Король Артур и рыцари Круглого стола
Chapter XI
ThenitbefelluponacertaindaythatthegoodknightSirBleoberisdeGanis,brothertoSirBlamordeGanis,andnighcousintoSirLancelotoftheLake,cametoKingMark’scourtandaskedofhimafavour.Andthoughthekingmarvelled,seeinghewasamanofgreatrenown,andaknightoftheRoundTable,hegrantedhimallhisasking.ThensaidSirBleoberis,“Iwillhavethefairestladyinyourcourt,atmyownchoosing.”
“Imaynotsaytheenay,”repliedtheking;“choosetherefore,buttakealltheissuesofthychoice.”
Sowhenhehadlookedaround,hechosethewifeofEarlSegwarides,andtookherbythehand,andsetheruponhorsebackbehindhissquire,androdeforthonhisway.
Presentlythereaftercameintheearl,androdeoutstraightwayafterhiminrage.ButalltheladiescriedoutshameuponSirTristramthathehadnotgone,andonerebukedhimfoullyandcalledhimcowardknight,thathewouldstandandseealadyforcedawayfromhisuncle’scourt.ButSirTristramansweredher,“Fairlady,itisnotmyplacetotakepartinthisquarrelwhileherlordandhusbandisheretodoit.Hadhenotbeenatthiscourt,peradventureIhadbeenherchampion.Andifitsobefallthathespeedill,thenmayithappenthatIspeakwiththatfoulknightbeforehepassoutofthisrealm.”
AnonraninoneofSirSegwarides’squires,andtoldthathismasterwassorewounded,andatthepointofdeath.WhenSirTristramheardthat,hewassoonarmedandonhishorse,andGovernale,hisservant,followedhimwithshieldandspear.
