The Crown: A Tale of Sir Gawein and King Arthur’s Court

371 Pages·1989·48.37 MB·English

by  Heinrich von dem Türlin

A
Tale ofSir Gawein and
Translated by]. W. Thomas King Arthur’s Court

THE CROWN
ThetwofacesofFortuneandthe riseandfallofthose who rideon Fortune's wheel
The Crown
A Gawein
Tale of Sir
and King Arthur's Court
by
Heinrich von dem Tiirlin
Translated and with an
introduction by
W. Thomas
J.
University of Nebraska Press Lincoln and London
—
2
Copyright © 1989 by the University ofNebraska Press
All rights reserved
Manufactured in the United States ofAmerica
The paper in this book meets the minimum requirements
ofAmerican National Standard forInformation Sciences
Permanence ofPaperfor Printed Library Materials,
ANSI Z39.48—1984.
Library ofCongress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Heinrich, von dem Tiirlin, 13th cent.
The crown a tale ofSir Gawein and King Arthur's
:
court.
Translation of: Krone.
—
1. Gawain (Legendary character) Romances.
2. Arthurian romances. I. Thomas, J. W. (John
Wesley), 1916- .11. Title.
PT1537.H35K713 1989 831'. 88-20661
ISBN 0-8032-4419-3 (alk. paper)
To myfriendandformercolleague
Earle Leighton Rudolph
on the occasion ofhis retirement
1
CONTENTS
Preface, ix
Introduction, xi
Book One
1. A Christmas Festival, 3
2. TheTankard, 13
3. A Joust, 29
4. Gasozein de Dragoz, 38
5. Gawein and the Toll Collectors, 62
6. Blandukors, 76
7. Amurfina, 86
8. The Journey to Effin, 102
9. A Dispute over the Queen, 113
10. The Abduction and Rescue ofGinover, 124
11. The Bridle, 141
Book Two
1. A Castle ofMystery, 159
2. Lady Fortune, 170
3. The Other Gawein, 187
4. The Tournament at Sorgarda Castle, 196
5. On the Way to Madarp, 21
6. The Castle ofMaidens, 227
7. Giremelanz and Klarisanz, 238
8. The Glove, 254
9. The Knight with the Goat, 278
10. The Mountain and Its Lord, 288
11. Recovering the Prizes, 305
12. The Grail Quest, 316
13. The Return to Karidol, 331

PREFACE
Heinrich von dem Tiirlin's medieval romance tells ofthe many remark-
able adventures of Sir Gawein as he strove to exemplify chivalry by
defending the oppressed and to preserve the court ofKing Arthur as the
center ofknighthood and gracious living. Determined to outdo all com-
petitors, the author made his narrative poem into a great storehouse of
Arthurian lore, utilizing most of the popular themes and motifs of the
period in ceaseless endeavors to astound and amuse. The Crown appears
for the first time in a modern language with this translation. Its prepara-
tion was much facilitated by the generosity of Professor Bernd Kratz,
who placed at my disposal his photographic reproductions ofthe manu-
scripts of the work, together with copies of certain secondary literature
that otherwise would havebeen difficult to obtain. I am also indebted to
the University ofKentucky for a generous research grant.