Then Sir Launcelot rode as fast as he might, and the book saith he took the water at Westminster Bridge, and made his horse to swim over Thames unto Lambeth. And then within a while he came to the same place thereas the ten noble knights2 fought with Sir Meliagrance. And then Sir Launcelot followed the track until that he came to a wood, and there was a straight way, and there the thirty archers4 bade Sir Launcelot turn again, and follow no longer that track. What commandment have ye thereto, said Sir Launcelot, to cause me that am a knight3 of the Round Table to leave my right way? This way shalt thou leave, other-else thou shalt go it on thy foot, for wit thou well thy horse shall be slain. That is little mastery, said Sir Launcelot, to slay5 mine horse; but as for myself, when my horse is slain, I give right nought6 for you, not an ye were five hundred more. So then they shot Sir Launcelot’s horse, and smote7 him with many arrows; and then Sir Launcelot avoided his horse, and went on foot; but there were so many ditches and hedges betwixt them and him that he might not meddle8 with none of them. Alas9 for shame, said Launcelot, that ever one knight should betray another knight; but it is an old saw, A good man is never in danger but when he is in the danger of a coward. Then Sir Launcelot went a while, and then he was foul10 cumbered of his armour11, his shield, and his spear, and all that longed unto him. Wit ye well he was full sore annoyed, and full loath12 he was for to leave anything that longed unto him, for he dread13 sore the treason of Sir Meliagrance.
Then by fortune there came by him a chariot that came thither14 for to fetch wood. Say me, carter, said Sir Launcelot, what shall I give thee to suffer me to leap into thy chariot, and that thou bring me unto a castle within this two mile? Thou shalt not come within my chariot, said the carter, for I am sent for to fetch wood for my lord, Sir Meliagrance. With him would I speak. Thou shalt not go with me, said the carter. Then Sir Launcelot leapt to him, and gave him such a buffet15 that he fell to the earth stark16 dead. Then the other carter, his fellow, was afeard, and weened to have gone the same way; and then he cried: Fair lord, save my life, and I shall bring you where ye will. Then I charge thee, said Sir Launcelot, that thou drive me and this chariot even unto Sir Meliagrance’s gate. Leap up into the chariot, said the carter, and ye shall be there anon. So the carter drove on a great wallop, and Sir Launcelot’s horse followed the chariot, with more than a forty arrows broad and rough in him.
And more than an hour and an half Dame17 Guenever was awaiting in a bay window with her ladies, and espied18 an armed knight standing19 in a chariot. See, madam, said a lady, where rideth in a chariot a goodly armed knight; I suppose he rideth unto hanging. Where? said the queen. Then she espied by his shield that he was there himself, Sir Launcelot du Lake. And then she was ware20 where came his horse ever after that chariot, and ever he trod his guts21 and his paunch under his feet. Alas, said the queen, now I see well and prove, that well is him that hath a trusty friend. Ha, ha, most noble knight, said Queen Guenever, I see well thou art hard bestead when thou ridest in a chariot. Then she rebuked22 that lady that likened Sir Launcelot to ride in a chariot to hanging. It was foul mouthed, said the queen, and evil likened, so for to liken the most noble knight of the world unto such a shameful23 death. O Jesu defend him and keep him, said the queen, from all mischievous24 end. By this was Sir Launcelot come to the gates of that castle, and there he descended25 down, and cried, that all the castle rang of it: Where art thou, false traitor26, Sir Meliagrance, and knight of the Table Round? now come forth27 here, thou traitor knight, thou and thy fellowship with thee; for here I am, Sir Launcelot du Lake, that shall fight with you. And therewithal he bare the gate wide open upon the porter, and smote him under his ear with his gauntlet, that his neck brast a-sunder.
点击收听单词发音
1 slain | |
杀死,宰杀,杀戮( slay的过去分词 ); (slay的过去分词) | |
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2 knights | |
骑士; (中古时代的)武士( knight的名词复数 ); 骑士; 爵士; (国际象棋中)马 | |
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3 knight | |
n.骑士,武士;爵士 | |
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4 archers | |
n.弓箭手,射箭运动员( archer的名词复数 ) | |
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5 slay | |
v.杀死,宰杀,杀戮 | |
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6 nought | |
n./adj.无,零 | |
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7 smote | |
v.猛打,重击,打击( smite的过去式 ) | |
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8 meddle | |
v.干预,干涉,插手 | |
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9 alas | |
int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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10 foul | |
adj.污秽的;邪恶的;v.弄脏;妨害;犯规;n.犯规 | |
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11 armour | |
(=armor)n.盔甲;装甲部队 | |
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12 loath | |
adj.不愿意的;勉强的 | |
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13 dread | |
vt.担忧,忧虑;惧怕,不敢;n.担忧,畏惧 | |
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14 thither | |
adv.向那里;adj.在那边的,对岸的 | |
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15 buffet | |
n.自助餐;饮食柜台;餐台 | |
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16 stark | |
adj.荒凉的;严酷的;完全的;adv.完全地 | |
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17 dame | |
n.女士 | |
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18 espied | |
v.看到( espy的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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19 standing | |
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的 | |
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20 ware | |
n.(常用复数)商品,货物 | |
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21 guts | |
v.狼吞虎咽,贪婪地吃,飞碟游戏(比赛双方每组5人,相距15码,互相掷接飞碟);毁坏(建筑物等)的内部( gut的第三人称单数 );取出…的内脏n.勇气( gut的名词复数 );内脏;消化道的下段;肠 | |
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22 rebuked | |
责难或指责( rebuke的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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23 shameful | |
adj.可耻的,不道德的 | |
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24 mischievous | |
adj.调皮的,恶作剧的,有害的,伤人的 | |
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25 descended | |
a.为...后裔的,出身于...的 | |
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26 traitor | |
n.叛徒,卖国贼 | |
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27 forth | |
adv.向前;向外,往外 | |
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