Kabanata Kabanata 130 · How Sir Beaumains suffered great rebukes of the damosel,

. How Sir Beaumains suffered great rebukes of the damosel,

and he suffered it patiently.

Damosel, said Beaumains, ye are uncourteous so to rebuke me as ye do,

for meseemeth I have done you good service, and ever ye threaten me I

shall be beaten with knights that we meet, but ever for all your boast

they lie in the dust or in the mire, and therefore I pray you rebuke me

no more; and when ye see me beaten or yielden as recreant, then may ye

bid me go from you shamefully; but first I let you wit I will not

depart from you, for I were worse than a fool an I would depart from

you all the while that I win worship. Well, said she, right soon there

shall meet a knight shall pay thee all thy wages, for he is the most

man of worship of the world, except King Arthur. I will well, said

Beaumains, the more he is of worship, the more shall be my worship to

have ado with him.

Then anon they were ware where was afore them a city rich and fair. And

betwixt them and the city a mile and an half there was a fair meadow

that seemed new mown, and therein were many pavilions fair to behold.

Lo, said the damosel, yonder is a lord that owneth yonder city, and his

custom is, when the weather is fair, to lie in this meadow to joust and

tourney. And ever there be about him five hundred knights and gentlemen

of arms, and there be all manner of games that any gentleman can

devise. That goodly lord, said Beaumains, would I fain see. Thou shalt

see him time enough, said the damosel, and so as she rode near she

espied the pavilion where he was. Lo, said she, seest thou yonder

pavilion that is all of the colour of Inde, and all manner of thing

that there is about, men and women, and horses trapped, shields and

spears were all of the colour of Inde, and his name is Sir Persant of

Inde, the most lordliest knight that ever thou lookedst on. It may well

be, said Beaumains, but be he never so stout a knight, in this field I

shall abide till that I see him under his shield. Ah, fool, said she,

thou wert better flee betimes. Why, said Beaumains, an he be such a

knight as ye make him, he will not set upon me with all his men, or

with his five hundred knights. For an there come no more but one at

once, I shall him not fail whilst my life lasteth. Fie, fie, said the

damosel, that ever such a stinking knave should blow such a boast.

Damosel, he said, ye are to blame so to rebuke me, for I had liefer do

five battles than so to be rebuked, let him come and then let him do

his worst.

Sir, she said, I marvel what thou art and of what kin thou art come;

boldly thou speakest, and boldly thou hast done, that have I seen;

therefore I pray thee save thyself an thou mayest, for thy horse and

thou have had great travail, and I dread we dwell over long from the

siege, for it is but hence seven mile, and all perilous passages we are

passed save all only this passage; and here I dread me sore lest ye

shall catch some hurt, therefore I would ye were hence, that ye were

not bruised nor hurt with this strong knight. But I let you wit that

Sir Persant of Inde is nothing of might nor strength unto the knight

that laid the siege about my lady. As for that, said Sir Beaumains, be

it as it be may. For sithen I am come so nigh this knight I will prove

his might or I depart from him, and else I shall be shamed an I now

withdraw me from him. And therefore, damosel, have ye no doubt by the

grace of God I shall so deal with this knight that within two hours

after noon I shall deliver him. And then shall we come to the siege by

daylight. O Jesu, marvel have I, said the damosel, what manner a man ye

be, for it may never be otherwise but that ye be come of a noble blood,

for so foul nor shamefully did never woman rule a knight as I have done

you, and ever courteously ye have suffered me, and that came never but

of a gentle blood.

Damosel, said Beaumains, a knight may little do that may not suffer a

damosel, for whatsomever ye said unto me I took none heed to your

words, for the more ye said the more ye angered me, and my wrath I

wreaked upon them that I had ado withal. And therefore all the

missaying that ye missaid me furthered me in my battle, and caused me

to think to show and prove myself at the end what I was; for

peradventure though I had meat in King Arthur’s kitchen, yet I might

have had meat enough in other places, but all that I did it for to

prove and assay my friends, and that shall be known another day; and

whether that I be a gentleman born or none, I let you wit, fair

damosel, I have done you gentleman’s service, and peradventure better

service yet will I do or I depart from you. Alas, she said, fair

Beaumains, forgive me all that I have missaid or done against thee.

With all my heart, said he, I forgive it you, for ye did nothing but as

ye should do, for all your evil words pleased me; and damosel, said

Beaumains, since it liketh you to say thus fair unto me, wit ye well it

gladdeth my heart greatly, and now meseemeth there is no knight living

but I am able enough for him.