Король Артур и рыцари Круглого стола
Chapter XII
NowSirGalahadwentforthwithoutashield,androdesofourdayswithoutadventure;andonthefourthday,afterevensong,hecametoanabbeyofwhitemonks,wherehewasreceivedinthehouse,andledintoachamber.Andtherehewasunarmed,andmettwoknightsoftheRoundTable,KingBagdemagus,andSirUwaine.
“Sirs,”saidSirGalahad,“whatadventurehathbroughtyehere?”
“Withinthisplace,aswearetold,”theyanswered,“thereisashieldnomanmaybeararoundhisneckwithoutreceivingsoremischance,ordeathwithinthreedays.”
“To-morrow,”saidKingBagdemagus,“Ishallattempttheadventure;andifIfail,dothou,SirGalahad,takeitupafterme.”
“Iwillwillingly,”saidhe;“forasyeseeIhavenoshieldasyet.”
Soonthemorrowtheyaroseandheardmass,andafterwardsKingBagdemagusaskedwheretheshieldwaskept.Thenamonkledhimbehindthealtar,wheretheshieldhung,aswhiteasanysnow,andwithablood-redcrossinthemidstofit.
“Sir,”saidthemonk,“thisshieldshouldhangfromnoknight’sneckunlesshebetheworthiestintheworld.Iwarnye,therefore,knights;considerwellbeforeyedaretotouchit.”
“Well,”saidKingBagdemagus,“IknowwellthatIamfarfromthebestknightinalltheworld,yetshallImakethetrial;”andsohetooktheshield,andboreitfromthemonastery.
“Ifitpleasethee,”saidhetoSirGalahad,“abideheretillthouhearesthowIspeed.”
“Iwillabidethee,”saidhe.
