warf departed, and came to Sir Persant, where he found the
damosel Linet and Sir Beaumains, and there he told them all as ye have
heard; and then they took their leave, but Sir Persant took an ambling
hackney and conveyed them on their ways, and then beleft them to God;
and so within a little while they came to that hermitage, and there they
drank the wine, and ate the venison and the fowls baken. And so when
they had repasted them well, the dwarf returned again with his vessel
unto the castle again; and there met with him the Red Knight of the Red
Launds, and asked him from whence that he came, and where he had been.
Sir, said the dwarf, I have been with my lady's sister of this castle,
and she hath been at King Arthur's court, and brought a knight with her.
Then I account her travail but lost; for though she had brought with her
Sir Launcelot, Sir Tristram, Sir Lamorak, or Sir Gawaine, I would think
myself good enough for them all.

It may well be, said the dwarf, but this knight hath passed all the
perilous passages, and slain the Black Knight and other two more, and
won the Green Knight, the Red Knight, and the Blue Knight. Then is he
one of these four that I have afore rehearsed. He is none of those, said
the dwarf, but he is a king's son. What is his name? said the Red Knight
of the Red Launds. That will I not tell you, said the dwarf, but Sir Kay
upon scorn named him Beaumains. I care not, said the knight, what knight
so ever he be, for I shall soon deliver him. And if I ever match him he
shall have a shameful death as many other have had. That were pity, said
the dwarf, and it is marvel that ye make such shameful war upon noble
knights.

CHAPTER XV. How the damosel and Beaumains came to the siege; and came to
a sycamore tree, and there Beaumains blew a horn, and then the Knight of
the Red Launds came to fight with him.

NOW leave we the knight and the dwarf, and speak we of Beaumains, that
all night lay in the hermitage; and upon the morn he and the damosel
Linet heard their mass and brake their fast. And then they took their
horses and rode throughout a fair forest; and then they came to a plain,
and saw where were many pavilions and tents, and a fair castle, and
there was much smoke and great noise; and when they came near the siege
Sir Beaumains espied upon great trees, as he rode, how there hung full
goodly armed knights by the neck, and their shields about their necks
with their swords, and gilt spu