four arthurian romances-第97部分

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if　I　rest　until　I　have　some　sure　and　certain　news　of　him！〃　　Straightway；　without　making　any　noise　or　disturbance；　she　runs　and　mounts　a　fair　and　easy…stepping　mule。　But　I　must　say　that　when　she　leaves　the　court；　she　knows　not　which　way　to　turn。　　However；　she　asks　no　advice　in　her　predicament；　but　takes　the　first　road　she　finds；　and　rides　along　at　random　rapidly；　unaccompanied　by　knight　or　squire。　　In　her　eagerness　she　makes　haste　to　attain　the　object　of　her　search。　Keenly　she　presses　forward　in　her　quest；　but　it　will　not　soon　terminate。　　She　may　not　rest　or　delay　long　in　any　single　place；　if　she　wishes　to　carry　out　her　plan；　to　release　Lancelot　from　his　prison；　if　she　can　find　him　and　if　it　is　possible。　　But　in　my　opinion；　before　she　finds　him　she　will　have　searched　in　many　a　land；　after　many　a　journey　and　many　a　quest；　before　she　has　any　news　of　him。　　But　what　would　be　the　use　of　my　telling　you　of　her　lodgings　and　her　journeyings？　　Finally；　she　travelled　so　far　through　hill　and　dale；　up　and　down；　that　more　than　a　month　had　passed；　and　as　yet　she　had　learned　only　so　much　as　she　knew　beforethat　is；　absolutely　nothing。　　One　day　she　was　crossing　a　field　in　a　sad　and　pensive　mood；　when　she　saw　a　tower　in　the　distance　standing　by　the　shore　of　an　arm　of　the　sea。　　Not　within　a　league　around　about　was　there　any　house；　cottage；　or　dwelling…　place。　　Meleagant　had　had　it　built；　and　had　confined　Lancelot　within。　　But　of　all　this　she　still　was　unaware。　　As　soon　as　she　espied　the　tower；　she　fixed　her　attention　upon　it　to　the　exclusion　of　all　else。　　And　her　heart　gives　her　assurance　that　here　is　the　object　of　her　quest；　now　at　last　she　has　reached　her　goal；　to　which　Fortune　through　many　trials　has　at　last　directed　her。

（Vv。　6459…6656。）　　The　damsel　draws　so　near　to　the　tower　that　she　can　touch　it　with　her　hands。　　She　walks　about；　listening　attentively；　I　suppose；　if　perchance　she　may　hear　some　welcome　sound。　　She　looks　down　and　she　gazes　up；　and　she　sees　that　the　tower　is　strong　and　high　and　thick。　　She　is　amazed　to　see　no　door　or　window；　except　one　little　narrow　opening。　　Moreover；　there　was　no　ladder　or　steps　about　this　high；　sheer　tower。　　For　this　reason　she　surmises　that　it　was　made　so　intentionally；　and　that　Lancelot　is　confined　inside。　　But　she　resolves　that　before　she　tastes　of　food；　she　will　learn　whether　this　is　so　or　not。　　She　thinks　she　will　call　Lancelot　by　name；　and　is　about　to　do　so　when　she　is　deterred　by　hearing　from　the　tower　a　voice　which　was　making　a　marvellously　sad　moan　as　it　called　on　death。　　It　implores　death　to　come；　and　complains　of　misery　unbearable。　　In　contempt　of　the　body　and　life；　it　weakly　piped　in　a　low；　hoarse　tone：　〃Ah；　fortune；　how　disastrously　thy　wheel　has　turned　for　me！　　Thou　hast　mocked　me　shamefully：　a　while　ago　I　was　up；　but　now　I　am　down；　I　was　well　off　of　late；　but　now　I　am　in　a　sorry　state；　not　long　since　thou　didst　smile　on　me；　but　now　thy　eyes　are　filled　with　tears。　　Alas；　poor　wretch；　why　didst　thou　trust　in　her；　when　so　soon　she　has　deserted　thee！　　Behold；　in　a　very　little　while　she　has　cast　thee　down　from　thy　high　estate！　　Fortune；　it　was　wrong　of　thee　to　mock　me　thus；　but　what　carest　thou！　　Thou　carest　not　how　it　may　turn　out。　　Ah；　sacred　Cross！　　All；　Holy　Ghost！　　How　am　I　wretched　and　undone！　　How　completely　has　my　career　been　closed！　Ah；　Gawain；　you　who　possess　such　worth；　and　whose　goodness　is　unparalleled；　surely　I　may　well　be　amazed　that　you　do　not　come　to　succour　me。　　Surely　you　delay　too　long　and　are　not　showing　courtesy。　　He　ought　indeed　to　receive　your　aid　whom　you　used　to　love　so　devotedly！　　For　my　part　I　may　truly　say　that　there　is　no　lodging　place　or　retreat　on　either　side　of　the　sea；　where　I　would　not　have　searched　for　you　at　least　seven　or　ten　years　before　finding　you；　if　I　knew　you　to　be　in　prison。　　But　why　do　I　thus　torment　myself？　　You　do　not　care　for　me　even　enough　to　take　this　trouble。　　The　rustic　is　right　when　he　says　that　it　is　hard　nowadays　to　find　a　friend！　　It　is　easy　to　rest　the　true　friend　in　time　o？　need。　　Alas！　　more　than　a　year　has　passed　since　first　I　was　put　inside　this　tower。　　I　feel　hurt；　Gawain；　that　you　have　so　long　deserted　me！　　But　doubtless　you　know　nothing　of　all　this；　and　I　have　no　ground　for　blaming　you。　　Yes；　when　I　think　of　it；　this　must　be　the　case；　and　I　was　very　wrong　to　imagine　such　a　thing；　for　I　am　confident　that　not　for　all　the　world　contains　would　you　and　your　men　have　failed　to　come　to　release　me　from　this　trouble　and　distress；　if　you　were　aware　of　it。　　If　for　no　other　reason；　you　would　be　bound　to　do　this　out　of　love　for　me；　your　companion。　　But　it　is　idle　to　talk　about　itit　cannot　be。　Ah；　may　the　curse　and　the　damnation　of　God　and　St。　Sylvester　rest　upon　him　who　has　shut　me　up　so　shamefully！　　He　is　the　vilest　man　alive；　this　envious　Meleagant；　to　treat　me　as　evilly　as　possible！〃　　Then　he；　who　is　wearing　out　his　life　in　grief；　ceases　speaking　and　holds　his　peace。　　But　when　she；　who　was　lingering　at　the　base　of　the　tower；　heard　what　he　said；　she　did　not　delay；　but　acted　wisely　and　called　him　thus：　〃Lancelot；〃　as　loudly　as　she　could；　〃friend；　up　there；　speak　to　one　who　is　your　friend！〃　　But　inside　he　did　not　hear　her　words。　　Then　she　called　out　louder　yet；　until　he　in　his　weakness　faintly　heard　her；　and　wondered　who　could　be　calling　him。　（27）　　He　heard　the　voice　and　heard　his　name　pronounced；　but　he　did　not　know　who　was　calling　him：　he　thinks　it　must　be　a　spirit。　　He　looks　all　about　him　to　see；　I　suppose；　if　he　could　espy　any　one；　but　there　is　nothing　to　be　seen　but　the　tower　and　himself。　　〃God；〃　says　he；　〃what　is　that　I　heard？　　I　heard　some　one　speak；　but　see　nothing！　　Indeed；　this　is　passing　marvellous；　for　I　am　not　asleep；　but　wide　awake。　　Of　course；　if　this　happened　in　a　dream；　I　should　consider　it　an　illusion；　but　I　am　awake；　and　therefore　I　am　distressed。〃　　Then　with　some　trouble　he　gets　up；　and　with　slow　and　feeble　steps　he　moves　toward　the　little　opening。　　Once　there；　he　peers　through　it；　up　and　down　and　to　either　side。　　When　he　had　looked　out　as　best　he　might；　he　caught　sight　of　her　who　had　hailed　him。　　He　did　not　recognise　her　by　sight。　　But　she　knew　him　at　once　and　said：　〃Lancelot；　I　have　come　from　afar　in　search　of　you。　　Now；　thank　God；　at　last　I　have　found　you。　　I　am　she　who　asked　of　you　a　boon　as　you　were　on　your　way　to　the　sword…bridge；　and　you　very　gladly　granted　it　at　my　request；　it　was　the　head　I　bade　you　cut　from　the　conquered　knight　whom　I　hated　so。　　Because　of　this　boon　and　this　service　you　did　me；　I　have　gone　to　this　trouble。　　As　a　guerdon　I　shall　deliver　you　from　here。〃　　〃Damsel；　many　thanks　to　you；〃　the　prisoner　then　replied；　〃the　service　I　did　you　will　be　well　repaid　if　I　am　set　at　liberty。　　If　you　can　get　me　out　of　here；　I　promise　and　engage　to　be　henceforth　always　yours；　so　help　me　the　holy　Apostle　Paul！　And　as　I　may　see　God　face　to　face；　I　shall　never　fail　to　obey　your　commands　in　accordance　with　your　will。　　You　may　ask　for　anything　I　have；　and　receive　it　without　delay。〃　　〃Friend；　have　no　fear　that　you　will　not　be　released　from　here。　　You　shall　be　loosed　and　set　free　this　very　day。　　Not　for　a　thousand　pounds　would　I　renounce　the　expectation　of　seeing　you　free　before　the　datum　of　another　day。　　Then　I　shall　take　you　to　a　pleasant　place；　where　you　may　rest　and　take　your　ease。　　There　you　shall　have　everything　you　desire；　whatever　it　be。　　So　have　no　fear。　　But　first　I　must　see　if　I　can　find　some　tool　anywhere　hereabouts　with　which　you　might　enlarge　this　hole；　at　least　enough　to　let　you　pass。〃　　〃God　grant　that　you　find　something；〃　he　said；　agreeing　to　this　plan；　〃I　have　plenty　of　rope　in　here；　which　the　rascals　gave　me　to　pull　up　my　foodhard　barley　bread　and　dirty　water；　which　sicken　my　stomach　and　heart。〃　　Then　the　daughter　of　Bademagu　sought　and　found　a　strong；　stout；　sharp　pick；　which　she　handed　to　him。　　He　pounded；　and　hammered　and　struck　and　dug；　notwithstanding　the　pain　it　caused　him；　until　he　could　get　out　comfortably。　　Now　he　is　greatly　relieved　and　glad；　you　may　be　sure；　to　be　out　Of　prison　and　to　get　away　from　the　place　where　he　has　been　so　long　confined。　　Now　he　is　at　large　in　the　open　air。　You　may　be　sure　that　he　would　not　go　back　again；　were　some　one　to　gather　in　a　pile　and　give　to　him　all　the　gold　there　is　scattered　in　the　world。

（Vv。　6657…6728。）　　Behold　Lancelot　now　released；　but　so　feeble　that　he　staggered　from　his　weakness　and　disability。　　Gently；　without　hurting　him；　she　sets　him　before　her　on　her　mule；　and　then　they　ride　off　rapidly。　　But　the　damsel　purposely　avoids　the　beaten　track；　that　they　may　not　be　seen；　and　proceeds　by　a　hidden　path；　for　if　she　had　travelled　openly；　doubtless　some　one　would　have　recognised　them　and　done　them　harm；　and　she　would　not　have　wished　that　to　happen。　　So　she　avoided　the　dangerous　places　and　came　to　a　mansion　where　she　often　makes　her　sojourn　because　of　its　beauty　and　charm。　　The　entire　estate　and　the　people　on　it　belonged　to　her；　and　the　place　was　well　furnished；　safe；　and　private。　　There　Lancelot　arrived。　　And　as　soon　as　he　had　come；　and　had　laid　aside　his　clothes；　the　damsel　gently　laid　him　on　a　lofty；　handsome　couch；　then　bathed　and　rubbed　him　so　carefully　that　I　could　not　describe　half　the　care　she　took。　　She　handled　and　treated　him　as　gently　as　if　he　had　been　her　father。　　Her　treatment　makes　a　new　man　of　him；　as　she　revives　him　with　her　cares。　　Now　he　is　no　less　fair　than　an　angel　and　is　more　nimble　and　more　spry　than　anything　you　ever　saw。　　When　he　arose；　he　was　no　longer　mangy　and　haggard；　but　strong　and　handsome。　　And　the　damsel　sought　out　for　him　the　finest　robe　she　could　find；　with　which　she　clothed　him　when　he　arose。　　And　he　was　glad　to　put　it　on；　quicker　than　a　bird　in　flight。　　He　kissed　and　embraced　the　maid；　and　then　said　to　her　graciously：　〃My　dear；　I　have　only　God　and　you　to　thank　for　being　restored　to　health　again。　　Since　I　owe　my　liberty　to　you；　you　may　take　and　command　at　will　my　heart　and　body；　my　service　and　estate。　　I　belong　to　you　in　return　for　what　you　have　done　for　me；　but　it　is　long　since　I　have　been　at　the　court　of　my　lord　Arthur；　who　has　shown　me　great　honour；　and　there　is　plenty　there　for　me　to　do。　　Now；　my　sweet　gentle　friend；　I　beg　you　affectionately　for　leave　to　go；　then；　with　your　consent；　I　should　feel　free　to　go。〃　　〃Lancelot；　fair；　sweet　dear　fri