Король Артур та лицарі Круглого столу
Chapter XIII
”
“Sinceyeknowme,fairsir,”saidhe,“Iprayye,forChrist’ssake,tohelpmeifyemay.”
“Doubtnot,”repliedhe,“thatyeshallliveandfarerightwell.”
Thenhestaunchedhiswound,andgavehimstrongmedicinesandcordialstillhewasrefreshedfromhisfaintnessandcametohimselfagain.
NowafterthejoustingwasdoneKingArthurheldafeast,andaskedtoseetheknightwiththeredsleevethathemighttaketheprize.Sotheytoldhimhowthatknighthadriddenfromthefieldwoundednightodeath.“ThesebetheworsttidingsIhaveheardformanyyears,”criedouttheking;“Iwouldnotformykingdomhewereslain.”
Thenallmenasked,“Knowyehim,lord?”
“Imaynottellyeatthistime,”saidhe;“butwouldtoGodwehadgoodtidingsofhim.”
ThenSirGawainprayedleavetogoandseekthatknight,whichthekinggladlygavehim.SoforthwithhemountedandrodemanyleaguesroundCamelot,butcouldhearnotidings.
WithintwodaysthereafterKingArthurandhisknightsreturnedfromCamelot,andSirGawainchancedtolodgeatAstolat,inthehouseofSirBernard.AndtherecameinthefairElainetohim,andprayedhimnewsofthetournament,andwhowontheprize.“Aknightwithawhiteshield,”saidhe,“whobarearedsleeveinhishelm,smotedownallcomersandwontheday.”
AtthatthevisageofElainechangedsuddenlyfromwhitetored,andheartilyshethankedourLady.
ThensaidSirGawain,“Knowyethatknight?”andurgedhertillshetoldhimthatitwashersleevehewore.
