Post-Vulgate Cycle

The Post-Vulgate Cycle (formerly "pseudo-Boron" cycle), written anonymously probably from between c.1230 to c.1250. The cycle appears to have borrowed material from the first version of the Prose Tristan, and in turn was soon partially incorporated in its second version. The remainder (post-Vulgate Quest and Morte), whose French texts only survived in fragments, has been reconstructed using the translated fragments in Old Castilian () and Galician-Portuguese (A Demanda do Santo Graal). The Post-Vulgate itself (or at least its Suite du Merlin section) was one of the most important sources for Thomas Malory's Arthurian compilation ''Le Morte d'Arthur. The Suite du Merlin was also adapted into the Spanish work '' ("The Tale of Merlin the Wise"). == Structure and contents ==

The work is divided into four parts, named similar to their corresponding Vulgate Cycle versions. It is an attempt to create greater unity in the material, and to de-emphasise the secular love affair between Lancelot and Guinevere in favor of the religious and spiritual Quest for the Holy Grail. As such, it omits great most of the Vulgate Cycle's Lancelot Proper section, making it shorter and much less Lancelot-centered than its source. Neither the Post-Vulgate Estoire del Saint Graal Apparently borrowing from the first version of the legend of Tristan and Iseult, the cycle features Tristan as a prominent character. It further distinguishes from the Vulgate by its more pessimistic tone, its darker portrayal of several major characters such as Merlin, Morgan, and Gawain, and its bleak ending. and chapters 43–59 taken from Sommer's publication, chapters 60–72 from Bogdanow's publication. Episodes peculiar to Merlin Continuation The Suite du Merlin (also known as 'Huth-Merlin''''') adds many adventures of Arthur and the early Knights of the Round Table, and includes details about Arthur's incestuous begetting of Mordred not found in the Vulgate. Another is the episode of the Dolorous Stroke, imparted on the Fisher King by Sir Balin, given as the cause of the Waste Land. It elaborates on Chrétien de Troyes' Perceval, the Story of the Grail, where Perceval fails to mend the injured king on account of him failing to ask "The Question"; Post-Vulgate Quest for the Holy Grail The Post-Vulgate Queste del Saint Graal ("Post-Vulgate Quest for the Holy Grail") describes the knights' search for the Holy Grail, which can only be achieved by the worthy knights Galahad, Perceval, and Bors. The Post-Vulgate Queste is very different in tone and content from the Vulgate version. Elements from the Prose Tristan (first version) are present, such as the character Palamedes and King Mark's invasions of Arthur's realm. Its most complete version is the Galician-Portuguese A Demanda do Santo Graal. This part of the cycle has been repeatedly printed in Spain as La Demanda del Santo Grial. Post-Vulgate Death of Arthur The Post-Vulgate Mort Artu ("Post-Vulgate The Death of Arthur"), concerning Arthur's death at the hands of his son Mordred and the collapse and total destruction of his kingdom. It is based more closely on the Vulgate Mort but was rewritten with greater connectivity to the previous sections. Like the Queste, the P-V Mort is longer than the Vulgate version. ==Modern editions==

• () • () • The first full English translation of the Vulgate and Post-Vulgate cycles were overseen by N.J. Lacy. • • (This volume also contains Vulgate "Quest for the Holy Grail", tr. E. Jane Burns, and Vulgate "Death of Arthur", tr. Norris J. Lacy.) • (This volume also contains Chapter Summaries by Norris J. Lacy and Index of Proper Names by Daniel Golembeski; Samuel N. Rosenberg) ;(Selections) • ;(Reprint, in 10 volumes) • • • • ==Explanatory notes==