“Take me thither,” said Beaumains, and presently they came to where the thieves were with the knight bound. Beaumains rode upon them, and with his first three strokes he slew three of them, and the other three fled. He followed, whereupon they turned on him, and assailed him hard with swords and clubs; but it was to no purpose, for he slew them all, and then returned and unbound the knight, who thanked him greatly, and begged him to come to his castle, where he would give him rich rewards. “Sir,” said Beaumains, “I will have no reward, and I must follow this damsel.” But when he came near her she bade him ride farther off, because he smelt of the kitchen. Then the knight that Beaumains had released rode after the damsel, and prayed her to lodge with him that night, and because it was nearly dark she assented. But when at supper the knight set Beaumains beside the damsel, she reproached him for placing a common kitchen-knave at the same table with a lady of high parentage. Then the knight was ashamed of her words, and he and Beaumains sat down at another table.
The next morning the damsel and Beaumains thanked the knight, and rode forth again. Presently they came to a great river, where there was but one ford, and on the farther side were two knights that kept the passage.
“What say est thou?” said the damsel. ‘“Wilt thou match yonder two knights, or shall we return again?”
“Nay,” said Beaumains, “I would not return again if there were six more.” So he rushed into the water, and encountered one of the knights in the middle of the ford. The spears of both broke in their hands; and then they fought angrily with their swords, till at last Beaumains smote the other so hard on the helm that he fell stunned into the water and was drowned. Then he spurred his horse to the land, where the other knight fell upon him and broke his spear also, and then again they fought together with their swords, till Beaumains clove the knight’s head to his shoulders. When the damsel saw that, she crossed over the ford.
“Alas,” said she, “that ever a kitchen-boy should have the fortune to destroy two such doughty knights! Think not thou hast done well; for the first knight’s horse stumbled, and he was drowned in the water, and not conquered by thy might; and as for the other, it was by mishap that thou slewest him.”
“Damsel,” said he, “you may say what you will, but with whomsoever I have to do, I trust in God to match him ere we part.”
“Fie! fie! foul kitchen-knave,” she answered. “Ere long thou shalt see a knight that will abate thy boast.”
So then they rode on together till even-song, and ever she chid him and scoffed at him, and would not cease. So they came to a land that was all black, and there was a black hawthorn by the way-side, on the which hung a black banner, and by its side a black shield. Near by stood a black spear and a great black horse with silk trappings, and close at hand sat a knight, all armed in black harness, who was named the Knight of the Black Lands. When the damsel saw him she bade Beaumains flee down the valley, for the horse was not saddled.
“I thank you,” said Beaumains; “ever you would make me a coward.”
Then the black knight came to the damsel and said, “Fair lady, have you brought this knight from King Arthur’s court to be your champion?”