Король Артур и рыцари Круглого стола
Chapter XIV
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Whenhehadthusspoken,SirGawaingaveuphisghost,andthekinggrievouslymournedforhim.
ThentheytoldhimthattheenemyhadcampedonBarhamDowns,whereat,withallhishosts,hestraightwaymarchedthere,andfoughtagainabloodybattle,andoverthrewSirModredutterly.Howbeit,heraisedyetanotherarmy,andretreatingeverfrombeforetheking,increasedhisnumbersashewent,tillatthefarthestwestinLyonesse,heoncemoremadeastand.
Now,onthenightofTrinitySunday,beingtheeveofthebattle,KingArthurhadavision,andsawSirGawaininadream,whowarnedhimnottofightwithModredonthemorrow,elsehewouldbesurelyslain;andprayedhimtodelaytillLancelotandhisknightsshouldcometoaidhim.
SowhenKingArthurwokehetoldhislordsandknightsthatvision,andallagreedtowaitthecomingofSirLancelot.ThenaheraldwassentwithamessageoftrucetoSirModred,andatreatywasmadethatneitherarmyshouldassailtheother.
Butwhenthetreatywasagreedupon,andtheheraldsreturned,KingArthursaidtohisknights,“Beware,lestSirModreddeceiveus,forIinnowisetrusthim,andifswordsbedrawnbereadytoencounter!”AndSirModredlikewisegaveanorder,thatifanymanoftheking’sarmydrewhissword,theyshouldbegintofight.
Andasitchanced,aknightoftheking’ssidewasbittenbyanadderinthefoot,andhastilydrewforthhisswordtoslayit.ThatsawSirModred,andforthwithcommandedallhisarmytoassailtheking’s.
Sobothsidesrushedtobattle,andfoughtpassingfiercely.