Король Артур та лицарі Круглого столу

           Butthey,whentheyheardthatUtherwascominginalitter,disdainedtofightwithhim,sayingitwouldbeshameforbravementofightwithonehalfdead.Sotheyretiredintotheircity;and,asitwereinscornofdanger,leftthegateswideopen.ButUtherstraightwaycommandinghismentoassaultthetown,theydidsowithoutlossoftime,andhadalreadyreachedthegates,whentheSaxons,repentingtoolateoftheirhaughtypride,rushedforthtothedefence.Thebattleragedtillnight,andwasbegunagainnextday;butatlast,theirleaders,OctaandEosa,beingslain,theSaxonsturnedtheirbacksandfled,leavingtheBritonsafulltriumph.

           Thekingatthisfeltsogreatjoy,that,whereasbeforehecouldscarceraisehimselfwithouthelp,henowsatuprightinhislitterbyhimself,andsaid,withalaughingandmerryface,“Theycalledmethehalf-deadking,andsoindeedIwas;butvictorytomehalfdeadisbetterthandefeatandthebesthealth.Fortodiewithhonourisfarbetterthantolivedisgraced.”

           ButtheSaxons,althoughthusdefeated,werereadystillforwar.Utherwouldhavepursuedthem;buthisillnesshadbynowsogrown,thathisknightsandbaronskepthimfromtheadventure.Whereattheenemytookcourage,andleftnothingundonetodestroytheland;until,descendingtothevilesttreachery,theyresolvedtokillthekingbypoison