The Story of the Champions of the Round Table

The Story of the Champions of
the Round
by Howard Pyle,
Illustrated by Howard Pyle

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Table, by Howard Pyle, Illustrated by Howard Pyle
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Title: The Story of the Champions of the Round Table
Author: Howard Pyle
Release Date: January 18, 2004 [eBook #10745]
Language: English
Character set encoding: US-ASCII
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THE STORY OF THE CHAMPIONS OF THE ROUND TABLE
Written and Illustrated by
HOWARD PYLE.

In 1902 the distinguished American artist Howard Pyle undertook to
retell and illustrate the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the
Round Table. His four-volume work has long been considered one of
the outstanding interpretations of the Arthur cycle.
The Story of the Champions of the Round Table, the second of Pyle's
volumes, was originally published in 1905. Reissued now, identical in
format to the original volume, with Pyle's superb illustrations and
decorations, it is destined to reach new generations of readers. The
Story of the Champions of the Round Table recounts the full and
moving saga of three of Arthur's famous knights: Percival, Tristram,
and Launcelot of the Lake.
* * * * *
"The period in which Howard Pyle did his work frequently has been
spoken of as that Golden Age in children's literature that was to last for
the decade to follow. It is difficult to do justice to his contribution to the
shining quality of that era. The magnitude and diversity of his work
eludes definition. Creative artist and born storyteller, each aspect of
his twofold genius enriched and interpreted the other."
--Elizabeth Nesbitt, in A Critical History of Children's Literature

[Illustration: Sir Launcelot of the Lake]

Foreword
In a book which was written by me aforetime, and which was set forth
in print, I therein told much of the history of King Arthur; of how he
manifested his royalty in the achievement of that wonderful magic
sword which he drew forth out of the anvil; of how he established his
royalty; of how he found a splendid sword yclept Excalibur in a
miraculously wonderful manner; of how he won the most beautiful lady
in the world for his queen; and of how he established the famous
Round Table of noble worthy knights, the like of whose prowess the
world hath never seen, and will not be likely ever to behold again.
Also I told in that book the adventures of certain worthy knights and
likewise how the magician Merlin was betrayed to his undoing by a
sorceress hight Vivien.
Now, if you took any joy in reading that book, I have great hope that
that which follows may be every whit as pleasing to you; for I shall
hereinafter have to do with the adventures of certain other worthies
with whom you may have already become acquainted through my book
and otherwise; and likewise of the adventures of certain other worthies,
of whom you have not yet been told by me.
More especially, I believe, you will find entertainment in what I shall
have to tell you of the adventures of that great knight who was
altogether the most noble of spirit, and the most beautiful, and the
bravest of heart, of any knight who ever lived--excepting only his own
son, Galahad, who was the crowning glory of his house and of his
name and of the reign of King Arthur.
However, if Sir Launcelot of the Lake failed now and then in his
behavior, who is there in the world shall say, "I never fell into error"?
And if he more than once offended, who is there shall have hardihood
to say, "I never committed offence"?

Yea, that which maketh Launcelot so singularly dear to all the world, is
that he was not different from other men, but like other men, both in his
virtues and his shortcomings; only that he was more strong and more
brave and more untiring than those of us who are his brethren, both in
our endeavors and in our failures.
CONTENTS
The Story of Launcelot
* Chapter First
How Sir Launcelot Came Forth From the Enchanted Castle of the Lake
and Entered Into the World Again, and How King Arthur Made Him
Knight
* Chapter