Erec and Enide

“[H]e who abandons what he knows

while God grants him intelligence

is foolish in such negligence.”

In the Prologue, Chrétien de Troyes introduces the tale of Erec and Enide by speaking of himself in the third person. Chrétien tells of a popular proverb that those who have been made intelligent by God but fail to use it are sure to be met with trouble. According to Chrétien, Erec and Enide will “illustrate” this proverb—though he does not make clear how so.

“If you please, lady, I shall ride

Along this roadway at your side.

I’ll keep you company and came

To join you with no other aim.” 

During King Arthur’s hunt of the white stag, Erec asks Queen Guinevere if he may accompany her during the hunt. However, Erec is careful to clarify to the Queen that he only wishes to ride with her and does not have any other motive—such as seeking romance from her. The quote illustrates the formal relations between genders during chivalric times, with Erec greatly aware that his request to accompany Guinevere could be misconstrued due to his gender.

“By force of arms each lord would start

to prove the lady of his heart

within the hall had none her peer;

these words were ominous to hear.”

According to custom, the winner of the hunt of the white stag—in this case, King Arthur—must kiss the most beautiful maiden in the court. However, as each of the court’s knights are vying for a different maiden’s affections, they each assert that their own maiden is the most beautiful. The custom thus sends King Arthur’s court into a quandary, as rather than have a competition between the maidens to judge who is the most beautiful, the knights contend that it is the maiden of whoever the strongest knight is who is most beautiful.