Chapter Chapter 134 · How the damosel and Beaumains came to the siege; and came

. 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 I will 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.