four arthurian romances-第83部分

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ntle　about　him；　taking　it　from　her　own　shoulders　and　throwing　it　about　his　neck。　I　do　not　need　to　tell　how　well　he　was　served　at　supper；　but　when　the　meal　was　finished；　they　felt　no　further　hesitation　in　speaking　of　various　matters。　　First；　the　host　began　to　ask　him　who　he　was；　and　from　what　land；　but　he　did　not　inquire　about　his　name。　　The　knight　promptly　answered　him：　〃I　am　from　the　kingdom　of　Logres；　and　have　never　been　in　this　land　before。〃　　And　when　the　gentleman　heard　that；　he　was　greatly　amazed；　as　were　his　wife　and　children　too；　and　each　one　of　them　was　sore　distressed。　　Then　they　began　to　say　to　him：　〃Woe　that　you　have　come　here；　fair　sire；　for　only　trouble　will　come　of　it！　　For；　like　us；　you　will　be　reduced　to　servitude　and　exile。〃　　〃Where　do　you　come　from；　then？〃　he　asked。　　〃Sire；　we　belong　in　your　country。　　Many　men　from　your　country　are　held　in　servitude　in　this　land。　　Cursed　be　the　custom；　together　with　those　who　keep　it　up！　　No　stranger　comes　here　who　is　not　compelled　to　stay　here　in　the　land　where　he　is　detained。　　For　whoever　wishes　may　come　in；　but　once　in；　he　has　to　stay。　　About　your　own　fate；　you　may　be　at　rest；　you　will　doubtless　never　escape　from　here。〃　　He　replies：　〃Indeed；　I　shall　do　so；　if　possible。〃　　To　this　the　gentleman　replies：　〃How？　　Do　you　think　you　can　escape？〃　　〃Yes；　indeed；　if　it　be　God's　will；　and　I　shall　do　all　within　my　power。〃　　〃In　that　case；　doubtless　all　the　rest　would　be　set　free；　for；　as　soon　as　one　succeeds　in　fairly　escaping　from　this　durance；　then　all　the　rest　may　go　forth　unchallenged。〃　　Then　the　gentleman　recalled　that　he　had　been　told　and　informed　that　a　knight　of　great　excellence　was　making　his　way　into　the　country　to　seek　for　the　Queen；　who　was　held　by　the　king's　son；　Meleagant；　and　he　said　to　himself：　〃Upon　my　word；　I　believe　it　is　he；　and　I'll　tell　him　so。〃　　So　he　said　to　him：　〃Sire；　do　not　conceal　from　me　your　business；　if　I　promise　to　give　you　the　best　advice　I　know。　　I　too　shall　profit　by　any　success　you　may　attain。　　Reveal　to　me　the　truth　about　your　errand；　that　it　may　be　to　your　advantage　as　well　as　mine。　　I　am　persuaded　that　you　have　come　in　search　of　the　Queen　into　this　land　and　among　these　heathen　people；　who　are　worse　than　the　Saracens。〃　　And　the　knight　replies：　〃For　no　other　purpose　have　I　come。　　I　know　not　where　my　lady　is　confined；　but　I　am　striving　hard　to　rescue　her；　and　am　in　dire　need　of　advice。　　Give　me　any　counsel　you　can。〃　　And　he　says：　〃Sire；　you　have　undertaken　a　very　grievous　task。　　The　road　you　are　travelling　will　lead　you　straight　to　the　sword…　bridge。　（14）　　You　surely　need　advice。　　If　you　would　heed　my　counsel；　you　would　proceed　to　the　sword…bridge　by　a　surer　way；　and　I　would　have　you　escorted　thither。〃　　Then　he；　whose　mind　is　fixed　upon　the　most　direct　way；　asks　him：　〃Is　the　road　of　which　you　speak　as　direct　as　the　other　way？〃　　〃No；　it　is　not；〃　he　says；　〃it　is　longer；　but　more　sure。〃　　Then　he　says：　〃I　have　no　use　for　it；　tell　me　about　this　road　I　am　following！〃　　〃I　am　ready　to　do　so；〃　he　replies；　〃but　I　am　sure　you　will　not　fare　well　if　you　take　any　other　than　the　road　I　recommend。　　To…morrow　you　will　reach　a　place　where　you　will　have　trouble：　it　is　called　‘the　stony　passage'。　　Shall　I　tell　you　how　bad　a　place　it　is　to　pass？　　Only　one　horse　can　go　through　at　a　time；　even　two　men　could　not　pass　abreast；　and　the　passage　is　well　guarded　and　defended。　　You　will　meet　with　resistance　as　soon　as　you　arrive。　　You　will　sustain　many　a　blow　of　sword　and　lance；　and　will　have　to　return　full　measure　before　you　succeed　in　passing　through。〃　　And　when　he　had　completed　the　account；　one　of　the　gentleman's　sons；　who　was　a　knight；　stepped　forward；　saying：　〃Sire；　if　you　do　not　object；　I　will　go　with　this　gentleman。〃　　Then　one　of　the　lads　jumps　up；　and　says：　〃I　too　will　go。〃　　And　the　father　gladly　gives　them　both　consent。　　Now　the　knight　will　not　have　to　go　alone；　and　he　expresses　his　gratitude；　being　much　pleased　with　the　company。

（Vv。　2199…2266。）　　Then　the　conversation　ceases；　and　they　take　the　knight　to　bed；　where　he　was　glad　to　fall　asleep。　　As　soon　as　daylight　was　visible　he　got　up；　and　those　who　were　to　accompany　him　got　up　too。　　The　two　knights　donned　their　armour　and　took　their　leave；　while　the　young　fellow　started　on　ahead。　　Together　they　pursued　their　way　until　they　came　at　the　hour　of　prime　to　〃the　stony　passage。〃　　In　the　middle　of　it　they　found　a　wooden　tower；　where　there　was　always　a　man　on　guard。　　Before　they　drew　near；　he　who　was　on　the　tower　saw　them　and　cried　twice　aloud：　〃Woe　to　this　man　who　comes！〃　　And　then　behold！　　A　knight　issued　from　the　tower；　mounted　and　armed　with　fresh　armour；　and　escorted　on　either　side　by　servants　carrying　sharp　axes。　　Then；　when　the　other　draws　near　the　passage；　he　who　defends　it　begins　to　heap　him　with　abuse　about　the　cart；　saying：　〃Vassal；　thou　art　bold　and　foolish；　indeed；　to　have　entered　this　country。　　No　man　ought　ever　to　come　here　who　had　ridden　upon　a　cart；　and　may　God　withhold　from　him　His　blessing！〃　　Then　they　spur　toward　each　other　at　the　top　of　their　horses'　speed。　　And　he　who　was　to　guard　the　passage…　way　at　once　breaks　his　lance　and　lets　the　two　pieces　fall；　the　other　strikes　him　in　the　neck；　reaching　him　beneath　the　shield；　and　throws　him　over　prostrate　upon　the　stones。　　Then　the　servants　come　forward　with　the　axes；　but　they　intentionally　fail　to　strike　him；　having　no　desire　to　harm　or　damage　him；　so　he　does　not　deign　to　draw　his　sword；　and　quickly　passes　on　with　his　companions。　　One　of　them　remarks　to　the　other：　〃No　one　has　ever　seen　so　good　a　knight；　nor　has　he　any　equal。　　Is　not　this　a　marvellous　thing；　that　he　has　forced　a　passage　here？〃　　And　the　knight　says　to　his　brother：　〃Fair　brother；　for　God's　sake；　make　haste　to　go　and　tell　our　father　of　this　adventure。〃　　But　the　lad　asserts　and　swears　that　he　will　not　go　with　the　message；　and　will　never　leave　the　knight　until　he　has　dubbed　and　knighted　him；　let　his　brother　go　with　the　message；　if　he　is　so　much　concerned。

（Vv。　2267…2450。）　　Then　they　go　on　together　until　about　three　o'clock；　when　they　come　upon　a　man；　who　asks　them　who　they　are。　And　they　answer：　〃We　are　knights；　busy　about　our　own　affairs。〃　Then　the　man　says　to　the　knight：　〃Sire；　I　should　be　glad　to　offer　hospitality　to　you　and　your　companions　here。〃　　This　invitation　he　delivers　to　him　whom　he　takes　to　be　the　lord　and　master　of　the　others。　　And　this　one　replies　to　him：　〃I　could　not　seek　shelter　for　the　night　at　such　an　hour　as　this；　for　it　is　not　well　to　tarry　and　seek　one's　ease　when　one　has　undertaken　some　great　task。　　And　I　have　such　business　on　hand　that　I　shall　not　stop　for　the　night　for　some　time　yet。〃　　Then　the　man　continues：　〃My　house　is　not　near　here；　but　is　some　distance　ahead。　　It　will　be　late　when　you　reach　there；　so　you　may　proceed；　assured　that　you　will　find　a　place　to　lodge　just　when　it　suits　you。〃　　〃In　that　case；〃　he　says；　〃I　will　go　thither。〃　　Thereupon　the　man　starts　ahead　as　guide；　and　the　knight　follows　along　the　path。　　And　when　they　had　proceeded　some　distance；　they　met　a　squire　who　was　coming　along　at　a　gallop；　mounted　upon　a　nag　that　was　as　fat　and　round　as　an　apple。　　And　the　squire　calls　our　to　the　man：　〃Sire；　sire；　make　haste！　　For　the　people　of　Logres　have　attacked　in　force　the　inhabitants　of　this　land；　and　war　and　strife　have　already　broken　out；　and　they　say　that　this　country　has　been　invaded　by　a　knight　who　has　been　in　many　battles；　and　that　wherever　he　wishes　to　go；　no　one；　however　reluctantly；　is　able　to　deny　him　passage。　　And　they　further　say　that　he　will　deliver　those　who　are　in　this　country；　and　will　subdue　our　people。　　Now　take　my　advice　and　make　haste！〃　　Then　the　man　starts　at　a　gallop；　and　the　others　are　greatly　delighted　at　the　words　they　have　heard；　for　they　are　eager　to　help　their　side。　　And　the　vavasor's　son　says：　〃Hear　what　this　squire　says！　　Come　and　let　us　aid　our　people　who　are　fighting　their　enemies！〃　　Meanwhile　the　man　rides　off；　without　waiting　for　them；　and　makes　his　way　rapidly　toward　a　fortress　which　stood　upon　a　fortified　hill；　thither　he　hastens；　till　he　comes　to　the　gate；　while　the　others　spur　after　him。　　The　castle　was　surrounded　by　a　high　wall　and　moat。　　As　soon　as　they　had　got　inside；　a　gate　was　lowered　upon　their　heels；　so　that　they　could　not　get　out　again。　　Then　they　say：　〃Come　on；　come　on！　　Let　us　not　stop　here！〃　and　they　rapidly　pursue　the　man　until　they　reach　another　gate　which　was　not　closed　against　them。　　But　as　soon　as　the　man　had　passed　through；　a　portcullis　dropped　behind　him。　　Then　the　others　were　much　dismayed　to　see　themselves　shut　in；　and　they　think　they　must　be　bewitched。　　But　he；　of　whom　I　have　more　to　tell；　wore　upon　his　finger　a　ring；　whose　stone　was　of　such　virtue　that　any　one　who　gazed　at　it　was　freed　from　the　power　of　enchantment。　（15）　　Holding　the　ring　before　his　eyes；　he　gazed　at　it；　and　said：　〃Lady；　lady；　so　help　me　God；　now　I　have　great　need　of　your　succour！〃　（16）　　This　lady　was　a　fairy；　who　had　given　it　to　him；　and　who　had　cared　for　him　in　his　infancy。　　And　he　had　great　confidence　that；　wherever　he　might　be；　she　would　aid　and　succour　him。　　But　after　appealing　to　her　and　gazing　upon　the　ring；　he　realises　that　there　is　no　enchantment　here；　but　that　they　are　actually　shut　in　and　confined。　　Then　they　come　to　the　barred　door　of　a　low　and　narrow　postern　gate。　　Drawing　their　swords；　they　all　strike　it　with　such　violence　that　they　cut　the　bar。　　As　soon　as　they　were　outside　the　tower；　they　see　that　a　fierce　strife　was　already　begun　down　in　the　meadows；　and　that　there　are　at　least　a　thousand　knights　engaged；　beside　the　low…bred　infantry。　　While　they　were　descending　to　the　plain；　the　wise　and　moderate　son　of　the　vavasor　remarked：　〃Sire；　before　we　arrive　upon　the　field；　it　would　be　wise　for　us；　it　seems　to　me；　to　find　out　and　learn　on　which　side　our　people　are。　　I　do　not　know　where　they　are　placed；　but　I　will　go　and　find　out；　if　you　wish　it　so。〃　　〃I　wish　you　would　do　so；〃　he　replies；　〃go　quickly；　and　do　not　fail　to　come　back　again　at　once。〃　　He　goes　and　returns　at　once；　saying：　〃It　has　turned　out　well　for　us；　for　I　have　plainly　seen　that　these　are　our　troops　on　this　side　of　the　field。〃　　Then　the　knight　at　once　rode　into　the　fight　and　jousted　with　a　knight　who　was　approaching　him；　striking　him　in　the　eye　with　such　violence　that　he　knocked　him　life