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Chapter III
Thenwouldhehaveslainhimfordreadofhiswrath,butMerlincastaspellupontheknight,sothathefellsuddenlytotheearthinadeepsleep.Thenraisinguptheking,hetooktheknight’shorseforhimselfandrodeaway.
“Alas,”saidKingArthur,“whathastthoudone,Merlin?hastthouslainthisgoodknightbythycrafts?Thereneverlivedabetterknight;Ihadratherlosemykingdomforayearthanhavehimdead.”
“Benotafraid,”saidMerlin;“heismorewholeandsoundthanthouart,andisbutinasleep,wherefrominthreehours’timehewillawake.Itoldtheewhataknighthewas,andhownearthouwasttodeath.Therelivethnotabetterknightthanheinalltheworld,andhereafterheshalldotheegoodservice.HisnameisKingPellinore,andheshallhavetwosons,whoshallbepassingvaliantmen,and,saveoneanother,shallhavenoequalinprowessandinpurityoflife.TheoneshallbenamedPercival,andtheotherLamorackeofWales.”
SotheyrodeontoCaerleon,andalltheknightsgrievedgreatlywhentheyheardofthisadventure,thatthekingwouldjeopardisehispersonthusalone.Yetcouldtheynothidetheirjoyatservingundersuchanoblechief,whoadventuredhisownlifeasmuchasdidthepoorestknightamongthemall.
