hem where
Sir Gareth was.

THEN goodly they said all at once, God forgive you, and we do, and pray
you that ye will tell us where we may find Sir Beaumains. Fair lords,
said Sir Ironside, I cannot tell you, for it is full hard to find him;
for such young knights as he is one, when they be in their adventures be
never abiding in no place. But to say the worship that the Red Knight
of the Red Launds, and Sir Persant and his brother said of Beaumains, it
was marvel to hear. Well, my fair lords, said King Arthur, wit you well
I shall do you honour for the love of Sir Beaumains, and as soon as ever
I meet with him I shall make you all upon one day knights of the Table
Round. And as to thee, Sir Persant of Inde, thou hast been ever called a
full noble knight, and so have ever been thy three brethren called.
But I marvel, said the king, that I hear not of the Black Knight your
brother, he was a full noble knight. Sir, said Pertolepe, the Green
Knight, Sir Beaumains slew him in a recounter with his spear, his name
was Sir Percard. That was great pity, said the king, and so said many
knights. For these four brethren were full well known in the court of
King Arthur for noble knights, for long time they had holden war against
the knights of the Round Table. Then said Pertolepe, the Green Knight,
to the king: At a passage of the water of Mortaise there encountered
Sir Beaumains with two brethren that ever for the most part kept that
passage, and they were two deadly knights, and there he slew the eldest
brother in the water, and smote him upon the head such a buffet that he
fell down in the water, and there he was drowned, and his name was Sir
Gherard le Breusse; and after he slew the other brother upon the land,
his name was Sir Arnold le Breusse.

CHAPTER XXV[*3]

[*3] In Caxton's edition this chapter is misnumbered XXVI., setting the
numeration wrong to the end of the book.

How the Queen of Orkney came to this feast of Pentecost, and Sir Gawaine
and his brethren came to ask her blessing.

So then the king and they went to meat, and were served in the best
manner. And as they sat at the meat, there came in the Queen of Orkney,
with ladies and knights a great number. And then Sir Gawaine, Sir
Agravaine, and Gaheris arose, and went to her and saluted her upon their
knees, and asked her blessing; for in fifteen year they had not seen
her. Then she spake on high to her brother King Arthur: Where have ye
done my young s