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attain to good fame and renown in this life； and after this short
and transitory life to come unto everlasting bliss in heaven； the
which He grant us that reigneth in heaven； the blessed Trinity。
Amen。
Then to proceed forth in this said book； which I direct unto all
noble princes； lords and ladies； gentlemen or gentlewomen； that
desire to read or hear read of the noble and joyous history of
the great conqueror and excellent king； King Arthur；
sometime king of this noble realm； then called Britain； I；
William Caxton； simple person； present this book following； which
I have enprised to imprint： and treateth of the noble acts； feats
of arms of chivalry； prowess； hardiness； humanity； love；
courtesy； and very gentleness； with many wonderful histories and
adventures。 And for to understand briefly the content of this
volume； I have divided it into XXI Books； and every book
chaptered； as hereafter shall by God's grace follow。 The First
Book shall treat how Uther Pendragon gat the noble conqueror King
Arthur； and containeth xxviii chapters。 The Second Book treateth
of Balin the noble knight； and containeth xix chapters。 The
Third Book treateth of the marriage of King Arthur to Queen
Guenever； with other matters； and containeth xv chapters。 The
Fourth Book； how Merlin was assotted； and of war made to King
Arthur； and containeth xxix chapters。 The Fifth Book treateth of
the conquest of Lucius the emperor； and containeth xii chapters。
The Sixth Book treateth of Sir Launcelot and Sir Lionel； and
marvellous adventures； and containeth xviii chapters。 The
Seventh Book treateth of a noble knight called Sir Gareth； and
named by Sir Kay Beaumains； and containeth xxxvi chapters。 The
Eighth Book treateth of the birth of Sir Tristram the noble
knight； and of his acts； and containeth xli chapters。 The Ninth
Book treateth of a knight named by Sir Kay Le Cote Male Taille；
and also of Sir Tristram； and containeth xliv chapters。 The
Tenth Book treateth of Sir Tristram； and other marvellous
adventures； and containeth lxxxviii chapters。 The Eleventh Book
treateth of Sir Launcelot and Sir Galahad； and containeth xiv
chapters。 The Twelfth Book treateth of Sir Launcelot and his
madness； and containeth xiv chapters。 The Thirteenth Book
treateth how Galahad came first to king Arthur's court； and the
quest how the Sangreal was begun； and containeth xx chapters。
The Fourteenth Book treateth of the quest of the Sangreal；
and containeth x chapters。 The Fifteenth Book treateth of Sir
Launcelot； and containeth vi chapters。 The Sixteenth Book
treateth of Sir Bors and Sir Lionel his brother； and containeth
xvii chapters。 The Seventeenth Book treateth of the Sangreal；
and containeth xxiii chapters。 The Eighteenth Book treateth of
Sir Launcelot and the queen； and containeth xxv chapters。 The
Nineteenth Book treateth of Queen Guenever and Launcelot； and
containeth xiii chapters。 The Twentieth Book treateth of the
piteous death of Arthur； and containeth xxii chapters。 The
Twenty…first Book treateth of his last departing； and how Sir
Launcelot came to revenge his death； and containeth xiii
chapters。 The sum is twenty…one books； which contain the sum of
five hundred and seven chapters； as more plainly shall follow
hereafter。