BOOK II.

THE STORY OF GARETH.

CHAPTER I.

HOW BEAUMAINS CAME TO KING ARTHUR'S COURT.

King Arthur had a custom that at the feast of Pentecost he would not go to meat until he had heard or seen a great marvel. And because of that custom all manner of strange adventures came before him at that feast.

5 So Sir Gawain, a little before noon of the day of Pentecost, saw from a window three men on horseback and a dwarf on foot, and one of the men was higher than the other two, by a foot and a half. Then Sir Gawain went unto the king and said, "Sir, go to your meat for here at hand come strange adventures."

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Right so came into the hall two men and upon their shoulders there leaned the goodliest young man and the fairest that ever they all saw, and he was tall and large and broad in the shoulders and the fairest and largest handed that ever man saw.

This young man said, "King Arthur, God bless you and all 15 your fair fellowship. For this cause I am come hither, to pray you to give me three gifts and they shall not be unreasonably asked but you may honorably grant them me. The first gift I will ask now and the other two I will ask this day twelvemonth." "Now ask," said Arthur, "and ye shall have your asking." "Sir," said the young man, "this is my petition, that ye will give me meat and drink for this twelvemonth and at that day I will ask mine other two gifts."

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"My fair son," said Arthur, "ask better, I counsel thee, for this is but simple asking; for my heart tells me that thou shalt 25 prove a man of right great honor."

"Sir," said the young man, "be that as it may, I have asked that I will ask."

"Well," said the king, “ye shall have meat and drink enough; gä' wan

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I never refused that to friend or foe

But what is thy name?"

"I cannot tell you," said the young man,

"That is strange," said the king, "that thou knowest not thy name and thou art the goodliest young man that ever I saw." Then the king charged Sir Kay, the steward, that he should give the young man meats and drink of the best as though he were a lord's son.

"There is no need of that," said Sir Kay, "for I am sure he is of lowly birth. If he had come of gentlemen he would have 10 asked of you horse and armor, but such as he is, so he asketh. And as he hath no name I shall name him Beaumains, that is Fair-hands, and into the kitchen I shall take him."

Then was Sir Gawain wroth and Sir Lancelot bade Sir Kay stop his mocking of the young man. But Sir Kay bade the 15 young man sit down to meat with the boys of the kitchen and there he ate sadly. And then Sir Lancelot bade him come to his chamber and there he should have meat and drink enough. And this Sir Lancelot did of his great gentleness and courtesy. And Sir Gawain proffered him meat and drink but he refused 20 them both and thus he was put into the kitchen.

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So he endured all that twelvemonth and never displeased man nor child, but always he was meek and mild. But ever when there was any jousting of knights, that would he see if he might..

So it passed on till the feast of Pentecost. On that day there came a damsel into the hall and saluted the king and prayed for succor for her lady who was besieged in her castle.

"Who is your lady and what is his name who hath besieged her?" asked the king.

"Sir King," she said, "my lady's name shall ye not know from me at this time, but the tyrant that besiegeth her and destroyeth her lands is called the Red Knight of the Red Lands." "I know him not," said the king.

"Sir," said Sir Gawain, "I know him well men say that he bỏ mãn

hath seven men's strength and from him I escaped once full hard with my life."

"Fair damsel, said the king, "there be knights here would do their power to rescue your lady, but because you will not tell 5 her name, none of my knights shall go with you by my will." Then Beaumains came before the king and said, "Sir King I have been this twelvemonth in your kitchen and now I will ask my two gifts.""

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"Ask," said the king.

"Sir, these shall be my two gifts, first that ye will grant me to have this adventure."

"Thou shalt have it," said the king.

"Then, sir, this is the other gift, that ye shall bid Sir Lancelot to make me knight. And I pray you let him ride after me 15 and make me knight when I ask him."

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"All this shall be done," said the king.

"Fie on thee," said the damsel, "shall I have none but one that is your kitchen boy

Then was she wroth and took her horse and departed.

And with that there came one to Beaumains and told him his horse and armor was come and there was the dwarf come with all things that he needed in the richest manner.

he was armed there were few so goodly men as he was.

So when

Then Sir Kay said all open in the hall, "I will ride after 25 my boy of the kitchen, to see whether he will know me for his. better." And as Beaumains overtook the damsel, right so came Sir Kay and said, "Beaumains, what sir, know ye not me?"

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"Yea," said Beaumains, "I know you for an ungentle knight of the court and therefore beware of me

Therewith Sir Kay put his spear in the rest and ran straight upon him and Beaumains came as fast upon him with his sword and thrust him through the side, so that Sir Kay fell down as if he were dead and Beaumains took Sir Kay's shield and spear and rode on his way.

When Sir Lancelot overtook him, he proffered Sir Lancelot

to joust and either made them ready and came together fiercely and fought for an hour and Lancelot marveled of Beaumains' strength, for he fought more like a giant than a knight. So Sir Lancelot said, "Beaumains, fight not so sore, your quarrel 5 and mine is not so great but we may leave off."

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"Truly that is truth," said Beaumains, "but it doth me good to feel your might."

"Hope ye that may any while stand a proved knight?" said Beaumains.

"Yea," said Lancelot, "do as ye have done and I shall be your warrant."

"Then I pray you," said Beaumains, “give me the order of knighthood."

"Then must ye tell me your name," said Lancelot.

"Sir," he said, "my name is Gareth, and I am brother unto Sir Gawain."

"Ah, sir," said Lancelot, "I am more glad of you than I was, for ever me thought ye should be of great blood and that ye came not to the court for meat nor for drink."

Then Sir Lancelot gave him the order of knighthood and departed from him and came to Sir Kay and made him to be borne home upon his shield and he was healed of his wound.

But when Beaumains had overtaken the damsel, she said, "What dost thou here? Thou smellest of the kitchen, thy clothes 25 be soiled with the grease and tallow that thou gainest in King Arthur's kitchen. Therefore, turn again, dirty kitchen boy, I know thee well, for Sir Kay named thee Beaumains.”

"Damsel," said Beaumains, "say to me what ye will, I will not go from you, whatever ye say, for I have undertaken to King 30 Arthur for to achieve your adventure and so shall I finish it to the end or I shall die therefor."

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 six thieves have taken my gā'reth

lord and bound him, so I am afraid lest they will slay him." "Bring me thither," said Beaumains.

And so they rode together until they came where the knight was bound and then he rode unto the thieves and slew them all 5 and unbound the knight. And the knight thanked him and prayed him to ride with him to his castle and he should reward him for his good deeds.

"Sir," said Beaumains, "I will no reward have; I was this day made knight of noble Sir Lancelot and therefore I will no 10 reward have but God reward me. Also I must follow this damsel."

And when he came nigh her, she bade him ride from her. "For thou smellest of the kitchen," she said. Then the same knight which was rescued rode after the damsel and prayed them to lodge with him that night and so that night they had good 15 cheer and rest.

And on the morrow the damsel and Beaumains rode on their way until they came to a great forest. And there was a river and but one passage and there were two knights to prevent their crossing. "What sayest thou," said the damsel, "wilt thou 20 match yonder knights or turn again?"

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"Nay," said Sir Beaumains, "I will not turn again if they were six more.” And therewith he rushed into the water and they drew their swords and snote at each other and Sir Beaumains slew both the knight

"Alas," said the damsel, that a kitchen boy should have the fortune to destroy two such brave knights."

"Damsel," said Beaumains, "I care not what ye say, so that I may rescue your lady."

"If thou follow me," said the damsel, "thou art but slain, 30 for I see all that ever thou dost is but by misadventure and not by might of thy hands."

“Well, damsel, ye may say what ye will, but wheresoever ye go, I will follow you."

So Beaumains rode with that lady till evening and ever she 35 chid him and would not stop. And they came to a black plain