Le Morte Darthur
little knew he of what birth he is come, and for what cause he came to
this court. And so we leave off Sir Kay and turn we unto Beaumains.
When he had overtaken the damsel anon she said, What doest thou here?
thou stinkest all of the kitchen, thy clothes be foul of the grease and
tallow that thou gainedst in king Arthur’s kitchen; weenest thou, said
she, that I allow thee for yonder knight that thou killedst? Nay truly,
for thou slewest him unhappily and cowardly, therefore turn again foul
kitchen page. I know thee well, for Sir Kay named thee Beaumains; what
art thou but a lubber and a turner of spits, and a ladle washer?
Damsel, said Beaumains, say to me what ye will, I will not go from you
whatsoever ye say, for I have undertaken to king Arthur for to achieve
your adventure, and so shall I finish it to the end, or I shall die
therefore. Fie on thee, kitchen knave, wilt thou finish mine adventure?
thou shalt anon be met withall, that thou wouldest not for all the
broth that ever thou suppedst once look him in the face. I shall assay,
said Beaumains. So thus as they rode in the wood, there came a man
flying all that ever he might. Whither wilt thou? said Beaumains. O
lord, he said, help me, for hereby in a slade are six thieves, that
have taken my lord and bound him, so I am afeard lest they will slay
him. Bring me thither, said Sir Beaumains. And so they rode together
until they came there as was the knight bound, and then he rode unto
them and struck one unto the death, and then another, and at the third
stroke he slew the third thief: and then the other three fled. And he
rode after them, and he overtook them, and then those three thieves
turned again and assailed Beaumains hard, but at the last he slew them,
and returned and unbound the knight. And the knight thanked him, and
prayed him to ride with him to his castle there a little beside, and he
should worshipfully reward him for his good deeds. Sir, said Beaumains,
I will no reward have, I was this day made knight of noble Sir
Launcelot, and therefore I will no reward have, but God reward me. And
also I must follow this damsel. And when he came nigh her, she bad him
ride from her, for thou smellest all of the kitchen; weenest thou that
I have joy of thee? for all this deed thou hast done, is but mishapped
thee; but thou shalt see a sight that shall make thee turn again, and
that lightly. Then the same knight which was rescued of the thieves
rode after that damsel, and prayed her to lodge with him all that
night. And because it was near night the damsel rode with him to his
castle, and there they had great cheer. And at supper the knight set
Sir Beaumains afore the damsel. Fie, fie, said she, sir knight, ye are
uncourteous to set a kitchen page afore me, him beseemeth better to
stick a swine than to sit afore a damsel of high parentage. Then the
knight was ashamed at her words, and took him up and set him at a side
board, and set himself afore him. And so all that night they had good
cheer and merry rest.
CHAP. VI.
_How Sir Beaumains fought and slew two knights at a passage._
And on the morn the damsel and he took their leave and thanked the
knight, and so departed, and rode on their way until they came to a
great forest. And there was a great river and but one passage, and
there were ready two knights on the further side, to let them the
passage. What sayest thou, said the damsel, wilt thou match yonder
knights, or turn again? Nay, said Sir Beaumains, I will not turn again
and they were six more. And therewithal he rushed into the water, and
in the midst of the water either brake their spears upon other to their
hands, and then they drew their swords and smote eagerly at other. And
at the last Sir Beaumains smote the other upon the helm that his head
stonied, and therewithal he fell down in the water, and there was he
drowned. And then he spurred his horse upon the land, where the other
knight fell upon him and brake his spear, and so they drew their swords
and fought long together. At the last Sir Beaumains clave his helm and
his head down to the shoulders: and so he rode unto the damsel, and
bade her ride forth on her way. Alas, she said, that ever a kitchen
page should have that fortune to destroy such two doughty knights; thou
weenest thou hast done doughtily; that is not so, for the first knight
his horse stumbled, and there he was drowned in the water, and never it
was by thy force nor by thy might. And the last knight by mishap thou
camest behind him and mishappily thou slewest him. Damsel, said
Beaumains, ye may say what ye will, but with whomsoever I have ado
withall I trust to God to serve him or he depart, and therefore I reck
not what ye say, so that I may win your lady. Fie, fie, foul kitchen
knave, thou shalt see knights that shall abate thy boast. Fair damsel,
give me goodly language, and then my care is past, for what knights
soever they be I care not, nor I doubt them not. Also, said she, I say
it for thine avail, yet mayest thou turn again with thy worship, for
and thou follow me thou art but slain, for I see all that ever thou
dost is but by misadventure, and not by prowess of thy hands. Well,
damsel, ye may say what ye will, but wheresoever ye go I will follow
you. So this Beaumains rode with that lady till even-song time, and
ever she chid him, and would not rest. And then they came to a black
lawn, and there was a black hawthorn, and thereon hung a black banner,
and on the other side there hung a black shield, and by it stood a
black spear great and long, and a great black horse covered with silk,
and a black stone fast by.
CHAP. VII.
_How Sir Beaumains fought with the knight of the black lawns, 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 lawn. Then the damsel, when she saw that knight,
she bade him flee down the 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, Damsel,
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;
would that ye should put him from me, or else to slay him and 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
damsel, and because he rideth with me they think he is some man of
worship born. That may be, said the black knight, how be it 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 liberal of my horse and my harness. I let thee wit it
cost thee nought, and whether it liketh thee or not this lawn will I
pass, maugre thine head, and horse nor harness gettest thou none of me,
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 a half he fell down off his horse in a swoon, and there he
died. And then Beaumains saw him so well horsed and armed, then he
alight down, and armed him in his armour, and so took his horse, and
rode after the damsel. When she saw him come nigh, she said, Away,
kitchen knave, out of the wind, for the smell of thy foul clothes
grieveth me. Alas, she said, that ever such a knave as thou art should
by mishap slay so good a knight as thou hast done, but all this is
thine unhappiness. But hereby 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 damsel, I will
not flee away nor leave your company for all that ye can say, for ever
ye say that they will kill me or beat me, but how soever 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 or
truly beaten; therefore ride on your way, for follow you I will
whatsoever happen.
CHAP. 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
damsel he asked her, Is that my brother the black knight that ye have
brought with you? Nay, nay, said she, 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 Percard. I
defy thee, said Beaumains, for I let thee wit I slew him knightly, and
not shamefully. Therewithall the green knight rode unto an horn that
was green, and it hung upon a thorn, and there he blew three deadly
notes, and there came two damsels and armed him lightly. And then took
he 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’ horse struck the green knight’s horse upon the side, 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 alight,
and they rushed together like two mighty champions a long while, and
sore they bled both. With that came the damsel 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 match 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
groveling. And then the green knight cried him mercy, and yielded him