_How Beaumains told to Sir Launcelot his name, and how he was dubbed
knight of Sir Launcelot, and after overtook the damsel._
Well, said Sir Launcelot, for I promise you by the faith of my body I
had as much to do as I might to save myself from you unshamed, and
therefore have ye no doubt of none earthly knight. Hope ye so that I
may any while stand a proved knight? said Beaumains. Yea, said
Launcelot, do ye as ye have done, and I shall be your warrant. Then, I
pray you, said Beaumains, give me the order of knighthood. Then must ye
tell me your name, said Launcelot, and of what kin ye be born. Sir, so
that ye will not discover me I shall, said Beaumains. Nay, said Sir
Launcelot, and that I promise you by the faith of my body, until it be
openly known. Then, Sir, he said, my name is Gareth, and brother unto
Sir Gawaine, of father and mother. Ah! Sir, said Launcelot, I am more
gladder of you than I was, for ever me thought ye should be of great
blood, and that ye came not to the court neither for meat nor for
drink. And then Sir Launcelot gave him the order of knighthood. And
then Sir Gareth prayed him for to depart, and let him go. So Sir
Launcelot departed from him and came to Sir Kay, and made him to be
borne home upon his shield, and so he was healed hard with the life,
and all men scorned Sir Kay, and in especial Sir Gawaine and Sir
Launcelot said it was not his part to rebuke no young man, for full
little knew he of what birth he is come, and for what cause he came to
this court. And so we leave off Sir Kay and turn we unto Beaumains.
When he had overtaken the damsel anon she said, What doest thou here?
thou stinkest all of the kitchen, thy clothes be foul of the grease and
tallow that thou gainedst in king Arthur’s kitchen; weenest thou, said
she, that I allow thee for yonder knight that thou killedst? Nay truly,
for thou slewest him unhappily and cowardly, therefore turn again foul
kitchen page. I know thee well, for Sir Kay named thee Beaumains; what
art thou but a lubber and a turner of spits, and a ladle washer?
Damsel, said Beaumains, say to me what ye will, I will not go from you
whatsoever ye say, for I have undertaken to king Arthur for to achieve
your adventure, and so shall I finish it to the end, or I shall die
therefore. Fie on thee, kitchen knave, wilt thou finish mine adventure?
thou shalt anon be met withall, that thou wouldest not for all the
broth that ever thou suppedst once look him in the face. I shall assay,
said Beaumains. So thus as they rode in the wood, there came a man
flying all that ever he might. Whither wilt thou? said Beaumains. O
lord, he said, help me, for hereby in a slade are six thieves, that
have taken my lord and bound him, so I am afeard lest they will slay
him. Bring me thither, said Sir Beaumains. And so they rode together
until they came there as was the knight bound, and then he rode unto
them and struck one unto the death, and then another, and at the third
stroke he slew the third thief: and then the other three fled. And he
rode after them, and he overtook them, and then those three thieves
turned again and assailed Beaumains hard, but at the last he slew them,
and returned and unbound the knight. And the knight thanked him, and
prayed him to ride with him to his castle there a little beside, and he
should worshipfully reward him for his good deeds. Sir, said Beaumains,
I will no reward have, I was this day made knight of noble Sir
Launcelot, and therefore I will no reward have, but God reward me. And
also I must follow this damsel. And when he came nigh her, she bad him
ride from her, for thou smellest all of the kitchen; weenest thou that
I have joy of thee? for all this deed thou hast done, is but mishapped
thee; but thou shalt see a sight that shall make thee turn again, and
that lightly. Then the same knight which was rescued of the thieves
rode after that damsel, and prayed her to lodge with him all that
night. And because it was near night the damsel rode with him to his
castle, and there they had great cheer. And at supper the knight set
Sir Beaumains afore the damsel. Fie, fie, said she, sir knight, ye are
uncourteous to set a kitchen page afore me, him beseemeth better to
stick a swine than to sit afore a damsel of high parentage. Then the
knight was ashamed at her words, and took him up and set him at a side
board, and set himself afore him. And so all that night they had good
cheer and merry rest.