four arthurian romances-第4部分

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nture。　　And　very　delightful　this　hunt　will　be。〃

（Vv。　67…114。）　　And　so　the　affair　is　arranged　for　the　next　morning　at　daybreak。　　The　morrow；　as　soon　as　it　is　day；　the　King　gets　up　and　dresses；　and　dons　a　short　jacket　for　his　forest　ride。　　He　commands　the　knights　to　be　aroused　and　the　horses　to　be　made　ready。　　Already　they　are　ahorse；　and　off　they　go；　with　bows　and　arrows。　　After　them　the　Queen　mounts　her　horse；　taking　a　damsel　with　her。　　A　maid　she　was；　the　daughter　of　a　king；　and　she　rode　a　white　palfrey。　　After　them　there　swiftly　followed　a　knight；　named　Erec；　who　belonged　to　the　Round　Table；　and　had　great　fame　at　the　court。　（3）　　Of　all　the　knights　that　ever　were　there；　never　one　received　such　praise；　and　he　was　so　fair　that　nowhere　in　the　world　need　one　seek　a　fairer　knight　than　he。　　He　was　very　fair；　brave；　and　courteous；　though　not　yet　twenty…five　years　old。　　Never　was　there　a　man　of　his　age　of　greater　knighthood。　　And　what　shall　I　say　of　his　virtues？　　Mounted　on　his　horse；　and　clad　in　an　ermine　mantle；　he　came　galloping　down　the　road；　wearing　a　coat　of　splendid　flowered　silk　which　was　made　at　Constantinople。　　He　had　put　on　hose　of　brocade；　well　made　and　cut；　and　when　his　golden　spurs　were　well　attached；　he　sat　securely　in　his　stirrups。　　He　carried　no　arm　with　him　but　his　sword。　　As　he　galloped　along；　at　the　corner　of　a　street　he　came　up　with　the　Queen；　and　said：　〃My　lady；　if　it　please　you；　I　should　gladly　accompany　you　along　this　road；　having　come　for　no　other　purpose　than　to　bear　you　company。〃　And　the　Queen　thanks　him：　〃Fair　friend；　I　like　your　company　well；　in　truth；　for　better　I　could　not　have。〃

（Vv。　115…124。）　　Then　they　ride　along　at　full　speed　until　they　come　into　the　forest；　where　the　party　who　had　gone　before　them　had　already　started　the　stag。　　Some　wind　the　horns　and　others　shout；　the　hounds　plunge　ahead　after　the　stag；　running；　attacking；　and　baying；　the　bowmen　shoot　amain。　　And　before　them　all　rode　the　King　on　a　Spanish　hunter。

（Vv。　125…154。）　　Queen　Guinevere　was　in　the　wood　listening　for　the　dogs；　beside　her　were　Erec　and　the　damsel；　who　was　very　courteous　and　fair。　　But　those　who　had　pursued　the　stag　were　so　far　from　them　that；　however　intently　they　might　listen　to　catch　the　sound　of　horn　or　baying　of　hound；　they　no　longer　could　hear　either　horse；　huntsman；　or　hound。　　So　all　three　of　them　drew　rein　in　a　clearing　beside　the　road。　　They　had　been　there　but　a　short　time　when　they　saw　an　armed　knight　along　on　his　steed；　with　shield　slung　about　his　neck；　and　his　lance　in　hand。　　The　Queen　espied　him　from　a　distance　By　his　right　side　rode　a　damsel　of　noble　bearing；　and　before　them；　on　a　hack；　came　a　dwarf　carrying　in　his　hand　a　knotted　scourge。　　When　Queen　Guinevere　saw　the　comely　and　graceful　knight；　she　desired　to　know　who　he　and　his　damsel　were。　So　she　bid　her　damsel　go　quickly　and　speak　to　him；

（Vv。　155…274。）　　〃Damsel；〃　says　the　Queen；　〃go　and　bid　yonder　knight　come　to　me　and　bring　his　damsel　with　him。〃　　The　maiden　goes　on　amble　straight　toward　the　knight。　　But　the　spiteful　dwarf　sallies　forth　to　meet　her　with　his　scourge　in　hand；　crying：　〃Halt；　maiden；　what　do　you　want　here？　　You　shall　advance　no　farther。〃　　〃Dwarf；〃　says　she；　〃let　me　pass。　　I　wish　to　speak　with　yonder　knight；　for　the　Queen　sends　me　hither。〃　　The　dwarf；　who　was　rude　and　mean；　took　his　stand　in　the　middle　of　the　road。　and　said：　〃You　have　no　business　here。　　Go　back。　　It　is　not　meet　that　vou　should　speak　to　so　excellent　a　knight。〃　　The　damsel　advanced　and　tried　to　pass　him　by　force；　holding　the　dwarf　in　slight　esteem　when　she　saw　that　he　was　so　small。　　Then　the　dwarf　raised　his　whip；　when　he　saw　her　coming　toward　him　and　tried　to　strike　her　in　the　face。　　She　raised　her　arm　to　protect　herself；　but　he　lifted　his　hand　again　and　struck　her　all　unprotected　on　her　bare　hand：　and　so　hard　did　he　strike　her　on　the　back　of　her　hand　that　it　turned　all　black　and　blue。　　When　the　maiden　could　do　nothing　else；　in　spite　of　herself　she　must　needs　return。　　So　weeping　she　turned　back。　　The　tears　came　to　her　eyes　and　ran　down　her　cheeks。　When　the　Queen　sees　her　damsel　wounded；　she　is　sorely　grieved　and　angered　and　knows　not　what　to　do。　　〃Ah；　Erec；　fair　friend；〃　she　says；　〃I　am　in　great　sorrow　for　my　damsel　whom　that　dwarf　has　wounded。　　The　knight　must　be　discourteous　indeed；　to　allow　such　a　monster　to　strike　so　beautiful　a　creature。　　Erec；　fair　friend；　do　you　go　to　the　knight　and　bid　him　come　to　me　without　delay。　　I　wish　to　know　him　and　his　lady。〃　　Erec　starts　off　thither；　giving　spurs　to　his　steed；　and　rides　straight　toward　the　knight。　　The　ignoble　dwarf　sees　him　coming　and　goes　to　meet　him。　　〃Vassal；〃　says　he；　〃stand　back！　　For　I　know　not　what　business　you　have　here。　　I　advise　you　to　withdraw。〃　　〃Avaunt；〃　says　Erec；　〃provoking　dwarf！　　Thou　art　vile　and　troublesome。　　Let　me　pass。〃　〃You　shall　not。〃　　〃That　will　I。〃　　〃You　shall　not。〃　　Erec　thrusts　the　dwarf　aside。　　The　dwarf　had　no　equal　for　villainy：　he　gave　him　a　great　blow　with　his　lash　right　on　the　neck；　so　that　Erec's　neck　and　face　are　scarred　with　the　blow　of　the　scourge；　from　top　to　bottom　appear　the　lines　which　the　thongs　have　raised　on　him。　He　knew　well　that　he　could　not　have　the　satisfaction　of　striking　the　dwarf；　for　he　saw　that　the　knight　was　armed；　arrogant；　and　of　evil　intent；　and　he　was　afraid　that　he　would　soon　kill　him；　should　he　strike　the　dwarf　in　his　presence。　　Rashness　is　not　bravery。　　So　Erec　acted　wisely　in　retreating　without　more　ado。　〃My　lady；〃　he　says；　〃now　matters　stand　worse；　for　the　rascally　dwarf　has　so　wounded　me　that　he　has　badly　cut　my　face。　　I　did　not　dare　to　strike　or　touch　him；　but　none　ought　to　reproach　me；　for　I　was　completely　unarmed。　　I　mistrusted　the　armed　knight；　who；　being　an　ugly　fellow　and　violent；　would　take　it　as　no　jest；　and　would　soon　kill　me　in　his　pride。　　But　this　much　I　will　promise　you；　that　if　I　can；　I　shall　yet　avenge　my　disgrace；　or　increase　it。　　But　my　arms　are　too　far　away　to　avail　me　in　this　time　of　need；　for　at　Cardigan　did　I　leave　them　this　morning　when　I　came　away。　　And　if　I　should　go　to　fetch　them　there；　peradventure　I　should　never　again　find　the　knight　who　is　riding　off　apace。　　So　I　must　follow　him　at　once；　far　or　near；　until　I　find　some　arms　to　hire　or　borrow。　　If　I　find　some　one　who　will　lend　me　arms；　the　knight　will　quickly　find　me　ready　for　battle。　　And　you　may　be　sure　without　fail　that　we　two　shall　fight　until　he　defeat　me；　or　I　him。　　And　if　possible；　I　shall　be　back　by　the　third　day；　when　you　will　see　me　home　again　either　joyous　or　sad；　I　know　not　which。　　Lady；　I　cannot　delay　longer；　for　I　must　follow　after　the　knight。　　I　go。　　To　God　I　commend　you。〃　　And　the　Queen　in　like　manner　more　than　five　hundred　rimes　commends　him　to　God；　that　he　may　defend　him　from　harm。

（Vv。　275…310。）　　Erec　leaves　the　Queen　and　ceases　not　to　pursue　the　knight。　　The　Queen　remains　in　the　wood；　where　now　the　King　had　come　up　with　the　Stag。　　The　King　himself　outstripped　the　others　at　the　death。　　Thus　they　killed　and　took　the　White　Stag；　and　all　returned；　carrying　the　Stag；　till　they　came　again　to　Cardigan。　　After　supper；　when　the　knights　were　all　in　high　spirits　throughout　the　hall；　the　King；　as　the　custom　was；　because　he　had　taken　the　Stag；　said　that　he　would　bestow　the　kiss　and　thus　observe　the　custom　of　the　Stag。　　Throughout　the　court　a　great　murmur　is　heard：　each　one　vows　and　swears　to　his　neighbour　that　it　shall　not　be　done　without　the　protest　of　sword　or　ashen　lance。　　Each　one　gallantly　desires　to　contend　that　his　lady　is　the　fairest　in　the　hall。　　Their　conversation　bodes　no　good；　and　when　my　lord　Gawain　heard　it；　you　must　know　that　it　was　not　to　his　liking。　　Thus　he　addressed　the　King：　〃Sire；〃　he　says；　〃your　knights　here　are　greatly　aroused；　and　all　their　talk　is　of　this　kiss。　　They　say　that　it　shall　never　be　bestowed　without　disturbance　and　a　fight。〃　　And　the　King　wisely　replied　to　him：　〃Fair　nephew　Gawain；　give　me　counsel　now；　sparing　my　honour　and　my　dignity；　for　I　have　no　mind　for　any　disturbance。〃

（Vv。　311…341。）　　To　the　council　came　a　great　part　of　the　best　knights　of　the　court。　　King　Yder　（4）　arrived；　who　was　the　first　to　be　summoned；　and　after　him　King　Cadoalant；　who　was　very　wise　and　bold。　　Kay　and　Girflet　came　too；　and　King　Amauguin　was　there；　and　a　great　number　of　other　knights　were　there　with　them。　　The　discussion　was　in　process　when　the　Queen　arrived　and　told　them　of　the　adventure　which　she　had　met　in　the　forest；　of　the　armed　knight　whom　she　saw；　and　of　the　malicious　little　dwarf　who　had　struck　her　damsel　on　the　bare　hand　with　his　whip；　and　who　struck　Erec；　too；　in　the　same　way　an　ugly　blow　on　the　face；　but　that　Erec　followed　the　knight　to　obtain　vengeance；　or　increase　his　shame；　and　how　he　said　that　if　possible　he　would　be　back　by　the　third　day。　　〃Sire；〃　says　the　Queen　to　the　King；　〃listen　to　me　a　moment。　　If　these　knights　approve　what　I　say；　postpone　this　kiss　until　the　third　day；　when　Erec　will　be　back。〃　　There　is　none　who　does　not　agree　with　her；　and　the　King　himself　approves　her　words。

（Vv。　342…392。）　　Erec　steadily　follows　the　knight　who　was　armed　and　the　dwarf　who　had　struck　him　until　they　come　to　a　well　placed　town；　strong　and　fine　（5）。　　They　enter　straight　through　the　gate。　Within　the　town　there　was　great　joy　of　knights　and　ladies；　of　whom　there　were　many　and　fair。　　Some　were　feeding　in　the　streets　their　sparrow…hawks　and　moulting　falcons；　others　were　giving　an　airing　to　their　tercels；　（6）　their　mewed　birds；　and　young　yellow　hawks；　others　play　at　dice　or　other　game　of　chance；　some　at　chess；　and　some　at　backgammon。　　The　grooms　in　front　of　the　stables　are　rubbing　down　and　currying　the　horses。　　The　ladies　are　bedecking　themselves　in　their　boudoirs。　　As　soon　as　they　see　the　knight　coming；　whom　they　recognised　with　his　dwarf　and　damsel；　they　go　out　three　by　three　to　meet　him。　　The　knight　they　all　greet　and　salute；　but　they　give　no　heed　to　Erec；　for　they　did　not　know　him。　　Erec　follows　close　upon　the　knight　through　the　town；　until　he　saw　him　lodged。　　Then；　very　joyful；　he　passed　on　a　little　farther　until　he　saw　reclining　upon　some　steps　a　vavasor　（7）　well　on　in　years。　　He　was　a　comely　man；　with　white　locks；　debonair；　pleasing；　and　frank。　　There　he　was　seated　all　alone；　seeming　to　be　engaged　in　thought。　　Erec　took　him　for　an　honest　man　who　would　at　once　give