four arthurian romances-第79部分

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t。　　Then　each　spurs　toward　the　other　as　fast　as　their　horses　can　carry　them。　　And　he　who　had　to　defend　the　ford　first　attacks　the　other；　striking　him　so　hard　that　his　lance　is　completely　splintered。　　The　other　strikes　him　in　return　so　that　he　throws　him　prostrate　into　the　ford；　and　the　water　closes　over　him。　　Having　accomplished　that；　he　draws　back　and　dismounts；　thinking　he　could　drive　and　chase　away　a　hundred　such。　　While　he　draws　from　the　scabbard　his　sword　of　steel；　the　other　jumps　up　and　draws　his　excellent　flashing　blade。　　Then　they　clash　again；　advancing　and　covering　themselves　with　the　shields　which　gleam　with　gold。　　Ceaselessly　and　without　repose　they　wield　their　swords；　they　have　the　courage　to　deal　so　many　blows　that　the　battle　finally　is　so　protracted　that　the　Knight　of　the　Cart　is　greatly　ashamed　in　his　heart；　thinking　that　he　is　making　a　sorry　start　in　the　way　he　has　undertaken；　when　he　has　spent　so　much　time　in　defeating　a　single　knight。　　If　he　had　met　yesterday　a　hundred　such；　he　does　not　think　or　believe　that　they　could　have　withstood　him；　so　now　he　is　much　grieved　and　wroth　to　be　in　such　an　exhausted　state　that　he　is　missing　his　strokes　and　losing　time。　　Then　he　runs　at　him　and　presses　him　so　hard　that　the　other　knight　gives　way　and　flees。　　However　reluctant　he　may　be；　he　leaves　the　ford　and　crossing　free。　　But　the　other　follows　him　in　pursuit　until　he　falls　forward　upon　his　hands；　then　he　of　the　cart　runs　up　to　him；　swearing　by　all　he　sees　that　he　shall　rue　the　day　when　he　upset　him　in　the　ford　and　disturbed　his　revery。　The　damsel；　whom　the　knight　had　with　him；　upon　hearing　the　threats；　is　in　great　fear；　and　begs　him　for　her　sake　to　forbear　from　killing　him；　but　he　tells　her　that　he　must　do　so；　and　can　show　him　no　mercy　for　her　sake；　in　view　of　the　shameful　wrong　that　he　has　done　him。　　Then；　with　sword　drawn；　he　approaches　the　knight　who　cries　in　sore　dismay：　〃For　God's　sake　and　for　my　own；　show　me　the　mercy　I　ask　of　you。〃　　And　he　replies：　〃As　God　may　save　me；　no　one　ever　sinned　so　against　me　that　I　would　not　show　him　mercy　once；　for　God's　sake　as　is　right；　if　he　asked　it　of　me　in　God's　name。　　And　so　on　thee　I　will　have　mercy；　for　I　ought　not　to　refuse　thee　when　thou　hast　besought　me。　　But　first；　thou　shalt　give　me　thy　word　to　constitute　thyself　my　prisoner　whenever　I　may　wish　to　summon　thee。〃　　Though　it　was　hard　to　do　so；　he　promised　him。　　At　once　the　damsel　said：　〃O　knight；　since　thou　hast　granted　the　mercy　he　asked　of　thee；　if　ever　thou　hast　broken　any　bonds；　for　my　sake　now　be　merciful　and　release　this　prisoner　from　his　parole。　　Set　him　free　at　my　request；　upon　condition　that　when　the　time　comes；　I　shall　do　my　utmost　to　repay　thee　in　any　way　that　thou　shalt　choose。〃　　Then　he　declares　himself　satisfied　with　the　promise　she　has　made；　and　sets　the　knight　at　liberty。　　Then　she　is　ashamed　and　anxious；　thinking　that　he　will　recognise　her；　which　she　did　not　wish。　　But　he　goes　away　at　once；　the　knight　and　the　damsel　commending　him　to　God；　and　taking　leave　of　him。　　He　grants　them　leave　to　go；　while　he　himself　pursues　his　way；　until　late　in　the　afternoon　he　met　a　damsel　coming；　who　was　very　fair　and　charming；　well　attired　and　richly　dressed。　　The　damsel　greets　him　prudently　and　courteously；　and　he　replies：　〃Damsel；　God　grant　you　health　and　happiness。〃　　Then　the　damsel　said　to　him：　〃Sire；　my　house　is　prepared　for　you；　if　you　will　accept　my　hospitality；　but　you　shall　find　shelter　there　only　on　condition　that　you　will　lie　with　me；　upon　these　terms　I　propose　and　make　the　offer。〃　　Not　a　few　there　are　who　would　have　thanked　her　five　hundred　times　for　such　a　gift；　but　he　is　much　displeased；　and　made　a　very　different　answer：　〃Damsel；　I　thank　you　for　the　offer　of　your　house；　and　esteem　it　highly；　but；　if　you　please；　I　should　be　very　sorry　to　lie　with　you。〃　　〃By　my　eyes；〃　the　damsel　says；　〃then　I　retract　my　offer。〃　　And　he；　since　it　is　unavoidable；　lets　her　have　her　way；　though　his　heart　grieves　to　give　consent。　　He　feels　only　reluctance　now；　but　greater　distress　will　be　his　when　it　is　time　to　go　to　bed。　　The　damsel；　too；　who　leads　him　away；　will　pass　through　sorrow　and　heaviness。　　For　it　is　possible　that　she　will　love　him　so　that　she　will　not　wish　to　part　with　him。　　As　soon　as　　he　had　granted　her　wish　and　desire；　she　escorts　him　to　a　fortified　place；　than　which　there　was　none　fairer　in　Thessaly；　for　it　was　entirely　enclosed　by　a　high　wall　and　a　deep　moat；　and　there　was　no　man　within　except　him　whom　she　brought　with　her。

（Vv。　983…1042。）　　Here　she　had　constructed　for　her　residence　a　quantity　of　handsome　rooms；　and　a　large　and　roomy　hall。　　Riding　along　a　river　bank；　they　approached　their　lodging…place；　and　a　drawbridge　was　lowered　to　allow　them　to　pass。　　Crossing　the　bridge；　they　entered　in；　and　found　the　hall　open　with　its　roof　of　tiles。　　Through　the　open　door　they　pass；　and　see　a　table　laid　with　a　broad　white　cloth；　upon　which　the　dishes　were　set；　and　the　candles　burning　in　their　stands；　and　the　gilded　silver　drinking…　cups；　and　two　pots　of　wine；　one　red　and　one　white。　　Standing　beside　the　table；　at　the　end　of　a　bench；　they　found　two　basins　of　warm　water　in　which　to　wash　their　hands；　with　a　richly　embroidered　towel；　all　white　and　clean；　with　which　to　dry　their　hands。　　No　valets；　servants；　or　squires　were　to　be　found　or　seen。　The　knight；　removing　his　shield　from　about　his　neck；　hangs　it　upon　a　hook；　and；　taking　his　lance；　lays　it　above　upon　a　rack。　Then　he　dismounts　from　his　horse；　as　does　the　damsel　from　hers。　The　knight；　for　his　part；　was　pleased　that　she　did　not　care　to　wait　for　him　to　help　her　to　dismount。　　Having　dismounted；　she　runs　directly　to　a　room　and　brings　him　a　short　mantle　of　scarlet　cloth　which　she　puts　on　him。　　The　hall　was　by　no　means　dark；　for　beside　the　light　from　the　stars；　there　were　many　large　twisted　candles　lighted　there；　so　that　the　illumination　was　very　bright。　When　she　had　thrown　the　mantle　about　his　shoulders；　she　said　to　him：　〃Friend；　here　is　the　water　and　the　towel；　there　is　no　one　to　present　or　offer　it　to　you　except　me　whom　you　see。　　Wash　your　hands；　and　then　sit　down；　when　you　feel　like　doing　so。　　The　hour　and　the　meal；　as　you　can　see；　demand　that　you　should　do　so。〃　　He　washes；　and　then　gladly　and　readily　takes　his　seat；　and　she　sits　down　beside　him；　and　they　eat　and　drink　together；　until　the　time　comes　to　leave　the　table。

（Vv。　1043…1206。）　　When　they　had　risen　from　the　table；　the　damsel　said　to　the　knight：　〃Sire；　if　you　do　not　object；　go　outside　and　amuse　yourself；　but；　if　you　please；　do　not　stay　after　you　think　I　must　be　in　bed。　　Feel　no　concern　or　embarrassment；　for　then　you　may　come　to　me　at　once；　if　you　will　keep　the　promise　you　have　made。〃　　And　he　replies：　〃I　will　keep　my　word；　and　will　return　when　I　think　the　time　has　come。〃　　Then　he　went　out；　and　stayed　in　the　courtyard　until　he　thought　it　was　time　to　return　and　keep　the　promise　he　had　made。　　Going　back　into　the　hall；　he　sees　nothing　of　her　who　would　be　his　mistress；　for　she　was　not　there。　　Not　finding　or　seeing　her；　he　said：　〃Wherever　she　may　be；　I　shall　look　for　her　until　I　find　her。〃　　He　makes　no　delay　in　his　search；　being　bound　by　the　promise　he　had　made　her。　　Entering　one　of　the　rooms；　he　hears　a　damsel　cry　aloud；　and　it　was　the　very　one　with　whom　he　was　about　to　lie。　　At　the　same　time；　he　sees　the　door　of　another　room　standing　open；　and　stepping　toward　it；　he　sees　right　before　his　eyes　a　knight　who　had　thrown　her　down；　and　was　holding　her　naked　and　prostrate　upon　the　bed。　　She；　thinking　that　he　had　come　of　course　to　help　her；　cried　aloud：　〃Help；　help；　thou　knight；　who　art　my　guest。　　If　thou　dost　not　take　this　man　away　from　me；　I　shall　find　no　one　to　do　so；　if　thou　dost　not　succour　me　speedily；　he　will　wrong　me　before　thy　eyes。　　Thou　art　the　one　to　lie　with　me；　in　accordance　with　thy　promise；　and　shall　this　man　by　force　accomplish　his　wish　before　thy　eyes？　　Gentle　knight；　exert　thyself；　and　make　haste　to　bear　me　aid。〃　　He　sees　that　the　other　man　held　the　damsel　brutally　uncovered　to　the　waist；　and　he　is　ashamed　and　angered　to　see　him　assault　her　so；　yet　it　is　not　jealousy　he　feels；　nor　will　he　be　made　a　cuckold　by　him。　　At　the　door　there　stood　as　guards　two　knights　completely　armed　and　with　swords　drawn。　　Behind　them　there　stood　four　men…at…arms；　each　armed　with　an　axe　the　sort　with　which　you　could　split　a　cow　down　the　back　as　easily　as　a　root　of　juniper　or　broom。　　The　knight　hesitated　at　the　door；　and　thought：　〃God；　what　can　I　do？　　I　am　engaged　in　no　less　an　affair　than　the　quest　of　Queen　Guinevere。　　I　ought　not　to　have　the　heart　of　a　hare；　when　for　her　sake　I　have　engaged　in　such　a　quest。　　If　cowardice　puts　its　heart　in　me；　and　if　I　follow　its　dictates；　I　shall　never　attain　what　I　seek。　　I　am　disgraced；　if　I　stand　here；　indeed；　I　am　ashamed　even　to　have　thought　of　holding　back。　　My　heart　is　very　sad　and　oppressed：　now　I　am　so　ashamed　and　distressed　that　I　would　gladly　die　for　having　hesitated　here　so　long。　　I　say　it　not　in　pride：　but　may　God　have　mercy　on　me　if　I　do　not　prefer　to　die　honourably　rather　than　live　a　life　of　shame！　　If　my　path　were　unobstructed；　and　if　these　men　gave　me　leave　to　pass　through　without　restraint；　what　honour　would　I　gain？　　Truly；　in　that　case　the　greatest　coward　alive　would　pass　through；　and　all　the　while　I　hear　this　poor　creature　calling　for　help　constantly；　and　reminding　me　of　my　promise；　and　reproaching　me　with　bitter　taunts。〃　　Then　he　steps　to　the　door；　thrusting　in　his　head　and　shoulders；　glancing　up；　he　sees　two　swords　descending。　　He　draws　back；　and　the　knights　could　not　check　their　strokes：　they　had　wielded　them　with　such　force　that　the　swords　struck　the　floor；　and　both　were　broken　in　pieces。　　When　he　sees　that　the　swords　are　broken；　he　pays　less　attention　to　the　axes；　fearing　and　dreading　them　much　less。　Rushing　in　among　them；　he　strikes　first　one　guard　in　the　side　and　then　another。　　The　two　who　are　nearest　him　he　jostles　and　thrusts　aside；　throwing　them　both　down　flat；　the　third　missed　his　stroke　at　him；　but　the　fourth；　who　attacked　him；　strikes　him　so　that　he　cuts　his　mantle　and　shirt；　and　slices　the　white　flesh　on　his　shoulder　so　that　the　blood　trickles　down　from　the　wound。　　But　he；　without　delay；　and　without　complaining　of　his　wound；　presses　on　more　rapidly；　until　he　strikes　between　the　temples　him