s past, for what
knights somever they be, I care not, nor I doubt them not. Also, said
she, I say it for thine avail, yet mayest thou turn again with thy
worship; for an thou follow me, thou art but slain, for I see all that
ever thou dost is but by misadventure, and not by prowess of thy hands.
Well, damosel, ye may say what ye will, but wheresomever ye go I will
follow you. So this Beaumains rode with that lady till evensong time,
and ever she chid him, and would not rest. And they came to a black
laund; and there was a black hawthorn, and thereon hung a black banner,
and on the other side there hung a black shield, and by it stood a black
spear great and long, and a great black horse covered with silk, and a
black stone fast by.

CHAPTER VII. How Beaumains fought with the Knight of the Black Launds,
and fought with him till he fell down and died.

THERE sat a knight all armed in black harness, and his name was the
Knight of the Black Laund. Then the damosel, when she saw that knight,
she bade him flee down that valley, for his horse was not saddled.
Gramercy, said Beaumains, for always ye would have me a coward. With
that the Black Knight, when she came nigh him, spake and said, Damosel,
have ye brought this knight of King Arthur to be your champion? Nay,
fair knight, said she, this is but a kitchen knave that was fed in
King Arthur's kitchen for alms. Why cometh he, said the knight, in
such array? it is shame that he beareth you company. Sir, I cannot be
delivered of him, said she, for with me he rideth maugre mine head: God
would that ye should put him from me, other to slay him an ye may, for
he is an unhappy knave, and unhappily he hath done this day: through
mishap I saw him slay two knights at the passage of the water; and
other deeds he did before right marvellous and through unhappiness. That
marvelleth me, said the Black Knight, that any man that is of worship
will have ado with him. They know him not, said the damosel, and for
because he rideth with me, they ween that he be some man of worship
born. That may be, said the Black Knight; howbeit as ye say that he be
no man of worship, he is a full likely person, and full like to be a
strong man: but thus much shall I grant you, said the Black Knight; I
shall put him down upon one foot, and his horse and his harness he shall
leave with me, for it were shame to me to do him any more harm.

When Sir Beaumains heard him say thus, he said, Sir knight, thou