him to be his knights. Sir, said the
Red Knight, I will be ready, and my fellowship, at your summons. So Sir
Beaumains departed and the damosel, and ever she rode chiding him in the
foulest manner.

CHAPTER XI. How Sir Beaumains suffered great rebukes of the damosel, and
he suffered it patiently.

DAMOSEL, said Beaumains, ye are uncourteous so to rebuke me as ye do,
for meseemeth I have done you good service, and ever ye threaten me I
shall be beaten with knights that we meet, but ever for all your boast
they lie in the dust or in the mire, and therefore I pray you rebuke me
no more; and when ye see me beaten or yielden as recreant, then may ye
bid me go from you shamefully; but first I let you wit I will not depart
from you, for I were worse than a fool an I would depart from you all
the while that I win worship. Well, said she, right soon there shall
meet a knight shall pay thee all thy wages, for he is the most man of
worship of the world, except King Arthur. I will well, said Beaumains,
the more he is of worship, the more shall be my worship to have ado with
him.

Then anon they were ware where was afore them a city rich and fair. And
betwixt them and the city a mile and an half there was a fair meadow
that seemed new mown, and therein were many pavilions fair to behold.
Lo, said the damosel, yonder is a lord that owneth yonder city, and his
custom is, when the weather is fair, to lie in this meadow to joust and
tourney. And ever there be about him five hundred knights and gentlemen
of arms, and there be all manner of games that any gentleman can devise.
That goodly lord, said Beaumains, would I fain see. Thou shalt see him
time enough, said the damosel, and so as she rode near she espied the
pavilion where he was. Lo, said she, seest thou yonder pavilion that is
all of the colour of Inde, and all manner of thing that there is about,
men and women, and horses trapped, shields and spears were all of the
colour of Inde, and his name is Sir Persant of Inde, the most lordliest
knight that ever thou lookedst on. It may well be, said Beaumains, but
be he never so stout a knight, in this field I shall abide till that
I see him under his shield. Ah, fool, said she, thou wert better flee
betimes. Why, said Beaumains, an he be such a knight as ye make him, he
will not set upon me with all his men, or with his five hundred knights.
For an there come no more but one at once, I shall him not fail whilst
my life lasteth. F