第 一百二十 章 · How Beaumains came to King Arthur’s Court and demanded three

. How Beaumains came to King Arthur’s Court and demanded three

petitions of King Arthur.

When Arthur held his Round Table most plenour, it fortuned that he

commanded that the high feast of Pentecost should be holden at a city

and a castle, the which in those days was called Kynke Kenadonne, upon

the sands that marched nigh Wales. So ever the king had a custom that

at the feast of Pentecost in especial, afore other feasts in the year,

he would not go that day to meat until he had heard or seen of a great

marvel. And for that custom all manner of strange adventures came

before Arthur as at that feast before all other feasts. And so Sir

Gawaine, a little to-fore noon of the day of Pentecost, espied at a

window three men upon horseback, and a dwarf on foot, and so the three

men alighted, and the dwarf kept their horses, and one of the three men

was higher than the other twain by a foot and an half. Then Sir Gawaine

went unto the king and said, Sir, go to your meat, for here at the hand

come strange adventures. So Arthur went unto his meat with many other

kings. And there were all the knights of the Round Table, [save] only

those that were prisoners or slain at a recounter. Then at the high

feast evermore they should be fulfilled the whole number of an hundred

and fifty, for then was the Round Table fully complished.

Right so came into the hall two men well beseen and richly, and upon

their shoulders there leaned the goodliest young man and the fairest

that ever they all saw, and he was large and long, and broad in the

shoulders, and well visaged, and the fairest and the largest handed

that ever man saw, but he fared as though he might not go nor bear

himself but if he leaned upon their shoulders. Anon as Arthur saw him

there was made peace and room, and right so they yede with him unto the

high dais, without saying of any words. Then this much young man pulled

him aback, and easily stretched up straight, saying, King Arthur, God

you bless and all your fair fellowship, and in especial the fellowship

of the Table Round. And for this cause I am come hither, to pray you

and require you to give me three gifts, and they shall not be

unreasonably asked, but that ye may worshipfully and honourably grant

them me, and to you no great hurt nor loss. And the first don and gift

I will ask now, and the other two gifts I will ask this day

twelvemonth, wheresomever ye hold your high feast. Now ask, said

Arthur, and ye shall have your asking.

Now, sir, this is my petition for this feast, that ye will give me meat

and drink sufficiently for this twelvemonth, and at that day I will ask

mine other two gifts.

My fair son, said Arthur, ask better, I counsel thee, for this is but a

simple asking; for my heart giveth me to thee greatly, that thou art

come of men of worship, and greatly my conceit faileth me but thou

shalt prove a man of right great worship. Sir, he said, thereof be as

it be may, I have asked that I will ask. Well, said the king, ye shall

have meat and drink enough; I never defended that none, neither my

friend nor my foe. But what is thy name I would wit? I cannot tell you,

said he. That is marvel, said the king, that thou knowest not thy name,

and thou art the goodliest young man that ever I saw. Then the king

betook him to Sir Kay the steward, and charged him that he should give

him of all manner of meats and drinks of the best, and also that he had

all manner of finding as though he were a lord’s son. That shall little

need, said Sir Kay, to do such cost upon him; for I dare undertake he

is a villain born, and never will make man, for an he had come of

gentlemen he would have asked of you horse and armour, but such as he

is, so he asketh. And sithen he hath no name, I shall give him a name

that shall be Beaumains, that is Fair-hands, and into the kitchen I

shall bring him, and there he shall have fat brose every day, that he

shall be as fat by the twelvemonths’ end as a pork hog. Right so the

two men departed and beleft him to Sir Kay, that scorned him and mocked

him.