Король Артур и рыцари Круглого стола
Chapter XIII
“WhereisSirLancelot?”saidKingArthur,“forhewouldnotgrudgetodobattleforthee.”
“Sir,”saidshe,“Icannottellyou,butallhiskinsmendeemheisnotinthisrealm.”
“Thesebesadtidings,”saidtheking;“IcounselyetofindSirBors,andprayhimforSirLancelot’ssaketodothisbattleforyou.”
SothequeendepartedandsentforSirBorstoherchamber,andbesoughthissuccour.
“Madam,”saidhe,“whatwouldyouhavemedo?forImaynotwithmyhonourtakethismatteronme,forIwasatthatsamedinner,andalltheotherknightswouldhavemeeverinsuspicion.NowdoyemissSirLancelot,forhewouldnothavefailedyouinrightnoryetinwrong,asyehaveoftenproved,butnowyehavedrivenhimfromthecountry.”
“Alas!fairknight,”saidthequeen,“Iputmewhollyatyourmercy,andallthatisdoneamissIwillamendasyewillcounselme.”
AndtherewithshekneeleddownuponbothherkneesbeforeSirBors,andbesoughthimtohavemercyonher.
AnoncameinKingArthuralso,andprayedhimofhiscourtesytohelpher,saying,“IrequireyoufortheloveofLancelot.”
“Mylord,”saidhe,“yerequirethegreatestthingofmethatanymancanask,forifIdothisbattleforthequeenIshallangerallmyfellowsoftheTableRound;nevertheless,formylordSirLancelot’ssake,andforyours,Iwillthatdaybethequeen’schampion,unlesstherechancetocomeabetterknightthanIamtodobattleforher.”Andthishepromisedonhisfaith.
Thenwerethekingandqueenpassingglad,andthankedhimheartily,andsodeparted.
