{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/mart/mart128.htm","path":"neu/mart/mart128.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/mart/mart128.htm","text":"CHAPTER X\nHow the third brother, called the Red Knight, jousted and\nfought against Beaumains,and how Beaumains overcame him.\nSO within a while they saw a tower as white as any snow, well\nmatchecold all about, and double dyked. And over the tower gate\nthere hung a fifty shields of divers colours, and under that\ntower there was a fair meadow. And therein were many knights and\nsquires to behold, scaffolds and pavilions; for there upon the\nmorn should be a great tournament: and the lord of the tower was\nin his castle and looked out at a window, and saw a damosel, a\ndwarf, and a knight armed at all points. So God me help, said\nthe lord, with that knight will I joust, for I see that he is a\nknight-errant. And so he armed him and horsed him hastily. And\nwhen he was on horseback with his shield and his spear, it was\nall red, both his horse and his harness, and all that to him\nlongeth. And when that he came nigh him he weened it had been\nhis brother the Black Knight; and then he cried aloud, Brother,\nwhat do ye in <225>these marches? Nay, nay, said the damosel, it\nis not he; this is but a kitchen knave that was brought up for\nalms in King Arthur's court. Nevertheless, said the Red Knight,\nI will speak with him or he depart. Ah, said the damosel, this\nknave hath killed thy brother, and Sir Kay named him Beaumains,\nand this horse and this harness was thy brother's, the Black\nKnight. Also I saw thy brother the Green Knight overcome of his\nhands. Now may ye be revenged upon him, for I may never be quit\nof him.\nWith this either knights departed in sunder, and they came\ntogether with all their might, and either of their horses fell to\nthe earth, and they avoided their horses, and put their shields\nafore them and drew their swords, and either gave other sad\nstrokes, now here, now there, rasing, tracing, foining, and\nhurling like two boars, the space of two hours. And then she\ncried on high to the Red Knight, Alas, thou noble Red Knight,\nthink what worship hath followed thee, let never a kitchen knave\nendure thee so long as he doth. Then the Red Knight waxed wroth\nand doubled his strokes, and hurt Beaumains wonderly sore, that\nthe blood ran down to the ground, that it was wonder to see that\nstrong battle. Yet at the last Sir Beaumains struck him to the\nearth, and as he would have slain the Red Knight, he cried mercy,\nsaying, Noble knight, slay me not, and I shall yield me to thee\nwith fifty knights with me that be at my commandment. And I\nforgive thee all the despite that thou hast done to me, and the\ndeath of my brother the Black Knight. All this availeth not,\nsaid Beaumains, but if my damosel pray me to save thy life. And\ntherewith he made semblant to strike off his head. Let be, thou\nBeaumains, slay him not, for he is a noble knight, and not so\nhardy, upon thine head, but thou save him.\nThen Beaumains bade the Red Knight, Stand up, and thank the\ndamosel now of thy life. Then the Red Knight prayed him to see\nhis castle, and to be there all night. So the damosel then\ngranted him, and there they had merry cheer. But always the\ndamosel spake many foul words unto Beaumains, whereof the Red\nKnight had great <226>marvel; and all that night the Red Knight\nmade three score knights to watch Beaumains, that he should have\nno shame nor villainy. And upon the morn they heard mass and\ndined, and the Red Knight came before Beaumains with his three\nscore knights, and there he proffered him his homage and fealty\nat all times, he and his knights to do him service. I thank you,\nsaid Beaumains, but this ye shall grant me: when I call upon you,\nto come afore my lord King Arthur, and yield you unto him to be\nhis knights. Sir, said the Red Knight, I will be ready, and my\nfellowship, at your summons. So Sir Beaumains departed and the\ndamosel, and ever she rode chiding him in the foulest manner.","title":"Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK VII CHAPTER X","type":"page"}