A-funeral-pyre

-Gawain to Igraine.

Later, Gawain to Guiromelant:

From Conte du Graal, Chretien de Troyes

[...]

(Source: Merlin and the Grail, by Robert de Boron, Nigel Bryant Trans.)

Another look at the Nigel Bryant translation of the Robert De Boron Merlin cycle, this time including the so-called Didot Perceval.

The interesting highlight here is Sir Agravain - usually the second eldest Orkney bro - apparently not present at all in this continuity, leaving only four brothers.

The White Stag serves different roles depending on the romance. Generally, the stag's appearance either means otherworldly/adventure-worthy stuff is going to happen or represents something the knights have to strive for, the metaphor of "Hunt = Quest towards a worthy and noble goal".

The Vulgate Quest for the Holy Grail has an explicit and religious example where the White Stag appears alongside a guard of four lions. It enters a chapel and shapeshifts into a man seated on the altar and three of the lion bodyguards turn into a man, an eagle and a calf. If you haven't guessed already, its Jesus and the four Evangelists.

While I don't recall the stag ever being captured as a pet, it has been slain as part of a normal hunt or quest, as seen in Erec and Enide and Didot-Perceval:

(Source: Erec and Enide, by Chretien de Troyes)

TBH, I think the Perlesvaus writer could've at least paid lip service to the greater Arthurian canon, by including a modified version of Geoffrey's fall narrative, just like how Didot Percival did it.

Looking at how Perlesvaus ended, it looks pretty simple to "fit in" a version of how Camelot collapses, just minus Guinevere (sadly...). Merely substitute Lucius Tiberius with King Claudas and have Arthur and Lancelot go and fight him, as a consequence of Brien's alliance.

Then, while they're gone, Mordred takes over. Lancelot dies fighting Claudas, per the Brussels manuscript's statement, and Arthur either continues and defeats Claudas and/or just goes back to Britain to confront Mordred. Bam, Camlann.

Merlin and Morgan le Fay

Combination

1920s

American

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