art
full large of my horse and my harness; I let thee wit it cost thee
nought, and whether it liketh thee or not, this laund will I pass maugre
thine head. And horse nor harness gettest thou none of mine, but if
thou win them with thy hands; and therefore let see what thou canst do.
Sayest thou that? said the Black Knight, now yield thy lady from thee,
for it beseemeth never a kitchen page to ride with such a lady. Thou
liest, said Beaumains, I am a gentleman born, and of more high lineage
than thou, and that will I prove on thy body.

Then in great wrath they departed with their horses, and came together
as it had been the thunder, and the Black Knight's spear brake, and
Beaumains thrust him through both his sides, and therewith his spear
brake, and the truncheon left still in his side. But nevertheless the
Black Knight drew his sword, and smote many eager strokes, and of great
might, and hurt Beaumains full sore. But at the last the Black Knight,
within an hour and an half, he fell down off his horse in swoon, and
there he died. And when Beaumains saw him so well horsed and armed, then
he alighted down and armed him in his armour, and so took his horse and
rode after the damosel.

When she saw him come nigh, she said, Away, kitchen knave, out of the
wind, for the smell of thy bawdy clothes grieveth me. Alas, she said,
that ever such a knave should by mishap slay so good a knight as thou
hast done, but all this is thine unhappiness. But here by is one shall
pay thee all thy payment, and therefore yet I counsel thee, flee. It may
happen me, said Beaumains, to be beaten or slain, but I warn you, fair
damosel, I will not flee away, a nor leave your company, for all that
ye can say; for ever ye say that they will kill me or beat me, but
howsomever it happeneth I escape, and they lie on the ground. And
therefore it were as good for you to hold you still thus all day
rebuking me, for away will I not till I see the uttermost of this
journey, or else I will be slain, other truly beaten; therefore ride on
your way, for follow you I will whatsomever happen.

CHAPTER VIII. How the brother of the knight that was slain met with
Beaumains, and fought with Beaumains till he was yielden.

THUS as they rode together, they saw a knight come driving by them all
in green, both his horse and his harness; and when he came nigh the
damosel, he asked her, Is that my brother the Black Knight that ye have
brought with you? Nay, nay, s