Король Артур и рыцари Круглого стола
Chapter VI
”
“Grammercy,”saidthelady,“IasktheheadofthisfalseknightAbellius,themostoutrageousmurdererthatliveth.”
“IrepentmeofthegiftIpromised,”saidSirTor.“Lethimmaketheeamendsforallhistrespassesagainstthee.”
“Hecannotmakeamends,”repliedthedamsel,“forhehathslainmybrother,afarbetterknightthanhe,andscornedtogivehimmercy,thoughIkneeledforhalfanhourbeforehiminthemire,tobegit,andthoughitwasbutbyachancetheyfought,andfornoformerinjuryorquarrel.Irequiremygiftoftheeasatrueknight,orelsewillIshametheeinKingArthur’scourt;forthisAbelliusisthefalsestknightalive,andamurdererofmany.”
WhenAbelliusheardthis,hetrembledgreatly,andwassoreafraid,andyieldedtoSirTor,andprayedhismercy.
“Icannotnow,Sirknight,”saidhe,“lestIbefalsetomypromise.YewouldnottakemymercywhenIofferedit;andnowitistoolate.”
Therewithheunlacedhishelmet,andtookitoff;butAbellius,indismalfear,struggledtohisfeet,andfled,untilSirTorovertookhim,andsmoteoffhisheadentirelywithoneblow.
“Now,sir,”saidthedamsel,“itisnearnight,Iprayyecomeandlodgeatmycastlehardby.”
“Iwill,withagoodwill,”saidhe,forbothhishorseandhehadfaredbutpoorlysincetheyleftCamelot.
Sohewenttothelady’scastleandfaredsumptuously,andsawherhusband,anoldknight,whogreatlythankedhimforhisservice,andurgedhimoftentimestocomeagain.
