Dukus Horant (1382/83)
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Heroic Epic
Dukus Horant (1382/83)
Ganz, P.F. et al.: Dukus Horant. (=ATB suppl. 2) Tübingen 1964.
DukH-41:
The virtuous king Etene reigns over a widely extended kingdom: the German countries, Lanparten, Pulen, Zizilion, Tuskan, Denemarkten and Spangen. The king of Ungarn is his vassal.
Motif References:
P 12 Character of kings
DukH-41:
Three giants who live in the forest serve this king. One is named Witolt and bears a steel bar as weapon that is twelve fathoms long. He has helped Etene to become king over the German countries. His brother is called Asprian, the third one is Wate von den Krichen.
Motif References:
P 251.5 Two brothers
F 531.4.5.2 Giant with iron bar as weapon
F 531.5.10 Giant as servant to man
F 531.6.2.7 Giants in wild forests
F 531.6.8 Mutual relations of giants
DukH-42:
The 16-year-old Etene is already a good fighter and has a friend who is called Horant, a duke of Denemarkten. Horant is the best singer of all nobles who have ever lived. He and Etene spend much time together: they play and go hunting. One day Horant advises the young king to think about taking a proper wife. Etene is a little bit embarrassed but answers that Horant should send for his men and invite them to a feast at Whitsuntide. Then they should take counsel together about his marriage.
Motif References:
P 18 Marriage of kings
P 310 Friendship
F 688 Man with marvelous voice
DukH-43:
Messengers are sent to German countries to call the king’s vassals. Twelve kings and the three giants are welcomed by Etene, who bestows many precious presents upon them. The feast commences.
Motif References:
P 634 Feasts
DukH-44:
On the twelfth day of the feast, Etene gathers the vassals to hold council and to decide whom he should marry for he wants to marry a girl who is approved by all counselors. At first all men keep silence, but after a while an old duke suggests the princess of France. Etene reproaches the duke for not knowing that the princess’s father is his vassal and for giving a bad counsel.
Motif References:
P 14.15.1 (Old, wise) Counselors of court [King’s council]
T 131 Marriage restrictions
DukH-44:
An old pilgrim steps into the ring of counselors. He is a man of noble birth who regrets the sins he committed in his youth and has therefore traveled for 30 years through many countries and has crossed the wild sea twelve times. He tells Etene about Hilde, the beautiful princess of Greece, and says that she is more beautiful than Isolde of Irlant and Ilion, the queen of Troien, have been. Through songs he has learnt that many men lost their life for the Greek woman.
Motif References:
V 85 Religious pilgrimages
J 151 Wisdom from old person
Q 526 Pilgrimage as penance
V 530 Pilgrimages
DukH-45:
The pilgrim also reports that Hilde’s father is the fierce Hagen, who is lord of twelve mighty kings and guards his daughter carefully from all suitors. Etene rewards the pilgrim with precious presents and says that he wants to marry this girl or die.
Motif References:
T 11.1.1 Beauty of woman reported to king causes quest for her as his bride
Q 43 Reward for giving counsel
T 50.1.2 Girl carefully guarded by father
Q 114.0.1 Gifts made to advisor [umpire]
M 146 Vow to marry a certain woman [man]
DukH-46:
Etene begs Horant to be his wooing emissary because he could win the princess with beautiful songs and promises to give him precious gifts and make him independent king of all Danish countries. Horant rejects his wish because this task could cost his life. But Etene falls down on his knees and implores his friend to be his messenger; otherwise he would not rise from his knees. Now Horant gives in, but demands to be accompanied by 200 knights and nobles, by his brother Morunk, Wate, Witolt and Asprian.
Motif References:
T 51 Wooing by emissary
Q 112.0.1 Kingdom as reward
Q 114 Gifts as reward
P 251.5 Two brothers
H 1381.3.1.1 Quest for bride for king (prince)
H 1558 Tests of friendship
DukH-48:
Horant wants the king to build a ship for him: it should be covered with samit, sails, ropes and cables made of white silk, oars and anchor of silver, the mast overlaid with gold. The king is also persuaded to build a barge overlaid with pfelil. Horant demands 30,000 marks, horses with gold-brocaded riding equipment, weapons and armor. Joyfully, Etene embraces and kisses Horant and grants him all his wishes. He sends for the three giants and asks them to go with Horant. All three assure him of their help.
Motif References:
F 531.5 Giants and men
F 841.3 Extraordinary ship – miscellaneous
DukH-50:
Etene prepares everything for Horant’s journey: ship, knights’ equipment, horses and food. Horant and his men, accompanied by Etene and the court’s nobles, come to the ship and take their leave.
Motif References:
DukH-52:
During the journey, Horant starts to sing a prayer that God may protect them as he rescued the Jews at the sea. Horant sings so pleasantly that mermaids come to the ship as near as possible and the fish rise from the sea-bottom to the surface. God provides good weather for them so that they reach their destination within 28 days. The ship lands and Horant tells the giants that he will go to the city to search for accommodation. He dresses himself with beautiful clothes and rides into the town.
Motif References:
V 50 Prayer
V 59 Prayers answered – miscellaneous
B 81 Mermaid
V 201 God
N 817.0.1 God as helper
F 989 Extraordinary occurrences concerning animals – miscellaneous
D 1781 Magic results from singing
DukH-53:
Horant rides toward a noble citizen. The man addresses Horant and offers his service as he recognizes that the stranger must be a wealthy lord. Horant inquires about lodging for him and his 200 knights. Horant pretends to be an impoverished noble expelled from the German countries. The merchant offers his house as accommodation and is willing to lend 2000 gold marks to Horant, who wants to stay only with a host who can lend him 30,000 or more. The merchant directs him to a richer merchant’s house.
Motif References:
N 835 Wealthy (powerful) man as helper
N 851 Merchant as helper
K 1839 Other deceptions by disguise
DukH-55:
Horant meets the rich merchant at his house and is welcomed. He asks whether he could accommodate them and lend him 30,000 gold marks. The merchant invites Horant and his men to be his guests as long as they want and offers 100,000 gold marks to him. Horant wants to see the lodging before he gives his assent, which makes the merchant angry because Horant seems to doubt his wealth and hospitality. As the merchant catches sight of the giants he gets scared.
Motif References:
W 12 Hospitality as a virtue
P 431 Merchant
DukH-57:
The merchant leads the way to his house where they are welcomed by the host’s wife and her maids. The woman recognizes by Horant’s rich clothes that the king who expelled them must be very rich and powerful. She leads the guests into the court-yard where a big linden-tree grows and little birds sing pleasantly. Underneath the tree seats are put up that are adorned with crystals and gold.
Motif References:
F 786 Extraordinary chair
DukH-58:
The host’s wife leads Horant into a hall with golden and azure paint and marble walls. The hall has 300 crystalline windows, which are completely transparent. The floor is made of green marble and is inlaid with pictures of fish that look as if they were alive. Marble columns buttress the vaults.
Motif References:
F 781 Extraordinary rooms
F 782 Extraordinary doors and windows
DukH-59:
Inside the house is a very beautiful fountain; its water is partly led through golden columns, partly through golden tubes and directed to the kitchen, then into the merchant’s chamber and into a garden where the water runs through four marble columns. The merchant welcomes Horant and his men in his house.
Motif References:
F 716 Extraordinary fountain
DukH-60:
Horant says that he wants to give gifts to poor people. These tidings are spread throughout the town. Horant orders to shoe their horses with golden horseshoes and to fix them with only one nail so that they will loosen and fall off soon. The poor and the itinerant folk can pick them up from the street as Horant and his men ride through the town, the three giants in the lead.
Motif References:
W 11 Generosity
F 862.1 Golden horseshoe
DukH-61:
Horant stays at his lodging for 28 days until Whitsun. Hagen invites his vassals to a feast in order to demonstrate his wealth and to show his daughter’s extraordinary beauty to his them. Among the guests are also twelve kings. Where the young queen is supposed to pass through on her way to church, streets are decorated with pfelil, crowded by people and filled with music from many musicians. The queen is dressed in a robe made of green samit and embellished by gold and jewels and wears a golden crown.
Motif References:
F 575.1 Remarkably beautiful woman
P 634 Feasts
DukH-62:
Horant and his men dress themselves to see the young queen. Wate puts on a golden cuirass and a golden helmet with a golden lime-tree as helmet crest. Witolt and Asprian arm themselves and promise Horant to protect him and to kill many Greeks, but Horant laughs and admonishes them to behave courtly and refrain from fighting. As Horant and his men ride through the streets they are admired by the people. After a while they meet a young duke with his retinue.
Motif References:
P 91 (Li) Heraldic figures and symbols – coat-of-arms
W 212 Eagerness for combat
F 824 Extraordinary [part of] armor
DukH-63:
As Witolt sees how the duke pushes Horant aside, he gets enraged and hits him with his bar so that the duke is hurled over the heads of 10,000 men before he hits the ground. Horant holds Witolt back from more fighting and the duke’s men are retained by an old count who regards the giants as creatures of the devil.
Motif References:
F 531.3 Gargantuan feats
F 624.8 Strong man throws opponent into the air [against pillar]
DukH-64:
The queen passes by on her way to church. 300 maidens are walking in front of her and at her side two beautifully dressed kings. Both bear a golden staff with a beautiful artificial peacock fixed on its end that spreads its feathers and thus casts shadow for the queen. Behind Hilde walks her father Hagen, followed by ten kings. Hagen notices the giants among the crowd, Hilde sees and greets Horant with a nod, wondering who this wealthy noble man could be.
Motif References:
F 899 Other extraordinary objects
DukH-65:
After the mass the young queen greets him again. Horant asks the giants what they think about the her and they answer that they are willing to fight to win her. Horant replies that he will win her with his singing. Beneath a lime-tree Horant starts to sing. He sings so pleasantly that the birds come to sit next to him and the wild boars stop their rooting. The young queen listens to his songs from the pinnacles.
Motif References:
T 56.1 Bride attracted by music
F 989.26 (Bm) Wild beasts listen tamely to (harper’s) beautiful music
F 989 Extraordinary occurrences concerning animals – miscellaneous
D 1781 Magic results from singing
DukH-67:
After Horant has finished his song, Hilde asks a duke’s daughter to go to the singer, thank him in her name and invite him promising reward: 10,000 gold marks and a maiden who spends the night with him. The servant brings the message to Horant.
Motif References:
Q 80 Rewards for other causes
Q 111 Riches as reward
Q 190 Rewards – miscellaneous
DukH-68:
He tells her that he would not come to the queen because of the gold nor because of the promised bedmate for he has a beloved wife. The maid tells Hilde how Horant has proudly rejected her offers and that he wants her to come down into the garden. Because she does not want to miss his singing, she goes down to the lime-tree. Horant greets Hilde by embracing her; he offers her a seat next to the tree, kneels down and starts to sing. Birds, wild boars and other animals of the forest gather around the singer.
Motif References:
W 200 Traits of character – miscellaneous
DukH-70:
After he has finished Horant refuses any reward. Finally she offers him a golden ring, decorated with a wonder-working gem. Horant reveals to be Etene’s messenger and tells her that his lord sings even better than he himself does and that she could become queen of all the German countries and over twelve kings.
Motif References:
Q 95 Reward for musician
L 225 Hero refuses reward
F 688 Man with marvelous voice
D 817 Magic object received from grateful person
D 1071 Magic jewel (jewels)
DukH-71:
Hilde declares that she rather wants to become Horant’s wife. Horant explains that he is of low rank and already married, but if she married Etene he would be her vassal and serve her with his singing. Hilde consents to marry Horant’s lord because she does not want to miss his singing and promises to go with Horant. She takes her leave, goes to her chamber and later joins the feast. Horant and his men dress themselves for the feast.
Motif References:
T 51.1 Wooing emissary wins lady’s love for himself
T 55.1 Princess declares her love for lowly hero
M 146 Vow to marry a certain woman [man]
M 220 Other bargains
R 225 Elopement
DukH-74:
Horant again orders to shoe their horses with golden horseshoes that should be fixed with only one nail so that they soon would loosen and fall off. The poor and wandering folk can pick them up from the street. Horant and his men leave their lodging. Led by the three giants, they ride through the streets.
Motif References:
W 11 Generosity
F 862.1 Golden horseshoe
DukH-74:
Witolt takes his bar with both hands and throws it twelve fathoms wide. With a mighty leap he jumps after it. Then he tosses the bar up into the air, catches it with only one hand and brandishes it over his head. Asprian rubs two stones against each other causing sparks to fly. Men and women flee the giants. Finally they arrive at the feast and are welcomed.
Motif References:
F 531.3 Gargantuan feats
F 636 Remarkable thrower
DukH-75:
For the entertainment of the guests a lion is released to move freely among the people. As the lion takes a piece of bread from the giants’ table, Witolt gets into a rage and strikes the animal’s head with his fist. The lion is dead and the people flee the giants. The lion’s guard is informed and reproaches the giant who threatens to treat him like the lion. The guard is frightened, flees to Hagen and tells him what has happened. Hagen calms him. The guests indulge in their pastimes: music, running and jumping.
Motif References:
F 628.1.1 Strong man kills lion with own hands
DukH-77:
Horant arms himself: he puts on bright armor and a golden helmet decorated with sapphires and jechants. The helmet crest has the form of a golden eagle. Horant takes part in the games. (lacuna in manuscript 78,1-excl.80,1)
Motif References:
P 91 (Li) Heraldic figures and symbols – coat-of-arms
F 824 Extraordinary [part of] armor
DukH-80:
Horant gives his horse to a poor musician in order to please the young queen. The musician rejoices, mounts his new horse, rides to Hagen and Hilde to praise the generous knight. Hagen asks him to fetch the knight because he wants to thank him. The musician reports the king’s invitation to Horant, who dresses himself with an ermine coat and gathers his men around him. Thus he appears before Hagen, who greets him by his name and thanks him for his generosity.
Motif References:
W 11 Generosity
Q 42 Generosity rewarded
DukH-81:
Hagen grants any boon that Horant may ask for. Horant pretends to be exiled from German countries and wants to become Hagen’s vassal. Hagen embraces him and invites him to stay in his country. Horant tells him by whom he was exiled and describes Etene as a powerful and brave sovereign. He gives thanks to Hagen and takes his leave. He stays at his lodging until Pentecost.
Motif References:
K 1839 Other deceptions by disguise
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