n's service,
and may perchance, do you greater service before we part from each
other.' 'Alas, fair Beaumains, forgive me all that I have said and
done against you.' 'With all my heart,' he answered, 'and since you
are pleased now to speak good words to me, know that I hear them
gladly, and there is no Knight living but I feel strong enough to meet
him.'

So Beaumains conquered Sir Persant of Inde, who brought a hundred
Knights to be sworn into his service, and the next morning the damsel
led him to the castle, where the Red Knight of the Red Lawn held fast
the lady. 'Heaven defend you,' cried Sir Persant, when they told him
where they were going; 'that is the most perilous Knight now living,
for he has the strength of seven men. He has done great wrong to that
lady, who is one of the fairest in all the world, and it seems to me
as if this damsel must be her sister. Is not her name Linet?' 'Yes,
Sir,' answered she, 'and my lady my sister's name is dame Lyonesse.'
'The Red Knight has drawn out the siege for two years,' said Sir
Persant, 'though he might have forced an entrance many a time, but he
hoped that Sir Lancelot du Lake or Sir Tristram or Sir Gawaine should
come to do battle with him.' 'My Lord Sir Persant of Inde,' said the
damsel, 'I bid you knight this gentleman before he fight with the Red
Knight.' 'That I will gladly,' replied Sir Persant, 'if it please him
to take the order of knighthood from so simple a man as I am.' 'Sir,'
answered Beaumains, 'I thank you for your goodwill, but at the
beginning of this quest I was made a Knight by Sir Lancelot. My name
is Sir Gareth of Orkney and Sir Gawaine is my brother, though neither
he nor King Arthur, whose sister is my mother, knows of it. I pray you
to keep it close also.'

Now word was brought unto the besieged lady by the dwarf that her
sister was coming to her with a Knight sent by King Arthur. And when
the lady heard all that Beaumains had done, and how he had overthrown
all who stood in his way, she bade her dwarf take baked venison, and
fat capons, and two silver flagons of wine and a gold cup, and put
them into the hands of a hermit that dwelt in a hermitage close by.
The dwarf did so, and the lady then sent him to greet her sister and
Sir Beaumains, and to beg them to eat and drink in the hermit's cell,
and rest themselves, which they did. When they drew near the besieged
castle Sir Beaumains saw full forty Knights, with spurs on their heels
and swords