four arthurian romances-第88部分

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ly　they　trim　the　helmets　and　shining　hauberks　so　fiercely　that　after　the　sword　the　blood　spurts　out。　　They　furnished　an　excellent　battle；　indeed；　as　they　stunned　and　wounded　each　other　with　their　heavy；　wicked　blows。　　Many　fierce；　hard；　long　bouts　they　sustained　with　equal　honour；　so　that　the　onlookers　could　discern　no　advantage　on　either　side。　　But　it　was　inevitable　that　he　who　had　crossed　the　bridge　should　be　much　weakened　by　his　wounded　hands。　　The　people　who　sided　with　him　were　much　dismayed；　for　they　notice　that　his　strokes　are　growing　weaker；　and　they　fear　he　will　get　the　worst　of　it；　it　seemed　to　them　that　he　was　weakening；　while　Meleagant　was　triumphing；　and　they　began　to　murmur　all　around。　　But　up　at　the　window　of　the　tower　there　was　a　wise　maiden　who　thought　within　herself　that　the　knight　had　not　undertaken　the　battle　either　on　her　account　or　for　the　sake　of　the　common　herd　who　had　gathered　about　the　list；　but　that　his　only　incentive　had　been　the　Queen；　and　she　thought　that；　if　he　knew　that　she　was　at　the　window　seeing　and　watching　him；　his　strength　and　courage　would　increase。　　And　if　she　had　known　his　name；　she　would　gladly　have　called　to　him　to　look　about　him。　　Then　she　came　to　the　Queen　and　said：　〃Lady；　for　God's　sake　and　your　own　as　well　as　ours；　I　beseech　you　to　tell　me；　if　you　know；　the　name　of　yonder　knight；　to　the　end　that　it　may　be　of　some　help　to　him。〃　　〃Damsel；〃　the　Queen　replies；　〃you　have　asked　me　a　question　in　which　I　see　no　hate　or　evil；　but　rather　good　intent；　the　name　of　the　knight；　I　know；　is　Lancelot　of　the　Lake。〃　（20）　　〃God；　how　happy　and　glad　at　heart　I　am！〃　the　damsel　says。　　Then　she　leans　forward　and　calls　to　him　by　name　so　loudly　that　all　the　people　hear：　〃Lancelot；　turn　about　and　see　who　is　here　taking　note　of　thee！〃

（Vv。　3685…3954。）　　When　Lancelot　heard　his　name；　he　was　not　slow　to　turn　around：　he　turns　and　sees　seated　up　there　at　the　window　of　the　tower　her　whom　he　desired　most　in　the　world　to　see。　　From　the　moment　he　caught　sight　of　her；　he　did　not　turn　or　take　his　eyes　and　face　from　her；　defending　himself　with　backhand　blows。　And　Meleagant　meanwhile　attacked　him　as　fiercely　as　he　could；　delighted　to　think　that　the　other　cannot　withstand　him　now；　and　they　of　the　country　are　well　pleased　too；　while　the　foreigners　are　so　distressed　that　they　can　no　longer　support　themselves；　and　many　of　them　fall　to　earth　either　upon　their　knees　or　stretched　out　prone；　thus　some　are　glad；　and　some　distressed。　　Then　the　damsel　cried　again　from　the　window：　〃Ah；　Lancelot；　how　is　it　that　thou　dost　now　conduct　thyself　so　foolishly？　　Once　thou　wert　the　embodiment　of　prowess　and　of　all　that　is　good；　and　I　do　not　think　God　ever　made　a　knight　who　could　equal　thee　in　valour　and　in　worth。　　But　now　we　see　thee　so　distressed　that　thou　dealest　back…　hand　blows　and　fightest　thy　adversary；　behind　thy　back。　　Turn；　so　as　to　be　on　the　other　side；　and　so　that　thou　canst　face　toward　this　tower；　for　it　will　help　thee　to　keep　it　in　view。〃　　Then　Lancelot　is　so　ashamed　and　mortified　that　he　hates　himself；　for　he　knows　full　well　that　all　have　seen　how；　for　some　time　past；　he　has　had　the　worst　of　the　fight。　　Thereupon　he　leaps　backward　and　so　manoeuvres　as　to　force　Meleagant　into　a　position　between　him　and　the　tower。　　Meleagant　makes　every　effort　to　regain　his　former　position。　　But　Lancelot　rushes　upon　him；　and　strikes　him　so　violently　upon　his　body　and　shield　whenever　he　tries　to　get　around　him；　that　he　compels　him　to　whirl　about　two　or　three　times　in　spite　of　himself。　　Lancelot's　strength　and　courage　grow；　partly　because　he　has　love's　aid；　and　partly　because　he　never　hated　any　one　so　much　as　him　with　whom　he　is　engaged。　　Love　and　mortal　hate；　so　fierce　that　never　before　was　such　hate　seen；　make　him　so　fiery　and　bold　that　Meleagant　ceases　to　treat　it　as　a　jest　and　begins　to　stand　in　awe　of　him；　for　he　had　never　met　or　known　so　doughty　a　knight；　nor　had　any　knight　ever　wounded　or　injured　him　as　this　one　does。　　He　is　glad　to　get　away　from　him；　and　he　winces　and　sidesteps；　fearing　his　blows　and　avoiding　them。　　And　Lancelot　does　not　idly　threaten　him；　but　drives　him　rapidly　toward　the　tower　where　the　Queen　was　stationed　on　the　watch。　There　upon　the　tower　he　did　her　the　homage　of　his　blows　until　he　came　so　close　that；　if　he　advanced　another　step；　he　would　lose　sight　of　her。　　Thus　Lancelot　drove　him　back　and　forth　repeatedly　in　whatever　direction　he　pleased；　always　stopping　before　the　Queen；　his　lady；　who　had　kindled　the　flame　which　compels　him　to　fix　his　gaze　upon　her。　　And　this　same　flame　so　stirred　him　against　Meleagant　that　he　was　enabled　to　lead　and　drive　him　wherever　he　pleased。　　In　spite　of　himself　he　drives　him　on　like　a　blind　man　or　a　man　with　a　wooden　leg。　　The　king　sees　his　son　so　hard　pressed　that　he　is　sorry　for　him　and　he　pities　him；　and　he　will　not　deny　him　aid　and　assistance　if　possible；　but　if　he　wishes　to　proceed　courteously；　he　must　first　beg　the　Queen's　permission。　　So　he　began　to　say　to　her：　〃Lady；　since　I　have　had　you　in　my　power；　I　have　loved　you　and　faithfully　served　and　honoured　you。　　I　never　consciously　left　anything　undone　in　which　I　saw　your　honour　involved；　now　repay　me　for　what　I　have　done。　For　I　am　about　to　ask　you　a　favour　which　you　should　not　grant　unless　you　do　so　willingly。　　I　plainly　see　that　my　son　is　getting　the　worst　of　this　battle；　I　do　not　speak　so　because　of　the　chagrin　I　feel；　but　in　order　that　Lancelot；　who　has　him　in　his　power；　may　not　kill　him。　　Nor　ought　you　to　wish　to　see　him　killed；　not　because　he　has　not　wronged　both　you　and　him；　but　because　I　make　the　request　of　you：　so　tell　him；　please；　to　stop　beating　him。　　If　you　will；　you　can　thus　repay　me　for　what　I　have　done　for　you。〃　　〃Fair　sire；　I　am　willing　to　do　so　at　your　request；〃　the　Queen　replies；　〃had　I　mortal　hatred　for　your　son；　whom　it　is　true　I　do　not　love；　yet　you　have　served　me　so　well　that；　to　please　you；　I　am　quite　willing　that　he　should　desist。〃　These　words　were　not　spoken　privately；　but　Lancelot　and　Meleagrant　heard　what　was　said。　　The　man　who　is　a　perfect　lover　is　always　obedient　and　quickly　and　gladly　does　his　mistress'　pleasure。　　So　Lancelot　was　constrained　to　do　his　Lady's　will；　for　he　loved　more　than　Pyramus；　（21）　if　that　were　possible　for　any　man　to　do。　　Lancelot　heard　what　was　said；　and　as　soon　as　the　last　word　had　issued　from　her　mouth；　〃since　you　wish　him　to　desist；　I　am　willing　that　he　should　do　so；〃　　Lancelot　would　not　have　touched　him　or　made　a　movement　for　anything；　even　if　the　other　had　killed　him。　　He　does　not　touch　him　or　raise　his　hand。　　But　Meleagant；　beside　himself　with　rage　and　shame　when　he　hears　that　it　has　been　necessary　to　intercede　in　his　behalf；　strikes　him　with　all　the　strength　he　can　muster。　　And　the　king　went　down　from　the　tower　to　upbraid　his　son；　and　entering　the　list　he　addressed　him　thus：　〃How　now？　　Is　this　becoming；　to　strike　him　when　he　is　not　touching　thee？　　Thou　art　too　cruel　and　savage；　and　thy　prowess　is　now　out　of　place！　　For　we　all　know　beyond　a　doubt　that　he　is　thy　superior。〃　　Then　Meleagant；　choking　with　shame；　says　to　the　king：　〃I　think　you　must　be　blind！　　I　do　not　believe　you　see　a　thing。　　Any　one　must　indeed　be　blind　to　think　I　am　not　better　than　he。〃　　〃Seek　some　one　to　believe　thy　words！〃　the　king　replies；　〃for　all　the　people　know　whether　thou　speakest　the　truth　or　a　lie。　　All　of　us　know　full　well　the　truth。〃　　Then　the　king　bids　his　barons　lead　his　son　away；　which　they　do　at　once　in　execution　of　his　command：　they　led　away　Meleagant。　　But　it　was　not　necessary　to　use　force　to　induce　Lancelot　to　withdraw；　for　Meleagant　might　have　harmed　him　grievously；　before　he　would　have　sought　to　defend　himself。　　Then　the　king　says　to　his　son：　〃So　help　me　God；　now　thou　must　make　peace　and　surrender　the　Queen。　　Thou　must　cease　this　quarrel　once　for　all　and　withdraw　thy　claim。〃　　〃That　is　great　nonsense　you　have　uttered！　　I　hear　you　speak　foolishly。　　Stand　aside！　　Let　us　fight；　and　do　not　mix　in　our　affairs！〃　　But　the　king　says　he　will　take　a　hand；　for　he　knows　well　that；　were　the　fight　to　continue；　Lancelot　would　kill　his　son。　　〃He　kill　me！　　Rather　would　I　soon　defeat　and　kill　him；　if　you　would　leave　us　alone　and　let　us　fight。〃　　Then　the　king　says：　〃So　help　me　God；　all　that　thou　sayest　is　of　no　avail。〃　　〃Why　is　that？〃　he　asks。　　〃Because　I　will　not　consent。　　I　will　not　so　trust　in　thy　folly　and　pride　as　to　allow　thee　to　be　killed。　　A　man　is　a　fool　to　court　death；　as　thou　dost　in　thy　ignorance。　　I　know　well　that　thou　hatest　me　because　I　wish　to　save　thy　life。　　God　will　not　let　me　see　and　witness　thy　death；　if　I　can　help　it；　for　it　would　cause　me　too　much　grief。〃　　He　talks　to　him　and　reproves　him　until　finally　peace　and　good…will　are　restored。　　The　terms　of　the　peace　are　these：　he　will　surrender　the　Queen　to　Lancelot；　provided　that　the　latter　without　reluctance　will　fight　them　again　within　a　year　of　such　time　as　he　shall　choose　to　summon　him：　this　is　no　trial　to　Lancelot。　　When　peace　is　made；　all　the　people　press　about；　and　it　is　decided　that　the　battle　shall　be　fought　at　the　court　of　King　Arthur；　who　holds　Britain　and　Cornwall　in　his　sway：　there　they　decide　that　it　shall　be。　　And　the　Queen　has　to　consent；　and　Lancelot　has　to　promise；　that　if　Meleagant　can　prove　him　recreant；　she　shall　come　back　with　him　again　without　the　interference　of　any　one。　　When　the　Queen　and　Lancelot　had　both　agreed　to　this；　the　arrangement　was　concluded；　and　they　both　retired　and　removed　their　arms。　　Now　the　custom　in　the　country　was　that　when　one　issued　forth；　all　the　others　might　do　so　too。　　All　called　down　blessings　upon　Lancelot：　and　you　may　know　that　he　must　have　felt　great　joy；　as　in　truth　he　did。　　All　the　strangers　assemble　and　rejoice　over　Lancelot；　speaking　so　as　to　be　heard　by　him：　〃Sire；　in　truth　we　were　joyful　as　soon　as　we　heard　your　name；　for　we　felt　sure　at　once　that　we　should　all　be　set　free。〃　　There　was　a　great　crowd　present　at　this　glad　scene；　as　each　one　strives　and　presses　forward　to　touch　him　if　possible。　　Any　one　who　succeeded　in　touching　him　was　more　delighted　than　he　could　tell。　　There　was　plenty　of　joy；　and　of　sorrow　too；　those　who　were　now　set　free　rejoiced　unrestrainedly；　but　Meleagant　and　his　followers　have　not　anything　they　want；　but　are　pensive；　gloomy；　and　downcast。　　The　king　turns　away　from　the　list；　taking　with