Король Артур и рыцари Круглого стола
Chapter VIII
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ThenLuciussentmessengerstoallthesubjectcountriesofRome,andbroughttogetheramightyarmy,andassembledsixteenkings,andmanydukes,princes,lords,andadmirals,andawondrousgreatmultitudeofpeople.Fiftygiantsalso,bornoffiends,weresetaroundhimforabody-guard.WithallthathosthestraightwaywentfromRome,andpassedbeyondthemountainsintoGaul,andburnedthetownsandravagedallthecountryofthatprovince,inrageforitssubmissiontoKingArthur.ThenhemovedontowardsLittleBritain.
Meanwhile,KingArthurhavingheldaparliamentatYork,lefttherealminchargeofSirBadewineandSirConstantine,andcrossedtheseafromSandwichtomeetLucius.Andsosoonashewaslanded,hesentSirGawain,SirBors,SirLionel,andSirBediveretotheEmperor,commandinghim“tomoveswiftlyandinhasteoutofhisland,and,ifnot,tomakehimselfreadyforbattle,andnotcontinueravagingthecountryandslayingharmlesspeople.”Anon,thosenobleknightsattiredthemselvesandsetforthonhorsebacktowheretheysaw,inameadow,manysilkententsofdiverscolours,andtheEmperor’spavilioninthemidst,withagoldeneaglesetaboveit.
ThenSirGawainandSirBorsrodeforward,leavingtheothertwobehindinambush,andgaveKingArthur’smessage.TowhichtheEmperorreplied,“Return,andtellyourlordthatIamcometoconquerhimandallhisland.”
Atthis,SirGawainburnedwithanger,andcriedout,“IhadratherthanallFrancethatImightfightwiththeealone!”
“AndIalso,”saidSirBors.
