Bibliotheca Arnamagnæana - 01.06.1981, Side 119
tables are turned, however, for it is the woman who is attracted by the
bearing of a knight and is overcome by immediate and irresistible passion
for him. The events preceding the birth of Tristram differ markedly in
content and tone in the Saga af Tristram ok Isodd from those depicted in
the better-known Norwegian translation of Thomas’ Tristan. As the Ice-
landic Tristram commences, Tristram’s mother Blenzibly already has a
lover, named Piegrus, who enjoyed hina mestu kærleika vid konungsdott-
ur (ch. 2, p. 6 ‘the greatest affection from the princess’). On one occasion
Blenzibly’s brother organizes a major tournament attended by lords and
knights from many lands. To this tournament comes also Kalegras, who
is to be Tristram’s father. Three times Kalegras rides against Piegrus,
Blenzibly’s lover, and in the third tilt Kalegras succeeds in slaying Pie-
grus. Throughout the jousting Blenzibly observes the progress of the
tournament from a high tower. Although her reaction upon witnessing
the death of Piegrus is not depicted directly, it is implied all the more
strongly by the action she takes subsequent to observing the fatal blow.
The author tells us that she greatly admired Kalegras’ accomplishments
and courteous bearing, because of all men he was the most imposing in
appearance, and he was outstandingly endowed with all the talents that
should grace a valiant warrior: henni fannsk mikit um atgervi Kalegras ok
kurteisi, fvi hann var allra manna skoruligastr ok bezt at sér um alla hluti,
er vaskan dreng frlddi (ch. 3, p. 12). Blenzibly sends for her page Pollor-
nis, admits to him that because of Kalegras’ superiority she has fallen in
love with him - få hefi ek svå mikla åst fellt til hans (ch. 3, p. 12) - and
orders the page to request Kalegras to come to her and to inform him that
she desires his love. Just before the conversation with Pollornis breaks
off, she once more professes the depths of her love for the man whom
“... ek ann meira en nokkurum odrum manni, |)eim er ek hefi
sét eda fréttir til haft, ok svå bid ek,” sagdi hon, “gud hjålpa
mér, at heldr vilda ek bida brådan bana, en okkra åst bæri
sundr.” (ch. 3, p. 14)
(“ ... I love more than any other man I have seen or heard reports
about. And as God is my help,” she said, “I would rather experi-
ence sudden death than that our love should be rent asunder.”)
Blenzibly gets her way. Pollornis seeks out Kalegras and conveys to him
the princess’ message, that is hardly subtle. We learn about the conversa-
tion between the messenger and the knight only through authorial narra-
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