Король Артур и рыцари Круглого стола
Chapter XII
Then,callingforhisshield,hedippedhisfingerinhisownblood,forhewasbleedingfast,andnonecouldstaunchthewound,andmarkedthatcrossuponit,saying,‘Thiscrossshallevershowasbrightasnow,andthelastofmylineageshallwearthisshieldabouthisneck,andgoforthtoallthemarvellousdeedshewillachieve.’”
WhentheWhiteKnighthadthusspokenhevanishedsuddenlyaway,andSirGalahadreturnedtotheabbey.
Ashealighted,cameamonk,andprayedhimtogoseeatombinthechurchyard,wherefromcamesuchagreatandhideousnoise,thatnonecouldhearitbuttheywentnighmad,orlostallstrength.“Andsir,”saidhe,“Ideemitisafiend.”
“Leadmethither,”saidSirGalahad.
Whentheywerecomeneartheplace,“Now,”saidthemonk,“gothoutothetomb,andliftitup.”
AndGalahad,nothingafraid,quicklyliftedupthestone,andforthwithcameoutafoulsmoke,andfromthemidstthereofleapeduptheloathliestfigurethateverhehadseeninthelikenessofman;andGalahadblessedhimself,forheknewitwasafiendofhell.Thenheheardavoicecryingout,“Oh,Galahad,IcannotteartheeasIwould;Iseesomanyangelsroundthee,thatImaynotcomeatthee.”
Thenthefiendsuddenlydisappearedwithamarvellousgreatcry;andSirGalahad,lookinginthetomb,sawthereabodyallarmed,withaswordbesideit.“Now,fairbrother,”saidhetothemonk,“letusremovethiscursedbody,whichisnotfittolieinachurchyard,forwhenitlived,afalseandperjuredChristianmandweltinit.