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The Story of
KING ARTHVR
and his Knights

Written and Illustrated
by
HOWARD PYLE.


NEW YORK:
CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS
1903.


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Copyright, 1903,
By CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS.
———
Published, November, 1903
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After several years of contemplation and of thought upon the matterherein contained, it has at last come about, by the Grace of God, that Ihave been able to write this work with such pleasure of spirit that, ifit gives to you but a part of the joy that it hath afforded me, I shallbe very well content with what I have done.

For when, in pursuing this history, I have come to consider the highnobility of spirit that moved these excellent men to act as they did, Ihave felt that they have afforded such a perfect example of courage andhumility that anyone might do exceedingly well to follow after theirmanner of behavior in such measure as he is able to do.

For I believe that King Arthur was the most honorable, gentle Knightwho ever lived in all the world. And those who were his fellows of theRound Table—taking him as their looking-glass of chivalry—made,altogether, such a company of noble knights that it is{vi} hardly to besupposed that their like will ever be seen again in this world.Wherefore it is that I have had such extraordinary pleasure in beholdinghow those famous knights behaved whenever circumstances called upon themto perform their endeavor.

So in the year of grace one thousand nine hundred and two I began towrite this history of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Tableand, if I am able so to do, I shall endeavor, with love of that task, tofinish the same at some other time in another book and to thesatisfaction of whosoever may care to read the story thereof.

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