OF SIR BEAUMAINS AND HIS QUEST

It was the time of Pentecost, and King Arthur was holding his court in Wales. Just before noon one day, as the King was going into the banquet prepared for him, a messenger entered the hall and announced that a strange party was approaching. There were three men on horseback, he said, accompanied by a dwarf. by a dwarf. A little later the newcomers made their entrance, two of them being roughly dressed servingmen, while the third was a tall, broadshouldered youth of striking appearance, although somewhat plainly clad.

Having made his obeisance to the King, the young man exclaimed:

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'King Arthur, I am come hither to claim three gifts of you. The first I will ask now, but the other two I will ask a year hence, when you again hold your feast."

Arthur smiled on him graciously, and bade him proceed.

"I will ask but this, O King," continued the youth; "that you will grant me food and

drink and lodging here for the next twelvemonth."

"That is but a small thing to ask," replied the King; "is there nothing better you desire? Come, ask what you will, for I think you are not what your dress would proclaim, but that you come of good family. What is your name, pray ?"

To this the youth answered that he could not tell his name yet, and that he desired nothing more than to live at the King's court, as he had said, and receive meat and drink for a twelvemonth.

King Arthur was curious to know more about this lusty youth, whose well-knit figure pleased him greatly, but as the other would say nothing further he called Sir Kay, his seneschal, and bade him treat the lad well.

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Sir Kay cast a disdainful look upon his new charge, and sniffed contemptuously. Things have come to a pretty pass, indeed," he said, "when any peasant's son who likes to come to court can have his lodging free, and feed at the King's expense the year round!"

“But he may be a great lord's son, for all you know," said some of the knights present. "Even King Arthur suspects him of being of noble birth."

"Fiddlesticks!" cried Sir Kay, angrily. He is a country boor, I promise you. Had he been aught else he would have begged for horse, and armor, and a stout lance, and a knightly quest. But this great clownthis Beaumains (Fair Hands) as we will call him will have naught but eating and drinking, so please you! And enough of that he shall have, for he shall take his fill in the kitchen with the others, and stuff himself as fat as any pig!"

So Beaumains was given a seat among the King's serving-men and kitchen boys, and there he lived for twelve months, as Arthur had promised him. Every day he performed the same menial tasks as his fellows, taking Sir Kay's mocks and jeers in the best of good humors. But one thing could draw him from his work, and that was a jousting between any of the knights of the court. Then Beaumains would hie himself to the lists and watch eagerly how the

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knights bore themselves with lance and sword. And whenever there were any bouts of arms and feats of strength in which he might join, he was one of the foremost; and so strong was he that none of his fellows could beat him.

At the end of the year there came to King Arthur's court a damsel who demanded redress for her mistress's wrongs. Arthur was always ready to see justice done in his kingdom, and no one ever appealed to him in vain.

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'My mistress," said the damsel, is in great peril, and prays your help. She is kept prisoner by a tyrant knight in a castle far away. Ask me not her name now, O King, for I may not tell it; but I pray you send one of your noble knights to set her free."

Now when Arthur heard her say that she might not disclose her mistress's name, he declared that none of his knights should go on such a quest unless of his own free will. The King looked round the assembled court, but no knight proffered his services. He was about to speak again, when Beau

mains suddenly thrust himself forward and knelt at Arthur's feet.

"A boon, Sir King!" he cried.

"A boon. For twelve months have I sat at your table, and now is the time for me to ask the other two gifts you promised me."

"Say on," commanded the King.

"Well, then," continued Beaumains, "I beg you to grant me this adventure, and let me ride with this damsel to rescue her mistress. And secondly, grant that Sir Lancelot may dub me knight, for I would receive knighthood from none other save thyself, O King."

""Tis granted," cried Arthur; "it shall be thy quest, boy, and may God send thee a safe ending to it."

All present rejoiced greatly at Beaumains' good fortune, for the youth was well liked ; all, that is, except the damsel herself, who now turned angrily upon the King.

"What!" she cried; "can I have no knight errant but one of thy kitchen boys? Then will I have none at all!" And so saying she called for her palfrey and rode away.

It was not long ere Beaumains was ready