Finally a strange sight came to them. For before them they saw a black lawn, in whose midst grew a black hawthorn. On one side of this hung a black banner, and on the other a black shield, while near by stood a black spear of great size, and a massive black horse covered with silk. Near by was a knight armed in black armor, who was known as the Knight of the Black Lawn.
The damsel, on seeing this knight, bade Beaumains flee down the valley, telling him that he might still escape, for the knight's horse was not saddled.
"Gramercy," said Beaumains, "will you always take me for a coward? I fly not from one man, though he be as black as ten ravens."
The black knight, seeing them approach, thus addressed the damsel,—
"So, my lady, you are here again! Have you brought this knight from King Arthur's court to be your champion?"
"Hardly so, fair sir. This is but a kitchen knave, who was fed in Arthur's court through charity, and has followed me as a cur follows his master."
"Why comes he then in knightly guise? And what do you in such foul company?"
"I cannot get rid of him, sir. He rides with me in my despite. I bring him here that you may rid me of the unhappy knave. Through mishap and treachery he killed two knights at the river ford, and did other deeds that might have been of worth were they fairly done. Yet he is but a sorry poltroon."
"I am surprised," said the black knight, "that any man of worth will fight with him."
"They knew him not," she answered, "and fancy him of some credit from his riding with me, and from his brave show of armor."