And so Sir Persant rode against him, and his armor and trappings were blue, and Beaumains saw him and made him ready and their horses rushed together and they fought two hours and more. And at the last Beaumains smote Sir Persant that he fell to the earth. Then Sir Persant yielded him and asked mercy. With that came the damsel and prayed to save his life.
“I will gladly,” said Beaumains, “for it were pity this noble knight should die.”
“Now this shall I do to please you,” said Sir Persant, “ye shall have homage of me and an hundred knights to be always at your command.”
And so they went to Sir Persant’s pavilion to rest that night.
And so on the morn the damsel and Sir Beaumains took their leave.
“Fair damsel,” said Sir Persant, “whither are ye leading this knight?”
“Sir,” she said, “this knight is going to rescue my sister, Dame Liones, who is besieged in the Castle Perilous.”
“Ah,” said Sir Persant, “she is besieged by the Red Knight of the Red Lands, a man that is without mercy, and men say that he hath seven men’s strength. He hath been well nigh two years at this siege and he prolongeth the time, hoping to have Sir Lancelot to do battle with him, or Sir Tristam, or Sir Lamorak, or Sir Gawain.”
“My lord, Sir Persant,” said the damsel, “I require that ye will make this gentleman knight before he fight the Red Knight.”