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

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"Gareth? Gaheris? Will you oblige me by putting on your armour, and strengthening the guard?"
"Uncle, please don't ask us."
"It gives me no pleasure to ask you, Gareth."
"I know it doesn't, but please don't force us. Lancelot is my friend, so how could I fight against him?"
The King touched his hand.
"Lancelot would have expected you to go, my dear, whoever it was against. He believes in justice too."
"Uncle, I can't fight him. He knighted me. I will go if you wish, but I won't go in armour. I am afraid
that mine is treason too."
"I am ready to go in armour," said Mordred, "even if my arm is broken."
Gawaine observed sarcastically: "It will be safe enough for you, my mannie. We ken the King has
bidden Lancelot not hurt ye."
"Traitor!"
"And Gaheris?" asked the King.
"I will go with Gareth, unarmed."
"Well, I suppose it is the best we can do. I hope I have tried to do what I ought." Gawaine got up from
his bench and tramped over to the King with clumsy sympathy.
"Ye have done more than e'er a body could expect," he said warmly, holding the veined hand in his paw,
"and now we must look onward for the best. Let my brothers go, unarmed. He willna hurt them, gin he
see their faces. I maun stay ben with you,"
"Go then,"
"Shall I tell the executioner to begin?"
"Yes, if you must, Mordred. Give him my ring and get the warrant from Sir Bedivere,"
"Thank you, father. Thank you. We shall be hardly a minute,"
The pale face, burning with enthusiasm and for the moment with a strangely genuine gratitude, hurried
from the room. He followed his brothers, who had gone to join the guard, with blazing eyes and a
nervous twitch of his mouth. The old King, left behind with Gawaine, sank his head upon his hands.
"He might have done it with a little more decency. He might have tried to show that he was not so
pleased,"
Gawaine put his hand on the stooping shoulder.


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"Never fear, uncle," he said. "It will come to right. Lancelot will rescue her in God's good time, and nae
harm done,"
"I have tried to do my duty."
"Ye have striven to admiration."
"I sentenced her because it was the law to sentence her. I have done my best to see the sentence will be
carried out."
"But it willna be. Lancelot will bring her safe."
"Gawaine, you are not to think that I am trying to get ner rescued, I am the Justice of England, and it is
our business now to burn her to the death, without remorse,"
"Aye, uncle, and every man kens fine how you have tried. But that dinna alter the truth, that we both
desire at heart she may come safe."
"Oh, Gawaine," he said. "I have been married to her all these years!"