CHAPTER XII

CONCLUSION

We have now reached the final stage of our _Lancelot_ studies, and it only remains for us to gather up the threads of the previous investigation, and to endeavour to formulate the results at which we have arrived. We have seen that the _Lancelot_ legend was one of remarkably speedy growth. We find no mention of the hero's name before the latter half of the twelfth century, yet within ten years of that first mention he is the most famous of Arthur's knights, and the lover of the queen.[207]

We have examined the legend (_a_) in the form of a loosely constructed biographical romance, composed of episodes originally foreign to each other; (_b_) in detached episodic poems; (_c_) in its final form as the most important member of a great prose cycle; and we have found that in all this mass of literature the only really distinctive and individual trait on which we could lay our finger was the story of the hero being stolen as a child and brought up by the mistress of a water kingdom.[208]

Into the question of the character of the Lady of the Lake we have not entered deeply; we have seen that she touches on the one side the mysterious queen of the Other World, on the other the scarcely less enigmatic Morgain le Fay, King Arthur's sister. The subject was too wide in extent to be adequately treated in this series; it demands separate study, but the result, so far as the _Lancelot_ legend is concerned, was to lead us to believe that the root of that legend was a _lai_, presumably Breton, dealing with the theft of a king's son by a water fairy; a theme which afterwards underwent considerable expansion, in the course of which the characters of the hero and of his patroness alike became greatly modified from the original conception.

The final and best known form of the story was mainly influenced by the introduction of a _motif_ foreign to the earlier and tentative development, _i.e._ that of Lancelot's love for the wife of his lord. This _motif_, however, we saw reason to believe, did not really represent the earlier tradition of Guinevere's infidelity, but was a practically new development introduced under the dual influences of a special social condition and the high popularity of the earlier _Tristan_ story. As to the reasons which determined the choice of Lancelot as the queen's lover, we found ourselves unable to express any decided opinion.[209]

But from its very earliest stages the _Lancelot_ story came into contact with another and highly popular tale, the legend of _Perceval_. The earlier and later biographical forms (_Lanzelet_ and the prose _Lancelot_) and the episodic romances (_Le cerf au pied blanc_ and _Morien_) show traces of contact, direct or indirect, with this story; while the precise statements of certain MSS.[210] make it quite clear that even at an advanced stage of its evolution the _Lancelot_ legend formed part of a cycle of which the most important member was the story of _Perceval and the Grail_.

This continued contact with the _Perceval_ story, with the resulting developments, appears to be the most important factor in the evolution of the _Lancelot_ legend, and one which has hitherto been overlooked.

So far as the evidence at our disposal permits us to trace it, the course of development seems to have been the following. Gradually the legend of the _Grail_,[211] originally foreign to the _Perceval_ story, completely dominated that story and changed the character of the hero, who became transformed into an ascetic celibate; while, on the other hand, the growing popularity of the _Lancelot_ story had reacted prejudicially on the position alike of Perceval and the still earlier hero Gawain as knights of King Arthur's court. Eventually the two competing centres of romantic interest were _Lancelot_ and the _Grail_, and it became necessary to combine them in such a manner that the latter, while still retaining its sacrosanct character, should yet contribute to heighten the fame of the popular 'secular' hero.

Such a combination was possible, under certain conditions, and an ingenious writer, perceiving this possibility, turned it to account by inventing the Galahad _Queste_, which, poor and inadequate as a _Grail_ romance, yet as a contribution to the _Lancelot_ cycle had a very certain and decided value. It put the final touch to the evolution of the hero by enabling him to take part, under circumstances which should vicariously increase his fame, in the great adventure of the Arthurian cycle, the Grail Quest; it also restored superficially the unity of the cycle, which had been injured by the cleavage between the _Grail_ and the other sections, caused by the growing popularity of Lancelot as compared with Perceval.

While Gawain and Perceval were the leading heroes of the Arthurian cycle, a Perceval _Queste_ was natural; but as soon as these two were supplanted in the popular favour by Lancelot, the Perceval _Queste_, as an integral part of the cycle, became more and more inharmonious. A change in the interest of the _later_ Lancelot development was inevitable, and that the change took place precisely at the psychological moment is, I think, proved by the practically universal welcome accorded to the Galahad _Queste_. With unanimous consent the Perceval _Queste_ appears to have been discarded _as a part of the cycle_, although in its _independent_ form it still retained its popularity.

Naturally all the branches of the cycle into which the new _Queste_ had been adopted were more or less affected by it; in some cases the references to the coming Grail Winner were more or less vague, and would apply as well to the later as to the earlier hero; in other instances they were amplified but not altered, thus introducing confusion into the text (this is, I suspect, the case with the _Merlin Suite_). The romances that represented the _Early History_, as introduction to the _Queste_, were naturally the most affected, and at the present moment it is extremely difficult to decide whether the _Grand S. Graal_ be a _direct_ amplification of the _Joseph of Arimathea_, constructed with a view to the Galahad _Queste_, or whether, in its existing form, it depends upon an intermediate version the _données_ of which would agree with the cyclic _Perceval_.

In any case the 'net' result was, I believe, the substitution of the name of the supposed author of the _Queste_, Walter Map, for that of the traditional author of the earlier _Perceval-Grail_ story, Robert de Borron; and to ascribe to Map that cyclic redaction of the Arthurian romances which had previously been ascribed to de Borron.

I think that much of the difficulty hitherto experienced in determining the order and date of the various Grail romances has arisen from our very natural tendency to regard these romances as a group apart, and to compare them exclusively with each other; whereas they should be treated as members of the cycle, and compared with the other branches of the cycle. More especially is this the case with the Galahad _Queste_; treated as a _Grail_ romance proper, it is inexplicable, and appears to represent no possible step that can be postulated in the _natural_ evolution of the Grail legend. We could imagine the honour transferred from father to son (as a matter of fact it is _Lohengrin_ and not Galahad who should be the successor to Perceval); but this sudden break in the tradition by which the honour passes to the race of King Ban, no relationship between Perceval and Lancelot being previously hinted at, is, considered in itself, most perplexing. On the other hand, treat the _Queste_ as an integral part of the _Lancelot_ cycle, and it not only explains itself, but gives us valuable assistance in 'placing' the earlier versions.

At the same time it is obvious that the theory here advanced only applies to the _later_ stages of the Grail tradition; it does not touch the problem of the origin of the Grail itself, or its first connection with Perceval.

In the course of our investigation we found it necessary to devote especial attention to the work of Chrétien de Troyes, endeavouring to ascertain the exact position which, in the evolution of the Arthurian romantic cycle, should be ascribed to this famous poet. It became clear that a very considerable portion of the matter with which he dealt belonged by its nature to the domain of what we call folk-lore; and by reason of that nature could not have been _invented_ by the poet, but must have ante-dated, in some instances by many centuries, any possible _literary_ rendering. Judged by the rules laid down by scientific authorities on comparative religion, and story-transmission, Chrétien could not have been an _inventor_, but only a brilliantly successful re-teller of stories long known and popular. Instead of standing at the _source_ of Arthurian romantic tradition, he was swept into the current at a comparatively late period of its evolution. To solve the complex problems of Arthurian romance we must go behind Chrétien: it is the period preceding, not following, his work in which the solution of our puzzles must be sought.

To this Chrétien himself bears witness. The position claimed for him by certain modern scholars is not that which he claimed for himself; he never professed to be telling a story no one had ever heard before, though he may have flattered himself, not without reason, that he was telling it better than it had ever previously been told. He was dealing with heroes and adventures already well known to his public. The manner in which he introduces, or refers to, incidental characters makes it abundantly clear that he expected his readers to understand his allusions. Especially is this noticeable in the case of Perceval, who has been claimed, with more zeal than discretion, as one of his most famous creations. He alludes to the hero in a manner that makes it quite evident that this story was well known, and the name familiar, to the public, some decades before Chrétien himself undertook to tell it.

As practical results arising from these studies I would claim:

_a_ That we, in future, place the evolution of the _Perceval_ story at a much earlier date than we have hitherto been willing to assign to it.

_b_ That we admit the possibility of very important variations in the tale, some of them being anterior to Chrétien's version.

_c_ That we recognise that this story of Perceval was of capital importance in the general evolution of the Arthurian cycle.

_d_ That in the mutual relations between the _Perceval-Grail_ and _Lancelot_ stories we have the key to the final shaping of the entire cycle.

These principles admitted, and I think the evidence adduced goes far to prove their soundness, it is obvious that in order to establish and appraise the above relations at their full value, we must have complete and critical editions of _all_ the principal texts. As matters stand at present, the only texts which can be said to have been in any sense critically treated are the Didot _Perceval_, and the _Parzival_ of Wolfram von Eschenbach for the older story, and the _Charrette_ for the younger. We have been waiting for years for a critical edition of the _Conte del Graal_, and when we get it will the editor have taken into consideration the various additions to Chrétien's text, and the version of the Dutch compiler, or will it be Chrétien's portion of the poem alone? In that case it will not help us very far. We need sorely a critical edition of the curious _Perceval li Gallois_, with its blending of wild, folk-lore features with late proselytising and allegorising tendency, its baffling parallels to the German _Parzival_.

And if we are at a loss for material to adequately criticise the earlier story, what of the later? Considering the highly mythic, prehistoric character of so much of the Arthurian tradition, the disappearance of so many of the intermediate stages, and the consequent difficulty in fixing the _earliest_ form of any characteristic feature, it would seem that our best plan would be to start from the _final_ form assumed by the cycle and work gradually backward, since for a certain period, at least, we might hope to find solid ground beneath our feet. But the most important text for this final form of the Arthurian cycle, the prose _Lancelot_, remains unedited. And indeed it might well seem to be a work beyond the powers of any one scholar; the number alike of MSS. and of printed editions is so large; they are so scattered, no important library but can show one or more _Lancelot_ texts, and we cannot afford to leave even _one_ of all this mass unexamined. The great discrepancy between the printed texts which the foregoing comparison has shown us; the pregnant hints as to earlier redactions, which the passages I have quoted from M. Paulin Paris and Professor Heinzel assure us may be found in the MSS., are all indications of the vast extent of the task which confronts us.

Yet this much is certain, until it is boldly grappled with, and scholars are in possession of a complete critical edition of the _Lancelot_ in which all the varying adventures shall be carefully chronicled, and all the traces of earlier redactions duly noted, any studies such as these in the preceding pages, be they the work of scholars of the very first rank, will always be liable to the necessity of revision, or the risk of subversion, by the accidental discovery of some hitherto unknown factor.[212]

This appears to me to be the great and pressing question which confronts Arthurian scholars; we desire our work to have a permanent value, yet we are leaving undone that which, to all appearance, is the surest means of securing such permanence.

A work of such magnitude can, I think, only be grappled with by a body of scholars, a chief editor, assisted by a group of sub-editors. The great extent and diffusion of the material (the _Lancelot_ MSS. are, as I said before, practically scattered all over Europe), render it impossible for any one man to hope to complete the task within a reasonable term of years. I do not know what may be the principles regarding the choice of publications by the _Sociétié des anciens textes Français_, whether their aim be the introduction to the public of MSS. of which unique copies alone exist, rather than to publish critical editions of more easily accessible texts; but if the latter should lie within their province, I cannot imagine any publication that would be more warmly welcomed by Arthurian scholars, or that would be of greater interest and more enduring benefit to the students of mediæval literature, than a full and complete edition of the prose _Lancelot_.

APPENDIX

THE DUTCH LANCELOT[213]

(Opens with short introduction alluding to Meleagant, thus pre-supposing the _Charrette_ adventure.)

Line 20. Eight days after Whitsuntide A., his knights, and twelve tributary kings are hunting in a forest. Guinevere and her maidens ride to see hunt escorted by Kay, Segramore, Dodinel, and Lancelot. Knight rides up and seizes queen's bridle. Her knights resent this. K., S., and D. are overthrown. L. is about to joust when maiden rides up and demands his aid, he is pledged to her. L. asks permission to fight first; overthrows and badly wounds knight, and follows maiden. Wounded knight is tended by queen's people.

Line 245. Queen sends K. after L., whom he finds fighting with two knights; K. gives him his horse; returns to queen.

Line 352. Queen is hungry. Dodinel and Segramore go to find food. Come to a pavilion with knight, he and S. fight, D. looks on. Maid on mule rides up, calls D. to go with her. Knight flies and S. is left alone.

Line 444. SEGRAMORE meets one of A's horsemen pursued by two (=1533=, _three_) knights, rescues him and overthrows knights. Comes to a pavilion; dwarf stands at door, strikes S.'s horse with stick. S. chastises him. Lady appears and reproaches S., he is struck with her beauty. Enters pavilion and finds Calogrenant prisoner. He had come there and blown horn at maid's request, two armed knights appeared and overthrew him. S. blows horn. Red Knight appears; they fight, well-matched. A knight arrives, carries off maiden. R. K. begs truce that he may pursue them. S. will do so too. Cal. is released (=1533=, _R. K. remains to guard C._). S. pursues ravisher, comes to hill and fair meadow, ten pavilions by a fountain. Knight with thirty companions appears and demands joust. S. overthrows him and asks news of maiden. Knight will tell him if S. will grant first request asked. Leads him to pavilion with maid and four knights. Maid will return with S.; has been brought against her will. A knight throws knife at S. who cleaves his head with sword. Others attack S., who slays first, and others fly. Rides off with maid to ten pavilions, ten knights ride out, S. must go with them to their lord or joust; chooses latter. They ask his name, he is _Segramore die Wonderlike_. Another knight appears, S. must leave maiden or joust. He is Brandalis, rejoiced to meet S., would entertain him. S. says he must return to queen who waits by 'Elfin Spring.' B. will escort maiden to her _ami_. S. rides off to house of Mathamas (his original destination), finds him and knights in hall, and demands provisions for queen. M. and his men treacherously attack S., finally overpower and throw him into dungeon, where he is wellnigh starved, but M.'s daughter takes pity upon him, and brings him food.

Line 1050. DODINEL and maid meet knight and lady richly dressed, with dwarf. D. greets dwarf, who makes no answer but tries to kiss maiden, who throws him to the ground. Knight tries to kill maiden, but is unhorsed by D. and sent prisoner to queen. He is Maroc van den Ynsen Roken, 'twixt Ireland and Scotland. (=1533=, _Marruc le roux, no island named_.[214])

Line 1267. LANCELOT meets a black rider unarmed with knight's head on saddle-bow, asks L.'s name, bids him give him his armour, L. has pledged himself so to do (reference to adv. in earlier part of prose =L.=). L. does so. Knight is 'Griffoen van den quaden passe.' He rides thus past the Elfin Spring. Queen sees him in L.'s armour with head at saddle-bow and thinks L. is slain. Kay and other knights pursue him, and are overthrown, Kay taken prisoner. Queen and maidens remain at spring weeping.

Line 1425. LANCELOT meets maiden, who hails him as best knight in the world, thinks he is Gawain[215] (=1533=, _knows him for L._), whose presence in land of Strangore is much desired. Leaves him, and L. and attendant maiden come to house, where they are well received.

Line 1480. DODINEL comes to a deep river crossed by narrow plank. Maiden crosses safely, plank will not bear weight of an armed man. D. falls into water and is nearly drowned. When he reaches bank maid has disappeared. Castle near at hand, knight comes out and challenges D., who is too exhausted to answer and is taken prisoner.

Line 1565. QUEEN and maidens return to court in great grief, tell A. what has chanced. (=1533=, _Queen's account does not agree with facts of story. She says 'prisoner has gone after knight.' What prisoner? Probably Segramore's, but she says they have heard nothing of S._) Ten knights will go in quest of L. Gawain chooses his companions: Ywein, Garhies (_Gariët_ general spelling), Gurrehes, Mordrec, Hestor van Maris, Acgloval ('twas he brought Perceval to court), etc. (_Neither_ =D. L.= _nor_ =1533= _give ten names, the latter adds to those mentioned Les Hardi [le Laid Hardi?] and Brandalis_.) They take an oath to seek a year and a day. They ride to the 'Swerte cruce' (here we have story of Joseph of Arimathea and King Agestes [Agrestes] from _G. S. Graal_). Gawain harangues them, they will separate, and search forest for a week. Hear loud cries, maiden meets them, and says best knight on earth is being slain. Leads them to a valley where one knight fights against ten. Gawain and companions rescue him and put others to flight. Knight has two swords. Gawain asks reason. Knight explains. He is Eliezer (=1533=, _Helye_), son of the rich Fisher who holds the Grail. One sword is that with which Joseph of Arimathea was wounded (here adventures of Joseph as in _G. S. Graal_); it is broken and can only be mended by him who achieves adventures of the Grail. Ywein begs E. to accompany them in their search for Lancelot, he would doubtless fulfil the test. E. refuses, must return to his father. They separate, agreeing if they find L. to send him to E. (which they do not do).

Line 2335. _Agloval_ rides five days without special adventure. Meets wounded knight who prays his aid. A. jousts with and overthrows pursuer. Makes him ask pardon of first. Spends night in castle of second, who is Griffoen van den quaden passe. A. tells him name and quest. G. conceals share in adventure, tells A. he will find Kay at a hermitage. When A. has ridden away sets K. free, and tells him to go to hermitage, not saying whence he came. K. does this, meets A., hears of quest and follows him.

Line 2565. GAWAIN rides three days without adventure. Comes to castle of Mathamas where Segramore is imprisoned. Being weary rides past without greeting. M. pursues him, they joust, M. is overthrown. S. is released and M. sent prisoner to court.

Line 2685. HECTOR[216] seeks in forest up and down for eight days; ninth, comes to where Dodinel fell into water, crosses safely and rides to castle. Knight attacks him and is overthrown, makes feint to yield and tries treacherously to stab H. H. smites off his head. Folk of castle receive him gladly, tell him of D. who is freed. Maiden explains knight was her _ami_ and hated D. who had overthrown him at a tourney, she had been forced to fetch him hither on pain of death. H. tells D. of quest; he will join. Leave castle and ride to trysting-place. All meet, have heard nothing of L. Part in great grief, knowing it will be long before they meet again.

Line 2925. GAWAIN rides fifteen (=1533=, _twelve_) days without adventures. Comes to an abbey where he leaves his arms and takes others. Spends Sunday there. On Monday rides forth, comes to a spring, unhelms to drink, maid rides up, knows him, and takes him to castle. Lord of the castle arrives with thirty knights. A great tourney to be held on the morrow two miles hence. Mabonars (=1533=, _Marbortas_), the king of Galehout's race (=1533=, _Galehout's cousin_), has summoned it at Castle 'van der Molen,' will give hawk to best knight and circlet to his lady. Maiden prays G. to help her lover Taganas (=1533=, _Tanaguis le blanc_). On the morrow go to tourney. Argument between maiden and 'a king's niece' as to whose knight is the best. At first G. overthrows all adversaries. Then Red Knight appears, prolonged struggle, G. is unhorsed, R. K. rides away, G. follows, overtakes him at forester's house. It is Hector, who is much grieved at what he has done. G. forgives him, and they continue quest together. Third day (=1533=, _time not mentioned_), come to ruined chapel and churchyard wherein is marble tomb with inscription to effect that only the 'keytive' knight who has failed through 'luxurien' to achieve adventure of the Grail can fulfil this. Enter churchyard, find burning tomb with twelve others round it, upright sword on each. G. will test adventure, enters enclosure, is attacked by swords, beaten to the ground, when he recovers consciousness is outside. Tries again, with even worse result. H. also tries, fails; letters appear on the door that none shall dare adventure till the 'son of the dolorous queen' come.[217] They leave chapel and ride till they come to two roads by a cross on which is written 'whoso takes left-hand road shall not escape without much dishonour; of right-hand nothing shall be said save that there is much danger.' H. insists on going to left though G. would dissuade him. They separate.

Line 3535. GAWAIN comes to pavilion where six knights are at meat, he greets them, they make no response. G. seats himself and begins to eat, they order him to stop, and on his refusing attack him with swords and axes. G. slays one, cuts off arm of another, rest flee. Rides away, comes to a valley where he sees castle surrounded by deep water, goes towards it. Hears cries from a tower, enters and finds maiden in bath of boiling water (=1533=, _does not say water is boiling, and states that she only expects aid from Lancelot_), prays him to lift her out; he fails, she tells him he will not go hence without shame, and that only 'the best knight in the world' can help her. G. goes to castle, is well received. As they sit in the hall out of the chamber whence the king came (=1533=, _he sees 'entrer parmi une verriere'_) there comes a dove with censer in beak.[218] All are silent and kneel till dove has passed through hall and entered a chamber. Then tables are prepared and all sit down in silence. G. wonders much. Out of chamber where dove entered comes the fairest maiden G. has ever seen, holding above her head a vessel in the shape of a cup. The vessel 'ne was van houte ne van stene, ne van metale negene.' All kneel as she passes, save G., and the tables are filled with the best food on earth. When she has passed all but G. have been provided with food; he doubts if he has done amiss. After the meal all leave the hall, doors are closed, and G. is left alone. He lies down beneath a window. A man (dwarf?) appears and tells G. to go into a chamber where none shall see him, would strike him, but G. takes staff out of his hand, warns him he shall not depart without dishonour. (=1533=, _G. is only told 'fuyez vous en d'icy, vous n'y devez m'y estre, car en vous a trop villaine chose.' G. sees bed through open door, and enters chamber of own accord._) G. goes into the chamber, sees a fair bed and sits down upon it. Hears a voice warning him if he sit unarmed on 't bedde van aventuren' he will surely die. Arms himself; a sword (=1533=, _lance_) with fiery blade enters room, smites him so sorely he cannot defend himself: becomes unconscious, on recovery feels that blade is being drawn out of his wound. Lies till daylight. (=1533=, _Quant il fut ennuyte si que l'en y veoit mauvaisement fors que de la lune qui luysoit a plus de quarante fenestres qui tout estoient ouvertes; lors regarde monseigneur G. en une chambre qui estoit pres de lui._) Sees a great serpent enter the hall, making fearful noise, out of its mouth come small serpents. Leopard attacks serpent, fierce battle. When serpent finds it cannot slay leopard returns to hall (chamber?), where the small serpents attack it. They slay each other. A great wind rises, which sweeps hall clean. G. hears women weeping, rises and sees twelve maidens come weeping and kneel before door where dove went in. They depart, and an armed knight comes and bids G. go and rest on a bed in another chamber, he may no longer stay here. G. refuses, they fight fiercely all day, at last fall exhausted. It begins to thunder, the whole palace trembles, G. is deafened by the sound, knows not if it be day or night (=1533=, _if he be living or dead_). A great wind rises (=1533=, _soft and sweet_), and he hears voices, two hundred at least, singing so sweetly, nothing on earth can be like to it. He cannot understand all the words, only 'Glorie ende lof moete hebben ewelike die coninc van hemelrike.' The palace is filled with a sweet smoke. Opens his eyes and sees the maiden of evening before with vessel, preceded by two censers (=1533=, _and two cierges_), places vessel on silver table, ten censers give sweet smell around it. Voices sing 'Ere, bliscap, ende lof moete hebben ewelike, Die soete here van hemelrike.' Maiden carries vessel back to chamber. Hall grows dark and windows fly open (=1533=, _and close again_). G. can see nothing, but feels he is healed of his wounds, rises and looks for knight with whom he had fought, but can find nothing. Hears people enter and feels himself taken by hands and feet, bound, carried out of hall, and laid on a cart. Daylight comes, he is still in the cart, to which a wretched horse is harnessed; feels himself shamed. A maiden (=1533=, _une vieille_) comes and drives the horse out, as they pass the gateway the people mock at and pelt G. When bridge is passed maiden looses his bonds and tells him to leave the cart, he has been there long enough. G. asks name of castle, it is Cambonoyc.[219] He curses the day he was born and made knight to be thus shamed. Rides all day, at evening comes to hermitage, where he is kindly received. Hermit asks his name, and is rejoiced at hearing it. Where has he spent the night? G. will not say at first. (=1533=, _G. shows shame at being praised. H. comforts him; no man but knows misfortune. G. says no man has had such ill-luck as he for fifteen days. H. asks how, and G. tells all._) When he does tell, H. keeps silence for a long time, then tells him he has seen the Holy Grail, his own sin prevented him from being fed by it. (=1533=, _quant vous ne luy feistes honeur bien vous deistes mesadvenir_.)[220] G. asks meaning of serpent; it is A. his uncle. He shall leave his kingdom in charge of his kinsmen and go to fight a knight whom he cannot overcome; on his return his own kinsmen shall fight against, and slay him. It shall come about through G. himself. He must swear not to reveal what H. has told him to any one. G. spends night there, and in morning rides forth to seek Hector.

Line 4260. HECTOR rides till eventide, meets a dwarf, who warns him, but will give no explanation. H. rides on and comes to a stone on which it is written, that no one enters this land save to his shame. Then meets two maidens who lament over him. Comes to a castle surrounded by water, over which is a bridge. A maiden sitting under a tree greets him kindly, and tells him there is a knight at the bridge who jousts with all comers, and throws the vanquished into the water. H. overthrows knight and crosses bridge. The gates are closed, none may enter save by swearing to put an end to the evil customs of the castle. H. swears and enters. Asks what are the customs. There is an evil knight there who fights with all who come; if victorious he drives them naked through the streets; also he has dishonoured more than one hundred (=1533=, _forty_) noble maidens. H. bids them lead him to knight. They take him to a fair garden, well planted with trees, in the midst of which is an open space. They show him an ivory horn hanging on a tree, if he sound it the knight will come.[221] He does so and a 'hunch-backed and ugly' (=1533=, _grant_) knight, on a white horse, appears unarmed, and asks H. his name. If he will swear to renounce evil customs H. will tell him, not otherwise; knight prefers to fight. Folk tell H. it was a ruse coming to him unarmed, had he made terms and disarmed, he would have been overpowered at once. Knight returns in red armour. After fierce fight H. slays him and learns he must now deliver lady of the castle, who is in a cave guarded by two leopards (=1533=, _lyons_). This he does; slays leopards and releases lady, who is joyfully received by the people. She is Argale van Grakenlant (=1533=, _Grindelain_), and Lancelot's cousin. The knight was Margarij (=1533=, _Maugart le Roux_); she is concerned to hear of L.'s disappearance.

Line 4812. YWEIN rides three (=1533=, _four_) days without adventure. Fourth meets a maiden who laughs as she sees him. Y. asks reason, she will tell him if he will promise her a gift that will cost him little. Y. promises. A knight has threatened to take her horse, because his _amie_ reproached him with having done little for her honour. Will Y. give her the knight's horse? She knows Y. and his fame, and therefore laughed for joy on meeting him. He consents and they ride together. Knight comes out from his pavilion and demands Y.'s horse. Y. will fight for it. They do so and the knight is slain (=1533=, _apparently not, the lady only thinks he is dead_), and his horse is given to maiden, who goes her way rejoicing. Y. rides till evening, when he meets a maiden lamenting loudly; a knight has taken from her the hawk her _ami_ gave her, _he_ will think she gave it willingly and slay her for jealousy. Y. bids her lead him to tent of knight who stole hawk; she does so, and Y. bids her go in and take it. Knight objects, they fight. Both are wounded, knight mortally; prays for hermit that he may receive last sacraments. Y. sends maiden, and himself finally returns with hermit, who tends him for fifteen days till wounds are healed.

Line 5070. MORDRET, Gawain's youngest brother, rode all day with nothing to eat, weary, because he was young, only twenty; fair-haired and good to look upon, but evil at heart. Description of brothers: Gawain fairest, courteous to all, especially the poor[222] (=1533=, _fist voluntiers bien aux meseaulx plus que a autres gens_.) His strength doubles, at certain times, as he fights (not specified, =1533= says, _toutes heures du iour_), so that none can overcome him, he will either conquer or be slain. A good knight in all things, and faithful to his lord. Courteous to all women, and not given to boast of his deeds. Agravain, handsome and valiant, but of bitter tongue; 'Lancelot slew him as ye shall hear' (_omitted in_ =1533=), Garhiës (later on Gariëtte) (_Gaheriet_, =1533=) more courteous than any of the others 'save Gawain' (_omitted in_ =1533=). His right arm was longer than his left, so that he did great deeds of knighthood (=1533= adds, _most gentle of all, and most relentless when wrathful_). Gurrehies (=1533=, _Gueresches_) very valiant, fond of deeds of knighthood, never took any rest. Handsome in face and more fastidious in dress than the others. Much loved of ladies. Gawain's favourite, and youngest save Mordret.[223] Mordret was valiant, but an evil knight, save for first two years of his knighthood. 'He did more harm in his life than all his brethren did good, for fifteen thousand[224] valiant knights were slain in one day because of him, and he himself died there too' (=1533= _omits this_).

Line 5250. MORDRET spends night at castle of a lady (=1533=, _widow_), who treats him well. Next morning he rides on his way, comes to two pavilions; at door of one is a horse ready saddled, and armour. Dwarf comes out with bow and arrow, and shoots M.'s horse dead. M. would chastise dwarf, but owner arrives and challenges M. They fight, and knight is slain. M. takes horse and goes on his way. Comes to a tent where is a fair maiden; she will lodge M. if her lover does not object; if he does, M. must go. They fall in love; M. prays her favours and is not refused. Lover arrives; M. may stay when he tells his name; would do anything for Gariëtte's brother. Two knights come, with squire bearing venison. M. is well treated. He prays maiden to come to him when her lover is asleep. After some demur, she does so. Lover awakes, finds M. and maiden together, reproaches him; he cannot be G.'s brother, or he would not have acted thus. They fight; M. being the younger and stronger, makes him swear to pardon lady. Next morning he rides away.

Line 5530. AGRAVAIN comes to a fair tent, where there is a dead knight on a bier, a maiden and wounded knight beside him. A. asks explanation. Dead knight was brother to the other. On their way to A.'s court they came to the 'Keytiven berch.' A knight, Dryas (=1533=, _Druas_), attacked them, they were unarmed; one was slain, the other fled. Dryas sent the body after him. He slays all who come to this place. A. says he will avenge him; is warned if he slay D. not to sound ivory horn dwarf will proffer, or D.'s brother, twice as fierce as he, will come from the other side of the mountain. A. goes forth, comes to a fountain; is challenged by D., slays him and gives head to knight, who is much rejoiced, even more when he knows A.'s name. A. returns; finds dwarf and maiden lamenting over D.'s body. Dwarf offers A. horn, which he blows loudly, all know D. is slain. His brother Sornahan (=1533=, _Sornehault_) arms and comes to avenge him. They fight, both are thrown. A. is unconscious. S. is about to slay him, when maid rides up, demands a boon, which S. grants: it is A.'s life. S. will keep him in prison though maid warns him Gawain is in the land, and will avenge his brother. S. has a wall built all round the mount, with notice that whoever would enter must first fight with him.

Line 6095. GURRËES (=1533=, _Gueresches_) rides through thicket forty miles long, ten (=1533=, _forty_) wide; finds knights ill-treating old knight, rescues him. His son had accidentally slain his cousin, his sister's son (=1533=, _a maiden_); in revenge the brothers have slain son, and would have slain him, but for G. G. goes with him to castle, most kindly received. Offers his love to daughter; she asks who he is, when she hears, says he is too rich and well-born for her. Asks him name of knight who bears certain arms; it is Lancelot. G. would fain know what has become of him. Peasant comes lamenting, he had fled from armed knight and wolves had slain his ass in forest, has lost means of living. G. was the knight; prays his host to give peasant horse for his sake, which he does. During night nephews attack castle, are repulsed; pray for peace. G. advises host to make peace as they are such near kinsmen; he consents. G. leaves castle, comes to fountain in plain, where three ladies are seated, one sixty years old, one forty, one less than twenty; youngest very poorly dressed. G. asks cause of her grief; her husband is very jealous because she had praised Lancelot unduly, has taken away her rich clothes, and forced her to eat with the servants. Oldest lady is in woe because she has been forced to promise her daughter to knight of low birth, who has murdered one wife already. Asks G.'s advice. He tells her to keep her word, and he will free the daughter. They go to castle together; knight arrives and claims maiden, mother gives her up. As they ride off G. says _he_ loves maiden, will fight for her, follows and slays knight. Beseeches maiden's love, but she refuses; she loves another, and G. restores her to her mother in safety. Will not stay, but will at once seek castle of lady with jealous husband. She receives him well; her husband is away, but returns shortly, and though angry, allows G. to stay. Meanwhile another knight arrives, Segramore. Husband, very wroth, plots to slay them; but page overhears and tells lady, who warns them. They prepare, and when host would pick quarrel with S., slay him to joy of lady and her relatives. Next morning G. and S. depart, come to thirteen pavilions, must joust ere they go farther. Each unhorses his adversary; may depart with honour. Owner of pavilions is Count Wigans (=1533=, _Gimas_), hearing Gawain was in the land, has come out to seek jousts. Ride on, meet sister of Agloval, seeking her brother; S. will escort her. G. goes on alone.

Line 7840. GURRËES comes to four tents, in first a meal spread; second, four coffers, and a dwarf sleeping; third, two maidens; fourth, maid and knight. G. eats, and goes to sleep in last tent by maiden. Knight awakes, drags G. out of bed; G. seizes sword and smites off knight's head (=1533=, _cleaves him in two_); lady much grieved, it was her husband. G., smitten with her, forces her to ride with him. Come to a forest; knight challenges G. and is slain. Next day four brothers of lady overtake them, but are overthrown by G. Come to Abbey of White Nuns. Lady takes veil, she is of high birth; Lancelot, Lionel, and Bohort are her kinsmen. G. rides on, comes to Sornahan's Mount, is overthrown, and shares fate of Agravain. S.'s niece treats the prisoners well.

Line 8540. GARIËTTE meets a maiden seeking Lancelot, and they ride together. Her brother-in-law has seized her lands, and she seeks one of A.'s knights to fight with him. G. promises to do so. Come to an abbey, see maid's uncle, who encourages G. Reach pavilions of Count Glimas (cf. _supra_), joust, and G. overthrows count himself, whom he sends prisoner to Gawain. Count treats them well. Next morning they go on; meet six knights, with knight and maiden, whom they are treating very cruelly. Knight is Brandalis of the R. T.; by his oath of fellowship G. must aid him first. Gosennes van Strangeloet comes up and frees maiden, who is so much hurt she lives but six days. G. returns to maid he is escorting. They ride on and come to tent where is a dwarf (=1533=, _three pavilions, dwarf in first_), he will lodge them if his master permits; G. promises to leave if he objects. Knight comes with two maidens; ill-treats dwarf. G. interferes, overcomes knight, and makes him ask pardon of dwarf. G. has already slain his nephews (=1533=, _he was one of the knights who had taken Brandalis_.)[225] Next morning they ride on, and come to land of lady of Roestoc, where fight is to be fought. Rejoiced to see G. for sake of Gawain, who had fought for her against Segurades, 'alse hier voren gescreven es,' l. 9366. (This evidently refers to the earlier part of the _Lancelot_, and makes it probable that the Dutch compiler had also translated the first part of the work.) Fierce fight between G. and Gindan, the brother-in-law. Latter, seeing he is over-matched, jumps into river and is drowned; maiden regains her land. G. departs; meets a maid who reproaches him with cowardice: he did not free captive maiden, and has allowed his two brothers to be in prison. G. explains conditions of his vow, and asks about brothers. She tells him, and he rides to Sornahan's Mount, overthrows him, and frees Agravain and Gurries. S. _did not know who they were_. (This is a contradiction of previous statement, that maiden tells him A.'s name and threatens him with Gawain's anger.) Brothers stay three days till wounds are healed, then ride forth. First night lodge with hermit; second, with rich man, who warns them not to seek Lancelot in that land; there is civil war, the duke's six sons have rebelled against him because he made his daughter and her husband his heirs; they have slain these two. The three agree to help duke, ride to castle, overthrowing two knights on their way. Duke accepts their aid, but does not know who they are. Great battle, Agravain is taken prisoner, but exchanged for two of the sons.

Line 10735. ARTHUR and court are much distressed; do not know how adventure of the Grail is to be achieved if Lancelot be dead. (It is not explained how they know of the Grail, nor is it clear whether L. is to achieve it personally, or through agency of Galahad.) Lionel returns, and is much distressed at news. Questions wounded knight, who proves to be Bohort. (The reason for B.'s attempt to lead away the queen is given in the earlier section of the _Lancelot_, so far as =D. L.= is concerned it is not explained.) Maiden comes from Lady van Galvoye to beg aid, wants Lancelot or Gawain, if both absent, will have B. B. and L. go with messenger. Queen gives B. a ring for Lancelot; if any one find him it will be B.

Line 11167. QUEEN has dream L. is faithless to her. Very ill. When better sends her niece to 'Moustier Royale' to find Lady of the Lake, and bid her come to Guinevere.

Line 11520. LANCELOT, six weeks before wounds are healed, then sets forth, and finds maiden lamenting, her sister had been carried off, and her lover slain in defending her. She has been to A.'s court, but they are too sorrowful to give aid. L. will help her if she will go errand for him. She leads him to tower, knight too wounded to resist, frees damsel. Maiden must now go to court, say she has seen a knight who had eaten with L. 'and slept in same bed' (_not in_ =1533=). All greatly rejoiced. A. gives maid a castle.

Line 11870. LANCELOT rides with sister, comes to a fountain, where two knights and two ladies are at a meal. They ask L. to join them. One maiden falls in love with L. L. drinks from spring, two vipers have poisoned it, is very ill, and is nursed by maiden. While still ill, Bohort and Lionel find him, and he sends his hair, which has fallen out, to queen, who is much rejoiced. (Love complications between maiden and L. Lionel again sent to queen, this time for advice. Maid swears to remain virgin for L.'s sake; L. will be her knight.) When cured L. and maiden ride on, come to castle of the six brothers, who make up false tale as to their cause. L. believes them, and fights for them. Duke is killed, and the three sons of King Lot taken prisoners. L. is much distressed, bids them be well treated, and rides off, hiding his name.

(Here follows his slumber in forest with Lionel, when latter is carried off by Tarquin; L.'s being taken by the queens; released by daughter of Duke of Rochedon, and attending tourney. All this has been commented upon in chap. ix.)

Line 14580. LANCELOT at the Grail Castle. This has also been previously noticed.

Line 15353. LANCELOT leaves castle, and comes to another 'surrounded by water' (_detail omitted in_ =1533=). Knight challenges him; lost in thought, L. does not hear, but rides over bridge, and is thrust from horse into water; gates closed, must spend night in wood. Sits by spring, three (=1533=, _four_) knights ride up, with maid who cured L. of poison; have carried her off against her will. She says were L. there they would not have dared. Knights say L.'s father was a coward, he must be one too; would do violence to lady. L. appears and rescues her, slaying one knight. They ride to castle of lady's kinswoman, where they spend the night. Next day L. will go to castle where he lost his horse. Host would dissuade him; failing, rides with him. Asks does he know Hector. Tells him H. is his brother (as H. is previously represented as one of A.'s most valiant knights, it is difficult to understand how L. comes to be ignorant on this point). The knight at castle is H.'s uncle. Would not joust with L., but thinks this is not he. Is overthrown. L. is welcomed by lady of the castle, who tells him H. is her son and his brother. L. next comes to forest, with hermit's cell and chapel at entrance, with notice warning knights to go no further. Hermit begs L. not to attempt the adventure; it is 'Der Verlorenen Forest'; has seen a hundred knights (=1533=, _two hundred within half-year_) enter, but none have ever returned. L. insists on going on (=1533=, _stays night with H._). Meets maiden, who warns him he goes to his death. Comes to a clearing where is a company of knights and maidens dancing and singing; feels compelled to join them. Squire leaves him and returns.

Line 16260. YWEIN stays at hermitage till wounds are healed, then rides forth. Meets dwarf, maiden has stolen his brachet; will Y. get it back for him? Promises to do so. Maid and knight ride up. Y. bids dwarf take dog; does so. Y. and knight fight fiercely; finally find it is Bohort, rejoiced to meet each other. Dwarf tells them L. is well, was at tourney lately (=1533=, _also gives news of intended tourney at Kamalot_). They separate. Y. goes to an Abbey of White Nuns, is healed of his wounds. Rides forth. Meets lady thrashing a dwarf, bids her stop; she will, if Y. will do what she wants; promises. He must kiss her; so ugly he hesitates. She reproaches him; he is certainly not Y., she will go to court and complain of him. Y. calls her back. She will let him off if he will fetch sword, shield, and helmet from tent near by. Dwarf warns Y. she is most treacherous lady in land. Y. will go. Rides with her, takes arms, leaving his own in their place. Maidens rush out of tent weeping and tearing their hair. He has dishonoured all maidens in the land, will come to shame. Y. asks explanation. They will not answer; he waits till evening, and as no one comes rides on to a hermitage, where he is well received. H. asks if custom still maintains that no man may sit at R. T. unless he be wounded. Custom given up since Lancelot, Galehaut, and Hector were admitted unwounded. Now each knight must vanquish one at least in week following, or forfeit seat (=1533=, _must have done so in preceding week_), (ll. 16770-875). Y. asks of shield; belongs to a giant who had wasted the land, but for love of a maiden had promised to remain in castle unless one did him shame. After a year (=1533=, _longuement y avoit été_), becoming weary, had sought chance of release, so had hung up shield, setting twelve maidens to watch it (=1533=, _the people of the land had set the watch_). Now he will be free, land wasted and maids dishonoured. Y. rides on, bearing shield; all flee from him (=1533=, _two maidens only_). Finds two maids by spring; they bid him eat with them, does so. Knight comes up, would fight with Y. for having released giant. Is overcome. Y. sends him to giant to tell him who it is who has taken the shield. Knight goes, giant strikes off his hand for tidings (=1533=, _giant gives him his choice: he may lose his hand for the shield or his head for the helmet_),[226] and rides through land destroying and slaying wherever he goes. Y. rides on, seeking shelter; no one will have him. At one castle fights with father and son. Sleeps under tree. Is wakened by sound of giant, who makes more noise than twenty (=1533=, _twelve_) knights. Y. calls him, but he is too angry to hear. Y. mounts and rides after him. Comes to 'Castel van den Trepasse'; five (=1533=, _fifteen_) knights fall upon him, kill his horse, and make him prisoner; will deliver him to giant.

Line 17470. BOHORT comes to lady of Galvoye. She has been deprived of a castle by a knight, and needs champion; fight to be fought at King Pelles's court. Come to Corbenic. King and daughter rejoiced to see B.; tell him of L.'s great deeds. Fights with and overcomes knight. Sees Grail. Does not sleep in 'palace of adventures.' Next morning comes to a hermit, who knew his father and King Ban. Tells him how his father had built this chapel in memory of a victory gained over King Cerces, and given it a golden (=1533=, _silver_) crown won from king's steward. B. leaves, meets maiden, who reproaches him for having left Grail castle without testing adventures, should have slept in hall. (_Here_ =1533= _gives adventure of a lady whose brother has been taken prisoner while seeking a sparrow-hawk. B. frees him._) Returns to Kamalot.

Line 18070. GAWAIN meets the maid who cured L. of poison, and was rescued by him. Assures him L. is well. They ride together to court.

Line 18130. LANCELOT at the '_caroles_' sits on throne in centre of ring, and has crown placed on head. Enchantment ceases. Maid explains it has lasted ever since King Ban came there on his way from A.'s wedding. With him was a youth, his nephew, learned in necromancy. Fell in love with maiden sitting on throne, and for her sake wove spell that dance should continue till fairest and bravest knight on earth came.[227] Also made chessboard of gold and silver, which plays of itself against all men. At last clerk and maiden died, but spell was not broken. L. plays with chessboard and wins; enchantment ceases for ever. Chessboard is sent as present to Guinevere. L. leaves castle, meets knight, who threatens him, but flies when L. would fight. Comes to a high tower where party of knights lie in wait for him. They attack him, overthrow and bind him, and cast him into pit infested with serpents. Maid releases him. Her father was nephew to Duke Karles whom L. has slain. Squire warns his lord of L.'s escape; he arms his knights and attacks L., who takes refuge in maiden's room. L. slays nineteen (=1533=, _more than twenty-four_). Father jumps out of the window, and breaks his neck. L. tells maiden all are slain. She seeks father's body, cannot find it, so thinks he has escaped. L. throws corpses out of windows. They go to rest, and maiden has dream which terrifies her much. Next morning they ride out together; hear cries for help, find knight ill-treating lady, and bids him stop, when he strikes off her head and throws it in L.'s face. (This is the adventure in =M.=, Book VI., and has been commented upon earlier.)

Line 19179. LANCELOT rides back to maiden, finds her gone. Meets knight, who asks if he has seen knight and maiden (=1533=, _two knights and maid_), asks for his maiden. She has been carried off by four knights. L. pursues. Finds them about to burn her. L. slays twenty (?), rescues maid: this was meaning of her dream. Knights were her brother and three of his followers. Come to house of lady, where they stay fourteen days, till L. is cured from bites of serpents in the pit. Ride together. Come to 'Castle of the Charrette.' Lad meets them; rejoiced at L.'s coming. Daughter of Duke of Rochedon, who freed L. from prison of queen, is to be married against her will to brother of Queen of Foreestan; it was he who slew her betrothed, his own nephew. L. enters church, challenges knight, who flies; lady receives her lands again. Morgain le Fay is there, bids L. unhelm, 'in the name of her whom he loves best.' They reproach each other, and M. threatens L. with punishment. L. and maid depart as quickly as possible, fearing M.'s spells.

Line 19525. How knight with dead maiden fulfils L.'s commands, and body is buried.

Line 19595. LANCELOT comes to Kamalot; lodges with hermit for tourney. Sends maiden with letter to queen. She receives heritage for the one lost. King Ider, jealous of L. King and queen say he could overthrow all R. T. Knights very angry at this, except Gawain (=1533=, _and Bohort_). Queen sends message to L. to come secretly and discomfit knights. L. is recognised by King Bagdemagus, who will aid him. L. comes in red armour, does great deeds till he beholds queen, when he nearly swoons, and is carried off the field by K. B. R. T. knights get best of it. Queen sends message by Bohort to tell L. to come secretly that evening (maid of poison cure is there; queen is at first jealous, then satisfied). Ider praises Red Knight, says L. would not have done so well. Queen makes King B. challenge A. to another tourney in three days. L. spends each night with queen. Third day she arms him in white, Bohort in red. L. not to enter field till after tierce. He overthrows and wounds Gawain and Gariëtte, and scatters knights of R. T. A. bids him unhelm, is joyful at recognising L. Sunday, great feast made in his honour. Chessboard is brought, all play and are beaten save L. Clerk writes down on oath all L.'s adventures in book, which was found after king's death. All others tell their story. A. says L. has done more for honour of R. T. than all the rest put together; they are very jealous. Decide to go forth and seek all who have not returned from quest. Gawain will seek his three (=1533=, _four_) brothers. (Confusion here; when we last heard of Agravain, Gurrëes, and Gariëtte they were prisoners. How did latter return for tourney? =D. L.= probably saw this, and only mentions three brothers, including Mordred, while =1533= says four, which is certainly wrong.) Bohort will seek Hector and Lionel. (=1533=, _Will join quest; they shall not go without him. H. and L. are not mentioned._) Queen and L. talk over adventure of churchyard as told by Gawain. She is sure L. is knight meant to achieve it, and is very sad; he will fail through his sinful love for her. L. says he has more bliss from her love than from any feats of arms, all he has done has been inspired by her. King Bagdemagus is made knight of R. T.

Line 21596. LANCELOT, Bagdemagus, Gariëtte, and Bohort set forth; Gawain will follow when wounds are healed. Come to castle of 'Witten Dorne,' meet knight on horseback, naked, beaten, and ill-used by one hundred men; it is Mordret. Lord of the castle is Matheus die felle (=1533=, _Marchant li felon_). G. releases M., attack castle, slay lord and scatter his people. Ride fifteen days till they come to castle where Y. is in prison. Host refuses lodging; hates A.; has one of his knights in prison. They attack castle, and release Y. Are told of the giant, he will come on the morrow, host had meant to give Y. up to him. B. asks boon of L., that he may fight giant. L. unwilling, but consents. Great fight, giant is slain. Next morning all ride forth (seven). Y. suggests they should separate. All ride different ways, meet again at castle on All Saints Day.[228]

Line 22120. LANCELOT rides fifteen days, meets maiden, asks her of Lionel. She tells him, and promises to lead him to Tarquin's castle, if he will promise to go with her wherever she pleases afterwards. He agrees. (Adventure with Tarquin has been commented upon in chap. ix. p. 154.)

Line 22600. LANCELOT. Maiden leads him to knight who steals horses; maid rides first, L. after; knight attacks maid and is slain by L. Rests eight days till wounds are healed. Then would find Hector. (=1533=, _Meets old man who tells him H. had slain knight there previous day, shows him road_.) Adventures at castle (cf. chap. ix. p. 155). Finds at castle squire from A.'s court, bids him lead his horses into 'ten Verlorene foreeste' and wait for him at cross. Comes with two knights whom he dismisses, rides into forest, meets maiden who says she is seeking him to achieve an adventure. Emissary of Morgain's leads him to tower; drugs him. M. comes, blows powder up his nostrils, which deprives him of his senses; when he recovers he is in prison. Sees man in outer hall illuminating, begs brush and colours, and paints on walls of prison history of his love for queen. M. sees this, and resolves to show it to A.

Line 23146. GAWAIN comes first to Tarquin's castle, now owned by 'Grave van den Parke,' who tells him of L.'s feat. Then to hermitage, finds King B. sick, has heard of L. slaying owners of Castle Vaguel. Tells him of _rendezvous_ for All Saints. L. will surely be there. B. had helped Gurrëes against four knights and been badly wounded. G. offers to stay with him, but B. will not allow it.

Line 23260. Tryst at castle. All meet save L. and Bohort. Gawain says 'twould be great shame to return to court without them, will seek till S. Mary Magdalene's Day, then quest will have lasted a year and a day. All separate, agreeing to meet again at castle. 'Some ride all year, some are taken prisoners' (_omitted by_ =1533=), finally only Mordret, Agloval (=1533=, _Agravain_) and Bagdemagus return. Much perplexed. Decide to send messenger secretly to court, to know if anything has been heard of questers. Finding nothing is known, swear to ride till they find their comrades.

Line 23388. LANCELOT lies all winter a prisoner, when summer comes (=1533=, _two winters, one summer, second spring_), scent of flowers and sight of roses remind him of Guinevere. Tears out bars of window and escapes, leaving insulting message with porter for M. Meets maiden, who tells him Lionel is prisoner in castle of King Vagor of Estrangeloet. Challenged by king's son; unless he can find someone to take his place will be overcome. L. will go. Meets wounded knight on litter, if L. will lodge in his castle will meet one of A.'s knights who lies sick there. He himself has been wounded by shot from maiden's bow, and iron cannot be pulled out till best knight in world comes. Has been to A's court, but useless till L. returns. A. is much distressed at absence of Gawain and L.[229] Go to castle, L. asks to be allowed to try to pull out shaft. Knight says it is no use to try unless he be L. Does not reveal name. Would see sick knight, it is King B., wounded in a tourney. Rejoiced to see L., tells him of quest. L. leaves next day, and B. tells knight who he was. Knight follows in litter. L. comes to the castle 'dat fremde eylant,' meets squire, who tells him Lionel is there, L. says he is one of A.'s knights. Will fight instead of Lionel. King receives him well; Lionel is joyful. A lady had accused him falsely to her husband, they fought, and husband was slain, he was king's son. Brother challenged Lionel, who being too badly wounded to fight at once had been imprisoned lest he escape. L. fights and is victorious, peace is made, and the two cousins ride off together. Knight in litter follows on their tracks. They come to an abbey, 'Celice' or 'die cleine aelmoesene' in die 'Mersce van Scollant.' (Here follows long story as to origin of abbey.)

Line 24454. LANCELOT hears at abbey of castle near by,[230] 'die verbodene berch,' a knight had built it for love of his lady, only a narrow footpath leads to it. At abbey shields of knights of R. T. overthrown by knight of castle; them he keeps in prison, all others he slays. L. sees shields of Gawain, Ywein, and others (=1533=, _does not mention Ywein_), and decides to rescue them. At foot of hills finds hermit, who foretells his success. Finds cross with inscription, for forty (=1533=, _twenty_) years all who came have been vanquished, 'save one, and he doubtless was of David's line' (_omitted in_ =1533=). Goes on, finds pavilion with dwarf, who warns him not to fight, shows him a horn he must blow. Prisoners in castle warn him; sees Gawain, wounded in the head. Knight appears. Fierce fight, finally L. gets the better of his foe, who is Bohort (=1533=, _names B. in middle of fight, apparently forgetting that no one knows who he is_), he had overcome knight of castle two years (=1533=, _one year_) ago, and been forced to take his place (by whom?). He may imprison his comrades but must slay all others; did not know their names, would not ask them. (How, then, did he know they _were_ his comrades?) He is much ashamed and apologises to knights; all are rejoiced to see L. Stay there that night. L. has wonderful dream. Old man appears, and bids him ride without delay to 'ten Vreschlichen woude,' where he will find a wondrous adventure. He is his grandfather. L. rises, arms, and rides away at once. 'Comrades depart together' (_omitted in_ =1533=).

Line 25150. LANCELOT meets dwarf, who warns him of great adventures. Comes to hermitage by a fountain, where is a bleeding tomb guarded by two leopards (=1533=, _lyons_), whom L. slays. Sees head in fountain, water is boiling, but takes head out and lays it in tomb; it is his grandfather's body, treacherously slain by a kinsman on a Good Friday. Fountain will not cease boiling till one comes who can bring adventure to end, which he cannot, on account of his sin with Guinevere.[231] L. rides on, comes to forest full of wild beasts. Rescues boy from bear. Rides in search of lodging. Moon rises. Sees white hart with gold chain round neck, guarded by six leopards (=1533=, _lyons_), marvels much; swears not to leave forest till he has learnt meaning. Comes to two pavilions, asks lodging. Must joust with owner; does so, and slays him; twelve maidens make great lamentations, carry off body on bier; he was a great king. L. is much distressed. Knight comes and asks lodging. Had kept Easter at A.'s court. All sorrowful because of absence of L. and G.; but joyful news has come that he who shall achieve adventure of Grail is born of Fisher King's daughter.[232] He seeks fountain of Sycamores, where a valiant knight has overthrown Gawain and Ywein; twelve have made a vow to seek it. Boy knows road, will lead knight to it. On the morrow they separate; knight, Sarras van Logres, comes to fountain, fights with Belyas the Black, and is overthrown. L., who has followed secretly, comes up, overthrows B., gives S. his horse; tells him his name, and bids him return to court, saying he and all questers are well, and will be at court for Pentecost. S. rides off, meets wounded knight seeking L.; directs him. Comes to court on a Sunday; all are rejoiced at news. A. will hold great feast in their honour.

Line 26045. Maid sent by queen to Lady of the Lake comes to court of King Claudas; who asks tidings of L. and kinsmen. Maid says they are best and bravest knights alive, and will certainly come and slay him, and take back their lands. Claudas imprisons maiden, and sends messengers to court to see if her tale be true. One is so impressed that he becomes A.'s man; other returns and tells C. what he has seen. First tells queen fate of maiden; she writes to C. bidding him free her. C. returns insulting answer. Queen, much distressed, longs for L.'s return.

Line 26630. LANCELOT. When Sarras has left him, another knight appears, like Belyas. They fight; knight flies, pursued by L. to castle near at hand. L.'s horse is slain; but he slays all who attack him, and reaches garden, where in tent, guarded by four knights, he finds Mordret chained. L. releases him, and they escape together. Belyas and Bryadas had wished to be knights of R. T. A. refused, not knowing them. They had sworn to keep fountain against all comers; L. has mortally wounded both. L. meets wounded knight, whom he heals at last, sending message to King B. that questers are found; also to those released at 'Verbodene berch,' bidding them meet him at court. Gawain is ready, but Ywein demurs, all are not found yet. G. says duration of quest should be year and day, they have been away three years. All agree to go. (This seems to indicate that =1533= was correct in not noting their departure earlier, as =D. L.= does, thus contradicting itself. Probably an earlier redaction did make them leave at once, while a later introduced more of L.'s adventures. This points to the later interpolation of 'tomb' adventures.) B. knights one of the squires, 'Axille die blonde,' and gives him the castle.

Line 27236. GAWAIN and comrades come to a castle by a deep water, where men are erecting lodges for a tourney. It is the castle of Galehoudijn, 'neve' of _Gawain_ (obvious mistake for Gallehault), (=1533=, _son of Gallehault and la belle Géande_, but she was Gallehault's mother). Conceal their names, are well received and lodged outside castle. Hear a tumult, and see Agloval pursued by forty armed men. Go to his aid, and slay many. Their host is much distressed; they tell him they are of A.'s court. Galehoudijn arrives; is angry at first, but when Gawain reveals their names, is much rejoiced, does them great honour, and knights their host. (=1533= _is very confused here, persistently calling Galehoudijn, Gallehault; correcting mistake, and then relapsing again._)

Line 27735. LANCELOT[233] and MORDRET ride till nightfall. See white hart and leopards; decide to follow them. Two knights ride suddenly out of side road, unhorse them and take their steeds. Dwarf appears, will lead them to horses, if they will give him a gift. Promise; he leads them to two pavilions where they find their horses, and go off with them. Come to a hermitage, where they spend the night. L. asks H. of white hart; mystery may not be revealed till 'the good knight' come. Asks of king whom he slew, and who was mourned by maidens (cf. _supra_, p. 239), he was named Merlan, from 'die Marchen van Scollant,' a wicked man; L. did well to slay him. Next morning they ride away; are attacked by knights who stole their horses. M. overthrows them, and gives knights' horses to L. Spend this night with 'Vavasseur,' who tells them of Galehoudijn's tourney. They will go, host with four sons (_no number in_ =1533=) to attend them. Next morning they ride to hear Mass. Meet an old man who prophesies M. shall be ruin of kingdom and death of his father, 'who is a mightier king than K. Lot.' M., angry, smites off his head. L. finds letter on dead man saying who M. really is. Would slay him and avert mischief, but for love of Gawain, whose brother he is. Come to tourney. Kings of Norgales and of a hundred knights there. L. discomfits all comers. Then rides out of press followed by Bohort, who suspects his identity. Meet, and agree to ride to court together.

Line 28835. GAWAIN and his companions are much annoyed when they find they have missed L. again. Agree to return to court, each going his own way.

Line 29018. LANCELOT and BOHORT see a fire, hear cries for help. B. goes to see, and finds maiden and brother being ill-treated by eight knights; slays three, rest fly. B. returns to L. who has disappeared; spends night in forest. (=1533=, _goes with maid, who is daughter of king of a hundred knights, to lodging, then with brother to find L.; not doing so, returns and spends night with them. Departs next morning, and hears L. has been seen chasing a knight._)

Line 29095. BOHORT, second visit to Grail castle. Tempts its adventures. Cf. _supra_, pp. 160, 233.

Line 29695. LANCELOT comes to two tents, light, and a maiden and dwarf in one, asks for lodging. Her lover will not allow her to give it. Knight and brother ride up, throw L.'s armour out of tent. Fight. L. slays one and wounds the other. Rides to a hermitage where he passes night. Next day meets two maidens sitting by spring, would eat with them. Maiden pursued by black knight runs up asking for aid, before L. can reach his sword she is slain. L. very angry smites off knight's head. Fourth night comes to forester's house in moon light.

Line 29952. LANCELOT and KAY. Cf. _supra_, p. 156.

Line 30380. LANCELOT after overthrowing knight of R. T. comes to two pavilions, in one of which is maiden who cured him of poison. Sees Bohort's son. Cf. _supra_, p. 157.

Line 30584. GAWAIN and his comrades return to court and hang up shield L. has thrown down in middle of hall; telling how they were overthrown. Queen much distressed that L. has not come, gives them rich garments in order of valour. Bohort is best, then Gawain, Hector, Gariëtte, Lionel, Bagdemagus (=1533= _omits Hector but gives others in same order_). Kay arrives in L.'s armour. Other knights overthrown by L. come and recognise shield. Next morning L. is seen coming, go out to meet him, joust, and Gawain overthrows him, L.'s horse being weary. Great Feast, A.D. 426 (=1533=, A.D. 225). A knight in white armour comes weeping, he is probably going to his death. Gives L. a letter--if he dies he is to read it aloud, if he survives return it. Sits in Perilous Seat, fire descends and consumes him. He was Brumal (=1533=, _Brumant_), nephew of King Claudas, who had vowed to prove himself a better knight than L. who dare not sit there. Queen and L. talk apart, and she tells him of Claudas's insult; he vows to avenge her, C. has taken Gannes, Benoyc and _Aquitaine_. (=1533=, _Gaule and Benoyc_--[but Gaule was not yet L.'s].) L. takes counsel with his friends and resolves on war. Brimol van Pleiche comes, was conquered by B. at bridge of Corbenyc (not recorded previously).

Line 31976. CLAUDAS prepares to resist A., gives all his nobles leave to go, richly rewards those who remain; is promised help from Rome.

Line 32394. Recital of knights' adventures, recorded above.

Line 32755. War with Claudas told at great length. Valiant deeds of Gawain, Hector, and Bohort. King and L. join army later. A.'s fight with Frollo and winning of Gaul is placed here. Claudas finally conquered, L. makes Hector king of Benoyc, Bohort of Gannes, Lionel of Gaule (cf. _supra_, p. 201).

Line 35465. Feast at Camalot. Arrival of Elaine, L.'s madness. Cf. chap. ix. pp. 161-163.

Line 35830. PERCEVAL. His arrival at court. Adventure with Patrides; fight with Hector. Grail is vessel out of which Our Lord ate Paschal lamb in house of Simon the Leper.

Line 36610. PERCEVAL and HECTOR come to house of a hermit who is priest to the fisher-folk, who provide him with fish, etc. After riding some time they come to house of a man, who had lodged L. six months before, knows H. for his brother by likeness, L. was mad then.

(This is not in =1533=, which says, _Or dit le compte que grant piece chevaucherent P. et H. ensemble per mainte terre estrange pour scavoir se adventure les meneroit en lieu ou ilz peu(s)(s)ent trouver L. ains chevaucherent maint yver et maint este ensemble._)

Line 36705. LANCELOT. Adventure at pavilion, imprisonment, and fight with boar (cf. p. 163). Breaks off short here, as if MS. came to an end and returns to

Line 36947. PERCEVAL returns to court. They do him great honour.

Damsel arrives (Grail messenger, but _Grail_ is not mentioned). Castle Orguelous and Montesclaire ventures. (From this point source is analogous to Chrétien.) Gawain will go to Montesclaire, Ywein to Castle Orguelous, Kay and Griflet to 'Tere Dolorous' (not previously mentioned), Perceval will ride through land, jousting with all whom he may meet. Ginganbresil arrives, challenges Gawain. All ride forth, Gawain, Agravain, Gariëtte, Ywein, Perceval, Griflet, Kay and Mordret ride together for four miles, then separate.

Line 37105. GAWAIN adventure against Melias de Lis, and tournament as in _Conte del Graal_.

Line 37584. KAY and AGRAVAIN go to seek Dolorous Castle. Meet maiden, she will guide them thither if they dare to go there. Meet two knights who will joust, K. and A. overthrow them, are attacked by eight and finally taken prisoners, though A. defends himself stoutly. Will take them to Castle D., before they have gone half a mile P. rides out of side road. They attack him, but he puts them to flight, rescues K. and A., the three take castle and sent lord prisoner to A.'s court.

Line 37855. YWEIN and GARIËTTE meet a dwarf, who leads them to the Castle Orguelous. There they must joust against all comers. Ladies watch from battlements, and as each knight is overthrown his lady sends wreath of roses to victor. Thus they vanquish twenty. At last sixty at once attack and overpower them, and they are led to castle, where ladies insist on their being well treated.

Line 38000. MORDRET and GRIFLET are warned by hermit of danger they run in going to Montesclaire. Ride on and are taken prisoners by tyrant who will wed the lady of the castle.

Line 38133. PERCEVAL hears how Y. and G. have been vanquished at Castle Orguelous. Rides thither with Kay and Agravain. P. overthrows ten knights; K. and A. fifteen between them; when all attack them slay twenty, wound fifteen, and take castle, setting Y. and G. and the maidens free.

Line 38230. GAWAIN. Adventure with lady and chessmen in tower as in _Conte del Graal_. G. is sent to find the bleeding 'white' spear. Comes to hermitage, hermit tells him how Mordret and Griflet have been made prisoners at Montesclaire, and are to be hanged in the morning. G. will rescue them. Rises early, rides to hill where gallows already set up; frees M. and G. Tyrant appears, fight fiercely, G.'s strength increases at midday, overthrows tyrant, is fiercely attacked by his men.

Line 38990. PERCEVAL hears of M.'s danger; rides with Y., G., K., and A. to aid. Comes up in time to help Gawain against four hundred men. Slay tyrant and free maiden. Gawain wins sword 'metten vremden ringen,' which will break if an unworthy knight handles it. Next morning separate; G. goes to seek _Grail_ (which had not been mentioned before), others return to court.

Line 39140. GAWAIN. Adventure with wounded knight and Château Merveil. (Here we are told that _Merlin_ made the _Lit Merveil_. Here too G. is warned he may not leave castle, but queen permits him to do so on condition he returns in evening.)

Line 40060. Adventure with Guiromelant. Lady is Orgeloise. The queens came into the land after the death of Uther Pendragon, and _King Lot_ (who in other romances is contemporary with Arthur), when there was civil war in Logres. G. is girded for the fight by Tristram (who has not previously appeared in the story). At prayer of Clareant a truce is declared, and A. says Guir. shall wed his niece. Kay bears tidings to G., who is so angry he vows he will not return to court. A. much distressed. Twenty-four knights vow to seek G. for a year and a day.

Line 40785. QUESTERS come third day into wood. Voice from thicket bids them stand; they may go no further unless they joust for it. Kay and Dodinel overthrown. Knight asks Tristram's name; he will not tell it unless knight tells his. He refuses; they fight fiercely till midday, when they rest. Knight sees others coming and fears to be known; flies into wood. Squire comes to seek T.; his wife is ill, must see him. T., K., and D. return. On way K. says he was overthrown unfairly. Knight is in wood, overhears, comes out and challenges K. and D.; puts them to the worse. T. and he fight again, lasts long, and T. is becoming exhausted, when maiden appears seeking knight; it is Lancelot. They go off together, and the three reach court safely.

Line 41013. PERCEVAL, who has separated from the others, comes to the Castle of Orgeloise, who is besieged by old lover whom she left when she rode off with Gawain. P. fights with and slays him. O. is hereafter known as '_die goede joncfrouwe_.'

Line 41160. AGLOVAL (who is seeking P.) meets knight, who will not reply to his greeting, but enters castle, arms himself, and attacks A. It is Gregorias, who stole Gawain's horse. A. slays him. Comes to castle, where old man receives him kindly. Greg. was his foe; his sons are out seeking him. All rejoiced to hear of his death.

Line 41420. GAWAIN. Visit to Grail Castle as in Montpelier MS. of _Conte del Graal_. Next day meets knight and maiden; former, hearing G.'s name, challenges him--he has slain his father. They fight, and desist, since it is no honour to fight with none to behold. Will fight it out before court. He is Dyandras. G. goes to Scavaleon to report ill-success of quest.

Line 41660. GARIËTTE and GRIFLET come to a tower where Hector is imprisoned; find two knights ill-treating maiden for advising H.'s release. Free her. H. appears to aid her (has escaped). Lord of castle pursues them with twenty men. Perceval and Agloval arrive; slay eleven, rest flee. All return to court.

Line 41845. GAWAIN goes to Scavaleon to fulfil compact with Ginganbresil. Dyandras comes and claims his fight. King consults counsellors; they judge that G. must fight _with both at once_. Squire goes to warn King A., who comes with court to witness fight. After a time would stop it, with king's consent, but Ginganbresil refuses. Gawain's strength doubles, and he conquers both. King and one hundred knights become A.'s men. Next day, rides homeward, stopping at castle of Tibaut of Tintavel, where G. is warmly welcomed. Then all go to Carlion.

Line 42540. Then follows _Morien_. Cf. _supra_, p. 150.

INDEX

Abel, 180.

Ade, 12, 13.

Agloval, 36, 150, 162.

Agravain, 137, 149, 152, 157, 160, 186, 194, 195, 199.

Aguisel, 71.

Alexander, 81.

Arimathea (Joseph of), 121, 126, 127, 133, 134, 139, 209.

Armorica, 56, 57.

Arnoul, 181.

Arnout, _v._ Arnoul.

Arthur, 13, 15, 17, 21, 30, 32, 40, 41, 46, 47, 50, 51, 55, 56, 60, 62, 63, 65, 67, 71, 94, 103, 106, 107, 110, 113, 126, 135, 141, 154, 167, 184, 195, 196, 198, 199, 200, 201, 202, 203, 204.

Astolat (_v._ Escarloet), 194.

Avalon, 59, 60, 64, 65, 126, 153, 204, 205.

Bagan, _v._ Vagan.

Balaan and Balaain, 73, 167.

Ban of Benoyc, 91, 92, 129, 143, 177, 185, 192, 200, 201, 210.

Barenton, 72.

Bath, 47, 48, 59, 60, 83.

Baudemagus, 41, 101, 137, 143, 154, 158, 170, 184, 185, 203, 204.

Beaurösch, 52.

Bedivere, 4.

Beforet, 12, 13, 14, 17.

Bel Inconnu, 97, 98.

Birch-Hirschfeld (Professor), 123.

Bleeding Tomb, 139.

Bohort, 21, 92, 121, 135, 136, 143, 144, 150, 153, 154, 156, 157, 160, 161, 163, 166, 168, 170, 178, 195, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201, 202, 205.

Boiling Fountain, 139.

Borron (Robert de), 122, 125, 126, 127, 128, 131, 133, 158, 163, 210.

---- pseudo _v._ above.

Bors, _v._ Bohort.

Briant des Illes, 129, 130.

Brimol van Pleiche, 160, 186.

Brisane, 142.

Broceliande, 72, 82.

Bromel le Plêche _v._ Brimol v. P.

Brunel du Plessis _v._ Brimol v. P.

Brut (_v._ also Layamon and Wace), 4, 6, 56, 71, 105, 106.

Brynhild, 47.

Cærnant, 82.

Cahere, 198.

Camalot, 83, 196, 197, 198.

Caradigan, 82.

Caradoc, 4, 91.

Carduel, 82.

Carlion, 83.

Cath Palug, 60.

Celidoine, 177.

Champagne (Marie de), 42, 48, 114.

Chapalu, _v._ Cath Palug.

Charrette (Chevalier de la), 5, 6, 7, 11, 19, 20, 21, 27, 30, 49, 50, 52, 53, 68, 81, 83, 101, 103, 112, 115, 116, 138, 143, 149, 185, 188, 194, 206, 212.

Charrette (summary of poem), chap. iv. 40-42.

Chastel du Trespas, 153, 154.

Château Merveil, 121.

Chester, 82.

Chevalier au Lion (_v._ also Yvain), 6, 42, 50, 100.

Chevalier à la Manche, 18, 151.

Chrétien de Troyes, 5, 6, 7, 10, 19, 20, 24, 26, 27, 30, 31, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 95, 103, 115, 121, 131, 134, 140, 143, 149, 191, 210, 211, 212.

---- position in Arthurian cycle, chap. v. pp. 54-88.

Clarine, 11, 114.

Claudas (King), 4, 102, 129, 182, 183.

Claudins, 182, 183.

Cligés, 5, 6, 42, 68, 79, 81, 83, 115.

Conlaoch, 109.

Corbenic, 121, 138, 139, 159, 160, 161, 167, 168, 181, 182, 183, 186.

Cuchullain, 24, 58, 109.

Cybele, _v._ Sibile.

Diarmid, 109, 110.

Dinasdron, 82.

Dodine le Sauvage, 15.

Dodinel, 150.

Dover, 83.

Elaine, 142, 160, 161.

Elayne, _v._ above.

Eleanor of Aquitaine, 48, 114.

Elidiâ, 16.

Eliezer, 139.

Erec, 5, 15, 16, 64, 71, 79, 82, 115.

---- (poem), 5, 6, 11, 27, 42, 53, 64, 69, 78, 80, 81, 83, 85, 115, 130.

Ernoulf, _v._ Arnoul.

Escalot, _v._ Escarloet.

Escarloet, 135, 187, 196, 197, 198.

Esealt der lange, 16.

Falerîn, _v._ Valerîn.

False Claimant (story of), 34, 35.

Fata Morgana, 19.

Fier Baiser, 18, 19, 98, 99.

Fisher King, 129, 138, 161, 168, 169, 192.

Foerster (Professor), 9, 10, 16, 17, 19, 20, 26, 44, 49, 50, 93, 188.

---- ---- theory of Arthurian evolution examined, chap v. pp. 54-88.

Frazer (Professor J. G.), 72.

Frollo, 4, 102, 126.

Furnivall (Dr.), _v._ Queste.

Gaheret, _v._ below.

Gaheriet, 15, 143, 150, 154, 158, 159, 172, 195, 196, 198, 199.

Galagandreiz, 12, 26.

Galahad, 97, 120, 121, 123, 124, 125, 129, 132, 134, 135, 137, 138, 142, 145, 146, 161, 163, 164, 166, 167, 168, 169, 170, 171, 172, 174, 178, 182, 183, 184, 185, 189, 191, 208, 209, 210.

Galehault, 136, 138, 147, 149, 153, 205.

Galehodyn, 153.

Galobrus de la Vermeille lande, 130.

Gandîn, 51, 116.

Garel, 53.

Gareth, _v._ Gaheriet.

Gariëtte, _v._ Gaheriet.

Gawain, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 12, 14, 15, 16, 19, 21, 22, 24, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36, 37, 38, 41, 43, 51, 53, 57, 63, 67, 91, 93, 95, 99, 103, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 117, 120, 121, 129, 136, 137, 139, 143, 149, 150, 151, 156, 157, 158, 161, 162, 166, 167, 169, 170, 173, 178, 183, 184, 185, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 202, 203, 208.

Genewîs, 11, 17.

Geoffrey of Monmouth, 20, 55, 56, 102, 104.

Gildas, 46.

Ginganbrisil, 149, 150.

Giraldus Cambrensis, 64.

Girard de Viane, 71.

Glastonbury, 46, 48, 59.

Godefroy de Leigni, 42, 44.

Goothe, _v._ Goth.

Gorres, 43, 47.

Got, 174.

Goth, _v._ Got.

Graal, Conte del, 121, 189, 212.

Graalent, 64, 65, 77, 87.

Grail (Holy), 78, 80, 90, 97, 100, 120, 123, 129, 131, 133, 134, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 145, 146, 161, 163, 168, 169, 173, 181, 191, 192, 208, 209, 210, 212.

Grail castle (_v._ also Corbenic), 121, 150, 183, 192.

Grail Quest, _v._ Queste.

Graislemier de Fine Posterne, 64, 65.

Grand S. Graal, 101, 121, 126, 127, 133, 137, 138, 139, 175, 179, 192, 209.

Griflette, 150.

Guendolen, 100.

Guerresches, 159, 198, 199.

Guinevere, 1, 2, 3, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 23, 32, 38, 40, 41, 43, 45, 46, 47, 50, 51, 52, 53, 59, 90, 96, 100, 103, 104, 106, 107, 108, 111, 112, 113, 116, 117, 129, 135, 138, 141, 142, 158, 182, 188, 197, 198, 199, 200, 202, 203, 207.

Guingamor, 64, 65, 77.

Guinglain, 19.

Gurnemanz, 13, 26, 28, 80.

Hagen (Herr P.), theory of Grail origin, 29, 52, 78.

Hartland (Mr. E. S.), 34, 62, 73, 84.

Hartmann von Aue, 5, 16, 26, 27, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 75, 80, 116.

Hector, 21, 136, 139, 143, 152, 153, 157, 161, 163, 178, 195, 198, 200, 201.

Heinzel (Professor), 129, 130, 213.

Hélie le Blank, 157, 170.

Henry II., 48.

Hertz (Professor), 26, 95.

Iblîs, 13, 14, 16, 17, 27.

Ider, 4.

Idylls of the King, 114.

Iseult, 1, 5, 37, 38, 45, 113, 116, 117, 197.

Isle of Women, 22.

Iwân de Nonel, 27.

Iwanet, 95.

Iwein (_v._ also Yvain), 4, 49, 50, 52, 53, 95.

---- (_v._ Hartmann von Aue).

Iweret, 12, 13, 27.

Johfrit de Liez, 12, 26.

Kailet, 27.

Kamalot, _v._ Camalot.

Karados, 203.

Karnachkarnanz, 27.

Kay, 4, 22, 30, 31, 40, 41, 44, 50, 51, 60, 151, 155, 156, 162, 200.

Kei, _v._ Kay.

Ker (Professor), 23, 24.

Kiot, 28, 29.

Krône (Diu), 15, 22, 58, 80, 121.

Lady of the Lake, 23, 36, 94, 99, 138, 152, 207.

Lady of the Fountain, 67.

Lamorak, 162.

Lancelot, not a character of early Arthurian tradition, chap. i. pp. 1-7.

---- origin of name, 8, 9, 10.

---- rescuer of Guinevere, 15, 16, 40, 43.

---- origin of legend, 21-25.

---- _et le cerf au pied blanc_, chap. iii., 30-39, 151, 206-207.

---- (prose), chaps, vi., vii., viii., 89-146.

---- (Dutch), 30, 31, 38, 130, 131.

---- comparison of text, chaps, ix., x., xi., 147-205.

Lanval, 64, 65.

Lanzelet, _v._ Zatzikhoven (Ulrich von).

Laudine, 70, 74, 75.

Laudunet, 10, 74, 75.

Layamon, 4, 27, 56, 93, 104, 105, 106, 111.

Limors, 12.

Lionel, 21, 92, 135, 136, 143, 152, 153, 156, 161, 166, 170, 178, 195, 200, 201.

Lohengrin, 210.

Lohot, 130.

London, 83.

Lot (M. Ferdinand), 59, 62, 64, 74.

Lot (King), 13, 26, 93, 159.

Loth (M.), 60.

Louis VII., 48.

Lucan, 204.

Mabûz, 13, 14.

Maelwas, 8, 10 (_v._ also Melwas).

Maheloas, 64.

Maimed King, 138, 161, 169, 192.

Malduc, 15, 16, 80.

Malduz, _v._ Malduc.

Malehault (Dame de), 101, 129.

Malmesbury (William of), 59.

Malory, 23, 45, 46, 49, 90, 101, 104, 108, 114, 131, 151, 165.

---- comparison of text, chaps. ix., x., xi., pp. 107-205.

Mantle (Lai), 14, 19.

Map (Walter), 122, 125, 131, 163, 184, 210.

---- (pseudo), as above.

Marie de France, 61, 65, 66.

Mathoeus die felle, 154.

Mauduiz li Sages (cf. Malduc).

Maurîn, 27.

Meide-lant, 11, 14, 22, 94.

Meleagant, 40, 41, 42, 43, 47, 51, 52, 59, 60, 101, 118, 138, 143, 185.

Melians de Lile, 171.

Meliot de Logres, 158.

Melwas, 8, 46, 47, 59, 60, 118.

Méraugis de Portlesguez, 18, 73.

Merlin, 23, 34, 60, 91, 92, 103, 107, 117, 122, 126, 127, 138, 142.

---- (prophecies of), 100.

---- (Suite de), 23, 73, 92, 122, 137, 184, 185, 204, 209.

Modena (bas-relief at), 4, 56.

Mordred, 20, 93, 104, 105, 107, 108, 109, 111, 113, 115, 118, 126, 154, 156, 159, 162, 199, 202, 203.

Morgain la fee, 64, 99, 153, 156, 160, 199, 204, 207.

Morholt, 92.

Morien, 35, 37, 150, 174, 181, 207.

Mort Artur, 93, 104, 122, 126, 127, 135, 137, 138, 145, 148, 151, 159, 184.

Mort Artur, comparison of text, chaps, xi. 194-205.

Nohan (Dame de), 97.

Norgales, 153, 196.

Nutt (Mr. Alfred, _Studies_), 120.

Orguelleus de la Lande, 80.

Orgeluse, 112, 149.

Orgeloise, _v._ Orgeluse.

Ossenefort, 79.

Oxford, 83.

Pallada, 178.

Pant of Genewîs, 11, 91.

Paris (M. Gaston), 8, 9, 16, 32, 35, 40, 44, 60, 110, 150, 151, 188.

---- (M. Paulin), 96, 101, 124, 127, 137, 149, 155, 190, 213.

Parzival (Wolfram von Eschenbach's), 26, 27, 28, 31, 94, 95, 96, 112, 118, 140, 181, 212, 213.

Patrides, 162.

Patryse, 195.

Pelles, King, 112, 138, 139, 160, 167, 168, 169, 183.

Perceval, 3, 5, 6, 24, 26, 33, 36, 42, 63, 69, 71, 78, 81, 83, 91, 95, 96, 98, 115, 118, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 138, 139, 140, 142, 146, 149, 157, 158, 161, 162, 163, 167, 168, 170, 173, 174, 175, 178, 179, 181, 191, 192, 207, 208, 209, 210, 211, 212.

---- Didot, 93, 126, 128, 134, 140, 191, 192, 205, 212.

---- li Gallois, 107, 127, 129, 134, 140, 158, 181, 191, 212.

Peredur, 8, 9, 10.

Perilous Cemetery, 139, 158.

Perlesvaus (_v._ P. li Gallois), 130.

Perseus (Legend of), 34.

Philip of Flanders (Count), 78.

Plurîs, 14, 15.

Queste, 34, 76, 101, 107, 120, 122, 123, 124, 125, 127, 128, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 139, 140, 142, 144, 145, 148, 150, 153, 161, 208, 209, 210.

Queste, comparison of text, chap. x. 165-193.

---- Welsh, 148.

Raguidel (vengeance de), 150.

Rajna (Professor), 6.

Rochedon (Duc de), 101, 153.

Rhys (Professor), 8, 10, 104, 108.

Rigomer, 18.

Scarloet, _v._ Escarloet.

Schofield (Dr.), 87, 98, 99.

Schrîenden Mose (den), 47.

Segramore, 5.

Shoreham, 83.

Sibile (l'Enchanteresse), 153.

Siegfried, 19, 24, 47.

Sommer (Dr., _Sources of Malory_), 49, 90, 131, 151, 214.

---- Summary compared, chaps. ix., x., xi., pp. 147-205.

Soredamors, 81.

Sorelois, 153.

Sorestan, 152, 153.

Southampton, 83.

Tanebor, 196, 197.

Tarquijn, _v._ Terriquen.

Terriquen, 152, 187, 200, 203.

Torec, 18, 151.

Tristan, 1, 3, 5, 6, 15, 16, 35, 37, 38, 51, 91, 92, 100, 103, 107, 109, 110, 111, 113, 116, 117, 125, 128, 137, 159, 162, 191, 197, 207.

Turquin, _v._ Terriquen.

Tyolet, 32, 33, 35, 63.

Urre of Hungary, 187, 194.

Uther Pendragon, 142.

Uwayne, 172.

Vagan, 170.

Valerîn, 14, 15, 47, 48.

Villemarqué (M. de la), 8, 10, 101.

Vivienne, 99.

Wace, 20, 56, 72, 93, 104, 106.

Wallingford, 83.

Walter of Oxford, 105.

Wechssler (Dr.), 78, 101, 117, 121, 122, 123, 125, 127, 128, 132, 134, 137, 150, 159, 187, 191.

Widow of Ephesus, 69, 70, 76, 77.

Winchester, 83, 195, 196.

Windsor, 83.

Wolff (lais), 77.

Wolfram von Eschenbach, 52, 53, 94, 95, 121, 130, 134, 141, 149, 150, 191.

---- _v._ also Parzival.

Yonet, 95.

Yvain, 45, 67, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 81, 82, 83, 85, 94, 95, 96, 129, 153, 154, 155, 156, 202.

---- _v._ also Iwein and Chevalier au Lion.

Zatzikhoven (Ulrich von), 11, 17, 20, 29, 44, 46, 66, 80.

---- Lanzelet of U. _v._ chap. ii., 47, 66, 80, 91, 93, 94, 98, 99, 102, 206.

Zimmer (Professor), 9.

Appendix, pp. 215-247, not included in above INDEX.

Printed by T. and A. CONSTABLE, (late) Printers to Her Majesty at the Edinburgh University Press

FOOTNOTES:

[1] _Brut_, ed. Leroux de Lincy, vol. ii. ll. 10158-10360. These remarks also apply to Layamon.

[2] Described and illustrated by Zimmerman in _Oberitalische Plastik im frühen und hohen Mittelalter_: Leipzig, 1897. Cf. also _Romania_, xxvii. p. 510.

[3] It is difficult to resist the conclusion that if the Welsh stories were as late in date and as dependent upon French tradition as some scholars maintain, Lancelot would certainly be mentioned in them.

[4] Cf. _Erec_, Foerster's ed., l. 1694; Hartmann's _Erec_, l. 1630.

[5] _Cligés_, Foerster's ed., ll. 4765-4798.

[6] The advocates of Chrétien as an independent and original genius would do well carefully to consider the meaning of such curious inconsistency. If Chrétien were dealing with matter either of his own invention, or of his own free adaptation, he would surely have been more careful of the unities. If, on the other hand, he simply retold tales belonging to different stages of Arthurian tradition, this is exactly what we might expect to find.

[7] In the opening lines of _Cligés_, Chrétien gives a list of his works. This includes a version of the story of _Tristan_, and several translations from Ovid. _Tristan_ probably preceded _Erec_, but there is nothing to indicate the relative order of the other works.

[8] Signor Rajna has found the names of Arthur and Gawain in Italian deeds of the first quarter of the twelfth century, and from the nature of some of these deeds it is clear that the persons named therein cannot have been born later than 1080.

[9] _Charrette_, ll. 2347-2362.

[10] _Romania_, vol. x. p. 492.

[11] _Studies in the Arthurian Legend_, chap. vi.

[12] The only adventure of the kind I can recall is that of the fiery lance of the _Charrette_ and prose _Lancelot_, an adventure which is the common property of several knights, and by no means confined to Lancelot.

[13] _Zeitschrift für französische Sprache und Litteratur_, vol. xii. Heft I.

[14] _Der Karrenritter_, herausgegeben von Wendelin Foerster: Halle, 1899.

[15] Cf. _Anturs of Arthur_, where the ghost foretells to Gawain the treason of Mordred, the destruction of the Round Table, and his own death. Lancelot is not mentioned. Nor does he appear in _Syr Gawayne and the Grene Knyghte_ or in _The Avowynge of Arthur_. In some of the other poems, _Galogres and Gawayne_, _The Carle of Carlile_, _The Marriage of Sir Gawain_, and _Sir Libeaus Desconus_ he is mentioned, but plays no important part. The ballad of _Sir Lancelot du Lake_ in the Percy Collection is a version of an adventure related in the Prose _Lancelot_.

[16] Cf. _Karrenritter_, Introduction, p. xxxix.

[17] The materials for this study had been collected, and my conclusion as to the origin of the Lancelot story arrived at, before the publication of Professor Foerster's book. I am glad to find myself supported in any point by such an authority, but think it well to avoid misconception by stating that my results have been arrived at through independent study.

[18] _Lanzelet_ von Ulrich von Zatzikhoven, ed. Hahn: Frankfurt, 1845. Out of print and difficult to procure.

[19] This account, and the mention of England, l. 7054, seem to render it possible that the original poem may have been written in this island.

[20] This is entirely in accordance with Tristan's character as represented in the poems. He is in the highest degree _rusé_ and resourceful.

[21] Is it not possible that this _Malduz_ the magician may be the original of _Mauduiz li Sages_ whom Chrétien ranks as eighth of Arthur's knights? Cf. _Erec_, 1699. Hartmann's version gives Malduiz; _Diu Krône_, 1379, Malduz der Weise. The identification seems clear.

[22] I am quite at a loss to account for the mistake into which such authorities as M. Gaston Paris and Professor Foerster have apparently fallen. In M. Paris's study the idea that Lanzelet is the rescuer is perhaps rather implied than stated, but when I wrote the _Charrette_ chapter (viii.) in my _Studies on the Legend of Sir Gawain_, in which I followed the article in _Romania_, I was certainly under the impression that the latter was the case. In the introduction to the _Karrenritter_, p. xliv., Professor Foerster distinctly says that Lanzelet frees the queen. I have read and re-read the text carefully and made my final summary direct from it, and there is no doubt that Lanzelet has nothing to do with the matter. The passage in question is contained in ll. 6975-7445. How too did Professor Foerster come to ignore the real character of Guinevere's imprisonment? Cf. _Charrette_, lxxi.

[23] _Karrenritter_, Introduction, p. xliv.

[24] I think it is worthy of note that though Lanzelet is the hero of the tale here and not Guinglain, Gawain's son, as elsewhere, yet in this poem Lanzelet is Arthur's nephew, and of Gawain's kin, which he is not in any other version. The _Fier Baiser_ is thus still restricted to the family of Gawain.

[25] Cf. my _Legends of the Wagner Drama_, _Siegfried_.

[26] I say especially 'as told by Geoffrey and Wace,' for these writers give us clearly to understand that the queen was a consenting party, and no victim to Mordred's treachery. It is quite a different version from that of the prose _Lancelot_.

[27] I shall have occasion to refer very frequently to Professor Foerster's introduction. It is a full and powerful statement of views which so far as they affect the origin and evolution of the Arthurian legend I believe to be radically unsound. It is most useful to have at hand a summary so clear and concise.

[28] _Merlin_, G. Paris and Ulrich's ed., vol. ii. pp. 136-137.

[29] In the prose _Lancelot_ the hero is always addressed as 'king's son.' Cf. in this connection Professor Ker's review of my _Legend of Sir Gawain_, Folk-lore, vol. ix. p. 266. I incline to think that the question of a hero's possessing from the first a name and a well-marked story depends upon whether he has or has not an existence in _myth_. If of mythical origin he probably would have both, if an actor in folk-tale very likely neither; thus while I should reject Professor Ker's correction as regards _Gawain_, I would certainly hold it true of _Lancelot_. In the case of this latter hero, I think his name may well have been determined by his title du Lac. The tendency of early verse is towards alliteration, probably mere chance determined the _Lancelot_, the one essential was that it should begin with an _L_. It should, I think, also be noted that while in the _Lanzelet_ the hero's ignorance of his name and birth are genuine, in the prose _Lancelot_ he knows who he is, and the wrong done to his father and uncle by Claudas. The pseudonyms '_Filz du Roi_,' '_Beau Varlet_' are here unnecessary; a meaningless survival from the original tale.

[30] This feature is, I think, peculiar to Wolfram; Chrétien does not mention it.

[31] Professor Hertz, in his edition of the _Parzival_, p. 440, records these points of contact, but does not discuss the question of the relation of the two poems. Professor Foerster in his introduction simply notes that the instruction by Johfrit de Liez recalls the _Perceval_ story.

[32] Layamon '_Brut_' knows Maurin of Winchester as a kinsman of Arthur's, ll. 20238 and 24336. I have not found the name elsewhere.

[33] It appears to me that, in view of Herr P. Hagen's excellent demonstration of the correctness of the many curious Oriental references with which the _Parzival_ abounds, and his remarkable identification of Wolfram's Grail with a sacred _Bætylus_ stone, it is impossible any longer to deny the possession, by Wolfram, of a source other than Chrétien's poem. But whether the _Lanzelet_ offers another proof or not I should hesitate to say. If it does, the evidence, extending as it does over so much of the _Parzival_, is of the greatest value as an indication of the extent of Kiot's work.

[34] _Lancelot_, ed. Jonckbloet, vol. ii. ll. 22271-23126. The summaries in this chapter, and all subsequent references to the Dutch _Lancelot_, are taken direct from the text. A summary of the romance here discussed is given by M. Gaston Paris, _Histoire Littéraire de la France_, vol. xxx. p. 113.

[35] Throughout the Dutch _Lancelot_ we have constant references to Gawain's skill in healing. Cf. _Parzival_, x. 104. Chrétien does not appear to know this trait in Gawain's character.

[36] The _lai_ of _Tyolet_ was published by M. Gaston Paris in vol. viii. of _Romania_, '_Lais Inédits_.' I have given a prose translation in vol. iii. of _Arthurian Romances unrepresented in Malory_.

[37] Cf. _Merlin_, Sommer's ed. chap. xxiv. p. 302.

[38] _Tristan_, vol. i. Book XIII., ed. Bechstein, _Deutsche classiker des Mittelalters_; also my translation of same, _Arthurian Romances_, No. ii. vol. i.

[39] Dutch _Lancelot_, vol. i. l. 42,540 to end. The portion dealing with the adventure begins l. 43,593; the adventure itself, l. 46,514; also summarised in _Hist. Litt._ vol. xxx.

[40] The poem itself has been discussed by M. Gaston Paris in _Romania_, vol. xii., and by Professor Foerster in the introduction to his edition. The question of Guinevere's rescuer has been treated by Professor Rhys in his _Studies in the Arthurian Legend_, and in M. Gaston Paris's article just referred to, and that on Ulrich von Zatzikhoven's _Lanzelet_ in _Romania_, vol. x. I have also devoted a chapter in my _Legend of Sir Gawain_ to the subject.

[41] The concluding portion of the poem is by Godefroy de Leigni, who, however, worked with Chrétien's knowledge and approval, so that practically the work may be held to be Chrétien's throughout.

[42] Livre, _Cligés_ and _Perceval_; conte, _Erec_ and _Chevalier au Lion_. The concluding lines of the latter, 'qu'onques plus conter n'an oï,' clearly indicate this. I shall return to this subject in the next chapter.

[43] The manifold discrepancies of Chrétien's version were long ago remarked upon by M. Gaston Paris, and even Professor Foerster, with all his enthusiasm for the poet, is constrained to admit their existence, but he considers some of the puzzles were of Chrétien's own making, and he intended later to clear them up. Why then did he not explain them to Godefroy de Leigni, who finished the poem with Chrétien's approval?

[44] I do not here include either the mediæval Welsh fragments or Malory's account. The meaning of the former cannot be accurately ascertained, and the latter practically represents the same version as that of the _Charrette_ poem, though the question of _source_ cannot, as I shall prove later on, be held to be definitely settled.

[45] Cf. Simrock, _Handbuch der deutschen Mythologie_, _Dornröschen_. Some of the details of Arthur's journey to Valerîn's stronghold are worth the attention of folk-lore experts, _e.g._ the curious account of the _Schrîenden Mose_, that at certain times utters loud cries, _drî tage vor sunegihten sô schrît daz mos und selten mêr_, and the curious fish in its stream, which are '_ebenlanc und ebenkurz_,' and of which '_die Engellende_' have many. Cf. _Lanzelet_, ll. 7040 _et seq._

[46] On these varying forms of the '_other-world_' dwelling, cf. _Rassmann Heldensage_, vol. i. p. 152.

[47] _Legend of Sir Gawain_, chap. viii.

[48] As a rule, whenever in the _Iwein_ Hartmann does depart from his source, it is with the effect of making the story more coherent and probable. I have noted several instances of this in my study on the _Yvain_ poems, _Modern Quarterly for Language and Literature_, July and November, 1898.

[49] Cf. _Parzival_, Book VII. 1472.

[50] Cf. _Parzival_, Book VII., as above; also 590 _et seq._ and 1355 _et seq._

[51] Cf. _Der Gral_, P. Hagen: Strassburg, 1900. I am unable to accept the author's contention that the _Bætylus_-Grail represents the original form of the talisman; but he certainly proves the correctness of the many curious references to Oriental literature which are peculiar to Wolfram's version of the story, and cannot possibly have been within that writer's own knowledge.

[52] In this connection, cf. Dr. Brown's study on _The Round Table before Wace_, vol. vii. of _Harvard Studies_: Boston, 1900; and the incidental demonstration that Layamon had access to Welsh traditions unknown to Wace.

[53] For the first, cf. _Legend of Sir Gawain_, chap. ix., where I have discussed the variants of the poem. For _The Marriage of Sir Gawain_, cf. Mr. Maynadier's exhaustive study of _The Wife of Bath's Tale_, vol. xiii. of the present series. In the case of the _Green Knight_ there are certain peculiarities of names which point to an intermediate French stage, which, in this instance at least, cannot well have been other than an Anglo-Norman poem.

[54] The French variant which seems to have most affinity with the tale referred to is that of the Didot _Perceval_, printed by M. Hucher in vol. i. of his _Saint Graal_, p. 453.

[55] Introduction, _Charrette_, p. cxxvii.

[56] Cf. 'Nouvelles Etudes sur la provenance du cycle Arthurien,' _Romania_, vols. xxvii. and xxviii.

[57] Cf. _Artus Kampf mit dem Katzenungetum_, E. Freymond, Halle: 1899.

[58] _Romania_, vol. xxix. p. 121 _et seq._

[59] The evidence of the _lais_, and the fact that Marie de France was Chrétien's contemporary, forbids us to postulate an entirely oral transmission.

[60] Of this the '_runs_' of Celtic and Gaelic story-tellers form a good example. Cf. Hyde's _Beside the Fire_, p. xxv.

[61] Mr. E. S. Hartland, to whom I submitted the question.

[62] Cf. M. Ferd. Lot 'La patrie des lais Bretons,' _Romania_, vol. xxviii.

[63] Chap. iii.

[64] 'Morgue la Fée et Morgan Tud,' _Romania_, vol. xxviii. p. 327.

[65] Professor Foerster's references to this character (_Charrette_, lxxiii.) are perplexing. He prints Chrétien's description of the 'Ile' side by side with a parallel passage from Giraldus Cambrensis, _Topographia Hiberniæ_, informing us that both are 'ganz einfach eine naturgetreue Beschreibung von Irland.' He cannot mean us to understand that the one description is borrowed from the other; the work of Giraldus is at least thirty years later than the _Erec_ (_circa_ 1186), and that chronicler would hardly go to a romancer like Chrétien for the description of a country he knew personally. But _is_ it a '_Naturgetreue_' description of Ireland at all? Professor Foerster is compelled himself to admit naïvely, '_Gewitter und Stürme fehlen nicht ganz_!' Is this not rather a description of the fabled Irish Paradise which Chrétien and Giraldus alike have borrowed from a source common to both?

[66] Of course I here use the word _Breton_ in a general sense as opposed to _French_. I do not intend to imply that Arthur is of _Continental_ origin.

[67] _Ueber die Bedeutung von Bretagne, Breton_, Zeitschrift für französische Sprache, xx. 79-162.

[68] Cf. chap. ii.

[69] Cf. _Charrette_, lxxxi. and cxli.

[70] Cf. on this point Professor Foerster's Introductions to his editions of the _Yvain_, 1887 (large ed.), 1891 (small ed.).

[71] Cf. Grisebach, _Die Treulose Witwe_: Wien, 1873.

[72] Cf. review of _The Legend of Sir Gawain_. Zeitschrift für französische Sprache, No. 20, p. 95.

[73] Cf. Gautier, _Epopées Françaises_, vol. ii. p. 89 ff.; also Helisant, in _Garin le Loherain_.

[74] Cf. _Brut_, ed. Leroux de Lincy, vol. ii. ll. 13597-99.

[75] Cf. _The Golden Bough_, J. G. Frazer.

[76] Cf. _Merlin_, ed. Paris and Ulrich, vol. ii. pp. 44-56; _Meraugis de Portlesguez_, ll. 2915 _et seq._

[77] _Vide supra_, _Legend of Sir Gawain_, Zeitschrift für franz. Spr.

[78] M. Ferd. Lot, to whom I am indebted for the verification of this passage, writes: 'Le () répresente un léger blanc occasionné par un défaut du parchemin, en sorte qu'on pourrait lire en deux mots _Lan donez_ (d'où _l'ont donez_); on peut lire La_n_-donez aussi bien que La_u_donez.'

[79] Cf. Introduction to _Yvain_, large edition, where it is referred to as G.

[80] Cf. chap. x. p. 182, where the passage referred to is given in full.

[81] To say, as Professor Foerster does, that the spring=grave is to misrepresent the incidents; the castle in which the lady dwells is some distance from the spring, as we see in Yvain's chase of his flying foe.

[82] I do not know that it is has any real bearing on the question, but the passage from _Flamenca_ quoted by Wolff (_Lais_), p. 51, is curious: '_L'uns viola lais del cabrefoil, E' l'autre cel de Tintagoil; l'uns cantet cels des fis amanz, E l'autre cel que fes Ivans._'

[83] P. cxli. _et seq._

[84] It should be noted that Professor Foerster offers no arguments; he only makes assertions. There may, or there may not, have been a Grail romance which knew nothing of Perceval, certainly we have no traces of such, but how _can_ we tell what would be the character of such a story? There are any amount of theories on the subject. Wechssler has his, Hagen his, diametrically opposed to each other. Theories unsupported by proof are useless as argument. Professor Foerster is very fond of telling us this; but the moment we get on to the question of Chrétien de Troyes and his sources, _adieu_ proof. We are wrapped in the mists of subjectivity.

[85] The italics are mine.

[86] Cf. _Erec_, l. 1526; list of knights, l. 1691 _et seq._

[87] Cf. _Erec_, l. 1699; Hartmann, _Erec_, l. 1635; _Diu Krône_, l. 1379 (Adventure of the Cup); _Lanzelet_, ll. 7353-64.

[88] If Malduz, or Malduc, were a well-known enchanter, and connected with the Arthurian story, as he appears to have been, how did he vanish from it? Was it the greater popularity of _Merlin_ which displaced him? What is the origin of his name? It sounds as if it might be Celtic, or can he be in any way connected with Maugis, the resourceful cousin of '_Les quatre fils Aginon_'?

[89] So far as the _Perceval_ story is concerned, there is certainly evidence of varying forms, _e.g._, Whence did the continuators of Chrétien, notably Gerbert, draw their versions? And what of the _Perceval_ embodied in the Dutch _Lancelot_, which appears to be independent, so far as the working out of the adventures suggested by the Grail messenger are concerned, of any known version?

[90] Professor Foerster's attempt to base an argument on the source of _Cligés_ cannot for a moment be accepted, cf. Introduction, _Charrette_, cxxxviii. We only know that the source was a book; but what that book contained, no one can say. We can never argue from the _un_known to the known. We do not know much of Chrétien's sources for the other poems, but the grounds for an investigation _do_ exist in the above instances, they do _not_ in _Cligés_. We must find out how Chrétien dealt with _Erec_, _Yvain_, and _Perceval_ before we are in a position to offer the slightest hypothesis as to his treatment of _Cligés_. The fact that Mark of Rome gives a short summary of the story is interesting, but so brief a _résumé_ is of little critical value. It is certainly not a _book_, therefore cannot possibly be identical with Chrétien's source.

[91] On this subject, cf. any scientific collection of folk-tales, _e.g._, _The Science of Fairy Tales_, by Mr. E. S. Hartland, or in the same author's _Legend of Perseus_, the tabulated variants of the Dragon story in vol. iii. These would help the reader to realise the number of _motifs_ often combined in a single story. The _lais_ of _Lanval_, _Graalent_, and _Guingamor_, comparatively short though they be, yet combine at least three distinct story-_motifs_, _i.e._ what we may call the Joseph and Potiphar's wife, Tannhäuser, and Lohengrin themes. Any one of these _lais_ would be capable of considerable expansion.

[92] I have studied the _Yvain_ versions carefully, and have read those of _Erec_, but not compared them critically; but I should not be surprised if it were ultimately found that in _The Lady of the Fountain_ we have the story at a stage anterior to Chrétien, and probably that at which it came into his hands, _redacted by the Welsh scribe under the influence of Chrétien's poem_; while in _Geraint_ we have the process reversed, _i.e._ a rendering of _Chrétien's poem modified by the earlier version_. In the statement, '_Gwiffert Petit he is called by the Franks, but the Cymry call him the Little King_,' we have, I think, a hint of this. The writer must have been too good a French scholar to think the one term a translation of the other; it rather implies that the Welsh knew the character only by a sobriquet borrowed from his diminutive size, which is exactly what we should expect, the earlier stages of story-telling being anonymous. So far as the correspondence in word and dialogue is concerned, the conclusion to be drawn depends entirely on the nature of the parallel passages; if they be merely such ordinary dialogue (question and response) as would naturally spring from the incidents of the story, both may well be reminiscences of the oral version. Analytic, self-communing passages would, of course, point to a later stage in evolution; but the Welsh version dialogue is of the simplest description.

[93] Professor Foerster recognises this argument in a measure, but does not appear to realise its full bearing.

[94] I should myself be inclined to limit Chrétien's share in the work to the rearrangement of existing combinations. I do not think he ever made any new combination, unless it were in the case of _Cligés_, and that is only a 'perhaps.'

[95] Cf. _Lays of Graalent and Lanval_, p. 175.

[96] The printed editions of the prose _Lancelot_ chronicled by Dr. Sommer, _Sources of Malory_, p. 8, note, are 1494, Ant. Verard; 1513, Philippe Lenoire; 1533, Jehan Petit. There was also an edition 1533, _Philippe Lenoire_, which represents a very important text, and one which Dr. Sommer does not appear to know. A copy is in the Bodleian (Douce collection).

[97] It is difficult to know exactly what value to place on the traditional relationship of uncle and nephew as postulated of Arthur and Lancelot in the poem of Ulrich von Zatzikhoven. This is so completely a _lieu commun_ of heroic romance. Except in the case of a hero of distinctly mythical origin such as Gawain, I am inclined to consider it as marking a secondary stage in the evolution of a hero, he would have attained to a certain degree of popularity before it was postulated of him--thus Perceval and Caradoc are each, in turn, Arthur's nephews. In the case of Lancelot it probably represented an intermediate stage between entire independence of Arthur (the original) and son of a faithful ally (the final) form.

[98] _Merlin_, Sommer's ed., chap. xxxiii. The _Lancelot_ legend appears to me to offer a very interesting parallel to the methods employed by the compilers of the _Chansons de Geste_, which are so ably pointed out by M. Leon Gautier in his _Epopées Françaises_. The original story of the hero forms a nucleus from which other romances depart in a downward direction--dealing with sons and, perhaps, grandsons;--in an upward, dealing with father and grandfather--till a complete cycle is thus formed. We have exactly this process in _Lancelot_--the _Queste_ extols the deeds of his son, the _Merlin_ those of his father; and we have indications that the story was well on the way to the evolution of a secondary branch, that of Bohort and his son. None of the other Arthurian heroes has undergone a parallel development.

[99] Cf. _Merlin_, ed. Paris and Ulrich, vol. ii. pp. 137, 143.

[100] _Ibid._ pp. 231 _et seq._

[101] Cf. _Merlin_, ed. Sommer, chap. xxvii. It may be as well here to remark that Professor Foerster apparently attributes considerable importance to the pseudo-historical account of Arthur's wars with the Saxons contained in the prose romances, notably the Vulgate _Merlin_ (cf. _Charrette_, p. xcvi., and review of _Legend of Sir Gawain_, Zeitschrift für Franz. Sp., Band 20, p. 102), asserting that the prose romances contain, side by side with the later, the remains of the oldest stages of Arthurian tradition. To me it seems patent that these romances have simply borrowed from the _Chronicles_. There is nothing in them which cannot be found in Geoffrey or his translators, and the fact that they represent the _romantic_ legend in a demonstrably late form, and not in one consonant with the pseudo-historic indications, while there is no trace of any fundamental revision of the story, such as might be expected, seems to make it quite clear that they are of comparatively late invention. They by no means stand on the same footing as do Wace and Layamon, which are of distinct value in determining earlier forms of the legend. To take one instance alone, the _Merlin_ gives a long account of the sons of King Lot, who play a most important part in the action of the story, but the genuine early tradition gives Gawain no brother save Mordred, and Layamon distinctly says, 'he wes Walwainnes broðer, næs þer nan oðer' (ll. 25467-8). The existence of these sons marks a secondary stage in the story; but they are in all the _prose_ romances. An exception should perhaps be made in favour of the Didot _Perceval_, which gives the _Mort Artur_ section in a form differing from the other prose romances and much more closely in accord with the _Chronicles_. I shall return to this point later on.

[102] The two accounts should be carefully compared.

[103] Cf. _Parzival_, Book III. l. 937 _et seq._ I unfortunately omitted to note the reference in the prose _Lancelot_. The passage is on p. 127, vol. iii. of M. Paulin Paris's abridged edition.

[104] Cf. _Parzival_, Hertz, n. 66, p. 495.

[105] Cf. _Lais inédits_, M. Gaston Paris, _Romania_, vol. viii.

[106] Lancelot's eagerness to receive knighthood should be compared with that of Parzival. Thus Lancelot says to Yvain, 'Dictes a monseigneur le roy qu'il me face chevalier comme il a promis--car ie le veuil estres sans attendre plus,'--and again, 'ie ne seray plus escuyer.' prose _Lancelot_, ed. 1533, vol. i. Cf. this with _Parzival_,