four arthurian romances-第84部分

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　knight　who　was　approaching　him；　striking　him　in　the　eye　with　such　violence　that　he　knocked　him　lifeless　to　the　ground。　　Then　the　lad　dismounts；　and　taking　the　dead　knight's　horse　and　arms；　he　arms　himself　with　skill　and　cleverness。　　When　he　was　armed；　he　straightway　mounts；　taking　the　shield　and　the　lance；　which　was　heavy；　stiff；　and　decorated；　and　about　his　waist　he　girt　a　sharp；　bright；　and　flashing　sword。　　Then　he　followed　his　brother　and　lord　into　the　fight。　　The　latter　demeaned　himself　bravely　in　the　melee　for　some　time；　breaking；　splitting；　and　crushing　shields；　helmets　and　hauberks。　　No　wood　or　steel　protected　the　man　whom　he　struck；　he　either　wounded　him　or　knocked　him　lifeless　from　the　horse。　　Unassisted；　he　did　so　well　that　he　discomfited　all　whom　he　met；　while　his　companions　did　their　part　as　well。　　The　people　of　Logres；　not　knowing　him；　are　amazed　at　what　they　see；　and　ask　the　vavasor's　sons　about　the　stranger　knight。　　This　reply　is　made　to　them：　〃Gentlemen；　this　is　he　who　is　to　deliver　us　all　from　durance　and　misery；　in　which　we　have　so　long　been　confined；　and　we　ought　to　do　him　great　honour　when；　to　set　us　free；　he　has　passed　through　so　many　perils　and　is　ready　to　face　many　more。　　He　has　done　much；　and　will　do　yet　more。〃　　Every　one　is　overjoyed　at　hearing　this　welcome　news。　　The　news　travelled　fast；　and　was　noised　about；　until　it　was　known　by　all。　　Their　strength　and　courage　rise；　so　that　they　slay　many　of　those　still　alive；　and　apparently　because　of　the　example　of　a　single　knight　they　work　greater　havoc　than　because　of　all　the　rest　combined。　　And　if　it　had　not　been　so　near　evening；　all　would　have　gone　away　defeated；　but　night　came　on　so　dark　that　they　had　to　separate。

（Vv。　2451…2614。）　　When　the　battle　was　over；　all　the　captives　pressed　about　the　knight；　grasping　his　rein　on　either　side；　and　thus　addressing　him：　〃Welcome；　fair　sire；〃　and　each　one　adds：　〃Sire；　for　the　name　of　God；　do　not　fail　to　lodge　with　me！〃　　What　one　says　they　all　repeat；　for　young　and　old　alike　insist　that　he　must　lodge　with　them；　saying：　〃You　will　be　more　comfortably　lodged　with　me　than　with　any　one　else。〃　　Thus　each　one　addresses　him　to　his　face；　and　in　the　desire　to　capture　him；　each　one　drags　him　from　the　rest；　until　they　almost　come　to　blows。　　Then　he　tells　them　that　they　are　very　foolish　and　silly　to　struggle　so。　〃Cease　this　wrangling　among　yourselves；　for　it　does　no　good　to　me　or　you。　　Instead　of　quarrelling　among　ourselves；　we　ought　rather　to　lend　one　another　aid。　　You　must　not　dispute　about　the　privilege　of　lodging　me；　but　rather　consider　how　to　lodge　me　in　such　a　place　that　it　may　be　to　your　general　advantage；　and　that　I　may　be　advanced　upon　my　way。〃　　Then　each　one　exclaims　at　once：　〃That　is　my　house；　or；　No；　it　is　mine；〃　until　the　knight　replies：　〃Follow　my　advice　and　say　nothing　more；　the　wisest　of　you　is　foolish　to　contend　this　way。　　You　ought　to　be　concerned　to　further　my　affairs；　and　instead　you　are　seeking　to　turn　me　aside。　If　you　had　each　individually　done　me　all　the　honour　and　service　it　is　possible　to　do；　and　I　had　accepted　your　kindness；　by　all　the　saints　of　Rome　I　swear　that　I　could　not　be　more　obliged　to　you　than　I　am　now　for　your　good…will。　　So　may　God　give　me　joy　and　health；　your　good　intentions　please　me　as　much　as　if　each　one　of　you　had　already　shown　me　great　honour　and　kindness：　so　let　the　will　stand　for　the　deed！〃　　Thus　he　persuades　and　appeases　them　all。　　Then　they　take　him　quickly　along　the　road　to　a　knight's　residence；　where　they　seek　to　serve　him：　all　rejoice　to　honour　and　serve　him　throughout　the　evening　until　bedtime；　for　they　hold　him　very　dear。　　Next　morning；　when　the　time　came　to　separate；　each　one　offers　and　presents　himself；　with　the　desire　to　accompany　him；　but　it　is　not　his　will　or　pleasure　that　any　one　shall　go　with　him　except　the　two　whom　he　had　brought　with　him。　Accompanied　by　them　alone；　he　resumed　his　journey。　　That　day　they　rode　from　morn　till　evening　without　encountering　any　adventure。　When　it　was　now　very　late；　and　while　they　were　riding　rapidly　out　of　a　forest；　they　saw　a　house　belonging　to　a　knight；　and　seated　at　the　door　they　saw　his　wife；　who　had　the　bearing　of　a　gentle　lady。　　As　soon　as　she　espied　them　coming；　she　rose　to　her　feet　to　meet　them；　and　greeted　them　joyfully　with　a　smile：　〃Welcome！　　I　wish　you　to　accept　my　house；　this　is　your　lodging；　pray　dismount〃　〃Lady；　since　it　is　your　will；　we　thank　you；　and　will　dismount；　we　accept　your　hospitality　for　the　night。〃　　When　they　had　dismounted；　the　lady　had　the　horses　taken　by　members　of　her　well…　ordered　household。　　She　calls　her　sons　and　daughters　who　come　at　once：　the　youths　were　courteous；　handsome；　and　well…behaved；　and　the　daughters　were　fair。　　She　bids　the　lads　remove　the　saddles　and　curry　the　horses　well；　no　one　refused　to　do　this；　but　each　carried　out　her　instructions　willingly。　　When　she　ordered　the　knights　to　be　disarmed；　her　daughters　step　forward　to　perform　this　service。　　They　remove　their　armour；　and　hand　them　three　short　mantles　to　put　on。　　Then　at　once　they　take　them　into　the　house　which　was　very　handsome。　　The　master　was　not　at　home；　being　out　in　the　woods　with　two　of　his　sons。　　But　he　presently　returned；　and　his　household；　which　was　well…ordered；　ran　to　meet　him　outside　the　door。　　Quickly　they　untie　and　unpack　the　game　he　brings；　and　tell　him　the　news：　〃Sire；　sire；　you　do　not　know　that　you　have　three　knights　for　guests。〃　　〃God　be　praised　for　that；〃　he　says。　　Then　the　knight　and　his　two　sons　extend　a　glad　welcome　to　their　guests。　　The　rest　of　the　household　were　not　backward；　for　even　the　least　among　them　prepared　to　perform　his　special　task。　　While　some　run　to　prepare　the　meal；　others　light　the　candles　in　profusion；　still　others　get　a　towel　and　basins；　and　offer　water　for　the　hands：　they　are　not　niggardly　in　all　this。　When　all　had　washed；　they　take　their　seats。　　Nothing　that　was　done　there　seemed　to　be　any　trouble　or　burdensome。　　But　at　the　first　course　there　came　a　surprise　in　the　form　of　a　knight　outside　the　door。　　As　he　sat　on　his　charger；　all　armed　from　head　to　feet；　he　looked　prouder　than　a　bull；　and　a　bull　is　a　yew　proud　beast。　　One　leg　was　fixed　in　the　stirrup；　but　the　other　he　had　thrown　over　the　mane　of　his　horse's　neck；　to　give　himself　a　careless　and　jaunty　air。　　Behold　him　advancing　thus；　though　no　one　noticed　him　until　he　came　forward　with　the　words：　〃I　wish　to　know　which　is　the　man　who　is　so　foolish　and　proud　a　numskull　that　he　has　come　to　this　country　and　intends　to　cross　the　sword…　bridge。　　All　his　pains　will　come　to　naught；　and　his　expedition　is　in　vain。〃　　Then　he；　who　felt　no　fear　at　all；　thus　replies　with　confidence：　〃I　am　he　who　intends　to　cross　the　bridge。〃　　〃Thou？　Thou？　　How　didst　thou　dare　to　think　of　such　a　thing？　　Before　undertaking　such　a　course；　thou　oughtest　to　have　thought　of　the　end　that　is　in　store　for　thee；　and　thou　oughtest　to　have　in　mind　the　memory　of　the　cart　on　which　thou　didst　ride。　　I　know　not　whether　thou　feelest　shame　for　the　ride　thou　hadst　on　it；　but　no　sensible　man　would　have　embarked　on　such　an　enterprise　as　this　if　he　had　felt　the　reproach　of　his　action。〃

（Vv。　2615…2690。）　　Not　a　word　does　he　deign　to　reply　to　what　he　hears　the　other　say；　but　the　master　of　the　house　and　all　the　others　express　their　surprise　openly：　〃Ah；　God；　what　a　misfortune　this　is；〃　each　one　of　them　says　to　himself；　〃cursed　be　the　hour　when　first　a　cart　was　conceived　or　made！　　For　it　is　a　very　vile　and　hateful　thing。　　Ah；　God；　of　what　was　he　accused？　　Why　was　he　carried　in　a　cart？　　For　what　sin；　or　for　what　crime？　　He　will　always　suffer　the　reproach。　　If　he　were　only　clear　of　this　disgrace；　no　knight　could　be　found　in　all　the　world；　however　his　valour　might　be　proved；　who　would　equal　the　merit　of　this　knight。　If　all　good　knights　could　be　compared；　and　if　the　truth　were　to　be　known；　you　could　find　none　so　handsome　or　so　expert。〃　　Thus　they　expressed　their　sentiments。　　Then　he　began　his　speech　of　impudence：　〃Listen；　thou　knight；　who　art　bound　for　the　sword…　bridge！　　If　thou　wishest；　thou　shalt　cross　the　water　very　easily　and　comfortably。　　I　will　quickly　have　thee　ferried　over　in　a　skiff。　　But　once　on　the　other　side；　I　will　make　thee　pay　me　toll；　and　I　will　take　thy　head；　if　I　please　to　do　so；　or　if　not；　thou　shalt　be　held　at　my　discretion。〃　　And　he　replies　that　he　is　not　seeking　trouble；　and　that　he　will　never　risk　his　head　in　such　an　adventure　for　any　consideration。　　To　which　the　other　answers　at　once：　〃Since　thou　wilt　not　do　this；　whosesoever　the　shame　and　loss　may　be；　thou　must　come　outside　with　me　and　there　engage　me　hand　to　hand。〃　　Then；　to　beguile　him。　the　other　says：　〃If　I　could　refuse；　I　would　very　gladly　excuse　myself；　but　in　truth　I　would　rather　fight　than　be　compelled　to　do　what　is　wrong。〃　　Before　he　arose　from　the　table　where　they　were　sitting；　he　told　the　youths　who　were　serving　him；　to　saddle　his　horse　at　once；　and　fetch　his　arms　and　give　them　to　him。　　This　order　they　promptly　execute：　some　devote　themselves　to　arming　him；　while　others　go　to　fetch　his　horse。　　As　he　slowly　rode　along　completely　armed；　holding　his　shield　tight　by　the　straps；　you　must　know　that　he　was　evidently　to　be　included　in　the　list　of　the　brave　and　fair。　　His　horse　became　him　so　well　that　it　is　evident　he　must　be　his　own；　and　as　for　the　shield　he　held　by　the　straps　and　the　helmet　laced　upon　his　head；　which　fitted　him　so　well；　you　would　never　for　a　moment　have　thought　that　he　had　borrowed　it　or　received　it　as　a　loan；　rather；　you　would　be　so　pleased　with　him　that　you　would　maintain　that　he　had　been　thus　born　and　raised：　for　all　this　I　should　like　you　to　take　my　word。

（Vv。　2691…2792。）　　Outside　the　gate；　where　the　battle　was　to　be　fought；　there　was　a　stretch　of　level　ground　well　adapted　for　the　encounter。　　When　they　catch　sight　of　each　other；　they　spur　hotly　to　the　attack　and　come　together　with　such　a　shock；　dealing　such　blows　with　their　lances；　that　they　first　bend；　then　buckle　up；　and　finally　fly　into　splinters。　　With　their　swords　they　then　hew　away　at　their　shields；　helmets；　and　hauberks。　　The　wood　is　cut　and　the　steel　gives　way；　so　that　they　wound　each　other　in　several　places。　　They　pay　each　other　such　angry　blows　that　it　seems　as　if　they　had　made　a　bargain。　　The　swords　often　descend　upon　the　horses'　croups；　where　they　drink　and　feast　up