Король Артур и рыцари Круглого стола
Chapter IV
Thischallenge,KingArthur,fullwearythesiege,acceptedwithgreatjoy,andsentbackwordtoFlollothathewouldmeethimwhensoeverheappointed.
Andatrucebeingmadeonbothsides,theymettogetherthenextdayontheislandwithoutthecity,whereallthepeoplealsoweregatheredtoseetheissue.AndasthekingandFlollorodeuptothelists,eachwassonoblyarmedandhorsed,andsatsomightilyuponhissaddle,thatnomancouldtellwhichwaythebattlewouldend.
Whentheyhadsalutedoneanother,andpresentedthemselvesagainsteachotherwiththeirlancesaloft,theyputspurstotheirhorsesandbeganafierceencounter.ButKingArthur,carryinghisspearmorewarily,struckitontheupperpartofFlollo’sbreast,andflunghimfromhissaddletotheearth.Thendrawinghissword,hecriedtohimtorise,andrusheduponhim;butFlollo,startingup,methimwithhisspearcouched,andpiercedthebreastofKingArthur’shorse,andoverthrewbothhorseandman.
TheBritons,whentheysawtheirkingupontheground,couldscarcelykeepthemselvesfrombreakingupthetruceandfallingontheGauls.Butastheywereabouttoburstthebarriers,andrushuponthelists,KingArthurhastilyarose,and,guardinghimselfwithhisshield,ranwithspeedonFlollo.Andnowtheyrenewedtheassaultwithgreatrage,beingsorelybentuponeachother’sdeath.
Atlength,Flollo,seizinghisadvantage,gaveKingArthurahugestrokeuponthehelm,whichnighoverthrewhim,anddrewforthhisbloodinstreams.