Introduction

Mantel (Mantle) is preserved in five manuscripts: (i) S; (ii) A: Paris, BNF, fr. 1593; (iii) B: Berne, Bibliothèque de Berne 354; (iv) C: Paris, BNF, fr. 353; (v) T: Paris, BNF, fr. 837. Our translation is based on S. The length of the text varies considerably. S is the longest version at 913 lines; the shortest, at 727 lines, is BNF, fr. 353. The title accorded to this lay has varied over the years. A popular early title was Le Mantel Mautaillié [‘The Ill-Fitting Mantle’], but it has also been called Le Lai du Cort Mantel [‘The Lay of the Short Mantle’], or just Le Cort Mantel [‘The Short Mantle’]. The only term that is common to all titles, medieval or modern, is ‘Mantel’, so we have retained this as our title. Mantel is one of five Arthurian lays in the present collection, the others being Cor, Melion, Trot and Tyolet.

King Arthur holds court at Pentecost and many knights and ladies are present. When the time comes for the main meal, Arthur states that it would not be appropriate to eat before some new adventure has come to the court. A handsome youth then arrives, saying that he has been sent by a maiden from afar, who requests a boon from King Arthur. Having been granted the boon, the youth then draws from his pouch a superbly crafted mantle. It has been made by a fairy and is designed to detect any disloyalty in women: if any lady or maiden has betrayed her husband or lover, the mantle will be either too long or too short. The lady whom the mantle fits perfectly will be able to keep it. The youth wants the king to have the ladies of the court try on the garment without being told of its properties. The queen, who wants the mantle for herself, does so, but it turns out to be too short for her. There follows a lengthy section in which a variety of ladies try on the mantle with different results; sometimes it is too short, sometimes too long.