Moriz von Craon (>1210/15)
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Maere and Novellas
Moriz von Craon (>1210/15)
Pretzel, U.(ed.): Moriz von Craon (=ATB 45), 4th ed., Tübingen 1973
MovC-1:
Knighthood always was and always should be esteemed. We learn from books where it began and where it moved to later. The land in which the art of chivalry first appeared is called Greece. Knighthood sprang up from Greece when its armies besieged Troy because of a woman. The Greeks constantly strove with like zeal for knightly fame. Bold and stalwart warriors like Hector, Paris, Helenus, Deiphobus, and Troilus often defended the plain before their walls form the invaders and responded to the haughty Greeks. They struggled many years, for truly the attacks and defense of the Greeks never ceased. Dares, who was there and wrote it down and recited at night what had happened during the day, could not tell the whole story of how the Trojans defended their land as long as Hector lived and protected them.
Motif References:
A 1656 Origin of noblemen [knighthood]
MovC-64:
There were so many fearless contests being fought before Troy. That was no place for a coward, they struggled furiously then. Many fainthearted men would have died without a wound because of their ceaseless fear. Knighthood can thrive only where it is loved and it fled from Greece when it tired of the decay there. One must pay dearly when one gains honor through knightly deeds. Honor and disgrace avoid another. What the esteemed Alexander conquered for the Greeks, they gave up against their will. Later the proud Romans began to practice chivalry and realized at once that it afforded a noble enjoyment. Knighthood lived on in Rome after it was driven from Greece. Julius Caesar received it in knightly manner and conquered all the lands.
Motif References:
W 121 Cowardice
N 384 Death from fright
MovC-143:
Rome’s fame lasted until king Nero became ruler of the lands. He was a very wicked man. He had himself treated as a woman and indeed preferred men to women. One day he mused what it would be like for woman to carry and give birth to a child. He sent for his physician who gave him a powder that caused a toad to grow in his stomach. The king then started to bear a very heavy burden, and when the toad grew large in him, he looked like a woman in front. But he feared the pain of labor. He told the physician to abort the child. The Physician did as he was ordered and helped the king to come out of it well.
Motif References:
T 463 Homosexual love (male)
T 578 Pregnant man
MovC-189:
Nero was a tall man with large bones and his mother was small. He wanted to find out where there could ever be a place in her so big that she could give birth to him. He ordered her cut open, looked under her breasts and found countless wonders all the way down the body.
Motif References:
S 118 Murder by cutting
W 137 Curiosity
S 139 Miscellaneous cruel murders
J 2370 Inquisitive fool
MovC-217:
When he was told what had happened at the conquest of Troy, he sent for all his men and complained that the Romans had wronged him His troops began a great battle against the lords of the city and he bade them set fires in many streets. He wanted to see what had occurred at Troy.
Motif References:
S 112.0.1 City burned with all inhabitants
MovC-231:
Knighthood had to leave Rome and came to France in a wretched state and lived there meagerly for a long time until Charlemagne began to conquer the lands with his armies. Because of their bold courage, Oliver and Roland chose knighthood and practiced it in a knightly manner, for which they were highly praised. In France chivalry is well-known and esteemed and many other lands have greatly improved their knightly customs through its guidance. There they serve the ladies for pay in a most refined manner, because they are better rewarded in France than anywhere else.
Motif References:
MovC-263:
Moriz von Craûn serves the countess of Beamunt at all times. He serves her for a long time eagerly and loyally, for tourneying and presenting gifts is his whole life, and he is always hoping to be rewarded. When he came into the borderland of France to take part in tournaments, there was no one who did better. He is handsome, well-mannered, courtly prudent, and worldly-wise.
Motif References:
P 52 Knight jousts with all comers
Q 100 Nature of reward
MovC-314:
Excursus: Without a blow Love forces a man to greater loyalty than an emperor could. So this man too is compelled to believe that he has to do whatever Love commands, whether it brings him comfort or distress. Who is well acquainted with Love knows that she burns the heart in her fire: Whatever harm befalls him, he must treat it as if it were nothing. One can never pay the price of honor by sparing oneself. I advise him who is in love and is wise to flee inconstancy and appeal to faithfulness. I compare him who becomes fond of it to a pair of thieves. When one is hanged, the other does not consider limiting or giving up his stealing because of it.
Motif References:
MovC-417:
Sir Moriz has to wait for his reward until he begins to be uncertain and very unhappy. His lady treats him like an enemy and whenever he implores her, he gets only threats. He serves and strives until it is the ruin of him. He would rater have a gentle death than to be chained like this. In this mood he approaches the lady and immediately becomes lovesick at her sight He tells her about his unhappiness and finally she promises to reward him if he arranges a tournament in her honor. As sign of their love agreement she gives him a golden ring.
Motif References:
T 24.1 Love-sickness
T 61.4.5 Betrothal by gold ring
T 75.1 Scorn of unloved suitor punished
T 81.2.1.1 Scorned lover (woman) threatens to kill self
H 317 Long term of service imposed on suitor
H 1561.1 Tests of valor: tournament
MovC-627:
Using strange materials, he has a ship made that is to move over the fields without hindrance as if on the sea. Its keel is a wagon that holds light beams, shaped in the form of a ship. A framework is built around it so that one can drive it alone on wheels. The master sends to Flanders for a fine red fabric which makes up all the outer walls. He orders that the bow, the stern and the high mast that is soon raised are solidly plated with gold. He attaches a large rudder. He wants to have still more gear for his vessel, so brass anchors and a railing of silk are added. When the ship is ready, it is decked out all over with the lord’s coat of arms. He orders a wagon-load of spears to be carried on board and three hundred white ones have been kept separate form the other. He brings into the ship the horses that are to pull it when they want to set out. Harnesses are arranged between the cloth walls and the horses are hitched up. His shield hangs in the middle of the mast so that he is recognized.
Motif References:
F 841.2 Extraordinary equipment of ship
F 841 Extraordinary boat (ship)
D 1533.1.1 Magic land and water ship
MovC-773:
In his knightly manner he journeys through France to where the tournament is held. Many people gather to see the ship. A fair wind drives him to the field before the castle. He disembarks and a tent is set up. His coat of arms is sewn to the cloth of the protective covering of his tent. It is pitched on the grass with fine ropes. The knob is a mirror and the studs on the tent poles are of very hard sapphires. Beneath the tent lie long broad quilts of ornamented sendal and gold on which the guest are to sit. A full cask of wine is there with wooden cups. He treats the minstrels well.
Motif References:
P 320 Hospitality
MovC-906:
In the morning the knights come to the ship for mass. Moriz of Craûn puts on a goat hair doublet and a soft felt cloth which he ties in front of his knees to protect them. He wears stockings of white mail. It is light armor, so he can still jump around. He binds a fine girdle around his hips and fastens the stockings to it. They bring him a helmet which completely covers his forehead. At last he puts on a white hauberk and has the thongs tied very firmly with knots. Then he boards the ship, a squire gets his horse and conceals it in the ship. The others are led to nearby hill and wait for him. He has the sail turned towards the castle walls and sets out. They beat tambourines and sound flutes and horns. They blow large trumpets, and many notes ring out from pipes and rotes. Up in the countess’s castle they watch him coming. A crowd gathers around the ship. As soon as the tournament begins, the count comes down and while his wife is looking on kills an opponent with his spear.
Motif References:
N 330 Accidental killing or death
D 1812.5.1.23 Man killed by accident when ship is pushed into the sea taken as an evil omen [Accidental killing as bad omen]
MovC-932:
The people decide to continue the tournament and commit their souls to Saint Michael and joust. When the lord in the ship sees a host of bold knights wielding swords and spears out on the field he puts on a surcoat of fine samite that has the most elegant border. He ties on a helmet which was artfully decorated and embellished with gold. They bring him a horse that is white as a swan wearing a coat of Sendai. He orders the ship quickly to the thick of the conflict. He arrives from a door in the ship. His company has been small when it set off but he attracted so much attention that it has become very large. Some of his squires come running up with one or two spears in their hands as the real battle begins. He seizes his shield and a colored spear spurs his horse. The knight strikes down many men. Everyone falls before him. As soon as his steed begins to sweat, he gives it away and mounts another and he moves on to the next horse.
Motif References:
W 212 Eagerness for combat
F 614.10 Strong hero fights whole army alone
F 824 Extraordinary [part of] armor
MovC-1009:
The skipper thereby earns the noisy support of all the wandering minstrels. After using all his colored spears in regular jousts the knight straps on the white ones. He has it announced everywhere that those who want gifts should go to the ship. When evening approaches the knight retires to his tent to rest. Anyone who asks gets a present. After the tournament a man comes to beg and the knight gives him his hauberk. Then a messenger arrives to bring him to the lady. The knight mounts the squire’s horse and waits in an orchard. There a pretty maiden asks him to go with her to a room. On every side the walls are covered with fine murals and the ceiling is decorated with mosaics and shines like a mirror.
Motif References:
W 11 Generosity
P 14.15.2 Court messenger
MovC-1111:
A bed stands in the middle of the room. The posts are large and inlaid with ivory and carry figures of every kind of beast on earth. The crosspieces are of the wood Vulcan which cannot burned; overhead, four leopard skins are held together by seams. The best of the pelts lying on the bed are called alfurt; these animals are caught only in the land named Carthage which was once ruled by Lady Dido and now belongs to the king of Morocco. Grass leaves and rushes were strewn on the flagstones. The maiden promises that the lady will soon arrive, but she mourned with her husband all day. She advises him to lie down and promises to wake him.
Motif References:
F 787 Extraordinary bed
MovC-1232:
So he lays his head in her lap and falls asleep. Soon the noblewoman arrives. The maiden starts to wake the knight but the lady orders her not to disturb him. Then she muses that the knight prefers sleep to her. If she is as dear to him as he claims he would have waited for her. His sleep has taken her away from him. The maiden laments the hard sentence. She tries to persuade her lady to behave in a courtlier manner. It is the nature of men that they do less for women than suits them. She should bid him get up. But the lady disagrees. They who give themselves to sexual passion make themselves prisoner. Tomorrow three or four people will learn of their “wedding” and she’ll be dishonored. Then she departs.
Motif References:
H 313 Suitor test: obedience and humility before bride [mistress]
H 317.4 Test of suitor’s love and endurance by constant postponing
MovC-1395:
The knight awakens and learns that the lady has departed and the maiden admits that the lady had forbidden her to wake him. The knight sees her disloyalty and thinks his service was in vain. The maiden returns to her lady. Although she laments the shameful deed she goes to the bedroom, touches the lady and acts as his messenger. Outside, Moriz is annoyed at the delay, follows her to the door and enters the bedroom. When the count looks up and sees him in his bloody surcoat he believes that his adversary at the tournament came back. Moriz pretends to be the dead knight and the count jumps up, bumps his shin and lies in a faint the rest of the night. Then the knight draws back the covers and slips in with the lady. She is surprised and she submits, kisses him and they do as it is done under such conditions.
Motif References:
N 831 Girl [woman] as helper
K 1514.17 Adulteress together with lover while husband sleeps
J 1786 Man thought to be a devil or ghost
MovC-1622:
Afterwards the knight stands up and takes the ring from his hand the lady had given to him and returns it. He rejects the service. She has robbed him of his reward. Then he leaves and travels even more. When the people speak highly of him she begins to regret having caused his pain. She feels remorse, changes her color, and laments her deed. But her remorse comes too late. She should have taken the maiden’s advice.
Motif References:
T 71 Woman scorned in love
T 72 Woman won and then scorned
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