Sir Gawain and the Lady of Lys/Notes
Notes
Page 3.—The knights rode gaily ahead. This episode, in practically identical form, is found as the introduction to the head-cutting challenge, of which in Wauchier’s compilation Carados is the hero. This double use of the same incident appears to me significant in face of the fact that the ‘Carados’ story is an inferior version of our ‘Syr Gawayne and the Grene Knyghte.’ It seems to me most probable that our poem represents an elaborated version of an adventure which originally formed part of the compilation utilised by Wauchier in his continuation of the ‘Perceval,’ and that the passage here given formed the introductory episode of the group.
Page 5.—At Carnarvon, In some of the texts Carduel is substituted for Carnarvon.
Page 5.—Galvoie, a land where many a man goeth astray. For the mysterious character attached to Galvoie (Galloway), and its connection with the Other-world, cf. ‘Legend of Sir Perceval,’ pp. 186–192.
Page 7.—When Sir Gawain beheld this. There are two distinct versions of Arthur’s rebuke to his knights; the one given in the text is found in B.N. 12576 (the source of this translation), B.N. 1429, Edinburgh, and Montpellier. The other version, in which Arthur refuses to explain what he means, and locks himself in his ‘loge,’ the door of which is broken open by his indignant knights, who insist upon knowing the reason of his accusation, is found in B.N. 12577; 794; 1453; and Mons. This latter version seems to me an unintelligent expansion of that in our text. Arthur’s desire is to incite his knights to the rescue of their comrade, not to heap unnecessary insult upon them. The fact that here Ywain is specially coupled with Gawain should be noted. Ywain is one of the earliest of Arthurian heroes, appearing in the chronicles; whenever we find him in a position of importance there is at least the possibility that we are dealing with the survival of an early and genuine Arthurian tradition.
Page 15.—Now will I tell ye their names. The list of knights taking part in the expedition varies somewhat in the different texts. It is noteworthy that Lancelot is occasionally omitted, and that nowhere does he hold a prominent position. This group of stories was manifestly composed at a period when that hero was still practically unknown to Arthurian tradition.
Page 16.—One day the king came forth from a very great forest. An English version of the adventure which follows will be found in Sir Frederick Madden’s ‘Syr Gawayne,’ under the title of ‘Kay and the Spit.’
Page 25.—The tale is here over long. Throughout the whole section devoted by Wauchier to the Gawain in contradistinction to the Perceval adventures, there are constant references to the length and importance of the ‘grand conte’ of which they formed a part. There are numerous ‘Perilous Cemeteries’ in Arthurian romance, e.g. there is one in the prose Lancelot, which Hector and Gawain attempt, and are worsted: another in Perilleus, and a third forms the subject of a special poem, ‘L’Atre Perilleus.’ Of this last Gawain is the hero. There is s cemetery connected with the adventure of the Chapel of the Black Hand, and one in the Queste. It is impossible to determine the tale to which the compiler here alludes.
Page 28.—Esterlins, besants, &c. The original is Esterlins, porpres, e besans, Deniers de muce e d’aufricains. The correct translation is doubtful. Porpres is a texture, and seems to be out of place among an enumeration of coins. ‘Denier s de muce’ is found in no dictionary or article on coins. Muce may signify a hiding place, hence the treasure-trove of the translation; or, as M. Paul Meyer suggests, muce may be an error for murcie, which would be the equivalent of Spanish, at that period Saracen, money. Du Cange, under the heading of ‘Africanus,’ gives ‘Moneta Saracenorum.’ It is noteworthy that the MSS. of later date omit these lines.
Page 29.—Grails of silver. This is the only instance I know in which the word Grail is used in a general sense, and it is of value as indicating the meaning which the writers of that period attached to the word.
Page 38.—Ider de Lis. The father’s name is more generally given as Norres de Lis. Llys is the Welsh for castle, and the spelling of the word varies in the texts. Brandelis is, as a rule, written in one word, and spelt with an i; when the castle alone is spoken of it is written Lys. I have endeavoured to indicate this peculiarity in the translation. Cf. Gawain’s appeal to his uncle to eat, and Arthur’s refusal, with Arthur and Gorlagon published by Prof. Kittredge; cf. Folk-Lore, March 1904, where a translation of this curious tale, with explanatory comment, is given.
Page 41.—A comrade for Huden. Huden, or Hudenc, is Tristan’s dog. The reference is interesting, as showing a knowledge of the Tristan story on the part of the compiler. That hero, however, plays no part in this group of tales.
Page 48.—There came forth a damosel. The lady’s name is not given here, but later on she is called Guilorete, and in other texts Gloriete.
II
Page 63.—Castle Orguellous. This adventure, under the title of 'Gawain and Golagros,' will be found in Madden's 'Syr Gawayne,' but the version is much condensed. In the English poem Espinogres plays the rôle here assigned to Bran de Lis, and explains the customs of the castle.
Page 70.—'Tis ill done to summon evil. The original gives On ne doit pas mal senechier. This latter word appears to be unknown. I submitted the passage to M. Paul Meyer, who thinks it may be a fault of the copyist; at the same time, Godefroi gives the noun senechiance as equivalent to segnefiance, and a verb may have been constructed from this. The corresponding passage in B. N. 12577 runs 'Nul ne doit le mal prononcier.' In an article in Folk Lore for March 1907, Miss Goodrich Freer quotes a Gaelic proverb, 'Ill will come if mentioned.' This seems to be the equivalent of our text.
Page 87.—A horn was sounded. In the English version a small bell is rung. Much less stress is laid upon the arming of the knight, which here is a most picturesque and effective passage.
Page 93.—Whenth at gentle knight Sir Gawain. Gawain's extreme courtesy, and the consequent dismay of the king, are related in much the same terms, but more condensed, in the English poem. It seems possible that it was this adventure of the Rich Soudoier which suggested the figure of Gehault, 'le haut prince' in the prose Lancelot. Both are distinguished for their height, their beauty, and their opposition to Arthur. Both, alike, became the King's friends through the courtesy and feigned submission of the knights Gawain and Lancelot. The parallel is worth working out.
Page 98.—As Bleherls doth witness to us. Other forms of the name are Bleobleheris (B.N. 1453) and Bliobliheri (B.N. Add. 36614). This latter MS. at a later stage of the same collection again cites Bleheris as authority for the story of Gawain and the magic shield; he is there said to have been born and brought up in Wales. He is probably identical with the Bledhericus mentioned by Giraldus Cambrensis as a famous story teller, 'famosus ille fabulator.' For a full discussion of the whole question see my Legend of Sir Perceval.
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