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

has hurt me too. Won't you give peace to our country, if I make a penance? Don't force me to fight for
my life, but let me make a pilgrimage for Gareth's sake. I will start at Sandwich in my shirt, and walk
barefoot to Carlisle, and I will endow a chantry for him every ten miles in between."
"Gareth's blood," said Mordred, "is not to be paid for by chantries, we thinkтАФhowever much it might
pleasure the Bishop of Rochester."
The old knight's patience broke.
"Hold your tongue!"
Gawaine was flaming on the instant.
"Keep civil, my murdering mannie, or we will stab you at the King's own feet!"
"It would need more..."
Again the nuncio intervened.
"Sir Lancelot, please. Let some of us keep due temper and decency, at any rate. Gawaine, sit down. A
penance has been offered for Gareth's blood by means of which the war may be brought to an end. Give
us your answer."
With the moment of expectant silence, the sandy-baked giant swam into the higher tone.
"I ha' heard Sir Lancelot's speech and his great proffers, but he hath slain my brothers. That I may never
forgive, in chief his treachery to Sir Gareth. If it please mine uncle, King Arthur, to accord with him,
then the King will lose my service and that of all the Gael. However we may talk of it, we ken the truth.
The man is a revealed traitor, to the King and to masel'."
"There is nobody alive, Gawaine, who has called me a traitor. I have explained about the Queen."
"We have done with that. I make no insinuations about the woman, if it be proper not to do so. I speak of
what airt your own judgment is to be."
"If it is the King's judgment, I shall accept it."
"The King is agreed with me already, before ye came."
"Arthur..."
"Speak to the King by his title."
"Sir, is this true?"
But the old man only bowed his head.
"At least let me hear it from the King's mouth!"


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Mordred said: "Speak, father."
He shook his head like a baited bear. He moved it with the heavy movement of a bear, but would not
look from the floor.
"Speak."
"Lancelot," he was heard to say, "you know how the truth stands between us. My Table is broken, my
knights parted or dead. I never sought a quarrel with you, Lance, nor you with me."
"But can't it be ended?"
"Gawaine says..." he began faintly.
"Gawaine!"
"Justice..."
Gawaine rose to his feet, foxy, burly and towering.
"My King, my lord and my uncle. Is it the court's will that I pronounce sentence upon this recreant
traitor?"
The silence became absolute.
"Know then, all ye, that this is the King's Word. The Queen shall come back to him with her liberty as it