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Chapter X
”“Thenishertravaillost,”repliedtheknight;“for,thoughshehadbroughtSirLancelot,SirTristram,SirLamoracke,orSirGawain,Icountmyselftheirequal,andwhobesidesshallbesocalled?”ThenthedwarftoldtheknightwhatdeedsSirBeaumainshaddone;butheanswered,“Icarenotforhim,whosoeverhebe,forIshallshortlyovercomehim,andgivehimshamefuldeath,astosomanyothersIhavedone.”
ThenthedamselLinetandSirBeaumainsleftSirPerseant,androdeonthroughaforesttoalargeplain,wheretheysawmanypavilions,andhardby,acastlepassingfair.
ButastheycamenearSirBeaumainssawuponthebranchesofsometreeswhichgrewthere,thedeadbodiesoffortyknightshanging,withricharmouronthem,theirshieldsandswordsabouttheirnecks,andgoldenspursupontheirheels.“Whatmeaneththis?”saidhe,amazed.“Losenotthycourage,fairsir,”repliedthedamsel,“atthisshamefulsight,foralltheseknightscamehithertorescuemysister;andwhentheKnightoftheRedlandshadovercomethem,heputthemtothispiteousdeath,withoutmercy;andinsuchwisewillhetreattheealsounlessthoubearesttheemorevaliantlythanthey.”“Trulyheusethshamefulcustoms,”saidSirBeaumains;“anditisamarvelthathehathenduredsolong.”
Sotheyrodeonwardtothecastlewalls,andfoundthemdouble-moated,andheardtheseawavesdashingononesidethewalls.
