after several years of contemplation and of thought upon the matter herein contained, it has at last come about, by the grace of god, that i have been able to write this work with such pleasure of spirit that, if it gives to you but a part of the joy that it hath afforded me, i shall be very well content with what i have done.

for when, in pursuing this history, i have come to consider the high nobility of spirit that moved these excellent men to act as they did, i have felt that they have afforded such a perfect example of courage and humility that anyone might do exceedingly well to follow after their manner of behavior in such measure as he is able to do.

for i believe that king arthur was the most honorable, gentle knight who ever lived in all the world. and those who were his fellows of the round table—taking him as their looking-glass of chivalry—made, altogether, such a company of noble knights that it is{vi} hardly to be supposed that their like will ever be seen again in this world. wherefore it is that i have had such extraordinary pleasure in beholding how those famous knights behaved whenever circumstances called upon them to perform their endeavor.

so in the year of grace one thousand nine hundred and two i began to write this history of king arthur and his knights of the round table and, if i am able so to do, i shall endeavor, with love of that task, to finish the same at some other time in another book and to the satisfaction of whosoever may care to read the story thereof.