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Part of the book: The Theme of Love in the 'Romans d'Antiquité'

Rosemarie Jones

MHRA Texts and Dissertations 5

Modern Humanities Research Association

MedievalFrenchPoetryopen

Abstract.  Ovidian description in the Lais is seen to any extent in only three: Equitan (54 64, and Equitan's monologue, lines 65-100), Guigemar (379-84, 390-2, 393-426 476, 483-6, 499 and 501-4), and Eliduc (304-6, 315, 331-2, 341-2, 387-401 and 458-462). Levi and Hoepffner have pointed out similarities and, in some cases, identity of language with that used in Eneas, and Camilla Conigliani has touched on some of the affinities of the Lais with Thebes and Troie. Where these references relate to the love situation, they apply not to the concept of love which emerges, but simply to the way in which the lovers express themselves and the effects love has on them. Hoepffner remarks that this particular vocabulary is only found in the first part of the Lais." This, however, is hardly surprising, since the Ovidian "stock in trade" of which the poet or poetess makes use applies only to the actual falling in love of the lovers and their initial doubts and fears. In the same way, when Marie does not make use of this vocabulary in certain lais, this does not necessarily mean, as Hoepffner suggests, that these lais were written before Marie had knowledge of the technique used in the Eneas, but simply that the situation in those lais does not call for this type of development. Thus Marie's use of Ovidian language is similar to that of the authors of the romans antiques, with the exception of Thèbes and Alexandre: to express the effects of love in the first stages of a relationship.

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