Король Артур и рыцари Круглого стола

           “Imaynotsparethee,”answeredhe,“becauseoftheshamefuldeathwhichthouhastgiventosomanynobleknights.”“Yetholdthyhand,Sirknight,”saidhe,“andhearthecause.Ilovedonceafairdamsel,whosebrotherwasslain,asshetoldme,byaknightofArthur’scourt,eitherSirLancelot,orSirGawain;andsheprayedme,asItrulylovedher,andbythefaithofmyknighthood,tolabourdailyindeedsofarms,tillIshouldmeetwithhim;andtoputallknightsoftheRoundTablewhomIshouldovercometoavillainousdeath.AndthisIsworetoher.”Thenprayedtheearls,andknights,andbarons,whostoodroundSirBeaumains,tosparetheRedKnight’slife.“Truly,”repliedhe,“Iamlothtoslayhim,notwithstandinghehathdonesuchshamefuldeeds.Andinasmuchaswhathedidwasdonetopleasehisladyandtogainherlove,Iblamehimless,andforyoursakesIwillreleasehim.Butonthisagreementonlyshallheholdhislife—thatstraightwayhedepartintothecastle,andyieldhimtotheladythere,andmakehersuchamendsassheshallask,forallthetrespasshehathdoneuponherlands;andafterwards,thatheshallgountoKingArthur’scourt,andaskthepardonofSirLancelotandSirGawainforalltheevilhehathdoneagainstthem.”“Allthis,Sirknight,Isweartodo,”saidtheKnightoftheRedlands;andtherewithhedidhimhomageandfealty.

           ThencamethedamselLinettoSirBeaumainsandtheKnightoftheRedlands,anddisarmedthem,andstaunchedtheirwounds.