Король Артур та лицарі Круглого столу
Chapter VI
ThenrosethekingandspaketoalltheTableRound,andchargedthemtobeevertrueandnobleknights,todoneitheroutragenormurder,noranyunjustviolence,andalwaystofleetreason;alsobynomeansevertobecruel,butgivemercyuntohimthataskedformercy,uponpainofforfeitingthelibertyofhiscourtforevermore.Moreover,atalltimes,onpainofdeath,togiveallsuccouruntoladiesandyoungdamsels;andlastly,nevertotakepartinanywrongfulquarrel,forrewardorpayment.Andtoallthishesworethemknightbyknight.
Thenheordainedthat,everyyearatPentecost,theyshouldallcomebeforehim,wheresoeverhemightappointaplace,andgiveaccountofalltheirdoingsandadventuresofthepasttwelvemonth.Andso,withprayerandblessing,andhighwordsofcheer,heinstitutedthemostnobleorderoftheRoundTable,wheretothebestandbravestknightsinalltheworldsoughtafterwardstofindadmission.
Thenwasthehighfeastmadeready,andthekingandqueensatsidebyside,beforethewholeassembly;andgreatandroyalwasthebanquetandthepomp.
Andastheysat,eachmaninhisplace,Merlinwentroundandsaid,“Sitstillawhile,foryeshallseeastrangeandmarvellousadventure.”
Soastheysat,theresuddenlycamerunningthroughthehall,awhitehart,withawhitehoundnextafterhim,andthirtycoupleofblackrunninghounds,makingfullcry;andthehartmadecircuitoftheTableRound,andpasttheothertables;andsuddenlythewhitehoundflewuponhimandbithimfiercely,andtoreoutapiecefromhishaunch.
