Король Артур и рыцари Круглого стола
Chapter XI
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“Sirknight,”repliedSirTristram,“thisisarightfoulandfeloncustom,andratherthanmyladyshallloseherheadwillIlosemyown.”
“Nay,”saidSirBrewnor,“buttheladiesshallbenowcomparedtogetherandjudgmentshallbehad.”
“Iconsentnot,”criedSirTristram,“forwhoisherethatwillgiverightfuljudgment?Yetdoubtnotthatmyladyisfarfairerthanthineown,andthatwillIproveandmakegood.”TherewithSirTristramlifteduptheveilfromoffLaBelleIsault,andstoodbesideherwithhisnakedsworddrawninhishand.
ThenSirBrewnorunmuffledhisladyanddidinlikemanner.ButwhenhesawLaBelleIsaultheknewthatnonecouldbesofair,andalltherepresentgavetheirjudgmentso.ThensaidSirTristram,“Becausethouandthyladyhavelongusedthisevilcustom,andhaveslainmanygoodknightsandladies,itwereajustthingtodestroytheeboth.”
“Ingoodsooth,”saidSirBrewnor,“thyladyisfairerthanmine,andofallwomenIneversawanysofair.Therefore,slaymyladyifthouwilt,andIdoubtnotbutIshallslaytheeandhavethine.”
“Thoushaltwinher,”saidSirTristram,“asdearlyaseverknightwonlady;andbecauseofthyownjudgmentandoftheevilcustomthatthyladyhathconsentedto,Iwillslayherasthousayest.”
AndtherewithalSirTristramwenttohimandtookhisladyfromhim,andsmoteoffherheadatastroke.
“Nowtakethyhorse,”criedoutSirBrewnor,“forsinceIhavelostmyladyIwillwinthineandhavethylife.
