Король Артур та лицарі Круглого столу

           WhereatSirLancelotsorrowfullycalledhisknightstogetherandfortifiedtheCastleofBenwicke,andtherewasshortlybesiegedbythearmyofKingArthur.

           AndeverydaySirGawainrodeuptothewalls,andcriedoutfoullyonSirLancelot,till,uponatime,SirLancelotansweredhimthathewouldmeethiminthefieldandputhisboastingtotheproof.Soitwasagreedonbothsidesthatthereshouldnonecomenighthemorseparatethemtillonehadfallenoryielded;andtheytworodeforth.

           Thendidtheywheeltheirhorsesapart,andturning,cametogetherasithadbeenthunder,sothatbothhorsesfell,andboththeirlancesbroke.Atthattheydrewtheirswordsandsetuponeachotherfiercely,withpassinggrievousstrokes.

           NowSirGawainhadthroughmagicamarvellousgreatgift.Foreveryday,frommorningtillnoon,hisstrengthwaxedtothemightofsevenmen,butafterthatwanedtohisnaturalforce.ThereforetillnoonhegaveSirLancelotmanymightybuffets,whichscarcelyheendured.YetgreatlyheforboreSirGawain,forhewasawareofhisenchantment,andsmotehimslightlytillhisownknightsmarvelled.ButafternoonSirGawain’sstrengthsankfast,andthen,withonefullblow,SirLancelotlaidhimontheearth.ThenSirGawaincriedout,“Turnnotaway,thoutraitorknight,butslaymeifthouwilt,orelseIwillariseandfightwiththeeagainsomeothertime.”

           “Sirknight,”repliedSirLancelot,“Ineveryetsmoteafallenman.