Marion and Isolde (was Re: Song of Solomon)

[Mary_C._Tabasko@transarc.com]

nessus@mit.edu (Douglas Alan) asks:

> Does anyone know what the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of the Valley
> are?  Who are Isolde and Marion, and how do they relate to the song?

Tippi Chai (aj796@FreeNet.Carleton.CA) answered the one about the plants.

Isolde comes from the legend of Tristan and Isolde, a story
that fits loosely into the Arthurian category. It tells the tale of
King Mark of Cornwall, the love between Tristan and Isolde, various
poisonings, drownings and betrayals. You may have seen "Isolde" also spelt
"Isolt" or "Yseult," depending on the historical path you've taken.
The story has been subjected to many interpretations -- probably one of the
best known is the opera "Tristan und Isolde" by Richard Wagner.

Marion is Isolde's counterpart in the Robin Hood legend, probably a better
known story than that of Tristan and Isolde (although Marion wasn't
originally a noble woman being harrassed by the Sheriff, as most modern
versions of the story portray her; she arrived in the legend, as I recall,
first as the concubine of the fallen Friar Tuck, but she was later "promoted").

I hope that's helpful!

-- Kate