Король Артур и рыцари Круглого стола
Chapter XII
HisnamewasGalahad,andthoughheknewhimnot,norLancelothim,SirLancelotwashisfather.
“Sir,”saidthenuns,“webringtheeherethischildwhomwehavenourishedfromhisyouth,andpraytheetomakehimaknight,forfromnoworthierhandcanhereceivethatorder.”
ThenSirLancelot,lookingontheyouth,sawthathewasseemlyanddemureasadove,witheveryfeaturegoodandnoble,andthoughtheneverhadbeheldabetterfashionedmanofhisyears.“Comeththisdesirefromhimself?”saidhe.
“Yea,”answeredGalahadandallthenuns.
“To-morrow,then,inreverenceforthefeast,heshallhavehiswish,”saidSirLancelot.
Andthenextdayatthehourofprime,heknightedhim,andsaid,“GodmakeoftheeasgoodamanasHehathmadetheebeautiful.”
ThenwithSirLionelandSirBorshereturnedtothecourt,andfoundallgonetotheminstertohearservice.Whentheycameintothebanquet-halleachknightandbaronfoundhisnamewritteninsomeseatinlettersofgold,as“hereoughttositSirLionel,”“hereoughttositSirGawain,”—andsoforth.AndinthePerilousSeat,atthehighcentreofthetable,anamewasalsowritten,whereattheymarvelledgreatly,fornolivingmanhadeveryetdaredsituponthatseat,saveone,andhimaflameleapedforthanddrewdownunderearth,sothathewasnomoreseen.
ThencameSirLancelotandreadthelettersinthatseat,andsaid,“Mycounselisthatthisinscriptionbenowcoveredupuntiltheknightbecomewhoshallachievethisgreatadventure.”Sotheymadeaveilofsilkandputitovertheletters.
