shall be for your worship and for the best, and perdy a twelvemonth will
soon be done, and trust me, fair knight, I shall be true to you, and
never to betray you, but to my death I shall love you and none other.
And therewithal she turned her from the window, and Sir Beaumains rode
awayward from the castle, making great dole, and so he rode here and
there and wist not where he rode, till it was dark night. And then it
happened him to come to a poor man's house, and there he was harboured
all that night.

But Sir Beaumains had no rest, but wallowed and writhed for the love
of the lady of the castle. And so upon the morrow he took his horse and
rode until underne, and then he came to a broad water, and thereby was
a great lodge, and there he alighted to sleep and laid his head upon the
shield, and betook his horse to the dwarf, and commanded him to watch
all night.

Now turn we to the lady of the same castle, that thought much upon
Beaumains, and then she called unto her Sir Gringamore her brother, and
prayed him in all manner, as he loved her heartily, that he would ride
after Sir Beaumains: And ever have ye wait upon him till ye may find
him sleeping, for I am sure in his heaviness he will alight down in some
place, and lie him down to sleep; and therefore have ye your wait upon
him, and in the priviest manner ye can, take his dwarf, and go ye your
way with him as fast as ever ye may or Sir Beaumains awake. For my
sister Linet telleth me that he can tell of what kindred he is come, and
what is his right name. And the meanwhile I and my sister will ride unto
your castle to await when ye bring with you the dwarf. And then when
ye have brought him unto your castle, I will have him in examination
myself. Unto the time that I know what is his right name, and of what
kindred he is come, shall I never be merry at my heart. Sister, said Sir
Gringamore, all this shall be done after your intent.

And so he rode all the other day and the night till that he found Sir
Beaumains lying by a water, and his head upon his shield, for to sleep.
And then when he saw Sir Beaumains fast asleep, he came stilly stalking
behind the dwarf, and plucked him fast under his arm, and so he rode
away with him as fast as ever he might unto his own castle. And this Sir
Gringamore's arms were all black, and that to him longeth. But ever as
he rode with the dwarf toward his castle, he cried unto his lord and
prayed him of help. And therewith awoke Sir