Page:Tirant lo Blanch; a study of its authorship, principal sources and historical setting (IA cu31924026512263).pdf/127

 But Tirant lo Blanch is supposed to represent Roger de Flor. Does the youthful career of Tirant resemble that of the Catalan hero? Let us consult Muntaner's Chronica. There we find that Roger de Flor, when eight years old, began his training for a sea-life and at the age of twenty was pronounced a perfect mariner and placed in command of a ship of the Templars. His early laurels were won as a seaman. No mention is made of his prowess in the exercise of arms.

From the above comparisons it is evident that Martorell did not have Roger de Flor in mind when he described the knightly combats of Tirant. But we do find a strong similarity between the youthful Tirant and young Guy of Warwick as he is pictured to us in the English romance. We know that Martorell had great respect for Guy of Warwick, for he calls him "lo egregi e strenu caualler, pare de caualleria." Perhaps the youthful career of Guy or other incidents in the English romance have made such impression on the author as to have left other visible marks on his book of chivalry? Perhaps Guy of Warwick has yielded more than is generally believed? Let us follow the hint and see what result the investigation will produce.

Guy of Warwick in his youth served Earl Rohold as cup-bearer, and fell in love with Felice, the daughter of his lord. Such woe came over him that he wept. His suffering became greater and greater. Finally he concluded to tell her of his love, for he could not eat nor drink nor rest, and his woe was driving him to despair. He went to her, and throwing himself at her feet, he made confession of his love. She rebuffed him and warned him not to come to her again. He returned to his room, where he tore his hair and rent his clothes until he swooned. The earl sent doctors, and Guy pretended to be suffering from chills and fever. Love again drove him to her feet. A maid remarked that if