Король Артур и рыцари Круглого стола
Chapter VI
Takemyadvice,setonagainstme,andifyeyieldtome,asIshalldomybesttomakeye,yeshallgotoKingArthurandyieldyetohisgrace.”
“Sirknight,”repliedthebrothers,“weareweary,andwilldothywishwithoutencounteringthee;butbywhomshallwetellthekingthatweweresent?”
“Bytheknightthatfolloweththequestofthewhitehart,”saidSirGawain.“Andnowtellmeyournames,andletuspart.”
“SorlousandBrianoftheForest,”theyreplied;andsotheywenttheirwaytotheking’scourt.
ThenSirGawain,stillfollowinghisquestbythedistantbayingofthehounds,cametoagreatriver,andsawthehartswimmingoverandneartothefurtherbank.Andashewasabouttoplungeinandswimafter,hesawaknightupontheotherside,whocried,“Comenotoverhere,Sirknight,afterthathart,savethouwiltjoustwithme.”
“Iwillnotfailforthat,”saidSirGawain;andswamhishorseacrossthestream.
Anontheygottheirspears,andranagainsteachotherfiercely;andSirGawainsmotethestrangeroffhishorse,andturning,badehimyield.
“Nay,”repliedhe,“notso;forthoughyehavethebetterofmeonhorseback,Ipraythee,valiantknight,alight,andletusmatchtogetherwithourswordsonfoot.”
“Whatisthyname?”quothGawain.
“AllardinoftheIsles,”repliedthestranger.
Thentheyfelloneachother;butsoonSirGawainstruckhimthroughthehelm,sodeeplyandsohard,thatallhisbrainswerescattered,andSirAllardinfelldead.