首页 >出版文学> Le Mort d’Arthur>第40章
  Howtheknghtsbarethemnthebattle。
  THENSrBrandelesslesandGrummoreGrummursum,knghtsofthecastle,encounteredwthSrAglovale,andSrTorsmotedownSrGrummoreGrummursumtotheearth。ThencamenSrCaradosofthedoloroustower,andSrTurqune,knghtsofthecastle;
  andthereencounteredwththemSrPercvaledeGalsandSrLamorakdeGals,thatweretwobrethren。AndthereencounteredSrPercvalewthSrCarados,andetherbraketherspearsuntotherhands,andthenSrTurqunewthSrLamorak,andetherofthemsmotedownother’shorseandalltotheearth,andetherpartesrescuedother,andhorsedthemagan。AndSrArnoldandSrGauter,knghtsofthecastle,encounteredwthSrBrandlesandSrKay,andthesefourknghtsencounteredmghtly,andbraketherspearstotherhands。ThencamenSrTrstram,SrSadok,andSrDnas,knghtsofthecastle,andthereencounteredSrTrstramwthSrBedvere,andthereSrBedverewassmttentotheearthbothhorseandman。AndSrSadokencounteredwthSrPetpase,andthereSrSadokwasoverthrown。AndthereUwanelesAvoutressmotedownSrDnas,theSeneschal。ThencamenSrPersantofnde,aknghtofthecastle,andthereencounteredwthhmSrLauncelotduLake,andtherehesmoteSrPersant,horseandman,totheearth。ThencameSrPertolepefromthecastle,andthereencounteredwthhmSrLonel,andthereSrPertolepe,theGreenKnght,smotedownSrLonel,brothertoSrLauncelot。Allthswasmarkedbynobleheralds,whobarehmbest,andthernames。
  AndthencamentothefeldSrPermones,theRedKnght,SrPersant’sbrother,thatwasaknghtofthecastle,andheencounteredwthSrEctordeMars,andethersmoteothersohardthatboththerhorsesandtheyfelltotheearth。AndthencamentheRedKnghtoftheRedLaunds,andSrGareth,fromthecastle,andthereencounteredwththemSrBorsdeGansandSrBleobers,andtheretheRedKnghtandSrBors[ether]
  smoteothersohardthattherspearsbrast,andtherhorsesfellgrovellngtotheearth。ThenSrBleobersbrakehsspearuponSrGareth,butofthatstrokeSrBleobersfelltotheearth。WhenSrGalhodnsawthathebadeSrGarethkeephm,andSrGarethsmotehmtotheearth。ThenSrGalhudgataspeartoavengehsbrother,andnthesamewseSrGarethservedhm,andSrDnadanandhsbrother,LaCoteMaleTale,andSrSagramoreleDesrous,andSrDodnasleSavage。Allthesehebaredownwthonespear。
  WhenKngAgwsanceofrelandsawSrGarethfareso,hemarvelledwhathemghtbethatonetmeseemedgreen,andanothertme,athsagancomng,heseemedblue。Andthusateverycoursethatherodetoandfrohechangedhscolour,sothattheremghtnetherkngnorknghthavereadycognsanceofhm。ThenSrAgwsance,theKngofreland,encounteredwthSrGareth,andthereSrGarethsmotehmfromhshorse,saddleandall。AndthencameKngCaradosofScotland,andSrGarethsmotehmdownhorseandman。AndnthesamewseheservedKngUrensofthelandofGore。AndthencamenSrBagdemagus,andSrGarethsmotehmdown,horseandman,totheearth。AndBagdemagus’son,Melganus,brakeaspearuponSrGarethmghtlyandknghtly。AndthenSrGalahault,thenobleprnce,credonhgh:Knghtwththemanycolours,wellhastthoujousted;nowmaketheereadythatmayjoustwththee。
  SrGarethheardhm,andhegatagreatspear,andsotheyencounteredtogether,andtheretheprncebrakehsspear;butSrGarethsmotehmupontheleftsdeofthehelmthathereeledhereandthere,andhehadfallendownhadnothsmenrecoveredhm。
  SoGodmehelp,sadKngArthur,thatsameknghtwththemanycolourssagoodknght。WhereforethekngcalleduntohmSrLauncelot,andprayedhmtoencounterwththatknght。Sr,sadLauncelot,maywellfndnmyheartfortoforbearhmasatthstme,forhehathhadtravalenoughthsday;andwhenagoodknghtdothsowelluponsomeday,tsnogoodknght’sparttolethmofhsworshp,andnamely,whenheseethaknghthathdonesogreatlabour;forperadventure,sadSrLauncelot,hsquarrelsherethsday,andperadventurehesbestbelovedwththsladyofallthatbehere;forseewellhepanethhmandenforcethhmtodogreatdeeds,andtherefore,sadSrLauncelot,asforme,thsdayheshallhavethehonour;thoughtlaynmypowertoputhmfromtwouldnot。
  Yetofthesadtournament。
  THENwhenthswasdonetherewasdrawngofswords,andthentherebeganasoretournament。AndthereddSrLamorakmarvellousdeedsofarms;andbetwxtSrLamorakandSrronsde,thatwastheRedKnghtoftheRedLaunds,therewasstrongbattle;andbetwxtSrPalamdesandBleoberstherewasastrongbattle;andSrGawaneandSrTrstrammet,andthereSrGawanehadtheworse,forhepulledSrGawanefromhshorse,andtherehewaslonguponfoot,anddefouled。ThencamenSrLauncelot,andhesmoteSrTurqune,andhehm;andthencameSrCaradoshsbrother,andbothatoncetheyassaledhm,andheasthemostnoblestknghtoftheworldworshpfullyfoughtwththemboth,thatallmenwonderedofthenoblesseofSrLauncelot。AndthencamenSrGareth,andknewthattwasSrLauncelotthatfoughtwththetwoperlousknghts。AndthenSrGarethcamewthhsgoodhorseandhurtledthemn-sunder,andnostrokewouldhesmtetoSrLauncelot。ThatespedSrLauncelot,anddeemedtshouldbethegoodknghtSrGareth:
  andthenSrGarethrodehereandthere,andsmoteontherghthandandonthelefthand,andallthefolkmghtwellespywherethatherode。AndbyfortunehemetwthhsbrotherSrGawane,andthereheputSrGawanetotheworse,forheputoffhshelm,andsoheservedfveorsknghtsoftheRoundTable,thatallmensadheputhmnthemostpan,andbestheddhsdevor。ForwhenSrTrstrambeheldhmhowhefrstjoustedandafterfoughtsowellwthasword,thenherodeuntoSrronsdeandtoSrPersantofnde,andaskedthem,bytherfath,Whatmanneraknghtsyonderknghtthatseemethnsomanydverscolours?Truly,meseemeth,sadTrstram,thatheputtethhmselfngreatpan,forheneverceaseth。Wotyenotwhathes?sadSrronsde。No,sadSrTrstram。Thenshallyeknowthatthsshethatloveththeladyofthecastle,andshehmagan;andthsshethatwonmewhenbesegedtheladyofthscastle,andthsshethatwonSrPersantofnde,andhsthreebrethren。Whatshsname,sadSrTrstram,andofwhatbloodshecome?HewascallednthecourtofKngArthur,Beaumans,buthsrghtnamesSrGarethofOrkney,brothertoSrGawane。Bymyhead,sadSrTrstram,hesagoodknght,andabgmanofarms,andfhebeyoungheshallproveafullnobleknght。Hesbutachld,theyallsad,andofSrLauncelothewasmadeknght。Thereforehesmcklethebetter,sadTrstram。AndthenSrTrstram,Srronsde,SrPersant,andhsbrother,rodetogetherfortohelpSrGareth;
  andthenthereweregvenmanystrongstrokes。
  AndthenSrGarethrodeoutontheonesdetoamendhshelm;
  andthensadhsdwarf:Takemeyourrng,thatyelosetnotwhlethatyedrnk。Andsowhenhehaddrunkhegatonhshelm,andeagerlytookhshorseandrodentothefeld,andlefthsrngwthhsdwarf;andthedwarfwasgladtherngwasfromhm,forthenhewstwellheshouldbeknown。AndthenwhenSrGarethwasnthefeldallfolkssawhmwellandplanlythathewasnyellowcolours;andthereherasedoffhelmsandpulleddownknghts,thatKngArthurhadmarvelwhatknghthewas,forthekngsawbyhsharthattwasthesameknght。
  HowSrGarethwasespedbytheheralds,andhowheescapedoutofthefeld。
  BUTbeforehewasnsomanycolours,andnowhesbutnonecolour;thatsyellow。Nowgo,sadKngArthuruntodversheralds,andrdeabouthm,andespywhatmannerknghthes,forhavesperedofmanyknghtsthsdaythatbeuponhsparty,andallsaytheyknowhmnot。AndsoanheraldrodenghGarethashecould;andtherehesawwrttenabouthshelmngold,ThshelmsSrGarethofOrkney。Thentheheraldcredashewerewood,andmanyheraldswthhm:——ThssSrGarethofOrkneyntheyellowarms;wherby[*4]allkngsandknghtsofArthur’sbeheldhmandawated;andthentheypressedalltobeholdhm,andevertheheraldscred:ThssSrGarethofOrkney,KngLot’sson。AndwhenSrGarethespedthathewasdscovered,thenhedoubledhsstrokes,andsmotedownSrSagramore,andhsbrotherSrGawane。Obrother,sadSrGawane,weenedyewouldnothavestrckenme。
  SoW。deWorde;Caxton``thatby。’’
  Sowhenheheardhmsaysohethranghereandthere,andsowthgreatpanhegatoutofthepress,andtherehemetwthhsdwarf。Oboy,sadSrGareth,thouhastbeguledmefoulthsdaythatthoukeptmyrng;gvetmeanonagan,thatmayhdemybodywthal;andsohetookthm。Andthentheyallwstnotwherehewasbecome;andSrGawanehadnmannerespedwhereSrGarethrode,andthenherodeafterwthallhsmght。ThatespedSrGareth,androdelghtlyntotheforest,thatSrGawanewstnotwherehewasbecome。AndwhenSrGarethwstthatSrGawanewaspassed,heaskedthedwarfofbestcounsel。Sr,sadthedwarf,meseemethtwerebest,nowthatyeareescapedfromspyng,thatyesendmyladyDameLonesseherrng。tswelladvsed,sadSrGareth;nowhavethereandbearttoher,andsaythatrecommendmeuntohergoodgrace,andsayherwllcomewhenmay,andprayhertobetrueandfathfultomeaswllbetoher。Sr,sadthedwarf,tshallbedoneasyecommand:andsoherodehsway,andddhserranduntothelady。Thenshesad,Wheresmyknght,SrGareth?Madam,sadthedwarf,hebademesaythathewouldnotbelongfromyou。AndsolghtlythedwarfcameaganuntoSrGareth,thatwouldfullfanhavehadalodgng,forhehadneedtobereposed。Andthenfellthereathunderandaran,asheavenandearthshouldgotogether。AndSrGarethwasnotalttleweary,forofallthatdayhehadbutlttlerest,netherhshorsenorhe。SothsSrGarethrodesolongnthatforestuntlthenghtcame。Andevertlghtenedandthundered,asthadbeenwood。Atthelastbyfortunehecametoacastle,andthereheheardthewatsuponthewalls。
  HowSrGarethcametoacastlewherehewaswelllodged,andhejoustedwthaknghtandslewhm。
  THENSrGarethrodeuntothebarbcanofthecastle,andprayedtheporterfartolethmntothecastle。Theporteransweredungoodlyagan,andsad,Thougettestnolodgnghere。Farsr,saynotso,foramaknghtofKngArthur’s,andpraythelordortheladyofthscastletogvemeharbourfortheloveofKngArthur。Thentheporterwentuntotheduchess,andtoldherhowtherewasaknghtofKngArthur’swouldhaveharbour。
  Lethmn,sadtheduchess,forwllseethatknght,andforKngArthur’ssakeheshallnotbeharbourless。Thensheyodeupntoatoweroverthegate,wthgreattorchlght。
  WhenSrGarethsawthattorch-lghthecredonhgh:Whetherthoubelordorlady,gantorchampon,takenoforcesothatmayhaveharbourthsnght;andftsobethatmustneedsfght,sparemenotto-mornwhenhaverestedme,forbothandmnehorsebeweary。Srknght,sadthelady,thouspeakestknghtlyandboldly;butwtthouwellthelordofthscastlelovethnotKngArthur,nornoneofhscourt,formylordhatheverbeenagansthm;andthereforethouwerebetternottocomewthnthscastle;foranthoucomenthsnght,thoumustcomenundersuchform,thatwheresomeverthoumeetmylord,bystghorbystreet,thoumustyeldtheetohmasprsoner。Madam,sadSrGareth,whatsyourlord,andwhatshsname?Sr,mylord’snamestheDukedelaRowse。Wellmadam,sadSrGareth,shallpromseyounwhatplacemeetyourlordshallyeldmeuntohmandtohsgoodgrace;wththatunderstandhewlldomenoharm:andfunderstandthathewll,wllreleasemyselfancanwthmyspearandmysword。Yesaywell,sadtheduchess;andthensheletthedrawbrdgedown,andsoherodentothehall,andtherehealghted,andhshorsewasledntoastable;andnthehallheunarmedhmandsad,Madam,wllnotoutofthshallthsnght;andwhentsdaylght,letseewhowllhaveadowthme,heshallfndmeready。Thenwashesetuntosupper,andhadmanygooddshes。ThenSrGarethlstwelltoeat,andknghtlyheatehsmeat,andeagerly;therewasmanyafarladybyhm,andsomesadtheyneversawagoodlermannorsowellofeatng。Thentheymadehmpassnggoodcheer,andshortlywhenhehadsuppedhsbedwasmadethere;soherestedhmallnght。
  Andonthemornheheardmass,andbrakehsfastandtookhsleaveattheduchess,andatthemall;andthankedhergoodlyofherlodgng,andofhsgoodcheer;andthensheaskedhmhsname。Madam,hesad,trulymynamesGarethofOrkney,andsomemencallmeBeaumans。ThenknewshewelltwasthesameknghtthatfoughtforDameLonesse。SoSrGarethdepartedandrodeupntoamountan,andtheremethmaknght,hsnamewasSrBendelane,andsadtoSrGareth:Thoushaltnotpassthsway,foretherthoushaltjoustwthme,orelsebemyprsoner。
  Thenwlljoust,sadSrGareth。Andsotheylettherhorsesrun,andthereSrGarethsmotehmthroughoutthebody;andSrBendelanerodeforthtohscastletherebesde,andthereded。
  SoSrGarethwouldhaverestedhm,andhecamerdngtoBendelane’scastle。Thenhsknghtsandservantsespedthattwashethathadslantherlord。Thentheyarmedtwentygoodmen,andcameoutandassaledSrGareth;andsohehadnospear,buthssword,andputhssheldaforehm;andtheretheybraketherspearsuponhm,andtheyassaledhmpassnglysore。ButeverSrGarethdefendedhmasaknght。