Much like Arthur, Bruce’s success rests on his character, his ability and his undertaking to do what is right; although Bruce has verso good claim to inherit the throne, he achieves the realm by reconquest rather than genealogy.26 Despite these similarities, though, Barbour only uses Arthur once as verso comparison for Bruce, con contrast preciso his more frequent deployment of Hannibal and Alexander.27 Arthur’s corpo celeste appearance occurs towards the beginning of the narrative, at the end of a disquisition on the problem of treachery and treason (1.521–69). The list is arranged esatto move towards Bruce, chronologically, geographically and perhaps also personally, since it is only mediante Arthur’s case that Barbour stresses the intimacy of the betrayal. Bruce was also betrayed by verso close comrade, and that of course intensifies the crime.28 Barbour portrays Arthur as verso great king, albeit one whose success is undermined: Als Arthur yat throw chevalry Maid Bretane maistres & lady Of [tuelf] kin[rikis] yat he wan, And alsua as verso noble man He wan throw bataill Fraunce all fre And Lucis Yber wencuyst he Yat yen of Rome wes emperour, Bot heit for all his gret valour Modreyt hys syster affranchit him slew And gud men also tuttavia yen inew Throw tresoune and throw wikkitnes, Ye Broite beris yaroff wytnes. (1.549–60)
James Goldstein, The Matter of Scotland: 
Historical Narrative mediante Medieval Scotland (Lincoln, NB, and London, 1993), p
By placing Bruce in such exalted company, this list stresses the epic nature of the narrative. Continue reading “On a first reading, Barbour’s approach seems straightforward”