The Age of Chivalry | Page 4

his peers are necessary to complete
the subject.
In an age when intellectual darkness enveloped Western Europe, a
constellation of brilliant writers arose in Italy. Of these, Pulci (born in

1432), Boiardo (1434), and Ariosto (1474) took for their subjects the
romantic fables which had for many ages been transmitted in the lays
of bards and the legends of monkish chroniclers. These fables they
arranged in order, adorned with the embellishments of fancy, amplified
from their own invention, and stamped with immortality. It may safely
be asserted that as long as civilization shall endure these productions
will retain their place among the most cherished creations of human
genius.
In "Stories of Gods and Heroes," "King Arthur and His Knights" and
"The Mabinogeon" the aim has been to supply to the modern reader
such knowledge of the fables of classical and mediaeval literature as is
needed to render intelligible the allusions which occur in reading and
conversation. The "Legends of Charlemagne" is intended to carry out
the same design. Like the earlier portions of the work, it aspires to a
higher character than that of a piece of mere amusement. It claims to be
useful, in acquainting its readers with the subjects of the productions of
the great poets of Italy. Some knowledge of these is expected of every
well-educated young person.
In reading these romances, we cannot fail to observe how the primitive
inventions have been used, again and again, by successive generations
of fabulists. The Siren of Ulysses is the prototype of the Siren of
Orlando, and the character of Circe reappears in Alcina. The fountains
of Love and Hatred may be traced to the story of Cupid and Psyche;
and similar effects produced by a magic draught appear in the tale of
Tristram and Isoude, and, substituting a flower for the draught, in
Shakspeare's "Midsummer Night's Dream." There are many other
instances of the same kind which the reader will recognize without our
assistance.
The sources whence we derive these stories are, first, the Italian poets
named above; next, the "Romans de Chevalerie" of the Comte de
Tressan; lastly, certain German collections of popular tales. Some
chapters have been borrowed from Leigh Hunt's Translations from the
Italian Poets. It seemed unnecessary to do over again what he had
already done so well; yet, on the other hand, those stories could not be

omitted from the series without leaving it incomplete.
THOMAS BULFINCH.

CONTENTS
KING ARTHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS
I. Introduction II. The Mythical History of England III. Merlin IV.
Arthur V. Arthur (Continued) VI. Sir Gawain VII. Caradoc Briefbras;
or, Caradoc with the Shrunken Arm VIII. Launcelot of the Lake IX.
The Adventure of the Cart X. The Lady of Shalott XI. Queen
Guenever's Peril XII. Tristram and Isoude XIII. Tristram and Isoude
(Continued) XIV. Sir Tristram's Battle with Sir Launcelot XV. The
Round Table XVI. Sir Palamedes XVII. Sir Tristram XVIII. Perceval
XIX. The Sangreal, or Holy Graal XX. The Sangreal (Continued) XXI.
The Sangreal (Continued) XXII. Sir Agrivain's Treason XXIII. Morte
d'Arthur
THE MABINOGEON
Introductory Note I. The Britons II. The Lady of the Fountain III. The
Lady of the Fountain (Continued) IV. The Lady of the Fountain
(Continued) V. Geraint, the Son of Erbin VI. Geraint, the Son of Erbin
(Continued) VII. Geraint, the Son of Erbin (Continued) VIII. Pwyll,
Prince of Dyved IX. Branwen, the Daughter of Llyr X. Manawyddan
XI. Kilwich and Olwen XII. Kilwich and Olwen (Continued) XIII.
Taliesin
HERO MYTHS OF THE BRITISH RACE
Beowulf Cuchulain, Champion of Ireland Hereward the Wake Robin
Hood
GLOSSARY

KING ARTHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS

CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
On the decline of the Roman power, about five centuries after Christ,
the countries of Northern Europe were left almost destitute of a national
government. Numerous chiefs, more or less powerful, held local sway,
as far as each could enforce his dominion, and occasionally those chiefs
would unite for a common object; but, in ordinary times, they were
much more likely to be found in hostility to one another. In such a state
of things the rights of the humbler classes of society were at the mercy
of every assailant; and it is plain that, without some check upon the
lawless power of the chiefs, society must have relapsed into barbarism.
Such checks were found, first, in the rivalry of the chiefs themselves,
whose mutual jealousy made them restraints upon one another;
secondly, in the influence of the Church, which, by every motive, pure
or selfish, was pledged to interpose for the protection of the weak; and
lastly, in the generosity and sense of right which, however crushed
under the weight of passion and selfishness, dwell naturally in the heart
of man. From this last source sprang Chivalry, which framed an ideal
of the heroic character, combining invincible strength