he forgives him I
will. Afterwards he must go to the court of King Arthur and obtain
forgiveness from Lancelot and Gawaine for the ill will he has borne
them."

"All this I will do," said the red knight, "and give you pledges and
sureties therefore."

Then Beaumains granted him his life, and permitted him to rise.
Afterwards the damsel Linet disarmed Beaumains and applied healing
unguents to his wounds, and performed the same service for the red
knight. For ten days thereafter Beaumains dwelt with the red knight, who
showed him all the honor possible, and who afterwards went into the
castle and submitted himself to the Lady Lioness, according to the terms
of his compact.

CHAPTER IV.

HOW BEAUMAINS WON HIS BRIDE.

After the ten days of feasting and pleasure that followed the events we
have just related, the Red Knight of the Red Lawns set out with his
noblest followers to Arthur's court, to make submission as he had
covenanted. When he had gone, Beaumains armed himself, took his horse
and spear, and rode to the castle of the Lady Lioness. But when he came
to the gate he found there many armed men, who pulled up the drawbridge
and let fall the portcullis.

Marvelling deeply that he was denied admittance, Beaumains looked up at
the window, where he saw the lady of the castle, who called out to
him,--

"Go thy way, Sir Beaumains. You shall not yet have my love till you have
earned for yourself a name of world-wide honor. I bid you, therefore,
go strive for fame and glory this twelvemonth, and when you return you
shall hear new tidings."

"Alas, fair lady," said Beaumains, "is this all I have deserved of you?
I thought I had bought your love at the price of some of the best blood
in my body."

"Fair, courteous knight, be not so hasty," answered Lioness. "Your labor
and your love shall not be lost. A twelvemonth will soon pass away; and
trust me that I shall be true to you, and to my death shall love no
other than you."

With this she turned from the window, and Beaumains rode slowly away
from the castle in deep sorrow, and heeding not whither he went till
deep night came upon him. The next day he rode in the same heedless
fashion, and at night couched in a wayside lodge, bidding the dwarf
guard his horse and watch all night.

But near day dawn came a knight in black armor, who, seeing that
Beaumains slept soundly, crept slyly behind the dwarf, caught him up
under his arm, and rode away with him at f