Bibliotheca Arnamagnæana - 01.06.1981, Síða 215
work was translated from an unknown source in the thirteenth century.16
But Finnur Jonsson assigns the date of composition to the beginning of
the fourteenth century and doubts that a Norwegian translation ever
existed.17 The saga is extant only in Icelandic manuscripts. In any case,
the motif of the “leicht getrostete Witwe” in Bærings saga probably
derives from Ivens saga. The author of the Icelandic Tristram may have
known both works.18 Moreover, there is sufficient evidence that he was
familiar with Arthurian romances. The offer of love by Blenzibly to
Kalegras is followed by scenes that combine the recreantise motif from
Erex saga and the trance motif in the drops-of-blood episode from Parce-
vals saga.
Just as Blenzibly takes the initiative in the love affair by sending for
Kalegras, so she is also the aggressive partner when he appears before
her. As soon as she sees him, she stands up, puts her arms around
Kalegras, and kisses him. Incidentally, in the Stockholm 46 version of
Ivens saga (but not in the French source or in the Icelandic vellums) the
widow of the lord of the spring behaves in the same manner after she has
made peace with Iven (see p. 185). In the Icelandic Saga af Tristram we
read that as soon as Blenzibly has kissed Kalegras,
gengu j^au bædi i eina rekkju ok svåfu af nottina; en J?ott dagr
kæmi, på tyndu |?au ekki åst sinni né vingan, heldr er hitt satt
frå at segja, at hvårt [>eirra hafdi svå mikla åst ok elsku fest
vid annat, at J)au gådu einkis annars, en hvårt |jeirra hélt um
annat; en J)6tt menn kæmi at finna )}au, på fékksk ekki ord af
|?eim. (ch. 3, p. 14)
(they both got into one bed and slept the night. And although day
came they did not bring their love or friendship to an end; it is true
to say rather that each of them had such great love for the other
that they paid attention to nothing else than that each of them was
embracing the other. And although men came to visit them, not a
word was got out of them.)
The amatory trance into which the lovers fali for three years is a parody
16 Fornsggur Sudrlanda, p. CLXXXVII.
17 Den oldnorske og oldislandske litteraturs historie, III, p. 104.
18 See Paul Schach, “The Saga af Tristram ok Isodd. Summary or Satire?” pp. 340-41.
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