"Now, Sir Lancelot, I am ready to accept your offer to knight me," said Beaumains, "but, first, I would prove myself worthy of the honor, and so will joust with you, if you consent."
"That I shall certainly not decline," said Lancelot, counting upon an easy victory.
But when the knight and the youth rode against each other both were hurled from their horses to the earth, and sorely bruised. But Beaumains was entangled in his harness, and Lancelot helped him from his horse.
Then Beaumains flung aside his shield and proffered to fight Lancelot on foot, to which the latter consented. For an hour they fought, Beaumains showing such strength that Lancelot marvelled at it, and esteemed him more a giant than a knight. He began, indeed, to fear that he might be vanquished in the end, and at length cried out,—
"Beaumains, you fight too hard, considering that there is no quarrel between us. I fancy you need no further proof."
"That is true enough, my lord," said Beaumains. "But it did me good to feel your might. As for my own strength, I hardly know it yet."
"It is as much as I want to deal with," said Lancelot. "I had to do my best to save my honor."
"Then you think I may prove myself a worthy knight?"
"I warrant you that, if you do as well as you have done to-day."
"I pray you, then, to invest me with the order of knighthood."