_How Sir Beaumains fought with Sir Persant of Inde, and made him to be
yielden._
With this Sir Persant of Inde had espied them as they hoved in the
field, and knightly he sent to them whether he came in war or in peace.
Say to thy lord, said Beaumains, I take no force, but whether as him
list himself. So the messenger went again unto Sir Persant, and told
him all his answer. Well, then will I have ado with him to the
utterance. And so he purveyed him and rode against him. And Beaumains
saw him and made him ready, and there they met with all that ever their
horses might run, and brake their spears either in three pieces, and
their horses rushed so together that both their horses fell dead to the
earth, and lightly they avoided their horses, and put their shields
afore them, and drew their swords, and gave many great strokes, that
sometime they hurtled together that they fell groveling on the ground.
Thus they fought two hours and more, that their shields and their
hauberks were all forhewn, and in many places they were wounded. So at
the last Sir Beaumains smote him through the side of the body, and then
he drew him back here and there, and knightly maintained his battle
long time. And at the last, though him loth were, Beaumains smote Sir
Persant above upon the helm that he fell groveling to the earth, and
then he lept upon him overthwart, and unlaced his helm to have slain
him. Then Sir Persant yielded him and asked him mercy. With that came
the damsel, and prayed to save his life. I will well, for it were pity
that this noble knight should die. Gramercy, said Persant, gentle
knight and damsel; for certainly now I wot well it was ye that slew my
brother the black knight, at the black thorn; he was a full noble
knight, his name was Sir Percard. Also, I am sure that ye are he that
won mine other brother the green knight, his name was Sir Pertolepe.
Also, ye won my brother the red knight Sir Perimones. And now since ye
have won these, this shall I do for to please you; ye shall have homage
and fealty of me, and an hundred knights, to be always at your
commandment, to go and ride where ye will command us. And so they went
unto Sir Persant’s pavilion, and drank the wine and eat spices. And
afterward Sir Persant made him to rest upon a bed until supper time,
and after supper to bed again. And so we leave him there till on the
morn.