Король Артур и рыцари Круглого стола
Chapter XIII
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Thentheytalkedofothermatters,andofthegreatjoustingatAllhallowtidenextcoming,betweenKingArthurandtheKingofNorthWales.
“Abidewithmetillthen,”saidSirLancelot,“forbythattimeItrusttobeallwholeagain,andwewillgotogether.”
SoElainedailyandnightlytendinghim,withinamonthhefeltsostronghedeemedhimselffullcured.Thenonaday,whenSirBorsandSirLavainewerefromthehermitage,andtheknight-hermitalsowasgoneforth,SirLancelotprayedElainetobringhimsomeherbsfromtheforest.
Whenshewasgoneheroseandmadehastetoarmhimself,andtryifhewerewholeenoughtojoust,andmountedonhishorse,whichwasfreshwithlackoflabourforsolongatime.Butwhenhesethisspearintherestandtriedhisarmour,thehorseboundedandleaptbeneathhim,sothatSirLancelotstrainedtokeephimback.Andtherewithhiswound,whichwasnotwhollyhealed,burstforthagain,andwithamightygroanhesankdownswooningontheground.
AtthatcamefairElaineandweptandpiteouslymoanedtoseehimlyingso.AndwhenSirBorsandSirLavainecameback,shecalledthemtraitorstolethimrise,ortoknowanyrumourofthetournament.AnonthehermitreturnedandwaswrothtoseeSirLancelotrisen,butwithinawhileherecoveredhimfromhisswoonandstaunchedthewound.ThenSirLancelottoldhimhowhehadrisenofhisownwilltoassayhisstrengthforthetournament.ButthehermitbadhimrestandletSirBorsgoalone,forelsewouldhesorelyperilhislife.
