cliges-第11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！


put　everything　into　him　all　at　once　and　gave　him　whatsoever　she
could。　Such　was　Cliges　who　had　in　him　wisdom　and　beauty；
generosity　and　strength。　He　had　the　timber　together　with　the
bark；　and　knew　more　of　fencing　and　of　archery；　of　birds　and　of
hounds；　than　Tristram；　King　Mark's　nephew；　not　one　grace　was
lacking　to　Cliges。

Cliges　in　all　his　beauty　was　standing　before　his　uncle；　and　those
who　did　not　know　him　were　in　a　fever　to　see　him；　and　also　those
who　do　not　know　the　maiden　are　eagerly　straining　to　see　her；　all
look　at　her　with　wonder；　but　Cliges；　in　love；　directs　his　eyes　to
her　secretly；　and　withdraws　them　so　prudently　that　neither　in　the
going　or　the　coming　of　the　gaze　can　one　consider　him　a　fool　for
his　action。　Right　lovingly　he　regards　her；　but　he　does　not　pay
heed　to　the　fact　that　the　maiden　pays　him　back　in　kind。　In　true
love　not　in　flattery　he　gives　his　eyes　into　her　keeping；　and
receives　hers。　Right　good　seems　this　exchange　to　her；　and　it
would　have　seemed　to　her　far　better　if　she　had　known　somewhat　of
his　worth。　But　she　knows　no　more　than　that　she　sees　him　fair；　and
if　she　were　ever　destined　to　love　aught　because　of　the　beauty
that　she　might　see　in　it；　it　is　not　meet　that　she　should　set　her
heart　elsewhere。　She　has　set　her　eyes　and　her　heart　there；　and　he
in　his　turn　has　promised　her　his。　Promised？　Nay；　but　given　for
good　and　all。　Given？　Nay；　in　faith；　I　lie；　he　has　not；　for　no　
one　can　give　his　heart。　Needs　must　I　say　it　in　a　different
fashion。　I　will　not　speak　as　they　speak　who　join　two　hearts　in
one　body；　for　it　is　not　true；　and　has　not　even　the　semblance　of
truth　to　say　that　one　body　can　have　two　hearts　at　once。　And　even
if　they　could　come　together　such　a　thing　could　not　be　believed。
But；　and　it　please　you　to　hearken　to　me；　I　shall　be　able　well　to
render　you　the　reason　why　two　hearts　blend　in　one　without　coming
together。　In　so　far　as　only　they　blend　in　one；　the　will　of　each
passes　from　one　to　the　other；　and　the　twain　have　the　same　desire；
and　because　they　have　the　same　desire；　there　are　folk　who　are
wont　to　say　that　each　of　them　possesses　both　the　hearts。　But　one
heart　is　not　in　two　places。　Well　may　their　desire　be　the　same；
and　yet　each；　always；　his　own　heart；　just　as　many　different　men
can　sing　in　harmony　one　song　or　verse；　and　I　prove　to　you　by　this
parable　that　one　body　cannot　have　two　hearts　because　one　knows
the　other's　will；　or　because　the　second　knows　what　the　first
loves　and　what　he　hates。　A　body　cannot　have　more　than　one　heart
any　more　than　the　voices　which　sing　in　harmony；　so　that　they　seem
to　be　but　a　single　voice；　can　be　the　voice　of　one　person　alone。
But　it　profits　me　not　to　dwell　on　this；　for　another　task　demands
my　care。　Henceforth　I　must　speak　of　the　maiden　and　of　Cliges；　and
ye　shall　hear　of　the　Duke　of　Saxony　who　has　sent　to　Cologne　a
nephew　of　his；　a　mere　stripling；　who　discloses　to　the　emperor
what　his　uncle；　the　duke；　bids　him　deliverthat　the　emperor
expect　not　from　him　truce　or　peace　if　he　send　not　to　him　his
daughter；　and　let　not　that　man　feel　confident　on　the　way　who
thinks　to　take　her　thence　with　him；　for　he　will　not　find　the　way
void　of　foes；　rather　will　it　be　right　well　defended　against　him
if　she　is　not　given　up　to　the　duke。

Well　did　the　stripling　deliver　his　message；　all　without　pride　and
without　presumption；　but　he　finds　none；　nor　knight　nor　emperor；
to　reply　to　him。　When　he　saw　that　they　were　all　silent　and　that
they　did　it　from　contempt；　he　is　for　quitting　the　court
defiantly。　But　youth　and　audacity　made　him　challenge　Cliges　to
joust　against　him　ere　he　departed。　They　mount　to　horse　in　order
to　tilt；　on　both　sides　they　count　three　hundred　so　were　equal　in
number。　The　whole　palace　is　empty　and　deserted；　for　there　remains
there　neither　man　nor　woman；　nor　knight　nor　damsel；　who　does　not
go　and　mount　on　the　palace　roof；　on　to　the　battlements；　and　to
the　windows；　to　see　and　behold　those　who　were　to　tilt。　Even　the
princess　has　mounted　thither；　she　whom　Love　had　conquered　and　won
to　his　will。　She　is　seated　at　a　window　where　she　greatly　delights
to　sit　because　from　thence　she　can　see　him　whom　she　has　hidden　in
her　heart；　nor　hath　she　desire　to　take　him　away　from　that
hiding…place；　for　never　will　she　love　any　save　him。　But　she　knows
not　what　is　his　name　nor　who　he　is　or　of　what　race　nor　does　it
become　her　to　ask；　and　yet　she　longs　to　hear　aught　whereat　her
heart　may　rejoice。　Through　the　window　she　looks　out　on　the
shields　where　the　gold　shines；　and　on　those　who　carry　them　slung
round　their　necks；　and　who　take　delight　in　the　jousting；　but　her
thought　and　her　glance　she　has　wholly　set　in　one　direction；　for
she　gives　no　thought　to　aught　else。　She　is　eager　to　gaze　on
Cliges　and　follows　him　with　her　eyes　wherever　he　goes。　And　he；　on
his　part；　tilts　strenuously　for　her　before　the　eyes　of　all；　only
that　she　may　hear　that　he　is　valiant　and　very　skilful；　for　in　any
case　it　would　be　meet　that　she　should　esteem　him　for　his　prowess。
He　turns　himself　toward　the　nephew　of　the　duke　who　rode　apace；
breaking　many　lances　and　discomfiting　the　Greeks；　but　Cliges；　who
is　mightily　vexed　thereat；　presses　with　all　his　weight　on　his
stirrups；　and　rides　to　strike　him　so　rapidly　that　the　Saxon；　in
spite　of　himself；　has　voided　his　saddle…bows。　There　was　a　great
stir　as　he　rose　again。　The　stripling　rises　and　mounts；　and　thinks
to　avenge　thoroughly　his　shame；　but　many　a　man　thinks　to　avenge
his　shame　if　he　is　permitted；　who　increases　it。　The　youth　rushes
towards　Cliges；　and　Cliges　lowers　his　lance　to　meet　him；　and
attacks　him　with　such　violence　that　he　bears　him　once　more　to　the
ground。　Now　has　the　youth　redoubled　his　shame；　and　all　his　folk
are　dismayed　thereat；　for　well　they　see　that　never　will　they
leave　the　fray　with　honour；　for　none　of　them　is　there　so　valiant；
that　if　Cliges　comes　attacking　him　he　can　remain　in　his
saddle…bow　to　meet　him。　Right　glad　thereof　are　they　of　Germany
and　they　of　Greece　when　they　see　that　their　side　are　sending　the
Saxons　about　their　business；　for　the　Saxons　depart　as　though
discomfited；　while　the　others　pursue　them　with　contumely　until
they　catch　them　up　at　a　stream。　Many　of　the　foe　do　they　plunge
and　immerse　therein。　Cliges；　in　the　deepest　part　of　the　ford；　has
thrown　the　duke's　nephew；　and　so　many　others　with　him　；　that　to
their　shame　and　their　vexation；　they　flee；　mournful　and　sad。　But
Cliges　returns　with　joy；　bearing　off　the　prize　for　valour　on　both
sides；　and　he　came　straight　to　a　door　which　was　close　to　the
place　where　Fenice　was　standing　who　exacts　the　toll　of　a　sweet
look　as　he　enters　the　door；　a　toll　which　he　pays　her；　for　their
eyes　have　met。　Thus　has　one　conquered　the　other。

But　there　is　no　German　whether　of　the　north　or　of　the　south　so
much　as　able　to　speak　who　does　not　say：　〃God！　who　is　this　in　whom
so　great　beauty　blooms？　God！　whence　has　the　power　come　to　him　so
early　that　he　has　won　so　great　distinction？〃　Thus　asks　this　man
and　that；　〃Who　is　this　youth；　who　is　he？〃　till　throughout　the
city　they　soon　know　the　truth　of　it；　both　his　name　and　his
father's；　and　the　promise　which　the　emperor　had　made　and　granted
to　him。　It　is　already　so　much　told　and　noised　abroad　that　even
the　maiden　hears　tell　of　it；　who　had　great　joy　in　her　heart
thereat　because　now　she　can　never　say　that　Love　has　scorned　her；
nor　can　she　complain　of　aught；　for　he　makes　her　love　the　fairest；
the　most　courteous；　and　the　most　valiant　man　that　one　could　ever
find　anywhere；　but　she　must　needs　have　as　her　husband　one　who
cannot　please　her；　and　she　is　full　of　anguish　and　distress
thereat；　for　she　does　not　know　with　whom　to　take　counsel
concerning　him　whom　she　desires　save　only　with　her　own　thoughts
as　she　lies　awake。　And　thought　and　wakefulness　so　deal　with　her
that　they　blanch　her　and　altogether　change　her　complexion；　so
that　one　can　see　quite　clearly　by　her　loss　of　colour　that　she　has
not　what　she　desires；　for　she　plays　less　than　her　wont；　and
laughs　less；　and　disports　herself　less；　but　she　hides　it　well　and
denies　it　stoutly　if　any　ask　what　ails　her。　Her　nurse；　who　had
brought　her　up　from　infancy；　was　named　Thessala；　and　was　versed
in　the　black　art。　She　was　called　Thessala　because　she　was　born　in
Thessaly　where　sorceries　are　made；　taught；　and　practised；　for　the
women　who　are　of　that　country　make　charms　and　enchantments。

Thessala　sees　that　she　whom　Love　has　in　his　power　is　wan　and
pale；　and　she　has　addressed　her　secretly。　〃God！〃　quoth　she；　〃are
you　enchanted；　my　sweet　lady　dear；　that　you　have　so　wan　a
countenance？　Much　do　I　wonder　what　ails　you。　Tell　me；　if　you
know；　in　what　part　this　sickness　possesses　you　most；　for　if　any
one　can　cure　you　of　it　you　can　rely　on　me；　for　well　can　I　give
you　back　your　health。　Well　know　I　how　to　cure　a　man　of　dropsy；
and　I　know　how　to　cure　of　gout；　of　quinsy；　and　of　asthma；　I　know
so　much　about　the　water　and　so　much　about　the　pulse　that　evil
would　be　the　hour　in　which　you　would　take　another　leech。　And　I
know；　if　I　dared　say　it；　of　enchantments　and　of　charms；　well
proven　and　true；　more　than　ever　Medea　knew。　Never　spake　I　a　word
of　it　to　you；　and　yet　I　have　brought　you　up　till　now；　but　never
reproach　yourself　at　all　for　it；；　for　never　would　I　have　said
aught　to　you　if　I　had　not　seen　for　a　surety　that　such　a　malady
has　attacked　you；　that　you　have　need　of　my　aid。　Lady；　tell　me
your　malady；　and　you　will　act　wisely　in　doing　so　before　it　gets
further　hold　of　you。　The　emperor　has　set　me　in　charge　of　you　that
I　may　take　care　of　you；　and　I　have　given　such　diligence　that　I
have　kept　you　in　sound　health。　Now　shall　I　have　lost　my　pains　if
I　heal　you　not　of　this　ill。　Beware　that　you　hide　it　not　from　me；
be　it　illness　or　aught　else。〃　The　maiden　dares　not　openly
disclose　her　whole　desire　because　she　is　greatly　afeard　that
Thessala　may　blame　and　dissuade　her。　And　yet　because　she　hears
her　greatly　vaunt　and　extol　herself；　and　say　that　she　is　learned
in　enchantment；　in　charms　and　potions；　she　will　tell　her　what　is
her　case；　why　her　face　is　pale　and　wan；　but　beforehand　she　will
make　her　promise　that　she　will　hide　it　for　ever　and　will　never
dissuade　her。

〃Nurse；〃　quoth　she；　〃of　a　truth　I　thought　that　I　felt　no　ill；　but
I　shall　speedily　think　that