Chương Chương 133 · How the lady that was besieged had word from her sister

. How the lady that was besieged had word from her sister

how she had brought a knight to fight for her, and what battles he had

achieved.

So the book saith that the lady that was besieged had word of her

sister’s coming by the dwarf, and a knight with her, and how he had

passed all the perilous passages. What manner a man is he? said the

lady. He is a noble knight, truly, madam, said the dwarf, and but a

young man, but he is as likely a man as ever ye saw any. What is he?

said the damosel, and of what kin is he come, and of whom was he made

knight? Madam, said the dwarf, he is the king’s son of Orkney, but his

name I will not tell you as at this time; but wit ye well, of Sir

Launcelot was he made knight, for of none other would he be made

knight, and Sir Kay named him Beaumains. How escaped he, said the lady,

from the brethren of Persant? Madam, he said, as a noble knight should.

First, he slew two brethren at a passage of a water. Ah! said she, they

were good knights, but they were murderers, the one hight Gherard le

Breuse, and the other knight hight Sir Arnold le Breuse. Then, madam,

he recountered with the Black Knight, and slew him in plain battle, and

so he took his horse and his armour and fought with the Green Knight

and won him in plain battle, and in like wise he served the Red Knight,

and after in the same wise he served the Blue Knight and won him in

plain battle. Then, said the lady, he hath overcome Sir Persant of

Inde, one of the noblest knights of the world, and the dwarf said, He

hath won all the four brethren and slain the Black Knight, and yet he

did more to-fore: he overthrew Sir Kay and left him nigh dead upon the

ground; also he did a great battle with Sir Launcelot, and there they

departed on even hands: and then Sir Launcelot made him knight.

Dwarf, said the lady, I am glad of these tidings, therefore go thou in

an hermitage of mine hereby, and there shalt thou bear with thee of my

wine in two flagons of silver, they are of two gallons, and also two

cast of bread with fat venison baked, and dainty fowls; and a cup of

gold here I deliver thee, that is rich and precious; and bear all this

to mine hermitage, and put it in the hermit’s hands. And sithen go thou

unto my sister and greet her well, and commend me unto that gentle

knight, and pray him to eat and to drink and make him strong, and say

ye him I thank him of his courtesy and goodness, that he would take

upon him such labour for me that never did him bounty nor courtesy.

Also pray him that he be of good heart and courage, for he shall meet

with a full noble knight, but he is neither of bounty, courtesy, nor

gentleness; for he attendeth unto nothing but to murder, and that is

the cause I cannot praise him nor love him.

So this dwarf departed, and came to Sir Persant, where he found the

damosel Linet and Sir Beaumains, and there he told them all as ye have

heard; and then they took their leave, but Sir Persant took an ambling

hackney and conveyed them on their ways, and then beleft them to God;

and so within a little while they came to that hermitage, and there

they drank the wine, and ate the venison and the fowls baken. And so

when they had repasted them well, the dwarf returned again with his

vessel unto the castle again; and there met with him the Red Knight of

the Red Launds, and asked him from whence that he came, and where he

had been. Sir, said the dwarf, I have been with my lady’s sister of

this castle, and she hath been at King Arthur’s court, and brought a

knight with her. Then I account her travail but lost; for though she

had brought with her Sir Launcelot, Sir Tristram, Sir Lamorak, or Sir

Gawaine, I would think myself good enough for them all.

It may well be, said the dwarf, but this knight hath passed all the

perilous passages, and slain the Black Knight and other two more, and

won the Green Knight, the Red Knight, and the Blue Knight. Then is he

one of these four that I have afore rehearsed. He is none of those,

said the dwarf, but he is a king’s son. What is his name? said the Red

Knight of the Red Launds. That will I not tell you, said the dwarf, but

Sir Kay upon scorn named him Beaumains. I care not, said the knight,

what knight so ever he be, for I shall soon deliver him. And if I ever

match him he shall have a shameful death as many other have had. That

were pity, said the dwarf, and it is marvel that ye make such shameful

war upon noble knights.