Король Артур та лицарі Круглого столу
Chapter XII
“Lord,”saidhe,“herebyattheriverisamarvellousgreatstone,whichImyselfsawswimdownhitherwardsuponthewater,andinitthereissetasword,andeverthestoneheavethandswayethonthewater,butfloatethdownnofurtherwiththestream.”
“Iwillgoandseeit,”saidtheking.Soalltheknightswentwithhim,andwhentheycametotheriver,theresurelyfoundtheyamightystoneofredmarblefloatingonthewater,asthesquirehadsaid,andthereinstuckafairandrichsword,onthepommelwhereofwerepreciousstoneswroughtskilfullywithgoldintothesewords:“NomanshalltakemehencebuthebywhosesideIshouldhang,andheshallbethebestknightintheworld.”
Whenthekingreadthis,heturnedroundtoSirLancelot,andsaid,“Fairsir,thisswordoughtsurelytobethine,forthouartthebestknightinalltheworld.”
ButLancelotansweredsoberly,“Certainly,sir,itisnotforme;norwillIhavethehardihoodtosetmyhanduponit.Forhethattouchethitandfailethtoachieveitshallonedaybewoundedbyitmortally.ButIdoubtnot,lord,thisdaywillshowthegreatestmarvelsthatweyethaveseen,fornowthetimeisfullycome,asMerlinhathforewarnedus,whenallthepropheciesabouttheSangrealshallbefulfilled.”
ThensteppedSirGawainforwardandpulledatthesword,butcouldnotmoveit,andafterhimSirPercival,tokeephimfellowshipinanyperilhemightsuffer.Butnootherknightdurstbesohardyastotry.
“Nowmayyegotoyourdinner,”saidSirKey,“foramarvellousadventureyehavehad.
