passing wroth, and gave the Green Knight such a buffet on the helm that he fell on his knees, and with another blow Sir Beaumains threw him on the ground.  Then the Green Knight yielded, and prayed him to spare his life.  “All thy prayers are vain,” said he, “unless this damsel who came with me pray for thee.”  “That will I never do, base kitchen knave,” said she.  “Then shall he die,” said Beaumains.  “Alas! fair lady,” said the Green Knight, “suffer me not to die for a word!  O, Sir knight,” cried he to Beaumains, “give me my life, and I will ever do thee homage; and thirty knights, who owe me service, shall give allegiance to thee.”  “All availeth not,” answered Sir Beaumains, “unless the damsel ask me for thy life;” and thereupon he made as though he would have slain him.  Then cried the damsel, “Slay him not; for if thou do thou shalt repent it.”  “Damsel,” said Sir Beaumains, “at thy command, he shall obtain his life.  Arise, Sir knight of the green armour, I release thee!” Then the Green Knight knelt at his feet, and did him homage with his words.  “Lodge with me this night,” said he, “and to-morrow will I guide ye through the forest.”  So, taking their horses, they rode to his castle, which was hard by.

Yet still did the damsel rebuke and scoff at Sir Beaumains, and would not suffer him to sit at her table.  “I marvel,” said the Green Knight to her, “that ye thus chide so noble a knight, for truly I know none to match him; and be sure, that whatsoever he appeareth now, he will prove, at the end, of noble blood and royal lineage.”  But of all this would the damsel take no heed, and ceased not to mock at Sir Beaumains.  On the morrow, they arose and heard mass; and when they had broken their fast, took their horses and rode on their way, the Green Knight conveying them through the forest.  Then, when he had led them for a while, he said to Sir Beaumains, “My lord, my thirty knights and I shall always be at thy command whensoever thou shalt send for us.”  “It is well said,” replied he; “and when I call upon you, you shall yield yourself and all your knights unto King Arthur.”  “That will we gladly do,” said the Green Knight, and so departed.

And the damsel rode on before Sir Beaumains, and said to him, “Why dost thou follow me, thou kitchen boy?  I counsel thee to throw aside thy spear and shield, and flee betimes, for wert thou as mighty as Sir Lancelot or Sir Tristram, thou shouldest not pass a valley near this place, called the Pass Perilous.”  “Damsel,” answered he, “let him that feareth flee; as for me, it were indeed a shameful thing to turn after so long a journey.”  As he spake, they came upon a tower as white as snow, with mighty battlements, and double moats round it, and over the tower-gate hung fifty shields of divers colours.  Before the tower walls, they saw a fair meadow, wherein were many knights and squires in pavilions, for on the morrow there was a tournament at that castle.