Bibliotheca Arnamagnæana - 01.06.1981, Page 120
tive; nonetheless, the immediacy and spontaneity of Kalegras’ eagerness
to do Blenzibly’s bidding are effectively conveyed. The knight at once
sets off for the princess’ chambers, whereupon - with only a kiss as intro-
duction - the two get into bed.
Not always is a knight as responsive to a woman’s advances as is
Kalegras. The negative reaction of Janual in the Ijod named after him
precipitates court proceedings against him. The situation in Januals Ijod
is similar to that in the Saga af Tristram ok Isodd. The setting is King
Arthur’s court, however, and many of his knights are assembled in a
garden underneath the tower in which Guinevere’s chambers lie. The
author is vague concerning the activity in which the knights engage; we
learn only that they have come together to amuse themselves - atskemmta
sér (p. 69). Although he is not especially eager to partake in the merry-
making, Janual is convinced by the knights to join them. At the very
moment that Sir Gawain and Sir Yvain enter the garden, accompanied by
Janual, Guinevere observes the scene from her tower window. Upon
recognizing the trio - only Janual is mentioned by name - she summons
her most beautiful maidens to accompany her into the garden. Nonethe-
less, Janual does not respond in chivalrous fashion to the presence of
over thirty lovely women. His every thought and desire revolve around
his fairy mistress, and Janual seeks a place apart from the rest.
Just as Janual’s presence had occasioned Guinevere’s joining the com-
pany of the knights, so now Janual’s aloofness encourages her to make
amorous advances to him. In unambiguous terms she reveals her long-
standing desire for him:
Lengi mioc heui ec J5ér unnat. lofat J)ec oc frægt firir
morgvm. oc oft heui ec girnzc jjic med mikilli fyst. Allan
mattv hafa astar|)occa minn. seg mer bradlega vilia |)inn. (p.
70)
(I have loved you deeply for a long time and praised you and
exalted you before many, and I have often longed for you with
great desire. You may have all my affection. Tell me your desire
quickly.)
But Janual bluntly rejects her offer, as he declares that he desires neither
to receive nor to give love. Loyalty to Arthur, declares the knight, pre-
vents him from being party to an adulterous love. When pushed by
Guinevere, however, who accuses the knight of favoring the love of
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