aucassin and nicolete-第3部分

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carried　her　off　or　ravished　her　away　from　me？　　Know　well　that　if　I

die　of　it；　the　price　shall　be　demanded　of　thee；　and　that　will　be

well　done；　for　it　shall　be　even　as　if　thou　hadst　slain　me　with　thy

two　hands；　for　thou　hast　taken　from　me　the　thing　that　in　this　world

I　loved　the　best。〃



〃Fair　Sir；〃　said　the　Captain；　〃let　these　things　be。　　Nicolete　is　a

captive　that　I　did　bring　from　a　strange　country。　　Yea；　I　bought　her

at　my　own　charges　of　the　Saracens；　and　I　bred　her　up　and　baptized

her；　and　made　her　my　daughter　in　God。　　And　I　have　cherished　her；　and

one　of　these　days　I　would　have　given　her　a　young　man；　to　win　her

bread　honourably。　　With　this　hast　thou　naught　to　make；　but　do　thou

take　the　daughter　of　a　King　or　a　Count。　　Nay　more；　what　wouldst　thou

deem　thee　to　have　gained；　hadst　thou　made　her　thy　leman；　and　taken

her　to　thy　bed？　　Plentiful　lack　of　comfort　hadst　thou　got　thereby；

for　in　Hell　would　thy　soul　have　lain　while　the　world　endures；　and

into　Paradise　wouldst　thou　have　entered　never。〃



〃In　Paradise　what　have　I　to　win？　　Therein　I　seek　not　to　enter；　but

only　to　have　Nicolete；　my　sweet　lady　that　I　love　so　well。　　For　into

Paradise　go　none　but　such　folk　as　I　shall　tell　thee　now：　　Thither　go

these　same　old　priests；　and　halt　old　men　and　maimed；　who　all　day　and

night　cower　continually　before　the　altars；　and　in　the　crypts；　and

such　folk　as　wear　old　amices　and　old　clouted　frocks；　and　naked　folk

and　shoeless；　and　covered　with　sores；　perishing　of　hunger　and

thirst；　and　of　cold；　and　of　little　ease。　　These　be　they　that　go　into

Paradise；　with　them　have　I　naught　to　make。　　But　into　Hell　would　I

fain　go；　for　into　Hell　fare　the　goodly　clerks；　and　goodly　knights

that　fall　in　tourneys　and　great　wars；　and　stout　men　at　arms；　and　all

men　noble。　　With　these　would　I　liefly　go。　　And　thither　pass　the

sweet　ladies　and　courteous　that　have　two　lovers；　or　three；　and　their

lords　also　thereto。　　Thither　goes　the　gold；　and　the　silver；　and

cloth　of　vair；　and　cloth　of　gris；　and　harpers；　and　makers；　and　the

prince　of　this　world。　　With　these　I　would　gladly　go；　let　me　but　have

with　me；　Nicolete；　my　sweetest　lady。〃



〃Certes；〃　quoth　the　Captain；　〃in　vain　wilt　thou　speak　thereof；　for

never　shalt　thou　see　her；　and　if　thou　hadst　word　with　her；　and　thy

father　knew　it；　he　would　let　burn　in　a　fire　both　her　and　me；　and

thyself　might　well　be　sore　adread。〃



〃That　is　even　what　irketh　me；〃　quoth　Aucassin。　　So　he　went　from　the

Captain　sorrowing。





Here　singeth　one：





Aucassin　did　so　depart

Much　in　dole　and　heavy　at　heart

For　his　love　so　bright　and　dear；

None　might　bring　him　any　cheer；

None　might　give　good　words　to　hear；

To　the　palace　doth　he　fare

Climbeth　up　the　palace…stair；

Passeth　to　a　chamber　there；

Thus　great　sorrow　doth　he　bear；

For　his　lady　and　love　so　fair。



〃Nicolete　how　fair　art　thou；

Sweet　thy　foot…fall；　sweet　thine　eyes；

Sweet　the　mirth　of　thy　replies；

Sweet　thy　laughter；　sweet　thy　face；

Sweet　thy　lips　and　sweet　thy　brow；

And　the　touch　of　thine　embrace；

All　for　thee　I　sorrow　now；

Captive　in　an　evil　place；

Whence　I　ne'er　may　go　my　ways

Sister；　sweet　friend！〃





So　say　they；　speak　they；　tell　they　the　Tale：





While　Aucassin　was　in　the　chamber　sorrowing　for　Nicolete　his　love；

even　then　the　Count　Bougars　de　Valence；　that　had　his　war　to　wage；

forgat　it　no　whit；　but　had　called　up　his　horsemen　and　his　footmen；

so　made　he　for　the　castle　to　storm　it。　　And　the　cry　of　battle　arose；

and　the　din；　and　knights　and　men　at　arms　busked　them；　and　ran　to

walls　and　gates　to　hold　the　keep。　　And　the　towns…folk　mounted　to　the

battlements；　and　cast　down　bolts　and　pikes。　　Then　while　the　assault

was　great；　and　even　at　its　height；　the　Count　Garin　de　Biaucaire　came

into　the　chamber　where　Aucassin　was　making　lament；　sorrowing　for

Nicolete；　his　sweet　lady　that　he　loved　so　well。



〃Ha！　son；〃　quoth　he；　〃how　caitiff　art　thou；　and　cowardly；　that　canst

see　men　assail　thy　goodliest　castle　and　strongest。　　Know　thou　that

if　thou　lose　it；　thou　losest　all。　　Son；　go　to；　take　arms；　and　mount

thy　horse；　and　defend　thy　land；　and　help　thy　men；　and　fare　into　the

stour。　　Thou　needst　not　smite　nor　be　smitten。　　If　they　do　but　see

thee　among　them；　better　will　they　guard　their　substance；　and　their

lives；　and　thy　land　and　mine。　　And　thou　art　so　great；　and　hardy　of

thy　hands；　that　well　mightst　thou　do　this　thing；　and　to　do　it　is　thy

devoir。〃



〃Father；〃　said　Aucassin；　〃what　is　this　thou　sayest　now？　　God　grant

me　never　aught　of　my　desire；　if　I　be　dubbed　knight；　or　mount　steed；

or　go　into　the　stour　where　knights　do　smite　and　are　smitten；　if　thou

givest　me　not　Nicolete；　my　sweet　lady；　whom　I　love　so　well。〃



〃　Son；〃　quoth　his　father；　〃this　may　never　be：　　rather　would　I　be

quite　disinherited　and　lose　all　that　is　mine；　than　that　thou

shouldst　have　her　to　thy　wife；　or　to　love　par　amours。〃



So　he　turned　him　about。　　But　when　Aucassin　saw　him　going　he　called

to　him　again；　saying；



〃Father；　go　to　now；　I　will　make　with　thee　fair　covenant。〃



〃What　covenant；　fair　son？〃



〃I　will　take　up　arms；　and　go　into　the　stour；　on　this　covenant；　that；

if　God　bring　me　back　sound　and　safe；　thou　wilt　let　me　see　Nicolete

my　sweet　lady；　even　so　long　that　I　may　have　of　her　two　words　or

three；　and　one　kiss。〃



〃That　will　I　grant；〃　said　his　father。



At　this　was　Aucassin　glad。





Here　one　singeth：





Of　the　kiss　heard　Aucassin

That　returning　he　shall　win。

None　so　glad　would　he　have　been

Of　a　myriad　marks　of　gold

Of　a　hundred　thousand　told。

Called　for　raiment　brave　of　steel；

Then　they　clad　him；　head　to　heel；

Twyfold　hauberk　doth　he　don；

Firmly　braced　the　helmet　on。

Girt　the　sword　with　hilt　of　gold；

Horse　doth　mount；　and　lance　doth　wield；

Looks　to　stirrups　and　to　shield；

Wondrous　brave　he　rode　to　field。

Dreaming　of　his　lady　dear

Setteth　spurs　to　the　destrere；

Rideth　forward　without　fear；

Through　the　gate　and　forth　away

To　the　fray。





So　speak　they；　say　they；　tell　they　the　Tale：





Aucassin　was　armed　and　mounted　as　ye　have　heard　tell。　　God！　how

goodly　sat　the　shield　on　his　shoulder；　the　helm　on　his　head；　and　the

baldric　on　his　left　haunch！　　And　the　damoiseau　was　tall；　fair；

featly　fashioned；　and　hardy　of　his　hands；　and　the　horse　whereon　he

rode　swift　and　keen；　and　straight　had　he　spurred　him　forth　of　the

gate。　　Now　believe　ye　not　that　his　mind　was　on　kine；　nor　cattle　of

the　booty；　nor　thought　he　how　he　might　strike　a　knight；　nor　be

stricken　again：　　nor　no　such　thing。　　Nay；　no　memory　had　Aucassin　of

aught　of　these；　rather　he　so　dreamed　of　Nicolete；　his　sweet　lady；

that　he　dropped　his　reins；　forgetting　all　there　was　to　do；　and　his

horse　that　had　felt　the　spur；　bore　him　into　the　press　and　hurled

among　the　foe；　and　they　laid　hands　on　him　all　about；　and　took　him

captive；　and　seized　away　his　spear　and　shield；　and　straightway　they

led　him　off　a　prisoner；　and　were　even　now　discoursing　of　what　death

he　should　die。



And　when　Aucassin　heard　them；



〃Ha！　God；〃　said　he；　〃sweet　Saviour。　　Be　these　my　deadly　enemies　that

have　taken　me；　and　will　soon　cut　off　my　head？　　And　once　my　head　is

off；　no　more　shall　I　speak　with　Nicolete；　my　sweet　lady；　that　I　love

so　well。　　Natheless　have　I　here　a　good　sword；　and　sit　a　good　horse

unwearied。　　If　now　I　keep　not　my　head　for　her　sake；　God　help　her

never；　if　she　love　me　more！〃



The　damoiseau　was　tall　and　strong；　and　the　horse　whereon　he　sat　was

right　eager。　　And　he　laid　hand　to　sword；　and　fell　a…smiting　to　right

and　left；　and　smote　through　helm　and　nasal；　and　arm　and　clenched

hand；　making　a　murder　about　him；　like　a　wild　boar　when　hounds　fall

on　him　in　the　forest；　even　till　he　struck　down　ten　knights；　and

seven　be　hurt；　and　straightway　he　hurled　out　of　the　press；　and　rode

back　again　at　full　speed；　sword　in　hand。　　The　Count　Bougars　de

Valence　heard　say　they　were　about　hanging　Aucassin；　his　enemy；　so　he

came　into　that　place；　and　Aucassin　was　ware　of　him；　and　gat　his

sword　into　his　hand；　and　lashed　at　his　helm　with　such　a　stroke　that

he　drave　it　down　on　his　head；　and　he　being　stunned；　fell　grovelling。

And　Aucassin　laid　hands　on　him；　and　caught　him　by　the　nasal　of　his

helmet；　and　gave　him　to　his　father。



〃Father；〃　quoth　Aucassin；　〃lo　here　is　your　mortal　foe；　who　hath　so

warred　on　you　with　all　malengin。　　Full　twenty　years　did　this　war

endure；　and　might　not　be　ended　by　man。〃



〃Fair　son；〃　said　his　father；　〃thy　feats　of　youth　shouldst　thou　do；

and　not　seek　after　folly。〃



〃Father；〃　saith　Aucassin；　〃sermon　me　no　sermons；　but　fulfil　my

covenant。〃



〃Ha！　what　covenant；　fair　son？〃



〃What；　father；　hast　thou　forgotten　it？　　By　mine　own　head；　whosoever

forgets；　will　I　not　forget　it；　so　much　it　hath　me　at　heart。　　Didst

thou　not　covenant　with　me　when　I　took　up　arms；　and　went　into　the

stour；　that　if　God　brought　me　back　safe　and　sound；　thou　wouldst　let

me　see　Nicolete；　my　sweet　lady；　even　so　long　that　I　may　have　of　her

two　words　or　three；　and　one　kiss？　　So　didst　thou　covenant；　and　my

mind　is　that　thou　keep　thy　word。〃



〃I！〃　quoth　the　father；　〃God　forsake　me　when　I　keep　this　covenant！

Nay；　if　she　were　here；　I　would　let　burn　her　in　the　fire；　and　thyself

shouldst　be　sore　adread。〃



〃Is　this　thy　last　word？〃　quoth　Aucassin。



〃So　help　me　God；〃　quoth　his　father；　〃yea！〃



〃Certes；〃　quoth　Aucassin；　〃this　is　a　sorry　thing　meseems；　when　a　man

of　thine　age　lies！〃



〃Count　of　Valence；〃　quoth　Aucassin；　〃I　took　thee？〃



〃In　sooth；　Sir；　didst　thou；〃　saith　the　Count。



〃Give　me　thy　hand；〃　saith　Aucassin。



〃Sir；　with　good　will。〃



So　he　set　his　hand　in　the　other's。



〃Now　givest　thou　me　thy　word；〃　saith　Aucassin；　〃that　never　whiles

thou　art　living　man　wilt　thou　avail　to　do　my　father　dishonour；　or

harm　him　in　body；　or　in　goods；　but　do　it　thou　wilt？〃



〃Sir；　in　God's　name；〃　saith　he；　〃mock　me　not；　but　put　me　to　my

ransom；　ye　c