--- title: Opening, part 1 — Morien: A Metrical Romance Rendered into English… · full text with trees · page 2 description: Opening, part 1, «Morien: A Metrical Romance Rendered into English Prose from the Mediæval Dutch» by Jessie L. Weston: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: Produced by David Starner, David Widger, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg8447/1/page/2/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [Morien: A Metrical Romance Rendered in…](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg8447/) / Opening, part 1 # Opening, part 1 · page 2 [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg8447/1/) **2** It is easy to understand why the hero ceased to be considered Perceval's son--the opening lines of the poem describe the situation perfectly; but I do not think it has been sufficiently realised that precisely the same causes which would operate to the suppression of this relationship would equally operate to the suppression of that of the \_Parzival\_.[53](../../53/ "tree and pragmatics") Perceval, the virgin winner of the Grail, could not have a \_liaison\_ with a Moorish princess, but neither could Perceval's father, the direct descendant of Joseph of Arimathea, and hereditary holder of the Grail.[54](../../54/ "tree and pragmatics") The \_Early History\_ of that talisman, as related by Robert de Borron, once generally accepted, the relationship of \_brother\_ was as impossible as that of \_son\_.[55](../../55/ "tree and pragmatics") It seems clear that if a genuine tradition of a Moor as near kinsman to Perceval really existed--and I see no reason to doubt that it did--it must have belonged to the Perceval story prior to the development of the Grail tradition, \_e.g.\_, to such a stage as that hinted at by the chess-board adventure of the "Didot" \_Perceval\_ and Gautier's poem, when the hero was as ready to take advantage of his \_bonnes fortunes\_ as other heroes of popular folk tales.[56](../../56/ "tree and pragmatics") Further, judging from these stories it would seem probable that the requisite modification began with the earlier generation, \_i.e.\_, Perceval himself still retaining traces of his secular and folk-tale origin, while his father and mother have already been brought under the influence of the ecclesiasticised Grail tradition.[57](../../57/ "tree and pragmatics") That this would be the case appears only probable when we recall the vague and conflicting traditions as to the hero's parentage; it was Perceval himself, and not his father or his mother, who was the important factor in the tale; hence the change in his character was a matter of gradual evolution.[58](../../58/ "tree and pragmatics") Thus I am of opinion that the Moor as Perceval's brother is likely to be an earlier conception than the Moor as Perceval's son.[59](../../59/ "tree and pragmatics") It is, I think, noticeable that the romance containing this feature, the \_Parzival\_, also, contrary to the \_Early History\_ versions, connects him with the Grail through his mother, instead of through his father.[60](../../60/ "tree and pragmatics") The \_Morien\_ is for me a welcome piece of evidence in support of the theory that sees in the poem of Wolfram von Eschenbach the survival of a genuine variant of the \_Perceval\_ story, differing in important particulars from that preserved by Chrétien de Troyes, and based upon a French original, now, unfortunately, lost.[61](../../61/ "tree and pragmatics") For this, if for no other reason, the poem would, it seems to me, be worth introducing to a wider circle of readers than that to which in its present form it can appeal.[62](../../62/ "tree and pragmatics") The students of old Dutch are few in number, and the bewildering extent of the \_Lancelot\_ compilation, amounting as it does, even in its incomplete state, to upwards of 90,000 lines, is sufficient in itself to deter many from its examination.[63](../../63/ "tree and pragmatics") \_Morien\_ in its original form is, and can be, known to but few.[64](../../64/ "tree and pragmatics") But not only does it represent a tradition curious and interesting in itself, it has other claims to attention; even in a translation it is by no means ill written; it is simple, direct, and the adventures are not drawn out to wearisome length by the introduction of unnecessary details.[65](../../65/ "tree and pragmatics") The characterisation too, is good; the hero is well realised, and Gawain, in particular, appears in a most favourable light, one far more in accordance with the earlier than with the later stage of Arthurian tradition; the contrast between his courteous self-restraint and the impetuous ardour of the young savage is well conceived, and the manner in which he and Gareth contrive to check and manage the turbulent youth without giving him cause for offence is very cleverly indicated.[66](../../66/ "tree and pragmatics") Lancelot is a much more shadowy personage; if, as suggested above, the original story took shape at a period before he had attained to his full popularity, and references to his valour were added later we can understand this.[67](../../67/ "tree and pragmatics") It is noticeable that the adventure assigned to him is much less original in character, and told with far less detail than that ascribed to Gawain.[68](../../68/ "tree and pragmatics") The romance as we have it presents, as remarked before, a curious mixture of earlier and later elements.[69](../../69/ "tree and pragmatics") None of the adventures it relates are preserved in any English text.[70](../../70/ "tree and pragmatics") Alike as a representative of a lost tradition, and for its own intrinsic merit it has seemed to me, though perhaps inferior in literary charm to the romances previously published in this series, to be yet not unworthy of inclusion among them.[71](../../71/ "tree and pragmatics") BOURNEMOUTH, \_July\_ 1901[72](../../72/ "tree and pragmatics") MORIEN[73](../../73/ "tree and pragmatics") \_Herein doth the adventure tell of a knight who was named Morien.[74](../../74/ "tree and pragmatics") Some of the books give us to wit that he was Perceval's son, and some say that he was son to Agloval, who was Perceval's brother, so that he was nephew unto that good knight.[75](../../75/ "tree and pragmatics") Now we find it written for a truth that Perceval and Galahad alike died virgin knights in the quest of the Holy Grail; and for that cause I say of Perceval that in sooth he was not Morien's father, but that rather was Morien his brother's son.[76](../../76/ "tree and pragmatics") And of a Moorish princess was he begotten at that time when Agloval sought far and wide for Lancelot, who was lost, as ye have read here afore.[77](../../77/ "tree and pragmatics") \_I ween that he who made the tale of Lancelot and set it in rhyme forgot, and was heedless of, the fair adventure of Morien.[78](../../78/ "tree and pragmatics") I marvel much that they who were skilled in verse and the making of rhymes did not bring the story to its rightful ending.[79](../../79/ "tree and pragmatics") \_ Now as at this time King Arthur abode in Britain, and held high court, that his fame might wax the greater; and as the noble folk sat at the board and ate, there came riding a knight; for 'twas the custom in Arthur's days that while the king held court no door, small nor great, should be shut, but all men were free to come and go as they willed.[80](../../80/ "tree and pragmatics") Thus the knight came riding where the high folk sat, and would fain have dismounted, but so sorely was he wounded that he might not do so.[81](../../81/ "tree and pragmatics") In sooth he was in evil case, for he had more than ten wounds, and from the least of them a man might scarce recover; he came in such guise that his weapons and his vesture and his steed, which was fair and tall, were all dyed red with his own blood.[82](../../82/ "tree and pragmatics") The knight was sad at heart and sorely wounded, yet he greeted, as best he might, all the lords then in the hall; but more he might not speak, for the pain of his wounds.[83](../../83/ "tree and pragmatics") Then my lord, Sir Gawain, who did full many a courtesy (for such was his wont all his life long), so soon as he saw the knight, sprang up with no delay, and lifted him from the saddle and set him upon the ground, but he might neither sit, nor walk, nor so much as stand upon his feet, but fell upon the earth.[84](../../84/ "tree and pragmatics") Then Sir Gawain bade them carry him softly on a couch to the side of the hall in the sight of the chief guests, that they might hear his tale.[85](../../85/ "tree and pragmatics") But since he might scarce speak he made him to be disarmed, and stripped to the skin, and wrapped in warm coverings and gave him a sop steeped in clear wine.[86](../../86/ "tree and pragmatics") [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg8447/1/) **2** - ← previous: [page 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg8447/1/) - next →: [Opening, part 2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg8447/2/) - ↑ back to [Morien: A Metrical Romance Rendered into English Prose from the Mediæval Dutch](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg8447/)