CHAPTER IX. SIR BEAUMAINS' QUEST
SOON after this, it befell that King Arthur chose to keep the Feast ofPentecost at a fair city and castle of his, named Kinkenadon, that wason the sea-side near the Welsh border. And about noon on the Day ofPentecost, as the king and all his knights were going to their meat,there came into the hall two men richly attired, and between them,leaning on their shoulders, there walked a young man, tall and wellmade, with very broad shoulders and a comely countenance, and thefairest and largest hands that ever man saw. Room was made for him to goup to the high dais where sat King Arthur and Queen Guenever, and whenhe stood there he said,--
"God bless thee, O King, and all thy fellowship, and in especial thefellowship of the Round Table. For this cause am I come hither--to praythat thou wilt give me three gifts, the which shall not be unreasonable,but such as may be worshipfully and honourably granted. And as for thefirst gift, I will ask it now, and the other two on this day twelvemonths."
"Now ask," said King Arthur, "and you shall have your request."
"Then, sir," said the young man, "this is now my petition--that you willgive me meat and drink sufficient during these twelve months."
"Ask better, my fair son, I counsel thee," quoth the king, "for this isbut a simple request, and my heart giveth to thee greatly; for, if I benot greatly mistaken, thou art come of men of worship, and wilt thyselfprove a worshipful knight."
"Sir," answered the other, "let that be as it may; I have asked all thatI will ask."
"Well," said Arthur, "you shall have meat and drink enough; that I neverrefused to friend or foe. But what is thy name?"
"That I cannot tell you," he answered.
"I marvel greatly at thee," said the king, "that thou knowest not thyname; and yet thou art one of the goodliest young men that ever I saw."
Then he called up Sir Kay the Seneschal, and charged him to give theyouth meat and drink of the best, and to treat him in all respects asthough he were a lord's son.
"There is little need to go to such cost for him," said Kay, "for I dareundertake that he is a villein born, and will never be a good man. Hadhe come of gentle blood, he would have asked for horse and harness; buteven as he is, so hath he asked. Since he has no name, I will give himone, and that is Beaumains, because he hath such fair hands. Into thekitchen I will bring him, and there he shall have good meat and brothevery day, so that by the twelvemonth's end he will be as fat as a porkhog."
Then the two squires that had brought the young man departed, and lefthim with Sir Kay, who scorned and mocked him. At this was Sir Gawainewroth; and so was Sir Lancelot, who bade Sir Kay leave his mocking, for,said he, "I dare lay my head he will prove a man of great worship."
"That cannot be," said Sir Kay, "else he would not have asked for breadand drink. Pain of my life, he hath been brought up in some abbey, wherethey have fallen short of sustenance; so he has come for it hither."
Then the king and all the court sat down to the banquet, and Beaumainswent to the bottom of the table among the squires and boys, and therehe ate sadly. Afterwards both Lancelot and Gawaine invited him to theirchambers, and would have made much of him; but he refused them, andwould do nothing save as Sir Kay commanded. So he was put into thekitchen, and lay every night as the scullions did; and so he enduredfor the whole year, and never displeased any, but was always gentle andmild. But whenever there was jousting, he would be there to see it ifhe could; and when there were sports for the servants of the court, healways took part, and none might cast the stone or the bar so far as heby full two yards. Then would Sir Kay say, "How like you my boy of thekitchen?"
The next Feast of Pentecost the king held at Caerleon in great state;and when he and his knights went in to meat, there came a damsel andsaluted him, and prayed him for succour.
"For whom?" asked the king. "What is the adventure?"
"Sir," said she, "there is a lady of great worship who is besieged bya tyrant, so that she may not go out of her castle; and because it isreported that here in your court are the noblest knights of the world, Iam come to pray you for succour."
"What call you the lady?" again asked the king. "Where dwelleth she, andwhat is his name that besieges her?"
"Sir King," answered the damsel, "as for my lady's name, that I may nottell you at this time. But she hath high rank and great estate; and thetyrant that besiegeth her and destroyeth her lands is called the RedKnight of the Red Lands."
"I know him not," said King Arthur.
"Sir," said Gawaine, "I know him well. He is one of the most perilousknights in the world; it is said he has seven men's strength, and fromhim I once escaped very narrowly with my life."
"Fair damsel," said the king, "there be knights here that wouldundertake to rescue your lady, but because you will not tell her name,nor where she dwelleth, none of my knights shall go with you by mywill."
"Then must I seek further," quoth the damsel.
But while she was making ready to depart, Beaumains came before the kingand said, "Sir King, God thank you, I have been these twelve months inyour kitchen, and have had my full sustenance; and now I will ask my twogifts that I spoke of before."
"Ask upon my peril," said the king.
"Then, sir, these shall be my two gifts: first, that you grant me theadventure of this damsel."
"Thou shalt have it," said the king; "I grant it thee."
"And, secondly, that ye bid Sir Lancelot du Lake to make me knight; forof him and no other will I be made knight. And when I am gone, I prayyou let him ride after me, and make me knight when I require him."
"All this shall be done," said Arthur.
"Fie on you, Sir King!" said the damsel wrathfully; "shall I have nonebut your kitchen-boy to undertake my adventure-?" So she took her horseand departed. And just then there came a dwarf, who brought to Beaumainsa noble horse and armour, and all else that was fitting. When he wasarmed, there were few in that court who were so goodly as he to lookupon. He took his leave of the king and Sir Gawaine, and prayed SirLancelot to ride after him; and then he took his horse and rode afterthe damsel.
Then said Sir Kay, "I will ride after my boy of the kitchen, to find outwhether he will know me for his better."
"You would do better to abide at home," said Gawaine.
But Sir Kay took his horse and spear, and rode after Beaumains, andpresently overtook him as he rode with the damsel. He called out, "What,Sir Beaumains, know you not me?"
Then Beaumains turned his horse, and saw that it was Sir Kay.
"Yes," he said; "I know you for an ungentle knight of the court, andtherefore beware of me."
Thereupon Sir Kay put his spear in rest, and ran upon him. But Beaumainsturned aside the spear with his sword, and smote Sir Kay so hard on theside that he fell as though he had been dead. Then Beaumains alighted,and took Sir Kay's spear and shield; and then he got on his horse again,and continued his way, bidding his dwarf ride Sir Kay's horse. Then cameSir Lancelot, and Beaumains proffered him to joust. They ran together somightily that both were borne to the earth and much bruised. When theyrose, Beaumains put his shield before him, and asked Sir Lancelot tofight with him on foot; and this they did for well-nigh an hour. SirLancelot found Beaumains so strong that he marvelled, for he fought morelike a giant than a man. Then Lancelot began to dread lest he should beshamed; so he said,--
"Beaumains, fight not so sore; your quarrel and mine is not so great butwe may leave off."
"That is true," said Beaumains; "but it doth me good to feel your might.And yet, my lord, I have not shown the uttermost." Then he asked SirLancelot to give him the order of knighthood.
"You must first tell me your name," said Lancelot, "and of what kin youare born."
"Sir, if you will not discover it, I will tell you," said Beaumains.
This Sir Lancelot promised; and then Beaumains disclosed that he wasGareth of Orkney, the youngest son of King Lot and brother to SirGawaine. Of this Lancelot was glad, and so made him a knight. ThenBeaumains departed with t
he damsel, and Sir Lancelot came back toSir Kay, and had him borne back to Caerleon on a shield. He was longdisabled by his wound, and escaped narrowly with his life; and allmen scorned him, because he had been overthrown by him whom he had somocked.
But when Beaumains overtook the damsel, she gave him nothing but hardwords.
"What do you here?" she said. "You smell of the kitchen. Your clothesare defiled with the grease and tallow you got in King Arthur'sscullery. Think you I hold you any the better for what you did to thatknight? Not so, for you overthrew him unhappily and cowardly. Therefore,prithee, return, poor kitchen-knave. I know thee well, for Sir Kay namedthee Beaumains. What art thou but a turner of spits and a washer ofdishes!"
"Damsel," he answered, "say to me what you choose, I shall not quit you;for King Arthur has given me your adventure, and I will fulfil it to theend, or else die in it."
"Thou finish my adventure!" she said "Talk not of it; for thou wilt bemet presently by one of such sort that, for all the broth thou hast eversupped, thou wouldst not look him in the face."
"That shall be seen," said Beaumains. And as they rode through the wood,there came one on horseback, fleeing in great fear.
"What is the matter?" asked Beaumains.
"O Knight, help me!" cried the other. "Hereby have six thieves taken mylord and bound him, and I fear they will slay him."
"Take me thither," said Beaumains, and presently they came to where thethieves were with the knight bound. Beaumains rode upon them, and withhis first three strokes he slew three of them, and the other three fled.He followed, whereupon they turned on him, and assailed him hard withswords and clubs; but it was to no purpose, for he slew them all, andthen returned and unbound the knight, who thanked him greatly, andbegged him to come to his castle, where he would give him rich rewards."Sir," said Beaumains, "I will have no reward, and I must follow thisdamsel." But when he came near her she bade him ride farther off,because he smelt of the kitchen. Then the knight that Beaumains hadreleased rode after the damsel, and prayed her to lodge with him thatnight, and because it was nearly dark she assented. But when at supperthe knight set Beaumains beside the damsel, she reproached him forplacing a common kitchen-knave at the same table with a lady ofhigh parentage. Then the knight was ashamed of her words, and he andBeaumains sat down at another table.
The next morning the damsel and Beaumains thanked the knight, and rodeforth again. Presently they came to a great river, where there wasbut one ford, and on the farther side were two knights that kept thepassage.
"What say est thou?" said the damsel. '"Wilt thou match yonder twoknights, or shall we return again?"
"Nay," said Beaumains, "I would not return again if there were sixmore." So he rushed into the water, and encountered one of the knightsin the middle of the ford. The spears of both broke in their hands; andthen they fought angrily with their swords, till at last Beaumains smotethe other so hard on the helm that he fell stunned into the water andwas drowned. Then he spurred his horse to the land, where the otherknight fell upon him and broke his spear also, and then again theyfought together with their swords, till Beaumains clove the knight'shead to his shoulders. When the damsel saw that, she crossed over theford.
"Alas," said she, "that ever a kitchen-boy should have the fortune todestroy two such doughty knights! Think not thou hast done well; for thefirst knight's horse stumbled, and he was drowned in the water, and notconquered by thy might; and as for the other, it was by mishap that thouslewest him."
"Damsel," said he, "you may say what you will, but with whomsoever Ihave to do, I trust in God to match him ere we part."
"Fie! fie! foul kitchen-knave," she answered. "Ere long thou shalt see aknight that will abate thy boast."
So then they rode on together till even-song, and ever she chid him andscoffed at him, and would not cease. So they came to a land that was allblack, and there was a black hawthorn by the way-side, on the which hunga black banner, and by its side a black shield. Near by stood a blackspear and a great black horse with silk trappings, and close at hand sata knight, all armed in black harness, who was named the Knight of theBlack Lands. When the damsel saw him she bade Beaumains flee down thevalley, for the horse was not saddled.
"I thank you," said Beaumains; "ever you would make me a coward."
Then the black knight came to the damsel and said, "Fair lady, have youbrought this knight from King Arthur's court to be your champion?"
"Nay, sir," she answered; "this is but a kitchen-knave that hath beenfed in the king's kitchen for alms."
"Why comes he in such an array?" asked the knight. "It is a great shamethat he bears you company."
"Sir, I cannot be delivered of him," said the damsel, "for he rides withme against my will. I would that you put him from me, or else slay him;for he is an unhappy knave, and hath done unhappily to-day throughpure misadventure, for he hath slain two knights at the passage of thewater."
"I wonder," said the black knight, "that any man of worship would haveto do with him."
"Sir, they know him not," she answered; "and because he rides with me,they think he is some knight of good blood."
"That may well be," said the black knight, "especially as he seems afull likely person, and worthy to be a strong man. But this much willI do for you, that I shall put him down on his feet, and his horse andarmour shall he leave with me, for it were shame for me to do him anymore harm."
"Sir Knight," quoth Beaumains, "thou art full large of my horse and myarmour. I let thee to wit it cost thee naught; and whether thou like itor not, this land will I pass in spite of thee. Neither horse nor armourwilt thou get of me, except thou win it with thy hands."
"Say you so?" said the black knight, smiling. "Now, yield thy lady to mewithout more words, for it beseems not a kitchen-knave to ride with sucha lady."
"Thou liest," answered Beaumains. "I am a gentleman born, and of higherlineage than thou, and that will I prove upon thy body."
Then in great wrath they drew apart with their horses, and ran togetherwith a crash like thunder. The black knight broke his spear to nopurpose, but Beaumains' spear thrust through the other's side, andbroke in his body. Nevertheless, he drew his sword, and smote hard atBeaumains, hurting him sorely, and Sir Beaumains struck again at him;but in no long time the black knight fell down in a swoon on the ground,and immediately afterwards he died there. When Beaumains saw that hishorse and armour were so good, he alighted and armed himself in theblack knight's armour, and took his horse, and then rode after thedamsel. But ever she gave him many reproaches, and said that he hadslain the black knight through mischance; and she warned him that therewas a knight near by who would give him full payment, therefore had hebetter flee. But Beaumains answered that he would not leave her for allthat she might say.
Then as they rode together they saw a knight riding by that was allarmed and dressed in green, and his horse had green trappings. Whenhe came nigh the damsel he said to her, "Is that my brother the blackknight that you have with you?"
"Nay," she answered; "this is an unhappy kitchen-knave that hath slainyour brother through mischance."
"Alas!" said the green knight, "it is a great pity that so noble aknight should be slain by a knave's hand.--Ah, traitor!" said he toBeaumains, "thou shalt die for slaying my brother."
"I defy thee," answered Beaumains; "for I let thee to wit that I slewhim knightly, and not shamefully."
Then they came together furiously, and the spears of both broke in theirhands. So they drew their swords, and fought a full hard battle, and thegreen knight dealt Beaumains many sore strokes; but at the last, for allhe could do, Beaumains got the better of him. So then the green knightyielded to Beaumains, and prayed him to grant him his life.
"All this is in vain," said Beaumains, "for thou shalt die, except mydamsel pray me to spare thy life and therewith he began to unlace hishelm, as though he would have slain him.
"Fie upon thee, kitchen-page!" said the damsel; "I will never pray theeto spare his life, for I w
ill never be so much in thy debt."
"Then shall he die," quoth Beaumains.
"Alas!" said the green knight, "suffer me not to die when a fair wordwould save my life.--O fair Knight," he said to Beaumains, "do thouspare me, and I will forgive thee the death of my brother, and everwill be thy man, and thirty knights that hold of me shall be at thycommandment."
"Thou art mad," said the damsel, "to talk of a dirty kitchen-knavehaving thirty knights' service."
"Sir Knight," answered Beaumains, "nothing shall avail you, unless mydamsel speak with me for thy life so he raised his sword as if to slayhim.
"Let be," said the damsel, "thou base scullion; slay not that knight, orelse thou wilt repent it."
"Damsel," said Beaumains, "your charge is to me a pleasure, and at yourcommandment I will spare his life."
Then the green knight knelt down and did homage to Beaumains, and afterthat he conducted them both to his castle, for by this time it was darknight. But even as before, the damsel would not suffer Beaumains tosit at the same table with her, so the green knight sat with him at aside-table. "I marvel," said he to the damsel, "that you rebuke thisnoble knight as you do, for I know no knight able to match him."
"It is a shame," she answered, "that you should say such worship ofhim."
"Truly," quoth the green knight, "it would be shameful of me to say anydisworship of him, for he has proved himself a better knight than I am."
On the morrow they rose early, and after they had broken their fast,the green knight, with the thirty knights that served him, escorted themthrough a perilous forest; and at parting he said that he and his thirtyknights would ever be at Sir Beau-mains' command. So the knight anddamsel pursued their way; and still she chid him as sorely as ever, andbade him flee, for they were coming to a place where he would otherwisebe put to shame. But of this Beaumains took no heed. And as they rodethey came to a great tower, with battlements, as white as snow, and overits gate there hung fifty shields of different colours. By the towerwas a fair meadow, on which were standing many pavilions, and thereaboutwere knights and squires, for on the next day there was appointed to bea tournament at that castle. The lord of it was called the red knight,because he went all in red Looking out of the window, he saw SirBeaumains where he rode with his damsel and his dwarf. "With thatknight," said he, "will I joust, for I see that he is a knight-errant."So he armed him hastily, and mounted his horse; and when he drew nearSir Beaumains, and saw his black armour, he thought it was his brotherthe black knight, and said, "Brother, what do you in these marches?"
"Nay," said the damsel; "this is not your brother, but an unhappykitchen-knave that hath overcome your brother, and taken his horseand armour; and I saw him also overcome your other brother, the greenknight. Now you may be avenged upon him, for I cannot get quit of him."
So without more words the two knights took their distance, and cametogether with such force that both their horses fell to the earth. Thenthey took to their swords, and fought sternly therewith for well-nightwo hours. The damsel, who stood by and watched them, at last cried out,"Alas, thou noble red knight, think what worship hath followed thee, andlet not a kitchen-knave endure before thee as this one doth." Then thered knight was wroth, and redoubled his strokes, hurting Beaumains sosore that his blood ran down to the ground; but Beaumains answered himfull fiercely, and in a little while smote him to the earth. So the redknight cried for mercy, and said, "Noble Knight, slay me not, and I willyield to thee with fifty knights that be at my command."
"This will avail thee naught," said Beaumains, "unless my damsel pray meto save thy life." And he made semblance to strike off his head.
"Let be, thou Beaumains," said the damsel; "slay him not, for he is anoble knight."
Then Beaumains bade the knight stand up and thank the damsel for hislife. And the red knight entertained them that night at his castle,where they had merry cheer, except that the damsel still spoke many foulwords to Sir Beaumains. On the morrow, before they departed, the redknight came with his fifty knights to proffer their homage to SirBeaumains, who thanked him courteously. And then he and the damsel rodeaway together; and when she chid him again he said, "Damsel, you areuncourteous to rebuke me as you do. I have done you great service; andthough ever you threaten me that I shall be beaten by the knights wemeet, yet hitherto they have all had to lie in the mire. When you seeme beaten, or yielding recreant, then may you bid me go from youshamefully; but till then, I tell you plainly, I will not depart fromyou, for I should be worse than a fool were I to leave you while I winworship."
Then was she somewhat abashed, but she said, "Well, right soon shaltthou meet with a knight that will pay thee all thy wages, for he is theman of most worship in the world, except Lancelot."
"The more worship he has," answered Beaumains, "the more worship willit be to me to have to do with him."
In a little while they came in sight of a fair city, and between themand the city was a great meadow that was newly mown, whereon were manypavilions. The damsel told Beaumains that the lord of that city was agoodly knight called Sir Persaunt of Ind, whose custom it was in fairweather to dwell in that meadow to joust and tourney, and that he hadever about him five hundred knights and gentlemen. The damsel would havehad Beaumains avoid Sir Persaunt, lest he should get some hurt; forthey were now near the castle where the Bed Knight of the Bed Lands laidsiege to her lady, and Sir Persaunt, she said, though a strong knight,was as nothing to him. But Beaumains answered her fairly and softly thathe should think it shame not to prove Sir Persaunt, now they had come sonear him. Then said the damsel, "I marvel what manner of man you be. Youmust surely come of noble blood, for more foully or shamefully did ladynever rule or rebuke a knight than I have done to you, and yet you haveborne all patiently."
"Damsel," said Beaumains, "a knight is worth little that cannot endurea woman's tongue; but, in truth, the more you said the more you angeredme, and I wreaked my wrath on those with whom I had to do, so that allyour hard words only furthered me in my battles. As to my blood, thoughit is true I had meat in King Arthur's kitchen, yet if I had willed Imight have had meat elsewhere, and all I did there was but to prove myfriends."
"Alas! fair Beaumains," said she, "forgive me all that I have missaidand misdone against you."
"With all my heart," answered Beaumains.
While thus they spoke together Sir Persaunt of Ind had seen them, andhe sent to know whether Beaumains came in war or in peace. "Say untothy lord," said Beaumains, "that I care not; it is as he himself maychoose."
"Then," said Sir Persaunt, when this answer came to him, "will I haveado with him to the uttermost." So he armed himself, and rode towardBeaumains. Then they met together so hard that both their spears werebroken, and their horses fell dead to the earth. So they drew theirswords, and fought for more than two hours, and both were sore woundedand their armour cut in many places; but at the last Sir Beaumains smoteSir Persaunt on the helm so that he fell grovelling to the ground,and leaped upon him, and unlaced his helm to have slain him. Then SirPersaunt yielded, and cried for mercy, and the damsel came and askedfor his life, which Beaumains readily granted. Then said Sir Persaunt,"Certes, Sir Knight, you must be he that slew my brother Sir Periard theblack knight, and conquered my other brothers, Sir Pertolope the greenknight and Sir Perimones the red knight. And now, sir, you shall havehomage and fealty of me, and a hundred knights to be always at yourcommand."
So they went to Sir Persaunt's pavilion, where they supped merrilytogether, and afterwards retired to rest. When they had broken theirfast the next day, Sir Persaunt asked whither they were going. "Sir,"said the damsel, "we are going to the siege of my sister at the CastleDangerous."
"Ah," said Sir Persaunt, "there is the Red Knight of the Red Lands,who is the most perilous knight that I know, and a man that is withoutmercy, and it is said he hath seven men's strength. He doth great wrongto the lady, and that is a pity, for she is one of the fairest in theworld. If thou art her sister, is not thy name Lynette?"
/> "Yes," she said; "and my sister's name is Dame Lyons."
So they had more talk together, and under promise that they would notreveal it, Sir Beaumains disclosed to them his real name and lineage.
Then the damsel Lynette sent word to Dame Lyons of her coming, andhow she had brought with her a knight that had passed all the perilouspassages; and when she heard how he had slain the two knights at theford, and the black knight, and had overthrown the green knight, the redknight, and the blue knight, which was Sir Persaunt, she was very glad,for she said that he must be one of the best knights of the world.Therefore she sent rich food and wine to a hermitage that was near athand, and by the dwarf she sent a courteous message to Sir Beaumains.This the dwarf bore, and as he was again returning to the castle, he metwith the Red Knight of the Red Lands, who asked him whence he came, andwhere he had been.
"Sir," said he, "I have been with the lady's sister of this castle, andshe has been to King Arthur's court, and has brought a knight with her."
"Well," said the knight, "though she had brought Sir Lancelot or SirGawaine, I would think myself good enough for them."
"It may well be," said the dwarf; "but this knight has passed all theperilous places;" and he told the red knight all that Beaumains haddone.
"Then," said the red knight, "he is one of those I have named."
"He is none of those," answered the dwarf, "but he is a king's son.
"What is his name?"
"That will I not tell you," said the dwarf; "but Sir Kay in scorn calledhim Beaumains."
"I care not for him," said the red knight. "What knight soever he be,I shall soon deal with him; and if I win him, he shall have a shamefuldeath, as many others have had."
"That were a pity," said the dwarf, and so they parted.
That night Sir Beaumains and the damsel Lynette remained at thehermitage. The next morning they took their horses, and rode through aforest, and came to a plain, where they saw many pavilions and tents,and beyond them a great castle. As they came near the siege, Beaumainssaw that upon great trees to the right and to the left hung by the necksmore than forty knights, with their shields and swords fastened aboutthem. Then Sir Beaumains abated his countenance, and said, "What isthis?"
"Fair sir," said Lynette, "do not be discouraged by this sight. Allthese knights came hither to this siege to rescue my sister; and whenthe Red Knight of the Red Lands had overcome them, he put them to thisshameful death without mercy or pity, and in the same way will he serveyou, unless you prove yourself the better."
"Jesu defend me," cried Beaumains, "from such a villanous death! Ratherthan I should fare thus, I would be slain in the battle."
"You need not trust in him," said the damsel, "for he hath no courtesy,but all that he overcomes are shamefully murdered. And that is a greatpity, for he is a full likely man, and of great prowess, and hath widelands and possessions."
"He may be a noble knight," said Beaumains, "but he useth shamefulcustoms; and it is marvellous that none of the good knights of my lordKing Arthur have dealt with him before now."
Now were they come to a tall sycamore tree, on which hung the greatesthorn they ever saw, made of elephant's bone; and Lynette told Beaumainsthat if he would meet the Red Knight of the Red Lands he must blow thathorn. "But, sir, I pray you," she said, "blow it not till noon; for itis now but prime, and it is said that his strength increases till atnoon he has seven men's strength."
"Fie for shame, fair damsel," said Beaumains; "say no more as to that.If he were the best knight that ever was, I would meet him in his mostmight;" and with that he spurred his horse to the sycamore, and blewthe horn so eagerly that all the place rang with the noise. Then cameknights from the tents and pavilions to look, and they that were in thecastle looked from the walls. As for the red knight, he armed himselfhastily, and took a red spear in his hand, and rode out to a place whereall that were in the castle and at the siege might see the battle.
"Sir," said Lynette to Beaumains, "now be merry, for yonder comes yourdeadly enemy, and there is my sister;" and she showed him where DameLyons was looking from a window in the castle.
"By my head," said Beaumains, "she is the fairest lady that ever Ilooked upon, and I ask nothing better than to do battle in her quarrel,for she shall be my lady, and for her will I fight;" and as he lookedat her, Dame Lyons made him a courtesy. With that came the Red Knight ofthe Red Lands, that called to Beaumains,--
"Leave thy looking, Sir Knight, and behold me; for I warn thee that ismy lady, and for her have I done many strong battles."
"If thou hast," answered Beaumains, "it seems to me it was but wastelabour, for she loveth thee not. If I were advised that she were notglad of my coming, I would not do battle for her; but wit thou well,Knight, that now I love her, and will rescue her, or else die in thequarrel."
"Say you so," said the red knight. "Methinks you ought to beware, onaccount of those knights that you see hanging on yonder great elms."
"For shame," answered Beaumains, "that you should ever say or do suchevil, in the which you shame yourself and the order of knighthood. Thinkyou that the sight of those hanged knights causes me to fear? Trulyit is not so: that shameful sight causes me to have more courage andhardihood against you."
"If thou be a well-ruled knight," said the other, "make thou ready, andtalk no longer."
So they dashed together with all the might they had, and smote eachother in the middle of the shield, so that their spears broke, and bothfell to the ground, where they lay for some time stunned; and all thatwere watching said the strange knight must be a noble jouster, for neverbefore had the Red Knight of the Red Lands been so matched. Then theydrew their swords, and rushed at each other like fierce lions, dealinggreat buffets, till they hewed large pieces from their shields and theirarmour. And so they fought, hour after hour, till it was past noon,and neither would stint, and then they rested awhile. When they went tobattle again, they fought more fiercely than ever, and dashed againsteach other so hard that often both fell to the ground. Thus they enduredtill eventide, and none could tell which was the likelier to win thebattle. Their armour was so hewn that in many places were they naked,but ever they defended those places. The red knight was a wily fighter,and his cunning taught Beaumains to be wise, but he bought his wisdomfull dearly. Then they agreed to rest again, and took off their helmsto catch the cool air. When Beaumains' helm was off, he looked up at thewindow and saw Dame Lyons, and she gave him such a look that his heartwas light and joyful. So suddenly he started up, and bade the red knightmake ready. "I am full willing," said the red knight. So they got theirhelms on again, and the stern combat began once more. But the red knightsmote Beaumains on the arm, so that his sword fell out of his hand, andgave him thereafter such a buffet on the helm that he fell on the earth,and the red knight fell over him to hold him down. Then cried the damselLynette, "O Beaumains! where is thy courage? Alas! my sister beholdsthee, and sobs and weeps so that it makes my heart heavy."
When Beaumains heard that, he rose with great might, and leaped lightlyto his sword, caught it in his hand, and rushed upon the red knight,dealing his blows so thick and fast as to smite the sword out of hishand. Then he hurled him to the ground, and unlaced his helm to slayhim.
Then the red knight yielded, and cried for mercy; but Beaumains thoughtof the knights that had been so shamefully hanged, and answered, "I maynot with worship spare thy life, because of the shameful deaths thouhast caused so many good knights to die."
"Sir," said the red knight, "hold your hand, and you shall know why Iput them to such a death."
"Say on," said Beaumains.
"Sir, I once loved a lady, and she had a brother slain. She said itwas by Sir Lancelot du Lake or Sir Gawaine, and she made me swear, as Iloved her, to labour daily in arms till I met one of them, and that allI overcame I should put to a villanous death."
Now there came many earls and barons and noble knights, and fell ontheir knees before Sir Beaumains, and prayed him to give the red knighthis
life.
"Fair lords," said Beaumains, "I am full loath to slay this knight, forthough he has done very shamefully, it was all at at lady's request, sohe is the less to be blamed. So I will release him upon this covenant,that he shall go within the castle and yield there to my lady, and askher forgiveness. He must also make her amends for all the trespasses hehas done upon her lands. And when that is done, he must go to the courtof King Arthur, and crave pardon of Sir Lancelot du Lake and of SirGawaine for the ill-will he has borne against them."
"Sir," said the Red Knight of the Red Lands, "all this will I do asyou command." Then he and all his barons did homage and fealty to SirBeaumains. After that the damsel Lynette, who was a right skilled leech,came and searched the wounds of both. For ten days they sojourned in thetents, and when they were healed, the Red Knight of the Red Lands wentinto the castle and made his peace with Dame Lyons, making amends to herfor all the wrong he had done her. After that he departed, and rode tothe court of King Arthur, where he craved pardon of Sir Lancelot and SirGawaine, and told how he had been overcome, and of all Sir Beaumains'battles.
"By my head," said King Arthur, "I marvel much of what blood he hathcome, for he is a passing good knight."
"Be assured," said Lancelot, "that he is come of right noble blood; andas for his might, there are few knights now living that are so good ashe."
"From your manner of speech," quoth the king, "you know his name, and ofwhat kin he is."
"I suppose I do," said Lancelot, "else would I not have given him theorder of knighthood; but he gave me at that time a charge that I shouldnot disclose it till he required me, or till otherwise it were openlymade known."
In the meanwhile Beaumains, being whole of his wounds, greatly desiredto see his lady, Dame Lyons, so he armed himself, took his spear, androde to the castle; but when he came to the gate, he found it shut. Hemarvelled why they would not suffer him to enter; and as he looked up atthe castle, he saw there the lady herself, who said to him,--
"Go thy way, Sir Beaumains, for as yet thou shalt not wholly have mylove till thou be called one of the number of worthy knights. Thereforego and labour worshipfully in arms these twelve months, and then shaltthou hear new tidings."
"Ah, fair lady," said Beaumains, "I have not deserved that you shouldshow me this strangeness. I thought to have had good cheer with you, andsure am I that I have bought your love with part of the best blood in mybody."
"Fair knight," answered Dame Lyons, "be not displeased, nor over hasty,but believe me that what I have ordered is for the best. A twelvemonthwill soon be over, and I promise you that I will not betray you, butunto my death I will love you and none other."
So Beaumains went away from the castle very sad at heart, for his lovefor Dame Lyons was exceedingly great. He rode hither and thither withoutheeding where he went, and his dwarf followed him. That night he lodgedat a poor man's house, but could get no rest for thinking of his lady;so the next day about noon he was very sleepy, and he lay down on thegrass with his head on his shield, bidding the dwarf watch his horse.Now no sooner had he gone from the castle than Dame Lyons, who loved himno less sorely than he her, began to repent her that she had sent himaway, and the next morning she sent for her brother, Sir Gringamor, thatwas a good knight, and entreated him to follow Beaumains and watch anopportunity to get his dwarf from him. And she asked him to carry thedwarf to his own castle, whither she would herself go, and then theymight, by questioning the dwarf, learn who Beaumains really was. SirGringamor undertook to do all as she desired; so he followed Beaumains,and came where he was asleep, with the dwarf watching. Then suddenly hecame behind the dwarf, and carried him off in his arms to his castle;but as they rode away, the dwarf cried out on his master. At thisBeaumains awoke, and saw Gringamor, whose armour was all black, carryingaway his dwarf. So he sprang up lightly, mounted his horse, and followedas hard as he could; but he knew not the way, and so lost sight of himthat he pursued. However, as he rode he met a countryman, and asked himwhether he had not seen a knight in black armour, bearing a dwarf in hisarms.
"Sir," said the man, "here passed by me a knight called Sir Gringamor,with a dwarf that mourned and complained, and he went to his castle,which is near by. But I counsel you to follow him not unless you owe himgood-will, for he is a very perilous knight."
This counsel Beaumains regarded not, but rode toward the castle, whitherGringamor had already come with the dwarf. There Dame Lyons and hersister questioned him so sharply that he told them his master was theson of King Lot and brother to Sir Gawaine, and that his name was SirGareth of Orkney. At this Dame Lyons was greatly rejoiced. "Truly,madam," said Lynette, "he may well be a king's son, for he is the mostcourteous and long-suffering man I ever met. I dare say there was nevergentlewoman that reviled a man as I reviled him; and at all times hegave me goodly and meek answers again."
As they thus sat talking, there came Sir Gareth to the gate, with anangry countenance and his drawn sword in his hand, and cried aloud,"Thou traitor, Sir Gringamor, give me my dwarf, or, by the faith I oweto the order of knighthood, I shall do you all the harm I can."
Then Sir Gringamor looked out at a window, and said, "Sir Gareth ofOrkney, cease thy boasting words, for thou gettest not thy dwarf again."
"Thou coward knight," returned Sir Gareth, "bring him with thee and dobattle with me, and win him if you can."
"So will I do if I choose," answered Gringamor; "but for all thy angrywords, thou wilt not get him."
"Ah, brother," said Dame Lyons, "I would he had his dwarf again, for Ido not wish that he should be wroth. Know you that I love him before allothers; and now I wish you would bring him here within that I may speakwith him, but do not let him know who I am."
So Gringamor went down to Sir Gareth, and said, "Sir, I cry you mercy,and all that I have misdone against you I will amend at your pleasure.Therefore, I beg you to alight and take such cheer as I can give you inthis castle."
"But shall I have my dwarf again?" said Sir Gareth.
"Yea, sir," answered Gringamor; "for as soon as your dwarf told me whoyou were, and what noble deeds you had done in these marches, I repentedof what I had done."
Then Sir Gareth alighted, and Gringamor led him into the castle. Andin the hall Dame Lyons met him, arrayed like a princess, and gave hima hearty welcome. When Sir Gareth beheld her he was greatly struck withher beauty, and said to himself, "Would that the lady of the CastleDangerous were as fair as she." So ever his love grew hotter, and hecould not keep his eyes from her. This Sir Gringamor noted, and he tookhis sister aside, and asked her whether she willed to marry Sir Gareth,for his love for her was plain. And she answered that she loved himbetter than any other man in the world, and deemed no better than tohave him for a husband. This told Gringamor to Sir Gareth, who was rightglad; and thereafter he went to Dame Lyons, and either made great joyof the other. Then she told him she was the lady for whom he had donebattle, and also how she had caused her brother to take away his dwarfthat she might certainly know who he was. And she brought to him thedamsel Lynette. At this Sir Gareth was more glad than before, and theywere agreed to be married as soon as might be.
In the meanwhile, the Feast of Pentecost came round, and King Arthurheld his court at Camelot. Then came the green knight with thirtyknights, and they yielded to the king; and also the red knight withfifty knights; and Sir Persaunt the blue knight with a hundred knights.They all told King Arthur how they had been overcome by Sir Beaumains,and had come to court at his bidding. There also came the Red Knight ofthe Red Lands, that was named Sir Ironside, with five hundred knights.And all of them could never say enough in praise of the might andgentleness of Sir Beaumains. So the king and all his court went in totheir meat, and presently there entered the Queen of Orkney with a greatnumber of knights and ladies. She said to her brother King Arthur,"What have you done with my young son Sir Gareth? He was here with you atwelvemonth, and you made of him a kitchen-knave, which is a great shameto you all. Alas! what hath become of my dear son, who wa
s my joy andbliss?"
"Oh, dear mother," said Gawaine, "I knew him not."
"Nor I," said the king, "which I sorely repent. But, God be thanked, hehas proved himself a worshipful knight as any now living of his years,and I shall not be glad till I find him."
So they devised means to find him, and the king sent a messenger to DameLyons to summon her to court. She sent word back that she would come assoon as might be; and Sir Gareth advised her not to reveal where he was,but to give her advice that the best way to find him would be to appointa tournament, at which the knight who was proved the best should takeher and her lands. Then Dame Lyons went to King Arthur, and was fullroyally received. But always she would not tell where Sir Gareth was,but said that she would hold a tournament at her castle, where herknights should be against King Arthur's, and then she was sure theyshould hear of Sir Gareth.
So great preparations were made for the tournament, and Sir Garethsummoned to Dame Lyons' castle Sir Ironside and Sir Persaunt, andthe green and red knights with their following. Also many other nobleknights came to take part against King Arthur's. Among them were SirEpinogris, son of the King of Northumberland, Sir Palomides the Saracen,and his brothers Sir Safre and Sir Legwarides that were christened, SirBrian of the Isles, a noble knight, and Sir Grummore Grummorsum, a goodknight of Scotland. There came also Sir Tristram de Lyons--who by thistime was reckoned the best knight of the world after Sir Lancelot, butwas not yet a Knight of the Round Table--and many more. But there camewith King Arthur to the tournament most of the Knights of the RoundTable. There were Sir Gawaine and his brethren Sir Agravaine and SirGaheris; Sir Tor, Sir Percivale de Galis and Sir Lamoracke de Galis,sons of King Pellinore, and all of them, especially the last, passinggood knights; Sir Lancelot, with all his kin; Sir Sagramour, SirDinadan, King Anguisance of Ireland, King Carados of Scotland, KingUrience of Gore, King Bagdemagus and his son Sir Meleagans; and SirGalahaut the high prince, with other good knights whose names need notbe here given. And great provision was made in and about the castle forthe lodging of all the knights.
Now Sir Gareth begged all the knights that were on his side that theyshould not make him known; and his lady, Dame Lyons, gave him a magicalring, that had the virtue of changing the colours of him who wore itevery time he chose, and also the knight who wore it could lose noblood. Of this ring Sir Gareth was very glad, because it would preventhim from being known.
When the tournament began on the first day, there came from the castleSir Epinogris, and Sir Sagramour met him on King Arthur's part, andboth broke their spears. Then Sir Palomides, a knight of the castle,encountered Sir Gawaine, and both were overthrown. Then the knights oneither part rescued their fellows, and remounted them. And soon therewas a great concourse of knights. Sir Aglovale and Sir Tor, Knights ofthe Round Table, smote down Sir Brian and Sir Grummore. Sir Tristram,Sir Sadocke, and Sir Dinas, knights of the castle, encountered SirBedivere, Sir Petipace, and Sir Ewaine. Sir Tristram overthrew SirBedivere, but Sir Sadocke and Sir Dinas had the worse. Then came inSir Persaunt of Ind; but with him met Sir Lancelot, and smote him down,horse and man. Sir Pertolope the green knight encountered Sir Lionel,and smote him out of his saddle; and Sir Perimones the red knight ranagainst Sir Ector de Maris in such wise that both were unhorsed. Thencame in Sir Ironside and Sir Gareth from the castle, and against themwere Sir Bors and Sir Bleoberis, cousins to Sir Lancelot. Sir Bors andSir Ironside struck each other so hard that both their spears broke andtheir horses fell to the earth; but Sir Gareth overturned Sir Bleoberis,and with the same spear he smote down Sir Galihodin, Sir Galihud, SirDinadan, Sir Brewnor, and Sir Sagramour. When King Anguisance saw SirGareth do this, he marvelled who it might be, for at every course SirGareth changed his colours, and at one time he was in green, at anotherin red, and again in blue. Then King Anguisance encountered Sir Gareth,who smote him down, horse and man; and in the same wise he servedKing Carados, King Urience, King Bagdemagus and his son Sir Meleagans.Thereafter came in Sir Galahaut the high prince, who cried,--
"Knight of the many colours, well hast thou jousted; now make theeready, that I may joust with thee."
When Sir Gareth heard that, he took a new spear, and the two rantogether. The prince broke his spear, but Sir Gareth smote him on theleft side so that he reeled in his saddle, and would have fallen had nothis men come round him and recovered him.
"So God me help," said King Arthur, "that knight with the many coloursis a good knight;" and he prayed Sir Lancelot to joust with him. But SirLancelot, who was ever courteous and noble, said that the knight had hadtravail enough for that day, and ought to have the honour. "Though itlay in my power to put him from it," he said, "yet would I not do so."
Then followed a great tournament with swords, wherein Sir Lancelot didmarvellously. Between Sir Lamoracke de Galis and Sir Ironside there wasa strong battle, and also between Sir Palomides and Sir Bleoberis. SirGawaine encountered with Sir Tristram; but there he had the worse, forSir Tristram pulled him off his horse. Sir Lancelot encountered with twostrong knights of the castle at once, and fought right worshipfully withboth; but Sir Gareth came between and put them asunder, and would strikeno blow against Sir Lancelot, wherefore Sir Lancelot suspected who hewas. Shortly after, Sir Gareth met his brother Sir Gawaine, and unhorsedhim; and so he did to five or six other knights, so that all who beheldsaid that he did better than any. Then Sir Tristram, who had seen howwell he had done, went to Sir Ironside and Sir Persaunt and asked themwho that knight was that went in so many different colours. So theytold him, and related the great deeds he had done when he rode with thedamsel Lynette.
"By my head," said Sir Tristram, "he is a good knight and a big man ofarms; and if he be young, he will yet prove a full noble knight."
So Sir Tristram, Sir Ironside, Sir Persaunt, and Sir Perimones rodetogether to help Sir Gareth, who went on one side to repair his helm anddrink water. And he gave his dwarf his ring to hold while he drank, andthen forgot to get it again; of which the dwarf was glad, because hedesired that Sir Gareth should be known. So then Sir Gareth went alwaysin yellow colours, and King Arthur sent a herald to espy who he was. Theherald went close to him, and saw written round his helm, in letters ofgold, "This is Sir Gareth of Orkney." So at King Arthur's command allthe heralds proclaimed aloud that the knight in yellow colours was SirGareth of Orkney. When Sir Gareth saw that he was known, he was wroth,and redoubled his strokes, and he smote down his brother Sir Gawaine.
"O brother," said Gawaine, "I thought not you would have stricken me."
At that Sir Gareth got out of the press, and came to his dwarf, and tookhis ring, and changed his colours again. But Gawaine saw where he hadridden, and followed him. Thereupon Gareth rode far into the wood, sothat Gawaine knew not whither he had gone. Then Gareth sent back herring to his lady, Dame Lyons, and let her know that he would come to hersoon; and he rode forth, and had many perilous adventures. After threedays, he met with an armed knight whom he did not know, and theyfought fiercely together more than two hours, and hurt each other sore.Presently there came riding the damsel Lynette, and she called out, "SirGawaine, Sir Gawaine! leave fighting with thy brother Sir Gareth."
Then they knew each other, and rejoiced greatly. And Lynette rode toKing Arthur, who was within two miles, and brought him and all his courtto the place. And the joy that King Arthur and Sir Lancelot had whenthey saw Sir Gareth cannot be told.
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In no long time after this were Dame Lyons and Sir Gareth married atKinkenadon, and at the same time the damsel Lynette was married to hisbrother Sir Gaheris. Great was the splendour of the marriage, and therewas much rejoicing. A three days' tournament was held; but Sir Garethand Sir Gaheris did not joust, because they were newly married. On thefirst day, Sir Lamoracke de Galis overthrew thirty knights, and won theprize; and on that day were Sir Persaunt of Ind and his two brethrenmade Knights of the Round Table. On the second day Sir Tristramoverthrew forty knights, and won the prize; and then was Sir Ironsidemade a Knight of the Round Table. O
n the third day Sir Lancelot du Lakecame in, and he overthrew fifty knights, so the prize was given tohim. But the feast was kept up for forty days, because King Arthur waswishful to do honour to his nephew Sir Gareth.
And thus ends the story of the quest that was undertaken by. Sir Gareth,who was always a good knight; for he was mighty in the field, and woulddo nothing that was shameful, and was always courteous and gentle toladies.