Король Артур та лицарі Круглого столу
Chapter IX
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“Then,gentleknight,”saidthedamsel,“Ipraytheekissmeonce.”
“Nay,”saidSirLancelot,“thatGodforbid!”
“Alas!”criedshe,“Ihavelostallmylabour!buthadstthoukissedme,thylife’sdayshadbeenalldone!”
“Heavensavemefromthysubtlecrafts!”saidSirLancelot;andtherewithtookhishorseandgallopedforth.
Andwhenhewasdeparted,thedamselsorrowedgreatly,anddiedinfifteendays.HernamewasEllawes,thesorceress.
ThencameSirLancelottoSirMeliot’ssister,who,whenshesawhim,clappedherhandsandweptforjoy,andtookhimtothecastlehardby,whereSirMeliotwas.AndwhenSirLancelotsawSirMeliot,heknewhim,thoughhewaspaleasashesforlossofblood.AndSirMeliot,whenhesawSirLancelot,kneeledtohimandcriedaloud,“Olord,SirLancelot!helpme!”
Andthereupon,SirLancelotwenttohimandtouchedhiswoundswiththesword,andwipedthemwiththepieceofbloodycloth.Andimmediatelyhewasaswholeasthoughhehadbeenneverwounded.ThenwastheregreatjoybetweenhimandSirMeliot;andhissistermadeSirLancelotgoodcheer.Soonthemorrow,hetookhisleave,thathemightgotoKingArthur’scourt,“for,”saidhe,“itdrawethnighthefeastofPentecost,andthere,byGod’sgrace,shallyethenfindme.”
Andridingthroughmanystrangecountries,overmarshesandvalleys,hecameatlengthbeforeacastle.Ashepassedbyheheardtwolittlebellsringing,andlookingup,hesawafalconflyingoverhead,withbellstiedtoherfeet,andlongstringsdanglingfromthem.
