Король Артур та лицарі Круглого столу

           NowSirGalahadwentforthwithoutashield,androdesofourdayswithoutadventure;andonthefourthday,afterevensong,hecametoanabbeyofwhitemonks,wherehewasreceivedinthehouse,andledintoachamber.Andtherehewasunarmed,andmettwoknightsoftheRoundTable,KingBagdemagus,andSirUwaine.

           “Sirs,”saidSirGalahad,“whatadventurehathbroughtyehere?”

           “Withinthisplace,aswearetold,”theyanswered,“thereisashieldnomanmaybeararoundhisneckwithoutreceivingsoremischance,ordeathwithinthreedays.”

           “To-morrow,”saidKingBagdemagus,“Ishallattempttheadventure;andifIfail,dothou,SirGalahad,takeitupafterme.”

           “Iwillwillingly,”saidhe;“forasyeseeIhavenoshieldasyet.”

           Soonthemorrowtheyaroseandheardmass,andafterwardsKingBagdemagusaskedwheretheshieldwaskept.Thenamonkledhimbehindthealtar,wheretheshieldhung,aswhiteasanysnow,andwithablood-redcrossinthemidstofit.

           “Sir,”saidthemonk,“thisshieldshouldhangfromnoknight’sneckunlesshebetheworthiestintheworld.Iwarnye,therefore,knights;considerwellbeforeyedaretotouchit.”

           “Well,”saidKingBagdemagus,“IknowwellthatIamfarfromthebestknightinalltheworld,yetshallImakethetrial;”andsohetooktheshield,andboreitfromthemonastery.

           “Ifitpleasethee,”saidhetoSirGalahad,“abideheretillthouhearesthowIspeed.”

           “Iwillabidethee,”saidhe.