‘Nay, sir,’ seyde sir Launcelotte, ‘and that I promyse you by the feyth of my body, untyll hit be opynly knowyn.’
Than he seyde, ‘My name is Garethe, and brothir unto sir Gawayne of fadir syde and modir syde.’
‘A, sir, I am more gladder of you than I was, for evir me thought ye sholde be of grete bloode, and that ye cam nat to the courte nother for mete nother drynke.’
Than sir Launcelot gaff hym the Order of Knyghthode; and than sir Gareth prayde hym for to departe, and so he to folow the lady.
So sir Launcelot departed frome hym and come to sir Kay, and made hym to be borne home uppon his shylde; and so he was heled harde with the lyff. And all men scorned sir Kay, and in especial! sir Gawayne. And sir Launcelot seyde that hit was nat his parte to rebuke no yonge man: ‘For full lytyll knowe ye of what byrthe he is com of, and for what cause he com to the courte.’
And so we leve of sir Kay and turne we unto Beawmaynes. Whan that he had overtakyn the damesell, anone she seyde, ‘What doste thou here? Thou stynkyst all of the kychyn, thy clothis bene bawdy of the grece and talow. What wenyste thou?’ seyde the lady, ‘that I woll alow the for yondir knyght that thou kylde? Nay, truly, for thou slewyst hym unhappyly and cowardly. Therefore turne agayne, thou bawdy kychyn knave! I know the well, for sir Kay named the Beawmaynes. What art thou but a luske, and a turner of brochis, and a ladyll-waysher?’
‘Damesell,’ seyde sir Beawmaynes, ‘sey to me what ye woll, yet woll nat I go fro you whatsomever ye sey, for I have undirtake to kynge Arthure for to encheve your adventure, and so shall I fynyssh hit to the ende, other ellys I shall dye therefore.’
‘Fye on the, kychyn knave! Wolt thou fynyssh myne adventure? Thou shalt anone be mette withall, that thou woldyst nat for all the broth that ever thou souped onys to loke hym in the face.’
‘As for that, I shall assay,’ seyde Beawmaynes.
So ryght thus as they rode in the wood there com a man fleyng all that ever he myght.
‘Whother wolt thou?’ seyde Beawmaynes.
‘A, lorde,’ he seyde, ‘helpe me, for hereby in a slade is six theffis that have takyn my lorde and bounde hym sore, and I am aferde lest that they woll sle hym.’
‘Brynge me thydir,’ seyde Beawmaynes.
And so they rode togydirs unto they com thereas was the knyght bounden; and streyte he rode unto them and strake one to the deth, and than another, and at the thirde stroke he slew the thirde, and than the other three fledde. And he rode aftir them and overtoke them, and than they three turned agayne and assayled sir Beawmaynes harde, but at the laste he slew them and returned and unbounde the knyght.
And the knyght thanked hym and prayde hym to ryde with hym to his castell there a lytyll besyde, and he sholde worshypfully rewarde hym for his good dedis.
‘Sir,’ seyde Beawmaynes, ‘I woll no rewarde have. Sir, this day I was made knyght of noble sir Launcelot, and therefore I woll no rewarde have but God rewarde me. And also I must folowe thys damesell.’
So whan he com nyghe to hir she bade hym ryde uttir, ‘for thou smellyst all of the kychyn. What wenyst thou? That I have joy of the for all this dede? For that thou haste done is but myssehappe, but thou shalt se sone a syght that shall make the to turne agayne, and that lyghtly.’
Than the same knyght rode aftir the damesell and prayde hir to lodge with hym all that nyght. And because hit was nere nyght the damesell rode with hym to his castell and there they had grete chere. And at souper the knyght sette sir Beawmaynes afore the damesell.
‘Fy, fy,’ than seyde she, sir knyght, ye ar uncurtayse to sette a kychyn page afore me. Hym semyth bettir to styke a swyne than to sytte afore a damesell of hyghe parage.’
Than the knyght was ashamed at hir wordys, and toke hym up and sette hym at a sydebourde and sate hymself before hym. So all that nyght they had good chere and myrry reste.
And on the morne the damesell toke hir leve and thanked the [6] knyght, and so departed and rode on hir way untyll they come to a grete foreste. And there was a grete ryver and but one passage, and there were redy two knyghtes on the farther syde to lette the passage.
‘What seyst thou?’ seyde the damesell, ‘woll ye macche yondir two knyghtis other ellys turne agayne?’
‘Nay,’ seyde sir Bewmaynes, ‘I woll nat turne ayen, and they were six me!’
And therewithall he russhed unto the watir, and in myddys of the watir eythir brake her sperys uppon other to their hondys. And than they drewe their swerdis and smote egirly at othir. And at the laste sir Beawmaynes smote the othir uppon the helme, that his hede stoned, and therewithal! he felle downe in the watir and there was he drowned. And than he spored his horse uppon the londe, and therewithall the tother knyght felle uppon hym and brake his spere. And so they drew hir swerdys and fought longe togydyrs, but at the laste sir Beawmaynes clevid his helme and his hede downe to the shuldyrs. And so he rode unto the damesell and bade hir ryde furth on hir way.
‘Alas,’ she seyde, ‘that ever suche kychyn payge sholde have the fortune to destroy such two knyghtes. Yet thou wenyste thou haste done doughtyly? That is nat so; for the fyrste knyght his horse stumbled and there he was drowned in the watir, and never hit was be thy force nother be thy myghte. And the laste knyght, by myshappe thou camyste behynde hym, and by myssefortune thou slewyst hym.’
‘Damesell,’ seyde Beawmaynes, ‘ye may sey what ye woll, but whomsomever I have ado withall, I truste to God to serve hym or I and he departe, and therefore I recke nat what ye sey, so that I may wynne your lady.’
‘Fy, fy, foule kychyn knave! Thou shalt se knyghtes that shall abate thy boste.’
‘Fayre damesell, gyff me goodly langgage, and than my care is paste, for what knyghtes somever they be, I care nat, ne I doute hem nought.’
‘Also,’ seyde she, ‘I sey hit for thyne avayle, for yett mayste thou turne ayen with thy worshyp; for and thou folow me thou arte but slayne, for I se all that evir thou doste is by mysseadventure and nat by preues of thy hondys.’
‘Well, damesell, ye may sey what ye woll, but wheresomever ye go I woll folow you.’
So this Beawmaynes rode with that lady tyll evynsonge, and ever she chydde hym and wolde nat reste. So at the laste they com to a blak launde, and there was a blak hauthorne, and thereon hynge a baner, and on the other syde there hynge a blak shylde, and by hit stoode a blak speare, grete and longe, and a grete blak horse covered [7] wyth sylk, and a blak stone faste by. Also there sate a knyght all armed in blak harneyse, and his name was called the Knyght of the Blak Laundis.
This damesell, whan she sawe that knyght, she bade hym fle downe that valey, for his hors was nat sadeled.
‘Gramercy,’ seyde Beawmaynes, ‘for allway ye wolde have me a cowarde.’
So whan the Blak Knyght saw hir he seyde, ‘Damesell, have ye brought this knyght frome the courte of kynge Arthure to be your champyon?’
‘Nay, fayre knyght, this is but a kychyn knave that was fedde in kyng Arthurs kychyn for almys.’
Than sayde the knyght, ‘Why commyth he in such aray? For hit is shame that he beryth you company.’
‘Sir, I can not be delyverde of hym, for with me he rydyth magré my hede. God wolde,’ seyde she, ‘that ye wolde putte hym from me, other to sle hym and ye may, for he is an unhappy knave, and unhappyly he hath done this day thorow myssehappe; for I saw hym sle two knyghtes at the passage of the watir, and other dedis he ded beforne ryght mervaylouse and thorow unhappynesse.’
‘That mervayles me,’ seyde the Blak Knyght, ‘that ony man of worshyp woll have ado with hym.’
‘Sir, they knewe hym nat,’ seyde the damesell, ‘and for bycause he rydyth with me they wene that he be som man of worshyp borne.”That may be,’ seyde the Blak Knyght; ‘howbehit as ye say that he is no man of worshyp borne, he is a full lykly persone, and full lyke to be a stronge man. But this muche shall I graunte you,’ seyde the knyght, ‘I shall put hym downe on foote, and his horse and harneyse he shall leve with me, for hit were shame to me to do hym ony
more harme.’
Whan sir Beawmaynes harde hym sey thus, he seyde, ‘Sir knyght, thou arte full large of my horse and harneyse! I lat the wete hit coste the nought, and whether thou lyke well othir evyll, this launde woll I passe magré thyne hede, and horse ne harneyse gettyst thou none of myne but yf thou wynne hem with thy hondys. Therefore lat se what thou canste do.’
‘Seyste thou that?’ seyde the Blak Knyght, ‘now yelde thy lady fro the! For hit besemed never a kychyn knave to ryde with such a lady.’
‘Thou lyest!’ seyde Beawmaynes, ‘I am a jantyllman borne, and of more hyghe lynage than thou, and that woll I preve on thi body!’
Than in grete wretth they departed their horsis and com togydyr; as hit had bene thundir, and the Blak Knyghtes speare brak, anc Beawmaynes threste hym thorow bothe sydis. And therewith hi: speare brake and the truncheon was left stylle in his syde. But nevirtheles the Blak Knyght drew his swerde and smote many egir strokys of grete myght, and hurte Bewmaynes full sore. But at the laste the Blak Knyght, within an owre and an half, he felle downe of his horse in a sowne and there dyed.
And than sir Bewmaynes sy hym so well horsed and armed, than he alyght downe and armed hym in his armour, and so toke his horse and rode aftir the damesell. Whan she sawe hym com she seyde, Away, kychyn knave, oute of the wynde, for the smelle of thy bawdy clothis grevyth me! Alas!’ she seyde, ‘that ever such a knave sholde by myssehappe sle so good a knyght as thou hast done! But all is thyne unhappynesse. But hereby is one that shall pay the all thy paymente, and therefore yett I rede the flee.’
‘Hit may happyn me,’ seyde Bewmaynes, ‘to be betyn other slayne, but I warne you, fayre damesell, I woll nat fle away nothir leve your company for all that ye can sey; for ever ye sey that they woll sle me othir bete me, but howsomever hit happenyth I ascape and they lye on the grounde. And therefore hit were as good for you to holde you stylle thus all day rebukyng me, for away wyll I nat tyll I se the uttermuste of this journay, other ellys I woll be slayne othir thorowly betyn. Therefore ryde on your way, for folow you I woll, whatsomever happyn me.’
Thus as they rode togydyrs they sawe a knyght comme dryvande by them, all in grene, bothe his horse and his harneyse. And whan he com nye the damesell he asked hir, ‘Is that my brothir the Blak Knyght that ye have brought with you?’
‘Nay, nay,’ she seyde, ‘this unhappy kychyn knave hath slayne thy brothir thorow unhappynes.’
‘Alas!’ seyde the Grene Knyght, ‘ that is grete pyté that so noble a knyght as he was sholde so unhappyly be slayne, and namely of a knavis honde, as ye say that he is. A, traytoure!’ seyde the Grene Knyght, ‘thou shalt dye for sleyng of my brothir! He was a full noble knyght, and his name was sir Perarde.’
‘I defye the,’ seyde sir Bewmaynes, ‘for I lette the wete, I slew hym knyghtly and nat shamfully.’
Therewythall the Grene Knyght rode unto an home that was grene, and hit hynge uppon a thorne. And there he blew three dedly mods, and anone there cam two damesels and armed hym lyghtly. And than he toke a grete horse, and a grene shylde, and a grene spere; and than they ran togydyrs with all their myghtes and brake their sperys unto their hondis.
And than they drewe their swerdys and gaff many sad strokys, and eyther of them wounded other full ylle, and at the laste at an ovirtwarte stroke sir Bewmaynes with his horse strake the Grene Knyghtes horse uppon the syde, that he felle to the erthe. And than the Grene Knyght voyded his horse delyverly and dressed hym on foote. That sawe Bewmaynes, and therewithall he alyght and they russhed togydyrs lyke two myghty kempys a longe whyle, and sore they bledde bothe.
Wyth that come the damesell and seyde, ‘My lorde, the Grene Knyght, why for shame stonde ye so longe fyghtynge with that kychyn knave? Alas! hit is shame that evir ye were made knyght to se suche a lad to macche you, as the wede growyth over the come.’
Therewith the Grene Knyght was ashamed, and therewithall he gaff a grete stroke of myght and clave his shylde thorow. Whan Beawmaynes saw his shylde clovyn asundir he was a lytyll ashamed of that stroke and of hir langage.
And than he gaff hym suche a buffette uppon the helme that he felle on his kneis, and so suddeynly Bewmaynes pulde hym on the grounde grovelynge. And than the Grene Knyght cryed hym mercy and yelded hym unto Bewmaynes and prayde hym nat to sle hym.
‘All is in vayne,’ seyde Bewmaynes, ‘for thou shalt dye but yf this damesell that cam with me pray me to save thy lyff,’ and therewithall he unlaced his helme lyke as he wolde sle hym.
‘Fye uppon the, false kychyn payge! I woll never pray the to save his lyff, for I woll nat be so muche in thy daunger.’
‘Than shall he dye,’ seyde Beawmaynes.
‘Nat so hardy, thou bawdy knave!’ seyde the damesell, ‘that thou sle hym.’
‘Alas!’ seyde the Grene Knyght, ‘suffir me nat to dye for a fayre worde spekyng. Fayre knyght,’ seyde the Grene Knyght, ‘save my lyfe and I woll forgyff the the deth of my brothir, and for ever to becom thy man, and thirty knyghtes that hold of me for ever shall do you servyse.’
‘In the devyls name,’ seyde the damesell, ‘that suche a bawdy kychyn knave sholde have thirty knyghtes servyse and thyne!’
‘Sir knyght,’ seyde Bewmaynes, ‘all this avaylyth the nought but yf my damesell speke to me for thy lyff,’ and therewithall he made a semblaunte to sle hym.
‘Lat be,’ seyde the dameselle, ‘thou bawdy kychyn knave! Sle hym nat, for and thou do thou shalt repente hit.’
‘Damesell,’ seyde Bewmaynes, your charge is to me a plesure, and at youre commaundemente his lyff shall be saved, and ellis nat.’ Than he said, ‘Sir knyght with the grene armys, I releyse the quyte at this damesels requeste, for I woll nat make hit wroth, for I woll fulfylle all that she chargyth me.’
And than the Grene Knyght kneled downe and dud hym homage with his swerde. Than sayde the damesell, ‘Me repentis of this Grene Knyghtes damage, and of your brothirs deth, the Blak Knyght, for of your helpe I had grete mystir; for I drede me sore to passe this foreste.’
‘Nay, drede you nat,’ seyde the Grene Knyght, ‘for ye all shall lodge with me this nyght, and to-morne I shall helpe you thorow this forest.’
Soo they toke their horsys and rode to his maner that was faste by.
[9] And ever this damesell rebuked Bewmaynes and wolde nat suffir hym to sitte at hit table, but as the Grene Knyght toke hym and sate with hym at a syde table.
‘Damesell, mervayle me thynkyth,’ seyde the Grene Knyght, ‘why ye rebuke this noble knyghte as ye do, for I warne you he is a full noble man, and I knowe no knyght that is able to macche hym. Therefore ye do grete wronge so to rebuke hym, for he shall do you ryght goode servyse. For whatsomever he makyth hymself he shall preve at the ende that he is com of full noble blood and of kynges lynage.’
‘Fy, fy!’ seyde the damesell, ‘hit is shame for you to sey hym suche worshyp.’
‘Truly,’ seyde the Grene Knyght, ‘hit were shame to me to sey hym ony dysworshyp, for he hath previd hymself a bettir knyght than I am; and many is the noble knyght that I have mette withall in my dayes, and never or this tyme founde I no knyght his macche.’ And so that nyght they yoode unto reste, and all nyght the Grene Knyght commaundede thirty knyghtes prevyly to wacche Bewmaynes for to kepe hym from all treson.
And so on the morn they all arose and herde their masse and brake their faste. And than they toke their horsis and rode their way, and the Grene Knyght conveyed hem thorow the foreste. Than the Grene Knyght seyde, ‘My lorde, sir Bewmaynes, my body and this thirty knyghtes shall be allway at your somouns, bothe erly and late at your callynge, and whothir that ever ye woll sende us.’
‘Ye sey well,’ seyde sir Bewmaynes, ‘whan that I calle uppon you ye muste yelde you unto kynge Arthure, and all your knyghtes, if that I so commaunde you.’
‘We shall be redy at all tymes,’ seyde the Grene Knyght.
‘Fy, fy uppon the, in the devyls name!’ seyde the damesell, ‘that ever ony good knyght sholde be obedyent unto a kychyn knave!’
So than departed the Grene Knyght and the damesell, and than she seyde unto Bewmaynes, ‘Why folowyste thou me, kychyn knave? Caste away thy shylde and thy spere and fle away. Yett I counseyle the betyme, or thou shalt sey ryght sone “Alas!” For and thou were as wyght as sir Launcelot, sir Tristrams or the good knyght sir Lamerok, thou shalt not passe a pace here that is called the Pace Perelus.’
‘Damesell,’ seyde Bewmaynes, ‘who is aferde let hym fle, for hit were shame to turne agayne syth I have ryddyn so longe with you.’’Well,’ seyde she, ‘ye shall sone, whether ye woll or woll not.’
So within a whyle they saw a whyght towre as ony snowe, well [10] macchecolde all aboute and double-dyked, and over the towre gate there hynge a fyffty shyldis of dyvers coloures. And undir that towre there was a fayre medow, and therein was many knyghtes and squyres to beholde, scaffoldis and pavylons; for there, uppon the morne, sholde be a grete turnemente.
And the lorde of the towre was within his castell, and loked oute at a wyndow and saw a damesell, a dwarff, and a knyght armed at all poyntis.
‘So God me helpe,’ seyde the lorde, ‘with that knyght woll I juste, for I see that he is a knyght arraunte.’
And so he armed hym and horsed hym hastely. Whan he was on horsebak with his shylde and his spere, hit was all rede, bothe his horse and his harneyse and all that to hym belonged. And whan that he com nyghe hym he wente hit had be his brother the Blak Knyght, and than lowde he cryed and seyde, ‘Brothir, what do ye here in this marchis?’
‘Nay, nay,’ seyde the damesell, ‘hit is nat he, for this is but a kychyn knave that was brought up for almys in kynge Arthurs courte.’
‘Neverthelesse,’ seyde the Rede Knyght, ‘I woll speke with hym or he departe.’
‘A,’ seyde this damesell, ‘this knave hathe slayne your brother, and sir Kay named hym Bewmaynes; and this horse and this harneyse was thy brothirs, the Blak Knyght. Also I sawe thy brothir the Grene Knyght overcom of his hondys. But now may ye be revenged on hym, for I may nevir be quyte of hym.’
Complete Works of Sir Thomas Malory Page 26