Король Артур и рыцари Круглого стола
Chapter XIV
So,atthelast,SirLancelotsaid,“Sincepeaceisvain,Iwilldepart,lestIbringmoreevilonmyfellowship.”
Andasheturnedtogo,thetearsfellfromhim,andhesaid,“Alas,mostnobleChristianrealm,whichIhavelovedaboveallothers,nowshallIseetheenevermore!”Thensaidhetothequeen,“Madam,nowmustIleaveyeandthisnoblefellowshipforever.And,Ibeseechye,prayforme,andifyeeverbedefamedofany,letmehearthereof,andasIhavebeeneverthytrueknightinrightandwrong,sowillIbeagain.”
WiththathekneeledandkissedKingArthur’shands,anddepartedonhisway.Andtherewasnoneinallthatcourt,saveSirGawainalone,butwepttoseehimgo.
SohereturnedwithallhisknightstotheCastleofLaJoyousGarde,and,forhissorrow’ssake,henameditDolorousGardethenceforth.
Anonhelefttherealm,andwentwithmanyofhisfellowshipbeyondtheseatoFrance,andtheredividedallhislandsamongthemequally,hesharingbutastherest.
AndfromthattimeforwardpeacehadbeenbetweenhimandKingArthur,butforSirGawain,wholeftthekingnorest,butconstantlypersuadedhimthatLancelotwasraisingmightyhostsagainsthim.
Sointheendhismaliceovercametheking,wholeftthegovernmentinchargeofModred,andmadehimguardianofthequeen,andwentwithagreatarmytoinvadeSirLancelot’slands.
YetSirLancelotwouldmakenowarupontheking,andsentamessagetogainpeaceonanytermsKingArthurchose.ButSirGawainmettheheralderehereachedtheking,andsenthimbackwithtauntingandbitterwords.