The Lancelot-Grail Project:
Text editions
© Alison Stones 2007, rev. 2009



EDITIONS OF THE LANCELOT-GRAIL ROMANCE

Complete Editions
Sommer, H. O. The Vulgate Version of Arthurian Romances, 7 vols. (Washington, D.C., 1909-1913, rpt New York, 1979) (here S).  Short Cyclic Version, based on London, BL Add. 10292-4 (no siglum).
Poirion, D. et al., Livre du Graal, 3 vols. (Paris, 2001-2009), Short Cyclic Version, based on Bonn UB 526 (siglum B).

Complete English Translation
Lancelot-Grail : the Old French Arthurian Vulgate and post-Vulgate in translation, N.J. Lacy, general editor.  5 vols., New York: Garland Publishing, 1993-, based on the Long Cyclic Version and the Post-Vulgate Version.

Estoire
Furnivall, F. J. Seynt Graal or the Sank Ryal, 2 vols. (London: Roxburghe Club, 1861-63), based on London, British Library MS Royal 14. E. III.
Sommer vol. I, based on Add. 10293, ff. 1-76, Short Cyclic Version
Hucher, E.  Le Saint Graal, 3 vols. (Le Mans, 1877-78), based on Le Mans MM 354.
Ponceau, J.-P.  L'Estoire del Saint Graal, 2 vols. (CFMA 120, 121) (Paris, 1997) (here Pon), vol. 1 based on Amsterdam BPH 1, i, ff. 1-63 (Siglum Ams), here giving the Long Cyclic Version [vol. 2 based on Rennes BM 255 (Siglum Ren), Long Cyclic Version].
Poirion, D. et al., Livre du Graal, vol. I (Paris, 2001), 1-567, based on Bonn UB 526, ff. 1-59 Short Cyclic Version (Siglum B).

Merlin (a prose version based on Robert de Boron's fragmentary verse Merlin)
Sommer vol. II, based on Add. 10292, ff. 76-101v.
Micha, A.  Merlin, roman du XIIIe siècle (Geneva, 1979), (here MM), an edition of the fragment of Robert de Boron's verse Merlin, Paris, BNF fr. 20047, ff. 55v-62, and the prose version of Robert de Boron's Merlinwithout the Suite Vulgate du Merlin, based on Paris, BNF fr. 747 (Siglum A).  This manuscript does contain a Suite Vulgate du Merlin which Micha has not edited.  There is some doubt as to exactly where Robert de Boron's Merlin ended and where the Suite began, see Micha, Merlin, Appendice, 293-302.
Poirion, D. et al., Livre du Graal, vol. I (Paris, 2001), 569-805, based on Bonn UB 526, ff. 60-82 col. a, Short Cyclic Version (Siglum B)]
Suite Vulgate du Merlin
Sommer vol. II, Add. 10292, ff. 101v-216v.
Poirion et al., Livre du Graal, I, 807-1662, Short Cyclic Version, based on Bonn UB 526, ff. 82 col. b-170 col. a (siglum B).

Lancelot
Sommer vols. III, IV, V,  Add. 10293, ff. 1-end, f. 383v.
Micha, A. Lancelot, 9 vols. (TLF 247, 249, 262, 278, 283, 286, 288, 307, 315) (Geneva, 1978-83) (here LM).  For Micha's base manuscripts, see below.
Poirion et al. vols. II, III.

Lancelot 1
From Lancelot's loss of father and land to his installation as a knight of the Round Table: Sommer vol. III, based on Add. 10293, ff. 1-129; Micha, vols. VII, VIII, based on Add. 10293, ff. 1-129.
There is no distinction between the Short Cyclic Version and the Long Cyclic Version, or between the Pre-Cyclic and Cyclic Versions, for this part of the text, but a group of manuscripts, including Amst. and Bonn, prepare the way for the inclusion of a Grail quest by some references forward.
Kennedy, E.M.  Lancelot do Lac: the non-cyclic old French prose romance, 2 vols. (Oxford and New York, 1980), Poirion et al. II 5-921, based on Bonn 526, ff. 171-259].based on Paris, BNF fr. 768 (siglum Ao).

The distinction between the Pre-Cyclic and Cyclic Versions starts at the point where Galehot and Lancelot leave Arthur's court and go to Sorelois after the end of Sommer vol. III, see Kennedy, Lancelot do Lac, pp. 572. 5 to 613, and Micha vol. III, 2-69, based on BNF fr. 768 (siglum K).

Lancelot 2
From the Journey to Sorelois to the death of Galehot: Sommer, vol. IV 3.1-155, based on Add. 10293, ff. 129-180v.
The switch from the Pre-Cyclic Version to the Short Cyclic Version is made on f. 129v in Add., and also in Amst. and Bonn and other manuscripts of that group (S IV 4. 43).  No formal subdivisions in this part of the text in Add.
Micha, vol. I (no subtitle) gives the text from the Journey to Sorelois to the Death of Galehot, in the Long Cyclic Version, based on Cambridge, Corpus Christi College 45 (siglum A).
Poirion et al., II 925-1306, based on Bonn 526, ff. 259-296.

Lancelot 3
Conte de la Charette: Sommer vol. IV, 155-226, Short Cyclic Version, based on Add. 10293, ff. 180v col. a, line 20-205, col. c, line 45.  The Conte de la charette is not marked as a particular textual division in Add.
G. Hutchings, Le Roman en prose de Lancelot du Lac: le Conte de la Charrette (Paris, 1938, repr. Geneva, 1974) (here LH), gives two versions for the Charette section: one based on Oxford, Bodl. Rawlinson Q.b.6 (siglum K), which here belongs to the same group as the Short Cyclic Add. 10293; the other based on the Long Cyclic version in Cambridge, Corpus Christi College 45 (siglum A). 
Micha, vol. II, subtitle De la Charette à l'Agravain,Long Cyclic Version, based on Cambridge, Corpus Christi College 45 (siglum A), 1-108. 
Micha, vol. III 268-328, based on BNF fr. 110.
Poirion et al., II 1306-1434, based on Bonn 526, ff. 296-307v.

Lancelot 4
Suites de la Charette:
Sommer vol. IV, 226-362, Short Cyclic Version, based on Add. 10293, ff. 205, col. c, line 46-251 col. c, line 21.  Add. marks no textual division.
Micha, vol. II, 108-419, Long Cyclic Version, based on Cambridge, Corpus Christi College 45 (siglum A).
Poirion et al., vol. II 1434-1715, based on Bonn ff. 307v-334v/344v.

Lancelot 5
From the beginning of an adventure of Agravain to the lead-in to the Queste: this part is named 'li livres de la branke Agravain' in its opening rubric in Amst. iii: Sommer vol. V:  Short Cyclic Version, based on Add. 10293, ff. 251-383v, not marked by a formal division in Add.
Micha, vol. IV, subtitle D'une aventure d'Agravain jusqu'à la fin de la quête de Lancelot par Gauvain et ses compagnons, Long Cyclic Version, based on Oxford, Bodl. Rawlinson D. 899 (siglum Ra).
Micha vol. V, subtitle De la quête d'Hector par Lancelot au retour de Gauvain et de ses compagnons à la cour, based on Long Cyclic Version manuscripts Aberystwyth NLW 5018 (siglum Ab) (Micha V, pp. 1-6), then (pp. 7-297) on Rawlinson D. 899 (siglum Ra).
Micha vol. VI, subtitle Du retour de Gauvain et de ses compagnons à la cour de Pentecôte jusqu'à la fin du roman, again based on Rawlinson D. 899 (siglum Ra), Long Cyclic Version.  Appendice, pp. 247-79, gives extracts from the Short Cyclic Version based on Add. 10293.
Poirion et al., vol. III 5-805, based on Bonn 526, ff. 335/345-416v.

Queste del Saint Graal
Sommer, vol. VI, 3-199, Short Cyclic Version, based on Add. 10294, ff. 1-53.
Pauphilet, A. La Queste del Saint Graal, (CFMA) (Paris, 1923), Long Cyclic Version, based on Lyon, BM, Palais des Arts MS 77 (siglum K); we refer to La Queste del saint Graal (CFMA) (Paris, 1965) (here Pau).
La Quête du saint Graal, ed. F. Bogdanow, tr. A. Berrie (Livre de poche: Lettres gothiques 4571), Paris, 2006.  Based on UC Berkeley 73. 
Poirion et al. vol. III 809-1177, based on Bonn 526, ff. 415-454.

The distinctions between the Long Cyclic Version and the Short Cyclic Versions in Queste are less pronounced than for the Mort Artu, but the same groupings are found.


Mort Artu
Sommer vol. VI, 203-295, Short Cyclic Version, based on Add. 10294, ff. 53-96v.
Bruce, J. Douglas.  Mort Artu: an Old French Prose Romance of the XIIIth Century, being the last division of 'Lancelot du Lac' now first edited from ms. 342 (Fonds français) of the Bibliothèque nationale with some collations from other manuscripts (Halle: Niemeyer 1910). 
Frappier, J. La Mort le Roi Artu, Roman du XIIIe siècle (Paris, 1936), Long Cyclic Version, based on Paris, Ars. 3347 (siglum A); we refer to the TLF edition,  La Mort le roi Artu: Roman du XIIIe siècle, ed. J. Frappier, 3rd edition (Geneva-Paris, 1964) (here F).
Poirion et al. III 1181-1486, based on Bonn 526, ff. 455v-477v.
La Mort le roi Artu, from the Old French Lancelot of Yale 229, ed. E.M. Willingham et al., Turnhout, 2007, based on New Haven, Yale University, Beinecke Library MS 229.



EDITIONS OF OTHER VERSIONS IN FRENCH:
Robert de Boron's Estoire, Joseph, Merlin, and the Post-Vulgate Queste and Mort Artu
Robert de Boron, Estoire, in verse
Michel, F.  Seynt Graal or the Sank Ryal, 2 vols. (London, 1863), vol. II, 501-46, Appendix, 'Early French Verse Roman du Saint Graal', based on Paris, BNF fr. 20047, ff. 1-55v.
Nitze, W.A.  Robert de Boron, Le Roman de l'Estoire dou Graal (CFMA) (Paris, 1927), based on Paris, BNF fr. 20047, ff. 1-55v.

Robert de Boron, Joseph d'Arimathie, in verse and prose
Weidner, G. Der Prosaroman von Joseph von Arimathia (Oppeln, 1881).
Hucher, E. Le Saint Graal, 3 vols. (Le Mans, 1877-78), vol. I, based on Paris, BNF fr. 748 (siglum C) and Paris, BNF n.a.fr. 4166 (formerly Didot Collection, siglum D) with some variants from London, BL Add. 38117 (siglum H).
Weidner, G. Der Prosaroman von Joseph von Arimathia (Oppeln, 1881), based on BNF MSS.
O'Gorman, R.  Robert de Boron, Joseph d'Arimathie (Toronto, 1995), verse version, based on Paris, BNF fr. 20047, ff. 1-55v, facing the prose version based on Tours, BM 951, ff. 159-172 (siglum T).

Robert de Boron, Merlin, in verse
Micha, A.  Merlin, roman du XIIIe siècle (Geneva, 1979), 1-17, based on Paris, BNF fr. 20047, ff. 55v-62.

Perceval Grail-Quest and Death of Arthur based on Geoffrey of Monmouth
Roach, W.  The Didot-Perceval according to the Manuscripts of Modena and Paris (Philadelphia, 1941), based on Paris, BNF n.a.fr. 4166 and Modena, Biblioteca Estense MS 3.30.
Cerquiglini, B.  Le Roman du Graal, Manuscrit de Modène par Robert de Boron (Paris, 1981), based on Modena, Biblioteca Estense MS 3.30.

Suite du Merlin in prose (not to be confused with Suite Vulgate du Merlin)
Paris, G. and Ulrich, J.  Merlin d'après le ms. Huth, 2 vols., SATF (Paris, 1886), rpt. 1965, based on London, BL Add. 38117, formerly Huth Collection.
Legge, M. Dominica, ed.  Le roman de Balain, a prose romance of the thirteenth century(Manchester, 1942).
Bogdanow, F.  La Folie Lancelot; a hitherto unidentified portion of the Suite du Merlin contained in MSS B.N. fr. 112 and 12599 (Tübingen, 1965).
Roussineau, Gilles, La Suite du Roman de Merlin (TLF), 2 vols. (Geneva, 1996), based on London, BL Add. 38117.

Post-Vulgate Cycle
Bogdanow, F. La version post-Vulgate de la Queste del Saint Graal et de la Mort Artu: troisième partie du Roman du Graal (Société des anciens textes français), 5 vols: vol. I, Introduction; vol. II, La Queste Post-Vulgate; vol. IV, i, Commentaire à la Queste Post-Vulgate (SATF) (Paris, 1991--).

Other French texts which draw upon the Lancelot-Grail:
Nitze, W. A.  and T. Atkinson Jenkins, Le Haut livre du Graal, Perlesvaus, 2 vols. (The Modern Philology Monographs of the University of Chicago), vol. 1, Text, Variants and Glossary; vol. II, Commentary and Notes (Chicago, 1932, 1937).
Taylor, J.H.M. Perceforest, éd. critique de la première partie (TLF 279) (Geneva, 1979)
Roussineau, G. Perceforest, éd. critique de la troisième partie, 3 vols. (TLF 365, 409, 434) (Geneva, 1998, 1992, 1993).
Curtis, R. L. Le roman de Tristan en prose, 3 vols. (vol. 1 Munich, 1963; vol. 1 repr. and vols. 2 and 3, Woodbridge, Suffolk and Dover, NH, 1985).
Ménard, P, et al.  Le roman de Tristan en prose (9 vols. TLF 353--) (Geneva, 1987--).

Return to the Lancelot-Grail Project main page

© 2002 rev. 2005, 207, 2009 Alison Stones and Individual Libraries and Authors
© 2002 Software Ken Sochats