_How the lady that was besieged had word from her sister how she had
brought a knight to fight for her, and what battles he had achieved._
So the book saith that the lady that was besieged had word of her
sister’s coming by the dwarf, and a knight with her, and how he had
passed all the perilous passages. What manner a man is he? said the
lady. He is a noble knight, truly, madam, said the dwarf, and but a
young man, but he is as likely a man as ever ye saw any. What is he,
said the lady, and of what kin is he come, and of whom was he made
knight? Madam, said the dwarf, he is the king’s son of Orkney, but his
name I will not tell you as at this time; but wit ye well, of Sir
Launcelot was he made knight, for of none other would he be made
knight, and Sir Kay named him Beaumains. How escaped he, said the lady,
from the brethren of Persant? Madam, he said, as a noble knight should.
First, he slew two brethren at a passage of a water. Ah! said she, they
were good knights, but they were murderers, the one hight Gherard de
Breusse, and that other knight hight Sir Arnold de Breusse. Then,
madam, he recountered with the black knight, and slew him in plain
battle, and so he took his horse and his armour and fought with the
green knight, and wan him in plain battle, and in likewise he served
the red knight, and after in the same wise he served the blue knight,
and wan him in plain battle. Then, said the lady, he hath overcome Sir
Persant of Inde, one of the noblest knights of the world. And the dwarf
said, He hath won all the four brethren, and slain the black knight.
And yet he did more tofore: he overthrew Sir Kay, and left him nigh
dead upon the ground; also he did a great battle with Sir Launcelot,
and there they departed on even hands: and then Sir Launcelot made him
knight. Dwarf, said the lady, I am glad of these tidings, therefore go
thou in an hermitage of mine here by, and there shalt thou bear with
thee of my wine in two flaggons of silver, they are of two gallons, and
also two cast of bread, with fat venison baked, and dainty fowls; and a
cup of gold here I deliver thee, that is rich and precious, and bear
all this to mine hermitage, and put it in the hermit’s hands. And then
go thou unto my sister and greet her well, and command me unto that
gentle knight, and pray him to eat and to drink, and make him strong;
and say ye him I thank him of his courtesy and goodness, that he would
take upon him such labour for me that never did him bounty nor
courtesy. Also pray him that he be of good heart and good courage, for
he shall meet with a full noble knight, but he is neither of bounty,
courtesy, nor gentleness, for he attendeth unto no thing but to murder,
and that is the cause I cannot praise him nor love him. So this dwarf
departed and came to Sir Persant, where he found the damsel Linet and
Sir Beaumains, and there he told them all as ye have heard, and then
they took their leave; but Sir Persant took an ambling hackney and
conveyed them on their ways and then beleft them to God. And so within
a little while they came to that hermitage, and there they drank the
wine, and eat the venison and the fowls baken.
And so when they had repasted them well, the dwarf returned again with
his vessel unto the castle again, and there met with him the red knight
of the red lawns, and asked him from whence that he came, and where he
had been. Sir, said the dwarf, I have been with my lady’s sister of
this castle, and she hath been at king Arthur’s court, and brought a
knight with her. Then I account her travail but lost. For though she
had brought with her Sir Launcelot, Sir Tristram, Sir Lamorak, or Sir
Gawaine, I would think myself good enough for them all. It may well be,
said the dwarf, but this knight hath passed all the perilous passages,
and hath slain the black knight, and other two more, and won the green
knight, the red knight, and the blue knight. Then is he one of these
four that I have afore rehearsed. He is none of those, said the dwarf,
but he is a king’s son. What is his name? said the red knight of the
red lawn. That will I not tell you, said the dwarf, but Sir Kay upon
scorn named him Beaumains. I care not, said the knight, what knight
soever he be, for I shall soon deliver him; and if I ever match him he
shall have a shameful death, as many other have had. That were pity,
said the dwarf, and it is marvel that ye make such shameful war upon
noble knights.