Bibliotheca Arnamagnæana - 01.06.1981, Page 48
prior to feasting. Whether the reference to Arthur as hinn forvitnasti
madr (‘the most inquisitive of men’) is to be understood as intellectual
curiosity becoming to a ruler, or interpreted as human inquisitiveness of
the less admirable sort is not enunciated. Considering the tenor of the
tale one suspects the latter.
In Mottuls saga (as also in its French source) King Arthur appears in a
more passive role than in any of the other translations - Geitarlauf ex-
cepted, in which the king has no part whatever. Arthur’s quiescence
comes as a surprise if one considers the grandiose eulogy with which the
author augments the tale and the faet that the course of events in Mottuls
saga affects the reputation of the king and of his court more directly than
in most of the other narratives. The saga repudiates the notion of Arthur
and his court as ideal, for with a sole exception, the ladies at court
beginning with the queen are found guilty of infidelity. Yet Arthur evin-
ces no reaction whatsoever after Guinevere has tried on the mantie. The
king’s silence in Mottuls saga at the public disgrace of his wife is particu-
larly conspicuous if one considers his reaction under the same circum-
stances in Der Mantel, a German version of the tale. The German author
relates that King Arthur struggled to control his anger at evidence of
Guinevere’s infidelity and admonished her in regard to her future con-
duct.39 In Mottuls saga, however, the king utters not a word during and
after the queen’s trial. Instead, Arthur’s knights direct the course of
action. To be sure, the author of Mottuls saga is only following his source;
yet various amplifications and interpolations in the saga intimate a rela-
39 Otto Warnatsch, ed. Der Mantel, Bruchstiick eines Lanzeletromans des Heinrich von
dem Turlin, nebst einer Abhandlung iiber die Sage vom Trinkhorn und Mantel und die
Quelle der Krone (Breslau: Wilhelm Koebner, 1883).
Der kiinic wart des ungefrouwet,
daz der mantel stouwet
an der kiinegin solhe untriuwe,
unde het sin tougen riuwe.
in sinem herzen erz versweic,
wan sin zorn in dar zuo neic
daz er sprach also vil:
“der mantel zeiget wunderspil
an iu, frou kiinigin ze sehen.
man mohte wol turstic jehen
iuwern triuwen wandels bi;
ichn spriche doch niht daz es si.
ouch hiietet iuch hin fur baz!
mit rehten triuwen råte ich daz.” (w. 747-60)
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