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

"One moment, Sir Gawaine. I have to point out that the Church does not regard these people as
prisoners. The mission of His Holiness which 1 represent is one of pacification, not of revenge."
"The Church can aye regard the prisoners as she pleases. We are for doing what the Church has said, but
we shall do it in our ain poor fashion. Bring forth the prisoners."
"Sir Gawaine...."
"Blow for Her Majesty. The Court sits."
In the middle of music like a bad pageant, and of music answered from outside, the heads turned round
to the door.
There was a rustle among the silks and furs. A lane was made with shuffling. In the archway, now open,
Lancelot and Guenever waited for their cue.
There was something pathetic about their grandeur, as if they were dressed up for a charade but not quite
fitted. They were in white cloth, of gold tissue, and the Queen, no longer young or lovely, carried her
olive branch ungracefully. They came shyly down the lane, like well-meaning actors who were trying to
do their best, but who were not good at acting. They kneeled in front of the throne.
"My most redoubted King."
The movement of sympathy was caught by Mordred.
"Charming!"
Lancelot looked to the elder brother.
"Sir Gawaine."
Orkney showed him his back.
He turned towards the Church.
"My lord of Rochester."
"Welcome, my son."
"I have brought Queen Guenever, by the King's command, and by the Pope's."


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There was an awkward silence, in which nobody dared to help their speech along.
"It is my duty, then, if nobody will answer, to affirm the Queen of England's innocence."
"Liar!"
"I am come to maintain with my body that the Queen is fair, true, good and clean to King Arthur, and
this I will make good upon any challenge, excepting only if it were the King or Sir Gawaine. It is my
duty to the Queen to make this proffer."
"The Holy Father bids us to accept your proffer, Lancelot."
The pathos which was growing in the room was broken by the Orkney faction for the second tune.
"Fie on his proud words," cried Gawaine. "As for the Queen, let her bide and be forgiven. But thou, false
recreant knight, what cause had'st thou to slay my brother, that loved thee more than all my kin?"
Both the great men had slipped into the high language, suitable to the place and passion.
"God knows it helps me not to excuse myself, Sir Gawaine. I would rather to have killed my nephew, Sir
Bors. But I did not see them, Gawaine, and I have paid it!"
"It was done in despite of me and of Orkney!"
"It repents me to the heart," he said, "that you should think so, my lord Sir Gawaine, for I know that
while you are against me I shall never more be accorded with the King."
"True words, man Lancelot. Ye came under safe-conduct and sanctuary, to bring the Queen, but ye shall
go hence as the murderer ye are."
"If I am a murderer, God forgive me, my lord. But I never slew by treason."
He had intended his protest in innocenceтАФbut it was received at more than its face value. Gawaine,