“Nay, sir,” she answered; “this is but a kitchen-knave that hath been fed in the king’s kitchen for alms.”
“Why comes he in such an array?” asked the knight. “It is a great shame that he bears you company.”
“Sir, I cannot be delivered of him,” said the damsel, “for he rides with me against my will. I would that you put him from me, or else slay him; for he is an unhappy knave, and hath done unhappily to-day through pure misadventure, for he hath slain two knights at the passage of the water.”
“I wonder,” said the black knight, “that any man of worship would have to do with him.”
“Sir, they know him not,” she answered; “and because he rides with me, they think he is some knight of good blood.”
“That may well be,” said the black knight, “especially as he seems a full likely person, and worthy to be a strong man. But this much will I do for you, that I shall put him down on his feet, and his horse and armour shall he leave with me, for it were shame for me to do him any more harm.”
“Sir Knight,” quoth Beaumains, “thou art full large of my horse and my armour. I let thee to wit it cost thee naught; and whether thou like it or not, this land will I pass in spite of thee. Neither horse nor armour wilt thou get of me, except thou win it with thy hands.”
“Say you so?” said the black knight, smiling. “Now, yield thy lady to me without more words, for it beseems not a kitchen-knave to ride with such a lady.”
“Thou liest,” answered Beaumains. “I am a gentleman born, and of higher lineage than thou, and that will I prove upon thy body.”
Then in great wrath they drew apart with their horses, and ran together with a crash like thunder. The black knight broke his spear to no purpose, but Beaumains’ spear thrust through the other’s side, and broke in his body. Nevertheless, he drew his sword, and smote hard at Beaumains, hurting him sorely, and Sir Beaumains struck again at him; but in no long time the black knight fell down in a swoon on the ground, and immediately afterwards he died there. When Beaumains saw that his horse and armour were so good, he alighted and armed himself in the black knight’s armour, and took his horse, and then rode after the damsel. But ever she gave him many reproaches, and said that he had slain the black knight through mischance; and she warned him that there was a knight near by who would give him full payment, therefore had he better flee. But Beaumains answered that he would not leave her for all that she might say.