Lancelot, Le Chevalier de la Charrette (The Knight of the Cart)

主題 Topic	Medieval French romance
書刊名 Title	Lancelot, Le Chevalier de la Charrette (The Knight of the Cart)
作者 Author	Chrétien de Troyes；trans. W. W. Comfort
出版社 Publisher
出版年 Year	1914
語言 Language	English
裝訂 Binding	□ 平裝 Paperback　　　　□ 精裝 Hardcover
頁數 Pages
ISBN (10 / 13)
Bibliography Reference	(STC, Duff, GW . . .)
來源網址 Web Link	Camelot On-line: http://www.heroofcamelot.com/docs/Lancelot-Knight-of-the-Cart.pdf   參考資料：  蘇其康。《歐洲傳奇文學風貌：中古時期的騎士歷險與愛情謳歌》。台北：書林，2005。
劇本簡介撰稿者	郭如蘋、洪沛茵
撰寫日期 Date	March 24, 2016

A.   簡介 Introduction (within 100 words, Chinese or English)

《藍撒洛》又稱做《囚車裡的騎士》（Le Chevalier de la Charrette），是法國詩人克里田（Chrétien de Troyes）的幾篇亞瑟傳奇中最可歌可泣的一部作品，約寫於1178年，長約七千一百多詩行，是部未完成的作品。這部作品賦予藍撒洛一個全新的角色，即為皇后關尼薇的情人。此反映出香檳宮廷裡的已婚貴婦不能和丈夫保有理想的浪漫愛情，故此。她需要一名對她全心全意的仰慕者來敬奉她。藍撒洛成了理想情人的典範，也使這部作品成為宮廷愛情故事的最佳註腳。

B.   文本摘錄 Extracts (4-6 Pages)

Part I: Vv.1­Vv.1840
 
(Vv. 1-30.) Since my lady of Champagne wishes me to undertake to write a romance, I shall very gladly do so, being so devoted to her service as to do anything in the world for her, without any intention of flattery. But if one were to introduce any flattery upon such an occasion, he might say, and I would subscribe to it, that this lady surpasses all others who are alive, just as the south wind which blows in May or April is more lovely than any other wind. But upon my word, I am not one to wish to flatter my lady. I will simply say: “The Countess is worth as many queens as a gem is worth of pearls and sards.” Nay I shall make no comparison, and yet it is true in spite of me; I will say, however, that her command has more to do with this work than any thought or pains that I may expend upon it. Here Chretien begins his book about the Knight of the Cart. The material and the treatment of it are given and furnished to him by the Countess, and he is simply trying to carry out her concern and intention. Here he begins the story.
 
(Vv. 31-172.) Upon a certain Ascension Day King Arthur had come from Caerleon, and had held a very magnificent court at Camelot as was fitting on such a day. After the feast the King did not quit his noble companions, of whom there were many in the hall. The Queen was present, too, and with her many a courteous lady able to converse in French. And Kay, who had furnished the meal, was eating with the others who had served the food. While Kay was sitting there at meat, behold there came to court a knight, well equipped and fully armed, and thus the knight appeared before the King as he sat among his lords. He gave him no greeting, but spoke out thus: “King Arthur, I hold in captivity knights, ladies, and damsels who belong to thy dominion and household; but it is not because of any intention to restore them to thee that I make reference to them here; rather do I wish to proclaim and serve thee notice that thou hast not the strength or the resources to enable thee to secure them again. And be Lancelot, the Knight of the Cart assured that thou shalt die before thou canst ever succour them.” The King replies that he must needs endure what he has not the power to change; nevertheless, he is filled with grief. Then the knight makes as if to go away, and turns about, without tarrying longer before the King; but after reaching the door of the hall, he does not go down the stairs, but stops and speaks from there these words: “King, if in thy court there is a single knight in whom thou hast such confidence that thou wouldst dare to entrust to him the Queen that he might escort her after me out into the woods whither I am going, I will promise to await him there, and will surrender to thee all the prisoners whom I hold in exile in my country if he is able to defend the Queen and if he succeeds in bringing her back again.” Many who were in the palace heard this challenge, and the whole court was in an uproar. Kay, too, heard the news as he sat at meat with those who served. Leaving the table, he came straight to the King, and as if greatly enraged, he began to say: “O King, I have served thee long, faithfully, and loyally; now I take my leave, and shall go away, having no desire to serve thee more.” The King was grieved at what he heard, and as soon as he could, he thus replied to him: “Is this serious, or a joke?” And Kay replied: “O King, fair sire, I have no desire to jest, and I take my leave quite seriously. No other reward or wages do I wish in return for the service I have given you. My mind is quite made up to go away immediately.” “Is it in anger or in spite that you wish to go?” the King inquired; “seneschal, remain at court, as you have done hitherto, and be assured that I have nothing in the world which I would not give you at once in return for your consent to stay.” “Sire,” says Kay, “no need of that. I would not accept for each day's pay a measure of fine pure gold.” Thereupon, the King in great dismay went off to seek the Queen. “My lady,” he says, “you do not know the demand that the seneschal makes of me. He asks me for leave to go away, and says he will no longer stay at court; the reason of this I do not know. But he will do at your request what he will not do for me. Go to him now, my lady dear. Since he will not consent to stay for my sake, pray him to remain on your account, and if need be, fall at his feet, for I should never again be happy if I should lose his company.” The King sends the Queen to the seneschal, and she goes to him. Finding him with the rest, she went up to him, and said: “Kay, you may be very sure that I am greatly troubled by the news I have heard of you. I am grieved to say that I have been told it is your intention to leave the King. How does this come about? What motive have you in your mind? I cannot think that you are so sensible or courteous as usual. I want to ask you to remain: stay with us here, and grant my prayer.” “Lady,” he says, “I give you thanks; nevertheless, I shall not remain.” The Queen again makes her request, and is joined by all the other knights. And Kay informs her that he is growing Chrétien de Troyes
tired of a service which is unprofitable. Then the Queen prostrates herself at full length before his feet. Kay beseeches her to rise, but she says that she will never do so until he grants her request. Then Kay promises her to remain, provided the King and she will grant in advance a favour he is about to ask. “Kay,” she says, “he will grant it, whatever it may be. Come now, and we shall tell him that upon this condition you will remain.” So Kay goes away with the Queen to the King's presence. The Queen says: “I have had hard work to detain Kay; but I have brought him here to you with the understanding that you will do what he is going to ask.” The King sighed with satisfaction, and said that he would perform whatever request he might make.