CHAPTER I
How Beaumains came to King Arthur's Court and demanded three petitions of King Arthur.
WHEN Arthur held his Round Table most plenour,it fortuned that he commanded that the high feast of Pentecost should be holden at a city and a castle,the which in those days was called Kynke Kenadonne,upon the sands that marched nigh Wales.So ever the king had a custom that at the feast of Pentecost in especial,afore other feasts in the year,he would not go that day to meat until he had heard or seen of a great marvel.And for that custom all manner of strange adventures came before Arthur as at that feast before all other feasts.And so Sir Gawaine,a little to-fore noon of the day of Pentecost,espied at a window three men upon horseback,and a dwarf on foot,and so the three men alighted,and the dwarf kept their horses,and one of the three men was higher than the other twain by a foot and an half.Then Sir Gawaine went unto the king and said,Sir,go to your meat,for here at the hand come strange adventures.So Arthur went unto his meat with many other kings.And there were all the knights of the Round Table,[save]only those that were prisoners or slain at a recounter.Then at the high feast evermore they should be fulfilled the whole number of an hundred and fifty,for then was the Round Table fully complished.
Right so came into the hall two men well beseen and richly,and upon their shoulders there leaned the goodliest young man and the fairest that ever they all saw,and he was large and long,and broad in the shoulders,and well visaged,and the fairest and the largest handed that ever man saw,but he fared as though he might not go nor bear himself but if he leaned upon their shoulders.Anon as Arthur saw him there was made peace and room,and right so they yede with him unto the high dais,without saying of any words.Then this much young man pulled him aback,and easily stretched up straight,saying,King Arthur,God you bless and all your fair fellowship,and in especial the fellowship of the Table Round.And for this cause I am come hither,to pray you and require you to give me three gifts,and they shall not be unreasonably asked,but that ye may worshipfully and honourably grant them me,and to you no great hurt nor loss.And the first don and gift I will ask now,and the other two gifts I will ask this day twelvemonth,wheresomever ye hold your high feast.Now ask,said Arthur,and ye shall have your asking.
Now,sir,this is my petition for this feast,that ye will give me meat and drink sufficiently for this twelvemonth,and at that day I will ask mine other two gifts.
My fair son,said Arthur,ask better,I counsel thee,for this is but a simple asking;for my heart giveth me to thee greatly,that thou art come of men of worship,and greatly my conceit faileth me but thou shalt prove a man of right great worship.Sir,he said,thereof be as it be may,I have asked that I will ask.
Well,said the king,ye shall have meat and drink enough;I never defended that none,neither my friend nor my foe.But what is thy name I would wit?I cannot tell you,said he.That is marvel,said the king,that thou knowest not thy name,and thou art the goodliest young man that ever I saw.Then the king betook him to Sir Kay the steward,and charged him that he should give him of all manner of meats and drinks of the best,and also that he had all manner of finding as though he were a lord's son.
That shall little need,said Sir Kay,to do such cost upon him;for I dare undertake he is a villain born,and never will make man,for an he had come of gentlemen he would have asked of you horse and armour,but such as he is,so he asketh.And sithen he hath no name,I shall give him a name that shall be Beaumains,that is Fair-hands,and into the kitchen I shall bring him,and there he shall have fat brose every day,that he shall be as fat by the twelvemonths'end as a pork hog.Right so the two men departed and beleft him to Sir Kay,that scorned him and mocked him.
CHAPTER II
How Sir Launcelot and Sir Gawaine were wroth because Sir Kay mocked Beaumains,and of a damosel which desired a knight to fight for a lady.
THEREAT was Sir Gawaine wroth,and in especial Sir Launcelot bade Sir Kay leave his mocking,for I dare lay my head he shall prove a man of great worship.Let be said Sir Kay,it may not be by no reason,for as he is,so he hath asked.Beware,said Sir Launcelot,so ye gave the good knight Brewnor,Sir Dinadan's brother,a name,and ye called him La Cote Male Taile,and that turned you to anger afterward.As for that,said Sir Kay,this shall never prove none such.For Sir Brewnor desired ever worship,and this desireth bread and drink and broth;upon pain of my life he was fostered up in some abbey,and,howsomever it was,they failed meat and drink,and so hither he is come for his sustenance.
And so Sir Kay bade get him a place,and sit down to meat;so Beaumains went to the hall door,and set him down among boys and lads,and there he ate sadly.And then Sir Launcelot after meat bade him come to his chamber,and there he should have meat and drink enough.And so did Sir Gawaine:but he refused them all;he would do none other but as Sir Kay commanded him,for no proffer.But as touching Sir Gawaine,he had reason to proffer him lodging,meat,and drink,for that proffer came of his blood,for he was nearer kin to him than he wist.But that as Sir Launcelot did was of his great gentleness and courtesy.
So thus he was put into the kitchen,and lay nightly as the boys of the kitchen did.And so he endured all that twelvemonth,and never displeased man nor child,but always he was meek and mild.