第81章 BOOK VII(8)

Of the goodly communication between Sir Persant and Beaumains,and how he told him that his name was Sir Gareth.

AND so on the morn the damosel and Sir Beaumains heard mass and brake their fast,and so took their leave.Fair damosel,said Persant,whitherward are ye way-leading this knight?Sir,she said,this knight is going to the siege that besiegeth my sister in the Castle Dangerous.Ah,ah,said Persant,that is the Knight of the Red Laund,the which is the most perilous knight that I know now living,and a man that is without mercy,and men say that he hath seven men's strength.God save you,said he to Beaumains,from that knight,for he doth great wrong to that lady,and that is great pity,for she is one of the fairest ladies of the world,and meseemeth that your damosel is her sister:is not your name Linet?said he.Yea,sir,said she,and my lady my sister's name is Dame Lionesse.Now shall I tell you,said Sir Persant,this Red Knight of the Red Laund hath lain long at the siege,well-nigh this two years,and many times he might have had her an he had would,but he prolongeth the time to this intent,for to have Sir Launcelot du Lake to do battle with him,or Sir Tristram,or Sir Lamorak de Galis,or Sir Gawaine,and this is his tarrying so long at the siege.

Now my lord Sir Persant of Inde,said the damosel Linet,Irequire you that ye will make this gentleman knight or ever he fight with the Red Knight.I will with all my heart,said Sir Persant,an it please him to take the order of knighthood of so simple a man as I am.Sir,said Beaumains,I thank you for your good will,for I am better sped,for certainly the noble knight Sir Launcelot made me knight.Ah,said Sir Persant,of a more renowned knight might ye not be made knight;for of all knights he may be called chief of knighthood;and so all the world saith,that betwixt three knights is departed clearly knighthood,that is Launcelot du Lake,Sir Tristram de Liones,and Sir Lamorak de Galis:these bear now the renown.There be many other knights,as Sir Palamides the Saracen and Sir Safere his brother;also Sir Bleoberis and Sir Blamore de Ganis his brother;also Sir Bors de Ganis and Sir Ector de Maris and Sir Percivale de Galis;these and many more be noble knights,but there be none that pass the three above said;therefore God speed you well,said Sir Persant,for an ye may match the Red Knight ye shall be called the fourth of the world.

Sir,said Beaumains,I would fain be of good fame and of knighthood.And I let you wit I came of good men,for I dare say my father was a noble man,and so that ye will keep it in close,and this damosel,I will tell you of what kin I am.We will not discover you,said they both,till ye command us,by the faith we owe unto God.Truly then,said he,my name is Gareth of Orkney,and King Lot was my father,and my mother is King Arthur's sister,her name is Dame Morgawse,and Sir Gawaine is my brother,and Sir Agravaine and Sir Gaheris,and I am the youngest of them all.And yet wot not King Arthur nor Sir Gawaine what I am.

CHAPTER XIV

How the lady that was besieged had word from her sister how she had brought a knight to fight for her,and what battles he had achieved.

SO the book saith that the lady that was besieged had word of her sister's coming by the dwarf,and a knight with her,and how he had passed all the perilous passages.What manner a man is he?

said the lady.He is a noble knight,truly,madam,said the dwarf,and but a young man,but he is as likely a man as ever ye saw any.What is he?said the damosel,and of what kin is he come,and of whom was he made knight?Madam,said the dwarf,he is the king's son of Orkney,but his name I will not tell you as at this time;but wit ye well,of Sir Launcelot was he made knight,for of none other would he be made knight,and Sir Kay named him Beaumains.How escaped he,said the lady,from the brethren of Persant?Madam,he said,as a noble knight should.First,he slew two brethren at a passage of a water.

Ah!said she,they were good knights,but they were murderers,the one hight Gherard le Breuse,and the other knight hight Sir Arnold le Breuse.Then,madam,he recountered with the Black Knight,and slew him in plain battle,and so he took his horse and his armour and fought with the Green Knight and won him in plain battle,and in like wise he served the Red Knight,and after in the same wise he served the Blue Knight and won him in plain battle.Then,said the lady,he hath overcome Sir Persant of Inde,one of the noblest knights of the world,and the dwarf said,He hath won all the four brethren and slain the Black Knight,and yet he did more to-fore:he overthrew Sir Kay and left him nigh dead upon the ground;also he did a great battle with Sir Launcelot,and there they departed on even hands:and then Sir Launcelot made him knight.

Dwarf,said the lady,I am glad of these tidings,therefore go thou in an hermitage of mine hereby,and there shalt thou bear with thee of my wine in two flagons of silver,they are of two gallons,and also two cast of bread with fat venison baked,and dainty fowls;and a cup of gold here I deliver thee,that is rich and precious;and bear all this to mine hermitage,and put it in the hermit's hands.And sithen go thou unto my sister and greet her well,and commend me unto that gentle knight,and pray him to eat and to drink and make him strong,and say ye him I thank him of his courtesy and goodness,that he would take upon him such labour for me that never did him bounty nor courtesy.Also pray him that he be of good heart and courage,for he shall meet with a full noble knight,but he is neither of bounty,courtesy,nor gentleness;for he attendeth unto nothing but to murder,and that is the cause I cannot praise him nor love him.