which was rescued of the thieves rode after that damosel, and prayed
her to lodge with him all that night. And because it was near night the
damosel rode with him to his castle, and there they had great cheer, and
at supper the knight sat Sir Beaumains afore the damosel. Fie, fie, said
she, Sir knight, ye are uncourteous to set a kitchen page afore me; him
beseemeth better to stick a swine than to sit afore a damosel of high
parage. Then the knight was ashamed at her words, and took him up, and
set him at a sideboard, and set himself afore him, and so all that night
they had good cheer and merry rest.

CHAPTER VI. How Beaumains fought and slew two knights at a passage.

AND on the morn the damosel and he took their leave and thanked the
knight, and so departed, and rode on their way until they came to a
great forest. And there was a great river and but one passage, and there
were ready two knights on the farther side to let them the passage. What
sayest thou, said the damosel, wilt thou match yonder knights or turn
again? Nay, said Sir Beaumains, I will not turn again an they were six
more. And therewithal he rushed into the water, and in midst of the
water either brake their spears upon other to their hands, and then
they drew their swords, and smote eagerly at other. And at the last
Sir Beaumains smote the other upon the helm that his head stonied, and
therewithal he fell down in the water, and there was he drowned. And
then he spurred his horse upon the land, where the other knight fell
upon him, and brake his spear, and so they drew their swords and fought
long together. At the last Sir Beaumains clave his helm and his head
down to the shoulders; and so he rode unto the damosel and bade her ride
forth on her way.

Alas, she said, that ever a kitchen page should have that fortune to
destroy such two doughty knights: thou weenest thou hast done doughtily,
that is not so; for the first knight his horse stumbled, and there he
was drowned in the water, and never it was by thy force, nor by
thy might. And the last knight by mishap thou camest behind him and
mishappily thou slew him.

Damosel, said Beaumains, ye may say what ye will, but with whomsomever I
have ado withal, I trust to God to serve him or he depart. And therefore
I reck not what ye say, so that I may win your lady. Fie, fie, foul
kitchen knave, thou shalt see knights that shall abate thy boast. Fair
damosel, give me goodly language, and then my care i