Le chevalier delibere (1483) by Olivier de la Marche has an extensive hermit scene: the hermit receives the author, Acteur, gives him food and drink and instructs him in the important issues of life. Le chevalier delibere thus stands in two main Western European literary traditions: stories about hermits as such (who do or do not provide travellers with food and shelter) and stories in which food and drink have an allegorical function. This paper will discuss both traditions, without attempting to cover all hermit stories or all allegories about food and drink.
Le chevalier délibéré by Olivier de la Marche is now largely forgotten. Immediately after its publication in 1483, however, it enjoyed great success. The text was disseminated throughout Europe and was held in particularly high esteem in the French-speaking parts of the Netherlands. Such was its popularity in this region that it came to have a profound effect on Dutch literature. The text was translated twice into Dutch, by Pieter Willemsz in 1492, as Vanden ridder welghemoet, and by Jan Pertcheval a year later as Den camp vander doot. Two very early editions offtie original French text were also published in the Netherlands. Moreover, wood cuts from the book were used in other volumes, and the first Spanish translations of Le chevalier délibéré were printed in Antwerp. Several Dutch authors were also directly inspired by this French poem, using it as the basis of their own work. Jan vaA den Dale and Jan Baptist. Hb,uwaer¥are particularly indebted to de la Marche. These writers were in turn highly successful, even if they have now lapsed into obscurity: Jan van den Dale was held in especially high regard, as his Wre vander doot was reprinted at least five times.
Den camp vander doot is een Middelnederlandse vertaling van Le chevalier délibéré. Het is een heel precieze vertaling, waarschijnlijk is deze vertaling goedgekeurd door de auteur zelf.
