In God’s name, said Sir Launcelot, for I promise you, by the faith of
my body, I had as much to do as I might to save myself from you
unshamed, and therefore have ye no doubt of none earthly knight. Hope
ye so that I may any while stand a proved knight? said Beaumains. Yea,
said Launcelot, 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 Launcelot, and of what kin ye be born. Sir,
so that ye will not discover me I shall, said Beaumains. Nay, said Sir
Launcelot, and that I promise you by the faith of my body, until it be
openly known. Then, sir, he said, my name is Gareth, and brother unto
Sir Gawaine of father and mother. Ah, sir, said Sir Launcelot, I am
more gladder of you than I was; for ever me thought ye should be of
great blood, and that ye came not to the court neither for meat nor for
drink. And then Sir Launcelot gave him the order of knighthood, and
then Sir Gareth prayed him for to depart and let him go.
So Sir Launcelot departed from him and came to Sir Kay, and made him to
be borne home upon his shield, and so he was healed hard with the life;
and all men scorned Sir Kay, and in especial Sir Gawaine and Sir
Launcelot said it was not his part to rebuke no young man, for full
little knew he of what birth he is come, and for what cause he came to
this court; and so we leave Sir Kay and turn we unto Beaumains.
When he had overtaken the damosel, anon she said, What dost thou here?
thou stinkest all of the kitchen, thy clothes be bawdy of the grease
and tallow that thou gainest in King Arthur’s kitchen; weenest thou,
said she, that I allow thee, for yonder knight that thou killest. Nay
truly, for thou slewest him unhappily and cowardly; therefore turn
again, bawdy kitchen page, I know thee well, for Sir Kay named thee
Beaumains. What art thou but a lusk and a turner of broaches and a
ladle-washer? Damosel, said Beaumains, say to me what ye will, I will
not go from you whatsomever ye say, for I have undertaken to King
Arthur for to achieve your adventure, and so shall I finish it to the
end, either I shall die therefore. Fie on thee, kitchen knave, wilt
thou finish mine adventure? thou shalt anon be met withal, that thou
wouldest not for all the broth that ever thou suppest once look him in
the face. I shall assay, said Beaumains.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account