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Le Morte Darthur

T >> Thomas Malory >> Le Morte Darthur






<219>
CHAPTER VII

How Beaumains fought with the Knight of the Black Launds,
and fought with him till he fell down and died.

THERE sat a knight all armed in black harness, and his name was
the Knight of the Black Laund. Then the damosel, when she saw
that knight, she bade him flee down that valley, for his horse
was not saddled. Gramercy, said Beaumains, for always ye would
have me a coward. With that the Black Knight, when she came nigh
him, spake and said, Damosel, have ye brought this knight of King
Arthur to be your champion? Nay, fair knight, said she, this is
but a kitchen knave that was fed in King Arthur's kitchen for
alms. Why cometh he, said the knight, in such array? it is shame
that he beareth you company. Sir, I cannot be delivered of him,
said she, for with me he rideth maugre mine head: God would that
ye should put him from me, other to slay him an ye may, for he is
an unhappy knave, and unhappily he hath done this day: through
mishap I saw him slay two knights at the passage of the water;
and other deeds he did before right marvellous and through
unhappiness. That marvelleth me, said the Black Knight, that any
man that is of worship will have ado with him. They know him
not, said the damosel, and for because he rideth with me, they
ween that he be some man of worship born. That may be, said the
Black Knight; howbeit as ye say that he be no man of worship, he
is a full likely person, and full like to be a strong man: but
thus much shall I grant you, said the Black Knight; I shall put
him down upon one foot, and his horse and his harness he shall
leave with me, for it were shame to me to do him any more harm.

When Sir Beaumains heard him say thus, he said, Sir knight, thou
art full large of my horse and my harness; I let thee wit it cost
thee nought, and whether it liketh thee or not, this laund will I
pass maugre thine head. <220>And horse nor harness gettest thou
none of mine, but if thou win them with thy hands; and therefore
let see what thou canst do. Sayest thou that? said the Black
Knight, now yield thy lady from thee, for it beseemeth never a
kitchen page to ride with such a lady. Thou liest, said
Beaumains, I am a gentleman born, and of more high lineage than
thou, and that will I prove on thy body.

Then in great wrath they departed with their horses, and came
together as it had been the thunder, and the Black Knight's spear
brake, and Beaumains thrust him through both his sides, and
therewith his spear brake, and the truncheon left still in his
side. But nevertheless the Black Knight drew his sword, and
smote many eager strokes, and of great might, and hurt Beaumains
full sore. But at the last the Black Knight, within an hour and
an half, he fell down off his horse in swoon, and there he died.
And when Beaumains saw him so well horsed and armed, then he
alighted down and armed him in his armour, and so took his horse
and rode after the damosel.

When she saw him come nigh, she said, Away, kitchen knave, out of
the wind, for the smell of thy bawdy clothes grieveth me. Alas,
she said, that ever such a knave should by mishap slay so good a
knight as thou hast done, but all this is thine unhappiness. But
here by is one shall pay thee all thy payment, and therefore yet
I counsel thee, flee. It may happen me, said Beaumains, to be
beaten or slain, but I warn you, fair damosel, I will not flee
away, a nor leave your company, for all that ye can say; for ever
ye say that they will kill me or beat me, but howsomever it
happeneth I escape, and they lie on the ground. And therefore it
were as good for you to hold you still thus all day rebuking me,
for away will I not till I see the uttermost of this journey, or
else I will be slain, other truly beaten; therefore ride on your
way, for follow you I will whatsomever happen.



<221>
CHAPTER VIII

How the brother of the knight that was slain met with
Beaumains, and fought with Beaumains till he was yielden.

THUS as they rode together, they saw a knight come driving by
them all in green, both his horse and his harness; and when he
came nigh the damosel, he asked her, Is that my brother the Black
Knight that ye have brought with you? Nay, nay, she said, this
unhappy kitchen knave hath slain your brother through
unhappiness. Alas, said the Green Knight, that is great pity,
that so noble a knight as he was should so unhappily be slain,
and namely of a knave's hand, as ye say that he is. Ah! traitor,
said the Green Knight, thou shalt die for slaying of my brother;
he was a full noble knight, and his name was Sir Perard. I defy
thee, said Beaumains, for I let thee wit I slew him knightly and
not shamefully.

Therewithal the Green Knight rode unto an horn that was green,
and it hung upon a thorn, and there he blew three deadly motes,
and there came two damosels and armed him lightly. And then he
took a great horse, and a green shield and a green spear. And
then they ran together with all their mights, and brake their
spears unto their hands. And then they drew their swords, and
gave many sad strokes, and either of them wounded other full ill.
And at the last, at an overthwart, Beaumains with his horse
struck the Green Knight's horse upon the side, that he fell to
the earth. And then the Green Knight avoided his horse lightly,
and dressed him upon foot. That saw Beaumains, and therewithal
he alighted, and they rushed together like two mighty kemps a
long while, and sore they bled both. With that came the damosel,
and said, My lord the Green Knight, why for shame stand ye so
long fighting with the kitchen knave? Alas, it is shame that
ever ye were made knight, to see such a lad to match <222>such a
knight, as the weed overgrew the corn. Therewith the Green
Knight was ashamed, and therewithal he gave a great stroke of
might, and clave his shield through. When Beaumains saw his
shield cloven asunder he was a little ashamed of that stroke and
of her language; and then he gave him such a buffet upon the helm
that he fell on his knees. And so suddenly Beaumains pulled him
upon the ground grovelling. And then the Green Knight cried him
mercy, and yielded him unto Sir Beaumains, and prayed him to slay
him not. All is in vain, said Beaumains, for thou shalt die but
if this damosel that came with me pray me to save thy life. And
therewithal he unlaced his helm like as he would slay him. Fie
upon thee, false kitchen page, I will never pray thee to save his
life, for I will never be so much in thy danger. Then shall he
die, said Beaumains. Not so hardy, thou bawdy knave, said the
damosel, that thou slay him. Alas, said the Green Knight, suffer
me not to die for a fair word may save me. Fair knight, said the
Green Knight, save my life, and I will forgive thee the death of
my brother, and for ever to become thy man, and thirty knights
that hold of me for ever shall do you service. In the devil's
name, said the damosel, that such a bawdy kitchen knave should
have thee and thirty knights' service.

Sir knight, said Beaumains, all this availeth thee not, but if my
damosel speak with me for thy life. And therewithal he made a
semblant to slay him. Let be, said the damosel, thou bawdy
knave; slay him not, for an thou do thou shalt repent it.
Damosel, said Beaumains, your charge is to me a pleasure, and at
your commandment his life shall be saved, and else not. Then he
said, Sir knight with the green arms, I release thee quit at this
damosel's request, for I will not make her wroth, I will fulfil
all that she chargeth me. And then the Green Knight kneeled
down, and did him homage with his sword. Then said the damosel,
Me repenteth, Green Knight, of your damage, and of your brother's
death, the Black Knight, for of your help I had great mister, for
I dread me sore to pass this forest. Nay, dread you not, said
the <223>Green Knight, for ye shall lodge with me this night, and
to-morn I shall help you through this forest. So they took their
horses and rode to his manor, which was fast there beside.



CHAPTER IX

How the damosel again rebuked Beaumains, and would not
suffer him to sit at her table, but called him kitchen boy.

AND ever she rebuked Beaumains, and would not suffer him to sit
at her table, but as the Green Knight took him and sat him at a
side table. Marvel methinketh, said the Green Knight to the
damosel, why ye rebuke this noble knight as ye do, for I warn
you, damosel, he is a full noble knight, and I know no knight is
able to match him; therefore ye do great wrong to rebuke him, for
he shall do you right good service, for whatsomever he maketh
himself, ye shall prove at the end that he is come of a noble
blood and of king's lineage. Fie, fie, said the damosel, it is
shame for you to say of him such worship. Truly, said the Green
Knight, it were shame for me to say of him any disworship, for he
hath proved himself a better knight than I am, yet have I met
with many knights in my days, and never or this time have I found
no knight his match. And so that night they yede unto rest, and
all that night the Green Knight commanded thirty knights privily
to watch Beaumains, for to keep him from all treason.

And so on the morn they all arose, and heard their mass and brake
their fast; and then they took their horses and rode on their
way, and the Green Knight conveyed them through the forest; and
there the Green Knight said, My lord Beaumains, I and these
thirty knights shall be always at your summons, both early and
late, at your calling and whither that ever ye will send us. It
is well said, said Beaumains; when that I call upon you ye must
yield you unto King Arthur, and all your knights. If <224>that
ye so command us, we shall be ready at all times, said the Green
Knight. Fie, fie upon thee, in the devil's name, said the
damosel, that any good knights should be obedient unto a kitchen
knave. So then departed the Green Knight and the damosel. And
then she said unto Beaumains, Why followest thou me, thou kitchen
boy? Cast away thy shield and thy spear, and flee away; yet I
counsel thee betimes or thou shalt say right soon, alas; for wert
thou as wight as ever was Wade or Launcelot, Tristram, or the
good knight Sir Lamorak, thou shalt not pass a pass here that is
called the Pass Perilous. Damosel, said Beaumains, who is afeard
let him flee, for it were shame to turn again sithen I have
ridden so long with you. Well, said the damosel, ye shall soon,
whether ye will or not.



CHAPTER X

How the third brother, called the Red Knight, jousted and
fought against Beaumains,and how Beaumains overcame him.

SO within a while they saw a tower as white as any snow, well
matchecold all about, and double dyked. And over the tower gate
there hung a fifty shields of divers colours, and under that
tower there was a fair meadow. And therein were many knights and
squires to behold, scaffolds and pavilions; for there upon the
morn should be a great tournament: and the lord of the tower was
in his castle and looked out at a window, and saw a damosel, a
dwarf, and a knight armed at all points. So God me help, said
the lord, with that knight will I joust, for I see that he is a
knight-errant. And so he armed him and horsed him hastily. And
when he was on horseback with his shield and his spear, it was
all red, both his horse and his harness, and all that to him
longeth. And when that he came nigh him he weened it had been
his brother the Black Knight; and then he cried aloud, Brother,
what do ye in <225>these marches? Nay, nay, said the damosel, it
is not he; this is but a kitchen knave that was brought up for
alms in King Arthur's court. Nevertheless, said the Red Knight,
I will speak with him or he depart. Ah, said the damosel, this
knave hath killed thy brother, and Sir Kay named him Beaumains,
and this horse and this harness was thy brother's, the Black
Knight. Also I saw thy brother the Green Knight overcome of his
hands. Now may ye be revenged upon him, for I may never be quit
of him.

With this either knights departed in sunder, and they came
together with all their might, and either of their horses fell to
the earth, and they avoided their horses, and put their shields
afore them and drew their swords, and either gave other sad
strokes, now here, now there, rasing, tracing, foining, and
hurling like two boars, the space of two hours. And then she
cried on high to the Red Knight, Alas, thou noble Red Knight,
think what worship hath followed thee, let never a kitchen knave
endure thee so long as he doth. Then the Red Knight waxed wroth
and doubled his strokes, and hurt Beaumains wonderly sore, that
the blood ran down to the ground, that it was wonder to see that
strong battle. Yet at the last Sir Beaumains struck him to the
earth, and as he would have slain the Red Knight, he cried mercy,
saying, Noble knight, slay me not, and I shall yield me to thee
with fifty knights with me that be at my commandment. And I
forgive thee all the despite that thou hast done to me, and the
death of my brother the Black Knight. All this availeth not,
said Beaumains, but if my damosel pray me to save thy life. And
therewith he made semblant to strike off his head. Let be, thou
Beaumains, slay him not, for he is a noble knight, and not so
hardy, upon thine head, but thou save him.

Then Beaumains bade the Red Knight, Stand up, and thank the
damosel now of thy life. Then the Red Knight prayed him to see
his castle, and to be there all night. So the damosel then
granted him, and there they had merry cheer. But always the
damosel spake many foul words unto Beaumains, whereof the Red
Knight had great <226>marvel; and all that night the Red Knight
made three score knights to watch Beaumains, that he should have
no shame nor villainy. And upon the morn they heard mass and
dined, and the Red Knight came before Beaumains with his three
score knights, and there he proffered him his homage and fealty
at all times, he and his knights to do him service. I thank you,
said Beaumains, but this ye shall grant me: when I call upon you,
to come afore my lord King Arthur, and yield you unto him to be
his knights. Sir, said the Red Knight, I will be ready, and my
fellowship, at your summons. So Sir Beaumains departed and the
damosel, and ever she rode chiding him in the foulest manner.



CHAPTER XI

How Sir Beaumains suffered great rebukes of the damosel,
and he suffered it patiently.

DAMOSEL, said Beaumains, ye are uncourteous so to rebuke me as ye
do, for meseemeth I have done you good service, and ever ye
threaten me I shall be beaten with knights that we meet, but ever
for all your boast they lie in the dust or in the mire, and
therefore I pray you rebuke me no more; and when ye see me beaten
or yielden as recreant, then may ye bid me go from you
shamefully; but first I let you wit I will not depart from you,
for I were worse than a fool an I would depart from you all the
while that I win worship. Well, said she, right soon there shall
meet a knight shall pay thee all thy wages, for he is the most
man of worship of the world, except King Arthur. I will well,
said Beaumains, the more he is of worship, the more shall be my
worship to have ado with him.

Then anon they were ware where was afore them a city rich and
fair. And betwixt them and the city a mile and an half there was
a fair meadow that seemed new mown, and therein were many
pavilions fair to behold. <227>Lo, said the damosel, yonder is a
lord that owneth yonder city, and his custom is, when the weather
is fair, to lie in this meadow to joust and tourney. And ever
there be about him five hundred knights and gentlemen of arms,
and there be all manner of games that any gentleman can devise.
That goodly lord, said Beaumains, would I fain see. Thou shalt
see him time enough, said the damosel, and so as she rode near
she espied the pavilion where he was. Lo, said she, seest thou
yonder pavilion that is all of the colour of Inde, and all manner
of thing that there is about, men and women, and horses trapped,
shields and spears were all of the colour of Inde, and his name
is Sir Persant of Inde, the most lordliest knight that ever thou
lookedst on. It may well be, said Beaumains, but be he never so
stout a knight, in this field I shall abide till that I see him
under his shield. Ah, fool, said she, thou wert better flee
betimes. Why, said Beaumains, an he be such a knight as ye make
him, he will not set upon me with all his men, or with his five
hundred knights. For an there come no more but one at once, I
shall him not fail whilst my life lasteth. Fie, fie, said the
damosel, that ever such a stinking knave should blow such a
boast. Damosel, he said, ye are to blame so to rebuke me, for I
had liefer do five battles than so to be rebuked, let him come
and then let him do his worst.

Sir, she said, I marvel what thou art and of what kin thou art
come; boldly thou speakest, and boldly thou hast done, that have
I seen; therefore I pray thee save thyself an thou mayest, for
thy horse and thou have had great travail, and I dread we dwell
over long from the siege, for it is but hence seven mile, and all
perilous passages we are passed save all only this passage; and
here I dread me sore lest ye shall catch some hurt, therefore I
would ye were hence, that ye were not bruised nor hurt with this
strong knight. But I let you wit that Sir Persant of Inde is
nothing of might nor strength unto the knight that laid the siege
about my lady. As for that, said Sir Beaumains, be it as it be
may. For sithen I am come so nigh this knight I will prove his
might or I depart <228>from him, and else I shall be shamed an I
now withdraw me from him. And therefore, damosel, have ye no
doubt by the grace of God I shall so deal with this knight that
within two hours after noon I shall deliver him. And then shall
we come to the siege by daylight. O Jesu, marvel have I, said
the damosel, what manner a man ye be, for it may never be
otherwise but that ye be come of a noble blood, for so foul nor
shamefully did never woman rule a knight as I have done you, and
ever courteously ye have suffered me, and that came never but of
a gentle blood.

Damosel, said Beaumains, a knight may little do that may not
suffer a damosel, for whatsomever ye said unto me I took none
heed to your words, for the more ye said the more ye angered me,
and my wrath I wreaked upon them that I had ado withal. And
therefore all the missaying that ye missaid me furthered me in my
battle, and caused me to think to show and prove myself at the
end what I was; for peradventure though I had meat in King
Arthur's kitchen, yet I might have had meat enough in other
places, but all that I did it for to prove and assay my friends,
and that shall be known another day; and whether that I be a
gentleman born or none, I let you wit, fair damosel, I have done
you gentleman's service, and peradventure better service yet will
I do or I depart from you. Alas, she said, fair Beaumains,
forgive me all that I have missaid or done against thee. With
all my heart, said he, I forgive it you, for ye did nothing but
as ye should do, for all your evil words pleased me; and damosel,
said Beaumains, since it liketh you to say thus fair unto me, wit
ye well it gladdeth my heart greatly, and now meseemeth there is
no knight living but I am able enough for him.



<229>
CHAPTER XII

How 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 brast
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 grovelling on the
ground. Thus they fought two hours and more, that their shields
and their hauberks were all forhewen, and in many steads they
were wounded. So at the last Sir Beaumains smote him through the
cost of the body, and then he retrayed him here and there, and
knightly maintained his battle long time. And at the last,
though him loath were, Beaumains smote Sir Persant above upon the
helm, that he fell grovelling to the earth; and then he leapt
upon him overthwart and unlaced his helm to have slain him.

Then Sir Persant yielded him and asked him mercy. With that came
the damosel and prayed to save his life. I will well, for it
were pity this noble knight should die. Gramercy, said Persant,
gentle knight and damosel. 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,
<230>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 ate spices, and
afterward Sir Persant made him to rest upon a bed until supper
time, and after supper to bed again. When Beaumains was abed,
Sir Persant had a lady, a fair daughter of eighteen year of age,
and there he called her unto him, and charged her and commanded
her upon his blessing to go unto the knight's bed, and lie down
by his side, and make him no strange cheer, but good cheer, and
take him in thine arms and kiss him, and look that this be done,
I charge you, as ye will have my love and my good will. So Sir
Persant's daughter did as her father bade her, and so she went
unto Sir Beaumains' bed, and privily she dispoiled her, and laid
her down by him, and then he awoke and saw her, and asked her
what she was. Sir, she said, I am Sir Persant's daughter, that
by the commandment of my father am come hither. Be ye a maid or
a wife? said he. Sir, she said, I am a clean maiden. God
defend, said he, that I should defoil you to do Sir Persant such
a shame; therefore, fair damosel, arise out of this bed or else I
will. Sir, she said, I came not to you by mine own will, but as
I was commanded. Alas, said Sir Beaumains, I were a shameful
knight an I would do your father any disworship; and so he kissed
her, and so she departed and came unto Sir Persant her father,
and told him all how she had sped. Truly, said Sir Persant,
whatsomever he be, he is come of a noble blood. And so we leave
them there till on the morn.



<231>
CHAPTER XIII

Of the goodly communication between Sir Persant and
Beaumains, and how he told him that his name was Sir Gareth.

AND so on the morn the damosel and Sir Beaumains heard mass and
brake their fast, and so took their leave. Fair damosel, said
Persant, whitherward are ye way-leading this knight? Sir, she
said, this knight is going to the siege that besiegeth my sister
in the Castle Dangerous. Ah, ah, said Persant, that is the
Knight of the Red Laund, the which is the most perilous knight
that I know now living, and a man that is without mercy, and men
say that he hath seven men's strength. God save you, said he to
Beaumains, from that knight, for he doth great wrong to that
lady, and that is great pity, for she is one of the fairest
ladies of the world, and meseemeth that your damosel is her
sister: is not your name Linet? said he. Yea, sir, said she, and
my lady my sister's name is Dame Lionesse. Now shall I tell you,
said Sir Persant, this Red Knight of the Red Laund hath lain long
at the siege, well-nigh this two years, and many times he might
have had her an he had would, but he prolongeth the time to this
intent, for to have Sir Launcelot du Lake to do battle with him,
or Sir Tristram, or Sir Lamorak de Galis, or Sir Gawaine, and
this is his tarrying so long at the siege.

Now my lord Sir Persant of Inde, said the damosel Linet, I
require you that ye will make this gentleman knight or ever he
fight with the Red Knight. I will with all my heart, said Sir
Persant, an it please him to take the order of knighthood of so
simple a man as I am. Sir, said Beaumains, I thank you for your
good will, for I am better sped, for certainly the noble knight
Sir Launcelot made me knight. Ah, said Sir Persant, of a more
renowned knight might ye not be made knight; for of all knights
he may be called chief of knighthood; and so <232>all the world
saith, that betwixt three knights is departed clearly knighthood,
that is Launcelot du Lake, Sir Tristram de Liones, and Sir
Lamorak de Galis: these bear now the renown. There be many other
knights, as Sir Palamides the Saracen and Sir Safere his brother;
also Sir Bleoberis and Sir Blamore de Ganis his brother; also Sir
Bors de Ganis and Sir Ector de Maris and Sir Percivale de Galis;
these and many more be noble knights, but there be none that pass
the three above said; therefore God speed you well, said Sir
Persant, for an ye may match the Red Knight ye shall be called
the fourth of the world.

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