登陆注册
16242700000020

第20章 BOOK I(16)

RIGHT SO the king and he departed,and went unto an hermit that was a good man and a great leech.So the hermit searched all his wounds and gave him good salves;so the king was there three days,and then were his wounds well amended that he might ride and go,and so departed.And as they rode,Arthur said,I have no sword.No force,said Merlin,hereby is a sword that shall be yours,an I may.So they rode till they came to a lake,the which was a fair water and broad,and in the midst of the lake Arthur was ware of an arm clothed in white samite,that held a fair sword in that hand.Lo!said Merlin,yonder is that sword that I spake of.With that they saw a damosel going upon the lake.What damosel is that?said Arthur.That is the Lady of the Lake,said Merlin;and within that lake is a rock,and therein is as fair a place as any on earth,and richly beseen;and this damosel will come to you anon,and then speak ye fair to her that she will give you that sword.Anon withal came the damosel unto Arthur,and saluted him,and he her again.Damosel,said Arthur,what sword is that,that yonder the arm holdeth above the water?I would it were mine,for I have no sword.Sir Arthur,king,said the damosel,that sword is mine,and if ye will give me a gift when I ask it you,ye shall have it.By my faith,said Arthur,I will give you what gift ye will ask.Well!

said the damosel,go ye into yonder barge,and row yourself to the sword,and take it and the scabbard with you,and I will ask my gift when I see my time.So Sir Arthur and Merlin alighted and tied their horses to two trees,and so they went into the ship,and when they came to the sword that the hand held,Sir Arthur took it up by the handles,and took it with him,and the arm and the hand went under the water.And so [they]came unto the land and rode forth,and then Sir Arthur saw a rich pavilion.

What signifieth yonder pavilion?It is the knight's pavilion,said Merlin,that ye fought with last,Sir Pellinore;but he is out,he is not there.He hath ado with a knight of yours that hight Egglame,and they have foughten together,but at the last Egglame fled,and else he had been dead,and he hath chased him even to Carlion,and we shall meet with him anon in the highway.

That is well said,said Arthur,now have I a sword,now will Iwage battle with him,and be avenged on him.Sir,you shall not so,said Merlin,for the knight is weary of fighting and chasing,so that ye shall have no worship to have ado with him;also he will not be lightly matched of one knight living,and therefore it is my counsel,let him pass,for he shall do you good service in short time,and his sons after his days.Also ye shall see that day in short space,you shall be right glad to give him your sister to wed.When I see him,I will do as ye advise,said Arthur.

Then Sir Arthur looked on the sword,and liked it passing well.

Whether liketh you better,said Merlin,the sword or the scabbard?Me liketh better the sword,said Arthur.Ye are more unwise,said Merlin,for the scabbard is worth ten of the swords,for whiles ye have the scabbard upon you,ye shall never lose no blood,be ye never so sore wounded;therefore keep well the scabbard always with you.So they rode unto Carlion,and by the way they met with Sir Pellinore;but Merlin had done such a craft,that Pellinore saw not Arthur,and he passed by without any words.I marvel,said Arthur,that the knight would not speak.Sir,said Merlin,he saw you not,for an he had seen you,ye had not lightly departed.So they came unto Carlion,whereof his knights were passing glad.And when they heard of his adventures,they marvelled that he would jeopard his person so,alone.But all men of worship said it was merry to be under such a chieftain,that would put his person in adventure as other poor knights did.

CHAPTER XXVI

How tidings came to Arthur that King Rience had overcome eleven kings,and how he desired Arthur's beard to trim his mantle.

THIS meanwhile came a messenger from King Rience of North Wales,and king he was of all Ireland,and of many isles.And this was his message,greeting well King Arthur in this manner wise,saying that King Rience had discomfited and overcome eleven kings,and everych of them did him homage,and that was this,they gave him their beards clean flayed off,as much as there was;wherefore the messenger came for King Arthur's beard.For King Rience had purfled a mantle with kings'beards,and there lacked one place of the mantle;wherefore he sent for his beard,or else he would enter into his lands,and burn and slay,and never leave till he have the head and the beard.Well,said Arthur,thou hast said thy message,the which is the most villainous and lewdest message that ever man heard sent unto a king;also thou mayest see my beard is full young yet to make a purfle of it.But tell thou thy king this:I owe him none homage,nor none of mine elders;but or it be long to,he shall do me homage on both his knees,or else he shall lose his head,by the faith of my body,for this is the most shamefulest message that ever I heard speak of.I have espied thy king met never yet with worshipful man,but tell him,I will have his head without he do me homage.Then the messenger departed.

Now is there any here,said Arthur,that knoweth King Rience?

Then answered a knight that hight Naram,Sir,I know the king well;he is a passing good man of his body,as few be living,and a passing proud man,and Sir,doubt ye not he will make war on you with a mighty puissance.Well,said Arthur,I shall ordain for him in short time.

CHAPTER XXVII

How all the children were sent for that were born on May-day,and how Mordred was saved.

THEN King Arthur let send for all the children born on May-day,begotten of lords and born of ladies;for Merlin told King Arthur that he that should destroy him should be born on May-day,wherefore he sent for them all,upon pain of death;and so there were found many lords'sons,and all were sent unto the king,and so was Mordred sent by King Lot's wife,and all were put in a ship to the sea,and some were four weeks old,and some less.

And so by fortune the ship drave unto a castle,and was all to-riven,and destroyed the most part,save that Mordred was cast up,and a good man found him,and nourished him till he was fourteen year old,and then he brought him to the court,as it rehearseth afterward,toward the end of the Death of Arthur.So many lords and barons of this realm were displeased,for their children were so lost,and many put the wite on Merlin more than on Arthur;so what for dread and for love,they held their peace.

But when the messenger came to King Rience,then was he wood out of measure,and purveyed him for a great host,as it rehearseth after in the book of Balin le Savage,that followeth next after,how by adventure Balin gat the sword.

Explicit liber primus.Incipit liber secundus.

同类推荐
  • A New View of Society

    A New View of Society

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 商务外贸英语口语即学即用

    商务外贸英语口语即学即用

    本书取材于人们商务外贸英语生活的方方面面,范围广、实用性强,《商务外贸英语口语即学即用》共包括8个部分:商务交际、日常工作、市场营销、商务出行、对外贸易、商务谈判、电子商务和求职应聘。希望《商务外贸英语口语即学即用》对具有中低层次英语水平的读者提高英语口语水平有所帮助。
  • 雅思英语词汇词根词缀高效记忆:轻松背单词

    雅思英语词汇词根词缀高效记忆:轻松背单词

    书中所收录的单词都是从历届雅思考试题中提炼出来的。编者利用先进的电脑统计分析技术,对历年考试题中出现的单词进行系统的电脑分频,将历年考题中出现频率较高的单词甄选出来,标注为常考单词。考题中出现频率较低的,但是考试范围内的单词,标注为普通单词。极大地方便了考生有的放矢地去背单词。
  • 大学英语四级词汇新解

    大学英语四级词汇新解

    部分内容包括构词、词形变化等,能使同学们化整为零,举一反三,进而快速有效地记住单词。书中每个单词后面都列有该词最常用的中文释义。当释义多于一项时,用等加以区分,并配有同反义词,使同学们全面掌握与此单词相关的词汇。
  • 计算机英语

    计算机英语

    本书共九章,包括:计算机的发展及总体介绍,计算机硬件,计算机操作系统,数据库系统,软件工程,计算机网络和因特网,办公自动化系统,多媒体技术以及计算机安全。每个章节都配有正文的参考译文,帮助读者更加方便地学习和理解。每章的后面配有练习题并附参考答案,以利于对本单元内容进行巩固。课后的附录包含了单词表,词组表,计算机英语语法及科技英语写作要点,全方位地给读者提供丰富的相关知识。
热门推荐
  • 男儿本自重横行

    男儿本自重横行

    洪武年间,湖广边陲的一名少年捕快代人受过,进入安陆牢城服刑。在这里,伴随着苦痛年轻人不断成长,学会了一身本领,认清了生存的法则,坚定了内心的信念。靖难之役开始,因缘际会,年轻人统帅万马千军驰骋于疆场,建功立业、封侯一方……爱侣的离去,让他明白了人生最珍贵的是真爱与自由,从此不再执着,开始一段新生……
  • 神奇龙世

    神奇龙世

    卡奇是个孤儿是个龙子,在某些情况下遇见到了许许多多的朋友,是为了世界而开始了动人的冒险,一路上非常惊险,他们是为了世界而走遍天涯海角的少年。
  • 杀手命

    杀手命

    两大杀手组织,离奇的人物关系,神奇的杀手成长历程。
  • 荼蘼之曼珠沙华

    荼蘼之曼珠沙华

    0总金钻数:00目录继续阅读他,并非众人眼中那般的帝王。却是如何?她,并非众人眼中那般的皇后。又为如何?若是前生纠葛,若是今世痴缠。若是命中注定,若是天赐良缘。(书名仅为暂定,后续发展更为精彩,若水保证结局是重任意料之外。)
  • 腹黑小狂妃:绝色三小姐

    腹黑小狂妃:绝色三小姐

    一个传说中的废材三小姐碰上有着“鬼面”之称的五皇子又会擦出怎么的火花呢?传说鬼王自出生之后便吓死了自己的奶娘,传说鬼王府里从来都不会出现一名女性,传说鬼王性情恶劣,但是为毛和我看见的不一样呢?这个一直在“打滚卖萌”的真的是那个传说中的鬼王么?1v1暖文,男女主身心纯洁
  • 爆笑四人组:你何弃疗

    爆笑四人组:你何弃疗

    {北冥离殇,本文女主之一。性格:人格分裂。守护技能:控毒、幻影、召唤、读心、魔化。损友团(家族)排行:老大。招牌动作:扭肩、扭脖子、扭手、踢腿[打架]}{北冥沁翎,本文女主之一。性格:呆。守护技能:梦境、速度、嗜灵、预言、结界。损友团(家族)排行:老二。招牌动作:东摸西模,东翻西翻。[找东西]}{百里长空,本文男主之一。性格:爱装B。守护技能:预言、攻击、魔化、幻影、控毒。损友团(家族)排行:老三。招牌动作:撩皇头发、拉衣服。[装B]}{烈焰宇轩:本文男主之一。性格:傻。守护技能:嗜灵、读心、防护、召唤、隐形。损友团(家族)排行:老四。招牌动作:蹲墙角、捂脸。[痛哭]}作者很懒!见谅!
  • 寻仙之末世天界

    寻仙之末世天界

    我欲寻仙,但仙在何处……………………不想成仙的修真者,就不是个合格的修真者,早晚有一天,老子要遍寻这漫天神佛,踢她们的屁股,老子倒要问一问,混蛋们!你们都在搞些什么东东!!————问天
  • 点将燕云台

    点将燕云台

    亡国太子,翩翩美少年,江湖杀戮,朝堂斗智,何处是归途?长亭复短亭。
  • 最萌王妃养成记

    最萌王妃养成记

    睡一觉起来就搞穿越我就不说什么了!分分钟进入角色北轻墨你也是够了!把自己搞得像小乞儿我也就不说什么了!还设局火热强吻高冷洁癖王爷!!好了吧!王爷很生气后果很严重-----“北轻墨你给我做好做我老婆的准备吧!”
  • 让我感谢你,赠我空欢喜

    让我感谢你,赠我空欢喜

    如今,那些年那些人那些事,都随风而散了,而我终将明白:有些人是用来珍藏的,不是用来追寻的。感情的可贵并不是因为那些幸福时光,而是那颗盈满了感动和不舍的心。我们习惯在别人的青春里,寻找行将消失的温暖印记;习惯从他人的爱情里,追忆匆匆而过的美好岁月。《让我感谢你,赠我空欢喜》收录了20个爱情故事,“暖读”式疗愈风格,总有一帧场景,你似曾相识,总有一段文字,戳中你的泪点。