[Le morte darthur]

¶Capitulum sextum

ANd on the morn the damoisel & he took their leue & than¦ked the knyght / and soo departed / and rode on her way / vntyl they came to a grete forest / And there was a grete ryuer and but one passage / and ther were redy two knyghtes on the ferther syde to lette them the passage / what saist thou sa¦yd the damoysel / wylt thou matche yonder knyghtes or torne ageyne / Nay sayd syr Beaumayns I wyl not torne ageyn and they were syxe mo / And ther with al he rasshyd in to the water / and in myddes of the water eyther brake their speres vpon other to their handes / and thenne they drewe their swer∣des / and smote egerly at other / And at the last syr Beauma¦yns smote the other vpon the helme that his hede stonyed / and there with alle he felle doune in the water / and there was he drowned / And thēne he sporyd his hors vpon the londe / whe∣re the other knyghte felle vpon hym / and brake his spere / and soo they drewe theyr swerdes / and foughte longe to gyders At the laste syre Beaumayns clafe his helme and his heede doune to the sholders / and soo he rode vnto the damoysel & bad her ryde forth on her way / Allas she sayd that euer a kechen page shold haue that fortune to destroye suche two douʒty kn∣yghtes / thou wenest thou hast done doughtely that is not soo / For the fyrste knyghte his hors stumbled / and there he was drouned in the water / and neuer it was by thy force / nor by thy myght / And the last knyghte by myshap thou camyst be∣hynde hym and myshappely thou slewe hym / Damoysel sayd Beaumayns ye maye saye what ye wyl / but with whom som¦euer I haue a doo with al I truste to god to serue hym or he

departe / And therfor I recke not what ye say soo that I may wynne youre lady / Fy fy foule kechen knaue thou shalt foe knyghtes that shal abate thy boost / Fayre damoysel gyue me goodly langage / and thenne my care is past / for what knygh¦tes someuer they be / I care not ne I doubte hem not / Also sa∣yd she I saye it for thyne auayle / yet mayst thou torne ageyne with thy worship / for and thou folowe me / thou arte but sla∣yne / for I see alle that euer thou dost is but by mysauenture / and not by prowesse of thy handes / wel damoysel ye may say what ye wylle / but where someuer ye goo I wylle folowe you Soo this Beaumayns rode with that lady tyl euensong tyme and euer she chyde hym and wold not reste / And they cam to a black launde / and there was a black hauthorne / & theron henge a blak baner / and on the other syde there henge a black shelde / and by hit stode a black spere grete and longe / and a grete black hors couerd with sylke / and a black stone fast by