four arthurian romances-第7部分

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me　prisoner：　that　would　never　bring　thee　praise　or　glory。　　If　thou　shouldst　touch　me　more；　thou　wouldst　do　great　villainy。　　Take　here　my　sword；　I　yield　it　thee。〃　Erec；　however；　does　not　take　it；　but　says　in　reply：　〃I　am　within　an　ace　of　killing　thee。〃　　〃Ah！　　gentle　knight；　mercy！　　For　what　crime；　indeed；　or　for　what　wrong　shouldst　thou　hate　me　with　mortal　hatred？　　I　never　saw　thee　before　that　I　am　aware；　and　never　have　I　been　engaged　in　doing　thee　any　shame　or　wrong。〃　　Erec　replies：　〃Indeed　you　have。〃　　〃Ah；　sire；　tell　me　when！　　For　I　never　saw　you；　that　I　can　remember；　and　if　I　have　done　you　any　wrong；　I　place　myself　at　your　mercy。〃　　Then　Erec　said：　〃Vassal；　I　am　he　who　was　in　the　forest　yesterday　with　Queen　Guinevere；　when　thou　didst　allow　thy　ill…bred　dwarf　to　strike　my　lady's　damsel。　　It　is　disgraceful　to　strike　a　woman。　　And　afterwards　he　struck　me；　taking　me　for　some　common　fellow。　　Thou　wast　guilty　of　too　great　insolence　when　thou　sawest　such　an　outrage　and　didst　complacently　permit　such　a　monster　of　a　lout　to　strike　the　damsel　and　myself。　For　such　a　crime　I　may　well　hate　thee；　for　thou　hast　committed　a　grave　offence。　　Thou　shalt　now　constitute　thyself　my　prisoner；　and　without　delay　go　straight　to　my　lady　whom　thou　wilt　surely　find　at　Cardigan；　if　thither　thou　takest　thy　way。　　Thou　wilt　reach　there　this　very　night；　for　it　is　not　seven　leagues　from　here；　I　think。　　Thou　shalt　hand　over　to　her　thyself；　thy　damsel；　and　thy　dwarf；　to　do　as　she　may　dictate；　and　tell　her　that　I　send　her　word　that　to…morrow　I　shall　come　contented；　bringing　with　me　a　damsel　so　fair　and　wise　and　fine　that　in　all　the　world　she　has　not　her　match。　　So　much　thou　mayst　tell　her　truthfully。　　And　now　I　wish　to　know　thy　name。〃　　Then　he　must　needs　say　in　spite　of　himself：　〃Sire；　my　name　is　Yder；　son　of　Nut。　　This　morning　I　had　not　thought　that　any　single　man　by　force　of　arms　could　conquer　me。　　Now　I　have　found　by　experience　a　man　who　is　better　than　I。　You　are　a　very　valiant　knight；　and　I　pledge　you　my　faith　here　and　now　that　I　will　go　without　delay　and　put　myself　in　the　Queen's　hands。　　But　tell　me　without　reserve　what　your　name　may　be。　　Who　shall　I　say　it　is　that　sends　me？　　For　I　am　ready　to　start。〃　　And　he　replies：　〃My　name　I　will　tell　thee　without　disguise：　it　is　Erec。　　Go；　and　tell　her　that　it　is　I　who　have　sent　thee　to　her。〃　〃Now　I'll　go；　and　I　promise　you　that　I　will　put　my　dwarf；　my　damsel；　and　myself　altogether　at　her　disposal　（you　need　have　no　fear）；　and　I　will　give　her　news　of　you　and　of　your　damsel。〃　　Then　Erec　received　his　plighted　word；　and　the　Count　and　all　the　people　round　about　the　ladies　and　the　gentlemen　were　present　at　the　agreement。　　Some　were　joyous；　and　some　downcast；　some　were　sorry；　and　others　glad。　　The　most　rejoiced　for　the　sake　of　the　damsel　with　the　white　raiment；　the　daughter　of　the　poor　vavasor　she　of　the　gentle　and　open　heart；　but　his　damsel　and　those　who　were　devoted　to　him　were　sorry　for　Yder。

（Vv。　1081…1170。）　　Yder；　compelled　to　execute　his　promise；　did　not　wish　to　tarry　longer；　but　mounted　his　steed　at　once。　　But　why　should　I　make　a　long　story？　　Taking　his　dwarf　and　his　damsel；　they　traversed　the　woods　and　the　plain；　going　on　straight　until　they　came　to　Cardigan。　　In　the　bower　（12）　outside　the　great　hall；　Gawain　and　Kay　the　seneschal　and　a　great　number　of　other　lords　were　gathered。　　The　seneschal　was　the　first　to　espy　those　approaching；　and　said　to　my　lord　Gawain：　〃Sire；　my　heart　divines　that　the　vassal　who　yonder　comes　is　he　of　whom　the　Queen　spoke　as　having　yesterday　done　her　such　an　insult。　　If　I　am　not　mistaken；　there　are　three　in　the　party；　for　I　see　the　dwarf　and　the　damsel。〃　　〃That　is　so；〃　says　my　lord　Gawain；　〃it　is　surely　a　damsel　and　a　dwarf　who　are　coming　straight　toward　us　with　the　knight。　　The　knight　himself　is　fully　armed；　but　his　shield　is　not　whole。　　If　the　Queen　should　see　him；　she　would　know　him。　　Hello；　seneschal；　go　call　her　now！〃　　So　he　went　straightway　and　found　her　in　one　of　the　apartments。　　〃My　lady；〃　says　he；　〃do　you　remember　the　dwarf　who　yesterday　angered　you　by　wounding　your　damsel？〃　　〃Yes；　I　remember　him　right　well。　　Seneschal；　have　you　any　news　o？　him？　　Why　have　you　mentioned　him？〃　　〃Lady；　because　I　have　seen　a　knight…errant　armed　coming　upon　a　grey　horse；　and　if　my　eyes　have　not　deceived　me；　I　saw　a　damsel　with　him；　and　it　seems　to　me　that　with　him　comes　the　dwarf；　who　still　holds　the　scourge　from　which　Erec　received　his　lashing。〃　　Then　the　Queen　rose　quickly　and　said：　〃Let　us　go　quickly；　seneschal；　to　see　if　it　is　the　vassal。　　If　it　is　he；　you　may　be　sure　that　I　shall　tell　you　so；　as　soon　as　I　see　him。〃　　And　Kay　said：　〃I　will　show　him　to　you。　　Come　up　into　the　bower　where　your　knights　are　assembled。　　It　was　from　there　we　saw　him　coming；　and　my　lord　Gawain　himself　awaits　you　there。　　My　lady；　let　us　hasten　thither；　for　here　we　have　too　long　delayed。〃　　Then　the　Queen　bestirred　herself；　and　coming　to　the　windows　she　took　her　stand　by　my　lord　Gawain；　and　straightway　recognised　the　knight。　　〃Ha！　my　lords；〃　she　cries；　〃it　is　he。　　He　has　been　through　great　danger。　　He　has　been　in　a　battle。　　I　do　not　know　whether　Erec　has　avenged　his　grief；　or　whether　this　knight　has　defeated　Erec。　　But　there　is　many　a　dent　upon　his　shield；　and　his　hauberk　is　covered　with　blood；　so　that　it　is　rather　red　than　white。〃　　〃In　sooth；　my　lady；〃　quoth　my　lord　Gawain；　〃I　am　very　sure　that　you　are　quite　right。　　His　hauberk　is　covered　with　blood；　and　pounded　and　beaten；　showing　plainly　that　he　has　been　in　a　fight。　　We　can　easily　see　that　the　battle　has　been　hot。　　Now　we　shall　soon　hear　from　him　news　that　will　give　us　joy　or　gloom：　whether　Erec　sends　him　to　you　here　as　a　prisoner　at　your　discretion；　or　whether　he　comes　in　pride　of　heart　to　boast　before　us　arrogantly　that　he　has　defeated　or　killed　Erec。　　No　other　news　can　he　bring；　I　think。〃　　The　Queen　says：　〃I　am　of　the　same　opinion。〃　　And　all　the　others　say：　〃It　may　well　be　so。〃

（Vv。　1171…1243。）　　Meanwhile　Yder　enters　the　castle　gate；　bringing　them　news。　　They　all　came　down　from　the　bower；　and　went　to　meet　him。　　Yder　came　up　to　the　royal　terrace　and　there　dismounted　from　his　horse。　　And　Gawain　took　the　damsel　and　helped　her　down　from　her　palfrey；　the　dwarf；　for　his　part；　dismounted　too。　　There　were　more　than　one　hundred　knights　standing　there；　and　when　the　three　newcomers　had　all　dismounted　they　were　led　into　the　King's　presence。　　As　soon　as　Yder　saw　the　Queen；　he　bowed　low　and　first　saluted　her；　then　the　King　and　his　knights；　and　said：　〃Lady；　I　am　sent　here　as　your　prisoner　by　a　gentleman；　a　valiant　and　noble　knight；　whose　face　yesterday　my　dwarf　made　smart　with　his　knotted　scourge。　　He　has　overcome　me　at　arms　and　defeated　me。　　Lady；　the　dwarf　I　bring　you　here：　he　has　come　to　surrender　to　you　at　discretion。　　I　bring　you　myself；　my　damsel；　and　my　dwarf　to　do　with　us　as　you　please。〃　　The　Queen　keeps　her　peace　no　longer；　but　asks　him　for　news　of　Erec：　〃Tell　me；〃　she　says；　〃if　you　please；　do　you　know　when　Erec　will　arrive？〃　　〃To…morrow；　lady；　and　with　him　a　damsel　he　will　bring；　the　fairest　of　all　I　ever　knew。〃　　When　he　had　delivered　his　message；　the　Queen；　who　was　kind　and　sensible；　said　to　him　courteously：　〃Friend；　since　thou　hast　thrown　thyself　upon　my　mercy；　thy　confinement　shall　be　less　harsh；　for　I　have　no　desire　to　seek　thy　harm。　　But　tell　me　now；　so　help　thee　God；　what　is　thy　name？〃　　And　he　replies：　〃Lady；　my　name　is　Yder；　son　of　Nut。〃　　And　they　knew　that　he　told　the　truth。　Then　the　Queen　arose；　and　going　before　the　King；　said：　〃Sire；　did　you　hear？　　You　have　done　well　to　wait　for　Erec；　the　valiant　knight。　　I　gave　you　good　advice　yesterday；　when　I　counselled　you　to　await　his　return。　　This　proves　that　it　is　wise　to　take　advice。〃　　The　King　replies：　〃That　is　no　lie；　rather　is　it　perfectly　true　that　he　who　takes　advice　is　no　fool。　　Happily　we　followed　your　advice　yesterday。　　But　if　you　care　anything　for　me；　release　this　knight　from　his　durance；　provided　he　consent　to　join　henceforth　my　household　and　court；　and　if　he　does　not　consent；　let　him　suffer　the　consequence。〃　　When　the　King　had　thus　spoken；　the　Queen　straightway　released　the　knight；　but　it　was　on　this　condition；　that　he　should　remain　in　the　future　at　the　court。　　He　did　not　have　to　be　urged　before　he　gave　his　consent　to　stay。　　Now　he　was　of　the　court　and　household　to　which　he　had　not　before　belonged。　　Then　valets　were　at　hand　to　run　and　relieve　him　of　his　arms。

（Vv。　1244…1319。）　　Now　we　must　revert　to　Erec；　whom　we　left　in　the　field　where　the　battle　had　taken　place。　　Even　Tristan；　when　he　slew　fierce　Morhot　on　Saint　Samson's　isle　（13）；　awakened　no　such　jubilee　as　they　celebrated　here　over　Erec。　　Great　and　small；　thin　and　stoutall　make　much　of　him　and　praise　his　knighthood。　There　is　not　a　knight　but　cries：　〃Lord　what　a　vassal！　　Under　Heaven　there　is　not　his　like！〃　　They　follow　him　to　his　lodgings；　praising　him　and　talking　much。　　Even　the　Count　himself　embraces　him；　who　above　the　rest　was　glad；　and　said：　〃Sire；　if　you　please；　you　ought　by　right　to　lodge　in　my　house；　since　you　are　the　son　of　King　Lac。　　If　you　would　accept　of　my　hospitality　you　would　do　me　a　great　honour；　for　I　regard　you　as　my　liege。　　Fair　sire；　may　it　please　you；　I　beg　you　to　lodge　with　me。〃　　Erec　answers：　〃May　it　not　displease　you；　but　I　shall　not　desert　my　host　to…night；　who　has　done　me　much　honour　in　giving　me　his　daughter。　　What　say　you；　sir？　　Is　it　not　a　fair　and　precious　gift？〃　　〃Yes；　sire；〃　the　Count　replies；　〃the　gift；　in　truth；　is　fine　and　good。　　The　maid　herself　is　fair　and　clever；　and　besides　is　of　very　noble　birth。　You　must　know　that　her　mother　is　my　sister。　　Surely；　I　am　glad　at　heart　that　you　should　deign　to　take　my　niece。　　Once　more　I　beg　you　to　lodge　with　me　this　night。〃　　Erec　replies：　〃Ask　me　no　more。　I　will　not　do　it。〃　　Then　the　Count　saw　that　further　insistence　was　useless；　and　said：　〃Sire；　as　it　please　you！　　We　may　as　well　say　no　more　about　it；　but　I　and　my　knights　will　all　be　with　you　to…night　to　cheer　you　and　bear　you　company。〃　　When　Erec　heard　that；　he　thanked　him；　and　returned　to　his　host's　dwelling；　with　the　Count　attending　him。　　Ladies　and　knights　were　gathered　there；　and　the　vavasor　was　glad　at　heart。　　As　soon　as　Erec　arrived；　more　than　a　score　of　squires　ran　quickly　to　remove　his　arms。　　Any　one　who　was　present　in　that　house　could　have　wi