Amorous or Perillous, which in the two versions is quite dissimilar. This incident stands out pre-eminent in the Didot-Perceval for its wild and fantastic character. It is a genuine Celtic märchen, with much of the weird charm still clinging to it that is the birthright of the Celtic folk-tale. It is inadmissible that Gautier could have substituted for this fine incident the commonplace one which he gives.
If, then, it is out of the question that Gautier borrowed directly from the Didot-Perceval, how are the strong resemblances which exist in part between the two versions to be accounted for? Some of these resemblances have already been quoted (supra, p. 75), the remainder may be usefully brought together here.[1]
First arrival at the Castle of the Chessboard—
| Didot-Perceval. | Gautier |
Li plus biaux chasteaux del monde et vit le pont abeissié et la porte deffermé (p. 439).
|
Le bel castiel que je vos dis |
The damsel exhorts him not to throw the chessman into the water—
Votre cors est esmeuz à grant vilainie faire (p. 440).
|
Car çou serait grans vilonie (22,503). |
Perceval having slain the stag, sees its head carried off—
Si vint une veille sor un palestoi grant aléure et prist le brachet et s'en ala or tot (p. 442).
|
Une pucièle de malaire |
On Perceval threatening to take it away from her by force she answers—
Sire Chevalier, force n'est mie droit et force me poez bien faire (p. 443).
|
Force à faire n'est mie drois |
In the subsequent fight with the Knight of the Tomb, he, overcome—
Se torna vers le tonbel grant aléure et li tombeaux s'enleva contre moult et chevalier s'en feri enz (p. 444).
|
Que fuiant vait grant aléure |
- ↑ They are brought together by Hucher, vol. i, p. 383, etc.
