{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/mart/mart124.htm","path":"neu/mart/mart124.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/mart/mart124.htm","text":"Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK VII CHAPTER VI\n \n Sacred Texts\u00a0\n Legends and Sagas\u00a0\n Index\u00a0\n BOOK VII\u00a0\n Previous\u00a0\n Next\u00a0\n \n \n CHAPTER VI\n \n How Beaumains fought and slew two knights at a passage.\n \n AND on the morn the damosel and he took their leave and thanked\n the knight, and so departed, and rode on their way until they\n came to a great forest. And there was a great river and but one\n passage, and there were ready two knights on the farther side to\n let them the passage. What sayest thou, said the damosel, wilt\n thou match yonder knights or turn again? Nay, said Sir\n Beaumains, I will not turn again an they were six more. And\n therewithal he rushed into the water, and in midst of the water\n either brake their spears upon other to their hands, and then\n they drew their swords, and smote eagerly at other. And at the\n last Sir Beaumains smote the other upon the helm that his head\n stonied, and therewithal he fell down in the water, and there was\n he drowned. And then he spurred his horse <218>upon the land,\n where the other knight fell upon him, and brake his spear, and so\n they drew their swords and fought long together. At the last Sir\n Beaumains clave his helm and his head down to the shoulders; and\n so he rode unto the damosel and bade her ride forth on her way.\n \n Alas, she said, that ever a kitchen page should have that fortune\n to destroy such two doughty knights: thou weenest thou hast done\n doughtily, that is not so; for the first knight his horse\n stumbled, and there he was drowned in the water, and never it was\n by thy force, nor by thy might. And the last knight by mishap\n thou camest behind him and mishappily thou slew him.\n \n Damosel, said Beaumains, ye may say what ye will, but with\n whomsomever I have ado withal, I trust to God to serve him or he\n depart. And therefore I reck not what ye say, so that I may win\n your lady. Fie, fie, foul kitchen knave, thou shalt see knights\n that shall abate thy boast. Fair damosel, give me goodly\n language, and then my care is past, for what knights somever they\n be, I care not, nor I doubt them not. Also, said she, I say it\n for thine avail, yet mayest thou turn again with thy worship; for\n an thou follow me, thou art but slain, for I see all that ever\n thou dost is but by misadventure, and not by prowess of thy\n hands. Well, damosel, ye may say what ye will, but wheresomever\n ye go I will follow you. So this Beaumains rode with that lady\n till evensong time, and ever she chid him, and would not rest. \n And they came to a black laund; and there was a black hawthorn,\n and thereon hung a black banner, and on the other side there hung\n a black shield, and by it stood a black spear great and long, and\n a great black horse covered with silk, and a black stone fast by.\n \n \n \n <219>","title":"Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK VII CHAPTER VI","type":"page"}