Erec and Enide

“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.

“[Enide] was exquisitely refined,

for Nature, when she had designed

the maiden, had used all her skill.

How she made one so beautiful

but once and no more, Nature wondered

at many times, more than five hundred,

for Nature could not so endeavor

subsequently that she could ever

in any fashion reproduce

her pattern for another use.”

When Enide is first introduced in the story, Chrétien devotes more than a whole page to describing her physical beauty. In the passage, Chrétien personifies Nature as a being who has created Enide and her beauty. Enide is so beautiful that even Nature is in awe at her beauty and is confused how she herself was able to make so beautiful a being. This emphasis on Enide’s beauty—often repeated throughout the poem—transforms Enide into an almost otherworldly figure, thus elevating her in status above most of the women in the story.

“At this time he was God-protected,

for if the sword had not deflected

from where the knight had taken aim,

it would have sliced through Erec’s frame.” 

During Erec’s duel with Yder, both knights are skillful at jousting, and Yder almost lands a harsh, possibly lethal blow on Erec. However, Chrétien writes that the sword’s last-minute deflection was only due to the fact that God was protecting Erec from harm. By portraying Erec as being favored by God, Chrétien transforms him from a powerful knight to a mythical hero.

“They were alike in how they feel

and were exceedingly well suited;

the other’s heart each one has looted.

Two images of grace and carriage;

none such were joined by law and marriage.”

While Erec and Enide travel back to King Arthur’s castle, Erec becomes overcome with passion while admiring Enide’s beauty and kisses her. As Erec kisses Enide, Chrétien describes the love blossoming between them, commenting that “none such” lovers have ever been so suited for each other. In doing so, Chrétien transforms Erec and Enide into the ideal of romantic love, creating an image of true love in which two individuals are perfectly matched.

“I bring my maiden and my love

before you, lady, and her dress

is poor and marred by shabbiness.

As she was given me, I brought her.”

When Erec takes Enide to the court, he presents her as he first saw her: dressed in an old and decaying dress that evinces Enide’s humble background. Though Enide’s relatives wanted to give her finer clothing to wear, Erec refused to let Enide come to the court in anything but the dress she was already wearing. Erec’s insistence seems to suggest that Enide’s beauty and good manners, in spite of her poverty, are proof of her nobility and suitability as a choice for a wife.

“As I am a king, I must not lie;

with baseness I cannot comply,

or falsity, or haughtiness.

I must back reason, righteousness.

A loyal king is thus compelled

to guarantee the law upheld,

and faith and justice and the truth.”

As King Arthur announces his intention to award the hunt of the white stag’s kiss to Enide, he tells the court that he is bound to a moral code of righteous behavior. The code serves to outline in general how kings should act, arguing that kings must follow the social good and the law rather than act to fulfill their own selfish desires. Such an emphasis on morality contrasts King Arthur from numerous other counts and noblemen whom Erec encounters throughout his journey, who are depicted as more than willing to lie or cheat in order to get what they want.

“Their eyes began exchanging glances;

the joy of love the eye enhances

and sends the message to the heart,

pleased by the sight in every part.” 

Chrétien makes a point to underscore how Erec and Enide have waited until marriage to consummate their love, depicting the couple as abiding by Christian morality. As he describes their wedding night, he emphasizes that the couple began by merely looking at and admiring each other, allowing their love for each other to grow. As such, the passage focuses on the emotional side of their affections rather than the physical, turning them into emblems of romantic love.

“But Erec wanted no delay

from taking knights and steeds in fray,

because by jousting well he meant

to make his prowess evident;

his presence caused the ranks to quake.” 

Following the wedding, the many knights who had come as guests decide to organize a tournament to entertain themselves. Erec feels it is important to be the champion, as winning will demonstrate his power and capabilities to the other knights and the rest of King Arthur’s court. Chrétien later depicts Erec as defeating so many knights that he possesses almost superhuman strength, transforming him in the story from simply a skilled knight to one of the most powerful knights to have lived.

“[N]o one saw any bent

in [Enide] toward any silliness,

or coarseness, or maliciousness.

She was well bred and had acquired

all those good qualities required

of any lady, which combined

with her largess and thoughtful mind.” 

While most descriptions of Enide up to this point have emphasized her unmatched physical beauty, this description emphasizes the fineness of Enide’s character. Enide is celebrated for her kindness and gentle-heartedness, suggesting that one’s personal behavior is as important as one’s physical characteristics. Though Chrétien is specifically referring to Enide, he uses her to outline a model for femininity more generally, emphasizing that it is as important for women as for men to follow a moral code of honor and nobility.

“He loved [Enide] so much for her charms,

he lost all interest in his arms.

Jousts ceased to be part of his life.

He wished to tarry with his wife,

to ladylove and mistress turned.”

As Erec devotes more and more of his time to Enide, he falls completely in love with her, spending his days in bed by her side rather than jousting. As a result, Erec’s court begins gossiping about him, claiming that Erec has failed to live up to his chivalric duties. For Erec to succumb too much to his desire for romantic love suggests a failure to live up to his duties as a knight.

“I ought to sink into the ground

and disappear, now I have found

the finest knight of all, avowed

the boldest fighter and most proud,

more than a count or monarch royal,

and the most courteous and loyal,

has no relinquished chivalry

completely on account of me.

I have disgraced him, well and true,

which I would not have wished to do.”

Enide hears of the court’s gossip about Erec and feels so distraught about it that she stays up one night lamenting to herself about Erec’s failure as a knight. For Enide, the failure of a knight to act according to his moral and chivalric duties is deeply humiliating, and she feels great shame over it. However, rather than be angry with Erec, she takes full responsibility for his changed behavior, blaming herself and lamenting that she has caused him to behave in a dishonorable way

“That two knights should not fall combined

in combat on one adversary

was, in that era, customary.

If they had overwhelmed him thus,

they would be counted treacherous.” 

As Erec and Enide are traveling, they are spotted by three knights who wish to rob them of their horses. Though the knights outnumber Erec and could easily defeat him if they attacked all at once, it would be considered dishonorable to do so, and only one knight attacks Erec at a time. The passage suggests that even knights who are already behaving immorally feel bound to follow a chivalric code and refuse to act in such a way that would lead them to be considered “treacherous” by society.

“You have been overbold, indeed,

to disobey and fail to heed

the prohibition I had given.

Now this time you will be forgiven;

but if my patience is abused

once more, you’ll never be excused.” 

Though Erec has commanded Enide not to speak unless he has first spoken to her, she disobeys Erec to warn him of the robbers planning to attack. While Enide only acts to save Erec’s life, Erec harshly criticizes her, telling her that if she disobeys him again he will never forgive her for it. The passage gestures to the strictness of gender roles in medieval chivalry, with the woman expected to follow her husband’s orders without question.

“Sir, better I were yet unborn

or burned upon a fire of thorn

and then to have my ashes strewed

than to have failed in rectitude

in any manner toward my lord

or have considered so abhorred

an evil, crime, or treachery.” 

When Count Galoain first proposes to Enide that she become his mistress, Enide harshly rebuffs him, telling him that it would be among the worst crimes one could commit to leave her husband. Though Erec has been behaving coldly to Enide, causing Enide to doubt his love for her, she still refuses to give into the advances. In Enide’s view, marital fidelity and loyalty to one’s spouse are among the most important values she could strive to uphold, regardless of how Erec treats her.

“What Erec heard had clearly shown

his wife was true to him foremost.” 

The morning after Count Galoain’s proposal, Enide warns Erec of his evil and his plot to kill Erec and take Enide as a wife. Though Enide’s previous acts of disrespect caused him to feel anger toward her, Enide’s warning—and thus saving of his life—helps prove to Erec that Enide truly loves him, regardless of her disobedience. The passage celebrates Enide’s faithfulness to Erec and precursors the couple’s reconciliation.

“Then, spurring forward, came the count;

according to the tale’s account

a good and strong knight as a rule,

who wore no armor, like a fool,

because he had such confidence

in shield, lance, and his competence;

he had no other arms but these.” 

When Count Galoain pursues Erec into battle, he goes without any armor due to his overconfidence in his abilities as a knight. Such a decision is ultimately the count’s downfall and, combined with his underestimation of Erec’s skills, leads to Erec greatly injuring the count. The episode could be seen as an example of the proverb Chrétien described in Erec and Enide’s Prologue, as the count is defeated by Erec.

“They kissed and hugged, now well agreed,

and never did so fierce a fray

conclude in such a gentle way.

As love and decency demands,

each one of the knights cut long wide bands

from off the ends of his chemise

and bound the other’s injuries.” 

Though Erec and Guivret are initially engaged in a bitter duel with each other, Erec ultimately chooses to spare Guivret’s life. The two quickly become friends, with Guivret agreeing to save Erec if he is ever in danger, and the two tend to each other’s wounds in a show of their amicability. The passage underscores both Erec and Guivret’s nobility as knights, as they are able to quickly let go of any personal grievances and forgive each other.

“You are so cruel; it’s my belief

the way you lead him you are dealing

with him like someone caught at stealing.

It is despicable to strip

and bind up hand and foot and whip

a knight without the least remorse.” 

During Erec’s journeys, he comes across a pair of giants torturing a naked knight. For Erec, the behavior of the giants is particularly despicable as such harsh violence should only be used against someone guilty of a crime, such as stealing. By depicting the violence as being enacted by giants, Chrétien suggests that certain behaviors are so horrific that they are almost monstrous, or inhuman.

“Oh, God! Dear sweet lord, why prolong

my life and let me live so long?

Death, come and kill me, come with speed!”

This passage is spoken by Enide, who believes that Erec has just died following his duel with the two giants. The passage demonstrates Enide’s loyalty to Erec, as she cannot imagine living when Erec has died, and she begs God to kill her. Enide’s devotion is later emphasized, as she blames her own “folly” for causing Erec’s death since her initial lamentation over the gossip surrounding Erec is what spurred Erec on his journey.

“From scabbard she began to ease

the sword blade and to look at it.

God made Enide delay a bit

because He is so merciful.”

Though Enide is about to commit suicide, she hesitates, leading to her discovery by Count Oringle, which prevents her from following through on her desire to kill herself. Chrétien presents this hesitation as ordained by God, suggesting that God desired Enide to continue to live and reunite with Erec. In presenting Enide and Erec’s relationship as being favored by God, Chrétien elevates it, turning Erec and Enide into emblems of matrimony.

“[Erec] comforted, consoled, and kissed her,

and hugged and told her: ‘My sweet sister,

I’ve tested you in every way.

You must no longer feel dismay,

because by now I love you more

than I have ever done before.

I’m reassured of your affection,

convinced you love me to perfection.”

Erec awakes in the court of Count Oringle and witnesses Enide screaming and resisting the count’s advances, prompting Erec to kill the count and save Enide. For Erec, Enide’s refusal of the count is a sign of Enide’s love for him, prompting him to fully reconcile with her. Enide’s love is depicted as one of utmost “perfection” as she remains deeply loyal to Erec even in his death.

“I’d vowed I’d never leave this place

until a knight came to this place

by whom, in combat, I was trounced.

Since that was what my maid announced,

I did not leave this orchard’s bourn

quite properly, as I had sworn.

I never should have vowed I would.” 

This quote is spoken by the knight Mabonagrain, whom Erec encounters when he attempts the challenge known as the “Joy of the Court.” Mabonagrain made a vow to a maiden to stay in an orchard and fight any knight who challenged him, only leaving if he is defeated. Though Mabonagrain regrets this vow, he refuses to break it. Though much of Erec and Enide has focused on Enide’s (and, by extension, women’s) fidelity to their husbands, this passage suggests that male knights are similarly bound to their wives by a code of loyalty.