第82章 BOOK VII(9)

So this dwarf departed,and came to Sir Persant,where he found the damosel Linet and Sir Beaumains,and there he told them all as ye have heard;and then they took their leave,but Sir Persant took an ambling hackney and conveyed them on their ways,and then beleft them to God;and so within a little while they came to that hermitage,and there they drank the wine,and ate the venison and the fowls baken.And so when they had repasted them well,the dwarf returned again with his vessel unto the castle again;and there met with him the Red Knight of the Red Launds,and asked him from whence that he came,and where he had been.

Sir,said the dwarf,I have been with my lady's sister of this castle,and she hath been at King Arthur's court,and brought a knight with her.Then I account her travail but lost;for though she had brought with her Sir Launcelot,Sir Tristram,Sir Lamorak,or Sir Gawaine,I would think myself good enough for them all.

It may well be,said the dwarf,but this knight hath passed all the perilous passages,and slain the Black Knight and other two more,and won the Green Knight,the Red Knight,and the Blue Knight.Then is he one of these four that I have afore rehearsed.He is none of those,said the dwarf,but he is a king's son.What is his name?said the Red Knight of the Red Launds.That will I not tell you,said the dwarf,but Sir Kay upon scorn named him Beaumains.I care not,said the knight,what knight so ever he be,for I shall soon deliver him.And if I ever match him he shall have a shameful death as many other have had.That were pity,said the dwarf,and it is marvel that ye make such shameful war upon noble knights.

CHAPTER XV

How the damosel and Beaumains came to the siege;and came to a sycamore tree,and there Beaumains blew a horn,and then the Knight of the Red Launds came to fight with him.

NOW leave we the knight and the dwarf,and speak we of Beaumains,that all night lay in the hermitage;and upon the morn he and the damosel Linet heard their mass and brake their fast.And then they took their horses and rode throughout a fair forest;and then they came to a plain,and saw where were many pavilions and tents,and a fair castle,and there was much smoke and great noise;and when they came near the siege Sir Beaumains espied upon great trees,as he rode,how there hung full goodly armed knights by the neck,and their shields about their necks with their swords,and gilt spurs upon their heels,and so there hung nigh a forty knights shamefully with full rich arms.

Then Sir Beaumains abated his countenance and said,What meaneth this?Fair sir,said the damosel,abate not your cheer for all this sight,for ye must courage yourself,or else ye be all shent,for all these knights came hither to this siege to rescue my sister Dame Lionesse,and when the Red Knight of the Red Launds had overcome them,he put them to this shameful death without mercy and pity.And in the same wise he will serve you but if you quit you the better.

Now Jesu defend me,said Beaumains,from such a villainous death and shenship of arms.For rather than I should so be faren withal,I would rather be slain manly in plain battle.So were ye better,said the damosel;for trust not,in him is no courtesy,but all goeth to the death or shameful murder,and that is pity,for he is a full likely man,well made of body,and a full noble knight of prowess,and a lord of great lands and possessions.Truly,said Beaumains,he may well be a good knight,but he useth shameful customs,and it is marvel that he endureth so long that none of the noble knights of my lord Arthur's have not dealt with him.

And then they rode to the dykes,and saw them double dyked with full warlike walls;and there were lodged many great lords nigh the walls;and there was great noise of minstrelsy;and the sea beat upon the one side of the walls,where were many ships and mariners'noise with "hale and how.''And also there was fast by a sycamore tree,and there hung an horn,the greatest that ever they saw,of an elephant's bone;and this Knight of the Red Launds had hanged it up there,that if there came any errant-knight,he must blow that horn,and then will he make him ready and come to him to do battle.But,sir,I pray you,said the damosel Linet,blow ye not the horn till it be high noon,for now it is about prime,and now increaseth his might,that as men say he hath seven men's strength.Ah,fie for shame,fair damosel,say ye never so more to me;for,an he were as good a knight as ever was,I shall never fail him in his most might,for either Iwill win worship worshipfully,or die knightly in the field.And therewith he spurred his horse straight to the sycamore tree,and blew so the horn eagerly that all the siege and the castle rang thereof.And then there leapt out knights out of their tents and pavilions,and they within the castle looked over the walls and out at windows.

Then the Red Knight of the Red Launds armed him hastily,and two barons set on his spurs upon his heels,and all was blood red,his armour,spear and shield.And an earl buckled his helm upon his head,and then they brought him a red spear and a red steed,and so he rode into a little vale under the castle,that all that were in the castle and at the siege might behold the battle.

CHAPTER XVI

How the two knights met together,and of their talking,and how they began their battle.

SIR,said the damosel Linet unto Sir Beaumains,look ye be glad and light,for yonder is your deadly enemy,and at yonder window is my lady,my sister,Dame Lionesse.Where?said Beaumains.

Yonder,said the damosel,and pointed with her finger.That is truth,said Beaumains.She beseemeth afar the fairest lady that ever I looked upon;and truly,he said,I ask no better quarrel than now for to do battle,for truly she shall be my lady,and for her I will fight.And ever he looked up to the window with glad countenance,and the Lady Lionesse made curtsey to him down to the earth,with holding up both their hands.