Bibliotheca Arnamagnæana - 01.06.1981, Page 216
of the recreantise motif in Erex saga. We learn that after the wedding
festivities are concluded, Erex
ann svå mikit sinni unnustu, at hann fyrirlætr alla giedi ok
skemmtan ungra manna. Vel er hann virdr af ollum landsmonn-
um, en fto fær hann nokkut åmæli fyrir sitt hoglffi, ok angrar
hans fru J^etta mjok, er hon heyrir honum hardmælt. (ch. 6,
30:27-31:17)
(he was so in love with his beloved that he gave up all the convivial-
ity and diversion found in the company of young men. Although he
was highly esteemed by all his countrymen, he nonetheless brought
upon himself some reproach for his complacent way of life. It dis-
tressed his wife to hear others speak harshly of him.)
Erex saga is exemplary for its laconic depiction of an episode on which
Chrétien de Troyes lavishes 36 verses (vv. 2434-69). Indeed, the “sultry
air of the boudoir” for which the riddarasogur have been faulted,19 is
totally lacking in the saga. To comprehend what Erex’ hdglifi is all about,
one must either read Chrétien’s Erec et Etiide or Hartmann von Aue’s
version of the same, or consult the Icelandic Saga af Tristram. Chrétien
de Troyes deliberately depicts an indefinite period of recreantise with few
details regarding the couple’s sexual excesses. We only learn that Erec
was wont to embrace and kiss his wife (v. 2441), and that they often did
not rise until after noon. For conduct which precludes knightly activity
Erec is censured by others. In the Icelandic Saga af Tristram the humor-
ous potential of extended and uninterrupted sexual activity is exploited in
chapter 3. Kalegras’ father is displeased by his son’s deportment, because
he wishes to begin the return journey and because his son’s absence - in
the arms of Blenzibly - is delaying the departure. Biring, Kalegras’
foster-father, has gone to Blenzibly’s chambers, but he gets no more than
a glance out of Kalegras. He comments: Legg ek pat til råds, at pau
njotisk eptir vilja sinum; mun hann råda vilja athæfi sinu (p. 16 ‘My
advice is that they enjoy themselves in accordance with their own desires.
He will want to determine his own conduct’).
The recreantise motif of Erex saga has been distorted into the ludicrous
and grotesque in the Saga af Tristram because of the time element - three
19 Lee M. Hollander, review of Foster W. Blaisdell, Erex saga Artuskappa, MLN, 83
(1968), p. 780.
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