alfred tennyson-第19节

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〃Ilion；　like　a　mist；　rose　into　towers。〃


He　has　also　brought　in　the　allegory　of　Death；　which；　when　faced；
proves　to　be　〃a　blooming　boy〃　behind　the　mask。　　The　courtesy　and
prowess　of　Lancelot　lead　up　to　the　later　development　of　his
character。

In　The　Marriage　of　Geraint；　a　rumour　has　already　risen　about　Lancelot
and　the　Queen；　darkening　the　Court；　and　presaging


〃The　world's　loud　whisper　breaking　into　storm。〃


For　this　reason　Geraint　removes　Enid　from　Camelot　to　his　own　land
the　poet　thus　early　leading　up　to　the　sin　and　the　doom　of　Lancelot。
But　this　motive　does　not　occur　in　the　Welsh　story　of　Enid　and
Geraint；　which　Tennyson　has　otherwise　followed　with　unwonted
closeness。　　The　tale　occurs　in　French　romances　in　various　forms；　but
it　appears　to　have　returned；　by　way　of　France　and　coloured　with
French　influences；　to　Wales；　where　it　is　one　of　the　later　Mabinogion。
The　characters　are　Celtic；　and　Nud；　father　of　Edyrn；　Geraint's
defeated　antagonist；　appears　to　be　recognised　by　Mr　Rhys　as　〃the
Celtic　Zeus。〃　　The　manners　and　the　tournaments　are　French。　　In　the
Welsh　tale　Geraint　and　Enid　are　bedded　in　Arthur's　own　chamber；　which
seems　to　be　a　symbolic　commutation　of　the　jus　primae　noctis　a　custom
of　which　the　very　existence　is　disputed。　　This　unseemly　antiquarian
detail；　of　course；　is　omitted　in　the　Idyll。

An　abstract　of　the　Welsh　tale　will　show　how　closely　Tennyson　here
follows　his　original。　　News　is　brought　into　Arthur's　Court　of　the
appearance　of　a　white　stag。　　The　king　arranges　a　hunt；　and　Guinevere
asks　leave　to　go　and　watch　the　sport。　　Next　morning　she　cannot　be
wakened；　though　the　tale　does　not　aver；　like　the　Idyll；　that　she　was


〃Lost　in　sweet　dreams；　and　dreaming　of　her　love
For　Lancelot。〃


Guinevere　wakes　late；　and　rides　through　a　ford　of　Usk　to　the　hunt。
Geraint　follows；　〃a　golden…hilted　sword　was　at　his　side；　and　a　robe
and　a　surcoat　of　satin　were　upon　him；　and　two　shoes　of　leather　upon
his　feet；　and　around　him　was　a　scarf　of　blue　purple；　at　each　corner
of　which　was　a　golden　apple〃：…


〃But　Guinevere　lay　late　into　the　morn；
Lost　in　sweet　dreams；　and　dreaming　of　her　love
For　Lancelot；　and　forgetful　of　the　hunt；
But　rose　at　last；　a　single　maiden　with　her；
Took　horse；　and　forded　Usk；　and　gain'd　the　wood；
There；　on　a　little　knoll　beside　it；　stay'd
Waiting　to　hear　the　hounds；　but　heard　instead
A　sudden　sound　of　hoofs；　for　Prince　Geraint；
Late　also；　wearing　neither　hunting…dress
Nor　weapon；　save　a　golden…hilted　brand；
Came　quickly　flashing　thro'　the　shallow　ford
Behind　them；　and　so　gallop'd　up　the　knoll。
A　purple　scarf；　at　either　end　whereof
There　swung　an　apple　of　the　purest　gold；
Sway'd　round　about　him；　as　he　gallop'd　up
To　join　them；　glancing　like　a　dragon…fly
In　summer　suit　and　silks　of　holiday。〃


The　encounter　with　the　dwarf；　the　lady；　and　the　knight　follows。　　The
prose　of　the　Mabinogi　may　be　compared　with　the　verse　of　Tennyson：…


〃Geraint；〃　said　Gwenhwyvar；　〃knowest　thou　the　name　of　that　tall
knight　yonder？〃　　〃I　know　him　not；〃　said　he；　〃and　the　strange　armour
that　he　wears　prevents　my　either　seeing　his　face　or　his　features。〃
〃Go；　maiden；〃　said　Gwenhwyvar；　〃and　ask　the　dwarf　who　that　knight
is。〃　　Then　the　maiden　went　up　to　the　dwarf；　and　the　dwarf　waited　for
the　maiden；　when　he　saw　her　coming　towards　him。　　And　the　maiden
inquired　of　the　dwarf　who　the　knight　was。　　〃I　will　not　tell　thee；〃　he
answered。　　〃Since　thou　art　so　churlish　as　not　to　tell　me；〃　said　she；
〃I　will　ask　him　himself。〃　　〃Thou　shalt　not　ask　him；　by　my　faith；〃
said　he。　　〃Wherefore？〃　said　she。　　〃Because　thou　art　not　of　honour
sufficient　to　befit　thee　to　speak　to　my　Lord。〃　　Then　the　maiden
turned　her　horse's　head　towards　the　knight；　upon　which　the　dwarf
struck　her　with　the　whip　that　was　in　his　hand　across　the　face　and　the
eyes；　until　the　blood　flowed　forth。　　And　the　maiden；　through　the　hurt
she　received　from　the　blow；　returned　to　Gwenhwyvar；　complaining　of
the　pain。　　〃Very　rudely　has　the　dwarf　treated　thee；〃　said　Geraint。
〃I　will　go　myself　to　know　who　the　knight　is。〃　　〃Go；〃　said　Gwenhwyvar。
And　Geraint　went　up　to　the　dwarf。　　〃Who　is　yonder　knight？〃　said
Geraint。　　〃I　will　not　tell　thee；〃　said　the　dwarf。　　〃Then　will　I　ask
him　himself；〃　said　he。　　〃That　wilt　thou　not；　by　my　faith；〃　said　the
dwarf；　〃thou　art　not　honourable　enough　to　speak　with　my　Lord。〃　　Said
Geraint；　〃I　have　spoken　with　men　of　equal　rank　with　him。〃　　And　he
turned　his　horse's　head　towards　the　knight；　but　the　dwarf　overtook
him；　and　struck　him　as　he　had　done　the　maiden；　so　that　the　blood
coloured　the　scarf　that　Geraint　wore。　　Then　Geraint　put　his　hand　upon
the　hilt　of　his　sword；　but　he　took　counsel　with　himself；　and
considered　that　it　would　be　no　vengeance　for　him　to　slay　the　dwarf；
and　to　be　attacked　unarmed　by　the　armed　knight；　so　he　returned　to
where　Gwenhwyvar　was。


　　　〃And　while　they　listen'd　for　the　distant　hunt；
And　chiefly　for　the　baying　of　Cavall；
King　Arthur's　hound　of　deepest　mouth；　there　rode
Full　slowly　by　a　knight；　lady；　and　dwarf；
Whereof　the　dwarf　lagg'd　latest；　and　the　knight
Had　vizor　up；　and　show'd　a　youthful　face；
Imperious；　and　of　haughtiest　lineaments。
And　Guinevere；　not　mindful　of　his　face
In　the　King's　hall；　desired　his　name；　and　sent
Her　maiden　to　demand　it　of　the　dwarf；
Who　being　vicious；　old　and　irritable；
And　doubling　all　his　master's　vice　of　pride；
Made　answer　sharply　that　she　should　not　know。
'Then　will　I　ask　it　of　himself；'　she　said。
'Nay；　by　my　faith；　thou　shalt　not；'　cried　the　dwarf；
'Thou　art　not　worthy　ev'n　to　speak　of　him'；
And　when　she　put　her　horse　toward　the　knight；
Struck　at　her　with　his　whip；　and　she　return'd
Indignant　to　the　Queen；　whereat　Geraint
Exclaiming；　'Surely　I　will　learn　the　name；'
Made　sharply　to　the　dwarf；　and　ask'd　it　of　him；
Who　answer'd　as　before；　and　when　the　Prince
Had　put　his　horse　in　motion　toward　the　knight；
Struck　at　him　with　his　whip；　and　cut　his　cheek。
The　Prince's　blood　spirted　upon　the　scarf；
Dyeing　it；　and　his　quick；　instinctive　hand
Caught　at　the　hilt；　as　to　abolish　him：
But　he；　from　his　exceeding　manfulness
And　pure　nobility　of　temperament；
Wroth　to　be　wroth　at　such　a　worm；　refrain'd
From　ev'n　a　word。〃


The　self…restraint　of　Geraint；　who　does　not　slay　the　dwarf；


　　　〃From　his　exceeding　manfulness
And　pure　nobility　of　temperament；〃


may　appear　〃too　polite；〃　and　too　much　in　accord　with　the　still
undiscovered　idea　of　〃leading　sweet　lives。〃　　However；　the　uninvented
idea　does　occur　in　the　Welsh　original：　　〃Then　Geraint　put　his　hand
upon　the　hilt　of　his　sword；　but　he　took　counsel　with　himself；　and
considered　that　it　would　be　no　vengeance　for　him　to　slay　the　dwarf；〃
while　he　also　reflects　that　he　would　be　〃attacked　unarmed　by　the
armed　knight。〃　　Perhaps　Tennyson　may　be　blamed　for　omitting　this
obvious　motive　for　self…restraint。　　Geraint　therefore　follows　the
knight　in　hope　of　finding　arms；　and　arrives　at　the　town　all　busy　with
preparations　for　the　tournament　of　the　sparrow…hawk。　　This　was　a
challenge　sparrow…hawk：　　the　knight　had　won　it　twice；　and　if　he　won
it　thrice　it　would　be　his　to　keep。　　The　rest；　in　the　tale；　is　exactly
followed　in　the　Idyll。　　Geraint　is　entertained　by　the　ruined　Yniol。
The　youth　bears　the　〃costrel〃　full　of　〃good　purchased　mead〃　（the
ruined　Earl　not　brewing　for　himself）；　and　Enid　carries　the　manchet
bread　in　her　veil；　〃old；　and　beginning　to　be　worn　out。〃　　All
Tennyson's　own　is　the　beautiful　passage　…


　　　〃And　while　he　waited　in　the　castle　court；
The　voice　of　Enid；　Yniol's　daughter；　rang
Clear　thro'　the　open　casement　of　the　hall；
Singing；　and　as　the　sweet　voice　of　a　bird；
Heard　by　the　lander　in　a　lonely　isle；
Moves　him　to　think　what　kind　of　bird　it　is
That　sings　so　delicately　clear；　and　make
Conjecture　of　the　plumage　and　the　form；
So　the　sweet　voice　of　Enid　moved　Geraint；
And　made　him　like　a　man　abroad　at　morn
When　first　the　liquid　note　beloved　of　men
Comes　flying　over　many　a　windy　wave
To　Britain；　and　in　April　suddenly
Breaks　from　a　coppice　gemm'd　with　green　and　red；
And　he　suspends　his　converse　with　a　friend；
Or　it　may　be　the　labour　of　his　hands；
To　think　or　say；　'There　is　the　nightingale'；
So　fared　it　with　Geraint；　who　thought　and　said；
'Here；　by　God's　grace；　is　the　one　voice　for　me。'〃


Yniol　frankly　admits　in　the　tale　that　he　was　in　the　wrong　in　the
quarrel　with　his　nephew。　　The　poet；　however；　gives　him　the　right；　as
is　natural。　　The　combat　is　exactly　followed　in　the　Idyll；　as　is
Geraint's　insistence　in　carrying　his　bride　to　Court　in　her　faded
silks。　　Geraint；　however；　leaves　Court　with　Enid；　not　because　of　the
scandal　about　Lancelot；　but　to　do　his　duty　in　his　own　country。　　He
becomes　indolent　and　uxorious；　and　Enid　deplores　his　weakness；　and
awakes　his　suspicions；　thus：…


And　one　morning　in　the　summer　time　they　were　upon　their　couch；　and
Geraint　lay　upon　the　edge　of　it。　　And　Enid　was　without　sleep　in　the
apartment　which　had　windows　of　glass。　　And　the　sun　shone　upon　the
couch。　　And　the　clothes　had　slipped　from　off　his　arms　and　his　breast；
and　he　was　asleep。　　Then　she　gazed　upon　the　marvellous　beauty　of　his
appearance；　and　she　said；　〃Alas；　and　am　I　the　cause　that　these　arms
and　this　breast　have　lost　their　glory　and　the　wa