four arthurian romances-第8部分

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core　of　squires　ran　quickly　to　remove　his　arms。　　Any　one　who　was　present　in　that　house　could　have　witnessed　a　happy　scene。　Erec　went　first　and　took　his　seat；　then　all　the　others　in　order　sit　down　upon　the　couches；　the　cushions；　and　benches。　　At　Erec's　side　the　Count　sat　down；　and　the　damsel　with　her　radiant　face；　who　was　feeding　the　much　disputed　hawk　upon　her　wrist　with　a　plover's　wing。　（14）　　Great　honour　and　joy　and　prestige　had　she　gained　that　day；　and　she　was　very　glad　at　heart　both　for　the　bird　and　for　her　lord。　　She　could　not　have　been　happier；　and　showed　it　plainly；　making　no　secret　of　her　joy。　　All　could　see　how　gay　she　was；　and　throughout　the　house　there　was　great　rejoicing　for　the　happiness　of　the　maid　they　loved。

（Vv。　1320…1352。）　　Erec　thus　addressed　the　vavasor：　〃Fair　host；　fair　friend；　fair　sire！　　You　have　done　me　great　honour；　and　richly　shall　it　be　repaid　you。　　To…morrow　I　shall　take　away　your　daughter　with　me　to　the　King's　court；　where　I　wish　to　take　her　as　my　wife；　and　if　you　will　tarry　here　a　little；　I　shall　send　betimes　to　fetch　you。　　I　shall　have　you　escorted　into　the　country　which　is　my　father's　now；　but　which　later　will　be　mine。　　It　is　far　from　hereby　no　means　near。　　There　I　shall　give　you　two　towns；　very　splendid；　rich；　and　fine。　　You　shall　be　lord　of　Roadan；　which　was　built　in　the　time　of　Adam；　and　of　another　town　close　by；　which　is　no　less　valuable。　　The　people　call　it　Montrevel；　and　my　father　owns　no　better　town。　（15）　　And　before　the　third　day　has　passed；　I　shall　send　you　plenty　of　gold　and　silver；　of　dappled　and　grey　furs；　and　precious　silken　stuffs　wherewith　to　adorn　yourself　and　your　wife　my　dear　lady。　　To…morrow　at　dawn　I　wish　to　take　your　daughter　to　court；　dressed　and　arrayed　as　she　is　at　present。　　I　wish　my　lady；　the　Queen；　to　dress　her　in　her　best　dress　of　satin　and　scarlet　cloth。〃

（Vv。　1353…1478。）　　There　was　a　maiden　near　at　hand；　very　honourable；　prudent；　and　virtuous。　　She　was　seated　on　a　bench　beside　the　maid　with　the　white　shift；　and　was　her　own　cousin　the　niece　of　my　lord　the　Count。　　When　she　heard　how　Erec　intended　to　take　her　cousin　in　such　very　poor　array　to　the　Queen's　court；　she　spoke　about　it　to　the　Count。　　〃Sire；〃　she　says；　〃it　would　be　a　shame　to　you　more　than　to　any　one　else　if　this　knight　should　take　your　niece　away　with　him　in　such　sad　array。〃　　And　the　Count　made　answer：　〃Gentle　niece；　do　you　give　her　the　best　of　your　dresses。〃　But　Erec　heard　the　conversation；　and　said：　〃By　no　means；　my　lord。　For　be　assured　that　nothing　in　the　world　would　tempt　me　to　let　her　have　another　robe　until　the　Queen　shall　herself　bestow　it　upon　her。〃　　When　the　damsel　heard　this；　she　replied：　〃Alas！　　fair　sire；　since　you　insist　upon　leading　off　my　cousin　thus　dressed　in　a　white　shift　and　chemise；　and　since　you　are　determined　that　she　shall　have　none　of　my　dresses；　a　different　gift　I　wish　to　make　her。　　I　have　three　good　palfreys；　as　good　as　any　of　king　or　count；　one　sorrel；　one　dappled；　and　the　other　black　with　white　forefeet。　　Upon　my　word；　if　you　had　a　hundred　to　pick　from；　you　would　not　find　a　better　one　than　the　dappled　mount。　　The　birds　in　the　air　do　not　fly　more　swiftly　than　the　palfrey；　and　he　is　not　too　lively；　but　just　suits　a　lady。　　A　child　can　ride　him；　for　he　is　neither　skittish　nor　balky；　nor　does　he　bite　nor　kick　nor　become　unmanageable。　　Any　one　who　is　looking　for　something　better　does　not　know　what　he　wants。　　And　his　pace　is　so　easy　and　gentle　that　a　body　is　more　comfortable　and　easy　on　his　back　than　in　a　boat。〃　　Then　said　Erec：　〃My　dear；　I　have　no　objection　to　her　accepting　this　gift；　indeed；　I　am　pleased　with　the　offer；　and　do　not　wish　her　to　refuse　it。〃　　Then　the　damsel　calls　one　of　her　trusty　servants；　and　says　to　him：　〃Go；　friend；　saddle　my　dappled　palfrey；　and　lead　him　here　at　once。〃　　And　he　carries　out　her　command：　he　puts　on　saddle　and　bridle　and　strives　to　make　him　appear　well。　　Then　he　jumps　on　the　maned　palfrey；　which　is　now　ready　for　inspection。　　When　Erec　saw　the　animal；　he　did　not　spare　his　praise；　for　he　could　see　that　he　was　very　fine　and　gentle。　　So　he　bade　a　servant　lead　him　back　and　hitch　him　in　the　stable　beside　his　own　horse。　　Then　they　all　separated；　after　an　evening　agreeably　spent。　　The　Count　goes　off　to　his　own　dwelling；　and　leaves　Erec　with　the　vavasor；　saying　that　he　will　bear　him　company　in　the　morning　when　he　leaves。　　All　that　night　they　slept　well。　　In　the　morning；　when　the　dawn　was　bright；　Erec　prepares　to　start；　commanding　his　horses　to　be　saddled。　　His　fair　sweetheart；　too；　awakes；　dresses；　and　makes　ready。　　The　vavasor　and　his　wife　rise　too；　and　every　knight　and　lady　there　prepares　to　escort　the　damsel　and　the　knight。　　Now　they　are　all　on　horseback；　and　the　Count　as　well。　　Erec　rides　beside　the　Count；　having　beside　him　his　sweetheart　ever　mindful　of　her　hawk。　　Having　no　other　riches；　she　plays　with　her　hawk。　　Very　merry　were　they　as　they　rode　along；　but　when　the　time　came　to　part；　the　Count　wished　to　send　along　with　Erec　a　party　of　his　knights　to　do　him　honour　by　escorting　him。　　But　he　announced　that　none　should　bide　with　him；　and　that　he　wanted　no　company　but　that　of　the　damsel。　　Then；　when　they　had　accompanied　them　some　distance；　he　said：　〃In　God's　name；　farewell！〃　　Then　the　Count　kisses　Erec　and　his　niece；　and　commends　them　both　to　merciful　God。　　Her　father　and　mother；　too；　kiss　them　again　and　again；　and　could　not　keep　back　their　tears：　at　parting；　the　mother　weeps；　the　father　and　the　daughter　too。　For　such　is　love　and　human　nature；　and　such　is　affection　between　parents　and　children。　　They　wept　from　sorrow；　tenderness；　and　love　which　they　had　for　their　child；　yet　they　knew　full　well　that　their　daughter　was　to　fill　a　place　from　which　great　honour　would　accrue　to　them。　　They　shed　tears　of　love　and　pity　when　they　separated　from　their　daughter；　but　they　had　no　other　cause　to　weep。　　They　knew　well　enough　that　eventually　they　would　receive　great　honour　from　her　marriage。　　So　at　parting　many　a　tear　was　shed；　as　weeping　they　commend　one　another　to　God；　and　thus　separate　without　more　delay。

（Vv。　1479…1690。）　　Erec　quit　his　host；　for　he　was　very　anxious　to　reach　the　royal　court。　　In　his　adventure　he　took　great　satisfaction；　for　now　he　had　a　lady　passing　fair；　discreet；　courteous；　and　debonair。　　He　could　not　look　at　her　enough：　for　the　more　he　looks　at　her；　the　more　she　pleases　him。　　He　cannot　help　giving　her　a　kiss。　　He　is　happy　to　ride　by　her　side；　and　it　does　him　good　to　look　at　her。　　Long　he　gazes　at　her　fair　hair；　her　laughing　eyes；　and　her　radiant　forehead；　her　nose；　her　face；　and　mouth；　for　all　of　which　gladness　fills　his　heart。　　He　gazes　upon　her　down　to　the　waist；　at　her　chin　and　her　snowy　neck；　her　bosom　and　sides；　her　arms　and　hands。　　But　no　less　the　damsel　looks　at　the　vassal　with　a　clear　eye　and　loyal　heart；　as　if　they　were　in　competition。　　They　would　not　have　ceased　to　survey　each　other　even　for　promise　of　a　reward！　　A　perfect　match　they　were　in　courtesy；　beauty；　and　gentleness。　　And　they　were　so　alike　in　quality；　manner；　and　customs；　that　no　one　wishing　to　tell　the　truth　could　choose　the　better　of　them；　nor　the　fairer；　nor　the　more　discreet。　　Their　sentiments；　too；　were　much　alike；　so　that　they　were　well　suited　to　each　other。　　Thus　each　steals　the　other's　heart　away。　　Law　or　marriage　never　brought　together　two　such　sweet　creatures。　　And　so　they　rode　along　until　just　on　the　stroke　of　noon　they　approached　the　castle　of　Cardigan；　where　they　were　both　expected。　　Some　of　the　first　nobles　of　the　court　had　gone　up　to　look　from　the　upper　windows　and　see　if　they　could　see　them。　　Queen　Guinevere　ran　up；　and　even　the　King　came　with　Kay　and　Perceval　of　Wales；　and　with　them　my　lord　Gawain　and　Tor；　the　son　of　King　Ares；　Lucan　the　cupbearer　was　there；　too；　and　many　another　doughty　knight。　　Finally；　they　espied　Erec　coming　along　in　company　with　his　lady。　　They　all　knew　him　well　enough　from　as　far　as　they　could　see　him。　　The　Queen　is　greatly　pleased；　and　indeed　the　whole　court　is　glad　of　his　coming；　because　they　all　love　him　so。　　As　soon　as　he　was　come　before　the　entrance　hall；　the　King　and　Queen　go　down　to　meet　him；　all　greeting　him　in　God's　name。　　They　welcome　Erec　and　his　maiden；　commending　and　praising　her　great　beauty。　　And　the　King　himself　caught　her　and　lifted　her　down　from　her　palfrey。　　The　King　was　decked　in　fine　array　and　was　then　in　cheery　mood。　　He　did　signal　honour　to　the　damsel　by　taking　her　hand　and　leading　her　up　into　the　great　stone　hall。　After　them　Erec　and　the　Queen　also　went　up　hand　in　hand；　and　he　said　to　her：　〃I　bring　you；　lady；　my　damsel　and　my　sweetheart　dressed　in　poor　garb。　　As　she　was　given　to　me；　so　have　I　brought　her　to　you。　　She　is　the　daughter　of　a　poor　vavasor。　　Through　poverty　many　an　honourable　man　is　brought　low：　her　father；　for　instance；　is　gentle　and　courteous；　but　he　has　little　means。　　And　her　mother　is　a　very　gentle　lady；　the　sister　of　a　rich　Count。　　She　has　no　lack　of　beauty　or　of　lineage；　that　I　should　not　marry　her。　　It　is　poverty　that　has　compelled　her　to　wear　this　white　linen　garment　until　both　sleeves　are　torn　at　the　side。　　And　yet；　had　it　been　my　desire；　she　might　have　had　dresses　rich　enough。　For　another　damsel；　a　cousin　of　hers；　wished　to　give　her　a　robe　of　ermine　and　of　spotted　or　grey　silk。　　But　I　would　not　have　her　dressed　in　any　other　robe　until　you　should　have　seen　her。　　Gentle　lady；　consider　the　matter　now　and　see　what　need　she　has　of　a　fine　becoming　gown。〃　　And　the　Queen　at　once　replies：　〃You　have　done　quite　right；　it　is　fitting　that　she　should　have　one　of　my　gowns；　and　I　will　give　her　straightway　a　rich；　fair　gown；　both　fresh　and　new。〃　　The　Queen　then　hastily　took　her　off　to　her　own　private　room；　and　gave　orders　to　bring　quickly　the　fresh　tunic　and　the　greenish…purple　mantle；　embroidered　with　little　crosses；　which　had　been　made　for　herself。　　The　one　who　went　at　her　behest　came　bringing　to　her　the　mantle　and　the　tunic；　which　was　lined　with　white　ermine　even　to　the　sleeves。　　At　the　wrists　and　on　the　neck…　band　there　was　in　truth　more　than　half　a　mark's　weight　of　beaten　gold；　and　everywhere　set　in　the　gold　there　were　precious　stones　of　divers　colours；　indigo　and　green；　blue　and　dark　brown。　　This　tunic　was　very　rich；　but　not　a　writ　less　precious；　I　trow；　was　the　mantle。　　As　yet；　there　were　no　ribbons　on　it；　for　the　mantl