last, Sir Beaumains struck the other mightily upon the helm, so that he fell down stunned into the water, and was drowned.  Then Sir Beaumains spurred his horse on to the land, where instantly the other knight fell on him.  And they also brake their spears upon each other, and then drew their swords, and fought savagely and long together.  And after many blows, Sir Beaumains clove through the knight’s skull down to the shoulders.  Then rode Sir Beaumains to the damsel, but ever she still scoffed at him, and said, “Alas! that a kitchen page should chance to slay two such brave knights!  Thou deemest now that thou hast done a mighty deed, but it is not so; for the first knight’s horse stumbled, and thus was he drowned—­not by thy strength; and as for the second knight, thou wentest by chance behind him, and didst kill him shamefully.”  “Damsel,” said Sir Beaumains, “say what ye list, I care not so I may win your lady; and wouldst thou give me but fair language, all my care were past; for whatsoever knights I meet, I fear them not.”  “Thou shalt see knights that shall abate thy boast, base kitchen knave,” replied she; “yet say I this for thine advantage, for if thou followest me thou wilt be surely slain, since I see all thou doest is but by chance, and not by thy own prowess.”  “Well damsel,” said he, “say what ye will, wherever ye go I will follow.”

So they rode on until the eventide, and still the damsel evermore kept chiding Sir Beaumains.  Then came they to a black space of land, whereon was a black hawthorn tree, and on the tree there hung a black banner, and on the other side was a black shield and spear, and by them a great black horse, covered with silk; and hard by sat a knight armed in black armour, whose name was the Knight of the Blacklands.  When the damsel saw him, she cried out to Beaumains, “Flee down the valley, for thy horse is not saddled!” “Wilt thou for ever deem me coward?” answered he.  With that came the Black Knight to the damsel, and said, “Fair damsel, hast thou brought this knight from Arthur’s court to be thy champion?” “Not so, fair knight,” said she; “he is but a kitchen knave.”  “Then wherefore cometh he in such array?” said he; “it is a shame that he should bear thee company.”  “I cannot be delivered from him,” answered she:  “for in spite of me he rideth with me; and would to Heaven you would put him from me, or now slay him, for he hath slain two knights at the river passage yonder, and done many marvellous deeds through pure mischance.”  “I marvel,” said the Black Knight, “that any man of worship will fight with him.”  “They know him not,” said the damsel, “and think, because he rideth with me, that he is well born.”  “Truly, he hath a goodly person, and is likely to be a strong man,” replied the knight; “but since he is no man of worship, he shall leave his horse and armour with me, for it were a shame for me to do him more harm.”