Король Артур и рыцари Круглого стола
Chapter III
ButKingArthurwithagreatfleetsailedroundtheriversandbesiegedtheminthelakeforfifteendays,sothatmanythousandsdiedofhunger.
AnontheKingofIrelandcamewithanarmytorelievethem;butArthur,turningonhimfiercely,routedhim,andcompelledhimtoretreatinterrortohisland.Thenhepursuedhispurpose,whichwasnolesstodestroytheraceofPictsandScots,who,beyondmemory,hadbeenaceaselesstormenttotheBritonsbytheirbarbarousmalice.
Sobitterly,therefore,didhetreatthem,givingquartertonone,thatatlengththebishopsofthatmiserablecountrywiththeclergymettogether,and,bearingalltheholyrelics,camebarefootedtothekingtoprayhismercyfortheirpeople.Assoonastheywereledbeforehimtheyfelldownupontheirknees,andpiteouslybesoughthimtosparethefewsurvivorsoftheircountrymen,andgrantthemanycornerofthelandwheretheymightliveinpeace.Whenhethusheardthem,andknewthathehadnowfullypunishedthem,heconsentedtotheirprayer,andwithdrewhishostsfromanyfurtherslaughter.
Thenturnedhebacktohisownrealm,andcametoYorkforChristmas,andtherewithhighsolemnityobservedthatholytide;andbeingpassinggrievedtoseetheruinofthechurchesandhouses,whichtherageorthepaganshaddestroyed,herebuiltthem,andrestoredthecitytoitsancienthappystate.