Король Артур и рыцари Круглого стола
Chapter VIII
Thenspeakingtoallhishost,hesaid,“Sirs,Iadmonishyouthatthisdayyefightandacquityourselvesasmen;andrememberinghowRomeischiefofalltheearth,andmistressoftheuniversalworld,suffernotthesebarbarousandsavageBritonstoabideouronset.”Atthat,thetrumpetsblewsoloud,thatthegroundtrembledandshook.
Thendidtherivalhostsdrawneareachotherwithgreatshoutings;andwhentheyclosed,notonguecantellthefuryoftheirsmiting,andthesorestruggling,wounds,andslaughter.ThenKingArthur,withhismightiestknights,rodedownintothethickestofthefight,anddrewExcalibur,andslewaslightningslaysforswiftnessandforforce.Andinthemidmostcrowdhemetagiant,Galapasbyname,andstruckoffbothhislegsattheknee-joints;thensaying,“Nowartthouabettersizetodealwith!”smotehisheadoffatasecondblow:andthebodykilledsixmeninfallingdown.
Anon,KingArthurspiedwhereLuciusfoughtandworkedgreatdeedsofprowesswithhisownhands.Forthwithherodeathim,andeachattackedtheotherpassingfiercely;tillatthelast,LuciusstruckKingArthurwithafearfulwoundacrosstheface,andArthur,inreturn,liftingupExcaliburonhigh,droveitwithallhisforceupontheEmperor’shead,shiveringhishelmet,crashinghisheadinhalves,andsplittinghisbodytothebreast.AndwhentheRomanssawtheirEmperordeadtheyfledinhostsofthousands;andKingArthurandhisknights,andallhisarmyfollowedthem,andslewonehundredthousandmen.