“Sir King,” answered the damsel, “as for my lady’s name, that I may not tell you at this time. But she hath high rank and great estate; and the tyrant that besiegeth her and destroyeth her lands is called the Red Knight of the Red Lands.”
“I know him not,” said King Arthur.
“Sir,” said Gawaine, “I know him well. He is one of the most perilous knights in the world; it is said he has seven men’s strength, and from him I once escaped very narrowly with my life.”
“Fair damsel,” said the king, “there be knights here that would undertake to rescue your lady, but because you will not tell her name, nor where she dwelleth, none of my knights shall go with you by my will.”
“Then must I seek further,” quoth the damsel.
But while she was making ready to depart, Beaumains came before the king and said, “Sir King, God thank you, I have been these twelve months in your kitchen, and have had my full sustenance; and now I will ask my two gifts that I spoke of before.”
“Ask upon my peril,” said the king.
“Then, sir, these shall be my two gifts: first, that you grant me the adventure of this damsel.”
“Thou shalt have it,” said the king; “I grant it thee.”
“And, secondly, that ye bid Sir Lancelot du Lake to make me knight; for of him and no other will I be made knight. And when I am gone, I pray you let him ride after me, and make me knight when I require him.”