“You must first tell me your name,” said Lancelot, “and of what kin you are born.”
“Sir, if you will not discover it, I will tell you,” said Beaumains.
This Sir Lancelot promised; and then Beaumains disclosed that he was Gareth of Orkney, the youngest son of King Lot and brother to Sir Gawaine. Of this Lancelot was glad, and so made him a knight. Then Beaumains departed with the damsel, and Sir Lancelot came back to Sir Kay, and had him borne back to Caerleon on a shield. He was long disabled by his wound, and escaped narrowly with his life; and all men scorned him, because he had been overthrown by him whom he had so mocked.
But when Beaumains overtook the damsel, she gave him nothing but hard words.
“What do you here?” she said. “You smell of the kitchen. Your clothes are defiled with the grease and tallow you got in King Arthur’s scullery. Think you I hold you any the better for what you did to that knight? Not so, for you overthrew him unhappily and cowardly. Therefore, prithee, return, poor kitchen-knave. I know thee well, for Sir Kay named thee Beaumains. What art thou but a turner of spits and a washer of dishes!”
“Damsel,” he answered, “say to me what you choose, I shall not quit you; for King Arthur has given me your adventure, and I will fulfil it to the end, or else die in it.”
“Thou finish my adventure!” she said “Talk not of it; for thou wilt be met presently by one of such sort that, for all the broth thou hast ever supped, thou wouldst not look him in the face.”
“That shall be seen,” said Beaumains. And as they rode through the wood, there came one on horseback, fleeing in great fear.
“What is the matter?” asked Beaumains.
“O Knight, help me!” cried the other. “Hereby have six thieves taken my lord and bound him, and I fear they will slay him.”