Король Артур и рыцари Круглого стола
Chapter X
”“Allavailethnot,”answeredSirBeaumains,“unlessthedamselaskmeforthylife;”andthereuponhemadeasthoughhewouldhaveslainhim.Thencriedthedamsel,“Slayhimnot;forifthoudothoushaltrepentit.”“Damsel,”saidSirBeaumains,“atthycommand,heshallobtainhislife.Arise,Sirknightofthegreenarmour,Ireleasethee!”ThentheGreenKnightkneltathisfeet,anddidhimhomagewithhiswords.“Lodgewithmethisnight,”saidhe,“andto-morrowwillIguideyethroughtheforest.”So,takingtheirhorses,theyrodetohiscastle,whichwashardby.
YetstilldidthedamselrebukeandscoffatSirBeaumains,andwouldnotsufferhimtositathertable.“Imarvel,”saidtheGreenKnighttoher,“thatyethuschidesonobleaknight,fortrulyIknownonetomatchhim;andbesure,thatwhatsoeverheappearethnow,hewillprove,attheend,ofnoblebloodandroyallineage.”Butofallthiswouldthedamseltakenoheed,andceasednottomockatSirBeaumains.Onthemorrow,theyaroseandheardmass;andwhentheyhadbrokentheirfast,tooktheirhorsesandrodeontheirway,theGreenKnightconveyingthemthroughtheforest.Then,whenhehadledthemforawhile,hesaidtoSirBeaumains,“Mylord,mythirtyknightsandIshallalwaysbeatthycommandwhensoeverthoushaltsendforus.”“Itiswellsaid,”repliedhe;“andwhenIcalluponyou,youshallyieldyourselfandallyourknightsuntoKingArthur.”“Thatwillwegladlydo,”saidtheGreenKnight,andsodeparted.