第 23 节
作者:
疯狂热线 更新:2021-02-21 14:15 字数:9321
never be known to be here。 But think you to have seen all my
tower and all my pleasaunce? Still are there lurking…places such
as no man would be able to find。 And if it is allowed you to try
your skill in searching as well as you can; never will you be
able to ransack so thoroughly as to find more rooms here; however
subtle and wise you are; if I do not show and point them out to
you。 Know that here baths are not lacking; nor anything that I
remember and think of as suitable for a lady。 She will be well at
her ease here。 This tower has a wider base underground; as you
shall see; and never will you be able to find anywhere door or
entrance。 With such craft and such art is the door made of hard
stone that never will you find the join thereof。〃 〃Now hear I
marvel;〃 quoth Cliges; 〃go forward; I shall follow; for I long to
see all this。〃 Then has John started off; and leads Cliges by the
hand to a smooth and polished door; which is all painted and
coloured。 At the wall has John stopped; and he held Cliges by the
right hand。 〃Lord;〃 quoth he; 〃no man is there who could have
seen door or window in this wall; and think you that one could
pass it in any wise without doing it injury and harm?〃 Cliges
answers that he does not think he could; nor ever will think it;
unless he sees it with his own eyes。 Then says John that his lord
shall see it; for he will open for him the door of the wall。
John; who himself had wrought the work; unlocks and opens to him
the door of the wall; so that he neither hurts it nor injures it;
and the one passes before the other; and they descend by a spiral
staircase to a vaulted room where John wrought at his craft; when
it was his pleasure to construct aught。 〃Lord;〃 quoth he; 〃here
where we are was never one of all the men whom God created save
us two; and the place has all that makes for comfort; as you will
see in a trice。 I advise that your retreat be here; and that your
lady…love be hidden in it。 Such a lodging is meet for such a
guest; for there are rooms and baths and in the baths hot water;
which comes through a pipe below the earth。 That man who would
seek a convenient spot to place and hide his lady would have to
go far before he found one so delightful。 You will deem it a very
fitting refuge when you have been all over it。〃 Then has John
shown him all; fair chambers and painted vaults; and he has shown
him much of his workmanship; which pleased him mightily。 When
they had seen the whole tower; then said Cliges: 〃John; my
friend; I free you and your heirs one and all; and I am wholly
yours。 I desire that my lady be here all alone; and that no one
ever know it save me and you and her; and not another soul。〃 John
replies: 〃I thank you。 Now we have been here long enough; now we
have no more to do; so let us start on the return journey。〃 〃You
have said well;〃 Cliges replies; 〃let us depart。〃 Then they turn
and have issued forth from the tower。 On their return they hear
in the town how one tells another in confidence: 〃You know not
the grave news about my lady the empress。 May the Holy Spirit
give health to the wise and noble lady; for she lies in very
great sickness。〃
When Cliges hears the report; he went to the court at full speed;
but neither joy nor pleasure was there; for all were sad and
dejected on account of the empress; who feigns herself ill;
feignsfor the evil whereof she complains gives her no pain or
hurt; she has said to all that as long as the malady whereby her
heart and head feel pain holds her so strongly; she will have no
man save the emperor or his nephew enter her chamber; for she
will not deny herself to them; though if the emperor; her lord;
come not; little will it irk her。 She must needs risk great
suffering and great peril for Cliges' sake; but it weighs on her
heart that he comes not; she desires to see naught save him。
Cliges will soon be in her presence and stay there till he shall
have related to her what he has seen and found。 He comes before
her and has told her; but he remained there a short time only;
for Fenice; in order that people may think that what pleases her
annoys her; has said aloud: 〃Away! Away! You tire me greatly; you
weary me much; for I am so oppressed with sickness that never
shall I be raised from it and restored to health。〃 Cliges; whom
this greatly pleases; goes away; making a doleful
countenancefor never before did you see it so doleful。
Outwardly he appears full sad; but his heart is blithe within;
for it looks to have its joy。
The empress; without having any illness; complains and feigns
herself ill; and the emperor; who believes her; ceases not to
make lamentation; and sends to seek leeches for her; but she will
not let that one see her; nor does she let herself be touched。
This grieves the emperor; for she says that never will she have
leech except one; who will know how to give her health quickly;
when it shall be his will。 He will make her die or live; into his
keeping she puts herself for health and for life。 They think that
she is speaking of God; but a very different meaning has she; for
she means none other than Cliges。 He is her God; who can give her
health and who can make her die。
Thus the empress provides that no leech attend her; and she will
not eat or drink; in order the better to deceive the emperor;
until she is both pale and wan all over。 And her nurse stays near
her; who with very wondrous craft sought secretly through all the
town; so that no one knew it; until she found a woman sick of a
mortal sickness without cure。 In order the better to carry out
the deception; she went often to visit her and promised her that
she would cure her of her ill; and each day she would bring a
glass to see her water; till she saw that medicine would no
longer be able to aid her and that she would die that very day。
She has brought this water and has kept it straitly until the
emperor rose。 Now she goes before him and says to him: 〃If you
will; sire; send for all your leeches; for my lady; who is
suffering from a sore sickness; has passed water and wishes that
the leeches see it; but that they come not in her presence。〃 The
leeches came into the hall; they see the water very bad and pale;
and each says what seems to him the truth; till they all agree
together that never will she recover; and will not even see the
hour of None; and if she lives so long; then at the latest God
will take her soul to himself。 This have they murmured secretly。
Then the emperor has bidden and conjured them that they tell the
truth of the matter。 They reply that they have no hope at all of
her recovery; and that she cannot pass the hour of None; for
before that hour she will have given up the ghost。 When the
emperor has heard the word; scarcely can he refrain from swooning
to the ground; and likewise many a one of the others who heard
it。 Never did any folk make such mourning as then prevailed
through all the palace。 I spare you the account of the mourning;
and you shall hear what Thessala is about; who mixes and brews
the draught。 She has mixed and stirred it; for long beforehand
she had provided herself with all that she knew was needed for
the draught。 A little before the hour of None she gives her the
draught to drink。 As soon as she had drunk it; her sight grew
dim; and her face was as pale and white as if she had lost her
blood; nor would she have moved hand or foot even if one had
flayed her alive; she neither stirs nor says a word; and yet she
hearkens to and hears the mourning which the emperor makes; and
the wailing with which the hall is full。 And o'er all the city
the folk wail who weep and say: 〃God! what a sorrow and a
calamity has accursed death dealt us! Greedy death! Covetous
death! Death is worse than any she…wolf; for death cannot be
sated。 Never couldst thou give a worse wound to the world。 Death;
what hast thou done? May God confound thee who hast extinguished
all beauty。 Thou hast slain the choicest creature and the fairest
pictureif she had but remained alive!that God ever laboured
to fashion。 Too patient is God; since He suffers thee to have the
power to ruin His handiwork。 Now should God be wroth with thee
and cast thee forth from thy dominion; for thou hast committed
too wanton and great arrogance and great insult。〃 Thus all the
people storm; they wring their hands and beat their palms; and
the clerks read there their psalms; who pray for the good lady
that God may show mercy to her soul。
Amid the tears and the wails; as the writings tell us; have come
three aged physicians from Salerno; where they had been a long
time。 They have stopped on account of the great mourning; and ask
and inquire the reason of the wails and tears; why folk are thus
demented and distressed。 And they tell them and reply: 〃God!
Lords; know ye not? At this ought the whole world; each place in
turn; to become frenzied together with us; if it knew the great
mourning and grief and hurt and the great loss which this day has
opened to our ken。 God! whence then are you come; since you know
not what has happened but now in the city? We will tell you the
truth; for we wish to join you with us in the mourning wherewith
we mourn。 Know you nought