Damosel, said Beaumains, ye are uncourteous so to rebuke me as ye do,
for meseemeth I have done you good service, and ever ye threaten me I
shall be beaten with knights that we meet, but ever for all your boast
they lie in the dust or in the mire, and therefore I pray you rebuke me
no more; and when ye see me beaten or yielden as recreant, then may ye
bid me go from you shamefully; but first I let you wit I will not
depart from you, for I were worse than a fool an I would depart from
you all the while that I win worship. Well, said she, right soon there
shall meet a knight shall pay thee all thy wages, for he is the most
man of worship of the world, except King Arthur. I will well, said
Beaumains, the more he is of worship, the more shall be my worship to
have ado with him.
Then anon they were ware where was afore them a city rich and fair. And
betwixt them and the city a mile and an half there was a fair meadow
that seemed new mown, and therein were many pavilions fair to behold.
Lo, said the damosel, yonder is a lord that owneth yonder city, and his
custom is, when the weather is fair, to lie in this meadow to joust and
tourney. And ever there be about him five hundred knights and gentlemen
of arms, and there be all manner of games that any gentleman can
devise. That goodly lord, said Beaumains, would I fain see. Thou shalt
see him time enough, said the damosel, and so as she rode near she
espied the pavilion where he was. Lo, said she, seest thou yonder
pavilion that is all of the colour of Inde, and all manner of thing
that there is about, men and women, and horses trapped, shields and
spears were all of the colour of Inde, and his name is Sir Persant of
Inde, the most lordliest knight that ever thou lookedst on. It may well
be, said Beaumains, but be he never so stout a knight, in this field I
shall abide till that I see him under his shield. Ah, fool, said she,
thou wert better flee betimes. Why, said Beaumains, an he be such a
knight as ye make him, he will not set upon me with all his men, or
with his five hundred knights. For an there come no more but one at
once, I shall him not fail whilst my life lasteth. Fie, fie, said the
damosel, that ever such a stinking knave should blow such a boast.
Damosel, he said, ye are to blame so to rebuke me, for I had liefer do
five battles than so to be rebuked, let him come and then let him do
his worst.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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