Bibliotheca Arnamagnæana - 01.06.1981, Page 54
The only Arthurian saga that exhibits didactic tendencies in regard to
royal behavior is Erex saga, in which Arthur is depicted as possessing
great humility. On the occasion of Erex’ wedding many kings and retain-
ers assemble at Arthur’s court. When the king surveys the mighty as-
semblage, he reflects:
Eykkir honum mikit sitt vald ok megn, er mikill hlutr heimsins
skal undir hann tøona, ok mektugir hofdingjar, ok gledsk nu i
sinu hjarta, en miklar sik eigi af J>egna valdi. (27:8-28:1)
(The thought came to him that his power and might were great,
since such a great part of the world, including mighty chieftains,
was subject to him, and he rejoiced in his heart. Yet he did not
pride himself on his power over his vassals.)
This indirect comment concerning Arthur’s humility is only one of sever-
al such remarks woven into the text of Erex saga. They suggest that the
redactor responsible for them was interested in instructing his audience.
The didactic intent of the above becomes clear if one compares the
passage in Erex saga with an analogous passage in Tristrams saga, in
which King Markis is depicted contemplating the splendor of his court:
Ok sem Markis konungr er å litandi sitt heidarligt herlid,
vex honum mikil giedi ok hyggr hann skyldi vera einn hofd-
ingi yfir ftvi landi, sem svå var rfkt ok audigt af jafnmiklu
folki hæverskra manna ok kurteisra kvenna. Ok af dessum
hlutum ollum saman hugsar hann nti med sinum gaumgæfilig-
um godvilja, hversu hann mætti {)essa veizlu svå fram låta
flytja, at engi hafi verit (ressari lik allskyns godenda. (ch. 4,
pp. 8-9)
(As King Markis was looking over his splendid knights he was
overwhelmed with happiness at the thought that he should be the
sole ruler over this land, which was so powerful and wealthy on
account of the very great number of chivalrous men and courtly
ladies. And because of all these things he pondered now with
thoughtful good will how he might arrange this festival so that none
could equal it in all kinds of munificence.)
The contrast in the attitudes of the two rulers - Arthur and Markis - is
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