Perceforest

The anonymous prose romance of Perceforest with lyrical interludes of poetry, in six books, appears to have been composed in French in the Low Countries between 1330 and 1344. It forms a late addition to the cycle of narratives with loose connections both to the Arthurian cycle and to the feats of Alexander the Great. The Manuscript C, written by David Aubert around 1459–1460 for Philippe le Bon, Duc de Bourgogne, is the most complete of the four manuscripts known to us. Written in more or less 531 chapters, Perceforest pretends to give us a Genesis of the Arthurian World.

Perceforest is composed of six books that describe a fictional origin of Great Britain, taking its inspiration from Wace, Orosius, Bede, Geoffroy of Monmouth. Alexander, having conquered Britain, departs for Babylon, leaving Perceforest in charge. Perceforest, so named because he dared to "pierce" the evil forest, as king of Britain introduces the Christian faith and establishes a Franc Palais of free equals—the best knights—with clear parallels to the Round Table. "Thus the romance would trace back the model of ideal civilization that it proposes, a model also for the orders of chivalry created from the 14th century onwards, to a legendary origin where the glory of Alexander is united with the fame of Arthur." (Voicu 2003,2014)

An elaborate frame story tells how the "Greek" manuscript was discovered by count William of Hainault in a cabinet at “Burtimer” Abbey; in the same cabinet was deposited a crown, which the count sent to king Edward.

An episode contained in Perceforest, the “Histoire de Troïlus et de Zellandine,” (Book III, chapter lii) is one of the earliest known versions of the Sleeping Beauty theme. In this version, Troilus rapes Zellandine in her deep coma, and she delivers the child without waking.

Perceforest was first printed in Paris in 1528, as La Tres Elegante Delicieux Melliflue et Tres Plaisante Hystoire du Tres Noble Roy Perceforest in four volumes. In 1531 it was printed in Italian. A Spanish translation is also known. An 800-page abridged English translation/precis appeared in 2011.

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