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Linet
Linet, daughter of sir Persaunt, and sister of Lionês of Castle Perilous. Her sister was held captive by sir Ironside, the Red Knight of the Red Lands. Linet went to king Arthur to entreat that one of his knights might be sent to liberate her; but as she refused to give up the name of her sister, the king said no knight of the Round Table could undertake the adventure.
At this, a young man nicknamed “Beaumains” (Gareth), from the unusual size of his hands, and who had been serving in the kitchen for twelve months, entreated that he might be allowed the quest, which the king granted. Linet, however, treated him with the utmost contumely, calling him dish-washer, kitchen knave, and lout; but he overthrew all the knights opposed to him, delivered the lady Lionês, and married her. Le Morte d'Arthur By Sir Thomas Malory
N.B.—Some men nicknamed her “The Savage”.
Tennyson, in his Idylls of
the King, Gareth
and Lynette, makes Gareth marry Lynette, which spoils the
allegory.
"God save you, said he to Beaumains, from that knight, for he
doth great wrong to that lady, and that is great pity, for she is
one of the fairest ladies of the world, and meseemeth that your
damosel is her sister: is not your name Linet? said he. Yea, sir,
said she, and my lady my sister’s name is Dame Lionesse.
Now shall I tell you, said Sir Persant, this Red Knight of the
Red Laund hath lain long at the siege, well-nigh this two years,
and many times he might have had her an he had would, but he
prolongeth the time to this intent, for to have Sir Launcelot du
Lake to do battle with him, or Sir Tristram, or Sir Lamorak de
Galis, or Sir Gawaine, and this is his tarrying so long at the
siege."
Le
Morte d'Arthur By Sir Thomas Malory. Book
VII
"As to the adventure," the King returned. "There came but a little while ago a maiden, Linet, by name, who craves that we send a knight to succor her sister, the fair Dame Lyoness who is besieged in her castle by the Knight of the Red Lawns."
"Good herald," the King continued, "bring you the lady, Linet before us."
Into the great hall came a maiden fair. To her the king addressed himself.
"My Lady Linet, and it please you, pray tell us of what manner of siege this knight holds against your sister. If to you it seems of avail, we shall be glad to send a goodly number of our knights and yeomen, too, to raise this siege."
"Nay sire, that I deem not necessary. Only, since I have heard
that the knights of the Round Table are the bravest and best in
all Britain, I have come to you that you send one of these to
battle with the Knight of the Red Lawns. A stout knight is he,
many have come to rescue the fair lady who is my sister but the
way is perilous and he hath seven men's strength. So that I pray
you to send the best and bravest knight who is here."
In
The Court of King Arthur By Samuel E. Lowe
