The Legends of King Arthur and His Knights

Excerpt: ...shall he die,? said Beaumains. ?Alas! fair lady,? said the Green Knight, ?suffer me not to die for a word! O, Sir knight,? cried he to Beaumains, ?give me my life, and I will ever do thee homage; and thirty knights, who owe me service, shall give allegiance to thee.? ?All availeth not,? answered Sir Beaumains, ?unless the damsel ask me for thy life;? and thereupon he made as though he would have slain him. Then cried the damsel, ?Slay him not; for if thou do thou shalt repent it.? ?Damsel,? said Sir Beaumains, ?at thy command, he shall obtain his life. Arise, Sir knight of the green armour, I release thee!? Then the Green Knight knelt at his feet, and did him homage with his words. ?Lodge with me this night,? said he, ?and to-morrow will I guide ye through the forest.? So, taking their horses, they rode to his castle, which was hard by. Yet still did the damsel rebuke and scoff at Sir Beaumains, and would not suffer him to sit at her table. ?I marvel,? said the Green Knight to her, ?that ye thus chide so noble a knight, for truly I know none to match him; and be sure, that whatsoever he appeareth now, he will prove, at the end, of noble blood and royal lineage.? But of all this would the damsel take no heed, and ceased not to mock at Sir Beaumains. On the morrow, they arose and heard mass; and when they had broken their fast, took their horses and rode on their way, the Green Knight conveying them through the forest. Then, when he had led them for a while, he said to Sir Beaumains, ?My lord, my thirty knights and I shall always be at thy command whensoever thou shalt send for us.? ?It is well said,? replied he; ?and when I call upon you, you shall yield yourself and all your knights unto King Arthur.? ?That will we gladly do,? said the Green Knight, and...