four arthurian romances-第80部分

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without　complaining　of　his　wound；　presses　on　more　rapidly；　until　he　strikes　between　the　temples　him　who　was　assaulting　his　hostess。　　Before　he　departs；　he　will　try　to　keep　his　pledge　to　her。　　He　makes　him　stand　up　reluctantly。　　Meanwhile；　he　who　had　missed　striking　him　comes　at　him　as　fast　as　he　can　and；　raising　his　arm　again；　expects　to　split　his　head　to　the　teeth　with　the　axe。　　But　the　other；　alert　to　defend　himself；　thrusts　the　knight　toward　him　in　such　a　way　that　he　receives　the　axe　just　where　the　shoulder　joins　the　neck；　so　that　they　are　cleaved　apart。　　Then　the　knight　seizes　the　axe；　wresting　it　quickly　from　him　who　holds　it；　then　he　lets　go　the　knight　whom　he　still　held；　and　looks　to　his　own　defence；　for　the　knights　from　the　door；　and　the　three　men　with　axes　are　all　attacking　him　fiercely。　　So　he　leaped　quickly　between　the　bed　and　the　wall；　and　called　to　them：　〃Come　on　now；　all　of　you。　　If　there　were　thirty…　seven　of　you；　you　would　have　all　the　fight　you　wish；　with　me　so　favourably　placed；　I　shall　never　be　overcome　by　you。〃　　And　the　damsel　watching　him；　exclaimed：　〃By　my　eyes；　you　need　have　no　thought　of　that　henceforth　where　I　am。〃　　Then　at　once　she　dismisses　the　knights　and　the　men…at…arms；　who　retire　from　there　at　once；　without　delay　or　objection。　　And　the　damsel　continues：　〃Sire　you　have　well　defended　me　against　the　men　of　my　household。　Come　now；　and　I'll　lead　you　on。〃　　Hand　in　hand　they　enter　the　hall；　but　he　was　not　at　all　pleased；　and　would　have　willingly　dispensed　with　her。

（Vv。　1207…1292。）　　In　the　midst　of　the　hall　a　bed　had　been　set　up；　the　sheets　of　which　were　by　no　means　soiled；　but　were　white　and　wide　and　well　spread　out。　　The　bed　was　not　of　shredded　straw　or　of　coarse　spreads。　　But　a　covering　of　two　silk　cloths　had　been　laid　upon　the　couch。　　The　damsel　lay　down　first；　but　without　removing　her　chemise。　　He　had　great　trouble　in　removing　his　hose　and　in　untying　the　knots。　　He　sweated　with　the　trouble　of　it　all；　yet；　in　the　midst　of　all　the　trouble；　his　promise　impels　and　drives　him　on。　　Is　this　then　an　actual　force？　　Yes；　virtually　so；　for　he　feels　that　he　is　in　duty　bound　to　take　his　place　by　the　damsel's　side。　　It　is　his　promise　that　urges　him　and　dictates　his　act。　　So　he　lies　down　at　once；　but　like　her；　he　does　not　remove　his　shirt。　　He　takes　good　care　not　to　touch　her；　and　when　he　is　in　bed；　he　turns　away　from　her　as　far　as　possible；　and　speaks　not　a　word　to　her；　like　a　monk　to　whom　speech　is　forbidden。　　Not　once　does　he　look　at　her；　nor　show　her　any　courtesy。　　Why　not？　　Because　his　heart　does　not　go　out　to　her。　　She　was　certainly　very　fair　and　winsome；　but　not　every　one　is　pleased　and　touched　by　what　is　fair　and　winsome。　　The　knight　has　only　one　heart；　and　this　one　is　really　no　longer　his；　but　has　been　entrusted　to　some　one　else；　so　that　he　cannot　bestow　it　elsewhere。　　Love；　which　holds　all　hearts　beneath　its　sway；　requires　it　to　be　lodged　in　a　single　place。　　All　hearts？　　No；　only　those　which　it　esteems。　　And　he　whom　love　deigns　to　control　ought　to　prize　himself　the　more。　Love　prized　his　heart　so　highly　that　it　constrained　it　in　a　special　manner；　and　made　him　so　proud　of　this　distinction　that　I　am　not　inclined　to　find　fault　with　him；　if　he　lets　alone　what　love　forbids；　and　remains　fixed　where　it　desires。　　The　maiden　clearly　sees　and　knows　that　he　dislikes　her　company　and　would　gladly　dispense　with　it；　and　that；　having　no　desire　to　win　her　love；　he　would　not　attempt　to　woo　her。　　So　she　said：　〃My　lord；　if　you　will　not　feel　hurt；　I　will　leave　and　return　to　bed　in　my　own　room；　and　you　will　be　more　comfortable。　　I　do　not　believe　that　you　are　pleased　with　my　company　and　society。　　Do　not　esteem　me　less　if　I　tell　you　what　I　think。　　Now　take　your　rest　all　night；　for　you　have　so　well　kept　your　promise　that　I　have　no　right　to　make　further　request　of　you。　　So　I　commend　you　to　God；　and　shall　go　away。〃　　Thereupon　she　arises：　the　knight　does　not　object；　but　rather　gladly　lets　her　go；　like　one　who　is　the　devoted　lover　of　some　one　else；　the　damsel　clearly　perceived　this；　and　went　to　her　room；　where　she　undressed　completely　and　retired；　saying　to　herself：　〃Of　all　the　knights　I　have　ever　known；　I　never　knew　a　single　knight　whom　I　would　value　the　third　part　of　an　angevin　in　comparison　with　this　one。　　As　I　understand　the　case；　he　has　on　hand　a　more　perilous　and　grave　affair　than　any　ever　undertaken　by　a　knight；　and　may　God　grant　that　he　succeed　in　it。〃　　Then　she　fell　asleep；　and　remained　in　bed　until　the　next　day's　dawn　appeared。

（Vv。　1293…1368。）　　At　daybreak　she　awakes　and　gets　up。　　The　knight　awakes　too；　dressing；　and　putting　on　his　arms；　without　waiting　for　any　help。　　Then　the　damsel　comes　and　sees　that　he　is　already　dressed。　　Upon　seeing　him；　she　says：　〃May　this　day　be　a　happy　one　for　you。〃　　〃And　may　it　be　the　same　to　you；　damsel；〃　the　knight　replies；　adding　that　he　is　waiting　anxiously　for　some　one　to　bring　out　his　horse。　　The　maiden　has　some　one　fetch　the　horse；　and　says：　〃Sire；　I　should　like　to　accompany　you　for　some　distance　along　the　road；　if　you　would　agree　to　escort　and　conduct　me　according　to　the　customs　and　practices　which　were　observed　before　we　were　made　captive　in　the　kingdom　of　Logres。〃　　In　those　days　the　customs　and　privileges　were　such　that；　if　a　knight　found　a　damsel　or　lorn　maid　alone；　and　if　he　cared　for　his　fair　name；　he　would　no　more　treat　her　with　dishonour　than　he　would　cut　his　own　throat。　　And　if　he　assaulted　her；　he　would　be　disgraced　for　ever　in　every　court。　　But　if；　while　she　was　under　his　escort；　she　should　be　won　at　arms　by　another　who　engaged　him　in　battle；　then　this　other　knight　might　do　with　her　what　he　pleased　without　receiving　shame　or　blame。　　This　is　why　the　damsel　said　she　would　go　with　him；　if　he　had　the　courage　and　willingness　to　safe　guard　her　in　his　company；　so　that　no　one　should　do　her　any　harm。　　And　he　says　to　her：　〃No　one　shall　harm　you；　I　promise　you；　unless　he　harm　me　first。〃　　〃Then；〃　she　says；　〃I　will　go　with　you。〃　　She　orders　her　palfrey　to　be　saddled；　and　her　command　is　obeyed　at　once。　　Her　palfrey　was　brought　together　with　the　knight's　horse。　Without　the　aid　of　any　squire；　they　both　mount；　and　rapidly　ride　away。　　She　talks　to　him；　but　not　caring　for　her　words；　he　pays　no　attention　to　what　she　says。　　He　likes　to　think；　but　dislikes　to　talk。　　Love　very　often　inflicts　afresh　the　wound　it　has　given　him。　　Yet；　he　applied　no　poultice　to　the　wound　to　cure　it　and　make　it　comfortable；　having　no　intention　or　desire　to　secure　a　poultice　or　to　seek　a　physician；　unless　the　wound　becomes　more　painful。　　Yet；　there　is　one　whose　remedy　he　would　gladly　seek　。。。。　（10）　　They　follow　the　roads　and　paths　in　the　right　direction　until　they　come　to　a　spring；　situated　in　the　middle　of　a　field；　and　bordered　by　a　stone　basin。　　Some　one　had　forgotten　upon　the　stone　a　comb　of　gilded　ivory。　　Never　since　ancient　times　has　wise　man　or　fool　seen　such　a　comb。　　In　its　teeth　there　was　almost　a　handful　of　hair　belonging　to　her　who　had　used　the　comb。

（Vv。　1369…1552。）　　When　the　damsel　notices　the　spring；　and　sees　the　stone；　she　does　not　wish　her　companion　to　see　it；　so　she　turns　off　in　another　direction。　　And　he；　agreeably　occupied　with　his　own　thoughts；　does　not　at　once　remark　that　she　is　leading　him　aside；　but　when　at　last　he　notices　it；　he　is　afraid　of　being　beguiled；　thinking　that　she　is　yielding　and　is　going　out　of　the　way　in　order　to　avoid　some　danger。　　〃See　here；　damsel；〃　he　cries；　〃you　are　not　going　right；　come　this　way！　　No　one；　I　think；　ever　went　straight　who　left　this　road。〃　　〃Sire；　this　is　a　better　way　for　us；〃　the　damsel　says；　〃I　am　sure　of　it。〃　　Then　he　replies　to　her：　〃I　don't　know；　damsel；　what　you　think；　but　you　can　plainly　see　that　the　beaten　path　lies　this　way；　and　since　I　have　started　to　follow　it；　I　shall　not　turn　aside。　　So　come　now；　if　you　will；　for　I　shall　continue　along　this　way。〃　　Then　they　go　forward　until　they　come　near　the　stone　basin　and　see　the　comb。　　The　knight　says：　〃I　surely　never　remember　to　have　seen　so　beautiful　a　comb　as　this。〃　　〃Let　me　have　it；〃　the　damsel　says。　〃Willingly；　damsel；〃　he　replies。　　Then　he　stoops　over　and　picks　it　up。　　While　holding　it；　he　looks　at　it　steadfastly；　gazing　at　the　hair　until　the　damsel　begins　to　laugh。　　When　he　sees　her　doing　so；　he　begs　her　to　tell　him　why　she　laughs。　　And　she　says：　〃Never　mind；　for　I　will　never　tell　you。〃　　〃Why　not？〃　he　asks。　　〃Because　I　don't　wish　to　do　so。〃　　And　when　he　hears　that；　he　implores　her　like　one　who　holds　that　lovers　ought　to　keep　faith　mutually：　〃Damsel；　if　you　love　anything　passionately；　by　that　I　implore　and　conjure　and　beg　you　not　to　conceal　from　me　the　reason　why　you　laugh。〃　　〃Your　appeal　is　so　strong；〃　she　says；　〃that　I　will　tell　you　and　keep　nothing　back。　　I　am　sure；　as　I　am　of　anything；　that　this　comb　belonged　to　the　Queen。　　And　you　may　take　my　word　that　those　are　strands　of　the　Queen's　hair　which　you　see　to　be　so　fair　and　light　and　radiant；　and　which　are　clinging　in　the　teeth　of　the　comb；　they　surely　never　grew　anywhere　else。〃　　Then　the　knight　replied：　〃Upon　my　word；　there　are　plenty　of　queens　and　kings；　what　queen　do　you　mean？〃　　And　she　answered：　〃In　truth；　fair　sire；　it　is　of　King　Arthur's　wife　I　speak。〃　　When　he　hears　that；　he　has　not　strength　to　keep　from　bowing　his　head　over　his　saddle…bow。　　And　when　the　damsel　sees　him　thus；　she　is　amazed　and　terrified；　thinking　he　is　about　to　fall。　　Do　not　blame　her　for　her　fear；　for　she　thought　him　in　a　faint。　　He　might　as　well　have　swooned；　so　near　was　he　to　doing　so；　for　in　his　heart　he　felt　such　grief　that　for　a　long　time　he　lost　his　colour　and　power　of　speech。　　And　the　damsel　dismounts；　and　runs　as　quickly　as　possible　to　support　and　succour　him；　for　she　would　not　have　wished　for　anything　to　see　him　fall。　　When　he　saw　her；　he　felt　ashamed；　and　said：　〃Why　do　you　need　to　bear　me　aid？〃　　You　must　not　suppose　that　the　damsel　told　him　why；　for　he　would　have　been　ashamed　and　distressed；　and　it　would　have　annoyed　and　troubled　him；　if　she　had　confessed　to　him　the　truth。　　So　she　took　good　care　not　to　tell　the　truth；　but　tactfully　answered　him：　〃Sire；　I　dismounted　to　get　the　comb；　for　I　was　so　anxious　to　hold　it　in　my　hand　that　I　could　not　longer　wait。〃　　Willing　that　she　should　have　the　comb；　he　gives　it　to　her；　first　pulling　out　the　hair　so　carefully　that　he　tears　none　of　it。　　Nev