Король Артур и рыцари Круглого стола
Chapter V
”
ThenasSirBalinandSirBalanrodeaway,Merlinmetwiththem,andsaidtoBalin,“Thouhastdonethyselfgreatharmnottohavesavedthatlady’slifewhoslewherself;andbecauseofit,thoushaltstrikethemostDolorousStrokethatevermanstruck,savehethatsmoteourLord.Forthoushaltsmitethetruestandmostworshipfuloflivingknights,whoshallnotberecoveredfromhiswoundsformanyyears,andthroughthatstrokethreekingdomsshallbeoverwhelmedinpovertyandmisery.”
“IfIbelieved,”saidBalin,“whatthousayest,Iwouldslaymyselftomaketheealiar.”
AtthatMerlinvanishedsuddenlyaway;butafterwardshemetthemindisguisetowardsnight,andtoldthemhecouldleadthemtoKingRyence,whomtheysought.“Forthisnightheistoridewithsixtylancesonlythroughawoodhardby.”
SoSirBalinandSirBalanhidthemselveswithinthewood,andatmidnightcameoutfromtheirambushamongtheleavesbythehighway,andwaitedfortheking,whompresentlytheyheardapproachingwithhiscompany.Thendidtheysuddenlyleapforthandsmoteathimandoverthrewhimandlaidhimontheground,andturningonhiscompanywoundedandslewfortyofthem,andputtheresttoflight.AndreturningtoKingRyencetheywouldhaveslainhimthere,buthecravedmercy,andyieldedtotheirgrace,crying,“Knightsfullofprowess,slaymenot;forbymylifeyemaywinsomething—butmydeathcanavailyenought.
