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GAWAIN 


A  STUDY    IN 


i 


EPIC  DEGENERATION 


-  by  - 


KENNETH  ORVILLE  KEE 


1955 


G  A   W  A    IN 


A        STUDY        IN 


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A  The  a  i  a  submitted  in  conform'  ;  witn  t::e  requlre.'nents 

for  the  degree  of  Do -tor _Philoaophy  in  the 

University  of  Toronto. 


September  15,  1955 


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6    /  .STo 


UNIVERSITY      OF      TORONTO 
SCHOOL  OF  GRADUATE  STUDIES 


PROGRAMME      OF      THE       FINAL      ORAL      EXAMINATION 
FOR      THE      DEGREE      OF      DOCTOR      OF       PHILOSOPHY 


KENNETH  ORVILLE  KEE 


9;  00  A.M..    MONDAY,    OCTOBER  24th.    1955 
AT  44  HOSKIN  AVENUE 


GAWAIN:     A  STUDY  IN  EPIC  DEGENERATION 


COMMITTEE  IN  CHARGE 

Professor  C.  R.   Myers,   Chairman 

Professor  A.  S.    P.   Woodhouse 

Professor  L.  K.   Shook 

Professor  C.  A'.   Dunn 

Professor  H.  S.    Wilson 

Professor  H.  N.    Frye 

Professor  A.  J.    Denomy 

Professor  H.  L.   Humphreys 
Professor  W.    H.   Trethewey 


BIOGRAPHICAL 

1922         --Born,    Toronto,    Ontario 

1949  --B.A.,    University  of  Toronto 

1950  --M.A.,    University  of  Toronto 

1949-52  --Reader,    Victoria  College,    University  of  Toronto 
1952-53  --Instructor,    Victoria  College,    University  of  Toronto 
1953-55  --Lecturer,    Victoria  College,    University  of  Toronto 

1949-52)__g^^^^j  of  Graduate  Studies,    University  of  Toronto 
I  955- 56) 

THESIS 

Gawain:     A  Study  in  Epic  Degeneration 

(ABSTRACT) 

This  thesis  attempts  an  examination  of  all  the  Arthurian  material  in  those  medi- 
aeval chronicles  which  have  been  published,    in  the  Old  French  prose  and  verse 
romances,    and  in  the  Middle  English  romances,    in  order  to  determine  the  attitude 
displayed  by  each  individual  author  towards  the  conception  of  Gawain's  character. 
The  result  of  this  procedure  is  the  emergence  of  a  pattern  of  four  traditions  concern- 
ing Gawain:     that  of  the  chronicles,    that  of  the  Old  French  verse  romances,   that  of 
the  Old  French  prose  romances,    and  that  of  the  Middle  English  romances.     The  latter 
three  of  these  traditions  are  intimately  interconnected  and  borrow  extensively  one 
from  the  other.     Nevertheless,    each  tradition  preserves  features  which  serve  to 
characterise  it  and  to  distinguish  it  from  the  others. 

The  chronicle  tradition  concerning  Gawain  is  marked  by  a  monotonous  uniformity 
and,  secondly,  by  an  almost  exclusively  laudatory  attitude.     From  Geoffrey  of  Mon- 
mouth's twelfth-century  Historia  Regum  Britanniae  to  the  early  fifteenth-century 
Middle  English  version  of  it  entitled  The  Brut  there  is  an  astonishing  consistency  in 
the  retailing  of  the  details  of  Gawain's  career.     The  information  presented  by  Geoffrey 
is  retained  by  each  chronicler  with  a  fidelity  which  is  noteworthy  in  view  of  the  tre- 
mendous variety  introduced  by  the  romance  traditions.     Some  chroniclers  may  abridge 
their  matter,    and  on  rare  occasions  slight  details  not  contained  in  the  Historia.    the 
ultimate  source  of  the  Gauvinian  material  in  all  the  chronicles,    may  creep  in.     On  the 
whole,    however,    the  chronicles  vary  little  in  what  they  have  to  say  about  Gawain.     The 
most  likely  explanation  for  this  fidelity  in  repetition  lies  in  the  mediaeval  chronicler's 
respect  for  what  he  considered  to  be  the  facts  of  history. 

A  strident  militarism  is  the  'pervading  tone  of  the  Arthurian  sections  of  the  Historia, 
and  the  chief  virtue  in  its  picture  of  the  Arthurian  society  is  physical  courage.     This 
quality  the  chroniclers  give  to  Gawain  in  abundance,    and  their  attitude  to  him,    with 
one  exception,    is  of  unreserved  acclaim.    The  exception  is  an  extremely  condensed 
version  of  Geoffrey's  Arthurian  material  contained  in  the  Liber  de  Compositione  Castri 
Ambaziae,    a  work  of  a  very  local  nature  and  one  which  exercised  no  influence  on  the 
Gauvinian  tradition  in  either  the  chronicles  or  the  romances. 

The  Old  French  verse  tradition  of  Arthurian  romance  owes  an  enormous  debt  to 
Chretien  de  Troyes,    whose  works  are  the  earliest  and  in  a  sense  the  most  perfect  we 
possess  in  this  genre.     Though  Chretien  never  makes  him  the  hero  of  any  of  his  ro- 
mances,   he  gives  Gawain  a  large  enough  share  in  the  action  of  his  stories  to  allow  him 
to  emerge  not  only  as  a  fully  rounded  character  but  also  as  an  attractive  and  human 
personality.   ■  The  qualities  Chretien  invests  Gawain  with- -courtesy,    tact,    unrivalled 
prowess  as  a  knight-at-arms,    generosity  to  the  poor,    and  attractiveness  to  women-- 
8  J  fTCvffi  ??  are  all  characteristics  which  Chretien's  imitators  and  successors  handle  or  mishandle 

with  varying  degrees  of  skill.     Only  in  Chretien's  Lancelot  is  Gawain's  position  of  pre- 
eminence in  the  world  of  chivalry  challenged,    and  here,    because  Lancelot  effects  the 
rescue  of  Guenivere  from  her  abductor,    the  implication  is  that  Gawain's  superiority 
is  being  questioned.       It  is  noteworthy  that  this  work  is  permeated  by  the  spirit  of 
Courtly  Love. 

The  Old  French  verse  romances  with  Gawain  as  hero  continue  the  tradition  of  his 
superiority  at  arms  established  by  Chretien.     Some  of  these  romance  writers,    how- 
ever,   had  a  less  refined  attitude  towards  sex  than  Chretien,    and  hence  Gawain  is  made 
the  chief  actor  in  amorous  encounters  with  unattached  damsels.     Though  of  questionable 
morality,   these  misadventures  in  no  way  impaired  the  various  authors'  respect  for  this 
hero  of  Arthurian  romance.     It  must  be  pointed  out,    however,    that  the  sexual  promis- 


i.' 


cuily  which  got  attached  to  Gawain's  name  tended  towards  the  depreciation  of  his  char- 
acter when  new  codes  of  morality  were  introduced  by  writers  who  laid  their  plots  in 
the  atmosphere  inspired  by  the  doctrines  of  Courtly  Love  or  by  the  story  of  the  Holy 
Grail. 

The  Old  French  verse  romances  in  which  Gawain  played  a  minor  role  were  also 
faithful  to  the  tradition  established  by  Chretien,    and  one  of  the  favourite  devices  em- 
ployed by  the  authors  of  these  works  to  illustrate  the  physical  prowess  of  the  particu- 
lar hero  whose  exploits  they  were  celebrating  was  to  bring  that  character  into  a  drawn 
combat  with  Gawain.     Eventually,    however,   Gawain  and  the  Arthurian  setting  in  gen- 
eral slipped* farther  and  farther  into  the  background  of  these  stories.     Gawain  became 
a  colourless,   flat,    stock  character  in  poems  which  came  to  concentrate  more  and 
more  attention  on  the  particular  hero  of  the  moment.     The  final  result  of  this  process 
was  the  reduction  of  Gawain  to  a  mere  name  with  no  role  in  the  action,   as  in  Frois- 
sart's  Meliador.  ^ 

The  Old  French  prose  romances  present  some  interesting  developments.     Where 
the  Old   French  verse  romances  were  by  their  very  nature  condemned  to  give  only  a 
fragmentary  and  episodic  picture  of  the  Arthurian  kingdom,    the  authors  of  the  prose 
romances,    probably  inspired  by  the  chronicle  traditioti,    conceived  the  notion  of  a 
whole  history  of  the  Arthurian  kingdom.     Once  a  definite  chronological  scheme  was 
introduced    mto  the  Arthurian  tradition,    it  was  possible  for  the  prose  romancers  to 
depict  a  Gawain  unequivocally  dispossessed  of  his  position  of  pre-eminence  by  Lance- 
lot,  and  to  rationalize  this  dispossession  on  the  basis  of  a  chronological  sequence  of 
events.     WTiat  actually  happened,    however,    was  the  increase  in  popularity  of  the  doc- 
trines of  Courtly  Love.     Ordinary  stories  of  knightly  adventure  were  less  in  demand 
than  stories  in  which  an  adulterous  relation  between  Lancelot  and  Guenivere  provided 
the  mainspring  of  the  action.     And  because  Gawain  had  by  this  time  a  fixed  reputation 
ranging  from  a  servant  of  ladies  in  its  highest  conception  to  an  opportunistic  libertine 
in  its  lowest,    he  was  never  cast  in  the  role  of  a  Courtly  Lover.     For  this  reason  his 
displacement  by  Lancelot  came  about. 

When  the  Grail  was  transformed  into  the  Holy  Grail,    and  when  the  Cistercians 
made  use  of  this  story  in  La  Queste  del  Saint  Graal  as  a  piece  of  Cistercian  propaganda 
celebrating  chastity  and  spiritual  values  generally,   not  only  were  amoral  heroes  like 
Gawain  brought  to  judgment,    but  also  immoral  heroes  like  Lancelot  were  condemned. 
In  this  section  of  the  Arthurian  story  it  is  the  chaste  heroes  like  Galahad  and  Perceval 
who  win  the  acclaim.     But  so  strongly  was  Lancelot  entrenched  in  public  favour  that 
the  unknown  author  of  the  Queste,    though  he  felt  free  to  attempt  to  debase  Gawain, 
limited  himself  only  to  barring  Lancelot  from  the  precincts  of  the  Grail,    the  reward 
of  the  chaste.     Indeed,    such  was  Lancelot's  renown  that  Galahad,    the  Grail  winner 
par  excellence,    was  made  Lancelot's  son.     The  conception  of  Gawain's  character 
having  been  thoroughly  weakened  by  both  Courtly  Love  and  the  Grail,    it  was  a  natural 
development  for  the  author  of  the  prose  Tristan  to  make  a  complete  break  with  the 
Old  French  verse  tradition  and  to  present  a  Gawain  who,    in  his  own  words,    was  "mout 
felon". 


The  Middle  English  Arthurian  romances  fall  into  two  categories:     those  which  are 
translations  or  adaptations  of  Old  French  originals,   ani  those  for  which  no  Old  French 
originals  exist.     The  romances  in  the  former  of  thfese  two  categories  display  towards 
Gawain  the  same  attitude  as  their  originals.     Consequently,    when  one  approaches  a 
writer  like  Malory  who  m^ade  use  of  a  wide  variety  of  Old  French  romances,    one  is  not 
surprised  to  find  a  contradictory  conception  of  Gawain's  character.     Whenever  Malory 
employs  an  anti-Gawain  source,    Gawain's  reputation  (in  Malory's  work)  is  depressed. 
But  as  he  reached  the  final  pages  of  his  Arthuriad  and  became  entranced  by  the  gran- 
deur of  the  story  he  was  telling.    Malory  took  pains  to  introduce  into  his  work  features 
which  make  Gawain  an  understandable  and  sympathetic  personality.     These  innovations 
raise  this  last  act  in  the  Arthurian  drama  to  a  high  level  of  tragedy  and  give  it  a  flavour 
which  belongs  to  Malory  alone.     Because  of  the  nature  of  Malory's  sources,    however, 
thedominant  impression  of  Gawain  gained  from  a  reading  of  the  Morte  Darthur  is  simi- 
lar to  that  of  the  Old  French  prose  Tristan.     For  most  English  readers,    therefore, 
Gawain  is  synonymous  with  the  disreputable  figure  in  Tennyson's  Idylls  of  the  King. 

Those  Middle  English  romances  for  which  no  Old  French  originals  exist  are  dis- 
tinguished by  the  uniformity  of  the  attitude  they  evince  towards  Gawain:     they  are  con- 
sistent in  their  recognition  of  Gawain  as  Arthur's  lieutenant  and  as  the  first  knight  in 
the  Arthurian  hierarchy.     These  works  all  date  from  the  third  quarter  of  the  HTw4a«ath:ourtecHt(^ 
century  or  later,    two  centuries  after  the  creative  impulse  in  Old  French  Arthurian 
literature,   except  in  isolated  instances,   had  died  away.    Though  the  Old  French 


Arthurian  romances  had  continued  in  popularity,    particularly  the  prose  Tristan  which 
had  so  effectively  denigrated  Gawain.    the  authors  of  these  works  wrote  as  if  the  pro- 
cess of  epic  degeneration  had  never  operated  on  the  conception  of  Gawain's  character. 
These  works  are  almost  exclusively  the  products  of  a  particular  geographical  locale, 
the  north-west  Midlands  and  the  area  extending  northwards  into  that  region  of  Scotland 
known  as  Selloway.     There  is  a  strong  probability  that  the  conception  of  Gawain's 
character  in  these  romances  is  the  survival  of  an  indigenous  British  tradition  which 
has  remained  untouched  by  the  Old  French  Arthurian  traditions.     Further  distinctions 
between  this  tradition  and  the  Old  French  can  be  seen  in  the  paucity  of  Grail  stories 
in  Middle  English  literature- -there  are  only  two,    and  both  are  based  on  Old  French 
models--and  in  the  hostility  with  which  the  author  of  Sir  Gawain  and  the  Green  Knight 
regards  the  doctrine  of  Courtly  Love. 

The  following  general  observations  can  be  recorded.     An  examination  of  the  Old 
French  Arthurian  romances  in  verse  reveals  a  gradual  decline  of  interest  in  the  es- 
tablished heroes    of  the  Arthurian  world,    such  as  Gawain,  and  the  development  of  new 
heroes  and  new  situations  for  those  heroes  to  act  in.     The  normal  result  of  the  pro- 
cess is  the  gradual  reduction  of  a  hero  like  Gawain  to  the  level  of  a  stock  character 
with  no  really  distinctive  characteristics,    and  from  thence  to  a  name  only  in  the  back- 
ground,   as  in  Froissart's  Meliador.     But  in  those  cases  where  the  atmosphere  of  the 
verse  romances  has  been  changed  from  one  of  chivalrous  adventure  to  one  dominated 
by  the  spirit  of  Courtly  Love,    then  Gawain,    who  was  never  transformed  into  a  Courtly 
Love  hero,     loses  his  position  of  favour.     The  Old  French  prose  romances,    capitaliz- 
ing on  the  popularity  of  Courtly  Love,    increased  Lancelot's  role  in  the  action  of  their 
stories  and  his  position  in  the  Arthurian  world  to  such  an  extent  that  he  completely 
usurped  Gaivain's  position  of  pre-eminence.     The  derogatory  conception  of  Gawain's 
character  in  the  prose  Tristan  is  the  natural  result  of  this  process.     This  conception 
of  Gawain  passed  into  Malory's  work,    and  from  Malory  Tennyson  drew  his  ideas  on 
Gawain's  position  in  the  Arthurian  world. 

Like  Courtly  Love,    the  Grail  story  also  exerted  a  corrosive  influence  on  the  con- 
ception of  Gawain's  character.     Though  not  originally  thought  of  by  Chretien  as  a 
sacred  vessel,    the  Grail  was  speedily  adapted  to  a  Christian  framework  by  the  con- 
tinuators  of  Chretien's  Perceval  and  by  the  prose  romancers.     Gawain's  pre-eminence 
having  been  already  jeopardized  by  the  conception  of  Perceval  as  the  Grail  Winner, 
it  is  easy  to  see  why  a  Christian  interpretation  of  the  Grail  would  further  depress  the 
conception  of  Gawain's  role  in  Arthurian  society.     Incidentally,    the  simultaneous  pop- 
ularity of  both  Courtly  Love  and  the  Grail  is  an  interesting  phenomenoin,    since  each 
of  these  sponsors  values  diametrically  opposed  to  the  other's. 

Since  the  Middle  English  romances  for  which  no  Old  French  originals  exist  ignore 
entirely  the  degeneration  of  Gawain's  character  in  Old  French  Arthurian  literature, 
we  must  assume  the  existence  of  an  independent  indigenous  British  tradition.     This 
tradition  is  marked  by  a  hostility  to  the  doctrine  of  Courtly  Love  and,    secondly,    by 
a  disregard  of  the  Grail  story.     Sir  Gawain  and  the  Green  Knight  is  the  finest  product 
of  this  tradition,    and  it  represents  the  finest  conception  of  Gawain's  character. 

In  view  of  the  richness  of  the  Gauvinian  tradition,    it  is  a  pity  that  most  English 
readers  are  acquainted  only  with  the  debased  Gawain  of  Malory  and  Tennyson. 


GRADUATE  STUDIES 

Major  Subject: 

English  Literature  -  Professors  W.    H.  Clawson,   A.   S.    P.    Woodhouse, 
A.    E.    Barker,    H.    W.    McLuhan. 

Minor  Subjects; 


English  Language  -  Professors  L.   K.   Shook  and    C.  W.    Dunn. 
Old  French  -  Professor  H.    L.   Humphreys. 


PREFACE 

This  studj'  attempts  to  trace  tne  attitude  cf  eaca 
author  to  Gawain  in  the  romances  coi.posed  la  Old  Freaoh  una 
Middle  Engliah  between  the  tliaa  of  Chr^^tlen  ae  Tropes  sad 
approximately  150G.   (^uotationa  wiilcn  eltner  Illustrate  an 
author's  cplnlon  of  Gawaia  or  some  characteristic  usually 
attrlDuted  tc  him  have  ueen  selected  In  order  to  build  up  a 
comprehensive  picture  of  tne  Gauvlnlan  tradition.   This  procedure 
has  revealed  what  might  be  regarded  as  four  distinct  traditions: 
that  of  the  chronicles,  of  the  Old  French  verse  romances,  of 
the  Old  'rench  prose  romances,  and  of  the  Ulddle  English 
romances.   The  subject  matter  has  accordingly  fallen  Into 
these  natural  divisions. 

It  must  be  admitted  that  the  chronicles  offer  the 
moat  monotonous  presentation  of  Gawain.   TiiO  cost  richly  var- 
ied picture  is  prov.Jed  by  the  Old  French  verse  romances,  and 
here  tne  finest  Gauvlnlan  portrait  la  tnat  of  Cnretlen  de 
Troyes.  The  Mlddis  fingllah  tradition,  however,  nas  its 
moments  of  grandeur,  while  the  01c  French  prose  romances  felve 
us  an  Interesting,  If  less  pleasing,  picture  of  this  hero. 

Some  explanation  of  tne  general  nature  of  the  conclu- 
sions is  perhapa  warranted.  Though  Arthurian  studies  sre  as 
fascinating  as  the  enchanted  Forest  of  Broceliande,  tJicre  ere 
aa  many  .-Itfalls  there  to  entrap  the  unwary  as  ever  faced 
Chretien's  knights.   It  wojld  De  a  rash  scholar  today  wno 

ii 


iTsA^iT.:^^ 


bna  dtonan'H.   uXG   . 

oil   ei; 

a  qi;  isXli/ct  o^  i 
iociq  BiiiT      ,noJt;t 

01  een 

:I  eXbo 

ojai  naXIsl  \ 

.10  »6l. 
-18  JSOA 


,*i»V€Hfiroxi   ,f!oXdiOBiJ  ueXXjiii'ii  pXooxm  en 

10  •ni   9X1  >n«'is  lo  «. 


would  •tterapt  to  attacn  fixed  dPtea  to  the  Lid  ^rertoh  romance*, 
or  to  eataclish  an  autiioritative  table  ahowing  the  relatlonshlpa 
and  cross-Influences  between  the  romances,   hence  one  can  only 
record  what  one  finds  and  offer  tentative  and  general  conclus- 
ions in  the  hope  that  they  *ill  not  violate  the  fpcts. 


iii 


prt«;nqir"^?t      '•fi'^P'Itl 


TABLE        OP       CONTENTS 

PREFACE  11 

I        GAWAIN    IN   THE   CHRONICLES  1 

II        OAWAIN    IN   TiiL   OLD  FhENCH  VEftSE  ROMANCES  23 

Chretien,    Some  Contemporaries,   and  the 

Continuations   of   the    Perceval  23 

Romances  with  Qawain  aa   hero  53 

Gawain  as   a   Minor  Figure  78 

III        OAwAIN   IN  THii   OLD  PJKENGH  PhOSE  HOMANCES  109 

IV             OA^'ATN      l.^      il-i,          Ki-Lr.     CAVii....!!     r.-,H:^;UilO  165 

V   A'.r^;  ^-r  a   victim  op  epic  degeneration  217 

NOTES  235 

PIBLIOORAFHY  267 


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<^AhM'i    IN  THE  ChhONICLES 

For  the  first  written  record  of  the  exploits  of 

Arthur  and  his  knl/^ta  we  look  to  the  chronicles.   Though 

the  Modena  archivolt,  whose  sculpture  depicts  tne  rescue 

of  Guenivere  by  Arthur,  (lawain,  and  ouher  knignta,  is 

1 
favoured  by  some  scholars  as  an  early  twelftii  century  work, 

and  though  sonie  of  the  Arthurian  tales  cf  tne  iVelsh  Mablnogion 

are  considered  among  the  earliest  records  of  Arthurian 

'c. 

roiaanoe  ,   until  further,  more  conclusive  evideace  is  eavanced 

we  must  Rssuxtie  that  Gewain'a  name  first  appears  in  written 

form  in  tne  De  Geatls  ftef-um  Anglorura  cf  Ailliam  of  ivelmest.  ar>  . 

William  speaks  uhus  of  the  discovery  oX  Gawaln's  tomb  : 

Tunc  in  provincia  Welar jm,  quae  Ros  vocacur,  inventum  est 
sepulchrum  /.elwen,  qui  fuit  baud  de^ener  Arturis  ex  sorore 
nepos.   netrnavit  in  ea  parte  Britanrilae  quae  adhuc  Aalweltha 
vocatur:  miles  vlrtute  nominatissiri  us,  sec  a  fratre  et 
nepcte  iienfrestii,  de  quibus  in  primo  libro  dixl,   e -no 
expulsus,  prlus  multo  eorum  detrimentp  exilium  compensans 
suum;  communicans  raerito  laudi  avunculi,  quod  ruentls 
patriae  aasum  in  plures  ennos  distulerint.   Sed  Arturis 
sepulcrum  nnsquara  visltur,  unde  antiquitas  naeniarura  adhuc 
euB  venturum  faoulatur.   Ceteruni,  alterius  bustuir:,  ut  praemisi, 
tempo.'e  I'illelmi  ."e_is  .■epertuni  ea^  su^er  oi'sm  maris,  qua- 
tordeclm  pedes  longum;  ubl  a  quibusdam  asseritur  ab  hostlbus 
vulneratus,  et  naufr6v;io  ejectus;  a  quibusdam  dicitur  a 
civlbus  in  publico  epulo  interfectus.   Veritatis  ergo  notitia 
labat  In  dubio,  licet  neuter  eorum  defuerit  famae  suae 
:  alt'ocinio. 

Elsewhere  William  mentions  Arthur,   "Lie  est  Arthur  de  quo 

4 
Brltonum  nugae  hodieque  delirant"  ,  and  V.illiam  would 

probably  feel  that  all  succeeding  accounts  of  Gawain  are 

1 


I 
a:? 

d^aodT      .eslolaoido   9tii  oi  iooL   mm  sir! 
I 

^ocsblve   aviBiIonoo 

J    8*ni-  e>iaaq; 


tn@ 


J  _■  n  c; :.!  ,  5 :: 


alao  baaed  on   tneae  "Idle  tales",  for,  as  we  shall  see,  the 

more  extended  reci'.als  oi  Gawain's  career  ^ear  little  relation 

to  the  information  offered  by  William.   In  answer  to  the 

ar-iument  that  .Tllliam  was  drawing  on  a  popular  tradition  not 

5 
utilized  by  later  writers,  Faral   points  out, 

C'est  de  aeme  que  le  tombeau  de  raliaa  fut,  vers  le  ir.eme 

temps,  decouver't  a  ho.xe  ...   II  va  de  soi  que  la  deriouvert 
du  Gavaln  n'lmplique  pas  plus  la  preexistence  de  lagendas 
pcpulai.-es  que  celle  du  tomoeau  de  Pallas,  laquelle  a  ete 
fait  d'un  clerc  nourri  de  Vir^Jile. 

Kowevf  :•,  William  and  his  successors  do  ajree  in  designating 

Gawain  as  Arthur's  nephew  through  the  letter's  sister.  This 

uncle-nephew  relationship  which  is  so  aonspicuous  throughout 

the  Artriurian  tradition,  both  chronicle  and  romance  ^seems  to 

have  nad  its  roots  in  remote  antiquity.   In  the  German la , 

6 
Tacitus   notes  how  the  same  relationship  was  venerated  among 

the  ijermanic  tribes.  "SororMHfc  filius  idem  apud  auuaculum  qui 

ad  patrem  honor". 

*illiam  finisiied  his  first  edition  of  the  De  Gestis 

in  1125,  but  it  was  snortly  to  be  eclipsed  by  tne  first 

edition  of  the  wcrk  which  undoubtedly  became  tne  most  influential 

book  in  western  mediaeval  islurope,   Ceoxfrey  of  Monmouth's 

hi 3 tor ia  he^um   tiritanniae,  e  book  *nicn  first  celebrated  at 

length  the  exploits  of  Arthur  and  started  the  lon^  aucsession 

of  tales  about  tnat  le:^ndery  king,  concerning  whom  hooert 

Uannyng  of  Brunne  has  written. 


edd    ^698    XlBfts   8w   as    ji. 
noi;t8l9i   eiiitH   lap     -v^-i'^e   s'  b^nn*- 

a 


«r«c  •*  q  Irte«o  ?cJ«f  f**!  ©«»5«b   •''.t  woo 


Bi 


d¥  s'^-i 


Til  Domesday  men  schalle  spello, 
■X   of  Arthures  dsdes  talka  ^  telle, 

a  couplet  bearing  %   peculiar  end  deligbtful  irony  to  the 
twentieth-century  student  of  Artnurian  literature.   Geoffrey's      < 
work  first  appeared  at  the  be^^.inning  of  1136,  and  a  second 
issue  appeared  in  April  of  tnat  year,  and  a  third  in  1148 
or  later,  these  issues  differing  little  except  in  their  dedi- 
cations  •  According  to  Geoffrey,   UtJaer  P-ndragon  and  Igerne 
married  after  t.'iO  death  of  the  letter's  husband,  Gorlols, 
tha  Luke  of  Cornwall,  and  they  had  two  ciiildren,  Arthur,  con- 
ceived Ine  night  cf  Uther's  secret  visit  to  Igerne  in  the  guise     , 
of  her  husband,  and  a  daughter  Anns:   "Commanserunt  pariter 
deinde  non  ainifflo  amore  ligati.  progenueruntque  f ilium  & 

fillam.   Fuit  autem  nomen  filii  arturus.   fille  uero  anna" 

\ 
(VIII,  XX ),   Uther  gave  Anna  in  marriage  to  Lot,  a  valorous         : 

knight,  and  entrusted  the  kingdom  to  hiirj  during  his  illness: 

JLoQerat  autem  consul  llie  miles  strenuissixnus.   sapiencia         ^ 
(S:  etate  maturus;  Px'cbitaoe  ergo  Ipsius  acclamante.   dederat 
el  rex  annam  filiam  suam.   regnique  sui  curam  dum  infirmitati 
subiaceret   (VIII,  xxi/. 

After  the  death  of  Litner,  /Arthur  was  made  king  without  demur 

by  the  baroas,  thou?h  only  fifteen  years  of  a^e,  and  ne 

conducted  a  strenuous  campaign  against  the  Saxons,  and  a^^^alnst 

the  Irish  and  Scots  as  well.   Upon  the  submission  of  the  Sec  is,     I 

9 
Arthur  rewarded  t^iree  bretiiren  wno  a;3sl8ted  him,  among  them  Lot  : 

y 


1i    ■  -Sf!!     Re". 

J  a  n  i 


Erent  autem  l:d  tre.i  fratrea  regall  proso^la  ortl.   loth 
uldelicet  atque  urlanus.   necncn  &   euguselus.   qui  antc- 
quam  aaxcnes  preualuissent .   princlpatum  lllarum  partium 
habuerant.   Hos  IglLur  ut  ceteros  patsrno  lure  donare 
uolens.   reddidit  augusolo  rcgism  potescetem  3cctor>ini. 
fratreaque  suum  urianum  sceptro  murefensium  inaignuit. 
Loth  autem  qui  Leixpore  aurelii  amt^r-osli  sox'orem  ipsi»;s 
duxe'pst  ex  qua  gwalwanuoi  ^-  .•..'•dre:iu.':i  ^enuerat.   ed  ocnaultum 
lodenesle  ceterarurrque  crmor>ouinciara-n  que  el  pertinebaat 
reduxit.  (IX,  Ix) 

Kls  campaigns  In  Britain  completed,  Arthur  turned  his  gaze 
to  the  continent,  first  to  Norway  in  or-cer  to  assist  fiis 
brot-ipr— in-law,  Lot,  in  obtaining  the  throne: 

Paratis  delnde  nauigis.   :iorguogiam  priusg^  diult .  ut  IlHus 
dlademate  loth  sororluir  suum  insii?niret.   Erat  autem  loth 
nepos  sichel  1  :'egis  ncrguegensium.   qui  ea  tempeatate 
defunctus.   regnum  suaTi  eidem  destinauerat.   At  ncrguegensea 
Indignatl  Ilium  x^ccipere.   erexerant  iam  quendam  i'i^ulfum 
in  regiem  potestat^'Ti.   :r':nltisque  urbibus  arturo  so  posse 
reslstere  exlstlmabant.   Erat  tunc  fillus  predictl  loth 
pualguanus  nomine  .xll.  armorum  iuuenis  obsequio  sulpicli 
pspe  ab  auunculo  tradltus.  a  quo  srma  receplt.   (IX,  xi ) 

Lot  having  been  installed  on  the  Norwegian  throne,  Arthur 
Chen  conquered  Denmark  and  aubdued  irance,  whereupon  he  returned 
home.   I'he  taunting  Roman  em-ass^  deinandlag  tribute  to  Rome 
provoKed  Arthur  into  another  continental  expedition,  during 
which  he  sent  ^avvain  and  t*o  others  as  nessengers  to  the  Reman 
E  peror; 

Luos  eti&m  consules  boaonem  de  uado  bourn  5:  gerlnum  carnotenaein, 
Gwalwanum  etiam  nepotem  suum  luclo  hibero  direxit  ut 
supgereret  el  quatinus  recederet  s  finibus  gallie.   aut  in 
postero  die  ad  expe^'-iencurr  uenlret  quis  ooru'-  malua  lua  in 
galllam  haberet.   luuentus  ergo  curie  maximo  -audio  fluctuana 
ceplt  stimulare  r.'ualwan'un  ut  Infra  castra  imperatorls  allquld 
Inciperet  quo  occasionem  haberent  congrediendl  cum  romanls.  (X,  iv) 


ft-    '    •  '  <->■!   f  rt- 


)     .{TIX 


S9tUStiB 


Gawaln  delivered  Arthur 'a  message  calling-  upon  the  Romans  to 
g«t  out  of  Gaul  or  fight,  whereupcn  he  was  provoked  to  action 
by  the  Emperor's  neihew: 

Lucius  uero  cum  responderet  els  quod  non  deberet  recedere. 
louno  ad  regendum  illsm  sccedere.   Interfuit  galus  quintllllanus 
eiusdem  nepos  qui  dlcebat  britones  ma.jia  lactsntia  stque 
minis  habundare  quam  audatie.   uel  probitate  ualere.   Iratus 
illco  jjualuuanus  eua^inato  ense  que  accinctus  erat  irruit  in 
earn.   &  eiusdem  capito  amputato.   ad  equos  oum  socils  digreditur. 
(X,  iv) 

In  the  resulting  pursuit  of  the  messengers,  "Jawain,  Boso,  and 
Guerin  distinguished  themselves  by  feats  of  bravery,  each 
overcoming  an  opponent  in  hand  to  hand  combat.   Gawain's 
assailarit  is  named: 

laterea  aiaroellus  nutius  maxiaio  affectu  uoleas  qu  intillian\un 
ulndlcare.   walvano  lam  innlnebat  a  tergo.   atque  oum  lam 
ceperat  retinere.   cuzii  llle  continue  reversus.   galeam  cum 
capita  usque  ad  pectus  fladlo  quern  tenebat  abscidlt.   Precepit 
etiam  el  -.uintilliano  quem  infra  casLra  trucidauerat  in  inferno 
renuntiare  britones  minis  &  iactantla  hoc  modo  habundare.   (X,  iv) 

With  a  detachment  of  the  Britons,  tney  defeated  a  portion 

of  the  Roman  nost,  leading  the  Roman  commander  and  many  others 

as  prisoners  to  ^cthxir.      The  next  day  the  train  battle  began 

in  earnest,  a  battle  in  which  Oavaln  and  the  homan  ■'^peror  came 

to  gvips  with  one  another: 

Porro  gualwanus  cedendo  turmas  ut  predlctum  est  inuenlt  tandem 
adltum  quan  optabat.  dt   In  imperatorem  Irrult.   V  cum  illo 
ccngresaua  est.   At  lu^lus  prima  luuentute  florens.   ->ultum 
audacie.   multum  ulgorls.   multum  probatatls  habebat.   niohllque 
me  -Is  desiderabat.   quam  con!£.redl  cum  millte  tali  qui  eum  eoegisset 
experlri  quantum  In  millcia  ualeret.   Heslstens  Itaque  gualwano 
ron-^ressum  cum  eo  ^nire  letatur  a  ^'I'^ri  Lur.   -iuia  tantam 
famam  ae  eo  audlerat.   Commisso  Itaque  dlutlus  inter  se  orelio 


bns 


dant  ictus  ualidos.   A-  clipeoa  ictlbua  pretendo.   uterque 
neci  alterius  Imminere  elaborabat.   Dura  autem  aorlua 
In  hunc  modum  decertarent.   ecce  rorrani  subito  recuperantes . 
impetum  In  artnorlcsnoa  faciunt.   ft  Iraperatorl  subuonlentea. 
hoelum  &  gualwanuin  cum  aula  turmis  cedendo  pepulerunt.  (A,    xi) 

Eventually  the  Romans  were  defeated  and  their  Empepor  killed: 
"Tunc  multa  milia  roraanorum  concldepunt.   Tunc  tandem  lucius 
Imperator  infra  turmas  occupatus  cuiuadam  lancea  confossua 
inteplit."  (X,  xi )   But  while  Arthur  was  leading  his  troops 
towards  Rome,  news  came  to  him  of  his  nephew  Mordred's 
rebellion,  and  of  the  latter's  marriage  to  the  queea;  turning 
back  to  Britain,  Arthur  landed  in  his  own  kingdom  with  heavy 
losses : 


Erant  autem  omiies  numero  quasi  octoginte  milia.   tam  pa,..anorum 
quam  chrlstianorum,   quorum  auxillo  fretus  &  iTiultitudlne 
comltatus  arturo  in  rutpupi  portu  applicanti  in  obuiam  uenit. 
&  commisso  prelio  maxlmam  stragem  dedlt  applicantlbua. 
Auguselus  etenin;  rex  albanie.   £c  i:ualwanus  nepos  reels  cum 
Innumerabillbua  alils  In  die  ilia  corruerunt.   (XI,  1) 


Arthur  buried  his  dead,  Geoffrey  not  saying  where,  and 
finally  defeated  and  killed  Mordred  in  Cornwall,  though 
receiving  his  own  death  wound  in  the  battle. 

To  sum  up  Gawaln's  career  in  Geoffrey,  then,  Gawain 
was  descended  from  Uther  Pendragon  through  Anna,  the  sister 
of  Arthur.   Gawaln's  father.  Lot,  had  holdings  in  -Scotland 
as  well  as  in  iingland,  and  in  addition  was  king  of  Morway. 
Gewaln  was  educated  at  home  by  Pcpe  Sulplclus,  who  knighted 
him.   In  nls  war  against  the  Romans,  Arthur  employed  Gawain 
as  messenger,  upon  which  occasion  Gawain  decapitated  the 
Emperor's  nephew,  Gaius  v^uintilianus,  and  in  the  pursuit  killed 


JDiiSOaO    ii: 


f>«IX^iC  r  ><i^^*^lt.^b   *»Tflw  i5W<»  TflftudTf' 


«JL.<: 


.Uiiie 


o£:e    ^ems 


l|*roellus  Mutius.   In  bhe  major  ueitle  ^itxi  the  horians,  oavaln 
exchanged  Dlows  with  the  hmperor  himself,   when  Arthur  returned 
to  britaln  to  put  down  Mordred's  rebellion,  ua«ain  ^as  Killec 
in  the  lenoing  at  Hlohborough,  along  with  his  ancle  Angusel, 
and  (ieoffrey  does  not  state  wiiere  they  «fere  buried.   As  may 
be  judged  from  the  quotations,  Geoffrey's  ■'^rthm'ian  sections 
see  flooded  n/lth  a  militaristic  vigour.   Consequently 
Gawain  is,  fo-.-'  Geoffrey,  a  model  of  rr.illLary  prowess  and 
physical  couraKe,  and  these  virtues  are  these  which  woulc  na- 
turally appeal  to  tne  brawling  Ncrman  barons  of  Geoffrey's  day. 

GeoiTre/'s  hi  at oris  *83  immediately  imitated,  adapteo, 
abbreviated,  or  he  idled  in  otiier  ways  by  nis  contemporaries. 
Among  Lhe  aocuments  collected  in  une  CJir^-onl^uea  c  '  Anjou  is 

8  "Chronica  de  Arturo"  in  the  Li::)er  de  Go.r.positione  ^astri 

i.  11 

Ambaziae.    According  to  h.h.  i^'letoxzer   ,  cae  Liber  «aa 

probably  a0:i.posed  about  1147;  tnus  it  is  tne  nearest  dociiment 

in  date  to  the  iilstoria  wuicb  has  beea  profoundly  influenced 

by  the  tilstorla .  The  following  curious  passaj^e  occurs  in  tue 

"Chronica",  wnich  ."elates  in  exceedingly  condensed  form  the 

history  of  Arthur's  rise  and  fell.   The  passa  ;e  itself  deals 

witn  Artuur's  horr.an  campaign: 

Koncrlus  vero  Lucium  ccnsulem,  virum  magni  nominfs,  raaximo 
exercitu  lllo  sibi  tradito,  contra  Arturum  misit.   W'i, 
Alpibus  trens^^essis,  cum  Arturo  pr'ope  Augustodunuir.  circa 
nemorose  loca  dimicans,  .ultia  regibus  a  faritonibus  peremptis, 
i.-se  vicuus  interiit.   Arturua  tamen  ioputu  et  SoultiLia 
Gelgani  nepotis  sui  multos  ex  suia  amlsit.   Nam  Uelganus  ipse, 
Oldinua,  ^eduerus,  Gheudo,  muitique  axli  intoriere. 


i  siiln  umalm 


.B-  >9   eld  xd  B^mi  idri^o  al   belbcad  lo    ebsiaZv^ndcfi 


:2 
This,  as  Fletcher   has  pointed  out,  is  the  oaly  place  In  all 

the  chrcnicles  in  wh.lch  Ciawaln  appears  in  an  unfavourable 

role.   The  view  represented  by  this  anonymous  chronicler  is 

that  of  a  hard-headed,  realistic  pacifist.   \/iewed  in  a 

certain  li^iht,  Gewaln's  conduct  represents  the  '  xtreme  of 

lujpatuosity  and  atupldity,  but  this  author  is  unique  in  taking 

this  position.   Tbo  rest  of  the  t&ediaeval  «orld  remsined  blinded 

bj   the  ideals  of  cnlvalrj. 

So  pop-ilar  did  Geoffrey's  falatoria  prove  thet  it  was 

soon  translated  Into  i'ranch,  the  first  version  apparently 

15 
being  that  of  Geoffrey  (jeljiar  about  llbO   ,  now  unfortunately 

14 
lost,  and  this  in  tux-n  i»ka   followed  in  11^5   by  tne  more 

famous  hoaen  de  brut  of  •tQce.  tha   difference  in  tone  between 

Geoffrey's  Latin  end  trace's  hvsxcL.   suggests  V«ace  was  a 

parapbraser  rather  x.ao  s  translator,  but  it  must  be  acknow- 

ladled  tuat  oeoffrey'8  main  outlines  are  always  found  In  ki/ace, 

tt.e  two  occasionally  ciffering  in  detail,   l-or  example,  "ace, 

like  Geoffrey,  trecea  oawain'a  ancestry  back  to  uther  tiirough 

Anna,  Arthur's  aister; 

unprea  Artur  fu  Anna  nee, 

Une  fille,  -^ue   fu  dunee 

A  'in  barun  pru2  e  cur  tela. 

Loth  avelt  nun,  de  Loeneis.  (8819-22) 


A  Loth,  kl  avelt  se  [Arthur 'a|.3erur 

fc  tenue  1 'avelt  .nielnl  Jur, 
Kendl  11  rais  tut  Loeneis 
£  ciuna  autres  feua  en  oreis. 
Encor  esteit  Walwein,  sis  fiz, 
Jofaes  donioisels  e  petiz.  (9636-40) 


lis    tiL    ««S 


4  ftad 


a»»»Joo  «i£i:  if      .•o»*  lo  itt^  •& 


^X 


,Oi>a>   r.:    bccol   3v^3*ia   erjb  see  iwc   s't^^l- 

,0B<-  .l»3*b  til   T^at'i  ^las9«i 


ft'ace  aliio  follcva  ueof frey  in  having  "jawaln's  Tether,  Lot, 
assisted  to  the  throae  of  NorAaj  by  Arthur  [j60b'b2/   and 
in  l^iaving  Ga*aln  educated  in  heme,  sent  there  by  his  uncle; 
but  he  waxes  eloquent  on  ^ewaln's  e ocotnpllahoien'.s ; 


De  saint  Sopllce  I'apostolre, 

La  kl  auuie  alt  repos  en  gloire, 

Ert  Aalwein  nuve linen t  venuz. 

Chevaliers  pruz  et  coneuz. 

Cll  11  avelt  amies  dunees. 

Mult  1  furent  blen  aluees. 

Pruz  fu  e  de  mult  .rant  me  sure, 

D'orgull  ne  de  surfalt  n'out  cure; 

Plus  volt  faire  que  il  na  cist 

E  plus  duner  qu'il  ne  praxist,   (9853-62; 


When  the  rionian  ambassadors  i:^ve  finished  tx^elr  demands 

for  tribute  after  Arthur's  continental  conquests,  "ace 

Inserts  s  pessaKd,  Just  after  his  adaptation  of  Cador's  speech 

15 
welcoming  war,  which  his  editor  considers  criminal  with  him  ; 


it  Is  -awaln's  reply  to  Cador: 


"Sire  cuens,'  dlst  »8lwein,"par  fel, 

re  nelent  estes  en  effrel. 

Bon  est  la  pals  en>pr-es  la  guerre. 

Plus  bele  e  aiieldre  e.i  est  la  terre; 

Mult  sunt  bcnes  les  ge :erles 

E  bcnes  sunt  les  druerles. 

Fur  eoiistle  e  pur  amies 

Punt  chevaliers  chevalerios. "  (10,765-72) 


In  tne   casipalgn  against  the  homans,  uawain  plays  almost  the 
same  role  as  in  Geoffrey;  he  is  sent  as  messenger  with  "Gerin 
de  Chartres"  and  "Boso  d 'Oxenef orf*  (1^,650-51)  to  the  itoiuan 
Emperor,  wnose  nephew  "Quiatillen"  he  decapitates  (11,751-53), 


j3^; 


.e- 


■GBi^b  itttdi  fo^xleiffll  mrmt  «nobastc<tes  awzc^  itd^  ttec: 


-7   ,  law 


(S7-3d?, 01) 


aKJiLjiiUeO      aii 


10 


but  in  the  pursuit  of  the  three  messengers,  Wace  adds  another 
victim  in  addition  co  "Marcel"  (11,-11)  to  Ga*ain's  prowess: 


Un  en  i  out,  ousin  Marcel, 

Sur  un  cheval  forment  .anel; 

Dolenx  fu  mult  cie  sun  cusin 

\<u'il  vlt  goslr  lez  le  chemin... 

£  Walweln  11  ad  cut  trenci.iod 

Le  oraz  que  il  eveit  haucied, 

L'espee  e  le  braz  e  le  puin 

LI  fist  volar  el  champ  bien  luln.  {ll,8;-7-74) 


In  the  main  attla  against  the  ho.ians  uawala  comes  into 
hand  to  uaad  coafllct  with  the  fimperor  nioiself  ( 12,848-50 j; 
the  Emperor  is  killed  by  en  unknown: 


Ne  sal  c4ire  ki  I'ebatl 

Ne  sal  oire  kil  feri  .  .  .   (12,961-52; 


and  the  Britons  take  t he  victory.   As  la  -eoffrey,  Gawaln 

Is  billed  when  ^»rthur  Innda  in  Britain  ("A  F.omenel", 

16 
i3,079,  says  Aace   ): 


Le   fud   ocls   .tslwein   sis   nies; 

Arthur   ot   de   lui   duel   niult   ^rant 

Kar   il  n'aaot  nul  hu?»e   tant.    .    .    (13,100-03) 


Grant  fud   11   dols   da   sun  nevou, 

Le    cors   fist  mef.re   ne    sal    u.    (13,147-43) 


Thou,^   the  details  of  V.8.e'3   rcaital   vary   little   frcim   Lh« 
lnfcra*ation  affor-ed  by  GaoXfr^y,    tiie    ton©  of   "sce's   *o-*k, 
as  u^entioned  auove,    differs   considerably.      Eleanor   ^f 
Aqultalne    .-/as    the  wife   of    "ace's   patron,   iieary   II,    and   she 
was   also   the   grand-daughter  of   the   earliest   reeordfd 
troubadour   lyricist,    vVllliam,    the   ninth  duke   of   'Vqultaino 


UI 


i*v- 


ei    10■^ 


!"5f  ^  3 


11 


and  seventh  count  of  Poitlera.   It  seems  likeljr  that  acme 

tempering  of   tae  masculine  military  vigour  of  An^lo-Norman 

aocietj  had  taken  place  under  Eleanor's  ioTluence  or  periiapa 

even  beicre,  so  that  pi.ysical  courage,  the  virtue  Geoff rej 

give's  Gawain  in  abundance,  needed  to  be  augmented  by  social 

graces,  such  as  we  find  in  *Ja*ain'3  reply  lo  Cador  added 

by  Aace. 

17 
At  some  tixe  between  1189-99   ,  Wece's  version  of 

the  Historia  was  turned  Into  spirited  alliterative  verse  — 

albeit  an  alliterative  verse  which  was  a  degenerate  descendant 

18 
of  tne  strict  classical  form  of  Anglo-Saxon  poetry   —  by 

19 
Lawman   ,  the  most  giftd  En^^llsh  poet  between  the  Conquest 

and  Chaucer.   Lawman's  version  is  almost  twice  ss  loag  as 

Wace  (though  his  lines  are  slightly  shorter),  and  this  edded 

length  is  ovin^  to  Lawman's  expansions,  amplifications, 

and  explanations  of  the  material  he  is  dealing  with.   There 

is  as  much  difference  in  tone  between  Lawj^an  and  vVece  n  i 

that   etween  Aace  and  Geoffrey,  because,  says  Tatlock,  'Lhfnr.aa 

has  translated  not  only  his  langu&^e  and  s  tyle,  but  also  his        | 

cultural  background,  from  taose  expected  among  mid-twelfth 

20 
century  Normans  to  those  of  a  more  pri  itlve  people"   .   Yet        I 

in  spite  of  the  differences,  La./man  preserves  the  main  facts 

of  Gawain 's  career  as  we  saw  them  in  the  Kistoria.  Gawain 's 

descent  from  Uther  through  Anna,  Arthur's  sister,  is  recorded 

(22,1:39-213),  as  Is  Lot's  claim  to  the  Norwegian  throne  (23,109-16). 


iX 


eoalq  a»i»i  b«rl 


Is 

b»b&s  ' 

)0   ftd4   neeiirjdr 


1  nlswaO  B»vi£ 

•  eaaW  x<3 
.!oe   dA 

ilia  OS  *l9cff*^ 


a«  ." 


IV  a*aaiil«aJ     .idoyAclC  baa 


lib  dok'm  SB   8l 
^  iiaev^ 

badalanaiJ    eaci 
id  Ibiu 


3d^  a« 


12 


Gaweln's   RoTsn  upbringing  appears    In  Lawman,   alont-,  with  tnia 
paraphrase   of   'ace's  eulogy: 

J)s    wes   /.alwaT   l)ider   Icumen, 
Lottes  a^deste   sune. 
of   home   fromjten   Pepe. 
Je   Supplice   wea   ibaLe. 
J7P    Icnsj^e    iiim   was   dihte. 
and  makede  hine    to   cnihte. 
Waelle   wel   wes   hit   bltojen. 
J78t  WalwaT  wes   to  monne   ibopen. 
for   vVelwae'n  wes   ful   aoelraod, 
an  aelohe   ]>eouwe  he   was   god. 
he   jves   mete-custl 
end   cniht  raid  J?an  bezate. 
al   Ar^ures  hired, 
wes    swlfe^e    ifu:"fe"ed. 
for   Aalwaina   j»an  kene. 
be    icu;r,e-.   was    to   hir-ede.       (23,247-52) 

Gaweln's   reply   to   Cador's   speech  in  praise   of  war  also   appears 
In  Lewtran,    though  with  an  omission  of   tiie    references    to    the 
power  of  love: 

Cador,  J?u  aei't   a    riciie  moii, 
jline   rRddes   ne   beod  noht   idon. 
for   god    is   gritf  and   god   is   frio 
ye  freollche  ^er  naldete   wife, 
and   i^odd    su'^f  hit  /.akade 
J7urh  his   ^'odd-cvmde. 
for  grilS   .TiaketS   fOdne   mon 
gode  w  rkes  wvu'chen. 
for   alle   monnen    nitfj'a    bet 
j'at   lond   bil^    "ba   murrre.    (24,954-63) 

In   the    campaign  against   the  Komans,    Gewain   is   sent   as 
messent-er   to   the      oman  R-aperor,    along  with  two   others: 

yHi.  an  wea   of   Chartres  and  hehte    ,.j,erin 

muchel    wisdom  Wun:.de   n.id   nl::. 

ye      otJer  hehte   Beof   of   Oxene-uoru,    ,    .    (26,239-41) 


elri*  Jlcl-W  tjrnwsJ   i 


.na-  -^^^ 


eiBsq^ 


(5, 


r*  tf<( 


13 


Gswaln  was  sent,  says  Lawman,  "for  -^alwaln  cutfe  hoa.anlac"  (26,245), 
and  during  his  embassy  he  decapitates  "Quencelln, "  "a  knight 
of  the  Emperor's  kin"  (26,440).   In  describing  tlxe  flight  of 
the  three  messengers  and  their  deeos  of  valour  ei^ainst  their 
pursuers.  Lawman  orr.lts  the  "cusln  Marcel"  whom  Wace  had  edded. 
During  the  main  battle  Sj^rainst  the  i^oinans,  Gawaln  engages  the 
Emperor  in  hand  to  hand  ccxnbat,  and  the  ^rltons  gain  the  victory, 
the  tmperor  being  slain  by  an  unknown: 

Was  ye   kaisere  of-ala&Tje 

a  seolcuj)©  wise 

Jpet   nuste  hit  nauer  seo^en 

na  mon  to  sugen 

of  nauer  nare  cuode 

whs  jjene  kaisere  qualde.  (27,835-40) 

As  in  Geoffrey  and  »»ace,  ^awain  is  killed  wr.en  *^rthur  returns 

to  England  to  do  battle  with  Morrred,  Lawman  stating  that  he 

is  killed  '"J^urh  an  eorle  Sexisne"(  28,232),  a  gratuitous  piece 

of  infoxTnation  added  perhaps  because  of  the  presence  of  Saxons 

In  Mordred's  airmy.   lawman  sheda  no  more  light  on  Gawaln' s 

burial  place  than  do  Geoffrey  end  .'ace. 

The  next  adaptation  into  En.jlish  of  tieoffrey's  Hiatoria 

that  we  know  of  is  Robert  of  Gloucester's  metrical  chronicle, 

21 
ccirpoaed  about  1300   ,  a  work  which,  in  the  opinion  of  its 

editor,   "As  literature.  ,  .  la  about  as  worthless  as  12,000 

22 
lines  of  verse  without  one  spark  of  poetry  can  be   ." 

23 
Robert's  Arthurian  material  connes  directly  from  Geoffrey   , 

hence  we  find  Gawaln  descended  from  Uther  through  Anna, 

Arthur's  sister  (3703-06),   Gawaln  brought  up  and  knighted 


.faeb'L  OB*  modn   "I^r-^ 


f>»«,g«h   rfi       .' ^^f,?^9^    "r- 


efaXa 


nsoos 


I  0^-368, VS)    .»r 


oBBeei  Bertdv 
3js»bJ    fSieuBiU'; 

jr.Brl  al  noneqir' 
'9d  loisqiua   »aj 


anoxB8  lo   ac 


<i»8V 


•^~l 


a '  D  .1 


.3   £'j; 


14 


by  the  pope  (3775-76),  Lot  macie  «i.riv  of  "lodenesle"  (3711) 
and  assisted  to  the  throne  of  Norway  by  Arthur  (5767-71), 
Gawain  sent  as  messenger  to  "Lucye  Ije  senatour"  (4267)  with 
the  "erl  of  oxenford"  end  "Cieryn,  erl  of  eepooye  '^265-73)  where 
he  smites  oTf  the  head  of  the  i^peror's  nephew  "Qulntyllan" 
(4867-69),  Gawain  in  hand-to-hand  combat  with  the  Emperor ( 4443-46 ), 
sad  is  killed,  as  in  the  other  accounts,  when  Arthur  returns 
home  to  fipht  Morcred: 

Atte  hauene  an  batayle.   hii  smite  wl}'  gret  ma^n. 
ber  was  aslave  ts  hende  knl^jt.   fre  noble  aire  wawein; 

^  ^  ^  (4531-32) 

and  iv.ucii,  jias  no  record  of  his  burial  place.   The  additions 

we  noted  in  >^ace,  Ciawain's  reply  to  Cador's  speech  in  praise 

of  war  and  Gawain's  wounding  of  tne  cousin  of  "arcellus  Mutius, 

do  not  oocur  in  f^obert's  metrical  chronicle. 

Contemporaneous  with  Robert  of  Gloucester  m%»   Pierre  de 

Lsngtoft,  a  writer  in  Anglo- Mo rjnan,  but  9x\   ^nglo-Norman, 

24 
according  to  his  editor,   "slngulerly  corrupt"   .   Lsngtoft 

drew  on  Geoffrey's  liistoria  for  his  Arthurian  material,  but 

he  also  seemed  to  n.ake  use  of  "other  ^^ritish  legends  than 

current,  and  which  we  know  from  other  sources  must  have 

2t 
existed  abundantly  during  tne  thirteenth  century"   .  Lengtoft's 

variations  from  the  traditions  handed  down  by  Geoffrey  are  slight: 

26 
Gawain  is  descended  from  iJther  through  Anna  and  Lot  (142)    as 

in  previous  veri;ions,  but  when  Arthur  essista  Lot  to  the  tlirone 

of  Norway,  iawain  is  present  to  help  his  father: 


M 


an 


>-.,^  I  r  •  ^' 


anc 


7i-iA  «   C"V 


C>a.>'         ■!■' 


BSli    ^' 


©b 


16 


Artxiur  sa/siat  la  tarra,  e  va  corounar 

Lotxier  de  Lyndeseye  en  iorwa^e  8ey,^nurer. 

lA   pople  ne  se  pays,  ua   altre  Tcunb  aon^er, 

haculfer,  eatre  rays,  a  Lotxier  eaouacer, 

Lotuer   evait  un  flz  de  aa  mulier, 

Walwa/n  out  a  noun  le  Joven  oac  .eler. 

Cua  Arthur  viat  lAaouXrer  aon  aoste  apro;:uer, 

Lother  e  aire  Aawayn  vount  Baaulfer  tuer. 

La  terre  lur  deaort,  Lother  volt  la  re^ner.  (160-62) 

The  otiaer  accounts,  as  we  nave  seen,  tell  us  that  G«waln 
was  only  twelve  years  old  at  this  tlae  and  was  in  fo"^-.   ^n 
the  campals'n  a-alnat  the  Hosinns,  'Iswein,  alon-^  with 

Ly  quens  da  Oxearorde,  ka  Boefa  eat  appele, 
E  ly  bon  Geryn,  de  Ciiartres  quens  clame  (192), 

is  sant  as  messenger  to  the  Emperor,  whose  nephew,  "iiuyntillyus", 
he  decapitates  (194).   In  the  main  oatLle,  Gawain  engages  in 
personal  oomoat  witn  the  Emperor,  and  the  battle  ends  with  tue 
daath  of  the  Emperor  which  is  attributed  to  Gawain: 

Parmy  le  cora  Lucy  la  launce  est  jl  passez; 
L'ostor/  ne  dit  mje  kj  le  couij  ly  ad  donez, 
Nepurquant  sa  mort  a  Wawayn  est  rettez.  (214-16) 

Gawain  is  killed  during  Mordred'a  rebellion,  and  Lan,^tol't 
records  a  tradition  of  his  burial  place  which  may  hark  back 
to  the  information  ilven  by  William  of  Malmesbury: 

^uant  Arthur  entendist  ke  nawayne  fu  sevelye 

£t  Augusole  S  'Aybre  en  la  '»alescerye  .  .  .  (220) 

Pierre  de  Lan.toft,  then,  adds  to  t^e  traditional  account  of 
Qewain  that  he  helped  his  father  Lot  in  training  tne  t.-irone 
of  Norway,  and  that  he  'fa   burled  at  "Wybre"  in  ^alesj 


•fBUO*iJ00 


1^ 


Langtoft  ooes  not  njontion  ^awain'a  horaan  upbringing,  nor  does 
he  a«y  anything  about  Gawein'a  praise  of  peace  in  reply  to 
Cador'a  welcome  to  ;var, 

Robert  Mannylnij  of  Brunne,  better  known  for  his  handlyn^^e 
Synne,  produced  the  last  major  Middle  Engllah  verse  chronicle 

ultimately  derived  from  Geoffrey  that  we  possess,  and  he  finished 

27 
thla  work  in  1338   .   Hia  ohronlcle  is  based  primarily  on  "ace, 

28 
with  some  details  taken  from  Lentjtoft   .   he  preserves  the  tradi- 
tional descent  of  Gawain  from  Uthor  througl:;  Anna  and  Lot  (9fc39-46), 
Lot's  attaining  of  the  Norwegian  throne  (10, 621-66 j,  Gawain 's 
Roman  upbringing! 10,667-71 )  and  Gewain's  reply  to  Jador's  speech 
in  praise  of  war: 

In  pes  ys  ooa  ^rdt  vassalage, 

ff or  loue  men  dob  gret  outraf^e.  (11,597-98) 

During  the  war  with  the  Romans,  Gawain  is  accompanied  on  his 
embassy  to  the  Emperor  by 

Geryn  of  Chartrea,  a  man  of  prls, 
rAndl  Beofs  of  Hamptone  f  sic  |,  en  ol7er  ful  wya. 

(12,536-36) 

On   the   embassy  he    strikes    off  the   head   of   "^uyntalyn"    (12,647),    a 
relative   of   the   Empercr,    and   in   the  main  battle   with  the  Romans 
meets   the  Emperor  face   to  face    (13,819-58);    the   Emperor's   deatn 
Is   attributed   to  Gawain,    says   Mannynii,    following  Langtoft: 

Ver  was  J^emperour   slayn   of   caaunce 
j|?orow-out  }>€)  body  wlj>    a   launoe;    -- 

Y   can   aoujuht   3oye   no   cicie  h^m  falie, 

but   six'e    Aawayn,   men  seide  hit  alle; 

i   JJo   laste    oataxlle  JjHt    ^n   sprung. 

He    was    sleyn    hsp  a:r.on    ; 

Ije    aerteyn   oan   Jfer  noman  ame, 

but   aire    .•awa^n   osx*  ye   name.    (15,959-66) 


b  onoE 
deeb  i 


17 


As  in  all  the  other  accounts,  Gawaln  was  slain  In  the  landing 
of  Arthur's  forces  In  Britain  to  put  down  Mordred's  rebellion 
(]  4,106-12),  and  followintj  Laritjtoft  once  vrrji'e,      lyanaj-riti   relates 
that  loth  Gawaln  and  his  uncle  "A-usel"  (14,153.   were  buried 
In  Aales  by  Arthur: 

Artnur  made  here  byrying 

At  Vybyry,  ]?8t.  ya  in  Walys; 

yec   lye  ])ey  bobe,  seyj;  Peres  tales.  (14,154-66) 

Some  mention  siaouiu  ^.e  made  of  the  anonymous,  thirteenth 

century  prose  work  in  both  French  and  £.nglish  translation 

known  as  The  Brut,  or  The  Chronicles  of  England.  It  "seems 

originally  to  have  been  composed  a. out  1272,  though  most  of  the 

29 
existing  manuscripts  continue  the  history  for  sixty  year's  later" 

To  my  knowledge,  only  the  Middle  English  translation  has  been 

published,  though  Flether  mentions  "nunerous  msnusc  Ipts" 

of  the  French  version.   The  work  itself  is  based  prima^'ily 

on  Geoffrey's  Hlstoria  for  these  sections  dealing  with  the 

Arthurian  material,  though  it  abbreviates  considerably.   Ihough 

the  descent  of  Gawein  from  Uther  through  "Amya"  and  "Aloth, 

j»t  was  lord  of  Leones"  (67),  is  preserved,  no  mention  is  made 

of  Oawain's  hoinan  sojourn,  nor  of  his  embassy  to  the  Koir.an 

Emperor  and  subsequent  decapitation  of  the  Emperor's  nephew^ 

nor  of  his  personal  combat  with  the  Emperor.   But  T^e  Brut 

does  add  new  information  concerning  the  burial  place  of  Gawaln, 

After  receivi'ig  news  of  Frfordred's  .'e.elliori,  Arthur  returns 


VI 


i  1:3  r;  J  -^. 


S-t: 


>3i--  1'   r. 


OS 


aa4  lo  ;}scMr.  li^jon;^  «SVSI  iuooB  bsBoqoioa  nsed  ^...w  .   ,. . 


0t 


r  *^  «-^  >  CT  f  (^      £. .     ■♦      t-A  r  t  -f  -  1  /■»  ri «\      f  _f .  >  T  «^  * 


til- 


K-  .  c  •,   ai  liee?      -"^ 


,-cr 


la. 


home,  laadin  at  "Satidwych"  ('^9)  wher^  s  -reat  battle  took 
f^lace  in  which  the  kin"  lost  rreny  men: 

ffor  j>ere   wes  (Jaweyn  his  Nevewe  slayne,  and 
Anguissel  3?8t  helde  Scotland,  and  meny  cpere,   wherof 
Kyng  tcthave   was  ful  aory  .  .  .   Kyng  A^thure  lete 
take  "^e  body  of  Gaweyn  hl3  coayn,  dr  ye   body  of  Anguissel, 
and  lete  hem  bene  borne  iato  Scotland  into  ner   owen 
contpe,  andjjere  "boi  were  enterede.  (39 ) 

This  information,  says  Fletcher,  is  "evidently  connected  with 

31 
the  Northern  set  of  stories  of  which  ^swaln  was  the  hero" 

One  final  work  needs  to  bo  considered.   A  Latin 

chronicle  of  tne  British  kings  in  the  Marquis  of  bath's  Ms. 

contains  a  metrical  redaction  In   Middle  English  of  that 

portion  of  Geoffrey's  Historia  dealing  with  Arthur.   This 

metrical  redaction  has  been  published  «nder  the  simple  title, 

32 
Arthur   .   The  work  is  short  --  some  six  hundred  and  forty  lines 

and  the  references  to  Gewsin  are  alight.   The  first  occurs 

when  the  author  relates  Arthur's  return  to  put  down  Mordred'a 

rebellion: 

Many  a  man,  as  y  r-ede, 

Jjat  day  was  J?ere  dede; 

Arthoures  nevew  Waweyn 

]?at  day  was  per   y-solayn. 

And  olJer  K^nyatea  ?/iflny  m^o.  (563-67) 

Late.",  the  anonymous  author,  echoing  a  tradition  found  only 
in  chronicles  orl  ,5inatlT\g  on  British  soil,  tells  of  the  burial 
of  Gawaln: 

Waweynes  body,  as  I  reede, 

And  other  lordes  )?at  weere  deede, 

Arthour  sente  in-to  skotleade. 

And  buryed  ham  bere,  y  understoride.  (587-90) 


31 


SOiJ 


(oe-v&(3) 


;;n'i,v^^     J  a     ,  i-;  .  Lir, 


19 


What  is  curious  about  this  work  is  the  fact  that  It  is  in 

Englisn  verse,  e  so-'t  of  vernacular  ore  embedded  In  i_atin  r*ock. 

It  is  of  no  particular  poetic  merit  —  thouph  it  contains 

33 
an  odd  refere  ce  to  the  way  the  A'elsh  refer  to  the  Saxons 

anc  It  adds  nothing  new  to  the  <J8uvinian  tradition  In  the 

chronicles. 

After  completing?  a  survey  of  liawaln's  career  in  the 

chronicles,  we  are  impressed  chiefly  by  the  fidelity  of  trie 

later  chronicles  to  tneir  ultimate  sour  e,  ueoffrey's 

Hlstoria.   When  we  ccnsider  the  enormous  aaount  of  mediaeval 

romance  material  in  which  'Swain  plays  a  larr.;er  or  smaller 

role,  we  ere  surprised  to  find  so  few  details  from  the  romances 

creeping  Into  the  mediaeval  ci^oronicles.   »ace  may  add  a  speech 

by  Gawaln  or  another  victim  to  his  sword,  Lengtoft  may 

venture  information  on  his  burial  place,  as  does  the  unknown 

author  of  tae  Brut,  but  these  details  are  insignificant  in 

comparison  with  tne  multitude  and  variety  of  stories  that 

get  attached  to  -awain  in  the  romances.   vVlny  should  the 

contamination  be  so  slight?  Why  should  the  later  chroniclers 

not  feel  free  to  embellish  their  narrative  with  information 

dravvn  from  the  romances  in  order  to  heighten  the  Interest  of 

their  recitals?   Surely  the  answer  to  these  questions  lies  in 

the  mediaeval  chroniclers'  attitude  to  history.   Speaking 

34 
of  Dante's  conception  of  alle.jory,  Karl  Vossler    remarks: 

If  we  cast  a  trlance  at  the  Thomlstlc  philosophy  of  history, 

it  ;.ecoT.e3  clear  t.at  those  thi  Ke;*3  knew  l.ow  to  Gi3tin>iulsh 
accurately,  at  least  in  principle,  between  poetry  and  fact. 


ex 


•rict   scc^ 


80 


even  thouph  frequently,  in  details,  they  did  accept  8  legend 
as  truta,  a  miracle  aa  a  fact.  .  .   A  poem  like  Virgil's 
Aeneld  waa  for*  then  -^Ither  history,  cr  falsehood,  or  a 
mixture  ^. ..  the  t*c.  .  .  The  pui'e  creation  of  tne  ima  inatlon, 
so  far  as  It  did  not  rest  on  definite  occurrences  or  depend 
on  rational  concepts,  hung  in  air  and  was  nothing. 

Mow  Geoffrey's  Hiatoria,  as  the  title  Indicates,  was  offered 

83  historical  fact,  not  as  e  "pure  creation  of  the  Ima ;i;i nation". 

Whatever  may  have  been  iJeoffrey's  intentions  with  the  amazing 

concoction  of  stories  we  find  in  the  Hiatoria,  whether  or  not 

he  possessed  tne  ancient  book  in  the  £>ritisb  tongue  wnich  he 

olaima  was  given  him  by  Archdeacon  »<alter  of  Oxford,  and 

whether  or  not  he  believed  the  stories  about  Artlmr  end  his 

followers  which  he  records  --  these  speculations  do  not 

enter  into  the  question.   His  succeasora  --  bctn  translators 

and  adaptors  —  accepted  his  information  as  fact,  and  accorded 

3-S 
It  the  reverence  fact  demands.   Both  *'illiam  of  Maltresbury 

and  Wace  make  reference  to  stories  concerning  Arthur  current 

in  their  own  day,  Wace's  allusion  being  the  more  tantalising: 

Pur  lea  nobles  baruns  qu'il  out, 

Dunt  chescuns  mleldre  estre  quidout, 

Chescuns  se  teneit  al  ;i;elll'ir, 

'^e  nuls  n^en   savelt  le  peiur, 

Fist  Artur  la  hounde  iable 

Dunt  Bretun  dlent  mainte  fable.  (9747-52) 

"/ace,  aa  we  have  seen,  adapts  t  le  tone  of  his  narrative  to  that 
of  his  own  society,  so  mat  tne  s  Irit  of  hia  work  differs 
considerably  from  that  of  (ieoffrey.   Nevertheless,  the  substance 
of  his  information  differs  only  si',  .tly  from  tiiat  of  the 
historla.  For  those  successors  of  Geoffrey  *ho  wrote  during 


Qfi 


t'*ri:''    .e^tttS-^b  f¥>    .Tl^r;  ■■*ffA}<'*   f»»>'*«> 


ios  •  ,  elrto^Bia   otl^  ox   boil  ew  eal^od^e   to  noJEiooonoc 

bn«   , bio  1x0  1©  •xa^Xstt  noo«eb(i9i4i  %<S  «plf*  ft»vls   eav 
elil  btras  fjittlinA   Strode  B9ifso;:te  »fJ^  ft«v«2  .^on  ^© 

ein*s»fp  d  —- •  s'ioeaeoojje   e 

be  *1   s»  f?rft'-:J?!!r!«;r?-^f*-.! 


tanlallsics' 


21 


the  great  period  of  romance  and  after,  the  opportunity  for 

adrnlng  their  narrative  with  material  drawn  from  the  romances 

was  excellent;  yet  they  resisted  it  successfully.   Their  high 

regard  for  what  they  considered  to  be  history  is,  in  my  opinion, 

t.'ie  reason  for  the  almost  uncorrui^t-ed  t-ransmission  of  Geoffrey's 

material  down  t.o  Elizabethan  tiaies.  It  is  true  that  tne  unknown 

36 
author  of  tne  "Chronica  de  Arturo"   made  an  unusual  and  unique 

interpretation  of  Gawain's  attack  on  the  I^Ouian  arm^ .   But  tnis 
is  a  difference  in  ttie  interpretation  of  fact,  not  la  the 
presentation  of  fact,  so  that  our  are^ument  concerning  the 
transmission  of  historical  material  remains  unaffected  by  this 
work.   It  is  doubtful  waetherthis  author  were  interested  In 
debasing  f^      character  cf  Ge*aln. 

In  view  of  all  this,  it  is  easy  to  see  why  the  chronicles 
furnish  no  evidence  of  the  process  of  epic  degeneration  at  work 
on  Gawain's  character.   The  "donnees"  are  already  fixed  as  his- 
torical tradition,  and  there  can  be  no  ".riange.   Gawain,  there- 
fore, preserves  his  excellent  reputation  throughout  the 
chronicles.   In  William  of  Mal-esbury 's  account  he  is  "miles 
virtute  ncminatissimus";   Geoffrey  praises  him  highly,  naving 
even  tiie  Aoman  emperor  cognizant  of  his  fame;  and  Aace  added 
a  special  eulogy  of  him  to  his  source.   For  Lawman  ne  is  "Aal^aT 
"be   kene",  while  for  hobert  of  Gloucester  he  is  "sire  wawein  J>e 
hende",  and  "flour  of  corteysye",  ss  well  as  being  a  brave  knight, 
Langtoft  celebrates  his  bravery  and  calls  him  "li  curtays  Wawayn, " 


x-s 


'>«qo   ^o;*    .Ti*^!*  I*^«   ©•*n*' 


n:  ®a«jr  -loilias  aid;  /afe  at 


-•iri 


e> 


iwod'^oo'irtct    ISO 


bf*ob» 


22 


and  Langtoft'a  3uc<5e33or,  hobert  Mannyn.?,  says  of  ua»ain: 


Hoble  ne  was,  ic   ful  curteys, 

fr'ykel  honur  of  hym  evere  men  seys.  (10,677-78; 


This  8  se  .ce  cf  variety  in  the  chroniclers'  coriception  of 
Gawaln's  character  I  attribute  to  t.ieir  reluctance  to 
tamper  with  the  materials  of  history.   It  is  only  *iien  we  turn 
to  the  ro.ancej,  and  especially  the  i^roae  romances,  tnat  we 
see  the  process  of  epic  dec'eneration  at  work.   The  demands  of 
fiction  are  far  different  from  the  demands  of  histor  . 


Ww^  ;r«£l3    .a^r.  3,?:''i   ©Bo-i^  8il5   Y-^^'^^^'^  ^"^^  o  '^''^^    .  :.5r  "n'-cr!   «dj 
lo   8&ns»»b  ftxld'  mo*it  ;Jn=.'-  al  errs  rtelJ 


II 

GA/MIN  IN  TEE  OLD  FhB«Ch  VERSS  ROUAHCb^S 

Chrotlen,  Some  Contemporaries,  and 
the  Continuations  of  the  "Perceval" 

In  our  examination  of  tne  cnroniclea  we  saw  tr^at  a  military 
idealism  informs  Geoffrey's  oonception  of  A^thurien  socle tj , 
physical  courage  or  valour  being  the  cnief  virtue  of  tuat 
societj.   In  Geoffrey's  estimation  *Ja^aln  possessed  that  quality 
in  abundance,  and  such  e    reputation  for  military  prowess  does 
Geoffrey  give  '^Bnain   that  the  latter 's  fame  had  spread  through 
the  snadowy  world  of  the  Arthurian  sections  of  tne  historia 
even  to  the  oars  of  the  Koman  Emperor.   We  saw  too,  that 
Wace,  while  preserving  the  notion  of  Gawein's  courece,  softens 
the  tone  of  Geoffrey's  rampant  militarism  by  the  introduction 
of  a  new  note,  a  note  taking  account  of  the  :>efined  conceptions 
of  social  behaviour  uaat  filtered  north  from  rt'ovence.   Not 
only  does  Gawain's  speech  in  praise  of  the  virtues  of  peace  and 
the  powers  of  love  reflect  the  new  element  introduced  by  Aace, 
but  also  this  passa-e,  in  .i^hich  Gawain  ana  hc'el  ore  coupled, 
bears  testimony  to  the  kind  of  change  Aace  introduced  into 
his  source  : 


iel  dui  vassal  ne  furent  ainz. 

Hakes  el  slecle  trespassc 

Ij'orent  tels  dous  uaruna  este 

De  bunte  ne  de  curteisle 

Ne  de  pris  de  chevalerie.  (12,762-66) 


23 


Xi- 


.Csv^ms^-** 


axic: 


■J al    aui    osiiJ    nxcinSw 


easJ 


©a-8»v , 


£S 


24 


As  «e    .ct«=d  eet'ller*,  this  chan  e  In  the  conception 

of  the  spirit  oT  "rtr.urien  society  is  perhaps  best  explained 

by  Wece's  desire  to  accommodate  the  tone  of  his  narrative 

to  th^e  literary  taste  pr*evalent  in  his  own  society.   That 

this  taste  was  profoundly  and  radically  influenced  by  that 

remarkable  woman,  Eleanor  of  Aqultaine,  V7lfe  first  to  Louis  VII 

cf  France  end  then  to  Henry  II  cf  England,  and  iy  her 

daughter  Warle,  Countess  of  Champagne,  is  trenerally  recognized 

1 
by  historians  of  literature.   It  is  not  surprising,  therefore, 

to  find  just  as  radical  a  caenge  in  the  spirit  of  Arthurian 

society  In  the  romances  of  Chr6tlen  de  Troyes  when  we  remember 

that  these  romances  were  composed  st  Marie's  court  some  ti.xe 

between  the  years  1155  and  1185. 

Though  Chretien's  are  the  earliest  Arthurian'  r-.n-.ertcea 

we  posaesa,  there  ere  ood  grounds  for  believinr  tnat  other 

works,  either  written  or  o:'al,  antedated  oc   ran  concurrently 

2 
with  Chretien's  poems  ,   For  gxample,  speaking  of  >irtiiur  in  the 

3- 
opening  lines  of  his  Yvaln  ,  Chr6t'en  i-einarks. 

Si  m'acort  de  tant  as  Bretons, 

Que  toz  jorz  mes  vivra  aes  nons.  .  .   .'-o^/ 

And  Wace,  as  we  hsve  seen,  also  refers  to  Breton  fables. 

The  nature  oi'  tnese  works  we  csan  only  guess  at;   that  they 

were  not  of  hi'Jti   ax'tistlc  quality  seems  probable  from 

4 
Chretien's  contemptuous  re-iarks  in  the  Sreo  .   Some  hints 

concernlnp  the  character  of  Oawaln  may  have  come  to  Chretien 


>s 


8V  J.>J»*116I1 


'ixqe   siicf   Ic 


f  ei i  i   9ix w   , er 


•xedsti 


Iqe   ©da  nl  »sr 


2b 


fr.rr.  these  wgx-Vs,  cncugn  cne  ri^inneaa    oi    t.^e  c  -ricepLi^n  of  this 

r  ithout  peer  la  undoubtedly  the  result  of  Chretien's  own 

genius.   However,  what  does  seem  probable  la  that  the  picture 

of  a.  valorous  end  courteous  society  --  chivalrous,  perhaps. 

Is  the  best  term  —  which  Chratlan  paints  in  his  ro  ancss  la 

a  reflection,  thouj^h  idealized,  of  the  poet's  ovm  society. 

And  the  c:iief  exponent  of  Vue   virtues  of  t.ila   so'jiety  is  Gawaln. 

Concerning  the  c.iaracter  of  Gawain  in  Chretien's  rosances 
end    the  verse  romances  generally,  Gaston  Paris   remarks, 

Ce  qui  jaracterlse  Gauvain  dans  lea  romans  de  Chretien  et 
dans  tous  les  romans  en  vers  qui  les  ont  ^mitds  .  .  .  c'est, 
a  cote  de  ses  prouesses  et  de  son  incon- arable  maltriaes 
d'armes,  sa  sagease  et  sa  courtoisie.   II  eat  le  roouele 
accompli  de  toutes  les  perfections  chevaleresques.  .  . 

Ample  corroboration  of  tnis  viev/  can  be  found  in  Cixretiea's 
works;  as  Chretien  hiaiself  remarks  In  his  Erec  et  Snide, 
the  earliest  of  his  Arthurian  pieces  we  possess, 

Devant  toz  lea  boons  ohevaliera 

doit  estre  ^auvains  li  premiers.  (1671-72) 

Though  JBwaiii's  virtues  are  msny  and  varied,  what 
we  aight  call  the  guiding  principle  of  Oavsin's  character 
la  nowhere  Biade  more  explicit  than  in  his  speech  to  Ouingsn- 
resil  in  tr.e  i'ercevsl: 


"N'ai  pas  de  .Tie  mort  Lei  peor 

>.<ue  je  miauz  ne  veulle  a  enor 

La  mcft  sofrir  et  ondurer 

Que  vivre  a  honte  et  parjurer."  (6179-b2) 


4& 


^8^  ••C-lSv    a    ic 

li'lpoq   act;*   ^   ,feesiJ.s:'.;i   n,. 

ii  s  T ; :  f J  e^i   2  <j  0  _n  effi  :■  z   »  e  • 

D1'  8  Si 


-iS      3  8 

-J    9b 


ria«)    *fc.av    fb  :.i.j 


Jiaria   r 


26 


And  Ciawaln  evidently  expects  thoae  around  him  to  fellow  the 
stjine  high  Ideals.  tor   exemple,  in  t)ie  ivfain,  A'hen  the  hero 
has  married  tlie  beautiful  Laudine,  Oawain  hopes  tj.at  marriage 
will  not  induce  Yvaln  to  ^ive  up  deeds  cf  chivalry: 

"Comant?   Geroiz  vos  or  de  geus," 
Ce  11  dlst  rr.ea  sire  tiauvains, 

"^ui  por  lor  fames  valent  malnsT' 

iioniz  soit  de  sainte  Merle 

^ui  por  anplrler  se  marie.'"  (2484-38; 

6 

But  as  Nitze   points  out,  Gawain  is  not  *itii  ut  t/ie  ability 

to  see  another's  point  of  view,  and  so  can  find  aujie  exeuse 
for  Yvain's  conduct: 


"Se  J'avoie  si  Dele  air.ie. 

Con  vos  avez,  sire  conpainz, 

Pol  que  Je  dol  I^eu  ot  ses  sainz, 

Mout  a  anvlz  la  lelsseroiei 

Mien  esciant  fo;.  an  seroie.  "  i,'c:b2b-d2 ) 


Just  83  in  Geoffrey's  Klstoria  Gawain's  reputation 
for  military  prowess  is  widespread,  so  in  Chretien's 
romances  Gawaln's  fame  has  vtide  currency.   Numerous  examples 
of  tne  high  regard  other  characters  In  Chretien's  Arthurian 
world  have  for  Gawaln  could  be  cited;  we  shall  limit  ourselves 
to  a  few.   In  the  crec,  for  example,  when  Kay,  in  one  of  the 
customarily  foolish  escapades  in  which  the  seneschal  is 
constantly  engaged,  nas  been  unj-iorsad  by  Erec,  and  ^rec  is 
about  to  lead  away  !^he  steed  Kay  jras  riding;  as  a  lerritlniate 
prize,  Kay  cries  out: 


3S 


c:.-C'.^JU/  .r>J.":\ii'i     ;"'rw     iOi     .ja«iii>0     H'- 


'Ol    9V» 


aenes 


27 


Aa  ce  destrier  je  n'i  ai  part, 

eiiz  est  au  chevalier  del  r^onde 

an  cui  ftraindre  proesje  abonde, 

r.\on   selgnor  Oauvain  le  hardl.  (4038-41) 

And  Lancelot,  Imprisoned  Dy  Meleagant  in  one  of  the  edventures 

of  that  complicated  romance  whose  matiere  Chretien  claims 

aas  supplied  by  Countess  Marie  herself,  ardently  sighs  after 

7 
Ga.valn  wiaile  a.vaiting  rescue  : 

"Ha,  Gauvains,  vos  qui  tant  valez, 

«;Ui  de  Donlez  n'svez  psrcil, 

Certes,  duremant  me  mervoil 

ror  quol  vos  ne  me  secorezi"  (Lancelot,   6504-07) 

Even  among  the  common  people  is   "-"a wain's  fame  current.   In 
the  Cliges,  seein.,  Gaarain  take  the  field  against  Cliges  in  a 
tournament,  tne  rabble  call  cut  to  one  another: 

"C'est  Gauvains 

;^ui  n'est  a  pie  n'e  cheval  vains, 

C'est  cil  a  cui  nus  ne  se  prant.   (4925-27) 

Finally,  it  is  perhaps  redundant  to  add  Arthur's  praise  of 
his  nephew;  in  the  i^rec,  Jifhen  the  hero  of  the  poem  asks 
permission  to  leave  the  court  for  his  i.omo  with  his  bride, 
Arthur  unwillingly  consents, 

car  n'svoit  baron  en  sc  roct 

plus  vsillant,  plus  hardl,  plus  preu, 

fors  'auvain,  sen  Ires  chier  n^veu: 

a  celui  ne  se  prenoit  nus  .  .  .   ^ 223^-33) 

On  occasion  Chretien  re^^'ards  Gawaln  as  ti»e  antithesis 
of  other  caaracters  in  his  roir.ances.   This  is  clearly  his 


vs 


>  ieollqmoo   ;i»cU  lo 

:    ajjoeei  anl  law  nlev  s 

Jal&onfeJ)  "Isenoose  ea  on  eov  x. 

n  -^ao   sue 


Sd 


intentioa  <tien  he  seta  liawaln  up  as  a  foil  for   x^ae   vicioua- 
tongued  end  unpredictable  Kay,  for  on  at  leeat  two  occasions 
Gawa'n  must  set  out  to  undo  the  mischief  Kay  has  wrought. 
One  occasion  we  referred  to  above  when  quoting  Key's  remarka 
to  Erec  about  nawaln's  horse.   The  qualify  Gawf?ln  exhibits 
on  this  occasion  la  pricarlly  Intelllaence,  for  as 
Chretien  seys, 

Oauvains  estcit  de  molt  ^y^an  san.  {^i£ec»  4038) 

Gawain  succeeds  in  persuading  tree  to  loci(',e  with  King  Artrmr, 
end  £rec  clearly  recoRnizea  wnat  attribute  of  Gawain  has 
led  to  the  letter's  success: 

"ha7.''fet  11,  ^>auv8in,  ha'l  i 
vostre  granz  sans  tn'a  esbehl  .  .  .**  (4125-26) 

In  the  x^erceval  Gawain  performs  s    sln.ilar  task,  gently 
awakening  the  love-struck  Ferceval  from  his  trance  and 
leading  him  peacefully  to  Arthur's  court  after  ^arremor  and 
Kay  had  failed  In   their  attempts  and  had  been  unhorsed  for 
their  rashness  (^ISSfC).   in  a  sense,  ijaAain  Is  made  a  foil 
for  Arthur  hirrself,  w.  oin  ohr-itien  consistently  pictures  as 
the  monarch  who  la  unaole  to  act  without  tne  support  of  nis 
nephew.   For  example,  In  the  Lancelot  Arthur  had  allowed 
Kay  to  escort  tue  queen  to  the  forest  at  the  challenge  of 
Meleagant.   When  *Jawain  discovers  tiiis  his  contempt  is 
scathing: 


8S 


anoiea.' 

eiTc;:-;?  tr   nets 


.nse  nana  iLcia.  eb  ;}lo;}80  enlaviJAf 


(£ 


29 


"Sire,"  fet  11,  "mout  grant  anfance 

8vez  felte,  et  mout  m'en  mervoll.  .  .''^[ki.^-cj  j 

We  may  assume  the  kln^  was  properly  chastened  in  the  llj^t 
of  his  nephew's  cormon  sense.   And  surely  Chrjtien  Is 
emphasizing-,  tne  virtues  of  a  sturdy  coicmon  sense  wien,  in 
the  seme  poem,  after  the  dwarf  has  invited  Oawain  to  step 
into  the  cart  in  his  search  for  t  'B  queen,  Cbr^tlen  writes: 

v^uant  mes  aire  Csuvains  I'Oi, 

Si  le  ti.it  a  m.:ut  ^raat  folie, 

Et  dit  qu'il  n'i  montera  uiJ.e, 

Car  trop  vilain  chea  e  feroit 

Se  charrete  a  cheval  chanjoit.   (392-96) 

ferhapa  it  is  precisely  at  tnls  point  that  we  aan  discover 
why  Chretiof>  never  finisned  the  Lancelot,  but  allowed  hie 
successor  Gtodfrey  de  Lanny  this  task.   The  motives  for  tne 
action  in  tfinls  poem  are  inspired  by  the  doctrines  of  Courtly 
Love;  as  a  psychological  basis  for  action,  the  excesses  of 
Courtly  L^ve  conflict  seriously  with  the  dictates  of  conimon 
sense.   Chretien  apparently  found  the  matter  of  the  Lancelot 
uncongeQlal  simply  because  of  the  unreasonableness  of  tne 
motivation.   As  a  literary  artist  Chretien  always  adheres  to 
psychological  prooability,  if  not  to  paysical  possibility; 
the /excesses  of  Courtly  Love  as  seen  in  tne  La.^celct  fere 
tioy.   conducive  to  psychological  reallaa.. 

Modeaty  snd  c.,enerosity  also  find  a  place  in  Chretien's 
/conception  of  cJa.vain.   I'he  modesty  is  revealed  when  in  the 
Lancelot  Gawain  leads  the  queen  tack  to  the  court  after  lier 
rescue.   All  are  overjoyed  and  pre.Tiaturely  congratulate 


r,9cLi%a  a  14  la 
,18'X   8r 


fidTooelb  aao   d«  <)BiiJ   ialoq  siili  J«  xX^^  'jail  ^1  ^^ 

ft  Id  bsvoXIe  ctiid    ,doI»juieJ   ar^J 


30 


Gawaln  on   his   exploit,   but  he   declines    to   take    credit   for 
what  he   himself  d'd   not   accoirpllsh: 

"Bien   vsln^e   mas   aire    jauvaina, 

^ul   Is   r^ine   a    ramanee, 

it   mainte   dame   escheltlvee, 

Et  malnt   prison  mos   a   rendu  J" 

li'.     Jauvaiiis    lor   a    reSi^ondu: 

"Sfignor,    de   neant  m'alosez. 

Del   dire   hui   rr.es   vos   repcsez, 

Q,u'r   ir.oi   nule    chose   n'an  mcnte, 

Ceste   encrs  aie    vaut   una   honte, 

One    je   n'l    '^inj?  n'a    tans   n'a    ore; 

railli  i  ai  par  ma  demore, 

¥es   Lsnceloz  a  tans  i  vint, 

Cui  ai  lirenz  enora  i  avint 

Qu'eins  n'ot  ai  -rant  nus  chevaliers.''  (5356-49) 

The  uenerosity  Is  re/ealed  obliquely  in  the  lament  cf  "lea 
povres  janz"  in  the  Perceval  when  they  believe  he  is  lost  for 
ever;  tney  r^esrret  the  supposed  death  of  Gawain, 


Qui  por  Teu  toz  nos  revestoit 

Et  don  toz  les  biens  nos  venoit 

Par  aumosne  et  per  charite.  (9209-11) 


The  reference  in  the  passage  Just  juoted  from  the 
Lancelot,  to  the  "mainte  dame  escheitivee"  whom  Gawain  has 
Dtfrieaded  brines  out  anotner  trait  Chretien  has  attributed 
to  him.   Gawain  is  evf  r  ready  to  serve  the  ladies,  ana  tziis 
is  made  particularly  explicit  in  the  Yvain  when  Yvain 
discovers  the  plight  of  Lunete,  who  has  to  find  a  knight 
willing  to  defend  hec   e^-ainst  tiiree  knl;.-r;t3.   ne  asks  her 
why  she  has  not  sou^jlit  out  f^awaln: 


"iit  mes  sire  ''■auvains,  chaeles, 

Li  frans,  li  douz,  ou  Ic-rt  il  donjues'' 


0€ 


ee-  -T^r   r.'t   n2  \X»uplI<lo   fo*l8«v0i   al  xSltonsnir    9fiT 


51 


A    3'afe   ne    fallli    on^ues 
Laaiolsele   deaconseilllQe 

:..fc    nc    11    lust    up6:-oni:e'j."    (3698-3702) 


but  Ga«ain,  it  appear-s,  .vas  away  rescuing  the  queen  from  a 
knight  who  nad  carried  her  off  rrom  Kay.   (Chretien,  it  is 
to  be  noted  nere,  establiabea  an  astonishing  degree  of 
contemporaneity  between  tne  events  of  the  Lancelot  and  the 
Yvaln.  )   Lunete,  of  course,  had  a  special  olaiai  on  Gawain's 
affection,  for  she  had  rescued  hia  close  friend  Yvain  from 
certain  death  at  the  hsnds  of  the  followers  of  i:'Sclado3  le  houx. 
Osvaln  claims  her  as  his  "axie": 


A  mon  seignor  ijauvain  s'acointe, 

Qui  mout  la  prisfl  et  mout  I'aimroe, 

Et  por  oe  s'ainie  la  olai;t:me, 

Cu'ele  avoit  de  mort  jarsnti 

Son  '.•.onpei~non  et  son  ami.  .  .  (2413-22) 


Gawain's  readiness  to  jr.ake  pdvances  to  youn^  ladles  i?  a 
characteristic  we  note  arain  In  the  Ferce__al.  In  that 
romance,  on  very  short  acquaintance  ne  begins  to  PiBKe  love 
to  the  sister  of  the  kin,  of  E-scevalon: 


Wes  sire  Gauvains  la  requlert 

L 'amors  at   prie  et  dit  qu • 11  lert 

3es  chevaliers  tote  sa  vie. 

Et  ele  n'an  refuse  mie, 

Einz  li  otroie  volantiors.  (5827-31) 


Though  not  over-einpuasized  by  Chretien  himself,  this  trait 
receives  curious  elaboration  in  tne  hands  of  Chretien's 
successors. 

Skill  in  medicine  Is  an  attribute  we  do  not  expect 


I£ 


SOx'S- 


&^i^L■in&0  no  i&X«Xa   liii  'ad   ,^>:: 

flBoil  axavY  baeli 


1  «nlB«0d  ;^ud 
3(1  oriw  idslriil 
•d  b©;J-ofi  ecf  oJ 

l;tBdb  nlB;lieo 
3ffiialc 


jf>.:tr'.fot>«' c,   fri'flvffir?"'^  Torral-©^   ffo--' 


(as-8i>s)  . 


8  *?!   3»ibftl 


.b»»n  8'f!ie-«e3 


32 


to  find  in  '^j'awain,  but  In  tiio  Perce va]  ''e  are  told,  when 
Gawain  encounters  the  wounaed  knlg^it  (ireorees: 

.  .  ,  mss  sire  Gpuveins  sevolt 

Plus  que  nu3  horn  de  ^sarir  piaie; 

Une  r.erfco  volt  an  uno  hble 

Trop  bono  por  dolor  tolir 

De  plale,  et  11  la  va  coill.r.  (6910-14) 

Greoreaa  later  ungratefully  steals  Gavvaln's  horse,  **le 
grlngalet",  leaving?  Gewein  with  an  olc  broken  down  heck  to 
ride,  much  to  t\e   delip;ht  of  the  unfriendly  dansel  who 
mocks  hi?-  unmrrclf ully.   Put  ^a^valn  being  courteous  -- 
"Gauvalns  11  cortols**,  he  Is  celled  In  the  Erec  (6765)  — 
he  expects  to  find  rood  n^enners  In  others  tso.   He  attenpts 
a  lesson  In  courtesy: 


"Bele  amie, 

Vos  dirolz  ce  que  buen  vos  lert; 

Mes  8  dameisele  n'sfiert 

Que  ele  solt  si  rr.esdlsanz 

Puis  :;ue   ele  a  passe  cis  anz, 

Elnz  dolt  estre  blen  ensei^nlee 

Et  cortolae  at   bien  afeitiee."  (7200-06 j 


The  lesson  aiakes  little  impression  on  ner,  even  tnough 
her  teacher  is 


Oauvalna,  11  plus  bien  anaelgniez 

Qui  onquos  fust  de  main  aei^.niez.  ( Lancelot,  6805-06 


Perhaps  connected  with  his  courtesy  is  -^a wain's  refusal  to 
conceal  hla  name  frc?n  anyone  vho  asks,  as  ./e  see  at  the  end 
of  the  battle  between  Yvain  and  Gawain  when  neither  has 
recognized  the  other: 


se 


o;}  io»d  fiwob  fi«>i  '  niewe  I    ^*'i»£B^ali'in 

IX    ar 


.  1      ^XidUO*i0<i      l^ii. 


"i'j  In-.  ?  f=>8' 


33 


"Js  mes  nona  ne  vos  lert  celez: 

Gauvalns  si  non,  fiz  le  rol  Lot.  '  { xveia, 6266-67) 

Tbla  same  sharacterlstlc  la  found  In  the  Perceval  also, 
V3S.  5622  and  S831,  though  In  that  poem  he  extracts  a  promise 
from  Ygerne  of  tne  Roche  de  Chanpguln  not  to  ask  his  name 
for  seven  days  (8350-63]. 

Such,  tnen.  Is  Chretien's  conception  or  *J8wsin, 
tnls  Ideal  knigirit  e^oodylng  all  the  virtues  of  Artnurian  society, 
He  Is  first  among  the  knights  of  the  Hound  lable,  and  his 
coura^^e  and  prowess  on  the  field  of  battle  tfln  the  admiration 
of  all.   his  Intelli ^encs  and  tact  lead  him  to  success  khere 
the  blundering  l.npetuosity  of  others  orings  them  failure. 
Uia  generosity  and  courtesy  ere  outstanding  and  well  known 
attributes,  and  his  fine  manners  and  persuasive  ways  win 
conquests  among  me   many  damsels  of  Artiiurfen  roitianco,  though 
Chretien  is  never  explicit  regarding  tne  degree  of  Gawain's 
involrement  In  tnese  affairs.   In  short,  he  Is  for  Chretien 
the  perfect  knlgnt,  well  deserving  the  fanciful  couiparison 
we  find  In  the  ivaln: 

Cll,  qui  des  chevaliers  fu  sire 

Et  qui  sor  toz  fu  renomez. 

Doit  blen  estre  solauz  clamez. 

Por  mon  seignor  rjeuvain  le  di; 

riue   de  lul  est  tot  autressi 

Chevalerie  anlumlnee 

Con  li  solauz  la  matinee 

Cevre  ses  rals  et  clarte  rant 

?BV   toz  les  leus,  ou  11  s'espent.  (2400-03) 

Chretien  never   makes  Gawaln  tne  nero  or  any  or  nls 
rcman^es,  though  ^awain  plays  a  lari;e  I'ole  xn  tne  action  of 


€C 


^?d-aas< 


eeioicnq   e  BCfoaiJxe   dri  r. 


enoa  saoi   s^* 


bciB  SSdd  .6 ST 
o  ^ciesY  moil 
^•5  nevaa  lol 


eld  &fl«   «eXaBl   bouoR  ed^  lo  64dsXa>I  ed^  sioetn*  cteriJ;!  et.  «tt 
aoi;t«nin(ba  eds  ai^it  eI4d»cf  lo  6|«1T  »di^  nc   —-i  i>n«  •aw«o© 

©na£f>f   '' -    '      "Id  faii©I  i^0»4   bne  ^' y'^»ii  elH     .iX»,  1© 


iiiw   t.  vsi»   ©V '    "■'" '.J   bus  B'lSfuisai 


i^taj-ia.. 


^o^s  eJeeupaoo 
a  Bi  nel^t^nriO 

n!??'^      '        nJl  ba4^  «"" 


BilJ 


34 


the  Lancelot  snd  the  Pepceval;  Indeed,  alrroat  half  of 
the  latter  poem  la  devoted  to  Jawaln's  exploits.   la 
addition  to  the  pers   nal  qualities  enumerated  above  which 
he  a-ttributes  to  Gawaln,  Chretien  makes  casual  references  to 
certain  other  features  about  Gawain,  the  very  casualneaa 
of  which  leads  one  to  believe  that  Gawaln  was  a  character 
*lth  whom  *^hretlen's  audiences  were  sc  familiar  that  no  ampli- 
fication on  Chretien's  part  was  necessary.   For  example,  in 
three  places  in  ths  Erec  (3935,  3945,  4063)  and  in  tnreo 
places  in  the  Perceval  (6209,7136,  7429;  ne  mentions  Gawain's 
horse  "le  gringalet",  alwa;ys  eitaer  *ith  a  definite  article 
or  a  personal  pronoun,  but  never  does  ne  offer  any  explanation 
of  the  name.   The  word  "gringalet"  has  occasioned  a  good 
deal  of  speculation  airong  scholars  ,  though  the  latest  editor 
of  the  Erec  does  not  include  the  word  In  his  "Index  des  noms 

propres",  and  confines  himself  In  the  glossary  to  the  simple 

9 
reirark  "cheval,  de  race  indeterminee,  monture  de  Gauvain"  , 

Again,  Gawain  In  the  Perceval  used  a  sword  named  "Fscalibor" 

(6902),  clearly  the  same  sword  "Callburnus"  which  Geoffrey  says 

belonged  to  Arthur  (IX,  Iv;  IX,  xl),  but  Chretien  offers 

no  explanation  of  how  Arthur's  sword  (if  it  really  belonged 

to  Arthur  first)  came  into  Qarfaln's  hands.   Also,  the 

pe.'slsLence  with  which  ile/rain  readily  makes  known  his  name, 

as  we  have  noted  a  ove,  is  a  trait  which  Chretien  surely 

found  in  contemporaneous  accounts  of  Gawain,  and  hence 

10 
requiring  no  explanation.   And  aa  bruce  has  pointed  out   , 


MS 


tmocalB   »be  na^.   set*   bn«   ^tolaoffj   »fl;t 

oj   8eon»ielo<i  XsiJeao    v 

%«;)9B^aiio   a  eaw  oIbvbO   imi3   &relL9<i  oi   ano  soaeX  aoifiw  Ic 
-llqme  t  lalXItaal  as  •'^ew  aabnelbtia  a*ti9l;:}l'itf«}  motiw  d:;l\v 

al  .\^na889oan  as«  i^Ai  8*tfiBl^inif3  no  nol^aoil 

aannJ   ai   baa   iSfllO^   «a^8S    «d€85)    09^3   edi  nl   eooarq  a^^-   - 
B'niawa©  anolctrie*  axf  (OS*?    ,8CIt,80S8)    Xavooisl    adJ  al   aaaaXs 
aXol;t<xa  a;)lnllab  **  rfilii   nianVtia  ftv,a*XB  ii^  aX*"  ac'irn 

noi;tanBXqXe  x^*  i»^^   •tf  aeob  lavan  di  oaq   Xeno8i«iq   a   t  ; 

boo  iBBoob   sari 

loilba  daa^rai   at  uo^qs   1o  Xa»t> 

BMOx.  '    aid  ni    b-i  :&   oan'/' 

i&'iqciq 

BX*£    t^ 

in   o;i   be^noiaci 
ba:  3fla£qxe  oo 


35 


there  Is  "a  detail  towards  the  end  of  the  Perceval,  11.  8057  If, 

(Balst's  edition)  whloh  would  lead  one  to  Infer  that  Chretien 

was  using  a  lost  lomance  on  tiawain's  /outh",  though  Bruoe 

dees  not  t,ilnk  tnls  lost  work  necessarily  antedated  Chretien's 

earliest  r.>Tiance.   Chretien,  it  must  be  nolel,  follows 

Geoffrey  and  the  chronicler  «»8ce  in  making  Lot  ^awatn's  father, 

though  he  calls  Gawaln's  mother  Morcados  and  gives 

Gawain  a  sister  Clarissaat  and  a  sister  Soredamors  in 

11 
addition  to  his  three  brothers  Agrevain,  Geheriet,  and  Guerehes 

Ho  mention  is  mace  of  Kordred. 

The  evidence  witnla  Chrtitiea's  own  worK3  pointing  to 

the  existence  of  Arthurian  traditions  in  which  Gawain  had  a 

role  is  admittedly  smpll,  considering  the  bulk  of  Cnretien's 

work,  but  it  is,  I  think,  conclusive.  Ghr6tien  was,  of  course, 

a  gifted  literary  artist  as  well  as  a  retainer  at  the  brilliant 

court  of  Marie  de  Champagne,  and  the  picture  of  'Swain  we 

find  in  his  romances  does  owe  much  to  his  vividness  of 

characterization  and  skill  in  depicting  an  idealized  society. 

Put  wnen  we  examine  other  works  contemporaneous  wltn  Ctiretien 

or  perhaps  even  earlier,  though  we  find  Gawain  playing  a 

minor  role,  nevertheless  he  is  generally  referred  to  with 

respect.   The  uncertainty  of  the  dates  of  composition  of 

these  works  makes  it  difficult  to  draw  any  definite 

conclusions,  however. 

Perhaps  the  earliest  work  we  possess  is  Buroul's 

12 
Tristan,  or  part  of  It  at  any  rate   ,  and  though  Gawain 


as 


1    Ta©8    rZl  -  '       ■ 

8''-  'v-c;^    su   ^'syfi  Ji 

IX  ■'  ■     "        

medeiauQ  bau   ^j^aiociaii   tCii&v&ti^A  ^^mUcnii  o^ndi  aid  o3  aol4lbbM 

.b»<x&i:  el  flQlia«n  o!'; 

a  Hi  liicf.Adcf  j|ril'sef>laao&  ^ix-i.r^.  xxo^i:itab$  3X  agio's 

inai'''  ;^nxaj>'\   e  ea  XX«>'  "i«  Y-'t*''-^^^   "    -■""-.   e 

'      "     '~  '    '  na    ,sr^^'iij/'  "'  .i'iB3:    j 

a  awo  e :  * 


36 


playa  an   Inalc^nif leant  role  in  this  poem,  Iseult  refers  to 
him  as  Artnur'3  nephew: 

Gauvalns,  sea  niia,!!  plu3  cortola.  .  ,  (3258) 

and  indirectly  we  are  told  of  *J8wein's  prowess  at  arms  when 
Gawain  says  of  I'ristan'a  three  enemies: 


"LI  plus  ooverr  est  Gueneloas: 

Gel  connols  blen,  al  fult  11  mci. 

Gel  boutal  ja  an  un  fan*iJi 

A  un  bchort  fort  et  pltnler."  (3462-65) 


This  is  not  much  of  course,  but  w.ien  it  is  coupled  with 

the  references  in  Marie  de  France's  Lanval,  It  gains  some 

weight.   Uncertainty  surrounds  the  date  of  Marie's  Lais, 

before  1189  being  the  date  assigned  to  their  composition 

13 
by  ti*e  most  recent  editor  ,  and  Gawain  plays  only  a  minor 

pole  in  Lanval.  Gawain  is  a  good  friend  of  Lanval,  and  is 

referred  to  as 


,  .  .  .  .  Walwaina,  11  franca,  11  pruz, 

^ue  tant  se  fiat  amer  de  tuz.  .  .   (227-28) 


It  is  possible,  of  course,  tnat  Chx-atien's  ro.Tiances  .^ave  such 
9  vofeue  vo  ^rf-'ur  and  bis  court  that  Bercul  and  Marie 
Inoorporeted  Arthml&n  names  into  t.ieir  wori^s  in  order  to 
capitalize  on  the  fashion  a^^t  by  their  more  eminent  contemporary, 
On  the  other  ^isnd,  when  we  recall  that  Chretien  himself  forges, 
though  by  weak  links  to  be  sure,  an  oriental  cale  such  es 
we  find  in  the  Cllges  to  Arthurian  tradition.  It:  seems  much 
more  probable  that  even  the  great  master  of  verse  romance 


o^   Bi:  ,ffieoq  slon   :tr'e?l'^lr^,Jfiri   r?   '?T*'fc[ 


(8<SSi€)    .    .    4,zlo^iGo  &ui  d  &»a   ^tnlavi/a 


^s^.ft   'oBlquin   el  ji  xsax.w  Jad   ,©£■  «  Joa  ei  eirfT 

91BOK  adi  .avn^J  ii'donB«rt  eb  si  ',*on*nelei  8xi;> 

svaa^  Xo   Tasini  boc^   a   al   nfmre^D    •ISZC' 

38  o^   as'i'i-:— ^ 


.si/d.  &o   *i&5.»  JBii  i»£   an-^ 


37 


in  trie  twell'ish  century  wag,  i  k-j  '-^ero'-'i    ano  '<.ppie,  cj^ploltlng 

the  contemporary  popularity  of  the  Arthorlan  tradition.   And 

concerning  tne  vo-iue  of  Arthurian  stories  there  13  the 

14 
evidence  of  William  of  Melmeabui^y,  quoted  above   ,  as  .veil 

as  l^ace's  reference  to 


.  .  .  la  hoflnde  Table, 

Lunt  Bretun  Hient  mainte  fablr .   'j?51-52) 


Botn  of  these  are,  of  coarse,  veil  anterior  to  the  works  «e 

ere  considering  now. 

If  the  popularity  of  Hrtaurian  stories  antecedent  to 

and  during  the  career  of  Chretien  be  granted,  it  is  t.ian 

easy  to  see  why  tne  folk-tsle  motif  found  in  I.obert  liiquet's 

15  16 

Lai  du  Cor  ano  in  the  later,  anonymous  Conte  du  "kantol" 

has  been  provided  with  an  '^rthuriaa  settitig.   As  'Aulff, 

17 
editor  of  the  Gonte  du  "Mm  tel "  seys   , 

Evldemment  le  fond  du  Mantel  et  de  la  Corne,  en  t«nt 
que  contes  ou  la  is  bretons,  es.  bien  antarienr,  non 
seulement  a  Gautier  de  Coaler's,  le  contlnuateur  de  Chretien 
qui  a  compose  le  passage  du  Perce 'ol  contensnt  1 'episode 
bien  connu  de  la  corne,  mals  e  I'epoque  m$rne  de  Chretien. 

Both  these  works  dat   from  the  last  quarter  of  the  twelfth 

18 
century   ,  and  the  central  plot  In  each  Is  a  chastity  test. 

In  tlquet's  work,  Gawain  is  not  required  to  drink  from  the 

drinking  horn  *nlch  oespatters  husbands  with  unfaithful 

wives,  possibly  be:;ause  Ua^sin  at  tills  sta  e  of  tzie 

development  of  A^th  jr.tan  tradition  uad  net  yet  acquired  a 

wife.   As  mi&ht  be  exp- oted,  Gewain  is  mentioned  only 


^t 


•»o    ■•',.  y     e»iiv) 


rtlfiiaoooo 


XIs- 


•V  aaiiov  mU  Qi  nol'te 


r 

ex 


icad^  lo  dJc- 
.von  ^nlaablanoo   sia 


& 


dcfl 


lo^iaup  ;}e«I 


38 


incidentally,  and  the  hero  of  the  poem  who  drinks  from  the 
horn  with  impunity  is  Carados, 

qui  plus  estelt  dotex: 

car  en  la  cort  Artu 

n'avelt  meillor  escu 

ne  plus  race  a    se   main 

fors  mon  seignor  Qelvain.  (494-98) 

"The  best  except  Gawain";  this  thejie  is  siaiilsr  to  tae 
attitude  we  find  Ln   Chretien  and  is  a  typical  feature  of 
the  romances  in  which  Gawain  plays  a  ninor  role.   Strangely 
enough,  however,  the  anonymous  author  of  the  Conte  du 
"Mantel"  does  not  hold  Gawain  in  such  veneration.   In  thia 
poem  the  test  is  still  of  ti:.e  fidelity  of  a  wife  or  a  mistress, 
but  in  this  case  a  garcent  which  fits  only  the  faitnful  lady 
la  the  proving  mecnanlam.   After  Guenivere,  the  "amie"  of 
Tors,  and  AndroSte,  Kay's  "amie",  have  all  been  shamed, 
Bedivere  says  to  Arthur, 

"Sire",  fait  11,  "ce  m'est  avis 

'u«  njs  so-es  tuit  mout  vilain. 

L'amie  monselgnor  Gauvaln 

Qui  tant  est  noble  et  avenant, 

Le  doffst  afubler  avant, 

Venelas  la  preus,  la  corteise.  .  ."  (450-55) 

The  garment  does  not  fit  her  either,  and 

Messire  Gauvains  fu  majriz 

Si  qu'onques  mot  ne  11  sona.  .  .  (490-91) 

Since  all  the  other  ladies  of  the  court  ere  also  Swamed, 
except  for  the  "amie"  of  Carados  ariebraz,  this  apisocie  can 
hardly  be  rei^arded  as  a  slir  on  Gawain 's  cxiaracter. 


9£Li  i&oil  8)inlnb  oriv  «ao<  oisd  tuii 


©1  I»Oi  .1   bna  f  .1  ew  •fai/il^ia 

XXeanBicta      ••Xo'X  •J6fll«  »  ««f»Xq  nl»ir#i)  cioldm  at   a«on»ifioi  »ii;J 
ub   eJfioO   ©d;t  lo  modJuB   eiiOiii\,aoflft   9di    .-i^vdwod   .rfs^f. 

,Ba9i;J8:  .-(Jllftbll   9u;»  to  illifi  «!   :*Ec:  ?(X| 


3> 


As  «e  examine  those  other  /Tthurlan  romances  in 

which  Gflwsin  plays  8  minor  role,  nb   find  the  story  is  much 

the  same.   Trie  character  1  stice  Chretien  Invests  Gawain  with 

are  all  found  in  the  works  of  Chretien's  successors  and 

imitators,  and  even  some  additions  ere  made.   It  Is  e  real 

tribute  to  Chretien's  literary  skill,  and  also  to  the  tremendous 

vogue  of  /Arthurian  romances,  that  Chretien's  unfinished  Perceval, 

a.Tmost  niae  txiousand  lines  in  length,  was  taken  up  by  at 

least  four  continuftors  during  the  next  fifty  years  and  so 

extended  that  the  total  length  of  the  work  as  we  now  possess 

it  reaches  some  sixty  thousand  lines  J   Just  what  Chretien's 

intentions  were  concerning  the  orail  and  the  conclusion  of  the 

Perceval  is  a  matter  of   speculation,  but  11  seems  i-robable  that 

his  material  had  ^^ot  out  of  aand.   Instead  of  confining 

himself  primarily  to  the  adventures  of  the  knight,  Perceval, 

who  was  to  achieve  the  ^^rsil,   Chrotien  devotes  almost 

ijalf  of  hia  poem  to  the  adventures  of  'jawain.   The  author 

19 
of  the  First  Continuation   prolongs  this  imbalance  by 

giving  Gawain  a  large  rola  in  txiree  of  the  five  episodes 

Into  which  his  nineteen  thousand  odd  lines  fall.   There  is 

ample  evidence  of  the  author's  high  regard  for  Qewain,  even 

when  that  knight  has  passed  tlirough  adventures  Wiiich  would 

tarnish  his  reputation  in  the  eyes  of  a  twantleth-oentury 

reader.   For  example,  at  the  beginning  of  una  continuation, 

Arthur  marries  off  Gawain 's  sister  Clarlssant  to  her  lover, 

Guiromelant,  without  Gawain 's  knowleage,  even  though  the 


wC 


<* 


at  eci; ..  aMltudS.      .^... 

doum  si  ^<xo^a  wii   bnlJ  aw    ,«Io\.    .-. 

baa  fi'xoseaoaus  e' 


....J   0i    bnj/ol  Li»  eiB 


,-  ^11  ixan   «:i;J   a: 


;ft     jT'irif.'     -s   ri     "rr.     H 


'  ail 


«IBV 


V  rf     s  's  r  P.  r 


40 


king's  nephew  and  Oulromelant  are  bitter  enemies,   -noii 
Gawain  leerT.s  of  this,  be  leaves  Lae  court  in  a  burst  of 
anger,  tho«:,h  the  autho-",  in  describing  his  departure,  speaks 
of  hltt  as 

Gsvains,  qui  de  totes  bontea 
Fu  plains.  .  .  (I,  xi;26-27 ; 

The  modern  reader  tends  to  think  Gawain 'a  behaviour  here 
hot-headed  and  ungenerous,   Cn  another  occasion  Oawaia 
readily  makes  his  n.stme   known  when  f>sked  for  It  by  "li 
Riches  Soldoiers"  and  a^ain  the  author's  hl^h  estijiation  of 
Gawain  comes  out: 

Et  quant  11  ot  '^ue  c'est  Gave  ins. 

Si  a  dit:   "sire,  or  sui  certains 

<ue  vos  estes  de  tot  le  mont 

Ll  mleldros  de  chlax  ^ul  1  sont."  (I,  12,271-74) 

Similarly,  when  Bren  de  Lis  asks  Kay  if  Gawain  is  in  the 
king's  company,  K-gji  replies: 

"Ll  mleldres  chevaliars  del  mont 

Est  od  le  roi,  se  Diex  me  gart; 

Sanz  lui  n'lrolt  il  nule  part."  (I,  10,563-66) 

In  18 ct,  it  is  customary  with  tue  author,  whenever  he  wishes 
to  r'^-J  ntroduce  Gawain  into  tne  action,  to  employ  some  such 
couplet  as  the  following,  which  is  really  a  stock  expression 
of  regard: 

Et  11  preus  mesire  Gavains, 

Cll  qui  n'ert  ne  fols  ne  vllains.  ,  .  (I,  6439-48) 


Ol' 


iilevsO  nclfiaoco 

1  •xol  belie B  a%dyi  nwoflst  e 


(^V-XTi 


■J  ■'.  u'  ■      a* 


41 


For  tills  autnor,  aewaln  la  always 

Veaire  Gsvslns  li  vaillsns, 

Li  cortois  et  11  blen  parlans.  .  .   (1,2547-48) 

though  on  one  ocsaslon  Gawaln  does  make  a  slip  In  etiquette; 
meeting  a  young,  attractive,  and  unaccompanied  damsel,  Gawaln 
addresses  her  as  "ar.ie"  but  Immediately  reallree  his  error: 

Cortolsement 

Li  dist:  "LI  vrals  Diex  qui  ne  ment 

Vos  salt,  ma  dolce  arnie  ciiiere." 

Cele  embroncha  un  poi  la  chlere 

iZi   na  11  reapont  un  sol  mot. 

Et  meslre  Gavaina  lues  aot, 

Qusnt  dist  "ajiie",  qu'll  meaprlst.  (I,  2619-26) 

Gawaln 's  behaviour  with  this  damsel,  Gullorete,  the  "Damolsele 
de  Lis",  leaves  much  to  be  desired  by  modern  stauJards  of 
morality,  though  the  author  himself  labours  under  some 
confusion  as  to  tie  ''csl  nature  of  the  events,  his  two 
accounts  differing  In  the  one  essential  which  would  convict 
Gawaln  in  a  modern  police  court,   because  of  his  splendid 
reputation,  the  young  lady  /las  been  in  lo/e  with  Gawain  ever 
since  sne  first  heard  of  him.   When  she  learns  that  the  knight 
who  has  addressed  her  as  "amle"  is  really  Gawain,  sne  throws 
modesty  and  discretion  to  tiie  wind: 

"Amis,"  fait  ele,^'en  abandon 

Vos  met  mon  cors  et  vos  present. 

Vostre  serai  tot  mon  vivant," 


Par  un  baisier  I'en  a  saisie. 

E'araor,  de  jeu,  de  cortoisie 

Ont  puis  ensamble  tant  parle 

Et  boneraent  rla  et  jfle, 

Tant  ju'    a  perdu  ncn  de  p\icele, 

3 'a  non  t^mie  et  damolsele.  (I,  2702-16) 


citwBfi    ,l8ajp.eb   beXr. 


(3S-€I8S    ,1)    .ir 


'4fe 


But  when  the  Kirl's  fathpr*  learns  s  le  Is  no  Itmgei*  S^  vfpgln, 
be  attacks  fJewain  and  is  killed.   Her  brotuer.  Bran  de  Lis, 
fights  Gayeji  until  they  both  spree  tc  a  truce,  the  terms  of 
wlilcii   are  uiiat  GaAfSin  must  fight  bran  armed  or  unarmed  as 
the  case  rr.sy  be  wiienever  tney  next  meet.   Consequently,  waen 
Arthur  and  his  court  later  enter  bran's  castle,  Gawaln  refuses 
to  remove  his  ax*mour,  ha  zing  reco.;ni2ed  Bran's  shield  hanoing 
on  a  wall.   In  explaining  to  Arthur  why  he  very  understandably 
•aats  to  keep  his  armour  on,  Gawain  x*eiates  his  wiiole  adventure 
with  the  "Damolsele  de  Lis",  and  tr.is  version  differs  from 
the  account  given  earlier  in  tne  story.   The  raornlnr?  of  that 
day,  Gawain,  after  hearing  mass,  wa.i  ready  to  reform: 

"Por  la  messe  que  j'ci  o?e 
Me  prist  une  si  grans  envie^ 
Sire,  de  me  vie  chaniuier, 
Nus  ne  m'en  pofst  estranrier, 
Se  11  buens  cuers  ■^i'eflat  dure.  .  ."  (I,  9387-91) 

But  the  young  lady  wea  so  beautiful  that  he  was 

'.  .  .  toz  iasus  eel  corage. 

Sire,  que  j'oi  en.  1 'ermi  tege.'  k -l  ,    ^945-46; 

And  in  spite  of  her  entreaties,  he  raped  her; 

"Sire,  si  grant  oltrage  fls 
,u'e  force  la  despucelsi, 
Alnc  por  son  plorer  nel  laissal.''  (I,  10,042-44) 

Modern  taste  deplores  sexual  irrimorality ,  but  we  are  made  to 
feel  here  that  Ga/naln'a  sin  was  not  so  much  in  succambing  to 


s^ 


^nljV''   '  ^ -C    ltd    ii    ©<!a    BiTiBSj.    'leuji-i.i    a-x'Jiji    ■sjiu     uaww    jva 

80  bftfli'SBou  10  btnfi^i&  aemSi  iki^XI  i&um  al»^9&  irniii   9'i»  £lcl-iv-^ 

C0SU^8%   nlftWaO    ^J9X<iBt>v)     b-uci-ja     auoLi-D      i^j-jex     J-..^Uv>     >:'.li.i    Ot4)lE!     "" 

XldebflsJeiebcur  x*^--     -^   • ~'./^.--    -« -      ,,r  .      r    .      -,j      .xisw   e  no 

J  »5ilJ       AU     ,    li.Liiisj...      fill  •   lyii.  wj  r,       cjikj      no.      "I  ;3  X  i  j.  ■-!  t;)     lies  aJJ     JflJUOOOS     OQJ 


(IG-V86C 


^^UlUJ^ 


43 


the  damsel's  beaut/  as  in  employing  force  to  gain  his  ends. 
The  outcome  of  tola  liaison  was  a  son,  and  when  the 
youngster  is  abducted,  Gawaln  shows  a  marked  lack  of  parental 
concern;  ha  refuses  to  engage  In  a  search  for  hi.  : 

Mais  Gavains  lor  a  fiancnie 

!<iue  ja  n'i  portora  le  pie; 

II  ne  set  rien  de  querre  enfant.  (I,  12,565-67) 

In  spite  of  all  cuis,  hovever,  the  eutiior  consistently  regards 

his  hero  as  "11  bona  mesire  Gavains"  (I,  4691;. 

Vke  saw  earlier  in  the  Conte  du  "Mantel"  tnat  Gawaln 

indirectly  suffers  sname  through  the  infidelity  of  his 

mistress,  an  infidelity  revealed  by  the  chastity  test.   The 

same  tneaie  plays  a  part  In  the  First  Continuation  as  well, 

and  here  Gawaln,  along  with  all  the  members  of  the  court  except 

■  I, 
Carados,  is  discomfited  by  the  cup  wnlch  spills  wine  over 

those  whose  beloveds  eve   unfaithful: 

Atant  le  cor  met  a  sa  bouche 

Et  issl  tost  come  11  i  touche, 

Le  vin  sor  lul  verse  et  espaot.  (I,  8649-51) 

Bui,  as  we  noted  In  our  discussion  of  the  other  two  versions 

of  t:ie  story,  Cs7.8ln's  reputation  really  does  not  suffer  any 

diminution  here. 

The  author  of  the  First  Continuation  gives  one 

characteristic  to  Gawaln  which  has  caused  much  speculation 

20 
among  scholars   .   Gawaln,  It  seems,  has  supernuman  strength, 

a  strength  which  increases  .vlth  the  sun's  strength  and  declines 

witn  it: 


ft* 


lArffiS'ifcu    ";■')    /irtfl    bsii.^...    _     .._   ,,  _.      , _,      .„J«9IWOt 

»  •-'  ^4     -- •   •  ,     -     • 

„,  .  .  - :      ^  ..  ...        ri'i  I  i--.  ;>.,n    eootf    iX"    BB    On'^ri    s«rri 

- ;  /^Jilebl'inl   edJ  il^o.--      is«  t-t**»'*i^*- 

•dT     .c^88^  %^l;t«8£te   edJ  Y«^  bBXi^9v»<9  x^'t^^Ldbittii  a»   ^ea^niultp. 
,XXew  Ba  noliBuat^tao's}  del"    iiij    nT    i-re-i    a  e^eXq  aoseriu    ssibb 

■19YO    en.:  _.     ^:.-ob'iq'" 


o,^?os    ailT 


44 


Car  bien  evex  oT  eciepe 

Que  38  force  tct  jors  dobiolt 

Que  plus  vers  mldl  eprolcholt. 

Et  quant  mldis  estolt  passex, 

Gt  plus  amenulsoit  assez, 

Tant  que  la  nuiz  sa  fin  tenlst 

^t    lue  le  r.acin  revenist, 

<ue  lors  11  redcublolt  sans  dote 

Sa  forcfe'  et  sa  vertuz  tcte.  (II,  2,826-34; 

This  cnaracterlatlc  is  mentioned  twice  by  the  autxipr  (again 

at  I,  933-39),  but  never  does  he  offer  any  explanation  for 

21 
It.   It  occurs  In  lat^r  writers  also   ,  end  not  al'vays  is 

the  trait  exclusively  Gawaln's,  but  tne  later  accounts  and 

explanations  are  obviously  Inspired  by  the  Infcrmatlon  given 

in  tn   First  Continuation.   Like  ChrSt'en,  the  author  of  this 

work  never  attempts  any  explanation  of  the  name  of  '-a. vein's 

horse,   "le  Grlngalet",  wnlch  he  mentions  at  I,  ?^44,  but 

he  does  so-T.etninc  to  clarify  the  confusion  caused  by  Cnretiea's 

attribution  of  Excallbur  tc  Gawainr  the  awcrd  was  given  him 

by  the  king: 


fcsealioor,  sa  oone  espee 

LI  a  11  rcls  Artus  donee.   (I,  12,093-94} 


Doubts  are  cast  upon  (rawain's  pre-eminence  In  tne 
world  of  c.ilvalry  only  in  his  relations  with  the  Grail, 
The  f^rall  theme  pla^s  a  very  subdued  bass  In  this  somewhat 
lavishly  orchestrated  profusion  of  adventures  which 
constitutes  the  First  Continuation,  but  It  does  supply,  except 
In  the  case  of  the  Carados  story,  a  unifying  element. 
Gawain  makes  two  visits  to  the  Grail  castle  in  tnis  first 


•- 


flia  cie   oil;)  ^a  t»oJ:%4  o^^AoX^nefii  e,  la^oanaro   slrfT 

&  X      it  ^  D  in  X  li     W- 

nevl 

Bi 


^t-CP 


■?i'     no?*''     3'B*!^     91?t     r!?df./0'^ 


ia  1   b-f/fe 


45 


section  of  the  p  om,  and  on  bobii  occasions  he  la  esiced  to 
-J  pieses  o:"   a  broKon  awor  .      joth  occasions 
he  Id  unsuc^ensful : 


ct  Cavaina  prent  i'eapee  et  aacne, 

His  1'  ^n  achler  ce  1 'autre  err^j  ine 
St  des joint  al  premerain  trait.   (I,  1467-6a j 


Lots  16  prent  li  buens  chevalier^: 

Si  :::et  ei-i>-...iDie  les  aciii,?rs, 

Wais  tant  ne  les  set  asspmblep 

Que  I'espee  puisso  soldei».  (l,15,6Sz-Jd} 


And  on  both  occasions  he  is  told  t  at  he  nes  not  achieved 
enough  in  the  realm  of  cnlvalry  in  order  to  accomplish  the 
task: 


Fait  li  sires:  "N'evez  tant  fait 

D'errrea  encore  que  le  voir 

fuissiez  de  cest  oevre  savoir, 

Car  cil  qui  le  voir  an  sara 

Le  oris  de  tct  le  mont  era 

Et  ie  los,  Je  le  vos  affi."  (i,  1470-76; 


"Li  besoina  por  coi  vos  venez 

N'lert  mie  par  vos  achievez, 

Me  is  36  Llex  vos  evancaoit  carit 

Vos t re  proPche  cria  avant 

vue  oha  vos  fefst  retorner, 

Lora  le  porri'ez  achiever 

Et  lor  seuderiiez  I'espee.  .  ."U,  15,411-17 


Cewaln  falls  asleep  during  both  visits  to  the  ^reil  castle 
when  the  sif^nif icance  of  the  objects  in  tho  Lrail  procession 
is  being  expl8;a,^  to  hiiu.   ultir.ately  it  is  Perceval  wno 
joins  the  two  pieces  of  the  sword,  and  consequently  one 
feels  that  Gawain  is  slipping  from  his  high  position. 


^i^ 


q3   b 


;Mie    j»f 


*o   no|^a»« 


i  v?d--V3^-    ,i;       ,J_3a-'    iiiii-xsr- ji,   la    Jal- 


I,  >iU-f;i;C,c_  ,1J     .■^jqlc2,.  Od&jwiit;    S3-i 


b0v»lrioa   ^on    Bad   »ri   i»   i    bloi 


46 


that  :ie  ^ill  not  uav«  '^j  ..--^s  k.e  tot  le  moat".   Likewise, 
when  Gawain  paid  hia  second  visit  to  t.ie  Grail  castle,  he  asked 
concernirip'  the  lance,  tne  cup,  and  the  sword,  out  railed  to 
ask  .concerning  the  Grail  Itself.   Consequently  the  waste  land 
was  only  partly  restored,  and  the  people  T.ake  quite  clear 
to  Gawain  his  failure: 

"Sire,  mors  nos  as  et  gariz. 

Si  dolz  estre  joianz  et  liez, 

D'une  autre  chose  corrouciez : 

Llez  des  biens  que  nos  ere  pvon, 

QvBP   c'est  par  tol,  oLen  le  savon; 

D'autre  part  te  redolz  hair 

De  ce  qu'il  ne  te  lut  oi'r 

Du  Grnal,  de  quol  il  servoit. 

La  grant   joie  qui  en  devoit 

Avenir  nt  porroit  nus  dire, 

S'en  devez  avoir  duel  et  ire."  (II,  17,838-48) 

Here  again  it  is  Perceval  ;iho ,    in  tne  final  pa^es  of  this 
voluminous  story,  restores  the  land  to  its  fertility  and 
wins  the  unqualified  gratitude  of  the  inhabitants.   And 
Gawaln'a  reputation,  by  implication,  suffers. 

The  aut-'i?:-  af  tne  First  Continuation  did  not  conclude 
his  work,  and  for  the  conclusion  we  are  indebted  to  Manessier 
and  Gerbert  de  Montreuil;  wnether  or  not  these  two  writers 
completed  the  work  slon-;  the  lines  intended  by  Chretien  and 
the  first  contlnuator  we  shall  never  know.   It  is  difficult 
to  tell,  therefore.  If  the  first  contlnuator  really  intended 
to  dislodpe  Gawain  from  the  high  position  he  held  in  Chretien's 
estimation.   Certainly,  as  Ae  have   noted  above,  Gfi.valn  Is 
regarded  by  the  other  characters  in  the  story,  with  tne 


bh 


bnal   9:^8?''       ■ 


"■"  '      ■""      nlcneonoo   jfaa 


:  s&iojJoi':ao   ©aorio   9i.iua  en.u'G 
,novs   eio   SOD   aap   sneid   e-''       -     ■ 
jnovae   ei  neid   ,io^   ibo    .las' 
alsil  alofa©"    -"    -  -■  -  ■ 


.iloviae   li 
^iovdb  no   I 
(dilb  sun 


aJ 


{8*-3C8^Vl    ,11)   ".8il   is   leob  liove  sev&b  ns'B 


.  -.3  ■     =>  . ,  i. 


:  o\j    I.  \j  &ixi 


.,  a>  13      ;5  irjii 


.  B'^P'"'*  ■ 


58   ewonlaujiov 
aupciu   9di   anlw 


81 


i7 


exception  of  the  personnel  of  the  ^rall  castle  ond  the  waste 

land,  83  "11  mleldrea  chevaliers  del  monf*.   Even  though 

Ga*ain'a  Amorous  encounters  diminish  the  modern  reader's 

-■espest  for  i-ilrr.,  to  the  twelfth-century  continue  tor  -- 

a  ma'n  with  no  inhioitions,  it  would  appear  --  such  events 

app  ar  as  natural.   Only  when  ^aweln  comes  into  contact  with 

the  Grail  does  his  reputation  suffer  soir.e  diminution  in 

the  First  Continuation,  and  tnet  is  merely  by  implication. 

As  we  saw  above,  tae  author  of  this  continuation  i-.croases 

Gawain's  family  by  riving  him  a  son  who  In  the  Sec^rd 

Continuation  is  called  "Le  Blaua  Desconn6us"  (24,583),  and 

also  by  giving  him  a  niece,  Alguigenor,  the  of. f spring  of  the 

jr.tJi'rlHge  of  Gawain's  sister  Glarissant  and  Guiroirelant  (I,  4607- 

13). 

82 
The  Second  Continuation  devotes  less  than  one-sixth 

of  its  ti-iirteen  thousand  odd  lines  to  ija.valn,  and  it  does 
not  bring  him  into  contact  with  the  Grail.   Gawain's 
adventures  in  this  continuation  comprisint.  the  noriT.al 
knightly  adventures,  we  :-i-jed  not  exrinine  them  in  any  detail. 
Again  we  find  GaArain  held  in  high  estimation  both  by  the 
author  and  by  the  characters  In  the  stor^-,  particularly  by 
one  Tanree,  the  sister  of  the  "Petit  Chevelier".   Bein^  a  beautiful 
damsel,  she  Itraaedlately  catches  Gawain's  eye,  and  he  becomes  ena- 
moured of  her.   When  asked  by  Gawaln  if  she  has  an  ''8;ni",  she 
replies  that  she  lovos 


V* 


•4BBW  9^.i  bins  aX^bao   Xis^  noJt;)q«9Xe 


8'1< 


e  on  r£tlw  flsis   & 

Aitw  iOB3aoo   o3nt   sdmoo  nl»«fti>  neiiw  qe 

nl  noliunlaiti}  eo«os  •xsllus  flol^stuqsn  aid  eeob  XIbiO  ©rid 

.nciiBoilqml  xO  lti»i««  M   -  '^^O   cteii'?   edi 

ee«B8"iOf  1  0ol;tao«i#fioo   •  ods  was   ew  sA 

Ilmal  s*nlaw0O 

bna   ,{SSe,^S  nol;te 

sO  lo  saal*-:.'      . 

8'niaw: 
XarD*ioci  -'tis 


Uillius, 


In   ohevalier   d 'autre    contree 

i-tUi  lucalt   ort   ca   ..ranc  i-enoasmee 

Ft   de   grant   ncm  par  rtalnte    ter.e.  32,152-54) 

Always    sklifnl    -"    r-.r.upt.l  <•    rf.  vir  r'r.rf       (Tswa'n   rfl^llo. 

"v^cut   dolt   eatre   preua   et  heroia, 

Fait-i"!,     •''■    v"?    'Jh -•'.  1  .V '■•    •.-■•^  •■■,  "    f  u      "i?: .  159-60  ) 

And    It    Is   only  after  much  embarraasment   that   Tsnrae   reveals 
to  him  t:aat  he    is   the   obje^at  of  hor  lo^^a: 

"Sire,    30   Dgmlecex  m'alt 

I-:t   si  me   aci    st    jcie   et    aence, 

Onques  horn  ae  mere   ne 

J'amai     ar   Sjnors    3e   vos  non; 

Car  vous   ie^tes    de   tel   renom 

^4ue    je    vouslsi   ame   pie^a. 

Si    tlene   qufe  mon  damage   i   a 

Isi    que    /oi^s   ne   x'aines   :iie. 

Car  VOU3   siles   plus  bele  flrile, 

Au  mien   quldier,    que    jou  r.e   sole."   (V,    32,17^32) 

aavain   ignores    tne    refei-enoe   to   tie    "plus   oele  amie",    a.id 
liMBediatel V  embraces      «'»,    -if*o'"'3ine   to  be  her    "fini": 


Et    si    li    dist   et   creanta 
vue   loiaus   anil    li   sera; 
lit   elle  moult  bien   li    crel.    (V,    32,136-36) 


This    oontlnuator    do  '.<    not    cor?Bnj  t   nimself   to   wn<9ther  or   not 
Gawain   used  force    to    obtain  his   ends; 

Tant/ont  baisle   et   ac'?!'^ 

jue   'iauvalns   la   flour   i   quelll; 

'.'eis   el   livre    n'en   cT 

Cue'  fust  maugre  la  damosele 

uVele  pierdi  nom  de  puoelc, 
Al::As  li  t'rea,  qus3  mot  n'tn  di:;^.. 
Se/ Oauvains  forcne  li  fesiat, 
Dq/nt  ne  fust-il  aiio  iortois 
Et  si  ne  fust  raisons  ne  droia.   (V,  52,191-39; 


&^ 


I.  ^d-2dJ 


1  i9Voi  «i6d.lo  jd  iad^  aid  oii 

.■    ee    a  "J 


(Se-^yXtStC    ,V)   ".eioB   en  uot   ewp    ,'^  «A 


49 

23 
As  we  noted  above    In  our  discussion  of  the  two  versions  in 

the  First  continuation  of  Gawsin's  encounter  with  the 
"Dsmeisele  de  Lis",  it  is  not  t;ie  deed  itself  but  the  use 
of  force  wnich  would  deprive  Gewain  of  his  reputation  as 
"cortols". 

Both  the  third  end  fourth  continuations  by  Menessier 
and  Gerbert  de  Montreuil,  respectively,  which  are  in  reality 
two  differing  conclusions  to  the  Perceval,  the  letter  having 
been  interpolated  between  the  Second  and  Manesaler'a  Continua- 
tion and  its  endinp  sccomr.odated  to  the  situation,  were  written 

24 
many  years  after  the  others   .   These  two  later  continuations 

borrowed  extensively  from  the  great  prose  cycles  that  came 
into  existence  during  the  first  quarter  of  the  thirteenth 
century.   Their  spirit  and  tone  differ  considerably  from  that 
of  Chretien  and  the  first  two  contlnuators;  hew  characters 
and  motifs  find  their  way  Into  the  complex  of  adventures. 
It  *ill,  however,  be  convenient  to  treat  tnese  continuations 
at  this  point,  and  later  examine  the  other  romances  which 
intervene  chronologically,  'i'iiou^   Kaneasier's  w^rk  follows 
that  of  Gerbert  in  the  manuscripts,  we  shall  consider  his 
poem  first  since  it  was  written  before  Gerbert *s. 

Man  easier  preserves  the  high  regard  for  Oawain  we 
have  noted  in  the  preceding  continuations,  and  he  has  his 
store  of  stock  expressions  to  convey  his  esteem: 

.  .  .  ^GewalriJ  tant  estoit  vallans 

.  ue  nus  >:iens  n'ert  en  lul  fallens.  (VI,  37,714-16) 


e* 


SR    r                         fil     Eld    lO  '     6010  X    lO 

gnx^                   X   eritf    ,Ieveoi:  .lb  ow* 

-Bjjnljr                ^1688.-3^!   b '.5    bnoo 32  6.                  3d  beiBloqi^ial  a&ed 

Knoli»aoi~  la  bisqx  x"*" 

e'TsocsTsr'c   wsr   t Bio<latfalJxiOtt  ow;t   cteifl  mW  fans   na*? 
anc*                                    ^ssnl 

8lii  T.ebi  'tis 


50 


And  In  one  adventure  Gawaln  overcomes  a  King  Marj^on  wno  was 
warring  on  a  damsel;  when  the  king  learns  who  his  conqueror 
is,  he  says, 

"Gauvaias, 

.Voult  m'8  hui  Lex  fait  grant  aonor 

'ue  conquis  suis  par  le  ...lllor 

Chevalier  ki  or  solt  en  terre.  .  .  "  {VI,  38,444-47) 

As  in  the  First  Contiauation,  it  is  onlj  wnen  Gawaia  is 

brought  into  contact  with  the  Grail  t£iat  anj  doubts  are  cast  on 

hia  reputation.   Manessier  does  not  bring  Ga«ain  into  much         I 

contact  with  the  Grail,  even  though  ^awain  had  vowed  to  search 

out  the  Grail  castle  and  learn  its  significance.   On  one 

occasion,  however,  a  damsel  conies  to  Arthur's  court  and  upbraids 

Gawain  severely  for  his  failure  to  learn  the  significance  of 

the  Grail.   She  offers  an  intriguing  explanation  for  his 

having  fallen  aaleep  on  his  two  previous  visits  to  the  Grail 

25 
castle  mentioned  above   ;  unfortunately  she  does  not  elaborate: 

"Gauwains,  c'est  ce  que  Je  te  dis, 

Tes  p6cl4s  te  fist  endcxTnir, 

v,ue  ne  te  vot  laidsier  ol'r 

Les  ffrans  j.erveilles  oel  palais.  .  .  "  (VI,  37,640-43) 

Manessier  here  is  obviously  rationalising  Gawain*s  action  which    I 

the  First  Continuator  had  left  unexplained.   In  this  sense, 

then,  his  conception  of  Gawain  is  contradictory;  the  present 

passage  cannot  really  be  reconciled  vlth  those  quoted  above 

in  praise  of  Gawain.   A  further  degradation  of  Gawain  — 

by  implication,  it  is  true  --  is  contained  in  the  fact  tnat 

Perceval,  not  Gawain,  "aohievea'*  the  quest  of  the  Grail  and 


OS 


,eniav0efi" 

loaod.    * 

•jno  flO      .eofiaoi'Uasifi  |i^i  ni8»I  bae  XiaiQ 

^lancfqu  bna  inaos  e'Twifct.'s^  oJ  B&moo  Xeeoiat 
i^Jts  »|i^  nnsAX  o^  oiulia' 
nol;tanaIqxe  iuii£x^ii<lnl   i 
Ila'v 


doirivf  r. 

*9E 


61 


performs  tiiose  feats  *hich  only  the  beat  knlk^ht  in  the  ^orld 

Is  said  to  be  able  to  do,  suoh  as  Join  perfectly  the  t#o 

jieces  of  the  broken  sword, 

26 
With  the  oontinuatlon  of  Oerbert  de  Montreull   ,  we 

clearly  come  to  a  man  who  has  attached,  either  independently 

or  drawing  on  other  sources,  certain  explicit  meanings  to  the 

Ca»ol3  story.   For  Herbert,  Perceval  la  a  mocol  of  chastity, 

even  .'eavj'n^T;  the  beautiful  Bloncheflour  a  vlr^^ln  on  their 

wedding  night  until  a  voice  from  heaven  informs  him  that 

Intercourse  between  len  and  wife  is  lawful.   But,  influenced 

by  the  previous  contlnuators  as  .veil  as  by  other  sources, 

Gerbert  pictures  Gewain  as  en  opporcunistic  libertine.   Gerbert 

does,  of  course,   ive  Ga«aln  full  marks  for  pnysical  courage 

and  prowess;  speaking  of  Tristan,  he  says, 

Et  Tristans,  qui  tant  preus  estoit 

Toz  les  autres  d'armes  psssoit: 

Nus  ne  s'i  prent,  ce  est  del  mains, 

Fors  sanz  plus  me  aire  Gavains.  (3759-62) 

Gerbert  here  preserves  the  characteristic  caution  shown  by 

all  the  other  verse  romancers  waen  they  speak  of  the  prowess 
of  a  particular  hero  —  Gawain  must  always  be  excepted  from 
the  ranks  of  that  hero's  inferiors.   Gerbert  apparently 
was  not  familiar  *ith  all  the  manusci'ipt  versions  of  the 
First  Continuation,  for  he  attributes  to  Perceval  the  achieving 
of  the  adventure  of  the  "Eamolsele  de  Montesclaire",  an 
adventure  which  Gewain  accoaiplishes  in  NIanuscript  E.   Gerbert 's 
preference  for  t'ercevsl  is  seen,  then,  in  that  episode,  as 


Id 


hZ'i.j.     -iM    .:tl    Ji.:;.Iry<    ^cjJ    -hU   y Zao   .'olA^    Klael   aeOuS    fiif^olTa: 


as 

\,X;inai)fi»q0foiil   idrJJ's-    .r:rri::eu?p,   sarf   c--Js.   naa  rci    ©moo  ■^Iisolo 


^ 


well  8S  ia  otuera.   In  Gerbert'3  e/es.  It  is  CiaA'ain's  fondness 
for  vcraen  which  causes  his  troubles,  x     8  fabliau-like  series 
of  adventures  and  misadventures  revolving  around  Gawain's 
amorous  encounter  «l th  the  beautiful  damsel 

Kl  Blolesine  est  apelee  (13,893), 

Gawain  is  corr.pelled  to  fi-^ht  numerous  battles  si  ply  because 
he  could  not  resist  her.   She  was,  of  course,  very  beautiful, 
though  there  may  be  a  hint  of  boasting  and  more  than  a  hint 
of  flattery  in  Ga.vein's  opening  gambit  to  her: 

"C'onques  mais  si  bele  ne  vi 

Con  vous  estes,  par  Saint  Davi, 

S'en  al  vefl  plus  d'un  millier.  .  .  "  (12,427-29) 

Though  the  eents  of  Lnis  episode  attain  a  nilarity 
equalling  that  of  Chaucer's  Miller's  Tale,  we  shall  content 
ourselves  with  Gerbert's  comment  on  Gawain's  actions: 


Et  mains  horn  de  tel  chose  coite 

A  fa  ire  qui  son  mal  covolte; 

Ensi  fait  me  sire  Gavains.  .  .  (12,483-85) 


It  is  only  in  this  episode  that  Gerbe-rt  devotes  pnj   great 
length  to  an  adventtire  In  which  Gawain  playa  a  leading  role, 
and  the  implication  most  definitely  is  that  Oavaln  meets 
ill  fortune  because  he  is  uncnaste,  while  Perceval  succeeds 
in  all  his  adventures  because  of  his  chastity.   Then  Gawain 
la  led  before  the  coffin  which  only  the  best  knight  in  the 
world  can  open,  he  is  unable  to  raise  the  lid: 


Sd 


ertlasb  >aiJso  £ieliiw  a^mxai  tol 

lesoisb  It'll cftiaecf  9di  ri^  i»  1^;^^yoone  auoncata 


E>a0«&a€f  x^<l'^s  aeXi^dvci  Buonaoajfl  ;fii^il  oJ  b«XIeqno«L  si  nlew»0 
,l£ili4f^aetf  %*:«v   «e»auoo  lo  ^es«  sets      ••xad  tf»l«a«i  <ton  fol0O«  ffil 


i&6   le    BJaat  e 


V  -..^ t  -  o  5  :■  t  iii  »*.v  «t)    d'i  J 


«3 


Cna   I'einonerant   por   savoir 

S'il  por^^oit  di^nice  avoir 

Que  eel  huchel  pedat  ovrir 

Et  cha  qu'il  a  ens  desccvrir, 

Mais  ainc  n'en  pot  venlr  a  cnief.  .  .   10,803-7) 

Peroeval,  however,    aoea  npve  Zi\e    "aignite",  and  even  rescues 
Ga*8in  from  the  prison  into  which  he  had  been  cast  on  his 
failiire  to  open  the  coffin.   It  seems  prci-able  that  Gerbert 
included  e  Gawain  adventure  in  ais  ccntinuation  only  as  a 
foil  to  the  adventures  of  rerceval,  and  he  exploited  the  one 
characteristic  previous  writers  eocorded  Gawain  —  fondness 
for  women  --  which  would  heighten  his  idealized  conception 
of  Perceval's  chastitj  and  indeed,  his  *iiole  conception  of 
the  sir^-nif icance  of  tne  (Jrail  quest. 

fiojtances  witr^  Ga.vain  as  bero 
having  seen  how  tne  character  of  Gawain  *as  treated 
b/  Chretien,  a  few  of  his  contemporaries,  snd  the  continuators 
of  the  rercevel,  let  us  now  look  at  those  romances  in  which 
Gawain  plays  a  leading  role.   The  closing  years  of  the  twelfth 
and  tne  early  years  of  the  thirteenth  centuries  ere  the  period 
of  the  greet  flourishing  '^f  Arthurian  romance,  both  in  verse 
and  in  prose.   It  is  al'ost  Incredible  that  the  great  prose 
cycles,  with  theix'  closely  Interwoven  and  interminable 
adventures,  should  develop  within  fifty  years  after  Chretien 
composed  his  Perceval ,  ano   it  is  teatiraojiy  both  to  the 
amount  of  leisure  at  the  disposal  of  tne  aristocratic  society 
for  whom  tnese  works  were  intended  and  to  tne  indefatiiiable 


&d 


• 


fc                  ,;.o  0«ocf  bail   ^  :'ii;J  moil  nlBfraO 

6:-o                    ^oIqxe    &t.   tris    ^LBxec-  :>e   aaJ 
BBe:  i^i     i   --  nl««iBO  be&ioooa   8neJ;'rtf'   t 

aoljfqoonoo   besllasbl   elci  neirfglerf  bXjJov  uoinw   --   ae   ow  to 

lo  floliqeonjo    el                                *                 '  iBvsoieT    **. 

ba^taaii    Baw  nlauiei)  lo  •xadaa^acia   eci^   wod  ftsaa  gAlvaii 

eiojJe.i.  3    jflal 

doiiiv  al  J»vaonai   »ri4  lo 

ciill«w;t   edi   lo  e  3   df^^*^  niawe^O 

a    >:•  :-^  .    ■^Iiaa 


?I/*B      j   ■),-!! 


54 


industry,  as  well  as  to  the  degree  of  literary  skill  of 
the  writers  who  served  this  audience.   Tiiat  Gawain's  fame 
as  tne  model  of  courtesy  was  widespread  in  northern 
Prance  in  this  period  is  shown  by  the  very  caaualness  of 
the  reference  to  him  in  tne  little  play  on  the  prodigal 
son  theme,  Gourtois  d 'Arras,  wnich  has  come  down  to  us  from 
the  end  of  the  twelfth  century   ,   Pourette,  one  of  tne 
tavern  trollops  who  helps  to  *j:u11  Gourtois  out  of  his 
patrimony,  says  Ironically, 

"Ore,  pute,  de  I'enivrer, 

Car  nous  a^ons  tPov6  GovainJ 

BaJ  11  fait  le  cortois  vilaini  (246-48) 

It  is  tnis  very  popularity  which,  according  to  Meyer, 

28 
editor  of  the  fragmentary  Enfanees  Gauvain   ,  led  to  the 

29 
composition  of  tne  Enfanees,  Steyer's  views   ,  expressed 

in  a  discussion  of  the  date  of  tne   poem,  ax^e  interesting: 

Je  ne  vols  pas  de  reison  de  placer  le  poe^e  a  une  epoque 
plus  ancienne  que  le  commonce;nent  uu  X.III  siecla.   £t 
c'est  Is  conclusion  qu '  jn  eQt  pu,  avec  ^^I'sade  cnance  de 
tomber  juste,  formuler  a  prlcrl.  .11  faut  qu'un  lieroa 
febuleux  soit  deja  parvenu  S  la  celebrite  pour  qu'on 
imagine  de  raconter  son  enfance.   II  a  dQ  se  passer  pour 
les  romans  de  le  Table  ronde  ce  qui  s 'observe  d'une  faijon 
SL  evidente  pour  1 'epopee  carolingienne,  ou  les  poemes 
qui  raccatent  les  "enfanees"  ce  holaad,  d'Ogier,  de  Vivien, 
etc.,  oat  ete  compose  lorsque  la  x'enonjiaee  do  oes  heros 
otalt  bien  etablie  par  d'autres  poemes.   Oauvain  etait 
I'un  ces  plus  illustres,  le  plus  illustre  peut-Stre, 
ces  chevaliers  d'Artn  r,   Presq.e  tous  les  rorifans  de  la 
Table  r-;nde  lul  font  j'uer  un  rSle  brillant.   II  6tait 
tentant  d'sjouter  un  cnapitre  a  son  histoire  en  racontant 
les  exploits  de  son  enfance. 

A  gooci  case  can  be  made  out  that  t.iis  poem  represents  the 

30 
re-handling  of  njaterial  wiich  antedates  Chretien's  lerceval   ; 


• 


55 


however  that  may  be,  iV.eyer  ia  pr'cbably  co.Tect  in  his  dating 

of  trie  poem  In  the  fopm  we  possess  It.   The  ^nfances  ia  a 

fragmentary  worV',  not  exceeding  600  vs>3.,  but  a  sin;.llar 

story  Is  ore  served  in  the  Latin  prose  work,  De  Ortu  Waluuanli, 

31 
and  In  the  prcse  t^erlesvous   .   The  Enfences  relates  that 

Oawain  Is  the  son  of  an  illicit  love  affair  between  Lot  and 

Arthur's  sister  Moroades,   The  lady,  desiring  to  conceal 

her  pregnancy  from  hter  brother,  retires  to  an  isolated 

I 
castle,  "Bel  RepalreJ".   Her  meld  has  a  lover  in  tne  neighbouring 

knight,  nauvain  le  Brun,  and  he  has  the  child  baptized, 

giving  it  his  own  hame : 

Li  petis  anfes  cont  je  di 
l^ue  Gau.  tint  en  ses  lilens 
N'eitt  pas  encore  crestilens, 
3.8 i-1  11  i's  felt  c-estiiener 
Et  (lieu,    par  non  apeler. 

(First  Pragnient,  132-36) 

he  taen  sets  tne  cfilld  acrift  on  tna  sea  in  a  cask. 

Eventually  Gawain  is  taken  to  home  where  he  is  encrusted  to 

the  pcpe  for  hi'8  upbringing,  there  receiving  tiie  best  of 

educations : 

Kal  afaltles  ne  fu  de  rien, 
Mais  molt  oortois  et  debonaire 
Si  que  nus  n^en   peut  tr.al  retrelre. 
Bian  afaltles  fu  si  de  tout 
Que  setir  sciea  tout  de  b.»ut 
'1'ot  .j.  vallet  de  son  valor 
3n  la  contree  n'en  I'onor 
<e  plus  franc  ne  de  tel  servlsse.  (Second 
Fregraent,  14S-55) 

On  cominfj|t  of  age,  he  is  knigi*ted  by  the  pope,  the  autiior 


3d 

s   Uj.    a  a: 

baa  :i   ivol 

baiaXcei  as  oi  eo^iiJaa    ,a£  . 
gaiiuodd^Isfl   eili  nl  levoX   a  eȣl  blora    ioti      .  's-iitq^.i  132"    ,eiU2so 
.besidqied  blido  9iii  %mA  ed  r 


56 


barely  mentioning  his  prowess: 

Lt  je  m'en  passe  as36a  brlement 
D'econter  sa  cnevalerie, 
-Vials  puis  fu  de  preat  seignorie 
Et  redoutes  en  malnte  tere. 

{  Se  cjond  Fra  gment ,  404-07  ; 

Late.',  he  speaks  a  aln  of  Gawaln  In  connection  with  tournaments, 
Gaweln 

Ki  tant  ert  evenans  et  beaus, 
Que  tous  li  mens  de  lui  parloit; 
Car  a  tornoiement  n'aloit 
K'll  n'en  etist  trestot  le  prls; 
M'elnc  ne  fu  retenua  ne  :C1b. 

(becono  Fragment,  L37-41J 

Shortly  after  tnis  tae  second  fragment  of  the  poem  bx'eaks  off. 

As  one  *ould  certainly  expect,  tnere  la  no  question  of  this 

author's  very  high  regard  for  '-'awain. 

The  work  we  are  to  examine  next.  La  Vengeance  HafeUldel 
32 
by  Raoul  de  Houdenc   ,   gives  many  Indications  of  belnc^  in 

reality  en   anti-romance.   Ihis  is  tne  only  Arthurian  romance 

to  my  knowledge  In  which  King  Arthur  waits  in  vain  for  aoano 

marvel  to  occur  befcre  sitting  down  to  dinner,  and  consequently 

he  must  po  without  his  me«il.   There  is,  too,  e    cynical 

attitude  to  women  which  is  quite  foreign  to  the  spirit  of 

"amour  courtois",  and  on  one   occasion  tiawain  expresses  a 

sentiment  completely  out  of  keeping  with  tne  usual 

chivalrous  idealism.   The  plot  is  comprised  of  a  long  ana 

complicated  series  of  adventures  relating  to  the  avenging  of  a 


dd 


rX*i«d 


fll<8V4d 

,8uaeci  ^d  ei 

ilolar'  n 
;ai'xq   eX  ;*ojJ8o';i    i£j;o   na'ti  i- 

ftliid   lo  fioXdet  oXuont 

Xeblw^ieH  ow   erfT 


57 


dead  knight,  Raguldel,  *.io  a.-rives  at  Arthur's  court  at  ^aerleon 
In  a  mysterious  boat.   In  his  body  is  the  truiicheon  of  a  apear 
which  only  his  avenger  can  witndraw  Trom  the  body  and  which 
must  be  used  by  the  avenger,  and  on  his  fingers  are  rings 
which  can  only  be  withdrawn  by  the  knight  who  is  to  sid 
the  avenger.   An  essay  to  pull  out  the  lance,  even  Lancelot 


failing: 


Lanselos  dou  Lac  vint  apres, 

L©  tronchon  prent  de  ^rant  esles, 

S'l  sache,  et  ne  le  pot  avoir. 

"Grant  mervele  pot  :.  ;  veoir," 

Ce  dist  tote  la  baronnie, 

"Lansselos  dou  Lac  n'en  a  mieJ" 

iviolt  en  furent  tot  esbahi 

:<>iant  Lanseloa  i  ot  failli.   (253-6'- J 


Incidentally,  this  is  the  first  extended  reference  to  Lancelot, 

outside  of  Chretien's  Lancelot,  tiiet  we  meet  ffith  in  any  of  the 

33 
verse  romances  up  to  this  date   .   It  remains  for  Gawain  to 

withdraw  the  lance,  to  the  joy  of  his  companions: 

Le  tron^on  prist  molt  doucer;Gn.t, 

Ne  sacha  pas  si  dureraent 

Come  li  autre  crent  sachie: 

A  lui  le  tralst;  molt  on  sont  lis 

Tult  si  ai7,i  qui  or.t  veil 

^u^    il  8  le  i-i'onoon  ':H.    (279-84) 


It  is  perhaps  in  keeping  with  the  anti-r-o.-^antic  spirit  of  this 
work  that  Gawain  sets  out  on  his  quest  of  vengeance  without 
taking  the  lance  by  which  that  vengeance  must  be  accomplished: 

Mais  tant  se  haste  qud  il  lait 

Le  tron<j  n  oont  '1  doit  ven^^ier 

Le  mot't.   Ci  a  grant  enconbrier; 

Car  sans  le  tron^on  de  le  lance 

N'en  prendroit  il  nule  /enhance. 

II  s'en  vait,  si  I'a  ouolie.  (544-49) 


rd 


•  ,      ^  _       -  .  i        ■        .  .       _     ^  .    _  -      -^  ..  _  !::> 

t  '.    --.-■■I    \o    oeBU  ~ 


Jtilsdee  doi 


53 


In  his  maay  advonturea  ;/hich  make    up  this  first  pert  of  ais 
quest,  Gawain  overcoites  a  "lioir  Chevaliei*"  who  aated  him 
because  Gawain  ov^ercame  the  "Noir  Chevalier"  at  a  tourney, 
thereby  gaining  the  love  of  the  "Pucele  del  Gaut  Destroit". 
When  Maduc,  the  "Nolr  Chevalier",  learns  Gawain' s  identity, 
he  says: 

"Je  cuidai  que  par  chevalier 

Pior  de  vos  fuisse  coaquis, 
ysr     03  ne  per  je  pas  men  pris; 
Vos  estes  11  uiiudres  ^qu'on  ncaune] 
Se  tos  li  aions  ert  [cojie]  .1.  honme 
Centre  vos  asanbles  la  fors, 
N'ares  vos  garde.  .  .  "  (2738-44) 

Gawain  also  escapes  death  at  tae  hands  of  the  "Pucele  del 
Gaut  Cestrolt",  who,  although  madly  In  love  with  Gawain, 
does  not  seem  to  cere  wnether  she  has  hlir.   dead  or  alive,  and 
had  arranged  a  neat  little  guillotine  aiecaanlsm  for  decapitating 
him,  a  mechanism  which  she  proudly  shows  him  under  the 
Impression  that  he  is  Key.   En  route  to  Arthur's  court  to  procure 
aid  for  Maduc,  who  is  beseiged  by  tae  "yucile",  Gawain  rescues 
a  damsel  from  two  knights,  one  of  whom  wss  about  to  kill  her. 
When  this  knicht,  Lico/icon,  learns  wlio  his  opponent  is, 
he  says: 


Li  cola  garandist  bien  le  non, 

^ui  si  ^rens  m'a  este  donnes  .  .  . 

Sel   settsse    si    cout'or      sal, 

Je   ne   ni '  i    fuisse   ni.i   ajcstas.    (3542-49) 


lie   gives    jp   the   damsel,    xdala,    x,o   Gawain  wxio   is   very   ^luch 
attracted    to  her: 


ea 


al/i  To  .^"^p  .«»  vrsra 


s  "^de'ie  ~ 


nail  r.ip  iBbiuL    ©T," 

,ai  i  Eov  sb  ac  I S 


fac. 


Xeb   e  d   OBia  nlavaO 

baa   ,avtli  no  bseb  Kid  Bftil  ede  ?-  t!.it>ii^*t  Son  9  99h 

•■■■19    V:It  rfjotrfi^    il8  ' 

oo^q  oc 

oqqfC   a. 


59 


Meaipe   Oavaina   qui   descent 

Oste   son  elne,    al   I'enbrace, 

Et   cele   le  bais^e   en   ia   lece 

C^ui   vers  lul   s'adrece  et  avaiice. 

\jn  poi   d'amor  el   cuer  11    lance 

lot  errenment   qu'il   I'acola, 

L 'amors   de   11   vera   lul   vole; 

Molt  estolL  bel€    et  molt   11    slat.    13576-63) 


They  ride   off   to  lodce   at  Ydain's   oaatle   overn_.:ht;    when 
Gawaln   sees    it,    he    says: 

.    .    .    "Cui   est    cil   castials 

.■'li    tent   est    bien  asis   et   Maus?" 

"Sire,    11  est  miens,    et  voacre  eat   11!" 

"Vest  re   :;.erchi,    Ida  in.'"   fait   11 

Qui    pl\i8   I'eiEOit   qu^    ele    lul.    (3655-59) 

Gawaln,    of   course,    is  not   a^are   tiiat   Ydain   is   an   opportunistic 
female,    and   that   night   they   spend   together   pleasantly    (3690-92). 
As   taey   proceed    towards   Arthur's    court,    Gawain  becores  more 
and  ncre   enamoured   of  her: 

Se  meslre   Gavains   1 'ama 

ler  natin  quant   il  le  trova. 

Or   I'ainuic   plus,    voire    .vi.    tans.'    (3821-23) 

Later  on   In   the    story,    Gawaln  and    iceln  meet   a   knight   who 
claims   Ydain  from  Gawaln;    zlven  the   op. ortunity   to    -hoose 
between   them,    she    chooses   the    stranger,    feigning-    indignation 
that   Gawaln  would   make   of  her  a    "ju   parti".      Her   real   reason, 
however,    is   far  different,    based   on   the   fickleness   of  her 
lascivious   nature    (4488-4501).      When   this   stranger  knight 
returns    to   claim   Ydain's   dogs  from  Gewain,    he    is   killed    in   the 
resulting  duel.      Ydain  then   tries    to  make   up   to    .awain 


84 


•& 


;  ft  }  f 


:8X*8  »ti   ^il   Bees  nlB«eO 


"III  iz'. 

XI 


aol3  8193  e 


60 


once  more,  but  £iis  •yes  nave  ueea  opened  and  in  spite  of 
her  protestetic  a,  he  rer-aias  ce  l.'iitely  jgoI  toward  l^QC 


" se  Je  I'amalsse, 

Je  i'or  lea  ciens  ne  retorneiaae, 

Et  quant  le  fls  s  vos  Jester 

Savoie  je  bien  aens  douter 

Blaua  sires,  que  vca  I'cclri^a." 

"Tot  per  noient  le  me  diridsi 

Err6sl  erris!  Je  vos  crol  bien. 

Vca  le  feaistea  por  men  bien, 

Msis  vos  ne  le  quldastes  pss."  (4777-S5) 


At  the  ccurt  of  Baudema^ua,  Gawain  fi^'hta  Druidain  for  tue 
damael  Zdain,  oeiag  victorious: 


De  voir  aaves  qud  11  avint: 

La  u  mesxre  Geveina  viat, 

Li  cana  eat  vencua  et  paaaes  (4823-25); 


but  no  longer  having  a<\j   faith' in  her,  ae  i^eadily  gives  nee 
up  to  his  vanquished  adversary: 

"Je  ne  vuel  xaia  la  dame  avoir."  (4844) 

The  cynical  attitude  towe.'ds  woir.en  *hich  f,e   find  exuroaaed 

here  is  x*are  In  tie  Ola  r'rench  verse  romaacea  on  Arthurian 

themes,  though  it  appears  onne  more  in  Le  ChavQlier  5  1 'Epee, 

34 
a  romance  we  are  to  consider  below  .  When  Oewain  enters 

the  pilotleas  boat,  alrr.ilar  to  that  wtiich  brought  Raguidel'a 

body  to  Caerleon,  he  ia  nai-ried  off  to  Scotland,  and  p 

particularly  bleak  pnc  barren  part  of  the  country  iL  is. 

his  reaction  is  moat  uncnivalrlc : 


OS 


^aelcf  nom  100    h 


,;tnJtv  B> 


tX^saiavba   becteiupaftv   ei 


br^-t    7-r    :ir*dT   r-^r.off  5?)-ewc:t   ebfj ■♦':?:♦  s    .fcolrrxo    flrfT 


61 

'Var  fol",  fait  il,  "or  me  retie^ne 

tcr"  le  plua  fol  qui  onques  fust, 

Ne  qufl  onquea  mta  au3  hon  fusti"  (4948-50) 

This  se.-itlaient,  .vhile  it  agrees  .vltn  the  uaibivalent  tone  tiiC 
author  preserves  throughout  nis  Ar.iole  poem,  la  not  at  ell  in 
keep-ing  with  the  ideals  of  caivalry  one  is  accustomed  to  encounter 
in  Arthurian  romance.   After  many  further  adventures,  t*awain 
finally  meets  in  battle  Ouengasouain,  the  sla/er  of  Kaguidel. 
Guengasouain  kills  Uawain's  horse  in  the  duel,  and  Ider  -- 
h»  who  removed  tne  rings  from  i^aguidel's  fingers  at  the  begitining 
of  the  romance  and  nence  ia  slated  to  sld  in  the  ven^^eance  -- 
sees  Gewaln  on  foot  f ollowin  ;  Guengasouain: 

Lors  sot  enfln,  ^^uent  il  lo  voit, 

<iu'il  avoient  Joste  rnsanble. 

De  monsignor  Gavsin  li  ssnble 

Merveille  qui  est  soatus, 

Lors  dist:   "Li  pris  est  abfitns 

De  miller  cnevaller  del  raonde .' "  (5562-67) 

Later,  however,  Gewaln  manages  to  slay  Guengasouain,  taereby 

winning  the  letter's  caughter  wno    is  really  in  love  with 

Ider.   After  some  reluctance,  Gawain  gives  up  his  rik,hts  to 

lier.   It  is  difficult  to  know  how  to  rejJiard  tais  curious  woric  , 

but  the  author  does  aaccrd  Gawain  the  high  place  *e  have  seen 

him  occupying  in  the   worics  we  have  studied  previously.  Tinere 

is,  of  course,  no  hint  of  moral  reprobation  against  Gawain  for 

his  relations  with  Ydein,  t.iough  she  comes  under  the  lash  of 

the  author's  cyalcisrt.   That  Gswain  should  regard  himself  as  a  fool 

for  travellin<£  in  the  enchanted  boat  is  a  piece  of  self-revelation 

a  disillusioned  modern  would  neartily  agree  *lth,  but  in  Liie 


9ns,  !-:> 


iJ^Vj.ClE-*;    9>..J 


Ji    all  z&    eiaT 


3£ixnnl39d  eti^s   3r  1  8'Ie5'  "  bevomei   oriv. 

:nlauo8ai§n»uO  i^nlwoIXoi   Jool   no  nlawaO   esoi 

Idnse    ; 

8oJ8cfa   ctae   eliq    j 

vdonsni    jniBMoessfleuC   \aXa   oJ    aeyanim  niawsi*    tisvawoi 
xi^l'  fl  xll^9i  al  odw  ri«^xi^0«b  a.«nad;tal  ad;} 


91Si 


68 


world  of  chivsli'y  such  Inougiits  vre   hei^etloal  end  never   ex- 
pressed,  f.aoul  believes  enovi'/li  In  ;.l8  story  tc  carry  it  tnrough 
his  aix  thousand  lines,  but  in  view  of  the  flavouring  ne  nas 
seasoned  it  with,  we  sre  at  a  loss  to  know  wnat  misrht  nave 

Buatained  his  powers. 

35 

Le  Chevalier  a  I'Epee   ,  a  brief  work  composed  some 

J5 

time  before  1210   ,  is  comprised  of  two  elements:   the 

folk-lore  theme  of  the  Trr.perlous  Host,  and  the  fabliau-type 

of  story  we  met    ,:.  _   Vengeance  fla^uidel,  Gswaln,  travelling 

through  a  fcreat  when  ni--ht  falls,  is  put  up  for  tne  night 

by  a  host  wnom  he  dlsccvera  he  can  only  contradict  on  pein 

cf  death.   Obeying  his  nost'a  commands,  he  ,oes  tc  bed  for 

the  night  with  the  host's  beautiful  daughter.   She  warns 

him  of  a  sword  wr-.ich  will  fly  cut  of  Its  scabbard  ana  kill 

him  If  he  attempts  to  ttiake  love  to  her;   Ga.v-air:  is  distressed, 

fearln.  to  -e  shamed  for  ev«?r: 

Se  Dieus  done  qu'il  s'en  revietne 

Jemes  arriere  en  38  fiontrpe, 

Ja  ceste  chose  n'lert  celee 

Cvie  11  ne  soit  partot  seV 

Q,")'j.l  evra  sol  a  sol  jefl 

Aruitle  o  un<^  p"cele 

Qui  tant  est  avenanz  et  bele. 

Si  r;^  e    ono' es  rien  ne  li  fist, 

lie   6e  rien  ne  li  ccntredist 

Pors  le  menace  d 'une  «8  '0e 

'^>ii  ce  nelui  n'ert  adesee; 

Si  sercit  rr^B    tcs  jet*   acni 

Se  el  li  eschapoit  Issi.  (624-36) 

It    ia    cLarscteristI  r.    of    triis    L^    e    of    story    that    Oawain's 
sliame   wculd    result    ..         ;.l3   failure   to   take  acvantapte   of 


^a 


x.^.   "Tsvjn 


Avlcio   1o  bLnow 

d:i  xle  eld 
-i    bonr,ES=.B 

^vvcj    bid    ^t 


5—,-  -f -:? e  *  frf 3"!;    ?,-f :r    ^n  = 


lot  befi    ?:t   5  .3bnsTjv  ?dO      .diB»f>  lo 

. bsaeend^eib  el  nl«w8P      jiail  od'   s^ol   c 


63 


tue    situation.  l.e   does  rr.eke  two  etteoipt^  to  have  his  will 
of  the  girl  and  is  slightly  wounded  eacn  time,  finally 
giving  up  in  despair.   Next  morning  the  host  is  quite 
surprised  to  find  Gawein  still  alive  and  explains  why  Gaweln 
was  not  killed;  tue   sw-rd  will  not  aestroy  the  beat  kai^iht 
in  the  world: 


"Irestos  les  ohevallers  do  mont 

o.vi  aventuc'es  que  re  vont 

PeUssent  en  coat  lit  geslr 

lit    toz    les  convenlst  morlc, 

Un  et  un,  tant  qu'il  aven'ist 

Que  toz  11  --r.i8udres  i  venist. 

Li  brans  lo  me  devolt  eslire, 

Car    11  no  devolt  pas  ocirre 

Lou  mlaudi'e  quant  il  i  vendroit; 

Et  si  est  osprovez  a  droit 

rvU'il  vos  s  3-ioisl  au  mellor,"  (753-63) 


And  the  sword,  we  know,  is  following  a  long  establlsned 
and  wortny  tradition  wnen  it  selects  Gawaln  as  tne  best 
knight  in  the  nocld.      The  next  evening  Gawaln  is  once  more 
bedded  down  with  the  girl,  and  this  time  the  sword  does  not 
interfere.   Later,  while  coaveylng  the  girl  and  .er  do 's 
to  Arthur's  court,  Gawaln,  armed  only  wltn  sword,  anleld, 
and  lance,  meets  a  knight  who  desires  to  carry  the  damsel 
off.   hether  t.ian  wait  for  Ga^ain  to  put  on  ijis  armour,  this 
knight  proposes  that  the  damsel  choose  between  them;  she 
does,  and   chooses  the  stranger  knight.   The  dogs  follow 
Gawaln,  .vho  remarks  cynically'  ; 


"wue  nature  et  amor  de  ciilen 

Valt  raiauz  que  de  feme  ne  fait."  (1108-09) 


c» 


i~^nc-  .':l?~8sb  nl   qu  sB^vij 

sd;}    nl 

itiom  c 

,  .  \ic.ai    J 8 
.*<-:'}9ve   II' 

,  :♦  ■  :  ;■  7V    1    f 

- 1    en lA-iO    1  u 
« .^     r  »    . .     ■ , 


6«ci« Jt Id a^ «•  9«oX  8  ^IvoIIol  si    ««  .^noiiB  ati^  boA 

^      .9nttli9ixxl 


64 


When  the  stranger  knight  attempts  to  retrieve  the  dogs, 
Gawain  kills  nlm.   The  dasisel  Lhen  asks  G8«aln  tc  look  after 
her  once  more,  but  he  refuses,  sajin^: 

"Gil  qui  fainte  et  fauae  la  Lrueve 

Et  Is  cherist  et  sin^.e  et  garce, 

Je  puis  Lieua  ne  1  aic  eu  sa  t^HCOQ,    "  (1163-S3) 

This  latter  incident  is  clearly  Dorrowed  from  La  Venejeance 

haguidel;  coupled  with  the  Imperious  Host  taeme.  It  makes 

37 
an  amusing  tale  >*hose  main  merit  is  not  solely,  aa  Bruce 

clains,  its  brevity.   As  the  best  knight  in  the  world,  Gawain 
must  understandably  be  cnosen  as  iha  knight  who  can  pess  the 
sword  test;  in  all  probability,  Gawain's  reputation  as  a     lady- 
killer  *-as  also  operating  here,  as  well  as  in  the  second 
incident,. 

Gawfiin  fla/3  a  leading  role  in  Le  Mule  Jjam   Fraln, 

a  suort  romance  of  the  early  tairteenth  century  by  Paien  tie 

38 
Uaialeres   ,   This  *ork,  more  intarestint:  for  its  relation 

to  a  number  of  poems  center jng  around  i,uti   beheading  game  lisFtx 
for  any  intrinsic  merit,  relates  tne  scory  of  Ga«ain's  adven- 
tures in  retrieviuei  tne  bricle  oelongin^  to  "la  oamoisela 
a  la  B.ui*e"  (1154)  «^o  arrived  at  Arthur's  court  in  search  of 
aooMone  who   would  retrieve  it  for  tier.      As  in  a.aaj   oti^er  vortcs, 
particularly  t..ose  of  Giiretien,  Gaxain  and  rLay  are  ^et  up 
as  foils  one  to  ux.d  ot.i  r,  and  :ti:xQre   Aay  fails,  ie*aia 
succeeds.  Kay  undertakes  first  cne  task  of  retrieving  the 
bridle,  but  retima  nome  through  fear  when  he  reacnes  the 


»d 


tBgob 


•Vfeiiij    tsl    &et- i.1    J"    o3'  'si    ':jt     Ilr" 
(88-6toIX)   "    .eb-'    .. 

nJtBwBO   (blnow  adi  al  309 ten  it-.  :d  Bit    «BitxBXo 

•d^   BBaq   oBo   odv  ;ldslln(   BdJ    ^  scteiBbmr   ;^Bt;in 

•Xbal    B  BB  aol^Miuqen  b^aIbybO    ^xitlidadotq  IXb  at    i^usi  biows 


'tijJe<i    Jud 


65 


:'ivar  spanned  only  bj  a  narcoff    iron  rod.   Gawaln,  through 
his  courage,  la  much  more  successful,  and  reaches  the  enchanted, 
revolving  castle  where  he  under, .oes  man/  trials,  among  tnem 
the  "jeu  parti"  with  a  shaggy  "vllein".   The  latter  demands 
that  Ga.vain  cut  off  his  need  that  evening,  and  next  morning 
he  /vill  -^eturn  the  same  doubtful  favcur  to  Oawain.  After 
striking  off  the  head  of  the  "vilain"  and  aeein,,   tue  headless 
body  bear  the  head  off  into  tho  collar,  Ganrain,  with 
considerable  aplo.r.b,  sleeps  sounaly  tiio  vnole  aignt: 

Et  .G,  s'on  est  retornez. 

Si  s'est  couchlez  isnelement, 

Jusqu'au  jor  dort  aeflremant.  (696-96) 

The  folio-  ..  ifiOi' .  .'iK  the  "vilain"  returns  to  demand  his 
half  of  the  bargain,  but  does  not  strike  Gavai-. 's  ;.roffered 
neck  because  of  tiie  latter 'a  lo/eltj  : 

^ais  n'a  talent  de  lul  tochier, 

Por  ce  } -<3   snout   loiax  estoit 

Et  4ae  bien  tenu  11  avoit  .   ...v 

Ce  lu'il  11  s:  it  -reante.  ( 630-5 'w 

Later  Lia*ain  is  c  itpelled  to  fig-^it  a  kaignt  ^no  nad  noped 
to  aad  Gawaln's  .aead  to  the  l.upresoive  array  decoratini  the 
castle  walls;  after  suffering  defeat  et  Gawain's  hands,  he 
reveals  his  plan  to  f^awaln: 

".  .  .  Ausi  ^ui  oie  J6  tol  faire. 

Mais  soz  ciel  tal  chevalier  n'e.   (344-45; 

In  t.ie  final  atagas  of  oue  slo.'j,    Gaweln  Liaeta  tne  lady  of 


toilA    .nla«sC  od   -i- -  -  ^- .     .-se  dridmw^e''   Ifl*   erf 


-^r-f: 


r-rC-dS'S)    .Cfneme^Dse 


b©' 


V  .1  r  ftT  ,-  r     f, )  „  .•:,  4 ;;  £.  r    <5r{  j    "^  r     p.  -^ ^j  f?  - 


jia«v»i 


66 


the  castle  wno,  obviously  impressed  with  his  prowess,  offers 
herself  and  all  her  possessions  to  him.   Gavraln,  with  a  res- 
traint  not  ci.aracterlstlc  of  most  of  the  tales  he  figures  1::, 
refuses  both  offers: 


"S'il  vos  pialaoit  a  demorer 

faienz,  e  aeignor  vos  pr-endrole, 

St  tot  cest  chastal  vos  rendrola 

Dont  j'6  encore  .X.XXVITI." 

"Dan*,  "fet  il,''ae  vos  enultl 

Tnrt  in'est,  ce  v.  s  di  par  ma  fci, 

;.ue  J4k  sold  a  la  cort  lo  rol 

..■je  ensl  l»8i  mis  en  covent."  (972-79 


On  his  return  to  Artnur's  court  witn  the  much  souf;ht  after 
bridle,  Gawaln  is  amply  rewarded  by  the  damsel: 

La  pucele  en  ses  braz  lo  prent, 

SI  lou  balse  plus  de  .c.  foiz  .  .  .  (1060-31) 

Palen  de  Malsieres  ^as  obviously  acquainted  wltn  the  tradlt'oa 

concerning  Gawaln's  position  as  the  best  /cnigijt  of  ^^rtnur's 

court,  though  he  never  offers  any  direct  ateteaient  of  iiis 

high  regard  for  Gawain.   By  placing  Gawain  end  Kay  in  contrast, 

he  degrades  the  latter  wnlle  building  up  the  foraisr,  and  the 

succeaaful  completion  of  Lne  quest  oy  Gewain  is  evidence 

©nou^-'h  of  the  author's  res^ard  for  him. 

Another  work  in  which  the  beheadlnsr  game  plays  a  part  -- 

though  a  minor,  one,  to  be  sure  --  la  Hunbaut,  datlna  from 

59 
the  second  quarter  of  the  tnlrteenth  century   .   The  primary 

story  concerns  Oavaln's  embassy  to  the  Kln^  of  the  Isles,  who 

acknowledges  no  one  as  overlord,  In  the  company  of  his  friend 


8e 


,8i 


(ev-sv 


voo  ne 


•js*!^ 


rmuje'i  r.  i.* 


V*i3""^J'-'V<i  t  ; 


Bid  %o 


A  &ediii:Bi.f( 


s.ef)  sninisano? 


jI  bness': 


67 


nuiivuutf    and   as    is   usual   In  ^^rtxiurian  i-ouiaaca,    innumerable 
secondary  advenLarea   deTall    tae   pi'ota.^onJsta.      One   of   theae 
adventures    involves  an  iinperious   host   end  his   dautiiter.      bade 
by   the   iiost    to  kiss    the   daughter   once   ber>.re   retiring,    Cawain 
kisses   iier  four   times.      Ihe   nost   is  eiira£ed   end   desires   to  blind 
GOi-iSin   ui    the   spot,    but   ue    is  finally  dissuaded   by  his   retsia- 
ers.      Tue   daugntex*,    needless    to   say,    is   very  beautiful   and 
has   become  enaaiOUi-ed   of  Ga.vain,    «  .o    in   turn   is   very  ir;uoh 
attrs'jted   to   her.      That  night   the   eif"!   comes   to    Gawaln'a  bed, 
offering  en  expitaation   for  doing  so: 

Tot   a    celee    i    vint   la    nuit 

Les  cionsie^iior   Gauvain  chocier, 

?«?8i3   nen   ot   pas   a    son   coucier 

Me s chines  ne   dames   grant  masse. 

"Certes,    se   mout   ne    vos   amaisse," 

Fait   cele.  qoi   les   lui   se   ocuoe, 

"Ja    ne    -eftisse   en   ceste    coc.ie; 

Gar  ases   grant  fais  en  enbraa." 

Et    oil   le   pre at   entre    ses   oras. 

Si    J  .ireat    t  •  tc        ■ :  ■^    --janbie.    .    .     (3ir-25; 

Throughout  this  work  htinbaut  plays  ^-i.e  role  of  the  wise 
monitor,  cautioning  r^is  friend  G8#«in  on  all  occasions  a  nd 
helping  to  extricate  nim  from  the  difficulties  nis  own  rash- 
ness causes.   For  exam:-le,  at  the  cestle  cf  the  imperious 
host  Hunbaut  had  /rerned  Gawain  to  eat  hea.'tjly  because  the 
next  day  they  had  to  cross  a  barren  territory.   Gawain,  so 
preoccupied  with  the  beauty  of  the  damsel,  had  eaten  little 
and  vea  consequently  ravenously  hungry  the  next  d-:iy.   He 
therefore  rudely  cook  the  Tooc  cf  a  knight  whom  they  .net  on 
their  journey,  and  Hunbaut  was  ccmpellec  to  assuaae  t.'iis 


V* 


©t. 


C'i   ti>-'         "idJ  .J.J, 


-l.A  »v/    U-.         CiJ... 


*    -i. 


^be<J  «'.r' '"•-■••     •''    ---<-     r.  l,-^.-,    ;  .,-w      ..^g^f  qj   &eio«i;4viB 


«     8  QCi 


oitfr 

t«9l's^x«  od^  Bill  q  Ian 

.n44    X«b    ^X©; 


68 


knight's  feelings,  alace  it  -iaa   froir.  his  port  they  were  to 
set  out  for  the  Islands.   It  must  be  adTn'-;ted,  however,  that 
the  author  is  not  attempting  to  Increase  cur  regard  for 
Hunbput  by  making  Gewaln  look  ridiculous;  he  la  always  clear 
In  hia  own  mind  that  Gawaln  is  the  chief  kni^at,  and  the 
finest,  of  /Arthur's  court,  so  Lhat  references  to  Gawein, 
such  as  "cll  qui  tot  le  monde  prisse"  (133)  end  "11  a.ius 
vfllllsnt  qui  or  soIl  via"  (1219;,  are  frequent. 

It  is  in  tr;i3  poem  taat  a  knowledge  of  encnaritment  is 
acded  to  Gawain's  taany  skills.   ihe  reference  occurs  in  the 
passage  describing  the  beheading  game  between  Gawain  and  e 
hideous  "vilain"  et  the  castle  gate  of  tie  Kin^;  of  the  Islands, 
Given  the  criOlce  of  wieldln,^  tne  axe  first  or  second,  Gawain 
naturally  chooses  to  cut  off  the  "vilain 's"  head  first,  and 
his  knowledge  of  magic  la  whet  saves  his  own  head: 


Blen  ae  avlsse  dou  trencant 

Et   de    grant    {[bop]  ferir   a'esforce 

Gpuvains    qui    tot    j^ijraet    38    for.;e. 

Bien   vos   di   '^u'il   ne    se  faint   pes, 

A  ins   fait   voler   plus   de   dls   p>a 

Lh    ceate   av  peatonitr  en  loina. 

Et   cll   ouvrl    ans    .II.    ses    puiria, 

Si   cuide   aler   tantost   apres. 

Wesire   Geuvains    se    tint   pres, 

Qui   d 'encanteirent   ert  apria. 

Le   vilaitnl    a   par  lea   dres   pris, 

Kt   por    ijL    a   son   esiue  feut, 

Et   11    encanteraens   defaut; 

Car   il   cal   mora   en   la    place 

Et   11    cncenteij.ens    s'esface, 

C'onques   puis   n'i    ot   ju  parti.    (1542-39} 


Much  later    in   the    story,    '  ewaln  meets   a   knight  who  asks 
him  to  name   the  best   knlzht   In   Arthur's    court: 


ea 

o 


one  (SCI)   "aefcliq  obnom  «X  io;t   tvp  fi®"   bb  dowe 

•  &n«  fiisw^  n«t .    -     .    .      -  .   Tjnldlneasb   •gSBBBq 

.•bnaltl    e.  «    -.r.    >    guoeblrt 

bna   .creiil  b«fjn  oorio  illaitjar 


^tftfaX 


«9 


"Doat  vel  Jq,"  fait  oil,  "per  iiion  clef. 

Que  dea  chevalier  m'eprfadaa 

Lea  nons,  quo  riena  n'i  meaprendea; 

>^ui  plus  est  proislaa  e  la  cort 

Et  dont  gralndre  parole  sort 

Et  de  aes  fals  et  de  son  pria."  (2218-23) 


Gawain,  naturally  enough,  does  aut  naiae  almself,  but  does 
name  Yvala,  Lancelot,  and  Ka^,  all  of  *hom  the  strange  knight 
contemptuously  rejects .   As  they  ride  towards  Arthur's  court, 
this  knight  treats  a  damsel  discourteously,  whereupon  he 
and  Gawaln  joust,  Gawaln  being  the  victor.   The  stranger 
knight  turns  out  to  be  u'ahariet,  Gawain's  brother,   and 
the  most  renowned  knight  in  Arthur's  court  is,  of  course, 
Gawaln.  This  poem  is  incomplete  In  the  manuscript,  but  there 
is  nothing  In  the  thirty-six  hundred  odd  lines  we  have  to 
suggest  that  the  anonymous  author  regarded  Gawaln  In  any- 
thing but  the  best  light,  in  s  ite  of  his  morally  reprenenslble 
behaviour  with  the  daughter  of  the  imperious  host. 

A  certain  ambivalence  iaerks  tne  work  we  are  to  ccasider 
next,   Les  .Merveilles  de  hlgomer  by  one  Jehan,  wno  apparently 

wrote  sometime  during  tne  second  quarter  of  the  thirteenth 

40 
century   .   The  work  is,  so  to  speak,  fragmentary,  thouj;h 

the  fragment  extends  to  some  seventeen  thousaxid  lines,  but 

oven  within  the  first  fifteen  tnousand  tne  auuhor  seems  to 

waver  between  two  heroes,  Lancelot  of  the  Lake*  aad  Gawain. 

The  first  section  of  the  poem  is  concerned  with  Lancelot's 

journey  to  ftigoraer  and  txie  adventures  which  befall  him.   Ha 

defeats  a  knight  and  Immediately  dispatches  him  to  tne 


V:«^ 


i      1::... 


It  ecti  ^Cii90  aiuwmo    «;fftuo|,   ni««»i)   r. 


70 


queen;  this  knight,  on  learnln,,  tiie  identity  of  nia  conqueror, 
remarks: 

"Sire,"  fait  11,  "ostea  vos  doat 

La  flor  des  oneveliers  del  rront. 

Lb   la  loiel  Table  heonde. 

En   cui  toute  prouesoe  habonde?"  (3265-68) 

This  is  the  language  we  are  accustomed  to  see  used  in 
connection  with  Gawain's  nemo,  and  one  is  fully  Justified  in 
thlnkin.j,  at  this  point  of  the  story  that  Lancelot  is  dia- 
plaoing  Gawuin  aa  tr.e  beat  kni^t  in  tiie  world,   but  Lencelot 
proceeds  on  his  Journe^  to  the  marvellous  castle  of  higomer, 
and  taere  ne  succumbs  to  eno.iantment  and  is  put  to  work  in 
the  kitchen.   The  next  division  of  tne  story  is  concerned  with 
now  Gawain  travelled  to  Hi^oraer,  after  undergoing  many 
tribulations,  end  released  all  the  captive  knights  there, 
including  Lancelot.   En  route  to  the  marvellous  castle,  Gawain 
meets  a  knight  who  refuses  to  Joust  with  him  on  learning  his 
identity : 

.,:uant  ell  fli  qu'il  a 'eat  nomas. 

Tost  8 'est  pier^us  et  porpens^s 

De  lui  en-,.i>^nier  et  soprendre, 

"Jo  ne  vos  os,"  fait  11,  "atendre. 

Que  trop  a  en  /oa  de  prdece."  (7281-85) 

This  kni  iit  turna  out  to  be  Oaudionet,  a  moi'tal  enemy  of 
Gawain,  wao  mana.es  to  lure  Gawain  into  nis  castle  and 


OT 


^101 


eiinscB© 


'      ■    ■      ■  "'     "I     •flOi    bflS     . 


V  ;ji  1.-:;  a. 


ou^  AJt    ?"'    '"  "    7  Bed  ihCLd'  a  A  nJtawer 


?.t 


71 


capitalizes  on  Qawaln's  coortesy  to  wc'.  r.  uo  .'.ake  him  a 
prisoner.   he  explains  to  his  knl^nts  thet  tney  must  not 
attack  <Jewaln  •"'P'''  t'^-n  sdris: 


''Msis  les  dames  le  j^renderont 

Et  loa  pucleles  qui  cni  sunt, 

£it  il  est  Lans  frans  et  orLois, 

Je   verd  eles  n'evra  defois."  (7570-76) 


After  a  short  time,  however,  Gawain  was  rescvied  from  this 
prison  by  e  fay  w;io  loved  him: 


Msis  il  n'i  fu  que  .liij.  ntls 

(De  i^ou  fu  qo   mout  grans  enuis), 

Et  puis  I'en  Jeta  fora  Lorle, 

Lb  dane  de  Koche  Plorie, 

Una  fee  qui  blen  I'emoit 

Et  mout  grant  poSste  a volt.  (10,625-30) 


The  author's  attitude  to  his  hero  In  tiiis  section  of  the 
roaiance  is  made  explicit  in  the  followlne;  lines: 


Car  ineslre  Gavsina  est  tea 

'^ul  en  lui  ne  faloit  nule  rien; 

Hnlijmlnes  ert  de  toua  blent.  (10,610-12) 


We  are,  therefore,  fully  prepared  to  see  Gawain  completely 
victorious  at  tne  tournament  halo  before  nigoaier: 


Li  escrlture  nous  raconte 

C'ainc  n'i  ot  rol  ne  due  ne  coate, 

A  encontrer  ne  le  redout; 

Blon  le  reconolsoient  tout.  (13,143-46) 


And  we  are  not  surprised  to  find  that  even  the  serpent 
waicb  guards  the  copper  bridge  at  ftigoraer  is  fully  cognizant 
of  Qawain's  worth  and  hunbles  itself  before  him: 


IV 


oJ    \  aaJ'iii'cc    c, '  rij  i^^eiT^    no    es.v' LiiJ.!.;  no 


3    ns:jj    bfs    ojlawi^i    JiOOCI 


((S,V-0V6V) 


aldi  ffloni  beuoeei  earn  al»vnO    «iav««Oii   «»atitf   dnoiis    b  ia 


326,')!)    .JlovB  4;teftoq  tfnsns 


tBenll  AfjIwoXXcl  qcU  rI  ;^iolXaxe  «5fiua  ai   eoflamoi 


(2X-OXd,.0I)    .jnalo  awotf   ab  *n 


\ ,  i 


jnA 


72 


■,utint  11  serpens  veair  lo  v-it, 

■;1  niflint  prieudor..9  ocis  cvoic, 
Ne  la  flsb  pea  sstnblsnt  do  ..nl, 
L3  tieate  enf!"*  ^ne  contreval 
£t  s'ajenoille  et  s'umelle; 
Ce  samble  que  mere!  11  prie.  (13,847-52) 


On  the  successful  concl'islon  of  his  adventures  at  Klgo*aer, 
G«wain  returns  to  court,  and  trie  romance  begins  a  new 
adventure.   Krtr^ur  decides  to  rescue  the  heiress  of  :^uinte- 
feullle  from  her   oppressor  in  person,  and  Gawaia  acts  as  hla 
squire  while  the  king  mounts,  causing  the  king  to  exclaim; 


"Ti'estous  le  miucres  chevaliers, 

Li  .:)1l:3  vfiillans  et  11  plus  Tiers, 

ke  tint  men  estrier  au  monter.  ,  .  "(16,197-99) 


The  queen,  however,  denies  tnis 


"Bona  chevaliers  est  11  por  voir, 

Ksis  eusl  bon  i  puet  avoir"  (16,231-32), 


thereby  incurring  the  wrath  of  tue  king,  who  threater.g  her 

with  death  on  his  return  if  she  prove  unable  to  justify  her 

assertion.   Gawain  comforts  the  queen  and  agrees  witti  her 
statement : 


"Dptne,"  fait  11,  "joians  et  lie 

^iiaa  ne  mle  corecie; 

Car  par  la  foie  que  Jou  vos  doi, 

Bien  vos  acorderai  au  roi. 

Car  tel  i  a,  ;Ue  que  on  die, 

Far  cui   seres  bien  tjerandie; 

7a c   tel  1  sai  et  tel  i  vol, 

'^ui  iTiout  est  plus  vaillans  de  moi,  (16,273-80) 


Unfortunately  the  romence  breaks  off  sncrtly  after  this; 


s? 


&iomme,   aO 

,«  iii,.;  1*  I  aeeooua  sdJ  nC 


il)"    .    .    .i»Jn 


.OQfitfP    srfT 


^«4  ar.cSi 
*X6Ct  X^^?:  no  siimob  iIJIk 


-as  8 


i  je-cvi- 


73 


so  vre  never  do  diacover  the  name  of  Ci.j  t-.n^-f^jxc    nno   is  to 
supplant  Gawflln.   Lancelot  occupies  the  highest  position 
throughout  the  first  section  of  the  story;   Gavrain  supplants 
him  In  his  extravajant  adventures  en  route  to  and  et  Rigoait!*'', 
and  in  the  third,  fragmentary  division  of  the  story,  Gewain 
is  to  be  supplanted  "jy  a  knight  whose  Identity  is  not  re- 
vseled.   Perhaps  such  inconslste  icy  is  to  be  expected  in  a 
work  vrhlch,  while  possessing  as  its  central  theme  the  marvels 
of  Rigomer,  Is  nevertheless  split  into  several  different 
episodes.   Incidentally,  It  maj  be   noted  that  Lancelot,  who 
figures  In  about  one-third  of  the  action  of  the  poem,  takes 
on  to  some  extent  the  character  of  a  liboi'tine.   After  his 
rescue  of  Marte,  the 

Pllle  le  :*oi  de  Dessemoume  (4057), 

he  refuses  hec   in  marriage,  but  ooviously  found  ler  very 
attentive  and  attractive: 


A  lul  servir  ne  s'est  pas  fainte, 

Au  departlr  remeist  en^ainte.   (4685-86) 


Oawsln's  conduct,  on  the  other  hand.  Is  iT.arked  by  a 

striking  fidelity  to  Lorie,  the  fay  who  loves  him. 

The  final  work  we  are  to  consider  in  wnlch  Gawaln 

plays  a  major  coio  is  L'Atre  Perllleux,  composed  around 

4T 
the  middle  of  the  thirteenth  century   .   This  romance, 

comparatively  late  thou^ch  it  is  in  the  developme.-.t  of  the 

genre.  Is  an  extremely  well  executed  complex  of  adventures, 


5V 


oi  r '-  ■'-  -  3Von  ew  oe 

0  cJnaXqque 

-eu   -w/.-    c...    ■,-^..' j..ia©5i   eJB'-u:^.   x...^nii.,,    i-^    ^J '&sda'«Jt(}<I£jre   •<!  Od    el 
"    ^      ^   otf   81  x<>"**8l- —      '—    '    sdne^       r     r..„  , 

oriw    »ioI©onaJ    '       '        — --•    --        -       *         '^ '""'-—" 'onl      .aaboelqa 
--  :>cfa  nl   aoiusil 

tr.  JiA    -it  J   I.'-.         .cj;:.L  J  J  L-'ui.L     <s      iv.-     -it!^  JKQ    600  8     O^     flO 


o   a  * al a waO 
?■  Bxalq 


74 


For  example,  incidents  waicn  occur  ciofid  to  trie  beglnnlnt^ 
of  tx.e  story  ere    linked  to  tbe  eno  o£   tue   work  by  i:iavla^ 
tiaeir  clsrlfication  tiec  to  Incidents  «i:ilcn  occur  et  tue  con- 
clusion. It  is  in  tnis  work,  too  —  txie  only  work  in  verse, 
incidentally  •-  that  trie  cnaracteristic  of  increasing 
strength,  attributed  to  Gawaln  by  tne  First  Continuation 
of  tae  Perceval,  is  attributed  to  anotxier  knight,  in  tnis 
case  Escanor  de  la  Montaigne.   Escenor  desires  to  be  the 
most  redoubtable  knight  in  the  world: 


II  cuidoit  estre  bien  certain, 

Se  il  Gaveia  vsintre  peGst, 

',iue  en  tout  le  siecle  n'eUst 

Chevalier  qui  I'osast  atendre.  (2402-05) 


So  Escanor  and  nis  "amie"  concoct  a  plot  whereby  Escanor 
will  have  "ralsnable  ocoison"  to  fight  Gawain:  the  damsel 
goes  to  Arthur's  court  and  psks  two  boons.   Arthur  is  to 
allow  ner  to  be  his^boutelliere"  for  a  day,  and  is  to  iive 
her  as  protector 

Gil  qui  le  niix  est  entecias.  (54) 

Arthur  refuses  to  select  the  beat  among  hla  knights  and 
places  uer  in  Gawein's  custody: 


"San  ellire,  voua  veul  baillier 

in  la  garde  a  un  chevalier 

Bel  et  prox  et  cortols  at  sage, 

Et  s'il  ns  fust  de  mon  ligna^^e, 

J 'en  delsce  une  grante  parole."  (35-89) 


kV 


•noo 


\L£10    Bdi    —    O 
ml   lo   9 1  life  Its 
0    *Bli'»i    »fi. 


w  elriJ  nJt  aJt,  ^X    .aoiftxilo 


«»3 


(dO-SO^S)    .eibnewB   ^teeeo'I   Jbu, 


%onfio«;i  ^cfeiedw  ^olq   a  iooooco   "alius"    &ld  has  loneoeH   oS 
Xeamab  o^  ianalBi'*   svarl  IIlw 

avl^i   o;t  ftJt  baa   »^ab  a  lol  "artalXI&itic  is 

•xuJa'jJCiq   :ia   Ted 


bna  B^ci^ila^  alti  ^r.cir 


,ii?.- 


75 


During  the  meal  aacanor*,  «ho  ij  net  na'rec'    it  tuia  point  of 
the  atory,  rlaaa  into  the  nail  end  ca:'r'-2ft  ofi"  tne  oa.uael, 
giving  oxplicit  directions  ea  to  the  road  he  is  taklnjj. 
3aw«ln  is  laimed lately  ^-erplexed  b/  a  aice  --  ar;c  to  tne 
modern  reader,  amusing  —  proDlem  in  courtesy: 


Ne  se  set  pes  bien  consellier 
Li  q'jex  li  ert  plus  hcnerecle 
U  aelir  ;.8r  deacr  la  table 
For  persulr  le  chevalier 
U  a  aeoir  tent  au  men.;  ler 
kue  le  service  scit  Line. 


Au  deerajn  se  porpenaa 

Cue  le  soufrir  11  ert  plus  bel.  (21G-ir) 


In  the  course  of  the  adventures  which  oocur  In  Ga.vain'a 
purauit  of  tnia  knight,  Gaweln  reacues  a  damsel  from  a 
spell  cast  upon  ner  by  a  devii.   aawein,  apparently,  was 
destined  to  rescue  taia  ylrl  from  the  perilous  ceir.etery  ■ 
from  which  tne  poem  takes  its  title  --  for  Si^e  telli-  hi.r 


"Je  sai  moult  bien,  se  pax'  vous  aon, 
N'iacisce  J a  ma is  a  nul  jor 
D'ir*  et  de  peine  et  de  color, 

'i'tais    j'ea  istr-el  anult  par  vox."  (1173-31^ 


She  also  informs  i:iim  tna t  his  mother,  e  fay,  desired  e  line, 
chivalrovia  career  for  nep   son,  fearing  only  ^^scanor,  t/uo 
has  tne  i-'lft  of  increasln;  strenath: 


II  a  dusqij'a  none   de  jor 

La  force  de  trola  cnevaliers. 

Lea  plus  hai'dis  et  lea  plua  flera 
cue  on  pui. st  en  nul  liu  trover; 
Quant  le  solel  dcit  decline:*. 
Lea  qu'il  f*st  none  et  en  avant, 
Va  un  petit  afebloie.-it. 

etit  et  petit  efoiblie 

esi  e  I'ore  de  compile.  .  .  (1560-68) 


«jBp3fi«rtrt      AC     f«  '  »^<i|«>f^f)     j^i  4 


Xeppi^b    a   eawoR^r!   nl^wft*?    ,Jfl5lrtjl   elrJ^ 

?    ben.!ct!r.  ?■•■> 


76 


*hen    the   cue!    between   Laceno;'   snc   GawsL..   ixnally   occurs, 
Gaweln   takes    cai^e    to   see    th^t   it   does   -^or.   bo^in  until 
noti«s    la   past.      Aa   wc    expert,    Gawsln    la   Tlctorious,    though 
in  Eacancr's    oyea   he   loses    scr^ie   c;f  his   pi'owess    .vhen  he   kill 
i:.acanor's   horse    in   oi'ccr    t^^    r«trlfve    Kia    s'po-'        'Icn    is 
stuck    in   EacsnT'F     ■    -elo' 


"GavalfiS,    diat   11,    por  ceat   asaut 

Me    S';i    je    pas    ne    mox*a    ne    prio, 

SI    en   eates   de   vostre   pria 

Vers    ■:'    -^     '-ement    enpii'le.  "(  2344-47  ) 


And    ffhen    ja*rain   slays    tie   vanqulshod   ■t-scsnor   tnrou^h  tear, 
the   Todex^n  reaaer's   respect   for  nim,    thou^rh  not   the   autncr's, 
Is   cLoilnished: 


Vierci   II    crie   et    se   veut   r-endx'e. 
Mala   Gpvains   ne   le    veut   recolvre 


Et   orient    se   de   lui   revenoit 
El   aes'.'s,    que   ne   I'sceist, 
i'or   ^cu  que    38   .iiore   ii   di. st 

^     ;...    ..r.    .      ,ro    t    se    lui    noa.     (2444-61) 

Gawaia'a  moral   chare -t-'-   also   seems   to   oe    Jeopardized    in 

this    poem.      Oe*ain,    with  much  difficulty,    retrieves   s    damsel's 

3par*rowha«k  from  a   xiigh  tree.      When  her   lover  finds   tnem 

together,    he   reviles   the  damsel,    in   spite    cf   ciawain's   Insistence 

that 


"Ja    n'arai    tant    pexwu.   ^c    sens 

Cue   jcu   tel   outrage    requiere."    (2714-15) 


Ixiii       ._    .  :    makes    o^  f    vitn    tx.eir  hox'-ses    --    Gawain's    steed 


sv 


si   ..,..'._ .,-    .,...,  .ii.<&ri  B''''xonft»«& 


p.'i    nacea  nl   iipud* 


e. 


: bade  In 


J  a  .i  b    i  i    © 


.snoiG  B*uie«»i) 
a'laar.  I'lltb  ij  i»w«0      ,i»»oq   eld;* 


:1  >lir«ci«ors<ft«qs 


77 


42 
being  named  "1&  Jrin.^ulot"   --  tn&cet-j    :; -jit/oiling  tiie  two 

to  spend  tne  night,  whioL   proves  to  oe  ^..0.^017,  in  the  forest. 

Their  relsticns  Laet  night  co  not  i^teeiU  oo  Le  eatireljjr  innocent: 


A  la  nue  terre  ae  Jurent, 

N'il  n'i  orent  nule  ."lea  plus; 

Je  ne  vcuS  di  rlen  du  sorplua, 

£•11  i  orent  autre  delit.  .  .  (2802-05) 


The  second  helf  of  tnis  romance  employs  an  interesting 
motif.   A  x'uiPoux>  iias  been  spread  by  t*o  knights,  whose  "amies" 
will  only  grant  themselves  to  t.-iem  if  tney  slay  Oawain  and 
Perceval,  that  Gawain  is  dead.   On  learning  tniij,  ila#ain, 
contrary  to  nia  usual  ^^rectice  in  the  verse  romances,  .n£\iS0.3 
to  .-^evel  his  name  ■mj.ea   asked: 


"Je  ne  vous  puis  le  ii.ien  non  dire. 
Fait  Gavaina,  que  je  I'ai  perdu, 

Ji  ne    sal  qui  le  ..  'a  tclu."  (345w-t2} 


Consequently  Ua.ain  is  kaown  throughout  tnis  section  of  the 
story  as  "Cil  sans  non".   Needless  to  soy,  he  performs  as 
many  feeLs  of  valour  as  are   necessary  to  I'estore  the 
reputation  of  which  he  had  been  deprived.   Throughout  this 
work  the  anonymous  autnor  accords  lawain  the  nlghest  place 
in  the  world  of  chivalry.   Though  Gawain 'a  aioral  conduct  Day 
be  censured  by  the  twentieth-century  reader,  and  tijough 
Gawain' a  haste  to  dispose  cf  Escanor  --  a  haste  motivated 
solely  by  fear  --  lessens  our  estimsto  of  hlni,  tne  autnor 
never  ceases  to  refer  Lo  Au.   as  ''mout.  .  .  proisie  et  loe" 
(1277).   Gawain  also  saows  a  singular  ccicern  for  tlie 


•'eaiiBa''    eoeaw    jftJnglrrjt  c  min   A      .ll^oio 

bna  fllawaO  ^ale   t®*:*'^    '^J-  iJi^i— J    oJ    siuIo^.-ixiJ   Jnans  y.Ino   XXlw 

fioeAjl  .aiBO<:L  8»<i«v   eddt  ai    aol^oaivi   Xeufti/  eifi  o4  x'^S'x^tuoo 

:bd}J8a  naav  iMDan  alci  XBJ>raq  od 

, an lav. 

i.jp     it:, 

lo   8c)asl  t^BS 
lo^A  Ic   noi^ftituqai 


78 


honour  and   sei\,ty  or   young  dajisela;    ne    •■'■..,&   ^-ai-lnotre    to 
be   loyal    to  nia    "waie"  cow    that   sLe   iiea     -i-pnted   herself    to 
iiim: 

".or  I-iu   vous   pi'i   que   voaa   scilea 

Vera   la   csmolaele   loiex. 

Gil    qui    aont    trececr   et   fax 

Vers    coles    qui   ne   lor  n.effoat 

Fuscent   or   tout   aoenie   el   froat, 

Fleilbt  a   tlu   le    vrut  pois;;8nt."    (3320-25) 

And   the   da.nael   he   rescues   from  the   devil's   enchantment    In 
the    cemetery   seeiLS    to   pr-edict   for  him,    after  he   disposes    of 
the   devil,    a    Ion,.,   and  buay   career   In   defence   of  damsels 
In  need: 

"Bion  p.et    ti'estox   11   monaes   dire 
;;ue   c'est   cl   le   boa  Chevalier, 
Et    cil    vjiJi    tox   jora    aeut  e  Idler 
As   daiuoiseles   su  besoit*"    (1410-13) 

All    in   all,    the    ^uidln^,  principle    of   ^Bysl\^3   ber.&vicur 

is   neatly   summed   up  in   b   reafirk  ne  makes    to   the   damsel    In 

the    cemetei'y   --   a   reiLcrlc  waicii  ecnoes    the   Perceval   of   Chretien 

43 
de    Ir oye a      : 

'•'■(iix  aim  estre  a-ora  qut  hoiii. 

Car  Is  mors  eat  tost  trespassee, 

?.t.is  la  i.cnte  a  lonKe  ouree, 

Csr  cascuns  le  dist  et  reconte."  (1606-11) 

Gewain  as  Q_   Minor  Figure 
In  the  works  Me   are  about  to  consider,  '.awain  clays 
a  role  subsidiary  to  the  var-lous  main  figures.   -Ve  iiav^e 
seen  in  the  fi.-st  i.ert  of  tnis  cnapter  that  it  was  Cnretien's 


8V 


1     xc      i:  ^  -.„i£^i 


eilb   sabnofli   II   xoizr 


nuolvsiiad  e*{il«waO   lo   »rq  if nntnc; 
naldaii 


79 


custom  to  aasl.^n  a  B-inor  role  tc  Gs  vs  1 1 .  '-■'nn\:^h   in   the 

44 
Fepceval  he  devotes  almost  iself  of  Ibe  ?:'.  Ion  to  ulns 

It  was  doubtless  the  cher.ii  a,Td  the  vigour  of  Chretien's 
presents ticn  of  Gajraln  which,  added  to  the  Independent 
tradition  of  Oawain  as  the  chief  knl,'iht  in  Arthur's  court, 
led  to  the  developmerit  of  romances  entirely  devoted  to  that 
hero.   But  concurrent  with  these  works  were  many  other 
romances,  modelled  on  those  of  Chretien  —  for  we  must  never 
forget  tnat  Chretien  had  the  most  profound  «n  d  widespread 
Influence  in  the  development  of  the  verse  romances  — 
romances  in  which  £  minor,  though  honourable,  role  is 
assigned  to  Gawain,  nnd  in  which  the  cheraotex'isti cs  attri- 
buted to  Gawa'.n  by  Chretien  are  exploited  in  various  ways. 
45 
ryolet   ,  the  first  of  these  works  we  shall  examine, 

was  ccmposed  in  the  early  thirteenth  century,  though  its 
editor  considers  trie  motifs  much  earlier.   In  this  work 
Gewain  plays  aliost  the  rcle  of  a  "deus  ei^   rascnine". 
Tyolet,  whose  upbrln^ini*  is  similar  to  that  of  i^erceval 
in  Chretien's  poem,  sets  out  to  n'n   the  foot  of  the  white 
stag  in  order  to  gain  the  hand  of  the  maiden  he  loves.   He 
does  so,  but  is  wounded  by  the  seven  lions  who  guard  the 
stag.  A  strange  knight  happens  alont;,  wounds  Tyolet  mortally, 
or  30  he  thinks,  takes  the  stag's  foot  to  Artnur's   ourt  and 
claims  the  me' den.   Ga*ain  and  otner  knights  set  out  to 
find  Tyolet,  and  this  short  work  refers  to  Gawaln  as  follows: 


ev 


Tin, 


:>  o.-<i   +T 


9b  ecii  oc?   b9L 


iariJ   o?   be;tov. 

baenqaeblw  b  0?   brtuo'ioi:;  jsom  ©i^jt 

~   caarsaioi  oe';  io   in^oKjoIeveb   arli   ni   ec 

?^.*    5X01    ^QidBiuoaoA  ri^uorfi    »iO'.*ij    ?   rioidw  nl    -^ 

-I1.                 •inaioeiado   edc)  doiffv    i: '  'iiwaO   c. 

(Saiaiaxs   Xlan?  :rQlo\T 

e:?I   d   i  od^    ,^ijjJnt:  ,    beeoqmoo   b«w 


e 

ah 


,li 


9  "J .J     r  iBV     3C     ■:ftO'^i 


80 


.Ves  Gsuvalns  qui  taat  fu  ?."-v-^^ 
2t  bien  aprls  en  toutes  loia 

,>-  cT  •  ^•■,.  .<.«  Tyolet.  .  .  '-.35-37) 

He   3.cceecls   In  his   quest,   has   Tyolet  aLteaded  by  a   physician, 

end    the    t.vo   r-rtjrn   to    /Arthur's    court   Jit.ere,    thanks    to   Gawsin, 

Tyolet  marries    tne   dar-.sal.      We    do  not   know   If   this    conception 

of  Gawain   as    courteous   end  ••Tell-ver'aed    in   chivalry   is  borrowed 

from   Chretien   or   ia   part   of  an   iToependent    tradition,    out   it 

xs   indicative   of   JaAa   n's  hi^. place    In  tne   world   of  Arthurian 

ro;; Q.:ie    that   he    is   selected   by    tne   authc    to  rescue    cha  hero 

of   tr.e   poem. 

Another  poeai  which  apparently  capitalizes  on  Gawaia's 

46 
fa.Tie  is  L£  Del  Inconnu  by  henaut  de  beaujeu   ,  written 

arour.d  the  beginning  of  the  thirteenth  century,   A'.r.  Schofield'a 

exhaustive  Studies  on  Ihe   Llbaaus  re 3 con us  aakes  it  clear 

that  heaaut  *a3  not  9  professional  "trouvere",  that  re  borrowed 

much  from  Chretien's  tree,  and  that  ha  la  responsible  for  the 

idea  that  Gawain  and  a  fairy  oi^e    the   parents  of  the  fair 

47 
unknown   .   Actually  Gawain  plays  an  insi j-nlf iaant  role  in 

the  action  of  tais  story  wnic^  revolves  around  tue  disenciaant- 
ment  of  a  damael  by  e  "fier  baiser".   unen  tne  fair  unknown 
arrives  at  Arthur's  20   rz,    "(favaina  li  oortoia"  (93)  la 
assigned  to  look  after  his  comfort.  But  tne  author  preserves 
throut^hout  his  f/ork   Indications  of  the  high  position  Uajfi?ln 
holds  In  Arthurian  tradition  at  this  time;  for  example, 
when  Bel  Inconnu  has  been  kissed  by  the  wyvern  and  is  dis- 
consolate, 8  voice  informs  hlra  that 


,n9l; 


. ' ' '.?  - 
8'blelloiio2    .3.  l£l;t  w 


31 


Ei  mcnde    a 'a    un   onevaller 

Tant  yrau,    ne    teat   roi*t  ne   tant   fler, 

^ui    csast   enpreicre    aor   s:i, 

r'ora    ton   perc    Uavala  et   toi.    (3223-26) 


The    voice    ti.en      oea    :•  i    the    enlighten  him  further   concerning 
his    ^arenta-ie: 


iceslce  javaina  est  tea  pex'e; 
^1  te  Ciirai  qui  eat  ta  ir.ere : 
Fiua   ea   6  Blanceaial   le   lee.    i 3235-37) 


Later,    .i,loaae    caaeree,    x.\ft   beautiful   daaael   freed  £rom 
enohantmeat  by   tae   Kiaa,    informs   tie  youni?  knight   —  vrhoae 
na.-3e    la   Guin«1.8in,    as  he   learna   f r  ,ni   tiie   diaembodied   voice    — 
that   only  x.e   or  his   father   Gawaln  could   break   the   enchantment 


Et   riens   ne   me   r  jrroit   garir 

Fora   que   11  icludrea   cnevaliera, 

Li  plua  vaillena  et  li  plus  fiers, 

De  la  manie  Artu  le  roi; 

Neaun  >ilicr  n'i  sai  de  toi, 

Pora  que  tea  pare,  dana  isvalna, 

.',j1  est  ce  totea  bcntes   '        .'355-62) 


And   in   the   final   ata^ea    of   the    ator^,    w:ien   tne   autucr    is 
enumerating  all   the   luiig^its   ate    tou.-.iaa.enu  held   at    the 
"Ceatiel   dea    rucelea",    ne    once   more   accords    tae   aigheat 
place    to   Gawain: 


Gevaina    i  fu  li   nies   Artu; 

iiiudrea   ce   lul  ne   fu  ved.      (c567-6-3) 


henaut   waa   writing  et  a    tiate   when   tne   verse   romances    *ere 
just   be  .1    nl'-ifc    u   flouri..  respect    //It:^    *htch  Le 

regarda   Gawain  and   the   emphasis   he    . lecea   en   Gawsin's 
pre-eminence    in  the  world   of   c.iivalry  are    characteristics 


eE-  Jdiilflaf  s^swo'^  scd  emir  li  »d^ 

--   oolnv  b^lbofStae^lb   odJ  aicxl   aaiBeL   &d  ss    , niello; 
tiaamcr.  ^-tii  ifaeid  bltroo   niBwsO  led^al  elri  n  !0  ;tail;f 


8  2 


he  must  aave  notad  ;   tt»e  ucec   of  nia  njs, >» iv c^ .    Ctiretlen  de 
Trojes.   May  we  believe  also  taat  coanaQi.    vA'ddiLiou  regarded 
Ga«ala  in  much  t.ie  sacie  way  as  ueaaut? 

We  have  alreadj  discussed  L£  Vent eence  hagaidel  b/ 

heoul  de  fioudenc  In  t  j  aectloa  devoted  to  chose  rcitsacea 

43 
In   wnlch  Gewain  pls/s  a  major  rola   .   In  the  seme  writer's 

Meraugis  de  Pcrtlesquez,  probably  composed  In  tne  first 

49 
decade  of  the  tnirteenth  century   ,  the  role  assigned  to 

Gawaln  is  definitely  a  miner  one.   Before  tracing  his  career 

in  this  romance,  we  may  profitably  co'isider  the  striking 

differences  between  Raoul's  two  poe-ns.   It  seeaia  probable 

that  the  Merau^is  was  composed  first,  and  tne  Ra  ^uidel 

later.   In  our  discussion  of  the  hayuidel  we  noted  the  very 

cynical  attitude  to  wcmen  ai.d  Indeed,  if  we  do  not  misread 

ftaoul,  to  chivalry  jenerall^ ,   In  the  l^erau^is,  KpojI's  first 

composition,  the  exact  reverse  13  true:  the  fair  sex  ere 

50 
treated  with  wuet  Bruce    calls  "excessive  defererice",  and 

no  trace  of    an   a:a  ti-r  .■':'■.:' -;  sLtl-ude  is  discoverable.   There 

la,  therefore,  a  difference  la  the  conception  of  (iawaln's 

character  In  the  two  I'oraances,  ana  this  aifference  is  not 

simply  the  result  of  tl-ia  amount  of  space  devoted  to  (ilawaln's 

exploits,   Tne  haguidel,  it  neems  tc  r^.e ,  st    Interpreted 

as  a  ^'eaction  ug&lnat  the  excessive  ciiivalry  of  the  ^.ierau^is. 

With  this  prelirtilnary,  then,  it  is  easy  to  see  wny 

Ga«ain  In  the  Veraugis  Is  not  subjected  to  a'.y  humiliating 

experiences  witii  wo.T.en.   The  first  reference  to   Gawaln  in  tne 


ie#i«»  a.  .    .,...^»fil  •nolai      .an©  lonia  «  ^i«iIcU^«b  ct   r^ ;»...«; 

"^^Inia  #cli  >i®ir£anoa  ^X^'fttildoq  x*»  •*   ,e»-a«aK>i   ^ _ 

^ .. » ^uaiq-  aftB*«e  #X      « manoq  9«rj^  s  >  LuoiSH  amdmi«4  s aoaanatUb 

X!S©T  edi  b  ■-■*■>■'-'   '■■>■-  '•■'    -'^      ..  •■i?»jaX 

baaielfli  J^>    -- 

^B*)      "^      :    I    :  ,    •■  ,1  -'.         r  f 


Q*. 


poem  is   by  a   dwai?*!   aUo  reminds  Arthur  and  his   court   that 
Qatvain  hBd   aet   out   to  discover   '*De   I'espee  as  estranges 
renges/La  merwaille"    ( 1304-05 j    —   an  echo   of   Cnretiea's 
Peraeval   —   aad   since   ne   has  not   returned,    the   court   is   lot 
worth  inuch: 


" Or   est    11   noienz 

Le    ta    cort   qu'el   soit  mea   dotee, 

Hon;    que    ta    cort   est   escornee 

Dou  neillor   chevalier  dou  mont.    .    "    (1290-93; 


This    same   dwai'f  also   .^efers   to   ijajvain  as    the    "cnevalier  as 
damoiseles"    (1348).      Later   In   the    story,   Merau^iis,    the   hero 
of   the   poem,    is    c -impelled   to  fight   sn  unknown  knight   on  an 
island   is   a    situation   similar   to   the    story   of  iialin  and   i^aian. 
Unlcnown   to   Meraut;;is,    this  knight    is   Ga*ai  n,    and   the   autiior 
makes   reference   to  Gawaln'a   increasing  strength: 

Apres,    quent  midls  fu  psssez, 

Li   chevaliers    s'est   porpensez; 

A  Meraut;i3   vient,    si   I'sssai't. 

Mera^igis,    qui  encontre   aaut 

Se   desfent,    mes   oil    le    tient   p;'es. 

Voire,    tnieviz    qu'il    ae   fist   hul   aes 

L'assaut   et  f^reignors   ecus   11   done, 

Mprau-^ls    qui   des   cous   estone 

S'ealoi^ne   et   dit:    "cr  ne   sal  gl4 

Joer,    11   de  me    sont   changle; 

Car   je   disole   et   dl   encore 

Que   cist   chevaliers   estoit   ore 

Eecrcflz   o'brsaea   et   atainz, 

Mes   trop   li   sont   d'ore  a   orainz 

Si    ooup   chanjcle   outree:i.ent. "    (3077-91) 

Incidentally,    ui-j.^   ^hooxc-   uci-rtcou    i/»ic    o^u   *vux.jtits  ends   witn 
each  recognizing^   the   otner;    the   fi^tln^;  breaks   off  before 
eitner    is   vanquished.      I    take    it   as   a   tribute    to   the   fircinesa 
cf   the  foundation   of   Gawain's   reputation    in   the  early  thj.r- 


Cd 


d  adcJ   i'>Moo   Bid   hrte  auii^nA  sbnlm,' 


oad  nltwiiO 

•d  erf  •onJtB  fert»  —  lBvesne'=I 
:  riouffi  xi^'sow 


let 


)b  nsl 


•  8  is-f.isvpac"    «ri* '«i  hls^Bw   oj    si=/i9'    oEie    i-irwo   emee    e    .  v 
ne  ^.nH  nmonAaa  n*  3>dsfl.  ai  belleqmoo  al    ,ffl©oq   aria   lo 

loditts'alU  fans   ,a  jte«»0  41  dfrigl    '  o^  mori.'.-j 


^soBasq 


34 


teenth  centurj  tn«t  ttiose  writers,  like  hsoul  in  tae  romance 
unaer  diacussion,  wi.o   desire  to  celebrate  tixe   exploits  of 
DON  neroes,  are  always  reduced  to  various  meKesaift  expedients 
to  prevent  s  conflict  oetween  t:.eir  particular  hero  and  Gaweln 
froa  reaultintT  in  a  clear  victor/  for  eitner  hero.   The  device 
of  mutual  recognition  «hlch  puts  an  ead  to  the  comoet  is, 
I  believe,  boi^rowed  from  the  romences  of  Chretien.   Gewain 
was  on  ti>is  island,  b;  the  //ej ,    because  r^e   had  killed  Its 
former  defender,  and  hence  was  compelled  to  remain  tbere 
until  he,  is  nis  turn,  was  killed.   'eraugis  su^^gests  a 
atrsta^eo^  whereby  both  he  and  Gawain  escat-e  with  ti^eir  lives. 
Pvirtner  on  in  the  poem  Ga*ain  is  o  .ce  uore   brougiit  into  con- 
flict with  Keraugis;  mindful  of  nis  previous  obligation  to 
Meraugia,  Gawain  readily  yields  him  the  victor/  wi.en  he  dis- 
covers his  identity: 

"Mareu.is,  je  voa  doing  la  don 

De  fere  quan  que  vos  plera. 

Cc:iiende£,  ne  me  desplera 

Riens  qui  a  ccus-ider  vos  plese."  (5476-79  j 

Mersugis  asks  Gawain  to  yield  to  nia.,  and  Gawain  does.   But 
this  throws  Arthur  and  his  .-ien  into  despair: 

Quant  li  beron  de  la  cort  virent 

<u'il  fu  ccnquls,  si  t/rant  cueil  flrent 

En  I'cst  qu'onques  greignor  ne  fu, 

Et  <!r-vnt:   "Geuvains  a  perdu 

Son  noni  Cnques  nul  jor  dou  monde 

\e  fu  mes  In  table  reonce 

I^ahonoree  fors  par  lui.  .  .  "  (6487-93) 

Comparatively  little  of  the  action  of  tnis  poem  is  concerned 
with  Gawain,  but  in  tnat  little  'le   are.  It  seenis  to  me. 


*a 


nlansO      ,ael3l'iti0  'lo  aaonsffron   ^r^^  r^-T't   u:Tr-a*r:ocJ   ,ev9lIeo   .• 
sJl  beJLlL^  bad  sn  eai/sodd   ,  .    &id;i  no  saw 

eied;}  nisnei  o^   beXIeqmoo  aa*   ecr'srl   bca  «<xebaele&  nstnc*! 
3    8or.?g;,«E    8ls^»*iefl5      .boiXjt>  lui    bXH  eX    ,q: 

.eevlx  .Liiv  e^aoee  olar?C  r^r?   t^r*  r?;Jcd  rdensrlr 

-coo   odai  dfi^i^u'id   aiori  so- 

o^  nol^taalldo   aoolvsiq  ein  1c  T.v'i.bntm   jelsxrcie^   rf:tlv 
-alb  ad  cadw  ';,ic:iolv  ocii  r  cLlbsc, 

not?   n.f  -niob   sor  eL    .i?? 
dwa     .eaob  ^rfra  alsuanase 


85 


TiBQe   smply  aware  of  Ge-vain's  hlgii  jvoaition  in  the  world  of 

Arthurian  chivalry.   The  inflteace  of  Cnretien  end  tiia 

veneration  for  ^swein  ere  still  strong,  and  taere  is  a  curious 

and  perhaps  significant  echo  of  Chr6tlen  in  the  dwarf's 

reference  to  Gawain  es  "Chevalier  as  damoiseles". 

Gllglois,  an  anon/mous  romance  of  the  early  thirteenth 
61 
century   ,  is  animated  by  the  spirit  of  Gourtly  Love,   It 

tells  the  story  of  Gllglois,  a  young  men  born  in  Germany, 

WHO  is  sent  to  Arthur's  court  to  becooie  a  knij^at,  and  to 

serve  hia  apprentices. iip  as  Gawain 'a  squire,   itcst  of  tne 

action  is  concerned  with  the  efforts  of  the  youn^  squire  to 

win  the  love  of  a  beautiful  damsel  na.Tied,  ap,  roprlately, 

"Beltea",  who,  in  true  Courtly  Love  fashion,  treats  her 

suitor  with  i  license  cruelty  ana  disdain.   Gawain's  role  in 

this  work  is  an  ainbiguous  one;  he,  too,  loves  Beauty,  ana 

has  asked  his  squire  to  woo  her  on  his  account.   There  is 

more  than  a  hint  of  the  ridiculous  in  the  unknown  author's 

treatment  of  Gawaln's  efforts  to  win  the  damsel.   .Vhen  he 

approaches  the  queen  for  her  assistance,  she  answers, 

"Je  n'o'j   onques  malz  parler 

De  fenune  qui  vous  refuzsst 

Et  qui  molt  miex  ne  s'en  prisast 

.i«  VOU3  le  deignTez  avcir"  (294-97), 

end   urj^es   nim  to   perform  deeds   of   chivalry   to   win   the 
regard   of   the   daxasel.      The   queen's   reference    to   Gawaln's 
popularity  aiaong  tae    ladles   is,    I   talnk,    si^iflcant.      but 
the   picture    of  Gawaln's   struggles    in   tae    grip   of   the   love 


d8 


-So  hr-.        .„^.t    nl  noHtUo  ._ ,.  a  .»b«ft 

tiici*ujc -..  -    ,  .. 18  cJ**         Cit>li»n»rfv 

i^saXaeloflieb  ea  naliavodO"   so  nIavaS  o;^  •Q{ieiaT:»% 
ridoaed^lfi*  Xlna»  ©rti  lo  dooarnoir  ai/onixnone  ne    ^Bl<»IalXB 

*I      .aveJ  tXl^iwoO  lo  dlnlqa   arl*  x^  ba^Jeaflnii  el   »     y'»«^*>«* 

^Xti^«i*t«^  ol   rrtad  ttftflt  8n«o\   a   taloIsllO  lo  ^noJa  ari4  aXX»4 

«1  br )    ..Ui.ltvl  a  emooed  «;}  ^"^iwoo  9*iuiiSik  oi  ia»te  «1  Oiitt 

e£i^  Ic  .Mil^pe   a*nl6v»0  eft  qXu8eol;}n*'xqq8  eld  av-. 

o$  e'llfff^a  ^otfo^  •di  lo  actnolla  ad;}  d^/v  bacraooooo  at  noticB 

,t^®^tX'iqoi':iq»   ,56«ian  Xeeneb  luli^jusod  a  lo  avoX  onJ      "- 

■■-isl    »Xol'  8'«ciaw«0       .;  tft?;y.!B    bRB  ^r 4 X*ir<tE* ■■'»«..._  .  .^ 

bfls   ,x;t0e«a  eev   _    ,.        ,...    ;ano  auouaitfflia  ^ra  el  lii 
al   enedT      .j..(cr,:-. a   ^.r.;'  rfo  ^fid  oo.'.   r,j    vi'i.tofca   aid  bditaa  cad 
ft  Mf,i  ■'!.'>   nil:  ,  d  a  ctad^  aiooi 

lo   i[ieiui»»n.i 


last   orij 


d6 


malady,  in  view  of  the   outcoine  of  the    storj,  is  faintlj 
amusin^': 


Onquea  Tristranz  un  jour  n'laeus 

Me  furent  pas  al  arifjoiaseua 

Com  Gavaina  eat  a  la  feneatre.  (339-41) 


tesuty  herself  prefers  Gllglcla,  but  makes  a  tremendous 
trial  of  that  young  man's  love  for  her  before  confeaalng 
her  own  love.   It  la  at  this  point  t.iat  the  artificial  nature 
of  the  story  becomes  most  apparent:   '.awain's  actions  and 
reactions  on  learning  of  the  love  between  the  two  young 
people  seem  8  tisaue  of  psychological  iaconaiatencies : 

Gavaina  I'oH,  ai  s'enbroncha, 

Dolans  en  fii,  si  souspira 

C^uant  11  ot  de  1 'amour  parler. 

Car  11  culdoit  Biaute  ariier, 

Et  d 'autre  part  lies  en  estoit 

Pour  :;hou  que  tant  Glitjlois  nthoit, 

N'il  fist  onqu83  vilonnie, 

Ains  dlst  al  roy  et  ai  li  prie 

viue  11  fache  le  msrlage, 

Et  si  croiaae  leur  irotaje.   (2875-84) 

The  dilemma  he  finds  himself  in  la,  it  is  true.  In  the 
tradition  of  Chretien  de  Troyea,  who  places  Laudine,  the 
heroine  of  Yva x n ,  In  a  almilar  situation.   But  Chretien 
#orks  out  the  psychology  at  much  greater  length  a^O  with 
incomparably  greater  subtlety.   A'hat  we  must  notice  In  this 
relatively  snort  romance,  however,  ia  the  ambiijuity  of  the 
picture  we  receive  of  Ga.va'  n.   On  the  one  hand,  he  is 
capable  of  the  noble,  diaintereated  act  of  urging  the  king 
to  marry  oeauty  to  Gliglois;  on  the  other  hand,  he  obvioualy 


^ 


0  1    eiolftd  neri  lol  9V6l  e'nsfflt  gwtfOx  it»d<f  to  l9    \J 
e*iuiBi:   isicilliTB  edi   ier^   irtloq   elri*  *•  al  #1      .evof  nwo  nan 

annex  ow;^  eri^  nsewiecf  ©vol  od;J  1o  shln'XBeX  no  «flCjtiJoBtvi 
rrdlane^iBianoonl   iBolsoIotfoxeq   lo   suieli-ta  aieeB   olqoeq 

••  '\:Slc^^    t.- 


87 


has  8  reputation  as  s  ladj-killer  eno  assumes  beauty  will 

be  one  more  conquest.   In  addition,  titat   Glif:lois  should 

be  turned  over  to  Gawain  for  instruction  In  chivalry  Implies 

that  Gawain  is  still  the  sour'ce  or  model  of  chivalry. 
62 
Yder   ,  tiie  next  work  we  are  to  consider,  di?votes 

most  of  the  sixt^'-seven  hundred  odd  lines  of  it  that  have 

been  preserved  to  the  hero  for  whom  the  poem  is  naiiicd.   This 

poem  is  remarkable  for  two  passages  In  connection  with 

Gawain.   The  first  is  one  w_iich  contains  a  eulogy  of  Gawain, 

where  he  is  compared  with  Key  wno 


Mult  fu  contra  ire  ae  Ga.i<aias, 

Li  gentilshuem  ce  oones  me  ins 

Li  franc,  li  plein  de  corteisie, 

,tui  fu  flor  de  cnevalerie, 

Bien  tint  les  vcus  qu'll  fit  a  iioae; 

Onques  honte  ne  fist  a  home, 

Qnque  6 '  me  ne  se  gaLba 

Ae   del  suen  bienfeit  ne  parla, 

C'il  le  fist,  ne  eutrui  ne  tout 

Par  envle,  3[e]  Jl  le  sout. 

luuli   est  d'onur  de  vUcl  divers.  .  .  (1159-69) 


Perhaps  the  author  added  this  praise  of  Gawain  because  he 
wished  to  exalt  his  hero  fder  at  Gaj/ain's  expense.   For  the 
author  of  this  poeiT.,  as  Its  editor  has  noted,  is  the  first 
ver'se  romancer  who  has  Gawain  upset  in  a  tournaaient.  Ider 
and  LiB^aln  meet  in  two  contests,  both  indecisive.   In  the 
third  encounter,  Gawela  goes  down  with  his  horse.   As  if 
conscious  of  the  enormity  of  the  heresy  he  has  uttered, 
the  author  adus; 


VB 


evad  oiif?  nil   bbc   bBiboua  ne.ja-\5xi8  od^  lo  ^aon 

Bd^AssBq   o«'J   aol   »L6lnl1Aei^'l  el  mecq 

.-{»«aofl   a  J  . 


s-srfT9^ 


Jei 


66 


J8  no  troveraz  uotu   ks  die 

Ko  unquss  daugain  tote  sa  vio 

fust  sbatuz  senz  son  destrier. 

He   m'en  tiengnez  per*  meni^angier; 

S'il  fust  a  cheval  en  eator, 

Cric  tant  ne  .1  ferirent  pluacr 

A  Lravers  e  a  encotitrer, 

Ke  il  (ne)  I'en  peilsaent  sevrer, 

ft!es  jo  nen   sal  blasrter  vassal 

For  ^0   a'il  chet  8  son  cheval; 

?u-Toit  se  II  tenir  en  I'eix*?  (22ol-91) 


In  spite  of  the  author's  attempt  to  at-tajh  t.ie  blame  to  the 

horse  and  not  to  tae  rider,  ider  remains  '>pn  h'ia  horse  and 

consequently  occupies  a  higher  position  in  the  estimation 

of  the  audience.   This  is  tne  first  time  I,n  a  verse  rt^iiance 

that  Ga wain's  prowess  in  arms  is  diminished  in  order  to 

magnify  the  virtues  of  the  uero  of  the  poem. 

53 
Li  homana  de  Durmtirt  le  osloia   relates  the  adventures 

of  Durmart  end  bow  he  won  to  wife  Fenise,  «<ueen  of  Ireland. 

The  story  is  i-ound  by  weak  links  to  the  Arthurian  cycle  and 

can  barely  be  considered  an  Arthurian  romance.   None  of  the 

meglc  and  enchantment  usually  found  in  Arthurian  stories 

make  their  way  into  this  work,  and  Arthur  ahd  his  court 

enter  'nto  tne   action  only  occssionally  and  in  a  definitely 

minor  way.   But  the  characters  in  Duricart's  world  are  aware 

of  tne  heroes  of  Arthurian  romance,  and  oiiaracteristically 

it  is  (iawain's  fame  whicii  is  most  widespread:   one  Creoreaa, 

against  whom  Duruart  fights  so  well,  was  under  tae  loipression 

that  his  adversary  is  UaA'a^n: 


"Je  quidai  bien  de  vos  orelns 
<^\i9   ce  fulst  aesires  *->8valna 


8€ 


foi  .  no   Bnlamai  lebY    .idbli   scJ 

flv^  1^   al   rol^lBoq  lariairi   b  eslqi/ooo  Tt^insupeer    ^ 

•onBflioi  BBiBV   a  0.1    wali   ieill  9ni   si    aldl      .eonalbuB  9tii  lo 

oaq  8*nJ:BWB0   ;tB£iJ 

i8ii;Jn©vbB-:©fiJ    eg^al^i        sxcI^U   ejl   JneantrJ   sb   BR^inori   ii 

.bnBleiX   lo  ae:  na  ^'iBraiiitl  lo 

bna  (»I«>xs  nal*^  al  x'^o^*   •^^T 

3d  \Ia*xad  n^o 


iii 


89 


iror  ce,  que  si  estoutement 

Corustes  seupe  nostre  .s^ent.  .  .  "  (5849-52) 


Later  on  in  the  romance  Durmart  and  iJawain  take  part  in 
a  tonrnacr.ent  on  opposite  3  des;   Gawaln's  prowess  In  the 
field  Is  related  by  the  autnor: 


Mesire  '^avalns  o 'autre  part 

La   rant  press©  rent  et  depart, 

Uaint  cop  done  et  inaint  en  a  prls, 

Des  armes  est  si  oxea  ?pris, 

Vu'il  en  a  fait,  quant  qu'en  alTiort.   (3637-*lj 


In  this  melee  Gawain  is  wouiidec,  much  to  Arthur's  distress; 


Li  rois  *^rtus  for;nent  aospire, 

Ledens  son  cuer  est  molt  ires 

VQ    son  nevau  qui  est  a:vres.  .  .  (3660-62^ 


Gawain  is  compelled  to  leave  the  field  because  of  his 
wounds.   Unlike  the  author  of  the  Yder,  this  writer  is  not  so 
bold  as  to  have  Durmart  defeat  the  flower  of  Arthurian 
chivalry,  and  conveniently  finds  a  means  of  keeping  the  two 
heroes  froT,  duelling  until  one  or  tne  other  Is  vanquished. 
Later  in  the  story  he  shows  the  same  reluctance  to  allow 
Lurmart  and  Gawain  to  fight  to  a  finian,  thougii  on  this 
occasion  the  heroes  Joust,  with  disastrous  results: 


LI  Galois  fu  8l  estones 

Que,  puis  qu'il  se  fu  releves, 

N'ot  11  en  grant  piece  Doolr 

He   d 'entendre  ne  ue  veoir, 

Et  monsai-nor  Gavaln  fait  raal 

Ce,  que  11  grans  faiz  dt^l  chevsl 

Gist  sor  sa  qulsse  et  tant  11  grieve, 

Qu'en  grant  piece  ne  ae  relieve,  (13,435-42) 


«8 


(sa-Qi-ec 


9di  al  B«eweici   a*r 


'I    odJ   ni   no  tsisJ 
^issniuoJ    B 


(Ii-1C 


tseeiislb  B^iisciSiA  oi  Aotsm  tb&batiom  al   cda^j^l'   e>8Xc>ai  alxld   ol 


(Sd-OddB)    ,    .    .891^         "        '"    -  ■ 

■>  '-i    cr.',   ■■-::■.' 

OS  ^oa  ai  <xa;Mi»  aJit£#   <ygSY  add  lo  *iodium  mdit  aillXiiU  .a&iwow 

ilk  \o  n9K&l1  ^di  ^aal«b>  'tnaHTUia  evad  o;»  ao  &Xod 

ow;t                               o  eiwafr                 i  \X;^n9in«Taoc  i-^ii' 

.barlalapnav   al  ndci^o  ar.d  <io   airo  I14ctf  iialilaii^  i^e^i 

woile  oJ   aoiiatfaijlai   eaiae  ed^  8«0iii&  ad  x'^o^*  «^  ^^  la^aJ 

elx                                                                            ia«s£)  t>fla  . 

:'..ji!.K:  .'laeaao 


90 


Eecn  iide  (^los    its  respective  here  sc  t.iat  the  battle  between 

the  two  is  uneble  to  iroceec.   Though,  as  I  have  asld,  Dujcma r t 

Is  not  i'eally  an  ^'rthurlan  romance,  the  pasaa  vea  cited  indicate 

clearly  the  exalted  posit  5-  -rid   by  -awein  in  the  hierarchy 

of  Arthurian  chivalry. 

54 
Li  Chevaltera  as  Leus  Espees   ,  or  Veriadeus ,  fs  it 

is  sometlres  called  after  its  hero,  differs  from  the  other 

works  we  have  been  considering  In  this  section  by  devoting 

about  half  of  its  action  to  the  explclts  of  '^awain.   Right 

at  the  beKinning  of  the  story  we  are  told  that  Gavain  has 

a  mistress  nsmed  Huinlcie: 


V.a    damoisiel©  Guinloie 

Ki  lolaus  drue  et  fine  amie 

A  mon   seigneur  Oiauwain  estoit.  .  .  (90-93) 


In  view  of  events  later  in  the  story,  t.iis  Tact  is  mentioned 
with  strange  inauproprlateness  at  this  point.   Ae  are  also 
told  how  and  why  (Jawain  fought  against  brien  des  Illes, 
though  without  armour.   Gavain  feared  to  flee  lest  he  be 
considered  cowardly: 


^f  sera  a  la  -ort  contes 

Nus  contes  de  sa  couardise, 

Tl  n'e  pas  si  chlere  sa  uie. 

Que  por  paour  ne  por  manece 

De  morlr  p-^r  nul  besol;T  face 

Coae,  ko  li  tome  «  ulergoigne.   (3008-13) 


We  have  heard  tnia  remark  before,  of  course,  or  something 

55 
very  like  it.  In  Chretien's  Perceval  and  in  L'Atre  Perilleux 


0^ 


fls  ©bla   rfoftS 

iW     IJ 

inicfoveb  %d  noliDse   .       .       "  .  v  id  ew  sifiow 

diialH      .nlew^O   lo   aSi-.i-ix-    y^n-    o;r   rvj-'^s   sji    lo  Had  (tuoc'a 
Bttxi  nlav  »0   ;tarfi   bXo;}    e"  oie    9di   lo  gnlnnlaa*^   "    "" 


;5je   on. 


xueXIlidS[    e  X  Yie» 


91 


Brien,    desiring    Qawain's   death  because   liia   lady   love    vlll 
accept   hirr-   onl„    if  :i©   p.'ove  xiimseir   auperioi'    to   Gawain,    ia 
exiiltant   when  ne   thinka  i.e   haa   klllaa    tie   latter; 


»  .  .  "Ilex,  ie  uous  aor, 

ijar  I'ai  ocia  tout  le  meillor 

_t  le  plus  oiel  de  tout  le  wionde. 

Or  al  de  la  table  reonde 

jci3  la  rode  et  la  ruui, 

<uant  mea  sire  'iauuaina  ^i't;  cnl.  •  .  "(oUul<-66) 


Brien  Is  mistaken  in  believing  (';awaln  dead,  however,  end 

Gawain  returns  to  tne  30urt  severely  wounded.   Needless  to 

say,  everyone  is  extremely  upaet  over  Gawain 'a  wounds, 

especially  Kin^^  Arthur.   Arthur's  eulogy  of  his  nephew  is 

extreme  la  its  praise;  indeed,  we  x.ave  met  nothing  like  it 

since  Chretien's  fanciful  comparison  of  Gawain  with  the  aun 

be 
in  Yvein   ,   The  passage  is  worth  quoting  not  only  for  the 

evidence  it  affords  of  '"swain's  iii^n  position  in  the  world 

of  chivalry,  but  also  for  its  fine  rhetorical  flourish; 


"biaus  tres  dous  nies,  et  quel  oeport 
Puis  ie  et  quel  restorenient 
Auoir  de  uous,  et  le  comment 
I'enrai  terre,  ae  uous  niourea? 
Voua  ki  tout  le  mont  nonnerea, 
Vous  ki  portes  les  fais  en  tous, 
Voua  ki  epeisies  les  courous, 
Vous  ki  estes  de  mont  escus, 
Vous  ki  estos  tous  iors  uescus 
Por  pourea  dames  souatenlr, 
Voua  kl  soli&a  si  meintenir 
Lea  puceles  desiretees, 
Vous  ki  pues  tous  lors  ^ietees 
Les  malueistes  arriere  dos, 
En  cul  °'V9i    le  me  is  redoa 
ie   flanae  de  mon  roiaume, 
Ki  portera  esou  ne  heaume 
Nul  lour  por  I'onnour  de  bretaigne?"  (3302-19) 


i« 


f  .    .  tt      ..-./^  f      L  f-. -ri  :       ,•   f 


t<»bnc(»   e 


(8L    __. 


,lc 


o^   tsdlbsei'.      .b«bmioir  yleaevAe   i'luoc   etii  od 


92 


When  recovered   from  lAa    ^otinds,    ^-'aweln   seta   out   on  e    quest 
of   the  knight   with  tne    two   swords,    e   quest   which   leads   him 
through  nany  edventiires.      One    of   t  lese   adventures    ia    trie 
i'escue   of    "Mes   si 'e   du    viasuel   du   pox't"    (4215)    from  Gernemant, 
King  of   Nornonsbellande,    wiio  nad   oeea   #«rring  on   tae   lord    of 
the    Port-Castle   because    the    letter's   daughter  refuses    to  tuAiTj 
him.      CiflAain  undertakes   this   adventure    on   ocadition   taat    the 
damsel   grant   nim  ner   love    --   Ga«ain  beinei    "tous  plains/Lu 
fu  d' amors"    (4314-15),    says   the   author   —   and   *ituout   undue 
strain  kills   Gernemant.      That   night   in  bed   witn  the   dacisel, 
Oaiwaln  cannot  have  nis    #ill   of   ner,    bdint^  linable    to  persuade 
har  that  he    really   is   Gawain.      The   next   da/  he   sends   ner   to 
Arthur's   court   to   awMit   his   return,    wnere    she   learns   tnat 
her  benefactor   is  actually   tne   knight   to   whom  she   has 
premised   corself    since    the    a le   of   fifteen.      Incidentally, 
aa>vain   seems    to   forget   that   he   already  has    one   mistress   at 
the    court.      Such   is    the   morality    In   tnis    poem   taat    the   damsel 
is   welcomed   wai^ly  by    the   queen  for   the   seke    of   Gawain.      V.lien 
Gewa  In  finally   does   arrive   at   tae    coar't,    after   anoti.er  lengthy 
series   of  adventures,    the   damsel   ^ranta   neraelf   to  him  and 
explains   her  previous   conduct: 

"Ne  dui  croire,  se  dix  m'eit 
^ue  ia  lor  zLes  sire  Gauuains 
Puat   si   lasques  ne   si   vilains. 

Que    por   plal    6r9   ne    por  plorer 

Peuat   <Je   lui   feme    escaper.    .    .    "    (12,072-75) 

Two   aspects   of   Gawain 's   character   nre    seen   in  extreoie   in 
this   worn,    tnen.      Gawain's   reputation  as   Arthur's   mainstay 


se 


Jreaup   a  flo  iuo  z4&ti  »!•««-    ,^.ul^iO^   attci  mon.l  b«<s»voo8i  JMtsfll 
ntil  ebsfti  lioJbdw  ia«f«i,<  «   ,Aiym«8  om:t  9cia  AAlv  i^it^lml  &ti:i  lo 

,  Jr-AisenneO  aioil   (diS*)    "^  -  '■   eil&   eeM"    lo  auoaoi 

lo   bicl   er.i   no  ^nlinB..   ._.     ..,.    ,  j^a«XX»«linojd*xoH  lo  ^nli. 

XVitua  oi   Beeiilan  'iedci;giiab  z^'^^d&Bl  «ii   seifBOAd  •I^TcftD-iio^    8£l;f 

»cl4   i»ii3   aolilbaoo  no  entiitnsvbs  slilct  Be]ie%^'xe{>iii>  nlswsQ      .mid 

«J\anlBXq  sooJ"   jj^ied  niswBU  —   ©vol  a©ji  jala  iR»ig    ^^-< '-«k 

,I»«m«t)   Bil*  a;tlw   bed  nl   ilxlsl'-^    tar.T      . ;rn8m®n«i««)   ellli   r^'"' 
•foBiisnaq  o^   sidanu  ^nled   ^n&a    .,.   ^   ...   Bldi  evBd  ienaao 
oi  aod   Bbcas   »rl  \»b   dxea  BflT      .nlewsO  b1  ^IIbbi   ed  ;t£ 
iwid  snaBBl  ads   '^-^  ^  "-^    ,a'«i;foi  »•       =^-    ■"'   •^^    *'..'-^?  8'\.......  . 

■  Bfi   ede  raoriv.     .v    .    ...Inii   edc    v^^—-  >-  --^    .^  ...^alBn^- 
^v  r  fu.inof.f .  ,-■"       .aaailll  lo   aga   9ri;J   aoale   llesied   bt 

^B  Cw...  ....    ^3d  xbaenXa  »d  iadd  ;lesiiol  otf   «» •  "^=> 

Xasinab  ad^   ^bc;^  Aeoq  elai  nl  xilXeiOis  «di   el   dou..      ......     .  .„ 

nedW     ,tilm>ii9&  %&   a:i»fr-   A-,t   .-.^'>  rnr.,<i.  c,-.-;    v.i  vrM.^«(ir  baraooXaw  si 

bne ...    _.  \bB  lo   e«.f*re» 


(d^r-avo^sj 


'  p.     -I  »-T 


93 


and  finest  knight  is  ^Icerly  indicated,  and  Gewain's  prowess 

as  a  devourer  of  damsels  Ic   also  revealed.   And  such  id  tnia 

author's  aplorjb  that  he  feels  under  no  compunction  to  pass 

a  moral  judgraent  on  Gawain's  conduct. 

Fergus  Is  a  poorly  exi^cuted  complex  of  adventures  wiii  ch 

is  distinguished  only  by  the  particularity  of  its  knowledge 

of  local  "cottlsh  geography.   There  is  some  reason  for 

believing  that  tals  poem  was  composed  fcr  the  Scottisn  chlcf- 

57 
tain,  Alan  of  Galloway   ,  and  tais  would  perhaps  account  for 

the  very  reverential  tone  of  the  references  to  Gawaln.   As 

58 
we  shall  see  when  we  consider  the  f.'iddle  English  rcTnanoes   , 

the  North  of  England  and  the  occttisn  Lowlands  held  Gawai n 

in  peculiar  veneration.   "Tfivsln  le  se^e"  (815),  as  the 

author  calls  him,  is  elevated  to  a  position  of  pre-eminence 

in  the  .vorld  of  **rthurian  chivalry,  and  though  Fercus  is  a 

splendid  knight,  Ga.vain  is  his  superior: 

Si  [Per;-rus]  fu  puis  11  miudres  amies 

Qui  onques  fust  de  aere  nes 

Pors  que  Gavain  en  vel  oster. 

Gil  ne  trove  cnques  son  t.er 

Ne  par  honaie  ne  fu  mates, 

ror  cc  vll  qu'il  en  soit  ostes. 

^■-t  nequedent  nus  fors  cestui 

M'cst  de  vjpuvain  rciucres  de  lul.   (1429-36) 

The  romance  is  C'^ncemed  primarily  with  the  seemingly 
interminable  adventures  of  the  hero  --  though  the  jvcrk  is 
only  some  sixty-nine  hunc^^'-d  lines  lo'^";;,  it  seems  much  longer  - 
who,  in  the  final  pa^es,  is  attracted  to  Arthur's   oui»t  by 
8  tournament.   There  he  prepares  to  joust  with  Gavain, 


ae  e- 


-l^lffo  ri8lJ;foo5   arid    i^l   &9ao(|itnsii   r 


v;itAO  lo  naXA      -  ••  ■- 


ee 

n  i»»s€   ;  r.o.   "KnalwoJ  riali^ooc   adJ^  fans  bneXarsa  lo  xiin^,. 

•dj   c^-i    ,    .  x8)   "ai^sa   aX  iJlavelJ*      .aotSBt^at^  •xalXooeq  ni 
aonanliaa'-eiq  lo  nolllscq  a  oct  ba^avaXa  el    tairt  aXXaa  noxltois 

,    „j    ,,,.,„:     ;.  ,      .    ^.-g   j^TiXevi-lo  'na2<auriin^  lo  bX<«o»  ad;f  ni 


8a«s*sa  aaibiflflt  XX   aluq  1>1    [ 


{b^  -      :» .Jul     o; 


Xl%pii.ta99B   a: 


ecnai. 


XXiw 


94 


hiavlng  on  preceding  days   unhorsed  Kay,    Lancelot,    Sa^remor,    and 
the  ^lack  Knight,      But   on   learning  the    Identity  of  tils   adversary, 
Fergus  meekly  submits    to  Gaweln: 

Quant  i'er-i.us   I'ot    ai    cciTiinencihier 

Et   set    ',ue   c'est   "a veins   11    alx'e. 

En  nule   fin  ne   set  que   aire: 

Tant  fus   esbahls   curement. 

Ne    fait   el:    cais   a    pie   descent, 

Se   11    cort  la    . amne   enbrecler 

Et   aist:      "Sire,    merci    vos   quier.    ,    .    "    (6770-76) 

Gawaln  pl&ys   an    laconsplcucua   role   Ir    the  action   of  ipe   story; 

nevertheless,    he    is   arccroed   tine  highest   veneration  by  the 

author,    as   our  quT'tetlons    clearly   indicate. 

59 
hobert   of  Blci.s'    beaudous        relates   the   wdventiires   of 

the   young   i&an  from  whcse   name   the   ,rcrk  takes    its   tltlei. 

lie   is  of  much  renown  fnd   is  also   the   son  of  Ga«8in: 


Ne   fu   nuns   suti'e   de    son  pris, 

Et   3i   Tu  f'lz   le   prou  Gavieln 

^ui    lo   cuer   ot   tant   net   et    sain.    .    .    (278-80) 


liawaia's   role   in   this   snort   and   cnanr.lng  work   is   a   ra."nor  one, 
out  lie   holds    the   exalted   posit lori   in    the   jwcrld   of  Arthurian 
chivalry  wnlch  we  have   come   to  expert   in  the    Jld  iTench 
verse  romances,      i-or  example,    »  len  Beaudous  nas   dlatlngulahed 
hliriself   in  a   tournament,    unhorsing   <>adoc,    "rarsevaus   11 
Galois",    and   -agremor,   Art:i  r  says   of  him: 


".    .    .    je    -jrol  bien   tot   sans   dontance 

'^6    0  3   arrr.es   ne    vaut   pas   r.olna 

Que   biaudoiis   ne   mes   nlea      awaind.  "f  4045-47  J 


»e 


bam   ,n 
aanevt; 


no  ^nlTttd 


IV 


Bt\ 


lie    11 


(»?- 


19 ii-  andc- 
.•Salop   aov   i- 


9  oh;)   BOcraXan       Buofc 
'  lo  no 8   9di  o 


lO    ;»16  . 


(ce-eri 


•ao 


J    n  0  &    31 


berlBl 


iX  •ifBvse 


95 


And  later  on  '.a   tne  3S;re  toumaaiant,  t.ie  Inevitable  co.-.riict 
between  liawaln  and  his  son  .akes  plaae.   Jawain  is  r;appy 
In  his  s  n'3  pr-weaa  '  i  chivalry: 

C'en  pora  llez  estre  '^smins, 

iusnt  11  aavra  k'il  lei't  certai.iS 

'^•:e    ces  flz  est  11  plus  vaillana 

Ay £"5 3  lui  kl  3 nit  a  son   tens. 

^t    cil  en  redclt  estre  llez, 

4u8-it  8u  melllor  est  prealei.  (4432-67) 

The  indications  of  Gawaln'a  reputatloi  are  slight  In  this 
work,  but  they  ere   unmistakable. 

Few  c.  the  ei^'ht  thousand  oc-.  lines  of  Floriant  et 
60 
Plorete    are  devoted  to  Ga.vain,  though  he  does  occupy  a 

favoured  position  *ith  Arthur  —  "ja  vous  ai  molt  cnler"  (2395) 

the  king  says  to  h'?n,  entrusting  tae  newly-arrived  Floriant 

to  his  care.   fhe  sutnor  seems  to  regard  Jawain,  nowftver,  es 

ejually  importanu  as  his  hero,  and  in  txie  main  events  of  tae 

siege  of  Palermo,  the  two  knlj:ht3  share  adventures.   Floriant, 

during  this  si^ge,  catches  e   gllap' •  oi    ?lorete,  ti.e  daughter 

of  the  Emperor  of  Constantinople,  and  true  to  the  demands 

of  "amour  courtols",  falls  in  love  with  her.   She  has  also 

fallen  in  love  vith  floriant,  and  sends  a  messenger  tc  hIrTi. 

As  the  messenger  Is  aoout  to  leave  bearing  gifts  from  Floriant 

to  Florete,  Ga-vsln  says  to  hi:?i: 

"Amis,  se  i/emeldlex  t'alst, 

/i  tfi  dame  nule  pucele 

»4ui  point  aolt  avenant  ns   bele?" 

"0x1,  ele  a  une  n:ea3i.i;i.no 

c<,iil   est  ncmee  ^lanchaiaine, 

Pille    est    le    rol   de    r.cn  _uer  J  e. 


iqq- 


Bid*  at   id^lle   sis  r.oiis:fuq»%  »'n?»weO  io  etjal^MOl 

Jnel'ioxl^  osivl*inB*%Lm9B  and  salis»n;ta«    ««>£(  oj  a^**  iHtil^  9il^ 

aa   ^leveMca    tfll                                  arae>»8   "ioritfue  eril  .©lac 
e                          a  niss  oaj   nl   bat 

t^aeiioX-l      .Beiiu;lfl8vbe   eisria   e;}d|tlnx  omi  eda  .   io  ej^  _  o 

obIb  e  1J:w   ©voX  r 


96 


Melt   par  eat  aljjnote  et   jclle." 

"Amis,    cele   me    salClez 

Et  men  anelet  11  ^.ortex, 

Dites  que  liauvalns  11  envoie.  .  .  "  (4212-21 J 


The  author's  Intention  is  to  allow  Gawaln  en  equal  footing 
with  hla  hero  In  ell  respects.   The  Intention,  however, 
does  not  prevent  Gswain  from  appearing  more  than  slightly 
I'ldiculous  in  the  eyes  of  a  modern  reader.   This  Is  one  more 
Instance  of  how  the  mechanism  of  Courtly  Love,  in  the  handa 
of  an  inferior  artist,  produces  an  effect  quite  alien  to 
modern  readers,   uawai n  later  marries  this  damsel,  to  tne 
delight  of  the  queen: 


36  jcie  ii  fu  dcuoiee 

',^u8nt  sot  que  Gavains  faire  avoit, 

^uar  de  fin  ouer  loial  I'emolt, 

Car  il  ert  niez  e  son  seiner, 

Cortols  lert  et  de  t'ai.t  valor.  .  .  (6366-7C) 


ThroUfjhout  this  rather  inferior  work,  then,  we  find  mainly 

casual  references  tc  Gawain's  place  In  the  world  of  chivalry; 

it  is  a  high  place,  but  he  snsrss  't  with  the  hero  of  the 

p:em,  ar.d  since  the  bulk  of  the  action  is  devoted  to  the 

hero,  Gawaln  tends  to  be  ove.-'shadowed . 

61 
Of  the  tnirty-thousand  ccd  lines  of  Claris  et  Larls   , 

only  some  eighteen  hundred  are  directly  concerned  with  Gawain, 

and  even  here  Gawain  shares  the  ce  tre  oi  the  ste^^e  with  otner 

knights,  ususllj  either  Claris  of  Larls  or  bet...      aia  first 

msjcr  sppesrance  Gawain  is  riding  unarmed  with  his  "amle"  when 

he  Is  attacked  by  four  knignts  and  made  prisoner,   he  Is 


ao 


>  JijOm  ?iti    j;.  ■:.    ■•  l\' 


(XS-SIS*)    "    .    .    .aiovna 


^XirisillE   nad^   e-     .  jv©*rq  ioa  saob 

»*£cn  dno  el  eldX      .nebe^n        .  o  b0xs  x^  ol  euoXuoJtbl. 

efenad   -sdi   nl    ...voj   xldiooO  lo  raalnaxioeiii   ad^   wOil  1c    i.v.-^Jfcnl 
Joelle  as  ceouLonq   .iel^t-jie 
*di  o^   (XoeiU'jb  aiilcf  eeliiaci  lectaX  nit:  ^> .   r.tafaont 


ul  iX   elot   ee    .    .    ,    .    . 
-1   enittvaD   oup   aoe    1: 
L   XalcX  "xawo   nil 


-o 


^«)qq8  *ij[jiT. 


97 


rescued  froir.  this  predicament  by  Laria,  who  Xiaa  ao  much  respect 
for  o8*ain  that  ne  Is  unwilling  to  allow  Gawain  to  ride  with  him 
unarmed,  lest  Jtawain  be  mistaken  for  a  aquire: 

"Mes  n'lert  pas  choae  blen  cortoise, 

S'o  lEoi  veniez    desarmez; 

Biau,  douE  aire,  car  voa  armexi 

3'o  oioi  dcseririez  veniez 

oscuier  reaembleriezJ"  (2667-70) 

A  rather  strange  manner  of  emphasizing  Gawain 's  courtesy  la 
found  in  the  followin-  incident.   'Jawain  and  eleven  heroes 
have  set  out  to  discover  the  whereabouts  of  Laris;  tney  all 
have  /aried  adventurea,  and  on  his  travels  Gawai  n  Oieets  a 
large  number  of  knights  engaged  in  combat  wltr.  one  snotner. 
When  he  asks  why  these  knights  ere  fightinj^,  one  of  tnem  answers; 

"Mes  srrestez  vous  .1.  j^etit, 

Au  m&ins  tent,  que  voa  aie  dlt. 

Pour  quoi  ainsi  nos  sombatons 

Dont  j«  rcea  jor  ne  f  inerons, 

Tant  que,  de  verite  sachiez, 

O.ue  11  plus  f^ortcis  chevaliers, 

i.*ui  soit,  iert  en  ceste  bstaille; 

Et  lors  iert  tout  tome  a  fcille.  .  ."  (8998-90C5) 

As  Gawain  listens,  nia  norse  moves  into  the  fray,  ena  tr.e 
battle  ceases: 


Gauvelns  le  chevalier  entent, 

Mea  sea  chevaua  sea  piez  estent, 

0  les  a^jtres  chevaus  sailli, 

Atant  l8  bataille  fallli.   (9008-11) 


Sc  far  as  Gawain 's  physical  prowess  is  concerned,  we  are  given 
ample  evidence  of  it  In  the  aoventures  which  he  aucoeasfully 


VQ 


io^utt  doum  ee   aajl   oiiw   ,3li8J  X-    Sftsrao  ?  t?-*"-:    ?lr(.1   rsonl   botfceoi 
■Id  fi^lw  »&ii   oi   fll»«»?   wollfc  al8w»v   lol 

5'  'It'       . 

Ut 

at  XM&i'WCG   B'»i9V8«)  s^ilcissiiqne  lo  •xennga  a^^isiia  %exi4f?,A 
e9O*t04  nevaX^  boa  jotlBva^      .^aabloal   ^.nlwoXXo^  o<i^  cil  bouol 
II*  \aai    \tl*i.a<l  lo  »JuoA5Be'i«flLw  0£U   i»voo«Ib  oi  ;)xio  ^en   :' 

8   stfeeun  n  iavrsO   slevai^   aln  no   bna    «eeii;4a»vb0  boJt^' 
.n^dioae  eno  uilw  Isdmoo  nl   bs^a^ns  Hid^ln:^  Ic  •xe<l(u/a  aaial 
lewens  aeni  lo  eoQ    ^gxil^ld^ll  ens  «;rfl3lrni{  aaadJ   ^aw  eiiaa  ad  nsdW 

■  » 
odd   i>iiA    «\.ail  aa^   c 


98 


completes.   On©  particular'  incident,  however*,  *ill  ue  cited 
as  evidence  of  Aptxiur't'  dependence  on  Lis  nephew's  valour. 
While  (iawaJn  is  away,  Arthur  plans  a  tournament,  and  unknown 
to  him,  Claris,  Larls,  and  Gewain  attend  this  tournament 
In  disguise,  taking  the  side  opposing  Arthur.   Arthur,  to 
encourage  his  people,  oears  Gaaain's  insignia  on  nia  arits,  much 
to  Gawaln's  distress.   Ahen  Arthur's  forces  ere   nard^put, 
especial iy  by  the  efforts  of  the  three  seemingly  bachelor 
knights,  Arthur  is  led  to  cry  out: 

"Or  m'en  vols  a  tel  desennor, 

Js  me  3  nul  jor  n'avrai  heimor. 

Gauvain,  mes  se  vos  ci  fussiez, 

Ja  0)63  nul  jor  ne  f^nisiie^ 

S'eusalez  la  victiire  eue, 

Hui  en  cest  jor  avo  .3  .^^crdue.  .  .  "  (13,327-3<i) 

Overhearing  the  king,  Gawain  promptly  discloses  his  identity, 
and  the  tourney  comes  to  an  end. 

One  more  passage  needs  to   be  cited  from  tnis  work  to 
Illustrate  Gawaln's  high  moral  cnaracter.   Gawain  rescues  his 
brother  Mordred  from  two  brothers  wno  are  about  to  hang  him. 
•(Then  he  learns  tnat  the  cause  of  the  riuarrel  is  Mordred 's 
attempted  rape  of  their  sister,  he  is  extremely  displeased: 

"Gara",  aoU  .x,  "trop  eu^i  ej-^c-i.  .^rt, 

Qu'  ainsl  honnir  la  ^oliez  .  .  .  "(24,020-21; 

And  t:ie  .'lexo  cuj  uv    lectures  hordred  severely  for  liis  concuct: 

"Frere",  fet  11,  "trop  ;<,rant  otrage 
Fait  gentia  horn  de  grant  parec^e, 
iUi  faae  esforce  voiren.ent.  .  . 


se 


b&il  '  Iqmoo 

avon^nu  baa    ,5neiti.':'ii.'o:r    &  a_aisi  itinJ'iA    ,iawj   el  ni3wa«^  sIlcW 

douit   (Brais  eld  no   •ln4J,8Ai   b'«1(8;»6>    s-iyov:    jOiiiPuq,  aid   •seifoone 

:  ©18  B»oiol  e'lurictiA  aeriW      .seeiielb  e'alswaO  o* 

•xoi^acao   x-'^St'^^^AB   esodi   ©'     "         jioile  edi   ^d  x^-i^B-to^QBe 

:iuo  ^'10   0  3   boi  el  nudink   ^zid^^tmi. 


«icjria0««b  lei   9  aJvOv   aa'ia  "lO" 

.•soiined  lanvft'a  lot    '  al» 

^sal&Bul  lo   eov   »b   ae  bO 


(.iG-VAG^dJ      ■■ 


, ©tip-*:^i    'i.  Ot';'!    'iCj,    Jeao    a^a    J. J; 


o4   slnov  Blxicf  ffloil  ba:rio   ed  c 
.nld  iucidB   01s  ocvK  ei- 


J  anlriBednatrO 

OS  9nO 

ianiEuli  I 


^■aan^xe    si    ari 


99 


Ccr  fame  ne  so  p  et  cefen6re, 

Cec   par  aature  eat  mole  et  te  idre 

Et  11  n'.i3  fiers  et  dnpa  et  foPS.  .  . 

3Hciilez,  fi'ere,  c'est  i^pant   dolor 

le  fetnme  tolir  son  hennor.  ..." 

Einal  Gauvaiaa  l^ordrez  ohaatole.  .  .(24,053-73) 

Ctho-r  passai'es  could  be  quoted  in  evidence  of  the  high  place 

Oswain  holds  In  this  unknovm  author's  conception  of  Arthurian 

chivalry.   To  do  so,  however,  would  obscure  further  wnat 

we  have  already  hinted  at;  namely,  that  txiis  particular 

romance  lays  so  much  stress  on  the  achievements  of  the  two 

heroes  waoae  names  form  the  title  of  the  work  that  the  other, 

setter-known  inhabitants  of  tiie  ^rtiiurlan  worlo  are  fG:^ced  Into 

tae  backgrouno.   It  is  true  tnet.  tae  el«^hteea  x^uadred  lines 

devoted  to  Ge^yaln  represent  a  larger  portion  of  narrative 

tliaa  aome   of  the  poems  we  considered  earlier  in  this  chapter, 

but  whea  one  remembers  that  these  eighteen  hundred  lilies 

represent  only  a  distinctl;'  minor  part  of  the  wnole  poem, 

that  Gawain  does  not  occupy  the  limelight  alone  on  every 

occasion,  and  thet  the  episodes  In  flrnlch  he  appears  are  very 

short  and  occur  at  infrequent  intervals,  one  realizes  how 

iaslt-niricant  oawain's  rcle  is  in  this  poem.   The  .vork  la, 

of  course,  episodic  to  s  fault.   But  in  those  episcoes  in 

which  Gawain  does  appear,  he  is  accorded  the  jame  kind  of 

treatment  that  are  remarked  in  tue  romaacea  of  Ciirotien. 

62 
Gerard  d 'Amiens*  fcacanor   devotes  about  one  third 

of  its  bulk  to  tiie  exploits  of  Gawain,  the  main  action  being 

taken  ■p  with  how  Afiy  won  Andrivete,  daughter  of  the  King  of 

Northumberland,  as  a  wife.   The  work  comes  late  in  the 

tradition  of  ^rtnurian  verse  ro.-.flnces,  being  composed  around 


66 


soalq  a^td  Mid    ^o   •ortot»fVe 

4»txm  itttijiul  9'lut^do   biioor 


al   abloA  at»v 
oe  ob  oT      .^i-tBirli^.: 


ov^  •^;t  1o  «^n«ffiBVdljlfis   stlJ  no  acen^e 

^nedJo  e£C;t   ctsil;}   2(i3«  9m   lo   8l;)^l;t  ddct  miol  eoman  eaoow  eooi- 

o;fcl   baor.cl  Bia   binow  aaliuii^i^  ^isd  lo   e^nB^ldadal  0WOfl)f>*iad;}f 

eeflll  bdibouii  x  Bd;t  iakii  Buii   el  Joaai^QBd   e^iJ 

(le^qBdo   cid;t   Hi  nelXrme   bBiabienoo   »«  aoieoq  scu^   lo   eotoe  nad;^ 

benbauA  iiao^dslB  eeafld  ^^^  eiadaemei  eno  aedw  ^ud 

«tt»oq  alodw  ad^  lo   ^•xsq  loala  3  X-^^^   ^naaaiqai 

no  anola^  ^djllXaoilI   c  3wa0   isd;t 

X"  'saooo 

;t»'i    9ito    ^aXav'iBJRx  ^1: 

.ai 


-Ji   'i    h         -tiil.fi  ^:   .  J  On 


.rio    ine 


100 
63 
12:iO  for  Eleanor  of  Castile,  wife  of  iidward  I   .   Edward, 

incidentally,  seems  to  have  oeen  as  muoii  oi"  an  Ar-thurian  en- 

64 
thusiast   as  his  v»ife,  and  Gerard  pays  ••  aeat  —  thougia  to 

a  reader  unacquainted  with  heraldry,  a  cryptic  —  complinient 

to  i:.d*ard  I  with  tais  inversion  of  Luward's  Si-ms  (Gerard 

naiT.es  ftll  Che  knlgnts  whose  arms  x^e  aejosflbes  except  t;.iis  oaa ) 

".  .  .  ma  is  dites  fr.ol  se  connoissiez 

eel  escu  d'or  a  .ill.  lyonz 

de  geules,  oar  cil  est  bien  nonz 

qui  le  porte  et  I'a  hui  bien  feit."  (5565-68) 

Late  63  it  is,  however,  one  gets  the  l^ipresslon  t.iat  Gerard 

is  attempting  to  knit  up  the  ravelled  sleeve  of  Arthurian 

romance  sinae  he  o^'fers  explanations  for  some  of  the  more 

puzaliag  features  of  tae  Arthurian  verse  romances.   The  title 

character  of  tae   poezri  comes  from  L. ' Atre  Periileujc,  aid  so  do 

some  of  the  motifs,  such  as  liawain's  waxin^j  strength,  and 

ais  horse  ^Jringalet.   Gerard  offers  explanations  of  these 

latter  two  features,  and  his  is  the  only  verse  romance  to 
66 

do  30 

Gerard's  attitude  to  viawain  is  an   ambiguous  one. 
Early  in  the  poem  ae  has  Aay  maliciously  remark, 

"me sire  Gavains  peut  aler 

ou  qu'll  volt  avant  ou  arriere, 

car  plus  fera  pour  ss  proiere 

c'unz  eutres  por  son  nardement.  .  .  "  (374-77) 

This  Ji&j   oe  interpreted,  however,  not  as  «  casti^ation  of 
Gawa  in  for  beinir  smooth-to'i<Tued  --  and  it  must  be  noted,  too, 
that  Ga*ain'a  reputation  for  courtesy  Is  susoeotible  cf  this 


001 
-Q8  aaii      " 


■i  ..    J.      V    .i  JL 


(i 


5  J.    iic  J.  i     a  viti     a  ■  i.     V' 


lo  »T«eTa  fttfilavS'S  ad*  <ju  rflrrif'oi  Sftl*qm&d:*s  si 

baa   ,dd^snan98  ignlxsv  s'nlawav^  «e  oaue    ,ellioa  ad^  Id  ^noe 
a.  ^ndl^aaeilqjta  aiallo  bli^naO      .d'aXa^;  ir, 


oa  ei  ali 

V.,Iei;olol  J 


obu;tI;^^a   c'biaiaO 

•nscq  an 


(vv- 


101 


construction  --but  as  p  means  of  emphasizing  Kay's  oiic^^v  tcne>ue 
(e  characteplstlc,  one  la  -leppj'  to  notice,  whl  ::h  la   shared 
by  his  brlde-tc-be,  Andrivete).   If  tne  foregoing  is  regarded 
as  an.  impairment  of  Ge.valn's  reputati^n,  then  certainly  that 
reputation  la  restored  when  tne  people  of  "la  petite  Bretalgne", 
where  affairs  are  very  unsettled,  ask  explicitly  for  Gaisin  to 
restore  order:  • 

"mon  seingnor  Gavalns,  s'il  vouz  plalst, 
a  nostre  gent  point  ne  desplalat. 
biauz  sire,  a'avolr  le  pooncea, 
nul  autre  ne  vous  requeronmes.   (1679-32) 

In  one  of  his  adventures  In  BrlLtauy  Gawain  is  ambushed  by 
eight  knights.   He  dtaoomfita  many  of  them  and  their  leader 
enters  the  fray;  when  he  and  Gawaia  joust  both  are  unhorsed, 
but  Gawain,  wno  recovers  first,  is  unwilling  to  attack  his 
fallen  foe: 


....  mes  nulement 

"-eslre  Gavainz  ne  dalngnast, 

ne  ses  ouers  ne  11  ensel^-nast 

le  chevalier  par  mal  touc  .iler, 

devant  qu'il  le  vit  redrechier 

et  lU'il  fu  bien  revenuz  touz.   (2370-75) 


The  followlnj.^  day  ne    is  t^ireatenea  vj    uwbaL.j  opponents,  and 
does  not  siarink  from  the  battle: 

mala  cil  en  qui  prouece  sponde 

de  i'lenz  ne  s'en  espoenta.  .  .  (2714-13) 

He  is  not  afraid  because  ne  poaseosos  ti:e  :i;ift  of  increasing 


tat 


:n9b'xc  sioissn 
"u  ettft  tWod  ^rtifot  xtlsnaO  ftiifll  »rf  nerhv  {^•'S'i  erf*  eiecTns 


•    •    * 


--/Vc 


baa    jE  &niwoIiol   ex:! 

'  oa  8«Qb 


102 


•trengtn,  and  Oejacd's  account  of  tiiSt  gift  deserves  to  be 
quoted,  in  spite  of  its  leagth.   Two  lays  presided  at  nia   birth; 


61  11  destine  Is  premiere 

qu'il  serolt  preuz  d©   rant  menlere; 

:  acore  pl..z  li  destine, 

car  un  tel  ear  11  dona 

^ue  puis  epffcz  prin.e  en  avant 

auroit  pi  8  force  qua  devant 

xa    f;ltie  ot  pi  s  Lardeaieat 

dusnU'e  mledl  seulement. 

L'autre  li  destine  ^iaute  * 

et  uourtoisie  at  aoneste 
et  pljz  Qiat  qu'eie  li  ferolt, 
cer  .i,  tel  aur  11  conrrolt 
qui  enc:r  vauri'oit  ii.li.   atssez; 
car  s '  II  eatoit  aul  tauz  lasaez 
an:  ;.ataille  na  en  eator, 
11  miedla  ;.r9si3t  .ten  tour 
que  tcut  maintenant  sanz  derueure, 
aitoat  qu'll  venrroit  en  cele  eure, 
ccniateroit  apertement 
que  pluz  fcrs  o'au  lOKimencement 
seroit  asaez  et  pluz  yidablea 
et  pluz  hardia  et  pluz  metablea 
9t  q'ie  cele  .sJ^ant  force  oroit 
tant  k'eure  do  none  aerolt.  (2791-2814) 


iience  Gawain  is  able  to  defeat  his  twenty  opponents. 

Later  in  tue  story  Gerard  seems  to  nave  forgotten 
this  prc.veaa  of  Gawein's;  when  Ga^vain  is  appelled  oi  treason 
by  an  ^.iyjiown  knignt  at  /Arthur's  coui't  while  Gawain  is  absent, 
he  is  very  upset  that  the  knights  at  tae  court  at  the  time 
did  not  learn  t.^e  identity  of  hla  accuser;  so  worried  does 
he  become  that  he  suffers  a  decline  anc  distresses  nls  friends 


car  nuz  ne  le  vie  onques  si 

eabshl  ne  trlate  ne  morne.   (8236-37 


Gawain  is  saved  fron;  an  encounter  with  hla  accuser  wien 
the  latter  Is  ambushed  and  left  for  dead  on  his  way  to 


SOX 


;rfi^- 


9b   ^Hsi   4». 


..  ''i;!   ■  Olio 


3a 


(M62-Xe' 


i  r 


,dn©e  nworui. 

e :. 

ext  ^Baa  »mos& 


.a6 


10^ 


the  court.   Much  later  in  ^he  stcx'y  it  cjnds  out  tnst  this 
accuser  was  Fscsnor  la  bel,    nephew  of  i^scancr  le  iirsnd  (blao 
called  "de  la  V.ontalgne">  who  hates  Oa.vain  because,  thou^i 
the/  wei-e  coth  born  on  txie  same  daj^,  u    fa;/  predicted  Ga«ain 
would  jjain  ^peeter  renown  ( i5,5C;2-06  j.   The  uncle  had  prompted 
tiie  accusation  to  injure  ^a*aln.   It  is  froai  Iiscanor  le  Grand 
that  Gawaln  takes  the  horse  whose  name,  he  later  learns,  is 
"le  lirlngalet"  (2C, 258-61  J.   The  horse  really  belonted  to 
Escanor's  nephew  and  has  a  curious  aistor/: 

,  ,  ,  11  ciievauz  n'osto^t  pas  sienz, 

aii2  estoit  h\x   bel  rJsoanor 

et  11  ot  .1.  na^nz,  iiellnor, 

ureseute  de  par  Esclartiionde 

La  pi  :z  beia  fee  du  monde.  .  .  (13,253-57) 

It  Is  clear,  then,  that  Gerard  is  conscious  of  the  Arthurian 
tradition  as  seen  In  tae  verse  rorriances,  and  to  s  me  extent 
conscious  ^f  the  conception  of  Gswain  as  the  knignt  without 
peer  so  far  as  chivalrous  virtues  are  concerned.  But,  as  we 
nave  seen  above,  he  is  realistic  enough  to  have  Gasain  unhorsed 
on  one  occasion.   unlke  the  ^der  poet,  he  feels  no  compulsion 
to  apologize  for  this.   I  say  the  conception  of  Gawain's  cnaracter 
la  modified,  because  Gerard  endows  Gawain  with  a  curious  and 
almost  cowardly  dread  of  his  unknown  accuser.   Ua vein's 
prowess  on  other  occasions,  however,  dispels  tue  bad  impression 
created  by  this  incident. 

To  complete  our  survey  of  the  romances  in  walch 
Gawain  is  e  minor  figure,  we  need  only  to   lance  at  Proissert's 


«0i 


iiXsvaO  b649ib«*ui   t'- 
b9^q4Soiq   bad  »Xonxi   edT      .(<'; 
bns<xO   9l  iOfl8oa3  mo^l  at  ^. 
ai    ,Bni9s£  leJal  a^i   ,efliaa  ar. 
oi  bagaolad  ^Ilaei  aa^oxl  axlT 


is.    ["^.•^t6. 


ab"    ballao 


t,ai  oi  noltfaaooos  sriJ 
^ii;t  e»}laj  nlawaO  iaa:; 
iS,OS)   "ialasniit)  ©I" 


i^'todalri  euol'ius    a  sbti   one   wadqan   e'locaoa^ 


(Snale   ek 


la 

19 


(V3-£as, 


1    ^TBoXo    eI    Jl 
0068    ee  nclctlba-jct 

- loeroo 


flalivili^'iA    adi   lo   ei  ?.   ei  &ia*te{}   1f^ 

ine^xe  emn*.  oS  bra   .saanaiijoi  eaiev 
iuori^lw  ;tri5injl   ©ntf   aa  nlanaO   1o   no'.t    sonco   sr: 
•w  Es    ,-j'-^   (banneanos   aia   aekf:?'  ."=»v2no    sa 

beaicrlr  '   over'   c:J   d>^;joii9    .,  -,8    ^vaa 

no. 

be  a 


odJeeio 


e»  ^laas 


{Inc.   b- 


icniist  B  al-  nt»»&v- 


104 


66  57 

Mgllador   .   A  reading  of  tiia  ioig  work,  ciaius  its  editor   , 

"donne  exacteirent  1 'iaipreasion  de  I'ua  ce  ces  r*o.Baa8  ue 
ohevalerle  qui  trouolerent  la  cervelle  oe  i/on  .uiciaotte ". 
It  is  perhaps  fortunate  t.iat  Ceaain    is  no   more  then  a  aame 
In  tnis  long  poen,  which  extends  t-o  xjce    lupn.   tnirty  thou- 
sand lines  and  is  incomplete  et  taat.   Ii  one  quotes  tr^e 
lines 

On  trouveroit  en  ss  [Arthur '  s]  "iSi so;. 

Gawain,  qui  puis  fu  cheveli»»rs, 

Et  Arrevains  qui  fu  mcult  fiers, 

£t  pluseurs  sutres  damoisiaus.  .  .  ^25, 634-37 j 

one  has  indicated  both  the  nature  and  the  extent  c'    the 

references  to  ^Jawain.   Indeed,  not  only  is  this  cnnracter 

completely  overshadowed  by  the  host  of  new  charsctera  Prolssart 

introduces;  tne  famous  names  of  •**rthurian  romance  find  a  place 

in  this  work  merely  to  :ive  it,  the  seoiblance  of  an  Arthurian 

background. 

Certain  preliminary  conclusions  can  be  drawn  et  tnis 

point.   First,  tr.e  tremendous  vogue  of  Arthurian  material 

from  the  mid- twelfth  to  tne  mid-thirteenth  c^r.oury       lous. 

Arthur's  court  beca.Tie  a  n.a.<netic  centre        •>.Lracuec  all 

kinds  Gi'  stories  and  legends  tc  Itself,  so  tnat  the  chastity 

66 
test,  presumably  of  Celtic  ori,  In   ,  is   iven  an  Arthurian 

setting;  .v.srie  de  Pra  ice  ties  her  very  charming  Lanval  to 

69 
things  Arthurian   ,  even  if  it  is  ry  slender  tnreads;  and 

Chretien  h'.rself  atteches  Cliges,  a  stcry  with  much  eastern 

70 
material  In  It   ,  to  Ai^thur's  court.   '/•'hat  one  must  suppose. 


*0£ 


,     •xotflbe,  til  •»1»X? 

.••^Joiio    ., 


d  lo 


.ob«l.t%W 


i...rbr   4fli»oq  ginyl  altid  al 


iJoelam[i; 
•oslq   e   b: 


H^slbnl  cad  sno 

CCf     8  9009101  3-; 


ei9Bi   >i- 


el. 


\.*X. 


oi    i. 


105 


then,  is  tne  existence  of  a  msss  of  ftrbhurien  stories  which 

#ere  extremely  popular.   but  tnia  ^^rthurisn  material  was  not 

kiven  its  definitive' rcrin  until  Chretien  be  .an  to  write.   It 

la  true  that  nis  predecesaora  provided  him  w5th  valuable 

71 
hints  toward  the  establishment  of  the  genre   ,  but  tne  credit 

for  evolvinp  that  peculiarly  distinctive  for.tj  wnich  we  call 
the  Arthurien  verse  rcmance  oelongs  to  hit   alone.   -^^he  elements 
blended  into  one  nermonious  whole  by  Chretien  are  the  sense 
of  adventure  as  fcund  :n  the  epic,  the  naterlels  .<.rovided 
by  the  Arthurian  stories,  nis  own  peculiar  gi^^  ^^^   psycho- 
logical analysis,  and  the  notion  of  courtliness  —  though 

72 
net,  it  must  ce  emp.iasized,  of  Courtly  Love    —  waich 

resulted  from  the  influence  of  t^rovencal  poetr^ .   I  think 

we  can  fairly  use  the  wcrd  "chivelrcus"  co  Describe  the 

kind  of  action,  tne  standard  of  etniza,    and  the  relation 

between  the  sexes  in  oj:iretien's  rorriances,  if  we  except  the 

Lancelot.   Generally  speaking,  the  same  terra  cen  be  applied 

to  txiose  verse  romances  which  followed  Ciiretien's  work  and 

which  ape    obviously  inspired  by  it.   bo  far  as  Curetlen  is 

concerned,  Ga^ain  embodies  all  the  virtues  implicit  in  his 

conception  of  a  chivalrous  society.   If  G9,v8in  is  »r:e8sured 

by  the  ethical  yardstick  provided  by  the   ourtly  world  of 

Chretien's  romances,  ne  i s  undoubtedly  the  first  knight  in 
73 

the  Arthurian  world 

But  the  characteristics  Chretien  invests  Ga/.ain  with 
ace   general  enoui'^  for  Ga*ain  to  be  fitted  into  several 


«0I 


ion  8BW  lakimioiB  nslivaii      ^,..  ^    '        -   t^^'swix*  a. 

XV 

Xiao  OK  ifoZdlw  fli<sol  Bvlioti-i.ibtb  igfisJtXtfee^  dttilct  gnlvXot*  nol 

eJn;*meI»   9ci^      .»ro£'?   ri'rt  ocf   esncle'!  scnasaoi   eensv  flsliuric^nA   ado 

eanea    ■^'^     *"  •   nei^^iriO  ^d  eloriv  •'-'"--'^      --   -   ^-r^.^    bsbnald 

faebiv    J.      .^  =  I'tBi Ba  md!i    ,.-■''-■■■  >.3vbt  Ic 

^.  ,..-,.>  '    __    eesnJ  '  ■^~"'- "    '"'  ■  "*      "=•     .^■^a^Isna    ••'"^--^f 


■•onevo'i 


106 


74 
ciffercnt  plots,   uaaton  rax'is   ,  noLiiifc  l.mI   uawain's 

aiTesticns  tre  never  permanently  fixed,  remarks: 

.  .  .  le  riooi  d'sMCuno  femme  n'rst  fcjsocie  su  aien,  cc-.me  le 
noin  d'Enide,  d'Iseut,  ce  blsncbeficv  r,  et  de  t-utnlevre  a 
celai  d'lvrec,  de  Trlatsn,  de  i'erceval,  et  de  Lnn^elct. 
C'est  par  cette  a  seace  ce  traits  marques  ct  par  cette 
raunion  de  tens  les  tre its  gei^roux  de  1' Ideal  cnevsleresque 
que  ^auvain  se  pr^teit  e   inerveille  a  etre  le  haroa  de  romeas 
apiacdique,  et,  en  effet,  iln  se  rapportent  presque  toua 
a  lui. 


To  tnis  reason  triere  must  be  added,  I  think,  the  solid 
weight  of  a  tradition  surrounding  iia.vain,  even  at  the  tiaae 
Chretien  nimself  .vas  writing,  which  associated  certain  roles 
with  Gawaln. 

Gawain  does  'iave  certain  o  larasteriatics,  ho*e  er, 
which  allow  for  a  psrticular  der-jiopment  in  tne  treatment 
of  his  character.   The  very  fact  that  he  is  not  permanently 
attached  to  any  single  dainsel,  and  that  he  has  a  reputation 
as  "chevalier  as  dames",  means  he  is  susceptible  of  attract- 
ing to  himself  tne  kind  of  amoral  adventure  we  fine  in  the 
Continuations  cf  the  ferceval.  La  Vengeance  ita  uidel,  Le 
Chevalier  a_  L'Ipee,  fjn;-  jo  forth.   And  even  t.iough  the 
authors  of  tiiese  -.vorkj  consider  this  type  :f  incident  in 
no  way  denigratory  to  the  chfirar-ter  of  this  favourite 
Arthurian  hero,  one  must  admit  that  it  does  have  8  weakening 
effect  on  the  conception  of  liawain's  character.   In  this 
connection,   e  might  point  out  tnat  tnose  worKs  wnich 

approximate  most-  closely  tne  spirit  of  Courtly  Love  —  such 

7c 
8s  Gliglois    succeed  in  casting  a  ridiculous  light  on  Gawain, 


- « }4<i sa^n   ,  fa «x i  .  -  *'  ■■ '" 


el    - 

.0"  9b    je 

©  '  I   e  b   ; 


::aai  ©lend   oobbq't    -. 
emli  0Ai  da  neve  e  oolilbnii   a 

BeXoi  nle^oieo   bsjelooess  nslri  ssw  lle&isln  n 

nol-  3  sad  sd  4^sd;f   &0B    ^Lc 

0  8118  sl   erl  BfiaoK   ^^eoffiab   «b 
0rij 


107 


In  our  treatment  of  t.iOao  roa^ances  re^^olvin-r  around 

tile  Grell  atory,  we  saw  the  t  Ge  vein's  reputatloa  auffered 

■.  y  implication.   The  fp  I  tliat  uawaln  waa  lot  conceived  aa 

the  achiever  of  the  (-irail  quest  —  t.  l-^ouiijh  Jessie  '/■eston 

76 
stoutly  maintains  he  fisa        --  means  tnet  aa  that  particular 

story  grew  In  ^opularlt/,  sc  the  reputation  of  t'enceval, 

he  who  was  destined  to  brlns?  that  qi  est  to  a  successful 

conclusiori,  increased  in  pr -portion.   And  wnen  p  specifically 

Christian  ir^tc  p.r-etatio'^,  such  as  we  find  a  Gerbert  de  Kontreull's 

Continuation,  was  /^iven  to  tne  C-rail  story,  an   interpretation 

which  emphasized  the  virtue  of  chastity,  it  is  easy  to  see 

why  Gawain's  charao-ter  suffers,  even  though  the  author 

77 
himself  never  blackens  it  in  so  many  worda 

Finally,  ne   might  .point  out  tiiBt  the  increasing 

popularity  of  romances  iri.  th  a  new  figure  as  a  nero  —  such 

as  Yaec,    or  Lurmart,  or  rorgus  --  tended  to  weaken  the 

position  of  Gawain  simply  because  he  no  longer  occupied  tne 

limelight.   It  is  true  tnat  the  writers  of  these  works 

accord  Gawain  a  hlph  position  in  the  Artn;;ri8n  world,  but 

they  consistently  divert  attention  from  Gawain  and  focus  It  ^n 

the  particular*  hero  of  the  morrent.   I'he  normal  develcprrent 

out  of  tnis  situation  would  be  the  eventual  disappearance 

of  Gawain  from  tne  romances,  or  at  least  the  minimization 

of  his  role  to  that  cf  a  mere  nonentity  —  which  is 

virtually  wnat  happens  in  Frolssart's  MelieooA.-  —  but  not 

the  degeneration  of  his  character.   The  forces  operating 


vox 


68   bevlsonoo   ion  eaw      ?  ■:.«  ^  ,    t^.  .  :  f    g-j   q^j^',                  .^oiXqial   x; 

fl0^e«K  •l«e«i>  iSsf --:.--  ■  -"^ * '   '^                     - '  '•  -^  ••-    ■■  "^  ■* 
.  «  ,-■■•  f  .•!'.  a,    ^Bii^j  «s  *er(jf  en»e 

, ^..ai.  lo  noidftduqei   t*.. .    ..e.  ^  :.,.,.....,..  ^  ,   ,.,. 

^IlBort  J'^"- >-    ^    '"-:-^    bnA      .pr.  ;i,..',.      ,.     ril   b»e«enonl    ^nol?"' '"""-- 
B'XluenJno'  .   bnil  ©v.  ~  '  ' '^-^^riq-.BcfAl   ne. 

eee  o;t    \hh9  i..    ^^    ..^JliBBao  lo   ^u^iilv   edi    bsslsBdqoie  del  .» 
•^rn  (!•;*   aclJ   x^tfoilct  nev8    ,ai9llu3   Tect?)8nerio   B'niBwaO  \,.i». 
.     «bio«  t<^8«  OB  ai    ;}!   sno^^osld  levBn  llBemja 
jolBBeioni   9ri*   isda   ;ti/o   inloq,  irisim  ©w  \^II«r''''^ 
douB  —   o«s©d    a  ea  eiugil  wan  a  d*  J»  aaonBrnon  lo    t.v,^ 
'-"^4   fle)ia»«  o;t   bebn*^   —   Buji's©^  *xo    <i«s8ni'xr"' 
i.._    -^^4«ooo  le^aoX  on   ©d  aBuaoad  -\^XqmlB  nlaw 

no  ;Ji   c  *  riifvo.  <   fi.oil  nol 


108 


in  the  Old  irench  verse  romances  wex'e  not   powerful  enough  to 
blacken  Ge*8ln's  character,  li^ooj/h   triey  coula  force  him  into 
t.'js  background.   For  t:ie  consistent  attempt  to  deni.'^rste 
Csvaln,  8MC  for  tne  reason  why  this  development  should  take 
p]ace,  we  must  turn  to  the  Old  trench  prose  romances. 


eox 


Ill 

QA*AIN  IN  TiiE  OLD  FftENCia  PROSE  hOMAWCES 

Before  embarking  on  a  detSxled  survey  of  the  tld 
French  prose  romances,  we  should  be  well  advised  first  to 
clarify  some  of  the  difficulties  Innerent  In  this  material , 
Tne  first  of  taese  Is  trie  enormous  bulk  of  the  works  .them- 
selves, a  bulk  which  the  length  of  this  chapter  belies.   A 
complete  analysis  of  every  adventure  in  which  Gawaln  plays 
a  part  would  rrake  our  study  so  unwieldy  as  to  be  useless, 
and  such  a  procedure  has,  therefore,  not  been   followed. 
Secondly,  one  must  adopt  an  &i'    itrary  arrangement  of  the 
material,  end  tnis  for  several  reasons.   In  all,  we  have 
six  works  in  Old  French  to  deal  with,  and  in  accJition,  one 
Latin  prose  work  whose  presence  at  first  seems  superfluous 
to  the  scope  of  our  study,   ^stualiy,  nowever,       .vcrk  forms 

an  important  part  of  the  Geuvinian  tradition.   All  of  tnese 

1  - 

works   ere  to  be  examined  in  the  following  order: 

(a)  the  Perlesvaua; 

(t )  the  De  Grtu  Waluuaai; 

(c)  the  Vulgate  homances,  comprising  Les Loire  del  >aalat 
Graal,  Lestoire  de  Verlin,  Le  Livre  de  Lancelot  del 
Leo,  La  C^ueste  del  Saint  Grea  I,  and  La_  Mort  Artu; 

(d;  the  Lidot-rercevel; 

{e)    txie  hutn-Merlin; 

109 


'b  odai9   onolsfi 

o3  ie.  Hew   ©  jbasmo'j 

,L9l  ill   icen&iinl   tatJLuoiVltb  Qdi  lo   on 

-BiariiJ  ejiiow  sncf   lo   jilud  euoonone   en*   8l    »eec.3   lo   ;>^B'i 

iftjqario   alricf   lo  d^JjnsI   odi  ilolriw  iflud 
8'^aXq  nlawaO  doidw  nl   arcyinevba  ^rrevd   lo   elexlBre   sjeiqtBoo 
(Ba^ieeu   ed  o;)   ea  ^blelwm/  oe   )^b^:t&   luo  eilaa  bluovr 
i^awoXIol  need  ioo   ,©nol9'iad^    ,Bad  aiobeooiq  a  dc 

efflSijnaniB  T^iBiJldig  na  iqoba  ^auai  auo    ,xIbnooaii 
.enosas'i   larrovaa  lol  eldi   baa    ^lelio^Bin 
•ac  jna    «d;tlw  iaeb  oi  donan'i  bXC 

BuouiliequB  aiBaae   danll  d^a   eoRsseiq   aaociw  ilno^  eaoic 
.acui  sid^    fiavawoxi   «\,IIbu;}&A      .\,biii6  itfo  Ic 

9Be;  aoiilbaii   aainlvt/aO  sdd  lo  tfnaq  jnatfic 

IIol   ad^  al   benlfliaxa  ed  o4   a^a 


;t^  '0^ 


110 


(f )  the  Llvre  d'Artua;  and 

(g)  the  vi'C'se  Iris  tan 

riie  reasons  for  ti.e  adoption  of  this  arrangement  are 

the  followin -.   The  relation  between  the  prose  works  generally 

end  the  verse  romances,  particulerl^  the  continuations  of 

Chretien's  Perceval,  have  never  been  worked  out  adequately 

and  convlnclnrly,  nor  have  the  dates  of  composition  of  the 

2  . 
prose  romances  ever  been  decided  with  any  unanimity  .   Tlie 

relations  between  tne  various  romances  which  inake  up  the 

Vul^:ate  Komancea  have  never  been  adequately  explored,  nor 

has  the  evolution  of  the  Lancelot  section  of  those  romances 

ever  been  dealt  with  to  any  lar^^e  extent.   Indeed,  a  frequent 

complaint  is  tnat  our  only  edition  of  tne  Vul,iate  Rom&nces 

3 

Is  fault*  .   The  prose  Tristan  exists  in  innumerable  manuii- 
4  ' 

cripts  ,  and  whoever  would  explore  the  materiel  must  resort 

CO  8  digest  (albeit  a  very  fine  difceat)  publlsiied  sixty-five 

years  ago.   Finally,  whenever  any  of  these  proolems  has 

been  touched  on  oy  more  than  one  critic,  there  has  been  a 

5 
marked  lack  of  concord  .   In  the  face  of  tnis  niorass  of 

Ignorance,  oonfualon,  and  conflicting  opinion,  it  has  been 

thougjit  beat  to  adopt  the  above  arrangei.ent  of  the  material 

in  the  hope  that  an  arbitrarily  imposed  order  would  be  better 

6 
then  no  order  at  all  , 

lerlesvaus,  the  work  we  are  to  consider  first,  is  a 

long,  ra.Tibling  work  c^tenclbly  devoted  to  the  achieving  of 

the  Grail  quest  by  Perceval,  but  actually  embodying  much 


oxx 


baB   i»,u4iU'b  »'>vJLJ   9£L4   (1) 

lO    £ ^ ->      ....  ©OnWBCX    riK'\M!'    ?>!:j    'jr-,. 

»ii^    ,.       „  Jl;ti«oqflioo   1o   8»cf»b   sri;^    evad  'xon    »\ .      

Biii  qu  aitairi  doldw  esonanoi  BUoJiiav  eii^  oeewtfad  8n>>'^»'&- 
*sofl   »b©ioXqx9  TjXeJaupebe  nsed  levsn  ovad  aeonasioH.  _____,_„ 
sao.'.a^-   •;    -f-    '  'o  noldoee  ioXeonaJ  ©ri;^  lo  nol^JuXov©  9xl;t  aa. 
;Jiiat:  -.tf!»$x©  6j^ieX  \aa  oi  d^lw  ;fl»«b  naad  «?.evs 

-   .         .--jt   lo  noLllbs  Xiao  luo  indi  ai  Snl^: 

-«j-..-.     ia-xetejjxuii  ai  a^elxa  na^aiiT  oaoiq  eriT      .   \j-      ^      - 

•  ,>       ,    ■ 

;^iocei  ^Bi/ffi  XaXie;}aia  ail^  e'l^oXqxe  bSsscm  imyreodw  bra    ,    e.icli:j 
•vll-x^xla  bfltfielXdjLiq  (jaeitio  onil   t'^sv   a  ^XadXa) 

e«£l  ejneXdoiq  »z9d$  lo  iina  lavanadw   ^xZLir.ls.      .ot.y  rsiusj 
•  fla«d  aad  aiadJ    ,ol;tX«io   aoo  noii.t    &roa; 

to  ft.i.-i'ir.n  iiiii  lo  eoal  •di  .-..      .        - 

amod -_    ^nolflJtqo  iinlcJoiXlro^   hn»    .  nolsi  l.-jo      aofiiic 

XaJLiad-t-'    --»'■.. t   i©   tfnaft-iagf!e'~''^n   ^v  .  ,   


Ill 


material  wnich  has  not  even  8  tenuous  connection  with  the 

Greil  3tcry.   ihe  romance  opens  vlth  Arthur  rebuked  by 

(Juenivere  fcr  the  decline  in  chivalry  suffered  by  his  court. 

After  8  pilgrlmsgre  to  St.  Austin's  chapel,  Arthur  decides  to 

reform  and  holds  a  plenary  session  of  x^is  court  on  St.  John's 

oay.   -t  his  ocurt  arrive  liiCce   daiusels  bemoaning  tiie  plight 

of  the  rijher  rwing's  dominions  because  Perceval  xias  felled 

to  ask  concerning  the  Grail.   "hen  these  damsels  --  vfho 

all  togetner  inake  up  a  st.'8nfc,e  entourage  --  depart  from 

Arthur's  court,  ti^ey  fall  Into  the  coir-pany  of  9a./ain  who 

is  tasked  to  escort  them  paat  tne  ceatle  of  txie  "iioir 

7 
liermite''(759  j  .   At  this  caatle  Gawain  is  saved  by  the  eldest 

damsel   from  exchanging  shields  with  a  knight  wnom  he  defeats 
at  jousting.   She  points  out  that  had  the  knight  returned 
to  the  castle  bearing  Gewaln's  snield,  the  innabitaata  of 
tixe  castle  would  neve  issued  forth  to  capture  Gawaln,  believing 
him  defeated.   The  unhorsed  knight  admits  to  tne  deception 
he  was  about  to  practise,  saying:  "molt  fusse  Jcisnz  se  je 
po'lsse  porter  vos  re  escu  la  dedenz,  car  jaiiias  escuz  de  si 
buen  jnevaller  n'i  enterra"  (829-30).   In! 3  is  tne  first 
instance  in  which  Gawaln '3  high  position  In  tue  Lihivalric 
world  of  this  roraance  is  jr.ade  expJicit  by  the  author. 

When  Gawaln  learns  from  the  damsels  the  wretched 
stele  of  affairs  in  tne  kingdom  of  tne  Fisher  Kin  ,,  he  deter- 
mines to  seek  out  ti^e  Greil  castle,  ue  has   several  adventures 
en  route,  but  we  a  lall  exan-lne  only  those  incloents  whi;;h 
shed  light  on  his  character  and  position  In  tne  hierarchy 


ill 


edi  i.  euoitnfti    »  r>9v»   ion   e  ■    feMeJani 

a'Dilol*    .ii   no  iiuoo 

be;  .auftoec 

moil   iiB<ie  iOiipJne   »i.na')J 

c  afl  lo  ■^flaqaioo   ©xlJ  lal   ^eu;)    .inuac    e' 

.;}a80   edi)    as  so  11194 

Biaelr  ^  dcflw    - 

b  c^di   barf  iadi    :: 

jnlv 

nol 


112 


of  Arthurian  uni  ,ats.   On  one  occasion  Gawaxn  undergoes  e 

teoiptfltlon  which  recalls  nia  fa.-ne  as  a  lady-killer,  a  trait 

by 
made  so  much  of  the  the  authors  of  the  Continuations  of 

Chretien's  Perceval  .   Hawain  arrives  at  a  strcnt^holc  and  is 

greeted  tnus  by  a  d#erf; 

"Ne  en  aieilleur  point  ne  pofaaiea  vos  fjstx'e  /enuz  ija  dedenz, 
car  ines  air'es  n'i  est  pas,  mes  vos  i  troverez  ma  dame,  qui 
la  plus  bele  est  e  la  plus  sage  et  la  plus  GoHtoiso  du 
rcloume  de  Lcgres,  e  si  n'a  pas  pj  i;s  de  .xx.  an2 .  "  (1229-32) 


tiawain  is  sorely  tempted: 


II  esjaiaa  la  dame  xalntes  fciz  per  aa  grant  bieute,  e  s'il 
vouslat  croii'e  son  cuer  e  ses  ielz,  il  oilt  tost  caent^iee  sa 
i;ensee.   Mais  il  svoit  si  sen  cuer  lie  e  estraint  q'il  ne 
li  lesjolt  pensar  cuoae  -i.ui  a  vilenle  tox^nast,  por  le  ^aaut 
pelerln&ge  qu'il  svoit  enpris.   (1253-61) 


Later  In  the  atory  we  .vs. In  is  lodpred  by  two  damsels  wao 
express  incredulity  on  disccvarin  ,  nis  identity,  obviously 
having  expected  hira  to  behave  towards  them  in  a  mucxi  different 
fashion: 

iac   Dieu,  Tet  I'une  a  I'aut/e,  oe  ce  fust  oil  Oavains  qui 
aids  est  le  roi  Artu,  il  parlast  a  nos  autrement,  et 
trcvissicns  en  lui  plus  de  deduit  qi;e  en  cestui;  rres  cist 
est  "ns  Gave  ins  contrefez.   (1313-16) 

iVnen  Gfjv.ain  defeats  two  kniglita  In  order  tc  "deservir  {_laj 
viande  e  I'cneur  dt  la  tente"  (1845),  the  damsels  tre  over- 
joyed, but  their  rejcicin^  turns  to  anger  'H'AQn   he  departs 
at  once.   The  general  tenor  of  these  passaj^es  suggests  that 
the  author  (or  autncrs,  si  ace  the  «ork  exists  in  more  then 


9   e 


(S^ 


£1 

6r 


113 


9 
one  redactlcn  ;  was  acquainted  eltner  with  a  tradition  which 

credited  Gawain  with  a  reputation  as  a  ladies'  raan,  or  with 

the  Continuations  of  Chretien's  rex'ceval.  Tae  latter  view  is 

more  probeole. 

Gawain's  physical  prowess  .Is  llluatrated  in  various 

ways  throughout  the  stor^  .   For  exsiuple,  wnen  he  arrives  at 

"1 'entree  de  la  terre  le  riche  hoi  Pescheeur"  (1713 J,  he  is 

not  allowed  to  enter,  ano  can  enter,  ne  is  told,  "se  vos  con- 

querez  I'espee,  e  vos  I'aportez,  dont  aavra  on  bien  que  vos 

eates  dij^nes  de  veoir  le  Saint  Gi'aal"  (1724-25).   This,  of 

course,  is  a  device  on  the  part  of  the  author  to  multiply 

adventures  and  to  keep  tne  story  {jolng.   jawain  leaves, 

dejected,  and  a  certain  narrative  ineptitude  is  revealed 

by  the  author  in  the  follcwlng  remark:   "Messire  Gavains 

a'en  part  slant,  si  dolanz  e  si  oensis  qu'il  ne  li  sovient 

de  demander  en  quel  terre  11  trovera  I'espee,  ne  comment  11 

rois  a  non  qui  I's"  (1726-29).   This  can  only  be  regarded  as 

another,  and  flimsier,  device  to  prolong  tae  action.   Gawain 

later  discovers  that  the  sword  he  seeks  is  t;hat  with  which 

John  the  baptist  was  beheaded,  and  that  it  is  in  the  possession 

of  a  king  named  Gurgarant.   i-'ortuna tely  for  Ga,vein,  this  king's 

son  had  been  abducted  by  a  giaat;  the  sword  was  offered  as 

e  reward  to  anyone  who  could  kill  tne  -lent  md   rescue  tiie 

child.   Gawain  kills  the  giant,  but  the  latter  had  already 

killed  the  cr.lld.   In  gratitude,  tne  king  Gurgarant  becomes 

Christian,  "pa-'  Ifl  rrlracle  de  Bleu  et  par  la  chevalerie 


5£I 


eoolnev  al   bACfsi^euIIl   «I   seevonq  Xaols^dq  e*;- 

-coo  80V  ee*  ,, ^L^iae   nso  fan©  (leJi-    .  _. 

eov  9up  OBtd   no  aivae  inob   ^seinoqat*  £  aoy   a  «9«qft«'£  s«<xi»t/p 

lo     .aiirX       .(   ^c^-^'^VI)    "IbBiO    inlBil    n"    '"i_fc9V    so    f:Bn    lb    r.a.iRS 

,..    -.    _   -. .. ^a  -^jTo^e   »rfi  qeA-    --■*    ^'-^    s^  ^'i 

bf^r-iftvoi   a'    ebu;}l;rqeni    svi^Biisn  nlti. ._      ,    . 

t ^ileedK*      istnacEei  s^ivoIXol  •ri^  at  notLtV9  sAi  x<i 

Stt^tfGB   It  ftn  S:t*up  sltnaq   1b   •  )rn«Io&  I.b    ,i<(Y«d^s  :fn«q  ne'e 

IX  \taMnmed  en   ,3©qe»'X   snevoai   XI    einaJ   Xstfp  na  'tobis'^sb   ~->b 

■•   bo&iaaai   Bd  ^Xno  nao   elriT      .(eS-82VX)   "a'X   ^    .         .         -loi 

olaemei  _        _.        __    , .  . 


114 


Monaogneur  Ueveln"  (2b72-75).   On  the  *ay  back  to  the  domain 
of  the  Plaher  Kin;r,  Gawein  la  stopped  by  the  i.ol  de  la  ^aae 
(or  Galse,  or  ciaite,  aa  he  la  va piously  called)  wfto  wanta  to 
keOi-  the  3Word,  but  who  allowa  cawein  to  retain  it  on  conditioa 
that  Oa.vain  will  grant  the  first  roqueat  of  a  de;nael  wno 
aaka  anything  of  him:   "Monsegneur  "Javaina  11  otpoio  molt 
volontlera,  mes  pap  eel  otrol  aoffrl  il  pula  molt  de  vergogne 
et  d'angolse,  et  fu  blaamez  de  maint  chevalier"  (2086-38). 
The  repercnaslona  of  this  action  are  felt  much  later  In  the 
atory  at  a  tournament  apoaaored  by  Nabigant  de  la  Hoche   v/ho 
offers  the  "Cerole  d'Or"  to  the  knight  who  wins  the  praise 
of  ell.   On  the  first  day  Gawain  is  victorioua;  on  tiie  second, 
he  ia  approached  by  a  damsel  who  reminda  i.im  of  his  pro.-nise 
and  aaya: 

"y.islre  'Javains,  jo  vos  requier  e  .-ri,  per  vos  esprover  ae 
T08  astea  si  loials  com  om  dit,  v^ue  vos  soles  nul  a  I'asamolee 
11  pis  fsisant  de  toz,  e  que  vos  1  faites  totes  les  ooardies 
que  nua  puet  fsire,  ai  n'srez  autres  Br.nes  que  les  vos  por 
vos  miels  conolstre."  (6875-78) 

Gewaln  kee,i.s  his  protiae  so  well  that  "dlsoient  li  chevalier 
que  il  avolt  asea  grsignor  pria  que  11  ne  deserviat,  car  onquea 
mals  ne  vlrent  si  coart  chevalier  a  asemblee  com  11  eatcit" 
(6903-C5J.   On  the  third  day,  however,  he  makes  up  fcr  tuis 
end  wins  the  "Cercle  d»Or."  To  return  to  the  episode  con- 
cerning tne  sword,  however,  when  Oawain  .-eaches  the  land  of 
the  Fisher  King  he  Is  admitted  and  told,  "se  vos  ne  fussoiz 
de  e,rant  valor  vos  ne  I'eflssoiz  pas  conquisse"  (2376).  The 
achievlrij:  of  the  quest  for  the  sword,  and  tne  victory  at  the 


^£1 


aiaaub  +.wj  ,  :,iv. 

flolJlbaoo  no   il   nlttisi  otf  nlswaU  swoIXr  .    , 

iTor  '    ---      iX  anl«v«0  *u}c~ ""  "      * 

.v^^-d802)   ■•tsllBveffo   *nl»B  •t   smneBlcf  ul  ie 

odr  .-•---    ^£   sb  StiB^tdmJi  x<f  s.    .~~    -  ...    - — -.    ~    ;*^ ^- 

fbnof'SB  dc^  no   ^Boolio^^lv  al  iilB^^r'^' 

oa  lovoiqes  bov  noq  .iiv^  a  isiupsi  eov  »L  .saie 


air 


115 


tournament,  cne/i,  are  both  sufficient  evidence  for  the  author's 
estimation  of  flawsin  as  a  knignt-a t-arins. 

As  In  so  many  ot  ler  romances  in  both  prose  end  verse, 
the  Grail  is  .TiSde  a  standard  of  measurement  by  wriloh  a  hero's 
capacities  are   estimated.   ^s  the  title  of  this  work  Implies, 
Oawaln  Is  not  destined  to  achieve  the  quest  of  the  Grail; 
consequently  we  need  not  be  surprised  tc  see  his  ^^haracter 
suffer  some  diminution  wh'-n  he  is  brought  into  contact  ivith 
the  Orall  and  with  the  Grail  winner.   Like  Perceval  on  his 
first  visit  to  the  tirail  castle,  Gawain  fails  to  ask  the 
vital  -question  concerning  the  Grail:   "il  esj-prde  devsnt  lui 
et  volt  chaoir  .ill.  gotes  del  oenc  desus  la  table,  si  lu 
toi  esbahiz  de  I'es^arder,  si  ne  dist  mot  (2440-'i2;.   As 
a  result,  he  is  not  allowed  to  attend  mass  trie  next  morning, 
being  told,  "vos  en  svoz    perdu  1 'entree  pax"   molt  pou  de 
parole"  (2474).   And  at  the  Castle  of  Joy,  no  one  will 
speak  to  him: 

"car  vcs  JGawe  j  ri]  1 'pvez  deservl,  si  vcs  quldent  ssl  pereceus 
de  Cet  ocm  vos  estes  de  parole,  et  virent  que  vcs  estiez 
'/enilg  oarmi  la  Forest  Perllleuse  ou  tult  H  desccnflt  paasent 
.  .  .  '  (2624-26) 

.Vnen  he  meets  Lancelot,  he  recites  his  adventure  at  the  Grail 
Jastle,  and  adds,  "Ves  ice  xe  reconforte  molt,  que  11  .ueudres 
chevaliers  cu  monde  i  fu  avant  moi,        rretant  en  est 
blasnez  cc.TTTre  Je  sui"  (2912-13).   Gawsin  also  acknowledges 
i-ercevel's  superiority  in  Arthur's  court,  describing  Perceval 
as  "11  melcres  chevaliers  et  11  plus  sa^es  qui  vive  ou  u.onde. 


SIX 

.  .-^:i»-»J»-j..-, __   .-..■-. 

,«8i»v  bos  •aoi^  £i^CM[  ni  eaQfiMJCi,  i&ii^o  ^nei«  Of 

i.     nsi^siwio   8id  dee  o;f   bealrtqitus  (Mf  ;too  beaii  »«  Tj/ir;.ti'-::=.'.n  o 

laX  ;;Jflev  i-j   .^3ia^»»  Xl"      tXIfiQ  wl*  sfilniAoaot  nol^tasi 

«1  It    ,^ J   aX  «ii«(»b  o^sa  l«b  eacto;g    ,111.   nloaris 

"aA     -fSi'-O^^a)   ;ro«  4alb  an  la   t!iabn«s««'X  ab  s2r: 

(S^XntOi).  .  da;t   asais  bne«f^a  o;t  bovoXXa  #oa  el   e..   , 


116 

I  ;7 


e  del  plu3  sfiintisB*  ligaage"  (5064-56;.   in  &    tournament 
in  which  r'erceval  and  Gawain  take  part,  i^erceval  is  awarded 
the  prize  o>/er  bawain  by  the  judges: 

II  diatrent  que  li  Chevalier  au  Blanc  Eacu  \?erceva^  et  11 
autres  a  I'eacu  de  ainople  et  a  I'egle  d 'or  ^Gawa  inj  1 'avolent 
iseuz  fet  que  nul  des  autres,  mes  por  ce  lue  11  Chevaliers 
eu  blanc  i^-scu  asenbla  envois  la  mesllee  que  li  autres,  1 'en 
donerent  le  pris;  mes  il  jujiierent  que  de  tant  que  Misire 
Gevalns  i  avoit  este,  ne  I'avcit  il  mie  pis  fet  de  I'autre 
chevalier.   (4450-55) 

Ana  when  asked  by  a  damsel  to  unoertake  a  quest,  Gewain  refuses: 

Vos  savez  bien  que  je  a'avroie  point  d'enor  se  j 'entrepernoie 
vostre  beaoigne  a  fere,  car  vos  a^^ez  oit  nus  nel  doit  vengier 
se  celui  non  qui  meuz  s  vrIu  en  oeste  asanblee,  et  ce  est  il, 
si  m'alt  Dex;  je  I'e  bien  aenti  et  esprouve.  (4461-64) 

In  matters  relating  to  the  Urail,  then,  GaA-ain'a  reputation 
la  secondary  to  that  of  the  C-rail  winner. 

In  the  latter  books  of  this  romance,  Gp.vain  slips 
into  the  background  and  Lancelot  and  Perceval  come  to  the  fore. 
Indeed,  Lancelot  takes  over  the  position  o'^cupied  by  Gawaln 
in  tne  first  few  books,  so  that  one  cnaracter  later  in  the 
story  replies  thus  to  an  accusation  against  Lancelot  brought 
by  Brlen  des  Illes: 

oe  La.iceloz  n'est  paa  ioi,  ne  dites  pas  c.iose  de  lui  lui  a 
dire  ne  face.   Autretant  a  este  renon.njee  la  cort  le  roi  Artu 
par  Lancelot,  et  honoree  conme  par  nul  chevalier  qui  i  aoit; 
e  se  11  n'i  estoit,  sa  cort  ne  seroit  xnie  si  dotee  conrte  ele 
est,  car  11  n'a  si  creuu  chevalier  ne  si  redote  en  tote 
Is  Grant  Bretaigne  conme  Lancelot.  (8099-8104) 

isven  Gawain  nimself  recognizes  Lancelot's  superiority;  "ifnea 


e8Bijl8*t  nlsvsO   ^izeup  e  a^B^tiabii^j  o^  Xaejisb  a  x<^  b9i(0A  nodw  bnA 

©-'  '  i,    38   'icne'b   Jnioq   eio'ive'c    ai,    9iJp   . 

1  Xoo   8»jn   ;tlb   S8v*^   eov  leo    .e*?;?!   a    e 

.■}i^i'}     .e>vuoi.qg??  ©(,     ;x: 

.'xenxxlv  Ii«ii)   sdi  "io  ^kdi  oi  ^nebnooee   el 
'    .©anamoi  slricf 
,eiol  £  :.oo   laveaneS   bne  ;toXsu.i.ej;  Oiia  5.: 

aiawBw  x<^  beJtquofio  nol;tlBoq  adi  n^vo  e«j»(Bj   JoXao^iaa   ,toafcfil 


117 


a  csa.sel  oc'--f-  t-)  Arthur's  cci;rt  asking  fcr  8  knight  to  draw 
8  bolt  out  of  f>    plllflp  for  her,  Hawaln  defers  to  Lsncelot 
when  Arthur  nsks  him  to  try: 


"hfi.'-3ire,  fait  il,  rie  me  fsites  i.le  iionte.   rer  la  fcl  ^ue 
je  voa  dol,  Je  n'l   etrBl  hul  ma  main  avart,  se  vos  ne  vos 
en  devez  corx'ecier.   Veez  ci  eie-iuea  Lascelot  et  tant  de 
bona  chevaliers  que  Je  u'i  avrai  p  int  d'onor  se  je  m'en 
avanooie  devant  sus."  (8193-96) 


Seedless  to  sa^,  La-icelot  is  successful  •in  tals  adventure. 
Gawain'3  only  distinction  over  i-encelot  in  tr.ls  work  ia  thtt 
ne  3eea  tae  Grail,  but  Lancelot  does  not,  stained  as  he  is 
by  the  sin  of  his  love  for  Guenivei-e.  Wn^n   Lancelot  con- 
sulted a  hermit  about  tue  Greii,  tie  hermit  replied: 

mes  itant  vos  di  je  oien,  se  voa  £:esiez  en  I'ostel  au  riche 
ii^i  Pescheor,  que  del  Oraal  ne  verrlez  v?s  mie,  por  le  mcrtel 
pechie  '\\xi   voa       u  cuer.  (3691-95) 

Ira  iflte  of  Lsncelot 's  fnJlure  nere,  however,  the  general 

tone  of  the  romance  seeaia  to  su^i^est  thot  he  replaces  Ga«aln 

as  the  chief  knight  In  Arthur's  court. 

In  our  exsmlnatlon  of  the  fra jmentar/  poem  Les 
10 
iiuifances  Ciauvain   ,  we  mentioned  that  the  story  recounted 

in  it  also  existed  in  an  a. brevlated  version  in  tne  Perlesveus, 

dome  discussion  of  the  story  as  it  appears  in  the  Perlesvaus 

is  appropriate  at  tnls  point.   Arthur  ana  (iavain  have  been 

riding  out  on  adventures,  and  they  hear  mass  at  '\±.    .-lOut 

riche  chapele"  (7295)  which  is  elaborately  oecorated  by 

*all  paintin»^s.   These  pictures  tell,  says  the  priest,  ".i. 

estolre  verais",  "dou  proudoamie  vavasor.  .  .  et  de  Monseignor 


^UCCTlA  9    £»8IB«b    ft 


.sou^tfsevbs   Bln4   ax   XulBssooiiB   el   ;>oIt-  .  .^b    otf   r 

?;.?    ert   ?3   b«r;ie;fc    ^.Icn   s?ob   3of ornnJ  iud   ,1181^    «.rf;j   E*»n£   on 

1    ^toi   ?! 


\6«-i6»&)    .«i©jjs>  an   ieis   tov 


,  8tJ3Vf:t 


lib 


(iavein  e   de   se   mere".      CB>valny    it   sppesra,    is    the   offspring 

o£   Lot   ana   e   x^oyal  icother;    he    was   rescued   frooi  deetb  and 

baptised   L>y  a   nelghbourlni^  vavasour   natn«cl    '^awaln;    be   was 

brou^t   up  by   a   servant   cf    the   vavasour  and   teken  to   home 

when  grown    up.      The    f'ope    Ucok    caie    of  ulii.,    and   tia.vein   w&s 

elected   £«mpercr   of   Konie,    en   aonour  he    declined    "pox*    ce   que 

on   11  reproche   de    se   naisenca".      Jew,    saya   the   priest,    he 

11 
is    ".i.    des  lueilors   caevaliers   dou  uont'l     .      Tnla   abbreviated 

version  bears   obvious   affiaities   with   the  ^al'a!iC63   Geuvaln 

r^ 

and  the  De  Qrtu  Vvaluuaai,  to  oe  considered  oelow  .   The 

casualness  or   its  introduction  and  its  digrass.lva  nature 

indicate  uow  HI- adapted  to  the  framework  of  the  whole 

romance  it  really  is,  and  suggest  that  the  rerlaavaus  la 

not  a  composition  of  very  high  artistic  merit. 

The  lerlesveua  is  a   rambling  <vork,  aiovlntj  froai  the 

adventures  of  one  hero  to  ciicse  of  another.   In  ao-j.e   ways  it 

offers  a  new  treatmer.t  of  couiinonpla ce  Arthurian  themes;  for 

example,  the  ciilapse  cf  the  ^^rthurian  kingdom  is  attributed, 

not  to  Lancelot's  love  for  Ciuenivere  end  to  Mordred's 

incestuous  birth,  but  to  the  murder  of  Arthur's  son  Loholt 

by  Kay.  because  of  its  discursive  nature,  thiS  ro^.)  nee 

focuases  attention  on  tjiree  nerces  in  succession  —  Gawain, 

Lancelot,  end  reroeval  —  refcarding  each  in  turn  as  ciiivalry's 

finest,  but  with  the  final  and  overwhalutin^  emphasis  on 

Perceval.   The  connection  of  tais  *  rk  with  tae  monastery 

13 
at  Glastonbury   probably  accounts  for  tha  high  level  of 


4»il   t^eai  c:\,»e    ,v.  3£>   ado. 

XI 

leri^ib  eJl   baa  •acidoi/boid'rvl   aJll  lo  csanlausivs 
^  &Ai  lo  ijvovefflaaT  a4^   ojt  b9itqaEi«^<«Cil  «on  e^iaolbfu 


8ff^     IBO«)rtt    T^niVCHH     ,^1  a'l 


123 


morelity  eviue  it  throu.'.hcnt  arid  for  tue   glorif icetlon  of 
Perceval.   ihe  author  pr'eserves  Chretien's  high  conception 
of  Gawain'a  c  laracter*  —  Gawaln  is  morally  superior  to 
Lancelot  inaamuch  as  he  sees  the  *jreil  while  Lancelot  does 
not  —  but  the  author  Is  strongly  influenced  by  tales  con- 
cernl-ig  Lancelot,  and  to  keep  in  fashion,  must  devote  much 
space  end  praise  to  that  hero.   but  both  Lancelot  and 
Oewain,  who  represent  for  this  author*  thte  best  so  far  as 
worldly  val  jes  are  ccncerned,  are  oversiiadowed  by  Perceval . 

The  work  #e  ere  to  consioer  f:exc,  tne  De  Ortu 
Weluuanl,  Is  important  Insofar  as  it  supplecents  the  frag- 
■entary  or  abbreviated  story  of  ue main's  youth  as  seen  in  tne 
Enfancea  Gauvaln  end  in  trie  ferlesvaus.  According  to  its 

r? 

editor   ,  the  work  was  probably  composed  in  tne  second 

quarter  of  the  thirte-^nu.-i  century.   Once  a  hero  becomes  well 

known,  stories  concerning  the  birth  and  early  youth  of  that 

hero  generally  make  their  appearance,  and  Gewain  seems  to 

have  been  no   exception.   The  Le  i.rtu  is  the  fullest  account 

of  T'swain's  bi'th  and  early  years  that  we  possess,  end  In 

its  details  it  bears  some  striking  resemblances  to  the 

pattern  Lord  i.at-'lan  establishes  In  nis  not  very  hif?hly 

15 
regarded  little  study,  Tne  hero   .   As  might  be  expected, 

there  is  no  question  of  the  unknown  autacr's  nigh  regard  for 

Gawsin,  and  ^rmain   becores  in  tain    .vork  the  hero  of  a  story 

similar  to  the  typical  biographical  ronian'-.e  such  as  Le  Bel 

In conn u.  In  which  the  ueco   undertces  many  adventures 


91 L 


Ic   nolcJr-  11  r -cij  en^  "ioi  riooanriJ  drn«ftl*«  t^llsno?. 

nol^qasr,'.  8'a»i;ti^0  eavnsseiq  'icci<iia%  •cfT      .ifty«on4? 

e©o6    *    tor-'s.l   allaw   IIbtO  »£i*  8©«8   »ri  aa  r(o»p;^f*rI    *^t5iMi  ' 

bne  ;Jol9onBj  tiicd  *i?a      .cnarf  jJedd'  oJ^  «e  e   soaqt 

1B8  "iBl  OB  ttaed  ©rfd  "loxIJira  etrlS  10^  dfJ6fc»nq*^  otiw   ,nl»ir8i^ 
»£»V0onaSi  ^d  foavobo/letevd  arre   »fr»rrtt«»noo  ©frft  8«t/I©v  Uffafno?. 
xiJ*iO  eU  ©rti   ,*X9n  •jsbisnoo  od  ens  tw  J*tfc1»  etlLf 

•d;t  al  n99B  bb  Aiuox  e*nl«irad  Id  xno^a  b«;falY9«cfds  no  \;%fe 

ctfl  o3  sal bncco A    .eueveelig*!  edi»  ni   bna  nlatvutf)   BetrEr'irc 
onoaae   adS"  nl   beeoqtrrcr    rLa^-jc-iex  er-*  Ts'-i-w   eiii    . 
IXev  ss^ttrrad  oiari  «  ednO 
ian  'JO"t  ^XTi«»  bna  d*il<f  ariif  s^^-lnneode'd  8«l'K>l^a    .r 

^^^   grf^jse   jTitovaO  bna    ^eonflnsaqqa  nlsrf^f  %:'e?r  vT!:s>-;'?.. 

-irvr   &di  8f  y;HC   •£  ©ifi  ^v^ii 

STf  jeria   fiP-?*^  Tr'5  86 

■5T   tor  n'"   n'    BS-.' 


120 


reflecting  his  *^rth.   In  the  De  Ortu,  Gewain  is  tne  son 

of  e  aecreit  love  effeir  between  ^^nne,  the  daughter  of  Other 

Fendr-ejcn  anC   aiacer  of  Arthur,  anu  Lot,  nephew  of  SIchelinua, 

KiriR  of  HorwG/.   The  child's  birth  la  kept  aeci^et  end  he  falls 

Into  the  hflnds  or  b  flsiiermen  who  eventually  tekos  him  to 

Home  end  r-eveals  tne  circumstances  of  the  child's  birth  to 

Che  Emperor  end  the  Pope.   oa^eln  trrowa  into  fc  famous  warrior, 

even  aiding  the  Christians  iri  Jerusalem  §gainst  their  enemies, 

and  finally  ne    is  sent  to  ^rtnur.   inuring  tnla  time  Gewain 

is  unawai'e  of  nis  own  identity  and  la  known  as  Lne  Knight 

with  tne  hurcoeu.   In  a  nee    zo   assist  the  dajisei  of  tne 

Jastle  cf  .■.sicena,  ^b.valn   exnlblts  unparalleled  rcurage, 

15 
and  Arthur  finally  reveals  to  him  ills  name   :   "in  puerili 

quiaeji  etate  ?nev   sine  f^omlne,  a  tiroolnlo  autem  usque  ad 

presens  Viles  es  uocqlus  cum  tunica  armature,  iem  a  modo 

Waluusnius  proprlo  censeberls  notamlne."  The  whole  story 

represents  a    femillar  progression  :>f  events,  end  it  is 

interesting  to  see  them  connected  with  (is>nrein  himself,  a 

well-eatabl J  shod  hero   of  "rthur'an  r  manoe,  ratner  than 

with  an  unknown  vliom  the  author  Is  introdi'cing.   The  De  Ortu 

3ontf<Ins  some   urious  deviatlcaa  from  Arthurian  tradition, 

17 
such  bii    the  name  Ciwendoloena   fcr  Arthur's  queen,  but  these 

ere  beyond  the  interest  of  this  study.   For  our  preS'^nt 

purposes,  tae  •L-c  Ortu  is  important  for  filling  in  certain 

4^aps  in  »J8.¥ein's  biography,  ana  for  the  evlaence  it  affords 

concerning  tiie  ways  of  fiction. 


OSI 


^BUriiXarioIc^   %>  vedqain   ,if*d  baa   t%tfitf*i&  I.-  ."laji^alfi  bits  jtc"  n 

oi  ri  IMr   add  lo  8»oined*«i;o-:'n    sdi  eladv 

,i:lii«w   exfooM^  b  o;trsi  enro'ij}   nlft«ai>  lii  butt  *ion»c.a£A  3.~ 

;tci3Jtn}l  oxij    a«  nnoc»  si   bits  ^ii^aebi  amo  alxi  lo  jsnowe^ 

8X 
IXl'Xsifq  ai"      :      oaaa  «Icl  «lrf  o;tv  ales  van  x*"®^**^  •^"^^'^ 


B£ 


121 


SoKt  Ox  ch&   dirricultiea  iavolved  in  a  ti'eatment  of 

the  Vulgace  xAon.anaea  have   been   aientioned  at  the  beginning 

or  Laia    chapte:'.   ijinae  so  roany  of  these  problems  are  still 

unsolved,  jve  must  adopt  an  arbitrary  attitude  towards  tne 

met^rial  in  tnis  study,  Dut  lest  those  problems  be  overlooked 

oy  reason  of  tae  metriOd  here  adopted,  let  us  briefly  rehearse 

some  of  them.   In  their  entirety,  tue  Vulgate  ivoiijances  provide 

the  reader  *ith  a  coherent  history  of  tiie  i.,oly  '-'rail  from 

tne  days  of  tXiC  crucifixicn  of  uhrist  to  the  eventual 

distppearaace  of  tae  Ux-eil  from  tne  earth  after  the  Grail 

quest  has  been  successfully  concluded  by  GalGhao.   Involved 

in  tnis  story  is  tae  founding  of  the  Arthurian  kingdoa.,  tae 

exploits  of  tii6    caief  chsrasLer  of  that  Kingdom,  Lancelot, 

end  his  love  affair  with  (iuenivere,  Arthur's  «ife,  end  the 

eventual  collapse  of  t.iat   kingdom  in  tne  conflict  between 

Arthur  and  Mordred.   There  is,  tne.'efore,  a  chronological 

sequence  of  events  within  the  narrative  fraxiework  of  the 

various  romances  which  make  up  this  vast  cycle.   Ahst  .ve 

must  remember,  however,  is  that  these  romances  were  not 

coinpoaed  in  tne  same  chrciological  sequence  as  the  events 

they  narr  te.   Presumably  tne  Lancelot  section  was  composed 

first,  anc    tne   version  of  it  .ve  now  possess  represents  the 

18 
final  product  of  an  evolutionary  process   .   Similarly  in 

respect  to  toe  whole  cycle,  various  f>utiiors  and  co.Tipilers 

nave  made  t.ieir  contribution,  so  taat  at  varying  times  during 

trie  coti^poaition  of  the  cjcle  varicus  pressures  were  exe^-ted 


abivcx^;  e^££!mcji  ocIs^IajV   &i:>J    (X.d^#^4ii«  al»tld  0I 

ao'il  XZs'i*'  xloii  9{ii  lo  Tjtio4eia  ;taeinE©£ipo  |»,  aUri«f  a«i>a9'. 
X«u;}itevs  e£L;}  oJ  ^aiiiiO  lo  aplxilloi/na  ed^  la'  B\ai^ 

©a J    ^laojjjanXai  n«X?tJxy«iA  1^x14  ^«.  ^oJL6n«ol.«il^  «X   lt*"»J8  ei*. 
«jtol*ao»4   (ffiob^nlx  tfafl;^  I9  neJQi9ajB4o  l»iua  aiiiJ'  lo  s5lr>Xox- 
©dd   bqs  ^eliw  e'nwdtfnA   »©«:ftyX/Jt«G  ridlw  alalia 

»f<S  lo  ^'iom9K»%%!  &vl&»*i%9n  »d0  aldJim  »^pov*>  lo   9©f»»iif>^' 
Xo'^o  ^E»v  «idd  qu  tt3i[»iff  rff>f«w  « 


«»r   *»v»n 


122 


on  tJae  anthers.   ihe  encrmoua  populsfity  or  the  'Jrall  story, 
and  tne  equally  eaor*!nou3  popula.'ity  cf  the  Lanoelot-Cuenivere 
stoi-y  «j^-e  obvious  examyl^s   of  the  type  cf  pressure  wnlch 
exerted  -bn  influence.   Tnere  may  have  been  ot:^eP3,  but  at 
tnis  atsj^a  in  tiie  study  of  the  Arthurian  let:,end,  xiandloapped 
oy  a  lack  of  critical  editions  una   by  the  mutual  ucstxlity 

i;; 
of  critica   ,  It  is  iaiposalble  for  any  writer  uc  make 

conclusive  ata  Lerneata  concerning  t.iis  .naterial.   Consequently 

'*e  nave  arbitx*arily  ele  ted  to  treat  txiese  romances  in  the 

same  c-iroaologiaei  sequence  as  taa  t  of  tue  events  Ci^ey  narrate, 

Since  it  is  concerneo  priaiarily  Hlza.   tne  history  of 

the  urail  tinci  i.-o*  tne  sacred  vessel  arrivea  in  oritain,  we 

CO  aot  expect  tc  find  extensive  references  to  iiawain  m 

20 
Lastolre  del  >aaint  Graal   .   There  sre,  nevertheless,  a  few 

interesting  remarks  on  lii  s  linea;?e: 

&,   de  cele  engencrs  il  [^Lot's  fatuer]]  lot  dorcenle  qui  puis 
fu  rola  &  ot  a  feme  la  seror  au  C(,  j   srtu  damciseie  bale  4 
plnissnt  'i    de  cele  entendre  11  .iilj.  flex.   11  premiers  ot 
noa  gauaina  4  fu  moult  bolns  caeuallers  preus  k   veillansfne  ^ 
mais  trcp  porfu  luxurleus.  (I,  280 j 

The  tdject^ve  "luxurleus"  ia  an  obvious  allusion  to  that 

quality  in  uawbin  wnich  nas  received  sush  elaocrete  treat:a©nt 

21 
ia  the  hands  of  Caretien'a  co  tlnuetcrs   .   Ajcordin..^  to 

this  Wi'lter,  'iawain's  oescent  can  be  traced  back  to  joaeph 

of  Ariaistnea : 'Ensi  poes  ujua  sauolr  ^ue  par  droite  generation 

issi  n.essires  gauains  qja  on  tiant  a  si  L>oin  ciieualier  del 

'I 
lignege  ioseph  derimaahle   (I,  231).  But  no  matter  what 


SSI 


b«qq»ai!  ">ii«riiiA   diii   %(i  ^bci;)K   edit  ft  1  :  l-iJ 

t^i-^^^*^''^  X««oi'!n   ©rid   iirf  bne  «n62i2b9  Ieol;tl'is    le    oiT    -  Td 

XlwnsjjrpeenoO      .lAlidtfaffi  ntd  gnlitneohoo  sdaaaeie^e  «VltuXo£too 

lo  t'io;t8ld  Mi;}   fl{}lw  ^XXisicliq  batrxdonco   al   il   dsnlS 
atr    ^nlai^ltd  nl   bavlina  Xaeaav  baaoas   ar(^  woii  boa  Xlfi't!)   idJ 
fl^  tilaaajti   o^  eaonaialei  avlenac^xe  bhilL  oi  ^ioaqxe 

wal    a    ,88eX3rf;J'j4van    ,a«ia   ©narfT     .      lae*LO  it\l&^    Ttt    l'l''o::r^ej 


tasaaalX  eld  rjc   a5Ji«- 


Jo 


123 


praise  this  *r'iter  accoroa  Ca-tln,  he  Is  well  ocqueloted 

with  the  'Jrsll  stories  !n        -slahed  plays  a  leadin/?  role; 

consequeatly  ce  speaks  of  i^alahad  tau3:"chll3  lu.'b  a  non 

i^alaad.   cils  pessere  de  bcnte  de  ccz's  L   de  cheualorie.  tous 

cheula  qui  devjsnt  lui  aurcnt  este.  ct  iul  cpres  lul  uemvat  " 

(I,  204 ).  Incidentally,  it  Is  passsees  such  as  tais  wnich  stamp 

this  w.. ?k  as  posterior  to  the  ^ueste  del  -^alnt  '^re s  1 ,  and  the 

quotation  indicates  udequately  which  ^x'^hurian  knight  l3  to 

have   tne  highest  rexard. 

22 

Lestoire  de  Merlin  begins  ./ith  miet   bruce  tercis 
"a  mere  prose  rendering  of  nobert  de  boron ';>  ..^erlln",  ana 
while  tiie  stcry  of  iVerlin's  oir-th  is  an  interesting  one,  it 
Is  not  ;--elevant  to  our  present  purpose.   In  this  section 
of  Lestoire,  however,  :ve  are  told  of  Oawain'a  birth:  "de 
la  f.'lle  8  Ifi  dan>e  [^Iti^.^nel  L   del  roy  lot  iasi  mesa  Ires 
gauua'ns  h   agreuains  Sc  geheres  et  mordres"  (II,73),rnd 
Merlin  makes  a  prophecy  to  ^rthur  concerning  Gawain  which 
neada  lo   be  quoted  in  full  since  it  sets  the  tone  of  the 
attitude  tc  Gawp^n  rxhiblted  taroufhout  this  work: 


"Et  saces  bien  que  tjauains  sera  11  plus  loleus  cheuallers 
qui  onques  nssqulst  enuers  sen  seij-nor  si  sera  .j.  desboins 
cheualics  del  monde  L   qui  plus  v:u3  s;:,era  v.  vous  essauohera 
tant  comme  11  vlura  enuers  tout  le  monce  nls  enuers  son 
^ere.   .v  ae  doutes  on  ^uos  que  ce  sora  par  qui  vous  raures 
toute  uostre  terre  si  aeront  tout  uostre  honme  par  doutance 
de  lul  uers  vous  humlliant  et  obeiaent."  (11,  96 J 


These  remarks  are  mcdlfied  ot  only  cne  otiier  point  Jr.  tJ 
stcry: 


dax 


jdloi  »nl.b«©J(   •   t-^iiiXq   baiiei  sdimo^ts   i.     .        jIvj 

8uc#    ,«l*ieXftt<»rif  >>  ^.  ._  .    dh    aidBBftq   «X1©      .bAeXsJI 

"  t.  -..-r.  I.!    .■  .  r    t^    ■,,,  .  ...,  J©  •rf'T!'..:    U*X   Sneu©5   iup  &la^iio 

_...  -    i.»  iiiitjb   B©i,9BeQ<|   £..    .       ,  ^iXarfn&b   "i^''  .r^A'^      r  i 

ed;f  bfi'      ''-.-^mO  Jtila^   Xeb  QJsen^   •dJ  oi  nolneieoc^   _  .       .    .    

o--^  n    r(«ii<ji/d^<:;A  ri^iriv  ^X»$e0pe6a   S9;^«o25nl   notSti&up 

. —    .    jaunS  deriw  d;fiK   enXs*^^  flJX*xew   ©&   aiXoJaekl 

eft"    jrf^nld  8»rffttw8«>  lo   bXoi   b ,'j9v«>t'         <. 

.o.,..  •  .  c^Ac«i  Isfcl    cfoX   X01   X»b  4    fsnlosl^    e  .....    -^    -      ^_    . 


124 


"Meis  lolfius  cneueliGrs  Qiawaln]  estolt  uers  s  n  3l>rncr 
k   enuera  la  roine  luaqua  la  mcrt.   Ne  onquea  en  sa  ule  ne 

fist  ti'aiao".  cuno  saule.  *  oeie   fu  de  loholt  le  flls  au  roy 
artu  que  il  ochist  par  enuie  en  la  forest  perilleuse.   & 
pqr  p'j t'cei.i:il  ie  galola  ^<n  Tua  acuaea  a  court  erisi  corame 
vna  ermltes  11  conta  qui  11  euolt  ueu  ochire."(II,  316) 

This  report  is  cuiioualy  incoriaisLent  *it.a  the  Lsncelot 

where  Loholt  la  said  to  have  become  fatally  ill  while  in  a 

prlaoa  (III,  159),  and  with  the  Livre  d 'Artua,  where  ne 

ia  dsid  t'-  have  been   killed  oy  rvay  in  "Lm  Forest  i-erilieuae" 

(VII,  52),  Lea  Poire  also  repeats  the  le^^end  aoncerniUiZ, 

the  pecul  Lari  Lies  of  ^^a^ain's  strength: 

Et  quant  11  [OawainJ  se  leuolt  su  matin  11  auolt  la  force 

el  uiillor  cheu'iller  del  monde.   4  qua^it  vint  a  eure  ae  t-rime 

8l  11  doublolt  A  a  eure  de  tierce  ausi.   5-  quant  ce  vint 

8  eure  de  'nidi  si  re'ienoit  a  as  premlex'e  force  ou  11 

a.  oit  eate  au  matin.  &   q\i8nt  vint  a  eure  de  noune  <Sf  e  toutea 

lea  eures  de  la  nuit  estolt  11  toudia  en  aa  f-remiere  force. 

(  II,  129-30) 

Thia  wox'k  is  Jiven  over  to  s  ^reat  nu.nber  of  accownts 

of  Ai'thur'a  wars  fef^einat  tue  varioua  britian  kings  to  estabilah 

himself  on  tne  thrcne,  and  of  nis  .va:a  a,L?ainat  tne  "Seanea", 

23 
the  p«j?,an  invaders  of  i^ritai  ,  accounts  vnicn,  aaya  bruce   , 

are  "comnionplace ,  prolijc,  and  monotonous".   ii-awaj.n  pla^s 

an  ImportHnt  cole  in  Arthur's  vvars  a  gainst  tnese  enemies 

and  ia  inatruiaental  in  reconciling  hia  fatner  Lot  witn  Arthur. 

So  signal  ia  Ga^ain'a  aer/lce  tnat  Ai'thur  makea  him  nia 

conatauie,  and  on  dubbin,-'  him  knight,  .rlvea  him  the  aword 

he  withdrew  from  the  stone: 

"blaua  nies  tenes  ie  voua  rauest  de  la  connestsblie  de  mon 
ostel  &   de  toute  la  sejjnorie  de  ma  terre  aprea  rr.c  i .  •  . 


+  9  -"•      Tr^  f  ^,X'  ^"  ■  1 


"©etfeillia'i^soio'i  Bj".ni  need  ev«ii  o4 

golniooaoo   bna^el   »£iJ   85fl©q»i   oelB  a^iggegJ    ,iS 


a   II   f 


Sols*  J. 


88JUC 
.90 


del  J 


nv  9ri 


125 


CvanL  uint  Blendemain  aprea  la  mesae  si  prin  la  ex'tua 
aa  boine  espee  v^ull  oat*  del  perr>on  pax^  da  coasoli  luex'lln  si 
la  pente  h    -buai  le  aon  neueu  al    coaco.  .  .  (II,25o) 

Freaumabl;  I:il3  la  lue   aw.ra  i^xc«116ur;  at  leaat,  on  aaotixec 

oocaaion  «.ien  Uawain  ia  en^ajed  in  combat  we  are  told  tuat 

he  "trait  eacalibor  seapee  qui  moult  jjrant  clarte  ieta"  {II,  317) 

The  Gayraln  of  ti:iia  romance  also  exhibits  that  iuallty  of 

peraplcacioua  intelligerioe  wnlch  Chretien  had  given  him 

under  the  name  of  "aan"   ;   engaged  in  a  corcbat  with  ZJasciens 

in  a  tournament  e  Cerohsiae,  Gawaln  la  unable  to  induce  this 

defeated  knight  to  surrender  and  unwilling  to  slay  him. 

His  solution  to  tne  problem  ia  interestin«  end  charecteriatic 

of  the  best  conceptions  of  Cie^ain's  character: 

Comment  fait  mes  sires  CJauaine  sire  cheualiers  est  chou  dont 
a  onertes  ke  vous  ames  raiex  a  ucrir  que  vous  uous  rendes  ne 
tenea  per  outre.   &  sil  cist  oil  .  .  .  Quant  oiealres  uauaiae 
uolt  cjull  nen  traira  el  si  salt  blen  kil  est  de  grsnt  cer... 
si  sen  Vint  a  lul  it   li  diat.  sire  cheualiera  tenes  a.eayee    com 
cil  kl  a  oltre  se  tient.   <■■  juent  ell  voit  la  grant  fraikise 
de  lui  si  aumilie  x   dist.  ua,   por  oieu  sire  cneualiers  ce 
ne  dites  raie  mais  tenes  mespee  car  ie  le  vcus  reng.  ill,  304) 

Capitalising  on  bawain's  reputation  as  a  kni^jr.c  ever  willing 
CO  rescue  damaols  in  distress,  tne  autnor  of  Lea toire 
introduces  u#o  incioenta  wxiicn  reflect  tiiat  re^-'utati Jd. 
In  tae  first  ^a«ain  approacnes  '^uenivere  and  as.'ts  tnat  ae 
ana  his  coc.psnions  oe  allowed  tc  st^le  uneicseives  tae  (^ueen's 
Knights.   lo  this  request  the  queen  consents,  ''et  oes  illuec 
en  suant  fu  tr.es  aires  tianaine  &   si  co;t.pelgnon  ftpeie  li  cheualiers 
a  ia  roine  genieure"  ill,    322).   On  the  second  occasion 
Gawain  meets  a  damsel  In  a  forest;  he  is  preoccupied  with 


Js-*j  uIj;        iedmoo 
,(VI€  ,11)  '•a;J»l  ^Jielo  Jn«i^  ili-^i.  ^»^.  s&^i^a  'i;>*ii.ii,oso 

eneloBsK  d^lw   rfadiioo    a  nl 

.fflld  xale   o^  anlXIlvni.'   bae  lafore'sius  oJ   ^^d^irul   bo^ae 
aJL;tBl«aioa9sho  boa  'iatii9i9'i«:iax 

■V    sup  nliom   a   xoL.z  ga.i.e   siic  . 
e  up    .    .    .    X 1  o    3  •  :  T'    C  '  c    -A      .  e 

iic-   liW   nsid 

aa  fiolo  :.'fil8»B  ,eO 

-.'  nac  -  na 

aoui-'  *9J'p   a.                         uliii  ol 

dlXai/auQ    i  e^nis.  SiMQ  9)  4na9«   '^^ 

-  .-  -  -;  -aiaa* 

ilo'/w  -sainab 


125 


sed  thoughts  concern'      r-lin  who  has  disappeared  and  falls 

I,  ...  .  \      ,   w 

to  greet   the   damsel.      one    upbraids   ilm  for    tils: 

11  unSL   f,t.j.    <ioi:'   quan^oii   cist   ^   le    reaoauaee    ^ui    cort  perml 
le   roiaLjie   de   logres   oe    toi.      quar    on  dlst   i.   tesraol    ne   que 
tu  OS   11   .-.ielores    cheualiers   del  osonde   .v  de    ce    cist   on  voii>. 
lit   oa   dlst   apres   que   tu  es    li    i-lus    cortols  &   11    clus   frans 
del  monde.      uiaia   en   ce   cljche   Is   renommee.      quar   tu  es   11 
plus   vilains    cheualiers    del   sconce.    (II,4£'9) 

As  a   punisuntent    uagrain  must   sasuuie    tae    sxi£ipe   of   the   next 
person  ne   ;iieets    --    it   ha^^pens    tc    be   a    dwaM'   --  and  he   Oiii/ 
rcijeins  his   proper   snepe    «aen  iie   fuliiis    the   following" 
condltiori : 

Vous   me    iureres   fet   la   damoisele    sor   le    sf-irenient    "  'e   vouij 
felstes   le  roy  artus   uostre   oncle.      que    lames  a   dame  ne   a 
damoisele   ne   feucres   de    secors   ne   deyde.    ne    iemes   nenconterres 
daae   ne   damoisele   que   vous   ne   le   sslues   ainccls   quele  vous 
a   uostre   pcoir.       (II,    463) 

1N«   are   elso   told   in  this   work  that   Us.vain   captures  his   norse, 

"le   grlnj^alet"  from  a   king   of   tne    "Sesaes"  named   Clarion   (II,    34li 

/•hen  peace  nas   ceen  establisnec   in  Arthur's   kingdom 
and    tue    invadera   have   been  routed,    e   messenger  arx'ives  from 
t£ie   homan  emperor  demanding   tribute.      >irtnur   invades  j:ranzef 
and   (i6«ain,    ivtixa,   anc   oagramor  are   sent   on  an  eiLbassj  to   the 
emperor,      "por   oe    ^nil   ostoient   cortols  oc  oien  ensei,-Kiiie. 
si   auolant   an  els   t^roeche   oc  herdeiLent''    (II,    432;.    At    the 
30urt   of   the   emperor   ^e*8in  strikes   off    the   nead   of   tne 
emperor's   nephew  for  nis    insolence,    and    tne    three  mas3«n,;er3 
are   pursued    to   Arthur's   ca!np(II,    43c;).    In   tne   enauln>r  battle 
with   the   homaas,    tne   eiiperor  is  killed   bj   Gawain: 


fci  • 

I 

x«b   m-x^Liaviio   ai 


ixer.   Silt   Ic    o~s/i:    3ri'    e-s; 


auov   aleup   eloonla   ssiiisc    el   sn  airov   ecr 


IL^    .II)   rrcl-  rn  "BCfSB^a"   •rii  lo  jqffl::   b  r- 

>sa»a  a   (bt  or.:; 

;i»b«70l   lUiiiiA      .0#&di^?  'iO<S9qflie  flftaioA   vdd 


127 


.  .  .  11  eKiperer  3  fu  moult  f_r3   lard  is  4  ot  moult  tyrant 
icle  de  ce  ,uil  sostcit  tenus  encontre  ir.o.'uli^noi'  ..auelne  car 
11  le  connlssolt  bien  par  lea  eaaegnea  de  ses  sriries  car  on 
les  1  Buolt  deuent  deuiaeea.   si  dlst  a  aoi  me i srae  que  ae 
11  en  poot  esceper  11  sen  uenteroit  a  roifiice.   Lors  lieue 
lescu  5;  hauclae  le  beach  &  se  ccinbat  moult  flereraent  Gnaontre 
anonslEnop  Caualne.   <i-  aiaaire  Gsualne  le  fiert  si  durement 
deacalibor  sa  boine  espee  quil  le  fent  iusqtes  deas.  (II,  440) 

The  action  of  Les to Ire,  then,  covers  much  the  same 

ground  ss  that  of  the  cnrcnlclea,  and  the  character  of  Gewain 

In  this  A'crk  is  consistent  wlti.  that  In  ti\e   cnronicles.   tven 

though  Leatolre  was  composed  after  tiie  Lancelot,  in  which 

Gawaln's  chere  ter  suffers  cirrilnution,  the  author  nas  chosen  to 

tflve  Gawfe in  the  chief  place  in  Arthurian  chivalry  ana  to  invest 

him  with  all  the  virtues  his  predecessors  had  ;iven  him,  and 

few.  If  any,  of  the  vices.   The  influence  cf  tne  chronicles 

on  this  rfork  is  obvious  --  tae  introduction  of  the  war  with 

Borne  is  evlcence  of  this  —  but  tae  stark  militarisiu  oi  tieoffrey's 

Historle  is  modified  even  more  radically  than  in  Aace  by  s 

romantic  spirit,  end  the  events  are  ampliried  almost  beyond 

recognition,   homenoes  subsequent  to  tne  iiiator j.a  xisve  also 

exerted  o.ieir  influenca,  as  ia  evident  in  the  reference  to 

Gawain  as  the  queen's  Knlj.it,  and  in  the  pro.iiiao  exacted 

from  him  by  the  camsel  w  lom  he  inadverteatly  snubDed.   Tnese 

elaborations  bnd  explanatlois  are,  like  the  acco «nt  of  Op«&in'a 

25 
increasing  strength  In  Esosnor   ,  later  rationalizations  of 

certain  "donnees''  connected  with  Gawain,  whose  origin  was  not 

explained  by  the  earliest  writers.   Lancelot,  whose  deeds 

reaelve  such  elaborate  attention  in  the  next  work  we  are  to 

consider,  ia  ,^iven  only  e  bare  ;i.enticn  .in  this  work.   j.ia 


aadE    eil"   .  ______  

d.  , JoIeanaJ  add  ^o^la  b««oqaoo   bsw  ©^ 


ii;ti«  lair  ail^  lo  aolioubonial   9i> 


w  n*iv 


123 


love  affair  with  'iueaivere  is  not  alluded  to,  and  Ga.vain 
himself  undePK^es  no  amorous  attachments.   ^11  things  considered, 
the  i..oj- '-  -      of  this  work,  like  the  Perlesvsus,  is 
remarkably  high. 

Le  Livre  de  I.pncelc  I  del  Lf_c,  or  prose  Lancelot  as 
it  is  rrore  commcnly  called,  occupies  three  larje  volumes  in 
Sonancr's  edition  of  the  Vulgate  ^'omances.  The  action  of  this 
wcrk  is  regarded  as  oeing  lihri^nologically  *n  sequence  tc  -ue 
acticn  of  Lestoire  by  the  author  (or  eutiicrs);  consequently 
Arthur  is  rii'mly  established  on  nis  uurone  and  the  feoie  of 
his  court  is  widespread.   The  first  hun:dred  pei/es  of  the 
work  recount  tue  bii'th  of  Lancelot,  tiie  offspring  of  ben  of 
Benolc  and  tiio  wife  ^1&   ne,  and  no^  the  -hild  was  spirited 
away  by  the  Lady  of  the  Lake  —  wno,  according  to  this  story, 
is  the  wcman  nho   Imprisoned  Merlin  —  and  brought  up  by  iier. 
T<hen  reecxilng  manhood,  Lencelot  is  instructed  in  the  srts 
of  chivalry  by  his  abduotress,  and  ^oes  to  Jreat  Britain 
to  seek  knighthood  at  /Arthur's  court.   It  is  at  this  pDlnt 
that  his  career  bej^ins  to  cmflict  wltn  that  of  "^swaln. 

Gawain  does  retain  .iiany  of  the  characteristics  previous 
authors  hru  ^jlven  hir:;  for  example,  he  still  possesses  the 
peculiarity  of  incpeasng  strength.   in  a  cosibat  with  one 
"Sephars  li  »;escheans"  {IV,  1-Jfc )  this  quality  comes  out: 

Et  lors  sent  rnesire  Urauuain  que  la  force  11  eat  dcublee. 
ai  ne  sent  ne  nial  ne  dolour  quil  ait  eu.   ii.t  ce  li  auenoit 
toua  lea  lors  quil  se  combatoit  que  an  force  li  doubloit  au 
pciit  de  n;iedl.   it  re  fu  locoison  porcoi  11  cxieualier  le 
redoutolent  trop  a  asaaillir  deuant  xiedi,  quant  11  lor 


.lev  »sn9i   t0m:j  Mulqv'T}  ^Inomffioa  oioci   ei   dl 

»iii;r  '.to  flolzraa  aril   •eeaa^o^ _^  noiJlbo  *'aoit.- 

\i#c»tip9Baoo    ;(eioiiJua  no)  noriJwii  eiiJ   ^^d  j&uJLoJag.t  "io   roMof) 
lo  anal  ad;}  bne  enoixi^  sin  nc  t>ei.leIIdaJaa  ^x. 

&«^lnJtqB  «««  tilixt>   sd;**  ««on  ba*   ««wiitj3XA  &  > 
li'ltr  J^alilnd*   o*   ; 


12^9 


euolt  Bucune  coae  meafait.   Gar  apres  chou  que  mledls  fust 
passes  trouast  11  cheualiera  asses  qui  jncontre  11  se  desfen- 

disaent,   Et  Is  ralson  pcu -col  cele  erece  11  euencit  tout 

dis  u  cele  point  bien  deuise  che  en  arriere  11  contes.  (IV,  194) 

As  Sommer  points  out  in  a  footnote,  "ciia  en  arriere"  probably 

means' "ens  en  avant",  since  the  peculiarity  is  explained  the 

26 
section  entitled  Le  Mo ft  Le  Roi  Artu   .   Other  allusions  to 

the  seme  quality  are  at  III,  293-94,  and  III,  403.   fcut  even 

this  characteristic,  wnich  is  Hlciost  *?.xclusivelj  Gawain's 

and  which  sets  him  off  from  other  knights,  is  taken  over 

in  pert  in  this  romance  by  Lancelot.   On  one  occasion  a  aemsel 

sent  by  the  Lady  of  the  Lake  fc,ives  Lancelot  three  snields 

and  exvlains  the  virtue  of  these  shields: 

&  li  .iij.  escu  sont  vostre  que  vous  aues  veus.   dt  sachles 
qull  sont  asses  merueilleus.   Car  sitost  com  vous  aures  eu 
col  chelul  la  ou  11  na  que  vae  bende.   si  aures  recouree 
la  forche  5-  la  proecjio  dun  cheualier  svoecques  chele  que  vous 
aues.   Et  se  vous  1  pendes  chelui  as.ij.  bendes  si  aures  la 
i^roeche  &  .:j.  cheualiers.  &   par  chelui  &  .iij-  bendes. 
recoueres  la  proeche  a  .iij.  cheuallers.  (Ill,  147; 

This  is  the  first  step  in  Lancelot's  usurpation  of  Bawain's 
high  position  in  this  ronance.   v.e  noted  in  our  discussion 
cf  Lestoire  that  Ge^ain  and  his  companions  are  (j^ranted  permission 
by  Guenivere  to  be  known  as  the  i.<.ueen's  Knights   .   Aaen 
Lancelot  is  Introduced  Into  the  queen's  presence,  both  ere 
struck  by  the  other's  beauty,  and  the  nascent  passion  is  made 
clear  by  the  author.   Leaving  en  his  first  adventure,  Lancelot 
bids  farewell  to  the  queen  and  asks  to  be  allowed  to  style 
himself  her  knight,  a  request  which  is  readily  granted: 


-na1>.  •  ■■      .   ■  '  •  .... 

Xla'B  ',9   ado" 

eilj   bsnielqxe   ei   ^^ctlielXi,  aonie    ,"dntev»  iia  ado"    e 

as 

US'?  ^ill   ^^*  ,%.*^~  -    •**   ®'^®  X;t,lleijp   sfcisr. 

IssisaD  3  i:^l8«ooo   eno  nO      .4oIdoneJ  "^d  sonaoicx  iisq  ni 

»  tableltia   eead;?   lo   swiilv   add   anlalqxf 


us   B^^iJa   eijov   moo   d^soiia   laO      .auelliouisis  gassa  d: 
la      .ebned    siw  3up    en  II   uo   bI 
Sttp^v  030 ve   Texlauerio  nub    fodseoiq    el 

.asbned    .(.iX*    a  .    8   edi 


;«O0     ax-.  -'BjJ    1--' 

sbBtu   ai. 

J  ■:..r.-: 


130 


Dame  fait  11  ^Laacelot^  se  voua  plalsolt  le  me  tendroie  en 
quelque  lieu  que  iou  alsisse  e  vostre  cheueller,  Chertes  fait 
el  Y'^uonivereJ  "he  voel  ie  moult  bien.  (Ill,  131} 

And  Lancelot  ^.^^   ^^^    ^^    ^^c^,....    i,ue   queen's  kni  ...*-  ...  a 
sense  tnat  Gawain  nevex'  was.   iienceforth  ^awain  always  pla^^s 
a  secondary  rcle  in  tae  defence  of  tne  queen;   Lancelot  becomes 
nee   favourite  saampioa. 

The  Court  of  Love  3pir*it  which  informs  Lancelot's 
relations  with  the  queen  is  establisiied  early  in  txiis  work. 
On  one  occasion,  when  ushered  into  her  presence,  Lancelot 
shows  the  symptoias  we  are  so  accustomed  to  fessociate  with 
the  behaviour  of  the  rritdiaeval  lovr:i?: 

Atant  v.'enent  deuant  le  rclrie.    11  ch*u8liers  [Lencelot^ 
tramble  si  durerae  it  que  a  paines  p-jet  la  rcine  seluer. 
Bt  a  toute  la  color  perdue,  si  que  la  roine  sen  raeruellle 
moult.  (Ill,  ii58) 

The  manifestations  ere  net  limited  to  a  schcolbo./'s  embar- 
rassment in  tne  presence  of  the  beloved,  however.   On  another 
occasion  Lancelot,  in  a  reverie  waile  tainking  about  the 
queen,  allows  his  horse  to  wander  into  a  river  end  is  very 
nearly  drowned  before  bein-.,  rescued  by  '/vain  (III,  20Z-Qi), 
instances  of  sirallar  conduct  en  Lancelot's  part  at  txie  thought 
of  or  sight  of  Guenlvere  could  be  multiplied.   Uawain's 
reputation  with  da  isels  does  not  ler^d  itself  to  the  apparatus 
of  the  Court  of  Love,   and  '-'awain's  spproach  to  a  dpmsel 
is  opportunistic,  tc  say  thf.  least.   For  exe-.ple,  when  led 
to  the  bedroo.Ti  of  the  daughter  of  tne  king  of  Hor  -ales  by 

the  sweetheart  of  i>8Kremor,  thouv^h  barely  acquainted  with 
this  : ■ rl  who  had  lon^  professed  b  love  for  him,  he  loses  no 


.)fiov  elui  ni  x;-t'5«o  '-   iifio  mi   

T.-:  r"  rr 


"t- 


131 


to  her   so  that  they  spend  the  night 
together  "i  enai  dorr' rent  grant  piece  brea  8  bras  et  bouche 
•  bouche"  (III,  383).   Even  though  Gawain  disple/s  rreat 
prowess  in  escep  n-  I'rou.   tr.e   Ttnlghts  cf  the  girl's  father, 
such  Incidents,  in  the  jirssence  of  Lsncelat's  refined  and 
single-minded  deyctlon  to  Ciuenlvere,  arc  ncx.   calculated  to 
arcuae  the  reader's  adrilration  for  "-"awaln.   This  Shme  quality 
in  iiawain  wnlch  the  author  of  Lestcire  calls  "luxurieus" 
brings  dire  results  for  hitt  at  the  Grail  -/astle  of  Corbenic. 
So  engroaaed  was  he  wltij  the  deaisel  carrying  the  ^rail  that 
he  paid  no  attention  to  the  sacred  vessel: 

Apres  re(/Rrda  la  pucele  qui  tent  estoit  bele  et  ^:ente  et 
plalssns  al  sesmerueille  moult  de  la  grant  blaute  dont  elle 

est  si  plaine.  quil  ne  set  rleris  del  usissei  .   Cpi"  onques 
n.ais  ne  uit  daniolsele  qui  a  cestui  sappareillast.   SI  y  muse 
meaires  Gauuein  tcou?  t  ion^uen.ent  a  11  re^Brder   si  ii;a  autre 
ocse  ne  perse.  (TV,  3'^4) 

The  other  knights  present  reverence  the  ilrail  and  are  served 
according  to  their  desires;  Gawaln  icets  nothinij.   In  sub- 
sequent adventures  at  Gorbenio  liawain  sleeps  i.n  the  ""advent- 
urous  bed"  and  is  mounded  by  tne  flaming  lance;  he  loses 
his  sight  tec   time,  anc  aftei'  a  second  si,rht  of  the  daiiisel 
and  the  Grail  he  is  bound,  placed  in  a  oart,  driven  through 
the  streets,  pelted  with  :..ug,  and  finally  released  outside 
of  the  town  (Til,  344-48).   A  hermit  later  explains  to  him 
tnat  his  loss  of  sight  corresponds  to  his  loss  of  prowess: 
"En  eel  r.smirre  sere  estpinte  la  lumiere  de  ucstre  proece ''{ 111,34; 


L6L 


anisic 


elLtt  anpb  «iJu 

• , ;     -J  J  '..;  J  ■:.;  ;-j     j  i ;  .-i ., 

r?  t  t,""rt*.    "j  ~-": 

qae    if. - 

bo-Taa 


-:Jn- 


132 


Lsncelot,  however*,  is  more  favoured;  he  la  served  bjr  the  Orall, 
thou,jh  the  Grail  iling  nad  his  mlSiivln-^s: 

Li  roys  pelles  dist  o  lancelot.   Gertea  sire  fet  11  ie  oi  ...oult 
^ant  paour.   q^.e  la  i^raoe   de  riostre  sei^nor  ne  vous  faufellat 
p  ceat  cop  ecidrolt  vroua.  aussl  comme  elle  f  lat  \lautre  joui^ 
a  monaagnor  lisuualn.   qua:.t  11  Ta  ciialena.  (V,  103) 

This  is  In  decided  contrast  to  the  attitude  expressed  by 

28 
thp  aut  lor  of  the  Perlesvaus 

The  reversal  of  r-les  uetJireen  Lancelot  and  Ga.valn  is 

seen  most  clearly  In  the  following?  lament  uttered  by  Gawein 

vfhi?-e  held  prisoner  by  Caradosr 

he.   lancelot  biaus  doua  ccmpaina  sor  toua  lez  sutres  desfenge 
diex  vo  cors  de  cha  uenir.   et  vous  .^:art  de  meacheance.   C&r  se 
le  cors  de  bertai^i.e  auoil  vostre  ccra  perdu,   la.nais  por  le 
ccra  oun  seul  oheualier  ne  sero!t  tant  honoree  com  elle  est 
d«  vous.  (IV,  114) 

The  sentl  .ent  expressed  recalLs  that  of  Lancelot,  in  Chx-eti   ' 

29 
Lancelot,  while  held  prisoner  by  Meltagant   ,  but  the 

circumstances  are  reversed. 

Gawain  retains  his  close  connection  with  ^'rthur  in 

this  romsnce,  and  still  possesses  the  sword  Excslibur  which 

Arthur  nad  ".iven  him,  acoording  to  the  author  of  Lestoire. 

On  one  of  the  occasions  th»t  Lancelot  has  tc  do  battle  for  the 

queen,  Ga*e in  lends  him  tuls  sword: 

B't  quant  j  1  [glance let]  fu  errres  si  11  cnalnst  iresire  Oauuain 

escallborc  sa  bolne  espee  V  11  prole  que  pcur  lamour  de 

lui-'ike  port,   iit  il  dlst  nnil  le  fera  moult  volontlers.  (IV, 61) 

To  my  Jtlna,  t.  is  epiaoce  Is  s^nbolic  of  tne  way  in  wnlch 


sex 

i- 


^8& 


2'/isIji>"i£i'  iSj  lo  iadJ   eJlBoei  &i>823iqxe  Jnec-.icJnee 


1^3 


Lancelot  uaui^ps  the  position  and  atti'i^^utes       ...in  la  this 
work,  thtuj/h  I  iiardly  think  the  author-  Intc.-ded  ti^at  significance, 
Oswain'rj  clcze   conn«otlon  with  Arthur  is  illustrated  In  another 
passage   as  wel;  .   IV.jen  .'-rjihu--  Is  abduo  .    ,   ue  false 
Guenlver?  snd  la  believed  aasd  by  nlj  ^-arcns,  rather  theo 
leave  the  land  wlthouc  a  lord,  thej  elect  Ga.valn  es  their 
king: 

iit  :iuant  11  virent  que  11  rcys  nestoit  mie  uenua  si  dlstrent 
quil  ne  vcelcnt  ude  laissior  Is  terre  scnz  sei^ncr.   iit  la 
royne  dist  qne  elle  nirclt  is  c">ntrfi  lor  volente.   Alns 
sa  :;orderoJ.  t  a  ce  qull  en  ferclent.   at  lors  aaccrderent 
qull  ferolent  de  m-nselgnor  (jauualn  roy.   Car  chest  11  plus 
prochalns  amis  .^ue  li  rcys  artus  eust.  si  lent  cslut  a  ceste 
honor.   (IV,  rl ) 

Tnere  Is  a  curicus  description  oftjawaxn  _n  tills 
romanco  >vnich  is  .vorth  quoting  in  full,  despite  it?  len^gth, 
for  the  ll(3kiL  it  sheds  on  t:ie  autaor's  conceptica  of  tiiis 
hero.   Ine  w.-iter  explains  that  the  story  has  never  daacribed 
Ga.78in  and  his  brothers,  and  he  will  take  time  to  do  so 
now.   (If  the   description  is  intended  as  an  Introduction  of 
Ga»ain,  it  ocjurs  lamentably  late  in  the  scor^,  since  seme 
six  hundred  pa^es  aeve   pass  d  since  tJswain  was  introduced 
into  the  action  of  the  prose  Lancelot.  }   Tx^e  passej^e  runs 
es  follows : 


II  fu  uolrs  que  rrealres  Gauualn  fu  11  mleldres  de  tous  sez 
freres  4:  fu  n-oult  biaua  ■^leuellers  de  cors  i  fu  moult  blen 
tallHes  de  membres.   et  ne  fu  pas  trop  irrans,  ne  trop  petis. 
a  ins  fu  de  moult  .  ele  eatature.  &  11  fu  11  plus  cheualereus 
que  nus  de  sez  autres  freres,  Et  neporquant  on  dist  que 
Gaheriea  sez  freres  soffrist  blen  autretant  danr.es  en  batsille 
com  11  fesJst,   i/als  11  ne  sen  aiist  onq;  es  en  si  grant  cure 
ccm  mesiio  "iauueln  fist.   Et  de  ce  quil  fu  plus  en  .'enoronee 


£«i 


Txadvi    ee  oiav. ai'   ioQL&  ^  -Jjjorialw   bnal   ©rfcJ   svi 


fco  nevan  a  ad  Tjio;Je   add   ;t9xi. 

J   ejil;;t  Bilai  XI iw  sd  . 
1.0  .loal  a&  68  bobfi©;Jni   : 

Wi.  aJal    .  ?i    ,aJ;»wB:. 


134 


che  fu  chou  quil  e.T£  poure  gent.   »-  fiat  uolentiora  Dien 
83  mesesus  plr.s  ^»)e  ss  eutres  ■'.eos.   -^-t  ce  le  tint  lout 
Icrs  en  grant  rencmmee.   Car  de  c.ieualerle  en  auoit  il 
[e.'^'-czj  cr   ^'Tlors  [^heuplle.-'s^  en  1p  oort  le  roy  srtu. 
tant  corniie  aleifie  lor  duroit.   Se  no  fust  vne  eoustuir-e  que 
il  suoit  quar  entcur  ;r.iedi  11  doublolt  se  I'crce.   it  as 
costume  estcit  tele  que  sll  corcbatlat  a  ,j,  ciieualier  11 
^OI■'us't  sitae  icl3  t(.\!s  Tr'^ls  en  la   lece  luil  nen  uenist  au 
deasua.   Kesires  Ciauualn  fu  tcua  iors  lolaua  uera  aon  aelgaor. 

Il  ne  fu  mie  mesd".  sans  ne  enuicus.   Gincoia  fu  tous  iors 
plus  coi»tols  que  nua.   A  pour  chou  lamoient  plus  dames  a; 
cem-^'seles  i;  pour  sp  cheuolcrie.   II  ne  I'u  xle  ucntpna 
entre  che'.jsllera  de  coae  quil  feist  onquea.   il  fu  tous  iors 
36^63  sns  vilonnie  dire.  (IV,  368) 

This  is  high  reraise;  some  of  it  we  have  Tiet  before,  sucn  as 

the  reference  tc  his  charity  to  "poure  p,ent",  o  characteristic 

Chretien  attributes  to  him  in  tne  j^eraeval   .  r'rom  trie  readiness 

of  damsels  to  submit  to  nis  ea:braces  -ve  mi'iht  have  ^^uessed 

that  he  was  of  nandsme  appearance,  and  his  loj'alfcy  to 

Art.iur  Is  a  celebrated  cnaracteristic,   but  in  spite  of 

all  this  : raise,  in  tae  eyes  of  Lancelot's  ha  if -brother 

Bohort,  Gawaln  is  second  to  Lancelot.   On  one  occasion  (IV,  260-62) 

Bohort  defeats  b    knight  who  maintained  tnat  ^awain  was  superior 

to  Lancelot  --  che  knignt  turned  out  to  be  Agx*avein,  ^jtjo  was 

unwilling  to  adirit  his  relationship  with  Gawein  after  his 

defeat  --  and  on  another  occasion,  Bohort  points  out  to  .Arthur 

with  praise  a  certain  Claucin: 

Sire  vees  vous  oel  cheualier  qui  deuant  cheuauci-ie.  Cil  bien 

fait  11  roys.   Sire  fait  bohors  or  sachies  bien  que  oest  11 

ileldi'-es  cheualiers  del  a.onde.  sauue  lonnour  sonsei  nor  mon 
cousin  ri,f)nL!elot'|  rt  monse  I  i-nor  Op  ualn.  (V,  376) 

But  even  tnis  praise  Is  perhaps  too  high,  for  Gawaln  is 

overccT.G  by  a  number  of  otier  knights  —  as  at  V,  268,  V,  ii39-4l. 


^51 


6vc    > 


eiol    _. 


a    I] 


(B-i£    , 


•■on:^ .      iBvaonel   ©i.. 


.^b 


:V,    114    —   9"d   even  by  Boiiort  nlKsolf    IV,    167;.      liie   autaor 
of   thij  .     ,  -   .xflve    se::i;cu    uiat   soice   exi^lanetion  of   tula 

Icipairnent    1\   ^Bwaln's   ^•.•:;.ve3S   waa   riecasser/,    snu   early   in 
nls   story  of   J-aaoelot  ixe  makes   excuses  for   iJ8v<ain.      ^analn, 
it   dppesi'j,    .iad   been  wou-ided   curin,v,  tiae   second  assembly'  oi" 
Art^iur  a.id   Galeiiot,   and  he  never  full/  recovered  fro:ji 
titieae   «ounda:      "  &.  neporquant   on^ues   puis   ne   fu  en  autresl 
Urant   ui^juer   ne   en  ssate    conri   11  auoit   eate'deuant"    (III,    '371), 
It   is   a   lama   excuse,    and    t^e   autuor  never  reverta    to    It  a4i;ain 
tni'oujjnout  iiis    stor^  ,    out    11   cces    se.'ve  as   one   explanation. 

It    is   jlear   tnet    tho  ^'rose  Lancelot    .'e^-zresents   a   shift 
la   iaterost.      --ieroes   in  jjostoirc    tiic   .:.ain  emphasis   is   on 
we^'fare,    anc   physical    GOuracS   is    the   prasiaine   virtue,    in 
tho   prose   Lancelot   tno   eaiphasis   is   on  tae   source   cf   inspiration 
of  Lancelot's   actic.is,    ^oiirtly   Love.      What   is   implied,    tnough 
never   stutv-u,    ij   t.iat    t.ic    insi-ix'ation  a'  e   deej.   love    --    cjven 
if    oonsammiited    —   raises    one   Icvex'  atove   fall   .*is   con.panions 
in  worth;    ..eace    tne  reputation  of  *^a>vain  must   sulfer.    Certain 
features,    such  £<3   '-JswainVs   i|:icreasing  strength,   his    close 
&SJ3C  :;letion  »;lth  Arthur,    and  his   popularity   with  oaniSels, 
oennct   we    tei.sa  away   iron,  him  but    ohaae   qualities   ere   not 
sufficient    to  raise   -iloi  >.o-ve  Laucelot,    and    the   lest    Is   even 
turned    into   tne    source   of  his  huisillatlon   6t   the    ^r« '  1   castle. 
There    is   no    consistent   attempt  -tiace    In   tae    prose   Lancelot 
to   vilify    ^awaln,    but   the   elevati;_n   of  Lancelot  at   ^awa^n's 
G^j^e-jse   naturally  depreciates   the   letter's   cnflrecter. 


alfi-  ic 
Hi 

flla^e  .Uneven  t^vofs  TOfiCtv«  ®-^    -"'■'"^    ^act'cxc   ^rrral 

«nc  .  .10   9d  evi«8   sepb   . 

;rl.r...    .i  oJ     •..  - ■  ^ieqpud,  eeo'a.q,  9Ai   i^cj   ips»Ir 

AtfQ  al   Bl«fiii|lqia«  lUsiu  o^ut   9'i.Jo;^e9jL  at   &&%- 

J  "io  poitJ 6ii  • ;  e  ^:  ?   e  i    ^  b 

enc.  .s  •vo^e  "lev 


:»rfc*r    :?^ 


r*  ?v  ^   "  .f 


136 


31  3ii 

•si   .  &s  Gllson   has  so 


CDnvinciajili  f t   ..strated,  is  an  eAtreaiely  able  hi,^    clever 
ej^poaitica  c.  _  ,  _.  ticulai'  theological  poiat 
ihai   of  the  ClsLarcians  —  adtpted  to  the  fre.rie        ir^c 
quest  of  the  holy  Orail.   The  inconcluslveness,  both  literally 
ano  figuratively,  cf  o^ir^tien's  f.ercevel  allowed  succeedin.: 
writers  tc  use  the  objects  cf  the  urall  procession  fcr 
whatever  purpose  they  chose,  snc  the  cup  and  the  bleedin^ 
lence  '-■err    pssily  fitted  into  t.    Tl.x-l  s  tian  f  re.-.-e .. -r--. .   -i.ls 
fc.enex-4--  -...  .wtien  signif icsi^c.  .-      urail    -  _ 
particular  significance  by  the  author  of  the  vt-.o;.Le,  and  this 
st-eciai  interpreteiic:  ,  cfrb-jd^  inc,  the  specific  Ideals  of  the 
Cistercians,  resulted  in  certain  mcdif icetions  I .  the  con- 
ception cf  the  Arthurian  world  w„ich  would  net  r. _£e  Ltve 

occurred.   it  Is  net  cli-  task  to  exaiiine  iciautelj  the 
dlVtlnct  tneclcgicel  interpretation  this  writer  places 
on  his  materiel;  let  it'sviffice  for  us  to  examine  the 
conception  of  -iswain's  criersater  to  see  in  whet  ^.-^   'r  ^as 
iQflue.'oed  Oy  lais  i.ntorpretatioa. 

In  the  cpeninji,  pa^es  we  ere  told  how  a  sword  in  a 
stcne  errive-   at  ^arnelot  tearing  the  following  inscription: 
"Ja  nus  ne  :ri'o3t-  ra  ce  ci,  se  cil  noa  &  cui  ccste  je  coi 
peacre.   .t  cil  sera  li  cieldres  c.ieualiers  del  monde''(^>. 
Lancelot  r-efuses  tc  la^  handa  on  this  swcrd,  though  GewaLa 
end  Yvain  bctn  co  ac  at  ti-e  insistence  of  the  k?.   »^ '  :- 
fere  husilliated  by  their  failure.   Later  a  danst-  ,    -  -- 


8€;t 


137 

the  court  and  cxildes  Lancelot: 

Voa  estlez  h'  ..■  ^natln  li  rclal:  I'rts  chevaliers  dou  mondej  et 
qui  lors  v^-3  e.^elaat  Lancelot  le  xueillox*  i.'iievalier  de  toz, 
11  deist  vcl.'^;  aar  elcrs  1 'estifjz  vos.   Mea  4ui  Oi.^e  le 
diroit,  len  Ic  devrolt,  Lenir  e  meai^ongier:  car  meillor  i  r 
de  vos,  et  blen  est  provee  chcse  psr  I'aventure  de  oeste 
eapee  e  ,  -'  :  ~   •  -^^--  ^-  ".ati'-s  la  moin,    (12-13) 

Even  the  reputation  of  Lenoelot,  It  eppeara,  la  to  suffer  in 
tnls  .TorV:.   It  is,  of  coura6,  Gelahafl  ^vho  is  able  to  withdrew 
tne  3*crd  from  tae  stone.   After  the  Grail  ijes  /Islted  Arthur's 
court,  Gawaln  s.-ears  to  ,  o  on  a  quest  of  the  Grail  to  see  it  "plus 
apertement"  (16;,  and  the  other  knights  of  the  o^^urt  vow  to  under- 
take tne  same  quest.   Thia  causes  tne  kin,  to  aay  in  sorrow  eno 
in  •n.;or  to  Oawain: 

Ha,  Gauvain,  vos  m'avez   j.ort  per  le  veu  que  voa  evez  i.et,  car 
voe  m'avo2  cl  tolue  le  plus  bale  compaignie  et  la  piua  loial 
que  je  crr.ues  trovasse,  et  i^e  eat  le  coiupeifenie  de  le  ivule 
heonde.  (16-17) 

Just  utifore  rldin.^  out  on  the  quest,  i^he  knights  sweer  an  oath. 
Arthur  aaka  Cowein  to  sw-efir*  first,  but  Baudemas^us  interrupts: 

Sire,  i'et  ji  i-^j  rMum..;ti  us,  stslve  voaLre  grace,  j.±     ic   j.ara 
rnia  premiers,  mes  all  le  fern  evant  aos  toz  que  nos  devons 
tenir  ii  ;-ei>jncr  et  a  raestre  de  1p  Tabla  Leonde :  et  ce  03t 
mesalrea  Galsfic.  (23) 

Galahad,  then,  has  usurped  the  hlfh  place  aocoroea  Gewb  , 
33 

the  king  in   Lea tclre 

alahad^s  physical  superi:        easily  demonatratod . 
Ahen  he  ccmes  upon  a  tovu'na;nent,  ne  oecldes  to  tieip  tiie 
weaker  sice,  and  in  the  ensuin  ,  i;elet>  wo.nds  and  atrises  down 
Gawaln,   The  episode  also  illuatrates  ^awa.ri'      larit/; 


Vcii 


B'^iidanA  b»J 


ait   sxi< 


ybau  o 


IS?    ,:r; 


3:;p   wv    -f   'Ti^    3":rfc   sova'rc   sov    .r;.'.  =v::v 


e;^ 


13d 


3n   ce   qu'j'l   perlolant   elnal   vint   *Jalead   apoignant   vers 

jr.oascii^^ioi-    ^aavuin   eirisi    t;oaje   aveatui'e   le   portoit.    ^i    le   ilert 

si   durement   qu'il    11    fent   le   hiiMime   et   la    ooife   de   fer.      lit 

meaairea    -euvains,    crai   bien   cuide    estre   ni>- r-2    oou    ooup   que 

11  s   receu,    vole    Jus   des   arqona.    .    .    Et   qusnt   il   ^the  knlghta 

w:ioa  UsAttin   v.i(S   aasisLafigJ   conui^eut  moiislgnor   i^euvsin  et 

11   aoront   qu'll    ert  ainsi    bleciez,    si   en  fureric   molt    coprou.-lez 

xi    pl-usoi*:    cei-    asaz   faille    il   estoit    1 » ome    dou  u.onde    qui    plus   ert 

ames   d'estpsnre    ?ent.    (i96-97) 

Not   content   wibn  ue^jlnr^  tbe   cheate   and   ..ol;y'   licro,    ^Biat^bd, 

taKe   over   tne   renown  oi.    joth  Lsucelot  end    ^jawa^n,    txiis   autncr 

seens   to  make   b    special   el'lurt   to   deprecxfato      ortain  kni^ii-.s, 

3fiw#in  in   ppi'ticulttr.      r..c  txemple,    after   ualaiied   ties   conquered 

the    "Ciiaatei   as   r'uceles",    Gewaiu,    ivain,    anu   oaneriet  iiicet   and   kill 

Lne    seven   orotaers   w/iO  Gad  malntaineo   the   tiVil.    customs   o!   t.^e 

castle.      Latex*  uawai-n   is   upbraided   oj  a    lieiinit   ior   tuia 

34 
aotion  a.-iG    comptired    uniavou^-ably  uLta  ijaiahaa      : 

Et   certes,    se   vos   [^nawa.nj   ne   fussiez    si   pechlerres   aome 
voa   estes,    ja   li    set  Trere  ne   fussent  ocis   par  vos  ne   pa;* 
vostre   e.de,    fiinz   felasent   encore   lor   penitence   de   le 
mauvese   costume   que    il   evoient   tant  maiatenue   ou  Gnastel 
as    Puceles,    et    s 'scordassent   a    Dieu.      "Ht    elnsi    n'esploita 
•tiie   Gelsac,    11   bois    Cxicvaliers    .    .    .    j&r    il   les   coaquist 
ssnz    cclive.    (54) 

Uawaln   u.^   also   ..ade   responsible   I'or   trie   death  oI*    "ivain  li 
j^voiti'es''    (io<;-54>,    and   of  ^sudeii.a<i,u3.      Lancelot,    c'/i».inei  upon 
the   latter 'a      ravi;,    ^s   iacQ;ijed,    ouc   restraizis   uimaeir  from 
taklni  vengeance,    presumably  bicauae   ua*ain   is   ^rtnur's  nephew: 

II    resgarde    vers   le    c  .ief   et   voit   letres   qui   dlsoient:    'Ci 
^ist   11   roia   cadeiiiagus   de    uorre,    ^ue   uavaina   li   nies   1©    .'ol 
Artu  ocist.'      Et   quant    il   ot   ce,    3i   n'eat   pea   ^etit   aoleaz, 
car   li    &r.'Oit  oe   tyrant  a.rior   le   roi  bademat^u.      <it   se   ce  fust 
uns   autres   qui   I'eust   ccis    que  measires   Oauvains,    il   n^ea. 
,-oIst  escneper   sans   met.       (261-62) 


9&X 


•T^"    i'y'ar"  ^ry:  "    ^.f.r.. 


S3j' 


lX1](      5f!«  -   ..i*4<<!      Ufili       ,ii4.ti'^     .  '  ^B,<»-*.t»;^.. 


.I;;ee&   ©jicf   lo'i   slv 


1^:< 


Inoldento        ,   .       cftr-tio'nly  the  result  of  a  deliberate 

35 
a'ttanrpt  to  discredit  'isweta   ,  .  I3  aot  fei'  to  seek, 

aud  i'o  13  supplied  by  a  her:::it  wlio  answers  the  complaint  of 

both  Hector  and  ^avain  tVist  they  are  not  .:eetla;  83  many 

ndventuros  as  they  used  1.  : 

"Les  sventures  iui  ore  avieueat  aont  ies  seneXiances  at  les 
oem:)n3Gi'ance3  dou  Saint  Graei,  ne  11  signe  dou  Saint  liraal 
n'aparrcnt  jr  a  i.echecr  ne  e  home  envelop©  ae  pe-si-iie.   Dont 
11  ne  vcs  apa.Tont  Ja;  cax*  vo3  esr-es  trcp  fleslolel  pechecr. 
oi  ne  devez  nie  cuidier  que  cea  oventures  qui  ore  evienent 
soient  G'o.)=e3  tuer  ne  de  chevaliers  oiirre;  aJnz  s  ;rit  ues 
choses  csperiteux,  qui  ;3ont  ...relriJros  st  mielz  veillanz 
sasez."  (16C-61) 

It  follows  natM.rallj  t.:j8t  the  ^resti^e  of  tae  spiritual 
knights  —  Galahad,  Pohort,  and  i-'ercevsl  --  Is  consistently 
ennanced  at  the  expense  of  such  worldly  knights  as  hectcr  and 
Ga'.Tein.   Under  these  circumstances  there  is  no  question  of 
Gpwaln's  catching  si  rit  cf  the  (Jrail  again  after  once  havinp 
s'^en  it  at  Garelot.   -^he  proae  Lancelot  allowed  Ua /aio  into 
the  Grail  ss'^Iq,    even  though  his  experiences  there  were 
huir.iliatin^^i   ;   tae  ^ueste  debars  him  from  the  ^jrail  ooxi.- 
pletely.   Lancelot  is  allowed  into  an  anteonamber  of  the 
Grail,  so  to  speak  (255-59),  but  this  seems  to  be  the  result 
cf  his  absolute  renunciation  of  his  unchaste  love  for  tne 
queen.   The  fact  tuet  he  is  Galahad's  father  might  also 
have  s .:  eth^n'  to  do  with  this. 

T"  sum  r.   ,  trie        author  of  the  Que  ate  is 
"nterested  In  promoting  the  virtue  of  chastity, a:i  ideal 
so  dear  to  the  Cistercians.   To  do  so  he  heavily  invests 


a  91 


bna  lo^Jo^   sa  e.  EfeXiow  doiife  Ic   6f 


140 


th%   Grail  story  «ith  an  allegorical  aignlglcance,  and  he 

elevates  to  a  pre-eminent  rank  the  three  knights,  mentioned 

above,  who  are  living  embodiments  of  his  ideal.   To  further 

his  ends,  he  deliberately  and  un'csltatingly  depresses 

those* knights  who  represent  tne  epitope  cf  worldly  glory. 

hence  the  character  of  Gawain  la  bound  to  suffer  in  this  romance, 

37 
If  chastity  la  tne  prime  virtue  of  the  vtueste,  charity 

is  that  waich  informs  the  action  of  La  Mort  le  hoi  ^rtu,  or 
La  Mcrt  *rtu,  as  it  Is  more  commonly  called.   Per  this  reason 
Gawain '3  character  undergoes  a  sort  of  rehabilitation  in 
this  work.   It  Is  true  that  he  remains  secondary  to  Lancelot 
in  the  writer's  estimation,  but  he  is  by  no  ireans  the  worthless 
character  the  author  of  the  Quest e  paints  him.   It  should  also 
be  pointed  out  that  this  rehabilitation  of  ftawain  Is  not  a 
deliberate  aim  of  the  author  of  La  Wort  Artu;  it  la  the 
inevitable  result  oT   an  inspired  conception  of  this  last 
great  act  in  the  Arthurian  draffia,  a  conception  executed  with 
ramarkable  skill. 

The  repercussions  of  tne  ^ueste  are  felt  in  the  open- 
ing pages  of  La  Mort  Artu.  Vihen   all  the  knights  who  went  out 
to  seek  the  ^rail  have  returned  to  the  court,  Arthur  discovers 
thirty-two  ere  missing,  ue   questions  "ajtain  on  tnia  point: 

Or  vos  den.ant  ne ,    fet  li  rois,  quanz  chevaliers  vos  cuidiez 
avoir  ocls  de  v&stre  raeln  en  ceste  queste.  .  .  oire,  fet 
messlres  Oauvalns,  vos  voulez  edtre  certelns  de  ma  grant 
mescheance;  et  ge  le  vos  dirai,  car  ge  voi  blen  qu'a  fere 
le  couvient.   Je  vos  dl  por  voir  que  g'en  al  ocls  par  ma 
main  dis  et  uit,  ncn  pas  pour  ce  ^ue  ge  fusso  mieudres 
chevaliers  que  uns  autres,  mes  la  mescheanee  se  torna  plus 
vei'S  mol  que  vera  nul  de  mes  conpalgnons.   Et  si  sachlez 


flosae 

ai  noitfstrliidBde'x  lo  ^noB   a  atfogiabm; 
ioleonsj  oi  xnabnooee   snlsmsi  ed  ^exlj  ^ui3 
BBBltiinom  9Cii  effasrs  on  xd  tl    eri  ;tu<f   ^ntllaaliee   e 
oelft  bicfone   :J  B;}nlaq  g;t8eifC    add^  lo  ie 

c      a ^oih  .^1  BJiawa©  lo  nolJa^tlllcfadet  eld^  iadd 

bJ  lo 
aoftco 


-cdqc  1   en  a 


141 


blen  que  ce  u'a  paa  este  per  ma    chevslerle,  mea  par  ms 
peciiie;  si  m'avez  fet  dire  ma  honte.  (4) 

And  among  those  whom  he  killed  was  J^audemaaus. 

Gawain's  luxuriouanesa  is  also  in  evidence  In  tals 

work,   he  requests  the  fc^iaid  of  Asoelot  to  •  ive  him  her  love, 

saying: 

si  vos  ameroie  par  amors,  se  11  vos  pleaoit,  en  tel  jianiere 
que,  tant  com  I'^mors  de  rr:oi  et  de  vos  durroit   ,  que  ge  n' 
ameroie  dame  ne  damoisele  se  vos  non  et  se^cie  outreement 
vostre  chevaliers  et  sbandonnez  a  fere  toute  vostre  volonte.  (20) 

The  "love"  offered  by  Uawain  is  in  strong  contrsdt  to  tne  deep 
and  abiding  passion  of  Lancelot  for  *Juenivere;  t.ie  Maid's 
rejection  of  Gawain's  offer  — "Hai  messire  Gauvain,  fet  la 
damoisele,  ne  me  gabez  mie"(20)  —  is  a    just  rebuke  and  adds 
a  dark  strain  to  the  coloring  of  Gawain's  character.   Gawain 
himself,  catching  sight  of  Lancelot's  shield,  admits  the 
letter's  superiority  to  the  Vaid:  "il JLancelotj  est  mieudrea 
chevaliers  que  ge  ne  sui  et  plus  biax  et  plus  avenanz  et 
plus  preudom"  (22). 

But  a  better  Gawain  is  to  be  seen  in  other  parts 
of  tne  story.  Vnen  the  king  threatens  to  execute  Guenivere 
by  burning,  Gawain  speaks  up  against  the  plan:   "Sire,  ge 
vos  rent  quanque  ge  tieng  oe   vos,  ne  james  jor  ce  ma  vie  ne 
vos  servirai,  se  vos  ceste  desloiaute  soufrez . "(97 ).   The 
queen  is  euilty  of  adultery  and  is  about  to  suffer  her 
punishment;  but  one  cannot  help  admirin(<.  9a  vain 's  ettitude 
in  this  instance.   Another  scene  taat  Invests  Gawain  with 


,9'VOX    «I4»Cl    ffllit    *t^itt    0<J     ^OX  'B«iip»' 


J. 


qeeb   di  ^noiie   nl   sX 

e'blB  iiQvtaeu'^   lol  ;JoIsonB«2  Ic    fcTerS"  '^n^blcfa   bns 

ebbe  de^  cfeut   a   el  ,  aI=i3*o:Ti-T 

XBld  eulq  i%  Ivu  en 


142 


diJTiity  and  jTirfindeur  Is  tfiat  xn  wnich  ha  learns   of  the  death 
of  Gaherlet.   ^awain  had  refused  to  attend  the  eJtecution  of 
the  \iueea  and  hence  kaows  nothing-  of  hev   rescue.   Goins 
through  the  town  to  the  palace,  he  hears  the  populace  mourning 
and  believes  It  is  for  Guenivere;  he  is  cruelly  disfibused 
of  this  nation  by  the  king: 

Gauwin,  Geuveln,  veez  ci  vosLre  ^^rant  duel  ei   le  rnien;  car 
ci  gist  morz  Gaheriet  voatre  frere,  li  plu&  vaillena  ae 
nostra  ligne^^e.-oi  le  mousti-e  tot  ensi  s8n;_,leat  acm  II  estoit 
entice  ses  oras  contra  3on  pis.   Quant  tnesaire  Gauvalas 
e;n.9.'jt  ceate  parole,  11  n'fa  tant  de  pooir  qu'il  responde 
mot  ne  que  il  ae  tiengae  en  estant.  .  .  (106 j 

What  makes  tae  tragedy  of  L8_  i..ort  Artu  so  intense  is  the 

power  the  autxior  has  of  engaging  tie  reader's  sympathy  for 

the  four  main  cnaracters  —  (iawaln,  i^rthur,  Lnnoelot,  and 

Guenivere  —  wno  find  themselves  involved  in  situations 

which  are  intolerable.  Oawain,  therefore,  must  appear  attractive 

to  the  reader.   At  the  same  ti..e,  he  must  be  driven  by  a 

compulsion  wnich  can  only  be  catastrophic  in  its  results, 

end  yet  ^alokx   must  be  tnoroughly  comprehensible  to  tne  reader. 

For  tnls  reason  lia wain's  Insistence  on  vengeance  places  ..im 

inside,  rather  tnan  outsice,  our  respect.   Wote,  too,  in  the 

passst-e  we  ^re   aoout  to  quote,  tae  deference  Arthur  shows 

to  Gawain's  cesires,   Lancelot  naa  just  retUx'ned  txie  queen 

to  Arthur  and  asks  if  anytaing  else  ia  expected  of  nim: 

-II  vos  requiert,  fait  a.essirea  Gauvains,  que  vos  li  vuidiez 
sfi  terre  en  tel  -lanlere  que  vos  n'i  sclez  trouvez  jamea. 
-Sire,  fet  Lancelos  eu  roi,  vos  plest  il  que  ge  le  face 
iaai?  -Puis  que  Gauvains  le  velt,  fet  li  rola,  il  ae  plest 


ft>I 


to   H'j.r  ^:/s  f'.ce    ^■rf:''   brft'  ')ad    n' 

inlniuofli   80 •!    _  J   eiaed  oxi    ,  j    oct  nw^  iSJjoiri;> 

ignlJi   adi   x<i  no  lien 

IS:  'Jig     0*1  c 

•i  *J  y       .  e  n  .t .-, :  o    b  i?  '.r  rf   p.3C    ;■-  "• .'  (^  .'■. 

eaJ   Bi   eanelni   oe   oJiA  j^ipiii    aJ    ^ 

bfiB   »j|oX  ydirtA    ,d1b«bO  •«-   eno^oBiBdo   ci3  u 

•0Ol:;taudiB  ni    bovlovnl    BdvI»Bmed^ 

iBUCR  ed    «0mlJ    essea   e 
^%ixutt^'t  aiiJL  £ii   Oldqoid s acf BO   ed  X-^^<)  J"^'  '^^^ 

kiabaie  j^\   bne 


H8«i     Ofi-^ 


143 


blen.  .  .  Bl8'J3  sire,  fel  Lanoelos.  .  .  lequel  etencrei  ge 
de  vos,  ou  pes  ou  guerre?  -Assetir  pcez  estre,  fet  missix'e 
Gauvaiaa,  Ciu'a  la  guerre  ne  poez  vos  faillir,  jue  vos  ne  1' 
aiei  plus  fort  que  vos  ne  1 'avez  etle  Jusques  cl,  et  ou/ra 
tant  sue  Oaiieriez  mea  Treres,  que  vous  ocelstea  maiveiaen.ent, 
sera  van^lez  de  vostre  cors  mefsmes.  .  .  (134; 


iven  tae  ridiculous  note  introouoed  ty  this  writer's  efforts 

to  lend  realism  to  his  wcrk  by  Informing  us  of  the  fij^es  of 

the  ciiaracters  involved  in  tae    tra.edy  cannot  detract  from 

39 
the  power  of  his  portrayal  ,  thou^jh  the  fcllowina  passage 

strikes  a  jarring  iiote.   In  the  battle  between  Lancelot 

and  Ga./ain  before  tiie  city  of  *janne3,  tne  people  marvel  that 

Gawaln  has  held  out  so  Ion,  :  , 


.  .  .  moult  se  H;ervelllent  sorsment  raessire  Gauvaina  avoit 
tant  dura  contre  Lancelot,  car  tuit  ssvoient  blen  que  Lencelos 
estoit  le  mieudres  chevaliers  del  monde  et  plus  jeunnes  da 
mcnselgneur  Gauvain  entor  vint  et  un  en;  et  a  cele  eure  pcoit 
bien  avoir  mlsslre  Geuveins  solsssnte  et  seize  enz  et  li 
:'0l3  Artua  quatre  vins  anz  et  douze.  (179) 


Part  of  Gawain's  S'  cess  can  be  attributed  to  nis  gift  of 

increasing  stren^^th,  and  the  explanation  probably  referred 

•LO 
to  in  the  prose  Lancelot   is  offered  at  this  point. 

?T 

Incidentally,  Frappler  points  out  ho*  tnls  autnor  makes 

this  trait  "un  effet  de  la  grfice  divine".  Gawain,  it  seems, 

was  baptised  by  a  holy  man  for  whom  God  had  performed  many 

miracles,  and  this  hermit  has  arranged  tilings  so  that  Gawain 's 

strength  *ill  increase  at  noon: 


Seigneur,  oe  cest  enfant  qui  cl  est  vos  puis  ge  dir«  aeUrement 
qu'll  sera  olosez  de  proesce  daseur  sea  compaltnons,  ne  Js 
tant  ccmaie  il  viva  ne  3e»e  velncnz  anlor  sure  de  micl;  car 


'i 

« ,  p  e  -  _  -        • 

•sinol  OB   iuo   blari  Esri  nlewBt 


ilavuat)   eileeoji:   onejCDiOo    .  'lem  ee 

eoXec:  neld    h  elovue   ^Ji.'J   nao    ,  I  ailn 

•fo  e©tm0©t   '  afenoia  i«fa  eisJiBvano  as": 

II  t«  site  eslea   ;l^»  a^tneealoe   snlav 


6  e  ^  Ifij  »od  4«j©  «-  I 


l'±4 


de  cant  est  .'1  euendez  de  ma   prlere  que  touz  Jorz  e  eure  de 
raid!,  en  cele  eure  me'ismes  qu'1.1  fu  bautlslez,  araendera  38 
force  et  ae  vertu  en  quel  que  leu  qu'il  scit,  ne  jh  tant 
devsnt  n'sv^a  e(l  peinne  ne  travalll  qu'Il  ne  se  sente  a  celui 
point  tcuc  Ires  et  tout  lejiiers.  (173-74  J 


This  -does  not,  however,  prevent  tiewaln  from  auiferln^  a  severe 
head  wound  at  the  nands  of  Lancelot,  a  wound  wnlch  later 
In  the  battle  against  the  tior:.an3   is  re-opened  end  which  proves 
fetal  to  Uawair  .   On  his  ceath-bed  Gewain  ijepents  of  his 
thirst  for  vengeance  on  Lancelot  and  desires  to  have  e 
j^econcillation  wita  him;  he  also  wants  his  acknowledgement 
of  his  own  culpability  in  his  death  to  be  inscribed  on  his 
toir.b :  "cl  gist  tiaherlet  et  Gauveiris  que  Lancelos  oclst  par 
1 'outrage  Geuvain"  (194).   iVhat  would  shock  the  author  of  tne 
Queste  is  Arthur's  dream  in  which  Gawaln  appears  in  heaven: 

il  [Arthur^  li  fu  avis  en  sen  cormant  que  measire  Gauvains 
vint  cedent   I'l,  plus  fceau3  qu'il  ne  I'avo^t  onquea  rrea  vefi 
a  nul  jor,  et  vencit  spres  11  una  pueples  de  povre  gent 
qui  tuit  disoient,  hois  Artus,  nos  svons  conquestee  la  meson 
Dieu  a  uas  monseifeneur  Gauvain  vostx-e  neveu  por  les  £r8nz 
biens  qu'll  ncs  a  Teiz  .  .  .  (1,.',' 

With  this  passage  it  la  clear  tx^at  oawsin'a  rehab  Hi  Let  ion 
la  complete. 

It  is  obvlcus,  taen,  th&t  for  tne  author  of  L£  Mort 
Artu,  hiererchj  in  the  Arthurian  world  of  chivalr^  is  not 
so  Important  as  It  had  bean   In   earlier  works.   Gawaln  is 
Inferior  to  Lancelot  on  r;ore  than  one  level  —  though  the 
remarks  about  the  respective  a^es  of  the  characters  may  be 
an  effort  to  exp]»  n,  1"  not  to  lessen,  that,  inferiority^  — 


'j         <^1   JOk  f   '\lt 


•1 

'X0J  foieoii* 

:1b  db  ORB  ioiia 
Id  a;; new  osic 
Bin  no  beolnsenl   ed  oi  dJseb  h  Ilxdaqli/Q   cnvc 

isq  deloo  eoIoorsJ  eup  enlavusO  ;f9  ^oliedaO  ^clg  lo 

tn»  ^qqs  nlftiro 


!^  r;  ;     I 


(8«1> 


'.;  isii  0     i! 


14; 


but  with  our  attention  fixed  on  the  essentially  human  and 
tragic  dilemma  the  characters  rind  themselves  la,  we  no  longer 
consider  that  fact  important.   Uaderstandable  human  strengths 
and  weaknesjes  are  whet  :ourit  for  this  aut.jcr.   Ine  Gawain 
of  t-ils  wcrk  is  superior  to  the  «awain  cf  the  ^ueste,  it 
tar  true.   But  It  Is  the  projection  of  this  drama  into  terms 
of  psychological  i'ealism  which  has  the  effect  of  rehabilitating 
Gawaln,  and  it  raust  be  recognized  that  tnis  reiiacilitation 

Is  not  the  p^irpose  but  a  oy-px'ocuct  of  the  larger  aim  of 

:\    ...  „  I  -1  ^  „■,...> ,     •  I-  • 
the  author  of  L£  Y,?ort  Artu. 

The  Did ot- Perceval,  the  worn  .ve  ere  to  ^caslder  next, 

represents  either  nn  early  version  of  the  Grail  story,  or 

a  late  rehsndllng  of  it  which  ignores  Galahad  end  places 

Perceval  back  into  the  position  of  pre-eminence  he  enjoyed 

42 
in  Chretien's  poem   .   The  work  is  concei^ned  primarily  with 

how  Perceval  achieved  the  quest  of  the  Holy  Grail,  and  concludes 

with  a  brief  account  of  Arthur's  coi-tiaental  expedition, 

McPdred's  rebellion,  end  the  collapse  of  the  Arthurian  kingcom. 

Though  Lancelot  appears  in  t;ie  work,  there  is  no  .T.ention  of 

his  adulterous  love  affair  with  Guenivere,  nor  is  triere  any 

mention  of  Qelahad.   And  though  all  tne  knights  of   the  fvound 

Table  take  part  in  the  -.-Ufist  of  the  ^rail,  we  are  told 

only  of  Perceval's  adveatures,  and  he  is  the  uniqiue  Grail 

winner. 

Perceval's  position  ol   superiority,  so  i  ai'  as  Lxiis 

author  is  concerned,  can  easily  be  demonstrated.   Shortly 


^.^x 


siis<X94  o4ai  Ainaio  eini  lo  nc :  bi.\i  el  ii    >l 

"         ■      na^ial   9d:f   ->      -- 
.J-.'•-I•3"    -J  ■:<.:' 


r  .,  ^ 


,jx3n   'i&b  enco   o^   ©"XB   aw  jCiow  ads'    tXaveona^- jofr '  ' 
'•      -      M  to  nolei^v  Y f      -      -   "- 

D  rnanliT.s-enq  lo   noloj- 

" "  '- -  *:  'el  Jlioir  eiii 

aeu:  .  -.  -     —  -    -    -^  j-:^ 

.iTC        '  '      -  "A    9ri;j   lo  eaqalioo    — 

■■jn  b1   aiadit   ,iiiot(  atiu   u.;    r.-.  i?.-. 
*  -■  svlnauC    ^ '  -^    -.  •      -  . 


146 


after  Ferceval'j  exTival  at  Arthur's  court,  the  latter 
holds  »  tournanent.   At  the  Instance  of  filsine,  uevain'a 
sister,  who  had  sent  him  arms,  rercevel  diatlnjjuished  himself; 


.  .  .  et  ..  ien  saclss  ^ue  i-erceveus  list  le  jcr  taat  o'erniea 
qu'il  forjoeta  Lous  qa ua  de  le  table  recndo,  et  abati  jveu  le 
aenesoal,  ec  Yvaln  11  fil  Urien,  et  Lbn^elot  de  Lac.  .  .  (Id) 


Much  later  in  t  e  story,  i'erceval  and  ^awain  jcust  in  a    tour- 
nament, and  tiawaJn  is  discomfited: 

Et  quant  Perceval  le  ^Gawain^  vit  si  le  doute  molt  petit  au 
s-amblant  qu'il  en  fist,  et  neporquent  se  savoit  il  tronsegnor 
Cavains  a  m^lt  preudcme,  et  s 'entreferirent  molt  rviistement 
ee  e<>«i>s  que  les  lences  pe^olerent  et  volerent  encontre  mont 
11  trontjon,  et  3 'entrefiurterent  su  passer  molt  .7.alasivement. 
Au  passer  que  r  esiro  Ci«vains  fist  si  I'en  avint  liolt  male:.ent 
car  sea  cevaus  et  il  vola  en  mi  le  pre,  et  au  ceval  rompi 
11  cols  et  morut.  (78-9) 

After  Perceval  nas  concluded  the  quest  of  the  ^^rail,  tue 
story  turns  to  Arthur's  ooatir;entol  ,var.   When  Arthur  nas 
killed  "Flolre",  king  of  the  French,  Lot  and  Gawain  »ce    sent 
as  messengers  to  rarls.   The  following  passage  is  interesting 
botn  for  wrnat  it  sa  s  about  bawain  and  for  trie  x'elatlon  it 
©stabllsJ-ies  between  bewaln  and  Perce  ./al: 


.  .  .  et  secies  qu'en  eel©  mesa>?e  ela  li  I'ois  Lot  d'Orchenle 
et  Ciavains  ses  fils,  qui  p  olt  s  volt  bel  parler  et  ert  tenus 
a  un  des  plus  se ^es  de  I'ost,  et  estoit  buens  chevaliers,  et 
adrois  de  parler  droiturlers  en  jugement,  et  secies  qu'en 
le  terr©  de  BretaKne  ne  peut  on  trover  ,j.  mellor  chevalier, 
des  oue  Perceval  ot  laissie  le  cevalerle.  (-'0) 


Finally,  when  Arthur  returns  to  Britain  to  ;:ut  down  !.;ordred's 
rebellion,  Oawein  is  killed  in  tne  landin<<.   On  his  death 


lei)   .   . 


J^ 


■?:.»-:    'idi'^s: 


-liioJ  aoi  fll«wa«^  bns  Isveo 

u9    .  3luob   9l   Is    :tiv   fn»T^3rl   si   1^3- 


ine^-; 


^.c   iz^jU'p   art  J   bs*: 


S^Jt^e  .voXiol  ,rcE29- 

;JI  -c*!   bns   n.?-. 


i.xeoi»-i 


147 


tiie   sutacr  Inserts  a    short   eulogy  : 

.  .  .  et  ssciea  qu'a  Uevein  i  meacnal,  car  il  n'u/oit  ^es 
son  iiieume  laoie,  et  uns  oalsnea  tanoit  .J*  avlron  et  en  feri 
Gavein  el  del,  et  I'eoati  mcrt. 

*uant  Uavalns  fu  lors  ce  fu  aiolt  grans  dolors.  Ani 
Dex,  com  granc  damSfcO  eel  buen  j"Sticier!  II  estcit  buena 
cevallex*s,  et  blaua  et  lolsas  et  sa^^es,  et  estoit  drolturiers 
en  jugemeat,  et  asvoit  bel  pai'ier.  i^ex,    j^-k.  jirant  dolor 
quant  il  lo  covient  moriel    (109) 

Gawsin'a  reputation  as  "drolturiers  en  jugejnent"  waicL  ue 
enjoys  in  c;iia  work  is  new,  but  it  fits  into  the  conception 
of  nis  cnaracter  which  a  Isrge  number  of  other  works  evince. 

So  far  63  the  Lldot-f erceval  Is  concerned,  then, 
Gawein  enjoys  en  exelted  position  except  when  he  is  orougnt 
Into  contact  with  the  hero  of  the  poem.   This  usurpation  of 
Gewaln's  pre-eminence  by  the  Grail  winner  Is  the  pattern  we 
have  become  accustomed  to,  especially  when  the  Grail  is  .iven 
a  specifically  C.iristian  meaning,  as  it  is  in  this  work. 
The  virtue  of  cnastity,  so  ubiquitous  in  tne  v^ueste,  receives 
no  undue  emphasis  iDere,    and  lence  8a  rain's  caarscter  is  net 
deoasec  by  amoral  sexual  adventures  in  order  to  heifnten 
the  lustre  of  Perceval,   finaxly,  it  niignt  be  pointed  out 
that  the  conception  of  wa*ein'3  cnaracter  in  this  romance 
is  less  sopni£ oiceted  than  in  the  romances  of  Chretien's, 
and  hence  closer  to  that  of  i^eoffrey's  Kistoria .  Whether  twis 
is  the  result  o'  an  early  end  undeveloped  treatment  of  tne 
Arthurian  material,  or  of  a  latrr  end  exceedingly  simplified 
treatment,  it  ia  difficult  to  say. 

ihe  hiuth-Merlln  and  tne  continuation  of  it  published 


v*x 


,^    Jij  ie    s   tiifitnl    loners    9;iJ 


col^qeanoo   acii   oinl   a:3t1  il   ivd   ^we^x  ai   h%ijm  fcii^w   fi. 
.•or  .-)   lo   ladrrun   8yi8l    e  doii/ 

nevl  di  nsflw   ^Ilaioeqr  auoas 

ai    :ti    e«    ,8"-^^ 


148 


by  Somnier  unaer  ti.e  title  oi'  Lie  Abcntquer  ua wains,  iwaiaa, 

und  Le  .Vicrholts  niit  cen  Lrel  Jun:.rrauen  are  tne   remaining 

fragments  of  a  second  cycle  cf  Arthurian  romancea,  end  moat 

writers  agree  that  they  are  later  in  cate  t;.an  tae  r-jiancea 

43 
of  the  Vulgate  Cycle   .   i'ney  eao  otrtain  motifs  to  trie 

H/'thurlan  legend  wriich  are  intrinsically  valuable,  like  the 

Balln-Falan  story,  cr  wnlch  increase  the  rich  texture  of  the 

Arthurian  oackground,  such  as  the  story  cf "^  he  eniriity  between 

the  sons  of  Lot  end  the  sons  cf  Felllnor.   According  to 

this  version  of  how  /rthur  won  his  kinj^,dom  in  uae  face  of 

the  hostility  of  the  rebellious  uarons,  it  was  rellinor 

who  made  the  g.'eetest  contribution  to  Arthur's  success 

by  killing  Lot,  one  of  the  most  influential  of  the  kin^i's 

enemies.   Tiiis  is  wnat  touched  off  the  hostility  between 

the  two  families: 

Bt  quant  li  rois  fu  enterres   Gavains  ses  alines  fieus.  .  . 
en  fist  Guel.  .  .  "na  ^ire,  teat  m'  a  enda;.at;iet  aal  u  .aement 
li  <.oi3  rellinor  qui  vous  a  ocjtjis,  et  tent  a  nostre  ii.nage 
aoaisaiet  par  la  vostre  ni  .''ti  .  .  .  Je  ^ieua  ne  place,  sire, 
que  je  face  chevaierie,  ^ux  i>„i.l  xoee  cusques  que  j  en  ale 
prise  tele  venjance  que  on  en  ooit  prenore,  c'est  occhiro 
roi  pour  r^:."  (huth-Nierl  In,  1,262-63) 

In  tais  ;»ork  Ciawain  is  doaioted  to  the  rank  of  an 
ordinary  knight  of  the  hoimd  Table.   Ihis  demotion  is  brought 
out  In  several  ways.   For*  example,  Balin  discovers  the 
following  prediction  on  a  tombstone: 

En  ceste  chimeutiere  vengera  javains  le  roi  Loth  son  i^ere; 
car  11  trsnchera  le  ch'ef  au  rcl  Felllnor  es  premers  dls  tns 
qu'il  Rvre    recheu  I'crdeo  de  chevallerie.  ( huth~i/ierlia,  II,  11) 


tSfiiBW^    t  an  tew  at)  T^ti©Jn'«^A   »A<f  1c   ttiiti   9tii  nmUnHs  nmitm9c!,'-¥4 

9da  -  'IBV  ^IlBaian. 

edit   lo   o'»tiix»»}   doll    edc?    e?  se-icnl   riolriw  10    ,,y/to1«   n«Ie*!-n!re« 
neaw;r  o  ed^lo  ^loj. 

JioooA      .lonllXeS   lo   enoe   erfct    bna   ;foJ   "io  e 
lo  ©9»1   9fld  al  mobi^p.iii  plri  now  fori;*'iA  wort  "^ 
.'^   eew   Jtf    jBHO- 
r.  aeoouB   & 

.;t  io   iBliaBuIlnl   ieoffi  odit  ^o   e/ 
neow'i&d  x-^-^^-i^soiri  8d;t   llo   b9douo;t  * 


;»nc  .    .    ,1- 

fc  -3  J     Jfc      ,. 

d 


149 


And  oalin  asya  to  the   nermit  «.\o   is  accompanying  nlm: 

".  .  .  36  je  aa  iuiase  en  est  queate  ou  je  suis  entrcs,  je 
le  desLcrnaiaae  ce  cesta  aiorL,  se  je  peusse.   oar  rleua  vauslaae 
Jou  o  cnire  viavain  en  tol  point  oo  ;.iLa  il  eat  or-endroit  qu* 
11  ocheaiat  ci.elui  preudcma,  dont  il  sera  aaaes   rlngnour 
damans  :jue  de  ^'avain  ae  serolt ,  "(Hiath-Marlln,  II,  11-lS; 

obviously  Geweln  does  not  cotrmand  the  position  of  hlj^h 
r*e8pect  wnlch  tiae  early  Ai->thurl8n  tradition  aicords  film. 
On  another  occaalcn  we  ace    told  that  i-jaherfet,  Gawaln's  younger 
brother,  will  amlta  down  nis  brother  (Scrjner,  i>le  *^benteue£,56 ), 
and  indeed  Gaheriet  accomplishes  the  rescue  of  botn  uawain 
and  Mornolt  frotn  the  enohanLment  of  "La  i:voche  as  Pucallea", 
which  no  other  knight  could  do  (Soauner,  Die  Abenteuer,  125-31 ) . 

Tnia  demotion  does  not  fit  in  very  well  with  the 
prediction  Merlin  xnakes  concerning  lia.vain: 

"Je  VOU3  esaeur,  se  vous  viv^js  longexflent,  jue  vcus  aeres 
una  daa  bona  chevaliers  dou  saonde  et  una  aes  plus  ren:jir.tQu!S, 
ne  ja  ne  trouveres  chevalier'  fora  un  seul  :ui  vous  pulsae 
d'arnes  outrer,  et  cele  dataille  dont  je  vous  parole  ne 
sera  mie  a  aion  tfina."  (hut  i-fierlin,  11,100  J 

Ncr  does  tne  ,-redloticn  raatcn  w  at  ve  are  later  told  about 
Gaweln  when  the  author  mentions  Gawaln's  increasing  strength, 
Mcrholt  *as  atsrtled  to  J^.nd  Cravrain  ao  fresh  nfter   being  elnioat 
beaten;  the  battle  between  the  two  continued  until  nones, 
Jitxeri   Ijiawoln'a  strength  bogan  to  fall  once  nioro.   in  hi  a 
explanation  the  autnor  informs  us  of  tncse  knights  who  are 
able  to  cvercome  Gawaln: 

.  .  .  sans  faille  celle  forciie  qui  11  venoit  entcur  luledi 


;i?w>6c«  «1  ©ri#   itsni&ci   «ui3   03   sxas  ailaet  EjaA 


nojmrb.  aO    ,»eli»ii8t>  ^edtf  bloi   ana  9^  aaimmooo  indsor.'i  nr 

. ( XC-dS J,>;^«^;tagcfA  elQ    «i«misa£)   ob  blisav  ^mg^mi  a  rioidw 

*  XI«w  x^^v  ctl  ;il1  ;ion  e»ob  nvl&om^b  »|<iT 

fCtneioesnoX   eevlv   auov    se    ,*ujQf 


oe   f**;»  "8r    IXr 


160 


scouatutneement  ne  li  durolt  pas  tres  bien  Juaqjea  e   ncnne. 
Et  neporquent  elle  11  vali  t  en  Lans  lieus  et  tanl  11  sloa 
puis,  qu'Il  ne  tiv.^va  en  tout©  aa  vie  chevalier  qui  a  lul  se 
combfitiat  g  I'eapee  v  '^1  '^^   menasi.  a  la  fin  cusquea  e    out- 
ranche,  fors  seulement  sla.   Li  una  en  fu  Lancelos  Hel  lac; 
11  auti'^3  ot  aon  hestof  dea  Marea;  li  tiers  ct  ncn  Booira 
11  esalllias;  11  nlAa  le  i'oi  March;  li  aisirr^ea  fu  -tshla 
Mor.ioxis  cent  je  parole  en  caste  riotw.e    chi.  De   tons   neus 
a  cul  ijevaina  ae  combatl  sera  e   cora  pot  11  bien  a  chief 
venlr,  ne  mala  de  cea  ala  .  .  .   Huth-Merlln.  II,  240) 

On  the  wriole,  however*,  this  author  sncwa  a  better  command 
over  his  r.aterlal  than  these  episodes  au^:^;#3t. 

Gawaln'a  partiality  for  tne  feminine  aex  and  his 
willing  readiness  to  serve  6  emaels  on  all  occasions  8ce 
given  a  curious  explanation  In  this  work.   Bawaiu,  it  aeerua, 
had  been  engsi^ed  In  the  quest  of  the  white  nart,  and  in 
the  achieving  of  tnia  quest  he  accidentally  decapitated  s 
damsel.   It  was  his  fate  to  carry  the  corpse  of  the  damael 
to  tne  court  with  tne  head  around  hia  neck  as  a  scrt  of  ?Pial/ 
necklace,  and  submit  to  the  judgment  of  the  ladies  there. 
Their  Judgment  was  as  follows,  and  apparently  ^^'a-i^ain  lived 
up  to  It: 

Ti'or  oi.    ,  e  en  la  damoisiele  mcsistes  iriPin  si  crueln.ent 
que  vous  3  ' ocne 'istes,  earardcna  noua  quo  voua  orendroit  Jures 
3cr  sains  ^ue  ja  eaia  tant  que  vous  viveres  ne  irieteros  main 
en  damoisiele  pour  chose  que  elle  voua  die  ne  fache  se  vous 
ne  ve<i3  peril  de  inort.  Et   eacore  vcloris  ;,ou3  que  se  la  denclaele 
vous  requiert  olde  ne  secoura  que  vcus  li  aidies,  ne  ja  ne 
soJ  t  de  si  esci^autje  lieu  ne  si  niesconnue,  se  cae  n'^at 
encontre  vostre  hofnour."  Et  il  le  Jour  erranment,  si  le  tie  it 
bicij  cout  son  vivaat.  .  .  lit   pour  cuou  qu'ii  eida  puis  toutcis 
al  volontlera  ©t  di  si  boin  cuer  as  damolaieiea  fu  11  apleloa 
par  tout  en  la  court  et  allloura  li  chevalJera  as  damoisieles, 
ne  chll  ncns  ne  11  chei  ta.it  couine  il  pot  anr.es  porter. 

(uuth- Merlin,  II,  99; 


KiU 


i  n^'rj   es-   ?I  --'..TT-T^e'-coc 


.acsai^^iis   esboalqd   seed:*   aad^  Isl:n9dfivti  nJtri  isvc 
•ici  bna  xae   enixiliael  ^di  lol   i^tlleitfitq  a<nl4«»0 
-ama  «aolB»ooo  IIb  xio  8l*»««  b  evsas  o;^   seanlbssn  tallXiw 

e  b9ifli£q8dafo.^X£e4n8t>lod9  ed  iueap  BtAi   lo  jinivelftos  ^d;^ 
Iseia«b' od^   lo  et^qvos)   ad^   Xniaa  o4   9^91  eld  ao«  il      .Xaemi^c 

bf. 


Ibl 


Tills  ©Allans  tiori,    like    txioae    .f  nia    iaoreeaiui.   atreniith 

end   of  hia   horae    "le    grin(;,alet",    is   e   leter   ratloneiizetlon 

of  an   uaeAplalned  feature    in   tne    tradition   conoerning 

C«a«v8in. 

G8*ain'3   relationa   with   Aoaioa   in  a   quite   different 

senae   ex'e   .veil    illuatpated   by   the    Pelleaa-Ettard   episode, 

of   which   t:iia    corriance    ia   tae   eerliest   veraion  we   poaaesj. 

here    tae    lacy 'a   narae    is    "Arcade",    end   tne   3<.ory  Lisa   a   ;.-,iich 

44 
different   ending  from   that   which  Malory   givea    it      .      The 

details   are    too  well   known    to   need  recounting,    but   it   ia 

difficult    CO   tall    if    Li8.vsi:i   waa   cast   in  tne   role   of  a   .nan 

who  betraya   &    friena   with    the   friend 'a    aweethefcrt   because 

of   ills   reputatioa   in  previcua   romancea   ps   a   lady-Kilier, 

la  tiii*;   vei'sion  of   the   story  both  prinoiplea   were  virfeins 

before   they   oecama   irreslatibly  attracted   oxje    to    tne    otner 

(tiomnaer.    Lie    /^benteuer,    0-2;,    and    jswain'a   .-ole    ia   that   of   tne 

aedi^ced   rather   than   the   seducer:      "G»r  elle   voit   ceatui    si 

ieune   »t   ai   honteux,    a    son  aduia,    quelle   acet  bien  qull   ne 

la    requerrolt   lame  is    ae   ella  ne   le   i-nettoit   en   voie"    (Sommer, 

I.::e   Abenteur,    3C).      The   end   of   the   episode,    in    Ji.iich  Arcade 

and    Pelleas   e:'e   married.    In   spite    of   the   forrr.er's   ;xreat 

love   for   Gawein,    i.s   aurioualy  diaturbing.      ine   wnole    atory, 

however,    as    ooth  Cawain   and    ti:e   reader  reco;iriiao,    does   not 

brln^  credit   to  Gawsin,    a /en   t-iouty:i  he   does   bring  about    tne 

marriage    of   Pelless  and  Arcade: 

Lors    ae   repent  moult   de    ceate    cnoae    qull   a   faicte,    car   ce 
volt    11   blen   qull   en  n    vlllainement   cuure   et   aealoyeuruent. 


A^3t/i@--  **9^S   oiliX    vAol^jftaftXax*  etcd 


1;  a  til  tio 

(Oboelqs  b'iBd^3>ee9lI&*i   ed^  x^  bs:t«'-i;}auXIl   XXe»  s*^ 

dd.T      .     4X  eevi^  iCioXaK  dsldir  ^tsci;)  mo^l  Jiol&ns.^r 
.  «tAa:  •  Ic  eXort  do.cT  ai   c^I&bq  8«w  ol9«ai>  IX   XX#4  eit  JlXuolllIb 
A.i»Xiiii-i(b0X   a  8i;   esacQiOOi,  &U9ly»%q  bJ>   noli&iifiie^i 

«n  Ijxrp  fl»ld  issB   9XX»ifp    «Blt/bit  bom   v 
^tar  »n  ^XXe   es   slemai   cfloiieupei    al 


152 


iit  tant  est  lo  i^eafsit  grant  ^uJ.!  ne  voit^  O"  s  co^naent  11 
le  peust  letnala  pc.ender.  (Soinmer,  Die  ^beaieuer,  36) 


If  tiia  gutjticp  t.iinka  Gawain  doos  uiaaa^o  to  'yfiie'id"  the  affelr, 

he  displays  a  daplorebie  lack  of  taste.   '^Ve  38.'.  earlier  that 

Gft*«in  lould  )e  engaged  in  sraoro -i  rdventurea  *ithout  jrejudice 

to  bis  reputatlD-i  so  far  as  trie  author  was  concerned,  but  Ice 

ciroumatances  of  this  escapsoe  can  In  no  .vay  be  extenuated. 

The  Huth-Jterlin  and  its  continuation  ."e^^resent,  i;hea, 

a  further  developruent  of  the  Arthurian  tradition.   The  prose 

romances  generally  offer  a  more  radical  treatment  of  tae 

Arthurian  legend  than  tne  verse  romencea,  and  tne  proliferation 

of  the  prose  roraancea  in  ti-ie  first  half  of  tne  tnirteenth 

century  speeded  up  certain  develop  .ieats,  sucr..  as  the  usurpation 

of  Gawaia's  position  by  Lancelot,  aao  the  replacement  of 

the  letter  by  Galahad.   The  author  cf  tae  present  Axrk  seems 

fcee   of  any  restrictions  imposed  by  traditions,  as  can  be 

Illustrated  in  s  curious  way.   The  author  of  the  prose 

46 
Lancelot  cescrlbed  Gawein  as  "ce  moult  bel©  estature"   ; 

this  writer  feels  no  hpsitatici  in  saying  "ine  al^^e  Gaveins 

n'estoit  ale  m  ult  :r8ns  caevali.ers,  sins  eatcit  auques  baa" 

(iiUth-i.tf  >'lin  ,1,  245}.  It  Is  tx.is  freedom  of  conception 

of  'Character  and  retails  which  allows  the  autnor  f  this  *ork 

to  relegate  Gewain  to  a  y  .  nor  pcsltio  -  in  ci.e  Arthurian 

hierarchy  and  to  a  relatively  mihbr  role  in  t.je  action. 

Le  Livre  o  'Artus,  Vol.  VII  of  Sonimer's  edition  of 

the  Vulga  te  hcniances,  may  have  been  intended  to  supplant 


II      -?r.«,.-  .  •;<%  ■  fn^$     $^ 


int)    mil' 


smaes   lift  ^j*-   :t£i«8«<ia   mnS  to  •rod^Me   arfT      .b«ri»f«t)  vd  T4*ct«I   »■.'-:■ 


153 


one  of  the  Merlin  continue tloaii  of  the  Vuli^ate  cycle,  or 

46 
It  may  have  rormed  part  of  a  dllTerent  oyole   .   i^hatever 

ita  relatica  to  the  corpua  of  px^oae  roruanoes,  txiia  work 

presents  a  very  lively  treatment  of  tne  aaoe  oiu^onologlcal 

period  or  tiiua  in  tae  developi^.ent  of  tue  Arthurian  kingdom 

as  doea  Leatw-lre  de  kcrlin,  that  period  waen  *»rthur  la  battling 

reballloua  carons  ano  loreign  invaders  Tor  auprecaoy  wtthl.n 

hla  raalr..   Ihe  T.f^ln  outlines  of  the  narrati've  bear  aoce 

reaecblance  to  thoae  of  Leatoire,  but  many  important  details 

are  different,  and  in  general  the  Livre  d 'Artus  presents  us 

with  extravagant  adventures  extravagantly  told.  The  fclloving 

(quotation  illustrates  not  only  the  author's  general  conception 

of  tne  cnaracter  of  Gawaln,  but  also  the  flamboyant  nature 

of  the  narrctive.   It  is  a  description  of  Gevain  in  osttle 

agalnat  the  "Sesnea": 


msls  scr  tcz  les  eutres  ^ui  bien  le  faia. lent  le  Taiaoit 
bian  mesalres  Gauuain  11  nies  du  roi  Artua.  iceluj  tts 
i'etenolt  ne  uals  ne  tertrea  ne  roche  ne  presae  de  gent. 
quar  11  seoit  scr  tel  cheual  ^tha  Urine^alatQ*   que  quant  il 
le  iiurtolt  cea  esperons.   il  se  lane  it  de  si  ..:rent  rauine 
en  la  prease  cu  il  uololt  nler  quil  pcrtolt  a  t;.rre  & 
cheuallors  ^.   oheuals  tjut  en  un  mont,   &  oil  qui  sus  estcit 
feroit  si  grens  ocls  dEacalibor.   qua  nule  bo   eur*  tant  fust 
c jre  ne  retenclc.   s inz  coupoit  tout  olt.        ualler  ^ 
cheual.  (VI:,  6) 


The  attitude  expresaed  in  tais  quotation.  Incidentally,  is 
maintained  co  sistertly  throughout,  for  Gawain  la  regarded 
as  "11  .^elur   3    cheuallera  qui  or  ulue"  iVll,    310).   His 
ohlvalrlc  proweas  is  rivalled,  taough  not  aurpaaaed,  by  that 
of  both  Arthur  and  Sagremor. 


Grl:f   nf   Bxti  lo  bolf^' 


bet 


154 


Gawein  takes  part  In  nu.rero'js  amoroua  enrjountei-s  In 
this  wrk.  &n   route  to  a  (Chivalrous  undertaking  on  behalf 
of  Lore  de  Pranlant,  iJp^ain  rescues  Floree,  daughter  oi*  Alain 
of  Fscavalon  from  dan  er,  and  her  gratitude  exceeds  reisonable 
bou'ids:  "llec  perdl  la  pucele  son  pucelap:e  si  com  lestolre 
me  teaaolgne  6:  concut  un  fil  qui  molt  fu  puis  C'e  ^rant  pro-  see 
i-  de  cheualerle  pleins. "( VII,  110).   Gawain  alsc  has  a  cftiid 
by  the  (unnamed)  sister  of  Gu  In'rc^bresil,  vxjo  nod  SiiUt  ner 
away  in  a  forest  because  she  once  praised  her  Drother's  mortal 
enemy,  Gawain.   Gawein  was  able  to  come  across  rier.  However* 
"&  tant  1  conuersa  ^ue  il  entendre  en  luj  un  fll'lVIl,  lit). 
Gawain  also  rescues  helaes.  La  Leme  de  Llaos,  from  tne 
unwanted  ettentions  of  Oriolz  the  Dane,  and  njakes  of  her  his 
"amie"  (VII,  172-83).   By  these  exan-iples  it  is  clear  that 
Ge-wala's  prcvsess  Is  not  lirrited  to  the  field  of  battle  by 
the  autnor.'  Nor  Is  he  alone  12  tiese  conquests,  since  both 
Arthur  (VIJ,  P19-20)  end  Sagremor  (VII,  190-91;  enr^sge 
in  similar  escapades  which  cause  modern  morality  to  raise 
BT)   eyebrow. 

Not  only  does  t-tiis  </c£*k  attribute  to  L-8?/ain  his 
fan^ious  horse  the  "Grine^elet"  anc  the  s.vord  i/xoalibur,  but 
also  do  we  find  hlrr,  enjoying  the  attribute  of  increasing  strength. 
The  fl:'8t  reference  to  that  quality  is  oblique  enc    cx-jptlc 
to  the  uninitiated?  "nisis  aor  toz  lea  aut.-es  fist  a  couter 
Gauusina  li  nles  au  roi  prtus.  quer  ce  bit  li  jontea  que  dea 
icele  hore  que  midls  fu  passez  rlens  nule  ne  poolt  a  luj 
durer."(VII,  15)   The  seccna  is  much  moi'c  explicit,  and 


*<51 


\  Thc.o.  .  .,.      „      .,  .       ^_,.„ 

_  .    ,30nbIS  n  '  o  •  -.  ,„..,_  ,^      ^,..        '    -  T     -Ir. 

eX:foni5a»9T   eb9e9X«   •buctJtdeti^,  ..  .    ,.      nab  teoit  ttofn 

ST^icji.  ?;    r.   D    1b   ttSdieouq  nee   6£eot;<i   bI  lba»q  oei-      .  - 

jw>a  >  ailpq  ul  ilofli  l0p  11%  caJ  daaaoo  ;ft  wbQ^itDinescr    .  i 

3ii£i  d«i:»  nlBweO      .(0^1   tnV)**.ani©£q  «ii*Iaw«l»   sb    i 

tea  iudti   b«fi  on*    ,Ila«id«TBgiiiuO  lo  leJale   (boirronnu)    sd^  '^^d 

lB.tn.oa  e^*iiftiioH<i  ISA  boilanq  sofici   ade  eexisodd  ^«9<iol  •  nl  y^*^*^ 

*i»v»*Ofl    »iBii  M«i<*«   sfflO^   C>;J  •lofs  BBw  nfaneO      .nlBwaO    «t.Tr;;.: 

.{'ill    -11V)*I1T  nij   t,LfI  a*  a<ibfi^3no  £1   ©wp   se°reunoo   I  .^tAT 

J    mot'i    ,«o.t!lcl  9&  Bffli^   bJ    tBaf8£«d  Beuoem  bfile  .....,.^^ 
eld.    —  L.ojf««  bfl«  \Bn^  B&^  s£olnO' 1o   erJolS'^''' f  ■!  ^   ',^>  t,-,o>    ... 

;J  Brief   i39lo   ei    *l    BBiqiBBX©' »a*rii   vc'        i'^.p-'?-^ 

^c'    ai.-  '  ^'■;   'V-    nfeil   gri^   o^   b©;tx!ali    -.-.     ...    ^.,....  .,.    ..    

djr,  '.     '  C: r ' '■     ?».;--.,■;     '■■  '     c..-,,    fr..    ciii    ^;  r     ^i.-'s     i--(^,-   tc-u    - 


Itb 


occurs   In   tie   recital   or    cae  bfltcle   betwee.i   ^s.jaln  and    "Poprniz 
Darmos";    <f8*a]T    la   naturally   the  victor:    "4  il   [^Ga#alaJ 
regsrde    contromont   i  uolt   que  raidls   est  posaez   jI   a    snlalne 
reprise  A    aa   force   11   eat   doublee"    {VII,    SO;!).      "^othinj 
wew  has   been  added   to   Lhe    conception,    but    it    la    interesting 
to   see   Low   cenaoioualy    It    stlcKS   to   i^ewain. 

As   pointed  out  earlier,    tne   period   of   time   covered 
by    the  action   of   tals   roirance    is    that    ;-receoiiij    the   a.-rival 
of   Lancelot   at   Arthur's    court.      lience   there    is   no  n.ention 
of   Lancelot   in   this   *crk,    with   the    consequence    that   Op*ain 
ia   not   brought    into   conflict   with  tnat   knlgiit   whom  all 
ftutnors   except   tiiose   who  wro  .-j    tne   Que  ate   and   the   Dioot- 
PercevBl   re&ara  as   tne   f  leaver  of     hivairj .      This   i3,    I    cliink, 
one   peeeon  why  Uawain   is   reki-erded   with  aucxi  esteen.   in   tnis 
work,    and   his   nuierous    sexual   entene-:lenients   do  not   deprive 
him  of  the   author's   respect.      fte   find   in   this  woric  a    peculiar 
prominence    .ilven   to   the   character  of  ^a.-^remor,    but   even  at 
that,    he   remains    Inferior  to   ^8*8  In.      It   snould   be   noticed, 
too,    that   Arthur   is  not    the   do-notning  king  of   the    rornance 
conception,   but   the   we   rlor  king   of   the   chronicle,    and   hence 
takes   8    strenuous    pert   In   the  a  ctlori.      The   numercus   amorous 
escapades   the   prlneipleo    indulge    in   seem  to   preclude    tne 
notion   of   Courtly   Love,    anc    there    1  s   no   r.;ention   cf   the   Holy 
ijrell;    so   these    two    influences   which  e^enei-slly  have    f:   baleful 
effect   on   the    conception   of    uewain's   cnareoter  have    no 
opportunity   to    oi.f;-ate   iiere.      iience    the   conception  of   *iawain'a 


dai 


•-cjjcJai  iaq«©nct.    t:>t1xt  oi   bsbbs  cc  *: 

lie  mbtiw^/iainii  i«a^  <ltfl«  iolLlaoo  o4»l  is^uo%ci  icn  si 
ovl'^eb  i^on  ob  8drf«ffl«I?.,ra;:'i.d  Ia(fX»&  eyo^airii/ff  e|il  bos    . 


^Bf^ao?© 


It6 


cLarfcctor   la  Lo   Livra   d '  Ar-tus   is    uae    stuie    63,    oc    alij^iitlj^ 
higher   cnan,    Luat  i'ounci    in  Leatolre   dc   Berlin. 

iiie    prose   iVlatan,    Lne   laat   or   the   Old   '■'ceacu  prose 
roaifitices   w©  hsve    to   cond^der,    is  «    late   work,    and    in  piacaa 

plainly  reveals   tne    Influonce  ox    trie   prose   Lancelot   of    the 

47 
Vulgate   cycle      .      Trie    work   as  presented  by  Ltiseuh    is   com- 
prised  oi'    ttie    Iristan   proper,  the    Coupllatlort  oi'   one 

Rusticien   de    Pise      ,    and    the    r'alamede,    whltfxi  is   an   iator- 

4'.- 
polatioii   in    the   Conipilation.    As   stated   above      ,    we   must    :'ely 

oa  t.n   faiialyais    ratht  f-     -xian  sn  edition  i'or   our  knowledge   of 

tuia   w>^r.':,      ut   this   excellent   i^nelysis   ccnL,8ina  many  quotations 

froffi    L^^e    original.      The    oulk   ol    cur   quotations    ccinea  from 

the    prose   Irisusn   ioseli;    t.i.se  from   the   r6laii;eoe   will   bo 

so   itiuj.cated. 

i.he   cistingulshing  feature    of   txiis  *  ork    so  far  as 

tiie    present   stuay   is    concerned    is    tiie    consistent  and   deteriulned 

effort   one   meets   throU{ihout    to   cenisrete   tue    oharaoter   ci    uawain, 

(Jfi#ain    is   continually    sssifeuec  adventures  and   a    role    in 

the   action   w%ica   can   only   serve    tc   debase   hirr,   in   tiie   reaoer's 

eyes.       It    is    this    «ork    ^hlch   gives    lellinor   a    son   Lamorat, 

and   which   carries   on   the   enmity  between  the    sons    of   Lot 

50 
ano   oi    i9li:nor   initiated   uy    the   iluth-herlln      .      Ihroughout 

the   rich   tapestry   of   interwoven  tdventures    in   this   romance 

that    enaity   runs    like    a    uai^k   tiiread,    and    Lar.orac's    parslstent 

efTorLs   at   friendship   witii   Ca^ain   are    just   as   persistently 

refuseo.      Unaily   Lan.orat's   friend   iiriant   is   killed   by   oawain 


d<iX 


eaoici   .tone-.  ,QaJfaJL-n    9»a^q   ©ciT 

»aJ   I-  ioXoontkl  aeciq  aaj   %o.  •oaMitX'^Lni  904  eXfi^Vft  \Xni  <  lu 
-JKOO   ai    riJeefiJ  ^d  b^^a^aoi^q,  •«  al^ow   edT      «     «Xp%»  ^J^a^i    . 
ano  1»  flol;tBilq.roD   ©di    ,Ti»qiai<i  cuaJel'x'j:   ©il^    i.o  bsaliq 
~'is4rif    o*  «i  iiyjLdft    , aaauat^XdSL   adj.  &««    »      easJt=l   ab  vsje. 

.  sXwoni  'u»o  iQ"i  fioiJiiba.aa  pea^   aadJia'*  diaitXa/:*a  o^  .   . 
noxiB^Gupf  \aAm  (^cii^Ayinoti   aXa\,Xaa^  4aaXX,®aX'a  a»^xi4.  4iif<?..  «>(<% 
£&o%l  ae^aiop   aaoX4a«}Qup  "xup  'io^iLXu4  94^     ^X.%ciJtj|lr^  tb. 

; .  .oe4ac 

a  .  lii'xo^  a4£U  IXo  aixij^aal  jinXxlelusai^alo  941 

^nirane.  iaeiaiaiOoo   art;*   rI    &ana«»-'i«oo   e i  \6«de   dnae. 


•alave 


aiilct  a:  ,y,o 

me   eriJ   oo   z»lntao  aoliiv   baa 

aqa^   a-:. 


lb? 


end  hli  brothers;  the  badlj  wounded  LBii.oret  comds  ecross  tne 
t<6dy  end  t.-ieo  sets  out  in  pursuit  cf  the  murderers.   OveD.'.atched 
end  exhsbsttd,  ie  Is  despatched  by  Gawein;   "et  n.isire  Gauvaln 
.  .  .  '-'■  fist  eronc  ;  ne  crueutS  ffiC':t  f-rent  qe  nul  preucosif 
ne  fe'lst  p«r  nulle  event':re,  cer  11  11  [loaorat]  co-'ne  3i 
grant  cop  q'l]  11  ^cpe  le  c jief  et  chlele  Is  teste  en  vcle" 
(238).   At  least  Gswain  bed  the  motive  cf  vengeance  iiere  to 
plrad  as  e  dubious  extrnuatjon;  on  ether  oifcaiilons  his  base 
cctlcns  are  cct.pletely  unmotivated.  For  exampie,  Gawaln 
c^.c  Oaherlet  arrive  on  the  scene  w-iere  Tristan  is  doing 
be  tie  with  a  wended  knight.   Yvhsn  Tristan  nes  finished  with 
thl''  knight,  Cewaln  Insists  thPt  the  latter,  iffounded  ss  he 
is,    J:nst  with  hlfc.   Gewain,  of  course,  Is  easily'  able  to 
unhcrsj;  this  knight,  "et  est  ssis^^ez  ificne  pour  lui  passer,  a 
che  al,  ^eux  fjls  sur  le  cor^s.   Tristan,  indl^nS  blSime  fort 
Cauveln"  (514).   GaA-ain's  niurcer  of  Pslsaedes  is  likewise 
recounted  In  p  manner  that  reflects  seriously  o-:  his 
character.   CpAaln  and  Arravsin  both  rr.eet  ielamedes,  who  is 
gravely  .v->unded,  and  do  battle  with  him  until  h-r  fslls  from 
his  horse.   Ge'waln  dlstof.nts  end  plunges  his  sword  fnto 
Palamedes'  body,  bein^,  dissuaded  from  further  villainy  by 
Agravalr.'s,  "HaJ  r^ercl,  frereJ  ne  11  f'-'lt'sa  cl'JS  mal  que 
f'-t  11  avcn,  qu'il  eat  rrorz  sanz  recouvrer"  (598).   Finally, 
In  a  pass&'.Q  which  Is  clearly  lodelled  on  a  similar  episode 
in  I_s_  Vort  ^rtu   ,   Gawyin  ts  -".ede  to  cnless  his  s!ns 
committed  during  the  quest  of  tiie  Gr-all.   Arthur  aaka  him 


^iil 


9  10'?   .b6;»avi4oaj<»/  iX»^»Xq»oo  e«t*«aol)'  > 
itfalTl   0i«e«f   9fi»0B   eflJ    no   avlTi«   ;(oi*ie(f»0   ■: 

«d  as  b«bRt<o«    .•iaiJJsI   edd   ;J«£i^   eJeler^    rrAawiK)    ,;JrIaJ!*'^ ''    "trl"' 
oj   aide  "iil  ejta  a  I    .eenu^o  to    «ai:ii^  Iii  lUiir  ^a> 

a    (laes^q   lul   -xyoq   aaodi   so^aa   ies   J ^"  ^idylrix  aldi*   aaior.:-^ 
;Jiol   ©fflftid   Aa^lbnl    ^n3d^l^T      .aqnob  ef   *nJ«   8l«l  xb*?.'    ,Ib 
-t. !vff>"!ill   tii    aabaiBBla'?  lo  labnua  a'nlaiweG      ,(^^?;^   "r^?'?''' 
(Istfol'^da   BJaallsi^adi   •tenfra'T 

TifnH  mid  ddlw  «I*.^?^  c*>  br**    ,b 
.    8»)flvlq    baa 


168 


how  many   of   tae   fifty-taree   knlgnts   dead   la    L^^e   quest  Ae 
naa   slain: 

Le    roi    lul    t,e:(8nde    coinDien   il    t-ease    avcix-    cuo    oe    cjievalltrs 
pendaal   la    quote.      Gauvain  balsae    la    tete    ■vers   tt;rre   et   pense 
mout   durement'.      Le   roi    insiste;    "Je    veux  le    aevolr;    on  dlt 
qua   To'us   an  avez    tant  mis   a   a>ovt   ^ua    'c'edt  oiervellle  ' . " 
Gauvain  evObe   alora   en  avoir  tu©   trente-troia;    c'est   arrive 
par    'iueaciieance  '    et   par   acn    'peciiiA',    ait-li,    et   non   parce 
qu'll    etait  nellleur   chevalier  que    lea   outrea.    (406) 

An  euthox'   who  bestows    tae    sort   o£  role    indicated   by  these 
quotations   on   a    character   is    cloerly  not    interested   In  en- 
hanolng  that   ehai'acter's   reputation   #ith  the   reader. 

The   remarks   of   the   other  characters   in   the  romance 
about   Uawein  are   likewise   not   calculated   to   leave   a   ^ood 
impression.      For  example,    "Uauvainf    au   dire   de   Dinadan,    esC 
un  des   pires   cnevaliers   du  ajoade"(135;.   And  when   Iristan  has 
unhorsed  crehus   sans   Pltia,   ne    tells  hiau   to  seeii   out   Ga.«ain, 
"pour   qu'on  vole   cocuaent    'f elonnie '    ae    cc.:iportera   envers    'tra'ison 
(28).      Gn  eaotiier  occealoa   Irlstaa  is  askdd   to  name    "ceux 
ou  trois   chevaliers  plus   preux  qu'xiector.      Tristan  aomme 
Laac«lctf    Boxiort,    et  tilloberls;    11   ejcute    Gahariet,    quant 
i   1 'epee:-G8hariet   vaut    'oeux   Gauvains  '  "(137,n.4  J.      iMow   it 
la  obvious   tiiet   ti^is   reputation  assigned    to  Gawain   is   quite 
out  of  accord  with  that  which  most   of  the   preceding  romances 
give  him,    end   one   of   the    cnaracters   in   the   story   is   Qware   of 
this   fact.      The    character   is   brunor;    Tristan  i^tts   just   been 
upbraiding  Gavaln  for   nis   misdeeds,    end   as   Gawain   rides   off, 
Tristan   informs   brunor   of   Gaaain's   identity.      Brunor   can 
hardly  believe   it: 


edx 


i  io 


b90£  a  evseX  o^   baJB^woXso  do«i  deJ:»e3(IX  oib  aiavaO  4i>9CfB 
JB9   ,asbaniC[  9b   Buia  ua   (tilavi/ac)"    ,eXqmaxB  ■xo'9      .noleaeiq«iI 
asil  na^alil^  noiiv  bnA   .\6£X}''e&nom  ub  eieZXavoiio   earilq  ee 
.  ,a,Xai/aD  iuo  xe^a  oJ  nlA  aSi9i   ad  «9Jt.;(l*i   anas  eudia'xd  bdanodciJ 
' '  ao6raa;;>'    aiB?ne   ••i3;^noqaioc  ipoXol'    stnepwc  -^o'op  v 

jwab^    9iB9a,oi  beiiaB  bI  siaiMl*fi  aQluMopQ  t»dCOi 

.  ,?5X)"«8niavwBp  9v  i»i'ywi90-:»dq6'X   a 


159 


"CommeatJ"  e'ecr^e  Brunor;  "ce  seralt  ce  Juttros   dont  tout  le 
monce  a  teit  louti  la  courtoiale  et  le  valeor."  --  "Oul", 
r«poad  Tristan,  "car  11  eat  blen  ciiuiagd;  a  present,  o 'est 
tout  le  contra  ire. "(329 j 


And  "tout  le  contraire"  la  cne  Lxieaie  of  the  conception  of 
Gawain's  character  througnout  this  work.   The  change  is  not 
left  unexplained,  and  the  explanations  ere   found  in  the 
Paleoede.   On  one  occasion  we  are  toid,  "ce  chanaeirient  de 
carectere  fut  le  fruit  du  chs,.!;rin  qu'il  eprouva  de  voir 
sa  gloire  rapetissee  par  Lancelot,  Tristan,  et  Pslaojede" 
(439,  n.4;.   Ana  on  another  occasion  we  are  told: 

Un  peu  .  Iu3  lol  i,  la  ou  Arthur*  abat  'jai-vsin,  on  nous  dit  que 
ai  ce  boa  chevalier  co  uit  plus  tard  "mout  da  felonnease"  .  .  . 
cela  f'jt  la  coasequence  du  Ciisgrln  ..u'il  eprcuvs  de  voir  aa 
force  diiBinuae  par  suite  des  grauds  efforts  qu'il  fit  dana 
le  guerre  J 'Arthur  avec  Galeiiout.  (441,  a,l) 

Ano    ti'.is  second  explanation  maj   nark  back  to  a  casual 
reference  in  the  prose  Lancelot 

Ahat  is  said  aoout  Gawain's  stature  in  tnls  work 
can  be  applied  generally  to  the  figure  ae    cuts  in  the  whole 
romance:   "Geuvain  eat  tout  petit  a  c6t«  de  Tristan;  au. res 
de  lui,  'il  saiLbloit  aussi  con^-ne  neant'"  (95).   And  yet  Gawain 
retains  certain  enaraeteristics  which  distinguished  him  in 
preceding  works,  l.e    is  bleased  still  with  the  characteristic 
of  increasing  strength,  a  quality  referx>ed  to  in  two  pieces. 
One  is  a  simple  casual  remark  concerning  "Gauvain,  dont  la 
force  augmeate  a  midi"  (221),  wnile  Ldseth  is  luore  explicit 
on  another  occasion:  hector  and  Gaueriet  are  doing  unequal 


"    j^cMiiii^S 


3*1. 


irtRnsjnoO" 


djJC.' 


«&   :tn9in38Ci»do    eo" 


di  to d ft an ^ 
i«   aw  nolBsocro  eno  nO      .abec-HCiR- 


sbloct   one   ew  noi8a«>&d  <¥acdon«  rm  hrtt^      «(^.n   ^QS^ 


«Aeb  SI' 


ovB   vi;..: 


'i-'X'M-^  al 


se 


•uefte 


^IBttt^B 


190 


battle  against  '-'swen,  a^ravaln,  end  Mordred  ( .-reaiunably 
beoause  Uaherlet  ^i«d  killet.  i/ue  aotnei'  or  txie  Tlve  bpothara 
for  ner  i^peaabePj  ;: 

iiector.  lui  CjahorletD  vlerit  en  elde  et  ae  bet  victc  rieusement 
aTeo  Gauvain  Jusqu'd  mldl,  car  "a  celle  uor'a  drolterueat  creia- 
aolt  tcut  dls"  la  force  de  Gauvain  et  "sum  fcrce.ieit".  .  . 
^aoiorat}  a.  rdte  la  batallle  d'nector  et  de  Gauvain  en  leur 
reppelant  leur  seva.cnl   de  Is  laDle  i.ode,  et  represente  5 
Gauvain  que  ai  Gaherlat  a  tua  aa  mere,  on  ne  doit  pas  le 
feire  .n^urlr"  ,:.our  jele :  si  ce  jon   c.ievalLer  ecbit  tue,  sa 
mort  "ferolt  mout  plus  a  plaindra  que  la  oiojrt  o'une  aame". 
Gauvain  "recoaulst  que  ail  ne  li  ult  ae  verite  non".  ( 206  j 

Along  with  thia  quality  of  increasing  strengtli  Gawain  preserves 
a  shadow  of  hia  close  connection  witn  Arthur,  for  we  ere  told 
when  Gawain  is  engaged  with  a  combat  with  urehus  sans  Pite 
that  Gawain's  sword  was  "un  preaent  d 'Arthur,  et  presqu'auasi 
bonne  qu'Escallbor"  (331).   But  these  vestigea  of  his  former 
glory  are  not  sufficient  to  prevent  a  very  debased  conception 
of  his  character  from  passing  current  in  this  romance. 

There  is  no  apparent  reason  for  tala  consistent  black- 
ening of  Gawain's  character;  the  explanations  offered  oy  the 
Palanece  are  i^ationalizations  rather  than  explenationa.   cio 
far  aa  physical  prowess  is  ccncerned,  Gawein  --  in  spite  of 
his  increasing  strength  —  is  oecldedly  at  the  mei-c>  of  most 
of  the  V nights  who  play  any  significant  :»ole  in  txie  action 
of  this  wcrk,  ana  he  is  frequently  rescued  from  certain  death 
by  Tristan  after  havia-;  suffered  humiliating  defeats.   It  is 
possible  tnat  the  author  of  the  prose  Tristan  conaidered  e 


.•9fl8flio*i  etdd   al   ^nsiiuo  unieeBq  moil  iftios^Biid  Blrf'lo 
-iLoaXif  tos^BlBnoo   Bluer  "lol  roecBi   ;tnBnaq<|B  oil  ei  9ftSS 


161 


deaeoretlon  of  Gswain's  character  necessary  to  enhance  the 
lustre  of  bota  Tristan  and  Lancelot.   but  as  *e  have    seen 
In  our  exaainatlcn  of  worlrs  like  tno  prose  Lancelot  pnd  the 
Ijidot-rerceval,  Gawaln's  position  of  superiority  can  easily 
be  usurped  without  this  neceasi  .y.      There  is  snotner  conjecture 
pcssioie,  iowever.   jur  study  of  toe  prose  romances  ubs 
revealed  a  oeterioration  in  tue  conception  of  Ga^vain's  character, 
ano  the  author  of  the  prose  Xriatan  aay,  for'triS  sake  cf  novelty, 
have  introouoed  b  Gewain  who  Is  really  the  logical  culmination 
of  this  process  of  degeneration,   fte  know  that  new  tae^es  ere 
constantly  being  drawn  to  tne  lodestone  of  Arthurian  romance, 
and  we  know  taat  eld  themes  are  constantly  modified  In  trie 
process  of  retellin.j  tae  stories,  as  the  Grail  materiel 
amply  reveals.   ),Vitaout  there  being  any  apparent  reason,  then, 
we  anould  not  really  be  surprised  to  find  in  the  prose  Tristan 
a  Gawain  who  is  "aiout  felon". 

And  yet  anyone  who  has  followed  La wain's  career 
with  sympathy  cannot  help  being  dismayed  by  the  picture  presented 
by  tnis  *ork.  Tae    ixr.pression  created  by  Chretien  of  this 
gallant,  invincible  warrior  remains  too  strong  in  our  minds, 
and  wa  object  to  the  vilif ioetion.   So  did  one  of  Gaweln's 
mediaeval  partisans,  and  he  has  left  hla  mark  on  one 
manuscript  wnich  ttsa  survived.   Lisoussing  the  naiuscripts 
of  tne  prose  Tristan,  Lfiseth  points  out: 

tans  772,  le  nom  de  (jsuvaln,  presjue  partout  ou  ce  chevelier 
Joue  un  r6ie  peu  honorable,  a  ete  gratte  par  une  main 
posterleure  ©t  ren.plaoe  le  plus  souvent  par  celui  d 'A^ravain 
.  .  .  (224-26,  n.l; 


siii   90n»iii!i*  o;*  '5«i«c?'«'Sdfr  •Ifl.'♦^9'J«»rla  8V»l»wM&  ^  'flK>.*4B^oe«9b 
©rid    5n*    ;:»ol«ooftj   eeoiq   ari*   Bitll   eifnow  lo   aoU«n|fliaxe  -uio   nL 

^•leioait^  iq»ono9  cij^  al  flolienot'Sd^ab  b  b*l. 

aot^t.,  leoljiol   edJ  ^Ileei   bI   oriw  niBwsO   s  beouboi 

•I*  8Bioe»o>  VBD  ;tB£id  «O0>(  »V     .noi^B*s«r>«s*^  ^o  BBsoonq  bI. 
«»o«Bt>oi  nBl<wri^n^  lo  anoiBabof   «xl#   o4  nwBfxIr  salad  \I^n8.t8noo 
•il;}  nl  balllftoai  x;iiina;teaoo   eis  earned^   bid  ^Bii;f   ncnii   ev  btr^ 
J.'^t'sa^Btt  XlBvd  aacr  ea   iBftiioia  &iii  }ialli.9t9n  \c 
«tfiil^   (iioliBan  ^taarraqcfa  xaa  gcletf  aiQifct   sfuod^^lW      .alssve-i  \;Iqm.' 
<wt8l«if  a8^iq   atiJ  ni  fmtX  q$  b^ulnqtuB  mti  %llii9i  ioa  bluod^  &* 
•-    ■■  •"fiolal  iiKim'  9l  odw  nlawsd  i 

.j.,«v'^-,  eiftlBvei)   bevoXIel  BB<i  o£l«  afioxxt*  <!•%  NA 

ail  ihndo  x^  ba^aa'xo  aoiBaaiqml   axlT     .jiiow  ai 

.er  ^no«x^«  ootf  «<tlAMlv  «K>iatNi«  aXdlofiZvfxi    t^^^; 

ano  Mb  oC-    .Ff^lcfw.-:  ?1t£lv   ed^  o;;^  i^oat^ 
"^  f*o  ?!«<•«   ».»;!<  a    «sa3Bi4*iBq  Xavaalber 

i  a  In^  aeoiq   ftrii  Ic 


162 


Certein  conclusions  are  warranted  at  this  point. 
The  years  from  1190-1250  represent  the  great  period  of  pro- 
ductivity 30  far  OS  Arthurian  romances,  botn  prose  end  verse, 
are  concerned.   Ti-e  enormous  popularity  of  tne  meter  la  1  Is 
attested  by  tue    enormous  productivity  aurin-^  the  period,  and 
while  the  jreacive  efforts  ceased  around  12bO,  tne  popularity 
continued  txirou^hout  the  Wiodle  A^^es,  as  the  nianuscrlpt  tradition 
Indicates.   Ano  yet  In  tue  luicst  of  this  ^^r^t  mass  of 
material  we  fino  only  two  authors  --  of  the  <.^ueste  end  of  the 
prose  Tristan  --  who  a.ade  a  ronsidtent  attempt  to  decade 
Gawain,  the  first  for  relie^ious  reasons,  and  the  second  for 
reasons  unknown. 

Generally  speaking,  the  decay  in  Lxa.vain's  reputation 
is  progressive  in  the  prose  romances;  that  is,  the  Ferlesvaus, 
presumably  en  early  work,  presents  a  oewain  who  tears  e  close 
resemblance  to  the  image  created  oy  Chretien,  while  the  prose 
Tristan,  invariably  assigned  ti    late  date,  depresses  Gawain  to 
the  role  of  an  ':^'l  /  villain.  JBut  it  is  also  a i  parent  that  this 
decay  is  not  steady.   The  Le.stclre  de  Merlin,  for  example,  was 
obviously  composed  as  an  introduction  tooae  already  existing 
prose  Lancelot,  and  yet  the  conception  of  oawein'a  cnaracter 
in  the  prose  ^^ncelot  is  inferior  so  far  as  the  Arthurian  nier- 
archy  is  concerned  to  tiist  of  Lesboire.  However,  so  uncertain 
is  our  dating  of  tne   prose  works  and  so  ooscure  ape   the 
relations  between  t  nam  t  .at  any  ccncluaion  based  on  the 
dates  oV   composition  of  these  works  is  necessarily  tentative. 


t 
»ialoq  mksii  tfa  b«i£is<x«»«r  saa  sfiolauXcaoo  fliaSiM 

fl   ief**#«!W  W14   lo  ^tf I*:iaIaq(Mt  eticmioaa  acflf      .!>e(r**3noo    any 

vjf^filtfk  ,OdSI  botiio'&a.baasda  a^t^olls  avl^B«»ird   asii   S'Ltr'.*/ 

odd   8  a   ,e«it^  •IdblM  aiii  ctuodStUonilJ   baxfni 

To   aaMi  Jsa<i^   %ttii  1o  Saylai  »tiS  nl^  #ei^  boH      *«oia;. 

.:a  eJeoiv  aii^  lo  —  snouJifa  oir;J  1^X00  b»ll  ♦•  l»lie<imm 

abansab  04   ;rq2ie;tcre  Jna^clenoo    a  abaia  aunt  —  aactaliT  aaonc 

^»1-  bftoooe   acfct   brja    ^snceasT   B«oi%lIan  itfl  :Jenll  eri^    «nlawef> 

,nwonj(no  a/toaa**. 

,f»Ave^r^tf^  ad^    «>b1  dtsxi4   ^aaonssoi  esencr  bdld  itt   avla»d*xso'i 

a<xadd  odv  ixJtavaiB   a  sinaaa^q    (Sfnuar  x^^^^^o  <m  xXdamiiasis 

aeoiq   9ff#  #ri(j«   «n9l;fsiiiD  ^d  be^laaia  aiS'^^art  ntf^  o^  acraaXdaesBaa 

o4  It  aea<»:)i»b  ,a;^ao  e^X  a  batfiglB^s  Y^dalnayol    ,c8i8li'l 

:-.:■  <n9naq..B  oaXa  »i  J^t  ^i.^     .nlaXX^ii/   Y^^^  <"> -^^o  tfXoi  tii 

aa*    ,^  iot    ,ajLXi'»>t   eJa  a^fcoJ^ad  atfi"      .y^b^a^e  ;t«(n  si  ^-tf^eb 

naiaan*  *•«!)  I0  i«»t^q«offco  9*1^   #«^   bna    ,^oXoonB.I   *«»o»so 

9  '^*^'  ro£e^fja**   ae<^': 

€>nq   aii- 


165 

The  Vulgate  homancea   reveal  a  new  and  interesting 

tendency  in  the  treatment  of  Arthurian  material,  for  tnese 

authors  were  the  first  to  conceive  of  the  *iiOle  history  of  the 

Arthurian  kingdon..   For  this  reason  they  introduced  the  notion 

of  a  chronolotilcel  sequence  of  events.   The  verse  romances 

afford  us  fragmentary  glimpses  of  Arthurian  society,  and  one 

gets  the  impression  tnat  the  actions  in  the  various  verse  romfinces 

are  all  conteirporaneous  with  one  another,  an-  impression  strengtn- 

ened  by  what  seetrs  to  be  Chretien's  deliberate  effort  to 

53 
synchronise  the  action  of  the  Yvain  and  of  the  Lancelot 

But  once  the  events  occurring  within  the  /Arthurian  kingdom 

are  sorted  out  and  given  a  chronological  sequence,  it  allows 

the  possibility  of  one  lero  replacing  another,  a  possibility 

which  tnese  authors  exploited.   Hence  we  find  CJawain  superceded 

by  Lancelot,  and  Lancelot  in  turn  displaced  by  Galahad. 

Presumably  the  author  of  tx^e  Mort  Af tu  had  an  inkling  of  wnat 

the  Vul^ete  home  nee  3  had  done,  though  his  effort  to  n.ake  the 

chronological  sequence  explicit  by  giving  the  a^^es  of  the  cnief 

54 
actors  in  tue  arama  becomes  ludicrous 

Finally,  the  popularity  of  lwo  tuemes.  Courtly  Love 

and  the  Holy  Grail,  contributed  to  Gawain's  decline.   Constancy 

is  not  one  of  uawain's  virtues,  even  in  t:ie  verse  ronjances, 

but  It  is  a  prerequisite  foi'  the  Courtly  Lover.   Hence  Gawain's 

amorous  escapades,  instead  of  remaining  the  pleasant  if 

amoral  interludes  in  a  busy  career  wjiich  they  are  in  most  of 

the  verse  romances,  are  now  used  to  discredit  him.   And  once 


sax 

.":!.;.:   d^atscllsb  fiiiioiiMdO  ed  o^  ansee   ^adv  x^^  banc 
•     ^pXaoneJ  mH   lo  bna  nxavY  Qdi  1c  noi;l©e.  aci4   eBlaoodaoiB 

ewoXXa  ctl    ^aonejupaa   XaolaoXonoirlo   a   nevis   bna^uoi^e^noe  »ir 
X^lSildifMioq  m   ,ie^4ena  Sf^lcaXqei.  o%aa  aac  lidlaeoq  en.i 

babaoaeque*'  tilawat)  ball-  a«  aonoH     .ba^iolqxo  eiosiiuB  99- 

.oariaXaD  ^d  ^aoftiqelb  anuit  al  doXacaaJ  baa  ^;>oX»cnaJ  ^u 

iatiir  lo  nalXifni   na  bad  yj*i^  iicH  9£k4  lo  ■xod^itfia  ail^  xX^jafluiBS'i^ 

.    aitaai  o^  ^«olle  al<i  <iauofi;t    « an^DS  bad  aeon^aod  eitu^Luy  wis 

ifii.Lo   ssii  lo  96ii»  mi4  $rflvl3-  ^d  #lolXQ)e»^  aaaaupaa  Xaaijclofioids 

X   B9£80j>9d  Oi&aib  askd   ai   aoodai? 
aaiaaiisl   owv*  lo  ii^t'.aXuqoq   9tii   ^^flarrl^ 
>aC>  «'sii«iiaS>  o?  fei«{tirditn;N»o    ^Cif 


tAiMad  vt 


164 


the  Grail  tl^-eme  Is  given  a  completely  Christian  Interpretetlon 
--  one  might  say  Ciateroian  Interpretation  —  these  sexual 
entanglements  play  tn  even  mor-  slg-  Iflcant  role,  for  chastity 
Is  the  "sine  qua  non*  cf  the  Orsll  winner  according  to  tziis 
new  treatment.   Oawaln's  rrogresslve  decline  so  far  as  the 
Gratl  la  cc  c<=«ne<f  is  erply  borne  out  by  tne  sequence  from  tne 
Perlesvaus  through  the  prose  Lancelot  tc  the  Que  ate  del  ia_int 
Graal .   Tn  the  first  of  these  works  Gawaln  Is  allowed  into 
the  Gra  1  castle  while  Lancelot  is  notj  In  tne  second,  botn 
are  allowed  In,  but  Lancelot  Is  honoired  wfille  ^nwain  is 
humiliated;  in  the  third,  Lancelot  la  '^CMditionelly  allowed 
to  see  the  Grail,  biit  Gs.valn  never  sets  foot  in  the  Grail 
castle.   So  far  as  Courtly  Love  Is  concerned,  heroes  other 
then  Gawaln  were  wlweys  associated  with  this  theme;  with  the 
growth  In  po  ularlty  of  this  conceptl'>n,  it  is  natural  to 
see  08*aln  forced  cut  of  his  favo'red  vcsitlcn. 


K^ 


nol  J«. 


\^ 


•..•ill   srfd 


b«HroXI«  -^.fX afield i.-    .       ^^    .■ ..  ^...,...... 

r^-,^.;>    ^  v^   j,2   (tool   8;t98   nsvan  nls-./'^w 


IV 


GAWAIN  IN  TliE  MIDDLE  ENGLISH  hOMANGLS 

In  auinoer,  tne  Wiodle  iinjlian  romances  in  which 
Gawaiti  plays  fc  part  are  fewer  then  those  in  Olu  breach.   This 
ia  easily  aoccunted  for.  Kn   le-;d  v;as  frcverned  by  a  French- 
speaking  aristocracy  during  that  period  In  which  the  bulk 
of  the  Cld  French  Arthurian  romances  were  composed,  and  need- 
less to  say,  ti.ls  aristocracy  forned  the  greatest  part  of  the 
literary  public.   It  is  true  that  works  like  Lawman's  Brut 
or  The  Owl  sno  the  Nightlni-;ele  were  cc^^J  oaod  In  the  En;.llsh 

vernacular  fairly  early,  but  these  8i.>e  to  be  regarded  as  rare 

1 
exceptions.   Those  romances  which  were  produced  in  English 

before  13C0,  such  as  tno  Tne  Lay  of  havelok  or  Kln,^  born, 
were  clearly  oirected  to  an  audience  whose  Interests  anc  capa- 
cities aifferea  co  iSideraoly  from   t.iose  of  its  aristocratic 
mastera.   Ae  ace   not  surprised,  tnerefore,  to  find  relatively 
faw  ilddle  r-n.^lisri  romances  on  the  Arthurian  tne/ne. 

If  tiie  presence  of  a  Frencn-speaklng  literary  public 
for  the  rcmances  explains  tae  tibsence  cf  any  lar^e  -.uantlty 
of  Artnurien  r.-.mences  in  Middle  {infTllsh,  it  explains  too, 
I  think,  why  so  many  of  the  romanoea  we  do  possess  ere  based 
with  varying  degrees  rf  directness  on  Cld  French  models. 
The  greet  period  of  productivity  for  v^ld  French  Arthurian 
romances  was  Detween  1190  and  125C.   The  popularity  of  these 
*orka  coiti/iued  ti.i^ouihout  the  Mddle  A'les,  as  ti:e  numerous 

165 


doldv  fll  ttmonmtioi  oe^  .  ,.._   ,« —    , ,    , 

eUfS      .Hsret^  biC   nl   oeodd   aaxi^  i***!  •is  ;taac. 

,..f-7    a  ^<i  bdciavos   8»w  bn»X.i.nS      .*xol  b»;tni/opc-    ^ 

-baei:.    -        ,  ^    . , hKOO   e-jew  eBOflWUCx  osl<xiixl^?&  danei'i - 

;tif'ia  c*a«ffl«aJ  astil  aWiov  4a£itf   aaij   el  ;^I      .ollcfiiu 

e'l*--!  aiB  bebie^ai  ad  o*   aaa  eeadd  iv,0    tijlias  \I«ii.a 
v-I    .;■    bsoiibQiq   a"!**   doldi'    ^srnt^.riOT    b80.i_ 
-:^  "^^^  ^i  oy Q^  to   \.aJL    -—      -       -  :   riotfa    , 

•J..   K,; ;    lo  aaoi-vf  .•.m-^."    .  "-?«-iabianoa 

,enol6' , -    -   3  ioa  a. 

■f'iiiai'^A   adJ   no   aaonaasoi  d^Xl^cus    ^ 
:(-r,'A'^    '   1-.    acneeonq   ad^   11 
-  ^    i^nialqjia  aaoaaaon    al 

, .':■'■    =*rD":i''   (il   a'eonaison  liaii:. ,  - 

3b   =>:(?  r   X'laie  oe  x*i*   «Jlni 

•    a  a9<XS  £•  'j    i  r  I  V ';  :l  V    il:l , 
iq  lo  fc 


lie 


lata   manuscripts    Indicate,    but   the    period   of   creativity 
wa»,    relatively   speaking,    short,      ^han  fin   interest   in  tninga 
Artb'irian    *h3    cultivat'd    emong  an   En   llsh-jpeekln      public, 
and   wiien    tfj©   rrench-speaking   aristoorata   {gradually    turnad  more 
and  irore    to   b   use    of   the   Lngllah  lan/uaiije,    the    Initial    iiTipetua 
of   cr'^ativity  nac    .rorn   oiT.      it    is    true   tnat   a   nevv    .vave   of 
creative   acti/lty   spread    over  fi    certain   area    —    t  le  nortxi- 
weat   of   iCnglajid    —    so    tnat   a    n-iooer   of   original   works   were 
produced    tnere,    Dut   tiiia  Kust   be   r^.^arded   as   exceptional. 
Oaae rally   speaking,    for    tne  retailer   of  Artiaurian   romance    in 
Eagliah   t:jere   was   little   else    to   uo  but   truialete   or   ucapt 
Old   FTenca  moaels.      For   tnis   reason  many  oi'   the   works   we 

•  r*   to   conaider   now  have   a    familiar   rin£,. 

lie    story   contfi  ined   in   M8i?ie    da   France's   Le';val 

■aama   to   heve  been   very  popular    vita   oBiudle    Ln^'liah   auciencos, 

2 
slice    three    complete   versions    of    It   have    survived    ,    in 

addition    tc    frajjt.^enta.      According    to   Klttrod-e,    wno   has   made 

•  tnoroujjh   study   of    the    problem,    two   cf   tne   veraic    s    ( air 
Lambroell   uno   La   nlal   rL«ada velij    are   olffering   texts   of   a 
alngla   poem,    a   Middle   An^llsh   translation   of  Merle's   Lanval, 
while   the   third  and   lo'it^'eat   version,    presumably   oy   rhoi:;as 
Chastre,    la   a    skilful    co^.)   nation   of  Lanval   and    the   Lay   of 
Qraelent    .      Just   ea    in    txie   Old   l-rencrj   orij^inal   Ge  ya.n   plays 
an    inc   nsplcucus   r   le    in   the    action,    so   .^ere   his   activities 
sre    strictly   limited,    the  Jiein   luuereat   bain*?  fooussed   on 
Lanval   himself,      but    it    la    intere;} tin*:    to   find   Gawain'a 
reputation   for    cc.   rteay   so   t::  ^       i    liciaed    ti-.t    In 


ddX 


,c-JIdaq  .;  1  -ia*T\"v:-.- 

•JO  lo  i»d«».<n  •  drntia  o«  --  feneXsr*?  "to   "t^ 

flew  •fi4   iQ  i(fl8»  fio«a9'!i  eJUW  •10'?      .eX»(>OiR  n©n«n^   '  .: 
•I^Ii  t^alllttlil  •  •vsfl  won  lAb/ancd   c^   0 

,«aoo»lDiJ',  \i»v  0«»d  ev*rf  »;>*  smaaa 


167 


Sir  Launfal  ne    is  referred  to  es  "Gsweyn  J7e  hende"  (562;.   Tne 

other  two  coaiplate  versions  of  the  story  afford  nothlrig  of 

importance  tc  tae  tradition  concerning  <3awaln. 

Chretien  de  Iroyes'  Yva in  8I30  makes  its  appearance 

4 
in  Middle  En<ll3h  dresa  In  Ywaine  a  ad  Gawln  ,  a  very  skilful 

adaptation  dating  from  the  late  fourteenth  century.   /*hat  ws 

have  said  about  Chretien's  poem  applies  equally  to  this; 

30  we  need  not  make  a  detailed  examination  o'f  this  -vork. 

Gawaln  remains  here  the  same  impeccable  hero  of  cnivalry 

that  he  is  in  Chretien's  poems  _ceaerally.   It  should  be  pointed 

out,  however,  that  this  poem  is  not  a  translation  in  tne  strict 

sense  of  t.ie  vord,  since  a  good  deal  of  the  matter  is  abrldjed, 

*ith  t.ie  result  that  Zwalne  and  Gawin  is  but  two-tnii'us  the 

lengtn  of  its  Old  i-renci  counterpart.   The  kind  of  abridgment 

t/Us  writer  makes  in  his  material  can  reacily  be  understood 

5 
when  vre  point  out  that  Chretien's  fanciful  coiriparlaon  of 

Gawaln  with  the  sun  and  Lunet  with  the  uioon  is  c;r,ltted.   ITie 

essentials  of  the  story  are  :-resented,  however,  with  a  fluent 

grace  of  manner  and  expression  that  rrtsny  ot-ier  Mid...le  Lnjllsh 

romances  leek.   Oe  vein's  effort  to  induce  i'valn  not  to  give 

up  deeds  of  chivalry  no«r  -.e  is  married  is  worth  quctlng  from 

this  poem  for  the  corrpariaon  it  nfiords  Alta  Ciiretiea's 

passe  .e  ; 


3jC   Gawayn  did  al  iiis  aajne 
To  pray  sir  Ywaine,  on  al  maner. 
For  to  .vende  v<lth  them  in  fere; 
He  said.  Sir,  If  thou  ly  at  hame, 
wonderly  men  wil  the  blame; 


ew  .fshW      »x^isHi0O  dJnaei'iuoi   s^bX   ed;}  moil  gnltad  floi4e;)qriib? 

j'c^'  sidi  lo  aol;)aniia0xe  bolldurab  a  ejlsat  ioa  baaa  e< 

o  lo  orrf^d  »Xd0ooeq£»l   aesae   ed;f  aiod  anlaaei  ota«ei> 

JCiv,  bltfcfla  Ilaiaasg   Bmaoq   a'ndit^ixlO  oJ:   el   BAtBdi 

ctrlt^a   »nd  «i  nol^eIena«ii   a  ioa  al  iteoq  eldd^  iad*    ,i©vewod  ,*ju: 

o  ti.t  nAiiAm.  mii  to  Xaeb  boo}  a  eioalc    ,b«o«  axut  lo   eanee 

»d:i  eb'iiddl~owi  iuti  al  alwaO  bna  antayY  ^ad^l'loaflfi  er>^  AiH 

ii\Bsss^bii4A  lo  bnlJ[  axil      .ctiaqie^tnuoo  xsoneiH  blO  a^l  lo  A^'^v^^L 

boQini&bRu  ^6  xlibi^i  a%9  lalia^aas  81d  nl   aaslain  tte^fl'rir  sh-f' 

lo     cioaliaqiftdd  X;^ll»fiel  B*a9l;}&ixf3   ifuii  ituti  4nloq 

adT     .b^liir.o  si  nooa  ad^  dilv  ^aatfJ  baa  nva  adc^  ditl 

^nsull    '^  ^ovawod;   ^be^naea**?  »*««  "f«o*e  (Mftf  lo   -£^tin^^z^- 

'  Rr^    ao&bnl  od^  ti 


163 


That  knight  ea   nothing  to  set  by 

That  leves  el  -lia  cuevalcj , 

And  ligges  bekeand  in  his  bed, 

.'hen  iie  iiavea  a  ledy  tied. 

For  whan  that  he  has  trete  endoae 

Than  .ler  t^me  tc  win  his  lose; 

For,  when  a  knyght  la  .iiievalrouse. 

Ilia  lady  ea  the  more  jelows; 

Also  sno  lufea  him  welo  the  bet... 

I  der  noght  sa^,  so  ^od  rae  -^iBd, 

T..at  i  so  rftyr*  a  leman  had; 

That  1  ne  most  leve  si  chevalr^. 

At  har.ie  ydel  *ith  hir  to  ly, 

hot  yit  8  fole,  taat  lltel  Kan, 

.ViSy  *elQ  i3o*nsail  fln->ther  maw.  (1452-78/ 

Though  ffluca  of  tne  astute  psychological  analysis  of  tne  i^rench 
writer  is  lacking,  there  are  passages  in  this  work  *hlch  show 
the  author  nas  a  keen  appreciation  of  his  stor^  and  a  command 
of  poetry.   For  exa::ple,  when  "Sir  Gawayne  the  curtayse"  (1420) 
is  successful  in  inducing  Yvain  to  undertake  deeds  of  chivalry, 
"the  riche  lady  Alundyne"  (1254)  begs  Yvain  to  remember  the 
time  he  has  agreed  to  return  to  her: 

Hir  lord  sir  Y'^ayne  slo  bisekes. 

With  terls  trikland  on  hir  chekes, 

3n  el  .vise  that  he  nogiit  let 

To  halde  the  day  that  he  had  set.  (li:t7-t>L; 

i'/ieine   and  Qevin,    then,  *iiilo  it  cdds  nothing  naw  to  the 

conception  of  Ga*8in's  Ciieraoter,  is  a   very  successful  adaptation 

of  an  Cld  Preach  model. 

6 
The  Jeaste  of  Syr  Ga*ayne  ,  dating  fror.  tae  fifteentn 

century  according  to  its  only  editor,  Msdaen,  is  based  on  an 

incident  in  the   First  Continuation  of  i-hratien's  j^erceval. 

The  incident  is  Gaviain's  ftmorous  escapade  <*ith  tue  slater  of 


Sj^I 


j  ariT 


eec 


riof:  .  aiB^isrie  XBolgoXorio^eq   eiujfaa   sru    ic 

Kcnd  i^oxavn   ^iiow   altlct   nl   ee^easBq   eia  eieri^    ,Sflli{oeI 

bf  oia   aid  1o  noJtislooiqqa  hsail   a  earl  10; 

(03,  c    aricf   an^BweO  il~"                           xb  10^      .T|rij:K:)v    ; 

jX*!'  Ebsab   9)Ia:ti©bnc>  o*   uisvi   vruoLiof?!   nl   lulaasoouE   ai 

en  31  Oit  nlavY  ased  (j^dSX)    "en^bnoXA  ^beX   adoii   ?».''?" 


no  id  a,.  a  ^lav  a  »!   ,.  'alawai- 


0-69 


Bran  de  Lis  .   A;a.'t  I'rotn  adding  two  brctbers.  Sir  Cyamoure 
Bn6    Sir  Terry,  tc  the  number  of  the  girl's  relatives  whom 
Gaweln  must  defeat  after  being  interrupted  in  his  "play"  by 
her  father,  31r  Olltocrt^,'  end  opart  fro^i  oalttlng  entirely 
Gawain'3  leter  encounter  '*ith  isran  de  Lis  at  the  Chastel 
Orguellous,  this  version  of  tiuc   scurrilous  episode  brings  nothing 
to  tne  tradition  concerning  Ga.vain.   Gawaln's  most  formidable 
opponent  in  tne  whole  affair  is  Sir  Lrandl<fs,  who  corresponas 
to  :il3  French  namesake  in  the  original  version  of  th«  story. 
The  duel  between  him  and  'awaln  breaks  off  rather  weekly 
when  darkness  makes  further  combat  Impractical,  and  the 
author  takes  occasion  to  close  his  narrative  rapidly.   The 
two  knights  8 -tree  to  :;ontlnue  the  fight  If  ever  they  should 
cieet  again,  but 

.  .  .  after  tnat  tyme  they  neuer  .liette  moi'e. 
Pull  .^ladde  were  those  Kny^htes  tnerfcre.  .  . 

(533-34; 

The   only   siirnif icanoe    this    vork   posse^sej,    both  si'tisticelly 

end  historically,    is    tr-at   It   represents    the   only   idlddle 

English  romance   apart   fror.   .ualory   In   .v.jlch  Gawaln   is   enbat?ed 

in  a    scandalous   episode. 

Like  The  Jeaste  cf  Jyr  Gawayne,  tne  two  episodes 
i jjzxi — 

wnlch  rr.ske  up  Golagrcs  and  Gawane   find  t^.eir  ultimate  origin 

9 
in  tl^.e  First  Continuation  of  Chretien's  Perceval  .  The  frame- 
work of  tne  two  episodes  Is  different  In  the  Cld  French  work 
from  that  of  the  Middle  En-:;lish  romance,  rcp   In  the  forir.er  both 


fL'  .  . .     - 


\ 


■  '^-.-7   Xdal^l'io   eri:J   nl    s^fesairter  h5r.'^*T''J  eJr-    :  : 
3iJB«nd  nit 

US'-.    R\'I:*'^i*j-''~   "1^   <5'; 


170 


inolaents  take  plaoe  during  the  attempt  by  Artnur  and  hia 

knights  to  libex'Bte  Olrflet  from  the  prison  of  the  Klche 

Soudoler,  wiille  in  tue  latter  they  oocur  during  Arthur's 

pilgrima.-,e  to  Jeruaalem  and  the  return  Journey.   It  Is  curious 

to  note  tnat  the  motif  employed  in  the  second  of  these  two 

episodes  —  t^.et  of  the  victor  inuuclng  the  surrender  of  the 

vanquished  Dy  submitting  to  him  --  Is  also  used  in  Lestolre 

10 
oe  Merlin   .   Gewain  is  early  referred  to  as  ."scnir  Gawane  the 

gay,  (j^atloua,  and  ^iude"  (118),  and  it  is  only  natural  taat 

he  should  be  c::osen  cy  the  kln^  to  ^^aln  hoapltality  for  the 

knights  et  the  nearby  castle  after  Key  has  falleo  through 

hia  discourtesy.   The  alliterative  metre  in  waioh  Arthur 'a 

oommand  is  touched  contrasts  strongly  with  the  smooth-flowing 

Old  French  coupjets: 

''ocnir  i-Bw/ne,  pralth  ye  tnat  salt,  for  the  gude  ri;ce.' 
Is  nane  so  bcwsurao  ane  berne,  brith  for  to  oyno." 

(124-26) 

Oawaln's  courtesy  achieves  the  desired  end,  as  we  aiiaht  expect. 

The  host  hers  ideatifies  himself  simply  as  a  "cousiug"  of  Artuur, 

while  in  tne  Old  French  work  he  la  hinovin   as  "Yciers  11  blax". 

In  the  alliterative  poem  Arthur  passes  a  cestle  en  ro.'.te 

to  Jeruaalem,  the  owner  of  <«nicii,  Golet<,ro8,  owes  allegiance  to  no 

monaroi..   Unwilling  to  allow  sucn  an  unbearo  of  st^te  of  an  airs 

to  obtain,  on  nls  return  Arthur  lays  slaga  to  tJue  caatla. 

Vir^ile  in  tne  01c  ^'renca  romance  ^ran  de  Lis  sots  as  Arthur's 
advisor,  here  Arthur's  mentor  Is  "Spynagros  .   As  in  tne 
original,  the  decisive  battle  Is  rou<;ht  between  Gewain  aid 


:i '  num  - 


Ituh  e 

i  oi  •atrial  i 


01 

adJ   lol  i^^XXac^lq80£l  ale 

Hal  ea4  ^eJi  lajtla  ail^Bao  xdaaao  a^^  <*»  e^ti^lc^ 
e'ruiddaA  doli.a  aX  aiJaa  avl^aia4illa  adT     .lae^^uooal^ 

:}ia8   axl;^  d^Xa  i(I^cio'x;}a  a^aai^noa  badoi/oo  ai   bnaounc^ 


.abi 


-I 


ad  ^ac 


tQxi   9Viia'i9iXLLB 


J   ^attli 


171 


the   proprietoi'   ot  toe   castle    --   her--'   Col8^.rc3,    rather   than   the 
Ricae   Soudcier   —   and   Q««a.      -  .^  jcribed   *lth 

tnet   irniar-kfi'tle    Tcrce   alliterative   poetry   cfln   achieve: 


or   --lev  he   gat  vp  agaae,    ,;,ude   schir   uaAune 

i  :.■..).'.     t    tc    3::hl:'    Golacjri-S    ci    tue     ,rund    rreae.    .     . 
Ane   da   gar  oayntely  di^ht    tnat  doughty  naa   drawne. 
Than  ae   carpit   to   tae   Knii^ht,    cruel   and   V.e  le : 
'Gir   thou  luff Is    thl   life,    lelely  no^ht   to   layno, 
ield   me    thl   brit^it  brand,    ou^'nlat   aa   ueae.    .    .    " 

(1025-33; 


Gawaln  tiirough  his  coirteay  is  uawilllng  to  slay  his  vanquished 

adversary  and  accedes  to  the  letter's  request  to  accon:pany 

him  late  his  castle  as  a  defeated  knight.   This  throws  Arthur 

into  oonaternation,  but  In  tae  end  the  true  state  of  affairs 

is  made  known,  and  all  parties  are  reconciled.   It  is  clear 

from  our  rer.arks  on  tr.is  lajt  episode  tuat  GolB,r;ro3  find 

Gawane  is  not  e  tra:i3latioa  fr;jm  the  Old  Frencii  original, 

but  it  is  also  equally  clear  that  tx^is  adaptation  adds  notning 

new  to  the  tradition  concerning  Liawain. 

11 
The  Middle  rln^^lish  poeoi  Lybeaus  Llaconua    i-ells  a 

story  remarkably  si. Her  to  henaut  de  Beaujeu's  Le  Bel  Inconnu 

12 
walch  fxBs   been  discussed  above   .   The  relations  between  all 

13 
tne  romances  on  this  theaie  nave  been  studied  by  V?.R.  Schofleld   , 

who  concludes  that  the  Mlccle  fln^lish  poeui  is  not  based  on 

Le  Lei  Inconnu.  Since  Gawain'a  role  in  both  the  Old  French 

and  3*;iddle  English  poems  is  minor,  tne  work  need  not  detain 

us  long.   The  ir.atter,  we  are  told,  coacerns  "Geynleyn": 


beilalATpnav   eld  ^.t:  niXIlwnu  el  \e»injo9  slti  ris0o«saLi  fflsws;. 

'iod;^iA.  ffwo'jrfct   bIxIT      .J^ri^^liiai  fe'e^r^et^b   p   ?»  Arid  a  so  elf* 

fin'ft  £5;|j;^:^ [p^  '*"'^">*    ©boelq©  cJesI   eirii   rto  Bain a.T.et  •two  monl 

t^fs'  ^ffc»  moil   r  oHa.![er*n."t   »  ;Joa  b1   enB^»:Sij 

■,-  .3   8l   il  iu6 

•  nlawBtj  gnlnneonos  noidlbs^;^   9d^   o;t  ve;. 


172 


Ills   name   wes   celled   Qeynlo/n, 
Be/«to  he   «as   of   s/r  Qtufiyn 

tie    f    loreaU    3>do.    (7-.  ; 

In  t;j«   course   of  nls   edveatiirfta,    tnis   ner*o   fij^nta    sc   well 
against    one    air  Lombard    that   tno   latter  rerrarka: 

A    thoghth  y   have   myn  he;'te   w/tninne. 
That    thou  aft    oom  of  Oewenya   kinne. 

That    Is    80   stcit   end    /ey.    .    .    (1646-43) 

a    ootaraent   #;ilch  reveals   how  widespread    is   Oa.-aln'a   reputation 
for  prowess    in    fie    '  attlefleld.      And   flr.elly,    at    Syasdowne, 
wnen  (ieynltyn  he 3    released    the  beeutlful   damsel    frcra  her 
enchantment   oy  ft   kiss,    a  .e   cells   him  how   she   :.8d   been   i^ewitched 
by   two   wicked   brcLne.'s: 

To   want:  me   hsdde    they  ywent, 

In  wc    to   welde    end   wende. 
Tyll   y  hscde   kyate   (jaweyn, 
Eyther   a  ^m  other  kn^^at    sex^teyn 

That   wer   of  hys   kende.    .    .    ( fc027-c51 ) 

The   only    coricelvable   reason  w.iy   tne   enchantment   can  be   broken 
by  Oawain  alone   or  by  someone   of  his   lineai^e   ia    that  he   represents 
the    plrinaole    of   chivelrlc   attainment,    end    tlio  best    ia   necessary 
to   combat   the   evil   j.8'f.io.      Theae   references    in   the      oem   to 
Gawain,    3li(Trjt   though  they  ere,    are   of   the   sair.e   con.pllmentary 
nature   as    those   we  noted    In   the    Old   French  work  by  henaut, 
Tba   Middle  En   lish  pr.ein,    Judiring  by    the   number  of  manuscripts 
which  have    -iurvlved,    fioa    sxtremely   popular,    and    It   Is    further 
dlatln   uished   by  the    reference   Chaucer  makes    to   it   in   The 
Rhyme   of   Sir   $hopaa. 


IX*v  o«!   a^ni 


,®fj 


,iiiea. 


bedojj* 


10  ;}«nxi»§0 


:  e 


173 


14 
The  Middle  Lngllah  oir  Perceval  of  'Jallea    bears 

only  slight  arfinitles  with  the  Old  x>renoh  romanoes  in  which 

Peroevel  plays  a  leading  r^^^le  in  the  action.   This  is  not  the 

place  for  a  detailed  analysis  of  the  relations  between  this 

16 
work  «nd  its  Old  ifrenoh  analogues   ;  suifice  It  to  sey  that 

while  many  of  the  motifs  of  the  Old  ^rencii  romeaces  are  present 

here,  the  Holy  Grail,  which  alnost  invariably  la  found  in 

connection  with  Perceval's  nere,  has  no  ^Ifice.   Ibe  rolo  played 

by  Oawain  in  tnls  poem  Is  limited,  and  It  Is  blso  fixed  by 

certain  attributes  waich  fve   always  essoci»ted  wlta  him. 

For  axe    pie,  the  perennial  contrast  between  Key's  incivility 

and  Gawaln's  courtesy  plays  its  part.   When  the  uncouth  end 

semi-wild  Perceval  accoats  Yvaln,  Kf^y,  and  Gafsla,  Kay  makes 

a  threatening  reply,  but  is  interrupted  cy  ^awein: 

Bet  pan   said  Oawain  to  Kay, 

"Thise  ;.i*owde  wordes  pares  ay; 

I  schclde  wyn  Jls  ohllde  with  play, 

Anc  ^ou  wolde  holde  the  stllle".  (30&-0-; 

So  common  is  Oewsln'a  repi'tetlon  fcr  courtesy  thfrt  *hen  the 
author  wants  tc  indicate  the  extent  of  the  ^ood  manners  of  the 
lady  Lufamcur'3  oharrberle  In  he  sa.'s. 


The  curtasye  of  »«aweyne 

he  welcisin  *8r  e  .  (1264-66  J 


But   the   eriiphasla   la  not   en  Uewain'a    courtesy  alone;    his   prowess 
as   8   knigLt-at-erms    :.3   hIso   der.,on    trated.      When   Ferooval   has 
wrought   hBVoc   among  the   army    of  the    "Sowdane"    -uo   was   besieging 
the   csatle    of    trie   lady   Lufaiuour,    he    perceives   four  knlghta 


ciolnm  al  S£  ■:>i<iiin.'x 

»cii   Jon  al   alui      .iio^jja   :^  ..jaoI   ■  cx^^4   isvsoio'i 

iitai  %8ts  od  ;fl  •;                    a»usc  -•'&>  bio  t^i  bee  iLno* 
■  sX«  aJ   ^)i   bat*    ^bG^la 


^<J  ctrg 


UO>dO£)      ."M^xiJii     duJ      vulwx. 


H. 


174 


x'iding  towerds  the  field  of  cerna^e.   Neither  Perceval  nor 

uhe  four  knlt;;hts  —  Arthur,  Kpy,  Yvain,  and  Uawaln  —  recotpniise 

each  othor;  and  Gnwaln  is  chosen  by  lot  to  encoijnter  Perceval, 

Oawaln  auapecta  the  Identity  of  hl3  or^ronont  hut  la  unable 

to  verify  it  -nfl  after  they  joust.   Thnt  Gawoin  should 

remain  In  his  saddle  after  tneetincr  the  formidable  Perceval, 

c-Sf-eclally  after  the  lati.er  has,  single-handed,  destroyed  so 

rasny  of  his  eneniles,  can  only  bo  Interpreted  as  a  oompliiaent 

to  Hawaia's  ar  ilit^  .   (Jaw^in's  -ilosa  esaociation  with  Artnur 

througaout  the  poem,  his  reputation  for  courtesy,  end  :iis 

knightly  prowess,  tnen,  are    the  features  vhich  determine  thfj 

nature  jf  the  slight  pert   he  plays  in  this  work. 

16 
Lancelot  of  the  Laik   is  a  tedious  metrical  adaptation 

of  one  section  of  the  Old  Fronoh   prose  Le  icslot.  Tue   action 

deals  with  Artaur's  .var  against  ialeheut,  *ho  in  taia  poem  is 

called  Gsliot.   The  vork   ^vps  unctertfll^en,  says  t'-.,e  author,  because 

a  bird  In  a  dream  tolc  :d  of  love's  beaest  /ibs   to 

write  some  "trety"  f'^r  his  beloved; 

And  ek  aiyne  hart  none  othir  bissynea 

liaith  bot  my  Indice  seruice,  as  I  gespe; 

Among  al  veneris  I  schal  one  honde  tak 

T:iia  lltil  cccupatioune  for  hire  snk.  (166-68) 

The  inain  outlines  ol  tne  Old  Fx'enoa  romance  are  closely  adhered 
to;  so  we  are  not  surprised  to  find  aera,    as  *e  did  in  the 
prose  Lencelot,  that  Gswain  is  second  in  the  writer's  estimation 
to  the  ktiight  #ho  gives  his  name  to  tae  work,   liawain  is 

referred  to  as  him 


"L 


biro  >%ifr 


Ilaloo 


ijdi   eniiwedob 


tiiasl   BdJ 


noJt;tca  briT    .;>oXeor  aj 


a  J    odiir    ,;tuadaLeO   ;ten 


oi   eaw  ^8»/iec 


ib&yolc 


.  eeewo'^ 


.cTolIsO  balXaa 
/o   B   nl   b*xld  a 


17i 


111  qwnome  .^ijnith  tno  flour  jf  ohevelry  (732), 

but  In  t.ie  battles  agalust  liellot  It  Is  Lencelot  In  cls^uise 
whose  prowess  holds  off  tno  eaeray.   U8*aln,  wounded  in  tne  first 
day ' s, encounter  with  Gsliot'a  knights,  watches  the  battle  *ith 
the  '(Ueen  and  praises  Lancelot: 

"Vadem,  ^one  knyght  in  to  the  ar.-nys  Rede, 
Nor  never   I   iisrd  nore  sew  in  to  no  ated 
0  knycht,  the  wich  thet  in  t«  schor'tar  apace 
In  armys  na ith  inor  fcrton  nore  ■nor'  grace; 
S^re  bettJr  doith  boith  with  sper  and  sohalld, 
he  is  the  hed  and  con.fort  of  our  feild.  .  .  " 

(J.  i£d-2aj 

After  e  year's  respite,  Arthur  and  oaliot  meet  once  moref    end 
this  time  Ga*ain  is  severely  wcunded: 

Bot  sir  gawan  so  ewlll  was  woabic  tnan. 

And  in  the  feld  supprislt  was  so  sore, 

Ifcat  lie  the    -verss  tijar-cf  was  everaior-e.  (2704-06) 

Lancelot's  comment  when  he  hears  thee  <iewain  has  been  wounded 
is  eloquent  praise: 

la  hyme  rpavraln^  vas  ms'^hed,  ourtessy,  end  troutu, 

Besy  tcawell  In  knychthed  ey  but  sleuth, 

Hvjmylite  [.''-c]  jentrl  ce,  and  cwragej 

In  hyme  thar  was  no  maner  of  outrage, 

Allece,  knycnt,  sllaoeJ   what  shal  ^ow  say? 

Yow  may  coraplen,  yow  may  bewail  the  day 

As  of  his  deth,  and  glsdschlp  aucnt  to  ses, 

Beth  menstrssy  and  festing  at  the  des; 

For  of  this  lond  he  was  the  holl  co^afcrt. 

In  tyme  of  ned  el  knychthed  to  support.'  (2755-64) 

The  short  quotations  we  have  presented  frcTi  tiils  work  reveal  a 
bare  metrical  competence,  but  they  conceal  the  unlforirly  dull 


eel, 

''  3  ic  Jac'i„.-j  Cut  ^^j^i  u_Lj  2 1  3J. 

boonaow  need  aad  aiaaai-'  Jaxi;!  eieea  e£i  cr- 


)#rffT*«p  9IKW   [^n?«»fA"*l 


176 


effect  of  the  whole  poeir.,  wnlch  Is  further  disfigured  by  e 

Ic^.r.   aermcn  on  the  duties  of  klngahlp  delivered  to  Arthur  by  e 

"clerk"  named  /^mytans.   It  Is  also  alp^nif leant  that  this  work  la 

unfinished.   Like  the  other  worka  bnpf»d  on  Old  French  orl>i;ln8l8 

vchlch  we  have  examined,  Lancelot  of  the  La  1  k  pdda  nothing 

new  to  the  picture  of  Gawaln  we  heve  drawn  so  far  from  the 

?^lddle  Engl'sh  romances. 

The  three  works  we  ere  to«conalde»  next  —  Arthour 
17  18 
and  Merlin    Lovellch's  Merlin   ,  end  the  Middle  En^'lish 
19 

prose  Merlin   --  are  all  derived  from  the  Old  I'renoh  Leatoire 
de  fV:«iTlIn.   The  relations  between  tiieae  three  wcrks  can  be 
neatly  demonstrated  by  the  rollowin£  quotations  from  W.H.Mead's 
introduction  to  the  prose  Merl in : 

There  la  enough  general  e^ceeaient   to  show  that  the  basis  of 
r/^rthour  and  '.  erl  In"]  md  Ox    the  prose  i":.:nBnoe    la  in  ossential 
fe8*;ure  the  samf,  and  enough  difference  to  prove  that  the  two 
versions  cannot  be  brsf^d  on  ey-pctly  the  spn-e  crl,;:lnfil .  ( II,  Ivlll  y 
The  diff ere  ces  between  tne  x^nglish  prose  version  and  the  inetricol 
version  by  Lo\_v3r-iiGh  compel  us  to  .  .  .  admit  no  other  conclusion 
than  that  the  two  trenaletora  worked  Independently  upon  diff- 
erent French  rcenuscrlpts  'levlng.  elT-ost,  but  not  perfectly, 
identloal  readings.  (II,  Ixix) 

I  must  confess,  then,  thst  I  nave  not  found  the  exact  original, 
but  I  am  fi-'mly  convinced  that  the  £  ;glish  prose  iterlln   Is 
a  slavish  t-ranslatlon  of  n  fo»rteent.i-oe  tury  menusci'li- 1,  now 
lost,  Bnc    that  a  careful  collation  of  all  the  extant  iiiSS. 
might  enable  us  to  fnd  c  i'renca  equivalent  for  elmoat  every 
word  of  the  translation.  (II,  cIaxxIv) 

Since  t.ieae  works  differ  so  little  from  taelr  Old  i-rench 
original,  we  shall  content  o'lrsalves  with  a  few  quotations 
which  will  illustrate  both  Lhe  flevcur  of  each  individual  work 
ano  the  way  each  work  iiandles  tne  nifiterlal  provided  by  the 


dVI 


■  ioa  BLbbV 

VI 
ilavoj    ,      nlL^^ti  bna 

»ai  a  KOI'" 

ajfnow  aoiriJ   ©asricJ   n«owcJod  anoiialdi  «rfT      ♦_r;l.Ii'».<'^  eb 

e'baaM.  l^a^oop  gnlwollo  .  ba^an 


(  lllvl 


.iso'j  ■; ,  a3i- 
.    .    .   o;t 
abnJ    6  ^; 


177 


Old  French  original.   To  fecllltete  comparison,  the  quotstlons 

will  parallel  those  pasa'.wJes  cited  In  Ol<?  ''renc; 

20 
exemlnatlon  of  Lestclr-e  de  Yerlln   .   Our  first  eAC.-feot  la  drawn 

from  Arthour  Hnd  S!erlln       luatratea  '^ne  aspe-^t  of  the 

poetic  atlllty  of  the  writ^^i^.   The  pasaac^e  deals  with  Gewaln'a 

Increasing  streai^th: 

For  cf  xiia  itreii^Je  Jje  aauer 

Sii...del^e  :fl8y  lern  &.   r.ere : 

tJil»v«n   .'Ueuaoue,  i:  nijt 

Ke   no  .lacde   tot  o  aiSnaes  n.l'jc, 

oc  )»aC   atren.Jjo  uio:  Ibst 

Fort   arne.uorwe   b1   J»e    laat; 

L  r^'hta   bi^neiiiCX"  we     cc  J>e   addciSy 

He   hpdde    strengj^e   cf  knljte's    tvay 

Fro.x  raidcay  fort  aitern^^ae 

He   necde   Btcen^^Jpe  bot   of  one; 

7rem   t^fternone    to   tiucn30ne> 

3o  to  knl'jtes  he  was  stron.; 

plo  Ml  she   n;aaere  of  '•'<e*8in.  {4781-^3/ 

Lest  this  iuotatlcn  .vrejudice  any  reader  against  the  romanct, 
let  ^e  haaten  to  sda  taet  the  writer  isaually  displays  a  ,«ood 
deal  more  vigour  in  ais  ve'se;  he  also  Intersperses  a  few  charm- 
ing lyrical  Interludes  walch  ere  fa-ioua  in  their  cwn  riciat. 
The  fcllowln^  is  a  ;,ood  exs  ^le: 

.'clri  -  -  -i^e   wf   June, 

Wiien  xeuei  L^iite)*    aurcd    in   toun, 

Violet   c-    rose   Tlcur 

fioney    "pan  in  aeloaaa   :^our. 

pe    izai.e    la   :ict,  ]» e   cay   l3    loai, 

Foulea  make  ir.iri   sung.    (3u69-64> 

21 
Arthour  end   Merlin  *as   oo  .^oaed   crouad  13C0     ;    Lovelich'a 

#-rJc  6nc    the    prose   Merlin   cete    £ccm  tae  middle   of   tne   fifteenth 
centur/^.  turln,.,   that    interval   cf   tine   life    sterna   to  have 


TVX 


e'ii^a 


:  el  Oil  -jj 


i«e-X6V*}  :.  \ 


'<i(ll     -JiixA 


'  t6^\(      ijliii      C'. 


x7a 


ccaa    out   of  £.ir;li8h  poeti'.',    Voc    .vaile   Ai'taour   bftd    rei'llii 
mi>y   make   dull   rsadiric;  because   of   ita   auojeot  mabber,    Lovelioh's 
verse   reveals   only   the   oaraat  oou.pebenoe.      Ine  follovlrit^  paaaago 
relating   cutjrlln'a    ^p::iJi.tiCi    conjeiMi.i^  iia«ai  i    la   typical: 

aad  he    [^Gawain^    acnal   de   tne   treweat   kny,,iit, 

and  jaia   Lord   luvan  wltii  streat^tiie  u  oiynt, 

I:ierto  J>e   w.rthyeat   that  ow  isr  may  be, 

a  id   txierto   Genteleat,    ^ire,    certeitile. 

fc  id   '5CW   achtil  he   loven   over   el    thln/i, 

»nu   don  <5o«r  worschepe  ad   tc   fus   kyng. 

For   *ete   wel  )>fcit   he    sctal   bo  ^    aame    !^an, 

oe   vv  iom  ux.y   lonu   Geten   tuou  kan. 

and   thy   lieyne    to   nym  Mek   Sohclen  be 

Bad    iiii:     cci.    vJC-'acnepe    Jn    alle    ciei-i't;.     (6631-40) 

LoTolich's   dc      .       i    Lpoceeda   In   this  manner   for  almost   twenty- 
eight   tho  laond   lines,    and   the  manuscript   is    incomplete. 

Since   the   prose    Merlin   la,    as   Mead   cl'^  "slavish 

translation"   of   tne   Old  French  Lestclre   de   Merlin,    only  one 
passage   from   its    so   en   aur-idred   peges   need   be   quoted.      The 
passage    aelected   oescribea   tne   encounter   between  Gawaln  and 
the   Koman   emperor  in  wnloh  tne   latter   la   slain: 

and   w.isn  he   t,i)awaln]    aau^'h  the   iimper.  ur  he   knewe   nym  wele, 
and  he  nym  also,    and   a-noon  that  con   lete  renne   to   tnat  oth'.;r, 
and    amyten   toseder   witn   grete  mj>;,ht,    but   the!    cide   not  ffelle, 
for  botne  were   the!      f  grete   foree;    and    the   £:.i:.perour  was   rl<int 
strong-  and   nardy,    and   ^aa   glsdue    tnet   ne   was   ji.etue   witi.  Uaweln, 
for  he   knewe   hi      by  his  arrr;es    that  aen  hadde  him  devised,    and 
the    sltnes,    and    selde   to  hymaelfe,    yef    I  rap^    escape    e-lyve, 
I  may   ther-ol"  a-vaunte  me   at  Ftome.      Than  he   griped  /  ia   swerde, 
and    couered  iiym  ;*i  th  his   shelde,    and   fau^iit   with  air   Gewein 
full  fiorcly,    and   Sir  Oawein  bym  smote   with  GaUbourne  nls 
j^ood   auerue,    that   ne    aliLte   iila  nelri.e,    end   hie   iieed   covvn   to 
the   teth.    (I,    663) 

Tnese    tiree    .vorka,    t  len,    so   neavlly    indebted    to   their  Old  French 


evi 


tout   s 


._  r -—    ^— ^ 


,  :i-7r  :t:--n    ^trg-;,    rrl 


179 


origlnel,  add  nothing  ne/r  to  tfie  tradition  concerning  Sewaln, 

but  tney  do  iTdlcate  the  Interest  in  Artiiurlan  ro.nance  which 

developed  arrion;  an  Sn^'llsh-apeaking  p'lblio  d'">'ri-  th.^  rour- 

te»nth  and  fifteenth  centuries. 

It  l3  ccnvenient  nt  tr.la  ;:oi.Tt  to  treat  of  two  wrrks 

contained  In  the  Percy  Folio  i.j#nuacri.--t  —  Ihe  Legend  of  King 

23 
Arthur,  end  Kln^  Arthur'  3  Death.   Ihey  &re  i^riated  as  one  poam, 

but  the  editors  ad-^it  that  their  composite  is  prooablji  made 

up  rf  two  poems   .   The  first  of  these  is  a  very  bald  suriinar^ 

of  Arthur's  achievements  r.s  a  conquering  king,  but  this 

summery,  while  it  ncrresponds  to  Geoffrey's  Kistoria,  has 

obviously  been  'nfluenced  by  the  romances  on  the  death  of  Arthur. 

Gawaln  is  described  In  the  following  manner  as  uavini:  been 

slain  at  Sandwich  when  Arthiii*  returned  to  England  to  -subdue 

Mordred: 

ffor  there  niy  nephew  Sir  uawaine  dyed, 

being  wounded  on  tnat  sore 
that  £ir  L&ncelott  In  fight 

had  giviBi-him  oefore.  (73-76) 

This  is  the  only  reference  to  ^ipwain  in  The  Le.  a.-xd  of  Kln^ 
Arthur.   King  Arthur 's  De; a th  is  a  relatively  more  detailed 
narration  of  Arthur's  l^.-r   battle,  and  It  preserves  t.ie  tra- 
dition in  which  Gawaln  e  -ears  tc  Arthur  In  a  dream,  warning 
him  to  put  off  battle  with  Mordred  until  Laacalot  arrives! 101-116 ) 
The  references  to  ^a/fBin   in  both  these  works  are  slight;  the 
two  poems  are  Interestin,-,  .owever,  because  they  Illustrate 


.r     •- 


;n...     ::} 


InoeJlll    f.f.c    d;!ne£>i 


,;,;ao-i   •no   et    _ 


.   .     ^-^jfl:---!     -J  >     err 


ns.- 


cfut'    oi    hf!3liirvi    '_J    baii'tL;.! 


^    ben '  -^v. 
j«  B'aurfii/ 


iri*  rioirofi'iS    Js   li\ 


I  "soirj 


180 


the  manner  In  »hl^h  Arthurian  material  was  odaptf^d  for  a 

minstrel 'a  pudlence.   The  Percy  Polio  Manuscript  Is  usually 

dated  n^^'und  1650;   the  works  ::ontnlned  'n  It,  however,  are 

all  antorirr  tn  that  dpte.   The  tlr.e  ;        altion  of  these 

two  hallads  has   never  been  fixed,  ond  tholr  detflls  »re  so 

vafue  tr.at  no  rolatici  between  them  eno  the  general  treatment 

of  the  Arthurian  lo.rend  in  Middle  -ingl'sh  can  be  e3tabll8hed. 

25 
The  alliterative  ''crte  ^rthure   ,  "Jbrobably  written 

In  the  latter  -rrt  of  the  fourteentl;  crntur^'-,  or  early  in  the 

26 
fifteenth"  eroeptlonflly  fine  treatment  of  .raterlel 

drawn  from  many  scnrcea  find  embcdylng  a  t'ood  deal  of  originality 

27 
on  the  prrt  of  the  putiior   .   It  OA-es  much  to  the  chi'onicle 

tradition  cf  the  ^'rthuplan  lef'.end,  and   the  introduction  of 

the  wheel  of  fortune (11.. '•2£C-34£5  )  is  probably  due  to  tne 

influence  of  the  romances,   but  it  is  not  right  to  deny  a 

lar^^e  share  of  Inventive  genius  tc  tnls  autucr,  &s  our  quotations 

will  show.   Briefly,  the  fctlon  of  the  poem  covers  t.-^at  portion 

of  Arthur's  life  which  follows  his  fli-st  contir.ental  conquests 

and  relates  tne  hoT.en  errcercr's  ae.T.and  for  tribute  find  the  battles 

which  follow,  the  ccnqueat  cf  Lorraine,  tl.e  treachery  cX  Vor- 

dred  (cr  "'iCdred  as  he  'b   s  ir.etlr.es  called  in  this  poe'},  end 

the  final  battle,   fte  can  expect,  "a  priori",  therefcre,  that 

OawB^n  will  play  an   cncurable  and  heroic  role  In  tha  actio  , 

Bnd   our  exrectatlor  la  not  deceived.  The   first  indication 

of  Gewain's  reputation  for  p-iysloal  prowess  occurs  w  ten  Arthur 

approaches  the  -lent  who  has  abduoted  the  luchess  of  brlttany. 


»n3    ^•'.fiV*'VO•.'. 

08 


','i',rf     »f^<.-r^r>      ?;  gf"      Sh"^^*!'^ 


L9ln 


r;l"*5--f:-rr9 


'■rflfr  rri^ 


\oli'*:i' 


,::J*s<f    ••  3^•f:ff<^-:.• 


181 


He   is  wernod   off  oy  en  old  woman  who  aaya : 

't'.enez   tnow   to  brltte  with  thy  brande   rycne? 

..  .^    r    ^^   '»'-'htt?r'e    -  -'e  or    ''e^eyne   owthire, 

3  wyrshlpo,    I   .varna   tae  be-f  crai  (963-n5 ; 

Ai   In   the   ohronlslds,    Oawo :  ,  l~   the   Ro   an  <3«»»rp  as 

'/rtnar's  c.esaen  .et*.      ^hipe  ne    la   pro/cked  by   --  .    Instance 

—   B   knlfcOt   w.  .c    la   unj"!©   to  the  eaipero--,    and   he   decapitates 
him: 

Thane   anawar*s   air   Geyous  fulle   goobede  worces,- 
Was   eme    to    ice    ejiperour,    snc   erle  Lyae    aelfene,- 
"Evere   ware   t.ies  Dretouna  bra  .gar a   of  oloei    .    .    . 
I:-ane    ^leijjde   air   CawSj::©   at   hia    s^'-ett    7fc:'ce3, 
Qraythea    to-ivarde   tjie  gome  with   iruci-ande   napte; 
I'it-  i.jS    stel^r.e    ^-rance   £.e    str^Ksa    cI  hys   neuede.    .    . 

(1346-£4y 

in  t^e   resulting  pursuit,    C-awein  kll"*. .  .penioat   of  his 

pursuer's   &na   &l3  „.  .  . 

Thane   air*  Gawayne   tne    rude   eppone   a    oraye   atede, 
i.e   r^r-yppes   i-jir.  £    <-:,rete    spere,    anc      raythely   hyme   xilttez; 
Thurghe   the     'uttez   In-to   the    :rorre  he   ^jvdes  hyme   ewyne, 
ILat    Lae    ^.rcuacene    stele    -lydez    to  bis   i.erte!.    .    . 
Thane   air  x-eltemour  of  myjihtc,    a  man  inokylle   ppayaede, 
tiBs   a.ouede    one   juLs   aianere,    end   rr.anacede   fulle    feste; 
he   grajthea   to   sir   liawe^ne    ^'paythely    ♦.  -.e , 

ffor   krefe   of   ai:*   ^ajoxia,    tht^t  ea    -ne  ■   leuf?de. 

Thane   sir  Oev»  tw  vras   glade;    a?B.ne   ^  /dee, 

»yth  Gbluth  iilo   gude   swerde   graythely  jilaz; 

The  knyghte   one   the   ecu.-' sere  he   cle'iede    In    sandrye, 
Clealj'ciie   fro   t'ae    .to  ue    iils    ccrse   i^e   dyuy   yoe, 
And   thua  he  klllea   the   knyghte  wltn  hla  kyo"   wapenei 

(1336-90; 

Note  that  ja-aLn's  swor^.  is  named  "Oaluti",  and  it  coes  not  see 
to  have  any  connection  wltn  ^^rthur  cr  with  Arthur 'a   sword 
"Caiiburne"  (4193>.   In  t  e  final  tattle  *ith  tne  forces  of 


IC'l 


:Ei* 


aes 


the   Pomen  eiLperor,    L-a<»aln   ooxr.ea   into    ronfliot  with  lucius, 
but   the   e-mporor    I2   later   alaln  by  Ajfthuf.      After   these   events 
the    story  departs   from  the  usual   line  and  now   tells   of   the 
oonquest   of  Lotraine  and   ho*   Gawaln  fa-^t   ftnd    conquered   a   knight. 
Sir   PriPrnua,    efter  a   hard   combat    (2524-6E).      jn    subsequont 
bal^lea    In  Lorraine   Uawain   is   aeacrlbod    to  /.cthur  by   a    herald 
as   having  won   "worahlv 

^^uic.    wlrchipfulle   waraayne    ^Gawaln])    es   wel©   esoiieuyde, 

if  or  he  has   wt.nne   to-c8je   wirchlpe   for   euere, 

lie  has   Lolfyne   alajiie,    and  tae   duke    takyaei 

.Many  dowghty  es   cede   by  dynt   of  his   nonoes.'    (3021-24  J 

le^iend   t)y    this    anknown   author   when  ue   relates   of  Mordred's 
rebellion.      Arthur   is   prevented   iTom  landin<i   in  i^nglenc  beoeuse 
of    the    tide,    but    '-'awain  rones   secretly  with  e   few   compen.'.otis 
In  8    £^iley  and  attocks   Mordred's   army.      In  the   ensuing  battle 
he   presses   into    the  midst  of  the   enemy  eririj  and  attacks   Mordred 
h'.mself,    only   to  be    sl^ln,    it   seeria,    by   the    chercea   of  war. 
The   passage  descri    '  ^r   death   is   particularly  vivid: 

Than  he  nioues   to   air*  .Vodrede   aman^re   slle  his   knyghttea. 
And  mett   hyme    i':   trie   rayde    acuelde,    and   u.ailLa   hyuie    thorowe; 
Bot   the    schslke   for   the   soharpe   he   sciiownttes   a   lictille, 
lie   3 chare  hyu.e   one    tne    acharte   rybbya   e    schaftmonde 

lar-,  e  i 
The    scnerte    aohodercoe   una    achctte    in    the    schire 

beryne. 
That    the   aohadanae    olode   ouer  nis    ao.ianke   r/nnya, 
And   schowede   one   his   schyobavde,    that   waa   schire 

burtieatei 
And    so   tiiey   ^chyfte  and   acjhove,   he    schotte    to  the   ertne; 
■fitn   the   lusu r-i.e   of   tne   la i. nee   ne   ly^htb   ^am  nya 

schuldy  ITS; 
Ane   akere    letigre    one   a    Isrnda,    fulle   Icthel/  T;ondj.de. 


&J  f 


,©Dv 


{hS'iii 


n«,:tBl 


>sas 


oia    9di 


)   oal  H110. 


•X^tfBci  5»r.i:j«.ns   ad;J  nl      .^mie   e  '  Jt}'-_>'i  _>_   t.-ic"ij:'3 


*i  •-  -     '■»» 


>:  seas;.:;    3: 


183 


Then  Oe^e^no   i,^r6e   to    Va".   gome,    and   one   the   £;roffe  fsilla; 
.*ll8  hla    .crefe   wes  ide,    his    ;j-re oe   was   nc    bettyreJ 

iio   sohukkea   ov»ttG    ^  -s    .ciyfc   s^-ethede   *ltb  alluere, 

And   soholde  haue   si  -tt<ide  hyme    in,    bot   no   slytte 

happenede; 
•:     a.i  ••  old   and    si  ode   o   alsnte   cne   the   mnylra, 
.'\  iv-    ';  -    '•0'.      .■>   nl9l7   s"!/ne,ei  r.y^n  virilize; 

".)   the   traytoure   h^m  hyttea, 
tho   node,    ••ne    af>y'^:ha   one    tne 
brfl yne : 
t  .U3   air   "fswayne   ea   gone,    the      .)c3e  men   of  ar  ;e3, 
i/i'ith-owttyrie  rescaewe   c.!'  rea>ce,    and  x'ew^^  ea   tne  more 4 


Another  t,e    la   aounded    la    t.iia    radical    conoept.loa   of 

Mordred'3    cheracter,    bs   we    aoc   by  his    reply   to   Frederick   of 
Frtealand   In  answer  to   the   letter's   Inquiry  about   the    Identity 
of  the   knight   i><ordred  has   Just  killed: 

'\.e   '.73  3   tf.s/lea.  cae  jrolde,   iiiane,    io   my    ii-rowhe; 

This   was    sir  fJawayne   the   ^uce,    i-iic    Kladdeste   of   othire. 

And    the   graclousoste    ,;oine   that   vnclre   God   lyffede. 

Mane  hardyeste   of  hande,    happyeate    in  firmea. 

And    the  hondeate    "n  hfiwle    vr.dire   iicuone   riche; 

The    lorcllftste   cf   ledy-    e    qwhyllos   he   lyffe   my   hte, 

ffcre   he   was    lyone   c.Llos:?ede    in   loadea   i-nav/a,; 

I;ad    the*  knawene   hyin,    ayr  kynge,    in   -fytne    t.^are  he 

Irrjede, 
hl3    '  ,    h's   knyghthode,    his   kyndly  workea, 

i.    o   ^    .     _,    ilia   doug.^tynesae,    .ils   dedla   cf  arruea, 
Thcw   .vice   hafe   dole   for   hla   dede    the   dayes   of   thy  lyfei 
3it    t  jBt    tro^tovir  alls   tlte   teris   lete   r-.e   faile, 
T'ir''-,e3    i.jr  furthe   tite,    tmd   taikes   no  more, 

Arthur's   leaient   for   the   death  of   nephew   Is   equally   eloquent, 

but   we    aaall   ccntent   ourselves    witxi   quoting  only  a   brief   pprt    of   1' 

"Txiou   //as   Wo^'thy   to   oe   kya^a,    txicfe    1   the    corowne   berei 
r.fy  wele   and   my    vlrchlpe    of  elle    t  ils    werlde   riciie 
Viae   wcone.ie    thcurj/i.e    air   Gawa^ne,    snc    tJiOur^^iie  nla 

,vlLL         ■  .'     .     .     .     (3iJ62-64; 


8€I 

!  ft 


I 


,3nt- 


;i'.-i»0' 


1S4 


It  shoiilo  sis:  >>'  r.n>  ntnr'   niit  that  this  romanc*  seama  tc  preserve 
siTtoe  slight  rc.._     ....     :iltlon  of  Gawaia'a  o'>nr©ctlon  with 
/'rthur'*s  qneen.   At  the  feast  *.lven  Tor  the  r.  men  BTnbaasadcrs  alter 
thej  have  made  taelr  detra-'d.';  for  tribute,   t  Is  Cinwetn  w::o  leeds 
(.uenlvere  to  the  te":  ]  e  • 

Sir  ttaywajtie  tne  worthye  Dame  Waynour  he  ledys.  .  .  (233) 

And  perri«pa  tho  •utiicr  is  drawing  or.   an   obarf'ure  c.;ronLc\e  tradition 
when  ue   describes  Cawain  es  "Sir  V'awayne  cf  the  weate  n.archea" 
(2953),  chouch  lar   --^  rr^r.yse    (etplls  ^rrkcs  this  difficult 
t"  cp  tr-rrr. '  ne  . 

It  is  obvious  frD;r.  our  qucteticns,  tr.en,  that  the 
conception  ol  cawain 's  cheractf^r  t:.rou£-rh-ut  tne  v/fcole  of  uhe 
elllte^'etlvo  Mcrte  Tthure  is  of  the  highest  order,   inia  la 
due  in  Jarce  r.easure  tc  ti.e  author's  heavy  Indebtedness  to  t;.e 
chronicle  trad!tio'^,  but  the  existence  of  a  powerful  romance 
traditlo'-i,  aa  seen  in  the  popularity  of  the  Old  Prencn  prose 
Irlaten ,  in  wnich  Gewa'.n'a  ch«r8ct-r  was  blackened,  could 
have  axerted  un   Influence  had  the  autx.or  not  been  astute 
enough  to  realize  Ghat  hla  sucry  wculc  be  more  aiovin/-  !f  ne 
retained  the  high  concept icn  .f  hla  protegoniats.   he  v.aa 
unafraid  of  Inncveticna,  it  aiUJt  be  pointed  out,  and  the  new 
interpretation  of  /ordred '  ;  c  .eraoter  puts  the  tragedy  en  a 
cifferest  level  fro::  anything  that  i.as  appeared  In  the  Arthurian 
legend.   it  la  unfcrtunate  t:.et  ft.alory,  waen  i:e  uaed  tais  work 
for  his  "Noble  Tale  of  ilng  Arthur  cnr*    t  e  v   .  eror  Lucius", 


M^X 


mii 


18&. 


abi*lU(ttjd  ai^  tuatarial  to  such  an   uxtant  tutl   Oa  ein   oecojies 

28 
only  a  ijale  s.iadow  o£   his  former  aalf 

29 
Tile  staazalo  poena  L£  twort  Arthur   ,  datinj^  from 

around  tne  end  of  the  fourtaentii  century,  px'eaenta  aevei'el 

problems.  The  poem  covers  the  same  ground  ps  the  Old  French 

Mort  Artu,  but  I3  «l8o  embodies  certain  differences  from 

Its  Old  French  souro*  wnloh  «ro  difficult  tc  eocount  for. 

Malory  i- reserves  some  of  the  detaili  of  tr6«ta)ent  found  in 

60 
this  poem.   This  has  led  "race    to  poatulete  an  Old  French 

original  for  both  the  stanza ic  Le  Morte  Arthur  and  for  those 

portions  of  i-elory's  work  w.ilch  ere  in  fadreement  with  it. 

Vinaver,  however,  points  out  that  such  8  hypothetical  Old 

Prencn  source  would  be  cou^pletely  oishermonious  with  all  the 

extant  manuscripts  of  the  Old  *rencn  tflort  Artu  end  insists 

that  Nialory  differs  from  the  Old  Frenca  manuscripts  because 

he  has  X'ollowed  tiie  stanza xo  Le  i.lorte  Arthur  end  riea  uaed 

31 
his  own  originality   .   This  theory  accouats  admirably 

for  the  differences  between  N'elory  and  the  Lid  French  Met 
Artu,  but  it  does  nothing  to  exp.aln  the  Innovations  intro- 
duced by  the  Middle  English  poem.   If  they  were  not  contained 
In  s  :)me  Clc  French  original,  now  lost,  we  must  aasuoie  tliat 
the  author  of  the  stanzeic  Le  Siiorte  Arthur  Introduced  them 
himself. 

Fortunately,  tnls  problem  has  only  •  minor  relevance 
to  the  coiiception  of  >Jawain's  character  in  this  poet...   Lancelot 
is  naturally  the  matchless  aero  of  this  v;ork,  and  #nlle  (iawain'a 


moil   B«onei«»mb   n:»5»t«»o   ismlbiT^^jti©   ngf*   pjf    ctiid    ,££2^  £^i 

v-S  blO   8*1 

DC 

ctOR**!''!  j;teIi!JBoq  oJ       9eui<^  b»I  sax: 

bXO   X«iii;taclicqxii  8  daua   lari*   ;Juo   SwOioq    ,i©"«»wori    ,ifl»v«n'v 

iBri   bc«  ll^'il*!?*   f'j^Sf^^   ±r  '5l**'^*''t«   •rt*   b9i»oXIol  a«rf     :. 
£;i j  I  610    •!?<*   ftf»«  Y**^ 

-01   •  ^*>V?>f?!^ 


,1  *.. 


4.dt> 


personality   xias    dome    .^edaamia^  faatures,    cartsia   echoas   of   the 
more   distasteful   charaoteristlca  accordad  liim  by   the    Old    crench 
prose    ti*aditl:n   can  be   heard.      For  example,    ila    i-eputetlon 
for   luxurlousness    la   faintly  reflected   when  we   leai'n   that 
he   had,    in   the   past,    solicltpd    the   love   cf   tae    Hloid   of  Aacalot: 

Ur   lievayne   his   eyen  than  on  hyr   oaste 
And    by-helc   hyr  fast    with  h^rte   fre 

^c    thst   he    knew   welle   at   the   leate. 

That  the   maid   of  Ascalottf   was    aiue, 

ihhlohe   he    noir    tyme   had    j*o«yc   faata 

his   owne    leman   for    to  be.    .    .    (1009-13) 

The    scene    in  which  ne    learns   of   >Jaheriet'3    deatxi  liea   a    certain 
dignity: 

"Alias.'"   ne    sayoe,    "aiy   Drc^tner   uolda, 
.Vhere    tishereit    oe   cede   :r.e    frc"'" 
So   sore   nya   nert  ue-^an   to   oolda 

All-mo3te   ne    #    ide   hym-aelff   sloo.    (1936-39 

But   his    desire    for   venpeance    on  Lancelot,    in   tiiis    poem  at 
least,    seems   to  alienate   our   sympetiiles,    since    it    is 
motivated   by  vlndlctlveness   mere    than   enything   else: 

"Be-twixte    ^-e    And   Isvmcelote   du   lake 

Nys  K.rtn    "n   erthe,    for   aotae    tc    se/ne. 

Shall    trewes    sette   and   pees   ma  .9, 

Er   oucner   of   va   naue    ctaer   slayno."    (8010-13) 

A   furthnr   elienatlon  frooi   tr;e   roader    is     .-ccasioned  b^    i-fwein's 
words    .then   he    Is   on   ti»o   cocasioia   wounded   bj    i-«..ceiot   in 
•Ingle   combat;    only    cne    paaaage   nQe6   by    alted   sLnce    tue    ten:^-^ 
of  both   is    tne   aarne: 


^l 


JO   »#orto«  fitm3*imn    jt»«Ki3^ 


flie^lftO  -J660     t'  Ji>i*tOilB'^ 


.♦hfod  fi^iWon  ?■■«•«   *fi    "Isnlf*** 


J 9  s-:t>  ^ioleocmd  ao   •una 


J I J  «ii 


137 


» nc    «yr   gawayn*    oryed   lowde   en   Lje: 

"Treytcur   And    jowerd,    c   me    /"-c.-ayne, 

(Viiian   I   Am  hole    And      oynge    en  hye; 

Than  wylle    I   prove   with  my^ht   and  ma yne. 

And   ylt   A   thow   wolc?y3t   iyph«»   -jie   nye, 

Tbow    ahelt   wele  not    sl^/   e." 

(2828-33) 


Gawaln's  death  «nen  he  and  Arthur  r'-:turn  to  tniiland  to  put 
down  Mordred'e  rebellion  la  recorded  with  a  oertaln  poignancy; 

Syr  ga#aynd  ar.^o  uym  ^n  thaf  stcuncsj 

Alias  J  to  lon^e  rrjs   hede  *as  care; 
he  was  aeke  And  sore  vnaond; 

hya  .vouaais  greuyd  hjm   full  sare; 
une  hytte  hym  vpcn  tue  olde  w^ursde 

ftith  A  tronciion  oV   An  ore; 
There  la  good  gswayne  goae  to  gpounde, 

That  speche  spake  na  neuyr  ra-j;'e.  (5066-73; 


un  c.ie  w.iole,  however,  it  oiust  be  saoilttad  >.a8t  the  author 'a 

real  sy.'npetGles  a.^e  wiuh  x^8:iceiot.   It  should  also  oe  pointed 

out  that  this  work  follows  its  >^1J  Jfrenoh  original  oloaely 

enough  to  retain  the  tradition  conoernlng  Gawaln's   Increasing 

32 
strength   : 


Than  nad  ayr  ^ewayne  3Uo:ie  a  grace. 

An  holy  xan  had  bocdyn  that  bone, 

Whan  he  were  in  Any  pljoe. 

There  he  shulc  bateyle  done, 

hys  stren^ith  :jhulld  wex  in  such  A  spase, 

From  the  vnajr-t^i-e  tyllc  n ;  ne .  .  .  (2802-07) 


Two  otner  pasaat.es  need  to  be  considered  for  tne  li£iit  tnoy 
shed  on  the  :::onceptlon  of  Gaweln*3  oiiaracter.   V«hen  Oawaln 
sees  Lancelot's  armour  st  Ascalot,  he  returns  to  c!ourt  and 
busily  ^preecs  tae  news  taat  Lancelot  now  hfts  u  sweetnenrt, 
thereby  causing  a  rift  between  Lancelot  and  txie  queen. 


•  ._i 


.e 


'  bO^i.Li'-.. 


•H    jinO 


i£V-ddO£.      .^'.^«.    i'^u«i.   &^k   a^«;,£   d^^^^^u   ianl 


**??    :t?»r>?    ?>^;J#?tr*5*    e' 


SDlSA^ionl 


inln4»»no£    n^Mliisntf   8d#  aiAt^* 


laa 


Later,    wuen   tne   damsel   afrives   dead   &t   Camalot,    !ie   p'^roelvea 
his   ©Tcr  and    roadlly  ad.Tilts    It; 


lo   the   kyng    than   aayc    ayr   j-pv^yio: 
"I    ^abbyd  on  ajm  tnys jencyr  day, 

tacL   ne    lo.^.^ede    /vnen    I    fion   asy-ie 

,kith  ledy   other  with   aonj  othyr  maye.    . 

{1104-07} 


Secondly,    ,ftien  Guenlvere  xias  bc(?n   appalled   oi    troaao/i   In 
tue   oaatii  ^f   "taa    soottioSiie   nal^ht"    ib5o;,'  sne   saiis   Ga*Bin 
to   oe  ner  oh8ni,jlon,    and   Gavain  rolusea: 

GaAa^ao   aas.veryd   witii  liteile   pride, 

hya  nert   was   full   of   scro«  and   wout^he; 
"Dame,    saw    I  not  And    sat   bo-ayde. 

The   knyght  wiian    laou  w^tii  poyaon   aloujjhe? 
/nc    aythe.    In  :iert   la   not   to  nyde, 

My-3oirc    ouer   ti.e   Dord   nyrn  di^oiiJa<>; 
A-«i;ayne    tae    p.yrht    wllle    I    not   hjde, 

I   3©W(j;he    tae    sot  je   verr:ye    I-nou>The,"    (1364-71) 

The   first   of   these    incidents  nea     een   cited   as   a    jlight   on 

33 
0e«ain'8   cliaraoter  by  Aells      ;    it    is   true    t;iat  his   loose 

talk   Is    not    to  be   admired,    out   his  readiness   to   aditilt  hia 
error  rr.itlgaLes  extent.      The    second   episode   pro- 

duces an  aiubiguou;i    iaipression  In   the   reader's  a^lnd.      Ao   know 
the    queen   is    innocent   of   the   cnar^e   of    treason;    ve    hlso 
feel    Gawain  reveals  a   marked   lack  of  perspicacity   in  not 
peroelvl  feat.      It    la  notewort-iy  that   in  .'enoh 

Mort   Artu  Ga*ein   1;.  . -ied   to     •   trie   queen'a   uiiauiyi..  i, 

and    this   Innovation  by   th6   author  presents   a  marked   contrast 
to    the   tradition   lo  Cawein   la   regarded  as   the   queen's 


00  Y^J^**^  bo9  n.o*i'.9  all! 


16. 


special  knifi.ht.      Specking  genersll^,  tx.e  picture  of  Uaw»in 

kve  j,yin   froni  this  poem  is  In  m^n;/   i-enpeota  simller  to  that 

In  its  s.Hu'oe,  the  Old  ^reno'i  ^lort  Artu,  but  tbore  tn'e   diffci-'- 

enoes^and  da^ain  hera  certainly  lacks  tne  ;^ran6eur  ue   possesses 

In  the  Old  r'rono.i  ^oaia, 

34 
With  tue  works  of  Sir  Jhomas  i^elory   we  heve  the 

only  attempt  to  i-enaer  in  kiddle  ii-n^lish  the  Arthurian  legend 

on  a  scale  oouparable  to  tuet  in  which  it  appears  in  jIu  French. 

In  ei,ener8l,  walor^  la  faitiiTul  to  his  source  mi^terial,  or,  as 

36 
Vinaver   aeys  so  succinctly: 

He  may  sorretloies  disagree  /.Itii  the  very  spirit  cf  Lis  'i^ reach 
books',  elter  their  character  and  ^.ur,  ose,  and  introcuce  ^n 
at:r:Osphere  end  e  n-.anner  of  his  own;  for  ell  that,  the  greater 
part  of  his  narrative  Is  u.ade  of  the  iteterial  'drawn  oriefly 
out  of  French' . 

Si-ioe  we  have  discussed  .Velory's  sources  in  our  treetcient  of  the 

Old  i-rench  prose  ron.ences  Fnd  of  the  elliterfctlve  -rorte  Arthure 

and  the  stanzeic  Le  ^orte  .Arthur,  Kalory's  acrk.  In  spite  cf 

36 
its  bulk,  need  net  detain  us  greatly 

Tne  only  section  of  Malory '**  ,»\u*k  for  w.iich  no 

source  nas  been  discovered  is  the  atory  of  6ic   Gareth,  and 

in  t.iat  section  the  cnception  of  Oa  wain's  character  is 

in  ecccrd  with  the  ulo  ^renoa  prose  Iris  tan «  tor  tals  reason 

Vinaver  conrludes  tiiet  et^alory  "Is  usine>  an  anti-Gawein  source, 

37 
in  other  words,  a  urenou  of  the  irose  Tristan"   .   Vinaver 

also  ascribes  the  ambivalences  of  welory's  treat  r.ent  of  Cawaln's 

character  to  the  fa  t  thst  nls  s  uroea  differed  in  their 


rCl 


liii  mo- 

*dJ  xicLqa   eaAiofii    il2  Ho   aiincw  en;}  dJlW 

L^^a.^   albbl  j^la  fine 


.or. 


nl  Bdoiuoe  e'Y'XoIaM  beaeuoslb  »vad  e«  eorJ 


190 


attitudes:  "he  Mindly  •"^epta  the  rerdlct  rf  each  cf  hla 

•ourcea  and  so  ppcduf^es  a  plctt.re  full  of  Inconaiatcncles  end 

38 
eontredictlons"   .  Yst  It  la  unwise  to  Psaume  trist  ««lory 

doea  not  Introduce  ensn  ea  Into  hla  source  -lateriel.   Some 

of  these  changes  are  oaprlclous  »nd  not  easily  sceoonted  for 

such  aa  tne   name  "Galantine"  (I,  209)  given  to  Oewa'n'a 

a*ord  In  "The  ^oble  Tale  of  Arthur  and  Lucius",  •:ile  tnc 

alliterative  .Vopte  /-rtnure  oaila  tue  sword  ""Galutn" .   Some 

are  cue  lo   a  aenae  of  teot,  suah   ta    Intt  *  Ich  prevents  hla 

oomiB^ttlnc^  the  jsme  error  ea  tno  author  of  the  Cld  French 

Mort  Artu,  wno  etteirpted  to  Introduce  en  aura  of  reelity  into 

nls  narrative  b^  g\vln'r   the  eras  of  Lancelot,  Arthur,  end 

39 
Sawaln,  and  so  made  hla  narrative  ludicrous   .   Cth«r  chan<*ea 

•re  i-he  result   f  a  dealre  t:?  abrldje  the  orl--Lnal  ^.aterlal, 

5u  h  as  tho  coiiplete  omission  of  eny  nenticn  of  the  Foohe  aa 

?uo*les  *nere  Gawain  and  .e.'haus  »re  held  prisoner  by  the 

damsels,  an  episode  we  noted  in  our  disiuaalon  of  tie  hutb- 

40 
Merl  In  and  Ita  jontinuatlcn   .   otill  other  ciienjiea  ere 

the  result  --r   a  c  >'ico  u  r   of  nerrative  w.ii  3h  differs 

38i*keciy  frjm  tnat  In  vo  le  u  ^n  •.  the  Olo'  i-i^cnc:!  ^.Tricers  of 

the  early  talrteentn  oent  i  „ ,    jcnceptlon  wnich  untangles 

the  t»  stad,  topeatry-lly.e  tiireads  of  v-lo'  rrench  romance 

and  followa  out  each  individual  story,  making,  of  each  ■ 

consistent  and  self-contained  unit.   The  best  exerple  of  this 

41 
la  Malory's  effort  t^  Isolate  the  story  of  calln  anc  "alan 

But  the  rr.oat  'moortant  and  the  :.  ost  a  I  n'flcent 


0^1 


be 

Bid  e^nsv^nQ  rf'.  ^3  ^o  e? 


lt;x 


changes   Mslory  Introduces  ojuur  chiefly  In  tnat  aeotlon 
of  nis  work  *:iich  copreaponds  to  t.is  atenzaic  Le^  Hor te  Arthur 
Bni    the  Clc  x''rench  ».opt  ^rtu.  These  change  a  are  deaigned  to 
malre  the  action  of  the  story  conl  orm  to  Malory 'a  aeaaa  ci 
tragedy,   .velory  ccnceives  the  fiael  tra^^edy  of  the  Arthurian 
kingdc..'  .n  esseatially  h^-jaarx    tenns,  and  to  heighten  the 
effect  of  tne  tr'a;L.;edy,  he  has  to  ennoble  the  conoeptioh  of 
the  chief  actors  In  it.   -•'•Iso,  to  Induce  the  sense  of 

poignancy  which  ^Tives  tragedy  its  numan  appeal,  te  has  to 

42 
give  his  work  a  highly  eniotijnel  colourinfj   .   It  is  inter- 
esting to  see  in  what  way  this  affects  the  conception  of 
Oawaln'a  charactei".   The  main  outlines  of  the  story  ere 
fixed  by  tradition  and  el.i.ost  unonangeebie,  but  ,'/:8lory  does 
manage   to  introduce  some  passage  wiiich  achieve  the  ends  ae 
desires,   TaKe,  for  exa-.p".e,  tnla  piece  of  dialogue  —  it 
occurs  In  none  of  i-elory's  sources  --  In  which  liawain  is 
infor.ed  of  the  deetn  of  his  orotners  at  fcancolot's  hands: 


M,  Jesu,  save  me  my  two  breturinJ  '  se/de  sir  tiawayae, 
'Per  full  well  wyst  1',  seyde  jir  uawayne,  '  that  sir  i,aua^ielot 
wclde  re3';ow  uep,    othir  ellia  he  wolde  dye  in  taet  fyiae; 
Slid  to  38y  the  trouth  ae  were  tint   of  worsnyp  out  j.r  ae   had 
rescowed  the  quene,  Insoiiuoh  as  she  shulde  have  oe  orent  for 
his  sake.   Anc  as  In  tnat,'  jejde    si:*  >-'8.tajne,  'x^e  hath  done 
but  IcnyiThtlj ,  and  I  wolde  have  d  n©  myaeiff  ana  I  iiad  etonde 
In  lyke  oeae.   But  w  lere  are  my  orethirn?'  seyde  sic   Oaweyne, 
•I  mervwyle  tnat  I  se  nat  of  them." 

Than  seyde  that  man,  'Truly,  sir  Gaherya  and  sir  Gareth 
bo  sleyne. ' 

•Jeau  deffendeJ'  seyd  sir-  Oawsyne.  '  Por  ell  thys  p»orlde 
I  wolc'e  nat  that  they  vera  slayne,  and  In  especiflll  my  good 
b.-othlr  9'r  Garetli.  ' 

'Sir,'  a'fyce  the  -nan,  'ne  ys  alayne,  and  that  ys  grete 
plte.  ' 


xU 


n^gj'iA   »i' __   Ji.•s^^?:  ._      _  ....   „„ 

Uj  ettfiet  si^ioIvM  o^  m%oln<.  ^    ^ «ij^  lo  a(»|tfi>»  eat  tilaa 

9c.t  ttt>iA%l»[i  03   baa   ^nm'.9i   naotLfii  x^-£<»i^C«B>9  ni   iiiQbgxiJ. 
lo  aollqdonoe   fdi   •Idoorre  ol  ssd  9(i   ,^6*s^an;t   »a0  \o  io^l'ii 
lo   aaneA  odt  «o»bflJt  oJ    ,q«I^      .j'   oI   ^;'ioios  leixla   ed^ 

oi   sad  sn    (iaeqqs  aami^n  sil  xb^s***^  -,lsi«  ^on»fl9l<H| 

-na^fl^  «1   il      .     a^^^^^oXoa  Xsaoldoote  \;Xxi2|l<l  0  ifiov  aZii  9V.ls 
lo   noliqaonoo   ariJ   e;)oella   aJIrfi   ^a*   Jer{w   :?'    fisp.   o^    urlJEs 
vinda    >>:i.i    lo   niaail^UO    nlatn 
.   e9oi>    .,  ^    ;da9^na£i90i  _    _ 

ii!i:    c-'.^irs'aii^   avalxloa  ziolaw  a^aaaaq  asaa   a&id;   -. 

:>jiicl'ilb  1..   Acslq  alivi    ^ai^q-fax©  la'i    ,^    -. 
— .  aaa^uos  a'^iioXaM  lo  ©aoct 

-     -  --Xaoflaij   ^a  fXa^lOlci    r^lu    l:-    i_^d»b    ^;ii    1:j    bt 


102 


'Wiio   ale*  u/ni?'    afc^cje   six'  uswa^iio. 

»£lr  Leuii>el  .t,  •  ;-e^ce  the  man,  'slew  ;iem  ootn.  ' 

'Xiiet  mfey  i  n«t  bel«ve',  icvoe  sir  o«*«^.*«,  'trjot  ever 
he  sle*  iny  r;ood  brother  sir  ^areth,  for  x   dai'e  aey,  ay  brcti.er 
lov*d  ii^m  tettif  tnan  me  ano  nil  juys  oi-etuir:!  and  tue  k/nts* 
bothc.   Also  I  dare  s©/,  en  sir  Lauacelot  nad  ceayred  my 
brottiir  sir  Gareti*  *:th  w^.,  he  wcioe  xi»ve  ben  witx;  xxyiu  eyeaate 
the  k/ngo  hn6   us  e"'!.   ^^nd  tnerefore  I  may  never  belyeve  that 
sir  Leuxicelot  ale#  j^y  brmhern.  ' 

'Verily,  sir,  '  aeyde  tue  man,  'nit  ya  noysed  t-iat  he  sle* 
hym.  ' 

'Alfl3,  '  ae^de  sir  Gawayne,  'riow  ya  may  joy  F^oneJ'  (III, 

This  paaaat'e  is  olearly  designed  tc  win  over  our  sympathlea 
to  Oawaln,  and  to  bring  horce  to  us  the  I'ull  impact  of  the 
grief  he  feela.   The  stunned  incredulity  Gawain  shows  at  tue 
ne*a  does  this  edmlrably.   In  this  way  N:alory  lifts  Cawaln'a 
desire  for  revenge  out  of  the  ai-pl?)  vlndiotlveness  we  find 
In  Le  ^orte  ^^rthur  to  the  level  of  something  which  is  more 
aooeptable  to  the  resdor,  cr  if  not  acceptable,  at  least  more 
understandable.   It  Is  true  that  one  can  find  pasaat<es  in 
Malory's  work  which  seem  to  ec^o  the  vindictive  spirit  of  the 
Middle  English  poem,  but  ualory's  e;;ipha3ia  on  tia^jaln's  grief 
makes  them  more  tolerable.   ials  kind  of  oaange  which  Ualory 
has  introduced  into  his  sourceij  is  what  ma^es  the  Gawal 
the  Iffat  few  pages  of  Malory's  work  such  a  ayapathetic 
character. 

Ae  need  not  enter  Into  the  controversy  concerning  whether 
or  not  Malor^'  designed  nla  n(ork  as  a  unified  whole.   It  is 
sufficient  for  our  purposes  to  observe  thst  while  .vialory  has 
b.en  ccntent  to  adopt  towards  Gawaln  In  Lne  early  sections 


aLl'L 


.rlJ 


W9l8 


eioia  JBfte 


;  s.'i ,. isv.  t'v;    'i  Ifc 


.3^  ::    c  . 


'Cd 


tolo   el    at^esetQ   tliiT 


loli^   a'p.iawa*'   no   •IsBaq.-.©   a'  oq   ii»ii. 


19?^ 


of  nlJ   stcry   «hat«v«r   eltltvide    ta*   8utnox>   of  ale   aouroa 

•xpreB39s,    es   he   raaohcs   ti.e  flnttl   pst^as   cf  hla   Arthuried,    be 

bficooQea   entranced   «ith   the   (ireatneaa   of  his    tragic   these   end 

noulda   the   protagoalsta    so    oast    they  become   -Hortaj   oi    11. 

Conaequently   the   '•'S'^a^Q  of   the   ;'orte   ^I'thur  section   of  Malory's 

Mockf    Anll«   navlng  aany  chsracterlatics    In  Cwtiimon  with  his 

p.'Ototy^ea    in   "alory's   soiircea,    has  been   accorced   sn  easentlal 

huanlty    vhlch  ne'xes  him   en  attract Ivg   figure. 

The   remfilnln/  works   we   have    to   examine   are    derived 

only  very  remotely  —      i    fit   &11   —    rrcoo  Old  i'renon   acurcea. 

We   need   not   conoern  ot^raolvea   too  minutely  wltn   the 

provenience    of   the  msterlftl   eirbcdied    l-i    tnese    ^orka;      juffloe 

it   to   aay   that  northern  -^nc^land  and   aouth  weatern   Scotland 

43 
("Ither  were   t.ie   ultlicete    ^     rce    cf  much  Arthurian  aieleriel      , 

cr    chey  were    perticularly   i'ecei.tive    tc    tne    Ai'thurlan   le-^end, 

with  the  result   that  not   only   jrere   .T.any   tnomea   crlKlnally 

found    in   Old   frencn  re-uanoled  by   poets  living   in   tx.ls    area, 

but   also  many   «Oi'ka   which  have   no    c:?unterpart   in  Old   French 

*ere   coniposed  here.      I'he   nlliteratlve  meeaure    la   the   dls- 

tln^uiahln--',    though  not   nnli^i^ie,    feet.upF>    r.r    .■er'.se    '•      pcser"      n 

t:  Iv.    area . 

44 

The  ^vowln   of  ^'rthur    belon,  :-  -   -..-  _lterature 

of  bcastinj;,  and  telle  of  the  vowa  made  •  y  Arthur,  Ksy,  ^-ewaln, 
and  reldwln,  and  of  the  f^cnaequencea  of  t-.ose  vowa.   Ciawa'n'a 
Ucaat  l3  to  A'atf.h  Top  flfjvwntupp  <h  t  lh('  Ta  pn  ''ndl'n   p11 


J.J- 


Ul: 


b-      ^  "'18     S.'-.l.  '..IX'-;      -Oj      SYDr'      ■ 

•  tea' 


ej^ 


r  •■4 1  -'I  'J ;  a  i'    r  .1 !  'li  fi  1 J  ■!  i 


,«e1ii    dl 


:;n  ?.  ■. -  )'i    i\0' 


uii-iio,    -....i..    i.^j    ^fi   .IV.J    i-j-iit  he   wiil  patrol   tne   lordst  near- 
by,     .iiiile   iulfilllng  hi  a  vow,    ^sy  is   untoreea  by  one    "Sir 
Meriealfe   cf  }?e  rac'mtayn"    (307)    Rnc   Kay   tnereupon  oaks  asMai^ 
to    joust     "'*-"    '       "    •'•  •   ---^     ■-■■.■'.     ,„    ^^..„^,,  .        ,.,. ..c  ,    ,    .-,,««    .«o, 
and   det'ei  ce 

for  t:ie  ab-;a:_     ....    -    ,.  ..o.r.^    /-.oiititjLJ.  . .      •■^«.-'   x*- ~.    .^^^  .- 
victory,    Oarair.   sends    the   vanquiar;'-''    ^'  i^ht   anc   nia    j.eoy   to 
tne    ■.^ueen: 

"•I'eitft  )Jou  3'is   damesell    schene; 
Leoe    ni.r   to   Tre/nour  J?  e    ^uene, 
■pis   I'orw&rd   to  fulfllle: 
And    a«ij    )te  c    G6?,8n,    xuir   Kiy^te, 
Sonde   hurl7l8   byurde   orljte.    .    .    "(464-53; 

Ahen   Ai*t:;uf   '.  1  s '.overs   fcow  Gew&xi   ..ba   rescuec    it,,    ijis   praise 

cf  Oawaln   is      f   -     -    "--    -^ncr  as  --    -^      '"   - « i    previous  eulogies; 

"^-rete   <?od,"   qnod  J's   *fi^&* 

"Olfe   Oawar    rrc*<?   end^r..i?e. 

For  he    is    sekur    In  alle   kynne    thlnpe 

Tc    -rcvuntur    vlth  e   kni^jtel 
Of  all  pleyus   he  beris  ^e   prise, 
Loos    orJ7--    .''^-     se "    " '  '  -  5o  ) 

Tne  rest   of   the    r-T.aace    is    taxen  up   «it£.   tue    ccnsequenoes   ojf 
Baldwin's   ccsst    i-     «..ich   'rawein   view's   no   part.      Ihe   I'enuller 
motifs   ere   to    .e   noticed  here:      Oaweln's   physical  prowess    saves 
Kay  and   is    referred   to   aomirin^ly   by   tne  re-eros 

himself  as   Ouenivsre's   knifht;    sno   he   liB  i-alse    cf    the 

ladles.      All   of   taeae   characteriatios,    es    *e   xiave    seea,    B.'e 
ettriouted    to   nim  t  id   branch  rornanoes.      Ahat    Is   ae* 


'•"MllV 


I  r  !  -r 


-.-■If 


19b 


here  is  tnat  tae  action  of  the  romance  la  tleo  to  en  identi- 
fiable ..eogrspnical  locale  --  che  *;.':a  of  tiie  i'arn  ••edllrig  -- 

45 
•nlch  Ilea  In  the  ciiatrlot  described  bj  /jebater    na    "Galloway". 

Like  The  ^vowing  of  Arthur,  The  Ai»nt/pa  off  Arthure 
46 
at  the  lernq  "sthelj'ne   is  also  set  in  Galloway,  snu  a^ain 

the  S:^^^   Wadling  is  the  acene  of  part  :f  tne  eotlon  «t  least. 

The  romance  cons  lata  of  two  epiaodea  looaelj  joiaed  by  the  char- 

actora  of  the  principal  actors.   During  the  first,  Arthur  and 

hia  court  go  hunting,  and  Gawain  end  the  queen  are  toaether. 

They   et  ae  arated  from  the  reiit  ci'  the  party  during  a  storm, 

anc  wulle  ciae  storai  ia  ia  progress,  sn  apparition  appears  to 

the  pa  1  r : 

Thare  co;i;e  e  1;  we  ;.ne  tne  lou<jhe.  In  lede  es 
nOi^t  to  layne, 
-e  lyknfcs  of  Lucyfere,  layetheste  in  belle, 
Ana  glydcis  to  dame  gtynoure  the  ,etis  fulie  g'-yne, 
3:;llande  3;  merl/,  wit.:  :r,8ny  lowde  3elle  ,  (  83-6  J 

Ouenivere  Is  naturally  very  frightened  and  turns  to  Gawain 
for  comfort;  the  aelf-posaesaion  he  oisplays  fat  tnis  :r.cmea%   la 
remarkable j 


T;j8n  gloipenyde  and  yrett  dame  Oa/noure  t/ie  >:eye, 
And  askede  sli*  Cav/ayne  w.iat  was  his  beste  vede. 
"It  Is  the  clippes  o.  the  .'one,  i  herce  a  clerke 

saye": 
And  thus  he  ccnf orthede  J7e  qwene  with  his 

knyshthede.  {  2-5) 

He  then  approaches  the  apparition  and  speaks  to  It.  It  tells 
Guenivere  liow  It  Is  suTferin.  torment,  and  j-Iho  fere  tells  t;ie 


dfai 


a^aXqe 


196 


"Gette   tae,    sir   iiewa/ne, 

)le  balc«ste   of  Bretsyne; 

For    in   8    slake    ]?ou   salle    oe    alayne, 

:-^^Jl^6    i  ;rly   salle   fellel"(296-   9; 

Tiie   appei'icion   tnen  disappears,    whereupon  Gewain    ar>  aeen 

rejoin   tiie  huntln^j  party   *'i.lch      oes    to    supper  at   Kancolf's   nail. 

During   aupper   a    beautiful   damsel   and   a    kni^nt   eater,    and 
the    damsel   asks    Justice    be    done    to    t;>i3   knl.vit.       Ihe   knight. 
Sir   Galeron   of   ^ello#ay,    clalnris   the   rLxht   to   fight  for  his 
lends   walch  have   been   ijlven  by   the   king   to   Gawfiln.      -^be 
following   day   a   battle   between   Galercn   and   Gawain   takes 
plao^-.    In  walch  Oawaln's   horse    Is   killed: 

^ooeselle",  quou  ueuan,   /one  is,  yo-i    ocei 
Le  .ves  the  turlokkeate  blonke,  taer  euyr  bote 

brede.'  (£47-43) 

The  coirbet  is  long  and  fierce,  but  (jawain  la  finally  victorious. 

To  oorr:poae  the  qua/rel,  Avthur   /.Ives  Gawain  lofida  in  .Vales, 

wh      -.srcn's  own  possesslcaa  ere  restored  to  hirr.,   (ialeron 

la  mace  a  knight  of  the  hound  Table  and  weds  tne  damsel,  tnus 

bringing  the  rocance  to  a  close. 

The  association  of  Uawain  witn  Galloway  and  his  holdin<i 

of  lands  in  'Aales  afterwards  calls  to  a.lnd  the  curious  account 

47 
given  by  v.lllianj  of  Xeimaabury   .   Is  this  collocaticn  of  names 

coincidental,  or  does  it  represent  the  survival  and  cistortion 

bj    .  1 -tlon  of  aosie  remote  historical  circumstance?  Whatever 


»ttX 


t  n. 


.  9f- 


•rtd   a.tilalo  ^^ewoXIad  lo  noiiil©  life 
adi      .nlftv,  tIW  aciiJ  t^  obvIh  n«©rf  »v«d  dslr^w  abr 

Bsia;}  flIavaO  baa  noiolai)  naeviorf  al^t^atf  a  t*^  Hfiiw-sirrl 

:b«IIl)/   e?    sB'iorf   e'nlawaO  dolnw  nl    ,»oai 

aU 

iioliodolv  xilmall  sJt   alawat^   dtud   t90*iaL  noX  al   ;^adaioo   aiiT 

^aalsW  t*i9up  edi}   oec 

b9«iodi^  veoq  mro   a*no*xeIe 


Jtmoot 


l;.-.:  :A3-<xrv  ^i;j    .'■■    --  -  ■   l<i  -At*..     t.h«  3oerit'n©9S  of  peocpda  ss 

well  fls  the  lack  of  accord  emong  scholars,  such  a  question 

Is  pephepa  unansworsblo  --  what  ia  ln;port8nt  fcr  our  pur-poaea 

la  to  notice  th^  '  '  •-"  "  ■  •-■-«:■•'-♦■'-■•  "  nrerred  en  Gsweln  by 

romance    tradltl-  ^...l).       ine    'jloae  ssaoclttlon 

between  Gaweln  a  ^^  l  .c,   Mc-.i  L^  . reserved,  find  In  tae  first 

episode  of  t.ie  romance  vre  see  Qaweln's  ooui'aae  and  graolouaneaa 

to  ladles  In  disi^poaa  operatlnn.   ala  jL^hyaloQi  provteaa  ^a 

clearly  demon :;tra ted  In  tx.e  aeccnd  episode,   "ote,  however, 

that  w.ille  Gaweln '8  horse  nas  a  name,  the  foalilar  epltiiet 

Grlngalet  has  been  replaced  by  "Gresaelle",  cneanlnj  "jrey  one", 

a  substitution  mpde,  I  suspect,  to  replace  a  meanlnjjldoa 

word  by  a  self-explelning  t' rro.   Except  for  this  departure. 

The  Awntyra  off  ^rthurc  respects  the  traditions  concerning 

Ca.Tal'^.  w.'ilch  we  neve  become  familiar  /»ltri  In  our  study. 

The  tneme  of  the  tvo  works  «e  are  to  c.naldor  next. 

The  .veddynce  of  ^Ir  Gawea  end   Dame  Regnell  enc  The  Marriage  of 

Sir  Gawalne   ,  la  best  'novm  through  Chaucer's  use  of  It  In 

the  Wife  t.f  ^eth's  Tale.   It  Is  probably  due  to  tiie  popularity 

of  the  theme  Itself  end  of  Arthurian  rriaterlal  thwt  the  two 

should  be  conblned.   That  t-ila  o  raibl'iatlon  should  place  the 

action  In  Galloway  Is  perhaps  aignlflcbat,  though  the  cialect 

of  The  .VeddynfJie  la  not,  es  oio  rnl^jht  expect,  northern,  but 

49 
south  Midland   .   rrlefly,  t.ie  action  of  The  y'veddyn^e  i.a  as 

follows:   Arthur  jmnts  a  nnrt  In  Inglewcod  Forest  one  day, 
and  in  the  i^urault  of  ijia  que.-ry  n©  la  separated  rr-m  hia 


BO- 


I-      '" 


•'•-      , 


^••xuJnaqeb  aid:   'jol   i 


*  i  t  X.  I "'   i  3  O  4 ;  ■  ."^  .^      c*  t ! '  '  1   J    *  ij  . 


dclriw  fliti*  i 


ooiXij^iial  Dns.  i.^<H    is  soaosted  by  a  knight  In  armour,  O;«oaaer 
3oncr  Joure,  who  is  gola)  to  kill  tna  H-intf,   Liecauua  tue  latter 
has  given  his  lends  to  *^a  sin: 

"Vislla  i-m^ti,   k/ag  **rthou.'J 

Tl.  ;>u  Last  me  d-jn^    .sec-';!;,   niSiij  e  j^^J^t', 
And  wcfullj  I  shalle  qu/tte  the  uecG; 
I  nolu  thy  lyfa  da/3  i/gne  dene; 


.i.a  nasi  .k^evyn  iay  lb  noes  in  ccrtevn, 
.i-.iri  ,rr'08tt  #ron(i  vatc  Sir  Uawen,   l54-t> 


Lut  Arthur  la  allowed       Tree  on  condition  that  he  will 
return  in  a  ye-:- '3  fme  with  the  answer  to  the  question, 
what  do  woinen  like   fst?   The  king  '3.:>nfidea  in  Oovain,  and 
together  tney  prepai'e  «  book  oi  enswera.   In  tne  lest  .;.onth 
before  his  ^ppolntnent  with  Gromer,  Arthur  meets  s"lo8thly 
lady"  *ho  will  t/lve  him  the  aorrect  answer  if  Gawaln  will 
merry  her.  >»hea   approached  by  the  king  to  promise  to  wed  the 
Ujjly  itcman,  -^o  a  Avegneli,  ^BArain  readily  assents: 

"I  shall©  wed  her  and  v»ed  her  agayne, 
incwghe  ane   were  a  fend, 
,  .wv  he  ciic    :7ere  &3  foulle  es  belsobub, 
i.er  shalle  I  wad,  by  the  rcoo; 

wr  silea  Meve   not.  .  ^our  frende.  .  .  "  1343-47) 

3o  the  kin,  ia  saved,  and  (Je»aln  weds  Larne  hafinoll  wno,  on 
tne  weddini^  ni.^ht,  beoornes  a  .eautiful  damsel.  'I'aood  with 
the  choice  of  havin-^  hec  fair  by  day  and  foul  o^  night,  or 
vice  verjQ,  Gewsln  resigns  his  choice  to  t^.e  lady's  dlscret'on, 
and  so  she  ia  able  to  be  fair  by  both  day  and  night.  The 
anonymous  author  of  t))is  poem  aeeaia  t  .  be  aware  of  more  of 
the  tradition  ccncex'nl'ig  ^ewaln  then  he  makes  use  of  In  thia 


aew 


c^c<»    el 


,» 


tavis   «>' 


0rf^    bow  Ov5    oaii-iiw'iii  (-J   3iii)l   a.ij    ^o   - 
-eJndacB  \;Ii.baa'x  nXa«s 


•  4mMiw  V«         <b*^<t)'" 


s'>«>   »if^f{   h^f   hr.s   t^ei 


^lJiii:\ 


199 


work,    if   *e   era   to   Ju'^   e  b^  :    tie    comments   be  niskes. 

First,    he    as ys   that   Gawaln  had   a    s   n  by  Ddme   KsvTnell: 


ay."   Gawen   j^att   on  uer   Hjtx^oljn^ 

That  was   a   good   knyghto   cf   atrenrtho   and   kynn, 

Anc    cf   t.ie    -^able  hound.    (799-801} 


The  name  Gyngolyn  has  obvioua  affinities  with  Geynleyn  of 

60 
Lybeeus  Dlsoonus,  .vlth  Oulnglaln  of  Le  bel  Inoonnu   ,  end 

with  *^a«vain's  son  oy  the  sister  cf  braa  <3©  Lis,  whom  t:.e 

author  of  the  Seconc  Continuation  of  the  Feroeval  tells  us 

was  oalled  Gulglalna: 

Son  nom  11  de.aenda  Gauvains: 

••sire,  fait  11,  jou  sul  Guit'lalns, 

Voatre  flus  ^ul  ii  rola  i^rtus 

Mist  norr  11  Blaua  Lesaoneus."  (33,401-04, 

Wh/  tha  child  Is  celled  the  }<'air  Unknown  Is  never   made  clear 
by  the  autnor  of  Lhe  Second  Continuation.   It  la  also  intri- 
gi^lng  that  s  "loatnly  lecy"  appears  In   Lybeaua  Dlscoiua  and  Le 
Bel  Inoonnu,  thoUf^i  the  oonneotion  between  these  works  and 
The  Aeooyn^e  la,  to  say  the  lea;,t,  obaoure.   ->eooncly,  tno 
poet  seeii.s  to  nave  heard  of  Gawaln 's  nuiuorous  amorous  encounters 
with  damsels,  tx^ou^  ae  casta  n    cloak  of  i^espectaolllty  over 
t:ieai  by  the  oevlce  of  inarriBiie: 

Gawen  was  weodyd  oft  In  his  oeys 

But  so  we  lie  ne   nsuere  lov/d  •vcu.bu  always. 
As  I  have  hard  men  aayn.  (d3S-34) 

What  this  poe::L  aeems  to  do  is  the  same  . .  ._  . .^ 

51 
we  noticec  'n  our  c !  s  lusslo.'-i  of  Bob^pt  HInieL'a  L^l  ou  Cov      , 


«^x 


lo  av  iilw  aslJl  bo  exfT 

baa    ,  .  a1_  Ji9a   ai  1o  «1«I.,.  , aiJfloogJtJ   euiaag;;.  J 

©a4  ffodK*    jIbU   efo  naifi  1j  i^^Jaie    »ii;t   ^d   p-oa    a'nlev 


BieJriUCOiitJ    S-AjQ'ij.-s;    v;*jj\i_-jj.:    £'i:ii;^3J    'i,    J'^.iiU     . 


200 


Cartein  motifs  prove  very  i^opular  --  lo  tiiia  case,  the  saving 
of  a  life  oy  -he  solution  of  •  rldole,  aad  the  releaae  of 
a  damsel  froii.  enahentmeat  by  marriage  (whia^i  probably  snould 
oe  equated  with  lovej,  motifs  waich  wero  oooibined  at  the 
ti/ne  Chauuer  haadled  the  .raterlal  --  and  tney  ^et   ettaohed 
to  uhe  principal  characters  of  a  tradition  Mhich  is  slao 
very  popular.   In  The  iftedUjn  e,  Gawaiu  is  ecsioraed  a  larger 
rola  in  the  action  than  in  the  Lei  uu  Cor,  thou«^  it  ia 
difficult  to  3fiy  Wiiether  :t  is  a  more  honourable  one. 

The  Ma.-rlafce  cf  Sir  Gpwelne  "is  an  En^illsh  ballad 
based  probably  on  The  Weddynge"   .   This  ballad  exists  only 
in  8  fragmentary  state,  and  consequently  a  thorou(jh  oompariaon 
of  it  with  The  cueodynge  is  impossible.   It  does  offer  a  few 
varlatioas,  none  of  «hlcb  is  really  3i,^ificant.   For  exsL.ple, 
It  sets  the  scene  cf  Arthur's  meeting  with  the  "baron"  at 

"team  w^.dling"  rather  than  in  Inglew-od  Forest,  though 

i' 

this  is  8  shift  of  only  a  few  miles  Lo  tije  aouth.   The 
"loathly  lady"  Is  unnamed  and  is  ioentifieo  only  by  her  costume 
of  "red  scsrlett".   No  cnlld  of  the  union  between  ^iewBin  and 
the  lady  la  mentioned,  nor  Is  snything  said  ebout  oe*ain'3 
having  been  carried  on  other  occasions.  jn   the  whole,  I 
think  it  Is  safe  to  es^'jme  with  /sells  that  The  Marriage  of 
Sir  Gawalne  is  a  popularization  and  hence  in  certain  *aya 
a  debasement  of  the  story  told  in  The  "edoynge. 

The  works  we  rro  to  consider  nejit  are  Sir  UeAPin  and 


./  bdJeupe   oa 


baiXad  dsiijund   ns   el''    euxawBO  lie,   lo   eanii-iaM   am 

Xltio  •istxe   6sIX9d   alilT      .      "j^Sf?]^^^^  odT  no  X-£<^b<^o*^<I  baastf 

floaliaqraoo  risx/oioii  ,9i9itt  t^«4n«nsa«it  s  nl 

»el   B  I'.sob   i»I      .©XxilBBoqiai  55 eW   QxlT  riilw  ;tl   1o 

,aIqiufiA«  io'<:      .;}n«ol'lli^le  X-'^^o®'^  ^-^  xi«ia«  lo  anon   ^anol^alnev 

^   sfa  "Bonad"   0d3  rf«i»  8hi^«9«  a'ltftfcfnA  lo  anaoa   od&  t: 

cL^u^AJ   ,;J«aio'?  boowolgrtl  isl  nidO  ladita*!'  "jfli-^"*  n'iftwv 
'nt'  IliH  we''  ^lliia'e'Bi 

-1  >  na®wtfed  noi»W  «iiJ  Ite  t>j.  laoa  b 

ode   W^ 


»C1 


53 
the  ^-t-c  Lin  Kni.;ht   and  the  four  -siddle  Enjllah  poer  s  wLlch 

oritica  dee  as  rtnibodylng  in  aor-'e  way  ths  themes  rfhlch  make 

up  tne  plot  of   thia  justly  famous  olllt  rttlvo  poem.   The 

two  tiiemea  are  the  behead  In-"  ^;ame  and  the  cnastlty  teat, 

which  play  indivlduBl  parts  in  various  Olc  French  romances 

end  .vriicii  are  ssaumed  to  have  existed  in  jombinatloa  In  an 

54 
Old  Prenca  crl^rinel  now  lost   .   This  is  not  tne  place  to 

dl3cuss  whether  such  en  olc  ■''rench  orlginai  x-eally  :'xisted, 

and  perhaps  taere  is  no  clear-out  answer  to  the  i-roblem. 

Since  it  is  earliest  in  date,  we  snail  bejin  our  aiscussion 

with  Sir  C/awain  end  the  Green  Knight. 

This  poem  is  uncoubtediy  the  finest  .uiddlo  Ln/llsh 

romance,  and  perhaps  the  finest  Arthurian  rorasnje  in  any  language, 

It  is  •  supreme  tour  de  force,  the  putnor  exhibiting  a  sustained 

power  throughout  the  whole  work.   Coning  late  in   the  tradition 

55 
of  Arthurian  r  mance   ,   the  author  was  faced  with  various 

conceptions  of  OeflBln's  crisracter  in  the  chronicle  and  the 

romance  traditions,   he  makes  8  deliberate  cncloe  among  these 

poasibillties  and  exnlts  Gawaln  to  the  hls'hest  le/el,  and  uses 

the  eotlo.-;  cf  tne  poem  tc  Illustrate  the  finest  -inelitles  of 

his  hero.   Since  tne  poem  was,  judging  from  the  dielecL, 

composed  in  tne  northwest  Midlaiids,  cnls  is  tc  be  expected; 

one  cfin  affirm  cat  e  oricelly  x,  ;et  in  this  srea  and  nortiiwf'rds 

to  the  t  lstrJ.ct  celled  tielloway  Gawatn  was  alAsys  I'egarced 

56 
with  the  highest  respect   .   ^ut  if  this  author  mpkes  a 

deliberate  criolce  of  Gawaln  as  his  hero  and  of  tne  particular 


T**^ 


«ir 


i>9^Klxa   »\  "IB  fioi 

sJt    sIriT 

.(ael 

rlbbm  ttae 

no  I. 

8U0 


2C2 


ccnc'j;  t  ion  of  Oeweln'a  charscter  *hloh  he  will  use,  his  oholco 
is  not  dictated  solely  by  the  trBditlone  of  the  locale  In  which 
the  poein  rifs   cc-posed.   His  choice  la  boat  exple'.ned  In  relation 
to  the  meenlnj  of  the  poem  bs  a  /vLole.   Ihe  3 1  nlflcsnce  of 
this 'will  become  cl^^-er  ss  tl:e  discussion  of  the  poem  proceeds. 
Many  of  tae  traditional  feeturoa  atill  clln/  to  Ge.valn 
In  the  poetri;  for  exemple,  when  ho  13  first  mentioned  his  name 
Is  coupled  with  unpt  of  the  queen: 

There  .ode  Gswan  watj  grayjjed  uwenora  oia^de.  (ICbi  ) 

And  his   ourtesy  t-nc  keen  sense  of  good  itisnners  ere  still 
outstanding  cnaractepistics ;  wnen  the  iireen   knight  has  uttered 
his  challenge,  Gewain  be ra  leave  to  scoept  It  in  vords  cf  the 
hie^hest  politeness: 

'Aolde  -^o,  woc^bilycb  lords',  luoj?  ..awaa  to  >e  A/a^, 

•  :-ld  'v."^:    '  on^e   I'ro  ])!  3  benshe,  nnr'  stonde  "y  yow  JJere, 
)lat  I  «ythoute  vylenye  my^t  vojde  jJls  taol  . 
And  yht   ny  lef-i-'e  led/  lyked  not  llle, 

I  .volde  COB.  to  your  counsejl  tifcr--  your  core  rycae.  .  .' 

(343-47) 

Lven    In   the   refined    etmospr-ere    of   Chretieu's  romances   such  a 
high  level   of   .?ocd  manners    is   not   reached,      i^or   is    it   courtesy 
filone   wnlch  tiie   poet   wants    to   en.pi.eslze;    Ueweia's   coure^a   also 
receives   due   >-!ttention,    »na   over-jiiStches   taat   of    tx^e   klnji   /jiraelf. 
For  exiifnple,    when   tne   "Jreen   Knight   offers   his    challenge,    only 
the   kinj.    eccei-ts.      ve  ir.lght   expect   «11    the    xnlgiitB  present 
to  heave  a   sigh  of  relief  because   tliey  are  now  released   from 
their  responsibility  of   the   challenge;    Gawaln,    however,    stops 


•mJaCq,'  .bgaoqtncio   ttwK  meoq   •rid 

•  b^dOOIG   «ie  >   nOlBBflSBlb    «!il5  '^ssooed   £llw   six.. 

am  ■oaoliine.m  cfeiil  ei   sc*  -xa  "jo''  ..«fi;f  nt 


3*18  BisnnJiiT!  bo 03  lo  08n»B  n»e3l 

*   8VIIP  -  fgreXX? 

E9n»ilXc)iq   J 


2C5 


i'ocwf.-c    dnd   offers    to   teke    the   kind's   place,      LLa    tone    la    tae    self- 
deprecating   one   *.5    cume    to  r>S3Cjl«ta    vlth  Ijim   in   tela   work: 

•I   am  J?e    wekkest,    1   wot,    enc    of   wyt   febleat. 
And   l(-rst   lur   yf   my  lyf,    :iuo   laytea  )>©   ao}>e, 
Bot   for  as   much  as  ^e    er  myn  era    I   em   caly   to   prayse, 
No  bc;iiit«i   cot   your  blod    I   in  my   u. da   knowe; 
And    syj?en   j>ls   not©    is    ao  nya,  j»8t   no'^t    ..it   yow  fallea. 
And    I  haue   fr&yned  hit  at   yow   fyrat,    j:olde3  xiit   to  x^q..,^ 

And  Wi.en    lae   uceQtx  kalglit   aaa   i'Ot^ained   iiia   nead   fro-.i  a^iong   tne 
feet   of   Arthur's   knights   and   uttered   nia,  inoatly  re»niadar    to 
OawRin,    ti^.e   firat   fitt   enda   on  a   note   of  I'oreDodin^: 

Now  ]7ank    -.vel,    Cic   'J'e-van, 

For  vioye  yat  you  ne    .vonae 

JJis  aventure   for  to  frayn 

pat  J7  3U  hat^  titn  on  io-ide.  (437-90) 

V/lth  tne  second  fitt,  the  si-mif loanca  of  the  action 
of  the  poem  b©  Ina  to  clarify,  eapeoially  with  tne  explanation 
Of  the  reasons  why  tne  pentaicle  device  en  the  aiiield  belongs 
to  G8*ain.   The  autnor  admits  that  this  explaaation  will 
delay  hi.i  stor^,  rao  ^at  he  deliberately  inserts  it.  i   believe 
that  he  delloarately  takes  tne  risk  of  retarding  the  action 
In  order  to  emphasize  the  underlying  religious  meaning  of  the 
tale  he  tells.   Note  the  empnaals  placed  on  the  rallgioua 
Importance  of  the  ajmbolism  of  the  five  points  of  the  pent8n«.le: 

Mno  alle  nis  afyaunce  vpon  folde  wet5  in  ]je  iyue 

wr.'Hide3 
pet  Cryst  ksat  on  j)e  cvcjs,    as  ])e  crtde  t^lle^; 
.  .  .  fille  iild  f-^rsnes  lie  feiijj  at  Je  C;_:\ir.    Joyeij 
jlatj>e  nende  heuen  .uene  ned  ..f  hir  chylSej 


.*    '■♦•   p.*; 


je-'fa^;  ,  -5^ 


©dJt    ,^:'  -36    »i-c 


In  pe  more   half   of  his    achelde   hir  /n-.ege    depe^nted, 
])£jt   quen   he  bluached  ^c-to  hi 3   belde   neuer  peered . 
'^  (642-43) 

Oewaln's    "five   pointa"   --    "frauncn^ae",       "icle^scaip", 

"clerines",    "coptfij-ey",   fr.u    "..ite"   --  Lsve,    therefore,    a 

religious    ! '■.■spl?'«>tlci.      It    Is    Intereotinti   to   see    tue   ioiportanc* 

the   Vlrc,!  c,   her   .  ^    ^nted   on  nle 

57 
aii^ald      .      Aad    ^r^trn,    on   Christians  Lve,    G6<irain   cespairs   ci' 

rt^acnln^    seme  harbourfet^e   «i<ere   i.e  may   pefform  the   reli^^ious 

duties   epproprlate   tc   tie   cocasion,    he    Invokes   her   aid: 

'I   oesecae  te,    lorde. 

And   Mary,   y-it   Is   :njice3t  i..ode.'   so   cex"e. 

Of   aum  herber  Iyer  he^ly   I  nij^t  here   .T.asae.    .    .  • 

(753-56) 

Imnedlately  following  this  prayer  he  perceives  the  oastle  # ■ore 
the  test  of  uls  character  Is  to  take  place,  and  tne  implication 
is  txiat  he  moves  under  divine  ^^rotection.   More  specifically, 
the  iapression  is  Wit>t   Oswain's  virtues  are  in  aorr.e  way  conriectad 
witn  tae  Viri^in. 

If  tais  hypothesis  be  true,  the  third  fitt  with  its 
temptation  scenes  snoulc  afford  further  evidence,  and  I  think 
it  coea.  ithen    the  laoy  unewaivocally  offers  lierself  tc   ewain  -- 


'•Je  er  .velccTi  to  -ny  co.'b. 


Jowre  ewen  won  tc  wele.  .  .  '  (1237-33; 
she  does  so  in  the  knowledge  the  t  Oawaln  .las  a  widespread 
reputation  for  courtesy,  end  her  ccnoeption  of  courtesy 


f^^^>!   "(f 


•J  •isi'Vioiqqe  a«l.'   b 


fliivoilol  xXs^  sib  snail 


/^^ ' 


kOt 


sterna  from  the  code  of  behaviour  dictated  by  Courtly  Love. 
This  code  of  behaviour  exHlts  adultery,  and  the  situation 
Gawain  and  the  lady  pre  in  is  Ideal  for  the  estpblisiunent 
of  an  adulterous  relation.   But  when  Gawain  does  not  make 
advances,  she  bej^'ina  to  doubt  his  identity: 

'bet  yrx.    je  be  Oe*an,  hit  eot^  in  myride.'  (1293; 

Gawain  is  disturbed  by  the  thought  thet  he  naa  failed  r.la 
reputation  for  jjood  mannera,    but  the  iad^  rjoes  on: 


•So  god  as  Qawayn  gaynly  is  helden. 

And  cortayaya  is  -loaed  30   clene  is  hyri^aeluen. 

Couth  iiot  ly3tly  haf  lenged  so  lont  wytn  a  lady, 

Bot  he  xiea  crauea  a  cosse,  bi  xiia  courtaysye.'  ^1297-1300; 


But  Gawain 'a  virtues,  inoludin//  his  courtesy,  are  ultimately 
of  religious  orl^rin,  as  we  have  seen,  and  30  he  is  '.riaule 
to  respond  in  Che  manner  she  desires.   This  is  not  to  any 
that  Gawain  la  superhuman;  a  poet  of  such  fine  psychological 
insight  83  this  does  not  make  so  crude  sn  error.   hl-r.  huro 
is  sorely  tempted,  eapeoially  on  the  third  mornin,.},  both 
because  of  the  despair  he  feels  at  hid   (ieaperete  situation  -■ 


In  Cre^   oroupyng  of  dreme  ciraueloa  J7sb  noble. 
As  tnoi.  jjat  *at'j  in  mornyng  of  mony  ^ro  J70'5tes, 
ho*  "but  oestiaa  sahulde  "bat  day  dele  hyru  iiis  w/roe, 

^  (1750-52) 


—  and   beja-ise   of   tne   dazzilij,:    beauty  cf   txie    lacy: 


ne    at^    iiiV    so    ^i    -  .  Hj-iJ    Btjx":'a, 

So   i'autlea    of  -iii'    .  ahci   or   so  i  vne   he/res, 

M'jt   wellande   Joye  _.   hia    hsrt.    11760-62) 


dOii 


ont   ^hfil   «d^   bn«  aiewaO 

i  el  vj: 


Sbl/tV    OS    6 


But    .       u   38v#3  .bi«  rrw«  suc-;umoin<     to   tnu   variouo  pretisura*  of 
the   ait'iatlon   is   rJlv'oe   intervo  .tlc^n: 

Grot    perile   bitwene   hem   stod 

Nlf  ¥«r6  of  -ilr  kny^t  .-ry-ne.  (1768-69) 

And  thoujjh  savsd  from  the  sin  of  adultery,  CJs/'aln  ia  numan 
enough  to  accept  the  green     Irdle  which  he  believes  will 
preserve  aim  at  the  Oreen  Chapel  and  human  enough  to  conceal 
the  ,ift  vfhen  tne  iioat  eskj  for  nli   psrt  of  tne  bartain  tuat 
night.  It  shoolo  oe  pointed  out  that  the  psycholo.Tloal  insight 
of  the  poet  is  greater  thsn  1  nave  indicated  nere.   i''or 
exatTiple  ,  the  Ifidy  su^igeata  that  Ge*aln  resists  her  beceuse 
he  has  oestowed  nis  heart  elsewhere.   Ga wain's  nonesty  co.i.pels 
him  to  reply  ia  the  ne<stive,  even  thougxa  he  knows  it  weakens 
his  case  for  resist       ncidentally,  this  episode  helps 
roinforce  tiie  aotio/j  li.t.t  the  source  of  Gewain's  virtues 
la  celestial  rather  than  terrestrial. 

The  final  fitt  of  the  poem  presents  another  test 
of  Ge^Bin's  courage.   It  is  remarkable  how  muny  opportunities 
for  defection  he  is  provided  with:  first,  his  guide  to  the 
Green  Chapel  (the  Host  In  disguise?)  suggests  that  Gawain 
flee,  and  says  that  he  will  conceal  Grvvain's  ,Tuilt,  but  Gswein 
refuses : 


'bot  helde  j?ju  ..it  aeuer  «o  holde,  and  1  .-are 

pesseo. 
Founded  for  ferde  for  to  lie,  in  f ounce  )>ot  boa 

telic5/ 
i  vere  a  ^■^J'ht     owai^de,  i  'y^t,  ^^o^  ^^  excused.' 

(2129-31) 


^0    ,^n9;tXiib«   io  nlB   »ci3  inanl  bsvas  d^iir 
xX^v,   <:,^Y^i:Xdd  oil  .ialnft   olbii^  a&cii^   mii  ^qooa*  o^  d^uoa^ 
Xaeof  fi  leqsi'i 

•to*?      . ••!»/:!  b»;Jaaibni  «vsn  X' nafi^}  it  .oq  •ris    .: 

o»d;  led  c^rclsfti  oi«w»&  ^  £qcD«x» 

^«*v    aoxlaroira  ••tn^te'xq  aii»oq  eti:r  i  XiitiH  i)«ii 


X      -1 


207 


And  n.i...  in,  a.^rivint  at  the  Green  ohHpei,  Tinea  no  one  tiiere. 
Only  on  one  occasion  does  Gewain  reveal  his  fear,  and  thet 
Is  when  che  Green  knight  nakes  the  first  stroke  with  tlie  axe: 

Bot  Gawayn  on  J'fit  ^'iserne  xlyfte  hyci  byayoe, 

-.3  r.it  oom  ,lycaade  fadoun  on  glode  hym  ;:o  aotiende, 

.^nd  achrenke  a  lytel  with  J?e  schulderes  forjo 

scharp  yrna.  l226fc-67) 

he  meeta  the  second,  a  feint,  and  the  tnirc,      :.  nicks  uis 
neck,  unf lincningly.   And  J>ist  as  the  source  oi"  i^is  courtesy 
is  ultimately  religious,  ao  hla  courage  Si^rin^s  fr^m  aia 
faith.   He  will  press  on  to  the  Ureen  Chapel,  he  tells  his  ^uide, 
for 

'Ful  wel  Oi.n  ury^bt^n  scnape 

r.ls  seruaunte^  for  to  saue.  '  (2138-59 ) 

Proai  our  ooitaaentery  on  certain  aspects  of  the  fiction 
of  the  poem  it  is  jleer  tliat  the  puthor  holos  Ge*ain  in  tne 
highest  reverence.   Faced  with  the  choice  of  several  ;eroes 
and  several  conceptions  of  the  hero  he  ci;ose,  why  did  this 
author  develop  Oevain'a  character  in  the  manner  he  did?   I 
suggest  that  he  wps  directed  towards  taia  choice  by  the 
underlying  theme  of  nis  stoiV'   '■•■'his  theme  puta  into  opposition 
two  ccnoeptions  of  knighthood,  om    ino^l^ed  cy  Courtly  Love 
and  the  other  inspired  by  rcllri         -  ^    .    i'st,  all  the 
virtues  possessed  o,,  t   .  iu  result  of  hla  oevotion 

tc  b    lauj;  In  the  second,  the  isiplication  id    uLiat  his  virtues 
stem  from  his  devotion  to  3ur  Lacy.   Tne  Ga-.ain  of  oir  ^smBla 


•od 
>j»d4  *  aria   an  '-^      .^Isninoai: 


flOi*S' 


snc    L  ■  t    ■'veen  Kno^glit    is,  tuerefore,    a   Christ iflrt  knight   In   tiie 
fullest   wonse   of   the  terii. 

The   theme   oi"  be  hep  ding  w  iioh  pla/a   such  an   important 
role    In   the   first   fltt   or   the   poem  we   havo    just   discussed   la 
found    In   two  Iddle    L'n-llsh  pcoms.    The   first  of  these 

Is   entltlfid   The   Orene   Knight  and    Is    considered   b,    its  editors 
fis   8    "trenalatlcn   and   atrldTcxent "   of   Sir   Gamain      .      It   presents 
some    differences   from   its   -.acaQx,    none    of   which  aa  .•   imj   rual 
slgnii'lcence    «nd   sll   of  which   represent   a   aebssernent.      In 
the  metter   of  navies,    for   exar.ple,    r/organ   lt>   fay   is   replaced 
oy  Agostes,    and   bercilak  de   Hf^utdusert  becomes   olr  bredbeddle. 
Oawain  has    three   points    (truth,    gentleness,   and    courtesy) 
rather   t^sn  five,    the   huritln      scenes   are   reduced   to  one, 
and    the   hoat's   wife    is   really   i'i   love    with  i^awaln  as    ./ell   as 
testing  hir.   on  her  husband's   orders,      '^orae    inciicatiotj   of    the 
nature   of   this    work    is   sfforded   b.    tLe   follcwint:.   stsnza 
desci'lblng  Oewain's   departure   for   the   "^reen   Chapel: 

t"ien  Sir  Gav/aine   soe    curteovis   k  free, 
his    leaue    scone    tsketh   hee 

9tt   the   Leay  :jo   -^ayoj 
iiee    tno 'ked   her,    i    tooke    trie   lace, 
^    rcdc    towards    tae    chef-peil   t.pace; 

he   kniw  nee   w.iiitt    ttie   we,. ,    (455-30) 

The   eur«   ol'    .  ood  mannc  -c    frhich  makes   Sir   Gewaln   .-uch   e    chai*;;.- 
in?  work   is   lacking   in  The  Grene   Kniff.t;    tetce,  for  ^xeniplc, 
the   boat's   remarks    to  Oaw-nin   in   thla    poem  after   trie  wnole 
plot  has   been  revealed: 


*  5  w  p  ^^ 


bso 


"i  no<i  3  points  be  put  fro  thee. 

It  is  the  Moe  plttye: 
ZLr   G8#8.:neJ  x,','iQ\.   •ejt  not  Lsele 
uUen   thou  didst  the  lace  conceele 

ti.at  my  KifCi-.    aauQ    to  t.iee!"  .'476-30) 


f'enxA'i  a  one   ehoula  not  ce    too  hard   on  cnla   unkno«n  euchor, 
however,    aixice   na   la  explicitly  edepLing  his    source    to  explain 
why   the   Knigrita    of    the  t>ath  «eei*  tie   lace: 


all   tae   Court   hah  lull  i'al:'ie, 
aliue   wiien   t.iey   saw   Sir   iia*faiae; 

they  tii&;i*ieci  god  aoova. 
tiist  la  tae  a^azK,er  i.-  the  osae 
Why  Knights   of    the   batne  "neac   tr.a   lace 

vntixl    they   xieue   wonen  their   schoen. 

(499-504) 


Generally  speaking,  Ine  ^i*ene   Kni  yhc  is  poor  stuff  In  com- 
parison with  its  jource,  and  adds  aot.iing  new  tc  the  traaition 
concerning  Oai.ain. 

The  second  pcem  involvin/  the  oenesdinr  theme  is  a 

59 
*ork  existing  in  fragments  entitled  I'he  Turk  and  Go  via 

Because  it  is  In  such  a  mutilated  stace,  the  poem  is  difficult 

to  follow,  and  large  portions  of  the  action  must  be  suraised. 

The  main  tnerce  of  tiie  story  et  least  iica  oeea   influenced  by 

Sir  Gewain.  The  opening  scene  presents  a  "Itirk"   or  dwarjf) 

anterinfc:  Arthur's  hell  and  offering  to  exoxiange  olows  «1  th 
60 

whoever  .vill  cere   .   in  tLe  ensuing  conversation  c  e 

traditional  contrast  between  Kay's  rudeness  and  Gawain'a 
civility  is  drBwn.   Apparently  Gawaln  tnen  . ives  the  Turk 

-let,  and  must  sccoiKpany  the  Turk  on  sdventurea  to  the 
Isle  of  Man  where  the  Kinj.  of  Man, 


.«^4^a1   a.  AS  '^xlv 


.Ion  8&ba  biia»   .dc. 


OtiJaxa 


.i«i^<J    iU 


a    heflthan   soldbn   is  h« e    (130), 

dwells    filth  his   giants.      The    Ttti^k  aids  Gawein   to    .v-n   t  le 
various   games  proposed  bj  the   King  of   Ma;.  rtcr  uisposing 

of   toe   Kin<t«3   j,l£ints,    finslly   slays    the   King  nimaelf.      his 
final    request   to   Oawaln   is    to   esk   the   latter   tw   smite   off 

hla    (the   lurk's;   her  -h  Gawain  does   vex'y   reluctantly: 

-'  ■»' 

ho   drew  fox'th   the    tp»nd   of   Steele 
tntt    In  battle    bite    *ola    weele, 

&■  there    stroke   of  hla  head.    (286-68) 

A  fine   young  knight   then   stands   up  anu    saja, 

"A!    sir   Gpwalne,    fclatjaed    tl,ou   bo.' 
for   fill    the    aeivice    I  hauo   don   thee, 

thou  haat  well  quitt  it  me.' "{ 295-97) 

after  this  they  releoae  e  number  of  captive  knights  end  Icdies 
and  return  to  ^^:'thur's  co:rt.   At  the  court,  the  I'urk  (iiir  Gromer/ 
asks  Arthur  to  vohu    '".e.vain  King  of  Man,  but  "Jewain  refuses: 

^Ir  Qr.jner  kneelod  vpcn  his  knee, 
saith,  "sir  Kir..,  i^nc   joure   wiloo, 

'   oro«tte  Oatiaine   King  of  mso." 
Sir  Gawalne  knselea  do<vne  by, 
*f  sold  "lord,  '8.  not  I: 

i'je  wan.  "(320-25; 

And   the    poem   closes    .vlth  'irotner  balna   croiineu   Kliig     f   -iten. 

It    Is    clear    that    /*  ist    ne   have   nero    is   tne    folklore 
motif  of    the   frleadly  nel:er   who   f^ids    tiiS    nero   to  a  -^ouipiish 
all    3ort3    of   impossible    tasks    (the   exaot   nature   of  which    x5 
obscure    In   thlo    poem  bQce.Jse   of    Its    ira   :.ientGry   ocnuition}. 


tS^ue   ba»  qu   ^dn 


ted  ac.-!J    ib^r^rl-;    .^r!?-  M* 


(VC-at^S^'*l©!a  il   .J 


•ttibal  »X«»<i   t' 


.:IIewb 
^9  8U0I1BV 


H^.: 


211 


«  sotir  to  which  has  been  grafted  the  tneme  oi'  beheadins* 

aac  uecause  o!  a  va^ue  similarity  between  this  theme  and  olr 

Gawpjn,  the  opening  of  the  pcenj  has  been  made  to  resemble 

Sir  Gf TBin.   Gewein'a  civility  and  Kay's  rudeness  ere  imported 

from'  ArtQurisn  tradition,  but  e.^art  from  tni3,  the  Oawsli 

of  t.-ia  i^ceni  could  easily  be  replaced  by  a.y   otner  cnara^ter. 

loe  lurk  aiq  Gowin  provides  us  with  snotner  Instance  of  the 

61 
ett'iohing  of  a  popular  theme  to  the  Arthurian  tradition   , 

and  as  la  usual  under  such  siroumstancea,  the  c:hprecter  of 

the  particular  Artnurlan  rero  who  ia  conscripted  into  the 

story  ia  altared  in  such  s  way  as  tc  suit  the  sction.   In 

t:il3  0836,  alr.ost  X10  alteration  is  lecesssry,  and  Gawain  la 

so  devoid  of  distinguishing  features  ps  to  be  practically 

anonymous  in  t:.i3  work. 

The  temptation  theme  *hich  is  so  significant  in  tne 

third  fitt  of  ^ir  Gawain  bears  rettiote  sin-ilaritles  to  the 

two  WurKs  we  are  tc  consider  next,  Tnese  works  are  Syre 

62 
Qawen«  and  the  Carle  of  Carelyle   ,  dating  from  tne  fifteenth 

63 
century,  ano  the  ballaa.  The  Cerle  of  Carlilo   ,  preaumsbly 

of  tne  aixteentii  oentury.   The  opening  of  tae  two  poems  is 

airr.ilar  to  the  01^.  French  Chevalier  a  I'rpee,  aiacussfio 

64 
above   ,  in  that  all  tiiree  w-rks  Involve  t:.e  txieme  of  the 

imperious  host.   The  relations  between  the  Micdle  Kn  liah 
poama  end  the  01c;  i^'rench  one  have  never  been  W':rked  out 
tnoroughly,  and  tiiere  is  some  obscurity  even  in  tne  relations 
betweei  t  .e  two  Miodle  ija^liau  poema.   Both  Engllah 
poems  relate  how  Kay,  Baldwin  ("Bodwin"),  end  Gawain  net 


xxs 


bed  -'^*)j   br««  TjrtlXlv^o    p'rTi"iw#-' 

(-  bnw  ^n.        

lo  me^as'if'i.  .  jbciu  Imuau  al  an  baa 

adtf   o*nl   bacfqi'ioenofi    =■!   orfw  of^'i   rflliurfrfnA  Tali/eliiaq   3r!* 

fll      .noi^toe  etl^t    tfltrv                                                         .;}Xa  ai 

al  nlaweO  bna  ^\n9Ka909n  e'    ro J-ta-j^^ffl  <*r!   :t??»wla    ,a8ao   ai*  ,f 

i;XIa9X;tdaia  9d  0;^  aa  au                                                lo  blovab  oa 


lost    :      !    Torast   whll«    out   huntlni^  with   tae   kin«  and    f;re 
coiT.pell'ic    to   .  nJi.;ht   &t    the    ooatl©   cX' 

the   unvTouth   Cni'lf.      Here   Ga.valn's    courtesy   stands   hW.    in   ^iood 
steed,    t\.  -'•rle   treats   Iti  unlovely  Tasnlon    L-:03e   v.r.c 

contradict   i  :.o    i^eeots  favcurebly   towf  bti   v»no 

obey  Jriic       The   Csrle,    after  dinner,    places   Guwo^n    1 
wife's   bed   fand   oroc-i-a    -ewfj-a   to  kiss  her   thrto   times,    e 
requf»st   *nioh  Ooj»8ln   Is   es^cr   to   soixply   witi:.      Tr.o    "<^ '".      then 
puts   Gsvvftln   to   ^ec   *!th  i.la   beautlfvil   daughter  and   leBvea 
them  alone   for   the   night,    here    the    poems    clverv^e,    f'^t'   in 
Syre   Gewene   end    the    Ca .'  1  e    the   Chrie    vows    tne   following   aay 
to   reform  bis   ovll   ways    --    lOi*   twenty  years   he    nas  chqh 
slayl  its   who  disobeyed   hlra   --         L^e    In  The    Carle, 

he    bids   Gawain   strike    off   ::.i3   heec.      Qawain   does    so,    anc   a 
handsoBie   knlgnt   sterds  up,    fli.oae   enohantment   /.es    to  last 
until   a    knignt   of    the   ho'.md   Table   should   ceoapitc-te   nim. 
Ttie   characterization   of   Gewain   in   ©e .  ..ese   poeiwa    can 

be  seen  from  the  followlTig,  two  quotations,  tne  first  from 
Syre  Gawene  btic  tne  Garle,  end  the  seocnd  from  The  ^arie» 
The   ^iInll8^itley   and   tne   differences    cjan  also   ce    seoi: 


He    [Gawsiri]    *'ea   as   niske   as   xayG©    in   b.ur' 

And  j?or-to    styfe    in   euyr-y    atour* 

Waa   non   sc   oou"«jtty  in   cece. 

Deoys   of   a.-inya   wtt-out   less, 

cjoche  ho  wcloe   in  wpr'   /.  pees 

In  r.ony  o    sti'on.Te    lede.    (4-^) 


hfte  t^r?«wa  inj    nas   meeke   cts   meld    In  tznar, 
sfiffe   f.    str'orii^    in   euery   stoure; 
cortoa   wlthout«n   ffabie 


e- 

'to    dlJsAfi    m 
bot. 

oi;  jlfeaitfno.': 

-alii;. 
flj   ne;;  .    bflii  bed  a'sllv 

-„Jn(»®af   ao'i   —   9V3W  I^v«   *ifi   mno 
e   bna    ,aa   aeob   c^awef)      .basri  airi   'i'^'o   niit'iii  nit^Bi}   e. 


iie  was   one   of,  the   rounc    tebic; 
tiie   Knighta  nane   was   Sir  Uawelne, 

that  much  Aors-iip   wfin    '.:   brlttai/ie. 


It   is   perhaps   tyiUcel   oi    liu-    i  m    '..an   lejipcr,    as   oae   writer 

has   pointed   out      ,    tiat  '■'ewein   nods   tne   dau^^iiter  c£   tne   Carle 

'  ■•'    ti.  . 
on    :  llowln .,  day.      fhe  wedding  ocoura    in  both  poems, 

but    AC   need   or^ly  quote   from  S/re   Gawene   and   ttie   Carle ; 

On   tlie  oiorna  wi;ien   uit  was   day  1/ght, 
iiir   G[8Wfiin']    weddyld    J?'5t   lady  bryght. 
That   semely  was    to   ae,    (634-36) 

These   two   poena    seen   to  represent   the   iiandl'.'  "      oterlal 

v»hl  jn  may  originally  have   been  indiijonous    to  e    oortain  erea, 
northwestern  Engla.-jd   —  t'lough  the   Old  French   Chevalier  a 
1 '£pee    would   be    difficult    to   account   for   if   we   adopt   such 
a   hypothesis    --   for   tiiey   introduce  ;r.otif3  wnlcxi  do  not  figure 
in  ar.y  appreciablo    dei_-,ree    in   the    Arti^  racitlon  as   a 

whole    .      To  wnat   extent  Ga/ra'.n*3    caerejttx"   is   dliaped^by  the 
story   iLseif,    and    to  whet   extent    the    traditional   estimate 
oX'   (jawal  Hoad    the    /  "fficult    to    toil. 

■ridi-a    iiafe    to    c   riclado    tiiit    lia.vain   wbs    j.josen   to 
plBj    ll*e    prlnclpril   rolr  ■  se    two   poena   because   of  his 

reputation  for   courtesy,    d:i6  because   rf   some    infiltration 
from  Old   Fre  rje    of  his   reputation  as   «   libertine. 

The   Bn.7li:-h  &  :t  ,  ,    have  moulded   events   ' 

•   way  that  no   at  .      g   stt^j  :.Lo3   to   Oawain'a   name. 


••w^i  .    .- 


iiet    irpi-e.. sea   one  most   aicut    tie   uilcdle   fi<n_,liah 
Arthurlen  x-omanoetj    la    their  exceasive  relianofc    on  oio  *  rench 
tnod^l:j.      hj  ff).'   the   treater  bulk   ci    uhe   iin -llah  romances  «re 
e!thfr   tpsnsl;  '  or  edaptetions   ol'  theiies  wnlch  have   alr»8Cly 

been'uaed  by  v&.vloua   Old  ■'rench  writcra.      it   l.s    i^rue   that   the 
Sngliah  hendlers   ol'   chis  timtftrisl   differ  ocjcesionelly  fpom  the 
ppenoh  writers    in  tone   ana   mooc,    and   aere   Melory   la    the   name 

one   filnks   at  flrat,    but   the    "ffiatiere",    to   use   L;h.«i,io.) '  a 
term,    ren.alns    the    sane   even   If   the    "aens"    Le   cifferent. 
One   dialikea    to   cite    aiethine   e?   vsiuc   83    "nationsl   temper" 
to  explain   tne    olfferances    oety*eon   the    Old   -^'rencn   and   klladle 
English  ronia  M-ea,   ana   yet   there   a-se  ;.s   to   re   no  oth'r  way    to 
8(    onnt  for   tho   bli:nt    s traifeLLrorwtirdnesd    ol    Uie   f-jn(.:llah 
t.'estaient   cf   thia  n,a  t   rial   aa    00:1.^0 reo   *ith   tne  minute 
psyoholosii*^fil   analyaia    —   especially   in  muttera   of   love   — 
*hloh  the   Prenoii   writers    inculfe    in.      There   fcre   exceptions   to 
tMa    ceneralizstion    In    the    fiocVs    of   coth   lantrufiv-ea,    oi    cfurse, 
but    in   the  lualn    the   reitark    '3    true. 

^Itn   the    ijngllsh    -vjncern   for   t«ction    nn-o    the    ^'re-icli 
concern   for   passion    In    nine,    it   Is    perhfipd   easy   zo   «.  icerstand 
why   8'ich  a    theme   8.s   Coux-tly   Love    la    little   elaborated    In   the 

English   romanoea.      Calory    aeer^a   entirely   unaympa thetin    l^ 
the    code    of  Ccurtly  Love,    a  id   thoae  authors    wno   allo.v   it   to 
play  any   role    in    i  ho   eotion,    sucn   es    the   ^-uthor  01    ol_r  v^ewaln 
anc    the    Green   Knight,    ^e  leraliy   look   en    it    ^itr.  ciai'avjur. 
Pei'hflpE    this  aiao  exfiia-na   «hy  txie   >iaw«in   of   tne   :ii'»giish 


tis  Ji,  ,r.- 


.-fc.r  r-  r^t   oiii 


j^.    t,^^ 


£•  Isrsj    £e- 


'clt 


rorrfi  '  • '.  i-nf^'-ea  !n  unattsched  Bmoura' only'iihan  these  romancos 

f.r''   b?sed  ^r  ri :   rench  orlrinfls;  wier©  no  aoarce   as  coen  found 

for  the  w^r-k,  Gpwaln  olth-r  -nda   p  Marrying  the  da.-.Bol  concerned, 

OP  h"5  hps  no  love  oifnir  st  all.   Ihe  English  6a«aln  la  reuiark- 

abiy  chsste  !  ■;  lo-rpnrJson  -vlth  his  Pi-ench  countorpHr't .   It 

ia  also  ai/nlf loa-it,  I  tn'ak,  that  Gawein  la  nie.'ried  in  only 

one  Cld  Prenca  rojianso  --  boa udojo,  by  Bobert  de  Blola  -- 

B'\r2   even  .lere  tnc  merrlai;®  ia  a  3ort  of  device  to  nbt    viu^ 

action  poin  •  rat'-icp  than  the  focsl  point  of  the  story. 

One  final  point  needs  commenting  on.   Thoae  Middle 

English  romances  fcr  which  no  Old  French  original  exists  — 

The  Avowing  of  Arthur.  The  AwntjX'S  cfr  Arthure,  Iho  t.vo  poems 

on  the  marrlaRe  of  oir  Gf;/aln,  the  two  Carle  poems.  The  Turk 

end   fiowin,  and  Sir  Ge wain  end  the  CTveen   iini  -';ht  --  rll  cf  tneae 

poems,  pltner  by  Tiielect  c  r-  by  acme  specific  ^eof^raphicel 

reference,  point  to  n  particular'  locf^lity,  northwestern 

En  lane  and  southwestern  -^cotlarid.   Thlii  argues  stron-ly  for 

tho  ess'imption  that  ^n  this  ares  the  tjnuvinian  tradition  aad 

oeep  roots.   "hether  thfi  -trathclyde  Britons,  inhabitants  of 

this  resion,  vore  the  orl  Inators  cf  tae  traditions  w.iich  ivere 

66 
moulced  i.ito  rr.cre  familiar  forma  by  Cld  Irench  Aritei'S   ,  or 

..hether  through  some  unknown  cause  Gewa In  became  r;uch  a 

popular  hero  vith  poets  cf  t  .Is  t^rep  that  they  .vove   new  teles 

with  him  as  the  central  figure,  it  is  strange  to  fine  a  ^rcup 

of  rom  nces  flourishing  I  i  A;8t  is,  sj  la.'  as  ::-ne;,xish  literature 

is  concerned,  an  isolated  localitj  .   And  w:ieQ  «a  i^emeu^ber  t*i4 


Ui 


■affp       ^f; 


■oibbiM    ♦»teOriT      .f  'J   vnlcinefmor    fh<?f»n    J'^T.forj    t^"!!   ©r.O 
•  -    .  u  .  -.-.      .  iv.  .  .  .  .  ^•moT  (' 

'    fiT&ott  %<i   'ic    ^r  ^1 


Oolr  -r    .;    and   '-^fwp  '  r ,    r^'f^    tho*»rh   its   two  main  Ino' dents   oen 
be   pera]lell«ci    *  risture,    nten?    fr^rn   the 

S8:7ie   arci  .  a  Dok    on    ; 

orljrlncj    home    of   sorr*   Arthurlen    t names. 


nav 


f^f 


r  r  ^  r  f  j» 


o>~  1    ea 


•  asfce 


liAAiN  Ail  A  VlUiilfc  Li-'  tl'X'J    L£(jii  .cnA .  ICK 

i-rotn  ^ur  survey  it  ia  eviaent  that  tne  "Jauviniaa 

tradition  is  a  varied  one.   Gawaia  appears  in  works  marked, 

on  the  one  naad,  by  the  sober  demeanour  of  the  'hronlcior, 

ana  on  the  ctiier,  by  the  insolent  leer  of  che  rebliau  .vriter. 

He  moves  ttirough  the  refinod  verse  romanods  with  their 

emphasis  on  leisurely  psycholo^^lcal  analysis  ano  through 

the  long,  complex  prose  *ork3  *ltn  taeir  juvenile  ooncern  lor 

the  multiplication  of  adventures.  ^^   fij^ures  alike  In  the 

courtly,  sentimental  poem  and  in  the  crude,  vigorous  minstrel's 

bellao.   In  ancrt,  '^very  type  of  aiediaeval  story-teller  mana  jed 

to  retail  part,  at  leoat,  of  the  varied  traditions  oonoeraing 

Gave  in. 

For  oonsistericy  in  the  conception  of  tiawain's  character 

1 
we  must  look  to  tx^e  cl-ironicles.   It  is  true  tiiat  one  work 

deprecates  the  role  Gawain  plays,  but  this  ^crk  .  s  of  a  local 

nature  and  is  relatively  unimportant.  In   view  of  the 

enormous  bulk  and  popularity  cf  the  romance  tradition,  it  is 

remarkable  to  see  ho>v  Insistent  the  uhronlcle  writers  are  on 

keeping  tueir  material  free  from  oontamination,  ano  on 

according  Gawain  uniformly  hit;h  ^raisa.   This,  for  the  moat 

part,  unadulterated  tranamisaiori  of  material  we  attributed 

2 

to  the  mediaeval  conception  of  history  . 

^17 


,bdiiiisixi  (i>i'icw  ai   aiaoqqe   alswaO      .eno   belnav   a   &L   colilbB'ii 

:'id'   9ai  lo  iKcnassioo  'riadoe   ectJ   xd  «bnari  ano  edd   ao 

.latflitt   i;aIIoal   ad;t    lo   leel   it\9Loaal    ec.3   \di    ,iei^do   ad^   no   baa 

nlaxio   £i;riw  aeinamcx  oaiav   benilei   edJ  lisuoi^id   aavom  aH 

d^jjoiia;)    ^ao   Bia\,X«n3   Xaol^oXoiio^as^  xLoiual^L  no   uttBdqof 

io1  oneonoc   BLinswl  iloiii  tl^iw   Bi<':iofi   saonq  xelqmos    tS^K>X   ad;} 

add  aJt  &>Llla  e«iu;j^l'l  ai:^      .esau;ffiev6a  lo  aotimolLqtilim  adtf 

B^Xaiianlm  8uoio<gIv    «ebuno   »d^  fli   baa  maoq  Xa.^namldn»B    ^xLiiuco 

sXX&J-x'ioac    Xaveeibejs  lo   aqv,^    ^leva    ^d'sode   nl      .baXi«i 

noo--enoXcHbBi5   boZiav   qlH  lo   ,c^eo9l   ;}a   ,;Jnaq  Xlatfai  cj 

la^Of'  ilBwaO  lo   t\ot3(.[9oa:)o    od;J   ol   ^onadaleitoo   10'^ 

1 
ill  '3d7  atinj   el   cri      .eeXoJtnovlo  add  od  itooX  itum  •» 

XaooX  a  lo  B-    li'xow  aldJ   ctud   .a^aXq  nXawaO  eXon  tii  «e;faoeiqab 

9ii3   \o  «olv  ai      .itiiSnoiiialau  ^XavXdaXoi  el   baa  e' 

4ac*x   add    l.-  x^-^'i*^^<i^^  ^<'*  )iXud  aifORncn;; 

.olncuio   adJ   itta^alafll  wod  aae   oJ   aXde 

I'l   aa'xl  XaXiad^BiS  iiXad*}   &niqa~>:^ 

}Boa  ad^f  nol   «aIdT      .aalaiiq  dsild  Y,XcR'30l2mi  fiJta«a6  sisXb<xoaoa 

b»d  i4  fra^aie-  '.^a 

.    V  .'.  laonoa  Xav 


218 


So  fsr  83  the  Old  frenoh  verse  romances  ere  concerned, 

the  gi^eetest  influence  in  the  dellneatintj  and  flxi^ 

Oawaln's  chersater  was  tnet  of  Cnretien  de  Troyea.   Ab  cannot 

know  Wioat  Chretien  found  In  oral  tradition  concerning  Uawaln; 

we  do  know  that  whatever  he  found  he  moulded  In  ecoordanoe 

with  the  virtues  obtaining  In  the  cultivated  and  refined  society 

of  the  court  of  '..erie  de  Champagne.   It  is  perfectly  all  rlj^nt 

3   - 
to  argue,  .;ith  Loorais  ,  that  the  character  Gawain  goes  back 

originally  to  seme,  for  nbn-Celtioists,  obscure  Celtic  warrior 
with  the  unpronounceable  name,  Gwri  Owellt-euryn.   But  what 
we  must  not  overlook,  in  the  scnolarly  desire  to  trace  every- 
thing back  to  its  origins,  la  that  for  Old  i"i»encn  and  most 
of  Middle  English  romance,  the  essential  spirit  of  the   eare 
was  determined  by  Chretien,   Chretien  set  the  fashion  wnlch 
established  the  course  of  Arthurian  romance  for  the  mediaeval 
period.   Subsequent  writers  nisy  debase,  disagree  with,  or 
misunderstand  trxe  spirit  of  romance  as  enunciated  by  Chretien, 
but  their  works  owe  their  origin  to  his  exaniple. 

For  t:.is  .-eason,  I  think,  the  Old  French  v  rse  rouianoes 
follow  so  closely  the  conception  of  Ggwaln's  character  which 
Chretien  endowed  them  *ith.   There  is  ambivalence  1-  Ciaretien's 
attitude  to  this  herb;  consequently  there  is  ambivalence  in 
the  attitude  of  aia  aucceasora.   i^et^fij-'ding  Courtly  Love 
Chretien  must  follow  the  "donnees"  of  the  material  supplied 
by  Countess  iv!arie.   If  these  "donnees**  elevate  Lancelot  to  a 
level  aoove  Gawain,  even  though  Gawain'a  position  is  unrivalled 


ax;; 


(bdrci'donoo  ^   9d.i   act  lel  oJ. 
;fonnet  v   'jdrfoe 

-;-9wi.ij"v.;  .vadw   iari;*  »Oi'ii 

"       '  L  'J  O      ,  •  5  B  i  0 .:  J  J.  •-/  J  -  r;  0  £      'iO  i     »  3  .U  _:  -j",     O  J"     ' ; 

;  i^5    j^.d      .ii<,ii5»-uXIawC  liwti    ,9mar.  •Xdsv 

-^•x»v«  •ofB'xcr  o;}   e<xX«*b  ^IiAXocioe   ad;}  at    « 

Bdafa  Y 


219 


in  Chretien's  other  romances,  the  Inconsistency  must  be 

allowed  to  stand.   Sl:fillarly  wltn  the  iJrell.   i/v'orkln;.-  from 

the  be  ok  provided  by  Count  Phllinpe  of  Flanders,  Chretien  must 

raise  Perceval,  s  knight  .vao  hitherto  had  been  only  a  name  in 

Ered  and  Climes,  to  the  rank  of  the  Grail  Winner,  or  st  least, 

to  suggest  this  was  his  intention.   And  since  the  implication 

Is  that  the  Grail  Winner  and  the  oest  knl-int  in  the  ./orlu 

are  to  be  identified  —  an  implication  developed  by  the 

continuators  of  the  Perceval  —  we  are  again  faced  witn  sn 

inconsistency.   Tne  Continuation  by  Herbert  de  NSontreuil  resolves 

the  problen  in  favour  of  i'eroevsl  and  devotes  moat  of  its 

bulk  to  chat  xjero;  Gerbert  even  uses  lue   hint  supplied  oy 

Chr«9tien     e-rnlng  ^a#ain's  relations  «ith  *.nien  as  o  -ceens 

4 
to  highli."ht  the  virtues  of  Perceval  .   Gerbert 's  Continuation, 

hoirever,  oo.-nas  fairly  lete  end  is  ^Tobfibly  influenced  oy  the 

prose  rorances,  espenlaliy  L£  Queate  del  Saint  Graal.  Speakin.? 

generally,  the  picture  of  ^awsin  presented  b ;  the  Old  French 

verse  romances  is  »  reflection,  with  only  ocoaalonel  and 

slight  distortions,  of  the  i.',8,^e  offered  ^y  Chretien. 

The  Old  French  prose  ro.manoes  are  responsible  for 

several  innovatlo.is,  particularly  the  Vulgate  fiomancea 

and  the  prose  Tristan.  Once  the  conception  of  a  continuous 

history  of  the  Arthurian  kln<<dom  was  launched,  it  was  possible 

to  rationalise  the  inconsistencies  contained  in  tne  verse 

romances.   This  conception  axlowed  tae  i-rose  writers  to  celebrate 

the  ..loi'ies  of  a  certain  hero,  say  Uawaln,  at  one  point  in  the 


QX3 


isi/ft:   ne. 

fT.'    »w«'  need  b»rf   r.tteric^J,.. 

;*  "io  xnai  

no'  (pe.tr*'    8»(<   »&w   » f'f.i    T 

^i^BOJB  8»-tov©fc  bus   XeveoiaH    "i 


■■ftf     •*     «»     R' 


220 


chroaologlc&l  develpp.uent  of  tne  story,  uno  then  to  supplent 
that  hero  b/  anotlier,  say  Laacelct,  at  a  later  period  of  tloie. 

W«  have  already  seen  the  explicit  consolousnesa  of  this  oevloe 

5 

at  the  hands  of  the  author  of  th^  ;k3ort  ^rtu  .  The  Idee  oi    a 

chronological  aequenoa  of  events,  then,  allowed  the  mediaeval 
story  tellers  to  x'^ationallae  the  replacement  of  one  hero  by  another 
but  It  does  not  explain  why  this  replacement  should  take  place. 

To  unaerstand  why  Qawa^n  saould  cede  xils  position  of 
pre-en .:.  -noe  to  Lancelot,  one  must  unaerstand  txie  enormous 
popularity  oi  the  doctrines  of  Oourtly  Love.   This  popularity 
is  amply  attested,  I  think,  by  the  prose  Lancelot^  »   v^ork 
which  occupies  three  volunea  ofSooBaer'a  edition  of  the  Vulgate 
home  nee  s.  Ths  fortunes  aid  misfortunes  of  Lancelot's  relations 
with  the  ;ueen  in  this  enormous  compound  of  knig/it-erranty 
and  arrant  adultery  completely  usurp  tne  attention  and  veneration 
which  was  formerly  granted  to  Gawala.   fay  the  ti;ne  one  has 
reached  tne  Xort  Artu,  so  thoroughly  nave  the  two  characters 
been  brought  into  opposition  that  it  la  their  omr.ity  which 
provides  the  mainspring  of  the  tragedy.   Lancelot's  emeri*enoe 
•  3  the  queen's  lover  and  protector  end  as  tne  onief  kni^;ht 
in  the  Arthurian  kingdom  is  entirely  ^ue,  I  think,  to  Chretien's 
introduction  of  him  as  tne  Lourtly  Lover  personified.   The 
Old  Fre'iCXi  prose  romancers  exploited  the  popularity  of  this 
theme,  ano  so  Gawaln  was  deposed  from  xiis  hlt^h  position. 

This  deposition  aid  not  really  require  a  tnoroUiih 
blackenln^;  of  Oewain's  caaracter.   but  the  autiior  of  tue 


to  no  J. 


•iq   a^xiJ  ^d    ,;in 


.iiw 


noiJa-xenov  aaa  nois^nado 


aon^.i^ioiSQ  s'j 


221 


prose  rriatan  tooK  it  upon  liraseif  to  do  t;vi«.   Ttte  only  coa- 

oeivabla  reason  this  writer  oould  have  i or  this  action  would 

be  the  tbou^ht  that  those  neroes  whom  ue  desired  to  exalt 

would  shine  more  Drli^ntly  against  the  villainous  blnckneas 

of  a  debaaed  Gnwain.   Suob  a  course  of   action  nea   completely 

arbitrary,  and  its  arbitrariness  is  amusingly  underlined  by 

tne  efforts  of  tne  anonymous,  though  obviously  incensed, 

Gewaln  oartiaan  to  eradicate  his  nero's  name  from  those  ait- 

6 
uations  where  Ga^uin  plays  an    iornoble  role  .   What  gave 

the  prose  Tristan  its  influence  so  far  as  the  Gauvlnian  trad- 
ition la  concerned  wns  ita  ;'rei»t  len,';;th  and  its  Arrester 
popularity.   More  rcenusoripta  of  this  work  survive  than  of 
any  otner  Old  rjcencn  proae  romance;  so  the  inportanrje  of 
tnls  work  can  readily  be  seen.   ^nd  #hen  one  remembers  that 
llslory  utilised  this  romance  for  part  of  his  English  Arthuriaa, 
and  thst  from  Malory  Tennyson  drew  hla  ujisconceptions  con- 
oernlng  Gawain,  one  underatands  ho«r  completely  effective  this 
anonymous  author  nas  been  in  blaokeuint/  Gswain's  name  in 
Ent^lish  literature  aince  the  fifteenth  century. 

Just  83  tne  displacement  of  t*fi«ain  through  the  8(.:ency 
of  Courtly  Lo/e  was  su^y^^ested  by  the  Aorka  of  Chr6tleri,  so 
too  was  Gawsin's  debasement  when  brought  into  contact  with 
the  Holy  Grail.   Por  Chretien,  of  course,  the  holy  f-rai.L  *t3 
simply  the  "Oraal";  l»>ter  writers  attached  the  adjective  "tjaint 
Later  writers  also  —  In  particular,  the  author  of  the  Cueste 
del  Saint  Ciraal  --  attached  a  stiaclf Ically  Christian 


I^ 


-n  :   rfoo? 

"dXtdeXqaoo   e  <  do:  ' 

to  nad^   9\  ow  elrfj   lo   ti<ilioaiT 

r  "drffdmei  eito  n©riw  bn"      .noes 

;A  fisiXgiia  eld  lo  ^*Xt> 

•1.  :>il  Abns  ?; 


e-7^ 


222 


interpretation  to  tne  Grail  3tox\y.   1  ils  unknown  author 
cf  cno  (.ueete  ^ava  a  Clsteroion  oiaa  to  lAs    version  of  the 
atory,  so  that  .haatlty  bece:?(e  the  "al-ie  que  noi"  cf  the 
Orali  «j.ri,ier.   Uhen  the  autaor  of  trie  k.ueate  »irot©,  Gav*iain 
hac  beooD<e  to  sors.e  dCfree  a  Iloentlous  fijL:,ure.   By  making 
ohaatlty  the  paramount  virtue  of  the  Cirail  winner,  tnis 
fcuthor  eutomaticelly  exolnded  (iawaln  from  bhe  oo  i.pany  of 
the  select.   Ihe  Gewein  he  presents  us  with,  therefore,  is 
a  debased  figure  roir.ote  from  the  finest  conception  of  the 
Old  French  verse  romances. 

The  Micdle  in^lish  rorr.ances.  Insofar  83  they  are 
modelled  on  Clo  rrdc:!  originals,  adhere  pretty  strictly 
to  the  picture  of  G8*ain  in  tcose  originals,   un  tne  other 
aand,  t  le  Middle  iintJish  romances  for  wnich  no  Old  rrenoh 
original  exists  are  uniform  in  taoir  attitude  to  Gewrin: 
he  is  Artfiur's  first  lieutenant  ana  tne  flower  cf  ahlvelry. 
Tiiese  *orks  were  written  long  after  the  great  period  of 
creativity  in  Olo  frenon  literature,  and  loa^i  after  the 
debaaed  Gawaln  nea  been  introcuced  oy  the  px'ose  romance.... 
Furthermore,  triey  were  eii  prooucea  in  a  particular 
geogra,  .'.leal  reyio-,  the  nortawest  Midlands  and  southwaatern 
Scotland.   <Vhy,  then,  were  t  leso  writers  able  successfully 
to  resist  the  atron>:  influences  of  the  Old  rrench  prose 
romances  with  their  tendency  to  defame  the  character  of  ^^ewein? 

The  answer  to  tiia  question  lies  in  a  combination 
cl'  causcii.   x-irat,  poetic  iradition  is   anerally  more 


9sa 


9tiii   lo  "ftofi   aup   •nit*    ttdi  •«*aed   (Jlc^etdo   ;}«!<>  93    ^-roia 
cia«ai)   (•;}oi(»  e<a#nP  •£{}  lo  X9*iiun  ^o^q  aadit     .<x»>  n. 

ftl:i#    t^ofmlii  ilftiSBO  •iiJT   lo  ■^tf'xlv  4awo«a^i3SI  94;^  x;}i:t2!!r'o 
lo  i(na<iJi!Oo   ftd^  aBonl  fiiftVftD  bftbuiexe  xIX«9l^aflie4Mft 

add  Ic  noltfq»9nos   ^eoei'l   »c4  aio^l   eioaav  •aunil  b»«adtb   e 
.■    •  ;  tseonftieoi  sKri^r   -orsn'^  bXO 

en*  xB<^<^  «ft  iftlosdi  ^ftaoaftffiQi  t(elIaJ!)(S  ei 
^lo 9 ii^e  %;rtf»'iq  *%dll&ft    .aiaeisi'^c   r.or.s^. 
n^diio  auJ   ^      *8Xa0laia9   aaoild  nX  < 
-   tidr.ai<x<d'-biO  on  do  tarn  30I  aeooMMi  iieiXaf>>el  »XboXM  af.v 

:  i.J:«veO  0^  sl>i;di^^s  aXaiU  al  molXtiu  ana  atfrfxe  Irtrrlvlrtc 
.fsX^vidc   lo  nawoXl  ea^   bfia  slasoatfualX  i^iXl  t 
:   ia»^  •OS  aaill»  s<ic>X  r^Til-.v  ^-r- 
i'^Jlsr^ncX   &fui   «aiu/tfB'xa;]  . 


S23 


conservative  then  prose  fiction  so  tar  bu    Arthurian  romance 

is  concerned.  It  is  slgnU'lcent  that  the  verse  roaBnces  *hich 

depert  from  the  uaual  Geuvlnian  tradition  of  Olu  French  verse 

have  been  influenced  by  the  Olc  trench  i^rose  romances.   Thus 

we  ahoulo  norn.ally  expect  to  fine  the  Middle  iyiglish  verse 

romances  //hich  &re  Incepenoent  oi  ^Ic  i-'renca  ox'iginels 

aocordin  ,  Gowaia  a  position  of  pre-eminence,  eac  tnls  is, 

in  t'ajt.  What  »ve  do  find.   A  contraolction  of  this  state  of 

affairs  wculd  be  very  clfflcult  to  account  for. 

Secondly,  there  la  the  clatinct  probability  that  the 

Middle  Ehgliah  v  rae  romances  belong  to  a  tradition  which  la 

quite  separate  fron.  the  Old  French  trftdltlon.   In  «»n  exhauatlva 

study  of  ii'.s^   Gawein  and  the  Green  Knight  and  the  other  poema 

7 
of  the  seme  dleiecc  and  provenience,  Else  von  .^chsubert 

concludes : 


Zun^ohsu  (..{Irften  unsere  Ausf ?ihrunfeen  wohl  klar^estellt 
haben,  aasa  --  ebenao  wie  GGK  —  auch  die  "Awntjfrs  off  Arthure", 
"Gola^roa  and  Gewane",  uiic  uie  "Ave  ^yn^e  of  Klny;  >krthor" 
nloht  ala  nach  franzdaiachor  GesaD.tvoriage  gearbeitet  zu 
denken,  s::ndern  els  englische  Orlgiaalkoiupoaitlonen  unzu- 
aahen  sine. 


Mlas  von  Schaubert  reaches  this  concluaion  after  a  compariaon 
of  the  structure  of  the  poerris;  the  evidence  we  nave  adauced 
concerning  the  character  cf  Gswain  in    the  Miodle  Engliah 
romances  which  nave  no  Old  ^renon  counterparts  helps  confirm 
her  concluaion.   because  so  much  attention  naa  oeen   directed 
to  the  Old  Frenon  aourcea  of  ?48lory'a  Morte  Derthur,  and  uecpuae 
of  the  rlchnesa  of  the  Old  I'renoh  Arthurian  tradition  in 


MS 


:if)i'Xi;uJ  BO'iq  audi   ftvx 

tc   a;}a:rB   9,IA3    lo  noiJoXbBidiioo  A     nbiill  «t  •>*  «tadv   ,4F»ftl  fli 

si  dolxtw  aolilbani  a  ocf  s'i<'-^a^  A9ontnaoi  »b*I'>v  dillsxfi   elbbl  / 
0vi^Bij«fix»  £14  ol      .aolilbani  iiott^'^i  blO  odd  inal  •;tB<i«q»«  s^lup 
•aeoq  "sedJfo   oci)  baa  ^ri^^rui  Ke>aO  oo^   baa  nlgwaO  -^itf  lo 


a*dad 


d'iJ   liai'i-'. .  .■;'_'i.   biO   tu-«    10   ;.^3i.ii,- 


224 


comparlaon  with  the  Middle  English,  it  has  been  eaaurned 

--  quite  erroneously,  I  believe  --  that  uhe  Middle  English 

tradition  is  p  poor  copy  of  the  Old  French.   A  more  fruitful 

approach  would  be  to  study  the  differences  between  the  tv/o 

traditions  and  sttempt  to  shed  li/,:ht  on  tr.e  essential  nature 

of  each.   The  attituce  to  Gnwaln  exhibited  by  esch  tradition 

rfcuid  be  tn  Impcrtant  factor. 

Sosie  of  those  differences  can  be  suggested  here.   In 

an  Introductory  note  to  his  edition  cf  th«  Vul^;Bte  Romances, 

8 
Sommer   explains  the  debasement  of  Gewain  in  the  following 

•ay: 

Syr  Lancelot  is  a  Frenc.i-an  by  oirtn  and  edu;jption,  the  ideal 
type  of  the  French  knight  of   the  twelfth  century,  *ith  all 
hla  most  orilliant  qualities  and  f aa Its;  ae  was  deliberately 
desi,inec  to  usurp  --  end  he^s  usurped  --  the  place  of  tx^e 
Celtic  or  britisij  htro  S^r  Gawain,  who  hao  until  tnen  been 
unanimously  acclaimed  tne  best  kni,ht  in  the  world,  the 
foremoat  cf  trie  companions  of  Arthur's  celebrated  Round  Table, 

Because  of  tne  su  port  it  offers  our  oontentioi,  it  is  tempting 

to  allow  tills  statement  to  stPnd.   however,  it  needs  to  be 

modified.   It  is  n^t  because  Lancelot  is  ulti.;-.ately  of  French 

origin  an-  Gawain  oi"  Geltl  i  or  britiah  that  Gawain  is  dep^-iaed 

9 
froR.  his  high  position  ;  indeed,  Loomls  has  demonstra  tsd  that 

botn  heroes  derive  their  origin  f r  m  Celtic  acurces.   Further- 
more, the  Gawain  of  Chretien's  poems  is  completely  Gallic 
In  his  manners  —  a  fact  w.iljh  accounts  for  much  :f  the  charm 
of  Chretien's   depiction.   But  after  tp.e  contamination  of 
Arthurian  ro;;:ance  b^  Courtly  Love,  after  a  flesh  and  blood 


^^ 


freKj/eei}  ntt>d  BUti  ttlbblM   edit  jcUIw  iio«Jt«si«qiaoo 

ete2I»fta'»Ibblli  ©!la   iad&^^  ^v»tX»<f  I    ,  ^ •£»"*» rto^mt*  flMtlup  -r- 

snxr^fscr  Xsl^rtsa&o  •/!;)  no  iJ^d^iX  b^tl^  o$  ^qme^jTe  brui  Bnoltlbet^ 

fli      v>*s«><i  b<i;ftieiiaim^v  ed  nao   8eon©^«%llb  andBti;*  vio  east;. 

8 
jltilwbliol  9tii  111  atswai)  Ic  ^aeomaadab  eri^  Bn.iaiq;X9     'xeoimoS 


IB: 

\^  ,  --  J  A  *J«    i      tiilfl       f. 


22b 


IbCj    --  i>o  to  spesK  --heci  bean  auostituted  £oc   an  ebitract 

10 
ideal  8;  -.'•  moLivetlng  foroe  oi"  Ciilvalr^-   ,  wnetraer  it  were 

Lt.routiii  a  (particular  Kind  or  aociai  struoturo  ooteining  et 

11 
the  t  '  •;   ,   r  throutrh  some  quirk  in  tJie  national  temperament, 

or  through  cnuaes  unkacwable,  trie  therr.e  of  Hdultery  and  the 

heroes  of  tnBt  theme,  Lanoelot  ana  Xrieten,  reached  a  pre- 

eoilnenje  In  Old  ^ronoh  prose  fiotlon  .versnadowed 

the  position  etta'ned  by  '^'e-valn.   '^hen,  in  the  fourteenth 

centurj  .  Enfrlish  wr-itora  ^ere  busy  oreotinp  e  new  lltersture 

in  the  vernacular,  the  theme  of  Courtly  Loi/e  *Ba  explored, 

weighed  in  t;  e  bslar.ce,  and  found  iyantinp  as  a  aode  for 

govornlnr-'  conduct.   fnis  is  mace  abundantly  clear,  I  think, 

Ik. 
by  Chaucer's  Troilua  and  Crisayde,  by  tne  Franklin 'a  Tale   , 

end.  If  the  interpretation  of  the  poem  offered  in  tnis  study 

is  correct,  by  Sir  Qawain  and  tx^e  Green  Knight  rIso.   It  is 

in  this  sense  taet  Sonmer's  sta cement  concerning  Lancelot 

and  Gawaln  is  cjorreat:  botn  heroes  represent  ^arti:;ul8r 

aspects  of  eacn  individual  national  conaciousnesa,  end 

those  aspects  are  op^.  csed.   But  t:.ia  opposition  explains  n.-^t 

why  Lancelot  superseded  Gfi»vain  in  Old  Froncr.  prose  romances, 

but  why  Oflwein  survived  undebesed  in  original  Middle  ^nilish 

romances.   Lancelot  came  to  embody  certPln  Idervls  ^hich  appealed 

to  French  uudienocs  of  the  twelfth  md  thirteenth  centui'ies. 

These  Ideals  did  not  appeal  to  En^illah  audiences  oi"  the 

fourteenth  and  flftf-entn  centuries.   Conseiuently  ^a.vein 

retains  ais  position  of  superiority  In  ori7,irial  fcji.rliah 


ista 


••i»»  3,1,  t^d^tocim    t      V'*^-  .ini;>»vl*e» 

s^W^B'xs^lI  war:   a  ^nl#09ic  ;%StfC(   «i«ir  e^ecfinw  liclXsaA    «^<SiiJnec 
\t  lallo  n- 


226 


Artluurian  cornfnce. 

A  furtner  difference  between  01*-  French  a-id  Middle 

Bngliah  >»rthurl8n  tradition  is  found  in  the  Grail  tieme. 

15 
Ascoi'dlnti  to  ^.-ella   , 

The  le  :end  of  the  Grell  is  the  their.e  of  but  two  pJecea  in 
iSnscliau  before  Malory,  Joaop:!  of  '-^rithmathie  end  Lovelion'a 
History  of  the  Holy  Grpil.  £-oth  of  these  poems  are  versions 
3  of  the  (ira'nd  iSainl.  (iraQJ .  ,  . 

In  other  Atrcs,  whatever  ^e  find  in  Middle  iin<llsh  romance 
concerning  the  ^rail  atory  in   of  Old  French  origin.   t»e  have 
already  seen  how  certain  writers   n  Old  Frencn  attached  a 
particular  oignificance  to  the  Grail  and  how  thia  aignificance 
«va3  used  to  aebase  the  conception  of  '•'flwain'a  character.  In 
orii^inal  English  Ar.thurian  romance,  liowever,  the  Grail  story 
does  not  appear,  and  hence  the  coc"ro3lve  actio.-)  of  the  Uraii 
on  '-'fiiwain's  ^nai^b  ter  does  not  take  piece.   All  of  t:iese 
causes  in  coi7ibiaation  --  the  conser/atlve  nature  of  poetic 
tradition,  the  existence  of  an  independent  Gauvinian  tradition 
in  the  northwest  of  England,  the  unpopularity  of  the  two 
themes.  Courtly  Love  and  the  ^rail,  which  tended  to  debase 
Oawflin's  character  —  explain  why  Middle  Fhglish  Arthurian 
romance,  nhere   it  is  independent  of  Old  French,  manages  to 
preserve  the  exalted  conception  of  Gawaln's  character. 

i)0  far  fie   have  ciarted  the  course  of  the  Gauvinian 
tradition  through  the  chronicles,  the  Old  'renoh  verae  and 
prcse  romances,  and  the  Middle  i-nglish  romances.   ''e  have 
noted  the  eaaential  differences  between  each  of  these  methoda 


' .  ebfirtflion  n«I' 
Albblti  ban  tiocien%  ttlO  ao^w^^cT  MMattidlllb  fA$iu\  ^ 

CX 


•OCU-.  .Jiiii     iiAi', 

f 


■iS'iliO    i*ijiid;- 


ii27 


Ox    headline   the   tradltloa.      nnet   we  must  do  noxt   is   oonaldar 
soflM   or   the   pi>oblems   raised  by  our  exsxnli.atlo  i   of   th€  yn%ec'.al. 
The   rirst   «ad  ;nost   lin, ortant   of   t.isae   problems    is   etxiical:   by 
*a6t   standard   or   values   are  we   to  measure     iawain's   o.jI'^   de- 
gene'ratlon? 

It   wt,ul6    te   iapossifcle    Ic   a^.pt   an   absolute   standard 
by   wnich   tc  measure   Oawala   a    declirje,    Tor    in   e    Jhciatifia 
aojiety,    the   only  absolute   standard   ^ermieaible    i;?   that 
set   up   by   tiie   cecblcKue.      lo   juOfe^e    Li^o  ijieroea   oi"  >*rthurian 
rommr.ne   tj    t^.e   ten  commandments   Aould   oe    to  condemn    Lnei;!  oil 
wnolesaxe.      Conseq   ently,    *e   must   atteujj-t   to    -.au   e    the   vaiuea 
inaerent   in    :aca   gerro   --   caroaicle,    verse,    enc    yrose   ro:uanje   -- 
and    juaj^e   Gawsin's   cnaracter   oy    those    vaiuea.      It   ;nay  oe 
&r   ueo   tiiat   those   values   do   not  neaeasorily   obtain    in   our 
society.      This    is   true,    but   so   ia    tne   reverse:      our   values 
are   not   necessftrily   those   of   the   i.iiddle  ^tos,    ana   we  xust 
view  GawQln's   degeneration  as  much  aa   possible   taro' gu   the 
eyes    .r  ..is    ..edlaeval   ai  dlence.      For  alter  ail,    tne   dei;«neration 
in   the    ocaceptlon   oi    hi::-    ciisracter-   took   place    in  njedlsevrl, 
not  modern,    litorai   ro. 

iii@    prime   virtue    in   Lne    Arthurian   :;ejtiona   of   Geoffrey's 
hlstorla    la  military   prowess,    e   fact    «-.ioh  la  rellecteo    *n 
the   exuberaace   of  Geoffrey's   oeacriptlo/ia    jf  military  ooabets. 
Ana   for   ^ooffre^,    tiewain   io   tne   Ideal   Arerrior,    tue    "wtilea 
vlrtute   no't.inatlsali-'iua".      For    «8ce,    Geolirey'a    traniilator 
or  porapiru'asei',    the   sojue    txiln^i  is   true,    except   that   *»ace 


tacli»n«n- 


fr. 


•Idieaoa   aa  .  noliav 


223 


Md<is  8  ccasolousneas  cf  ti^e  aociiel  graces  to  t^^a  conception  ol 

14 
Gawala's  o  .a^'a  to>^.   As  vo  :'.otod  ebjve   ,  this  te...perln-i  of   the 

military  idealism  iLay  be  owing  to  ti^e  Ini'luence  oi'   Eleanor 

ol  .'qtltelae,  vnflTe  to  /face's  petroii,  Henry  II.   ihe  uucjeading 

chroniclera  «.iOae  »crk  id  based  ultiir.ately  on  GeolTrey's 

hlatorla  preaccve  tiTila  trscltloa  ci    Gawsia'a  mllitery  prowess, 

*aci  with  only  one  except ICi,  Gawsin's  conduct  illustrstint  the 

virtue  of  physical  cobraye  rscelves  the  chroniclers'  praise. 

.vhen  *e  ii.o^e  from  the  chronl  .les  to  tre  OIC   French  verse 
romances,  we  n.ove  from  the  realu,  of  what  was  thought  to  oe 
history  to  that  ot  what  was  known  to  ;.  e  fictio l   ^nd  while  the 
meolaevel  hii-torifc;.  *&8  governed  by  «  cense  of  responsibility  to 
what  he  considered  ftct,  the  poets  vere  concerned  priu;arlly 
in  pleasing  whet  provea  to  be  the  fickle  taste  of  their  llterery 
public,   (Ciiretien  de  Treves,  it  may  be  eooed,  soerr.a  astute 
enough  to  have  i-eelized  tnet  seme  shaping  of  this  taste  was 
required,  even  though  ne  metered  to  ai3  ^^atrons  wlta  his 
Lfeucelot  ano  jrerceval.  /   in  other  wcrdt;,  tr.e  facts  of  history 
are  abaoluLe;  the  facts  of  fiction  &re  relative. 

The  values  of  the  Clo  ^rench  verse  roiaipnces  sre  besed 

on  a  conception  of  ci.lvalry  which  has  been  influenced  by  the 

coce  Oi  Courtlj  Lcve  —  tnough  we  must  oe  careful  to  dlatinguisn, 

li 
88  Fat.-t-r  Lenomy    warns  us,  between  the  rct-rtly  rcnifirice  and 

the  Courtly  Love  romfince.   The  virtues  of  physical  ccurac^e 

anc  martial  prowess  so  pror.lnent  In  the  cnronlcles  nre  still 

present.   Tne  hero  oX  roinence  miidt  3i:oc«8sfully  uncergo  ooi..bats 


}iilb*e^0ji&   Mil  itfU    .aonjoq   •*«t><i»   c  .  ar|i2s4j;upA    ^v 

.eeia'Sa   '  en*Xr>Jto;an-is   9(ii   %9vtot>*i.  «j|8awo&   iadsx'^^  lo   •u^nlv 
'    BC  c  .B«  iBdv  lo  ril««n  ftcit  (soil  e  ,s«oaaaon 

'  lo  a^8«^  siMail  cdi  •<!  Od^  bavovq  4ftd«  galcfii^ 
■  «•  •le«ir  alfidlo  $«lq»dt  saoe   ^sd;}  basliAe<i  svad  .o;^  dguono 

:•  aoltfotl 


£iB«*on'. 


220 


i..t  a  variety  ol  oddu,  but  a  consciousness  of  woman  has 

been  a^uued  to  the  hero's  ch^^rav^ter.   The  deads  he  perforuis 

are  usuf^lly  on  beaair  of  taa  weaker  sba.   Tnis  consoiouaneaa 

q£.   voix.na  leads  to  the  Introauotlon  o£   sexual  entan^emants 

q£   Che  hero  with  various  woajen,  an  innovation  made  by  .tritera 

«fho  exploitod  the  same  qualities  in  uJ.slr  audience  c.j   does, 

Oi'  diq  lu^til  r^oaatl^r  Mickey  S]  illarie.   A  .riixt  re  zV   sex 

and  hoaicide  ^laa  ilways  been  populai'.   And  juit  as  the 

audiexiie  to  .vajm  aodarn  pulp  fiction  is  addressed  does  not 

jonaider  the  amo^'ous  escapades  of   any  particular  hero 

dero^e-ji'^,  so  the  jue-diaovei  auuience,  until  tue  introt-uotion 

oi  uixiorent  codes  of  value  (one  revolving  around  fidelity 

to  f'  ^l.ii^ld  .voiuuu  2.  ric  steiui&ln^  from   the  Court  of  Love,  tiie 

other  centred  in  v^r^inity  bxq   taking  its  origin  froir:  the 

noiv  jieanlng  attached  to  the  Greily,  fdlt,  ^ve  inay  be  urc, 

envious  i'at->dr  taan  jritioal  of  tne  sexual  .iilsoenaviour  of 

16 
au^  pox''tioular  hero   .   For  this  reason  taere  is  ao  sti£,ma 

attacxidd  to  Uawaia  la  ti^ie. versa  romances  —  outside  of 

Gerbert  da  Montreuil's  (Jontlnuation  of  the  I'ercQ  /al  --  when  „■ 

he  engages  in  waat  strict  aoaern  morality  would  consider 

unbecoming  conduct.   Inaicentally,  it  ahould  be  pointed  out 

thut  Lancelot's  oahavlour  with  woaen  Is  not  always  iripeocable, 

17 
S8  our  analysis  o.  x^laorae.''  above   ,  and  as  the  !«iddly  iiigh 

18 
Oerinan  Lsazelet   reveal.   ^e  ahoula  alsc;  notice  uere  t^iat 

the  degree  of  scurrility  in  tiiesa  stoi'lea  of  sexual  amorallty 

^j  -ytermined,  not  by  Btij   effort  of  an  author  to  degrade 


9&8 


«^aaai9l;inaJa»  J[AiJX*c   lo  noldoubov^iii:    add   o^   e^«oX  r.ano*    i 
»c£it»lbi/tt  •sl^0d3    r>l   e9ld'i:XALf>    ecisa   eiltf   b»di 

(toil  seofe  b»see*ibba  el  nol^f}!!  <^uq  rtisbcMB  muiiw  oS  eov^lbuf 
:.9d.  iBluolitmi  \si»  lo  teta^^poae  eiio^one  «d;t  •(«- 

;   b«o't>«i«  jsnivlovoi  wjo)   «juXttv  to   e9&<>o  ^0f 
0Ci4    «»VoJ   lo  ^iivoO   »ri^  iiio*il  sniflBic4«  tsr^^   aajtQC«  »X£i<Xe    a  c. 

ibliivc  -<-  a»&nACTOi  eci*. 
C9rS«  —  i'^Ii*£2£li  ®^''   ^®  noX;»««nl  ' 

It  w.x«rXXanMME  iraaboai  iolrtda   ^n 


^JiXan 


230 


Gawaln,  but  by  that  author's  attitude  to  worren.  Foe   Gxample, 

It  is  obvious  tnat  Chretien  de  Tro/es  had  more  respect  for 

women  than  did  haoul  de  Houdenc  when  the  latter  wrote 

La  Ven>:,eance  ha fUidel.   toth  authors,  however,  snow  p  hlffli 

regard  Tcr  Oawain'a   charncter. 

hhen  the  amorality  of  sexual  protnlacuity  Is  replaced 

In  literature  by  the  lirjDorallty  of  Courtly  Love,  with  ios 

doctrine  ol"  sllegiance  to  a  aingle  --  though  married  --  woman, 

a  new  conception  oi*  sexual  behaviour  is  Introduced.   As  we 

have  noted,  these  new  ideas  were  introduced  into  Arthurian 

verse  romance  --  seemingly  reluctantly  --  oy  Chretien  de 

Troyes,  but  it  was  principally  tne  pi'oae  romances,  particularly 

the  prose  Lancelot  and  the  prose  Tristan,  which  exploited 

the  p03sibiilties  L,t   this  new  conception.   Aoccrding  to  tne 

Court  of  Love,  cne  amoral  hero  wrio  bestows  his  favours 

indiscriminately  la  out  of  aourt;  henceforth  the  hero  who 

remains  faithful  tc  another  man's  wife  receives  all  the  a^claira. 

By  an  absolute  stendaro,  amorality  and  adultery  nre  -^oth  to 

19 
be  condemnea,  out  tne  absolute  standard  rarely  applied   .   i*'or 

the  moat  part,  writers  were  content  to  follow  the  dual 

standard  set  up  by  an  anonymous  author  of  a  variant  version 

20 
of  the  prose  Lancelot   ,   Tne  passage  ocjura  after  Guenlvere 

haa  oeen  aanished  from  Arthur's  court  at  the  instigation  of 

tne  false  Ouenivere,  ano  lae  queen  speaks  to  Lancelot: 

"meia  li  peonies  .iiS  leu  ce  ^e  que  ie  :ne  cocnai  a  autx-e  ^ue 
mon  ael.i^ieui'  i!ic  neporquant  11  na  si  preudedame  el  tnonoe  .^ul 


oeis 


'  .««»»* Oi'lAlSO        *5'fll«W«0    not    ^'IRTiWl 

•V  sA      .ba9j:ft»dnj^nl   ei  tuoXvBiiAd  Isuxae  lo  noi;^qaonoo  v»fi   t 
aatnuciinA  oSnl   baoirbonlnl   anasr  «»«bi   (sais  aaarfi    ,fte#a^n  #v.ii 
•b  flal^^axlO  %d   --   ^idna^oolai  X-fS^^®o«*   *~   eonamot  at^ov 
XXieIwolrf'ic*<i    ^aaonamci  aaoiq   sAi  xlli^qtor.t'iti  ae»  ii  rfud   »ea^otf 
5a41oIqx!7  rfolriw   ^naffal'iY  a« onq  ari^t  bna  aoJaOnaJ  aee^ltq   srf* 
art*  o*  .v,rribioooA      .ftoitfqiii&ndo   wan   sJ'rt-t  >')   ?*«*.-t,»  f^dJ^Rr 
"'    iii/oval  aJtrf  8W6tfsad  ortw  c^t 

oil«r  oiarf  *i1*  ri;Jiolsafte«!?   ji'i  .^XafstaftlBi-j.- 

.mieloc'B  f!-*^   ir?.   «evf#o;-  ^i'ltBfli  larf^oiie  o*  lulritfJtsl^- 

'i««3   brtabf?***   ©«tjiioede   »di   :»M<*   ^J^-sr 
.„.-.,    ...^     .••vff*'*   fiif  anstfloo   **!•»  8«sa^i'nr   ,o 

no    »?sS«sa<:: 


ii61 


lie   ud.isl   iere   un  ^vant   uiodC-iiol    yoi'  luetru   d   b^sa    ua   3± 
preude    ciieunlief    coj..   uos    aiitea   iriHi3    acatre    aire   no    ^et'de 
ml*   8   la   coi'te^aie  d«l  mond«.      kar   oil    ^al   eat  bueua  al 
monde   est  mals  a   diau. 


Tiila    .:<^.>sti;.e   nia»ces   It   clesr   tua  t.  (iewalii's   cebesemeut    in   .'^onisnces 

wnei'e   the   rnorelity  ol"   Courtl/  Love      reaoKluetee    --    ''la    c(.r- 

teyale    ael  aionde"    —    Is   tu©   result   ol    a   relative,    not   ua 

«osolute,    stanaax^a   of  valuta. 

An  absolute   standard  or   values   does  make   Ita 

a^pearanae    in   *»rtJriurian  roitance,   nowe.er,    Iri   ccnnectioa   *lth 

tiie  holy  Grail,      As   we  migJat  expect,    not   oxixy   aoea   tiie 

ciieraottr   oi   Gowe^n   auITer  wijen  broujjiit   to   Jucgtnent  by    tnis 

standard,    out   ai.»o    ^ae  renown   ol    txie   Kai^^it,    ijOnuelot,      wxiO 

replaced   ^awaln  as    oae   i'irat   nnlgxit   oi   >irtnux*ian   Ciiivalry. 

Once   tne  aiaorblity  oi    Artiiur-Lan  roiuance   uatoujaeo   bj   Courtly 

i»ove,    eic    Lae    iauaorelity   of   >irtJtiurian  I'oiaanje    uncer    tnQ 

tutelage   ojl    v^ourtly  Lo.e,    ar'e   oro-^iit  lace    to   Taaa   Hii,j..   tue 

strinijent  morality    inspired  by    tne   Clatex't;j.an   love   •jI"   daatity, 

like   tne    cjlear  radiance   arranatinjj  iroia   tne   iira^l    itseir,    tue 

pure   ligiit   Ox    tnis   new   at^noard   oi*  values  hlt(iill&iit/S    tue 

faults   o      uoth  ^awa-a  and   Lunoelot,      Tiius    in    tiio   v^ue 3 te    ael 

Saint   Graal  auu    u.u    tJie    I'orlea  /aus  Lancelot   la   uebarrcd  from 

acnievin<    the   quest  ol'   the    sacred   vessel.       Jne    ori.uld   notioef 

novrever,    toat   Lancelot 'a    x'eputetion    ia   vl    uucxi  extent    tnat    the 

Tornjex'   ol   t;aaso    two   wo^'ka   makes   Galahao   —   taa   urail   Jtii-uxec 

par  excelieuoe    ->   of  Lfrncalot's  Kin*      ^ut   ti^e  ausolute    staauaro 

relative;    so   the 

of  icorality  never  proveo   as   pop^^lar  as    txie 


ifjsi 


-.r-  P.ltit    1i 


ii;^!*  oolc^osfirsoo   ni    ,i«»^9W0d   ^ftowfim©^  w»i'ii&C[;JiA   f:2   9«n«i«dq    >; 
«j>ol9Qi  i.o3^   vdi  lo  cnrocAn  sxtJ   e«Xs  Jud   ,bi«bnej'ir. 


.S>OXf?    *1! 


252 


iiti.bi'   prose    Iris  tan    retunn    to   the   etflica    of   Courtly   Love 
wnere   (j«.v«ln    is   ariveri    Lo   G«;ep£r  ae,  tns    xn   the   presence    d" 
Lanoelot   ana   Tristen. 

,iuiil   we   have    cblieo    une   dthicai    st8iiQ&i'>a    la   ootn   t.ie 
oaronxcios   anc    u.ie   ror.ancea    x3,    in  :'uaxlt>,    the   partloul.  f 
aspect    01    wtifit  ma-j   oe    cailfed  acre   generally  litti-ary    ta^te. 
Au   is   ti  uc    txi£t   ueoi  ire^' 'ii   i^iator^a    was   oilered   as   niiitory 
rather   tnan   as   a    M.cki.   oX"   literature,    out    uue   Syirit   cL    this 
•orK   is    i.n   tune   *ith  tae    suirlt    oi    the    li-torbture    oi    tx^e 
tiue.      Literary    tasce,    as   our   survey   naa  revealeo,    is   a   fickle 
miatrass   whoae   c t^ei    interest    is   novelty,      Tne    stuoy   ol    literary 
history   ia    in   iei,,e   .neeaure   a    stuay   oi"   tne   literary   taste   oT 
tne   auQiedce   I'oi*   naoai   li.e    iiterf-ture   was   written,    ana    ti.e 
period   under   ciacusai  .n   is  no  exoe^tion,      ihe  nuncireo   years 
between   tae   appearance   oi'   OeoTfrey's   hit  tcrla   and   the 
prose   Irlsten  reveal  •    ahirtinw.   of   Interest   from  stories   of 
mixitary   adventures    to   stories   <vnere   peroonal   oravery   and 
sentiment   ure    joobineo,      ^-   surpriain^i   cevelopfTient    is    tiie    -nrist- 
ian   interpretation   of   the    orail   wxiior*   introduces   an  appe'  - 
in  cirect   opposition   to    that   of   Courtly   Love,    a    ao:"C    or 
sacred   roif.ar.ce.      in   tne   miast   jL'   sucn  viciisaituoei;    in   lit  ei'fcry 
ta::^te,    it   is   no   worioer   tnat   we   see    a   new  attituue    uev/aiop   over 
the    years   toivex'oa    tne    cneraoter   oi    Gawsin.      inis   new  aitltuae 
is   leas   pi-onounoed   in  tue   verse  roiiian::e8   txian   in   txie   prose. 

Ihe   deu,ana   Lj    tae   literary   public  foi^  different   kinds 
of   stories   led   to    the    introuuct  i  on   oi    dlfxfiiv -.t   heroes,      Ae 


$e8 


-''Csj-ito   :;-T   beialJLo    saw   a^gojali^   «:' v:'"'t'lcJ8»)  daoa    ©an^ 

^  .0   »iii3i)«)3diX   add    ic>   :ll<ii:qa   oa^  d;Hm  vauJ  nJu   al  ilaow 

8lr''>^l   ?  ?!    ,i>«Ia9v»'x  aan  «^«v<sua  lUiO  ae    ,e;i^a«;t  '^ia<x»tX4      .or.. 
.oula   erlT      ."Jlevv-rt  ai   JeoidJfii  1©l/^r    sfrorw  aeai^ttaln 
a^  X*iai9^ II   d  ujja   a  aiiiediim  a^A  i.  xtoisi 

ad;}  bna  aJTio^sIiJ  a*t«*i'*'i^o»*^   'io  aanahtaaqqa  sad  naawJjKJ 
"^(5  ^9fTo#B  jsoil  *a»i^.tnl    10  gnl^llffs   a  X»avai  na^al'igf  ^^T^-STq 
'7sid  Xaaoetaqr  «iaxi«  a«X*»OJe    oi   3a*sxi:>navba  t* 
>  anUf'O X «irt^ s  ^ >ai •  i iqni/a  a     » 0  aaXidtEoa  wx a  mo 

■  -j:ii.iiz  mtv  ^  sstrs   a«  amAi  tnbaam  or 
-•btftliJa  ->v  los^xaaa  atfM  e  -'{   edt 

6 


266 


!iotiaad   Luis   particulcrly   in  our  exe:ainatlcn   of   t.ie   verso 

i'omaaoaa  Wiiere   *a   saw  a  noat  of  n«\»  hoDoa  Introdujod   into 

oiio   old    aoene   --   tlio   Ai»t;hU:*lan  aettiatf  —   :u3X*oe3,    uaoauao 

Uiey  apied   the   limelight,    who   ^reuuelly   diaplaocd    t::e 

batter  known   fit,ure3,      Taua    in  Froiesert's   Meliador    the 

Arthiu'lan  sotting,  remains,    out   the    juiof  aotoi^ij    in  tnis 

^■jtiiint,  ai^o  noa-Artiiurian  rie-u^3.      The   reB^on  way   trie   old 

rigi  i.-.>8   woru   never   oo  mitced    to   redlcaliy  aiiTerent   roles 

prooauly  lioa    j.n    ^he    Mcir  ht   o!    trucitlon  w.iicih  aurrounded   these 

better  known  figures.      Fixed   c.iaraoteriatics    ;et   attached   to 

21 
oertwin  heroes    —   Gpwain   is   always   courteous        and    solicitous 

for  wo. ..en,    Lanceiot    is   elif.ost   always   Guenivere's   lover,    :-8y 

22 
is   6l.viiys    snarp-ton-ued      --   em:    the  aieciaevel   authors   res- 
pected  tnese   lixed   ciei-actGristics.      iienoe   Ua.vain  was  never 
CBdt   in  the   role   of  a    Courtly   Lover;    his   past   would   not 
3t8r;d   it.      Lis   peat    is   els.,    I   think,    tne   reason   A/.y  he   was 
singled   cut   aa   the   ^rota^oniat   in   scurrilous   tales,      a 
solicitude   for  women,    the    trait   Chrtstien   invests   Ga*ain  wita, 
is    3U3ce,-tible   of   various   interpretationa,    ano   so  we   f  1  ;Ci    ^awaln 
rather   ti.an  some   ot.ier  kni^it  as   tiie    criiaf  actor    in  Le 
Ciievtlier  £  1  'E^oe   ano    in    z:.e   xesa   elevatia..,   sectxjrjs   ^.i 
La    Veat^v-snce  fta^^uI-Gel.      Aao    it   is    tua   ini'lue/ice    c.    cuis    trsa- 
ition  l'ro.n   ti^e    verde   ro»;.cti'iCea   w.ii»;  n  nelpa   oepreas   Ga.vs,in*3 
onaracter    in   tne    prose    roma'ices    4»..oae   xor&lit,.    la        ossed    on 
Courtly  Love, 

oUCh,    then,    ia    tue    role    .iayea    by   u-Hwain    in    .lo    rrench 


wdS 


■   •lii.l   ni   «nccio«   laiiio   ads   dx;o   ^tc.lnt^&'i  i,ni^3:^^z   nr'narf:*'!*' 

'f 
Wo  &iU   v*  cio*«9  9i.  »ii'r      .e*juj;ll  tiniiaai^xk-tic. 

o^  bdd30j>^n  dft'j  e9i;l8ii»;}0Bia<:c   baxX'%      .«ie«}i;siXl  nwotiil  i«^(}ftd 
X2 
-.    •0o^Xq1Xq»   oca       euod^iuoo  8\««Xa  ai  i:ilawa6  •<-<-   aaoiad  nXsiiao 

fail   (-sdvoX  a' atavinaijQ  e'^swXa  inotaSn  si   ^loCsanaU   «Aa«0[Vi.. 

-aan  aiotljus  lavaftltox  stU    ia»  --.     isdugno^'-qiada   a^awXa  ei 

««v«i3  aaV  nlav>»f)   e:  ,s9X;lsiv»;}&a^   re   baxll  aaa^ta  fre^oaq 

tsr  ad  \lv  nocaei  au4   «ib^liiJ   X    ,QaI«   al.tfaaq  aiiki     «tfl  bna^a 
*aeIaJ  ayoili'ixioa  al   atiro 'o^ci^   add  aa  dvo  del;,\i. 

cs  ore   ,<r.ci.t«^aiq^6a£ti   aiioiiav    lo  aXdlJtvieQBXfa   al 
-joe  laxac   aad    sa  ;JflA;.*.r.:4  ^5:1^0   aooa  oa.lrt   -rr.rijri: 

.  iavaXa  aaaX  ati .               ■   aocn''l  ' 
aonatJiloi   dA;T   aX  il  oaA      .i_        -id 

;    !'.er>ic,e»o   acXui'dlUatt  aaarifeutct  aaiav   6  J  J: 

.>   baaaci  .. iXsaoia  asoii*   eaoneMiD'S    dadq    aJo  0 


254 


.    ^a   .Vlddle   lin^llsh  rumsace.      i.>e   I'orces   wiiloii  exerted 

their  presdure   cii   tae   sLtltude   oi'   ootii  uutuor  and  public   to 

ti.ls   charrct  r  have    t.ieir  crijjln   in  literary   taste   ana    tae 

varied   cltt   thpt   tsjte   den.anas.      It    la   re.rettaole    t^at   Tor 

English   readers   at  least   tiae   u8*elri  oi"   Lot^iia^J   literature 

Xrom  the   rifteeath   century  onwards    la    j  lieliy    the   doosaed 

26 
i  x^ure    or   the   prose   j^fletan.      Per  ..      i.:.     .  ub3 

Lut    it,    "with  ell    tne   evldeticw       .  ,    bad  making  allowances 

•fhero   allowances   can  fairly  be  made,    Gawein  remains   the   most 

distlnguishod  end    tlie  .uost  hurnan  of  ^rtnur's   kniints." 


04  ;«xl;iuq  biia  ^oas^  to  ^b!Jii;i3^  9tii  no  «»a;i«a»aq 

euJ   caa  e^seJ   ^la*.  atJ   *vad  n  »,1c«tT*'l' 

<io'l  cfH>:^    e>' ci»;}J&'t4ld<s  sX   Jl      «fe:>nttisiii|i  (»Jaa^  <l«a^ 

•>^;  1:52 lift  ftji  eto<i.awac   \'XiJijri*9  xiia^^H'iX'i 

•a&.'tawoxia  ^aijton  L>ita    4buA4.AU    •aiitt£tiiLV«»  diW    II*  a41v. 
^%cis  0£iJ   apiAfli9<i  aiawaO   ,00^^01  ad  filial  aeo   aoouawoXis  aaen 


NOTES 


Chflpter    I 


1.    i-or   H    nigc'Jsaion   of   ti.r    upoblen,    sec  -     . 

"Arthurian  homsnce   and   tiie   iJ«te   oi    tiic   rveiici    at 
Vccene",    L'pHcul'  .::,  1l  ( li-3t  } ,    2>bb-76  ,    fine     H.v":.    Looicla, 
iTrey  of  Monmouth  ana   t/.a   Modena  .olt:    A 

3ee   also  R.S.    and   L.H.    Loorals,    Artaor  .an  Le«:enda 

in    '.>-:dl'-'-Vi;I    Ai-t    ■'.-.>    icx-'i,    1.  5i  ,' ,    o.c-36 .    J. .. . .  . 

Tatlock,    The   LeiienoBrj    niatopy   of  cpitBln    (Berkeley, 
G&llf.,    l.;i,i   )'i    b  -  r  -  i  4 ,     1^    tiie    beet    anc    :aost    :ccent 
3tateir.ent   of   a   view   tvnicii  is  now   paaaln^,  out   of 
favour. 

.ecent   aisouas .  queati.  d/ 

r. C5.    Loomis,    Artfiiirl an    ii^acltioa   and    Chr&tien   ue    Iroyes 

\Hew   York,    iy4J  ; ,    o3-3:J.      HocTTs , ~33 , TT?^,    ^ives  e 

bibliography  of   important  works   on   tala    subject.  It 
snould    be    ^..Inted    out,    iiowever,    tnet   even    if    the 

j.riority    cf   the    V'clsh   tales    could   be   established,  the 

etnoaphore   L'L'   theao    i;torles    is   fer  c  If ferent   frcrr,  t/ist 
'jsually  assoolated  with   Arthurian   rcaanoe. 

3.  Willelml    Malmeablriensls    Wonachl  ;    De    Oestis   hejgum   Antrloruir.,  ec , 

;V.    S\.'AU3    (Lado-i,    lo87;,     11,    342. 

4.  Ibid.,    I,    11. 

0(    B.  -Faral,    La   Legencie   Artnurienne :    Vtudes   et   Docurnonts 
(Parls7  T7?rj7T,~547rnT^7" 

6.  The    Gerr.enla    of   lacltua,    ed.    h.r.    Rooinson    (Middletown, 

•?Jnu,    192bT,    ^hfl  "t  .XX    (p.    297  y .       ^ec    alsc    l.^elow. 
Chapt.    V,    n,16. 

7.  Faral,    op.cit.,    II,    28. 

8.  The  quotations  froir  Gcofirey  ere  froni  The  niator'ie  liegum 

Britanniee  of  Gcofrrey  of  Monmout^x,  ed.  ■  .  i'.'iacora 
(New  7oFI~   1 92H  ; .   liie  hcman  namorals  in  parentheses 
^^Ql'ev    to  the  trf*  J  ill  :;anl  .c:;k  ■  :-  clj^/-tex'  clviaioiis. 

9.  Neither  Gris.^  .         .-.t  eoitora, 

has  pointed  out  taao  Aiina  was  not  yet  oorn  "tempore 
lurtlil  Sii'Li'Osii",  but  f'arel,  op .  ci  t .  ,  TI,  2-ye. ,    n.2. 


236 


»*^    ,!?»'? f ••!'>•»<.   *-^?>   lo  m>l«5«»<ni»j 


*i'*??«_*r'    "^  ^' t?r' ?d*iM    5>t:^   '.''^   rroiectioai-j-   frfvcv- 


acs 


23G 


Notee  --  Cne, 


IC.  The 


a«ya:"ci  peu  ooutu/tiler  uu'll  3:<iL  de  oe  geare  a'atourdie, 
Geoffrey  aimble  s'etrfl  i.n  peu  ■A.-nocou'illi   oa  s  I'ft'stolre 
de  093  relstiona  de  famille  et,  n'ayant  Jamais  parli  que 
ri 'nns  aculfl  soaur  a  •  Ax'tnur  [VIII,  ::x  3  .  il  ^  fait,  de 
cetce  aoeup  a  la  fc  is  la  feitime  de  Lot,    mere  ue  Gauge  in 
ot  da  Modred  (c'eat  ce  qu'on  voit  icl  ]  et  la  fenime  du 
pol  d'Armorique  Budic,  mere  de  hoel  [ix,  ii]."  In 
other  f;  :-'C3,  hc  f'lr*  as  the  hiatory  of  Arthur  and  Anns 
is  concerned,  (ieorirey  la  confused. 

"Chronica"  occupies  I,  14-15  of  tne  Cbroni  lues  c 'Aajou, 
ed.  F.  V&:'j^i9iaj  and  '^ .  wtflmon  {  rfirls,  i'Jb6  j ,    niiile    tne 
Liber  itaelf  puna  frox  i.,  6   to  j.,  ^3. 


11.  h.h.  Fletcher,  fhe  Arthurian  ivaterlai  in  tne  onronialea  (uoston, 

i5cs;,  i2':\ 

12.  Fletcher,  op.  ;it.,  1S3. 

13.  So  Fletcher,  2£.'    £LL»  >  125-27. 

1<! .  Le  :iOinen  de  ■.>rut  de  ^ece,  ed.  I.  Arnold,  2  vols.  { Paris, 
T^8^CT^   THe  date  is  discussed  I,  xciii  :  "fourtant 
cette  Incertitude  au  aujet  ces  dates  ne  s'etend  pas 
su  Brut,  cent  nous  savons  heureusement  qu'il  eat   de 
115£ . "  Ine    nuiribers  In  parentheses  wfter  each  quotation 
are  line  references,  a  practice  followed  throughout  the 
clssertatlon  inless  otherwise  stated. 

1.'^ .  i^et   Roman  de  Brut,  II,  c09-10,  note  tc  v.  lC,76i.. 

16.  See  itlc". . ,  II,  3CC-02,  note  to   v. 4552,  icr  en  informed  and 

interesting  discussion  of  Cieoffrey's  "hutpupi  Portus". 

17.  jee  Tatlock,  Legendary  i^lstory,  502-07,  for  a  discus-^on  of 

the  date. 

16.    Ibid. ,    436-87,    and    the   bibliography  referred   to. 

19.  Tatlock 'a    gr.rirrents    (Le^rendary  history, 483-ri4  /    for   this 

speilin^i  of   the   neaie   ai-e    /ery   souna.      nie   quotations   from 
Lfewmen   are   froiii  I.e  demons   tarut    r2.^  Ciiron  ■  cle    of   .  r  1 1  n  I  a , 
ed.    i- .    Maouen,    5  vols.    (liOndon,    1647^ 

20.  Tatlock,    Xief.endary  hiatorg;,    4bd-8fci ;    latlocK   does   not   know 

whether    to    ettrlt.Mite    this    to   Lawmen's    "i-oetlo    tact"   or 
to  his    "inexperience    of   tne    trest  world". 


ses 


,Blr 

«1  ; 

•U^     i>l  .- 

"4 

eb 

,,* 

til  e,o 

wb 

Til'/]  ' 


.^^' 


,t->f    .Of-'^;' 


W  &  iC    U.  •      »     S,r  •*  fc*»   .wf  x^ 


9 1  **f   V  rt  o  P*?  **  r^  J  r  r< » r 


237 


NoLea   --   ^ha;)t.  I 

21.  T:.e   Metrlcel    Chx'onicl'^    rT   Fobert   of   Ol^'ioestar,    ed.    W.a. 

iVrifeht,    2  vola.  •   data   ie  liiijouttssd 

I,    x!:    "On   the  ^e    that    if  wo   plaoe 

of   the    -lU'o.iicie   aocut    \,un    jeac   13U0  we    aiiall 
.r-te    within   a   very  few   years    the    time   of   lt3 
^ -Hiipoaition.    .     .    " 

22.  Ibid.,  I,  xl. 

23.  Ibid..  I  xvil. 

24.  The  Chronicle  of  i'lerre  de  Laoa^oft, ed.  Thcmaa  wrigjat, 

2   7ols.  '.L.noo^.,    '-  rj66-6'9 ) ,'  I,  xxix.   «Vritiit  olsouases  the 
d9te  of  the  work,  I,  xLi-xiii. 

25.  Ibid. ,  I, XV. 

26.  Sinoe    Ari.ht   does   not   aiimber   the    lines    Ln   nia   edition   of 

riarre   de   Langtoft  and   ain^e  at)  prints   the  ^n^lo-Norman 
and   tn©   En/lish  tranalatioi   on  alternate   pae.ea,    tne 

i^eferonce.;    .•  •  i    to   the   pai,e3   on    .vnich  tlie   posssti'.e   ocoura 
in  Anglo-Norman. 

27.  The    date   is   from  Fletcher,    Xrthurisn   Vlaterlal,    2^.'i.      Kanning's 

OiiTonlcle,    ihe   ■Jtory   of  ^n^lancT  oy  I.ouer't   Man  gin-:   of 
Brunne,    has   oeau  edited  ly'if'.J,   Purnivall,    2   vols, 

(i.c-,c:n  ,    1  'e.'?  )  . 

28.  Fletcher,     , .  .     ut.,    204-2Ct. 

2t).    Ibid.,    2-14.      The    urut ,    cr   Iho   Chr 'liglaa   of  England,    ed. 

F.\*.'.D.    Brie,    2   vols.,    £.£'.T. 3.  (.London,    1906-06;.      The 
ref erenoos   are    to   the    pe   e    iuaibera   of   triia   edition. 

3C .    rletc.i.jr,    op.    olt. ,    ^14,    a.l. 

31.  Ibid., 

32.  Arthur,      a.    F.J.    B'uraivall,-   &.S.T.3.    2ad    adn.      Lorjcion,    1869). 

According  to   the    title   pe.e,    tae   aate    ia   1423,    out   the 

vO-'>    lur-y  h' ve    oeen    ?Oii  posed  eorJler. 

35.    Thtj   pasaa         ,  .  . 

There-for«s  \e   ^alacxi  jusn  bret..i 
ooy]?    f.-.    ;.lepe)?    '  s    "Spyoon" 
Aad   seyb    "ta*r  or   >eydo   Sayaon  brovjntt" 
(liHn  ae   ya    /roth   or   el]>iJ   drounke.    (523-26) 
And    Interpolated   oetween   vv.    524-26   ia    tils   paasauce: 
Pat    la    to   seye   upon  n   reosa, 
''StynKynf,    Saxone,    be    ori   pees". 


Vttt 


•  A.W    .69    ,i»:JaooxoXC    'to    :t 


831   Ic    emiJ 


»xid 


iiXj.---*a.;t-    ,i       ,.-'XOn      ux 


, .bldl    .3S 
.  .b-tdl    .58 


fl 


no   B 


,nobnoJ)  .S.T.'a.S    » .  f: 


anS.  .a»T,8-ai'   ,Xlv 


258 


Rotea  —  Chapter  I 

i-i .  lev,    i^eolse  /al  Cultur  <j,  trans.  ».J.  Lawton,  2  vole. 

.  Yoxk,  1^8»  ;,  1,  131. 

3b.  Sea  aoova,  1-2 

36.  bae  ebove,  7-8. 


Chapter  II 

1.  For  8  brlaf  disauaslon  of  the  iailuence  of  ■"•leaner  and  tier 

dau -hter  Marie  on  the  literature  cf  Northern  -franae, 
see  Gaaton  Paris,  La  Litt^rati-re  Fran^alse  su  Voyen 
Age  (.arls,  1906  ;,~501-C2,  and  J.    I,    '•?pv>e9,~The  .^.volutljn 
of  -^rth.jrian  Fomaneo  (taltlmcrp  and  oflttin^en,  19^3 } , 
T7  104-Ot. 

2.  For  the  existence  of  Arthurian  tales  pricx'  to  and  concurrent 

with  tn>.3e   f  Chretien,  see  irariii,  Litterature  Fran ^atse 
au  Moyen  ^   e,  97-103;  bruce,  LvolutTon^  I,  37-66,  II, 
57,  ru6;  ano  h.i.Looiiis,  Arthurian  I'radition  ana  Chretien 
oe  Troyes,  12-24. 

3.  The  quotations  from  Chretien '•  works  ar-  fror«  the  following 

•ditlons:  Erec  et  Enide.  ed.  M.  hoquea  (Paris,  1953J; 
Cli  ;es,  ec.  ..  Foersfr  (i.elle,  1^34);  Per  Karrgnrltter 
(Lencelot ;  and  1ms    'tllnelmsleben  (Qulllaume  d^'        rve  ), 
e^,    A.  Foerstjr  (Halle,  IB^d );    7va_^,ea.  ft.  F^ 
3rd  ecn.  (hexle,  iaOSyj  Per  Fercevalromaa  (Li  Cuutea 
del  oraalj,  ed.  A.  i.ilica  (r.alle,  1^32;. 

4.  Chretien's  own  words  are: 

d'Srec,  le  111  Lac,  est  i<  c.'itws, 
que  devsnt  rols  et  devant  rentes 
depecler  et  corro.ipre  suelent 
ell  qui  de  conter  vivre  vuelent.  (19-23 J 

5.  Histoire  Litteralre  do  la  France  (Paris,  1888)  XXX,    33. 

6.  For  uuch  of  the  .Tiaterlal  on  Chretien  I  am  Indeoted  to  the 

stimulating  essay  by  A.A.Nitie,  "The  Character  of  Oa^ain 
in  the  Romances  of  Chretien  de  Troie",  Modern  Philology, 
50  (1953),  219-25. 

7.  It  should  'je  pointed  out,  perhaps,  that  this  speech  occurs 

in  tnat  section  of  the  roirianoe  which  'raa  completed  by 
Oodfrey  de  La,  ny,  *hose  work  is  usually  dated  around 
tne  end  of  tne  twelfth  century. 


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Notes    --   Chapter   II 

8.  ^ee ,    I'or  example,    Lcoi.i^,    Ai-tiiurian   Trccitlc:i,    lfa6-ty,    end 

the   bibllograpay  raf erred   to   tiiere. 

9.  r^rec  at  i!.nide,  ed.  :/.  Roquea,  256. 

10.  Bruce,  ivolutioa,  II,  67,  n.6. 

11.  Lot's  name  occurs,  ^rec  et  anide,  170t;  Lancelot,  5267; 

Perjeval  8136,  875X7  Ii'orcadea  and  Clbrlaaont  oocur, 
Perceval, 7538  and  8269  reape  tively.   Soredpraors 
occurs  l^re^Luantly  in  C11.tqb,  445,664,  963.979,  etc., 
and  once  in  I'ersevai,  82^9.   iV.a  brothers  are  naaed, 
Peroeval,  8137-42. 

12.  Bercul,  Tristan,  ed.  E.  Muret  (Paris,  1913 j.   Concerning  t.-ils 

poem,  Muret  says,  Introduction,  vi,  "LJ rectement  ou 
par  ces  interm^diaires,  les  poeme  de  Thomas  et  d'Elliart, 
le  roman  en  prose  et  la  pren.lere  partie  cu  notre  de- 
rlvent  sans  doute  a'un  poeme  perdu,  composA  ovant  1154, 
peut-etre  en  Cornouaillos,  peut-ecre  . 'apr^s  ua  modele 
anglais."   Later  xie  rorarks,  ix,  ''La  jecoadc  partie  se 
date  as  la  i in  du  XII®  slecla  par  una  allusion  du  vers 
3349  a  I'epldemio  qui  aevlt  parui  les  croisis  uurant  le 
siege  d'Acre,  en  1190  et  1191;  xaia  ni  I'dtat  de  la 
langue  nl  i 'allure  de  le  versirioation  ne  a 'opposeraient 
ii   ce  qu'on  fit  remcnter  la  prej.-.ere  juscju'aax  anneee  de 
1165  i   1170." 

13.  Marie  de  France,  Lais,  ed.  A.  divert  (Oxford,  1947).  The  date 

is  discuaseB"^  Introauction,  vii-x. 

14.  iiee  aoove,  l-a. 

15.  hobert  Biquet,    Lai   du  Cor,    ed.    h.    DfJrner    (Strasabur^,    l?-'/^;. 

16.  "Le   Conte   du    'Mantel'",    ed.    F.    A.    Wulff,    hoxanle,i4(18£5), 

343-80. 

17.  Wulff,    c£.    clt.,    344-45. 

18.  Concerning  the  dates  of  these  poems,  see  D3rner,  o£.  clt. ,  46, 

end  Vulff,  2£«  oit. .  343. 

19.  The  Continuations  of  tlie  Old  French  "Peroeval"  of  Chretien 

de  Troyes,  ©37  W.J.  Roach  and  TT,    W,    Ivy,  2  vola, 
TThlladelphia,  1949-50),   The  Continuations  exist  in 
several  manuscripts  which  have  oeen  arran.-ed  in  manuscript 
famillea  by  the  editors.   MSS  TVD  constitute  Vol.  I  end 
MSS  LMQU  Vol.  II.  The  former  are  stiorter  in  length  than 
the  letter,  but  the  attitude  to  Usvain  is  substantially 
the  same  in  each.   Fuller  descriptions,  more  intrusion 


*  II    igctqeriO    --    saJc 

bne   ,63-831    ,fioi  :  ' 

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240 


li9t«s   ->   QuAytfir   II 

by  tii«  rnxxtixoVf  anc  t<ie  inclusion  of  tJoree  episodes 
not  In  tf.LE>  TVD  eccount  Toi'  tne  Increased  le/itith  o£ 
MSS   Ic.MiS.'u. 

20.  F'or  a   diacuaslon  of   tnis   attribute,    see   J.    hnys,    Studies 

In   tne   /^rltiurien   Ls,.,oao    (Oxford,    ld91),    13,    14,    17, 
ISEf    226;    J.L.    V>03tun,    The   Lee»end   of   Lip   ; .a wain,    (London, 
1897)    ll,52j    J.L,    bruce,    Kort  Artu,    An  Old   fcQ nch 
homance   of    tne   Xllltn   Century    (iialla,    1910) ,    237-^8; 
ti,S,    LoomlaT    '^Gawain,    Gwri,    hhq    ouuuuiinn",    .  uDllcatlona 
of    one   Moaero  Ian.  uSf^e   Aaaociation,    43    (1928TJ    'd'oi~'d6; 
and  U.    iitkin.    The   ::.i'o-^rc;phj    of   Sir  Gewaln   in    •edlaeval 
?>enoii  Literature,    uripubll3ho3~doctoral   dlaaerttition, 
Chi ce fcO,    1926,    6-9 . 

21.  See    below,    76,    102,    124,    143-44,    and   159. 

22.  The    Second   Continuation  was  foi'a-.erly  attributed   to   .\auchler 

de   Lenain,    but   tfcla   attribution  is   no  longer   thout:ht 
likely.      See   hoacri,    The   Continuations,    I,    xv-xvl,    who 
proposes  with  greet   plauaibillty  the   titles  First  and 
Seoond   Continuations  for   those   works  foririerly   called 
Pseudo-Weuciiier  and   Wauchler  de   Lena  in.      Since  Roach 
and   Ivy,    wrio   intend   to  edit  all   tie   Continuations  of 
tho   rex^cevaj.    exce:-t    t.;at   written   oy  Herbert   d©    .«v-.it.reuil, 
have   liisued   editions   ol'  the   'irst    Jontinuation  only, 
I  nave   uaa    to   use    tr^e   old   edition,    Perceval   le    Gallols; 
ou   l_e    Qontfc   ou   G£ual,    ed.    u.    PotvinT    6   v^la,    (Isiona, 
1566-71  j ,    Tor   the   oeccnd   Co/vlnuatlon  anci   for  Maiies^ler's 
Continuation.      i'he   icraier   occupies    IV,    21,917   -    V,    34,933 
of    i^otvin'3   edition,    anc    tiie   latter,    V,    34,934    -    VI, 
45,379. 

23.  See  above,  41-^3 

24.  r.o  I-.oeoh,  The  Coatinuationai  i,  xiv.   But  the  oatin^,  of 

Arthurieti  vec3e  roinauoes  is  a  problom  for  *.*ioh  no 
sure  solution  tiaa  bean  evolved. 

2t.  ;>ee  above,  45-46. 

£6.    Gerbert   de   i.Iontreuil,    La   Continuation   ue    ^  erceval,    ed.    J... 

'.Vllliama,    2  vols.^t'arls,    1922-25;.      Tr-ls    continuation 
nas   never  been   printed    in   full,    from  what   one    can 
.ether.      H.    bossuet,    Manuel   oibliograpnique   de  le 
llttei-at'ife    f  ran  ^else    cu  mo^en  gj-.e    (:Velun,    i^lTT 
173,    itea    1852,    says    the    poem   contains    17,000   vss.; 
A.    Hi  Ike,    Zeitschrift   Ciic  Rons  ni  ache    rhilolo..:ie   £3 
(1933),    306-11,    prints   vi.s.    14,342-14,  Li:6.      WlTh   this 


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•xoeptlon,  as  iiOBcii  poluts  out,  itie  ^ontiauatiOiis,  I, 
xxviii-xxix,  the  remainder  of  the  poem  uas  never  been 
prlntec.   uawain  doea  noc  fiejure  in  t.ie  aeotion  publiahed 
by  hllKa;  conaequently  ail  -iUotatlor.ii  ere  irom  the 
edition  by  Jkilas  ollllama. 

27,  Courtola  d  'Arras,  ed.  ;:..  i'aral  (fsrla,  1911  j.   Ihe  date  and 
the  pro\-':nance  of  this  play  are  discussed,  Iv. 

23.  "Lea  Enfancea  Geuvain",  ed.  i',    Meyer,  Romania,  59  (1^0),  l-,i2. 

29.  Ibid.,  ie-19. 

30.  For*  example,  (ieolfre/,  i^Bce,    end  Lawman  all  mention  wa.vaia'a 

Roman  upbrinilng,  end  bruce,  "Le  Ortu  Vvaluuani", 
Publications  oi'  the  fe'.odern  Lan;  ue  e  ^aaoclation,  13 
(l^Qo),  366-677  argues  convinci  xgly  for  s  lost  ^-rench 
acurce  of  both  the  Ejifancea  and  tue  "B>e  Ortu",  In  his 
tvolutioa,  Ii,  67,  n.6,  he  oltoa  ae  tivioenoe  an  allusion 
In  tne  Fei'cevel  to  Gaweln's  having  been  aeparated  from  nls 
parents  as  e  child.   Ic  /;culc  be  too  niuch  of  a  coinci- 
dence if  Chretien  by  chance  ahould  nave  nit  upon  one 
of  the  oetaila  wijlch  characterizes  the  three  versiuna 
of  Oawain'a  birth  and  upbringing.   See  above,  34-35. 

31.  6ee   below,  117-20. 

32.  hao'il   ae   Houcenc;    S^Kjatllone    cterke ,    11,    eu  .  ieowa»^ei' 

(nalle,    190^,. 

33.  PriedwBfener,  op.  clt.,  cliil,  would  oate  the  work  c.  1200. 

34.  oee  below,  62-4. 

35.  Le  Cbevalior  a  1 'Epee,  an  Old  French  Poem,  ed.  E.i.  Armatronf 

Ibaltirrore,  1900). 

36.  The  date  la  discussed  by  Armstron;^,  op. clt. ,  51  and  62. 
'37.  Bruce,  Evolution,  II,  213. 

38.  La  Mule  Senz  Prain,  an  ^rthuripn  Roma ace  by  Helens  de  Maialeres, 

e3.  h.T.  Hill  (^altlir.or«,  1911  y .  The  uato  is  clsouaaed,  IT. 

39.  Hunbaut,  ed.  h.  Breuer  (Dresden,  1914). 

40.  Lea  Mervailles  de  Pl^onigj;'  von  Jeoan,  «d.  *«.  ioarater  and  H. 

breuer,  2  voIj.  (i^r^adon,  ld'6^-15).   Concerning  the 

cat--,  3ee  triice,  t-.volutlo.i,  II,  <i46. 


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Notes   --   Chapter    II 

41.    L' Atre    Ferllleux,    Ro!  .an   de   la   Table    Fionde,    ed.    B.    Wcledce 

fret'ls,    1956  ) . 

4fc.     >'.6in'3   nGr-ae    is   nsniea    at   23,    iib,    2671,    4360,    ana    444L. 
45.    See   above,    25. 

44.  See   above,    33-34* 

45.  "Tyolet",    oo.    G.    t'ar.s,    ho:iionla,    8    (IdVyy,    41-50.      Conoex'a- 

Ing   the   date   of   the   poea,    Paris   aaya:    "la   deacriptlon  oe 
1 'aruieruent   des   c.ev sliera,    1  •  iiiiportaiioe   uieme   donnae 
a   la    chavalerie    inolquent   que   le  raclt   [I't^at  pas 
anterieur  au  Xllle    oiecle.      Mais    11   n'est   aans   doute 
que   la   aioalf  ication  d  •  ane   corite  anterieure   ou  lea 
elements   rboenta   n'dtelent   pas   introauita''(41  y . 
/.hethex'   or  not   the   Arthurian  setting  oelonj^a   to    "lea 
aliments  rioenta",    Paris   does  not   aa^',    this  being 
enother   csae   where    our  knowledge   of  Artiiurian   treuition 
at    the    time   of  Chretien   la   totally  Inadequate. 

46.  Reneut   de  Beaujeu,    Le   Bel    lacrinu,    ea.    G.i-,    Willleirs 

(Pwrls,  1929).   The  date  is  discussed  at  vlli. 

47.  Concernlnff  the  relation  between  the  Ere 3  and  Le  Bel  Inconnu, 

aee  W.H.  Schofleld,  studies  on  "Llboaus  reaconr.s"" 
(Bcst?n,  1;95),  nC-106.   henaut  as  a  non-' rof essional 
writer  and  his  r-otives  for  taking  pen  in  hand  sre 
discussed,  108-09,  wiiile  ti^e  ohenges  he  introduaes 
into  the  ori>?inBl  stor/  are  outlined,  154-64. 

48.  See   above,    56-62, 

49.  haoul   de   houdeno;    Sflnup.tliche   Werke,    1,    ed,    .V..    Fried'«a;^ner 

( na lie,    ld97  ) . 

50.  Bruoe,  Evolution,  IT,  £;i4.  Beoul'a  autnorahip  of  both 

these  poems  has  beun  questioned  because  of  this  lack 
of  harmony  between  the  two  worn  a  anc  because  or  other 
reasons,   aruce,  op.  olt.  214,  provides  a  bibliography 
of  the  controversy. 

51.  Gliglois,  £  Frenc.i  Artnurlen  homance  of  tho   13th  Century, 

eo,  G.ii,  Livin.  ston  ( Ga,i;bria,^e,  wiaas,  iJ32;.   Ine  aate 
is  discussed,  66;  see  also  Bruce,  Evolution,  II,  213. 

62.  Der  sltfranz.  Yderroman  nach  dor  einzlgen  bekannten  Uand- 


iltfranz.  xderroman  nach  der  elnglgen  be 
achrirt,  ed.  H,  Gelzer  (Dreaoen,  1915 j. 


53,  Li  Romans  oe  Durnjert  Lo  flalois,  ed,  t,  Stengel  (Tubingen,  1873). 


II  i0&<imdK>  --  B Ado VI 


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Notes   —   Chapter    II 

54.    LI   ChevHlici'3   63   Leu3    Lapeea,    oc.    /».    Foeracei*    (lialle,    1877/. 

66.    Seu   rtbcve,    25,    and   78. 

66.    See   above,    55. 

to7.  ter^ua,  hoaan  v^n  Guiliaaae  le  -^lero,  ed,  ii.E.  Martin  (hatle, 
1372;.   For  the  aocount  or  Alan  of  Galloway,  sfte  iJruoe, 
Kvolutioa.  II,  242-43. 

58.  See  oelow,  215-16  end  223-24. 

69,    Robert   von  Blola   ^flmintllcne    fiepr.e .    1,    yd.    J.    Ulrlch    (Berlin, 

— msTT 


60.  Floriant  et  Florete,  eo.  ;i.X?.  '^llliama  {Ann   /rbor,  1947). 

61.  Li  Romans  de  Claris  et  Larls,  ed.  J.  Alton  (TifiDingen,  1384). 

68.  Der  Koman  von  -^scnnor  von  Gerard  von  Amiens,  ed.  H.  Ifflohelant 

—  THTTTnT^,  1:S6). 

63.  Ed«»erd  I  married  Eleanor  of  Castile  in  1254  and  besaaie  king 

in  1272.   Eleanor  died  in  129C.   oince  Gerard  .?Eys  his 
material  was  ;iven  aim  oy  a  prinoesa  boi'a  in  Spain  ...iO 
was  the  wife  of  the  King  of  England,  he  must  mean  Elea.ior, 
and  he  must  have  written  between  1272  ern.-'-    1290.   The  aate 
uau.ally  assigned  to  the  work  is  1280. 

64.  See  h.S.  Loomis,  "Edward  I,  Arthurian  Enthusiast",  speculum, 

28  (1963),  114-27. 

65.  The   px-oae   r.5manceg   --   notably  Lssatoire   de   .<:eriin  ed.    h,0* 

Sommer,    The   VulgaLe    yoraion   cf   the   Arthurian  homanoea. 
Vol.    II    (  ..aanlM  ;tca,    190^-16;    and   La    Mcrt   1'     x.ol   ^-rtu, 
i.oiwan   ou  Xliie    ^ie  jxe,    oa.    J.    i'rappiar    vrfcria,    19ifiT~ 
--  hao   offered   e^tplaaatio.vs   of   tneae   features  mucu  earlier 
in  tne    ceatury,    but   Geraru's   are    tne  f'rst   ofi'ered    in 
the   verse   ro.i.anoea.      It    la   doubtful   if  lie  made   use   of   the 
inf oraietioi   ,',iven   in   the   prose   ronzancea   though,    aa   Bruae, 
Kvolui-ion,  II .    285,    n.U3,    poi'ita   cut,    ho    .vaa   acquainted 
with  6t   least    -^wrt   of   the   »:ro8t   pro.-.e   cvcle.      oee 
further  belo/»,    143-44. 

66.  Jean  Prolsaart,    Meliscior,    ed.    A.    Longnon,    3  vola,    (?arl3, 

189i;-99). 

67.  Lon;.,non,    op.cit . ,    I,    xl^i. 


&^ 


v   ;tn9f 


^  ii   'J^S 


^44 


Notoa  —  Ciiapter  II 

68.  See  above,  i7-3S,  end  Looiriis,  Aronurl&n  Iradltiou,  28, 

69.  See  above,  36,  and  Looi-la,  Apthurlan  iradltion,  28-29. 

70.  See  G,  Cohen,  Chretien  de  Troy  a  8  et  son  Geuvre  (.'^eria,  1948), 

211-13. 

71.  For  a  discussion  of  Chretien's  predeoessora  and  their 

contribution  to  the  development  of  the  mood  of  Arthurian 
roaaanoe,  see  Cohen,  op.cit. ,  31-79. 

72.  One  must  constantly  bear  in  mind  t  \e    i;npo;'tant  and  useful 

distinction  drawn  by  A.J,  Denoray,  "Courtly  Love  and 
Courtliness",  Jpeculum,  26  (1953),  44-63.  Ghrytien'a 
only  roQiance  on  tiie  theme  of  Courtly  Love  --  tue 
Lancelot  —  he  left  to  Gocfi?eyde  Lstr^nj   to  finish, 
wnicn  has  been  interpreted  as  an  indication  of  his 
distaste  lOi'    txiat  type  of  literature. 

73.  The  question  of  .vhat  standard  of  tnaaaurement  to  use  to  mark 

the  extent  of  Gawain'a  "epic  degeneration"  will  be  con- 
siGored  more  fully  below,  iiii7ff , 

74.  In  lilstoire  Lltteraire,  XXX,  34-35 

75.  See  above,  86-87.  Loomia,  Artnurian  Traaltlon.  147,  sees 

Gawain  as  a  foil  for  Lancelot  in  Curotiyn's  Lancelot, 
and  says  Jhretien  "rendered  him  aomewnat  aosurd'^. 
Loomis  offers  no  passages  in  support  of  this  oplaion, 
and  in  view  of  the  consistency  of  Gliretien'a  conception 
of  Gawain  in  his  romances,  one  feels  Loomis 's  opinion 
iiere  would  be  difficult  to  support, 

76.  See  Bruce,  Evolution.  II,  91-103,  for  his  refutation  of 

wi-at  he  calls  '^Miss  Aeston's  Gawa in-Complex". 

77.  See  above,  61-53, 

Chapter  I^ 

1,  The  quotations  in  this  chapter  are  i'rom  t-ie  followlns  editions 
Le  Haut  Livre  du  Graal,  Perlesvaus,  ed,  A'.A.  Nitze  and 

T.A.  Jenkins,  2  vols.  (Chicago,  1932-37). 
"Le  Ortu  Waluuani",  ed.  J.D.  Bruce,  Publications  of  the 

Modern  Langua^.e  Aasociatlon.  13(1898),  390-452. 
The  Vulfc^e  te  Ve'^^lon  of  the  Ax-tnuriaa  i^orr.anoes,  ad.  0. 

S'ommer,    8  vols,    ( v^asni'n^ton,    19(59-16).    fxiis    «ork, 

^ieaerally   referred   to   in  txiis   study  as    t/.e    Vul^ata 


kha 


rj  ft.-  f-C".  ci>.i  n      o  » 


aliBOoJ  si' 


If.      r< !-  ?  "i  a  t  r     t  <» ' .      *   f  «■»•■'_  >  Ti  f .»  i 


.'O 


....       .iM 


245 


Notes    --    Chapter    Hi 

-_  _l£ea ,    contains    \,ue   ioliowing  roaiancea:    Vol.    I, 

Lea  to  ire    del    walut    Greal;    Vol.    11,    L-atoli'o    ae 

'...Hrlia;    Vola.    ij!I,    iV,    faiid   V,    Le   Llvx't;   cia   Lt-ncelot 

uel   Lho    (the   pi-cae    i^anoelot ) ;    Vol.    VI,    Le   JAort   ie 

hoi   Artus;    Vol.    VII,    Le   Li./:-c    a'Ai-tua;    Vol.    Vlil, 

!lnc'ex. 
Lb    -tUeste   eel   ^elnt   Graal,    ea,    A.    ir'aupLilet    (^"^ria, 

TI7537T     Thia   work,   correspoada   to  ficiriiner,    Vul^.ate 

i>Q/:;a:;cea,    VI,    1-199. 
La   Mort   le  noi   Artu,    »d.    J.    Freppler    (r&rin,    19-36). 

Thia    *orK    [joi'reapcnds   to   ooi:jaer,    Vbl^-^ate   ^K    'jncea, 

VI,    £05-591. 
J.L.   Weston,    The   Lep:en(?  of  ^Ir    Percevel.    2  vols.    (Lond:  ., 

1906-09).    "THia   work    oontaina   the    text   or  the   i^i.ot- 

r'crceval,    II,    9-112. 
Vierlln;    hosnan  en   ■froae   du  Xllle   Sieole,    ed.    G.    Feria 

ami  T.    'ilrl-jh,    ;t   vols.   TTarTs,    1^66;.      This   ia    the 

ao-called    "hutu-tt'.erlln". 
"rie    Abenteuer  Gawaina ,    Tvains,    una   Le   Morholta   mit   cen 

Lrei    Jungrrauen",    ed.    v.    So::jner,    beihefte    z-u' 

2eitschrix''t  I'tlr   homa-iisjhe    tniloloti'ie,    47    (1915). 

Ihia    ia    the    oontiiiuation   oi'    the   huta-£orlin   wnich 

e/lats   in  a  mauusoript   overlooked  by   ^'aria   and   Ulrich 

j.n   ti.eir  edition, 
Le   Llvre    c '  Artus,    ed.    0.    oo;.-ar.er.    This    is   Vvol.    yn   of 

tiio    Vul;.;ete    ho-Tsncea. 
i-.e   homen   en   rroae   oe   Irlstan,    le   hoaen   de    ralamece, 

et   la    Co.ny'iletlcu   oe   .tvuatijien   ce    >  ise ,    ed.    ii.    Ldaeth 

T7oc:3'f    IdSC/).      Tiiia    is   not   en   edition   out   en 

aaalysis   of   the   actioii   in^erapersed  with  inan., 

quotfations   from   the   Clt   ^'rencLL  texts. 

2.  The    standard  work   on   the    subject   ia  Bruoe's  Evolution,    but 

the  serious  uiscrepancy  between  tae  date  esai^ned  Lo 
tiie  ?eriesvaua  by  bruce  atia  by  Ita  ecltors  indicetea 
how  much  out   of  date   bruse's   wor. 

3.  The   re-edltint<-   of    the   rxrell   enc   Niort   ^rta   sectlona   cf   theae 

romances   by   Pauphllet   and   rrap..  l.-r   is   en    incicatlon 
of  what   some   scholfcra    think   of   '^Oi.'imer'a   edition, 

4.  Accorciln      to  Ltfseth,    the   bibi  iothe^ue   liatlonele   elone    conti-ina 

at   least    twenty  manuacrlpts    In   which  the    prose    Tristan 
oppeara . 

■•  .    The   followin-    remark  from  a   footnote    in  J,    ^'rappler,    fituce 

sur   le    .Vert   le   noi   Artu    (ta.'ia,    1936),    163,    la    typical: 
"^    .    .    d  'une   part    „,L.    '..jsto.)   enu   r.    L  .a    ticnnent   pour 
1 'influence   du   rereeval    sur  Le_  Kort  ^Jrjtu;    d 'autre   part 
J.L.    bruce,    e    roo   fa  voir   vu   dans    le    i-fcrct  vel   une    ia.itetion 


<I*S 


! '*"r'w. "•""'■   '■;"  iVT^  [  L'^'^  tiitii  T   tT.f? '  i 


#8 


■I"'"'         ft      .??     ,/'B8Tr     Ct'-Jn*-*     J"- 


neb    *!?-   e 


lo 


Ua- 


#t'¥     . 'to  f  "♦"  TavH    P '•&?''*!(''     si     Hfcs*  fivt 


la  ^■i ' 


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;d46 


'.'otea  --  -'hsptor  III 

de  Le   Mort  ^rtu,  a^eat    oontenta  de  so  'tonlr  que  cella-jl 
ne  ^valt  rien  ti  oelui-le,  et  il  s  gardi  Jusiu'au  boat  a^n 
opinion,  bien  qu'il  alt  oto  quallfl^  d'h^retlqua  par  F. 
Lot.  .  ,  J'avoue  c'orea  et  dejl  que  I'horesift  de  J.L. 
Bruae  sous  sf  for*  -^  .^ ..--.  i  ^  r.^.  .»t   -dex'ee  mo  paraTt  la  3af_,eaae 
niSrae .  " 

6.  What  is  needed  la  snothsi'  *ork  ol'  the  aoope  of  bruce'a 

Ev^lntlon.  Some  relieT  Is  prcrr.i3ed  by  the  announcament  of 
"A  Collaborative  history  of   Arthurian  Hter6Lur'='  In  the 
Micale  h  es"  'mcei'  the  direction  of  h.S.  Loo.nLa,  Bulletin 
Biblio^raphlque  oo  l-*  bociete  Intferaax^ionale  Ar-thurlaane, 
6  (1^54/,  11:'. 

7.  The  referencjes  in  parentheses  are  to  the  J  ine  numbers  wnich 

the  editors  have  provided  for  their  edition  of  the  text. 

8.  See  above,  41-42,  47-49,  ana  58. 

9.  So  Nitze  3na    Jenkins,  Perleavaus,  II,  '39. 

10.  See  above,  64-66 

11.  The  quotations  are  taken  from  the  pssan  e  contained  .v. 

11.  73C2-36. 

12.  See  bolow,  119-20. 

13.  Cn  this  poi^t,  ae^i  '^itze  ana  Jenkin.),  .erlesva  j,   x,  45-72. 

I'i.  The  text  is  edited  by  J.L,  Bruce,  Publioatlona  of  tna  f/scern 
LE-'>-ua-e  Assooiation.  13  (1998),  390-452.  THe  aate  is 
oiiicussed,  388-9. 

15.  Lor-ci  Sa.ilsu,  The  hero  ,a_u..uc:i,  [j-.-.^.v]/,  ±',<.j-,.  .      -.    t.^f>ioal  review 

is  that  by  J.B.  Besjlnrier,  ^jpetjulum,  2o(l&&3/,  6u5-il. 
Gawaln  la  not  one  of  the  "ti-'roea"  whcnc  h»g.lan  ciacuaaea, 
but  the  fa-t  tnat  parts  of  his  life  fit  ha*ian'3  pattern 
3C  neetly  iinpiies  that  •'to,:laii'a  tneais  hps  more  to  it 
than  critics  w.ll  allow. 

16.  r'ubl  leatlona  of  the  Mocern  Lengua.;,e  Aasociaticn,  lA    [ItiyB,, 

431-32. 

17.  loic. ,  424  et  aeq. 

It;.  See  bruce,  ii^v:. I'ltl  .•  . ,     i    .,.--:  .  ,  .A.  Nitze,  "Arinurlan  ^Toblems", 

Bulletin  E 1  b  1  i  o  >.-rB  'hi  que  de  lai  So  a  late  Internationale 

?T"th>)rier:ne,  tU'-''  '  ' ,  '" '  ,  ^Tvcs  e  different  interpretation, 
however. 


BM 


!■:■-' tlf^o    rv-rn   «t*r!!it":3    ^^    t1t^-1f:K':    :f2^*^     .  u  ^. 


egB^ 


I     7SX1W 
if 


.J 


=^1   fldiT    .  \ 
08    .8 


-cf   eo2 


-:f   ©riT    . 


hT- 


247 


Not«s   —   Chapter   III 

19.  .jee   M.   i-ree'.:,    "Plea    fcr  a    ^eam-.:cck    Inveatl^stlori",    Bulletin 

hibllo.^t'aphlfiue    '..e    le    ~o jjete    Internaul  jgele    Arti.urle-iae, 
3    (1054),    103,    Tc:'   a    brlex"*  but    sleai'   atfetement   of   the 
problem. 

20.  The   quototlons   are   fro;n   the   editions    :;ited    In  n.l   to  tnls 

;:h8pter,    anc    the   rigurea    Iti   f.s.-'entueaes    after  each   quocatlorj 
refer  to   volume   and   page   niiir.bera. 

21.  See   above,    4A-ti,    47-49,    £nc   t£. 

22.  bruce,    i:-vclut.i.cn,    II,    ^12« 

23.  Iblo..    11.    dl6. 

24.  ooe    above,    2S. 

26.  ^ee  atcve,  lOi-C,. 

26.  See  b&lc«,  l4i^~44. 

27.  bee  above,  12L  . 

28.  See  above,  117. 

29.  See  above,  ii?. 

30.  ^ee  sb~ve,  30. 

31.  XL    shoulo   be   noted    t:iat    thcui^h  both  L£  ^ueate   del   aaint   Graal 

anc   Le    Mort   Le    hci   Artu   are    contained    In    Vol- VII   of 
T.ctnrrer's    Vulgate   hcnie.ioea,    the   references    in   the    text  are 
to    t..e    Qc.ltlor.3    of    I  ieae    two   wor)  a   by    pHupi-ilet   and 
Prappler  roapeotlvel;; .      See   note   1   to   tala    chapter. 

52,    See   his   splendid   easbj,    "La   iiyati^^e   ce    la    ^jrse    aana   La    .jieate 
oel   Saint    jraal",    i>ea    I g 6 ■,- d    c-l   les   Lgttroa    (jaris,    lj?32/, 
62-91. 

33.  Sea    ebovo,    li,4-2t. 

34.  The   hi.^hly   involved   alle»ori:al   nature    of   triis   roaatice    ia 

lllustratec    l:/   the   ::.era:.it'3   ex   ianation   of    tee    castle   and 
the    seven  brothers.      The    castle   represents   iaell;    the 
acven  trotl.era,    the    seven   ceealy   einaj      and    the 
"puceles",    the    sinnera   ociicemned    to   iiell. 

36.    Such  is   also   faup-.^leu's   opiniuu;    sen    tne   passage    quoted   by 
J.    rrepi^er,    L'tude    sur  i^e    f/.ort   le   x\ol   ftrtu,    223,    from 
A.    Pauj^'hilet  »3  Ltuaa    sur   la    ^^ueste   del    Safnt  Graal 
(raris,    l.<;i/,    4l-4<i. 


r^ '  .-t  *  r  •: 


r  •♦&•.  ■■■♦«•  *,»•/•■ 


!T';   rcj- 


■    J. .  n  r 


ii>i»or<^n  «, 


;J      SrfT       .0- 


VlB 


248 


Notes  —  Chsptar  III 

56.    3ee  above,  151. 

37.    See   Prappler,   .^t__de,    24o-6o,    Tor  8    oiaousalo     of   this   point. 

33.    The   variant   roadin&'a   to   this    p. .rase   are    inttreatia;^  aad, 
with   one   exoepticn,    leat;    dacinlng:    "Bib.    Nat.    f&rla 
Nc.^42   [1274],    Uo.1.119  ixille    i'iecle]  :    •.    .    .    tant 
oorrjne    I'Si^iors   de   rrol   vos    plalro^t.    .    .';    Bib.    Jniveral- 
taire    a   tioan,    No. 526     1286    :    '.    .    .    com  i'ytnora   ae   :cci  me 
plalroic.    .    .    •    p];    bib.    Net.    Paris  No. 120  [XlVe    aieolej: 
',    .    .    taut   que   I'uirjour   VDU3   plairolt.    .    .'" 
(Prappier,    ua_  Mor t   nrtu,    2C) 

39.  This    i3   an   orror   Malci'y   prudently  avoids;    see   below,    lyO. 

40.  See    sbove,    129. 

41.  Frappier,    r-tude,    202. 

42.  The   first   view   is    tiiat   of  Bruce   and   of   Sonjier;    see  bruce, 

£,vol    tior:,    li,    112-i3;    tae    secjond    is   aialnuaiaeu    b^    '.'•eaton, 
LeRe  K'   cf   clr   Perceval,    I,    /-^iii-xxiv,    ana    Nitze,    "Soire 
^-rthurian    rroblerris".    Bulletin  Blbliographique   de   la   uociete 
Jr. ue motional e   Arthurie-ine,    C  (1955) ,    oi.    bee   al;:   note   5 
t:^    t!--ls    chapter. 

43.  See  truce,  fcivolutloa,  1,468-79. 

44.  Malory's  lack  ct  sympathy  vltii  t.-«  doctrines  or  Courtly  Love 

are  ppobaoly  resporsiole  for  tnia. 

45.  See    abcve,    13?. 

46.  The   first    is   Bruce 's   opinion,    j^vclution,  I,    442-45,    while 

oOTmftx-,    Vul ifBte   ncrriancea,    VII,    In troouctory     ioLe,    ex;>re3sea 
a    cifferent   view. 

47.  So  bruce,    Evol\tion   1,    434,    ana   Li'seth,    prose   Tristan,    xxiv. 

48.  The    Ccmpilatlon   la   found   in    Luree    of    the    twenty  maauacripts 

in  trie   bibliotheque   rationale   ce   f'rance.      After  a   resume 
of  hustlclen'a   nibterlal,    L0jeth  r  marks:    "Ainal   finit, 
cans   ies   aanuscripcj    ue    lai'ia,    la    co.7.pilfltion  Iragmentaire 
et   Incofc^rente   attrlbue  a   busticlen  de   1*186,    qui    le   tren- 
ale  tfi  ,    e■^vl^c^^   1271,    d'ua  rr'anua  orij.  t   a.  parteiifnt   &u   rol 
Edouard   ler  d ' An  leterre"    (i73J. 

4s*.    See    above,    110. 


Ill  itii, 


sec 


9dT  .ee 


...  J 


Bat    .6^ 


oa    .V# 


249 


Notes   --   Chapter    III 

50.    S<r-  _  -    . 

bl.    See   Pi  o/e,    140-41.      Tne   incx-oase    in    ILe  iiuraber   of   knlghte 
3l8ln  by   Oawaln   ij   an  Suiuding  effort   tj  vilify  him, 

52.    See   above, 

63.    See   above?,    oi. 

54.    See   above,    1^3. 

Chbpter   IV 

1.  A    chet-k   of  the    "Flan  end   Blbllo^ri'aphy"  of  the   new  Middle 

Snrllgh   LI  ctionery ,    evT.    TT.    Kure  tn  a  no    :-..iV.    Kuiin  (/nn 
/rbc;',    I9ii'i,1,    reveels   very  few   literary  worses   com- 
poaec    !n  Eni-,lish  curin.,   ti*t:    thirteentn  century-,    anc 
none   of   these   are   on  Arthurian   themes,    unleaa 
Ln^'nan'?*  Brut  be    ccnsidei-ed   a    "liter-ary"  wcrK, 

2.  The   th-i'te    versions   ere   prlntet    aa  I'ollowa: 

"Sir  Leniewell",    Msho^    .- ercy  's   Folic    Manuscrlpp, 

eo.    0.7. .    hales   enc   i;- .  t.' .    I-'urnivall    (Lonoon,    1^67-68) 

I,    142-64. 
"Lpuni'al  [Lendavall^ ",    ed.    G.L.    Kittredge,    Amerioen 

Journ(.'l    of    r..llclOe^j',    10(1869;,    1-35. 
?hr:;:8s    Cheatr-:    ,    "bir  Lfiunfai",    Mlucile   Eii^llsh 

&.eLricsl   i.o:..£acfcs,    c^.    •  .  L.    Icenc^.   sna   c.c.    hele 

(ivow   x'orK,    1^50),    343-80. 

3.  So   hlttreage,    A'^v-rican    Journal   of    L-hllolo>/y,    IQiiSi?'.    6-7, 

4.  "xtvaine   anc   Ggwin",    Ancient   £nplish  Metrical   honences, 

ed.    J.    Mi-son,    rev.    w.    Gc  1  c  ba.x  c    (  Lv  .  ib  Ui  ui"    lS84-b5  y , 
i,    lli;-SL.  .      Rits^.'i's   re:;.erk   on   the   dwte    ia   Dotri 
amusing  and   chare cteriatic;    the  manuscript,    he    ssys, 
"seems   to  have   been  written  in  the   time   of  I.lohard  H, 
or   to.v£rd    ti.e    :;lose   of   the   fourteenth  century;    enci   not, 
83   it   appeared   to    Aarto'i,    who  kuew  nothin^,  of   the   age 
of  MSS.    Bn<i   prooecly  never   sew   t.ils,    'in   tne   rei^n   of 
king  Henry  the   sixth'"    (1,117). 

b.    See   above,    3j. 

6.  "Thte  J  aste  of  Syr  Gewaine,"  Syr  Gpwayne,  ed.  F.  Madden 

(London,  185;"  i,  207-23.  The  uete  is  clsoussed  in  the 
Notes,  348-49. 


OS 


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.1^ 


yi  2.. 
^'x-oiirfia 

baa   ('(lu^uao 


^i   .83 
■9t    .fid 


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9-c 


250 


tfotea    —    Chaptep    IV 

7.    ^ee   aDove,    41-42. 

-■ .  "GolSKroa  and  Gawain",  ocoLtlsh  Alii tei'at..ve  Poems,  ed.  F.J. 
'jaoura,  2  parte.  (London,  1692-97),  1-i^ 

9.  Ine  tv/o  episooes  o:  the  Olo  •I'rencn  original  yan  oe  I'ound 
in  hoacii.  The  Continue tio;tci,  1,  vv. 9149-9496  and 
I,  vv. 11, 2^5^12, 490  respectively.  It  should  be 
pointed  out,  nowever,  taat  there  are  efKuments  In 
favour  of  regarding  t.iia  work  as  Indepenaent  of  an 
Old  i^rench  model;  see  below,  224-26. 

10.  Seo    above,    125. 

11.  "Lyoeaus  tlaconus".    Ancient   Ij-nglish   Vetricel   Roinanoes ,    II, 

35-98. 

12.  See   anove,    9C-f^ij 

13.  S^'ihofield,    Studlea    on    L/DPana    v^  S'jotiug,    pa  a  3  i  ■; . 

14.  "sir    Perc»» 'bI    ce   Oalles",    N'Jiddle   ii^ngllsh   Metrioai    romanoea, 

529-504. 

15.  TtiJ  ^ejt  bibliograpny  of  this  question  can  be  found  in 

J.E.  lAells,  A  Manual  of  the  Vrltin.-s  in  r/ilddle  English, 

1050-1400  (ley  L-.ven  a  id^Eondon,  19167~772-73, 

and  the  Supplements  tnereto,  unaer  tne  heading  "f'ercevei' 

^®*  I-'£r;°",-\2.^  2L   ^^^Q  Lalk,  ea.  .V.rt.  Skest  (London,  1905). 

17.  Arthour  and  Merlin,  ed.  E.  KSlbint^  (Leipzig,  id90]. 

18.  Henry  Lovellch,  Merlin,  ed.  £.A.  Kock,  3  parts.  (London, 

1904-32;. 

19.  fvlerlin.    ,    .    A    Prose   hou.ence,    ed,    H,B.    Wneatley,    Intro. 

.    .    --T ^i  c  ,    Z   V 0  J.  3  .    (Tondon,    1365-99). 

20.  See    above,    123-c8. 

21.  So   KiJlblng,    Ai'thour  and    Merlin,    Introduction,    Ix. 

22.  So    Aells,    Manual ,    44-4f. 

23.  Bishop  Perov 'a   Folio  Manusorl; t,    I,    497-507. 

24.  "Ihe   Legend  of  KiQ/4  Arthur"  ends   at   1.96    (ao   ^erc^   x'olio 

Manusgript,    I,    497),    *i;ile    "Kin,^   Arthur's    ieaLn"   makes 


OdS 


00  lo 


,da-^S8    ,woX«d 


-.oa   Xsf 


VI   i»o 


',•>£    ,«vi 


/J.i    5        -IJ    ..  ii  J 


■uXieM    .':.£ 


L.  .L.  J.-iMH. 


^51 


Notes  --  Chapter  IV 

up  the  rest  of  the  261  11.  which  comprise  the  poem. 
See  else  Aella,  Uea  uul,  38  bna   51, 

^ 

^^*  Mor-te  Arthure.  ed.  E.  Brock  flonrion,  1R71). 

26.  lb 1 d . ,  Introauctlon,  vii. 

27.  The  sources  are  disoussed  briefly  by  .,ells.  Manual,  36. 

2S.  In  terns  of  this  particulez'  part  of  Mblor^,  of  course, 

Gsweln  appears  In  a  good  lli'ht;  but  in  terms  of  the 
w_olo  of  Malory's  Aock  &fic  c£    iu-d    i^ox'te  Arthure, 
he  is  a  pale  shauow. 

29.  Le  Morte  Arthur,  ed.  J.C  cr«uce  (Lonoon,  1^03).  The  date  is 

3Tscussed,  Introcuctio  :,  xxv, 

30.  Ibid. ,  Introduction,  av  :  ".  .  .  there  _-  .  j:,nnectlon  of 

some  sort  between  Malory  end  the  Llo  rrench  roniance, 
and  &11  trie  diffi.cuxta.a8  of  tne  situation  are  best 
explained,  if  we  assume  tnat  the  author  of  the  Mioale 
Enrliah  romance  sxid  iiSlor^  drew  from  a  common  source, 
w.iich  in  ic,s  turn  .vas  a  mocirication  oi  the  Old  trench 
Val^sate  Laticelot  C*  Mort  Artu]. " 

31.  Tne  *>orka  of  ojr  Thome s  Mclory,  ed,  E.  Vlnaver  (Oxford,  1,^47), 

ITI ,~T609: ?  .  .  .  one   cannot  escape  the  conviction  that 
the  only  reasoaeble  £  hypothesis]]  in  the  present 
iriatance  >vculd  be  tijat  w.^ich  made  iiualory  responsiole  for 
the  simultaneous  use  of  the  Mort  »rtu  end  Le  Morte 
Artuur  and  for  the  invention  dl'  each  of  the  passa.es 
uTTTr^aoeable  to  either". 

32.  .See   above,    143-41. 

33.  Wells,    Manual,    51. 

34.  It   seems   a    pity    tiat   jve   iTiuat   discard    tne   picturea^^ue,    even 

if  mialeaoln^   title,    Le   Morte   Dartiiur,    ^'esuo#ed   on 
Malory's    works   by   the"~Fxrdt   c-^-itcr  ano   puolisher, 
Caxton,    and   resort   to    the    colourless   AorKs    ci'  8ir 
Tao:i:a a    ?<:alory    *..ich  Vlnaver,    Malory's     most   intelll  ,ent 
ana   aympaTHetic  editor  tc   cate,    Has    seen   fit   to   call 
Mfilory's   writln   s. 

55.    Vlnaver,    Works    of  Major, ,    .,    . 

36.    Vliiaver's    "Com-jientery"    {Hr:-  ^-    ..    -      ,    1261-1646/ 

is   unsurpassed  as  a   {^ulde   to   Malory's   sources. 


i4S 


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252 


Notes   —   Chapter   IV 

37.  Vinaver,    rtorka   of  Malory.    Ill,    1423. 

38.  Ibid.,    Ill,    1423. 

39.  See   above,    143 

40.  See   above,    149. 

41.  Vinaver's   chapter,    "Xiie    rrot^ress   oi'   tuQ    writer",    kOj-ms 

of  Malory,    I,    Ixi-lxxxv,    is   an  excellent  dlscusalon 

oT  this   aspect   of   the   development   of  narrative    technique, 

42.  The   debt   these   remarks   owe    to   Vinaver'a    "Coromentary"  on   that 

section   of   Kalory's   *ork   which  he   entitles    "The   Morte 
Arthure"   is   obvious. 

43.  See   K.G.T.    Vf'ebster,    "Galloway  ana    tne   homaaces",    MOQern 

Language    i^otes,    55    (1940),    363-66,    and    the   authorities 
■jited   by  him. 

44.  "The   Avowin,:   of   /Arthur",    M '  o (-' I e   i-n,ji.i3n  f.-etrloel   hcaences. 

605-46. 

45.  See  Webster,  Modern  Language  Motes,  55  (1940),  363. 

46.  "The  Awntyrs  off  Arthure  at  the  Terne  .athelyne", 

Scottish  Alliterative  Poems,  117-71. 

47.  See    aoove,    1. 

48.  The    texts   of  both  these    poems   ere    conveniently   available 

in  Sources   and  Analogues    to   Caauoer ' s    Jantarbary   lales, 
ed.    W.r'.    Sryan  and   G.    Dempster    (Ciiioagc,   111S41]), 
242-64   end   235-4i   respectively. 

49.  So    A  ells,    Kcr.uei,    68, 

50.  See   above,    o0-82   and   171-72. 

51.  See   above,    37. 

52.  Wella,    Manual,    69 

63.  Sir  Gawain  and  the  Green  Kni-ht,  ed.  J.K.h.  Toli<ien  find 
2.V.  OorcTorTTOxf ..  rd ,  [1946]  ) . 

54,  O.L.  Kittredge,  A  Study  of  Gawain  and  the  Green  Knight 

(Cambrid^:,e,  Mass.,  T916 ),  Ts  the  best  trestnent  of  the 
analogues  but  perhaps  carries  too  much  weiKht.   It  is 
8  l.-niiicant  that  the  opposin^i  vie*,  l,    von  Schaubert, 
"Der  En^lische  Ursprung  vo-i  'S^.r  .Hawayn  anc  the  i»rene 
KnyT^t'",  Englische  Studien.  57  (1923),  330-446,  receives 


SdS 


.w>x  ail  ,x: 


VX   -x^v 


.da-ess  , 


>6X)    c  H-  a0£    .8^ 


.sa  , 


Oi:'e    RSiiMlo'I    ,>i.;i.U    .t;' 


tcf   bna  nlawaO    lo 


2bi 


.jte3  —  Chapter  i » 

no  ruaritioa  in  trie  DiDiio;',r8pay  to  t.ie  eoit-ion  of 
Tolklan  end  Qordon.      See  i urther,  J.  ipeirs,  "'Sir 
Gswaln  and  the  Green  Jini<jht'",  scrutiny,  16  (1949), 
274-300,  and  tx.e  'Correspondence*  tnis  srtlcle 
occasioned,  ^gruti'iy,  17  (19bOj,  12b-38. 

6£.  Tolkien  and  Gordon,  Sir  Qeweln,  Introduction  xx-xxll, 

date  tiie  poem  sro'ind  tne  end  of  the  fourteenth  century. 

£6.  3ee  oelcw,  215.   The  discussions  in  this  chapter  of  the 

poems  from  this  e^^ea  provide  ample  corroboration  of 
this  atflteraent. 

57.  In  oppoaition  to  tals  sacred  inspiration  of  the  knightly 

virtues,  ne    can  instance  en   extreme  --  and  probably 
apocryphal  —  exaiuple  of  the  source  of  tne  Courtly 
Lover's  virtues.   jdlllam  ^A   of  Aqu.talne,  tne  first 
trouo8do;.r  poet  whose  w.rKS  have  aurvivec,  "is  said 
tc  have  painted  tne  pox-trait  of  his  lauy  on  his 
saield,  'for',  he  said,  'since  sne  has  often  borne 
lae  in  txec   bed,  'tis  fittin-,  I  ahoula  bear  aer   in 
battle'"  —  fi.  Aldington,  Fifty  hoiiiance  Lyric  roema 
(L:):;don,   ly4tJ  ),  19.   See  also  Laa^jt.    V,  a.iO. 

58.  The  poec  is  printed  in  Bishop  Percy  'a  ■t-'olio  kanuacript. 

II,  66-77,  and  the  quotation  is  froiu  tns  saort 
Introauotica,  II,  i.6. 

59.  "The  Tu.       Jow^n",  E^ar^op  rercy  '  3  Fclio  i^aascrif.t, 

I,  -d-j.UIi. 

60.  The  editors  point  out  l..-  i-  u..xo  o  ,cae  rese^-.o^^^j  .-ax  ^^  ..>:.  -,. 

and  the  Green  Krir-nt  and  was  probably  borrowea  trzzi 

the  more  famous  poom,  blshcp  i  ercy 's  i^olio  Menus  jri^t,  1,  .^ 

61.  See  above,  37  and  199-200. 

62.  Syre  Gawene  a  no  the  C>arle"  of  'ftarelyle,  ed.   .  .   ckerman 

(Ann  '^rbor^  1. 47  ;  .  Ine  date  is  discus  yd  in  the 
Introau jtion,  13,  'ut  no  ette;npt  is  jaaoe  to  8  3count 
for  the  sources  --  see  Introa  ctioa,  2,  n.5. 

63.  "The  Carle  off  Garlile",  Bishop  Ffroy 'a  Folio  -var. 

III,  275-.-'4.  The  date  is  su  /eated  by  AeTTl     .  ._i.f  60. 

64.  Jee  above,  62-66. 

•36.    A.b.    Taylor   in  An   Intrjouction   to  Mediaeval  i^on-ance    (London, 
li?30),    2oVv. 

66.    The   view  malntalnt  .         .      ...  i    "«rthurian  Localities", 

in  Merlin.    .    .    A    rroda   i.oaiaaoe ,    I,    xvii-civi. 


sat 


ir- 


.0 


d   898    .9<S 


jqo  fli    .V8 


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.J 


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264 


Notes  Chapter  V 
1.  See  above,  7-B. 
2. See  above,  2C-21. 

6.  h.S.  Loomia,  Arthurian  Iradltlon  aad  Chretien  ce  Troyea 

(New  York,  194&;,  146-ijb. 

4.  See  hbove,  tl-62. 
t.  See  above,  145. 
6. See  eDove,  61. 

7.  Engl Is one  Studiea,  57(1923),  432-33,   See  elao  aoove, 

Cnaj;t.  IV  n.b4. 

8.  Sommer,  Vulgate  homaacea,  I,  vili, 

9.  Looiriia,  Artnurlan  Traditloa  and  Chretien  de  Troyea,  146-bb  and 

187-95. 

10.  For  the  nsoat  cynlasl  statemeat  cT  the  influence  of  w^iroen 

j.i  Ciiivalry,  aee  tne  "Lai  du  Lecneor",  hoirania , 
6  (1879),  64-66.   The  work  ia  not  to  ve  taKoa 
seriously,  but  one  aan  cite  it  as  an  extreme  statement 
of  how  Courtly  Love  affeoted  kni^hthooa.   oee  also 
Cbapt.  IV,  a.b7.  J.Uuizla^;^,  Ine  wianlng  of  the  .Vlacle 
Agea  (New  York,  19b4j,  78,  would  arf.ue  that  ''the 
calvalroua  aspect  of  love  nad  Sw.ii.ehov»  to  make  its 
appearanse  in  life  beiors  it  expressed  itself  in 
literatur:., "  But  la  not  this  i^utuin^j  t.ie  ofart  before 
trie  horse  V 

11.  See  C.  '.-.    Le*is,  The  ^ller.ory  of  ^ove  (Lcndoi,  1951),  11-lki. 

12.  Co;npare   vv.    1lG^-05   of   the   I'ranklin'a   Tale    .^Ith  vv.    14,;*9£- 

15,040  of   Dura.art   le   Galois   for  en   Identical   criticism 
of   Courtly  Love. 

13.  Wdll3,    Manual,    75. 

14.  oee   sbove,    10-11. 

15.  For  a  useful  ansljaia  and  oiucn-naeoea  uistinctioti,  see  nis 

esaey  t.ntitled  "Courtly  Lcve  ana  Courtliness", 
Speaulum,  28  (1953/,  44-6*5. 


^9^ 


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Ills  Hd^.cj 


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b4a 


Notes  —  Chapter  V 

16.  The  *0i~8n  In  tne  case,  however.  Invites  oppro  iunj,  as 

A.  van  Gennep,  Lfa  J:''orir.atl3n  cea  Legendes  (Perls,  1910} 
points  out.   he  postulates  a  curious  orl -In  I'or 
conduct  t:^at  seems  to  ue  cf  cuL>ioub  morality: 
"Le  droit  pour  la  feaime  2  cooislr  son  xpri  et  d 
lul  demander  aa  main,  la  filiation  uterine  et  le 
narifi^'e  teu.poraire  exlsterent  ausai  caez  diverses 
populations  eier.r.snlques  et  se  itaintinranTi  sporadique- 
ment  en  Europe  pendant  la   haut  *cyen  A  -e.  Mais  il 
/  eut  peu  a  peu,  par  suite  de  toutes  sortes  c 'influ- 
ences, surto'  t  rc:r,8lne,  un  renversement  corslet,  de 
sort  que  la  flllatlcn  paternelle  en  vint  S  -rir-pr 
1 'autre,  que  ce  fut  a  I'homme  a  cholsir  se  femme,  et 
que  le  marlege,  en  tent  que  ccns8cr6  par  l'£-:lise, 
cevint  indissoluble,  la  loi  rcralne  oxif?eant  en 
outre  la  conabitation  jont'nue  afin  ^ue  le  mari 
subvint  aux  besoins  de  la  famille. 

"Ce  renversement  n'eut  pas  lieu  sublteatat,  Et 
des  resces  des  eniiennes  conceptions  aur/^ciu'ent 
de-cl-de  la,  scit  dans  les  xoeurs,  soit  dans  les  onfinsons 
de  reste  primitives.   Lea  survlvences  furent  ensuite 
mal  interpretees  et  1 ' =n  voit  cans  lea  reo actions 
postirleures  la  fetnme  qui  s' off  re  a  un  chevalier 
^.ctSv^ue  8ssl::,ilee  a  une  femme  de  mauvaise  vie. 
Blanchefleur  s'ol'fre  a  i-ei'ce/al,  Lut^.ne,  fllle  d'Isore 
a  hnaeia   tie    Cartxiaje;  Lancelot  a  toutes  les  peines 
du  monce   a  gerantir  se  chastete;  une  jeune 
fille  se  conne  a  Oawain  dans  une  pavilion  aitue  en 
plain  bols"  (cp.oit.,  249-bO).  This  origin  of  tae 
many  encounters  with  aamsels  one  meets  with  in 
Arthurian  roicance  nas  been  overlooked  by  scholars. 
Cne  mi(-ht  conipare  van  (Jennep's  remarks  witn  the 
quotstion  from  Tacitus,  see  above,  2.  bee  also  n.lB 
below. 

17.  See  aoove,  69-73. 

18.  'jlrich  von  Zatzlkhoven,  Lenzelet ,  trans,  a.  /.a.  ^eoster 

(New  Y:;r'k,  1951).   This  work  se  ms  to  embody  a 
Lancelot  tradition  which  waa  current  at  the  same  time 
Chretien's  Lancelot  was  in  vcpue,  Probably  the 
laiicent  In  hi>^?"er  Is  a  survival  of  the  saxe  tradition, 
but  the  popularity  of  Chretien's  conception  of  i-sncelct's 
relations  wltn  the  queen  soon  oversnadowed  all  else. 
In  other  ^ords,  before  Jnreiicn's  poein,  Lancelot 
?;8s  an  ordinary  figure  of  Arthur's  court  who  unoer- 
went  the  :j8ir.e  kind  of  oisreputabie  adventures  aa 
Gawain,  but  Chretien  lifted  nlm  out  of  this  morasa 


MS 


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256 


Notes   —   Chapter  V 

of  amorsllty   to   q   hl,-h  level   o:    immorality. 

19.    It   l3   api^lied    In   lurri.fert   le    ^aloia,    14,995-15,040,    ana    in 
tile   ferlesvaua,    664it~t>b»      oee   also   n.l2  above. 

2C,'The   paaaa -a    '  •■.    to  be   found    in  Sommer,    ^^  Ko-nanaos, 

IV,    72,       .1. 

21.  E.       -H.  ,  "nawain:  His   rleputatlon,  Hia  Courtesy,  end 

Appeara:iee  in  Chaucer's  ':;quire's  Tale'", 
Mwoleevel  itudiea.  9  (1947,,  139-234,  3ltcs  sa 
astonishing  number  of  cases  in  whloh  the  epithet 
"oourteoua"  is  applied  to  Ua^Pin. 

22.  So  flxec  is  tills  characteristic  of  Kay's  that  even  Gerard 

d 'Amiens,  who  made  Kay  the  hero  of  his  bscenor,  was 
obliged  to  retain  it.   tie  rectified  matters,  however, 
by  iTiekia^j  Ancrivete,  Key's  sweetheart  end    ultlsiate 
bride,  equally  sharp-tonguedJ 

23.  Vfhitlng,  2£-  oit . ,  215. 


Id& 


fll   bne 


EIBLIOGfiAPhY 


A.    r'rltnftpjr   Sources 

1.    Age  I  eat   Ea  fellah  Ketrical   hoaiancea.    eo.    J,    Rltson,    rev, 

E.    GoTuimTc.      3   vol  J.      rdlnburgh:    Ooldsmld,    1894-66. 

£.    Aftpcur  8j  _a.      ed.    E.   KSlbin^,,      AltonFllsche   blbllothok, 

IV.      ti^.-,,,:   heieland,    1890. 

3.  Arthur.      ec,    P.J,    Purnlvall,      Eerly  Iiinglish   Text   society 

Original   Series,    2.      London:    Trilbnep, 

4.  L'/'tre    Forilloi'x,    Roasn   oe   la   Table   Konoe.      ea.    b.    Aolec^w-e. 

CTeasl': 't.-^    Tren^nT  du  TjZjCn  Aj-e^    ToT      iti:'*is:    Chexplon, 
1936. 

5.  The   Avowinr    of  f^£thur.      iitiodle   ntigliah   ,„c  trice  1   hcmanoea, 

60c -4 6 r  Te^  i^c.  72. 

6.  The  Awntyra  off  Arthurs  at  tne  Xer:ie  »vathel:/ne.   bcottlaxi 

Allitex'titlve  Po-i.'.-id,  TT7^^7T.   See  No. 91. 

7.  Le  bel  Inconnu.   See  .\'o.'.7 

8.  Besudcua.   ,..ee  Nc.  89. 

9.  B6roui.  Le  ir.o:GHn  ue  Triatfea,  Poeme  ou  Alle  ^lecle.   eo.  ii. 

Muret.   Claaalquea  r'ran^ela  ju  i.oyGn  -'6,  12.   Chen.i.'lon: 
Psria,  1913. 

10.  Blquet,  i.a:,ort.   .  obt  .-t  ^l.^uet  's  "Lai  ciu  Cor".   ed.  u.    i/orner. 
St r a s s b m*  • :  j  ch^uber  ,  19C7. 

li.  ihe  Bx'ut,  or  the  Chronicles  of  Snglfiic.   ed.  F.ii.L.    Brie. 
Zerly  Enpliah  Text  SocieTy  Original  oerles,  131,136. 
2  vols.  Loncon:  Ke  Bti,    Pft  1,  Trench  &   Tr^Ibner,  1906-03, 

12.  The  Carle  off  Carl  lie.   Blahop  Percy's  Folio  Manus oript, 

III,  27e-94.   See  No.  -31. 

13.  Chaucer,    Geoffrey.      The    Complete    Aorka   of   Geofi  rej    onei.cex'. 

eo.    r.Ii.    i\obiniion.       Jambric    e,    K;ess.:    iiOuutca    r;.  1 1 1 1  i  a , 
0-^^333. 

14.  Cheatre,    Thcrea.      5lr   Launfal.      Miacle    ant^llah  _Wet£l_c8l 

Roifiancea,    oL5-4o.      ^.eo   Nj.    7^"I 

i.i7 


miAnoouaia 


.▼?■ 


7? 
.1   .bft     .'>■-»£•♦*»  "»<-  R-r- 


aW9©a     .: 


,"acw  ;.;b  iej"    «' 


Xsc 


258 


^t  .    La    Cnevaiicr  a    x'i.;.oe,    an   ulc   rreaca  _?oea.    ed.    -.    .>. 
Arrnltronr."'  baltimcre:    Morpay,    190o. 

J.--,    Li    Cbevaliara  as   Laua    ::8.:ee3.       ^    -       •    fberai- 
"<ie:.e  j'cr ,    1    .,7. 

17.    Chr'Stien  de   Troyes.    Cllgas.      ed.    A.    Foerater.      Christian 
von   Trojes,    Sflrit]  l^.-.e   Erhfiltene   WerVe,    T.      Hnller 
Nletnayer,    1384. 

13,    .      rZrec   et   Snide,      ed.    U.   Koques. 

Claasi^iuea   Kranials   du   .voje-    '-•°.    -^0.      Pp"!*"    ^'^n*.    ..:■^■^, 
ldi2. 

ii,.    .      Per   Karrenrltter    (Le.ioelot )    una 

j^sa   •■.llhel.'.3leben  Tculllanme    d 'Angleterra  ) .      ed.    W. 
Foerater.      Ti.r'lstlan   von   iro/es,    idrr.Tiilone   ElPhsltene 
,=  erKe,     '..         r:.!--    '<ieij.eyer,    loysJ. 

2Q, « ,      i,ec  Peroevalroman   (Li   Qontea   del 

Graal;.      ed.    A.    hlTkb.    ur.i'ialian   voa  TFo^ea, 
SdzLtlxChe   £.ri.alt-ene  Warke,    V.      aalle:   i.ieaeyer,    1^32. 

^-  _    .      luUstlen   von   Troyes    ivaln    (Der  LCjjen- 

rj-utor  j.      ea,    •>.    i-oerater.    noinaniacne   bibliotr.ek,    V. 
»3rd   ed.    Halle:    Niemeyer,    1906. 

22.  Chroalqu^a   Q'AnJou.      ed.    r.    .Varc-esa/  a-- -'^' 

2    vol 3.    i'aris:    henouaro,    lc556. 

23.  LI    hoc.ar.a   de   Cjex-^a   et   Laris.      ed.    J.   Alton,      blbllothek 

dea  Lltterariachen  Vereins    in   otuttiart,    CLXIX. 
T'Jbingan:    Lai.pp,    1384. 

24.  Le   Conte    du   "Mantel".    ed.F.A.    Aulff.      Roraania,    14   (lb86), 
—  343^   : 

26.  The    Ccnti.-    olx  :  .a    ;;:     -ut-    jld   Jrencxi   "i-eroeval'*   of   C:ir6tlen 

ae    iroyes.      •^■'~:.    v*,  ..T.    noech  and  h.l;.    Ivy,    Jr.      2  vcjo. 
pub*ci.      f-hllb    f.l.nlai    University   cr   Pen  isylvenia    rreaa, 
194d-6C.       ^>ec    ...^r.    o9,398,    end    79. 

<iB.    Co   rtcis   d'Arraa.  -arel.      Clesslquea   Fran^ais   du 

oyen  a»  -.-  .  i ,     ^    -  -  . 

27.  i-icct-Fercevax.      .mtj   i-      t.iu   ui    ^^i'   ^^^  ^^  .*.-.    ^.-.    .teaton. 

2   voTTTToTTccn:    ^-a.^u   .^'-itt,    i^^oS-Ly.      Iiie    text   of    tlie 
Lldot-fercevel    is    c^atc:  -'  -         -=•"     <->.    163. 

28.  Li   h  ■-•   lo  Oal....      ^«.       .    -•-...,--.      --bli^thak 
~~"  "^  .erdi'ii   in  ^tutt^art,    CAVI. 

Tuu     :i     cii:     1   -    ,      ,      .-73'. 


eas 


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S4«>.   "ire  Gquv^  In  ^  io  Chov-.ller  vort.   tr 

Theque  do  fhiToio^^ia  %(exi£aniqu«t   ■'^-'      -    **    • 


T.I^l.     ..oufion:    i  yior,  i. 
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39a.  .   "Die  ^eistlio.ie  Tendena  una  obs 

KotLv   vo:j  goprei"     '  ■  iL'   1  in  Goi'berLi  Gralfortsetzung", 
Zeit8cr.rif  t  fttr   ,      ^.  e  Philologie,  b6    {196i), 
303-11.   Tae  taxi,  o.  v.  .       -  /,b56  la  printed, 
pp.  306-11. 

40.  Gllglois,  B_   French  Art  :urian  hoiaaace  of  tiiO  lairteentx^ 

Century-,   ed.  C.h.  Livingaton.   harvard  Studiea  in 
homance -Lanh'uagos,  VIII.   >;riDrla  e,  fl'.asa.:  ;iarvard 
Univeraitj  irass,  1^62, 

41.  Golagros  end  Gawaln.   3cotti3h  ylllterative  roea.s,  1-46, 

See  No,  91. 

42.  The  Orene  Knlfc.it.   Bishop  Percy  '3  Folio  Menuscript,  III, 

66-77.   See  No.  81. 

43.  Guillaume  le  Clerc.   Fergus,  Koman  von  Ouilleume  1© 

Clerc .   ed.  F.F.  "'artln.   !:olle:  Ve'rlar  dos  PucH- 
handlung  dea  v elsenheuses,  1S72. 

44.  hunbaut.   ed.  fa,  Breuer.   GeaellaoLaft  la.-^  rotnaniaohe 

Literatur,  3t.   Dresden:  Niemeyer,  1914. 

46.  Huth-Kerlla.   -e©  Nos.  71  and  71a. 

46.  The  Jeaate  of  Syr  Gaweyne.   Syr  Gaweyne,  207-£3.   See 

No.  3£. 

47.  Kinr  Arthur's  Deetx-.   Bisnop  Percy's  Folio  .■•.anusoripT^. 

I,  501-07.   bee  No3.  £-6  aau  dl. 

48.  Lawaan.   Lasamoaa  brut  or  Chronicle  of  britaln.   ed. 

F.  Madden.   3  vols.   London:  Society  of  Antiquaries, 
1847. 

49.  Le  Lai  du  Lec:.eor.   ed.  G.  Paris.   Romania,  B  (1679), 

64-66. 

50.  Sir  Lambenrell.      ciahop    -eroy '  s   Folio   Manuscript,    I,    142- 

63.      ijee    No.    81. 

51.  Le   Livre   de   Lancelot   del   Lac.      The   Vulgate    Veraion  of   txie 

Arthurian  homancea.    III,    IV,    V.      See   No.   99. 

52.  Lancelot    of   tne   La  Ik.      ec,    \. ,  h ,    Skeat.      Early   ^iiglian 

iext    Society   Original  Series,    6.      London:   Kegan, 
Paul,    Trench  ?<   Trflbner,    1906. 

53.  Lanzelet.   See  No.  ^7. 

54.  Sir  Launfal.   Sea  Nos,  14  aad  72. 


Odd 


eso   bcw 


2:  ■•/_■•    ^■;_ 

•ribBlnemcvi  n51  ;tl-^^'      -  

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56.  Ili£  :.oF;on(l  o,„  Kl  lio  ^jjiu- 

oorlpt.    i  


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57.  '.ortoiTT-     ...._.,  ....  .  ^.  te  Version  of  the  '^.rihiiriym 

'.      2L     "TfT"  ''ooTo.  99,  — «— — 

^Q*  -eBtolra  VorRlon  of  thq 

'rthu^\v  ..  ,  .. .  ....._>.  *,   ....  ..-,.,  .-'• 

69*  Lc  Llvvr    -f '    »•  vu£.     The  Vta/r  te  Vorelon  Of  the   ■rthurl'^n 
u^  .    VII.        c-      10.99, 

60t  Lovelioh,  TTonry,     ?Torlin.  2.  "id ell  j  j^ 

^ir.'"''      ■T..'"12.«     ®^*    ■'"' •   ■•'""'■ 

11-  .  ,.  .    .     tonc.on:  .•..  , 

nad  Oxford  Inivoreity  j04-2£. 

61.  Lyte^ue   riPoonac,     Ancient  :'njllBh  'Tetrlonl  Ivoi^mioes,   71, 

o.-.    ...c  y^blnoiiitlQn.     trtUB.      ....  oyfi.     ■.  voie. 

Oxiord:  Gl^rention  Press,  i. 

62««   The  I.rlilQo.Uon.     trnns*  Q,    Jones  "iifl   T,    Jonos.     Sveii/nan'e 
Lllnrj-.     '.ond  on t  Pont ,  [l  949], 

62,  Wwlery,  ?=;ir  Thom^e,     The    /orks  of  ^Ir  ^hon- g  :   lory»     od. 

E.  Vln-'Ver*     3  vorp".      Or-cf orHT  Cl-  rordon  ?rcso,  1947. 

64.  Manning,  Robert*     The  ^tor:/  oi   ^Jijqpijici   ly  Itobort  L:ni-uain,>c 

"       --.V  ',   lurnTv'^lI,     TToruin  Iritnnniorruin 

a  87,     2  vole.     London:   ayre  nrid 


TM.'   ■-  1.  A"  IVVV 


66*  Mnrle  do  .''"rpuoe,     :^nl8,     ed.    '      — -^-  v       '^-vrforc!:   Bl'-oJc- 
well,  1947. 

0  h??  no  e  r^e'^y'n  tor  "bur  L  '>rion ,  ~ . . ,  C-  'a  .     ':co  iloV  Sl,*"^ 

67#   ?/eli-^dor.      -co  IIo.   Z3. 

68.  Merptt^le  do  Fortlcafraog.      ^eo  -Ho.   r.cr. 

6V.   U6xi^(io\xiim        00  :o.   J..C. 

70.   .'cr  '  ■  the   .^••' r ly  Tli-      .  .      ,  j.  1 1  uj :   _  ^.ru;  o 

_o.     ed.  I?.E.  0.      .F..''''epd,  ^nd  K8B»^  a 


iH'^i 


"ii; 


262 


on  Merlin   the   Knchsnter  and   M   rlln  the   Bard  by  E.., 
Nash;    Bad   Arthurian  Looalltlaa  by  S»    ^lennlo, 
^:arly  i.n'tlish   iext    Society  Orirlnal    •^Tles,    10,    21, 
36.    112.    8    •-'■ols.      Lc>ndop:    Ke-sn,    Pnul,    ■'•rench  4 
Trftbner,    186- - 

71.  Merlin;      fvprnan   en    i^wae    cu  XII  le   -<leol'9.      Ed.    *^,    Paris 

pnd    J.    Ulrl'.:h.       -'0?li1E(?  des   A n c i f, n •:    Testes   FrsnQfis. 
2   vela.      t'arls:    iiririln  bidot,    1&96.      The   Kuth-MerlTn. 

71«.  "Lie  Abenteaer  Gawe'ns,  i^walna,  una  Le  Storholta  o;lt  den 
Drel  Jungfrauen".  ed.  w.  ''ommor.  faelhefte  «ur  Zeit- 
BOhrlft   f/Jr   horiianisohe    ;  hilolo>r.le .    47.      halle: 

Aieix.ejtr.',      1    13.      The    cent iriuetl on   ol"    t.ie    hutn-Merlln. 

72.  Mlcdle   bni»li3h  fc^etrioal   ^o;aanoeB.         ...  - 

C.b.    Hale.      lien  Ycta:      rrentice    i^ll,    laOv-. 

73.  Lb    tJq rt  Le   hoi   Artu,    ho^an   du  Allie   Sieole.      ea.    J.    trappier 

i^erisJ    Lroz ,    1.3^.       ^ec    Ao.    -Jj, 

738.  Mort  ^*rtu,_an  olc  FrenoJi  hcri^ance  of  tae  /^Illth  ^entury. 
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73b.      L«^  itiort   le   *^oI   Artus.      Ihe^    »^j1   ate   'ferslon   oT   the 
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74.  Le   Morte   Art.aur.      eo.    J.D.   liruce.      Early  English  Text 

Society  -xtre    i;erles,    6S.      Londo;i:      Ke  jan,    Paul, 
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76.    Morte  Artnure.      ec.    E.    Brock.      r.arly  £nffllah   -^ext  «^cciety. 
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76.  La    Mule    sang   Pra    n.      See    Nc.    78. 

77.  "Le   Ortu   aaluuanl".      ec.    J.D.    Bruce.      Pur.llcalir-s    cT 

the   Modern  Lan  ^ua^e   Asaooiation,    13   (1698),    3~  0-432. 

78.  Faiens   ds   Mai;  ierea.      La    Vuie    sang   JHrain,    an   Arthurian 

lioffianoe   by   faiens   de    .alaierea  .      ed.    n .  i  ,    h .  1  ■  . 

nsalt  IjTiCv'   :      Furat,    1  *ll. 

79.  Feroeval    le    Gallois   cu   le   Conte   qu   C^raal.      eo.     ;.    Potvln. 

6   vois.    Vons:    '-•   oieCB~cea   o^-bliopxiiles   BeljCa,    1666-71. 
ioe    I'Joa.    39,    vi«,    and    2t  , 

6C .      ►  roeval    of  Oallea.      Middle   Lngltah    ..e  trical   *>oa:encea, 

b29-6U4.       6ee    No.    72. 

61,      blsiiOp   x^ercj  '  a   r'ol .  o   .Manuacrlpt.      ed.    J.<».    lisiea   ano   t.J, 
Furnivall.    3   vols.      Lonauo:    TrUonei',    ld67-6a. 


sds 


tie' 


.X^6 


«&£2£i2££li  Ibc?Ii3oM  as. 


263 


82.  L£  iiaut  Llvre   du  Qraal.    j'orleavaus.      ea.  itze   end 

T«A.    Jeakina.    'c,   vols.      UETca^cT      Ualverait^    or    Cnice^o 
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83.  Picrr*   de   lenrtoft.      The    Chronicle   of   ):l'civc^   de   j^t»n^toft 

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34.    La    ^ueate    oel    >-B!nt   ^raal,    fto::.aa   ou  Allle    -lecle.    eo. 
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84e.    La   i^ueste   del   ^^alnt    (?raal.    The    Vulgate    Vera! en   of   the 

Art^ur'len   r.orr.ences,    V'l ,    1-199. 

85.  itaoul  de   houdeno.      McrauKla   de    Forties >tue8.      hwoul   de 

houdenc:      Sflgjntllche   *ei.^t:e,   TT      ed.    M.    iriedwagner. 
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86.    .      La    Vengeaar;e   ha>.  uldel.      aaoul   ue 

h£UGenc:    b/S/fltirtlicKe      erke,    fl.      ed.    ll,   r'riedwagner. 
halle:    W lairie^er',    l.oX 

87.  henaut  de  beaujeu.      Le  oel   Inoonnu.      ed.      ...     viiiiama. 

Clasaiques  Fraa^ais   du  ko^en   A   e,    38.      itria; 
Cneffii^iori,    19lc;9. 

86,    Lea   Mervelllea   de    r.lgo.::er   von    Jehan.      ed.    «.    Poerster 

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89.  hobert   de    ilola.      Bcpudcua.    l.obert   von  Bids    S^mmtllche 

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A .  I' .    Hcyin   fiiiu     ..    ..'o.  ]  J  Lt  .• .       Zillaa-,^:      .nlvcraity    of 


&ds 


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93.  Tacitus.      me    ^ec:  Bnla    of   Ta jltua,      ed.    h.i,    r.oolnaon. 

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94.  Le    i_  -  c'C3e    ce     Tr-I  hHj  ■. ,    iv    i\o,.  an   ljc  "       ,    et 

1:.  iatlon   i''-'    Iiuatlclen   de    Pise,    en.'-  Itlque 

a P-C'?3   lea  meauacrlots   oe    irax''i3.      i-er  h.    L---'-Lii. 
Blbi:ot:je^iif    dr    \  'fecole   das   lisutoa   Etudea,    ^ciencea 
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96 ,  Tne   Turk  and   fiowln.    biahop   Feroy  '3   Folio   Menaaoi'ipt,    I, 
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iL-j .    iwaine   and   Cia .7 1 n .    /indent   en  -llah  ^eti'lcfei  ivoii.w.ioea,    1, 
ilc-cTST  oee   W :-! .  1  * 


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Ii.    Secondary   Sourcea 


^6ii. 


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