Король Артур и рыцари Круглого стола

           Now,IhaveunderstoodthatBelinusandBrennius,knightsofBritain,heldtheRomanEmpireintheirhandsformanydays,andalsoConstantine,thesonofHelen,whichisopenevidence,notonlythatweoweRomenotribute,butthatI,beingdescendedfromthem,may,ofright,myselfclaimtheempire.”

           ThensaidKingAnguishofScotland,“Sir,thououghtestofrighttobeaboveallotherkings,forinallChristendomistherenotthineequal;andIcounseltheenevertoobeytheRomans.Forwhentheyreignedheretheygrievouslydistressedus,andputthelandtogreatandheavyburdens;andhere,formypart,IsweartoavengemeonthemwhenImay,andwillfurnishtheewithtwentythousandmen-at-arms,whomIwillpayandkeep,andwhoshallwaitontheewithme,whenitshallpleasethee.”

           ThentheKingofLittleBritainroseandpromisedKingArthurthirtythousandmen;andlikewisemanyotherkings,anddukes,andbarons,promisedaid—asthelordofWestWalesthirtythousandmen,SirEwaineandhiscousinthirtythousandmen,andsoforth;SirLancelotalso,andeveryotherknightoftheRoundTable,promisedeachmanagreathost.

           Sotheking,passingjoyfulattheircourageandgoodwill,thankedthemallheartily,andsentfortheambassadorsagain,tohearhisanswer.“Iwill,”saidhe,“thatyenowgobackstraightwayuntotheEmperoryourmasterandtellhimthatIgivenoheedtohiswords,forIhaveconqueredallmykingdomsbythewillofGodandbymyownrightarm,andIamstrongenoughtokeepthem,withoutpayingtributetoanyearthlycreature.