1
A free download from manybooks.net
The Project Gutenberg EBook of Arthurian Chronicles: Roman de Brut, by Wace
This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net
Title: Arthurian Chronicles: Roman de Brut
Author: Wace
Release Date: December 16, 2003 [EBook #10472]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO Latin-1
- START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ARTHURIAN CHRONICLES: ROMAN ***
Produced by Ted Garvin and PG Distributed Proofreaders
ARTHURIAN CHRONICLES: ROMAN DE BRUT
by
WACE
TRANSLATED BY EUGENE MASON
INTRODUCTION
"... In the chronicle of wasted time
I see descriptions of the fairest wights,
And beauty making beautiful old rhyme,
In praise of ladies dead and lovely knights."
SHAKESPEARE, Sonnet cvi.
I.--WACE
In the long line of Arthurian chroniclers Geoffrey of Monmouth deservedly occupies the first place. The most gifted and the most original of their number, by his skilful treatment of the Arthurian story in his _Historia Regum Britanniae_, he succeeded in uniting scattered legends attached to Arthur's name, and in definitely establishing their place in chronicle history in a form that persisted throughout the later British historical annals. His theme and his manner of presenting it were both peculiarly adapted to win the favour of his public, and his work attained a popularity that was almost unprecede