Literature / Erec and Enide

Erec and Enide (French: Érec et Énide) is the first of Chrétien de Troyes's five Chivalric Romances and part of the Arthurian Legends. It was written in Old French circa 1170.

Around 1185, Hartmann von Aue adapted it into German under the title Erec. Despite what the title might suggest, Hartmann actually made a couple changes to strengthen Enide's character in his version.

As a Public Domain Story, Erec and Enide can be found on Project Gutenberg here and LibriVox here.

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Erec and Enide provides examples of:

• The Ace: Erec is a renowned knight.
  Of all the knights that ever were there, never one received such praise; and he was so fair that nowhere in the world need one seek a fairer knight than he. He was very fair, brave, and courteous, though not yet twenty-five years old. Never was there a man of his age of greater knighthood.
• Birds of a Feather: Erec decides to marry Enide because she's beautiful. Enide decides to marry Erec because he's a prince. It's very convenient that they end up being very alike by shear coincidence.
  A perfect match they were in courtesy, beauty, and gentleness. And they were so alike in quality, manner, and customs, that no one wishing to tell the truth could choose the better of them, nor the fairer, nor the more discreet. Their sentiments, too, were much alike; so that they were well suited to each other.
• Boring Return Journey: After tracking down Yder, Erec brings him back to court. Downplayed Trope in that the trip there didn't take long either — it appears to only be a couple hours away — but it's also Lampshaded:
  Yder, compelled to execute his promise, did not wish to tarry longer, but mounted his steed at once. But why should I make a long story? Taking his dwarf and his damsel, they traversed the woods and the plain, going on straight until they came to Cardigan.
• Costume Porn
  • Erec sets out on The Grand Hunt wearing:
    Mounted on his horse, and clad in an ermine mantle, he came galloping down the road, wearing a coat of splendid flowered silk which was made at Constantinople. He had put on hose of brocade, well made and cut, and when his golden spurs were well attached, he sat securely in his stirrups.
  • When she gets to court, Erec asks Guinevre to get her something nice to wear.
    The Queen then hastily took her off to her own private room, and gave orders to bring quickly the fresh tunic and the greenish-purple mantle, embroidered with little crosses, which had been made for herself. The one who went at her behest came bringing to her the mantle and the tunic, which was lined with white ermine even to the sleeves. At the wrists and on the neck-band there was in truth more than half a mark's weight of beaten gold, and everywhere set in the gold there were precious stones of divers colours, indigo and green, blue and dark brown. This tunic was very rich, but not a writ less precious, I trow, was the mantle. As yet, there were no ribbons on it; for the mantle like the tunic was brand new. The mantle was very rich and fine: laid about the neck were two sable skins, and in the tassels there was more than an ounce of gold; on one a hyacinth, and on the other a ruby flashed more bright than burning candle. The fur lining was of white ermine; never was finer seen or found. The cloth was skilfully embroidered with little crosses, all different, indigo, vermilion, dark blue, white, green, blue, and yellow. The Queen called for some ribbons four ells long, made of silken thread and gold. The ribbons are given to her, handsome and well matched.
• Depraved Dwarf: During The Grand Hunt, Guinevere, accompanied by Erec and a Lady-In-Waiting, see at a distance some knight and damsel who they want to go speak to. Then this random dwarf shows up. The dwarf "was rude and mean", "an ugly fellow and violent." He says they cannot go see that knight and damsel. Guinevere doesn't mean to accept this, an she first she sends in her lady-in-waiting, but when she tries to pass by force, the dwarf strikes her with a whip. Next Guinevere sends in Erec, and the dwarf whips him too.
• Good Parents: Enide appears to be an only child. She's the light of her parents life and they absolutely adore her.
• Graceful Loser: When Erec defeats Yder
  Yder: This morning I had not thought that any single man by force of arms could conquer me. Now I have found by experience a man who is better than I. You are a very valiant knight, and I pledge you my faith here and now that I will go without delay and put myself in the Queen's hands.
• The Grand Hunt: Arthur holds a hunt for the White Stag. It's referred to as an "ancient custom" even as the time. It's linked with the custom that whoever can kill the White Stag gets a kiss from the fairest maiden at court.
• One-Steve Limit: In a list of knights, there are 4 Yvains: Yvain the son of Uriien; Yvain of Loenel; Yvain the Adulterer; Yvain of Cavaliot. They're all throwaway names on a list, not characters we need to remember, so it's fine.
• Political Hostage: Arthur offers to drop any issue with Yder if he joins his court. Its hard to tell if it's meant to be Political Hostage or Defeat Means Friendship, but the line "on this condition, that he should remain in the future at the court" kind of makes it sound like he's forbidden from leaving even for short visits.
  Arthur: Release this knight from his durance, provided he consent to join henceforth my household and court; and if he does not consent, let him suffer the consequence.
• Shout-Out: There are multiple references to Tristan and Iseult.
  • Enide is prettier than Iseut the Fair
    In truth I say that never did Iseut the Fair have such radiant golden tresses that she could be compared with this maiden.
  • Erec got more of a party for his victory than Tristan.
    Now we must revert to Erec, whom we left in the field where the battle had taken place. Even Tristan, when he slew fierce Morhot on Saint Samson's isle, awakened no such jubilee as they celebrated here over Erec.
• She Cleans Up Nicely: Downplayed Trope. Enide is beautiful no matter what she's wearing, but her family is poor and cannot afford to dress her well. When she gets to court and is gifted some fine clothing, it "made her look more beautiful than ever."
• Silver Fox: Downplayed Trope, but Enide's father is a handsome man despite his years. He's described as "a comely man, with white locks, debonair, pleasing, and frank." As the father of such a beautiful daughter, it makes sense that he's also good looking.
• World's Most Beautiful Woman: The custom is that whoever kills the White Stag gets a kiss from the fairest maiden. Not the fairest in the world, just fairest here at court. Even this lower standard still requires having to make a very controversial ruling about who that is.
  Gawain: Sire, you will derive neither thanks nor goodwill from this hunt. We all know long since what this custom of the White Stag is: whoever can kill the White Stag must forsooth kiss the fairest maiden of your court, come what may. But of this there might come great ill, for there are here five hundred damsels of high birth, gentle and prudent daughters of kings, and there is none of them but has a bold and valiant knight for her lover who would be ready to contend, whether right or wrong, that she who is his lady is the fairest and gentlest of them all.

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