month in your kitchen, and have had my full sustenance, and now I
will ask my two gifts that be behind. Ask, upon my peril, said the king.
Sir, this shall be my two gifts, first that ye will grant me to have
this adventure of the damosel, for it belongeth unto me. Thou shalt have
it, said the king, I grant it thee. Then, sir, this is the other gift,
that ye shall bid Launcelot du Lake to make me knight, for of him I will
be made knight and else of none. And when I am passed I pray you let him
ride after me, and make me knight when I require him. All this shall be
done, said the king. Fie on thee, said the damosel, shall I have none
but one that is your kitchen page? Then was she wroth and took her horse
and departed. And with that there came one to Beaumains and told him his
horse and armour was come for him; and there was the dwarf come with all
thing that him needed, in the richest manner; thereat all the court had
much marvel from whence came all that gear. So when he was armed there
was none but few so goodly a man as he was; and right so as he came into
the hall and took his leave of King Arthur, and Sir Gawaine, and Sir
Launcelot, and prayed that he would hie after him, and so departed and
rode after the damosel.

CHAPTER IV. How Beaumains departed, and how he gat of Sir Kay a spear
and a shield, and how he jousted with Sir Launcelot.

BUT there went many after to behold how well he was horsed and trapped
in cloth of gold, but he had neither shield nor spear. Then Sir Kay said
all open in the hall, I will ride after my boy in the kitchen, to wit
whether he will know me for his better. Said Sir Launcelot and Sir
Gawaine, Yet abide at home. So Sir Kay made him ready and took his horse
and his spear, and rode after him. And right as Beaumains overtook the
damosel, right so came Sir Kay and said, Beaumains, what, sir, know ye
not me? Then he turned his horse, and knew it was Sir Kay, that had done
him all the despite as ye have heard afore. Yea, said Beaumains, I know
you for an ungentle knight of the court, and therefore beware of me.
Therewith Sir Kay put his spear in the rest, and ran straight upon him;
and Beaumains came as fast upon him with his sword in his hand, and so
he put away his spear with his sword, and with a foin thrust him through
the side, that Sir Kay fell down as he had been dead; and he alighted
down and took Sir Kay's shield and his spear, and stert upon his own
horse and rode his way.

A