Sir Gawain and the Green Knight: With Pearl and Sir Orfeo. Джон Руэл Толкиен
Читать онлайн книгу.
in sooth might no man say.
5 But Arthur would not eat until all were served;
his youth made him so merry with the moods of a boy,
he liked lighthearted life, so loved he the less
either long to be lying or long to be seated
so worked on him his young blood and wayward brain.
And another rule moreover was his reason besides
that in pride he had appointed: it pleased him not to eat
upon festival so fair, ere he first were apprised
of some strange story or stirring adventure,
or some moving marvel that he might believe in
of noble men, knighthood, or new adventures;
or a challenger should come a champion seeking
to join with him in jousting, in jeopardy to set
his life against life, each allowing the other
the favour of fortune, were she fairer to him.
This was the king’s custom, wherever his court was holden,
at each famous feast among his fair company
in hall
So his face doth proud appear,
and he stands up stout and tall, all young in the New Year; much mirth he makes with all.
6 Thus there stands up straight the stern king himself,
talking before the high table of trifles courtly. There good Gawain was set at Guinevere’s side, with Agravain a la Dure Main on the other side seated, both their lord’s sister-sons, loyal-hearted knights. Bishop Baldwin had the honour of the board’s service, and Iwain Urien’s son ate beside him. These dined on the dais and daintily fared, and many a loyal lord below at the long tables. Then forth came the first course with fanfare of trumpets, on which many bright banners bravely were hanging; noise of drums then anew and the noble pipes, warbling wild and keen, wakened their music, so that many hearts rose high hearing their playing. Then forth was brought a feast, fare of the noblest, multitude of fresh meats on so many dishes that free places were few in front of the people to set the silver things full of soups on cloth
so white.
Each lord of his liking there
without lack took with delight:
twelve plates to every pair,
good beer and wine all bright.
7 Now of their service I will say nothing more,
for you are all well aware that no want would there be. Another noise that was new drew near on a sudden, so that their lord might have leave at last to take food. For hardly had the music but a moment ended, and the first course in the court as was custom been served, when there passed through the portals a perilous horseman, the mightiest on middle-earth in measure of height, from his gorge to his girdle so great and so square, and his loins and his limbs so long and so huge, that half a troll upon earth I trow that he was, but the largest man alive at least I declare him; and yet the seemliest for his size that could sit on a horse, for though in back and in breast his body was grim, both his paunch and his waist were properly slight, and all his features followed his fashion so gay in mode;
for at the hue men gaped aghast
in his face and form that showed;
as a fay-man fell he passed,
and green all over glowed.
8 All of green were they made, both garments and man:
a coat tight and close that clung to his sides;
a rich robe above it all arrayed within
with fur finely trimmed, shewing fair fringes
of handsome ermine gay, as his hood was also,
that was lifted from his locks and laid on his shoulders;
and trim hose tight-drawn of tincture alike
that clung to his calves; and clear spurs below
of bright gold on silk broideries banded most richly,
though unshod were his shanks, for shoeless he rode.
And verily all this vesture was of verdure clear,
both the bars on his belt, and bright stones besides
that were richly arranged in his array so fair,
set on himself and on his saddle upon silk fabrics:
it would be too hard to rehearse one half of the trifles
that were embroidered upon them, what with birds and with flies
in a gay glory of green, and ever gold in the midst.
The pendants of his poitrel, his proud crupper,
his molains, and all the metal to say more, were enamelled,
even the stirrups that he stood in were stained of the same;
and his saddlebows in suit, and their sumptuous skirts,
which ever glimmered and glinted all with green jewels;
even the horse that upheld him in hue was the same,
I tell:
a green horse great and thick,
a stallion stiff to quell,
in broidered bridle quick:
he matched his master well.
9 Very gay was this great man guised all in green,
and the hair of his head with his horse’s accorded:
fair flapping locks enfolding his shoulders,
a big beard like a bush over his breast hanging
that with the handsome hair from his head falling
was sharp shorn to an edge just short of his elbows,
so that half his arms under it were hid, as it were
in a king’s capadoce that encloses his neck.
The mane of that mighty horse was of much the same sort,
well curled and all combed, with many curious knots
woven in with gold wire about the wondrous green,
ever a strand of the hair and a string of the gold;
the tail and the top-lock were twined all to match
and both bound with a band of a brilliant green:
with dear jewels bedight to the dock’s ending,
and twisted then on top was a tight-knitted knot
on which many burnished bells of bright gold jingled.
Such a mount on middle-earth, or man to ride him,
was never beheld in that hall with eyes ere that time; for there
his glance was as lightning bright,
so did all that saw him swear;
no man would have the might,
they thought, his blows to bear.
10 And yet he had not a helm, nor a hauberk either,
not a pisane, not a plate that was proper to arms;
not a shield, not a shaft, for shock or for blow,
but in his one hand he held a holly-bundle,
that is greatest in greenery when groves are leafless,