SOURCE: Cormier, Raymond J. “Eilhart's Seminal Tower of Pleasure.” Fifteenth-Century Studies 17 (1990): 57-63.

In the following essay, Cormier comments on Eilhart's innovative retelling of the story-within-a-story of Gariole and Kehenis in his Tristant.

Eilhart von Oberg postpones the dénouement of his tragic Tristan love story by inserting a cameo that mirrors the sad destiny of his main characters.¹ This observation refers to the tale of Gariole and Kehenis, who find themselves deeply in love but thwarted by an evil, jealous husband.

In the words of Eilhart (as translated by J. W. Thomas, 137-38): “Not far from Karahes lived a mighty lord named Nampetenis. …” This warrior, having retired from high, knightly deeds and pursuits, now spends all his time at the hunt shooting game or stays busy watching over his beautiful wife whom he keeps guarded in complete custody, grimly even and dishonorably. That is, he has very high...