ROBERT DE BLOIS
(fl. mid-13th c.). The little we know about this author can be deduced from his works: he
most likely lived during the second third of the 13th century and exercised his talents in
several literary domains. The two most nearly complete manuscripts to have transmitted
his works contain two Arthurian romances, Floris et Lyriopé and Beaudous, as well as
poetry and moralistic and didactic works. The fullest manuscript, B.N. fr. 24301, presents
the opening section of Beaudous, followed by the insertion, under the guise of advice
given by Beaudous’s mother, of Robert’s complete works, after which the romance is
taken up again—an apparent attempt to put all of one’s works in one neat package. His
lyrical pieces appear in various chansonniers. Robert’s didactic works have been
particularly appreciated in modern times, with the Chastoiement des dames and the
Enseignement des princes finding their way into anthologies. In the Chastoiement, under
the guise of moralistic instruction, Robert has written a work imbued with humor. And
this ambiguity extends to other works, such as Floris et Lyriopé.
Robert’s most extensive works are his two Arthurian romances. The more modest one,
Floris et Lyriopé (1,758 lines), clearly shows what an educated writer of the period had
learned: one portion of the tale is based on the Latin “comedy” Alda, the other on the
Narcissus legend from Ovid’s Metamorphoses. The two sections are united
genealogically and through a common moralistic theme: the evil of pride. Though some
feel the work is contrived and derivative, most agree that Robert shows skill in weaving
strands of different tales into a neat whole. His longest poem, Beaudous (4,829 lines), is
marked throughout by the influence of other writers of romance, chiefly Chrétien de
Troyes; indeed, some of the most important features of the romance are derived from
Chrétien’s works, especially the Conte du Graal. The hero leaves his mother to seek
adventure at Arthur’s court; his mother treats him to words of wisdom as he departs
(Robert’s complete works!); after many adventures and tourneys, he will be wed, to the
delight of his mother, Amie, and his father, Gawain. Along the way, we encounter most
of the principal knights of the Round Table. The very end of the romance, which
probably consists of a few closing remarks, is missing.
Among Robert’s other works are poems on the Creation, on confession, and on the
joys of Paradise and pains of Hell.
Paul Barrette
[See also: CHRÉTIEN DE TROYES; COURTESY BOOKS; GAWAIN
ROMANCES; MORAL TREATISES]
Robert de Blois. Sämtliche Werke Robert von Blois, ed. J.Ulrich. 3 vols. Berlin: Meyer und Müller,
1889–95.
——. Robert de Blois, son œuvre didactique et narrative: Étude suivie d’une édition critique...de
l’Enseignement des princes et du Chastoiement des dames, ed. John Fox. Paris: Nizet, 1950.
——. Floris et Lyriopé, ed. Paul Barrette. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1968.
Shapiro, Norman. The Comedy of Eros. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1971. [Includes a
translation of much of the Chastoiement des dames.]
The Encyclopedia 1515