cliges-第13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！


yet　he　will　hold　the　dream　for　true。　In　one　word　I　have　told　you
all：　never　had　he　other　delight　of　her　than　in　dreams。　Thus　must
he　needs　fare　evermore　if　he　can　lead　his　bride　away；　but　before
he　can　hold　her　in　safety　a　great　disaster；　I　ween；　may　befall
him。　For　when　he　will　return　home；　the　duke；　to　whom　she　was
first　given；　will　be　no　laggard。　The　duke　has　gathered　a　great
force；　and　has　occupied　all　the　marches；　and　his　spies　are　at　the
court；　and　inform　him　each　day　of　all　he　wants　to　know；　and　tell
him　all　the　measures　he　must　take；　and　how　long　they　will　tarry；
and　when　they　will　return；　through　what　places；　and　by　what
passes。　The　emperor　did　not　long　tarry　after　the　wedding。
Blithely　he　departs　from　Cologne；　and　the　emperor　of　Germany
escorts　him　with　a　very　great　company　because　he　greatly　fears
and　dreads　the　might　of　the　Duke　of　Saxony。

The　two　emperors　proceed　and　stop　not　till　they　reach　Ratisbon；
and　on　one　evening　they　were　lodged　by　the　Danube　in　the　meadow。
The　Greeks　were　in　their　tents　in　the　meadows　beside　the　Black
Forest。　The　Saxons　who　were　observing　them　were　encamped　opposite
them。　The　duke's　nephew　was　left　all　alone　on　a　hill　to　keep　a
look…out；　and　see　whether；　peradventure；　he　might　gain　any
advantage　over　those　yonder　or　wreak　any　mischief　upon　them。
》From　his　post　of　vantage　he　saw　Cliges　riding　with　three　other
striplings　who　were　taking　their　pleasure；　carrying　lances　and
shields　in　order　to　tilt　and　to　disport　themselves。　Now　is　the
duke's　nephew　bent　on　attacking　and　injuring　them　if　ever　he　can。
With　five　comrades　he　sets　out；　and　the　six　have　posted
themselves　secretly　beside　the　wood　in　a　valley；　so　that　the
Greeks　never　saw　them　till　they　issued　from　the　valley；　and　till
the　duke's　nephew　rushes　upon　Cliges　and　strikes　him；　so　that　he
wounds　him　a　little　in　the　region　of　the　spine。　Cliges　stoops　and
bows　his　head；　so　that　the　lance　glances　off　him；　nevertheless；
it　wounds　him　a　little。

When　Cliges　perceives　that　he　is　wounded　he　has　rushed　upon　the
stripling；　and　strikes　him　straightway　with　such　violence　that　he
thrusts　his　lance　right　through　his　heart　and　fells　him　dead。
Then　the　Saxons；　who　fear　him　mightily；　all　take　to　flight　and
scatter　through　the　heart　of　the　forest　while　Cliges；　who　knows
not　of　the　ambush；　commits　a　reckless　and　foolish　act；　for　he
separates　himself　from　his　comrades；　and　pursues　in　that
direction　in　which　the　duke's　force　was。　And　now　all　the　host
were　preparing　to　make　an　attack　on　the　Greeks。　Cliges；　all
alone；　without　aid；　pursues　them；　and　the　youths　all　dismayed
because　of　their　lord　whom　they　have　lost；　come　running　into　the
duke's　presence；　and；　weeping；　recount　to　him　the　evil　hap　of　his
nephew。　The　duke　thinks　it　no　light　matter；　by　God　and　all　his
saints；　he　swears　that　never　in　all　his　life　will　he　have　joy　or
good　luck　as　long　as　he　shall　know　that　the　slayer　of　his　nephew
is　alive。　He　says　that　he　who　will　bring　him　Cliges'　head　shall
verily　be　deemed　his　friend；　and　will　give　him　great　comfort。
Then　a　knight　has　boasted　that　the　head　of　Cliges　will　be　offered
to　the　duke　by　him；　let　the　duke　but　rely　on　him。

Cliges　pursues　the　youths　till　he　swooped　down　on　the　Saxons；　and
is　seen　by　the　knight　who　has　engaged　to　carry　off　his　head。
Straightway；　that　knight　departs　and　stays　no　longer。　But　Cliges
has　retreated　in　order　to　elude　his　enemies；　and　he　returned　at
full　gallop　thither　where　he　had　left　his　comrades。　But　he　has
found　none　of　them　there；　for　they　had　returned　to　the　tents　to
relate　their　adventure。　And　the　emperor　summoned　Greeks　and
Germans　alike　to　horse。　Through　all　the　host　the　barons　speedily
arm　themselves　and　mount。　But　the　Saxon　knight；　all　armed；　his
visor　laced；　has　continued　to　pursue　Cliges　at　a　gallop。　Cliges；
who　never　wished　to　have　aught　in　common　with　a　recreant　or
coward；　sees　him　come　alone。　First　of　all　the　knight　has　assailed
him　with　words：　he　stoutly　calls　him　baseborn　fellow；　for　he
could　not　conceal　the　mind　he　had　of　him。　〃Fellow；〃　quoth　he；
〃here　wilt　thou　leave　the　forfeit　for　my　lord；　whom　thou　hast
slain。　If　I　bear　not　off　thy　head　with　me；　then　esteem　me　not
worth　a　bad　Byzantine　coin。　I　will　to　make　the　duke　a　present　of
it；　for　I　will　not　accept　any　other　forfeit　in　its　stead。　So　much
will　I　render　to　him　for　his　nephew；　and　he　will　have　had　a　good
exchange　for　him。〃　Cliges　hears　that　the　Saxon　is　abusing　him　as
a　madman　and　low…bred　fellow。　〃Man；〃　quoth　he；　〃now　defend
yourself；　for　I　defy　you　to　take　my　head；　and　you　shall　not　have
it　without　my　leave。〃　Forthwith　the　one　seeks　the　other。　The
Saxon　has　missed　his　stroke；　and　Cliges　thrusts　so　hard　that　he
made　man　and　steed　fall　all　in　a　heap。　The　steed　falls　backwards
on　his　rider　with　such　violence　that　it　completely　breaks　one　of
his　legs。　Cliges　dismounts　on　the　green　grass　and　disarms　him。
When　he　had　disarmed　him；　then　he　dons　the　arms　himself；　and　has
cut　off　his　head　with　the　victim's　own　sword。　When　he　had　cut　off
his　head；　he　has　fixed　it　on　to　the　point　of　his　lance；　and　says
that　he　will　present　it　to　the　duke　to　whom　his　enemy　had　vowed
to　present　Cliges'　own　head　if　he　could　meet　him　in　the　fight。　No
sooner　had　Cliges　placed　the　helmet　on　his　head；　taken　the　shield
；　（not　his　own；　but　the　shield　of　him　who　had　fought　with　him）；
and　no　sooner　had　he　mounted　on　the　foeman's　horse；　leaving　his
own　rider…less　in　order　to　dismay　the　Greeks；　than　he　saw　more
than　a　hundred　banners　and　battalions；　great　and　fully　equipped；
of　Greeks　and　Germans　mingled。　Now　will　begin　a　very　fierce　and
cruel　melee　between　the　Saxons　and　the　Greeks。　As　soon　as　Cliges
sees　them　come；　he　goes　straight　towards　the　Saxons；　and　the
Greeks　exert　themselves　to　pursue　him；　for　on　account　of　his　arms
they　do　not　know　him；　and　his　uncle；　who　sees　the　head　that　he　is
bringing；　is　marvellously　discomforted　thereat。　No　wonder　is　it
if　he　fears　for　his　nephew。　The　whole　host　musters　in　his　wake；
and　Cliges　lets　them　pursue　him　in　order　to　begin　the　melee　till
the　Saxons　perceive　him　coming；　but　the　arms　with　which　he　is
clad　and　furnished　mislead　them　all。　He　has　mocked　at　them　and
scorned　them；　for　the　duke　and　all　the　others　as　he　advanced　with
hoisted　lance；　say：　〃Our　knight　is　coming！　On　the　point　of　the
lance　that　he　holds　he　is　bringing　the　head　of　Cliges；　and　the
Greeks　follow　after　him。　Now　to　horse　to　succour　him！〃　Then　they
all　give　the　rein　to　their　horses；　and　Cliges　spurs　towards　the
Saxons；　covering　himself　behind　his　shield　and　doubling　himself
up；　his　lance　upright；　the　head　on　its　point。　Not　one　whit　less
courage　than　a　lion　had　he；　though　he　was　no　stronger　than
another。　On　both　sides　they　believe　that　he　is　deadSaxons；　and
Greeks　and　Germansand　the　one　side　are　blithe　thereat；　and　the
other　side；　grieved；　but　soon　will　the　truth　be　known。　For　now
has　Cliges　no　longer　held　his　peace：　shouting；　he　gallops　towards
a　Saxon；　and　strikes　him　with　his　ashen　lance　with　the　head　on
it；　full　in　the　breast；　so　that　he　has　lost　his　stirrups；　and　he
calls　out；　〃Barons；　strike！　I　am　Cliges　whom　you　seek。　On　now；
bold　freeborn　knights！　Let　there　be　no　coward；　for　ours　is　the
first　shock。　Let　no　craven　taste　of　such　a　dainty　dish。〃

The　emperor　greatly　rejoiced　when　he　heard　his　nephew；　Cliges；
who　thus　addresses　and　exhorts　them；　right　glad　and　comforted　is
he　thereof。　And　the　duke　is　utterly　dumfounded；；　for　now　he　knows
well　that　he　is　betrayed　unless　his　force　is　the　greater；　he　bids
his　men　close　their　ranks　and　keep　together。　And　the　Greeks；　in
close　array；　have　not　gone　far　from　them；　for　now　they　are
spurring　and　pricking。　On　both　sides　they　couch　their　lances　and
meet　and　receive　each　other　as　it　behoved　them　to　do　in　such　a
fight。　At　the　first　encounter；　they　pierce　shields　and　shatter
lances；　cut　girths；　break　stirrups；　the　steeds　stand　bereft　of
those　who　fall　upon　the　field。　But　no　matter　what　the　others　do；
Cliges　and　the　duke　meet；　they　hold　their　lances　couched；　and
each　strikes　the　other　on　his　shield　with　so　great　valour　that
the　lances；　which　were　strong　and　well　wrought；　break　into
splinters。　Cliges　was　a　skilful　horseman：　he　remained　upright　in
his　saddle；　never　stumbling　nor　wavering。　The　duke　has　lost　his
saddle；　and　in　spite　of　himself　has　voided　the　saddle…bows。
Cliges　thinks　to　take　him　and　lead　him　away　captive；　and　mightily
toils　and　strains；　but　the　strength　he　needed　was　not　his。　For
the　Saxons　were　all　around；　and　they　rescue　their　duke　by　force。
Nevertheless；　Cliges　leaves　the　field　without　injury；　with　a
prize；　for　he　leads　away　the　duke's　steed　which　was　whiter　than
wool　and　which；　for　the　use　of　a　man　of　valour；　was　worth　all　the
possessions　of　Octavian　of　Rome：　the　steed　was　an　Arab　one。　Great
joy　manifest　Greeks　and　Germans　when　they　see　Cliges　mounted　on
it；　for　they　had　seen　the　worth　and　the　perfection　of　the　Arab；
but　they　did　not　suspect　an　ambush　nor　will　they　ever　perceive　it
till　they　receive　great　loss　therefrom。

A　spy　has　come　to　the　duke　with　news　at　which　he　has　waxed　full
joyous。　〃Duke；〃　quoth　the　spy；　〃no　man　has　been　left　in　all　the
tents　of　the　Greeks　who　can　defend　himself。　Now　can　thy　men　take
the　daughter　of　the　emperor；　if　thou　wilt　trust　my　words；　while
thou　seest　the　Greeks　desperately　bent　on　the　fight　and　on　the
battle。　Give　me　a　hundred　of　thy　knights　and　I　will　give　them　thy
lady…love。　By　an　old　and　lonely　path；　I　will　lead　them　so
prudently　that　they　shall　not　be　seen　or　met　by　Saxon　or　German
till　they　will　be　able　to　take　the　maiden　in　her　tent；　and　lead
her　away　so　unhindered　that　never　will　she　be　denied　them。〃　The
duke　is　blithe　at　this　thing。　He　has　sent　a　hundred　and　more　wise
knights　with　the　spy；　and　the　spy　has　led　them　in　such　wise　that
they　take　the　maiden　as　a　prize；　nor　have　they　spent　great　force
thereon；　for　easily　were　they　able　to　lead　her　away。　When　they
had　taken　her　some　distance　from　the　tents；　they　sent　her　away
attended　by　twelve　of　them；　nor　did　the　rest　accompany　the　twelve
far。　Twelve　of　them　lead　away　the　maiden；　the　others　have　told
the　duke　the　news　of　their　success。　Nought　else　was　there　that
the　duke　had　desired；　and　straightw