首页 >出版文学> Le Mort d’Arthur>第39章
  HowtheQueenofOrkneycametothsfeastofPentecost,andSrGawaneandhsbrethrencametoaskherblessng。
  Sothenthekngandtheywenttomeat,andwereservednthebestmanner。Andastheysatatthemeat,therecamentheQueenofOrkney,wthladesandknghtsagreatnumber。AndthenSrGawane,SrAgravane,andGahersarose,andwenttoherandsalutedherupontherknees,andaskedherblessng;fornffteenyeartheyhadnotseenher。ThenshespakeonhghtoherbrotherKngArthur:WherehaveyedonemyyoungsonSrGareth?Hewashereamongstyouatwelvemonth,andyemadeaktchenknaveofhm,thewhchsshametoyouall。Alas,wherehaveyedonemydearsonthatwasmyjoyandblss?Odearmother,sadSrGawane,knewhmnot。Nor,sadthekng,thatnowmerepenteth,butthankedbeGodhesprovedaworshpfulknghtasanysnowlvngofhsyears,andshallneverbegladtllmayfndhm。
  Ah,brother,sadtheQueenuntoKngArthur,anduntoSrGawane,andtoallhersons,yeddyourselfgreatshamewhenyeamongstyoukeptmysonnthektchenandfedhmlkeapoorhog。Farsster,sadKngArthur,yeshallrghtwellwt
  knewhmnot,nornomoreddSrGawane,norhsbrethren;butsthentsso,sadthekng,thathesthusgonefromusall,wemustshapearemedytofndhm。Also,sster,meseemethyemghthavedonemetowtofhscomng,andthenanhadnotdonewelltohmyemghthaveblamedme。Forwhenhecametothscourthecameleanngupontwomen’sshoulders,asthoughhemghtnothavegone。Andthenheaskedmethreegfts;andoneheaskedthesameday,thatwasthatwouldgvehmmeatenoughthattwelvemonth;andtheothertwogftsheaskedthatdayatwelvemonth,andthatwasthathemghthavetheadventureofthedamoselLnet,andthethrdwasthatSrLauncelotshouldmakehmknghtwhenhedesredhm。Andsograntedhmallhsdesre,andmanynthscourtmarvelledthathedesredhssustenanceforatwelvemonth。Andthereby,wedeemed,manyofus,thathewasnotcomeofanoblehouse。
  Sr,sadtheQueenofOrkneyuntoKngArthurherbrother,wtyewellthatsenthmuntoyourghtwellarmedandhorsed,andworshpfullybeseenofhsbody,andgoldandslverplentytospend。tmaybe,sadtheKng,butthereofsawwenone,savethatsamedayashedepartedfromus,knghtstoldmethattherecameadwarfhthersuddenly,andbroughthmarmourandagoodhorsefullwellandrchlybeseen;andthereatweallhadmarvelfromwhencethatrchescame,thatwedeemedallthathewascomeofmenofworshp。Brother,sadthequeen,allthatyesaybeleve,foreversthenhewasgrownhewasmarvellouslywtted,andeverhewasfathfulandtrueofhspromse。But
  marvel,sadshe,thatSrKayddmockhmandscornhm,andgavehmthatnameBeaumans;yet,SrKay,sadthequeen,namedhmmorerghteouslythanheweened;fordaresayanhebealve,hesasfaranhandedmanandwelldsposedasanyslvng。Sr,sadArthur,letthslanguagebestll,andbythegraceofGodheshallbefoundanhebewthnthssevenrealms,andletallthspassandbemerry,forhesprovedtobeamanofworshp,andthatsmyjoy。
  HowKngArthursentfortheLadyLonesse,andhowsheletcryatourneyathercastle,whereascamemanyknghts。
  THENsadSrGawaneandhsbrethrenuntoArthur,Sr,anyewllgveusleave,wewllgoandseekourbrother。Nay,sadSrLauncelot,thatshallyenotneed;andsosadSrBaudwnofBrtan:forasbyouradvcethekngshallsenduntoDameLonesseamessenger,andprayherthatshewllcometothecourtnallthehastethatshemay,anddoubtyenotshewllcome;andthenshemaygveyoubestcounselwhereyeshallfndhm。Thsswellsadofyou,sadthekng。Sothengoodlylettersweremade,andthemessengersentforth,thatnghtanddayhewenttllhecameuntotheCastlePerlous。AndthentheladyDameLonessewassentfor,thereasshewaswthSrGrngamoreherbrotherandSrGareth。Andwhensheunderstoodthsmessage,shebadehmrdeonhswayuntoKngArthur,andshewouldcomeafternallgoodlyhaste。ThenwhenshecametoSrGrngamoreandtoSrGareth,shetoldthemallhowKngArthurhadsentforher。Thatsbecauseofme,sadSrGareth。
  Nowadvseme,sadDameLonesse,whatshallsay,andnwhatmannershallruleme。Myladyandmylove,sadSrGareth,prayyounnowsebeyeaknowenwheream;butwellwotmymothersthereandallmybrethren,andtheywlltakeuponthemtoseekme,wotwellthattheydo。Butths,madam,wouldyesadandadvsedthekngwhenhequestonedwthyouofme。Thenmayyesay,thssyouradvcethat,antlkehsgoodgrace,yewlldomakeacryaganstthefeastoftheAssumptonofourLady,thatwhatknghtthereprovethhmbestheshallweldyouandallyourland。Andfsobethathebeaweddedman,thathswfeshallhavethedegree,andacoronalofgoldbesetwthstonesofvrtuetothevalueofathousandpound,andawhtegerfalcon。
  SoDameLonessedepartedandcametoKngArthur,whereshewasnoblyreceved,andthereshewassorequestonedofthekngandoftheQueenofOrkney。Andsheanswered,whereSrGarethwasshecouldnottell。ButthusmuchshesaduntoArthur:Sr,
  wllletcryatournamentthatshallbedonebeforemycastleattheAssumptonofourLady,andthecryshallbeths:thatyou,mylordArthur,shallbethere,andyourknghts,andwllpurveythatmyknghtsshallbeaganstyours;andthenamsureyeshallhearofSrGareth。Thsswelladvsed,sadKngArthur;andsoshedeparted。Andthekngandshemadegreatprovsontothattournament。
  WhenDameLonessewascometothesleofAvlon,thatwasthesameslethereasherbrotherSrGrngamoredwelt,thenshetoldthemallhowshehaddone,andwhatpromseshehadmadetoKngArthur。Alas,sadSrGareth,havebeensowoundedwthunhappnesssthencamentothscastlethatshallnotbeabletodoatthattournamentlkeaknght;forwasneverthoroughlywholesncewashurt。Beyeofgoodcheer,sadthedamoselLnet,forundertakewthntheseffteendaystomakeyewhole,andaslustyaseveryewere。Andthensheladanontmentandasalvetohmastpleasedtoher,thathewasneversofreshnorsolusty。ThensadthedamoselLnet:
  SendyouuntoSrPersantofnde,andassummonhmandhsknghtstobeherewthyouastheyhavepromsed。Also,thatyesenduntoSrronsde,thatstheRedKnghtoftheRedLaunds,andchargehmthathebereadywthyouwthhswholesumofknghts,andthenshallyebeabletomatchwthKngArthurandhsknghts。Sothswasdone,andallknghtsweresentforuntotheCastlePerlous;andthentheRedKnghtansweredandsaduntoDameLonesse,andtoSrGareth,Madam,andmylordSrGareth,yeshallunderstandthathavebeenatthecourtofKngArthur,andSrPersantofndeandhsbrethren,andtherewehavedoneourhomageasyecommandedus。AlsoSrronsdesad,havetakenuponmewthSrPersantofndeandhsbrethrentoholdpartaganstmylordSrLauncelotandtheknghtsofthatcourt。AndthshavedonefortheloveofmyladyDameLonesse,andyoumylordSrGareth。Yehavewelldone,sadSrGareth;butwtyouwellyeshallbefullsorematchedwththemostnobleknghtsoftheworld;thereforewemustpurveyusofgoodknghts,wherewemaygetthem。Thatswellsad,sadSrPersant,andworshpfully。
  AndsothecrywasmadenEngland,Wales,andScotland,reland,Cornwall,andnalltheOutsles,andnBrttanyandnmanycountres;thatatthefeastofourLadytheAssumptonnextcomng,menshouldcometotheCastlePerlousbesdethesleofAvlon;andtherealltheknghtsthattherecameshouldhavethechocewhetherthemlsttobeontheonepartywththeknghtsofthecastle,orontheotherpartywthKngArthur。
  Andtwomonthswastothedaythatthetournamentshouldbe。Andsotherecamemanygoodknghtsthatwereattherlarge,andheldthemforthemostpartaganstKngArthurandhsknghtsoftheRoundTableandcamenthesdeofthemofthecastle。
  ForSrEpnogruswasthefrst,andhewasthekng’ssonofNorthumberland,andSrPalamdestheSaracenwasanother,andSrSaferehsbrother,andSrSegwardeshsbrother,buttheywerechrstened,andSrMalegrneanother,andSrBrandelessles,anobleknght,andSrGrummoreGrummursum,agoodknghtofScotland,andSrCaradosofthedoloroustower,anobleknght,andSrTurqunehsbrother,andSrArnoldandSrGauter,twobrethren,goodknghtsofCornwall。TherecameSrTrstramdeLones,andwthhmSrDnas,theSeneschal,andSrSadok;butthsSrTrstramwasnotatthattmeknghtoftheTableRound,buthewasoneofthebestknghtsoftheworld。Andsoallthesenobleknghtsaccompanedthemwththeladyofthecastle,andwththeRedKnghtoftheRedLaunds;
  butasforSrGareth,hewouldnottakeuponhmmorebutasothermeanknghts。
  HowKngArthurwenttothetournamentwthhsknghts,andhowtheladyrecevedhmworshpfully,andhowtheknghtsencountered。
  ANDthentherecamewthKngArthurSrGawane,Agravane,Gahers,hsbrethren。AndthenhsnephewsSrUwaneleBlanchemans,andSrAglovale,SrTor,SrPercvaledeGals,andSrLamorakdeGals。ThencameSrLauncelotduLakewthhsbrethren,nephews,andcousns,asSrLonel,SrEctordeMars,SrBorsdeGans,andSrGalhodn,SrGalhud,andmanymoreofSrLauncelot’sblood,andSrDnadan,SrLaCoteMaleTale,hsbrother,agoodknght,andSrSagramore,agoodknght;andallthemostpartoftheRoundTable。AlsotherecamewthKngArthurtheseknghts,theKngofreland,KngAgwsance,andtheKngofScotland,KngCaradosandKngUrensofthelandofGore,andKngBagdemagusandhssonSrMelaganus,andSrGalahaultthenobleprnce。Allthesekngs,prnces,andearls,barons,andothernobleknghts,asSrBrandles,SrUwanelesAvoutres,andSrKay,SrBedvere,SrMelotdeLogres,SrPetpaseofWnchelsea,SrGodelake:allthesecamewthKngArthur,andmorethatcannotberehearsed。
  Nowleaveweofthesekngsandknghts,andletusspeakofthegreatarraythatwasmadewthnthecastleandaboutthecastleforbothpartes。TheLadyDameLonesseordanedgreatarrayuponherpartforhernobleknghts,forallmanneroflodgngandvctualthatcamebylandandbywater,thattherelackednothngforherparty,norfortheother,buttherewasplentytobehadforgoldandslverforKngArthurandhsknghts。AndthentherecametheharbngersfromKngArthurfortoharbourhm,andhskngs,dukes,earls,barons,andknghts。AndthenSrGarethprayedDameLonesseandtheRedKnghtoftheRedLaunds,andSrPersantandhsbrother,andSrGrngamore,thatnnowsethereshouldnoneofthemtellnothsname,andmakenomoreofhmthanoftheleastknghtthattherewas,For,hesad,wllnotbeknownofnethermorenorless,netheratthebegnnngnetherattheendng。ThenDameLonessesaduntoSrGareth:Sr,wlllendyouarng,butwouldprayyouasyoulovemeheartlyletmehavetaganwhenthetournamentsdone,forthatrngncreasethmybeautymuchmorethantsofhmself。Andthevrtueofmyrngsthat,thatsgreentwllturntored,andthatsredtwllturnnlkenesstogreen,andthatsbluetwllturntolkenessofwhte,andthatswhtetwllturnnlkenesstoblue,andsotwlldoofallmannerofcolours。Alsowhothatbearethmyrngshalllosenoblood,andforgreatlovewllgveyouthsrng。Gramercy,sadSrGareth,mneownlady,forthsrngspassngmeetforme,fortwllturnallmanneroflkenessthatamn,andthatshallcausemethatshallnotbeknown。ThenSrGrngamoregaveSrGarethabaycourserthatwasapassnggoodhorse;alsohegavehmgoodarmourandsure,andanobleswordthatsometmeSrGrngamore’sfatherwonuponanheathentyrant。Andsothuseveryknghtmadehmreadytothattournament。AndKngArthurwascometwodaysto-foretheAssumptonofourLady。Andtherewasallmannerofroyaltyofallmnstrelsythatmghtbefound。AlsotherecameQueenGueneverandtheQueenofOrkney,SrGareth’smother。
  AndupontheAssumptonDay,whenmassandmatnsweredone,therewereheraldswthtrumpetscommandedtoblowtothefeld。
  AndsotherecameoutSrEpnogrus,thekng’ssonofNorthumberland,fromthecastle,andthereencounteredwthhmSrSagramoreleDesrous,andetherofthembraketherspearstotherhands。AndthencamenSrPalamdesoutofthecastle,andthereencounteredwthhmGawane,andetherofthemsmoteothersohardthatboththegoodknghtsandtherhorsesfelltotheearth。Andthenknghtsofetherpartyrescuedtherknghts。AndthencamenSrSafereandSrSegwardes,brethrentoSrPalamdes;andthereencounteredSrAgravanewthSrSafereandSrGahersencounteredwthSrSegwardes。SoSrSaferesmotedownAgravane,SrGawane’sbrother;andSrSegwardes,SrSafere’sbrother。AndSrMalegrne,aknghtofthecastle,encounteredwthSrUwaneleBlanchemans,andthereSrUwanegaveSrMalegrneafall,thathehadalmostbrokehsneck。