Король Артур и рыцари Круглого стола
Chapter III
Andashesattherealone,hethoughtheheardthenoiseofhounds,asitweresomethirtycoupleinnumber,andlookinguphesawcomingtowardshimthestrangestbeastthateverhehadseenorheardtellof,whichrantowardsthefountainanddrankofthewater.Itsheadwaslikeaserpent’s,withaleopard’sbodyandalion’stail,anditwasfootedlikeastag;andthenoisewasinitsbelly,asitwerethebayingorquestingofthirtycoupleofhounds.Whileitdranktherewasnonoisewithinit;butpresently,havingfinished,itdepartedwithagreatersoundthanever.
Thekingwasamazedatallthis;butbeinggreatlywearied,hefellasleep,andwasbeforelongwakedupbyaknightonfoot,whosaid,“Knight,fullofthoughtandsleepy,tellmeifthousawestastrangebeastpassthisway?”
“SuchaoneIsaw,”saidKingArthurtotheknight,“butthatisnowtwomilesdistantattheleast.Whatwouldyouwiththatbeast?”
“Sir,”saidtheknight,“Ihavefolloweditforalongtime,andhavekilledmyhorse,andwouldtoheavenIhadanothertopursuemyquestwithal.”
Atthatmomentcameayeomanwithanotherhorsefortheking,which,whentheknightsaw,heearnestlyprayedtobegivenhim.“ForIhavefollowedthisquest,”saidhe,“twelvemonths,andeitherIshallachievehimorbleedofthebestbloodofmybody.”
ItwasKingPellinorewhoatthattimefollowedthequestingbeast,butneitherhenorKingArthurkneweachother.
“SirKnight,”saidKingArthur,“leavethatquestandsuffermetohaveit,andIwillfollowitothertwelvemonths.
