Page:Studies on the legend of the Holy Grail.djvu/155

Rh Amorous or Perillous, which in the two versions is quite dissimilar. This incident stands out pre-eminent in the Didot-Perceval for its wild and fantastic character. It is a genuine Celtic märchen, with much of the weird charm still clinging to it that is the birthright of the Celtic folk-tale. It is inadmissible that Gautier could have substituted for this fine incident the commonplace one which he gives.

If, then, it is out of the question that Gautier borrowed directly from the Didot-Perceval, how are the strong resemblances which exist in part between the two versions to be accounted for? Some of these resemblances have already been quoted (supra, p. 75), the remainder may be usefully brought together here.

First arrival at the Castle of the Chessboard—

The damsel exhorts him not to throw the chessman into the water—

Perceval having slain the stag, sees its head carried off—

On Perceval threatening to take it away from her by force she answers—

In the subsequent fight with the Knight of the Tomb, he, overcome—