第75章 BOOK VII(2)

But ever when that he saw any jousting of knights,that would he see an he might.And ever Sir Launcelot would give him gold to spend,and clothes,and so did Sir Gawaine,and where there were any masteries done,thereat would he be,and there might none cast bar nor stone to him by two yards.Then would Sir Kay say,How liketh you my boy of the kitchen?So it passed on till the feast of Whitsuntide.And at that time the king held it at Carlion in the most royallest wise that might be,like as he did yearly.But the king would no meat eat upon the Whitsunday,until he heard some adventures.Then came there a squire to the king and said,Sir,ye may go to your meat,for here cometh a damosel with some strange adventures.Then was the king glad and sat him down.

Right so there came a damosel into the hall and saluted the king,and prayed him of succour.For whom?said the king,what is the adventure?

Sir,she said,I have a lady of great worship and renown,and she is besieged with a tyrant,so that she may not out of her castle;and because here are called the noblest knights of the world,Icome to you to pray you of succour.What hight your lady,and where dwelleth she,and who is she,and what is his name that hath besieged her?Sir king,she said,as for my lady's name that shall not ye know for me as at this time,but I let you wit she is a lady of great worship and of great lands;and as for the tyrant that besiegeth her and destroyeth her lands,he is called the Red Knight of the Red Launds.I know him not,said the king.

Sir,said Sir Gawaine,I know him well,for he is one of the perilloust knights of the world;men say that he hath seven men's strength,and from him I escaped once full hard with my life.Fair damosel,said the king,there be knights here would do their power for to rescue your lady,but because you will not tell her name,nor where she dwelleth,therefore none of my knights that here be now shall go with you by my will.Then must I speak further,said the damosel.

CHAPTER III

How Beaumains desired the battle,and how it was granted to him,and how he desired to be made knight of Sir Launcelot.

WITH these words came before the king Beaumains,while the damosel was there,and thus he said,Sir king,God thank you,Ihave been this twelvemonth in your kitchen,and have had my full sustenance,and now I will ask my two gifts that be behind.Ask,upon my peril,said the king.Sir,this shall be my two gifts,first that ye will grant me to have this adventure of the damosel,for it belongeth unto me.Thou shalt have it,said the king,I grant it thee.Then,sir,this is the other gift,that ye shall bid Launcelot du Lake to make me knight,for of him Iwill be made knight and else of none.And when I am passed Ipray you let him ride after me,and make me knight when I require him.All this shall be done,said the king.Fie on thee,said the damosel,shall I have none but one that is your kitchen page?

Then was she wroth and took her horse and departed.And with that there came one to Beaumains and told him his horse and armour was come for him;and there was the dwarf come with all thing that him needed,in the richest manner;thereat all the court had much marvel from whence came all that gear.So when he was armed there was none but few so goodly a man as he was;and right so as he came into the hall and took his leave of King Arthur,and Sir Gawaine,and Sir Launcelot,and prayed that he would hie after him,and so departed and rode after the damosel.

CHAPTER IV

How Beaumains departed,and how he gat of Sir Kay a spear and a shield,and how he jousted with Sir Launcelot.

BUT there went many after to behold how well he was horsed and trapped in cloth of gold,but he had neither shield nor spear.

Then Sir Kay said all open in the hall,I will ride after my boy in the kitchen,to wit whether he will know me for his better.

Said Sir Launcelot and Sir Gawaine,Yet abide at home.So Sir Kay made him ready and took his horse and his spear,and rode after him.And right as Beaumains overtook the damosel,right so came Sir Kay and said,Beaumains,what,sir,know ye not me?

Then he turned his horse,and knew it was Sir Kay,that had done him all the despite as ye have heard afore.Yea,said Beaumains,I know you for an ungentle knight of the court,and therefore beware of me.Therewith Sir Kay put his spear in the rest,and ran straight upon him;and Beaumains came as fast upon him with his sword in his hand,and so he put away his spear with his sword,and with a foin thrust him through the side,that Sir Kay fell down as he had been dead;and he alighted down and took Sir Kay's shield and his spear,and stert upon his own horse and rode his way.

All that saw Sir Launcelot,and so did the damosel.And then he bade his dwarf stert upon Sir Kay's horse,and so he did.By that Sir Launcelot was come,then he proffered Sir Launcelot to joust;and either made them ready,and they came together so fiercely that either bare down other to the earth,and sore were they bruised.Then Sir Launcelot arose and helped him from his horse.And then Beaumains threw his shield from him,and proffered to fight with Sir Launcelot on foot;and so they rushed together like boars,tracing,rasing,and foining to the mountenance of an hour;and Sir Launcelot felt him so big that he marvelled of his strength,for he fought more liker a giant than a knight,and that his fighting was durable and passing perilous.For Sir Launcelot had so much ado with him that he dreaded himself to be shamed,and said,Beaumains,fight not so sore,your quarrel and mine is not so great but we may leave off.Truly that is truth,said Beaumains,but it doth me good to feel your might,and yet,my lord,I showed not the utterance.

CHAPTER V

How Beaumains told to Sir Launcelot his name,and how he was dubbed knight of Sir Launcelot,and after overtook the damosel.

IN God's name,said Sir Launcelot,for I promise you,by the faith of my body,I had as much to do as I might to save myself from you unshamed,and therefore have ye no doubt of none earthly knight.Hope ye so that I may any while stand a proved knight?