Король Артур та лицарі Круглого столу
Chapter VIII
But,ontheotherhand,Iclaimbothtributeandsubmissionfromhimself,andalsoclaimthesovereigntyofallhisempire,wheretoIamentitledbytherightofmyownancestors—sometimekingsofthisland.AndsaytohimthatIwillshortlycometoRome,andbyGod’sgracewilltakepossessionofmyempireandsubdueallrebels.Wherefore,lastly,IcommandhimandallthelordsofRomethattheyforthwithpaymetheirhomage,underpainofmychastisementandwrath.”
Thenhecommandedhistreasurerstogivetheambassadorsgreatgifts,anddefrayalltheircharges,andappointedSirCadortoconveythemworshipfullyoutoftheland.
SowhentheyreturnedtoRomeandcamebeforeLucius,hewassoreangryattheirwords,andsaid,“IthoughtthisArthurwouldhaveinstantlyobeyedmyordersandhaveservedmeashumblyasanyotherking;butbecauseofhisfortuneinGaul,hehathgrowninsolent.”
“Ah,lord,”saidoneoftheambassadors,“refrainfromsuchvainwords,fortrulyIandallwithmewerefearfulathisroyalmajestyandangrycountenance.Ifearmethouhastmadearodfortheemoresharpthanthouhastcountedon.Hemeanethtobemasterofthisempire;andisanotherkindofmanthanthousupposest,andholdeththemostnoblecourtofalltheworld.Wesawhimonthenewyear’sday,servedathistablebyninekings,andthenoblestcompanyofotherprinces,lords,andknightsthateverwasinalltheworld;andinhispersonheisthemostmanly-seemingmanthatliveth,andlookethliketoconqueralltheearth.
