Chapter VIII: The Prose Lancelot--Lancelot and the Grail

Intricacy of questions involved--Grail problem, so far, has not been solved--Possibility that mutual relation between _Lancelot_ and _Grail_ romances may yield us the key to both problems 119-120

Necessity of distinguishing three distinct _Questes_--Later Grail _Queste_ combination of _Grail_ (Perceval) and _Château Merveil_ (Gawain) adventures 121

Dr. Wechssler's theory of _Grail-Lancelot_ cycle examined-- Results as deduced by author unsatisfactory 121-124

Evidence of MS. 751 key to truth--Original Borron _Queste_ a Perceval, not a Galahad, _Queste_--Didot _Perceval_ represents an early, _Perceval li Gallois_ a later, form of Perceval-Lancelot--Grail _Queste_ evidence for this discussed 124-132

Origin of the Galahad _Queste_--Dependent upon the _Lancelot_, but by another hand--Contradiction between presentment of characters and essential _motif_ of story 133-140

Motives determining evolution of Galahad _Queste_--Necessity of connecting two main branches of tradition, _Lancelot_ and the _Grail_--This only possible under certain conditions which we find fulfilled in the _Queste_ 140-146

CHAPTER IX

THE DUTCH LANCELOT

Importance of this text as a faithful translation of an excellent original 147-149

Contents summarised 149-151

Close connection with edition 1533, Philippe Lenoire--Importance of these two versions for criticism of Malory's compilation 151

Detailed comparison of texts with Dr. Sommer's summary of prose _Lancelot_ and with original text of Malory 152-164

CHAPTER X

THE QUESTE VERSIONS

Comparison of texts continued--Dutch _Lancelot_--French 1533--Malory--Welsh _Queste_--Dr. Furnivall's _Queste_--Dr. Sommer's summary 166-185

Conclusion--General agreement of the first four against the last two--The former representing a superior family of texts--Malory's source an _Agravain-Queste_ MS. belonging to same family as 1533 and Dutch translation--No proof that Malory knew earlier section of _Lancelot_ 185-188

Variations of _Queste_ MSS. apparently due to copyist rather than to compiler--The romance a _Lancelot_, rather than a _Grail_, romance 188-193

CHAPTER XI

THE MORT ARTUR

Comparison of texts continued 195-205

Results confirm previous conclusion, showing continued agreement of 1533 and Dutch translation, and strengthen theory that text used by Malory belonged to same family 205

CHAPTER XII

CONCLUSION

Summary of investigation--Results arrived at 206-212

The mutual relations of _Perceval_ and _Lancelot_ stories of primary importance in evolution of Arthurian romantic cycle--Necessity for critical editions of these texts 212-214

APPENDIX

The _Lancelot_ section of D.L. 215-247

INDEX 248

THE LEGEND OF SIR LANCELOT DU LAC