Король Артур и рыцари Круглого стола
Chapter XII
Mary,succourthymaid;”and,lookinground,hesawadamselwhomafelonknightdraggedafterhimintothethickets;andshe,perceivinghim,criedpiteouslyforhelp,andadjuredhimtodeliverherashewasaswornknight.ThenwasSirBorssoretroubled,andknewnotwhattodo,forhethoughtwithinhimself,“IfIletmybrotherbe,hewillbemurdered;butifIhelpnotthemaid,sheisshamedforever,andmyvowcompellethmetosetherfree;whereforemustIfirsthelpher,andtrustmybrotheruntoGod.”
So,ridingtotheknightwhoheldthedamsel,hecriedout,“Sirknight,layyourhandoffthatmaid,orelseyebebutdead.”
Atthattheknightsetdownthemaid,anddroppedhisshield,anddrewforthhisswordagainstSirBors,whoranathim,andsmotehimthroughbothshieldandshoulder,andthrewhimtotheearth;andwhenhepulledhisspearforth,theknightswooned.ThenthemaidthankedSirBorsheartily,andhesetherontheknight’shorse,andbroughthertohermen-at-arms,whopresentlycameridingafterher.Andtheymademuchjoy,andbesoughthimtocometoherfather,agreatlord,andheshouldberightwelcome.But“truly,”saidhe,“Imaynotatthistime,forIhaveagreatadventureyettodo;”andcommendingthemtoGod,hedepartedingreathastetofindhisbrother.
Soherode,seekinghimbythetrackofthehorsesagreatwhile.Anonhemetaseemingholymanridinguponastrongblackhorse,andaskedhim,hadheseenpassbythatwayaknightledboundandbeatenwiththornsbytwoothers.