The Bridal of Triermain by Walter Scott



The Bridal of Triermain is a rhymed, romantic, narrative-poem by Sir Walter Scott. Written in 1813, it weaves together elements of popular English legend using dramatic themes.

The poem celebrates the exploits of a knight errant - Sir Roland De Vaux - as he seeks to rescue (and hopefully espouse) a beautiful maiden, Gyneth. Gyneth is the illegitimate daughter of King Arthur: doomed by Merlin 500 years previously to an enchanted sleep inside a magic castle.

The enchantment can only be broken by a rescuer both brave and noble enough to overcome the temptations used successively to distract and overcome prospective suitors, namely:
 * fear
 * wealth
 * pleasure
 * pride

(See further Sleeping Beauty to explore parallels other similar tales).

The poem is set in the countryside comprising the original Triermain fiefdom in the Barony of Gilsland in Cumberland. The fief was possessed originally by the old saxon family of De Vaux, whose male line failed in the 17th century. This extinguished branch of De Vaux - through subsequent marriage - is now represented in the lineal descendants of the Braddyl family of Conishead Priory.