he said, this unhappy kitchen knave hath
slain your brother through unhappiness. Alas, said the Green Knight,
that is great pity, that so noble a knight as he was should so unhappily
be slain, and namely of a knave's hand, as ye say that he is. Ah!
traitor, said the Green Knight, thou shalt die for slaying of my
brother; he was a full noble knight, and his name was Sir Perard. I defy
thee, said Beaumains, for I let thee wit I slew him knightly and not
shamefully.

Therewithal the Green Knight rode unto an horn that was green, and it
hung upon a thorn, and there he blew three deadly motes, and there came
two damosels and armed him lightly. And then he took a great horse, and
a green shield and a green spear. And then they ran together with all
their mights, and brake their spears unto their hands. And then they
drew their swords, and gave many sad strokes, and either of them wounded
other full ill. And at the last, at an overthwart, Beaumains with his
horse struck the Green Knight's horse upon the side, that he fell to the
earth. And then the Green Knight avoided his horse lightly, and dressed
him upon foot. That saw Beaumains, and therewithal he alighted, and they
rushed together like two mighty kemps a long while, and sore they bled
both. With that came the damosel, and said, My lord the Green Knight,
why for shame stand ye so long fighting with the kitchen knave? Alas, it
is shame that ever ye were made knight, to see such a lad to match such
a knight, as the weed overgrew the corn. Therewith the Green Knight was
ashamed, and therewithal he gave a great stroke of might, and clave his
shield through. When Beaumains saw his shield cloven asunder he was a
little ashamed of that stroke and of her language; and then he gave him
such a buffet upon the helm that he fell on his knees. And so suddenly
Beaumains pulled him upon the ground grovelling. And then the Green
Knight cried him mercy, and yielded him unto Sir Beaumains, and prayed
him to slay him not. All is in vain, said Beaumains, for thou shalt
die but if this damosel that came with me pray me to save thy life.
And therewithal he unlaced his helm like as he would slay him. Fie upon
thee, false kitchen page, I will never pray thee to save his life, for I
will never be so much in thy danger. Then shall he die, said Beaumains.
Not so hardy, thou bawdy knave, said the damosel, that thou slay him.
Alas, said the Green Knight, suffer me not to die for a fair word may
save