Kabanata Kabanata 123 · How Beaumains departed, and how he gat of Sir Kay a spear

. How Beaumains departed, and how he gat of Sir Kay a spear

and a shield, and how he jousted with Sir Launcelot.

But there went many after to behold how well he was horsed and trapped

in cloth of gold, but he had neither shield nor spear. Then Sir Kay

said all open in the hall, I will ride after my boy in the kitchen, to

wit whether he will know me for his better. Said Sir Launcelot and Sir

Gawaine, Yet abide at home. So Sir Kay made him ready and took his

horse and his spear, and rode after him. And right as Beaumains

overtook the damosel, right so came Sir Kay and said, Beaumains, what,

sir, know ye not me? Then he turned his horse, and knew it was Sir Kay,

that had done him all the despite as ye have heard afore. Yea, said

Beaumains, I know you for an ungentle knight of the court, and

therefore beware of me. Therewith Sir Kay put his spear in the rest,

and ran straight upon him; and Beaumains came as fast upon him with his

sword in his hand, and so he put away his spear with his sword, and

with a foin thrust him through the side, that Sir Kay fell down as he

had been dead; and he alighted down and took Sir Kay’s shield and his

spear, and stert upon his own horse and rode his way.

All that saw Sir Launcelot, and so did the damosel. And then he bade

his dwarf stert upon Sir Kay’s horse, and so he did. By that Sir

Launcelot was come, then he proffered Sir Launcelot to joust; and

either made them ready, and they came together so fiercely that either

bare down other to the earth, and sore were they bruised. Then Sir

Launcelot arose and helped him from his horse. And then Beaumains threw

his shield from him, and proffered to fight with Sir Launcelot on foot;

and so they rushed together like boars, tracing, rasing, and foining to

the mountenance of an hour; and Sir Launcelot felt him so big that he

marvelled of his strength, for he fought more liker a giant than a

knight, and that his fighting was durable and passing perilous. For Sir

Launcelot had so much ado with him that he dreaded himself to be

shamed, and said, Beaumains, fight not so sore, your quarrel and mine

is not so great but we may leave off. Truly that is truth, said

Beaumains, but it doth me good to feel your might, and yet, my lord, I

showed not the utterance.