Король Артур и рыцари Круглого стола
Chapter VI
SointhatfashionherodebacktoCamelot;andwhenthekingandqueensawhim,andheardtellofhisadventures,theywereheavilydispleased,and,bytheorderofthequeen,hewasputuponhistrialbeforeacourtofladies—whojudgedhimtobeevermore,forallhislife,theknightofladies’quarrels,andtofightalwaysontheirside,andneveragainstany,excepthefoughtforoneladyandhisadversaryforanother;alsotheychargedhimnevertorefusemercytohimthataskedit,andsworehimtoitontheHolyGospels.Thusendedtheadventureofthewhitehart.
Meanwhile,SirTorhadmadehimready,andfollowedtheknightwhorodeawaywiththehound.Andashewent,theresuddenlymethimintheroadadwarf,whostruckhishorsesoviciouslyupontheheadwithagreatstaff,thatheleapedbackwardsaspear’slength.
“Whereforesosmitestthoumyhorse,fouldwarf?”shoutedSirTor.
“Becausethoushallnotpassthisway,”repliedthedwarf,“unlessthoufightforitwithyonderknightsinthosepavilions,”pointingtotwotents,wheretwogreatspearsstoodout,andtwoshieldshungupontwotreeshardby.
“Imaynottarry,forIamonaquestIneedsmustfollow,”saidSirTor.
“Thoushaltnotpass,”repliedthedwarf,andtherewithblewhishorn.ThenrodeoutquicklyatSirToronearmedonhorseback,butSirTorwasquickashe,andridingathimborehimfromhishorse,andmadehimyield.Directlyaftercameanotherstillmorefiercely,butwithafewgreatstrokesandbuffetsSirTorunhorsedhimalso,andsentthembothtoCamelottoKingArthur.
