Король Артур и рыцари Круглого стола
Chapter XIV
WhereatSirLancelotsorrowfullycalledhisknightstogetherandfortifiedtheCastleofBenwicke,andtherewasshortlybesiegedbythearmyofKingArthur.
AndeverydaySirGawainrodeuptothewalls,andcriedoutfoullyonSirLancelot,till,uponatime,SirLancelotansweredhimthathewouldmeethiminthefieldandputhisboastingtotheproof.Soitwasagreedonbothsidesthatthereshouldnonecomenighthemorseparatethemtillonehadfallenoryielded;andtheytworodeforth.
Thendidtheywheeltheirhorsesapart,andturning,cametogetherasithadbeenthunder,sothatbothhorsesfell,andboththeirlancesbroke.Atthattheydrewtheirswordsandsetuponeachotherfiercely,withpassinggrievousstrokes.
NowSirGawainhadthroughmagicamarvellousgreatgift.Foreveryday,frommorningtillnoon,hisstrengthwaxedtothemightofsevenmen,butafterthatwanedtohisnaturalforce.ThereforetillnoonhegaveSirLancelotmanymightybuffets,whichscarcelyheendured.YetgreatlyheforboreSirGawain,forhewasawareofhisenchantment,andsmotehimslightlytillhisownknightsmarvelled.ButafternoonSirGawain’sstrengthsankfast,andthen,withonefullblow,SirLancelotlaidhimontheearth.ThenSirGawaincriedout,“Turnnotaway,thoutraitorknight,butslaymeifthouwilt,orelseIwillariseandfightwiththeeagainsomeothertime.”
“Sirknight,”repliedSirLancelot,“Ineveryetsmoteafallenman.
