XVI. — THE GREAT TOURNEY ／ 第16章 大試合
訳：小川温
KING BOHUN with many knights and squires and serving men had ridden down from his castle above the City of the Sepulcher two days ago to take his way across the valley to the field before the city of Nimmr for the Great Tourney that is held once each year, commencing upon the first Sunday in Lent.
Gay pennons fluttered from a thousand lance tips and gay with color were the housings of the richly caparisoned chargers that proudly bore the Knights of the Sepulcher upon whose backs red crosses were emblazoned to denote that they had completed the pilgrimage to the Holy Land and were returning to home and England.
Their bassinets, unlike those of the Knights of Nimmr, were covered with bullock hide, and the devices upon their bucklers differed, and their colors. But for these and the crosses upon their backs they might have been Gobred's own good knights and true.
Sturdy sumpter beasts, almost as richly trapped as the knight's steeds, bore the marquees and tilts that were to house the knights during the tourney, as well as their personal belongings, their extra arms and their provisions for the three days of the tourney; for custom, over seven centuries old, forbade the Knights of Nimmr and the Knights of the Sepulcher breaking bread together.
The Great Tourney was merely a truce during which they carried on their ancient warfare under special rules which transformed it into a gorgeous pageant and an exhibition of martial prowess which noncombatants might witness in comfort and with impunity. It did not permit friendly intercourse between the two factions as this was not compatible with the seriousness of the event, in which knights of both sides often were killed, or the spirit in which the grand prize was awarded.
This prize as much as any other factor had kept open the breach of seven and a half centuries' duration that separated the Fronters from the Backers, for it consisted of five maidens whom the winners took back with them to their own city and who were never again seen by their friends or relatives.
Though the sorrow was mitigated by the honorable treatment that custom and the laws of knighthood decreed should be accorded these unfortunate maidens, it was still bitter because attached to it was the sting of defeat.
Following the tournament the maidens became the especial charges of Gobred or Bohun, dependent of course upon whether the honors of the tourney had fallen to the Fronters or the Backers, and in due course were given in honorable marriage to knights of the victorious party.
The genesis of the custom, which was now fully seven centuries old, doubtless lay in the wise desire of some ancient Gobred or Bohun to maintain the stock of both factions strong and virile by the regular infusion of new blood, as well, perhaps, as to prevent the inhabitants of the two cities from drifting too far apart in manners, customs and speech.
Many a happy wife of Nimmr had been born in the City of the Sepulcher and seldom was it that the girls themselves repined for long. It was considered an honor to be chosen and there were always many more who volunteered than the requisite number of five that annually made the sacrifice.
The five who constituted the prize offered by the City of the Sepulcher this year rode on white palfreys and were attended by a guard of honor in silver mail. The girls, selected for their beauty to thus honor the city of their birth, were gorgeously attired and weighed down with ornaments of gold and silver and precious stones.
Upon the plain before the city of Nimmr preparations for the tourney had been in progress for many days. The lists were being dragged and rolled with heavy wooden rollers, the ancient stands of stone from which the spectators viewed the spectacle were undergoing their annual repairs and cleansing, a frame superstructure was being raised to support the canopies that would shade the choice seats reserved for the nobility, and staffs for a thousand pennons had been set round the outer margin of the lists—these and a hundred other things were occupying a company of workmen; and in the walled city and in the castle that stood above it the hammers of armorers and smiths rang far into the night forging iron shoes and mail and lance tips.
Blake had been assured that he was to have a part in the Great Tourney and was as keen for it as he had been for the big game of the season during his football days at college. He had been entered in two sword contests—one in which five Knights of Nimmr met five Knights of the Sepulcher and another in which he was pitted against a single antagonist, but his only contest with the lance was to be in the grand finale when a hundred Fronters faced a hundred Backers, since, whereas, before his encounter with Malud he had been considered hopeless with sword and buckler now Prince Gobred looked to him to win many points with these, his lance work being held but mediocre.
King Bohun and his followers were camped in a grove of oaks about a mile north of the lists, nor did the laws governing the Great Tourney permit them to come nearer until the hour appointed for their entrance upon the first day of the spectacle.
Blake, in preparing for the tourney, had followed the custom adopted by many of the knights of wearing distinctive armor and trapping his charger similarly. His chain mail was all of solid black, relieved only by the leopard skin of his bassinet and the blue and silver pennon upon his lance. The housings of his mount were of black, edged with silver and blue, and there were, of course, the prescribed red crosses upon his breast and upon his horse housings.
As he came from his quarters upon the opening morning of the tourney, followed by Edward bearing his lance and buckler, he appeared a somber figure among the resplendently caparisoned knights and the gorgeously dressed women that were gathered in the great court awaiting the word to mount their horses which were being held in the north ballium by the grooms.
That his black mail was distinctive was evidenced by the attention he immediately attracted, and that he had quickly become popular among the knights and ladies of Nimmr was equally apparent by the manner in which they clustered about him, but opinion was divided in the matter of his costume, some holding that it was too dismal and depressing.
Guinalda was there but she remained seated upon a bench where she was conversing with one of the maidens that had been chosen as Nimmr's prize. Blake quickly disengaged himself from those who had crowded about him and crossed the court to where Guinalda sat. At his approach the princess looked up and inclined her head slightly in recognition of his bow and then she resumed her conversation with the maiden.
The rebuff was too obvious to permit of misunderstanding, but Blake was not satisfied to accept it and go his way without an explanation. He could scarce believe, however, that the princess was still vexed merely because he had intimated that he had believed that she took a greater interest in him than she had admitted. There must be some other reason.
He did not turn and walk away, then, although she continued to ignore him, but stood quietly before her waiting patiently until she should again notice him.
Presently he noted that she was becoming nervous as was also the maiden with whom she spoke. There were lapses in their conversation; one of Guinalda's feet was tapping the flagging irritably; a slow flush was creeping upward into her cheeks. The maiden fidgeted, she plucked at the ends of the wimple that lay about her shoulders, she smoothed the rich cyclas of her mantle and finally she arose and bowing before the princess asked if she might go and bid farewell to her mother.
Guinalda bade her begone and then, alone with Blake and no longer able to ignore him, nor caring to, she turned angrily upon him.
"I was right!" she snapped. "Thou art a forward boor. Why standest thou thus staring at me when I have made it plain that I would not be annoyed by thee? Go!"
"Because—" Blake hesitated, "because I love you."
"Sirrah!" cried Guinalda, springing to her feet. "How darest thou!"
"I would dare anything for you, my princess," replied Blake, "because I love you."
Guinalda looked straight at him for a moment in silence, then her short upper lip curved in a contemptuous sneer.
"Thou liest!" she said. "I have heard what thou hast said concerning me!" and without waiting for a reply she brushed past him and walked away.
Blake hurried after her. "What have I said about you?" he demanded. "I have said nothing that I would not repeat before all Nimmr. Not even have I presumed to tell my best friend, Sir Richard, that I love you. No other ears than yours have heard that."
"I have heard differently," said Guinalda, haughtily, "and I care not to discuss the matter further."
"But—" commenced Blake, but at that instant a trumpet sounded from the north gate leading into the ballium. It was the signal for the knights to mount. Guinalda's page came running to her to summon her to her father's side. Sir Richard appeared and seized Blake by the arm.
"Come, James!" he cried. "We should have been mounted before now for we ride in the forerank of the knights today." And so Blake was dragged away from the princess before he could obtain an explanation of her, to him, inexplicable attitude.
The north ballium presented a scene of color and activity, crowded as it was with knights and ladies, pages, squires, grooms, men-at-arms and horses, nor would it accommodate them all, so that the overflow stretched into the east and south balliums and even through the great east gate out upon the road that leads down into the valley.
For half an hour something very like chaos reigned about the castle of the Prince of Nimmr, but eventually perspiring marshals and shouting heralds whipped the cortege into shape as it took its slow and imposing way down the winding mountain road toward the lists.
First rode the marshals and heralds and behind them a score of trumpeters; then came Prince Gobred, riding alone, and following was a great company of knights, their colored pennons streaming in the wind. They rode just before the ladies and behind the ladies was another company of knights, while in the rear marched company after company of men-at-arms, some armed with cross bows, others with pikes and still others again with battle-axes of huge proportions.
Perhaps a hundred knights and men-at-arms all told were left behind to guard the castle and the entrance to the Valley of the Sepulcher, but these would be relieved to witness the second and third days' exercises.
As the Knights of Nimmr wound down to the lists, the Knights of the Sepulcher moved out from their camp among the oaks, and the marshals of the two parties timed their approach so that both entered the lists at the same time.
The ladies of Nimmr dropped out of the procession and took their places in the stand; the five maidens of Nimmr and the five from the City of the Sepulcher were escorted to a dais at one end of the lists, after which the knights lined up in solid ranks, the Knights of Nimmr upon the south side of the lists, the Knights of the Sepulcher upon the north.
Gobred and Bohun rode forward and met in the center of the field, where, in measured and imposing tones, Bohun delivered the ancient challenge prescribed by custom and the laws of the Great Tourney and handed Gobred the gage, the acceptance of which constituted an acceptance of the challenge and marked the official opening of the tourney.
As Gobred and Bohun reined about and faced their own knights these rode out of the lists, those who were not to take part in the encounters of the day seeking places in the stands after turning their chargers over to grooms, while those who were to participate formed again to ride once around the lists, for the double purpose of indicating to their opponents and the spectators the entrants for that day and of viewing the prizes offered by their opponents.
In addition to the maidens there were many minor prizes consisting of jeweled ornaments, suits of mail, lances, swords, bucklers, splendid steeds and the many articles that were valued by knights or that might find favor in the eyes of their ladies.
The Knights of the Sepulcher paraded first, with Bohun at their head, and it was noticeable that the eyes of the king were often upon the women in the stands as he rode past. Bohun was a young man, having but just ascended the throne following the recent death of his father. He was arrogant and tyrannical and it had been common knowledge in Nimmr that for years he had been at the head of a faction that was strong for war with Nimmr, that the city might be reduced and the entire Valley of the Sepulcher brought under the rule of the Bohuns.
His charger prancing, his colors flying, his great company of knights at his back, King Bohun rode along the stands reserved for the people of Nimmr, and when he came to the central loge in which sat Prince Gobred with the Princess Brynilda and Princess Guinalda, his eyes fell upon the face of the daughter of Gobred.
Bohun reined in his charger and stared straight into the face of Guinalda. Gobred flushed angrily, for Bohun's act was a breach of courtesy, and half rose from his seat, but at that moment Bohun, bowing low across his mount's withers, moved on, followed by his knights.
That day the honors went to the Knights of the Sepulcher, far they scored two hundred and twenty seven points against one hundred and six that the Knights of Nimmr were able to procure.
Upon the second day the tourney opened with the riding past of the entrants who, ordinarily, were conducted by a herald, but to the surprise of all, Bohun again led his knights past the stands and again he paused and looked full at the Princess Guinalda.
This day the Knights of Nimmr fared a little better, being for the day but seven points behind their opponents, though the score for the two days stood two hundred and sixty nine to three hundred and ninety seven in favor of the Knights of the Sepulcher.
So the third day opened with the knights from the north boasting what seemed an insuperable lead of one hundred and twenty eight points and the Knights of Nimmr spurred to greater action by the knowledge that to win the tourney they must score two hundred and thirty two of the remaining three hundred and thirty four points.
Once again, contrary to age old custom, Bohun led his entrants about the lists as they paraded before the opening encounter, and once again he drew rein before the loge of Gobred and his eye rested upon the beautiful face of Guinalda for an instant before he addressed her sire.
"Prince Gobred of Nimmr," he said in his haughty and arrogant voice, "as thou well knowest, my valiant sir knights have bested thine by more than six score points and the Great Tourney is as good as ours already. Yet we would make thee a proposition."
"Speak Bohun! The Great Tourney is yet far from won, but an thou hast any proposition that an honorable prince may consider, thou hast my assurance that 'twill be given consideration."
"Thy five maidens are as good as ours," said Bohun, "but give me thy daughter to be queen of the Valley of the Sepulcher and I will grant thee the tourney."
Gobred went white with anger, but when he replied his voice was low and even for he was master of his own emotions, as befitted a princely man.
"Sir Bohun," he said, refusing to accord to his enemy the title of king, "thy words are an offense in the ears of honorable men, implying as they do that the daughter of a Gobred be for sale and that the honor of the knighthood of Nimmr may be bartered for.
"Get thou hence to thine own side of the lists before I set serfs upon thee to drive thee there with staves."
"So that is thine answer, eh?" shouted Bohun. "Then know thou that I shall take the five maidens by the rules of the Great Tourney and thy daughter by force of arms!" With this threat delivered he wheeled his steed and spurred away.
Word of Bohun's proposition and his rebuff spread like wild fire throughout the ranks of the Knights of Nimmr so that those who were to contend this last day of the tourney were keyed to the highest pitch of derring-do in the defence of the honor of Nimmr and the protection of the Princess Guinalda.
The great lead attained by the Knights of the Sepulcher during the first two days was but an added incentive to greater effort, provoking them, as a spur, to the utmost limits of daring and exertion. There was no need that their marshals should exhort them. The youth and chivalry of Nimmr had heard the challenge and would answer it in the lists!
Blake's sword and buckler encounter with a Knight of the Sepulcher was scheduled for the first event of the day. When the lists were cleared he rode in to a fanfare of trumpets, moving parallel with the south stands while his adversary rode along the front of the north stands, the latter halting before the loge of Bohun as Blake drew rein in front of that of Gobred, where he raised the hilt of his sword to his lips to the Prince, though his eyes were upon Guinalda.
"Conduct thyself as a true knight this day to the glory and honor of Nimmr," charged Gobred, "and may the blessings of Our Lord Jesus be upon thee and thy sword, our well beloved Sir James!"
"To the glory and honor of Nimmr I pledge my sword and my life!" should have been Blake's reply according to the usages of the Great Tourney.
"To the glory and honor of Nimmr and to the protection of my Princess I pledge my sword and my life!" is what he said, and it was evident from the expression on Gobred's face that he was not displeased, while the look of haughty disdain which had been upon Guinalda's face softened.
Slowly she arose and tearing a ribbon from her gown stepped to the front of the loge. "Receive this favor from thy lady, sir knight," she said, "bearing it with honor and to victory in thine encounter."
Blake reined closed to the rail of the loge and bent low while Guinalda pinned the ribbon upon his shoulder. His face was close to hers; he sensed the intoxicating perfume of her hair; he felt her warm breath upon his cheek.
"I love you," he whispered, so low that no other ears than hers could hear.
"Thou art a boor," she replied in a voice as low as his. "It is for the sake of the five maidens that I encourage thee with this favor."
Blake looked straight into her eyes. "I love you, Guinalda," he said, "and—you love me!"
Before she could reply he had wheeled away, the trumpets had sounded, and he was cantering slowly toward the end of the field where the tilts of the Knights of Nimmr stood.
Edward, very much excited, was there and Sir Richard and Michel, with a marshal, heralds, trumpeters, men-at-arms—a martial company to urge him on with encouragement and advice.
Blake cast aside his buckler, nor was there any to reprove him now. Instead they smiled proudly and knowingly, for had they not seen him best Sir Malud without other defense than his horsemanship and his sword?
The trumpets blared again. Blake turned and put spurs to his charger. Straight down the center of the lists he rode. From the opposite end came a Knight of the Sepulcher to meet him!
"Sir James! Sir James!" cried the spectators in the stands upon the south side, while the north stands answered with the name of their champion.
"Who is the black knight?" asked many a man in the north stands of his neighbor.
"He hath no buckler!" cried some. "He is mad!"
"Sir Guy will cleave him open at the first pass!"
"Sir Guy! Sir Guy!"ブーン王は大勢の騎士、従者、下士の者を引き連れて二日前、年に一回レント（四旬節）の最初の日曜日に開催される大試合に参加するため聖墳墓の町にある城から谷の向こう側のニムルの町の前にある平原まで馬を走らせていた。
千本の槍先の槍旗とさまざまな色が賑やかにはためいているのは聖地への巡礼の旅を完了し、故郷やイングランドに帰国しようとする印として真紅の十字架を背中に刺繍した聖墳墓墓の騎士達を堂々と乗せている派手に装飾された騎馬の馬飾りだった。
彼らのバシネット（内鎧）はニムルの騎士とは異なり子牛の皮で覆われていた。また盾の図柄も違っていた。そして色使いも。それらと十字架を除けば、あとはゴウブレッドの騎士達と寸分違わなかった。
騎士の乗る騎馬のように豪華に飾りたてられた頑丈な荷馬が試合の期間騎士達の住まいになるテントや日除け、また日常使う用具類、予備の武具、それと七世紀を越える習慣としてニムルの騎士と聖墳墓の騎士とは食事を共にすることを禁じられているので、三日分の食糧などを運んでいた。
大試合は延々と続く交戦状態の間に取り決められた特別規則に基づく華麗な催しかつ非戦闘員も咎められることなく楽しく観覧できる武勇の腕前の披露に姿を変えた完全な休戦だった。ただし、双方の騎士にしばしば死人がでるという試合の真剣さ、あるいは華麗な報奨の精神になじまないということで、両派間の友好的交流は許されなかった。
この報奨はまた七世紀半にも及びフロンティアーズとバッカーズを切り離すことになった不和のもう一つの要因でもあった。すなわち、その報奨とは勝者が自分の町に連れ帰る五人の娘だった。そしてその娘達は自分の友人や親族とは再び会うことはなかった。
その悲しみは、慣習と騎士道に照らし定められた法が不幸せな娘に与えた丁重な扱いによって慰められはしたものの、敗北の結果という忘れられない痛みはぬぐいきれないものだった。
トーナメント試合が終ると、その娘達は、試合の勝利がフロンティアーズになったかバッカーズになったかにより、ゴウブレッドかブーンの預かりものとなり、順調にゆくと、騎士の名誉の結婚という勝利の宴とあいなるのだった。
この習慣の起源は、今や優に七百年の古きになるが、いにしえのゴウブレッドかブーンの、両家系が新しい血を絶えず注ぎ込むことで健全に雄々しく存続するように、またおそらく、二つの町の住民の風俗、習慣、言語がかけ離れるのを防ぎたい、という思慮に富んだ希望にあった。
沢山の幸せな夫人が聖墳墓の町に生れ、まれに嘆き悲しみ続けた娘が居た。選ばれる事は栄誉だと思われ、毎年犠牲者を準備するのに必要とされる五人以上の多数の志願者がいた。
今年の聖墳墓の町から差し出された賞品の五人が白馬に乗り銀の鎖帷子を着た名誉ある護衛に付き添われていた。生れた町の誇りとしてその美しさで選出された娘達は絢爛と装われていたが、金、銀、その他宝石類で飾られ、その重さに沈みそうだった。
ニムルの町の前にある平原では試合の準備がちゃくちゃくと進行していた。畝がならされ、重たいローラーで平たくされていた。観客がそこから見物する昔からある石造りの観覧席は年ごとに補修され清掃されており、貴賓席用の日よけ天蓋を支えるフレームが掲げられ、千枚もの旗飾り用の棹が試合場周りに立てられている---それらの準備や他のさまざまなことに作業員の一団が従事していた。そして、城壁町の中や城の中では武器職人や鍛冶屋が鉄の靴、鎖帷子、槍の穂先などを鍛造するハンマーの音が夜中響いていた。
ブレイクは自分が大試合に出場すると断言していた。そして学生時代にフットボールの試合に熱中していたようにこれにも夢中になっていた。彼は剣では二試合にエントリーしていた。一つは、ニムル、聖墳墓両騎士それぞれ五人による剣試合。もう一つは一対一の試合だった。しかし、槍では一試合で、それはフロンティアーズ百人がバッカーズ百人と対戦する最終試合となっていた。モーラッドとの対戦の前、彼は剣と盾の試合では希望が持てないと思われていたが、今、ゴウブレッド公爵はそれについては高得点で彼が勝てると見ていた、しかしながら、槍試合はさすがに並みに過ぎないと思わざるを得なかった。
ブーン王とその一党は試合場から北一マイルほどの樫木立の中でキャンプを張っていた。大試合を取り仕切る規定も見物の初日指定された入場時間まで近くに来ることを許してはいなかった。
ブレイクは、大試合の準備中、他の多くの騎士達と同様、特有の甲冑を身に着け、馬に同じような装飾をする習慣に従っていた。彼の鎖帷子は黒一色でバシネットの豹皮だけが目立っていた。そして、槍には青と銀の旗が。馬飾りは銀と青で縁取りされた黒だった。それと、勿論、指定の赤い十字架が胸と馬飾りにあった。
試合開始の朝、槍と盾を持ったエドワードに従われて自分の宿舎から出た時、広大な中庭に集まって北のバリアムで馬番が世話をしている馬に乗るため指示を待っているきらびやかな装飾にまとわれた騎士達や豪華に着飾った女性たちの中で自分だけが陰鬱な姿に思えた。
ブレイクの黒い甲冑が特徴的だということが明らかになり、すぐにみんなの注意を引くようになった。そして、彼はニムルの騎士達や淑女達のあいだでたちまち人気者になったということが彼の周りに人が集まるというその様子で明らかになった。しかし、彼の身なりについての見解は別れた。暗くて士気が落ちるという者もいたのだった。
ギナルダはそこにいた。しかし、彼女はニムルの賞品として選ばれた娘の一人とベンチに腰掛けて話を交わしていた。ブレイクは自分の周りに居る人々から離れ、庭を横切りギナルダの腰掛けている所まで行った。姫はブレイクが近づくのに気付き顔を上げ、彼の挨拶に対して軽く会釈し、そのあと娘との会話を再開した。
嫌がっている様子は疑いようも無く明らかだったが、ブレイクはそのまま和解せずに立ち去りたくはなかった。それにしても、彼女は口に出した以上に自分に興味を持っているはずだとブレイクは思っていたので、彼がなれなれしくしたという理由だけでいまだに怒っているとは信じがたかった。何か他に理由があるに違いない。
ブレイクは引き返しはしなかった。そして、彼女は彼を無視し続けていたが、彼女がもう一度自分を認めるまで黙って前に立っていた。
やがて、ブレイクは姫も話し相手の娘もイライラしているのに気づいた。二人の会話が途切れ、ギナルダの片足がいらいらした様子で敷石をぱたぱたとたたいていた。彼女の頬に赤みがさしてきた。娘は落ち着きがなくなり、肩にかけているベールの裾を引っ張ったり、外套のケープをなでさすったりしていた。 そしてとうとう、立ち上がり、姫が尋ねる前に、母親に別れの挨拶をしに行きたいのですが、と頭をさげた。
ギナルダは娘を行かせ、ブレイクと二人きりになった。もはや、ブレイクを無視することも関心を持たないわけにもいかなくなった。彼女は怒って彼の方を向いた。
「本当に！」と彼女はかみつくように言った。「あなたは気のきかない田舎者ですね。わたくしがあなたにじゃまされたくないって分かっていらっしゃるのにどうしてあんな風にわたくしを見て立っていたのです？ お行きなさい！」
「どうしてかと言うと---」とブレイクは躊躇した、「あなたを愛しているからです。」
「これっ！」と彼女は思わず立ち上がった。「なんてあつかましい！」
「充分承知しております、姫、」とブレイクは応えた、「でも、あなたを愛しているからです。」
ギナルダはちょっとの間真っ直ぐブレイクを見て薄い上唇を人を馬鹿にしたような笑いでゆがめた。
「あなたは嘘つきです！」と彼女は言った。「あなたがわたくしのことをなんておっしゃったのか知っていますよ！」それだけ言うと、彼女はブレイクの脇をすり抜け、歩き去った。
ブレイクは急いで後を追った。「私があなたのことを何と言ったのです？」と彼は尋ねた。「ニムル中の人に聞かれて悪いようなことは何も言っておりません。言ってもおかしくない親友のサー・リチャードにさえ、あなたを愛していることは言っておりません。あなた以外の耳には入れてはおりません。」
「わたくしはそれ以外のことを聞いたので す、」とギナルダは傲慢に言った。「このことについてこれ以上あなたとお話する気はございません。」
「でも---」とブレイクはむしかえそうとしたが、丁度その時、北の門からバリアム入場合図のラッパの音が聞えた。そのラッパは騎士の乗馬の合図でもあった。ギナルダのお付きの者が父親の召還を伝えに彼女のもとに走ってきた。サー・リチャードが現れブレイクの腕を掴んだ。
「来いよ、ジェイムズ！」と彼は叫んだ。 「今日我々は前列乗馬騎士だからもう遅いぞ。」そんなわけで、ブレイクは説明を聞く前に、わけが分からないまま姫から引き離されてしまった。
北のバリアム（中庭）は、騎士達、淑女達、近習、従者、下男、重騎士、馬などでさまざまな色と活気を呈しており、とても全員には対応できないので、東と南のバリアムまではみ出していた。それでもあふれ、谷に通じる大きな東門まで開け放たれていた。
半時間ほど、ニムル公爵の城周辺は混沌としたありさまだった。しかし、ついに大汗の進行係と大声の案内役が行列をゆっくりとではあるがそれなりの格好で山道をうねうねと試合場へ向かって進むように駆り集めた。
先頭は進行係と案内役、その後に二十人のラッパ手、それから単身乗馬のゴウブレッド公爵、続いて風に色とりどりの槍旗をはためかせた大勢の騎士達。騎士達は淑女達のすぐ前だった。そして、淑女達の後ろはもう一隊の騎士達。後行の騎士達の最後尾は石弓、矛槍、巨大な戦斧などで武装した重騎兵が続いた。
おそらく総計百人の騎士と重騎兵が城と聖墳墓の谷の入り口の護りとして残されていた。しかし、彼らは二日目と三日目の試合は交代が来て見る事ができるのだった。
ニムルの騎士達が試合場まで行進している時、聖墳墓の騎士達は樫の木立のキャンプから動き出し、両隊の進行係が、ニムル、聖墳墓の両隊が同時に試合場に入場できるよう時間を計っていた。
ニムルの淑女達は行進から外れて観覧席に位置を占めた。ニムルの五人の娘と聖墳墓の町からの五人は試合場の一方の端にある演壇に案内された。その後、騎士達が不動の姿勢で整列した。南側にはニムルの騎士達、北側には聖墳墓の騎士達が位置した。
ゴウブレッドとブーンは前に出て競技場の中央で一緒になった。ブーンは落ち着いた堂々とした調子で大試合の慣習と取り決めで規定された昔からの試合申し込みの口上を述べ、ゴウブレッドに挑戦状を渡した。その受理が挑戦の受諾となり、正式な開催の合図になった。
ゴウブレッドとブーンは馬を巡らせてそれぞれの騎士達に対面すると騎士達は試合場から退場した。その日の試合に参加しない騎士達は自分達の馬を馬番に渡した後、観覧席に自分の席を探し、一方試合に出場する騎士達は再び乗馬姿で試合場を廻ることになっていた。それには、その日の出場者を紹介することと対戦相手側の賞品を検分するという二つの目的があった。
娘たち以外にも、宝石類、甲冑、槍、剣、盾、立派な馬、等々、騎士にとって評価の高いものや淑女達の眼を奪うものなどがあった。
聖墳墓の騎士達がブーンを先頭に先に行進した。そして、ブーンが観覧席の前を通り過ぎる際、その視線がしばしば女性達の方に向くのが目立った。ブーンはつい先頃父親の死によって後を継いだばかりの若者だった。彼は尊大な専制君主だった。そして、年を経ずしてブーンがニムルに戦争を強いて勝ちを収め、一派にまとめて、聖墳墓の谷全体がブーンの統治するところとなる、というのがニムルの常識になっていた。
馬は飛び跳ね、気分は昂揚し、後ろには大勢の騎士を従え、ブーン王はニムルの人々の観覧席に沿って馬を進めた。そして、ゴウブレッド公爵、ブリニルダ王妃、ギナルダ姫が列席している中央の席まで来た時、その眼はゴウブレッドの娘の顔に止まった。
ブーンは乗っている馬を御し、ギナルダ姫の顔をまじまじと見つめた。ブーンの振る舞いは礼儀に悖（もと）るとゴウブレッドは怒りで顔を赤らめた。そして、立ち上がろうとしたその瞬間、ブーンは馬の背から落ちる程深々と頭を下げ、騎士達を従え行進を開始した。
その日の栄誉は聖墳墓の騎士達にもたらされた。ニムルの騎士達の百六点に対し大差の二百二十七点を獲得した。
二日目、試合は一人の先導によって出場者入場で開催されることに通常はなっていた。が、全員が驚いた事には、ブーンは再び自分の騎士達を率いて観覧席の前を通り、再度ギナルダ姫の前で止まり見つめたのだった。
この日、ニムルの騎士達は少しばかり盛り返し相手方にわずか七点負けたので、二日間の点数は聖墳墓の騎士達の三百九十七点に対し二百六十九点になった。
そういうわけで、三日目は、北からの騎士達の百二十八点の差はいかんともしがたいという自慢話とニムルの騎士達が試合を征するには残り三百三十四点のうち二百三十二点取らなければならないと分かったことでさらなる拍車をかけねば、というような次第で始まった。
またしても、古い時代からの慣習を無視して、ブーンは対戦前の行進の時自分の出場者を率いて試合場を巡った。そして、またしても、ゴウブレッドの前まで手綱を引き、挨拶の前にその眼をギナルダの美しい顔に止めた。
「ニムルのゴウブレッド公爵、」と傲慢かつ尊大な声で彼は言った、「ご存じのように、わが勇敢なる騎士達は百二十ポイント以上の差でそちらを負かしており申す。今回の大試合もすでに我々のもの。そこで、提案がござる。」
「言っておくがよい、ブーン！ 大試合はまだまだこれからだ。だが、何か提案があるとのこと、考慮に入れておくほどに、申してみるがよい。」
「五人の娘ももはや我らのもの、」とブーンは言った、「しかし、あなたの娘ごを聖墳墓の谷の女王として身共にいただければ、この試合の勝ちはお譲りしましょう。」
ゴウブレッドは怒りで蒼白になったが、応えた時は、王侯に相応しく、感情を制御し落ち着いた声になっていた。
「サー・ブーン、」と彼は敵の王という称号を無視して言った、「そなたの言葉は、ゴウブレッドの娘を売り渡し、ニムルの騎士の名誉を物々交換せよとの意味に聞え、名誉ある耳にはなじまぬ。
「それゆえ、農奴どもに棒で追い立てられぬうちに試合場のそちらの場所に戻るがよい。」
「それがお応えですな、まことに？」とブーンは叫んだ。「ならば、大試合の規定通り五人の娘はいただく。そして、あなたの娘ごは腕ずくで！」と威嚇の言葉を後に馬を返し拍車を掛けた。
ブーンの提案とそれに対する拒絶はニムルの騎士達全員に野火のように拡がり、そのため、試合最後の日に参加する者達はニムルの名誉とギナルダ姫を護るため、捨て身の覚悟でことにあたる気持ちが高まった。
二日間に聖墳墓の騎士達によって獲得された大差の得点は一つの動機として最後の限界を掛けて敵に挑戦する気持ちの更なる刺激になっただけだった。進行係が彼らを促す必要はなかった。ニムルの若者や重騎兵はその挑戦のことを耳にし、試合場の中でそれに応えようと決めた！
聖墳墓の騎士とブレイクの、剣と盾での対戦はその日の最初の試合だった。試合場がきれいにされた時、ブレイクはラッパの合図で乗り入れた。同時に南側の観覧席が動き出した。一方北側観覧席前に沿って対戦者が乗り込んできた。その対戦者はブーンの席の前で止まった。同様にブレイクもゴウブレッドの席の前で手綱を引き、公爵に対する儀礼で自分の唇まで剣の柄を揚げた、眼はギナルダを意識したままで。
「今日はニムルの栄光と名誉のために汝自身真の騎士として振る舞う様に、」とゴウブレッドは励ました、「そして、我らが主イエスのお恵みが汝と汝の剣の上に、我らが親愛なるサー・ジェイムズ！」
「ニムルの栄光と名誉のために、我が剣と我が命を！」大試合 の作法にならってブレイクの言葉があった。
「ニムルの栄光と名誉のために、そしてわが姫 の庇護のために、我が剣と我が命を捧げよう！」と言った彼の言葉が、その表情からゴウブレッドに満足を与えたことは明らかだった。一方、傲慢な人を見下すような表情だったギナルダの顔が和らいだ。
おもむろに彼女は立ち上がり、ガウンの端からリボンを裂き取りながら席の前に歩み出た。「あなたのレディからの贈り物を受け取っていただけますか、騎士さま、」と彼女は言った、「これをお持ちになって、あなたの対戦で栄誉と勝利を。」
ブレイクは観客席の手摺りまで馬を近づけて身体を前のめりにし、ギナルダは彼の肩にピンでリボンを留めた。顔が彼女の顔に触れそうになり彼女の髪の香りと頬に彼女の温かい吐息を感じた。
「愛しています、」と彼は囁いた、低い声だったので彼女以外の耳には届かなかった。
「そなたは田舎者ですね、」と彼女は同じように低い声で応えた。「わたくしがこのつまらないものであなたを励ますのはあの五人の娘達のためなのですよ。」
ブレイクはまっすぐ彼女の眼を見た。「愛しています、ギナルダ、」と彼は言った、「そして---私を愛してください！」
彼女が応える前に彼は向きを変えた。ラッパが響き、彼はニムルの騎士のテントが建っている試合場の端に向かってゆっくりと馬を走らせた。
興奮した様子のエドワードがそこにいた。それにサー・リチャードとマイケルも、進行係、案内役、ラッパ手、重騎兵など、激励や助言をしようと待ち構えている一分隊と一緒にいた。
ブレイクはかたわらに盾を放り投げた。もう誰も咎める者はいなかった。その代わり、一同は得意気にまた心得顔で笑った。そのわけは、彼らは彼が乗馬術と剣のみでサー・モーラッドを負かせたのを見たのだから。
ラッパが再び響いた。ブレイクは振り向き、馬に拍車を掛けた。試合場の中央まで真っ直ぐに馬を進めた。反対側の端から聖墳墓の騎士が彼と対戦するためにやって来た。
「サー・ジェイムズ！ サー・ジェイムズ！」と南側観客席の観衆が叫んだ。一方北側観客席は自分達のチャンピオンの名前でそれに応えた。
「あの黒い騎士は誰だ？」と北側観覧席にいる多くの人間が隣同士で聞きあっていた。
「あいつは盾を持っていない！」と何人かが叫んだ。「気が狂っている！」
「サー・ガイは最初の一撃で彼を真っ二つに切り裂くぞ！」
「サー・ガイ！ サー・ガイだ！」