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One time Arthur heard that not two nights away from Carlion, a knight blocked a road through the forest. Anybody who wanted to pass had to joust with that knight. So Arthur went to put an end to it. Early in the morning he set off from Carlion to that place.
He rode a soft pace until it was day, and then he saw three bandits chasing Merlin. The king rode unto them, and yelled “Flee, bandits!” They were afraid to see a knight, so they fled. “O Merlin,” said Arthur, “had I not come to the rescue, they would have killed you, and your magic crafts would not help you.”
“No,” said Merlin, “I could save myself if I wished to, and you are closer to your end than I am to mine. You are going to your death, and God is not with you on that path.”
They went on talking like that, until they came to the fountain, and to the rich pavilion near it. King Arthur saw an armed knight sitting in a chair. “Sir knight,” said Arthur, “for what cause are you sitting there, so that no one can pass without jousting with you?
I demand that you stop doing that.” “This is a custom I’ve had for a long time, and I live by it,” the knight replied. “And if someone doesn’t like my custom, he should teach me a new one.” “I intend to do that,” said Arthur. The knight mounted his horse and took his shield and spear. They rode unto each other and met so hard, that both their spears were broken into small pieces. Arthur took out his sword and prepared to use it.
“No,” said the knight, “Let us fight on spears again.”
“I would like it,” said Arthur, “but I don’t have any spears.”
“I do,” said the knight. So there came a squire and brought them two good spears. Arthur chose one of them, and the knight took the other one. So they spurred their horses, and again, they met so hard that their spears broke to the hilts. Once more Arthur set hand on his sword. “No,” said the knight, “You are the best jouster I’ve met, so I want to joust with you once more, for the love of the high order of knighthood.” Again, a squire brought two good spears, the knights rode unto each other. This time, the knight stroke Arthur so hard in his shield, so that the man and the horse fell to the ground. Arthur stood up and pulled out his sword, and said, “Now I will attack you on foot with my sword, because I have lost my horse.”
“Very good,” said the knight, “I will stay mounted and fight you.”
Arthur was very angry to hear that. He took his shield and started towards the knight, with his sword drawn. When the knight saw that Arthur indeed wanted to fight him on foot, he decided that there will be no honor in having such an advantage. So he dismounted, took his shield and sword, and went to fight Arthur on foot. And there began a strong battle with many great strokes, and soon both their armours and shields were damaged heavily, and the field was covered in their blood. The knights took a short rest, for they were tired, and then continued the fight. Again they fought hard. At last, their swords met together in a hard stroke. But the sword of the knight broke Arthur’s sword in two pieces.
“So,” said the knight, “You have nothing to fight with, and your life is in my hands now. If you want to live, yield now.”
“I will not yield,” said Arhur, “I would rather die than to know such shame.” And he leapt unto the knight, took him by the middle, threw him down, and tried to take off his helm. But the knight turned over, brought Arthur under him, took off his helm and prepared to cut off Arthur’s head.
At this instant Merlin came to the knight and said, “Knight, hold your hand. If you slay that knight, you will put this realm to the greatest damage that it has ever seen, because this knight is much more important than you think.” “Why, who is he?” said the knight. “This is king Arthur,” said Merlin. Now the knight wanted to kill Arthur even more, because he was afraid of his revenge. But Merlin put a spell on the knight so that he went asleep. “Alas!” said Arthur “What have you done, Merlin? Have you slain this good knight with your magic? There lived no greater knight than he was, I would give away all my land for a year so that he were alive.”
“Don’t worry,” said Merlin, “I have only put him to sleep, and he will awake within three hours. I told you what a knight he was, you would be dead if not for me. There is no greater knight than him, and he will do you good service. His name is Sir Pellinore, and he will have two sons that will do many great deeds. Their names will be Percivale of Wales and Lamerake of Wales, and he will tell you the name of your son from your sister, that will be the destruction of all this realm.”
After the fight Merlin took Arthur to a hermit to rest and heal. For three days Arthur and Merlin stayed at the hermit’s shack, until Arthur was healed and could travel again. As they set off, Arthur said: “I have no sword”. “Do not worry,” Merlin replied, “I know a good sword nearby, let’s see if I can get it for you”. So they rode through the forest, until they came to a broad lake with fair water. In the middle of the lake Arthur saw an arm dressed in white silk, holding a beautiful sword in a scabbard. “This is the sword of which I spoke,” said Merlin. “It is named Excalibur.” Then they saw a woman in white garment. “Who is that?” Arthur asked. “That is the lady of the Lake,” said Merlin, “when she comes to you, speak fair to her, and she will give you that sword.” The lady came to Arthur, and saluted him.
“Fair lady,” said Arthur, “What sword is that the arm is holding above the water? I would like to have it, for I have lost my sword.”
“Sir Arthur, king,” said the lady, “that sword is mine. I can give it to you, if you promise to do something for me when I ask it of you later.”
“I swear by my faith,” said Arthur, “I will give you whatever you will ask.”
“Well,” said the lady, “go into this boat, and row to the sword, and take it and the scabbard with you, and I will ask my favor when the time comes.” So Sir Arthur and Merlin dismounted, tied their horses to two trees, and went into the boat. When they came to the sword that the hand held, Sir Arthur took it by the handles, and took it with him, and the arm and the hand went under the water. An so they returned to the land and rode on, and then Sir Arthur saw a rich pavilion.
“What does this mean?” Arthur asked.
“It is the pavilion of the knight that you fought with last, Sir Pellinore,” Merlin replied, “but he is out, he is not there. He fought with a knight of yours, Egglame, and then Egglame ran away, and Pellinore chased him even to Carlion. He is returning now, and we shall meet with him on the road.”
“That is well said,” said Arthur, “now I have a sword, and I will fight with him again, and be avenged on him.”
“Sir, do not do so,” said Merlin, “for the knight is tired after fighting and chasing. There will be no honor in defeating him. I advise you to let him pass, for he will do you good service soon, and his sons will do you good service after his days. You will soon see that you will be so glad of him that you will give him your sister to marry.”
“When I see him, I will do as you advise,” said Arthur.
Then Sir Arthur examined his sword and found it very much to his liking. “What do you like more,” Merlin asked, “the sword or the scabbard?”
“I like the sword much more,” said Arthur.
“You are unwise,” Merlin replied.
“For the scabbard is worth ten of the swords. While you have it on you, you will never lose blood, and you will never be wounded seriously. Keep the scabbard always with you.” So they rode to Carlion, and on their way they met with Sir Pellinore. But Merlin used his magic so that Pellinore didn’t see Arthur, and he passed by without any words.
“I wonder why the knight did not speak to me,” said Arthur.
“Sir,” said Merlin, “He did not see you, because had he seen you, you had to fight him.”
So they came to Carlion, where Arthur’s knights were glad he returned. He told them about his adventures, and they were happy because he would risk his person by going alone. The knights were merry to be under such a king, who would put his life in adventure, as other poor knights did.
I. Выберите верный вариант:
a)
1. King Arthur fought Sir Pellinore, defeated him and beheaded him.
2. King Arthur fought Sir Pellinore, and was defeated and beheaded by him.
3. King Arthur fought Sir Pellinore, was defeated, and then was saved by Merlin.
4. King Arthur fought Merlin, was defeated, and then was saved by Sir Pellinore.
b) What did King Arthur get from the Lady of the lake?
1. A sword named Excalibur and a scabbard.
2. White garments and a boat.
3. A rich pavilion and two horses.
c) What did King Arthur swear by, and what did he swear to give to the Lady of the lake?
1. He swore by his sword to marry the Lady of the lake.
2. He swore by his faith to give the Lady of the lake whatever she asks of him later.
3. He swore by his kingdom to give the Lady of the lake whatever she asks of him later.
4. He swore by his faith to give the Lady of the lake the life of one of his knights.
d) What is a hermit?
1. A man who lives alone, at a distant place.
2. A travelling musician.
3. A knight without a master.
4. A man who heals people as his profession.
e) What is a scabbard?
1. A two-edged iron weapon used by knights.
2. Something you hold your sword in, so that you don’t cut something by mistake and so that it doesn’t get rusty.
3. An amulet that protects its bearer from any harm.
4. A metal plate with a handle, used as protection.
f) Why didn’t Pellinore kill Arthur when they were fighting?
1. Because Arthur disarmed him and won the fight.
2. Because he didn’t want to become a killer.
3. Because Arthur conceded and begged Pellinore for mercy.
4. Because Merlin put Pellinore to sleep just when he was about to kill Arthur.
g) Why didn’t Pellinore speak to Arthur on the high road?
1. Because they didn’t pass each other.
2. Because he was too proud to speak to someone he had defeated.
3. Because he was too busy, fighting with another knight.
4. Because Merlin made it so that Pellinore didn’t see Arthur.
h) What did Merlin say to convince Arthur not to fight Pellinore again?
1. That there was no honour in defeating a tired man, and that Pellinore and his sons will do Arthur good service later.
2. That when Pellinore defeats Arthur again, Merlin will not save Arthur, and he will get killed.
3. That there is no honour in fighting the same man twice.
4. That they must hurry to Carlion, and there isn’t enough time to fight.
II. Расставьте предлоги into, through, to, by
1. They rode ______ the forest.
2. They came _______ a broad lake.
3. They went __________ the boat.
4. Arthur took it _________ the handles.
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