Король Артур и рыцари Круглого стола
Chapter IX
Thustheyfoughttwohoursandmore,thrustingandsmitingateachother,wherevertheycouldhit.
Anon,theybothwerebreathless,andstoodleaningontheirswords.
“Now,comrade,”saidSirTurquine,“letuswaitawhile,andanswermewhatIshallaskthee.”
“Sayon,”saidLancelot.
“Thouart,”saidTurquine,“thebestmanIevermet,andseemestlikeonethatIhateaboveallotherknightsthatlive;butifthoubenothe,Iwillmakepeacewiththee,andforsakeofthygreatvalour,willdeliverallthethreescoreprisonersandfourwholiewithinmydungeons,andthouandIwillbecompanionsevermore.Tellme,then,thyname.”
“Thousayestwell,”repliedSirLancelot;“butwhoishethouhatestsoaboveallothers?”
“Hisname,”saidTurquine,“isSirLancelotoftheLake;andheslewmybrotherSirCarados,atthedoloroustower;wherefore,ifeverIshallmeetwithhim,oneofustwoshallslaytheother;andtheretoIhaveswornbyagreatoath.AndtodiscoveranddestroyhimIhaveslainahundredknights,andcrippledutterlyasmanymore,andmanyhavediedinmyprisons;andnow,asIhavetoldthee,Ihavemanymoretherein,whoallshallbedelivered,ifthoutellmethyname,anditbenotSirLancelot.”
“Well,”saidLancelot,“Iamthatknight,sonofKingBanofBenwick,andKnightoftheRoundTable;sonowIdefytheetodothybest!”
“Aha!”saidTurquine,withashout,“isitthensoatlast!Thouartmorewelcometomyswordthaneverknightorladywastofeast,fornevershallweparttilloneofusbedead.
