Король Артур и рыцари Круглого стола
Chapter XII
Thereatthelionfawneduponhimlikeadog,lickinghishands,andcrouchingathisfeet,andatnightlaydownbyhimandsleptathisside.
AndatnoonthenextdaySirPercivalsawashipcomesailingbeforeastrongwindupontheseatowardshim,andheroseandwenttowardsit.Andwhenitcametoshore,hefounditcoveredwithwhitesamite,andonthedecktherestoodanoldmandressedinpriest’srobes,whosaid,“Godbewithyou,fairsir;whencecomeye?”
“IamaknightofKingArthur’scourt,”saidhe,“andfollowthequestoftheSangreal;butherehaveIlostmyselfinthiswilderness.”
“Fearnothing,”saidtheoldman,“forIhavecomefromastrangecountrytocomfortthee.”
ThenhetoldSirPercivalitwasafiendofhelluponwhichhehadriddentothesea,andthatthelion,whomhehaddeliveredfromtheserpent,meanttheChurch.AndSirPercivalrejoicedatthesetidings,andenteredintotheship,whichpresentlysailedfromtheshoreintothesea.
NowwhenSirBorsrodeforthfromCamelottoseektheSangreal,anonhemetaholymanridingonanass,andcourteouslysalutedhim.
“Whoareye,son?”saidthegoodman.
“Iamaknight,”saidhe,“inquestoftheSangreal,andwouldfainhavethycounsel,forheshallhavemuchearthlyhonourwhomaybringittoafavourableend.”
“Thatistruth,”saidthegoodman,“forheshallbethebestknightoftheworld;yetknowthatnoneshallgainitsavebysinlessliving.
