Король Артур та лицарі Круглого столу
Chapter XIV
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Thensaidhisbrothers,“Yemaycommandustobethere,butsinceitisagainstourwill,wewillbewithoutarms,thatwemaydonobattleagainsther.”
SoonthemorrowwasQueenGuinevereledforthtodiebyfire,andamightycrowdwasthere,ofknightsandnobles,armedandunarmed.Andallthelordsandladiesweptsoreatthatpiteoussight.Thenwassheshrivenbyapriest,andthemencamenightobindhertothestakeandlightthefire.
AtthatSirLancelot’sspiesrodehastilyandtoldhimandhiskindred,wholayhiddeninawoodhardby;andsuddenly,withtwentyknights,herushedintothemidstofallthethrongtorescueher.
ButcertainofKingArthur’sknightsroseupandfoughtwiththem,andtherewasafullgreatbattleandconfusion.AndSirLancelotdravefiercelyhereandthereamongthepress,andsmoteoneveryside,andateveryblowstruckdownaknight,sothatmanywereslainbyhimandhisfellows.
Thenwasthequeensetfree,andcaughtuponSirLancelot’ssaddleandfledawaywithhimandallhiscompanytotheCastleofLaJoyousGarde.
Nowsoitchancedthat,intheturmoilofthefighting,SirLancelothadunawaresstruckdownandslainthetwogoodknightsSirGarethandSirGaheris,knowingitnot,forhefoughtwildly,andsawnotthattheywereunarmed.
WhenKingArthurheardthereof,andofallthatbattle,andtherescueofthequeen,hesorrowedheavilyforthosegoodknights,andwaspassingwrothwithLancelotandthequeen.
