four arthurian romances-第87部分

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says。　〃Then　I　will　say　nothing　more。　　I　will　leave　thee　alone　to　do　thy　best　and　will　go　now　to　speak　with　the　knight。　　I　wish　to　offer　and　present　to　him　my　aid　and　counsel　in　all　respects；　for　I　am　altogether　on　his　side。〃

（Vv。　3319…3490。）　　Then　the　king　goes　down　and　orders　them　to　bring　his　horse。　　A　large　steed　is　brought　to　him；　upon　which　he　springs　by　the　stirrup；　and　he　rides　off　with　some　of　his　men：　three　knights　and　two　squires　he　bade　to　go　with　him。　　They　did　not　stop　their　ride　downhill　until　they　came　to　the　bridge；　where　they　see　him　stanching　his　wounds　and　wiping　the　blood　from　them。　The　king　expects　to　keep　him　as　his　guest　for　a　long　time　while　his　wounds　are　healing；　but　he　might　as　well　expect　to　drain　the　sea。　　The　king　hastens　to　dismount；　and　he　who　was　grievously　wounded；　stood　up　at　once　to　meet　him；　though　he　did　not　know　him；　and　he　gave　no　more　evidence　of　the　pain　he　felt　in　his　feet　and　hands　than　if　he　had　been　actually　sound。　　The　king　sees　that　he　is　exerting　himself；　and　quickly　runs　to　greet　him　with　the　words：　〃Sire；　I　am　greatly　amazed　that　you　have　fallen　upon　us　in　this　land。　　But　be　welcome；　for　no　one　will　ever　repeat　the　attempt：　it　never　happened　in　the　past；　and　it　will　never　happen　in　the　future　that　any　one　should　perform　such　a　hardy　feat　or　expose　himself　to　such　peril。　　And　know　that　I　admire　you　greatly　for　having　executed　what　no　one　before　ever　dared　to　conceive。　You　will　find　me　very　kindly　disposed；　and　loyal　and　courteous　toward　you。　　I　am　the　king　of　this　land；　and　offer　you　freely　all　my　counsel　and　service；　and　I　think　I　know　pretty　well　what　you　have　come　here　to　seek。　　You　come；　I　am　sure；　to　seek　the　Queen。〃　〃Sire；〃　he　replies；　〃your　surmise　is　correct；　no　other　cause　brings　me　here。〃　　〃Friend；　you　must　suffer　hardship　to　obtain　her；〃　he　replies；　〃and　you　are　sorely　wounded；　as　I　see　by　the　wounds　and　the　flowing　blood。　　You　will　not　find　him　who　brought　her　hither　so　generous　as　to　give　her　up　without　a　struggle；　but　you　must　tarry；　and　have　your　wounds　cared　for　until　they　are　completely　healed。　　I　will　give　you　some　of　‘the　three　Marys'　ointment；　（18）　and　something　still　better；　if　it　can　be　found；　for　I　am　very　solicitous　about　your　comfort　and　your　recovery。　　And　the　Queen　is　so　confined　that　no　mortal　man　has　access　to　her　　not　even　my　son；　who　brought　her　here　with　him　and　who　resents　such　treatment；　for　never　was　a　man　so　beside　himself　and　so　desperate　as　he。　　But　I　am　well　disposed　toward　you；　and　will　gladly　give　you；　so　help　me　God；　all　of　which　you　stand　in　need。　　My　son　himself　will　not　have　such　good　arms　but　that　I　will　give　you　some　that　are　just　as　good；　and　a　horse；　too；　such　as　you　will　need；　though　my　son　will　be　angry　with　me。　　Despite　the　feelings　of　any　one；　I　will　protect　you　against　all　men。　　You　will　have　no　cause　to　fear　any　one　excepting　him　who　brought　the　Queen　here。　　No　man　ever　menaced　another　as　I　have　menaced　him；　and　I　came　near　driving　him　from　my　land；　in　my　displeasure　because　he　will　not　surrender　her　to　you。　　To　be　sure；　he　is　my　son；　but　feel　no　concern；　for　unless　he　defeats　you　in　battle；　he　can　never　do　you　the　slightest　harm　against　my　will。〃　　〃Sire；〃　he　says；　〃I　thank　you。　　But　I　am　losing　time　here　which　I　do　not　wish　to　waste。　　I　have　no　cause　to　complain；　and　have　no　wound　which　is　paining　me。　　Take　me　where　I　can　find　him；　for　with　such　arms　as　I　have；　I　am　ready　to　divert　myself　by　giving　and　receiving　blows。〃　　〃Friend；　you　had　better　wait　two　or　three　weeks　until　your　wounds　are　healed；　for　it　would　be　well　for　you　to　tarry　here　at　least　two　weeks；　and　not　on　any　account　could　I　allow　it；　or　look　on；　while　you　fought　in　my　presence　with　such　arms　and　with　such　an　outfit。〃　　And　he　replies：　〃With　your　permission；　no　other　arms　would　be　used　than　these；　for　I　should　prefer　to　fight　with　them；　and　I　should　not　ask　for　the　slightest　postponement；　adjournment　or　delay。　　However；　in　deference　to　you；　I　will　consent　to　wait　until　to…morrow；　but　despite　what　any　one　may　say；　longer　I　will　not　wait。〃　　Then　the　king　assured　him　that　all　would　be　done　as　he　wished；　then　he　has　the　lodging…place　prepared；　and　insistently　requests　his　men；　who　are　in　the　company；　to　serve　him；　which　they　do　devotedly。　　And　the　king；　who　would　gladly　have　made　peace；　had　it　been　possible；　went　at　once　to　his　son　and　spoke　to　him　like　one　who　desires　peace　and　harmony；　saying：　〃Fair　son；　be　reconciled　now　with　this　knight　without　a　fight！　　He　has　not　come　here　to　disport　himself　or　to　hunt　or　chase；　but　he　comes　in　search　of　honour　and　to　increase　his　fame　and　renown；　and　I　have　seen　that　he　stands　in　great　need　of　rest。　　If　he　had　taken　my　advice；　he　would　not　have　rashly　undertaken；　either　this　month　or　the　next；　the　battle　which　he　so　greatly　desires。　　If　thou　makest　over　the　Queen　to　him；　dost　thou　fear　any　dishonour　in　the　deed？　　Have　no　fear　of　that；　for　no　blame　can　attach　to　thee；　rather　is　it　wrong　to　keep　that　to　which　one　has　no　rightful　claim。　　He　would　gladly　have　entered　the　battle　at　once；　though　his　hands　and　feet　are　not　sound；　but　cut　and　wounded。〃　　Meleagant　answers　his　father　thus：　〃You　are　foolish　to　be　concerned。　　By　the　faith　I　owe　St。　Peter；　I　will　not　take　your　advice　in　this　matter。　　I　should　deserve　to　be　drawn　apart　with　horses；　if　I　heeded　your　advice。　　If　he　is　seeking　his　honour；　so　do　I　seek　mine；　if　he　is　in　search　of　glory；　so　am　I；　if　he　is　anxious　for　the　battle；　so　am　I　a　hundred　times　more　so　than　he。〃　　〃I　see　plainly；〃　says　the　king；　〃that　thou　art　intent　upon　thy　mad　enterprise；　and　thou　shalt　have　thy　fill　of　it。　　Since　such　is　thy　pleasure；　to…morrow　thou　shalt　try　thy　strength　with　the　knight。〃　　〃May　no　greater　hardship　ever　visit　me　than　that！〃　　Meleagant　replies；　〃I　would　much　rather　it　were　to…day　than　to…morrow。　　Just　see　how　much　more　downcast　I　am　than　is　usual！　　My　eyes　are　wild；　and　my　face　is　pale！　　I　shall　have　no　joy　or　satisfaction　or　any　cause　for　happiness　until　I　am　actually　engaged　with　him。〃

（Vv。　3491…3684。）　　The　king　understands　that　further　advice　and　prayers　are　of　no　avail；　so　reluctantly　he　leaves　his　son　and；　taking　a　good；　strong　horse　and　handsome　arms；　he　sends　them　to　him　who　well　deserves　them；　together　with　a　surgeon　who　was　a　loyal　and　Christian　man。　　There　was　in　the　world　no　more　trusty　man；　and　he　was　more　skilled　in　the　cure　of　wounds　than　all　the　doctors　of　Montpeilier。　（19）　　That　night　he　treated　the　knight　as　best　he　could；　in　accordance　with　the　king's　command。　　Already　the　news　was　known　by　the　knights　and　damsels；　the　ladies　and　barons　of　all　the　country…side；　and　all　through　the　night　until　daybreak　strangers　and　friends　were　making　long　journeys　from　all　the　country　round。　　When　morning　came；　there　was　such　a　press　before　the　castle　that　there　was　not　room　to　move　one's　foot。　　And　the　king；　rising　early　in　his　distress　about　the　battle；　goes　directly　to　his　son；　who　had　already　laced　upon　his　head　the　helmet　which　was　of　Poitiers　make。　　No　delay　or　peace　is　possible；　for　though　the　king　did　his　best；　his　efforts　are　of　no　effect。　　In　the　middle　of　the　castle…square；　where　all　the　people　are　assembled；　the　battle　will　be　fought　in　compliance　with　the　king's　wish　and　command。　　The　king　sends　at　once　for　the　stranger　knight；　and　he　is　conducted　to　the　grounds　which　were　filled　with　people　from　the　kingdom　of　Logres。　　For　just　as　people　are　accustomed　to　go　to　church　to　hear　the　organ　on　the　annual　feast…　days　of　Pentecost　or　Christmas；　so　they　had　all　assembled　now。　All　the　foreign　maidens　from　King　Arthur's　realm　had　fasted　three　days　and　gone　barefoot　in　their　shifts；　in　order　that　God　might　endow　with　strength　and　courage　the　knight　who　was　to　fight　his　adversary　on　behalf　of　the　captives。　　Very　early；　before　prime　had　yet　been　sounded；　both　of　the　knights　fully　armed　were　led　to　the　place；　mounted　upon　two　horses　equally　protected。　　Meleagant　was　very　graceful；　alert；　and　shapely；　the　hauberk　with　its　fine　meshes；　the　helmet；　and　the　shield　hanging　from　his　neckall　these　became　him　well。　　All　the　spectators。　however；　favoured　the　other　knight；　even　those　who　wished　him　ill；　and　they　say　that　Meleagant　is　worth　nothing　compared　with　him。　　As　soon　as　they　were　both　on　the　ground；　the　king　comes　and　detains　them　as　long　as　possible　in　an　effort　to　make　peace　between　them；　but　he　is　unable　to　persuade　his　son。　　Then　he　says　to　them：　〃Hold　in　your　horses　until　I　reach　the　top　of　the　tower。　　It　will　be　only　a　slight　favour；　if　you　will　wait　so　long　for　me。〃　　Then　in　sorrowful　mood　he　leaves　them　and　goes　directly　to　the　place　where　he　knew　he　would　find　the　Queen。　　She　had　begged　him　the　evening　before　to　place　her　where　she　might　have　an　unobstructed　view　of　the　battle；　he　had　granted　her　the　boon；　and　went　now　to　seek　and　fetch　her；　for　he　was　very　anxious　to　show　her　honour　and　courtesy。　　He　placed　her　at　one　window；　and　took　his　place　at　another　window　on　her　right。　　Beside　them；　there　were　gathered　there　many　knights　and　prudent　dames　and　damsels；　who　were　natives　of　that　land；　and　there　were　many　others；　who　were　captives；　and　who　were　intent　upon　their　orisons　and　prayers。　Those　who　were　prisoners　were　praying　for　their　lord；　for　to　God　and　to　him　they　entrusted　their　succour　and　deliverance。　　Then　the　combatants　without　delay　make　all　the　people　stand　aside；　then　they　clash　the　shields　with　their　elbows；　and　thrust　their　arms　into　the　straps；　and　spur　at　each　other　so　violently　that　each　sends　his　lance　two　arms'　length　through　his　opponent's　shield；　causing　the　lance　to　split　and　splinter　like　a　flying　spark。　　And　the　horses　meet　head　on；　clashing　breast　to　breast；　and　the　shields　and　helmets　crash　with　such　a　noise　that　it　seems　like　a　mighty　thunder…clap；　not　a　breast…strap；　girth；　rein　or　surcingle　remains　unbroken；　and　the　saddle…bows；　though　strong；　are　broken　to　pieces。　　The　combatants　felt　no　shame　in　falling　to　earth；　in　view　of　their　mishaps；　but　they　quickly　spring　to　their　feet；　and　without　waste　of　threatening　words　rush　at　each　other　more　fiercely　than　two　wild　boars；　and　deal　great　blows　with　their　swords　of　steel　like　men　whose　hate　is　violent。　　Repeatedly　they　trim　the　helmets　and　shining　hauberks　so　fiercely　that　after　the　sword　the　blood　spurts　out。