idylls of the king-第26部分

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From　bonds　or　death；　and　dwelt　among　the　woods
By　the　great　river　in　a　boatman's　hut。
Dull　days　were　those；　till　our　good　Arthur　broke
The　Pagan　yet　once　more　on　Badon　hill。'

　　　'O　there；　great　lord；　doubtless；'　Lavaine　said；　rapt
By　all　the　sweet　and　sudden　passion　of　youth
Toward　greatness　in　its　elder；　'you　have　fought。
O　tell　usfor　we　live　apartyou　know
Of　Arthur's　glorious　wars。'　　And　Lancelot　spoke
And　answered　him　at　full；　as　having　been
With　Arthur　in　the　fight　which　all　day　long
Rang　by　the　white　mouth　of　the　violent　Glem；
And　in　the　four　loud　battles　by　the　shore
Of　Duglas；　that　on　Bassa；　then　the　war
That　thundered　in　and　out　the　gloomy　skirts
Of　Celidon　the　forest；　and　again
By　castle　Gurnion；　where　the　glorious　King
Had　on　his　cuirass　worn　our　Lady's　Head；
Carved　of　one　emerald　centered　in　a　sun
Of　silver　rays；　that　lightened　as　he　breathed；
And　at　Caerleon　had　he　helped　his　lord；
When　the　strong　neighings　of　the　wild　white　Horse
Set　every　gilded　parapet　shuddering；
And　up　in　Agned…Cathregonion　too；
And　down　the　waste　sand…shores　of　Trath　Treroit；
Where　many　a　heathen　fell；　'and　on　the　mount
Of　Badon　I　myself　beheld　the　King
Charge　at　the　head　of　all　his　Table　Round；
And　all　his　legions　crying　Christ　and　him；
And　break　them；　and　I　saw　him；　after；　stand
High　on　a　heap　of　slain；　from　spur　to　plume
Red　as　the　rising　sun　with　heathen　blood；
And　seeing　me；　with　a　great　voice　he　cried；
〃They　are　broken；　they　are　broken！〃　for　the　King；
However　mild　he　seems　at　home；　nor　cares
For　triumph　in　our　mimic　wars；　the　jousts
For　if　his　own　knight　cast　him　down；　he　laughs
Saying；　his　knights　are　better　men　than　he
Yet　in　this　heathen　war　the　fire　of　God
Fills　him：　　I　never　saw　his　like：　　there　lives
No　greater　leader。'

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　While　he　uttered　this；
Low　to　her　own　heart　said　the　lily　maid；
'Save　your　own　great　self；　fair　lord；'　and　when　he　fell
From　talk　of　war　to　traits　of　pleasantry
Being　mirthful　he；　but　in　a　stately　kind
She　still　took　note　that　when　the　living　smile
Died　from　his　lips；　across　him　came　a　cloud
Of　melancholy　severe；　from　which　again；
Whenever　in　her　hovering　to　and　fro
The　lily　maid　had　striven　to　make　him　cheer；
There　brake　a　sudden…beaming　tenderness
Of　manners　and　of　nature：　　and　she　thought
That　all　was　nature；　all；　perchance；　for　her。
And　all　night　long　his　face　before　her　lived；
As　when　a　painter；　poring　on　a　face；
Divinely　through　all　hindrance　finds　the　man
Behind　it；　and　so　paints　him　that　his　face；
The　shape　and　colour　of　a　mind　and　life；
Lives　for　his　children；　ever　at　its　best
And　fullest；　so　the　face　before　her　lived；
Dark…splendid；　speaking　in　the　silence；　full
Of　noble　things；　and　held　her　from　her　sleep。
Till　rathe　she　rose；　half…cheated　in　the　thought
She　needs　must　bid　farewell　to　sweet　Lavaine。
First　in　fear；　step　after　step；　she　stole
Down　the　long　tower…stairs；　hesitating：
Anon；　she　heard　Sir　Lancelot　cry　in　the　court；
'This　shield；　my　friend；　where　is　it？'　and　Lavaine
Past　inward；　as　she　came　from　out　the　tower。
There　to　his　proud　horse　Lancelot　turned；　and　smoothed
The　glossy　shoulder；　humming　to　himself。
Half…envious　of　the　flattering　hand；　she　drew
Nearer　and　stood。　　He　looked；　and　more　amazed
Than　if　seven　men　had　set　upon　him；　saw
The　maiden　standing　in　the　dewy　light。
He　had　not　dreamed　she　was　so　beautiful。
Then　came　on　him　a　sort　of　sacred　fear；
For　silent；　though　he　greeted　her；　she　stood
Rapt　on　his　face　as　if　it　were　a　God's。
Suddenly　flashed　on　her　a　wild　desire；
That　he　should　wear　her　favour　at　the　tilt。
She　braved　a　riotous　heart　in　asking　for　it。
'Fair　lord；　whose　name　I　know　notnoble　it　is；
I　well　believe；　the　noblestwill　you　wear
My　favour　at　this　tourney？'　　'Nay；'　said　he；
'Fair　lady；　since　I　never　yet　have　worn
Favour　of　any　lady　in　the　lists。
Such　is　my　wont；　as　those；　who　know　me；　know。'
'Yea；　so；'　she　answered；　'then　in　wearing　mine
Needs　must　be　lesser　likelihood；　noble　lord；
That　those　who　know　should　know　you。'　　And　he　turned
Her　counsel　up　and　down　within　his　mind；
And　found　it　true；　and　answered；　'True；　my　child。
Well；　I　will　wear　it：　　fetch　it　out　to　me：
What　is　it？'　and　she　told　him　'A　red　sleeve
Broidered　with　pearls；'　and　brought　it：　　then　he　bound
Her　token　on　his　helmet；　with　a　smile
Saying；　'I　never　yet　have　done　so　much
For　any　maiden　living；'　and　the　blood
Sprang　to　her　face　and　filled　her　with　delight；
But　left　her　all　the　paler；　when　Lavaine
Returning　brought　the　yet…unblazoned　shield；
His　brother's；　which　he　gave　to　Lancelot；
Who　parted　with　his　own　to　fair　Elaine：
'Do　me　this　grace；　my　child；　to　have　my　shield
In　keeping　till　I　come。'　　'A　grace　to　me；'
She　answered；　'twice　today。　　I　am　your　squire！'
Whereat　Lavaine　said；　laughing；　'Lily　maid；
For　fear　our　people　call　you　lily　maid
In　earnest；　let　me　bring　your　colour　back；
Once；　twice；　and　thrice：　　now　get　you　hence　to　bed：'
So　kissed　her；　and　Sir　Lancelot　his　own　hand；
And　thus　they　moved　away：　　she　stayed　a　minute；
Then　made　a　sudden　step　to　the　gate；　and　there
Her　bright　hair　blown　about　the　serious　face
Yet　rosy…kindled　with　her　brother's　kiss
Paused　by　the　gateway；　standing　near　the　shield
In　silence；　while　she　watched　their　arms　far…off
Sparkle；　until　they　dipt　below　the　downs。
Then　to　her　tower　she　climbed；　and　took　the　shield；
There　kept　it；　and　so　lived　in　fantasy。

　　　Meanwhile　the　new　companions　past　away
Far　o'er　the　long　backs　of　the　bushless　downs；
To　where　Sir　Lancelot　knew　there　lived　a　knight
Not　far　from　Camelot；　now　for　forty　years
A　hermit；　who　had　prayed；　laboured　and　prayed；
And　ever　labouring　had　scooped　himself
In　the　white　rock　a　chapel　and　a　hall
On　massive　columns；　like　a　shorecliff　cave；
And　cells　and　chambers：　　all　were　fair　and　dry；
The　green　light　from　the　meadows　underneath
Struck　up　and　lived　along　the　milky　roofs；
And　in　the　meadows　tremulous　aspen…trees
And　poplars　made　a　noise　of　falling　showers。
And　thither　wending　there　that　night　they　bode。

　　　But　when　the　next　day　broke　from　underground；
And　shot　red　fire　and　shadows　through　the　cave；
They　rose；　heard　mass；　broke　fast；　and　rode　away：
Then　Lancelot　saying；　'Hear；　but　hold　my　name
Hidden；　you　ride　with　Lancelot　of　the　Lake；'
Abashed　young　Lavaine；　whose　instant　reverence；
Dearer　to　true　young　hearts　than　their　own　praise；
But　left　him　leave　to　stammer；　'Is　it　indeed？'
And　after　muttering　'The　great　Lancelot；
At　last　he　got　his　breath　and　answered；　'One；
One　have　I　seenthat　other；　our　liege　lord；
The　dread　Pendragon；　Britain's　King　of　kings；
Of　whom　the　people　talk　mysteriously；
He　will　be　therethen　were　I　stricken　blind
That　minute；　I　might　say　that　I　had　seen。'

　　　So　spake　Lavaine；　and　when　they　reached　the　lists
By　Camelot　in　the　meadow；　let　his　eyes
Run　through　the　peopled　gallery　which　half　round
Lay　like　a　rainbow　fallen　upon　the　grass；
Until　they　found　the　clear…faced　King；　who　sat
Robed　in　red　samite；　easily　to　be　known；
Since　to　his　crown　the　golden　dragon　clung；
And　down　his　robe　the　dragon　writhed　in　gold；
And　from　the　carven…work　behind　him　crept
Two　dragons　gilded；　sloping　down　to　make
Arms　for　his　chair；　while　all　the　rest　of　them
Through　knots　and　loops　and　folds　innumerable
Fled　ever　through　the　woodwork；　till　they　found
The　new　design　wherein　they　lost　themselves；
Yet　with　all　ease；　so　tender　was　the　work：
And；　in　the　costly　canopy　o'er　him　set；
Blazed　the　last　diamond　of　the　nameless　king。

　　　Then　Lancelot　answered　young　Lavaine　and　said；
'Me　you　call　great：　　mine　is　the　firmer　seat；
The　truer　lance：　　but　there　is　many　a　youth
Now　crescent；　who　will　come　to　all　I　am
And　overcome　it；　and　in　me　there　dwells
No　greatness；　save　it　be　some　far…off　touch
Of　greatness　to　know　well　I　am　not　great：
There　is　the　man。'　　And　Lavaine　gaped　upon　him
As　on　a　thing　miraculous；　and　anon
The　trumpets　blew；　and　then　did　either　side；
They　that　assailed；　and　they　that　held　the　lists；
Set　lance　in　rest；　strike　spur；　suddenly　move；
Meet　in　the　midst；　and　there　so　furiously
Shock；　that　a　man　far…off　might　well　perceive；
If　any　man　that　day　were　left　afield；
The　hard　earth　shake；　and　a　low　thunder　of　arms。
And　Lancelot　bode　a　little；　till　he　saw
Which　were　the　weaker；　then　he　hurled　into　it
Against　the　stronger：　　little　need　to　speak
Of　Lancelot　in　his　glory！　　King；　duke；　earl；
Count；　baronwhom　he　smote；　he　overthrew。

　　　But　in　the　field　were　Lancelot's　kith　and　kin；
Ranged　with　the　Table　Round　that　held　the　lists；
Strong　men；　and　wrathful　that　a　stranger　knight
Should　do　and　almost　overdo　the　deeds
Of　Lancelot；　and　one　said　to　the　other；　'Lo！
What　is　he？　　I　do　not　mean　the　force　alone
The　grace　and　versatility　of　the　man！
Is　it　not　Lancelot？'　　'When　has　Lancelot　worn
Favour　of　any　lady　in　the　lists？
Not　such　his　wont；　as　we；　that　know　him；　know。'
'How　then？　who　then？'　a　fury　seized　them　all；
A　fiery　family　passion　for　the　name
Of　Lancelot；　and　a　glory　one　with　theirs。
They　couched　their　spears　and　pricked　their　steeds；　and　thus；
Their　plumes　driven　backward　by　the　wind　they　made
In　moving；　all　together　down　upon　him
Bare；　as　a　wild　wave　in　the　wide　North…sea；
Green…glimmering　toward　the　summit；　bears；　with　all
Its　stormy　crests　that　smoke　against　the　skies；
Down　on　a　bark；　and　overbears　the　bark；
And　him　that　helms　it；　so　they　overbore
Sir　Lancelot　and　his　charger；　and　a　spear
Down…glancing　lamed　the　charger；　and　a　spear
Pricked　sharply　his　own　cuirass；　and　the　head
Pierced　through　his　side；　and　there　snapt；　and　remained。

　　　Then　Sir　Lavaine　did　well　and　worshipfully；
He　bore　a　knight　of　old　repute　to　the　earth；
And　brought　his　horse　to　Lancelot　where　he　lay。
He　up　the　side；　sweating　with　agony；　got；
But　thought　to　do　while　he　might　yet　endure；
And　being　lustily　holpen　by　the　rest；
His　party；though　it　seemed　half…miracle
To　those　he　fought　with；drave　his　kith　and　kin；
And　all　the　Table　Round　that　held　the　lists；
Back　to　the　barrier；　then　the　trumpets　blew
Proclaiming　his　the　prize；　who　wore　the　sleeve
Of　scarlet；　and　the　pearls；　and　all　the　knights；
His　party；　cried　'Advance　and　take　thy　prize
The　diamond；'　but　he　answered；　'Diamond　me
No　diamonds！　for　God's　love；　a　little　air！
Prize