Король Артур и рыцари Круглого стола

           ThenrodeSirBeaumainstothedamsel,butevershestillscoffedathim,andsaid,“Alas!thatakitchenpageshouldchancetoslaytwosuchbraveknights!Thoudeemestnowthatthouhastdoneamightydeed,butitisnotso;forthefirstknight’shorsestumbled,andthuswashedrowned—notbythystrength;andasforthesecondknight,thouwentestbychancebehindhim,anddidstkillhimshamefully.”“Damsel,”saidSirBeaumains,“saywhatyelist,IcarenotsoImaywinyourlady;andwouldstthougivemebutfairlanguage,allmycarewerepast;forwhatsoeverknightsImeet,Ifearthemnot.”“Thoushaltseeknightsthatshallabatethyboast,basekitchenknave,”repliedshe;“yetsayIthisforthineadvantage,forifthoufollowestmethouwiltbesurelyslain,sinceIseeallthoudoestisbutbychance,andnotbythyownprowess.”“Welldamsel,”saidhe,“saywhatyewill,whereveryegoIwillfollow.”

           Sotheyrodeonuntiltheeventide,andstillthedamselevermorekeptchidingSirBeaumains.Thencametheytoablackspaceofland,whereonwasablackhawthorntree,andonthetreetherehungablackbanner,andontheothersidewasablackshieldandspear,andbythemagreatblackhorse,coveredwithsilk;andhardbysataknightarmedinblackarmour,whosenamewastheKnightoftheBlacklands.Whenthedamselsawhim,shecriedouttoBeaumains,“Fleedownthevalley,forthyhorseisnotsaddled!”“Wiltthouforeverdeemmecoward?”answeredhe.