cliges-第15部分

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when　they　say　that　Cliges　is　deadthereat　is　the　mourning　very
great　and　loud。　And　they　fear　for　Fenice；　they　deem　not　that　they
will　ever　have　her　again；　and　both　for　her　and　for　him　the　whole
host　is　in　very　great　sorrow。　But　these　two　will　not　delay　much
longer；　and　the　whole　state　of　matters　will　take　a　different
appearance；　for　already　they　have　returned　to　the　host　and　have
turned　the　sorrow　into　joy。　Joy　returns　and　sorrow　flies。　They
all　come　to　meet　them　so　that　the　whole　host　assembles。　The　two
emperors　together；　when　they　heard　the　news　about　Cliges　and
about　the　maiden；　go　to　meet　them　with　very　great　joy；　but　each
one　longs　to　hear　how　Cliges　had　found　and　rescued　the　lady。
Cliges　tells　them　the　tale；　and　those　who　hear　it　marvel　greatly
Thereat；　and　much　do　they　praise　his　prowess　and　valour。　But　on
the　other　side　the　duke；　who　swears　and　protests；　is　furious；　and
declares　that　if　Cliges　dares　there　shall　be　a　single　combat
between　the　two　of　them；　and　that　he　will　order　matters　in　such
wise；　that　if　Cliges　wins　the　combat；　the　emperor　shall　go　away
in　safety；　and　take　the　maiden　unhindered；　but　that　if　he　kills
or　conquers　Cliges；　who　has　done　him　many　an　injury；　let　there
for　this　be　neither　truce　nor　peace　till　after　each　has　done　his
utmost。　This　the　duke　essays；　and　through　an　interpreter　of　his；
who　knew　Greek　and　German；　gives　the　two　emperors　to　know　that
thus　he　wishes　to　have　the　battle。


The　messenger　delivers　his　message　in　one　and　the　other　language
so　well　that　all　understood。　The　whole　host　resounds　and　is　in　an　
uproar　about　it；　and　men　say；　that　never　may　it　please　God；　that
Cliges　fight　the　battle；　and　both　the　emperors　are　in　a　very
great　alarm　thereat；　but　Cliges　falls　at　their　feet　and　prays
them　let　it　not　grieve　them；　but　that；　if　ever　he　has　done　aught
that　has　pleased　them；　he　may　have　this　battle　as　a　guerdon　and
as　a　reward。　And　if　it　is　denied　him　never　will　he　for　a　single
day　be　a　blessing　and　an　honour　to　his　uncle。　The　emperor；　who
held　his　nephew　as　dear　as　duty　bade　him；　with　his　hand　raises
him　up　from　his　knees　and　says：　〃Fair　nephew；　greatly　does　it
grieve　me　that　I　know　you　to　be　so　wedded　to　fighting；　for　after
joy　I　expect　sorrow　therefrom。　You　have　made　me　glad；　I　cannot
deny　it；　but　much　it　grieves　me　to　grant　this　boon　and　send　you
to　the　battle；　for　that　I　see　you　yet　too　young。　And　I　know　you
to　be　of　such　proud　courage　that　in　no　wise　dare　I　deny　anything
that　it　please　you　to　ask；　for　know　well　that　it　would　be　done
but　to　please　you；　but　if　my　prayer　availed　aught；　never　would
you　take　on　you　this　burden。〃　〃Sire；　you　are　pleading　in　vain；〃
quoth　Cliges；　〃for　may　God　confound　me　if　I　would　accept　the
whole　world　on　condition　that　I　did　not　fight　this　battle。　I　know
not　why　I　should　seek　from　you　a　long　respite　or　a　long　delay。〃
The　emperor　weeps　with　pity；　and　Cliges；　on　his　side；　weeps　with
joy　when　he　grants　him　the　battle。　There　had　he　wept　many　a
joyful　tear；　nor　had　he　secured　delay；　nor　limit　of　time；　before
it　was　the　hour　of　Prime；　by　his　own　messenger　was　the　battle
announced　to　the　duke；　just　as　he　had　demanded　it。

The　duke；　who　thinks　and　believes　and　imagines　that　Cliges　will
not　be　able　to　defend　himself　against　him；　but　that　he　will　soon
have　slain　or　conquered　him；　quickly　has　himself　armed。　Cliges；
who　is　longing　for　the　battle；　thinks　that　he　need　have　no　care
as　to　how　to　defend　himself　against　the　duke。　He　asks　the　emperor
for　arms；　and　prays　him　to　dub　him　knight；　and；　of　his　grace；　the
emperor　gives　him　arms　and　Cliges　takes　them；　for　his　heart　is
enamoured　of　the　battle　and　much　does　he　desire　and　long　for　it。
He　hastens　full　swiftly　to　arm　himself；　when　he　was　armed　from
head　to　foot；　the　emperor；　who　was　full　of　anxiety；　goes　to　gird
the　sword　on　his　side。　Cliges　mounts　on　the　white　Arab；　fully
armed；　from　his　neck　he　hangs　by　the　straps　a　shield　made　of
elephant's　bone；　such　that　it　will　neither　break　nor　split　nor
had　it　blazon　or　device；　the　armour　was　all　white；　and　the　steed
and　the　harness　were　all　whiter　than　any　snow。

Cliges　and　the　duke　are　armed；　and　the　one　has　announced　to　the
other　that　they　will　meet　half…way；　and　that；　on　both　sides；
their　men　shall　all　be　without　swords　and　without　lances；　bound
by　oaths　and　their　word　of　honour　that　never；　as　long　as　the
combat　shall　last；　will　there　be　any　so　bold　as　to　dare　to　move
for　any　reason；　any　more　than　he　would　dare　to　pluck　out　his　own
eye。　Bound　by　this　covenant　they　have　met；　and　the　delay　has
seemed　very　long　to　each　champion；　for　each　thinks　to　have　the
glory　and　the　joy　of　victory。　But　before　there　was　a　blow　struck；
the　maiden；　who　is　much　concerned　for　Cliges；　has　herself
escorted　thither；　but　on　this　is　she　quite　resolved：　that　if　he
dies；　she　will　die。　Never　will　any　hope　of　consolation　avail　to
deter　her　from　dying　with　him；　for　without　him　life　has　no　charm
for　her。

When　all　had　come　into　the　field；　high　and　low；　young　and　hoary；
and　the　guards　bad　been　set　there；　then　have　both　champions　taken
their　lances；　and　they　meet　in　no　half…hearted　way；　so　that　each
breaks　his　lance；　and　both　are　unhorsed　and　fail　to　keep　their
saddles。　But　quickly　have　they　risen　to　their　feet；　for　they　were
not　at　all　wounded；　and　again　they　encounter　without　delay。　They
play　a　merry　tune　with　their　swords　on　the　resounding　helms；　so
that　their　retinue　are　amazed；　and　it　seems　to　those　who　watch
them　that　the　helmets　are　on　fire　and　ablaze。　And　when　the　swords
rebound；　glowing　sparks　jet　forth　as　from　red…hot　iron　which　the
smith　hammers　on　the　anvil　when　he　draws　it　from　the　furnace。
Very　lavish　are　both　the　warriors　in　dealing　blows　in　great
Store；　and　each　has　a　good　will　to　pay　back　quickly　what　he
borrows；　neither　the　one　nor　the　other　ceases　from　paying　back
capital　and　interest　immediately；　all　without　count　and　without
stint。　But　the　duke　comes　on　in　great　anger；　and　right　wroth　and
furious　is　he　because　he　has　not　quelled　and　slain　Cliges　at　the
first　encounter。　He　deals　him　a　great　blow；　marvellous　and
strong；　such　that　at　his　feet　Cliges　has　fallen　on　one　knee。

At　the　blow　whereby　Cliges　fell　was　the　emperor　much　amazed；　he
was　no　whit　less　bewildered　than　if　he　had　been　behind　the　shield
himself。　Then　Fenice；　so　much　was　she　amazed；　can　no　longer
restrain　herself；　whatever　might　come　of　it；　from　crying：　〃God！
Aid！〃　as　loud　as　ever　she　could。　But　she　had　called　out　but　one
word　when；　forthwith；　her　voice　failed；　and　she　fell　swooning；
and　with　arms　outstretched　so　that　her　face　was　a　little　wounded。
Two　noble　barons　raised　her；　and　have　held　her　on　her　feet　till
she　has　returned　to　her　senses。　But　never　did　any　who　saw　her；
whatever　appearance　she　presented；　know　why　she　swooned。　Never
did　any　man　blame　her　for　it；　rather　they　have　all　praised　her；
for　there　is　not　a　single　one　who　does　not　believe　that　she　would
have　done　the　same　for　his　sake　if　he　had　been　in　Cliges'　place；
but　in　all　this　there　is　no　truth。　Cliges；　when　Fenice　cried；
heard　and　marked　her　right　well。　The　sound　restored　to　him
strength　and　courage；　and　be　springs　swiftly　to　his　feet；　and
advanced　furiously　to　meet　the　duke；　and　thrusts　at　him；　and
presses　him　so　that　the　duke　was　amazed　thereat；　for　he　finds　him
more　greedy　for　combat；　more　strong　and　agile　than　he　had　found
him　before；　it　seems　to　him；　when　they　first　encountered。　And
because　he　fears　his　onset　he　says　to　him：　〃Knight；　so　may　God
save　me；　I　see　thee　right　courageous　and　valiant。　But　if　it　had
not　been　for　my　nephew；　whom　I　shall　never　forget；　willingly
would　I　have　made　peace　with　thee；　and　would　have　released　thee
from　the　quarrel；　for　never　would　I　have　meddled　any　more　in　the
matter。〃　〃Duke；〃　says　Cliges；　〃what　may　be　your　pleasure？　Is　it
not　meet　that　he　who　cannot　make　good　his　claim　yield　it；　one　of
two　evils；　when　one　has　to　choose；　one　ought　to　choose　the
lesser。　When　your　nephew　picked　a　quarrel　with　me；　he　acted
unwisely。　I　will　serve　you　in　the　same　waybe　assured　of　itif
I　ever　can；　if　I　do　not　receive　submission　from　you。〃　The　duke；
to　whom　it　seems　that　Cliges　was　growing　in　strength　every
moment；　thinks　that　it　is　much　better　for　him　to　stop　short
half…way　before　he　is　altogether　wearied　out。　Nevertheless；　he
does　not　confess　to　him　the　truth　quite　openly；　but　he　says：
〃Knight；　I　see　thee　debonair　and　agile　and　of　great　courage。　But
exceeding　young　art　thou：　for　this　reason　I　reflect；　and　I　know
of　a　surety；　that　if　I　conquer　and　kill　thee；　never　should　I　win
praise　or　esteem　thereby；　nor　should　I　ever　see　any　man　of　valour
in　whose　hearing　I　should　dare　to　confess　that　I　had　fought　with
thee；　for　I　should　do　honour　to　thee　and　shame　to　myself。　But　if
those　knowst　what　honour　means；　a　great　honour　will　it　be　to　thee
for　ever　that　thou　hast　stood　thy　ground　against　me；　even　for　two
encounters　only。　Now　a　wish　and　desire　has　come　to　me；　to　release
thee　from　the　quarrel　and　not　to　fight　with　thee　any　longer。〃
〃Duke；〃　quoth　Cliges；　〃you　talk　idly。　You　shall　say　it　aloud　in
the　hearing　of　all；　and　never　shall　it　be　told　or　related　that
you　have　done　me　a　kindness；　or　that　you　have　had　mercy　on　me。　In
the　hearing　of　one　and　all　of　these　who　are　here；　you　will　have
to　declare　it　if　you　wish　to　make　peace　with　me。〃　The　duke
declares　it　in　the　hearing　of　all。　Thus　have　they　made　peace　and　
agreement；　but　whatever　the　issue　of　the　matter；　Cliges　had　the
honour　and　the　renown　of　it；　and　the　Greeks　had　very　great　joy
thereof。　But　the　Saxons　could　not　make　light　of　the　matter；　for
well　had　they　all　seen　their　lord　exhausted　and　worsted；　nor　is
there　any　question　but　that；　if　he　had　been　able　to　do　better　for
himself；　this　peace　would　never　have　been　made；　rather　would　he
have　rent　the　soul　out　of　Cliges'　body　if　he　had　been　able　to　do
it。

The　duke　returns　to　Saxony；　grieved　and　downcast　and　Ashamed；　for
of　his　menthere　are　not　two　who　do　not　hold　him　a　conquered
man；　a　craven；　and　a　coward。　The　Saxons；　with　all　their　shame；
have　returned　to　Saxony。　And　the　Greeks　delay　no　longer；　they
return　towards　Constantinople　with　great　joy　and　with　great
gladness；　for　well　by　his　prowess　has　Cliges　as