What Chretien sows-the seeds
He scatters- are the start of a story,
And he plants his words in such
Fine soil that he's bound to do well,
Because he's telling his tale
For the noblest man in the Holy
Roman Empire, Philip
Of Flanders-
This is not from an introductory section or prefatory material. These are lines directly extracted from poem itself. In fact, these are the lines numbered 7-13 and there is nothing specifically unusual about them. Chretien is the poet and the poet is referring to himself in the third person. He is also dedicated his verse tale to a man he identifies with perhaps more than just a passing bit of satirical content as the noblest in all the Holy Roman Empire: his person patron Philip of Flanders.
"I've never met a knight,"
Said the boy, "and I've never seen one,
Or spoken with one, or heard one—
But you're more beautiful than God.
I wish I could be like you—
Shining, just like you!"
Perceval begins as just a boy—a lad of early teens—who is unaware of the reality of knights even though his father was one. His mother wishes to keep the subject closed in order to protect the boy and keep him from following his father into certain death. All it takes is one sighting of the glory of the Arthurian knights, however, and he is sold. Infatuated and compelled, his desire to become a knight is instant and comprehensive and omnipresent in everything which follows. Of course, he is a more than a bit of a clod, not to mention on the oafish side and certain unworldly. This creates some havoc and obstructions on his way toward living the dream.
The grail that led the procession
Was made of the purest gold,
Studded with jewels of every
Kind, the richest and most costly
Found on land or sea.
No one could doubt that here
Were the loveliest jewels on earth.
Why is this story of Perceval so significant and important in the canonical structure of the Arthurian legends? Because here is the introduction of the single most recognizable aspect of that legend to many modern-day readers. (Some might suggest this honor belongs to the Round Table or Excalibur, of course.) What is most fascinating from a literary perspective is that the author is not really know for writing about the mythic aspects of grand tales. He is a just-the-facts sort of writer who delivers the goods for those looking for a strong narrative, but has been found severely lacking in the glory and poetry of those same stories.
