four arthurian romances-第96部分

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truth　to　the　seneschalhow　she　had　sent　him　where　there　had　been　jousting　at　the　tourney　of　Noauz。　　〃Lady；〃　the　seneschal　replies；　〃you　could　truly　have　done　nothing　worse　than　that。　　Doubtless；　I　shall　smart　for　this；　for　my　lord　Meleagant　will　treat　me　worse　than　the　beach…combers'　law　would　treat　me　were　I　a　mariner　in　distress。　　I　shall　be　killed　or　banished　the　moment　he　hears　the　news；　and　he　will　have　no　pity　for　me。〃　　〃Fair　sire；　be　not　now　dismayed；〃　the　lady　said；　〃there　is　no　occasion　for　the　fear　you　feel。　　There　is　no　possibility　of　his　detention；　for　he　swore　to　me　by　the　saints　that　he　would　return　as　soon　as　possible。〃

（Vv。　6105…6166。）　（25）　　Then　the　seneschal　mounts；　and　coming　to　his　lord；　tells　him　the　whole　story　of　the　episode；　but　at　the　same　time；　he　emphatically　reassures　him；　telling　how　his　wife　had　received　his　oath　that　he　would　return　to　his　prison。　　〃He　will　not　break　his　word；　I　know；〃　says　Meleagant：　〃and　yet　I　am　very　much　displeased　at　what　your　wife　has　done。　　Not　for　any　consideration　would　I　have　had　him　present　at　that　tournament。　But　return　now；　and　see　to　it　that；　when　he　comes　back；　he　be　so　strictly　guarded　that　he　shall　not　escape　from　his　prison　or　have　any　freedom　of　body：　and　send　me　word　at　once。〃　　〃Your　orders　shall　be　obeyed；〃　says　the　seneschal。　　Then　he　goes　away　and　finds　Lancelot　returned　as　prisoner　in　his　yard。　　A　messenger；　sent　by　the　seneschal；　runs　back　at　once　to　Meleagant；　appraising　him　of　Lancelot's　return。　　When　he　heard　this　news；　he　took　masons　and　carpenters　who　unwillingly　or　of　their　own　free…will　executed　his　commands。　　He　summoned　the　best　artisans　in　the　land；　and　commanded　them　to　build　a　tower；　and　exert　themselves　to　build　it　well。　　The　stone　was　quarried　by　the　seaside；　for　near　Gorre　on　this　side　there　runs　a　big　broad　arm　of　the　sea；　in　the　midst　of　which　an　island　stood；　as　Meleagant　well　knew。　　He　ordered　the　stone　to　be　carried　thither　and　the　material　for　the　construction　of　the　tower。　　In　less　than　fifty…seven　days　the　tower　was　completely　built；　high　and　thick　and　well…founded。　　When　it　was　completed；　he　had　Lancelot　brought　thither　by　night；　and　after　putting　him　in　the　tower；　he　ordered　the　doors　to　be　walled　up；　and　made　all　the　masons　swear　that　they　would　never　utter　a　word　about　this　tower。　　It　was　his　will　that　it　should　be　thus　sealed　up；　and　that　no　door　or　opening　should　remain；　except　one　small　window。　　Here　Lancelot　was　compelled　to　stay；　and　they　gave　him　poor　and　meagre　fare　through　this　little　window　at　certain　hours；　as　the　disloyal　wretch　had　ordered　and　commanded　them。

（Vv。　6167…6220。）　　Now　Meleagant　has　carried　out　all　his　purpose；　and　he　betakes　himself　to　King　Arthur's　court：　behold　him　now　arrived！　　And　when　he　was　before　the　King；　he　thus　spoke　with　pride　and　arrogance：　〃King；　I　have　scheduled　a　battle　to　take　place　in　thy　presence　and　in　thy　court。　　But　I　see　nothing　of　Lancelot　who　agreed　to　be　my　antagonist。　　Nevertheless；　as　my　duty　is；　in　the　hearing　of　all　who　are　present　here；　I　offer　myself　to　fight　this　battle。　　And　if　he　is　here；　let　him　now　step　forth　and　agree　to　meet　me　in　your　court　a　year　from　now。　　I　know　not　if　any　one　has　told　you　how　this　battle　was　agreed　upon。　　But　I　see　knights　here　who　were　present　at　our　conference；　and　who；　if　they　would；　could　tell　you　the　truth。　　If　he　should　try　to　deny　the　truth；　I　should　employ　no　hireling　to　take　my　place；　but　would　prove　it　to　him　hand　to　hand。〃　　The　Queen；　who　was　seated　beside　the　King；　draws　him　to　her　as　she　says：　〃Sire；　do　you　know　who　that　knight　is？　　It　is　Meleagant　who　carried　me　away　while　escorted　by　Kay　the　seneschal；　he　caused　him　plenty　of　shame　and　mischief　too。〃　　And　the　King　answered　her：　〃Lady；　I　understand；　I　know　full　well　that　it　is　he　who　held　my　people　in　distress。〃　　The　Queen　says　no　more；　but　the　King　addresses　Meleagant：　〃Friend；〃　he　says；　〃so　help　me　God；　we　are　very　sad　because　we　know　nothing　of　Lancelot。〃　　〃My　lord　King；〃　says　Meleagant；　〃Lancelot　told　me　that　I　should　surely　find　him　here。　　Nowhere　but　in　your　court　must　I　issue　the　call　to　this　battle；　and　I　desire　all　your　knights　here　to　bear　me　witness　that　I　summon　him　to　fight　a　year　from　to…day；　as　stipulated　when　we　agreed　to　fight。〃

（Vv。　6221…6458。）　　At　this　my　lord　Gawain　gets　up；　much　distressed　at　what　he　hears：　〃Sire；　there　is　nothing　known　of　Lancelot　in　all　this　land；〃　he　says；　〃but　we　shall　send　in　search　of　him　and；　if　God　will；　we　shall　find　him　yet；　before　the　end　of　the　year　is　reached；　unless　he　be　dead　or　in　prison。　　And　if　he　does　not　appear；　then　grant　me　the　battle；　and　I　will　fight　for　him：　I　will　arm　myself　in　place　of　Lancelot；　if　he　does　not　return　before　that　day。〃　　〃Ah；〃　says　Meleagant；　〃for　God's　sake；　my　fair　lord　King；　grant　him　the　boon。　　I　join　my　request　to　his　desire；　for　I　know　no　knight　in　all　the　world　with　whom　I　would　more　gladly　try　my　strength；　excepting　only　Lancelot。　　But　bear　in　mind　that；　if　I　do　not　fight　with　one　of　them；　I　will　accept　no　exchange　or　substitution　for　either　one。〃　　And　the　King　says　that　this　is　understood；　if　Lancelot　does　not　return　within　the　time。　Then　Meleagant　left　the　royal　court　and　journeyed　until　he　found　his　father；　King　Bademagu。　　In　order　to　appear　brave　and　of　consideration　in　his　presence；　he　began　by　making　a　great　pretence　and　by　assuming　an　expression　of　marvellous　cheer。　　That　day　the　king　was　holding　a　joyous　court　at　his　city　of　Bade；　（26）　it　was　his　birthday；　which　he　celebrated　with　splendour　and　generosity；　and　there　were　many　people　of　divers　sorts　gathered　with　him。　　All　the　palace　was　filled　with　knights　and　damsels；　and　among　them　was　the　sister　of　Meleagant；　of　whom　I　shall　tell　you；　farther　on；　what　is　my　thought　and　reason　for　mentioning　her　here。　　But　it　is　not　fitting　that　I　should　explain　it　here；　for　I　do　not　wish　to　confuse　or　entangle　my　material；　but　rather　to　treat　it　straight　forwardly。　　Now　I　must　tell　you　that　Meleagant　in　the　hearing　of　all；　both　great　and　small；　spoke　thus　to　his　father　boastingly：　〃Father；〃　he　says；　〃so　help　me　God；　please　tell　me　truly　now　whether　he　ought　not　to　be　well…content；　and　whether　he　is　not　truly　brave；　who　can　cause　his　arms　to　be　feared　at　King　Arthur's　court？〃　　To　this　question　his　father　replies　at　once：　〃Son；〃　he　says；　〃all　good　men　ought　to　honour　and　serve　and　seek　the　company　of　one　whose　deserts　are　such。〃　Then　he　flattered　him　with　the　request　that　he　should　not　conceal　why　he　has　alluded　to　this；　what　he　wishes；　and　whence　he　comes。　〃Sire；　I　know　not　whether　you　remember；〃　Meleagant　begins；　〃the　agreements　and　stipulations　which　were　recorded　when　Lancelot　and　I　made　peace。　　It　was　then　agreed；　I　believe；　and　in　the　presence　of　many　we　were　told；　that　we　should　present　ourselves　at　the　end　of　a　year　at　Arthur's　court。　　I　went　thither　at　the　appointed　time；　ready　equipped　for　my　business　there。　　I　did　everything　that　had　been　prescribed：　I　called　and　searched　for　Lancelot；　with　whom　I　was　to　fight；　but　I　could　not　gain　a　sight　of　him：　he　had　fled　and　run　away。　　When　I　came　away；　Gawain　pledged　his　word　that；　if　Lancelot　is　not　alive　and　does　not　return　within　the　time　agreed　upon；　no　further　postponement　will　be　asked；　but　that　he　himself　will　fight　the　battle　against　me　in　place　of　Lancelot。　Arthur　has　no　knight；　as　is　well　known；　whose　fame　equals　his；　but　before　the　flowers　bloom　again；　I　shall　see；　when　we　come　to　blows；　whether　his　fame　and　his　deeds　are　in　accord：　I　only　wish　it　could　be　settled　now！〃　　〃Son；〃　says　his　father；　〃thou　art　acting　exactly　like　a　fool。　　Any　one；　who　knew　it　not　before；　may　learn　of　thy　madness　from　thy　own　lips。　　A　good　heart　truly　humbles　itself；　but　the　fool　and　the　boastful　never　lose　their　folly。　　Son；　to　thee　I　direct　my　words；　for　the　traits　of　thy　character　are　so　hard　and　dry；　that　there　is　no　place　for　sweetness　or　friendship。　　Thy　heart　is　altogether　pitiless：　thou　art　altogether　in　folly's　grasp。　　This　accounts　for　my　slight　respect　for　thee；　and　this　is　what　will　cast　thee　down。　　If　thou　art　brave；　there　will　be　plenty　of　men　to　say　so　in　time　of　need。　A　virtuous　man　need　not　praise　his　heart　in　order　to　enhance　his　deed；　the　deed　itself　will　speak　in　its　own　praise。　　Thy　self…　praise　does　not　aid　thee　a　whit　to　increase　in　any　one's　esteem；　indeed；　I　hold　thee　in　less　esteem。　　Son；　I　chasten　thee；　but　to　what　end？　　It　is　of　little　use　to　advise　a　fool。　　He　only　wastes　his　strength　in　vain　who　tries　to　cure　the　madness　of　a　fool；　and　the　wisdom　that　one　teaches　and　expounds　is　worthless；　wasted　and　unemployed；　unless　it　is　expressed　in　works。〃　　Then　Meleagant　was　sorely　enraged　and　furious。　　I　may　truly　say　that　never　could　you　see　a　mortal　man　so　full　of　anger　as　he　was；　the　last　bond　between　them　was　broken　then；　as　he　spoke　to　his　father　these　ungracious　words：　〃Are　you　in　a　dream　or　trance；　when　you　say　that　I　am　mad　to　tell　you　how　my　matters　stand？　　I　thought　I　had　come　to　you　as　to　my　lord　and　my　father；　but　that　does　not　seem　to　be　the　case；　for　you　insult　me　more　outrageously　than　I　think　you　have　any　right　to　do；　moreover；　you　can　give　no　reason　for　having　addressed　me　thus。〃　　〃Indeed；　I　can。〃　　〃What　is　it；　then？〃　〃Because　I　see　nothing　in　thee　but　folly　and　wrath。　　I　know　very　well　what　thy　courage　is　like；　and　that　it　will　cause　thee　great　trouble　yet。　　A　curse　upon　him　who　supposes　that　the　elegant　Lancelot；　who　is　esteemed　by　all　but　thee；　has　ever　fled　from　thee　through　fear。　　I　am　sure　that　he　is　buried　or　confined　in　some　prison　whose　door　is　barred　so　tight　that　he　cannot　escape　without　leave。　　I　should　surely　be　sorely　grieved　if　he　were　dead　or　in　distress。　　It　would　surely　be　too　bad；　were　a　creature　so　splendidly　equipped；　so　fair；　so　bold；　yet　so　serene；　to　perish　thus　before　his　time。　　But；　may　it　please　God；　this　is　not　true。〃　Then　Bademagu　said　no　more；　but　a　daughter　of　his　had　listened　attentively　to　all　his　words；　and　you　must　know　that　it　was　she　whom　I　mentioned　earlier　in　my　tale；　and　who　is　not　happy　now　to　hear　such　news　of　Lancelot。　　It　is　quite　clear　to　her　that　he　is　shut　up；　since　no　one　knows　any　news　of　him　or　his　wanderings。　〃May　God　never　look　upon　me；　if　I　rest　until　I　have　some　sure　and　certain　news　of　him！〃　　Straightway；　without　making　any　noise　or