Король Артур и рыцари Круглого стола
Chapter VIII
ThenaknightnamedGanius,anearcousinoftheEmperor,laughedoutaloud,andsaid,“Lo!howtheseBritonsboastandarefullofpride,braggingasthoughtheybareupalltheworld!”
Atthesewords,SirGawaincouldrefrainnolonger,butdrewforthhisswordandwithoneblowshoreoftGanius’head;thenwithSirBors,heturnedhishorseandrodeoverwatersandthroughwoods,backtotheambush,whereSirLionelandSirBediverewerewaiting.TheRomansfollowedfastbehindthemtilltheknightsturnedandstood,andthenSirBorssmotetheforemostofthemthroughthebodywithaspear,andslewhimonthespot.ThencameonCalibere,ahugePavian,butSirBorsoverthrewhimalso.AndthenthecompanyofSirLionelandSirBediverebrakefromtheirambushandfellontheRomans,andslewandhewedthemdown,andforcedthemtoreturnandflee,chasingthemtotheirtents.
Butastheynearedthecamp,agreathostmorerushedforth,andturnedthebattlebackwards,andintheturmoil,SirBorsandSirBerelfellintotheRomans’hands.WhenSirGawainsawthat,hedrewhisgoodswordGalotine,andsworetoseeKingArthur’sfacenomoreifthosetwoknightswerenotdelivered;andthen,withgoodSirIdrus,madesosoreanonslaughtthattheRomansfledandleftSirBorsandSirBereltotheirfriends.SotheBritonsreturnedintriumphtoKingArthur,havingslainmorethantenthousandRomans,andlostnomanofworshipfromamongstthemselves.
WhentheEmperorLuciusheardofthatdiscomfiturehearose,withallhisarmy,tocrushKingArthur,andmethiminthevaleofSoissons.