Notes de lecture

32 Le texte de base est celui de ldition de Janet Cowen, Penguin Classics (2 vol.). Version 1
BOOK II CHAPTER 5. How Balin was pursued by Sir Lanceor, knight of Ireland, and how he jousted and slew him 1 And so this Lady Lile of Avelion took her this sword that she brought with her, and told there should no man pull it out of the sheath but if he be one of the best knights of this realm, and he should be hard and full of prowess, and with that sword he should slay her brother. This was the cause that the damosel came into this court. I know it as well as ye. Would God she had not comen into this court, but she came never in fellowship of worship to do good, but always great harm. And that knight that hath achieved the sword shall be destroyed by that sword, for the which will be great damage, for there liveth not a knight of more prowess than he is, and he shall do unto you, my lord Arthur, great honour and kindness; and it is great pity he shall not endure but a while, for of his strength and hardiness I know not his match living . 2 So the knight of Ireland armed him at all points, and dressed his shield on his shoulder, and mounted upon horseback, and took his spear in his hand, and rode after a great pace, as much as his horse might go. And within a little space on a mountain he had a sight of Balin, and with a loud voice he cried, Abide, knight, for ye shall abide whether ye will or nill, and the shield that is to-fore you shall not help. When Balin heard the noise, he turned his horse ercely, and said, Fair knight, what will ye with me, will ye joust with me? Yea, said the Irish knight, therefore come I after you . Peradventure, said Balin, it had been better to have holden you at home, for many a man weeneth to put his enemy to a rebuke, and oft it falleth to himself. Of what court be ye sent from? said Balin. I am come from the court of King Arthur, said the knight of Ireland, that come hither for to revenge the despite ye did this day to King Arthur and to his court. Well, said Balin, I see well I must have ado with you, that me forthinketh for to grieve King Arthur, or any of his court; and your quarrel is full simple, said Balin, unto me, for the lady that is dead, did me great damage, and else would I have been loth as any knight that liveth for to slay a lady .

Make you ready, said the knight Lanceor, and dress you unto me, for that one shall abide in the eld. Then they took their spears, and came together as much as their horses might drive, and the Irish knight smote Balin on the shield, that all went shivers o his spear, and Balin hit him through the shield, and the hauberk perished, and so pierced through his body and the horses croup, and anon turned his horse ercely, and drew out his sword, and wist not that he had slain him; and then he saw him lie as a dead corpse.

Balin, poursuivi par sire Lanor, chevalier irlandais, le tue en combat singulier 1 Ainsi donc, cette dame Lle dAvalon remit la demoiselle au baudrier cette pe quelle portait sur elle, lui expliquant quaucun homme ne la sortirait du fourreau moins dtre le meilleur chevalier du royaume, preux et solide, et quau moyen de cette pe il tuerait le frre de la demoiselle. Voil pourquoi cette demoiselle sest prsente votre cour : [bien quayant t absent,] je le sais aussi bien que vous. Plt Dieu quelle ny soit pas venue, car jamais, dans tous les cercles honorables o elle a t admise, elle ne cherche contribuer au bien mais toujours faire des ravages. Et le chevalier qui a remport lpreuve de lpe ira sa perte cause de cette pe, ce qui est dplorable, car il dpasse en prouesse tout autre chevalier vivant et vous fera grand honneur, monseigneur Arthur, et vous rendra grand service ; quel dommage que sa carrire doive tre si courte, car, pour ce qui est de la force et de la hardiesse, je ne lui connais pas de pareil. 2 Cependant, le chevalier irlandais sarmait de pied en cap, ajustait son bouclier sur lpaule et enfourchait sa monture et, la lance la main, menait sa poursuite au galop le plus rapide de son cheval. Peu de temps scoula avant quen montagne il naperoive Balin et ne lui crie tue -tte : Demeurez, chevalier, car il vous faudra demeurer que vous le veuillez ou non, et le bouclier que vous avez devant vous ne vous sera daucun secours. Sentendant hl, Balin tourna bride brutalement et scria : Preux chevalier, que me voulezvous ? Voulez-vous jouter avec moi ? Oui, rpondit le chevalier irlandais : cest pour cette raison que je suis vos trousses. On ne sait jamais, remarqua Balin, peut-tre auriez-vous mieux fait de rester chez vous, car on en voit plus dun qui se croit capable diniger une dfaite son ennemi et souvent la subit lui -mme. De quelle cour tes-vous lenvoy ? Jarrive de la cour du roi Arthur, prcisa le chevalier dIrlande, et je viens ici venger loutrage que vous avez commis aujourdhui envers le roi Arthur et sa cour. Cest dit, conclut Balin, je vois bien que me battre avec vous est invitable, alors que je regrette de chagriner le roi Arthur ou qui que ce soit sa cour. Ce dont vous me faites grief est tout simple : la dame qui a perdu la vie mavait caus des torts considrables, autrement jaurais rpugn autant quun autre cheva lier tuer une dame. Tenez-vous prt, annona le chevalier Lanor, et avancez vers moi, car coup sr lun dentre nous ne bougera plus dici. Saisissant alors leurs lances, ils se rurent lun contre lautre de toute la puissance de leurs chevaux. Le chevalier irlandais heurta le bouclier de Balin avec tant de force que sa lance vola en clats, tandis que Balin enfonant son bouclier, dfonant son haubert, transperait son adversaire de part en part ainsi que la croupe de son cheval et, ayant fait faire une imptueuse volteface son destrier, dgainait son pe, sans se rendre compte quil avait tu Lanor : alors seulement il vit son cadavre gisant sur le sol.

1 took her note de J. Cowen : gave her 2 with that sword he should slay her brother Manuscrit de Winchester, folio 25r :

And o thys lady Lyle of Avylion toke hir this werde at he brout with hir and tolde er holde no man pulle hit oute of the heee but yf he be one of the bete knyghtes of thys Realme and he holde be hardy and full of provee And with that werde he holde le hys brothir thys was the caue dameell that ye com In to thys courte I know hit as well as ye god wolde ye had nat com here but ye com neuer in felyhip of wor// hipfful folke for to do good but all wayes grete harme

Note de Vinaver :
Caxton apparently believed hys brothir to be an error and emended the passage to read slee her broder.

Vu par Wikipedia :
Merlin arrives and explains that the damsel with the sword was actually a false traitor, who was angry with her own brother, a good knight who slew her lover. With the help of the lady Lily of Avalon, this damsel had sought revenge for her lovers death th rough that sword, whose holder is destined to slay his own brother. Although logic may suggest that Balin and this damsel might therefore share a brother, there is no indication from Malory that this is the case. [cest moi qui souligne] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Balin

3 This was the cause that the damosel came into this court. I know it as well as ye. Would God she had not comen into this court, but she came never in fellowship of worship to do good, but always great harm. Le texte de J. Cowen suit Caxton et scarte ici nettement du manuscrit de Winchester :
thys was the cau e dameell that ye com in to thys courte I know hit as well as ye god wolde ye had nat come here but ye com neuer in felyhip of worhipul folke for to do good but all wayes grete harme Voil pourquoi, damoiselle, vous tes venue cette cour, je le sais aussi bien que vous. Plt Dieu que vous ny soyez pas venue , car jamais, dans tous les cercles honorables o vous tes admise, vous ne cherchez contribuer au bien mais toujours faire des ravages.

Merlin ne parle pas DE mais la demoiselle debout devant le roi (this same damosel that here standeth) pour lui dire ses quatre vrits : elle est une incarnation du mal. I know it as well as ye sadresse lintresse (son jeu est perc jour), et non Arthur (au prix de contorsions interprtatives). Voici le passage correspondant de la source, la Suite du roman de Merlin.
A celui point entra laeinz Merlins. E quant il voit la damoisele que lespee avoit aportee, il dist a la damoisele : Pur quoi venistes vus aeinz ? Maloit soit qui vus i envoia e maudit soiez vus quant vus i venistes, car de vostre venue ne st on ques la court fors que empirer ! Lors sen torne devers le roi e lui dist : Rois Arthus, ore sachez verraiement que ceste damoisele est la plus desleal que piece a mais entrast en vostre court e si te mousterrai comment il est. Voirs est que elle a un frere moult boin chevalier [].
A celui point ce moment laeinz = laienz lans ( la enz l-dedans ), cf. aeinz cans que lespee avoit aportee qui maloit maudit desleal que dloyale, fourbe qui piece a mais depuis bien longtemps comment il est comment elle est

4 Yea, said the Irish knight (vieil-anglais ) particule darmation ordinaire ; pour yes, cf. I, 20