Король Артур и рыцари Круглого стола
Chapter I
Thenthosetwodragons,oneofwhichwaswhite,theotherred,roseupandcamenearoneanother,andbeganasorefight,andcastforthfirewiththeirbreath.Butthewhitedragonhadtheadvantage,andchasedtheothertotheendofthelake.Andhe,forgriefathisflight,turnedbackuponhisfoe,andrenewedthecombat,andforcedhimtoretireinturn.Butintheendthereddragonwasworsted,andthewhitedragondisappearednomanknewwhere.
Whentheirbattlewasdone,thekingdesiredMerlintotellhimwhatitmeant.Whereathe,burstingintotears,criedoutthisprophecy,whichfirstforetoldthecomingofKingArthur.
“Woetothereddragon,whichfigureththeBritishnation,forhisbanishmentcomethquickly;hislurkingholesshallbeseizedbythewhitedragon—theSaxonwhomthou,Oking,hastcalledtotheland.Themountainsshallbelevelledasthevalleys,andtheriversofthevalleysshallrunblood;citiesshallbeburned,andchurcheslaidinruins;tillatlengththeoppressedshallturnforaseasonandprevailagainstthestrangers.ForaBoarofCornwallshallariseandrendthem,andtrampletheirnecksbeneathhisfeet.Theislandshallbesubjecttohispower,andheshalltaketheforestsofGaul.ThehouseofRomulusshalldreadhim—alltheworldshallfearhim—andhisendshallnomanknow;heshallbeimmortalinthemouthsofthepeople,andhisworksshallbefoodtothosethattellthem.
“Butasforthee,OVortigern,fleethouthesonsofConstantine,fortheyshallburntheeinthytower.