noble deeds."

"However that may be, I have asked all that I now desire."

"Well, well, you shall have meat and drink enough. I have never denied
that to friend or foe. But what is your name?"

"Great sir, that I cannot tell you."

"There is a mystery here. A youth of so handsome face and vigorous form
as you must be of noble parentage. But if you desire secrecy, I shall
not press you."

Then Arthur bade Kay to take charge of the youth and see that he had the
best fare of the castle, and to find out if he was a lord's son, if
possible.

"A churl's son, I should say," answered Kay, scornfully, "and not worth
the cost of his meals. Had he been of gentle birth he would have asked
for horse and armor; but he demands that which fits his base-born
nature. Since he has no name, I shall give him one. Let him be called
Beaumains, or Fair Hands. I shall keep him in the kitchen, where he can
have fat broth every day, so that at the years end he will be fat as a
swollen hog."

Then the two men departed and left the youth with Kay, who continued to
scorn and mock him.

Gawaine and Lancelot were angry at this, and bade Kay to cease his
mockery, saying that they were sure the youth would prove of merit.

"Never will he," said Kay. "He has asked as his nature bade him."

"Beware," said Lancelot. "This is not the first youth you have given a
name in mockery, which turned on yourself at last."

"I do not fear that of this fellow. I wager that he has been brought up
in some abbey, and came hither because good eating failed him there."

Kay then bade him get a place and sit down to his meal, and Beaumains
sought a place at the hall-door among boys and menials.

Gawaine and Lancelot thereupon asked him to come to their chambers,
where he should be well fed and lodged; but he refused, saying that he
would do only as Kay commanded, since the king had so bidden.

It thus came about that Beaumains ate in the kitchen among the menials,
and slept in sorry quarters. And during the whole year he was always
meek and mild, and gave no cause for displeasure to man or child.

But whenever there was jousting of knights he was always present to see,
and seemed in this sport to take great delight. And Gawaine and
Lancelot, who felt sure that the youth but bided his time, gave him
clothes and what money he needed. Also, wherever there were sports of
skill or strength he was sure to be on hand, and in throwing the bar or
stone he surpassed