four arthurian romances-第81部分

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the　comb；　he　gives　it　to　her；　first　pulling　out　the　hair　so　carefully　that　he　tears　none　of　it。　　Never　will　the　eye　of　man　see　anything　receive　such　honour　as　when　he　begins　to　adore　these　tresses。　　A　hundred　thousand　times　he　raises　them　to　his　eyes　and　mouth；　to　his　forehead　and　face：　he　manifests　his　joy　in　every　way；　considering　himself　rich　and　happy　now。　　He　lays　them　in　his　bosom　near　his　heart；　between　the　shirt　and　the　flesh。　　He　would　not　exchange　them　for　a　cartload　of　emeralds　and　carbuncles；　nor　does　he　think　that　any　sore　or　illness　can　afflict　him　now；　he　holds　in　contempt　essence　of　pearl；　treacle；　and　the　cure　for　pleurisy；　（11）　even　for　St。　Martin　and　St。　James　he　has　no　need；　for　he　has　such　confidence　in　this　hair　that　he　requires　no　other　aid。　　But　what　was　this　hair　like？　　If　I　tell　the　truth　about　it；　you　will　think　I　am　a　mad　teller　of　lies。　　When　the　mart　is　full　at　the　yearly　fair　of　St。　Denis；　（12）　and　when　the　goods　are　most　abundantly　displayed；　even　then　the　knight　would　not　take　all　this　wealth；　unless　he　had　found　these　tresses　too。　　And　if　you　wish　to　know　the　truth；　gold　a　hundred　thousand　times　refined；　and　melted　down　as　many　times；　would　be　darker　than　is　night　compared　with　the　brightest　summer　day　we　have　had　this　year；　if　one　were　to　see　the　gold　and　set　it　beside　this　hair。　　But　why　should　I　make　a　long　story　of　it？　　The　damsel　mounts　again　with　the　comb　in　her　possession；　while　he　revels　and　delights　in　the　tresses　in　his　bosom。　　Leaving　the　plain；　they　come　to　a　forest　and　take　a　short　cut　through　it　until　they　come　to　a　narrow　place；　where　they　have　to　go　in　single　file；　for　it　would　have　been　impossible　to　ride　two　horses　abreast。　　Just　where　the　way　was　narrowest；　they　see　a　knight　approach。　　As　soon　as　she　saw　him；　the　damsel　recognised　him；　and　said：　〃Sir　knight；　do　you　see　him　who　yonder　comes　against　us　all　armed　and　ready　for　a　battle？　　I　know　what　his　intention　is：　he　thinks　now　that　he　cannot　fail　to　take　me　off　defenceless　with　him。　　He　loves　me；　but　he　is　very　foolish　to　do　so。　　In　person；　and　by　messenger；　he　has　been　long　wooing　me。　　But　my　love　is　not　within　his　reach；　for　I　would　not　love　him　under　any　consideration；　so　help　me　God！　　I　would　kill　myself　rather　than　bestow　my　love　on　him。　　I　do　not　doubt　that　he　is　delighted　now；　and　is　as　satisfied　as　if　he　had　me　already　in　his　power。　　But　now　I　shall　see　what　you　can　do；　and　I　shall　see　how　brave　you　are；　and　it　will　become　apparent　whether　your　escort　can　protect　me。　　If　you　can　protect　me　now；　I　shall　not　fail　to　proclaim　that　you　are　brave　and　very　worthy。〃　　And　he　answered　her：　〃Go　on；　go　on！〃　which　was　as　much　as　to　say：　〃I　am　not　concerned；　there　is　no　need　of　your　being　worried　about　what　you　have　said。〃

（Vv。　1553…1660。）　　While　they　were　proceeding；　talking　thus；　the　knight；　who　was　alone；　rode　rapidly　toward　them　on　the　run。　　He　was　the　more　eager　to　make　haste；　because　he　felt　more　sure　of　success；　he　felt　that　he　was　lucky　now　to　see　her　whom　he　most　dearly　loves。　　As　soon　as　he　approaches　her；　he　greets　her　with　words　that　come　from　his　heart：　〃Welcome　to　her；　whence…soever　she　comes；　whom　I　most　desire；　but　who　has　hitherto　caused　me　least　joy　and　most　distress！〃　　It　is　not　fitting　that　she　should　be　so　stingy　of　her　speech　as　not　to　return　his　greeting；　at　least　by　word　of　mouth。　　The　knight　is　greatly　elated　when　the　damsel　greets　him；　though　she　does　not　take　the　words　seriously；　and　the　effort　costs　her　nothing。　　Yet；　if　he　had　at　this　moment　been　victor　in　a　tournament；　he　would　not　have　so　highly　esteemed　himself；　nor　thought　he　had　won　such　honour　and　renown。　　Being　now　more　confident　of　his　worth；　he　grasped　the　bridle　rein；　and　said：　〃Now　I　shall　lead　you　away：　I　have　to…day　sailed　well　on　my　course　to　have　arrived　at　last　at　so　good　a　port。　　Now　my　troubles　are　at　an　end：　after　dangers；　I　have　reached　a　haven；　after　sorrow；　I　have　attained　happiness；　after　pain；　I　have　perfect　health；　now　I　have　accomplished　my　desire；　when　I　find　you　in　such　case　that　I　can　without　resistance　lead　you　away　with　me　at　once。〃　　Then　she　says：　〃You　have　no　advantage；　for　I　am　under　this　knight's　escort。〃　　〃Surely；　the　escort　is　not　worth　much；〃　he　says；　〃and　I　am　going　to　lead　you　off　at　once。　　This　knight　would　have　time　to　eat　a　bushel　of　salt　before　he　could　defend　you　from　me；　I　think　I　could　never　meet　a　knight　from　whom　I　should　not　win　you。　　And　since　I　find　you　here　so　opportunely；　though　he　too　may　do　his　best　to　prevent　it；　yet　I　will　take　you　before　his　very　eyes；　however　disgruntled　he　may　be。〃　　The　other　is　not　angered　by　all　the　pride　he　hears　expressed；　but　without　any　impudence　or　boasting；　he　begins　thus　to　challenge　him　for　her：　〃Sire；　don't　be　in　a　hurry；　and　don't　waste　your　words；　but　speak　a　little　reasonably。　　You　shall　not　be　deprived　of　as　much　of　her　as　rightly　belongs　to　you。　　You　must　know；　however；　that　the　damsel　has　come　hither　under　my　protection。　　Let　her　alone　now；　for　you　have　detained　her　long　enough！〃　　The　other　gives　them　leave　to　burn　him；　if　he　does　not　take　her　away　in　spite　of　him。　　Then　the　other　says：　〃It　would　not　be　right　for　me　to　let　you　take　her　away；　I　would　sooner　fight　with　you。　　But　if　we　should　wish　to　fight；　we　could　not　possibly　do　it　in　this　narrow　road。　　Let　us　go　to　some　level　placea　meadow　or　an　open　field。〃　　And　he　replies　that　that　will　suit　him　perfectly：　〃Certainly；　I　agree　to　that：　you　are　quite　right；　this　road　is　too　narrow。　　My　horse　is　so　much　hampered　here　that　I　am　afraid　he　will　crush　his　flank　before　I　can　turn　him　around。〃　　Then　with　great　difficulty　he　turns；　and　his　horse　escapes　without　any　wound　or　harm。　　Then　he　says：　〃To　be　sure；　I　am　much　chagrined　that　we　have　not　met　in　a　favourable　spot　and　in　the　presence　of　other　men；　for　I　should　have　been　glad　to　have　them　see　which　is　the　better　of　us　two。　　Come　on　now；　let　us　begin　our　search：　we　shall　find　in　the　vicinity　some　large；　broad；　and　open　space。〃　Then　they　proceed　to　a　meadow；　where　there　were　maids；　knights；　and　damsels　playing　at　divers　games　in　this　pleasant　place。　　They　were　not　all　engaged　in　idle　sport；　but　were　playing　backgammon　and　chess　or　dice；　and　were　evidently　agreeably　employed。　　Most　were　engaged　in　such　games　as　these；　but　the　others　there　were　engaged　in　sports；　dancing；　singing；　tumbling；　leaping；　and　wrestling　with　each　other。

（Vv。　1661…1840。）　　A　knight　somewhat　advanced　in　years　was　on　the　other　side　of　the　meadow；　seared　upon　a　sorrel　Spanish　steed。　　His　bridle　and　saddle　were　of　gold；　and　his　hair　was　turning　grey。　　One　hand　hung　at　his　side　with　easy　grace。　　The　weather　being　fine；　he　was　in　his　shirt　sleeves；　with　a　short　mantle　of　scarlet　cloth　and　fur　slung　over　his　shoulders；　and　thus　he　watched　the　games　and　dances。　　On　the　other　side　of　the　field；　close　by　a　path；　there　were　twenty…three　knights　mounted　on　good　Irish　steeds。　　As　soon　as　the　three　new　arrivals　come　into　view；　they　all　cease　their　play　and　shout　across　the　fields：　〃See；　yonder　comes　the　knight　who　was　driven　in　the　cart！　　Let　no　one　continue　his　sport　while　he　is　in　our　midst。　　A　curse　upon　him　who　cares　or　deigns　to　play　so　long　as　he　is　here！〃　　Meanwhile　he　who　loved　the　damsel　and　claimed　her　as　his　own；　approached　the　old　knight；　and　said：　〃Sire；　I　have　attained　great　happiness；　let　all　who　will　now　hear　me　say　that　God　has　granted　me　the　thing　that　I　have　always　most　desired；　His　gift　would　not　have　been　so　great　had　He　crowned　me　as　king；　nor　would　I　have　been　so　indebted　to　Him；　nor　would　I　have　so　profited；　for　what　I　have　gained　is　fair　and　good。〃　　〃I　know　not　yet　if　it　be　thine；〃　the　knight　replies　to　his　son。　　But　the　latter　answers　him：　〃Don't　you　know？　　Can't　you　see　it；　then？　　For　God's　sake；　sire；　have　no　further　doubt；　when　you　see　that　I　have　her　in　my　possession。　　In　this　forest；　whence　I　come；　I　met　her　as　she　was　on　her　way。　　I　think　God　had　fetched　her　there　for　me；　and　I　have　taken　her　for　my　own。〃　　〃I　do　not　know　whether　this　will　be　allowed　by　him　whom　I　see　coming　after　thee；　he　looks　as　if　he　is　coming　to　demand　her　of　thee。〃　　During　this　conversation　the　dancing　had　ceased　because　of　the　knight　whom　they　saw；　nor　were　they　gaily　playing　any　more　because　of　the　disgust　and　scorn　they　felt　for　him。　　But　the　knight　without　delay　came　up　quickly　after　the　damsel；　and　said：　〃Let　the　damsel　alone；　knight；　for　you　have　no　right　to　her！　　If　you　dare；　I　am　willing　at　once　to　fight　with　you　in　her　defence。〃　　Then　the　old　knight　remarked：　〃Did　I　not　know　it？　　Fair　son；　detain　the　damsel　no　longer；　but　let　her　go。〃　　He　does　not　relish　this　advice；　and　swears　that　he　will　not　give　her　up：　〃May　God　never　grant　me　joy　if　I　give　her　up　to　him！　　I　have　her；　and　I　shall　hold　on　to　her　as　something　that　is　mine　own。　　The　shoulder…strap　and　all　the　armlets　of　my　shield　shall　first　be　broken；　and　I　shall　have　lost　all　confidence　in　my　strength　and　arms；　my　sword　and　lance；　before　I　will　surrender　my　mistress　to　him。〃　　And　his　father　says：　〃I　shall　not　let　thee　fight　for　any　reason　thou　mayest　urge。　　Thou　art　too　confident　of　thy　bravery。　So　obey　my　command。〃　　But　he　in　his　pride　replies：　〃What？　　Am　I　a　child　to　be　terrified？　　Rather　will　I　make　my　boast　that　there　is　not　within　the　sea…girt　land　any　knight；　wheresoever　he　may　dwell；　so　excellent　that　I　would　let　him　have　her；　and　whom　I　should　not　expect　speedily　to　defeat。〃　　The　father　answers：　〃Fair　son；　I　do　not　doubt　that　thou　dost　really　think　so；　for　thou　art　so　confident　of　thy　strength。　　But　I　do　not　wish　to　see　thee　enter　a　contest　with　this　knight。〃　　Then　he　replies：　〃I　shall　be　disgraced　if　I　follow　your　advice。　　Curse　me　if　I　heed　your　counsel　and　turn　recreant　because　of　you；　and　do　not　do　my　utmost　in　the　fight。　　It　is　true　that　a　man　fares　ill　among　his　relatives：　I　could　drive　a　better　bargain　somewhere　else；　for　you　are　trying　to　take　me　in。　　I　am　sure　that　where　I　am　not　known；　I　could　act　with　better　grace。　　No　one；　who　did　not　know　me；　would　try　to　thwart　my　will；　whereas　you　are　annoying　and　tormenting　me。　　I　am　vexed　by　your　finding　fault　with　me。　　You　know　well　enough　that　when　any　one　is　blamed；　he　breaks　out　still　more　passionately。　　But　may　God　never　give　me　joy　if　I　renounce　my　purpose　because　of　you；　rather　will　I