Stories of King Arthur and His Knights

Among the best liked stories of five or six hundred years ago were those which told of chivalrous deeds -- of joust and tourney and knightly adventure. To be sure, these stories were not set forth in printed books, for there were no printed books as early as the times of the first three King Edwards, and few people could have read them if there had been any. But children and grown people alike were eager to hear these old-time tales read or recited by the minstrels, and the interest in them has continued in some measure through all the changing years and tastes. We now, in the times of the seventh King Edward, still find them far more worth our while than many modern stories.

In these early romances of chivalry, Arthur and his knights of the Round Table are by far the most popular heroes, and the finding of the Holy Grail is the highest achievement of knightly valor. The books of any age are for us a record of how the people of that age thought, how they lived, and what kind of men and women they tried to be. The old romances of chivalry will give us clear pictures of the knights and ladies of the Middle Ages. . . . Chivalry of just King Arthur's kind was given up long ago, but that for which it stood -- human fellowship in noble purpose -- is far older than the institution of knighthood or than even the traditions of the energetic, brave, true, helpful King Arthur himself.

"Antiquity produced heroes, but not gentlemen," someone has said. In the days of Charlemagne and Alfred began the training which, continued in the days of Chaucer and Sir Thomas Malory and many, many more, has given to this our age that highest type of manhood.

-- U. Waldo Cutler