my heart, said he, I forgive it you, for
ye did nothing but as ye should do, for all your evil words pleased me;
and damosel, said Beaumains, since it liketh you to say thus fair unto
me, wit ye well it gladdeth my heart greatly, and now meseemeth there is
no knight living but I am able enough for him.

CHAPTER XII. How Beaumains fought with Sir Persant of Inde, and made him
to be yielden.

WITH this Sir Persant of Inde had espied them as they hoved in the
field, and knightly he sent to them whether he came in war or in peace.
Say to thy lord, said Beaumains, I take no force, but whether as him
list himself. So the messenger went again unto Sir Persant and told him
all his answer. Well then will I have ado with him to the utterance, and
so he purveyed him and rode against him. And Beaumains saw him and made
him ready, and there they met with all that ever their horses might run,
and brast their spears either in three pieces, and their horses rushed
so together that both their horses fell dead to the earth; and lightly
they avoided their horses and put their shields afore them, and drew
their swords, and gave many great strokes that sometime they hurtled
together that they fell grovelling on the ground. Thus they fought two
hours and more, that their shields and their hauberks were all forhewen,
and in many steads they were wounded. So at the last Sir Beaumains smote
him through the cost of the body, and then he retrayed him here and
there, and knightly maintained his battle long time. And at the last,
though him loath were, Beaumains smote Sir Persant above upon the
helm, that he fell grovelling to the earth; and then he leapt upon him
overthwart and unlaced his helm to have slain him.

Then Sir Persant yielded him and asked him mercy. With that came the
damosel and prayed to save his life. I will well, for it were pity
this noble knight should die. Gramercy, said Persant, gentle knight and
damosel. For certainly now I wot well it was ye that slew my brother the
Black Knight at the black thorn; he was a full noble knight, his name
was Sir Percard. Also I am sure that ye are he that won mine other
brother the Green Knight, his name was Sir Pertolepe. Also ye won my
brother the Red Knight, Sir Perimones. And now since ye have won these,
this shall I do for to please you: ye shall have homage and fealty of
me, and an hundred knights to be always at your commandment, to go
and ride where ye will command us. And so t