Король Артур и рыцари Круглого стола
Chapter XII
“Yea,truly,suchanoneIsaw,”saidtheman;“butheisdead,andlo!hisbodyishardbyinabush.”
Thenheshowedhimanewlyslainbodylyinginathickbush,whichseemedindeedtobeSirLionel.ThenmadeSirBorssuchmourningandsorrowthatby-and-byhefellintoaswoonupontheground.Andwhenhecametohimselfagain,hetookthebodyinhisarmsandputitonhishorse’ssaddle,andboreittoachapelhardby,andwouldhaveburiedit.Butwhenhemadethesignofthecross,heheardafullgreatnoiseandcryasthoughallthefiendsofhellhadbeenabouthim,andsuddenlythebodyandthechapelandtheoldmanvanishedallaway.Thenheknewthatitwasthedevilwhohadthusbeguiledhim,andthathisbrotheryetlived.
Thenheldheuphishandstoheaven,andthankedGodforhisownescapefromhurt,androdeonwards;andanon,ashepassedbyanhermitageinaforest,hesawhisbrothersittingarmedbythedoor.Andwhenhesawhimhewasfilledwithjoy,andlightedfromhishorse,andrantohimandsaid,“Fairbrother,whencameyehither?”
ButSirLionelanswered,withanangryface,“Whatvainwordsbethese,whenforyouImighthavebeenslain?Didyenotseemeboundandledawaytodeath,andleftmeinthatperiltogosuccouringagentlewoman,thelikewhereofnobrothereveryethathdone?Now,forthyfalsemisdeed,Idodefythee,andensuretheespeedydeath.”
ThenSirBorsprayedhisbrothertoabatehisanger,andsaid,“Fairbrother,rememberthelovethatshouldbebetweenustwain.