Hartmann von Aue 
German Romance V: Erec 

New edition, with facing English translation, of one of the most important Arthurian works from the middle ages.


Erec is the earliest extant German Arthurian romance, freely adapted and translated into Middle High German by the Swabian knight, Hartmann von Aue, from the first Old French Arthurian romance, Chrétien de Troyes’
Erec et Enide. Hartmann’s work dates from c. 1180, but the only (almost) complete manuscript dates from the early sixteenth century, copied into the huge two-volume
Ambraser Heldenbuch, now housed in Vienna – the most comprehensive extant compilation of medieval German romances and epics, commissioned by Emperor Maximilian I. Otherwise, only a few earlier medieval fragments survive.


Erec tells the story of a young knight at King Arthur’s court, whose early prowess wins him high repute, and a beautiful wife, Enite. He falls into disrepute because of his excessively zealous devotion of his time to her. Alerted to his notoriety, he embarks on a series of symbolic adventures, which eventually lead to his achieving a new balance between the claims of love and those of society. Far more than a simple translation, Hartmann’s first attempt at an Arthurian romance is notable for its zest and gusto.

This is the first edition with a parallel text translation into English; it is presented with explanatory notes and variant readings.


Cyril Edwards is a Senior Research Fellow of Oxford University’s Faculty of Medieval and Modern Languages, and an Honorary Research Fellow of University College London.

Зміст

Introduction

The stranger knight and his dwarf

Coralus and Enite

The combat for the sparrow-hawk

King Arthur’s justice after the killing of the white stag and Iders’ arrival in Cardigan

Erec’s last night in his father-in-law’s house

Enite’s reception at King Arthur’s court

Erec and Enite marry

The tournament between Tarebron and Prurin

Erec’s return home; his sloth

Erec’s fight with robbers; his harshness to Enite

Lady Enite’s ruse

Guivreiz li Pitiz

Erec’s encounter with Kay

Erec’s encounter with Gawein; Morgan le Fay

Erec fights with two giants

Erec’s collapse and Enite’s despair

Count Oringles in Limors; Erec and Enite reconciled

Erec encounters Guivreiz; his sojourn in Penefrec

Enite’s palfrey

Castle Brandigan

Joie de la curt and the Red Knight

Mabonagrin’s tale

The eighty widows; return to Arthur’s court

Erec’s homecoming

Select Bibliography