four arthurian romances-第69部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


hose　sake　he　came　here；　cannot　give　you　further　news；　there　will　be　no　one　here　to　enlighten　you。　　You　will　not　have　far　to　go；　if　you　wish　to　speak　with　her；　for　she　has　gone　to　make　prayer　to　God　and　to　hear　Mass　in　yonder　church；　and　judging　by　the　time　she　has　been　inside；　her　orisons　have　been　prolonged。〃

（Vv。　4965…5106。）　　While　they　were　talking　thus；　Lunete　came　out　from　the　church；　and　they　said：　〃There　she　is。〃　　Then　she　went　to　meet　her；　and　they　greeted　each　other。　　She　asked　Lunete　at　once　for　the　information　she　desired；　and　Lunete　said　that　she　would　have　a　palfrey　saddled；　for　she　wished　to　accompany　her；　and　would　take　her　to　an　enclosure　where　she　had　left　him。　　The　other　maiden　thanked　her　heartily。　　Lunete　mounts　the　palfrey　which　is　brought　without　delay；　and；　as　they　ride；　she　tells　her　how　she　had　been　accused　and　charged　with　treason；　and　how　the　pyre　was　already　kindled　upon　which　she　was　to　be　laid；　and　how　he　had　come　to　help　her　in　just　the　moment　of　her　need。　　While　speaking　thus；　she　escorted　her　to　the　road　which　led　directly　to　the　spot　where　my　lord　Yvain　had　parted　from　her。　　When　she　had　accompanied　her　thus　far；　she　said：　〃Follow　this　road　until　you　come　to　a　place　where；　if　it　please　God　and　the　Holy　Spirit；　you　will　hear　more　reliable　news　of　him　than　I　can　tell。　　I　very　well　remember　that　I　left　him　either　near　here；　or　exactly　here；　where　we　are　now；　we　have　not　seen　each　other　since　then；　and　I　do　not　know　what　he　has　done。　　When　he　left　me；　he　was　in　sore　need　of　a　plaster　for　his　wounds。　　So　I　will　send　you　along　after　him；　and　if　it　be　God's　will；　may　He　grant　that　you　find　him　to…night　or　to…morrow　in　good　health。　　Now　go：　I　commend　you　to　God。　　I　must　not　follow　you　any　farther；　lest　my　mistress　be　displeased　with　me。〃　　Then　Lunete　leaves　her　and　turns　back；　while　the　other　pushed　on　until　she　found　a　house；　where　my　lord　Yvain　had　tarried　until　he　was　restored　to　health。　　She　saw　people　gathered　before　the　gate；　knights；　ladies　and　men…at…arms；　and　the　master　of　the　house；　she　saluted　them；　and　asked　them　to　tell　her；　if　possible；　news　of　a　knight　for　whom　she　sought。　　〃Who　is　he？〃　they　ask。　〃I　have　heard　it　said　that　he　is　never　without　a　lion。〃　〃Upon　my　word；　damsel；〃　the　master　says；　〃he　has　just　now　left　us。　　You　can　come　up　with　him　to…night；　if　you　are　able　to　keep　his　tracks　in　sight；　and　are　careful　not　to　lose　any　time。〃　〃Sire；〃　she　answers；　〃God　forbid。　　But　tell　me　now　in　what　direction　I　must　follow　him。〃　　And　they　tell　her：　〃This　way；　straight　ahead；〃　and　they　beg　her　to　greet　him　on　their　behalf。　But　their　courtesy　was　not　of　much　avail；　for；　without　giving　any　heed；　she　galloped　off　at　once。　　The　pace　seemed　much　too　slow　to　her；　though　her　palfrey　made　good　time。　　So　she　galloped　through　the　mud　just　the　same　as　where　the　road　was　good　and　smooth；　until　she　caught　sight　of　him　with　the　lion　as　his　companion。　Then　in　her　gladness　she　exclaims：　〃God；　help　me　now。　　At　last　I　see　him　whom　I　have　so　long　pursued；　and　whose　trace　I　have　long　followed。　　But　if　I　pursue　and　nothing　gain；　what　will　it　profit　me　to　come　up　with　him？　　Little　or　nothing；　upon　my　word。　　If　he　does　not　join　in　my　enterprise；　I　have　wasted　all　my　pains。〃　　Thus　saying；　she　pressed　on　so　fast　that　her　palfrey　was　all　in　a　sweat；　but　she　caught　up　with　him　and　saluted　him。　　He　thus　at　once　replied　to　her：　〃God　save　you；　fair　one；　and　deliver　you　from　grief　and　woe。〃　　〃The　same　to　you；　sire；　who；　I　hope；　will　soon　be　able　to　deliver　me。〃　　Then　she　draws　nearer　to　him；　and　says：　〃Sire；　I　have　long　searched　for　you。　　The　great　fame　of　your　merit　has　made　me　traverse　many　a　county　in　my　weary　search　for　you。　　But　I　continued　my　quest　so　long；　thank　God；　that　at　last　I　have　found　you　here。　　And　if　I　brought　any　anxiety　with　me；　I　am　no　longer　concerned　about　it；　nor　do　I　complain　or　remember　it　now。　　I　am　entirely　relieved；　my　worry　has　taken　flight　the　moment　I　met　with　you。　　Moreover；　the　affair　is　none　of　mine：　I　come　to　you　from　one　that　is　better　than　I；　a　woman　who　is　more　noble　and　excellent。　　But　if　she　be　disappointed　in　her　hopes　of　you；　then　she　has　been　betrayed　by　your　fair　renown；　for　she　has　no　expectation　of　other　aid。　　My　damsel；　who　is　deprived　of　her　inheritance　by　a　sister；　expects　with　your　help　to　win　her　suit；　she　will　have　none　but　you　defend　her　cause。　　No　one　can　make　her　believe　that　any　one　else　could　bear　her　aid。　　By　securing　her　share　of　the　heritage；　you　will　have　won　and　acquired　the　love　of　her　who　is　now　disinherited；　and　you　will　also　increase　your　own　renown。　　She　herself　was　going　in　search　for　you　to　secure　the　boon　for　which　she　hoped；　no　one　else　would　have　taken　her　place；　had　she　not　been　detained　by　an　illness　which　compels　her　to　keep　her　bed。　　Now　tell　me；　please；　whether　you　will　dare　to　come；　or　whether　you　will　decline。〃　　〃No；〃　he　says；　〃no　man　can　win　praise　in　a　life　of　ease；　and　I　will　not　hold　back；　but　will　follow　you　gladly；　my　sweet　friend；　whithersoever　it　may　please　you。　　And　if　she　for　whose　sake　you　have　sought　me　out　stands　in　some　great　need　of　me；　have　no　fear　that　I　shall　not　do　all　I　can　for　her。　　Now　may　God　grant　me　the　happiness　and　grace　to　settle　in　her　favour　her　rightful　claim。〃

（Vv。　5107…5184。）　（25）　　Thus　conversing；　they　two　rode　away　until　they　approached　the　town　of　Pesme　Avanture。　　They　had　no　desire　to　pass　it　by；　for　the　day　was　already　drawing　to　a　close。　　They　came　riding　to　the　castle；　when　all　the　people；　seeing　them　approach；　called　out　to　the　knight：　〃Ill　come；　sire；　ill　come。　This　lodging…place　was　pointed　out　to　you　in　order　that　you　might　suffer　harm　and　shame。　　An　abbot　might　take　his　oath　to　that。〃　〃Ah；〃　he　replied；　〃foolish　and　vulgar　folk；　full　of　all　mischief；　and　devoid　of　honour；　why　have　you　thus　assailed　me？〃　　〃Why？　　you　will　find　out　soon　enough；　if　you　will　go　a　little　farther。　　But　you　shall　learn　nothing　more　until　you　have　ascended　to　the　fortress。〃　　At　once　my　lord　Yvain　turns　toward　the　tower；　and　the　crowd　cries　out；　all　shouting　aloud　at　him：　〃Eh；　eh；　wretch；　whither　goest　thou？　　If　ever　in　thy　life　thou　hast　encountered　one　who　worked　thee　shame　and　woe；　such　will　be　done　thee　there；　whither　thou　art　going；　as　will　never　be　told　again　by　thee。〃　　My　lord　Yvain；　who　is　listening；　says：　〃Base　and　pitiless　people；　miserable　and　impudent；　why　do　you　assail　me　thus；　why　do　you　attack　me　so？　　What　do　you　wish　of　me；　what　do　you　want；　that　you　growl　this　way　after　me？〃　　A　lady；　who　was　somewhat　advanced　in　years；　who　was　courteous　and　sensible；　said：　〃Thou　hast　no　cause　to　be　enraged：　they　mean　no　harm　in　what　they　say；　but；　if　thou　understoodest　them　aright；　they　are　warning　thee　not　to　spend　the　night　up　there；　they　dare　not　tell　thee　the　reason　for　this；　but　they　are　warning　and　blaming　thee　because　they　wish　to　arouse　thy　fears。　　This　they　are　accustomed　to　do　in　the　case　of　all　who　come；　so　that　they　may　not　go　inside。　　And　the　custom　is　such　that　we　dare　not　receive　in　our　own　houses；　for　any　reason　whatsoever；　any　gentleman　who　comes　here　from　a　distance。　　The　responsibility　now　is　thine　alone；　no　one　will　stand　in　thy　way。　If　thou　wishest；　thou　mayst　go　up　now；　but　my　advice　is　to　turn　back　again。〃　　〃Lady；〃　he　says；　〃doubtless　it　would　be　to　my　honour　and　advantage　to　follow　your　advice；　but　I　do　not　know　where　I　should　find　a　lodging…place　to…night。〃　　〃Upon　my　word；〃　says　she；　〃I'll　say　no　more；　for　the　concern　is　none　of　mine。　　Go　wherever　you　please。　　Nevertheless；　I　should　be　very　glad　to　see　you　return　from　inside　without　too　great　shame；　but　that　could　hardly　be。〃　　〃Lady；〃　he　says；　〃may　God　reward　you　for　the　wish。　　However；　my　wayward　heart　leads　me　on　inside；　and　I　shall　do　what　my　heart　desires。〃　　Thereupon；　he　approaches　the　gate；　accompanied　by　his　lion　and　his　damsel。　　Then　the　porter　calls　to　him；　and　says：　〃Come　quickly；　come。　　You　are　on　your　way　to　a　place　where　you　will　be　securely　detained；　and　may　your　visit　be　accursed。〃

（Vv。　5185…5346。）　　The　porter；　after　addressing　him　with　this　very　ungracious　welcome；　hurried　upstairs。　　But　my　lord　Yvain；　without　making　reply；　passed　straight　on；　and　found　a　new　and　lofty　hall；　in　front　of　it　there　was　a　yard　enclosed　with　large；　round；　pointed　stakes；　and　seated　inside　the　stakes　he　saw　as　many　as　three　hundred　maidens；　working　at　different　kinds　of　embroidery。　Each　one　was　sewing　with　golden　thread　and　silk；　as　best　she　could。　　But　such　was　their　poverty；　that　many　of　them　wore　no　girdle；　and　looked　slovenly；　because　so　poor；　and　their　garments　were　torn　about　their　breasts　and　at　the　elbows；　and　their　shifts　were　soiled　about　their　necks。　　Their　necks　were　thin；　and　their　faces　pale　with　hunger　and　privation。　　They　see　him；　as　he　looks　at　them；　and　they　weep；　and　are　unable　for　some　time　to　do　anything　or　to　raise　their　eyes　from　the　ground；　so　bowed　down　they　are　with　woe。　　When　he　had　contemplated　them　for　a　while；　my　lord　Yvain　turned　about　and　moved　toward　the　door；　but　the　porter　barred　the　way；　and　cried：　〃It　is　no　use；　fair　master；　you　shall　not　get　out　now。　　You　would　like　to　be　outside：　but；　by　my　head；　it　is　of　no　use。　　Before　you　escape　you　will　have　suffered　such　great　shame　that　you　could　not　easily　suffer　more；　so　you　were　not　wise　to　enter　here；　for　there　is　no　question　of　escaping　now。〃　　〃Nor　do　I　wish　to　do　so；　fair　brother；〃　said　he；　〃but　tell　me；　by　thy　father's　soul；　whence　came　the　damsels　whom　I　saw　in　the　yard；　weaving　cloths　of　silk　and　gold。　　I　enjoy　seeing　the　work　they　do；　but　I　am　much　distressed　to　see　their　bodies　so　thin；　and　their　faces　so　pale　and　sad。　I　imagine　they　would　be　fair　and　charming；　if　they　had　what　they　desire。〃　　〃I　will　tell　you　nothing；〃　was　the　reply；　〃seek　some　one　else　to　tell　you。〃　〃That　will　I　do；　since　there　is　no　better　way。〃　　Then　he　searches　until　he　finds　the　entrance　of　the　yard　where　the　damsels　were　at　work：　and　coming　before　them；　he　greets　them　all；　and　sees　tears　flowing　from　their　eyes；　as　they　weep。　　Then　he　says　to　them：　〃May　it　please　God　to　remove　from　your　hearts；　and　turn　to　joy；　this　grief；　the　cause　of　which　I　do　not　know。〃　　One　of　them　answers：　〃May　you　be　heard　by　God；　to　whom　you　have　addressed　your　prayer。　　It　shall　not　be　concealed　from　you　who　we　are；　and　from　what　land