Читать «Айвенго / Ivanhoe» онлайн - страница 18

But at this moment the party of the Disinherited Knight was in a dangerous situation. The gigantic arm of Front-de-Boeuf on the one side, and the enormous strength of Athelstane on the other defeated many brave opponents. When they were free from antagonists, they decided to help the Templar. Turning their horses at the same moment, the Norman rushed against the Disinherited Knight on the one side, and the Saxon on the other.

“Beware! Sir Disinherited!” was shouted so universally, that the knight became aware of his danger. He made his horse step back so that Athelstane and Front-de-Boeuf rushed between him and the Templar unable to stop. However, some minutes later they joined their leader in his attack.

Nothing could have saved their antagonist, except for the remarkable strength and activity of the noble horse which he had won on the preceding day. The horse of Bois-Guilbert was wounded, and those of Front-de-Boeuf and Athelstane were both tired with the weight of their gigantic masters in complete armour. The skill of the Disinherited Knight and the activity of his noble animal enabled him for a few minutes to keep at sword’s point his three antagonists, although it was clear that he must soon be defeated.

There was among the followers of the Disinherited Knight a tall champion in black armour, mounted on a black horse. This knight had showed so little interest in the fight, that the spectators called him the Lazy Knight. But when this knight discovered the leader of his party in such hard circumstances, he came to his assistance immediately. He struck Front-de-Boeuf on his head, and Front-de-Boeuf rolled on the ground. The Lazy Knight then turned his horse towards Athelstane, took from the hand of the clumsy Saxon the battle-axe, and gave him such a blow that Athelstane also lay senseless on the field. After this the knight seemed to resume the laziness of his character and returned calmly to the northern end of the lists, leaving his leader to cope with Brian de Bois-Guilbert. This was no longer difficult. The Templar’s horse had lost much blood, and gave way under the shock of the Disinherited Knight’s attack. Brian de Bois-Guilbert rolled on the field, caught by the stirrup, from which he was unable to draw his foot. His antagonist jumped from his horse, waved his sword over the head of his adversary, and commanded him to surrender, when Prince John saved the Templar from confessing himself defeated by throwing down his sceptre and putting an end to the conflict.

The squires, who had found it dangerous and difficult to help their masters during the fight, now ran to the wounded.

In this way ended the tournament of Ashby-de-la-Zouche. Four knights died in the lists and more than thirty were desperately wounded, and the rest carried the marks of the conflict to the grave.