Король Артур и рыцари Круглого стола
Chapter X
ThencalledtheKnightoftheRedlandstoSirBeaumains,“Leavenowthygazing,Sirknight,andturntome,forIwarntheethatladyismine.”“Shelovethnoneofthyfellowship,”heanswered;“butknowthis,thatIloveher,andwillrescueherfromthee,ordie.”“Sayyeso!”saidtheRedKnight.“Takeyenowarningfromthoseknightsthathangonyondertrees?”“Forshamethatthousoboastest!”saidSirBeaumains.“Besurethatsighthathraisedahatredfortheethatwillnotlightlybeputout,andgivenmenotfear,butrage.”“Sirknight,defendthyself,”saidtheKnightoftheRedlands,“forwewilltalknolonger.”
Thendidtheyputtheirspearsinrest,andcametogetheratthefullestspeedoftheirhorses,andsmoteeachotherinthemidstoftheirshields,sothattheirhorses’harnesssunderedbytheshock,andtheyfelltotheground.Andbothlaytheresolongtime,stunned,thatmanydeemedtheirneckswerebroken.Andallmensaidthestrangeknightwasastrongman,andanoblejouster,fornonehadeveryetsomatchedtheKnightoftheRedlands.Then,inawhile,theyrose,andputtinguptheirshieldsbeforethem,drewtheirswords,andfoughtwithfury,runningateachotherlikewildbeasts—nowstrikingsuchbuffetsthatbothreeledbackwards,nowhewingateachothertilltheyshoretheharnessoffinpieces,andlefttheirbodiesnakedandunarmed.Andthustheyfoughttillnoonwaspast,when,foratimetheyrestedtogetbreath,sosorelystaggeringandbleeding,thatmanywhobeheldthemweptforpity.