“With all my heart,” said he, “I forgive you and now I think there is no knight living, but I am able enough for him.” When Sir Persant saw them in the field, he sent to them to know whether Beaumains came in war or in peace. “Say to thy lord,” said Beaumains, “that shall be as he pleases.” And so Sir Persant rode against him, and his armor and trappings were blue, and Beaumains saw him and made him ready and their horses rushed together and they fought two hours and more. And at the last Beaumains smote Sir Persant that he fell to the earth. Then Sir Persant yielded him and asked mercy. With that came the damsel and prayed to save his life. “I will gladly,” said Beaumains, “for it were pity this noble knight should die.” “Now this shall I do to please you,” said Sir Persant, “ye shall have homage of me and an hundred knights to be always at your command.” And so they went to Sir Persant’s pavilion to rest that night. And so on the morn the damsel and Sir Beaumains took their leave. “Fair damsel,” said Sir Persant, “whither are ye leading this knight?” “Sir,” she said, “this knight is going to rescue my sister, Dame Liones, who is besieged in the Castle Perilous.” “Ah,” said Sir Persant, “she is besieged by the Red Knight of the Red Lands, a man that is without mercy, and men say that he hath seven men’s strength. He hath been well nigh two years at this siege and he prolongeth the time, hoping to have Sir Lancelot to do battle with him, or Sir Tristam, or Sir Lamorak, or Sir Gawain.” “My lord, Sir Persant,” said the damsel, “I require that ye will make this gentleman knight before he fight the Red Knight.” “I will with all my heart,” said Sir Persant, “if it please him to take the order of knighthood from so simple a man as I am.” “Sir,” said Beaumains, “I thank you for your goodwill, but the noble knight Sir Lancelot 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 all the world saith that betwixt three knights is knighthood divided, Sir Lancelot, Sir Tristam, and Sir Lamorak. Therefore, God speed ye well, for if ye conquer the Red Knight, ye shall be called the fourth of the world.” “Sir,” said Beaumains, “I would fain be of good fame and knighthood and I will tell you both who I am. Truly then, my name is Gareth of Orkney, and King Lot was my father, and my mother is King Arthur’s sister, and Sir Gawain is my brother and so Sir Agravaine and Sir Gaheris, and I am youngest of them all: And yet know not King Arthur nor Sir Gawain who I am.” HOW THE LADY THAT WAS BESIEGED HAD WORD FROM HER SISTER The lady that was besieged had word of her sister’s coming by the dwarf, and also how the knight had passed all the perilous passages.