Король Артур та лицарі Круглого столу
Chapter IX
Butsoonthereaftercameoneridingingreathaste,andknockingvehementlyatthegatebelow,whichwhenSirLancelotheard,heroseandlookedoutofthewindow,and,bythemoonlight,sawthreeknightscomeridingfiercelyafteroneman,andlashingonhimallatoncewiththeirswords,whiletheoneknightnoblyfoughtall.
ThenSirLancelotquicklyarmedhimself,andgettingthroughthewindow,lethimselfdownbyasheetintothemidstofthem,cryingout,“Turnyeonme,yecowards,andleavefightingwiththatknight!”ThentheyallleftSirKey,forthefirstknightwashe,andbegantofalluponSirLancelotfuriously.AndwhenSirKeywouldhavecomeforwardtoassisthim,SirLancelotrefused,andcried,“Leavemealonetodealwiththem.”Andpresently,withsixgreatstrokes,hefelledthemall.
Thentheycriedout,“Sirknight,weyieldusuntothee,astoamanofmight!”
“Iwillnottakeyouryielding!”saidhe;“yieldyetoSirKey,theseneschal,orIwillhaveyourlives.”
“Fairknight,”saidthey,“excuseusinthatthing,forwehavechasedSirKeythusfar,andshouldhaveovercomehimbutforthee.”
“Well,”saidSirLancelot,“doasyewill,foryemayliveordie;but,ifyelive,yeshallbeholdentoSirKey.”
Thentheyyieldedtohim;andSirLancelotcommandedthemtogountoKingArthur’scourtatthenextPentecost,andsay,SirKeyhadsentthemprisonerstoQueenGuinevere.Andthistheyswaretodoupontheirswords.
ThenSirLancelotknockedatthegatewithhissword-hilttillhishostesscameandlethiminagain,andSirKeyalso.
