Other adventures were ready for Beaumains before they had ridden far, for they soon found themselves at the side of a river that had but a single ford, and on the opposite side stood two knights, ready to dispute the pa.s.sage with any who should attempt it.
"What say you to this?" asked the damsel. "Will you face yonder knights, or turn back?"
"I shall not turn; nor would I, if there were six more of them. You shall see that I can deal with knights as well as knaves."
Then he rode into the water, in the midst of which he met one of the knights, their spears breaking as they came fiercely together. They then drew their swords and began a fierce fight in the centre of the ford.
But at last Beaumains dealt his opponent a blow on the helm that stunned him, and hurled him from his horse into the water, where he was quickly drowned.
Beaumains now spurred forward to the land, where the other knight rushed upon him as he touched sh.o.r.e, breaking his spear, but not shaking the young champion in his seat. Then they went at it with sword and shield, and with the same fortune as before, for Beaumains quickly cleaved the helmet and brain of his opponent, and left him dead on the ground.
He now turned and called proudly to the damsel, bidding her to ride forward, as he had cleared the ford for her pa.s.sage.
"Alas!" she cried, "that a kitchen page should have the fortune to kill two valiant knights. You fancy you have done a doughty deed, but I deny it. The first knight was drowned through his horse stumbling, and the other one you struck a foul blow from behind. Never brag of this, for I can attest it was not honestly done."
"You may say what you will," rejoined Beaumains. "Whoever seeks to hinder me shall make way or kill me, for nothing less than death shall stop me on my quest to aid your lady."
"You can boast loudly before a woman. Wait till you meet the knights I take you to, and you will be taught another lesson."
"Fair damsel, if you will but give me courteous language, I shall ask no more. As for the knights you speak of, let come what will come."
"I say this for your own good; for if you continue to follow me you will be slain. What you have done is by misadventure, not by prowess. If you are wise, you will turn back with what little honor you may claim."
"Say what you choose, damsel, but wherever you go there go I, and it will take more than insulting words to turn me back."
So they rode on till evening, she continuing to chide and berate him, and bid him leave her, and he answering meekly, but with no abatement of his resolution.
Finally a strange sight came to them. For before them they saw a black lawn, in whose midst grew a black hawthorn. On one side of this hung a black banner, and on the other a black shield, while near by stood a black spear of great size, and a ma.s.sive black horse covered with silk.
Near by was a knight armed in black armor, who was known as the Knight of the Black Lawn.
The damsel, on seeing this knight, bade Beaumains flee down the valley, telling him that he might still escape, for the knight"s horse was not saddled.
"Gramercy," said Beaumains, "will you always take me for a coward? I fly not from one man, though he be as black as ten ravens."
The black knight, seeing them approach, thus addressed the damsel,--
"So, my lady, you are here again! Have you brought this knight from King Arthur"s court to be your champion?"
"Hardly so, fair sir. This is but a kitchen knave, who was fed in Arthur"s court through charity, and has followed me as a cur follows his master."
"Why comes he then in knightly guise? And what do you in such foul company?"
"I cannot get rid of him, sir. He rides with me in my despite. I bring him here that you may rid me of the unhappy knave. Through mishap and treachery he killed two knights at the river ford, and did other deeds that might have been of worth were they fairly done. Yet he is but a sorry poltroon."
"I am surprised," said the black knight, "that any man of worth will fight with him."
"They knew him not," she answered, "and fancy him of some credit from his riding with me, and from his brave show of armor."
"That may be," said the black knight. "Yet, knave or not, he looks like a strong fellow. This much I shall do to relieve you of him. I shall put him on foot, and take from him his horse and armor. It would be a shame to do him more harm."
Beaumains had heard all this, biting his lips in anger. He now scornfully replied,--
"Sir knight, you are liberal in disposing of my horse and armor, but beware you do not pay a fair price for them. Whether you like it or not, this lawn I shall pa.s.s, and you will get no horse or armor of mine till you win them in open fight. Let me see if you can do it."
"Say you so? You shall yield me this lady, or pay dearly for it; for it does not beseem a kitchen page to ride with a lady of high degree."
"If you want her, you must win her," said Beaumains, "and much comfort may you get from her tongue. As for me, I am a gentleman born, and of higher birth than you; and will prove this on your body if you deny it."
Then in hot anger they rode apart, and came together with a sound of thunder. The spear of the black knight broke, but Beaumains thrust him through the side, the spear breaking in his body, and leaving the truncheon in his flesh. Yet, despite his wound, he drew his sword and struck with strength and fury at his antagonist. But the fight lasted not long, for the black knight, faint with loss of blood, fell from his horse in a swoon, and quickly died.
Then Beaumains, seeing that the horse and armor were better than his own, dismounted and put on the dead knight"s armor. Now, mounting the sable horse, he rode after the damsel. On coming up she greeted him as before.
"Away, knave, the smell of thy clothes displeases me. And what a pity it is that such as you should by mishap slay so good a knight! But you will be quickly repaid, unless you fly, for there is a knight hereby who is double your match."
"I may be beaten or slain, fair damsel," said Beaumains; "but you cannot drive me off by foul words, or by talking of knights who will beat or kill me. Somehow I ride on and leave your knights on the ground. You would do well to hold your peace, for I shall follow you, whatever may happen, unless I be truly beaten or slain."
So they rode on, Beaumains in silence, but the damsel still at times reviling, till they saw approaching them a knight who was all in green, both horse and harness. As he came nigh, he asked the damsel,--
"Is that my brother, the black knight, who rides with you?"
"No," she replied. "Your brother is dead. This unhappy kitchen knave has slain him through mishap."
"Alas!" cried the green knight, "has so n.o.ble a warrior as he been slain by a knave! Traitor, you shall die for your deed!"
"I defy you," said Beaumains. "I slew him knightly and not shamefully, and am ready to answer to you with sword and spear."
Then the knight took a green horn from his saddle-bow, and blew on it three warlike notes. Immediately two damsels appeared, who aided him in arming. This done, he mounted his steed, took from their hands a green spear and green shield, and stationed himself opposite Beaumains.
Setting spurs to their horses they rode furiously together, both breaking their spears, but keeping their seats. Then they attacked each other, sword in hand, and cut and slashed with knightly vigor. At length, in a sudden wheel, Beaumains"s horse struck that of the green knight on the side and overturned it, the knight having to leap quickly to escape being overthrown.
When Beaumains saw this, he also sprang to the earth and met his antagonist on foot. Here they fought for a long time, till both had lost much blood.
"You should be ashamed to stand so long fighting with a kitchen knave,"
cried the damsel at last to the green knight. "Who made you knight, that you let such a lad match you, as the weed overgrows the corn?"
Her words of scorn so angered the green knight that he struck a wrathful blow at Beaumains, which cut deeply into his shield. Beaumains, roused by this and by the damsel"s language, struck back with such might on the helm of his foe as to hurl him to his knees. Then, seizing him, he flung him to the ground, and towered above him with upraised sword.
"I yield me!" cried the knight. "Slay me not, I beg of you."
"You shall die," answered Beaumains, "unless this damsel pray me to spare your life," and he unlaced his helm, as with intent to slay him.
"Pray you to save his life!" cried the damsel, in scorn. "I shall never so demean myself to a page of the kitchen."
"Then he shall die."
"Slay him, if you will. Ask me not to beg for his life."
"Alas!" said the green knight, "you would not let me die when you can save my life with a word? Fair sir, spare me, and I will forgive you my brother"s death, and become your man, with thirty knights who are at my command."