Король Артур и рыцари Круглого стола
Chapter III
Andthenmensawhim,“redastherisingsunfromspurtoplume,”liftuphissword,and,kneeling,kissthecrossofit;andafter,risingtohisfeet,setmightandmainwithallhisfellowshipuponthefoe,till,asatroopoflionsroaringfortheirprey,theydrovethemlikeascatteredherdalongtheplains,andcutthemdowntilltheycouldcutnomoreforweariness.
ThatdayKingArthurbyhimselfaloneslewwithhiswordExcaliburfourhundredandseventyheathens.Colgrinalso,andhisbrotherBaldulph,wereslain.
ThenthekingbadeCador,DukeofCornwall,followCheldric,thechiefleader,andtheremnantofhishosts,untotheuttermost.He,therefore,whenhehadfirstseizedtheirfleet,andfilleditwithchosenmen,tobeatthembackwhentheyshouldflytoitatlast,chasedthemandslewthemwithoutmercysolongashecouldovertakethem.Andthoughtheycreptwithtremblingheartsforsheltertothecovertsofthewoodsanddensofmountains,yetevensotheyfoundnosafety,forCadorslewthem,evenonebyone.LastofallhecaughtandslewCheldrichimself,andslaughteringagreatmultitudetookhostagesforthesurrenderoftherest.
Meanwhile,KingArthurturnedfromBadonHill,andfreedhisnephewHoelfromtheScotsandPicts,whobesiegedhiminAlclud.Andwhenhehaddefeatedtheminthreesorebattles,hedrovethembeforehimtoalake,whichwasoneofthemostwondrouslakesinalltheworld,foritwasfedbysixtyrivers,andhadsixtyislands,andsixtyrocks,andoneveryislandsixtyeagles’nests.