BOOK III

The first two books of this poem are peculiar to Wolfram. Among the different versions of the Perceval legend which we possess there is a curious diversity of statement as to the parentage of the hero; though, as a rule, they agree in the main facts of the death of his father, either before, or shortly after, Perceval's birth, and his being brought up in the desert by his widowed mother.

With the Third Book we find ourselves on ground common to most transcribers of the legend; and in this and the following books a table of the traditional events contained in the book, with the other versions of the story in which they occur, will be given. The following are the Romances of the Grail-cycle which deal more particularly with the Perceval legend.--

_Li Conte del Graal_, poem by Chrêtien de Troyes; left unfinished at Chrêtien's death; it was continued by three other writers; the poem as we have it, is the work of at least four different hands.

_Peredur_: Welsh tale found in the Red Book of Hergest.

_Perceval_: A French prose romance, ascribed by many critics to Robert de Borron.

_Sir Percyvelle of Galles_: English metrical romance--author unknown.

_Perceval li Gallois_: French prose romance, also by an unknown writer.

TRADITIONAL EVENTS

The son of a widowed mother; Chrêtien: Peredur; Sir Percyvelle. Brought up in the desert; Meeting with knights and departure for Arthur's court.

Meeting with Jeschuté. 'The Lady _Ibid._ of the Tent.'

Meeting with Siguné. In this place only in _Perceval_, later meeting in the other versions.

Arrives at Arthur's court and All the versions. demands knighthood.

Meeting with the Red Knight; slays Chrêtien: Peredur, and Sir him; and takes his armour. Percyvelle closely agree as to the meeting. All agree as to the wearing of the red armour. In Perceval, alone, hero does not kill the knight who originally owns it.

Laughter of Kunnewaaré; speech of Chrêtien: maiden and fool; Antanor and their smiting by Kay. Peredur; dwarf and companion.

Arrival at castle of old knight, Chrêtien: Sir Percyvelle. who counsels hero.

(It will be found that, from Books III. to XIII. inclusive, there is a very close parallelism between Wolfram's poem and Chrêtien's share of _Li Conte del Graal_.)

Introduction, lines 1-45. This introduction, like that to