ie, fie, said the damosel, that ever such a stinking
knave should blow such a boast. Damosel, he said, ye are to blame so to
rebuke me, for I had liefer do five battles than so to be rebuked, let
him come and then let him do his worst.

Sir, she said, I marvel what thou art and of what kin thou art come;
boldly thou speakest, and boldly thou hast done, that have I seen;
therefore I pray thee save thyself an thou mayest, for thy horse and
thou have had great travail, and I dread we dwell over long from the
siege, for it is but hence seven mile, and all perilous passages we
are passed save all only this passage; and here I dread me sore lest ye
shall catch some hurt, therefore I would ye were hence, that ye were
not bruised nor hurt with this strong knight. But I let you wit that Sir
Persant of Inde is nothing of might nor strength unto the knight that
laid the siege about my lady. As for that, said Sir Beaumains, be it
as it be may. For sithen I am come so nigh this knight I will prove his
might or I depart from him, and else I shall be shamed an I now withdraw
me from him. And therefore, damosel, have ye no doubt by the grace of
God I shall so deal with this knight that within two hours after noon
I shall deliver him. And then shall we come to the siege by daylight. O
Jesu, marvel have I, said the damosel, what manner a man ye be, for it
may never be otherwise but that ye be come of a noble blood, for so foul
nor shamefully did never woman rule a knight as I have done you, and
ever courteously ye have suffered me, and that came never but of a
gentle blood.

Damosel, said Beaumains, a knight may little do that may not suffer a
damosel, for whatsomever ye said unto me I took none heed to your words,
for the more ye said the more ye angered me, and my wrath I wreaked
upon them that I had ado withal. And therefore all the missaying that ye
missaid me furthered me in my battle, and caused me to think to show and
prove myself at the end what I was; for peradventure though I had meat
in King Arthur's kitchen, yet I might have had meat enough in other
places, but all that I did it for to prove and assay my friends, and
that shall be known another day; and whether that I be a gentleman
born or none, I let you wit, fair damosel, I have done you gentleman's
service, and peradventure better service yet will I do or I depart from
you. Alas, she said, fair Beaumains, forgive me all that I have missaid
or done against thee. With all