ength, in a sudden wheel, Beaumains's horse struck that of the green
knight on the side and overturned it, the knight having to leap quickly
to escape being overthrown.

When Beaumains saw this, he also sprang to the earth and met his
antagonist on foot. Here they fought for a long time, till both had lost
much blood.

"You should be ashamed to stand so long fighting with a kitchen knave,"
cried the damsel at last to the green knight. "Who made you knight, that
you let such a lad match you, as the weed overgrows the corn?"

Her words of scorn so angered the green knight that he struck a wrathful
blow at Beaumains, which cut deeply into his shield. Beaumains, roused
by this and by the damsel's language, struck back with such might on the
helm of his foe as to hurl him to his knees. Then, seizing him, he flung
him to the ground, and towered above him with upraised sword.

"I yield me!" cried the knight. "Slay me not, I beg of you."

"You shall die," answered Beaumains, "unless this damsel pray me to
spare your life," and he unlaced his helm, as with intent to slay him.

"Pray you to save his life!" cried the damsel, in scorn. "I shall never
so demean myself to a page of the kitchen."

"Then he shall die."

"Slay him, if you will. Ask me not to beg for his life."

"Alas!" said the green knight, "you would not let me die when you can
save my life with a word? Fair sir, spare me, and I will forgive you my
brother's death, and become your man, with thirty knights who are at my
command."

"In the fiend's name!" cried the damsel, "shall such a knave have
service of thee and thirty knights?"

"All this avails nothing," said Beaumains. "You shall have your life
only at this damsel's request," and he made a show as if he would slay
him.

"Let him be, knave," said the damsel. "Slay him not, or you shall repent
it."

"Damsel," said Beaumains, "your request is to me a command and a
pleasure. His life shall be spared, since you ask it. Sir knight of the
green array, I release you at the damsel's request, for I am bound by
her wish, and will do all that she commands."

Then the green knight kneeled down and did homage with his sword.

"I am sorry, sir knight, for your mishap, and for your brother's death,"
said the damsel. "I had great need of your help, for I dread the passage
of this forest."

"You need not," he replied. "To-night you shall lodge at my castle, and
to-morrow I will aid you to pass the forest."

S