Король Артур и рыцари Круглого стола

           “Nowshallyedomyadvice,”saidMerlin;“IwouldthatKingBanandKingBors,withalltheirfellowshipof10,000men,wereledtoambushinthiswooderedaylight,andstirnottherefromuntilthebattlehathbeenlongwaged.Andthou,LordArthur,atthespringofdaydrawforththinearmybeforetheenemy,anddressthebattlesothattheymayatonceseeallthyhost,fortheywillbethemorerashandhardywhentheyseeyouhavebut20,000men.”

           Tothisthethreeknightsandthebaronsheartilyconsented,anditwasdoneasMerlinhaddevised.Soonthemorrowwhenthehostsbeheldeachother,thehostofthenorthwasgreatlycheeredtofindsofewledoutagainstthem.

           ThengaveKingArthurthecommandtoSirUlfiusandSirBrastiastotake3000men-at-arms,andtoopenbattle.Theythereforesettingfiercelyontheenemyslewthemontherighthandandthelefttillitwaswonderfultoseetheirslaughter.

           Whentheelevenkingsbeheldsosmallabanddoingsuchmightydeedsofarmstheywereashamed,andchargedthemfiercelyinreturn.ThenwasSirUlfius’horseslainunderhim;buthefoughtwellandmarvellouslyonfootagainstDukeEustaceandKingClarience,whosetuponhimgrievously,tillSirBrastias,seeinghisgreatperil,prickedtowardsthemswiftly,andsosmotethedukethroughwithhisspearthathorseandmanfelldownandrolledover.WhereatKingClarienceturneduponSirBrastias,andrushingfuriouslytogethertheyeachunhorsedtheotherandfellbothtotheground,andtherelayalongtimestunned,theirhorses’kneesbeingcuttothebone.