looked over the walls
and out at windows.

Then the Red Knight of the Red Launds armed him hastily, and two barons
set on his spurs upon his heels, and all was blood red, his armour,
spear and shield. And an earl buckled his helm upon his head, and then
they brought him a red spear and a red steed, and so he rode into a
little vale under the castle, that all that were in the castle and at
the siege might behold the battle.

CHAPTER XVI. How the two knights met together, and of their talking, and
how they began their battle.

SIR, said the damosel Linet unto Sir Beaumains, look ye be glad and
light, for yonder is your deadly enemy, and at yonder window is my
lady, my sister, Dame Lionesse. Where? said Beaumains. Yonder, said the
damosel, and pointed with her finger. That is truth, said Beaumains. She
beseemeth afar the fairest lady that ever I looked upon; and truly, he
said, I ask no better quarrel than now for to do battle, for truly she
shall be my lady, and for her I will fight. And ever he looked up to the
window with glad countenance, and the Lady Lionesse made curtsey to him
down to the earth, with holding up both their hands.

With that the Red Knight of the Red Launds called to Sir Beaumains,
Leave, sir knight, thy looking, and behold me, I counsel thee; for
I warn thee well she is my lady, and for her I have done many strong
battles. If thou have so done, said Beaumains, meseemeth it was but
waste labour, for she loveth none of thy fellowship, and thou to love
that loveth not thee is but great folly. For an I understood that she
were not glad of my coming, I would be advised or I did battle for her.
But I understand by the besieging of this castle she may forbear thy
fellowship. And therefore wit thou well, thou Red Knight of the Red
Launds, I love her, and will rescue her, or else to die. Sayst thou
that? said the Red Knight, meseemeth thou ought of reason to be ware by
yonder knights that thou sawest hang upon yonder trees. Fie for shame,
said Beaumains, that ever thou shouldest say or do so evil, for in that
thou shamest thyself and knighthood, and thou mayst be sure there will
no lady love thee that knoweth thy wicked customs. And now thou weenest
that the sight of these hanged knights should fear me. Nay truly, not
so; that shameful sight causeth me to have courage and hardiness against
thee, more than I would have had against thee an thou wert a well-ruled
knight. Make thee ready, said the Red