Kabanata Kabanata 143 · How King Arthur pardoned them, and demanded of them where

. How King Arthur pardoned them, and demanded of them where

Sir Gareth was.

Then goodly they said all at once, God forgive you, and we do, and pray

you that ye will tell us where we may find Sir Beaumains. Fair lords,

said Sir Ironside, I cannot tell you, for it is full hard to find him;

for such young knights as he is one, when they be in their adventures

be never abiding in no place. But to say the worship that the Red

Knight of the Red Launds, and Sir Persant and his brother said of

Beaumains, it was marvel to hear. Well, my fair lords, said King

Arthur, wit you well I shall do you honour for the love of Sir

Beaumains, and as soon as ever I meet with him I shall make you all

upon one day knights of the Table Round. And as to thee, Sir Persant of

Inde, thou hast been ever called a full noble knight, and so have ever

been thy three brethren called. But I marvel, said the king, that I

hear not of the Black Knight your brother, he was a full noble knight.

Sir, said Pertolepe, the Green Knight, Sir Beaumains slew him in a

recounter with his spear, his name was Sir Percard. That was great

pity, said the king, and so said many knights. For these four brethren

were full well known in the court of King Arthur for noble knights, for

long time they had holden war against the knights of the Round Table.

Then said Pertolepe, the Green Knight, to the king: At a passage of the

water of Mortaise there encountered Sir Beaumains with two brethren

that ever for the most part kept that passage, and they were two deadly

knights, and there he slew the eldest brother in the water, and smote

him upon the head such a buffet that he fell down in the water, and

there he was drowned, and his name was Sir Gherard le Breusse; and

after he slew the other brother upon the land, his name was Sir Arnold

le Breusse.