Король Артур и рыцари Круглого стола
Chapter X
”ThentheGreenKnightrodetoathornwhereonhungagreenhorn,and,whenheblewthreenotes,therecamethreedamselsforth,whoquicklyarmedhim,andbroughthimagreathorseandagreenshieldandspear.Thendidtheyrunatoneanotherwiththeirfullestmight,andbreaktheirspearsasunder;and,drawingtheirswords,theyclosedinfight,andsorelysmoteandwoundedeachotherwithmanygrievousblows.
Atlast,SirBeaumains’horsejostledagainsttheGreenKnight’shorse,andoverthrewhim.Thenbothalighted,and,hurtlingtogetherlikemadlions,foughtagreatwhileonfoot.ButthedamselcheeredtheGreenKnight,andsaid,“Mylord,whywiltthouletakitchenknavesolongstandupagainstthee?”Hearingthesewords,hewasashamed,andgaveSirBeaumainssuchamightystrokeasclavehisshieldasunder.WhenSirBeaumainsheardthedamsel’swords,andfeltthatblow,hewaxedpassingwroth,andgavetheGreenKnightsuchabuffetonthehelmthathefellonhisknees,andwithanotherblowSirBeaumainsthrewhimontheground.ThentheGreenKnightyielded,andprayedhimtosparehislife.“Allthyprayersarevain,”saidhe,“unlessthisdamselwhocamewithmeprayforthee.”“ThatwillIneverdo,basekitchenknave,”saidshe.“Thenshallhedie,”saidBeaumains.“Alas!fairlady,”saidtheGreenKnight,“suffermenottodieforaword!O,Sirknight,”criedhetoBeaumains,“givememylife,andIwilleverdotheehomage;andthirtyknights,whoowemeservice,shallgiveallegiancetothee.