Король Артур та лицарі Круглого столу

           HisnamewasGalahad,andthoughheknewhimnot,norLancelothim,SirLancelotwashisfather.

           “Sir,”saidthenuns,“webringtheeherethischildwhomwehavenourishedfromhisyouth,andpraytheetomakehimaknight,forfromnoworthierhandcanhereceivethatorder.”

           ThenSirLancelot,lookingontheyouth,sawthathewasseemlyanddemureasadove,witheveryfeaturegoodandnoble,andthoughtheneverhadbeheldabetterfashionedmanofhisyears.“Comeththisdesirefromhimself?”saidhe.

           “Yea,”answeredGalahadandallthenuns.

           “To-morrow,then,inreverenceforthefeast,heshallhavehiswish,”saidSirLancelot.

           Andthenextdayatthehourofprime,heknightedhim,andsaid,“GodmakeoftheeasgoodamanasHehathmadetheebeautiful.”

           ThenwithSirLionelandSirBorshereturnedtothecourt,andfoundallgonetotheminstertohearservice.Whentheycameintothebanquet-halleachknightandbaronfoundhisnamewritteninsomeseatinlettersofgold,as“hereoughttositSirLionel,”“hereoughttositSirGawain,”—andsoforth.AndinthePerilousSeat,atthehighcentreofthetable,anamewasalsowritten,whereattheymarvelledgreatly,fornolivingmanhadeveryetdaredsituponthatseat,saveone,andhimaflameleapedforthanddrewdownunderearth,sothathewasnomoreseen.

           ThencameSirLancelotandreadthelettersinthatseat,andsaid,“Mycounselisthatthisinscriptionbenowcoveredupuntiltheknightbecomewhoshallachievethisgreatadventure.”Sotheymadeaveilofsilkandputitovertheletters.