Король Артур и рыцари Круглого стола
Chapter IX
Anon,SirReynoldcreptalongtheground,withhisheadallbloody,andcametowardsSirLancelot.“Itisenough,”saidLancelot,“Iwasnotfarfromtheewhenthouwastmadeaknight,SirReynold,andknowtheeforagoodandvaliantman,andwasfulllothtoslaythee.”
“Grammercyforthygentleness!”saidSirReynold.“Iandmybrethrenwillstraightwayyieldtotheewhenweknowthyname,forwellweknowthatthouartnotSirKey.”
“Asforthat,”saidSirLancelot,“beitasitmay,butyeshallyieldtoQueenGuinevereatthenextfeastofPentecostasprisoners,andsaythatSirKeysentye.”
Thentheysworetohimitshouldbedoneashecommanded.AndsoSirLancelotpassedon,andthethreebrethrenhelpedeachother’swoundsasbesttheymight.
ThenrodeSirLancelotforwardintoadeepforest,andcameuponfourknightsofKingArthur’scourt,underanoaktree—SirSagramour,SirEctor,SirGawain,andSirEwaine.Andwhentheyspiedhim,theythoughthewasSirKey.“Nowbymyfaith,”saidSirSagramour,“IwillproveSirKey’smight!”andtakinghisspearherodetowardsSirLancelot.
ButSirLancelotwasawareofhim,and,settinghisspearinrest,smotehimsosorely,thathorseandmanfelltotheearth.
“Lo!”criedSirEctor,“IseebythebuffetthatknighthathgivenourfellowheisstrongerthanSirKey.NowwillItrywhatIcandoagainsthim!”SoSirEctortookhisspear,andgallopedatSirLancelot;andSirLancelotmethimashecame,andsmotehimthroughshieldandshoulder,sothathefell,buthisownspearwasnotbroken.