With this Sir Persant of Inde had espied them as they hoved in the
field, and knightly he sent to them whether he came in war or in peace.
Say to thy lord, said Beaumains, I take no force, but whether as him
list himself. So the messenger went again unto Sir Persant and told him
all his answer. Well then will I have ado with him to the utterance,
and so he purveyed him and rode against him. And Beaumains saw him and
made him ready, and there they met with all that ever their horses
might run, and brast their spears either in three pieces, and their
horses rushed so together that both their horses fell dead to the
earth; and lightly they avoided their horses and put their shields
afore them, and drew their swords, and gave many great strokes that
sometime they hurtled together that they fell grovelling on the ground.
Thus they fought two hours and more, that their shields and their
hauberks were all forhewen, and in many steads they were wounded. So at
the last Sir Beaumains smote him through the cost of the body, and then
he retrayed him here and there, and knightly maintained his battle long
time. And at the last, though him loath were, Beaumains smote Sir
Persant above upon the helm, that he fell grovelling to the earth; and
then he leapt upon him overthwart and unlaced his helm to have slain
him.
Then Sir Persant yielded him and asked him mercy. With that came the
damosel and prayed to save his life. I will well, for it were pity this
noble knight should die. Gramercy, said Persant, gentle knight and
damosel. For certainly now I wot well it was ye that slew my brother
the Black Knight at the black thorn; he was a full noble knight, his
name was Sir Percard. Also I am sure that ye are he that won mine other
brother the Green Knight, his name was Sir Pertolepe. Also ye won my
brother the Red Knight, Sir Perimones. And now since ye have won these,
this shall I do for to please you: ye shall have homage and fealty of
me, and an hundred knights to be always at your commandment, to go and
ride where ye will command us. And so they went unto Sir Persant’s
pavilion and drank the wine, and ate spices, and afterward Sir Persant
made him to rest upon a bed until supper time, and after supper to bed
again. When Beaumains was abed, Sir Persant had a lady, a fair daughter
of eighteen year of age, and there he called her unto him, and charged
her and commanded her upon his blessing to go unto the knight’s bed,
and lie down by his side, and make him no strange cheer, but good
cheer, and take him in thine arms and kiss him, and look that this be
done, I charge you, as ye will have my love and my good will. So Sir
Persant’s daughter did as her father bade her, and so she went unto Sir
Beaumains’ bed, and privily she dispoiled her, and laid her down by
him, and then he awoke and saw her, and asked her what she was. Sir,
she said, I am Sir Persant’s daughter, that by the commandment of my
father am come hither. Be ye a maid or a wife? said he. Sir, she said,
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