Король Артур и рыцари Круглого стола
Chapter XII
HecamewithJosephtothisland,andeverdesiredgreatlytoseetheSangreal;soonatimehecamenighthereto,andwasstruckalmostblind.Thenhecriedoutformercy,andsaid,‘FairLord,IpraytheeletmeneverdieuntilagoodknightofmybloodachievetheSangreal,andImayseeandkisshim.’Whenhehadthusprayed,heheardavoicethatsaid,‘Thyprayersbeheardandanswered,forthoushaltnotdietillthatknightkissthee;andwhenhecomethshallthineeyesbeopenedandthywoundsbehealed.’Andnowhathhelivedhereforthreehundredwintersinaholylife,andmensayacertainknightofKingArthur’scourtshallshortlyhealhim.”
ThereatSirPercivalmarvelledgreatly,forhewellknewwhothatknightshouldbe;andso,takinghisleaveofthemonk,departed.
Thenherodeontillnoon,andcameintoavalleywherehemettwentymen-at-armsbearingadeadknightonabier.Andtheycriedtohim,“Whencecomestthou?”
“FromKingArthur’scourt,”heanswered.
Thentheyallcriedtogether,“Slayhim,”andsetuponhim.
Buthesmotedownthefirstmantotheground,andhishorseuponhim;whereatsevenofthemallatonceassailedhim,andothersslewhishorse.Thushehadbeeneithertakenorslain,butbygoodchanceSirGalahadwaspassingbythatway,who,seeingtwentymenattackingone,cried,“Slayhimnot,”andrusheduponthem;and,asfastashishorsecoulddrive,heencounteredwiththeforemostman,andsmotehimdown.
