Король Артур и рыцари Круглого стола
Chapter XIII
AndElaine,withtears,prayedhiminthesamewise,sothatSirLancelotintheendconsented.
SoSirBorsdepartedtothetournament,andtherehedidsuchfeatsofarmsthattheprizewasgivenbetweenhimandSirGawain,whodidlikevaliantly.
AndwhenallwasoverhecamebackandtoldSirLancelot,andfoundhimsonighwellthathecouldriseandwalk.AndwithinawhilethereafterhedepartedfromthehermitageandwentwithSirBors,SirLavaine,andfairElainetoAstolat,whereSirBernardjoyfullyreceivedthem.
ButaftertheyhadlodgedthereafewdaysSirLancelotandSirBorsmustneedsdepartandreturntoKingArthur’scourt.
SowhenElaineknewSirLancelotmustgo,shecametohimandsaid,“Havemercyonme,fairknight,andletmenotdieforyourlove.”
ThensaidSirLancelot,verysadatheart,“Fairmaid,whatwouldyethatIshoulddoforyou?”
“IfImaynotbeyourwife,dearlord,”sheanswered,“Imustdie.”
“Alas!”saidhe,“Iprayheaventhatmaynotbe;forinsoothImaynotbeyourhusband.ButfainwouldIshowyewhatthankfulnessIcanforallyourloveandkindnesstome.AndeverwillIbeyourknight,fairmaiden;andifitchancethatyeshalleverwedsomenobleknight,rightheartilywillIgiveyesuchadowerashalfmylandswillbring.”
“Alas!whatshallthataidme?”answeredshe;“forImustdie,”andtherewithshefelltotheearthinadeepswoon.
