The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1896-08-27
BEAUMAINS THE KNIGHT


Arthur and all his knights OF the
Round Table, and all his squires and
grooms and pages, and all the ladies oi
the court. were assembled In King
Kenadon. castle whose GROUNDS
stretched out upon the sands border
ing upon Wales. h was near the noon
hour, but the King would not go IN 10
the feast till he had beheld or nau
heard OF some adventure.
For such was his custom on this
feast day, to eat no meat, TILL some
strange occurrence came to MS slBnt
or hearing. And so Il was that from
all parts of the kingdom knights WIN
stories of deeds done came 10 give 10
the King the pleasure OF their recltai'
Suddenly Sir Gauvain, standing at
his window, saw emerging from the
woods three men upon horseback, anu
a dwarf running beside them. Then
he quickly descended to Arthur ana
bade him come to the MONDAY repast.
For" said he. here come some
travellers who shall presently tell you
OF wonderful happenings"
The court soon assembled in the
long rooms, and as they sat down 10
the tables the three riders could be
seen dismounting. The one who rode
in the middle was taller than any
knight present, but so weak seemed he
that he leant upon his two compan-
ions. Presently they came before the
King. Then a silence fell upon the
room, and the young man. who was SO
tall. and broad and well-featured, rails
ed himself from the support OF his
men, and addressed Arthur.
King Arthur, may peace be with
thee, and upon thy order of the Taple
Round. For this am come, to speak
unto you, and to ask of you three
gifts. AND they shall be well asked,
so as to give you no shame in the
granting Of them, but right worship
fully do entreat their fulhllment. One
request shall ask you now, and the
other two one year from to-day at the
Pentecost feast"
ASK what ye WILL" answered the
King, "and on my honor and my
crown / promise to grant thy asking"
Then l ask thee, that for twelve
month ye give unto me sufficient eat
and drink, and in a year from to-day
will l ask my other two gifts" .,.
"Oh, bethink thee, young man, ask
more Of me! For eat and drink have I
denied to neither friend nor foe. And
you are the likeliest lad l have ever
beheld and right truly I believe we are
of noble birth. Great deeds shall ye
yet do; Of that am assured"
Let that be as It will. my King;
have asked my gift"
So Arthur sent for Sir Kay. and
gave him charge of the stranger. But
the latter would not tell his name.
either to Arthur OF to another, so Sir
pnly cd Tim, n n
which means Fairbanks. And ever he
Knocked him, and put him in the kitch-
en-, and gave him eat and drink. And
he taunted him and said:
"As man is, so he asketh."
But Sir Launcelot and Gauvain re-
buked Sir Kay, but he heard them not:
and so for year Beaumains bore his
taunts. Sir Launcelot and Gauvain,
however, befriended him; they gave
him gold to spend, and fine clothes to
wear. And at all the tits and tourna-
ments he was present, and at all games,
but always Sir Kay would remark IN
passing him:
How like you my young man of the
kitchen?"
But Beaumains was meek and mild.
and all the children loved him. So a
year passed by.
King Arthur held the festival at
Carleon this year. and the splendor was
greater than ever before. There wait
ed Arthur TO hear OF some adventure,
and one of his squires came and said:
''Sire, ye may go to the feast, for
here comes a maiden with some
strange tale"
So the King ascended the dais and
received the damsel. Then she greet
ed the King, and begged him for sue
cor.
For whom" asked Arthur, "and
what is the adventure?"
my lord" she replied, II have a
lady who Is noble and possessed OF
many lands, but she is besieged by a
tyrant. The name l must not reveal.
but the cruel man is called the Red
Knight of the Red Lawns. Because
have heard of the valor of the knights
of your court, have come to your
"Of your Red Knight have l never
heard" answered Arthur, "and since
you will not tell me the lady's name |
can send her no succor."
But Gauyain said:
''I know the Red knight well. They
say he has the strength of seven men,
and once l barely escaped him with
my life.f
Still. said the King, "I can give nc
help, for | know not the lady"
Beaumain, however, now stepped
forth, and said;
Sire, 1t is year since / asked my
first gift; | now beg the fultillment Of
the other two. One is that ye give In
this adventure with the maiden, for 4
is mine; the other is that | be knight
ed by Sir Launcelot. For from NJ
other will receive knighthood. WheI
have passed let him ride after m,
and make me knight when l desire"
'All shall be as you say" said Ar
thur.
For shamew cried the maiden
shall have a kitchen page for m.
champion?" and In anger she mounte
her horse and rode away