_How the damsel and Beaumains came to the siege, and came to a sycamore
tree, and there Beaumains blew a horn, and then the knight of the red
lawns came to fight with him._
Now leave we the knight and the dwarf, and speak we of Beaumains, that
all night lay in the hermitage, and upon the morn he and the damsel
Linet heard their mass, and brake their fast. And then they took their
horses and rode throughout a fair forest, and then they came to a
plain, and saw where were many pavilions and tents, and a fair castle,
and there was much smoke and great noise. And when they came near the
siege Sir Beaumains espied upon great trees, as he rode, how there hung
full goodly armed knights by the neck, and their shields about their
necks with their swords, and gilt spurs upon their heels, and so there
hung nigh a forty knights shamefully with full rich arms. Then Sir
Beaumains abated his countenance, and said, What meaneth this? Fair
Sir, said the damsel, abate not your cheer for all this sight, for ye
must encourage yourself, or else ye be all shent, for all these knights
came hither to this siege to rescue my sister dame Liones, and when the
red knight of the red lawn had overcome them he put them to this
shameful death, without mercy and pity. And in the same wise he will
serve you but if ye quit you better. Now Jesu defend me, said Sir
Beaumains, from such a villainous death and disgrace of arms, for
rather than I should so be farewithal, I would rather be slain manly in
plain battle. So were ye better, said the damsel; for trust not in him
is no courtesy, but all goeth to the death or shameful murder; and that
is pity, for he is a full likely man, well made of body, and a full
noble knight of prowess, and a lord of great lands and possessions.
Truly, said Beaumains, he may well be a good knight, but he useth
shameful customs, and it is marvel that he endureth so long, that none
of the noble knights of my lord Arthur have not dealt with him. And
then they rode to the dikes, and saw them double diked with full
warlike walls, and there were lodged many great lords nigh the walls,
and there was great noise of minstrelsy, and the sea betid upon the one
side of the walls, where were many ships and mariners’ noise, with
‘hale and how.’ And also, there was fast by a sycamore tree, and there
hung a horn, the greatest that ever they saw, of an elephant’s bone,
and this knight of the red lawn had hanged it up there, that if there
came any errant knight he must blow that horn, and then will he make
him ready, and come to him to do battle. But Sir, I pray you, said the
damsel Linet, blow ye not the horn till it be high noon, for now it is
about prime, and now encreaseth his might, that, as men say, he hath
seven men’s strength. Ah, fie for shame, fair damsel, say ye never so
more to me, for, and he were as good a knight as ever was, I shall
never fail him in his most might, for either I will win worship
worshipfully, or die knightly in the field. And therewith he spurred
his horse straight to the sycamore tree, and blew so the horn eagerly
that all the siege and the castle rang thereof. And then there lept out
knights out of their tents and pavilions, and they within the castle
looked over the walls and out at windows. Then the red knight of the
red lawns armed him hastily, and two barons set on his spurs upon his
heels, and all was blood-red, his armour, spear, and shield. And an
earl buckled his helm upon his head, and then they brought him a red
spear and a red steed, and so he rode into a little vale under the
castle, that all that were in the castle and at the siege might behold
the battle.