Parzival: A Knightly Epic (vol. 2 of 2)Wolfram, von Eschenbach
General
Parzival: A Knightly Epic (vol. 2 of 2)
Wolfram, von Eschenbach
Perceval (Legendary character) -- Romances
Page 105, line 74--'_Ecidemon-woven_.' This is a curious passage, as
we are distinctly told in Book XV. p. 136 that Ecidemon is an animal;
and as such it is named in Book IX. p. 276 among the list of poisonous
serpents. As we hear in Book XV. p. 136 that _Salamanders_ wove the
robe of Feirefis it is possible that the same power was ascribed to the
Ecidemon. But the passage is somewhat ambiguous, and _here_ a country,
and not an animal, may be meant.
Page 107, line 127 _and seq._--'_Killicrates_.' This name is of
distinctly Greek origin. We find in Book XV. p. 154 that he was King
of Centrium (which Bartsch identifies with the land of the Centaurs),
and one of the princes conquered by Feirefis. In the same list of names
we find Kalomedenté and Ipopotiticon; according to Bartsch the former
name is a compound of Kálamos, and signifies Reed-land; the latter
he suggests may be a variation of Hyperponticon, the land beyond the
Pontus. Agatyrsjenté may perhaps be the same as Assigarzionté mentioned
in Book XV. p. 136, as famous for its silks. '_Akraton_,' cf. Book
VIII. p. 230.
Page 108, line 150--'_He cast from his hand his weapon_.' It is worth
remarking how strongly Wolfram insists on this tie of brotherhood,
both of arms, as here, and of blood, as in Book XV. To fight with one
closely related by friendship, or one near of kin, is in his eyes a
sin against one's _self_, one's own personality. Other writers of the
cycle do not seem to consider such a combat, provided it were not to
death, in so serious a light. The etiquette connected with the naming
themselves by the knights should be noted; it was the right of the
victor to demand the name of the vanquished. Here, Parzival has heard
Gawain's name from the pages, and therefore makes no objection to
revealing himself; in the next Book when Feirefis asks his name he
refuses to give it, the combat between them is practically undecided,
and he will not admit Feirefis's right to put the question. That
Feirefis names himself is an act of courtesy on his part. This
unwillingness to name themselves was probably originally connected with
the idea of the identity of _name_ and _person_--once so universal; to
this day the superstition that it is unlucky to mention the name of a
person exists among certain races, and circumlocution and nicknames are
employed to avoid the necessity for disclosing the real appellation of
the individual referred to.
Page 110, line 237--'_In wrath spake the lips of Bené_.' We have
already been told in Book X. p. 24, that the Ferryman, Bené's father,
was of knightly birth, but it seems strange to find her addressing so
powerful a monarch as King Gramoflanz in such discourteous terms. As
noted before, the character of Bené and the part she plays are peculiar
to Wolfram's version, and difficult of explanation.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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