me. Fair knight, said the Green Knight, save my life, and I will
forgive thee the death of my brother, and for ever to become thy man,
and thirty knights that hold of me for ever shall do you service. In the
devil's name, said the damosel, that such a bawdy kitchen knave should
have thee and thirty knights' service.

Sir knight, said Beaumains, all this availeth thee not, but if my
damosel speak with me for thy life. And therewithal he made a semblant
to slay him. Let be, said the damosel, thou bawdy knave; slay him not,
for an thou do thou shalt repent it. Damosel, said Beaumains, your
charge is to me a pleasure, and at your commandment his life shall be
saved, and else not. Then he said, Sir knight with the green arms, I
release thee quit at this damosel's request, for I will not make her
wroth, I will fulfil all that she chargeth me. And then the Green Knight
kneeled down, and did him homage with his sword. Then said the damosel,
Me repenteth, Green Knight, of your damage, and of your brother's death,
the Black Knight, for of your help I had great mister, for I dread me
sore to pass this forest. Nay, dread you not, said the Green Knight, for
ye shall lodge with me this night, and to-morn I shall help you through
this forest. So they took their horses and rode to his manor, which was
fast there beside.

CHAPTER IX. How the damosel again rebuked Beaumains, and would not
suffer him to sit at her table, but called him kitchen boy.

AND ever she rebuked Beaumains, and would not suffer him to sit at her
table, but as the Green Knight took him and sat him at a side table.
Marvel methinketh, said the Green Knight to the damosel, why ye rebuke
this noble knight as ye do, for I warn you, damosel, he is a full noble
knight, and I know no knight is able to match him; therefore ye do
great wrong to rebuke him, for he shall do you right good service, for
whatsomever he maketh himself, ye shall prove at the end that he is come
of a noble blood and of king's lineage. Fie, fie, said the damosel,
it is shame for you to say of him such worship. Truly, said the Green
Knight, it were shame for me to say of him any disworship, for he hath
proved himself a better knight than I am, yet have I met with many
knights in my days, and never or this time have I found no knight his
match. And so that night they yede unto rest, and all that night the
Green Knight commanded thirty knights privily to watch Beaumains, for to
keep him from all tr