ading, yet somehow it was tedious and dry.

In the tales as I have retold them for you, I hope you will not find
any of these faults. Besides writing them in simple language, I have
chosen only those episodes which I know would appeal to you. I have
added or altered here and there, for in places it struck me that there
was just wanting a word or two to make you feel the magic that was
everywhere abroad in those days. It seemed to me that some mysterious
adventure might easily be waiting in the ruined and deserted Roman town
on the desolate moor, or even just round the mossy trunk of the next
oak in the forest-drive, through which the knight was riding; or that
any fair lady or questing dog which he might meet could turn out to be
a wizard seeking to work woe upon him. Nevertheless, I was always sure
that in those bright days when the world was young, whatever evil power
might get the mastery for a little while, the knight's courage,
humility, and faith would win through every peril at the end.

In this book, besides reading of wonderful adventures and brave
fighting, you will learn just what sort of man a perfect knight was
required to be in the chivalrous times when men wore armour and rode on
errantry. The duties of a 'good and faithful knight' were quite simple,
but they were often very hard to perform. They were--to protect the
distressed, to speak the truth, to keep his word to all, to be
courteous and gentle to women, to defend right against might, and to do
or say nothing that should sully the fair name of Christian knighthood.

Although, therefore, these stories of King Arthur and his men treat of
knights and their ladies, of magical trolls and wonder-working wizards,
and it might seem for that reason that they can have little or nothing
in common with life of the present day, it will be seen that the spirit
in which they are told conveys something which every boy can learn.

Indeed, the great and simple lesson of chivalry which the tales of King
Arthur teach is, in a few words, to merit 'the fine old name of
gentleman.'

The history of King Arthur and his Knights is contained in two books,
one being the _Morte D'Arthur_, written by Sir Thomas Malory, the other
being the _Mabinogion_, a collection of old Welsh stories, first
translated by Lady Charlotte Guest in 1838. I have selected thirteen
tales from the number which these two books contain; but there are many
more, equally as interesting, which remain.