ABSTRACT
Arnold, least of the servants of God, offers due reverence in Christ to his lord and father Philip, Bishop of the church of Ratzeburg, and to all the brothers there. 1 Since the priest Helmold of good memory died before he completed, as he intended, his histories of the subjection and conversion of the Slavs, and the deeds of the bishops through whose efforts the churches of these regions grew stronger, we have decided with the help of God to embark on this work or endeavour, so that those of us also helping in such a work of pious devotion and supported by your prayers may share in his blessed memory. Hence we ask your prudence that you do not pay attention to our lack of intellect or the rusticity of our words, but you direct your attention with pious consideration rather to the blessing of charity which ought not to be neglected. For indeed, he [Helmold] was a man of shrewd mind, wide vocabulary, more powerful in phrase making, eloquent and with a wealth of talent; 2 and he made the series of events flow swiftly. We, however, distilling from the oil of Minerva, 3 although of less ready tongue and with a slower pen, have begun this work, and we shall proceed humbly, as if by crawling, since we do not equal our master with either voice or our pen. 4 Following therefore the true course of history, we shall entirely eliminate flattery, which is the companion of many writers, so that excluding fear and treacherous grace we shall proceed freely to expound those things which are known to us.
