Король Артур и рыцари Круглого стола

           WhenSirLionelsawthishethoughtthetimewascometoprovehimselfagainsthim,soquietlyandcautiously,lestheshouldwakeSirLancelot,hetookhishorseandmountedandrodeafterhim.Presentlyovertakinghim,hecriedaloudtohimtoturn,whichinstantlyhedid,andsmoteSirLionelsohardthathorseandmanwentdownforthwith.ThentookheupSirLionel,andthrewhimboundoverhisownhorse’sback;andsoheservedthethreeotherknights,androdethemawaytohisowncastle.Theretheyweredisarmed,strippednaked,andbeatenwiththorns,andafterwardsthrustintoadeepprison,wheremanymoreknights,also,madegreatmoansandlamentations,saying,“Alas,alas!thereisnomancanhelpusbutSirLancelot,fornootherknightcanmatchthistyrantTurquine,ourconqueror.”

           Butallthiswhile,SirLancelotlaysleepingsoundlyundertheapple-tree.And,asitchanced,therepassedthatwayfourqueens,ofhighestate,ridinguponfourwhitemules,underfourcanopiesofgreensilkborneonspears,tokeepthemfromthesun.Astheyrodethus,theyheardagreathorsegrimlyneigh,and,turningthemabout,soonsawasleepingknightthatlayallarmedunderanapple-tree;andwhentheysawhisface,theyknewitwasLancelotoftheLake.

           Thentheybegantostrivewhichofthemshouldhavethecareofhim.ButQueenMorganleFay,KingArthur’shalfsister,thegreatsorceress,wasoneofthem,andsaid“Weneednotstriveforhim,Ihaveenchantedhim,sothatforsixhoursmoreheshallnotwake.