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Book of the women vol.1


Guinevere

guinevere by E.B.Leighton The daughter of Leodegraunce, king of Camelerd.
Arthur saw her to his consort, in spite of the prediction of Merlin that her good looks would bring troubles.
She brought "a round table" to the Court of Arthur.

She loved Launclot and became unappropriate relation with him.
Although often she tormented Launcelot by her intense jealousy, he always devoted unchangeable love to her.
When her injustice was exposed and she punished with fire, Launcelot helped her in just before she was killed and recovered her honor.

After Arthur died, she was ashamed of that her unchastity drove her husband to death and chosed the way to be a nun.


Isolde

(-the Fairl / -the Blonde)
The daughter of Agwisance, king of Ireland.

While be drawn to the sound of the harp of Tristan and treating him with poison erasure, she hold affection to him.But she parted with him because he was the enemy of her uncle.

When Tristan came again, he asked her to get married to his uncle, King Mark of Cornwall. This request disappointed her.
Her mother thought that the marriage without love is unhappy and gave aphrodisiac to Isolde to drink with Mark.
On the way to Cornwall, she drank it with Tristan by mistake and fell in painful love.

After long parting, the news that Tristan was dying caused her hurry to him.
However, when she arrived at him, he was already died out breath, and she also died wasting on him. 		Isolde by V.Prinsep


Isolde

( -of the white hand )
Isolde by V.Prinsep The daughter of King Howel of Brittany.

She treated Tristan@when he@was@damaged@by@the poisoned arrow the subordinate of King@Mark shooted.
Although she got married to Tristan, she felt pain because she knew he did not love her sincerely.

When Tristan was about to die,@he sent a messenger to call a real sweetheart, Isolde the Fair.
He had@appointed his subordinate to raise a white sail@to the ship@if@she would@come, and a black sail if she wouldn't.
When the ship returned, Tristan asked his wife the colour of sail. His wife Isolde answered a black sail was seen, although a white sail was rising there.
Tristan despaired of the answer and ended.


Elaine

(-of Corbenic /The Grail Maiden)
Elaine by A.Beardsley

The princess of the Saint Grail Castle of Corbenic.
She was helped by Launcelot when Morgan le Fay envied her beauty and inserted her in seething water.

By the plot of her father and sorceress Brisane,
she made love to Launcelot who thought she was Guinevere.
A child Galahad was conceived in this night.

When she found Launcelot
that had become derangement condition by Guinevere's jealousy,
She healed him by the power of Saint Grail
and lived together for a while in "the island of pleasure"

Although she couldn't be loved by Launcelot,
she did not do to get married to any other man.

Elaine

(-le Blank / Lady of Astolat / The Lady of Shalott)
ƒVƒƒ[ƒƒbƒg‚Μ–Ί by J.W.Waterhouse The daughter of Bernard, Lord of Astolat.

She is called"the Fair Maid of Astolat" or "the maiden of Shalott".

She fell in love with Lancelot, but she couldn't win his love.
She died from a broken heart. Her corpse of purity was sent by boat on river to the Court where Launcelot lived.


*Many of the images on this site are from The Camelot Project at the University of Rochester.


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Book of the women
vol.1