"That is truth," said Beaumains, "but it doth me good to feel your might. Hope ye that I may any while stand a proved knight?"

"Yea," said Lancelot, "do as ye have done, and I shall be your 5 warrant."

"Then I pray you," said Beaumains, "give me the order of knighthood."

"Then must ye tell me your name," said Lancelot.

"Sir," he said, "my name is Gareth, and I am brother unto 10 Sir Gawain."

“Ah, sir,” said Lancelot, "I am more glad of you than I was, for ever methought ye should be of great blood and that ye came not to the court for meat or drink.'

Then Sir Lancelot gave him the order of knighthood and 15 departed from him and came to Sir Kay and made him to be borne home upon his shield, and he was healed of his wound.

But when Beaumains had overtaken the damsel, she said, "What dost thou here? Thou smellest of the kitchen; thy clothes be soiled with the grease and tallow that thou gainest in King 20 Arthur's kitchen. Therefore, turn again, dirty kitchen boy; I know thee well, for Sir Kay named thee Beaumains."

"Damsel," said Beaumains, "say to me what ye will; I will not go from you, whatever ye say, for I have undertaken to King Arthur to achieve your adventure, and so shall I finish it to 25 the end or I shall die therefor."

So thus as they rode in the wood, there came a man flying all that ever he might. "Whither wilt thou?" said Beaumains. "O sir," he said, "help me, for six thieves have taken my lord and bound him, so I am afraid lest they will slay him." 30 "Bring me thither," said Beaumains.

And so they rode together until they came where the knight was bound and then he rode unto the thieves and slew them all and unbound the knight. And the knight thanked him and prayed him to ride with him to his castle and he should reward 35 him for his good deeds.

"Sir," said Beaumains, "I will no reward have; I was this day made knight of noble Sir Lancelot and therefore I will no reward have but God reward me. Also I must follow this damsel."

And when he came nigh her, she bade him ride from her. 5 "For thou smellest of the kitchen," she said. Then the same knight which was rescued rode after the damsel and prayed them to lodge with him that night, and so that night they had good cheer and rest.

And on the morrow the damsel and Beaumains rode on their 10 way until they came to a great forest. And there was a river and but one passage, and there were two knights to prevent their crossing. "What sayest thou," said the damsel; "wilt thou match yonder knights or turn again?"

"Nay," said Sir Beaumains, "I will not turn again if they were 15 six more." And therewith he rushed into the water, and they drew their swords and smote at each other, and Sir Beaumains slew both the knights.

20

25

80

"Alas," said the damsel, "that a kitchen boy should have the fortune to destroy two such brave knights."

"Damsel," said Beaumains, "I care not what ye say, so that I may rescue your lady."

"If you follow me," said the damsel, "thou art but slain, for I see all that ever thou dost is but by chance and not by might of thy hands."

"Well, damsel, ye may say what ye will, but wheresoever ye go, I will follow you."

So Beaumains rode with that lady till evening, and ever she chid him and would not stop. And they came to a black plain and there was a black hawthorne and thereon hung a black shield and by it stood a black spear, great and long, and a great black horse covered with silk.

HOW BEAUMAINS FOUGHT WITH THE FOUR KNIGHTS

There sat a knight all armed in black armor and his name was the Knight of the Black Lands. And when the damsel came nigh he said, "Damsel, have ye brought this knight of King Arthur to be your champion?" "Nay, fair knight," said she, 5 "this is but a kitchen boy that was fed in King Arthur's kitchen for alms."

"Why cometh he," said the knight, "in such array? It is shame that he beareth you company."

"Sir, I cannot be freed from him; through mishap I saw 10 him slay two knights at the passage of the water, and other deeds he did before right marvelous and by chance."

15

"I marvel," said the Black Knight, "that any man that is of honor will fight with him."

"They know him not," said the damsel.

"That may be," said the knight, "but this much I shall grant you; I shall put him down upon foot, and his horse and his armor he shall leave with me, for it were shame to me to do him any more harm."

When Sir Beaumains heard him say thus, he said, "Sir Knight, 20 thou art full liberal of my horse and armor. I let thee know it cost thee nought, and horse nor armor gettest thou none of mine unless thou win them with thy hands."

Then in great wrath they came together as it had been thunder. When they had fought for an hour and a half the Black 25 Knight fell down off his horse in a swoon and there he died. And Beaumains armed him in his armor and took his horse and rode after the damsel.

When she saw him come nigh, she said, "Away, kitchen boy, for the smell of thy clothes grieveth me. Alas, that a kitchen 30 boy should by mishap slay so good a knight as thou hast done." "I warn you, fair damsel," said Beaumains, "that I will not flee away nor leave your company for all that ye can say; ride on your way, for follow you I will, whatsoever happen."

5

Thus as they rode together they saw a knight come driving by them all in green, both his horse and his armor, and when he came nigh the damsel, he asked her, "Is that my brother, the Black Knight, that ye have brought with you?"

"Nay, nay," she said, "this kitchen boy hath slain your brother."

"Ah! traitor," said the Green Knight, "thou shalt die for slaying of my brother."

"I defy thee," said Beaumains, "for I slew him knightly and 10 not shamefully."

And then they ran together with all their might and fought a long while, and at last Beaumains gave the Green Knight such a buffet upon the helmet that he fell upon his knees. And then the Green Knight cried for mercy and prayed Sir Beaumains to 15 slay him not.

"Fair Knight," said the Green Knight, "save my life and I will forgive thee the death of my brother and forever be thy man, and thirty knights that follow me shall forever do you service."

"Sir Knight," said Beaumains, "all this availeth thee not un20 less this damsel speak with me for thy life." And therewith he made a motion as if to slay him.

"Let be," said the damsel, "slay him not, for if thou do thou shalt repent it."

Then Beaumains said, "Sir Knight, I release thee at this 25 damsel's request."

80

85

And then the Green Knight kneeled down and did him homage with his sword, and he said, "Ye shall lodge with me this night, and tomorrow I shall help you through this forest." So they took their horses and rode to his manor.

And ever the damsel rebuked Beaumains and would not allow him to sit at her table. "I marvel," said the Green Knight, "why ye rebuke this noble knight as ye do, for I warn you, damsel, he is a full noble knight and I know no knight is able to match him; therefore you do great wrong to rebuke him." And on the morrow they took their horses and rode on their

way, and the Green Knight said, "My lord Beaumains, I and these thirty knights shall be always at your summons both early and late."

"It is well said," said Beaumains; "when I call upon you ye 5 must yield you unto King Arthur and all your knights."

"If ye so command us, we shall be ready at all times," said the Green Knight. So then departed the Green Knight.

So within a while they saw a town as white as any snow, and the lord of the tower was in his castle and looked out at a 10 window and saw a damsel and a knight. So he armed him hastily. And when he was on horseback, it was all red, both his horse and his armor. And when he came nigh he thought it was his brother, the Black Knight, and he cried aloud, "Brother, what do ye here?"

15 "Nay, nay," said the damsel, "it is not he. This is but a kitchen boy. He hath killed thy brother, the Black Knight. Also I saw thy brother, the Green Knight, overcome by him. Now may ye be revenged on him."

With this the knights came together with all their might and 20 fought furiously for two hours, so that it was wonder to see that strong battle. Yet at the last, Sir Beaumains struck the Red Knight to the earth. And the Red Knight cried mercy, saying, "Noble knight, slay me not, and I shall yield me to thee with sixty knights that be at my command. And I forgive thee all 25 thou hast done to me, and the death of my brother, the Black Knight."

"All this availeth not," said Beaumains, "unless the damsel pray me to save thy life." And therewith he made a motion as if to slay him.

30 "Let be," said the damsel; "slay him not, for he is a noble knight."

Then Beaumains bade the Red Knight stand up, and the Red Knight prayed them to see his castle and rest there that night. And upon the morn he came before Beaumains with his three 8 score knights and offered him his homage and service.