Anonymous - Arthur's Knights - Preface lyrics

The Legend of the Sangrale forms a part of the romances relating to Arthur, and, like some other chivalric tales, unites a deep allegory with extravagant adventures and characters. The Sangrale, a chalice supposed to be a relic of peculiar sanctity, having appeared to the Knights of the Round Table at one of their annual feasts, most of them vowed to seek it for a year; but as the relic was only visible to persons of unworldly spirits, few of them succeeded in finding it. Some of the numerous adventures are of great significance. I have here attempted to connect and versify two or three. The publication of Tennyson's last noble poem since the first edition of this trifle, may have given it an air of presumption, which induces me to add, that it was printed for the amusement of those young people who have some curiosity about the early English romances, and few means of gratifying it. November 1859.