Excerpt from Medieval Story: And the Beginnings of the Social, Ideals of English-Speaking People

It seems desirable to remind the reader who is un familiar with the conditions under which the Hewitt Lectures are given that they are designed, in part at least, for a less academic audience than that usually in attend ance upon lectures given under the auspices of Columbia University. In the present instance, no acquaintance with medieval literature, nor, indeed, any interest in it on the part of the audience could be taken for granted. The course was therefore designed primarily to reveal the charm of this literature, and its Significance for modern times. With this end in view, such narrative poetry was selected for analysis as would best illustrate a Single theme, - the development of Social ideals in the history of the English people. The successive lectures were, however, mainly devoted to discussing this early poetry as literature, in the belief that an understanding of its subject-matter, its origins, and its spirit would best lead to a comprehension of its Significance as an index of social progress. It Should perhaps be stated that while the general outline of each lecture was strictly adhered to in actual delivery before the audience, the manuscript was not closely followed, much of the Speaking being extemporaneous.

In preparing the lectures for the press, few changes have been made. The writer feels that the published volume ought to represent the aims of the Foundation, which was not to appeal to a restricted audience of scholars. Consequently this book is designed for the general reader rather than for the specialist. Whenever it has seemed best to emphasize a point familiar to every student, this has been done without hesitation. Illustra tive material from other medieval sources than those dis cussed here has been sparingly introduced, Since the unfamiliar is seldom truly illuminating. No Space has been devoted to the discussion of disputed questions; the position which appears to the author most reasonable has been adopted\ without comment. Since the aim of the book is to make medieval literature seem real and vital, the apparatus of scholarship has been discarded; footnotes have been dispensed with so far as possible, and learned citations avoided. The reader who desires further information will find in the appendix directions for more detailed study.

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