four arthurian romances-第86部分

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to　a　close；　and　late　in　the　afternoon　they　reach　the　sword…bridge。

（Vv。　3021…3194。）　　At　the　end　of　this　very　difficult　bridge　they　dismount　from　their　steeds　and　gaze　at　the　wicked…looking　stream；　which　is　as　swift　and　raging；　as　black　and　turgid；　as　fierce　and　terrible　as　if　it　were　the　devil's　stream；　and　it　is　so　dangerous　and　bottomless　that　anything　failing　into　it　would　be　as　completely　lost　as　if　it　fell　into　the　salt　sea。　　And　the　bridge；　which　spans　it；　is　different　from　any　other　bridge；　for　there　never　was　such　a　one　as　this。　　If　any　one　asks　of　me　the　truth；　there　never　was　such　a　bad　bridge；　nor　one　whose　flooring　was　so　bad。　　The　bridge　across　the　cold　stream　consisted　of　a　polished；　gleaming　sword；　but　the　sword　was　stout　and　stiff；　and　was　as　long　as　two　lances。　　At　each　end　there　was　a　tree…trunk　in　which　the　sword　was　firmly　fixed。　　No　one　need　fear　to　fall　because　of　its　breaking　or　bending；　for　its　excellence　was　such　that　it　could　support　a　great　weight。　　But　the　two　knights　who　were　with　the　third　were　much　discouraged；　for　they　surmised　that　two　lions　or　two　leopards　would　be　found　tied　to　a　great　rock　at　the　other　end　of　the　bridge。　　The　water　and　the　bridge　and　the　lions　combine　so　to　terrify　them　that　they　both　tremble　with　fear；　and　say：　〃Fair　sire；　consider　well　what　confronts　you；　for　it　is　necessary　and　needful　to　do　so。　　This　bridge　is　badly　made　and　built；　and　the　construction　of　it　is　bad。　　If　you　do　not　change　your　mind　in　time；　it　will　be　too　late　to　repent。　　You　must　consider　which　of　several　alternatives　you　will　choose。　　Suppose　that　you　once　get　across　（but　that　cannot　possibly　come　to　pass；　any　more　than　one　could　hold　in　the　winds　and　forbid　them　to　blow；　or　keep　the　birds　from　singing；　or　re…enter　one's　mother's　womb　and　be　born　againall　of　which　is　as　impossible　as　to　empty　the　sea　of　its　water）；　but　even　supposing　that　you　got　across；　can　you　think　and　suppose　that　those　two　fierce　lions　that　are　chained　on　the　other　side　will　not　kill　you；　and　suck　the　blood　from　your　veins；　and　eat　your　flesh　and　then　gnaw　your　bones？　　For　my　part；　I　am　bold　enough；　when　I　even　dare　to　look　and　gaze　at　them。　　If　you　do　not　take　care；　they　will　certainly　devour　you。　　Your　body　will　soon　be　torn　and　rent　apart；　for　they　will　show　you　no　mercy。　　So　take　pity　on　us　now；　and　stay　here　in　our　company！　　It　would　be　wrong　for　you　to　expose　yourself　intentionally　to　such　mortal　peril。〃　　And　he；　laughing；　replies　to　them：　〃Gentlemen；　receive　my　thanks　and　gratitude　for　the　concern　you　feel　for　me：　it　comes　from　your　love　and　kind　hearts。　I　know　full　well　that　you　would　not　like　to　see　any　mishap　come　to　me；　but　I　have　faith　and　confidence　in　God；　that　He　will　protect　me　to　the　end。　　I　fear　the　bridge　and　stream　no　more　than　I　fear　this　dry　land；　so　I　intend　to　prepare　and　make　the　dangerous　attempt　to　cross。　　I　would　rather　die　than　turn　back　now。〃　　The　others　have　nothing　more　to　say；　but　each　weeps　with　pity　and　heaves　a　sigh。　　Meanwhile　he　prepares；　as　best　he　may；　to　cross　the　stream；　and　he　does　a　very　marvellous　thing　in　removing　the　armour　from　his　feet　and　hands。　　He　will　be　in　a　sorry　state　when　he　reaches　the　other　side。　　He　is　going　to　support　himself　with　his　bare　hands　and　feet　upon　the　sword；　which　was　sharper　than　a　scythe；　for　he　had　not　kept　on　his　feet　either　sole　or　upper　or　hose。　　But　he　felt　no　fear　of　wounds　upon　his　hands　or　feet；　he　preferred　to　maim　himself　rather　than　to　fall　from　the　bridge　and　be　plunged　in　the　water　from　which　he　could　never　escape。　　In　accordance　with　this　determination；　he　passes　over　with　great　pain　and　agony；　being　wounded　in　the　hands；　knees；　and　feet。　　But　even　this　suffering　is　sweet　to　him：　for　Love；　who　conducts　and　leads　him　on；　assuages　and　relieves　the　pain。　　Creeping　on　his　hands；　feet；　and　knees；　he　proceeds　until　he　reaches　the　other　side。　　Then　he　recalls　and　recollects　the　two　lions　which　he　thought　he　had　seen　from　the　other　side；　but；　on　looking　about；　he　does　not　see　so　much　as　a　lizard　or　anything　else　to　do　him　harm。　　He　raises　his　hand　before　his　face　and　looks　at　his　ring；　and　by　this　test　he　proves　that　neither　of　the　lions　is　there　which　he　thought　he　had　seen；　and　that　he　had　been　enchanted　and　deceived；　for　there　was　not　a　living　creature　there。　　When　those　who　had　remained　behind　upon　the　bank　saw　that　he　had　safely　crossed；　their　joy　was　natural；　but　they　do　not　know　of　his　injuries。　　He；　however；　considers　himself　fortunate　not　to　have　suffered　anything　worse。　　The　blood　from　his　wounds　drips　on　his　shirt　on　all　sides。　　Then　he　sees　before　him　a　tower；　which　was　so　strong　that　never　had　he　seen　such　a　strong　one　before：　indeed；　it　could　not　have　been　a　better　tower。　　At　the　window　there　sat　King　Bademagu；　who　was　very　scrupulous　and　precise　about　matters　of　honour　and　what　was　right；　and　who　was　careful　to　observe　and　practise　loyalty　above　all　else；　and　beside　him　stood　his　son；　who　always　did　precisely　the　opposite　so　far　as　possible；　for　he　found　his　pleasure　in　disloyalty；　and　never　wearied　of　villainy；　treason；　and　felony。　　From　their　point　of　vantage　they　had　seen　the　knight　cross　the　bridge　with　trouble　and　pain。　　Meleagant's　colour　changed　with　the　rage　and　displeasure　he　felt；　for　he　knows　now　that　he　will　be　challenged　for　the　Queen；　but　his　character　was　such　that　he　feared　no　man；　however　strong　or　formidable。　　If　he　were　not　base　and　disloyal；　there　could　no　better　knight　be　found；　but　he　had　a　heart　of　wood；　without　gentleness　and　pity。　　What　enraged　his　son　and　roused　his　ire；　made　the　king　happy　and　glad。　　The　king　knew　of　a　truth　that　he　who　had　crossed　the　bridge　was　much　better　than　any　one　else。　　For　no　one　would　dare　to　pass　over　it　in　whom　there　dwelt　any　of　that　evil　nature　which　brings　more　shame　upon　those　who　possess　it　than　prowess　brings　of　honour　to　the　virtuous。　　For　prowess　cannot　accomplish　so　much　as　wickedness　and　sloth　can　do：　it　is　true　beyond　a　doubt　that　it　is　possible　to　do　more　evil　than　good。

（Vv。　3195…3318。）　　I　could　say　more　on　these　two　heads；　if　it　did　not　cause　me　to　delay。　　But　I　must　turn　to　something　else　and　resume　my　subject；　and　you　shall　hear　how　the　king　speaks　profitably　to　his　son：　〃Son；〃　he　says；　〃it　was　fortunate　that　thou　and　I　came　to　look　out　this　window；　our　reward　has　been　to　witness　the　boldest　deed　that　ever　entered　the　mind　of　man。　　Tell　me　now　if　thou　art　not　well　disposed　toward　him　who　has　performed　such　a　marvellous　feat。　　Make　peace　and　be　reconciled　with　him；　and　deliver　the　Queen　into　his　hands。　　Thou　shalt　gain　no　glory　in　battle　with　him；　but　rather　mayst　thou　incur　great　loss。　　Show　thyself　to　be　courteous　and　sensible；　and　send　the　Queen　to　meet　him　before　he　sees　thee。　　Show　him　honour　in　this　land　of　thine；　and　before　he　asks　it；　present　to　him　what　he　has　come　to　seek。　Thou　knowest　well　enough　that　he　has　come　for　the　Queen　Guinevere。　　Do　not　act　so　that　people　will　take　thee　to　be　obstinate；　foolish；　or　proud。　　If　this　man　has　entered　thy　land　alone；　thou　shouldst　bear　him　company；　for　one　gentleman　ought　not　to　avoid　another；　but　rather　attract　him　and　honour　him　with　courtesy。　　One　receives　honour　by　himself　showing　it；　be　sure　that　the　honour　will　be　thine；　if　thou　doest　honour　and　service　to　him　who　is　plainly　the　best　knight　in　the　world。〃　　And　he　replies：　〃May　God　confound　me；　if　there　is　not　as　good　a　knight；　or　even　a　better　one　than　he！〃　　It　was　too　bad　that　he　did　not　mention　himself；　of　whom　he　entertains　no　mean　opinion。　　And　he　adds：　〃I　suppose　you　wish　me　to　clasp　my　hands　and　kneel　before　him　as　his　liegeman；　and　to　hold　my　lands　from　him？　　So　help　me　God；　I　would　rather　become　his　man　than　surrender　to　him　the　Queen！　　God　forbid　that　in　such　a　fashion　I　should　deliver　her　to　him！　　She　shall　never　be　given　up　by　me；　but　rather　contested　and　defended　against　all　who　are　so　foolish　as　to　dare　to　come　in　quest　of　her。〃　　Then　again　the　king　says　to　him：　〃Son；　thou　wouldst　act　very　courteously　to　renounce　this　pretension。　　I　advise　thee　and　beg　thee　to　keep　the　peace。　　Thou　knowest　well　that　the　honour　will　belong　to　the　knight；　if　he　wins　the　Queen　from　thee　in　battle。　　He　would　doubtless　rather　win　her　in　battle　than　as　a　gift；　for　it　will　thus　enhance　his　fame。　　It　is　my　opinion　that　he　is　seeking　her；　not　to　receive　her　peaceably；　but　because　he　wishes　to　win　her　by　force　of　arms。　　So　it　would　be　wise　on　thy　part　to　deprive　him　of　the　satisfaction　of　fighting　thee。　　I　am　sorry　to　see　thee　so　foolish；　but　if　thou　dost　not　heed　my　advice；　evil　will　come　of　it；　and　the　ensuing　misfortune　will　be　worse　for　thee。　　For　the　knight　need　fear　no　hostility　from　any　one　here　save　thee。　　On　behalf　of　myself　and　all　my　men；　I　will　grant　him　a　truce　and　security。　　I　have　never　yet　done　a　disloyal　deed　or　practised　treason　and　felony；　and　I　shall　not　begin　to　do　so　now　on　thy　account　any　more　than　I　would　for　any　stranger。　　I　do　not　wish　to　flatter　thee；　for　I　promise　that　the　knight　shall　not　lack　any　arms；　or　horse　or　anything　else　he　needs；　in　view　of　the　boldness　he　has　displayed　in　coming　thus　far。　　He　shall　be　securely　guarded　and　well　defended　against　all　men　here　excepting　thee。　　I　wish　him　clearly　to　understand　that；　if　he　can　maintain　himself　against　thee；　he　need　have　no　fear　of　any　one　else。〃　　〃I　have　listened　to　you　in　silence　long　enough；〃　says　Meleagant；　〃and　you　may　say　what　you　please。　　But　little　do　I　care　for　all　you　say。　　I　am　not　a　hermit；　nor　so　compassionate　and　charitable；　and　I　have　no　desire　to　be　so　honourable　as　to　give　him　what　I　most　love。　　His　task　will　not　be　performed　so　quickly　or　so　lightly；　rather　will　it　turn　out　otherwise　than　as　you　and　he　expect。　　You　and　I　need　not　quarrel　because　you　aid　him　against　me。　　Even　if　he　enjoys　peace　and　a　truce　with　you　and　all　your　men；　what　matters　that　to　me？　　My　heart　does　not　quail　on　that　account；　rather；　so　help　me　God；　I　am　glad　that　he　need　not　feel　concern　for　any　one　here　but　me；　I　do　not　wish　you　to　do　on　my　account　anything　which　might　be　construed　as　disloyalty　or　treachery。　　Be　as　compassionate　as　you　please；　but　let　me　be　cruel。〃　　〃What？　　Wilt　thou　not　change　thy　mind？〃　　〃No；〃　he　says。　〃Then　I　will　say　nothing　more。　　I　will　leave　thee　alone　to　do　thy　best　and　will　go　now　to　spea