Король Артур и рыцари Круглого стола

           AndIprayyougreetthemallfromme,SirLancelotoftheLake,andtellthemthatIbidthemhelpthemselvestoanytreasurestheycanfindwithinthecastle;andthatIpraymybrethren,LionelandEctor,togotoKingArthur’scourtandstaytheretillIcome.AndbythehighfeastatPentecostImustbethere;butnowImustrideforthwiththisdamseltofulfilmypromise.”

           So,astheywent,thedamseltoldhim,“Sir,wearenowneartheplacewherethefoulknighthaunteth,whorobbethanddistressethallladiesandgentlewomentravellingpastthisway,againstwhomIhavesoughtthyaid.”

           Thentheyarrangedthatsheshouldrideonforemost,andSirLancelotshouldfollowundercoverofthetreesbytheroadside,andifhesawhercometoanymishap,heshouldrideforthanddealwithhimthattroubledher.Andasthedamselrodeonatasoftamblingpace,aknightandpageburstforthfromtheroadsideandforcedthedamselfromherhorse,tillshecriedoutforhelp.

           ThencameSirLancelotrushingthroughthewoodasfastashemightfly,andallthebranchesofthetreescrackledandwavedaroundhim.“Othoufalseknightandtraitortoallknighthood!”shoutedhe,“whotaughttheetodistressfairladiesthus?”

           Thefoulknightanswerednothing,butdrewouthisswordandrodeatSirLancelot,whothrewhisspearawayanddrewhisownswordlikewise,andstruckhimsuchamightyblowasclavehisheaddowntothethroat.“Nowhastthouthewagesthoulonghastearned!”saidhe;andsodepartedfromthedamsel.