Complete Works of Sir Thomas Malory

by Thomas Malory

  ‘Than is he one of thes four that I have before rehersyd?’

  ‘He is none of thes,’ seyde the dwarff, ‘but he is a kynges son.’

  ‘What is his name?’ seyde the Rede Knyght of the Rede Laundis. ‘That woll I nat tell you, but sir Kay on scorne named hym Bewmaynes.’

  ‘I care nat,’ seyde the knyght, ‘whatsomevir he be, for I shall sone delyver hym, and yf I overmacche hym he shall have a shamfull deth as many othir have had.’

  ‘That were pyté, seyde the dwarff, ‘and hit is pyté that ye make suche shamfull warre uppon noble knyghtes.’

  Now leve we the knyght and the dwarff and speke we of Bewmaynes that all nyght lay in the hermytage. And uppon the morne he and the damesell Lynet harde their masse and brake their faste, and than they toke their horsis and rode thorowoute a fayre foreste. And than they com to a playne and saw where was many pavylons and tentys and a fayre castell, and there was muche smoke and grete noyse.

  And whan they com nere the sege sir Bewmaynes aspyed on grete trees, as he rode, how there hynge full goodly armed knyghtes by the necke, and their shyldis about their neckys with their swerdis and gylte sporys uppon their helys. And so there hynge nyghe a fourty knyghtes shamfully with full ryche armys. Than sir Bewmaynes abated his countenaunce and seyde, ‘What menyth this?”Fayre sir,’ seyde the damesell, abate nat youre chere for all this syght, for ye muste corrage youreself, other ellys ye bene all shente.

  For all these knyghtes com hydir to this sege to rescow my sistir dame Lyones, and whan the Rede Knyght of the Rede Launde had overcom hem he put them to this shameful! deth withoute mercy and pyté. And in the same wyse he woll serve you but yf ye quyte you the bettir.’

  ‘Now Jesu defende me,’ seyde sir Bewmaynes, ‘frome suche vylans deth and shondeshyp of harmys, for rathir than I sholde so be faryn withall I woll rather be slayne in playne batayle.’

  ‘So were ye bettir,’ seyde the damesell, ‘for trust nat, in hym is no curtesy, but all goth to the deth other shamfull mourther. And that is pyté,’ seyde the damesell, ‘for he is a full lykly man and a noble knyght of proues, and a lorde of grete londis and of grete possessions.’

  ‘Truly,’ seyde sir Bewmaynes, ‘he may be well a good knyght, but he usyth shamefull customys, and hit is mervayle that he enduryth so longe, that none of the noble knyghtes of my lorde Arthurs have nat dalte with hym.’

  And than they rode unto the dykes and sawe them double-dyked wyth full warly wallys, and there were lodged many grete lordes nyghe the wallys, and there was grete noyse of mynstralsy. And the see bete uppon that one syde of the wallys where were many shyppis and marynars noyse with hale and how.

  And also there was faste by a sygamoure tre, and thereon hynge an horne, the grettyst that ever they sye, of an olyvauntes bone, and this Knyght of the Rede Launde hath honged hit up there to this entente, that yf there com ony arraunte knyghte he muste blowe that horne and than woll he make hym redy and com to hym to do batayle.

  ‘But, sir, pray you,’ seyde the damesell, ‘blow ye nat the horne tyll hit be hygh none, for now hit is aboute pryme, and now encresyth his myght, that as men say he hath seven mennys strength.’

  ‘A! fy for shame, fayre damesell! Sey ye nevir so more to me, for and he were as good a knyght as ever was ony I shall never f ayle hym in his moste myght, for other I wylle wynne worshyp worshypfully othir dye knyghtly in the felde.’

  And therewith he spored his horse streyte to the sygamoure tre and so blew the horne egirly that all the seege and the castell range thereoff. And than there lepe oute many knyghtes oute of their tentys and pavylyons, and they within the castell loked ovir the wallys and oute at wyndowis.

  Than the Rede Knyght of the Rede Laundis armed hym hastely and too barouns sette on his sporys on his helys, and all was bloodrede: his armour, spere, and shylde. And an erle buckled his helme on his hede, and than they brought hym a rede spere and a rede stede. And so he rode into a lytyll vale undir the castell, that all that were in the castell and at the sege myght beholde the batayle.

  ‘Sir,’ seyde the damesell Lynet unto sir Bewmaynes, ‘loke ye be [16] glad and lyght, for yondir is your dedley enemy, and at yondir wyndow is my lady, my sistir dame Lyones.’

  ‘Where?’ seyde Bewmaynes.

  ‘Yondir,’ seyde the damesell, and poynted with her fyngir.

  ‘That is trouth,’ seyde Bewmaynes, she besemyth afarre the fayryst lady that ever I lokyd uppon, and truly,’ he seyde, ‘I aske no better quarell than now for to do batayle, for truly she shall be my lady and for hir woll I fyght.’

  And ever he loked up to the wyndow with glad countenaunce, and this lady dame Lyones made curtesy to hym downe to the erth, holdynge up bothe her hondys. Wyth that the Rede Knyghte calle unto Bewmaynes and seyde, ‘Sir knyght, leve thy beholdyng and loke on me, I counsayle the, for I warne the well, she is my lady, and for hir I have done many stronge batayles.’

  ‘Geff thou so have done,’ seyde Bewmaynes, ‘mesemyth hit was but waste laboure, for she lovyth none of thy felyshyp, and thou to love that lovyth nat the is but grete foly. For and I undirstoode that she were nat ryght glad of my commynge I wolde be avysed or I dud batayle for hir; but I undirstonde by the segynge of this castell she may forbere thy felyshyp. And therefore wete thou well, thou Rede Knyght, I love hir and woll rescow hir, othir ellys to dye therefore.”Sayst thou that?’ seyde the Rede Knyght. ‘Mesemyth thou oughtyste of reson to beware by yondir knyghtes that thou sawyste hange on yondir treis.’

  ‘Fy for shame!’ seyde Bewmaynes, ‘that ever thou sholdyst sey so or do so evyll, for in that thou shamest thyself and all knyghthode, and thou mayste be sure there woll no lady love the that knowyth the and thy wykked customs. And now thou wenyste that the syght of the honged knyghtes shulde feare me? Nay, truly, nat so! That shameful! syght cawsyth me to have courrage and hardynesse ayenstfe the muche more than I wolde have agaynste the and thou were a well-ruled knyght.’

  ‘Make the redy,’ seyde the Rede Knyght, ‘and talke no more with me.’

  Than they putt their sperys in the reste and com togedyrs with all the myght that they had bothe, and aythir smote other in the myddys of their shyldis, that the paytrels, sursynglys and crowpers braste, and felle to the erthe bothe, and the raynys of their brydyls in there hondys. And so they lay a grete whyle sore astoned, that all that were in the castell and in the sege wente their neckys had bene broste.

  Than many a straunger and othir seyde that the straunge knyght was a bygge man and a noble jouster, ‘for or now we sawe never no knyght macche the Rede Knyght of the Rede Laundys.’ Thus they seyde bothe within and withoute.

  Than lyghtly and delyverly they avoyded their horsis and putt their shyldis afore them and drew theire swerdys and ran togydyrs lyke two fers lyons, and eythir gaff othir suche two buffettys uppon their helmys that they reled bakwarde bothe two stredys. And than they recoverde bothe and hew grete pecis of othyrs harneyse and their shyldys, that a grete parte felle in the fyldes.

  [17] And than thus they fought tyll hit was paste none, and never wolde stynte tyll at the laste they lacked wynde bothe, and than they stoode waggyng, stagerynge, pantynge, blowynge, and bledyng, that all that behelde them for the moste party wepte for pyté. So whan they had rested them a whyle they yode to batayle agayne, trasyng, traversynge, foynynge, and rasynge as two borys. And at som tyme they toke their bere as hit had bene two rammys and horled togydyrs, that somtyme they felle grovelynge to the erthe; and at som tyme they were so amated that aythir toke others swerde in the stede of his owne.

  And thus they endured tyll evynsonge, that there was none that behelde them myght know whethir was lyke to wynne the batayle.

  And theire armoure was so forhewyn that men myght se their naked sydys, and in other placis they were naked; but ever the nakyd placis they dud defende. And the Rede Knyghte was a wyly knyght in fyghtyng, and that taught Bewmaynes to be wyse, but he abought hit full sore or he did aspye his fyghtynge.

  And thus by assente of th
em both they graunted aythir othir to reste, and so they sette hem downe uppon two mollehyllys there besydys the fyghtynge place, and eythir of them unlaced othir helmys and toke the colde wynde, for aythir of their pagis was faste by them to com whan they called them to unlace their harneyse and to sette hem on agayne at there commaundemente. And than sir Bewmaynes, whan his helme was off, he loked up to the wyndowe, and there he sawe the fayre lady dame Lyones, and she made hym suche countenaunce that his herte waxed lyght and joly. And therewith he bade the Rede Knyght of the Rede Laundes make hym redy, ‘and lette us do oure batayle to the utteraunce.’

  ‘I woll well,’ seyde the knyght.

  And than they laced on their helmys, and avoyded their pagys, and yede togydyrs and fought freysshly. But the Rede Knyght of the Rede Laundys wayted hym at an overthwarte and smote hym with in the honde, that his swerde felle oute of his honde. And yette he gaff hym another buffette uppon the helme, that he felle grovellynge to the erthe, and the Rede Knyghte felle over hym for to holde hym downe.

  Than cryed the maydyn Lynet on hyght and seyde, ‘A, sir Bewmaynes! Where is thy corrayge becom? Alas! my lady my sister beholdyth the, and she shrekys and wepys so that hit makyth myne herte hevy.’

  Whan sir Bewmaynes herde hir sey so, he abrayded up with a grete myght, and gate hym uppon hys feete, and lyghtly he lepe to his swerde and gryped hit in his honde and dowbled his pace unto the Rede Knyght, and there they fought a new batayle togydir.

  But sir Bewmaynes than doubled his strokys and smote so thycke that his swerde felle oute of his honde. And than he smote hym on the helme, that he felle to the erthe, and sir Bewmaynes felle uppon hym and unlaced his helme to have slayne hym. And than he yelded hym and asked mercy and seyde with a lowde voyce, ‘A, noble knyght! I yelde me to thy mercy!’

  Than sir Bewmaynes bethought hym on his knyghtes that he had made to be honged shamfully, and than he seyde, ‘I may nat with my worship to save thy lyff for the shamefull dethes that thou haste caused many full good knyghtes to dye.’

  ‘Syr,’ seyde the Rede Knyght, ‘holde youre hande and ye shall knowe the causis why I putte hem to so shameful a deth.’

  ‘Sey on!’ seyde sir Bewmaynes.

  ‘Sir, I loved onys a lady fayre, and she had hir bretherne slayne, and she tolde me hit was sir Launcelot du Lake othir ellys sir Gawayne. And she prayed me as I loved hir hertely that I wolde make hir a promyse by the faythe of my knyghthode for to laboure in armys dayly untyll that I had mette with one of them, and all that I myght overcom I sholde put them to vylans deth. And so I ensured her to do all the vylany unto Arthurs knyghtes, and that I sholde take vengeaunce uppon all these knyghtes. And, sir, now I woll telle the that every day my strengthe encresyth tylle none untyll I have seven mennys strength.’

  [18] Than cam there many erlys and barowns and noble knyghtes and prayde that knyght to save his lyff, ‘and take hym to your presoner.’ And all they felle uppon their kneis and prayde hym of mercy that he wolde save his lyff.

  ‘And, sir,’ they all seyde, ‘hit were fayrer of hym to take omage and feauté and lat hym holde his londys of you than for to sle hym, for by his deth ye shall have none advauntage, and his myssededys that he done may not be undone. And therefore make ye amendys for all partyes, and we all woll becom youre men and do you omage and feauté.’

  ‘Fayre lordys,’ seyde Bewmaynes, ‘wete you well I am full loth to sle this knyght, neverthelesse he hath done passynge ylle and shamefully. But insomuche all that he dud was at a ladyes requeste I blame hym the lesse, and so for your sake I woll relece hym, that he shall have his lyff uppon this covenaunte: that he go into this castell and yelde hym to the lady, and yf she woll forgyff and quyte hym I woll well, with this he make hir amendys of all the trespasse that he hath done ayenst hir and hir landys. And also, whan that is done, that he goo unto the courte of kyng Arthur and that he aske sir Launcelot mercy and sir Gawayne for the evyll wylle he hath had ayenst them.’

  ‘Sir,’ seyde the Rede Knyght, ‘all this woll I do as ye commaunde me, and syker assuraunce and borowys ye shall have.’

  So whan the assurauns was made he made his omage and feauté, and all the erlys and barouns with hym.

  And than the maydyn Lynet com to sir Bewmaynes and unarmed hym and serched his woundis and staunched the blood, and in lyke wyse she dud to the Rede Knyght of the Rede Laundis. And there they suggeourned ten dayes in there tentys. And ever the Rede Knyght made all his lordis and servauntys to do all the plesure unto sir Bewmaynes that they myght do.

  And so within a whyle the Rede Knyghte yode unto the castell and putt hym in her grace, and so she resseyved hym uppon suffyciaunte sûreté so that all her hertys were well restored of all that she coude complayne. And than he departed unto the courte of kynge Arthure, and there opynly the Rede Knyght putt hymself in the mercy of sir Launcelot and of sir Gawayne; and there he tolde opynly how he was overcom and by whom, and also he tolde all the batayles frome the begynnyng to the endynge.

  ‘Jesu mercy!’ seyde kynge Arthure and sir Gawayne, ‘we mervayle muche of what bloode he is com, for her is a noble knyght.’

  ‘Have ye no mervayle,’ seyde sir Launcelot, ‘for ye shall ryght well know that he is com of full noble bloode, and as for hys myght and hardynesse, there bene but full few now lyvynge that is so myghty as he is, and of so noble prouesse.’

  ‘Hit semyth by you,’ seyde kynge Arthure, ‘that ye know his name and frome whens he com.’

  ‘I suppose I do so,’ seyde sir Launcelot, ‘or ellys I wolde not have yeffyn hym the hyghe Order of Knyghthode, but he gaff me suche charge at that tyme that I woll never discover hym untyll he requyre me, or ellis hit be knowyn opynly by som other.’

  Now turne we unto sir Bewmaynes that desyred of dame Lynet [19] that he myght se hir lady.

  ‘Sir,’ she seyde, ‘I wolde ye saw hir fayne.’

  Than sir Bewmaynes all armed toke his horse and his spere and rode streyte unto the castell, and whan he com to the gate he founde there men armed, and pulled up the drawbrygge and drew the portcolyse.

  Than he mervayled why they wolde nat suffir hym to entir, and than he loked up to a wyndow and there he sawe fayre dame Lyones that seyde on hyght, ‘Go thy way, sir Bewmaynes, for as yet thou shalt nat have holy my love unto the tyme that thou be called one of the numbir of the worthy knyghtes. And therefore go and laboure in worshyp this twelve-monthe, and than ye shall hyre newe tydyngis.’

  ‘Alas! fayre lady,’ seyde sir Bewmaynes, ‘I have nat deserved that ye sholde shew me this straungenesse. And I hadde wente I sholde have had ryght good chere with you, and unto my power I have deserved thanke. And well I am sure I have bought your love with parte of the beste bloode within my body.’

  ‘Fayre curteyse knyghte,’ seyde dame Lyonesse, ‘be nat displeased, nother be nat overhasty, for wete you well youre grete travayle nother your good love shall nat be loste, for I consyder your grete laboure and your hardynesse, your bounté and your goodnesse as me ought to do. And therefore go on your way and loke that ye be of good comforte, for all shall be for your worshyp and for the best; and, pardé, a twelve-monthe woll sone be done. And trust me, fayre knyght, I shall be trewe to you and never betray you, but to my deth I shall love you and none other.’

  And therewithall she turned frome the wyndowe, and sir Bewmaynes rode awaywarde from the castell makynge grete dole. And so he rode now here, now there, he wyste nat whother, tyll hit was durke nyght. And than hit happened hym to com to a pore mannys house, and there he was herborowde all that nyght. But sir Bewmaynes had no reste, but walowed and wrythed for the love of the lady of that castell.

  And so uppon the morne he toke his horse and rode untyll undyrn, and than he com to a brode watir. And there he alyght to slepe and leyde his hede uppon hys shylde and betoke his horse to the dwarff and commaunded the dwarff to wacche all nyght.

  Now turne we to the lady of the same castell that thought muche uppon Bewmaynes. And than she called unto hir sir Gryngamoure, hir brother, a
nd prayde hym in all maner, as he loved hir hertely that he wolde ryde afftir sir Bewmaynes:

  ‘And ever have ye wayte uppon hym tyll ye may fynde hym slepyng, for I am sure in his hevynesse he woll alyght adowne in som place and lay hym downe to slepe. And therefore have ye youre wayte uppon hym in prevy maner, and take his dwarff and com your way wyth hym as faste as ye maye or sir Bewmaynes awake: for my sistir Lynet tellyth me that he can telle of what kynrede he is com of. And in the meanewhyle I and my sistir woll ryde untyll your castell to wayte whan ye brynge with you the dwarff, and than woll I have hym in examinacion myself, for tyll I know what is his ryght name and of what kynrede he is commyn shall I never be myrry at my herte.’

  ‘Sistir,’ seyde sir Gryngamour, ‘all this shall be done aftir your entente.’

  And so he rode all that other day and the nyght tyll he had lodged hym. And than he founde sir Bewmaynes lying by a water, and his hede uppon his shelde for the slepe. And whan he sawe sir Bewmaynes faste on slepe he com stylly stalkyng behynde the dwarff and plucked hym faste undir his arme and so rode his way with hym untyll his owne castell. And this sir Gryngamoure was all in blak, his armour and his horse and all that tyll hym longyth. But ever as he rode with the dwarff towarde the castell he cryed untyll his lorde and prayde hym of helpe. And therewyth awoke sir Beawmaynes, and up he lepte lyghtly and sawe where the blak knyght rode his way wyth the dwarff, and so he rode oute of his syght.

  Than sir Bewmaynes put on his helme and buckeled on his shylde [20] and toke his horse and rode afftir hym all that ever he myght, thorow mores and fellys and grete sloughis, that many tymes his horse and he plunged over their hedys in depe myres, for he knewe nat the way but toke the gayneste way in that woodenesse, that many tymes he was lyke to peryshe. And at the laste hym happened to com to a fayre grene way, and there he mette with a poore man of the contray and asked hym whether he mette nat with a knyght uppon a blak horse and all blak harneyse, and a lytyll dwarff syttynge behynde hym with hevy chere.