When Yvain fights the two demons, I don’t understand how that battle is considered a victory in his favor. It was very unsettling actually… The victory didn’t seem all that legitimate. Yes, the fight was unfair to begin with (two devils against one man) but it was designed to be that way – two against one. (In Erec and Enide, Erec fights a whole slew of battles by himself and doesn’t need to call in help; he submits to the rules of battle no matter how ridiculous the set-up is.) I’m not saying that Yvain called in the Lion to help him, per se, but it still helped him. At the start of the battle, the demons inform Yvain that he must put the Lion away where it cannot help him or harm them, that he must take them on alone, that “if the lion were to… attack us, then you wouldn’t be alone: it would be two against two” (364) and would be against the rules of battle. Therefore, Yvain would have to concede defeat if the Lion assisted him. He puts the Lion away and commences fighting but is not strong enough to defeat them. (In fact, he’ll be bettered quickly if the fight continues.) It was luck that the Lion dug its way out of its holding cell and saved Yvain. The Lion kills a demon and gives Yvain a chance to kill the other. This is an impressive turnaround, yes, but it violates the rules of battle, does it not? Therefore, though his enemies were defeated, should this truly be considered his victory?
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