Король Артур та лицарі Круглого столу
Chapter IX
AndIprayyougreetthemallfromme,SirLancelotoftheLake,andtellthemthatIbidthemhelpthemselvestoanytreasurestheycanfindwithinthecastle;andthatIpraymybrethren,LionelandEctor,togotoKingArthur’scourtandstaytheretillIcome.AndbythehighfeastatPentecostImustbethere;butnowImustrideforthwiththisdamseltofulfilmypromise.”
So,astheywent,thedamseltoldhim,“Sir,wearenowneartheplacewherethefoulknighthaunteth,whorobbethanddistressethallladiesandgentlewomentravellingpastthisway,againstwhomIhavesoughtthyaid.”
Thentheyarrangedthatsheshouldrideonforemost,andSirLancelotshouldfollowundercoverofthetreesbytheroadside,andifhesawhercometoanymishap,heshouldrideforthanddealwithhimthattroubledher.Andasthedamselrodeonatasoftamblingpace,aknightandpageburstforthfromtheroadsideandforcedthedamselfromherhorse,tillshecriedoutforhelp.
ThencameSirLancelotrushingthroughthewoodasfastashemightfly,andallthebranchesofthetreescrackledandwavedaroundhim.“Othoufalseknightandtraitortoallknighthood!”shoutedhe,“whotaughttheetodistressfairladiesthus?”
Thefoulknightanswerednothing,butdrewouthisswordandrodeatSirLancelot,whothrewhisspearawayanddrewhisownswordlikewise,andstruckhimsuchamightyblowasclavehisheaddowntothethroat.“Nowhastthouthewagesthoulonghastearned!”saidhe;andsodepartedfromthedamsel.
