s armour,
took his horse, and rode after the damsel. When she saw him come nigh,
she said, "Away, kitchen-knave, out of the wind, for the smell of thy
foul clothes offendeth me. Alas that ever such a knave as thou art
should by mishap slay so good a knight as thou hast done. All this is
my ill luck, but hard by is one that shall requite thee, and therefore
again I counsel thee, flee."

"It may be my lot," said Fair-hands, "to be beaten or slain, but I warn
you, fair damsel, I will not flee away or leave your company for all
that ye can say, for ever ye say that they will kill me or beat me, yet
it happeneth that I escape and they lie on the ground. Therefore it
were as good for you to stop thus all day rebuking me, for away will I
not till I see the uttermost of this journey, or else I will be slain
or truly beaten; therefore ride on your way, for follow you I will,
whatsoever happen."

As they rode along together they saw a knight come driving by them all
in green, both his horse and his harness; and when he came nigh the
damsel he asked her, "Is that my brother the Black Knight that ye have
brought with you?"

"Nay, nay," said she, "this unlucky kitchen-knave hath slain your
brother through mischance."

"Alas," said the Green Knight, "that is great pity that so noble a
knight as he was should so unfortunately be slain, and by a knave's
hand, as ye say that he is. Ah! traitor, thou shalt die for slaying my
brother; he was a full noble knight."

"I defy thee," said Fair-hands, "for I make known to thee I slew him
knightly and not shamefully."

Therewithal the Green Knight rode unto a horn that was green that hung
on a green thorn, and there he blew three deadly notes, whereupon came
two damsels and armed him lightly. Then he took a great horse and a
green shield and a green spear, and the two knights ran together with
all their mights. They brake their spears unto their hands, and then
drew their swords. Now they gave many sad strokes, and either of them
wounded other full ill.

At the last Fair-hands' horse struck the Green Knight's horse upon the
side, and it fell to the earth. Then the Green Knight left his horse
lightly, and prepared to fight on foot. That saw Fair-hands, and
therewithal he alighted, and they rushed together like two mighty
champions a long while, and sore they bled both.

With that came the damsel and said, "My lord, the Green Knight, why for
shame stand ye so long fighting wit