"T. H. White - The Once and Future King" - читать интересную книгу автора (White T.H)

spinneys of the Arras teemed and rippled over the four walls. The door curtain lifted again, and the King
was in the room.
He looked old, older than either of them. But it was the noble oldness of self-respect. Sometimes even
nowadays you can meet a man of sixty or more who holds himself as straight as a rush, and whose hair

file:///K|/eMule/Incoming/Incipit%20Liber%20Quartus.html (23 of 114)14-10-2007 15:44:46
 file:///K|/eMule/Incoming/Incipit%20Liber%20Quartus.html


is black. They were in that class. Lancelot, now that you could see him clearly, was an erect refinement
of humanityтАФa fanatic for human responsibility. Guenever, and this might have been surprising to a
person who had known her in her days of tempest, looked sweet and pretty. You could almost have
protected her. But Arthur was the touching one of the three. He was so plainly dressed, so gentle and
patient of his simple things. Often, when the Queen was entertaining distinguished company under the
flambeaux of the Great Hall, Lancelot had found him sitting by himself in a small room, mending
stockings. Now, in his homely blue gownтАФblue, since it was an expensive tincture in those days, was
reserved for kings, or for saints and angels in picturesтАФhe paused on the threshold of the gleaming
room, and smiled.
"Well, Lance. Well, Gwen."
Guenever, still breathing quickly, returning his greeting. "Well, Arthur. You took us by surprise."
"I'm sorry. I have only just got back."
"How were the Gawaines?" asked Lancelot, in the old tone which he had never succeeded in making
natural.
"They were having a fight when I arrived."
"How like them!" they exclaimed. "What did you do? What were they fighting about?" They made it
sound as if it were a matter of life or death, getting the mood wrong because of their own.
The King looked steadily in front of him.
"I didn't ask."
"Some family affair," said the Queen, "no doubt."
"No doubt it was."
"I hope nobody got hurt?"
"Nobody got hurt."
"Well then," she cried, noticing that her relief sounded absurd, "that was all right."
"Yes, that was all right."
They saw that his eyes were twinkling. He was amused at their trouble, and the atmosphere was normal.
"Now," said the King, "need we talk about the Gawaines any more? Do I never get a kiss from my
wife?"
"Dear."
She drew his head towards her and kissed him on the forehead, thinking of him as a faithful old thingтАФ

file:///K|/eMule/Incoming/Incipit%20Liber%20Quartus.html (24 of 114)14-10-2007 15:44:46
 file:///K|/eMule/Incoming/Incipit%20Liber%20Quartus.html


her friendly bear.
Lancelot stood up. "Perhaps I ought to be off."
"Don't go, Lance. It is nice to have you to ourselves for a little. Come: sit by the fire, and sing us a song.
We shall be able to do without the fires soon."
"So we shall," said Guenever. "Fancy, it will soon be summer."
"Still, it is nice to sit by the fireтАФat home."