cliges-第17节

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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　assured　to　them　the
way。　Now　the　emperor　of　Germany　no　further　follows　or　attends
them。　After　taking　leave　of　the　Greek　folk　and　of　his　daughter
and　of　Cliges　and　of　the　emperor；　he　has　remained　in　Germany；　and
the　emperor　of　the　Greeks　goes　away　right　glad　and　right　joyful。
Cliges；　the　valiant；　the　well…bred；　thinks　of　his　father's
command。　If　his　uncle　the　emperor　will　grant　him　leave；　he　will
go　to　request　and　pray　him　to　let　him　go　to　Britain　to　speak　to
his　uncle　the　king；　for　he　craves　to　know　and　see　him。　He　sets
out　for　the　presence　of　the　emperor；　and　begs　him　if　it　please
him　to　let　him　go　to　Britain　to　see　his　uncle　and　his　friends。
Very　gently　has　he　made　this　request；　but　his　uncle　refuses　it　to
him　when　he　has　heard　and　listened　to　the　whole　of　his　request
and　his　story。　〃Fair　nephew；〃　quoth　he；　〃it　pleases　me　not　that
you　should　wish　to　leave　me。　Never　will　I　give　you　this　leave　or
this　permission　without　great　grief；　for　right　pleasant　and
convenient　is　it　that　you　should　be　my　partner　and　co…ruler　with
me　of　all　my　empire。〃

Now　there　is　nothing　which　pleases　Cliges；　since　his　uncle　denies
him　what　he　asks　and　requests；　and　he　says：　〃Fair　Sire；　it
becomes　me　not；　nor　am　I　brave　or　wise　enough　to　be　given　this
partnership　with　you　or　with　another　so　as　to　rule　an　empire；
very　young　am　I　and　know　but　little。　For　this　reason　is　gold
applied　to　the　touchstone　because　one　wishes　to　know　if　it　is
real　gold。　So　wish　Ithat　is　the　end　and　sum　of　itto　assay　and
prove　myself　where　I　think　to　find　the　touchstone。　In　Britain　if
I　am　valiant　I　shall　be　able　to　put　myself　to　the　touch　with　the
Whetstone；　and　with　the　true　and　genuine　assay　by　which　I　shall
test　my　prowess。　In　Britain　are　those　valiant　men　of　whom　honour
and　prowess　boast。　And　he　who　wishes　to　gain　honour；　ought　to
join　himself　to　their　company；　for　there　the　honour　resides　and
is　won　which　appertains　to　the　man　of　valour。　Therefore；　I　ask
you　this　leave；　and　know　of　a　surety　that　if　you　do　not　send　me
thither　and　do　not　grant　me　the　boon；　then　I　shall　go　without
your　leave。〃　〃Fair　nephew；　rather　do　I　give　it　you　freely　when　I
see　you　thus　minded；　for　I　would　not　have　the　heart　to　detain　you
by　force　or　by　prayer。　Now　may　God　give　you　heart　and　will　to
return　soon　since　neither　prayer　nor　prohibition　nor　force　could
prevail　in　the　matter。　I　would　have　you　take　with　you　a　talent　of
gold　and　of　silver；　and　horses　to　delight　you　will　I　give　you；
all　at　your　choice。〃　No　sooner　had　he　said　his　word　than　Cliges
has　bowed　to　him。　All　whatsoever　the　emperor　has　devised　and
promised　was　at　once　set　before　him。　Cliges　took　as　much　wealth
and　as　many　comrades　as　pleased　and　behoved　him；　but　for　his　own
private　use　he　takes　away　four　different　steeds：　one　white；　one
sorrel；　one　dun；　one　black。　But　I　was　about　to　pass　over　one
thing　that　must　not　be　omitted。　Cliges　goes　to　take　leave　of
Fenice；　his　lady…love；　and　to　ask　her　leave　to　depart；　for　he
would　fain　commend　her　to　God。　He　comes　before　her　and　kneels
down；　weeping；　s