Король Артур та лицарі Круглого столу

           “WhereisSirLancelot?”saidKingArthur,“forhewouldnotgrudgetodobattleforthee.”

           “Sir,”saidshe,“Icannottellyou,butallhiskinsmendeemheisnotinthisrealm.”

           “Thesebesadtidings,”saidtheking;“IcounselyetofindSirBors,andprayhimforSirLancelot’ssaketodothisbattleforyou.”

           SothequeendepartedandsentforSirBorstoherchamber,andbesoughthissuccour.

           “Madam,”saidhe,“whatwouldyouhavemedo?forImaynotwithmyhonourtakethismatteronme,forIwasatthatsamedinner,andalltheotherknightswouldhavemeeverinsuspicion.NowdoyemissSirLancelot,forhewouldnothavefailedyouinrightnoryetinwrong,asyehaveoftenproved,butnowyehavedrivenhimfromthecountry.”

           “Alas!fairknight,”saidthequeen,“Iputmewhollyatyourmercy,andallthatisdoneamissIwillamendasyewillcounselme.”

           AndtherewithshekneeleddownuponbothherkneesbeforeSirBors,andbesoughthimtohavemercyonher.

           AnoncameinKingArthuralso,andprayedhimofhiscourtesytohelpher,saying,“IrequireyoufortheloveofLancelot.”

           “Mylord,”saidhe,“yerequirethegreatestthingofmethatanymancanask,forifIdothisbattleforthequeenIshallangerallmyfellowsoftheTableRound;nevertheless,formylordSirLancelot’ssake,andforyours,Iwillthatdaybethequeen’schampion,unlesstherechancetocomeabetterknightthanIamtodobattleforher.”Andthishepromisedonhisfaith.

           Thenwerethekingandqueenpassingglad,andthankedhimheartily,andsodeparted.