“First, then, must thou tell me of thy name and kindred,” said Sir Lancelot.  “If thou wilt tell them to no other, I will tell thee,” answered he.  “My name is Gareth of Orkney, and I am own brother to Sir Gawain.”  “Ah!” said Sir Lancelot, “at that am I full glad; for, truly, I deemed thee to be of gentle blood.”  So then he knighted Beaumains, and, after that, they parted company, and Sir Lancelot, returning to the court, took up Sir Key on his shield.  And hardly did Sir Key escape with his life, from the wound Beaumains had given him; but all men blamed him for his ungentle treatment of so brave a knight.

Then Sir Beaumains rode forward, and soon overtook the damsel; but she said to him, in scorn, “Return again, base kitchen page!  What art thou, but a washer-up of dishes!” “Damsel,” said he, “say to me what thou wilt, I will not leave thee; for I have undertaken to King Arthur to relieve thy adventure, and I will finish it to the end, or die.”  “Thou finish my adventure!” said she—­“anon, thou shalt meet one, whose face thou wilt not even dare to look at.”  “I shall attempt it,” answered he.  So, as they rode thus, into a wood, there met them a man, fleeing, as for his life.  “Whither fleest thou?” said Sir Beaumains.  “O lord!” he answered, “help me; for, in a valley hard by, there are six thieves, who have taken my lord, and bound him, and I fear will slay him.”  “Bring me thither,” said Sir Beaumains.  So they rode to the place, and Sir Beaumains rushed after the thieves, and smote one, at the first stroke, so that he died; and then, with two other blows, slew a second and third.  Then fled the other three, and Sir Beaumains rode after them, and overtook and slew them all.  Then he returned and unbound the knight.  And the knight thanked him, and prayed him to ride to his castle, where he would reward him.  “Sir,” answered Sir Beaumains, “I will have no reward of thee, for but this day was I made knight by the most noble Sir Lancelot; and besides, I must go with this damsel.”  Then the knight begged the damsel to rest that night at his castle.  So they all rode thither, and ever the damsel scoffed at Sir Beaumains as a kitchen boy, and laughed at him before the knight their host, so that he set his meat before him at a lower table, as though he were not of their company.

And on the morrow, the damsel and Sir Beaumains took their leave of the knight, and thanking him departed.  Then they rode on their way till they came to a great forest, through which flowed a river, and there was but one passage over it, whereat stood two knights armed to hinder the way.  “Wilt thou match those two knights,” said the damsel to Sir Beaumains, “or return again?” “I would not return,” said he, “though they were six.”  Therewith he galloped into the water, and swam his horse into the middle of the stream.  And there, in the river, one of the knights met him, and they brake their spears together, and then drew their swords, and smote fiercely at each other.  And at the