Король Артур та лицарі Круглого столу
Chapter XII
Whenheawokehesawawomanstandingbyhim,whosaidtohimrightfiercely,“SirPercival,whatdoestthouhere?”
“Idoneithergoodnorevil,”saidhe.
“Ifthouwiltpromiseme,”saidshe,“todomywillwheneverIshallaskthee,Iwillbringtheehereahorsethatwillbeartheewheresoeverthoudesirest.”
Atthathewasfullglad,andpromisedassheasked.Thenanonshecameagain,withagreatblacksteed,strongandwellapparelled.SoSirPercivalmounted,androdethroughtheclearmoonlight,andwithinlessthananhourhadgoneafourdays’journey,tillhecametoaroughwaterthatroared;andhishorsewouldhavebornehimintoit,butSirPercivalwouldnotsufferhim,yetcouldhescarcerestrainhim.Andseeingthewatersofurious,hemadethesignofthecrossuponhisforehead,whereatthehorsesuddenlyshookhimoff,andwithaterriblesoundleapedintothewateranddisappeared,thewavesallburningupinflamesaroundhim.ThenSirPercivalknewitwasafiendwhichhadbroughthimthehorse;sohecommendedhimselftoGod,andprayedthathemightescapetemptations,andcontinuedinprayertillitwasday.
Thenhesawthathewasonawildmountain,nighsurroundedonallsidesbythesea,andfilledwithwildbeasts;andgoingonintoavalley,hesawaserpentcarryingayounglionbytheneck.Withthatcameanotherlion,cryingandroaringaftertheserpent,andanonovertookhim,andbegantobattlewithhim.AndSirPercivalhelpedthelion,anddrewhissword,andgavetheserpentsuchastrokethatitfelldead.
