Chương Chương 132 · Of the goodly communication between Sir Persant and

. Of the goodly communication between Sir Persant and

Beaumains, and how he told him that his name was Sir Gareth.

And so on the morn the damosel and Sir Beaumains heard mass and brake

their fast, and so took their leave. Fair damosel, said Persant,

whitherward are ye way-leading this knight? Sir, she said, this knight

is going to the siege that besiegeth my sister in the Castle Dangerous.

Ah, ah, said Persant, that is the Knight of the Red Laund, the which is

the most perilous knight that I know now living, and a man that is

without mercy, and men say that he hath seven men’s strength. God save

you, said he to Beaumains, from that knight, for he doth great wrong to

that lady, and that is great pity, for she is one of the fairest ladies

of the world, and meseemeth that your damosel is her sister: is not

your name Linet? said he. Yea, sir, said she, and my lady my sister’s

name is Dame Lionesse. Now shall I tell you, said Sir Persant, this Red

Knight of the Red Laund hath lain long at the siege, well-nigh this two

years, and many times he might have had her an he had would, but he

prolongeth the time to this intent, for to have Sir Launcelot du Lake

to do battle with him, or Sir Tristram, or Sir Lamorak de Galis, or Sir

Gawaine, and this is his tarrying so long at the siege.

Now my lord Sir Persant of Inde, said the damosel Linet, I require you

that ye will make this gentleman knight or ever he fight with the Red

Knight. I will with all my heart, said Sir Persant, an it please him to

take the order of knighthood of so simple a man as I am. Sir, said

Beaumains, I thank you for your good will, for I am better sped, for

certainly the noble knight Sir Launcelot made me knight. Ah, said Sir

Persant, of a more renowned knight might ye not be made knight; for of

all knights he may be called chief of knighthood; and so all the world

saith, that betwixt three knights is departed clearly knighthood, that

is Launcelot du Lake, Sir Tristram de Liones, and Sir Lamorak de Galis:

these bear now the renown. There be many other knights, as Sir

Palamides the Saracen and Sir Safere his brother; also Sir Bleoberis

and Sir Blamore de Ganis his brother; also Sir Bors de Ganis and Sir

Ector de Maris and Sir Percivale de Galis; these and many more be noble

knights, but there be none that pass the three above said; therefore

God speed you well, said Sir Persant, for an ye may match the Red

Knight ye shall be called the fourth of the world.

Sir, said Beaumains, I would fain be of good fame and of knighthood.

And I let you wit I came of good men, for I dare say my father was a

noble man, and so that ye will keep it in close, and this damosel, I

will tell you of what kin I am. We will not discover you, said they

both, till ye command us, by the faith we owe unto God. Truly then,

said he, my name is Gareth of Orkney, and King Lot was my father, and

my mother is King Arthur’s sister, her name is Dame Morgawse, and Sir

Gawaine is my brother, and Sir Agravaine and Sir Gaheris, and I am the

youngest of them all. And yet wot not King Arthur nor Sir Gawaine what

I am.