_How Beaumains desired the battle, and how it was granted to him, and
how he desired to be made knight of Sir Launcelot._
With these words came before the king Beaumains, while the damsel was
there, and thus he said: Sir king, God thank you, I have been these
twelvemonth in your kitchen, and have had my full sustenance, and now I
will ask my two gifts that be behind. Ask upon my peril, said the king.
Sir, this shall be my two gifts. First, that ye will grant me to have
this adventure of the damsel, for it belongeth unto me. Thou shalt have
it, said the king, I grant it thee. Then, sir, this is the other gift,
that ye shall bid Launcelot du Lake make me knight, for of him I will
be made knight, and else of none. And when I am past, I pray you let
him ride after me, and make me knight when I require him. All this
shall be done, said the king. Fie on thee, said the damsel, shall I
have none but one that is your kitchen page. Then was she wroth, and
took her horse and departed.
And with that there came one to Beaumains, and told him that his horse
and armour was come for him, and there was the dwarf come with all
thing that him needed in the richest manner. Thereat all the court had
much marvel from whence came all that gear. So when he was armed there
was none but few so goodly a man as he was. And right so he came into
the hall and took his leave of king Arthur and Sir Gawaine and Sir
Launcelot, and prayed that he would hie after him. And so departed and
rode after the damsel.