บทที่ บทที่ 137 · How the knight yielded him, and how Beaumains made him

. How the knight yielded him, and how Beaumains made him

to go unto King Arthur’s court, and to cry Sir Launcelot mercy.

Then came there many earls, and barons, and noble knights, and prayed

that knight to save his life, and take him to your prisoner. And all

they fell upon their knees, and prayed him of mercy, and that he would

save his life; and, Sir, they all said, it were fairer of him to take

homage and fealty, and let him hold his lands of you than for to slay

him; by his death ye shall have none advantage, and his misdeeds that

be done may not be undone; and therefore he shall make amends to all

parties, and we all will become your men and do you homage and fealty.

Fair lords, said Beaumains, wit you well I am full loath to slay this

knight, nevertheless he hath done passing ill and shamefully; but

insomuch all that he did was at a lady’s request I blame him the less;

and so for your sake I will release him that he shall have his life

upon this covenant, that he go within the castle, and yield him there

to the lady, and if she will forgive and quit him, I will well; with

this he make her amends of all the trespass he hath done against her

and her lands. And also, when that is done, that ye go unto the court

of King Arthur, and there that ye ask Sir Launcelot mercy, and Sir

Gawaine, for the evil will ye have had against them. Sir, said the Red

Knight of the Red Launds, all this will I do as ye command, and siker

assurance and borrows ye shall have. And so then when the assurance was

made, he made his homage and fealty, and all those earls and barons

with him.

And then the maiden Linet came to Sir Beaumains, and unarmed him and

searched his wounds, and stinted his blood, and in likewise she did to

the Red Knight of the Red Launds. And there they sojourned ten days in

their tents; and the Red Knight made his lords and servants to do all

the pleasure that they might unto Sir Beaumains. And so within a while

the Red Knight of the Red Launds yede unto the castle, and put him in

her grace. And so she received him upon sufficient surety, so all her

hurts were well restored of all that she could complain. And then he

departed unto the court of King Arthur, and there openly the Red Knight

of the Red Launds put him in the mercy of Sir Launcelot and Sir

Gawaine, and there he told openly how he was overcome and by whom, and

also he told all the battles from the beginning unto the ending. Jesu

mercy, said King Arthur and Sir Gawaine, we marvel much of what blood

he is come, for he is a noble knight. Have ye no marvel, said Sir

Launcelot, for ye shall right well wit that he is come of a full noble

blood; and as for his might and hardiness, there be but few now living

that is so mighty as he is, and so noble of prowess. It seemeth by you,

said King Arthur, that ye know his name, and from whence he is come,

and of what blood he is. I suppose I do so, said Launcelot, or else I

would not have given him the order of knighthood; but he gave me such

charge at that time that I should never discover him until he required

me, or else it be known openly by some other.