Jaufry the Knight and the Fair Brunissende: A Tale of the Times of King Arthur
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AUTHOR'S PREFACE.
Now of a tale of chivalry, of proper fashion, great allurement, fullof-wise and courteous instances, and wherein abound acts of greatprowess, strange adventures, assaults, encounters, and dread battles,you may list the telling. An it amuse you, I will relate thereof allthat I do know, or that it please you to give ear unto. Let me know onlythat which ye desire, and if ye be inclined to listen in good sooth.When the minstrel doth indeed recite, neither should hearers buy norsell, nor in low voice hold council; for thus the recital is lost tohim who speaketh, and they methinks who listen cannot find therein greatpleasure.
I come, then, to recount to you tidings of the court of good KingArthur; he who was so worthy, so valiant, and so wise, that his nameshall never die, but whereof shall eternally be spoken the mighty thingshe did; and the good knights, all for their prowess known, whom he didgather at his famed Round Table. In that court, the fairest and mostloyal that ever shone beneath the stars, all men did find that counseland that aid of which they stood in need. There triumphed right, andthere were wrongs redressed.
There dames and damsels, widows and orphans attacked unjustly, ordisinherited by force, ne'er failed to meet with champions. Theoppressed of all conditions there did find a refuge, and none e'ersought protection there in vain. Give, then, sweet welcome to a poem thefruit of such good place, and deign to listen unto it in peace.
The troubadour who rhymed it never knew King Arthur; but he heardthe entire story told at the court of the king of Aragon, the best ofmonarchs in this world. *
* Don Pedro III., killed in 1213 at the battle of Muret.
A worthy father and a famous son, lord of goodly fortunes, humble inheart, and frank in nature as in mind, the king of Aragon loveth God andfeareth Him; he maintaineth faith and loyalty, peace and justice: thusGod protecteth him, giveth him the victory when he raiseth his banneragainst the infidel, and placeth him above all those who are alikeworthy and bold. Where shall we seek youthful brows wearing a crownwhich emitteth rays of greater splendour?
He giveth good gifts to minstrels and to knights, and his court is theresort of all those who are esteemed brave and courteous. It was beforehim the troubadour heard related, by a stranger-knight of kin to Arthurand Sir Gawain, the song he here hath rhymed; and whereof the firstadventure occurred while the king of the Round Table held his court atCarlisle on the day of Pentecost.