o treat any young
man so, and no one could tell what his birth might be, or what had
brought him to the Court.

Then Beaumains rode after the damsel, who stopped when she saw him
coming. 'What are you doing here?' said she. 'Your clothes smell of
the grease and tallow of the kitchen! Do you think to change my heart
towards you because of yonder Knight whom you slew? No, truly! I know
well who you are, you turner of spits! Go back to King Arthur's
kitchen, which is your proper place.' 'Damsel,' replied Beaumains,
'you may say to me what you will, but I shall not quit you whatever
you may do, for I have vowed to King Arthur to relieve the lady in the
castle, and I shall set her free or die fighting for her.' 'Fie on
you, Scullion,' answered she. 'You will meet with one who will make
you such a welcome that you would give all the broth you ever cooked
never to have seen his face.' 'I shall do my best to fight him,' said
Beaumains, and held his peace.

Soon they entered the wood, and there came a man flying towards them,
galloping with all his might. 'Oh, help! help! lord,' cried he, 'for
my master lies in a thicket, bound by six thieves, and I greatly fear
they will slay him.' 'Show me the way,' said Sir Beaumains, and they
rode together till they reached the place where the Knight lay bound.
Then Sir Beaumains charged the six thieves, and struck one dead, and
another, and another still, and the other three fled, not liking the
battle. Sir Beaumains pursued them till they turned at bay, and fought
hard for their lives; but in the end Sir Beaumains slew them, and
returned to the Knight and unbound him. The Knight thanked Beaumains
heartily for his deliverance, and prayed him to come to his castle,
where he would reward him. 'Sir,' said Beaumains, 'I was this day made
Knight by noble Sir Lancelot, and that is reward enough for anything I
may do. Besides, I must follow this damsel.' But when he came near her
she reviled him as before, and bade him ride far from her. 'Do you
think I set store by what you have done? You will soon see a sight
that will make you tell a very different tale.' At this the Knight
whom Beaumains had rescued rode up to the damsel, and begged that she
would rest in his castle that night, as the sun was now setting. The
damsel agreed, and the Knight ordered a great supper, and gave Sir
Beaumains a seat above the seat of the damsel, who rose up in anger.
'Fie! fie! Sir Knight,' cried she, 'you are uncou