four arthurian romances-第85部分

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had　made　a　bargain。　　The　swords　often　descend　upon　the　horses'　croups；　where　they　drink　and　feast　upon　their　blood；　their　riders　strike　them　upon　the　flanks　until　at　last　they　kill　them　both。　　And　when　both　have　fallen　to　earth；　they　attack　each　other　afoot；　and　if　they　had　cherished　a　mortal　hatred；　they　could　not　have　assailed　each　other　more　fiercely　with　their　swords。　　They　deal　their　blows　with　greater　frequency　than　the　man　who　stakes　his　money　at　dice　and　never　fails　to　double　the　stakes　every　time　he　loses；　yet；　this　game　of　theirs　was　very　different；　for　there　were　no　losses　here；　but　only　fierce　blows　and　cruel　strife。　　All　the　people　came　out　from　the　house：　the　master；　his　lady；　his　sons　and　daughters；　no　man　or　woman；　friend　or　stranger；　stayed　behind；　but　all　stood　in　line　to　see　the　fight　in　progress　in　the　broad；　level　field。　　The　Knight　of　the　Cart　blames　and　reproaches　himself　for　faintheartedness　when　he　sees　his　host　watching　him　and　notices　all　the　others　looking　on。　His　heart　is　stirred　with　anger；　for　it　seems　to　him　that　he　ought　long　since　to　have　beaten　his　adversary。　　Then　he　strikes　him；　rushing　in　like　a　storm　and　bringing　his　sword　down　close　by　his　head；　he　pushes　and　presses　him　so　hard　that　he　drives　him　from　his　ground　and　reduces　him　to　such　a　state　of　exhaustion　that　he　has　little　strength　to　defend　himself。　　Then　the　knight　recalls　how　the　other　had　basely　reproached　him　about　the　cart；　so　he　assails　him　and　drubs　him　so　soundly　that　not　a　string　or　strap　remains　unbroken　about　the　neck…band　of　his　hauberk；　and　he　knocks　the　helmet　and　ventail　from　his　head。　　His　wounds　and　distress　are　so　great　that　he　has　to　cry　for　mercy。　　Just　as　the　lark　cannot　withstand　or　protect　itself　against　the　hawk　which　outflies　it　and　attacks　it　from　above；　so　he　in　his　helplessness　and　shame；　must　invoke　him　and　sue　for　mercy。　　And　when　he　hears　him　beg　for　mercy；　he　ceases　his　attack　and　says：　〃Dost　thou　wish　for　mercy？〃　　He　replies：　〃You　have　asked　a　very　clever　question；　any　fool　could　ask　that。　　I　never　wished　for　anything　so　much　as　I　now　wish　for　mercy。〃　　Then　he　says　to　him：　〃Thou　must　mount；　then；　upon　a　cart。　　Nothing　thou　couldst　say　would　have　any　influence　with　me；　unless　thou　mountest　the　cart；　to　atone　for　the　vile　reproaches　thou　didst　address　to　me　with　thy　silly　mouth。〃　　And　the　knight　thus　answers　him：　〃May　it　never　please　God　that　I　mount　a　cart！〃　　〃No？〃　he　asks；　〃then　you　shall　die。〃　〃Sire；　you　can　easily　put　me　to　death；　but　I　beg　and　beseech　you　for　God's　sake　to　show　me　mercy　and　not　compel　me　to　mount　a　cart。　　I　will　agree　to　anything；　however　grievous；　excepting　that。　　I　would　rather　die　a　hundred　times　than　undergo　such　a　disgrace。　　In　your　goodness　and　mercy　you　can　tell　me　nothing　so　distasteful　that　I　will　not　do　it。〃

（Vv。　2793…2978。）　　While　he　is　thus　beseeching　him；　behold　across　the　field　a　maiden　riding　on　a　tawny　mule；　her　head　uncovered　and　her　dress　disarranged。　　In　her　hand　she　held　a　whip　with　which　she　belaboured　the　mule；　and　in　truth　no　horse　could　have　galloped　so　fast　as　was　the　pace　of　the　mule。　　The　damsel　called　out　to　the　Knight　of　the　Cart：　〃May　God　bless　thy　heart；　Sir　Knight；　with　whatever　delights　thee　most！〃　　And　he；　who　heard　her　gladly；　says：　〃May　God　bless　you；　damsel；　and　give　you　joy　and　health！〃　　Then　she　tells　him　of　her　desire。　　〃Knight；〃　she　says；　〃in　urgent　need　I　have　come　from　afar　to　thee　to　ask　a　favour；　for　which　thou　wilt　deserve　the　best　guerdon　I　can　make　to　thee；　and　I　believe　that　thou　wilt　yet　have　need　of　my　assistance。〃　　And　he　replies：　〃Tell　me　what　it　is　you　wish；　and　if　I　have　it；　you　shall　have　it　at　once；　provided　it　be　not　something　extravagant。〃　　Then　she　says：　〃It　is　the　head　of　the　knight　whom　thou　hast　just　defeated；　in　truth；　thou　hast　never　dealt　with　such　a　wicked　and　faithless　man。　　Thou　wilt　be　committing　no　sin　or　wrong；　but　rather　doing　a　deed　of　charity；　for　he　is　the　basest　creature　that　ever　was　or　ever　shall　be。〃　　And　when　he　who　had　been　vanquished　hears　that　she　wishes　him　to　be　killed；　he　says　to　him：　〃Don't　believe　her；　for　she　hates　me；　but　by　that　God　who　was　at　once　Father　and　Son；　and　who　chose　for　His　mother　her　who　was　His　daughter　and　handmaiden；　I　beg　you　to　have　mercy　upon　me！〃　　〃Ah；　knight！〃　the　maid　exclaims；　〃pay　no　attention　to　what　this　traitor　says！　　May　God　give　thee　all　the　joy　and　honour　to　which　thou　dost　aspire；　and　may　He　give　thee　good　success　in　thy　undertaking。〃　　Then　the　knight　is　in　a　predicament；　as　he　thinks　and　ponders　over　the　question：　whether　to　present　to　her　the　head　she　asks　him　to　cut　off；　or　whether　he　shall　allow　himself　to　be　touched　by　pity　for　him。　（17）　　He　wishes　to　respect　the　wishes　of　both　her　and　him。　　Generosity　and　pity　each　command　him　to　do　their　will；　for　he　was　both　generous　and　tender…　hearted。　　But　if　she　carries　off　the　head；　then　will　pity　be　defeated　and　put　to　death；　whereas；　if　she　does　not　carry　off　the　head；　generosity　will　be　discomfited。　　Thus；　pity　and　generosity　hold　him　so　confined　and　so　distressed　that　he　is　tormented　and　spurred　on　by　each　of　them　in　turn。　　The　damsel　asks　him　to　give　her　the　head；　and　on　the　other　hand　the　knight　makes　his　request；　appealing　to　his　pity　and　kindness。　　And；　since　he　has　implored　him；　shall　he　not　receive　mercy？　　Yes；　for　it　never　happened　that；　when　he　had　put　down　an　enemy　and　compelled　him　to　sue　for　mercy；　he　would　refuse　such　an　one　his　mercy　or　longer　bear　him　any　grudge。　　Since　this　is　his　custom；　he　will　not　refuse　his　mercy　to　him　who　now　begs　and　sues　for　it。　　And　shall　she　have　the　head　she　covets？　　Yes；　if　it　be　possible。　〃Knight；〃　he　says；　〃it　is　necessary　for　thee　to　fight　me　again；　and　if　thou　dost　care　to　defend　thy　head　again；　I　will　show　thee　such　mercy　as　to　allow　thee　to　resume　the　helmet；　and　I　will　give　thee　time　to　arm　thy　body　and　thy　head　as　well　as　possible。　　But；　if　I　conquer　thee　again；　know　that　thou　shalt　surely　die。〃　　And　he　replies：　〃I　desire　nothing　better　than　that；　and　ask　for　no　further　favour。〃　〃And　I　will　give　thee　this　advantage；〃　he　adds：　〃I　will　fight　thee　as　I　stand；　without　changing　my　present　position。〃　　Then　the　other　knight　makes　ready；　and　they　begin　the　fight　again　eagerly。　But　this　time　the　knight　triumphed　more　quickly　than　he　had　done　at　first。　　And　the　damsel　at　once　cries　out：　〃Do　not　spare　him；　knight；　for　anything　he　may　say　to　thee。　　Surely　he　would　not　have　spared　thee；　had　he　once　defeated　thee。　　If　thou　heedest　what　he　says；　be　sure　that　he　will　again　beguile　thee。　　Fair　knight；　cut　off　the　head　of　the　most　faithless　man　in　the　empire　and　kingdom；　and　give　it　to　me！　　Thou　shouldst　present　it　to　me；　in　view　of　the　guerdon　I　intend　for　thee。　　For　another　day　may　well　come　when；　if　he　can；　he　will　beguile　thee　again　with　his　words。〃　　He；　thinking　his　end　is　near；　cries　aloud　to　him　for　mercy；　but　his　cry　is　of　no　avail；　nor　anything　that　he　can　say。　The　other　drags　him　by　the　helmet；　tearing　all　the　fastening；　and　he　strikes　from　his　head　the　ventail　and　the　gleaming　coif。　　Then　he　cries　out　more　loudly　still：　〃Mercy；　for　God's　sake！　　Mercy；　sir！〃　　But　the　other　answers：　〃So　help　me；　I　shall　never　again　show　thee　pity；　after　having　once　let　thee　off。〃　　〃Ah；〃　he　says；　〃thou　wouldst　do　wrong　to　heed　my　enemy　and　kill　me　thus。〃　　While　she；　intent　upon　his　death；　admonishes　him　to　cut　off　his　head；　and　not　to　believe　a　word　he　says。　　He　strikes：　the　head　flies　across　the　sward　and　the　body　fails。　　Then　the　damsel　is　pleased　and　satisfied。　　Grasping　the　head　by　the　hair；　the　knight　presents　it　to　the　damsel；　who　takes　it　joyfully　with　the　words：　〃May　thy　heart　receive　such　delight　from　whatever　it　most　desires　as　my　heart　now　receives　from　what　I　most　coveted。　　I　had　only　one　grief　in　life；　and　that　was　that　this　man　was　still　alive。　　I　have　a　reward　laid　up　for　thee　which　thou　shalt　receive　at　the　proper　time。　　I　promise　thee　that　thou　shalt　have　a　worthy　reward　for　the　service　thou　hast　rendered　me。　　Now　I　will　go　away；　with　the　prayer　that　God　may　guard　thee　from　harm。〃　　Then　the　damsel　leaves　him；　as　each　commends　the　other　to　God。　　But　all　those　who　had　seen　the　battle　in　the　plain　are　overjoyed；　and　in　their　joy　they　at　once　relieve　the　knight　of　his　armour；　and　honour　him　in　every　way　they　can。　　Then　they　wash　their　hands　again　and　take　their　places　at　the　meal；　which　they　eat　with　better　cheer　than　is　their　wont。　　When　they　had　been　eating　for　some　time；　the　gentleman　turned　to　his　guest　at　his　side；　and　said：　〃Sire；　a　long　while　ago　we　came　hither　from　the　kingdom　of　Logres。　　We　were　born　your　countrymen；　and　we　should　like　to　see　you　win　honour　and　fortune　and　joy　in　this　country；　for　we　should　profit　by　it　as　well　as　you；　and　it　would　be　to　the　advantage　of　many　others；　if　you　should　gain　honour　and　fortune　in　the　enterprise　you　have　undertaken　in　this　land。〃　　And　he　makes　answer：　〃May　God　hear　your　desire。〃

（Vv。　2979…3020。）　　When　the　host　had　dropped　his　voice　and　ceased　speaking；　one　of　his　sons　followed　him　and　said：　〃Sire；　we　ought　to　place　all　our　resources　at　your　service；　and　give　them　outright　rather　than　promise　them；　if　you　have　any　need　of　our　assistance；　we　ought　not　to　wait　until　you　ask　for　it。　　Sire；　be　not　concerned　over　your　horse　which　is　dead。　　We　have　good　strong　horses　here。　　I　want　you　to　take　anything　of　ours　which　you　need；　and　you　shall　choose　the　best　of　our　horses　in　place　of　yours。〃　And　he　replies：　〃I　willingly　accept。〃　　Thereupon；　they　have　the　beds　prepared　and　retire　for　the　night。　　The　next　morning　they　rise　early；　and　dress；　after　which　they　prepare　to　start。　　Upon　leaving；　they　fail　in　no　act　of　courtesy；　but　take　leave　of　the　lady；　her　lord；　and　all　the　rest。　　But　in　order　to　omit　nothing；　I　must　remark　that　the　knight　was　unwilling　to　mount　the　borrowed　steed　which　was　standing　ready　at　the　door；　rather；　he　caused　him　to　be　ridden　by　one　of　the　two　knights　who　had　come　with　him；　while　he　took　the　latter's　horse　instead；　for　thus　it　pleased　him　best　to　do。　　When　each　was　seated　on　his　horse；　they　all　asked　　for　leave　to　depart　from　their　host　who　had　served　them　so　honourably。　　Then　they　ride　along　the　road　until　the　day　draws　to　a　close；　and　late　in　the　afternoon　they　reach　the　sword…bridge。

（Vv。　3021…3194。）　　At　the　end　o