I

After the siege and the attack at Troy had ended, the city destroyed and burnt to charred timbers and ashes, the man who framed the treasonable plots there was tried for his treachery, the most authentic example on earth. It was the noble Aeneas and his great offspring, who afterwards subjugated provinces and became masters of almost all the wealth of the lands of the west. When noble Romulus proceeds swiftly to Rome, he builds that city in the beginning with great pomp and names it with his own name, as it is now called; [11] Ticius goes to Tuscany and founds dwellings, Langaberde raises up homes in Lombardy, and far over the French sea [i.e. the Channel], Felix Brutus founds Britain with joy on many broad slopes, where war and vengeance and marvel have continued there from time to time, and often both joy and strife have quickly alternated ever since.

[20] And when this Britain was founded by this noble man, bold men flourished there, who loved battle, who brought about trouble there in many a turbulent time. More marvels have often happened here in this land than in any other I know, since that same time. But of all the kings of Britain that lived here Arthur was always the noblest, as I have heard tell. Therefore I intend to set forth a real-life adventure, which some people consider plainly a marvel and an extraordinary adventure of the wonders of Arthur. [30] If you will listen to this poem but a little while, I shall tell it at once, aloud, as I have heard it in the court. The form in which it is set down and fixed, in a brave and powerful chronicle enshrined in true syllables, is that in which it has long existed.

[37] This king was in residence at Camelot at Christmas with many gracious lords, the best of men – all those fine brothers fitly of the Round Table – with splendid revelry in proper fashion and carefree amusements.