第79章 BOOK VII(6)

SO within a while they saw a tower as white as any snow,well matchecold all about,and double dyked.And over the tower gate there hung a fifty shields of divers colours,and under that tower there was a fair meadow.And therein were many knights and squires to behold,scaffolds and pavilions;for there upon the morn should be a great tournament:and the lord of the tower was in his castle and looked out at a window,and saw a damosel,a dwarf,and a knight armed at all points.So God me help,said the lord,with that knight will I joust,for I see that he is a knight-errant.And so he armed him and horsed him hastily.And when he was on horseback with his shield and his spear,it was all red,both his horse and his harness,and all that to him longeth.And when that he came nigh him he weened it had been his brother the Black Knight;and then he cried aloud,Brother,what do ye in these marches?Nay,nay,said the damosel,it is not he;this is but a kitchen knave that was brought up for alms in King Arthur's court.Nevertheless,said the Red Knight,I will speak with him or he depart.Ah,said the damosel,this knave hath killed thy brother,and Sir Kay named him Beaumains,and this horse and this harness was thy brother's,the Black Knight.Also I saw thy brother the Green Knight overcome of his hands.Now may ye be revenged upon him,for I may never be quit of him.

With this either knights departed in sunder,and they came together with all their might,and either of their horses fell to the earth,and they avoided their horses,and put their shields afore them and drew their swords,and either gave other sad strokes,now here,now there,rasing,tracing,foining,and hurling like two boars,the space of two hours.And then she cried on high to the Red Knight,Alas,thou noble Red Knight,think what worship hath followed thee,let never a kitchen knave endure thee so long as he doth.Then the Red Knight waxed wroth and doubled his strokes,and hurt Beaumains wonderly sore,that the blood ran down to the ground,that it was wonder to see that strong battle.Yet at the last Sir Beaumains struck him to the earth,and as he would have slain the Red Knight,he cried mercy,saying,Noble knight,slay me not,and I shall yield me to thee with fifty knights with me that be at my commandment.And Iforgive thee all the despite that thou hast done to me,and the death of my brother the Black Knight.All this availeth not,said Beaumains,but if my damosel pray me to save thy life.And therewith he made semblant to strike off his head.Let be,thou Beaumains,slay him not,for he is a noble knight,and not so hardy,upon thine head,but thou save him.

Then Beaumains bade the Red Knight,Stand up,and thank the damosel now of thy life.Then the Red Knight prayed him to see his castle,and to be there all night.So the damosel then granted him,and there they had merry cheer.But always the damosel spake many foul words unto Beaumains,whereof the Red Knight had great marvel;and all that night the Red Knight made three score knights to watch Beaumains,that he should have no shame nor villainy.And upon the morn they heard mass and dined,and the Red Knight came before Beaumains with his three score knights,and there he proffered him his homage and fealty at all times,he and his knights to do him service.I thank you,said Beaumains,but this ye shall grant me:when I call upon you,to come afore my lord King Arthur,and yield you unto him to be his knights.Sir,said the Red Knight,I will be ready,and my fellowship,at your summons.So Sir Beaumains departed and the damosel,and ever she rode chiding him in the foulest manner.

CHAPTER XI

How Sir Beaumains suffered great rebukes of the damosel,and he suffered it patiently.

DAMOSEL,said Beaumains,ye are uncourteous so to rebuke me as ye do,for meseemeth I have done you good service,and ever ye threaten me I shall be beaten with knights that we meet,but ever for all your boast they lie in the dust or in the mire,and therefore I pray you rebuke me no more;and when ye see me beaten or yielden as recreant,then may ye bid me go from you shamefully;but first I let you wit I will not depart from you,for I were worse than a fool an I would depart from you all the while that I win worship.Well,said she,right soon there shall meet a knight shall pay thee all thy wages,for he is the most man of worship of the world,except King Arthur.I will well,said Beaumains,the more he is of worship,the more shall be my worship to have ado with him.

Then anon they were ware where was afore them a city rich and fair.And betwixt them and the city a mile and an half there was a fair meadow that seemed new mown,and therein were many pavilions fair to behold.Lo,said the damosel,yonder is a lord that owneth yonder city,and his custom is,when the weather is fair,to lie in this meadow to joust and tourney.And ever there be about him five hundred knights and gentlemen of arms,and there be all manner of games that any gentleman can devise.

That goodly lord,said Beaumains,would I fain see.Thou shalt see him time enough,said the damosel,and so as she rode near she espied the pavilion where he was.Lo,said she,seest thou yonder pavilion that is all of the colour of Inde,and all manner of thing that there is about,men and women,and horses trapped,shields and spears were all of the colour of Inde,and his name is Sir Persant of Inde,the most lordliest knight that ever thou lookedst on.It may well be,said Beaumains,but be he never so stout a knight,in this field I shall abide till that I see him under his shield.Ah,fool,said she,thou wert better flee betimes.Why,said Beaumains,an he be such a knight as ye make him,he will not set upon me with all his men,or with his five hundred knights.For an there come no more but one at once,Ishall him not fail whilst my life lasteth.Fie,fie,said the damosel,that ever such a stinking knave should blow such a boast.Damosel,he said,ye are to blame so to rebuke me,for Ihad liefer do five battles than so to be rebuked,let him come and then let him do his worst.