Король Артур и рыцари Круглого стола
Chapter IV
WhenKingArthursawallthat,hisheartbledforsorrow,andhetrembledforrageandindignation;thenliftinguphisvoicehecriedaloud—“God,thatwieldethalltheworld,givetheeshortlifeandshamefuldeath,andmaythedevilhavethysoul!Whyhastthouslainthosechildrenandthatfairlady?Whereforearise,andpreparetheetoperish,thougluttonandfiend,forthisdaythoushaltdiebymyhands.”
Thenthegiant,madwithfuryatthesewords,startedup,andseizingagreatclub,smotetheking,andstruckhiscrownfromoffhishead.ButKingArthursmotehimwithhisswordsomightilyinreturn,thatallhisbloodgushedforthinstreams.
Atthatthegiant,howlingingreatanguish,threwawayhisclubofiron,andcaughtthekinginbothhisarmsandstrovetocrushhisribstogether.ButKingArthurstruggledandwrithed,andtwistedhimabout,sothatthegiantcouldnotholdhimtightly;andastheyfiercelywrestled,theybothfell,androllingoveroneanother,tumbled—wrestling,andstruggling,andfightingfrantically—fromrocktorock,tilltheycametothesea.
Andastheytoreandstroveandtumbled,thekingeverandanonsmoteatthegiantwithhisdagger,tillhisarmsstiffenedindeatharoundKingArthur’sbody,andgroaninghorribly,hedied.Sopresentlythetwoknightscameandfoundthekinglockedfastinthegiant’sarms,andveryfaintandweary,andloosedhimfromtheirhold.