--- title: Amen. Notes — Morien: A Metrical Romance Rendered into English… · full text with trees description: Amen. Notes, «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: 1. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg8447/13/) [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/) / Amen. Notes # Amen. Notes Amen. Notes of «Morien: A Metrical Romance Rendered into English Prose from the Mediæval Dutch» by Jessie L. Weston: the whole text, 78 sentences and 1313 words. The small number after every sentence leads to its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself. 1.[1](1/ "tree and pragmatics") INTRODUCTION.--In the preface I have dwelt with some fulness on the interesting questions connected with these opening lines; here it will be sufficient to point out that in the earlier versions of the \_Perceval\_ story the hero is either the only, or the sole surviving, son of his parents.[2](2/ "tree and pragmatics") The introduction of a brother, as a definite character, belongs to the later stages of Arthurian tradition.[3](3/ "tree and pragmatics") The brothers vary in number and name, but the most noted are Sir Agloval and Sir Lamorak, who appear to belong to distinct lines of development, Sir Agloval belonging mainly to the \_Lancelot\_, Sir Lamorak to the \_Tristan\_ tradition.[4](4/ "tree and pragmatics") So far I have not met with the latter in any version of the prose \_Lancelot\_, though Dr. Sommer in his \_Studies on the Sources of Malory\_, refers to him as mentioned in that romance; in the \_Tristan\_, on the contrary, he is a leading figure.[5](5/ "tree and pragmatics") The \_Morien\_ story, as I have remarked in the preface, has obviously been modified by the influence of the later \_Lancelot\_ legend, hence, probably, the \_rôle\_ assigned to Agloval.[6](6/ "tree and pragmatics") 2.[7](7/ "tree and pragmatics") PAGE 20.--\_Gawain as physician\_.[8](8/ "tree and pragmatics") The representation of Gawain as an expert in medical skill is an interesting feature which appears to belong to early tradition.[9](9/ "tree and pragmatics") The references in the poem before us are the most copious and explicit, but we also find the same accomplishment referred to in the romance of \_Lancelot et le cerf au pied blanc\_ (D. L. vol. ii.[10](10/ "tree and pragmatics") 1.[11](11/ "tree and pragmatics") 22825) where Gawain instructs the physician as to the proper treatment of Lancelot's wounds; and the \_Parzival\_ of Wolfram von Eschenbach (Book X.[12](12/ "tree and pragmatics") 1.[13](13/ "tree and pragmatics") 104) also refers to this tradition.[14](14/ "tree and pragmatics") It is noticeable that Chrétien de Troyes in the parallel passage of his poem has no such allusion, nor can I recall any passage in the works of that poet which indicates any knowledge, on his part, of this characteristic of Gawain.[15](15/ "tree and pragmatics") This is one of the points of variance between Chrétien and Wolfram which, slight in itself, offers when examined valuable evidence as to a difference of sources.[16](16/ "tree and pragmatics") 3.[17](17/ "tree and pragmatics") PAGE 24.--\_The boast of Sir Kay.[18](18/ "tree and pragmatics") \_ Arthur's reproof to Kay is a reference to the well-known adventure related both by Chrétien and Wolfram and found moreover in the \_Peredur\_.[19](19/ "tree and pragmatics") The hero, thrown into a love-trance by the sight of blood-drops on the snow, gives no answer to the challenge addressed to him successively by Segramore and Kay, and being rudely attacked by these knights overthrows them both.[20](20/ "tree and pragmatics") The allusion to this incident, which is not related in the prose \_Lancelot\_, shows clearly that while, on the whole, he is harmonising his romance with the indications of the later traditions, the writer is yet quite conversant with the earlier forms.[21](21/ "tree and pragmatics") 4.[22](22/ "tree and pragmatics") PAGE 26.--\_The Father of Adventure.[23](23/ "tree and pragmatics") \_ "Der Aventuren Fader."[24](24/ "tree and pragmatics") The Middle English poem of \_Sir Gawain and the Green Knight\_ (No. 1 of this Series) speaks of the knight in somewhat similar terms as "the fine father of courtesy."[25](25/ "tree and pragmatics") Gawain was from the first the adventurous hero, \_par excellence\_ of the cycle, but I know no other instance in which this characteristic is so quaintly and forcibly expressed.[26](26/ "tree and pragmatics") 5.[27](27/ "tree and pragmatics") PAGE 28.--\_In secret case\_.[28](28/ "tree and pragmatics") The original words are "in hemeliker stede."[29](29/ "tree and pragmatics") To which particular adventure of Lancelot this refers it is not easy to decide; on more than one occasion he disappears from court, and the knights headed by Gawain, ride in quest of him.[30](30/ "tree and pragmatics") Perhaps this refers to his imprisonment by Morgain le Fay (\_cf\_. summary of \_D.L.[31](31/ "tree and pragmatics") \_ in \_Legend of Sir Lancelot du Lac\_.[32](32/ "tree and pragmatics") Grimm's Library XII. pp.[33](33/ "tree and pragmatics") 236-7).[34](34/ "tree and pragmatics") 6.[35](35/ "tree and pragmatics") PAGE 35.--\_Sir Agloval, he is my father.[36](36/ "tree and pragmatics") \_ This should be compared with the account of Gamuret's wooing and desertion of the Moorish queen, Belakane, in Book I. of the \_Parzival\_; also with the meeting of the unknown brothers in Book XV. of the same poem.[37](37/ "tree and pragmatics") It is perhaps worth noticing as indicative of the source of the tradition that Wolfram distinctly states that his Moor speaks in \_French\_.[38](38/ "tree and pragmatics") 7.[39](39/ "tree and pragmatics") PAGE 67,--\_The slain and the slayer\_.[40](40/ "tree and pragmatics") The belief that the blood of a corpse would flow afresh, did the murderer approach it, was very prevalent in the middle ages.[41](41/ "tree and pragmatics") In Chretien de Troyes' \_Chevalier au lion\_ (ll.[42](42/ "tree and pragmatics") 1177 et seq.) we find a similar situation, complicated by the fact that Yvain (the slayer) protected by a magic ring is invisible to the bystanders.[43](43/ "tree and pragmatics") The best known instance, however, is probably that of the \_Nibelungenlied\_ where Kriemhild's suspicions that Hagen is Siegfred's murderer are in this manner verified.[44](44/ "tree and pragmatics") 8.[45](45/ "tree and pragmatics") PAGE 91.--\_I have no call to flee, nor to fear death\_.[46](46/ "tree and pragmatics") This is evidently the hermit whom Lancelot in the \_Queste\_ finds dead under circumstances agreeing with those here hinted at.[47](47/ "tree and pragmatics") The story will be found in Malory Book XV.[48](48/ "tree and pragmatics") 9.[49](49/ "tree and pragmatics") PAGE 102.--\_That cometh altogether from his sin against his mother\_.[50](50/ "tree and pragmatics") The reason here alleged for Perceval's failure to find the Grail is that given by Chrétien and Wolfram, and is another indication of the writer's familiarity with the early \_Perceval\_ story.[51](51/ "tree and pragmatics") 10.[52](52/ "tree and pragmatics") PAGE 116.--\_Sir Agloval's explanation, (a) The Lancelot quest\_.[53](53/ "tree and pragmatics") The special quest here referred to is that undertaken in search of Lancelot when he fled from court in a frenzy, induced by Guinevere's jealousy of King Pelles' daughter.[54](54/ "tree and pragmatics") During this quest Agloval visits his mother, sees Perceval, and brings him to court (\_cf.[55](55/ "tree and pragmatics") Legend of Sir Lancelot\_ pp.[56](56/ "tree and pragmatics") 161-2).[57](57/ "tree and pragmatics") \_(b) The lost heritage\_.[58](58/ "tree and pragmatics") The fact that Perceval regains possession of the heritage of which he has, before his birth, been deprived is recorded in certain of the \_Perceval\_ romances; the \_Parzival\_ of Wolfram von Eschenbach, the prose \_Perceval li Gallois\_, and the English \_Sir Percyvelle of Galles\_, but it is not found in Chrétien.[59](59/ "tree and pragmatics") It is clear, to a close observer, that the compiler of the Dutch \_Lancelot\_ knew the early \_Perceval\_ tradition in a form closer to the version of the German, than that of the French poet.[60](60/ "tree and pragmatics") Later on, in the \_Queste\_ section, he introduces a reference to this inheritance, where none exists in the French versions I have examined (\_cf.[61](61/ "tree and pragmatics") Legend of Sir Lancelot\_ p. 174).[62](62/ "tree and pragmatics") 11.[63](63/ "tree and pragmatics") PAGE 127.--\_Lancelot's adventure with the beast.[64](64/ "tree and pragmatics") \_ This is a condensed account of the well known story of \_The Fahe Claimant\_.[65](65/ "tree and pragmatics") Two versions of this story have already been given in this series, the dragon adventure in \_Tristan\_ (No. II) and that of the stag in \_Tyolet\_ (No. III.); this is inferior to either, but appears to combine characteristics of both.[66](66/ "tree and pragmatics") I have discussed it fully in Chapter III. of the \_Lancelot\_ studies, before referred to, and have there compared it with the similar adventure also attributed to that knight in the Dutch compilation.[67](67/ "tree and pragmatics") 12.[68](68/ "tree and pragmatics") PAGE 128.--\_Had it not been for a ring which Lancelot wore.[69](69/ "tree and pragmatics") \_ This is evidently the ring given him by the Lady of the Lake, and referred to in \_The Charrette\_ (ll.[70](70/ "tree and pragmatics") 2348 et seq).[71](71/ "tree and pragmatics") It had the power of detecting enchantments.[72](72/ "tree and pragmatics") 13.[73](73/ "tree and pragmatics") PAGE 142.--\_King Arthur--held captive the king, who had erst made him a prisoner.[74](74/ "tree and pragmatics") \_ There seems to be a confusion here; from Gariet's account it was the King of the Saxons who captured Arthur; here he has disappeared and everything is attributed to the King of Ireland.[75](75/ "tree and pragmatics") Probably they were allies; but it is also possible that confusion may have arisen from the fact that the King of Dublin was at one time, as in the Tristan legend, a Viking, and the poet has not distinguished clearly between the nationalities of these sea-robbers.[76](76/ "tree and pragmatics") If so, it would seem to indicate an early date for this particular story.[77](77/ "tree and pragmatics") End of Project Gutenberg's The Romance of Morien, by Jessie L. 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