How we cite our quotes: (Line)
Quote #4
“ ‘In love, if love be love, if love be ours,
Faith and unfaith can ne’er be equal powers:
Unfaith in aught is want of faith in all.
“ ‘It is the little rift within the lute,
That by and by will make the music mute,
And ever widening slowly silence all.’”
(“Merlin and Vivien,” 385-390)
This song, which Vivien claims to have heard from Lancelot, is about how lack of trust in any part of a relationship ruins the whole relationship. But it could also be about how a single failure of faith—like one person’s failure to keep a vow—can poison the larger group that person is a member of. Read this way, it’s a commentary about the fate of Arthur’s kingdom when his queen and knights are unfaithful to their vows.
Quote #5
‘What! slay a sleeping knight? the King hath bound
And sworn me to this brotherhood;’ again,
‘Alas that ever a knight should be so false!’
(“Pelleas and Ettarre,” 439-441)
When Pelleas finds Gawain asleep in the arms of the woman he promised to help Pelleas win, Pelleas stops short of killing him because of his oath to Arthur. So although Gawain’s betrayal shakes him, he is not entirely broken. His integrity remains intact. So that's something, at least.
Quote #6
‘Is the Queen false?’ and Percivale was mute.
‘Have any of our Round Table held their vows?’
And Percivale made answer not a word.
‘Is the King true?’ ‘The King!’ said Percivale.
‘Why, then let men couple at once with wolves.
What! art thou mad?’
(“Pelleas and Ettarre,” 522-527)
Pelleas’s realization that the queen has not kept her marriage vow causes him to question the integrity of the entire Round Table, demonstrating how the purity of Guinevere is basically the same thing as that of the entire fellowship—in his mind at least. For Pelleas to leap from the dishonesty of a king’s knights to their king’s dishonesty seems like a logical step, but one that Percivale just can’t take. Arthur’s dishonesty would be like the coupling of men with wolves—something that defies nature. Perhaps that’s because honesty is as much a part of Arthur’s nature as its lack is a part of everyone else’s.