"Fair lady," he said, with all meekness, "you are discourteous to revile me as you do. What would you have of me? The knights that you have threatened me with are all dead or my vassals. When you see me beaten, then you may bid me go in shame and I will obey, but till then I will not leave you. I were worse than a fool to be driven off by insulting words when I am daily winning honor."
"You shall soon meet a knight who will test your boasted strength. So far you have fought with boys. Now you have a man who would try Arthur's self."
"Let him come," said Beaumains. "The better a man he is, the more honor shall I gain from a joust with him."
Beaumains rode forward with the damsel till it was close upon the hour of noon, when he saw that they were approaching a rich and fair city, well walled, and with many noble buildings.
Between them and the city extended a new-mown meadow, a mile and a half in width, on which were placed many handsome pavilions.
"These pavilions belong to the lord who owns that city," said the damsel. "It is his custom, during fair weather, to joust and tourney in this meadow. He has around him five hundred knights and gentlemen of arms, and they have knightly games of all sorts."
"I shall be glad to see that worthy lord," said Beaumains.
She rode on till she came in sight of the lord's pavilion.
"Look yonder," she said. "That rich pavilion, of the color of India, is his. All about him, men and women, and horse-trappings, shields, and spears, are of the same rare color. His name is Sir Persant of India, and you will find him the lordliest knight you ever saw."
"Be he never so stout a knight," answered Beaumains, "I shall abide in this field till I see him behind his shield."
"That is a fool's talk," she replied. "If you were a wise man, you would fly."
"Why should I?" rejoined Beaumains. "If he be as noble a knight as you say, he will meet me alone; not with all his men. And if there come but one at a time I shall not fail to face them while life lasts."
"That is a proud boast for a greasy kitchen lout," she answered.
"Let him come and do his worst," said Beaumains. "I would rather fight him five times over than endure your insults. You are greatly to blame to treat me so vilely."