four arthurian romances-第6部分

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（Vv。　691…746。）　　They　had　sat　up　very　late　that　night。　　But　now　the　beds　were　prepared　with　white　sheets　and　soft　pillows；　and　when　the　conversation　flagged　they　all　went　to　bed　in　happy　frame。　　Erec　slept　little　that　night；　and　the　next　morn；　at　crack　of　dawn；　he　and　his　host　rose　early。　　They　both　go　to　pray　at　church；　and　hear　a　hermit　chant　the　Mass　of　the　Holy　Spirit；　not　forgetting　to　make　an　offering。　　When　they　had　heard　Mass　both　kneel　before　the　altar　and　then　return　to　the　house。　　Erec　was　eager　for　the　battle；　so　he　asks　for　arms；　and　they　are　given　to　him。　　The　maiden　herself　puts　on　his　arms　（though　she　casts　no　spell　or　charm）；　（11）　laces　on　his　iron　greaves；　and　makes　them　fast　with　thong　of　deer…hide。　　She　puts　on　his　hauberk　with　its　strong　meshes；　and　laces　on　his　ventail。　　The　gleaming　helmet　she　sets　upon　his　head；　and　thus　arms　him　well　from　tip　to　toe。　　At　his　side　she　fastens　his　sword；　and　then　orders　his　horse　to　be　brought；　which　is　done。　　Up　he　jumped　clear　of　the　ground。　　The　damsel　then　brings　the　shield　and　the　strong　lance：　she　hands　him　the　shield；　and　he　takes　it　and　hangs　it　about　his　neck　by　the　strap。　　She　places　the　lance　in　his　hand；　and　when　he　had　grasped　it　by　the　butt…end；　he　thus　addressed　the　gentle　vavasor：　〃Fair　sire；〃　quoth　he；　〃if　you　please；　make　your　daughter　ready　now；　for　I　wish　to　escort　her　to　the　sparrow…hawk　in　accordance　with　our　agreement。〃　　The　vavasor　then　without　delay　had　saddled　a　bay　palfrey。　　There　can　nothing　be　said　of　the　harness　because　of　the　dire　poverty　with　which　the　vavasor　was　afflicted。　　Saddle　and　bridle　were　put　on；　and　up　the　maiden　mounted　all　free　and　in　light　attire；　without　waiting　to　be　urged。　　Erec　wished　to　delay　no　longer；　so　off　he　starts　with　the　host's　daughter　by　his　side；　followed　by　the　gentleman　and　his　lady。

（Vv。　747…862。）　　Erec　rides　with　lance　erect　and　with　the　comely　damsel　by　his　side。　　All　the　people；　great　and　small；　gaze　at　them　with　wondering　eyes　as　they　pass　through　the　streets。　　And　thus　they　question　each　other：　〃Who　is　yonder　knight？　　He　must　be　doughty　and　brave；　indeed；　to　act　as　escort　for　this　fair　maid。　His　efforts　will　be　well　employed　in　proving　that　this　damsel　is　the　fairest　of　them　all。〃　　One　man　to　another　says：　〃In　very　truth；　she　ought　to　have　the　sparrow…hawk。〃　　Some　praised　the　maid；　while　many　said：　〃God！　　who　can　this　knight　be；　with　the　fair　damsel　by　his　side？〃　　〃I　know　not。〃　　〃Nor　I。〃　　Thus　spake　each　one。　　〃But　his　gleaming　helmet　becomes　him　well；　and　the　hauberk；　and　shield；　and　his　sharp　steel　sword。　　He　sits　well　upon　his　steed　and　has　the　bearing　of　a　valiant　vassal；　well…　shapen　in　arm；　in　limb　and　foot。〃　　While　all　thus　stand　and　gaze　at　them；　they　for　their　part　made　no　delay　to　take　their　stand　by　the　sparrow…hawk；　where　to　one　side　they　awaited　the　knight。　　And　now　behold！　　they　see　him　come；　attended　by　his　dwarf　and　his　damsel。　　He　had　heard　the　report；　that　a　knight　had　come　who　wished　to　obtain　the　sparrow…hawk；　but　he　did　not　believe　there　could　be　in　the　world　a　knight　so　bold　as　to　dare　to　fight　with　him。　　He　would　quickly　defeat　him　and　lay　him　low。　　All　the　people　knew　him　well；　and　all　welcome　him　and　escort　him　in　a　noisy　crowd：　knights；　squires；　ladies；　and　damsels　make　haste　to　run　after　him。　　Leading　them　all　the　knight　rides　proudly　on；　with　his　damsel　and　his　dwarf　at　his　side；　and　he　makes　his　way　quickly　to　the　sparrow…hawk。　　But　all　about　there　was　such　a　press　of　the　rough　and　vulgar　crowd　that　it　was　impossible　to　touch　the　hawk　or　to　come　near　where　it　was。　　Then　the　Count　arrived　on　the　scene；　and　threatened　the　populace　with　a　switch　which　he　held　in　his　hand。　　The　crowd　drew　back；　and　the　knight　advanced　and　said　quietly　to　his　lady：　〃My　lady；　this　bird；　which　is　so　perfectly　moulted　and　so　fair；　should　be　yours　as　your　just　portion；　for　you　are　wondrous　fair　and　full　of　charm。　　Yours　it　shall　surely　be　so　long　as　I　live。　　Step　forward；　my　dear；　and　lift　the　hawk　from　the　perch。〃　　The　damsel　was　on　the　point　of　stretching　forth　her　hand　when　Erec　hastened　to　challenge　her；　little　heeding　the　other's　arrogance。　　〃Damsel；〃　he　cries；　〃stand　back！　　Go　dally　with　some　other　bird；　for　to　this　one　you　have　no　right。　　In　spite　of　all；　I　say　this　hawk　shall　never　be　yours。　For　a　better　one　than　you　claims　itaye；　much　more　fair　and　more　courteous。〃　　The　other　knight　is　very　wroth；　but　Erec　does　not　mind　him；　and　bids　his　own　maiden　step　forward。　　〃Fair　one。〃　he　cries；　〃come　forth。　　Lift　the　bird　from　the　perch；　for　it　is　right　that　you　should　have　it。　　Damsel；　come　forth！　　For　I　will　make　boast　to　defend　it　if　any　one　is　so　bold　as　to　intervene。　For　no　woman　excels　you　in　beauty　or　worth；　in　grace　or　honour　any　more　than　the　moon　outshines　the　sun。〃　　The　other　could　suffer　it　no　longer；　when　he　hears　him　so　manfully　offer　himself　to　do　battle。　　〃Vassal；〃　he　cries；　〃who　art　thou　who　dost　thus　dispute　with　me　the　hawk？〃　　Erec　boldly　answers　him：　〃A　knight　I　am　from　another　land。　　This　hawk　I　have　come　to　obtain；　for　it　is　right；　I　say　it　in　spite　of　all；　that　this　damsel　of　mine　should　have　it。〃　　〃Away！〃　cries　the　other；　〃it　shall　never　be。　　Madness　has　brought　thee　here。　　If　thou　dost　wish　to　have　the　hawk；　thou　shalt　pay　fight　dearly　for　it。〃　　〃Pay；　vassal；　and　how？〃　　〃Thou　must　fight　with　me；　if　thou　dost　not　resign　it　to　me。〃　　〃You　talk　madness；〃　cries　Erec；　〃for　me　these　are　idle　threats；　for　little　enough　do　I　fear　you。〃　　〃Then　I　defy　thee　here　and　now。　　The　battle　is　inevitable。〃　　Erec　replies：　〃God　help　me　now；　for　never　did　I　wish　for　aught　so　much。〃　　Now　soon　you　will　hear　the　noise　of　battle。

（Vv。　863…1080。）　　The　large　place　was　cleared；　with　the　people　gathered　all　around。　　They　draw　off　from　each　other　the　space　of　an　acre；　then　drive　their　horses　together；　they　reach　for　each　other　with　the　tips　of　their　lances；　and　strike　each　other　so　hard　that　the　shields　are　pierced　and　broken；　the　lances　split　and　crack；　the　saddle…bows　are　knocked　to　bits　behind。　　They　must　needs　lose　their　stirrups；　so　that　they　both　fall　to　the　ground；　and　the　horses　run　off　across　the　field。　　Though　smitten　with　the　lances；　they　are　quickly　on　their　feet　again；　and　draw　their　swords　from　the　scabbards。　　With　great　fierceness　they　attack　each　other；　and　exchange　great　sword　blows；　so　that　the　helmets　are　crushed　and　made　to　ring。　　Fierce　is　the　clash　of　the　swords；　as　they　rain　great　blows　upon　neck　and　shoulders。　　For　this　is　no　mere　sport：　they　break　whatever　they　touch；　cutting　the　shields　and　shattering　the　hauberks。　　The　swords　are　red　with　crimson　blood。　　Long　the　battle　lasts；　but　they　fight　so　lustily　that　they　become　weary　and　listless。　　Both　the　damsels　are　in　tears；　and　each　knight　sees　his　lady　weep　and　raise　her　hands　to　God　and　pray　that　He　may　give　the　honours　of　the　battle　to　the　one　who　strives　for　her。　　〃Ha！　　vassal；〃　quoth　the　knight　to　Erec；　〃let　us　withdraw　and　rest　a　little；　for　too　weak　are　these　blows　we　deal。　　We　must　deal　better　blows　than　these；　for　now　it　draws　near　evening。　　It　is　shameful　and　highly　discreditable　that　this　battle　should　last　so　long。　　See　yonder　that　gentle　maid　who　weeps　for　thee　and　calls　on　God。　　Full　sweetly　she　prays　for　thee；　as　does　also　mine　for　me。　　Surely　we　should　do　our　best　with　our　blades　of　steel　for　the　sake　of　our　lady…loves。〃　　Erec　replies：　〃You　have　spoken　well。〃　　Then　they　take　a　little　rest；　Erec　looking　toward　his　lady　as　she　softly　prays　for　him。　　While　he　sat　and　looked　on　her；　great　strength　was　recruited　within　him。　　Her　love　and　beauty　inspired　him　with　great　boldness。　　He　remembered　the　Queen；　to　whom　he　pledged　his　word　that　he　would　avenge　the　insult　done　him；　or　would　make　it　greater　yet。　　〃Ah！　wretch；〃　says　he；　〃why　do　I　wait？　　I　have　not　yet　taken　vengeance　for　the　injury　which　this　vassal　permitted　when　his　dwarf　struck　me　in　the　wood。〃　　His　anger　is　revived　within　him　as　he　summons　the　knight：　〃Vassal；〃　quoth　he；　〃I　call　you　to　battle　anew。　　Too　long　we　have　rested；　let　us　now　renew　our　strife。〃　　And　he　replies：　〃That　is　no　hardship　to　me。〃　　Whereupon；　they　again　fall　upon　each　other。　　They　were　both　expert　fencers。　　At　his　first　lunge　the　knight　would　have　wounded　Erec　had　he　not　skilfully　parried。　　Even　so；　he　smote　him　so　hard　over　the　shield　beside　his　temple　that　he　struck　a　piece　from　his　helmet。　　Closely　shaving　his　white　coif；　the　sword　descends；　cleaving　the　shield　through　to　the　buckle；　and　cutting　more　than　a　span　from　the　side　of　his　hauberk。　　Then　he　must　have　been　well　stunned；　as　the　cold　steel　penetrated　to　the　flesh　on　his　thigh。　　May　God　protect　him　now！　　If　the　blow　had　not　glanced　off；　it　would　have　cut　right　through　his　body。　　But　Erec　is　in　no　wise　dismayed：　he　pays　him　back　what　is　owing　him；　and。　attacking　him　boldly；　smites　him　upon　the　shoulder　so　violently　a　blow　that　the　shield　cannot　withstand　it；　nor　is　the　hauberk　of　any　use　to　prevent　the　sword　from　penetrating　to　the　bone。　　He　made　the　crimson　blood　flow　down　to　his　waist…band。　　Both　of　the　vassals　are　hard　fighters：　they　fight　with　honours　even；　for　one　cannot　gain　from　the　other　a　single　foot　of　ground。　　Their　hauberks　are　so　torn　and　their　shields　so　hacked；　that　there　is　actually　not　enough　of　them　left　to　serve　as　a　protection。　　So　they　fight　all　exposed。　Each　one　loses　a　deal　of　blood；　and　both　grow　weak。　　He　strikes　Erec　and　Erec　strikes　him。　　Erec　deals　him　such　a　tremendous　blow　upon　the　helmet　that　he　quite　stuns　him。　　Then　he　lets　him　have　it　again　and　again；　giving　him　three　blows　in　quick　succession；　which　entirely　split　the　helmet　and　cut　the　coif　beneath　it。　　The　sword　even　reaches　the　skull　and　cuts　a　bone　of　his　head；　but　without　penetrating　the　brain。　　He　stumbles　and　totters；　and　while　he　staggers；　Erec　pushes　him　over；　so　that　he　falls　upon　his　right　side。　　Erec　grabs　him　by　the　helmet　and　forcibly　drags　it　from　his　head；　and　unlaces　the　ventail；　so　that　his　head　and　face　are　completely　exposed。　　When　Erec　thinks　of　the　insult　done　him　by　the　dwarf　in　the　wood；　he　would　have　cut　off　his　head；　had　he　not　cried　for　mercy。　　〃Ah！　vassal；〃　says　he；　〃thou　hast　defeated　me。　　Mercy　now；　and　do　not　kill　me；　after　having　overcome　me　and　taken　me　prisoner：　that　would　never　bring　thee　praise　or　glory。　　If　thou　shouldst　touch