第85章 BOOK VII(12)

But Sir Beaumains had no rest,but wallowed and writhed for the love of the lady of the castle.And so upon the morrow he took his horse and rode until underne,and then he came to a broad water,and thereby was a great lodge,and there he alighted to sleep and laid his head upon the shield,and betook his horse to the dwarf,and commanded him to watch all night.

Now turn we to the lady of the same castle,that thought much upon Beaumains,and then she called unto her Sir Gringamore her brother,and prayed him in all manner,as he loved her heartily,that he would ride after Sir Beaumains:And ever have ye wait upon him till ye may find him sleeping,for I am sure in his heaviness he will alight down in some place,and lie him down to sleep;and therefore have ye your wait upon him,and in the priviest manner ye can,take his dwarf,and go ye your way with him as fast as ever ye may or Sir Beaumains awake.For my sister Linet telleth me that he can tell of what kindred he is come,and what is his right name.And the meanwhile I and my sister will ride unto your castle to await when ye bring with you the dwarf.

And then when ye have brought him unto your castle,I will have him in examination myself.Unto the time that I know what is his right name,and of what kindred he is come,shall I never be merry at my heart.Sister,said Sir Gringamore,all this shall be done after your intent.

And so he rode all the other day and the night till that he found Sir Beaumains lying by a water,and his head upon his shield,for to sleep.And then when he saw Sir Beaumains fast asleep,he came stilly stalking behind the dwarf,and plucked him fast under his arm,and so he rode away with him as fast as ever he might unto his own castle.And this Sir Gringamore's arms were all black,and that to him longeth.But ever as he rode with the dwarf toward his castle,he cried unto his lord and prayed him of help.And therewith awoke Sir Beaumains,and up he leapt lightly,and saw where Sir Gringamore rode his way with the dwarf,and so Sir Gringamore rode out of his sight.

CHAPTER XX

How Sir Beaumains rode after to rescue his dwarf,and came into the castle where he was.

THEN Sir Beaumains put on his helm anon,and buckled his shield,and took his horse,and rode after him all that ever he might ride through marshes,and fields,and great dales,that many times his horse and he plunged over the head in deep mires,for he knew not the way,but took the gainest way in that woodness,that many times he was like to perish.And at the last him happened to come to a fair green way,and there he met with a poor man of the country,whom he saluted and asked him whether he met not with a knight upon a black horse and all black harness,a little dwarf sitting behind him with heavy cheer.Sir,said the poor man,here by me came Sir Gringamore the knight,with such a dwarf mourning as ye say;and therefore I rede you not follow him,for he is one of the periloust knights of the world,and his castle is here nigh hand but two mile;therefore we advise you ride not after Sir Gringamore,but if ye owe him good will.

So leave we Sir Beaumains riding toward the castle,and speak we of Sir Gringamore and the dwarf.Anon as the dwarf was come to the castle,Dame Lionesse and Dame Linet her sister,asked the dwarf where was his master born,and of what lineage he was come.

And but if thou tell me,said Dame Lionesse,thou shalt never escape this castle,but ever here to be prisoner.As for that,said the dwarf,I fear not greatly to tell his name and of what kin he is come.Wit you well he is a king's son,and his mother is sister to King Arthur,and he is brother to the good knight Sir Gawaine,and his name is Sir Gareth of Orkney.And now Ihave told you his right name,I pray you,fair lady,let me go to my lord again,for he will never out of this country until that he have me again.And if he be angry he will do much harm or that he be stint,and work you wrack in this country.As for that threatening,said Sir Gringamore,be it as it be may,we will go to dinner.And so they washed and went to meat,and made them merry and well at ease,and because the Lady Lionesse of the castle was there,they made great joy.Truly,madam,said Linet unto her sister,well may he be a king's son,for he hath many good tatches on him,for he is courteous and mild,and the most suffering man that ever I met withal.For I dare say there was never gentlewoman reviled man in so foul a manner as I have rebuked him;and at all times he gave me goodly and meek answers again.

And as they sat thus talking,there came Sir Gareth in at the gate with an angry countenance,and his sword drawn in his hand,and cried aloud that all the castle might hear it,saying:Thou traitor,Sir Gringamore,deliver me my dwarf again,or by the faith that I owe to the order of knighthood,I shall do thee all the harm that I can.Then Sir Gringamore looked out at a window and said,Sir Gareth of Orkney,leave thy boasting words,for thou gettest not thy dwarf again.Thou coward knight,said Sir Gareth,bring him with thee,and come and do battle with me,and win him and take him.So will I do,said Sir Gringamore,an me list,but for all thy great words thou gettest him not.Ah!

fair brother,said Dame Lionesse,I would he had his dwarf again,for I would he were not wroth,for now he hath told me all my desire I keep no more of the dwarf.And also,brother,he hath done much for me,and delivered me from the Red Knight of the Red Launds,and therefore,brother,I owe him my service afore all knights living.And wit ye well that I love him before all other,and full fain I would speak with him.But in nowise Iwould that he wist what I were,but that I were another strange lady.