Король Артур та лицарі Круглого столу
Chapter XII
Thenapriestofferedmass,andpresentlytheysawthehartchangeintothefigureofaman,mostsweetandcomelytobehold;andthefourlionsalsochangedandbecameaman,aneagle,alion,andanox.Andsuddenlyallthosefivefiguresvanishedwithoutsound.Thentheknightsmarvelledgreatly,andfellupontheirknees,andwhentheyrosetheyprayedthepriesttotellthemwhatthatsightmightmean.
“Whatsawye,sirs?”saidhe,“forIsawnothing.”Thentheytoldhim.
“Ah,lords!”saidhe,“yearefullwelcome;nowknowIwellyebetheknightswhoshallachievetheSangreal,foruntothemalonesuchmysteriesarerevealed.ThehartyesawisOneaboveallmen,whiteandwithoutblemish,andthefourlionswithHimarethefourevangelists.”
Whentheyheardthattheyheartilyrejoiced,andthankingthepriest,departed.
Anon,astheypassedbyacertaincastle,anarmedknightsuddenlycameafterthem,andcriedouttothedamsel,“Bytheholycross,yeshallnotgotillyehaveyieldedtothecustomofthecastle.”
“Lethergo,”saidSirPercival,“foramaiden,wheresoevershecometh,isfree.”
“Whatevermaidenpassethhere,”repliedtheknight,“mustgiveadishfulofherbloodfromherrightarm.”
“Itisafoulandshamefulcustom,”criedSirGalahadandbothhisfellows,“andsoonerwillwediethanletthismaidenyieldthereto.”
“Thenshallyedie,”repliedtheknight,andashespaketherecameoutfromagatehardby,tenortwelvemore,andencounteredwiththem,runninguponthemvehementlywithagreatcry.
