four arthurian romances-第9部分

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ot　a　writ　less　precious；　I　trow；　was　the　mantle。　　As　yet；　there　were　no　ribbons　on　it；　for　the　mantle　like　the　tunic　was　brand　new。　　The　mantle　was　very　rich　and　fine：　laid　about　the　neck　were　two　sable　skins；　and　in　the　tassels　there　was　more　than　an　ounce　of　gold；　on　one　a　hyacinth；　and　on　the　other　a　ruby　flashed　more　bright　than　burning　candle。　　The　fur　lining　was　of　white　ermine；　never　was　finer　seen　or　found。　The　cloth　was　skilfully　embroidered　with　little　crosses；　all　different；　indigo；　vermilion；　dark　blue；　white；　green；　blue；　and　yellow。　　The　Queen　called　for　some　ribbons　four　ells　long；　made　of　silken　thread　and　gold。　　The　ribbons　are　given　to　her；　handsome　and　well　matched。　　Quickly　she　had　them　fastened　to　the　mantle　by　some　one　who　knew　how　to　do　it；　and　who　was　master　of　the　art。　　When　the　mantle　needed　no　more　touches；　the　gay　and　gentle　lady　clasped　the　maid　with　the　white　gown　and　said　to　her　cheerily：　〃Mademoiselle；　you　must　change　this　frock　for　this　tunic　which　is　worth　more　than　a　hundred　marks　of　silver。　　So　much　I　wish　to　bestow　upon　you。　　And　put　on　this　mantle；　too。　Another　time　I　will　give　you　more。〃　　Not　able　to　refuse　the　gift；　she　takes　the　robe　and　thanks　her　for　it。　　Then　two　maids　took　her　aside　into　a　room；　where　she　took　off　her　frock　as　being　of　no　further　value；　but　she　asked　and　requested　that　it　be　given　away　（to　some　poor　woman）　for　the　love　of　God。　　Then　she　dons　the　tunic；　and　girds　herself；　binding　on　tightly　a　golden　belt；　and　afterwards　puts　on　the　mantle。　　Now　she　looked　by　no　means　ill；　for　the　dress　became　her　so　well　that　it　made　her　look　more　beautiful　than　ever。　　The　two　maids　wove　a　gold　thread　in　amongst　her　golden　hair：　but　her　tresses　were　more　radiant　than　the　thread　of　gold；　fine　though　it　was。　　The　maids；　moreover；　wove　a　fillet　of　flowers　of　many　various　colours　and　placed　it　upon　her　head。　　They　strove　as　best　they　might　to　adorn　her　in　such　wise　that　no　fault　should　be　found　with　her　attire。　　Strung　upon　a　ribbon　around　her　neck；　a　damsel　hung　two　brooches　of　enamelled　gold。　　Now　she　looked　so　charming　and　fair　that　I　do　not　believe　that　you　could　find　her　equal　in　any　land；　search　as　you　might；　so　skilfully　had　Nature　wrought　in　her。　　Then　she　stepped　out　of　the　dressing…room　into　the　Queen's　presence。　　The　Queen　made　much　of　her；　because　she　liked　her　and　was　glad　that　she　was　beautiful　and　had　such　gentle　manners。　　They　took　each　other　by　the　hand　and　passed　into　the　King's　presence。　　And　when　the　King　saw　them；　he　got　up　to　meet　them。　　When　they　came　into　the　great　hall；　there　were　so　many　knights　there　who　rose　before　them　that　I　cannot　call　by　name　the　tenth　part　of　them；　or　the　thirteenth；　or　the　fifteenth。　　But　I　can　tell　you　the　names　of　some　of　the　best　of　the　knights　who　belonged　to　the　Round　Table　and　who　were　the　best　in　the　world。

（Vv。　1691…1750。）　　Before　all　the　excellent　knights；　Gawain　ought　to　be　named　the　first；　and　second　Erec　the　son　of　Lac；　and　third　Lancelot　of　the　Lake。　（16）　　Gornemant　of　Gohort　was　fourth；　and　the　fifth　was　the　Handsome　Coward。　　The　sixth　was　the　Ugly　Brave；　the　seventh　Meliant　of　Liz；　the　eighth　Mauduit　the　Wise；　and　the　ninth　Dodinel　the　Wild。　　Let　Gandelu　be　named　the　tenth；　for　he　was　a　goodly　man。　　The　others　I　shall　mention　without　order；　because　the　numbers　bother　me。　　Eslit　was　there　with　Briien；　and　Yvain　the　son　of　Uriien。　　And　Yvain　of　Loenel　was　there；　as　well　as　Yvain　the　Adulterer。　　Beside　Yvain　of　Cavaliot　was　Garravain　of　Estrangot。　　After　the　Knight　with　the　Horn　was　the　Youth　with　the　Golden　Ring。　　And　Tristan　who　never　laughed　sat　beside　Bliobleheris；　and　beside　Brun　of　Piciez　was　his　brother　Gru　the　Sullen。　　The　Armourer　sat　next；　who　preferred　war　to　peace。　　Next　sat　Karadues　the　Shortarmed；　a　knight　of　good　cheer；　and　Caveron　of　Robendic；　and　the　son　of　King　Quenedic　and　the　Youth　of　Quintareus　and　Yder　of　the　Dolorous　Mount。　　Gaheriet　and　Kay　of　Estraus；　Amauguin　and　Gales　the　Bald；　Grain；　Gornevain；　and　Carabes；　and　Tor　the　son　of　King　Aras；　Girflet　the　son　of　Do；　and　Taulas；　who　never　wearied　of　arms：　and　a　young　man　of　great　merit；　Loholt　the　son　of　King　Arthur；　（17）　and　Sagremor　the　Impetuous；　who　should　not　be　forgotten；　nor　Bedoiier　the　Master　of　the　Horse；　who　was　skilled　at　chess　and　trictrac；　nor　Bravain；　nor　King　Lot；　nor　Galegantin　of　Wales；　nor　Gronosis；　versed　in　evil；　who　was　son　of　Kay　the　Seneschal；　nor　Labigodes　the　Courteous；　nor　Count　Cadorcaniois。　nor　Letron　of　Prepelesant；　whose　manners　were　so　excellent；　nor　Breon　the　son　of　Canodan；　nor　the　Count　of　Honolan　who　had　such　a　head　of　fine　fair　hair；　he　it　was　who　received　the　King's　horn　in　an　evil　day；　（18）　he　never　had　any　care　for　truth。

（Vv。　1751…1844。）　　When　the　stranger　maiden　saw　all　the　knights　arrayed　looking　steadfastly　at　her；　she　bowed　her　head　in　embarrassment；　nor　was　it　strange　that　her　face　blushed　all　crimson。　　But　her　confusion　was　so　becoming　to　her　that　she　looked　all　the　more　lovely。　　When　the　King　saw　that　she　was　embarrassed；　he　did　not　wish　to　leave　her　side。　　Taking　her　gently　by　the　hand；　he　made　her　sit　down　on　his　right　hand；　and　on　his　left　sat　the　Queen；　speaking　thus　to　the　King　the　while。　〃Sire；　in　my　opinion　he　who　can　win　such　a　fair　lady　by　his　arms　in　another　land　ought　by　right　to　come　to　a　royal　court。　　It　was　well　we　waited　for　Erec；　for　now　you　can　bestow　the　kiss　upon　the　fairest　of　the　court。　　I　should　think　none　would　find　fault　with　you！　　for　none　can　say；　unless　he　lie；　that　this　maiden　is　not　the　most　charming　of　all　the　damsels　here；　or　indeed　in　all　the　world。〃　　The　King　makes　answer：　〃That　is　no　lie；　and　upon　her；　if　there　is　no　remonstrance；　I　shall　bestow　the　honour　of　the　White　Stag。〃　　Then　he　added　to　the　knights：　〃My　lords；　what　say　you？　What　is　your　opinion？　　In　body；　in　face；　and　in　whatever　a　maid　should　have；　this　one　is　the　most　charming　and　beautiful　to　be　found；　as　I　may　say；　before　you　come　to　where　Heaven　and　earth　meet。　　I　say　it　is　meet　that　she　should　receive　the　honour　of　the　Stag。　　And　you；　my　lords；　what　do　you　think　about　it？　　Can　you　make　any　objection？　　If　any　one　wishes　to　protest；　let　him　straightway　speak　his　mind。　　I　am　King；　and　must　keep　my　word　and　must　not　permit　any　baseness；　falsity；　or　arrogance。　　I　must　maintain　truth　and　righteousness。　　It　is　the　business　of　a　loyal　king　to　support　the　law；　truth；　faith；　and　justice。　　I　would　not　in　any　wise　commit　a　disloyal　deed　or　wrong　to　either　weak　or　strong。　　It　is　not　meet　that　any　one　should　complain　of　me；　nor　do　I　wish　the　custom　and　the　practice　to　lapse；　which　my　family　has　been　wont　to　foster。　　You；　too；　would　doubtless　regret　to　see　me　strive　to　introduce　other　customs　and　other　laws　than　those　my　royal　sire　observed。　　Regardless　of　consequences；　I　am　bound　to　keep　and　maintain　the　institution　of　my　father　Pendragon；　who　was　a　just　king　and　emperor。　　Now　tell　me　fully　what　you　think！　　Let　none　be　slow　to　speak　his　mind；　if　this　damsel　is　not　the　fairest　of　my　household　and　ought　not　by　right　to　receive　the　kiss　of　the　White　Stag：　I　wish　to　know　what　you　truly　think。〃　　Then　they　all　cry　with　one　accord：　〃Sire；　by　the　Lord　and　his　Cross！　you　may　well　kiss　her　with　good　reason；　for　she　is　the　fairest　one　there　is。　　In　this　damsel　there　is　more　beauty　than　there　is　of　radiance　in　the　sun。　　You　may　kiss　her　freely；　for　we　all　agree　in　sanctioning　it。〃　　When　the　King　hears　that　this　is　well　pleasing　to　them　all；　he　will　no　longer　delay　in　bestowing　the　kiss；　but　turns　toward　her　and　embraces　her。　　The　maid　was　sensible；　and　perfectly　willing　that　the　King　should　kiss　her；　she　would　have　been　discourteous；　indeed；　to　resent　it。　　In　courteous　fashion　and　in　the　presence　of　all　his　knights　the　King　kissed　her；　and　said：　〃My　dear。　　I　give　you　my　love　in　all　honesty。　　I　will　love　you　with　true　heart；　without　malice　and　without　guile。〃　　By　this　adventure　the　King　carried　out　the　practice　and　the　usage　to　which　the　White　Stag　was　entitled　at　his　court。

Here　ends　the　first　part　of　my　story。　（19）

（Vv。　1845…1914。）　　When　the　kiss　of　the　Stag　was　taken　according　to　the　custom　of　the　country；　Erec；　like　a　polite　and　kind　man；　was　solicitous　for　his　poor　host。　　It　was　not　his　intention　to　fail　to　execute　what　he　had　promised。　　Hear　how　he　kept　his　covenant：　for　he　sent　him　now　five　sumpter　mules；　strong　and　sleek；　loaded　with　dresses　and　clothes；　buckrams　and　scarlets；　marks　of　gold　and　silver　plate；　furs　both　vair　and　grey；　skins　of　sable；　purple　stuffs；　and　silks。　　When　the　mules　were　loaded　with　all　that　a　gentleman　can　need；　he　sent　with　them　an　escort　of　ten　knights　and　sergeants　chosen　from　his　own　men；　and　straightly　charged　them　to　salute　his　host　and　show　great　honour　both　to　him　and　to　his　lady；　as　if　it　were　to　himself　in　person；　and　when　they　should　have　presented　to　them　the　sumpters　which　they　brought　them；　the　gold；　the　silver；　and　money；　and　all　the　other　furnishings　which　were　in　the　boxes；　they　should　escort　the　lady　and　the　vavasor　with　great　honour　into　his　kingdom　of　Farther　Wales。　（20）　　Two　towns　there　he　had　promised　them；　the　most　choice　and　the　best　situated　that　there　were　in　all　his　land；　with　nothing　to　fear　from　attack。　　Montrevel　was　the　name　of　one；　and　the　other's　name　was　Roadan。　　When　they　should　arrive　in　his　kingdom；　they　should　make　over　to　them　these　two　towns；　together　with　their　rents　and　their　jurisdiction；　in　accordance　with　what　he　had　promised　them。　　All　was　carried　out　as　Erec　had　ordered。　　The　messengers　made　no　delay；　and　in　good　time　they　presented　to　his　host　the　gold　and　the　silver　and　the　sumpters　and　the　robes　and　the　money；　of　which　there　was　great　plenty。　　They　escorted　them　into　Erec's　kingdom；　and　strove　to　serve　them　well。　　They　came　into　the　country　on　the　third　day；　and　transferred　to　them　the　towers　of　the　towns；　for　King　Lac　made　no　objection。　　He　gave　them　a　warm　welcome　and　showed　them　honour；　loving　them　for　the　sake　of　his　son　Erec。　　He　made　over　to　them　the　title　to　the　towns；　and　established　their　suzerainty　by　making　knights　and　bourgeois　swear　that　they　would　reverence　them　as　their　true　liege　lords。　　When　this　was　done　and　accomplished；　the　messengers　returned　to　their　lord　Erec；　who　received　them　gladly。　　When　he　asked　for　news　of　the　vavasor　and　his　lady；　o