But there went many after to behold how well he was horsed and trapped
in cloth of gold, but he had neither shield nor spear. Then Sir Kay
said all open in the hall, I will ride after my boy in the kitchen, to
wit whether he will know me for his better. Said Sir Launcelot and Sir
Gawaine, Yet abide at home. So Sir Kay made him ready and took his
horse and his spear, and rode after him. And right as Beaumains
overtook the damosel, right so came Sir Kay and said, Beaumains, what,
sir, know ye not me? Then he turned his horse, and knew it was Sir Kay,
that had done him all the despite as ye have heard afore. 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 in his hand, and so he put away his spear with his sword, and
with a foin thrust him through the side, that Sir Kay fell down as he
had been dead; and he alighted down and took Sir Kay’s shield and his
spear, and stert upon his own horse and rode his way.
All that saw Sir Launcelot, and so did the damosel. And then he bade
his dwarf stert upon Sir Kay’s horse, and so he did. By that Sir
Launcelot was come, then he proffered Sir Launcelot to joust; and
either made them ready, and they came together so fiercely that either
bare down other to the earth, and sore were they bruised. Then Sir
Launcelot arose and helped him from his horse. And then Beaumains threw
his shield from him, and proffered to fight with Sir Launcelot on foot;
and so they rushed together like boars, tracing, rasing, and foining to
the mountenance of an hour; and Sir Launcelot felt him so big that he
marvelled of his strength, for he fought more liker a giant than a
knight, and that his fighting was durable and passing perilous. For Sir
Launcelot had so much ado with him that he dreaded himself to be
shamed, and said, Beaumains, fight not so sore, your quarrel and mine
is not so great but we may leave off. Truly that is truth, said
Beaumains, but it doth me good to feel your might, and yet, my lord, I
showed not the utterance.
CHAPTER V. How Beaumains told to Sir Launcelot his name, and how he was
dubbed knight of Sir Launcelot, and after overtook the damosel.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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