Segmentation

On account of the complexity of the manuscript tradition of the verse Roman de Troie, we have not attempted to map shifts between the families and groups of manuscripts established by Meyer 1889, Constans 1912 and Jung 1996 for the entire narrative. The verse text is here treated as a single segment. We have, however, recorded the presence of five of the loci critici identified by Jung, all of which are passages omitted in some branches of the manuscript tradition. This has allowed us to make an original contribution to scholarship by mapping textual relations between manuscripts, at least in part.

Prose 1 is likewise treated as a single segment, but two versions are distinguished, as per Jung 1996. Given how few manuscripts of Prose 2, Prose 3, and Prose 4 have survived, we have chosen not to model these traditions, and they, too, are treated as single segments. For Prose 5, see: Histoire ancienne.

1. Benoît de Sainte-Maure, Roman de Troie: the story of the Trojan War composed c. 1165 in octosyllabic verse. One common redaction. The following loci critici are recorded, where present, as 'interstitial segments':
   1. Nestor's army (vv. 9179-10018): after the death of the Trojan Cassibilant during the Second Battle, Nestor and his army enter the fray, temporarily giving the advantage to the Greeks, before Hector, assisted by Priam's 17 bastard sons, pushes them back. 840 lines are omitted in group z.
   2. Death of Boetes and Archilogus (vv. 10825-76): during the Third Battle, Boetes and Archilogus are among the Greeks killed by Hector. These lines are generally present in groups v and x, but they are omitted in group y.
   3. Riche dame de riche rei (vv. 13457-70): the narrator interrupts his diatribe against the fickle Briseida with praise for a much more virtuous 'riche dame de riche rei' (v. 13468), generally understood to be Eleanor of Aquitaine. This passage is omitted in some manuscripts of both families.
   4. Alabaster Chamber (vv. 14895-936): the wondrous Alabaster Chamber, where Hector is being treated for his wounds, contains four mobile statues, the last of which secretly imparts moral guidance to the viewer. The description of the beautiful incense-burner held by this figure is omitted by manuscripts in groups yand z.
   5. Paris' grief (v. 16376x): before lamenting Hector's death, Paris tears his ermine-lined garb to reveal his bare chest. This passage is found in groups yand z.
2. Prose 1: mise en prose of the Roman de Troie, probably made in Corinth in the late 13th c. We distinguish between a) a version commune, with its geographical description at the beginning; and b) a version remaniée, which begins with a prosification of Benoît's verse prologue.
3. Prose 2: mise en prose produced in Italy in the late 13th c. One common redaction.
4. Prose 3: mise en prose made in the 13th c., also traditionally held to have been composed in Italy. One common redaction.
5. Prose 4: mise en prose dated c. 1300 interpolated into a Grail Cycle narrative. One common redaction.