Howtheladythatwasbesegedhadwordfromherssterhowshehadbroughtaknghttofghtforher,andwhatbattleshehadacheved。
SOthebooksaththattheladythatwasbesegedhadwordofhersster’scomngbythedwarf,andaknghtwthher,andhowhehadpassedalltheperlouspassages。Whatmanneramanshe?
sadthelady。Hesanobleknght,truly,madam,sadthedwarf,andbutayoungman,buthesaslkelyamanaseveryesawany。Whatshe?sadthedamosel,andofwhatknshecome,andofwhomwashemadeknght?Madam,sadthedwarf,hesthekng’ssonofOrkney,buthsnamewllnottellyouasatthstme;butwtyewell,ofSrLauncelotwashemadeknght,forofnoneotherwouldhebemadeknght,andSrKaynamedhmBeaumans。Howescapedhe,sadthelady,fromthebrethrenofPersant?Madam,hesad,asanobleknghtshould。Frst,heslewtwobrethrenatapassageofawater。
Ah!sadshe,theyweregoodknghts,buttheyweremurderers,theonehghtGherardleBreuse,andtheotherknghthghtSrArnoldleBreuse。Then,madam,herecounteredwththeBlackKnght,andslewhmnplanbattle,andsohetookhshorseandhsarmourandfoughtwththeGreenKnghtandwonhmnplanbattle,andnlkewseheservedtheRedKnght,andafternthesamewseheservedtheBlueKnghtandwonhmnplanbattle。Then,sadthelady,hehathovercomeSrPersantofnde,oneofthenoblestknghtsoftheworld,andthedwarfsad,HehathwonallthefourbrethrenandslantheBlackKnght,andyetheddmoreto-fore:heoverthrewSrKayandlefthmnghdeadupontheground;alsoheddagreatbattlewthSrLauncelot,andtheretheydepartedonevenhands:andthenSrLauncelotmadehmknght。
Dwarf,sadthelady,amgladofthesetdngs,thereforegothounanhermtageofmnehereby,andthereshaltthoubearwththeeofmywnentwoflagonsofslver,theyareoftwogallons,andalsotwocastofbreadwthfatvensonbaked,anddantyfowls;andacupofgoldheredelverthee,thatsrchandprecous;andbearallthstomnehermtage,andputtnthehermt’shands。Andsthengothouuntomyssterandgreetherwell,andcommendmeuntothatgentleknght,andprayhmtoeatandtodrnkandmakehmstrong,andsayyehmthankhmofhscourtesyandgoodness,thathewouldtakeuponhmsuchlabourformethatneverddhmbountynorcourtesy。Alsoprayhmthathebeofgoodheartandcourage,forheshallmeetwthafullnobleknght,buthesnetherofbounty,courtesy,norgentleness;forheattendethuntonothngbuttomurder,andthatsthecausecannotprasehmnorlovehm。
Sothsdwarfdeparted,andcametoSrPersant,wherehefoundthedamoselLnetandSrBeaumans,andtherehetoldthemallasyehaveheard;andthentheytooktherleave,butSrPersanttookanamblnghackneyandconveyedthemontherways,andthenbeleftthemtoGod;andsowthnalttlewhletheycametothathermtage,andtheretheydrankthewne,andatethevensonandthefowlsbaken。Andsowhentheyhadrepastedthemwell,thedwarfreturnedaganwthhsvesseluntothecastleagan;andtheremetwthhmtheRedKnghtoftheRedLaunds,andaskedhmfromwhencethathecame,andwherehehadbeen。
Sr,sadthedwarf,havebeenwthmylady’sssterofthscastle,andshehathbeenatKngArthur’scourt,andbroughtaknghtwthher。Thenaccounthertravalbutlost;forthoughshehadbroughtwthherSrLauncelot,SrTrstram,SrLamorak,orSrGawane,wouldthnkmyselfgoodenoughforthemall。
tmaywellbe,sadthedwarf,butthsknghthathpassedalltheperlouspassages,andslantheBlackKnghtandothertwomore,andwontheGreenKnght,theRedKnght,andtheBlueKnght。Thensheoneofthesefourthathaveaforerehearsed。Hesnoneofthose,sadthedwarf,buthesakng’sson。Whatshsname?sadtheRedKnghtoftheRedLaunds。Thatwllnottellyou,sadthedwarf,butSrKayuponscornnamedhmBeaumans。carenot,sadtheknght,whatknghtsoeverhebe,forshallsoondelverhm。Andfevermatchhmheshallhaveashamefuldeathasmanyotherhavehad。Thatwerepty,sadthedwarf,andtsmarvelthatyemakesuchshamefulwaruponnobleknghts。
HowthedamoselandBeaumanscametothesege;andcametoasycamoretree,andthereBeaumansblewahorn,andthentheKnghtoftheRedLaundscametofghtwthhm。
NOWleavewetheknghtandthedwarf,andspeakweofBeaumans,thatallnghtlaynthehermtage;anduponthemornheandthedamoselLnetheardthermassandbraketherfast。Andthentheytooktherhorsesandrodethroughoutafarforest;andthentheycametoaplan,andsawwhereweremanypavlonsandtents,andafarcastle,andtherewasmuchsmokeandgreatnose;andwhentheycamenearthesegeSrBeaumansespedupongreattrees,asherode,howtherehungfullgoodlyarmedknghtsbytheneck,andthersheldsabouttherneckswththerswords,andgltspursupontherheels,andsotherehungnghafortyknghtsshamefullywthfullrcharms。
ThenSrBeaumansabatedhscountenanceandsad,Whatmeanethths?Farsr,sadthedamosel,abatenotyourcheerforallthssght,foryemustcourageyourself,orelseyebeallshent,foralltheseknghtscamehthertothssegetorescuemyssterDameLonesse,andwhentheRedKnghtoftheRedLaundshadovercomethem,heputthemtothsshamefuldeathwthoutmercyandpty。Andnthesamewsehewllserveyoubutfyouqutyouthebetter。
NowJesudefendme,sadBeaumans,fromsuchavllanousdeathandshenshpofarms。Forratherthanshouldsobefarenwthal,wouldratherbeslanmanlynplanbattle。Sowereyebetter,sadthedamosel;fortrustnot,nhmsnocourtesy,butallgoethtothedeathorshamefulmurder,andthatspty,forhesafulllkelyman,wellmadeofbody,andafullnobleknghtofprowess,andalordofgreatlandsandpossessons。Truly,sadBeaumans,hemaywellbeagoodknght,butheusethshamefulcustoms,andtsmarvelthatheendurethsolongthatnoneofthenobleknghtsofmylordArthur’shavenotdealtwthhm。
Andthentheyrodetothedykes,andsawthemdoubledykedwthfullwarlkewalls;andtherewerelodgedmanygreatlordsnghthewalls;andtherewasgreatnoseofmnstrelsy;andtheseabeatupontheonesdeofthewalls,whereweremanyshpsandmarners’nosewth``haleandhow。’’Andalsotherewasfastbyasycamoretree,andtherehunganhorn,thegreatestthatevertheysaw,ofanelephant’sbone;andthsKnghtoftheRedLaundshadhangedtupthere,thatftherecameanyerrant-
knght,hemustblowthathorn,andthenwllhemakehmreadyandcometohmtodobattle。But,sr,prayyou,sadthedamoselLnet,blowyenotthehorntlltbehghnoon,fornowtsaboutprme,andnowncreasethhsmght,thatasmensayhehathsevenmen’sstrength。Ah,feforshame,fardamosel,sayyeneversomoretome;for,anhewereasgoodaknghtaseverwas,shallneverfalhmnhsmostmght,forether
wllwnworshpworshpfully,ordeknghtlynthefeld。Andtherewthhespurredhshorsestraghttothesycamoretree,andblewsothehorneagerlythatallthesegeandthecastlerangthereof。Andthenthereleaptoutknghtsoutofthertentsandpavlons,andtheywthnthecastlelookedoverthewallsandoutatwndows。
ThentheRedKnghtoftheRedLaundsarmedhmhastly,andtwobaronssetonhsspursuponhsheels,andallwasbloodred,hsarmour,spearandsheld。Andanearlbuckledhshelmuponhshead,andthentheybroughthmaredspearandaredsteed,andsoherodentoalttlevaleunderthecastle,thatallthatwerenthecastleandatthesegemghtbeholdthebattle。
Howthetwoknghtsmettogether,andofthertalkng,andhowtheybegantherbattle。
SR,sadthedamoselLnetuntoSrBeaumans,lookyebegladandlght,foryondersyourdeadlyenemy,andatyonderwndowsmylady,mysster,DameLonesse。Where?sadBeaumans。
Yonder,sadthedamosel,andpontedwthherfnger。Thatstruth,sadBeaumans。Shebeseemethafarthefarestladythateverlookedupon;andtruly,hesad,asknobetterquarrelthannowfortodobattle,fortrulysheshallbemylady,andforherwllfght。Andeverhelookeduptothewndowwthgladcountenance,andtheLadyLonessemadecurtseytohmdowntotheearth,wthholdngupboththerhands。
WththattheRedKnghtoftheRedLaundscalledtoSrBeaumans,Leave,srknght,thylookng,andbeholdme,
counselthee;forwarntheewellshesmylady,andforher
havedonemanystrongbattles。fthouhavesodone,sadBeaumans,meseemethtwasbutwastelabour,forshelovethnoneofthyfellowshp,andthoutolovethatlovethnottheesbutgreatfolly。Foranunderstoodthatshewerenotgladofmycomng,wouldbeadvsedorddbattleforher。But
understandbythebesegngofthscastleshemayforbearthyfellowshp。Andthereforewtthouwell,thouRedKnghtoftheRedLaunds,loveher,andwllrescueher,orelsetode。
Saystthouthat?sadtheRedKnght,meseemeththououghtofreasontobewarebyyonderknghtsthatthousawesthanguponyondertrees。Feforshame,sadBeaumans,thateverthoushouldestsayordosoevl,fornthatthoushamestthyselfandknghthood,andthoumaystbesuretherewllnoladylovetheethatknoweththywckedcustoms。Andnowthouweenestthatthesghtofthesehangedknghtsshouldfearme。Naytruly,notso;thatshamefulsghtcausethmetohavecourageandhardnessaganstthee,morethanwouldhavehadagansttheeanthouwertawell-ruledknght。Maketheeready,sadtheRedKnghtoftheRedLaunds,andtalknolongerwthme。
ThenSrBeaumansbadethedamoselgofromhm;andthentheyputtherspearsntherrests,andcametogetherwthallthermghtthattheyhadboth,andethersmoteothernmdstofthersheldsthatthepatrelles,surcngles,andcruppersbrast,andfelltotheearthboth,andtherensoftherbrdlesntherhands;andsotheylayagreatwhlesoreastoned,thatallthatwerenthecastleandnthesegeweenedtherneckshadbeenbroken;andthenmanyastrangerandothersadthestrangeknghtwasabgman,andanoblejouster,forornowwesawnevernoknghtmatchtheRedKnghtoftheRedLaunds:thustheysad,bothwthnthecastleandwthout。Thenlghtlytheyavodedtherhorsesandputthersheldsaforethem,anddrewtherswordsandrantogetherlketwofercelons,andethergaveothersuchbuffetsupontherhelmsthattheyreeledbackwardbothtwostrdes;andthentheyrecoveredboth,andhewedgreatpecesofftherharnessandthersheldsthatagreatpartfellntothefelds。
HowafterlongfghtngBeaumansovercametheknghtandwouldhaveslanhm,butattherequestofthelordshesavedhslfe,andmadehmtoyeldhmtothelady。
ANDthenthustheyfoughttlltwaspastnoon,andneverwouldstnt,tllatthelasttheylackedwndboth;andthentheystoodwaggngandscatterng,pantng,blowngandbleedng,thatallthatbeheldthemforthemostpartweptforpty。Sowhentheyhadrestedthemawhletheyyedetobattleagan,tracng,racng,fonngastwoboars。Andatsometmetheytooktherrunasthadbeentworams,andhurtledtogetherthatsometmetheyfellgrovellngtotheearth:andatsometmetheyweresoamazedthatethertookother’sswordnsteadofhsown。
Thustheyenduredtllevensongtme,thattherewasnonethatbeheldthemmghtknowwhetherwaslketownthebattle;andtherarmourwassoforhewnthatmenmghtseethernakedsdes;
andnotherplacestheywerenaked,buteverthenakedplacestheydddefend。AndtheRedKnghtwasawlyknghtofwar,andhswlyfghtngtaughtSrBeaumanstobewse;butheaboughttfullsoreorheddespyhsfghtng。
Andthusbyassentofthemboththeygrantedetherothertorest;andsotheysetthemdownupontwomole-hllstherebesdethefghtngplace,andetherofthemunlacedhshelm,andtookthecoldwnd;foretheroftherpageswasfastbythem,tocomewhentheycalledtounlacetherharnessandtosetthemonaganatthercommandment。AndthenwhenSrBeaumans’helmwasoff,helookeduptothewndow,andtherehesawthefarladyDameLonesse,andshemadehmsuchcountenancethathsheartwaxedlghtandjolly;andtherewthhebadetheRedKnghtoftheRedLaundsmakehmready,andletusdothebattletotheutterance。wllwell,sadtheknght,andthentheylaceduptherhelms,andtherpagesavoded,andtheysteppedtogetherandfoughtfreshly;buttheRedKnghtoftheRedLaundsawatedhm,andatanoverthwartsmotehmwthnthehand,thathsswordfelloutofhshand;andyethegavehmanotherbuffetuponthehelmthathefellgrovellngtotheearth,andtheRedKnghtfelloverhm,fortoholdhmdown。
ThencredthemadenLnetonhgh:OSrBeaumans,wheresthycouragebecome?Alas,myladymyssterbeholdeththee,andshesobbethandweepeth,thatmakethmneheartheavy。WhenSrBeaumansheardhersayso,heabradupwthagreatmghtandgathmuponhsfeet,andlghtlyheleapttohsswordandgrppedtnhshand,anddoubledhspaceuntotheRedKnght,andtheretheyfoughtanewbattletogether。ButSrBeaumansthendoubledhsstrokes,andsmotesothckthathesmotetheswordoutofhshand,andthenhesmotehmuponthehelmthathefelltotheearth,andSrBeaumansfelluponhm,andunlacedhshelmtohaveslanhm;andthenheyeldedhmandaskedmercy,andsadwthaloudvoce:Onobleknght,
yeldmetothymercy。
ThenSrBeaumansbethoughthmupontheknghtsthathehadmadetobehangedshamefully,andthenhesad:maynotwthmyworshpsavethylfe,fortheshamefuldeathsthatthouhastcausedmanyfullgoodknghtstode。Sr,sadtheRedKnghtoftheRedLaunds,holdyourhandandyeshallknowthecauseswhyputthemtososhamefuladeath。Sayon,sadSrBeaumans。Sr,lovedoncealady,afardamosel,andshehadherbrotherslan;andshesadtwasSrLauncelotduLake,orelseSrGawane;andsheprayedmeasthatlovedherheartly,thatwouldmakeherapromsebythefathofmyknghthood,fortolabourdalynarmsuntometwthoneofthem;andallthatmghtovercomeshouldputthemuntoavllanousdeath;
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