Король Артур и рыцари Круглого стола

           Andanonshedied,andallthehouseholdmadeabitterlamentationoverher.

           Thendidtheyasshehaddesired,andlaidherbody,richlydressed,uponabedwithinthebarge,andatrustyservantsteereditdowntherivertowardsthecourt.

           NowKingArthurandQueenGuineveresatatawindowofthepalace,andsawthebargecomefloatingwiththetide,andmarvelledwhatwaslaidtherein,andsentamessengertosee,who,soonreturning,prayedthemtocomeforth.

           Whentheycametotheshoretheymarvelledgreatly,andthekingaskedoftheserving-menwhosteeredthebargewhatthismightmean.Buthemadesignsthathewasdumb,andpointedtotheletterinthedamsel’shands.SoKingArthurtooktheletterfromthehandofthecorpse,andfoundthereonwritten,“Tothenobleknight,SirLancelotduLake.”

           ThenwasSirLancelotsentfor,andtheletterreadaloudbyaclerk,andthusitwaswritten:—

           “Mostnobleknight,mylordSirLancelot,nowhathdeathforeverpartedus.I,whommencalltheMaidofAstolat,setmyloveuponyou,andhavediedforyoursake.Thisismylastrequest,thatyeprayformysoulandgivemeburial.Grantmethis,SirLancelot,asthouartapeerlessknight.”

           Atthesewordsthequeenandalltheknightsweptsoreforpity.

           ThensaidSirLancelot,“Mylord,Iamrightheavyforthedeathofthisfairdamsel;andGodknoweththatrightunwillinglyIcausedit,forshewasgoodasshewasfair,andmuchwasIbeholdentoher;butshelovedmebeyondmeasure,andaskedmethatIcouldnotgiveher