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Chapter X
”“Grammercy!”saidSirPerseant,“fornowIcertainlyknowthatitwasthouwhoslewestmybrother,theBlackKnight,SirPereard;andovercamemybrothers,theGreenKnight,SirPertolope,andtheRedKnight,SirPerimones;andsincethouhastovercomemealso,Iwilldotheehomageandfealty,andplaceatthycommandonehundredknightstodothybidding.”
ButwhenthedamselsawSirPerseantoverthrown,shemarvelledgreatlyatthemightofSirBeaumains,andsaid,“Whatmannerofmanmayyebe,fornowamIsurethatyebecomeofnobleblood?Andtruly,neverdidwomanrevileknightasIhavedonethee,andyetyehaveevercourteouslybornewithme,whichsurelyneverhadbeenwereyenotofgentlebloodandlineage.”
“Lady,”repliedSirBeaumains,“aknightislittleworthwhomaynotbearwithadamsel;andsowhatsoeveryesaidtomeItooknoheed,saveonlythatattimeswhenyourscornangeredme,itmademeallthestrongeragainstthosewithwhomIfought,andthushaveyefurtheredmeinmybattles.ButwhetherIbebornofgentlebloodorno,Ihavedoneyougentleservice,andperadventurewilldobetterstill,ereIdepartfromyou.”
“Alas!”saidshe,weepingathiscourtesy,“forgiveme,fairSirBeaumains,allthatIhavemissaidandmisdoneagainstyou.”“Withallmyheart,”saidhe;“andsinceyounowspeakfairlytome,Iampassinggladofheart,andmethinksIhavethestrengthtoovercomewhateverknightsIshallhenceforthencounter.”
ThenSirPerseantprayedthemtocometohispavilion,andsetbeforethemwinesandspices,andmadethemgreatcheer.
