Dame Brisen
Also known as: Brisen · Family: Pelles's court · Role: enchantress · First appears: Book XI, Chapter II
Life events
- Dame Brisen deceives Sir Launcelot with Queen Guenever’s ring and arranges Elaine’s presence at the Castle of Case.(Book XI, Chapter II · 📍 Castle of Case)
- With: King Pelles Sir Launcelot Elaine Queen Guenever
- “Then anon by Dame Brisen’s wit she made one to come to Sir Launcelot that he knew well. And this man brought him a ring from Queen Guenever like as it had come from her, and such one as she was wont for the most part to wear; and when Sir Launcelot saw that token wit ye well he was never so fain. Where is my lady? said Sir Launcelot. In the Castle of Case, said the messenger, but five mile hence. Then Sir Launcelot thought to be there the same might. And then this Brisen by the commandment of King Pelles let send Elaine to this castle with twenty-five knights unto the Castle of Case.”
- Dame Brisen reveals the queen’s arrangement and plans to deceive Sir Launcelot into entering Elaine’s bed.(Book XI, Chapter VII · 📍 Camelot)
- With: Elaine Sir Launcelot Queen Guenever
- “But Dame Brisen knew it by her crafts, and told it to her lady, Dame Elaine.”
- Dame Brisen promises to lead Sir Launcelot to Dame Elaine’s bed disguised as the queen’s messenger.(Book XI, Chapter VII · 📍 Camelot)
- With: Elaine Sir Launcelot
- “Let me deal, said Dame Brisen, for I shall bring him by the hand even to your bed, and he shall ween that I am Queen Guenever’s messenger.”
- Dame Brisen leads Sir Launcelot to Dame Elaine’s bed, deceiving him into believing she is Queen Guenever.(Book XI, Chapter VIII)
- With: Sir Launcelot Elaine
- “then Dame Brisen took him by the finger and led him to her lady’s bed, Dame Elaine; and then she departed and left them in bed together.”
- Dame Brisen is identified as having made the enchantment involving Sir Launcelot.(Book XI, Chapter IX)
- With: Sir Launcelot
- “the which had made the enchantment before betwixt Sir Launcelot and her”
- Dame Brisen recognized Sir Launcelot and enchanted him to remain asleep.(Book XII, Chapter IV · 📍 garden)
- With: Sir Launcelot
- “Dame Brisen knew him. Sir, said Dame Brisen, we must be wise how we deal with him, for this knight is out of his mind”
Book XI, Chapter II
- with King Pelles (King Pelles commands Dame Brisen to send Elaine to the Castle of Case.) “Then this Brisen by the commandment of King Pelles let send Elaine to this castle with twenty-five knights unto the Castle of Case.”
- with Elaine (Dame Brisen arranges Elaine's journey to the Castle of Case.) “Then this Brisen by the commandment of King Pelles let send Elaine to this castle with twenty-five knights unto the Castle of Case.”
- with Sir Launcelot (Dame Brisen drugs or enchants Sir Launcelot.) “And then Dame Brisen brought Sir Launcelot a cup full of wine; and anon as he had drunken that wine he was so assotted and mad that he might make no delay, but withouten any let he went to bed;”
- with King Pelles (interaction) “Then came forth a lady that hight Dame Brisen, and she said unto the king: Sir, wit ye well Sir Launcelot loveth no lady in the world but all only Queen Guenever; and therefore work ye by counsel”
Book XI, Chapter VII
- employer: Elaine “Then by the advice of Dame Brisen, her maiden, all thing was apparelled unto the purpose”
Book XI, Chapter VIII
- employer: Elaine (Dame Brisen is identified as serving her lady, Dame Elaine.) “Dame Brisen took him by the finger and led him to her lady’s bed, Dame Elaine”
- with Sir Launcelot (She deceives or enchants him and leads him to Dame Elaine’s bed.) “Dame Brisen took him by the finger and led him to her lady’s bed, Dame Elaine”
Book XI, Chapter IX
- with Elaine (Brisen performed an enchantment involving Elaine and Launcelot.) “Madam, said Dame Brisen, the which had made the enchantment before betwixt Sir Launcelot and her,”
Book XII, Chapter V
- with Elaine (They jointly arranged or compelled Sir Launcelot to lie with Elaine.) “And all was the cause, that ye and Dame Brisen made me for to lie by you maugre mine head”
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Extracted from the original text of Le Morte d'Arthur. Made with Rho MD.