From Ritual to Romance | Page 4

adequately express my full debt of obligation.
Among the many whose labour has been laid under contribution in the
following pages there are certain scholars whose published work, or
personal advice, has been specially illuminating, and to whom specific
acknowledgment is therefore due. Like many others I owe to Sir J. G.
Frazer the initial inspiration which set me, as I may truly say, on the
road to the Grail Castle. Without the guidance of The Golden Bough I
should probably, as the late M. Gaston Paris happily expressed it, still
be wandering in the forest of Broceliande!
During the Bayreuth Festival of 1911 I had frequent opportunities of
meeting, and discussion with, Professor von Schroeder. I owe to him
not only the introduction to his own work, which I found most helpful,
but references which have been of the greatest assistance; e.g. my
knowledge of Cumont's Les Religions Orientales, and Scheftelowitz's
valuable study on Fish Symbolism, both of which have furnished
important links in the chain of evidence, is due to Professor von
Schroeder.
The perusal of Miss J. E. Harrison's Themis opened my eyes to the
extended importance of these Vegetation rites. In view of the evidence
there adduced I asked myself whether beliefs which had found
expression not only in social institution, and popular custom, but, as set
forth in Sir G. Murray's study on Greek Dramatic Origins, attached to
the work, also in Drama and Literature, might not reasonably--even
inevitably--be expected to have left their mark on Romance? The one
seemed to me a necessary corollary of the other, and I felt that I had
gained, as the result of Miss Harrison's work, a wider, and more

assured basis for my own researches. I was no longer engaged merely
in enquiring into the sources of a fascinating legend, but on the
identification of another field of activity for forces whose potency as
agents of evolution we were only now beginning rightly to appreciate.
Finally, a casual reference, in Anrich's work on the Mysteries, to the
Naassene Document, caused me to apply to Mr G. R. S. Mead, of
whose knowledge of the mysterious border-land between Christianity
and Paganism, and willingness to place that knowledge at the disposal
of others, I had, for some years past, had pleasant experience. Mr Mead
referred me to his own translation and analysis of the text in question,
and there, to my satisfaction, I found, not only the final link that
completed the chain of evolution from Pagan Mystery to Christian
Ceremonial, but also proof of that wider significance I was beginning
to apprehend. The problem involved was not one of Folk-lore, not even
one of Literature, but of Comparative Religion in its widest sense.
Thus, while I trust that my co-workers in the field of Arthurian research
will accept these studies as a permanent contribution to the elucidation
of the Grail problem, I would fain hope that those scholars who labour
in a wider field, and to whose works I owe so much, may find in the
results here set forth elements that may prove of real value in the study
of the evolution of religious belief.
J. L. W.
Paris, October, 1919.

CONTENTS
CHAPTER I
Introductory
Nature of the Grail problem. Unsatisfactory character of results
achieved. Objections to Christian Legendary origin; to Folk-lore origin.

Elements in both theories sound. Solution to be sought in a direction
which will do justice to both. Sir J. G. Frazer's Golden Bough indicates
possible line of research. Sir W. Ridgeway's criticism of Vegetation
theory examined. Dramas and Dramatic Dances. The Living and not
the Dead King the factor of importance. Impossibility of proving
human origin for Vegetation Deities. Not Death but Resurrection the
essential centre of Ritual. Muharram too late in date and lacks
Resurrection feature. Relation between defunct heroes and special
localities. Sanctity possibly antecedent to connection. Mana not
necessarily a case of relics. Self-acting weapons frequent in Medieval
Romance. Sir J. G. Frazer's theory holds good. Remarks on method and
design of present Studies.
CHAPTER II
The Task of the Hero
Essential to determine the original nature of the task imposed upon the
hero. Versions examined. The Gawain forms--Bleheris, Diû Crône.
Perceval versions--Gerbert, prose Perceval, Chrétien de Troyes,
Perlesvaus, Manessier, Peredur, Parzival. Galahad--Queste. Result,
primary task healing of Fisher King and removal of curse of Waste
Land. The two inter-dependent. Illness of King entails misfortune on
Land. Enquiry into nature of King's disability. Sone de Nansai. For
elucidation of problem necessary to bear in mind close connection
between Land and Ruler. Importance of Waste Land motif for
criticism.
CHAPTER III
The Freeing of the Waters
Enquiry may commence with early Aryan tradition. The Rig-Veda.
Extreme importance assigned to Indra's feat of "Freeing the Waters."
This also specific achievement of Grail heroes. Extracts