CHAPTER XI
THE MORT ARTUR
This, the final section of the Lancelot cycle, offers less opportunity for criticism. The versions of D. L. and 1533, though still closely in accord with each other, differ much less from the summary given by Dr. Sommer, and show less affinity with Malory.[196]
So far as Malory is concerned I differ from Dr. Sommer, who says that 'he cannot have derived his account from the prose Lancelot.'[197] On the contrary I think there is little doubt that Malory had the latter portion of the Lancelot before him, but dislocated it by the introduction of the Charrette and Urre of Hungary[198] episodes, which he most probably knew in an independent form; though of course, as I have suggested above, it is quite possible that some Lancelot MSS. may have included the latter. But considering the clear proof that the English compiler was following an Agravain MS. for the earlier part of his Lancelot adventures, and that he includes the Astolat and Patryse stories, which are a part of the ordinary Mort Artur[199] section, I see no reason to doubt that his Lancelot MS. represented all the latter part of the cycle (as we know he had, and followed, an alternative version of the M. A. proper). I have carefully compared both D. L. and 1533 with the abstract given in the Studies, and give the following as the most important of the variants, but I should like to make it clearly understood, both as regards this and the previous sections, that the instances I quote by no means represent all the points of contact and departure to be noted between the different versions. I have many others in my notes, and a critical edition will certainly very much strengthen the case I have here stated in outline.
As we have before noted, D. L. and 1533 agree against S. in incorporating with the Queste the passage generally given as the opening of M. A. Otherwise all three versions are in practical agreement as regards the events leading up to the tournament at Winchester. D. L. does not mention Hector when Lancelot inquires on which side his kinsmen are fighting, but only Bohort and Lionel. 1533 agrees here with S.
According to D. L. and 1533 Gawain and Gaheriet take no part in the fighting at Arthur's desire: he fears they may fight with Lancelot, and ill-will arise from it. S. does not mention this, so I cannot say if it be in the 1513 edition or not.
S. says, 'The people think the two knights' (Lancelot and his comrade) 'cannot be the sons of the lord of the castle of Escalot.' This does not agree with the other versions: the people think they are the lord's sons at first; then Gawain says, one of them cannot be. D. L.:
'Ende man waende daer wel dat Lanceloet
Ware een vanden broderen van Scaerloet.'—ll. 851-2.