Obscure Arthurian Text Which Everyone Should Read #1: The Story Of The Crop-Eared Dog

Veronica Whall’s stained glass depiction of Galahad ascending, with Bors, the Grail Maiden, and eight angels, from King Arthur’s Great Halls at Tintagel

Veronica Whall’s depiction of Galahad ascending, from King Arthur’s Great Halls at Tintagel

I hadn’t noticed that, but I think that you’re right and that that was the artist’s way of reminding us it’s made of Percival’s sister’s hair. Neat. Or not neat. There’s a lot to be said of hair belts as a fashion choice and most of it is negative, but you can’t say it’s not bold.

The Grail Heroine leading Galahad to the ship, where Percival and Bors wait

Stained glass by Veronica Whall for King Arthur’s Great Halls at Tintagel

The Grail Heroine leading Galahad to the ship, where Percival and Bors wait

Stained glass by Veronica Whall for King Arthur’s Great Halls at Tintagel

Gems and their associated supernatural properties

(From Magic and the Supernatural in Medieval English Romance by Corinne J. Saunder)

(Link to a previous post here) So, to list some of it down:

Amethyst - prevents drunkeness

Emerald - inceases intelligence, gives prophetic powers, refreshes eyes and also act as mirrors

Amber - used in medicine

Jet - drives away snakes, detects possessed people and virginity

Asbestos - gives poison resistance

Memphitis - anasthetic

Selenite - affected by the phases of the Moon

Diamond - protects against poison, witchcraft and fear

Astrion - prevents wounds in battle

Onyx - induces sorrow and debate,

Topaz - allows water flow

Chalcedony - prevents hallucination

Opal - grants Invisibility

Maybe I should be asking why poisoning is so common there that Kay feels the need (and has the means) to provide poison-proof cups which can feel anger, or how the silver is on fire, and I am now, but the first question which came to my mind was, "What is in the blue stew?" Blueberries? No, that would be indigo or just plain purple. I can't think of any means of dyeing food blue which they would have had in the Middle Ages. Was there some lost technique? Is that one of Kay's powers? If anyone has insight on this one, be it scholarly or humorous, please let me know.

I really appreciate that the Alliterative Morte Arthure is giving Kay a solid 45 lines to go full batshit mad scientist on his feast preparations, featuring

Peacocks, plovers, pork, porcupine, herons, swans, beef, wild boar, barnacle goose, young hawks in bread, cranes, curlews, rabbits

By my rough count, approximately eight different kinds of wine

On-fire blue stews ("wavy with azure sauce all over, they appeared to be flaming")

More fire: "pheasants adorned in flaming silver"

Poison-proof gold cups: ("So that if any poison should go secretly under them [in the cup],/The bright gold would burst all to pieces with anger,/Or else the poison should lose its power because of the virtue of the precious stones")

Wait a minute, I might have read a short story like that. If I can’t find it, I’m writing one. If I can find it, I’m still probably writing one.

Who is your favorite Arthurian POV to write in? Why?

Fun fact: the musician who sang “Puberty Love” in Attack of the Killer Tomatoes was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Of course, he’s also the drummer for Pearl Jam, but it’s less entertaining when you put it that way.

O The Round Table O

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