Король Артур и рыцари Круглого стола
Chapter II
ThensaidKingLot,“Lords,wemusttakeyetothermeans,orworselossstillawaitsus.Seeyenotwhatpeoplewehavelostinwaitingonthefootmen,andthatitcoststenhorsementosaveoneofthem?Thereforeitismycounseltoputawayourfootmenfromus,foritisalmostnight,andKingArthurwillnotstaytoslaughterthem.Sotheycansavetheirlivesinthisgreatwoodhardby.Thenletusgatherintoonebandallthehorsementhatremain,andwhosobreakethrankorleavethus,lethimbestraightwayslainbyhimthatseethhim,foritisbetterthatweslayacowardthanthroughacowardbeallslain.Howsayye?”saidKingLot;“answerme,allyekings.”
“Itiswellsaid,”repliedtheyall.
Andswearingtheywouldneverfaileachother,theymendedandsetrighttheirarmourandtheirshields,andtooknewspearsandsetthemsteadfastlyagainsttheirthighs,waiting,andsostoodstillasaclumpoftreesstandsontheplain;andnoassaultscouldshakethem,theyheldsohardtogether;whichwhenKingArthursawhemarvelledgreatly,andwasverywroth.“Yet,”criedhe,“Imaynotblamethem,bymyfaith,fortheydoasbravemenoughttodo,andarethebestfightingmenandknightsofmostprowessthatIeversaworheardtellof.”AndsosaidalsoKingsBanandBors,andpraisedthemgreatlyfortheirnoblechivalry.
ButnowcamefortynobleknightsoutofKingArthur’shost,andprayedthathewouldsufferthemtobreaktheenemy.Andwhentheywereallowed,theyrodeforthwiththeirspearsupontheirthighs,andspurredtheirhorsestotheirhottest.
