[p. 65] However unworthy I am to apply my feeble intelligence to the current fashion of transposing the deeds of some nobles of old from verse to prose, nevertheless, knowing that my contemporaries are turning willingly to the good practice of reading and listening to romances and histories instead of indulging in pastimes, I shall venture to transpose the present account. Although I know my talent is insufficient to the task, I shall do this nonetheless in order to avoid sloth and in obedience to my most lofty and feared prince, praying that he and all others will excuse my ignorance and have patience with my coarse and plain language.

Here follows the story of the noble and valiant emperor Cligés, which is told in two short parts, namely: the first contains the deeds of noble Alixandre, father of Cligés, and the second contains the memorable adventures of said Cligés, son of Soredamors.

At the time the most noble and victorious King Arthur wore the crown of the kingdom of Great Britain, there reigned in Constantinople an emperor named Alixandre, who was a man of great prudence and possessed of fine qualities. His wife was a high lady of noble birth and royal lineage named Thantalis. So lovingly and in such harmony did they pass their time in this world that God granted the clever artisan Lady Nature permission to provide them with two sons: the first was called Alixandre, after his father, and the second, Alix. But Alixandre had already passed through all the stages of youth – childhood, boyhood, and adolescence – when Alix was procreated and come into the world.

Alixandre was well built in every respect, and upon reaching the age of reason, he developed to a lofty degree his noble and valorous spirit, demonstrating that he was descended from noble stock. He decided that he wished to pursue the noble exercise of arms and, seeing that in the Greek empire he could not very well engage in this noble trade, he told himself that he would depart and set out for the place where he might hear it said that arms were best practiced.