Король Артур та лицарі Круглого столу
Chapter X
Then,withtheirswords,theyfoughtfiercelyforthespaceofthreehours.Andatlast,SirBeaumainsovercamehisfoe,andsmotehimtotheground.ThentheRedKnightprayedhismercy,andsaid,“Slaymenot,nobleknight,andIwillyieldtotheewithsixtyknightsthatdomybidding.”“Allavailsnot,”answeredSirBeaumains,“savethisdamselpraymetoreleasethee.”Thendidhelifthisswordtoslayhim;butthedamselcriedaloud,“Slayhimnot,Beaumains,forheisanobleknight.”ThenSirBeaumainsbadehimriseupandthankthedamsel,whichstraightwayhedid,andafterwardsinvitedthemtohiscastle,andmadethemgoodlycheer.
ButnotwithstandingallSirBeaumains’mightydeeds,thedamselceasednottorevileandchidehim,atwhichtheRedKnightmarvelledmuch;andcausedhissixtyknightstowatchSirBeaumains,thatnovillainymighthappentohim.Andonthemorrow,theyheardmassandbroketheirfast,andtheRedKnightcamebeforeSirBeaumains,withhissixtyknights,andprofferedhimhomageandfealty.“Ithankthee,”answeredhe;“andwhenIcallupontheethoushaltcomebeforemylordKingArthurathiscourt,andyieldyourselvestohim.”“Thatwillwesurelydo,”saidtheRedKnight.SoSirBeaumainsandthedamseldeparted.
Andassheconstantlyreviledhimandtormentedhim,hesaidtoher,“Damsel,yearediscourteousthusalwaystorebukeme,forIhavedoneyouservice;andforallyourthreatsofknightsthatshalldestroyme,alltheywhocomelieinthedustbeforeme.
