Король Артур та лицарі Круглого столу
Chapter III
ThenmarchinghotlywithhisarmiesontoBath,hecriedaloudtothem,“Sincethesedetestableimpiousheathensdisdaintokeeptheirfaithwithme,tokeepfaithwithGod,towhomIswaretocherishanddefendthisrealm,willnowthisdayavengeonthemthebloodofallthattheyhaveslaininBritain!”
Inlikemannerafterhimspokethearchbishop,standinguponahill,andcryingthatto-daytheyshouldfightbothfortheircountryandforParadise,“Forwhoso,”hesaid,“shallinthisholywarbeslain,theangelsshallforthwithreceivehim;fordeathinthiscauseshallbepenanceandabsolutionforallsins.”
Atthesewordseverymaninthewholearmyragedwithhatred,andpressedeagerlytorushuponthosesavages.
AnonKingArthur,dressedinarmourshiningwithgoldandjewels,andwearingonhisheadahelmetwithagoldendragon,tookashieldpaintedwiththelikenessoftheblessedMary.ThengirdingonExcaliburandtakinginhisrighthandhisgreatlanceRon,heplacedhismeninorderandledthemoutagainsttheenemy,whostoodforbattleontheslopeofBadonHill,rangedintheformofawedge,astheircustomwas.Andthey,resistingalltheonslaughtsofKingArthurandhishost,madethatdayastoutdefence,andatnightlaydownuponthehill.
ButonthenextdayArthurledhisarmyonceagaintotheattack,andwithwoundsandslaughtersuchasnomanhadeverseenbefore,hedrovetheheathenstepbystepbeforehim,backwardsandupwards,tillhestoodwithallhisnoblestknightsuponthesummitofthehill.
