Knight, covered with black armour, sat on the horse, and when she saw
him the damsel bade him ride away, as his horse was not saddled. But
the Knight drew near and said to her, 'Damsel, have you brought this
Knight from King Arthur's Court to be your champion?' 'No, truly,'
answered she, 'this is but a kitchen boy, fed by King Arthur for
charity.' 'Then why is he clad in armour?' asked the Knight; 'it is a
shame that he should even bear you company.' 'I cannot be rid of him,'
said she, 'he rides with me against my will. I would that you were
able to deliver me from him! Either slay him or frighten him off, for
by ill fortune he has this day slain the two Knights of the passage.'
'I wonder much,' said the Black Knight, 'that any man who is well born
should consent to fight with him.' 'They do not know him,' replied the
damsel, 'and they think he must be a famous Knight because he rides
with me.' 'That may be,' said the Black Knight, 'but he is well made,
and looks likely to be a strong man; still I promise you I will just
throw him to the ground, and take away his horse and armour, for it
would be a shame to me to do more.' When Sir Beaumains heard him talk
thus he looked up and said, 'Sir Knight, you are lightly disposing of
my horse and armour, but I would have you know that I will pass this
lawn, against your will or not, and you will only get my horse and
armour if you win them in fair fight. Therefore let me see what you
can do.' 'Say you so?' answered the Knight, 'now give up the lady at
once, for it ill becomes a kitchen page to ride with a lady of high
degree.' 'It is a lie,' said Beaumains, 'I am a gentleman born, and my
birth is better than yours, as I will prove upon your body.'

With that they drew back their horses so as to charge each other
hotly, and for the space of an hour and a half they fought fiercely
and well, but in the end a blow from Beaumains threw the Knight from
his horse, and he swooned and died. Then Beaumains jumped down, and
seeing that the Knight's horse and armour were better than his own, he
took them for himself, and rode after the damsel. While they were thus
riding together, and the damsel was chiding him as ever she did, they
saw a Knight coming towards them dressed all in green. 'Is that my
brother the Black Knight who is with you?' asked he of the damsel.
'No, indeed,' she replied, 'this unhappy kitchen knave has slain your
brother, to my great sorrow.' 'Alas!' sighed the Green Knig