首页 >出版文学> Le Mort d’Arthur>第129章

第129章

  Whatsayye,sadKngArthuruntoSrLauncelot,wllyeabdebyyourproffer?Yea,mylord,sadSrLauncelot,wllnevergofromthathaveoncesad。
  ThentheknghtspartersofthefelddsarmedSrLauncelot,frsthshead,andsthenhsleftarm,andhsleftsde,andtheyboundhsleftarmbehndhsback,wthoutsheldoranythng,andthentheywereputtogether。WtyouwelltherewasmanyaladyandknghtmarvelledthatSrLauncelotwouldjeopardyhmselfnsuchwse。ThenSrMelagrancecamewthhsswordallonhgh,andSrLauncelotshowedhmopenlyhsbareheadandthebareleftsde;andwhenheweenedtohavesmttenhmuponthebarehead,thenlghtlyheavodedtheleftlegandtheleftsde,andputhsrghthandandhsswordtothatstroke,andsoputtonsdewthgreatsleght;andthenwthgreatforceSrLauncelotsmotehmonthehelmetsuchabuffetthatthestrokecarvedtheheadntwoparts。Thentherewasnomoretodo,buthewasdrawnoutofthefeld。AndatthegreatnstanceoftheknghtsoftheTableRound,thekngsufferedhmtobenterred,andthementonmadeuponhm,whoslewhm,andforwhatcausehewasslan;
  andthenthekngandthequeenmademoreofSrLauncelotduLake,andmorehewaschershed,thaneverhewasaforehand。
  X
  HowSrUrrecamentoArthur’scourtfortobehealedofhswounds,andhowKngArthurwouldbegntohandlehmTHENastheFrenchbookmakethmenton,therewasagoodknghtnthelandofHungary,hsnamewasSrUrre,andhewasanadventurousknght,andnallplaceswherehemghthearofanydeedsofworshptherewouldhebe。SothappenednSpantherewasanearl’sson,hsnamewasAlphegus,andatagreattournamentnSpanthsSrUrre,knghtofHungary,andSrAlphegusofSpanencounteredtogetherforveryenvy;andsoetherundertookothertotheutterance。AndbyfortuneSrUrreslewSrAlphegus,theearl’ssonofSpan,butthsknghtthatwasslanhadgvenSrUrre,oreverhewasslan,sevengreatwounds,threeonthehead,andfouronhsbodyanduponhslefthand。AndthsSrAlphegushadamother,thewhchwasagreatsorceress;
  andshe,forthedespteofherson’sdeath,wroughtbyhersubtlecraftsthatSrUrreshouldneverbewhole,buteverhswoundsshouldonetmefesterandanothertmebleed,sothatheshouldneverbewholeuntlthebestknghtoftheworldhadsearchedhswounds;andthusshemadeheravaunt,wherethroughtwasknownthatSrUrreshouldneverbewhole。
  Thenhsmotherletmakeanhorseltter,andputhmtherenundertwopalfreys;andthenshetookSrUrre’sssterwthhm,afullfardamosel,whosenamewasFelelole;andthenshetookapagewthhmtokeeptherhorses,andsotheyledSrUrrethroughmanycountres。ForastheFrenchbooksath,sheledhmsosevenyearthroughalllandschrstened,andnevershecouldfndnoknghtthatmghteaseherson。SoshecamentoScotlandandntothelandsofEngland,andbyfortuneshecamenghthefeastofPentecostuntlKngArthur’scourt,thatatthattmewasholdenatCarlsle。
  Andwhenshecamethere,thenshemadetopenlytobeknownhowthatshewascomentothatlandfortohealherson。
  ThenKngArthurletcallthatlady,andaskedherthecausewhyshebroughtthathurtknghtntothatland。Mymostnoblekng,sadthatlady,wtyouwellbroughthmhtherfortobehealedofhswounds,thatofallthssevenyearhemghtnotbewhole。Andthenshetoldthekngwherehewaswounded,andofwhom;
  andhowhsmotherhaddscoverednherprdehowshehadwroughtthatbyenchantment,sothatheshouldneverbewholeuntlthebestknghtoftheworldhadsearchedhswounds。Andsohavepassedthroughallthelandschrstenedtohavehmhealed,exceptthsland。Andf
  faltohealhmherenthsland,wllnevertakemorepanuponme,andthatspty,forhewasagoodknght,andofgreatnobleness。Whatshsname?sadArthurMygoodandgracouslord,shesad,hsnamesSrUrreoftheMount。ngoodtme,sadthekng,andsthyearecomentothsland,yearerghtwelcome;andwtyouwellhereshallyoursonbehealed,aneveranyChrstanmanmayhealhm。Andfortogveallothermenofworshpcourage,myselfwllassaytohandleyourson,andsoshallallthekngs,dukes,andearlsthatbeherepresentwthmeatthstme;theretowllcommandthem,andwellwottheyshallobeyanddoaftermycommandment。Andwtyouwell,sadKngArthuruntoUrre’ssster,shallbegntohandlehm,andsearchuntomypower,notpresumnguponmethatamsoworthytohealyoursonbymydeeds,butwllcourageothermenofworshptodoaswlldo。Andthenthekngcommandedallthekngs,dukes,andearls,andallnobleknghtsoftheRoundTablethatweretherethattmepresent,tocomentothemeadowofCarlsle。AndsoatthattmetherewerebutanhundredandtenoftheRoundTable,forfortyknghtswerethattmeaway;
  andsoherewemustbegnatKngArthur,asskndlytobegnathmthatwasthemostmanofworshpthatwaschrstenedatthattme。
  X
  HowKngArthurhandledSrUrre,andafterhmmanyotherknghtsoftheRoundTableTHENKngArthurlookeduponSrUrre,andthekngthoughthewasafulllkelymanwhenhewaswhole;
  andthenKngArthurmadehmtobetakendownofftheltterandladhmupontheearth,andtherewasladacushonofgoldthatheshouldkneelupon。AndthennobleArthursad:Farknght,merepentethofthyhurt,andfortocourageallothernobleknghtswllpraytheesoftlytosuffermetohandleyourwounds。Mostnoblechrstenedkng,sadUrre,doasyelst,foramatthemercyofGod,andatyourcommandment。SothenArthursoftlyhandledhm,andthensomeofhswoundsreneweduponbleedng。ThentheKngClarenceofNorthumberlandsearched,andtwouldnotbe。AndthenSrBarantleApresthatwascalledtheKngwththeHundredKnghts,heassayedandfaled;andsoddKngUrensofthelandofGore;soddKngAngushofreland;soddKngNentresofGarloth;soddKngCaradosofScotland;soddtheDukeGalahad,thehautprnce;soddConstantne,thatwasSrCarados’sonofCornwall;soddDukeChalensofClarance;soddtheEarlUlbause;soddtheEarlLambale;soddtheEarlArstause。
  ThencamenSrGawanewthhsthreesons,SrGngaln,SrFlorence,andSrLovel,thesetwowerebegottenuponSrBrandles’sster;andalltheyfaled。
  ThencamenSrAgravane,SrGahers,SrMordred,andthegoodknght,SrGareth,thatwasofveryknghthoodworthallthebrethren。SocameknghtsofLauncelot’skn,butSrLauncelotwasnotthattmenthecourt,forhewasthattmeuponhsadventures。ThenSrLonel,SrEctordeMars,SrBorsdeGans,SrBlamoredeGans,SrBleobersdeGans,SrGahalantne,SrGalhodn,SrMenaduke,SrVllarstheValant,SrHebesleRenoumes。AllthesewereofSrLauncelot’skn,andalltheyfaled。ThencamenSrSagramoreleDesrous,SrDodnasleSavage,SrDnadan,SrBrunleNore,thatSrKaynamedLaCoteMaleTale,andSrKayleSeneschal,SrKaydeStranges,SrMelotdeLogrs,SrPetpaseofWnchelsea,SrGalleronofGalway,SrMelonoftheMountan,SrCardok,SrUwanelesAvoutres,andSrOzannaleCureHardy。
  ThencamenSrAstamor,andSrGromere,Grummor’sson,SrCrosselm,SrServauseleBreuse,thatwascalledapassngstrongknght,forasthebooksath,thechefLadyoftheLakefeastedSrLauncelotandServauseleBreuse,andwhenshehadfeastedthembothatsundrytmessheprayedthemtogveheraboon。Andtheygrantedther。AndthensheprayedSrServausethathewouldpromsehernevertodobattleaganstSrLauncelotduLake,andnthesamewsesheprayedSrLauncelotnevertodobattleaganstSrServause,andsoetherpromsedher。FortheFrenchbooksath,thatSrServausehadnevercouragenorlusttodobattleaganstnoman,butftwereaganstgants,andaganstdragons,andwldbeasts。Sowepassuntothemthatatthekng’srequestmadethemallthatwerethereatthathghfeast,asoftheknghtsoftheTableRound,fortosearchSrUrre:tothatntentthekngddt,towtwhchwasthenoblestknghtamongthem。
  ThencameSrAglovale,SrDurnore,SrTor,thatwasbegottenuponAres,thecowherd’swfe,buthewasbegottenaforeAresweddedher,andKngPellnorebegatthemall,frstSrTor,SrAglovale,SrDurnore,SrLamorak,themostnoblestknghtonethateverwasnArthur’sdaysasforaworldlyknght,andSrPercvalethatwaspeerlessexceptSrGalahadnholydeeds,buttheydednthequestoftheSangreal。ThencameSrGrfletleFsedeDeu,SrLucantheButler,SrBedeverehsbrother,SrBrandles,SrConstantne,SrCador’ssonofCornwall,thatwaskngafterArthur’sdays,andSrClegs,SrSadok,SrDnasleSeneschalofCornwall,SrFergus,SrDrant,SrLambegus,SrClarrusofCleremont,SrCloddrus,SrHectmere,SrEdwardofCarnarvon,SrDnas,SrPramus,thatwaschrstenedbySrTrstramthenobleknght,andthesethreewerebrethren;
  SrHellaneleBlankthatwassontoSrBors,hebegathmuponKngBrandegors’daughter,andSrBrandeLstnose;SrGautere,SrReynold,SrGllemere,werethreebrethrenthatSrLauncelotwonuponabrdgenSrKay’sarms。SrGuyartlePette,SrBellangereleBeuse,thatwassontothegoodknght,SrAlsanderleOrpheln,thatwasslanbythetreasonofKngMark。
  AlsothattratorkngslewthenobleknghtSrTrstram,ashesatharpngaforehsladyLaBealesoud,wthatrenchantglave,forwhosedeathwasmuchbewalngofeveryknghtthateverwerenArthur’sdays;therewasnevernonesobewaledaswasSrTrstramandSrLamorak,fortheyweretratorouslyslan,SrTrstrambyKngMark,andSrLamorakbySrGawaneandhsbrethren。AndthsSrBellangererevengedthedeathofhsfatherAlsander,andSrTrstramslewKngMark,andLaBealesouddedswoonnguponthecorseofSrTrstram,whereofwasgreatpty。AndallthatwerewthKngMarkthatwereconsentngtothedeathofSrTrstramwereslan,asSrAndredandmanyother。
  ThencameSrHebes,SrMorganore,SrSentrale,SrSuppnabls,SrBellangereleOrgulous,thatthegoodknghtSrLamorakwonnplanbattle;SrNeroveusandSrPlenorus,twogoodknghtsthatSrLauncelotwon;SrDarras,SrHarryleFseLake,SrErmnde,brothertoKngHermaunce,forwhomSrPalomdesfoughtattheRedCtywthtwobrethren;andSrSelsesoftheDolorousTower,SrEdwardofOrkney,Srronsde,thatwascalledthenobleKnghtoftheRedLaundsthatSrGarethwonfortheloveofDameLones,SrArrokdeGrevaunt,SrDegraneSaunceVelanythatfoughtwththegantoftheblacklowe,SrEpnogrs,thatwasthekng’ssonofNorthumberland。SrPelleasthatlovedtheladyEttard,andhehaddedforherlovehadnotbeenoneoftheladesofthelake,hernamewasDameNmue,andsheweddedSrPelleas,andshesavedhmthathewasneverslan,andhewasafullnobleknght;andSrLamelofCardffthatwasagreatlover。
  SrPlanedeFors,SrMelleausdeLle,SrBohartleCureHardythatwasKngArthur’sson,SrMadordelaPorte,SrColgrevance,SrHervsedelaForestSavage,SrMarrok,thegoodknghtthatwasbetrayedwthhswfe,forshemadehmsevenyearawer-wolf,SrPersaunt,SrPertlope,hsbrother,thatwascalledtheGreenKnght,andSrPermones,brothertothemboth,thatwascalledtheRedKnght,thatSrGarethwonwhenhewascalledBeaumans。AllthesehundredknghtsandtensearchedSrUrre’swoundsbythecommandmentofKngArthur。
  X
  HowSrLauncelotwascommandedbyArthurtohandlehswounds,andanonhewasallwhole,andhowtheythankedGodMERCYJesu,sadKngArthur,wheresSrLauncelotduLakethathesnothereatthstme?Thus,astheystoodandspakeofmanythngs,therewasespedSrLauncelotthatcamerdngtowardthem,andtoldthekng。Peace,sadthekng,letnomannerthngbesaduntlhebecometous。SowhenSrLauncelotespedKngArthur,hedescendedfromhshorseandcametothekng,andsalutedhmandthemall。Anonasthemad,SrUrre’ssster,sawSrLauncelot,sherantoherbrotherthereashelaynhsltter,andsad:Brother,herescomeaknghtthatmyheartgvethgreatlyunto。
  Farsster,sadSrUrre,sodothmyheartlghtagansthm,andcertanlyhopenowtobehealed,formyheartgvethuntohmmorethantoallthesethathavesearchedme。
  ThensadArthuruntoSrLauncelot:Yemustdoaswehavedone;andtoldSrLauncelotwhattheyhaddone,andshowedhmthemall,thathadsearchedhm。
  Jesudefendme,sadSrLauncelot,whensomanykngsandknghtshaveassayedandfaled,thatshouldpresumeuponmetoenchevethatallye,mylords,mghtnotencheve。Yeshallnotchoose,sadKngArthur,for
  wllcommandyoufortodoasweallhavedone。Mymostrenownedlord,sadSrLauncelot,yeknowwelldarenotnormaynotdsobeyyourcommandment,butanmghtordurst,wtyouwellwouldnottakeuponmetotouchthatwoundedknghtnthatntentthat
  shouldpassallotherknghts;Jesudefendmefromthatshame。Yetaketwrong,sadKngArthur,yeshallnotdotfornopresumpton,butfortobearusfellowshp,nsomuchyebeafellowoftheTableRound;andwtyouwell,sadKngArthur,anyeprevalnotandhealhm,daresaytheresnoknghtnthslandmayhealhm,andthereforeprayyou,doaswehavedone。
  AndthenallthekngsandknghtsforthemostpartprayedSrLauncelottosearchhm;andthenthewoundedknght,SrUrre,sethmupweakly,andprayedSrLauncelotheartly,sayng:Courteousknght,
  requretheeforGod’ssakehealmywounds,formethnketheversthenyecameheremywoundsgrevemenot。Ah,myfarlord,sadSrLauncelot,Jesuwouldthatmghthelpyou;shamemesorethatshouldbethusrebuked,forneverwasablenworthnesstodosohghathng。ThenSrLauncelotkneeleddownbythewoundedknghtsayng:MylordArthur,mustdoyourcommandment,thewhchssoreaganstmyheart。
  Andthenhehelduphshands,andlookedntotheeast,sayngsecretlyuntohmself:ThoublessedFather,Son,andHolyGhost,beseechtheeofthymercy,thatmysmpleworshpandhonestybesaved,andthoublessedTrnty,thoumaystgvepowertohealthssckknghtbythygreatvrtueandgraceofthee,but,GoodLord,neverofmyself。AndthenSrLauncelotprayedSrUrretolethmseehshead;andthendevoutlykneelngheransackedthethreewounds,thattheybledalttle,andforthwthallthewoundsfarhealed,andseemedastheyhadbeenwholeasevenyear。Andnlkewsehesearchedhsbodyofotherthreewounds,andtheyhealednlkewse;andthenthelastofallhesearchedthewhchwasnhshand,andanonthealedfar。
  ThenKngArthurandallthekngsandknghtskneeleddownandgavethankngsandlovngsuntoGodandtoHsBlessedMother。AndeverSrLauncelotweptashehadbeenachldthathadbeenbeaten。ThenKngArthurletarrayprestsandclerksnthemostdevoutestmanner,tobrngnSrUrrewthnCarlsle,wthsngngandlovngtoGod。Andwhenthswasdone,thekngletclothehmntherchestmannerthatcouldbethought;andthenweretherebutfewbettermadeknghtsnallthecourt,forhewaspassnglywellmadeandbgly;andArthuraskedSrUrrehowhefelthmself。Mygoodlord,hesad,feltmyselfneversolusty。Wllyejoustanddodeedsofarms?sadKngArthur。Sr,sadUrre,anhadallthatlongeduntojoustswouldbesoonready。