Then goodly they said all at once, God forgive you, and we do, and pray
you that ye will tell us where we may find Sir Beaumains. Fair lords,
said Sir Ironside, I cannot tell you, for it is full hard to find him;
for such young knights as he is one, when they be in their adventures
be never abiding in no place. But to say the worship that the Red
Knight of the Red Launds, and Sir Persant and his brother said of
Beaumains, it was marvel to hear. Well, my fair lords, said King
Arthur, wit you well I shall do you honour for the love of Sir
Beaumains, and as soon as ever I meet with him I shall make you all
upon one day knights of the Table Round. And as to thee, Sir Persant of
Inde, thou hast been ever called a full noble knight, and so have ever
been thy three brethren called. But I marvel, said the king, that I
hear not of the Black Knight your brother, he was a full noble knight.
Sir, said Pertolepe, the Green Knight, Sir Beaumains slew him in a
recounter with his spear, his name was Sir Percard. That was great
pity, said the king, and so said many knights. For these four brethren
were full well known in the court of King Arthur for noble knights, for
long time they had holden war against the knights of the Round Table.
Then said Pertolepe, the Green Knight, to the king: At a passage of the
water of Mortaise there encountered Sir Beaumains with two brethren
that ever for the most part kept that passage, and they were two deadly
knights, and there he slew the eldest brother in the water, and smote
him upon the head such a buffet that he fell down in the water, and
there he was drowned, and his name was Sir Gherard le Breusse; and
after he slew the other brother upon the land, his name was Sir Arnold
le Breusse.
CHAPTER XXV. How the Queen of Orkney came to this feast of Pentecost,
and Sir Gawaine and his brethren came to ask her blessing.
So then the king and they went to meat, and were served in the best
manner. And as they sat at the meat, there came in the Queen of Orkney,
with ladies and knights a great number. And then Sir Gawaine, Sir
Agravaine, and Gaheris arose, and went to her and saluted her upon
their knees, and asked her blessing; for in fifteen year they had not
seen her. Then she spake on high to her brother King Arthur: Where have
ye done my young son Sir Gareth? He was here amongst you a twelvemonth,
and ye made a kitchen knave of him, the which is shame to you all.
Alas, where have ye done my dear son that was my joy and bliss? O dear
mother, said Sir Gawaine, I knew him not. Nor I, said the king, that
now me repenteth, but thanked be God he is proved a worshipful knight
as any is now living of his years, and I shall never be glad till I may
find him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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