Tirant lo Blanch; a study of its authorship, principal sources and historical settingVaeth, Joseph Anthony
History
Tirant lo Blanch; a study of its authorship, principal sources and historical setting
Vaeth, Joseph Anthony
Martorell, Joanot, -1468. Tirant lo Blanch
But there are other features in this part of _Tirant lo Blanch_ that
reveal the influence of that portion of the _Chronica_ which treats
of Roger de Flor and his expedition. In recounting the career of
the latter we have noted that the first fight in which his forces
were engaged was against the Genoese, who were in the service of the
emperor. This incident is reflected in the following words spoken by
the emperor and addressed to Tirant:[47] “... perqueus prech, Capita
virtuos, queus vullau dispondre en anar contra los enemichs nostres los
genouesos, generacio mala....”
[47] Therefore I pray you, excellent Captain, to make ready to
march against our enemies, the Genoese, an evil race.... _Tirant
lo Blanch_, chap. cxxii, col. 2.
The incompetent, envious and treacherous commander, Xor Miqueli, is
probably the prototype of the sullen and malicious Duke of Macedonia.
En Berenguer de Rocafort and En Berenguer Dentença came with
reinforcements to Constantinople and joined Roger’s army; the Prior of
Saint John, the Viscount of Branches, and the Duke of Messina came with
many men to join Tirant’s forces.
At a session of the Imperial Council which had convened to consider
certain military matters, one of the members proposed:
[48] ... antes que partixquen de açi la gent darmes deuen anar en
romiatge, e fer grans presentalles als deus en la ylla don Paris sen
porta la Reyna Elena: e perço hagueren en temps antich los Grechs
victoria dels Troyans.
[48] ... before they leave here, the men at arms ought to make a
pilgrimage and make great offerings to the gods on the island
whence Paris carried away Queen Helen: it was in this way that,
in ancient times, the Greeks won a victory over the Trojans.
_Tirant lo Blanch_, chap. cxxiii, col. 4.
This proposal is surprising. Why should such a suggestion be made in a
Christian court? We find the answer in the following passage taken from
the _Chronica_:
[49] E en aquella illa del Tenedo en aquell temps hauia una ydola,
e venien hi un mes del any tots los honrrats homens de Romania, e
les honrrades dones a romeria. E axi fo, que en aquell temps Arena,
muller del duch de Tenes, hi vench en romeria ab C cauallers qui
lacompanyaren, e Paris, fill del rey Priam de Troya, axi mateix era
vengut a romeria, e hauia ab si entro cinquanta cauallers. E vae la
dona Arena, e altas tant della, que dix a sos homens, que mester era,
que lagues e la sen menas. E axi com so mes en cor, axi fo: que garnis
ab tota sa companya, e pres la dona, e volch sen menar. E aquells
cauallers qui eren ab ella volgren la li defendre, e finalment tots
cent muriren, e Paris menassan la dona.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account