Then　he　on　the　other　side　cries　out：　〃Knight；　I　am　guarding　the　ford；　and　forbid　you　to　cross。〃　　He　neither　gives　him　heed；　nor　hears　his　words；　being　still　deep　in　thought。　　In　the　meantime；　his　horse　advanced　rapidly　toward　the　water。　　The　knight　calls　out　to　him　that　he　will　do　wisely　to　keep　at　a　distance　from　the　ford；　for　there　is　no　passage　that　way；　and　he　swears　by　the　heart　within　his　breast　that　he　will　smite　him　if　he　enters　the　water。　　But　his　threats　are　not　heard；　and　he　calls　out　to　him　a　third　time：　〃Knight；　do　not　enter　the　ford　against　my　will　and　prohibition；　for；　by　my　head；　I　shall　strike　you　as　soon　as　I　see　you　in　the　ford。〃　　But　he　is　so　deep　in　thought　that　he　does　not　hear　him。　　And　the　horse；　quickly　leaving　the　bank；　leaps　into　the　ford　and　greedily　begins　to　drink。　　And　the　knight　says　he　shall　pay　for　this；　that　his　shield　and　the　hauberk　he　wears　upon　his　back　shall　afford　him　no　protection。　　First；　he　puts　his　horse　at　a　gallop；　and　from　a　gallop　he　urges　him　to　a　run；　and　he　strikes　the　knight　so　hard　that　he　knocks　him　down　flat　in　the　ford　which　he　had　forbidden　him　to　cross。　　His　lance　flew　from　his　hand　and　the　shield　from　his　neck。　　When　he　feels　the　water；　he　shivers；　and　though　stunned；　he　jumps　to　his　feet；　like　one　aroused　from　sleep；　listening　and　looking　about　him　with　astonishment；　to　see　who　it　can　be　who　has　struck　him。　　Then　face　to　face　with　the　other　knight；　he　said：　〃Vassal；　tell　me　why　you　have　struck　me；　when　I　was　not　aware　of　your　presence；　and　when　I　had　done　you　no　harm。〃　　〃Upon　my　word；　you　had　wronged　me；〃　the　other　says：　〃did　you　not　treat　me　disdainfully　when　I　forbade　you　three　times　to　cross　the　ford；　shouting　at　you　as　loudly　as　I　could？　　You　surely　heard　me　challenge　you　at　least　two　or　three　times；　and　you　entered　in　spite　of　me；　though　I　told　you　I　should　strike　you　as　soon　as　I　saw　you　in　the　ford。〃　　Then　the　knight　replies　to　him：　〃Whoever　heard　you　or　saw　you；　let　him　be　damned；　so　far　as　I　am　concerned。　　I　was　probably　deep　in　thought　when　you　forbade　me　to　cross　the　ford。　　But　be　assured　that　I　would　make　you　reset　it；　if　I　could　just　lay　one　of　my　hands　on　your　bridle。〃　　And　the　other　replies：　〃Why；　what　of　that？　　If　you　dare；　you　may　seize　my　bridle　here　and　now。　　I　do　not　esteem　your　proud　threats　so　much　as　a　handful　of　ashes。〃　　And　he　replies：　〃That　suits　me　perfectly。　　However　the　affair　may　turn　out；　I　should　like　to　lay　my　hands　on　you。〃　　Then　the　other　knight　advances　to　the　middle　of　the　ford；　where　the　other　lays　his　left　hand　upon　his　bridle；　and　his　right　hand　upon　his　leg；　pulling；　dragging；　and　pressing　him　so　roughly　that　he　remonstrates；　thinking　that　he　would　pull　his　leg　out　of　his　body。　　Then　he　begs　him　to　let　go；　saying：　〃Knight；　if　it　please　thee　to　fight　me　on　even　terms；　take　thy　shield　and　horse　and　lance；　and　joust　with　me。〃　　He　answers：　〃That　will　I　not　do；　upon　my　word；　for　I　suppose　thou　wouldst　run　away　as　soon　as　thou　hadst　escaped　my　grip。〃　　Hearing　this；　he　was　much　ashamed；　and　said：　〃Knight；　mount　thy　horse；　in　confidence　for　I　will　pledge　thee　loyally　my　word　that　I　shall　not　flinch　or　run　away。〃　　Then　once　again　he　answers　him：　〃First；　thou　wilt　have　to　swear　to　that；　and　I　insist　upon　receiving　thy　oath　that　thou　wilt　neither　run　away　nor　flinch；　nor　touch　me；　nor　come　near　me　until　thou　shalt　see　me　on　my　horse；　I　shall　be　treating　thee　very　generously；　if；　when　thou　art　in　my　hands；　I　let　thee　go。〃　　He　can　do　nothing　but　give　his　oath；　and　when　the　other　hears　him　swear；　he　gathers　up　his　shield　and　lance　which　were　floating　in　the　ford　and　by　this　time　had　drifted　well　down…stream；　then　he　returns　and　takes　his　horse。　　After　catching　and　mounting　him；　he　seizes　the　shield　by　the　shoulder…straps　and　lays　his　lance　in　rest。　　Then　each　spurs　toward　the　other　as　fast　as　their　horses　can　carry　them。　　And　he　who　had　to　defe