Король Артур и рыцари Круглого стола
Chapter II
Butthesixkings,thoughsorelyrouted,preparedforanewwar,andjoiningtothemselvesfiveotherssworetogetherthat,whetherforwealorwoe,theywouldkeepsteadfastalliancetilltheyhaddestroyedKingArthur.Then,withahostof50,000men-at-armsonhorseback,and10,000foot,theyweresoonready,andsentforththeirfore-riders,anddrewfromthenortherncountrytowardsKingArthur,tothecastleofBedgraine.
ButhebyMerlin’scounselhadsentoverseatoKingBanofBenwickandKingBorsofGaul,prayingthemtocomeandhelphiminhiswars,andpromisingtohelpinreturnagainstKingClaudas,theirfoe.Towhichthosekingsmadeanswerthattheywouldjoyfullyfulfilhiswish,andshortlyaftercametoLondonwith300knights,wellarrayedforbothpeaceandwar,leavingbehindthemagreatarmyontheothersideoftheseatilltheyhadconsultedwithKingArthurandhisministershowtheymightbestdisposeofit.
AndMerlinbeingaskedforhisadviceandhelp,agreedtogohimselfandfetchitoverseatoEngland,whichinonenighthedid;andbroughtwithhim10,000horsemenandledthemnorthwardprivatelytotheforestofBedgraine,andtherelodgedtheminavalleysecretly.
Then,bythecounselofMerlin,whentheyknewwhichwaytheelevenkingswouldrideandsleep,KingArthurwithKingsBanandBorsmadethemselvesreadywiththeirarmyforthefight,havingyetbut30,000men,countingthe10,000whohadcomefromGaul.