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           WiththatcametheBlackKnighttothedamsel,andsaid,“Fairdamsel,hastthoubroughtthisknightfromArthur’scourttobethychampion?”“Notso,fairknight,”saidshe;“heisbutakitchenknave.”“Thenwhereforecomethheinsucharray?”saidhe;“itisashamethatheshouldbeartheecompany.”“Icannotbedeliveredfromhim,”answeredshe:“forinspiteofmeheridethwithme;andwouldtoHeavenyouwouldputhimfromme,ornowslayhim,forhehathslaintwoknightsattheriverpassageyonder,anddonemanymarvellousdeedsthroughpuremischance.”“Imarvel,”saidtheBlackKnight,“thatanymanofworshipwillfightwithhim.”“Theyknowhimnot,”saidthedamsel,“andthink,becauseheridethwithme,thatheiswellborn.”“Truly,hehathagoodlyperson,andislikelytobeastrongman,”repliedtheknight;“butsinceheisnomanofworship,heshallleavehishorseandarmourwithme,foritwereashameformetodohimmoreharm.”

           WhenSirBeaumainsheardhimspeakthus,hesaid,“Horseorarmourgettestthounoneofme,Sirknight,savethouwinnestthemwiththyhands;thereforedefendthyself,andletmeseewhatthoucanstdo.”“Howsayestthou?”answeredtheBlackKnight.“Nowquitthisladyalso,foritbeseemethnotakitchenknaveliketheetoridewithsuchalady.”“Iamofhigherlineagethanthou,”saidSirBeaumains,“andwillstraightwayproveitonthybody.”Thenfuriouslytheydrovetheirhorsesateachother,andcametogetherasithadbeenthunder.