The speed of a horse and the flight of a swan

Abstract

Within the text of the anonymous lay of Doonl, there are three elements which have hitherto been considered to have contributed to a weak story line in what could otherwise be taken as an accurate account of events in the life of a Breton knight named Doon2• The three elements in question are: (i) The ride from 'Sothantone sor la mer' to Daneborc; (ii) the mysterious deaths of the successful riders overnight in the room set aside for their repose and (iii) Doon's second ride in pursuit of the lady's swan. If we tum our attention to the world of nature, these three elements may have valid explanations in terms of reality, and any interpretation of them need not necessarily lie in the realms of the merveille.