Король Артур и рыцари Круглого стола
Chapter III
“Sirknight,”saidKingArthur,“forwhatcauseabidestthouhere?tojoustwithanyknightthatpassethby?Ifso,Icautiontheetoquitthatcustom.”
“Thatcustom,”saidtheknight,“haveIfollowedandwillfollow,letwhosoeverwillsaynay,andifanyisaggrievedatit,lethimwhowillamendit.”
“Iwillamendit,”saidKingArthur.
“AndIwilldefendit,”answeredtheknight.
Thentheknightmountedhishorseandmadehimselfready,andchargingateachothertheymetsohardthatboththeirlancessplinteredintopieces.ThenKingArthurdrewhissword,buttheknightcriedout,“Notso;butletusrunanothertilttogetherwithsharpspears.”
“Iwouldwithagoodwill,”saidKingArthur;“butIhavenomorespears.”
“Ihaveenoughofspears,”repliedtheknight,andcalledasquire,whobroughttwogoodnewlances.
Thenspurringtheirhorses,theyrushedtogetherwithalltheirmight,andbrokeeachonehisownspearshortoffinhishand.Thenthekingagainputhishandtohissword,buttheknightoncemorecriedout,“Nay,yetabideawhile;yearethebestjousterthatIevermetwith;fortheloveofknighthood,letusjoustyetonceagain.”
Soonceagaintheytiltedwiththeirfullestforce,andthistimeKingArthur’sspearwasshivered,buttheknight’sheldwhole,anddrovesofuriouslyagainstthekingthatbothhishorseandhewerehurledtotheground.
Atthat,KingArthurwasenragedanddrewhisswordandsaid,“Iwillattacktheenow,Sirknight,onfoot,foronhorsebackIhavelostthehonour.”
“Iwillbeonhorseback,”saidtheknight.
