the origin of the distinction of ranks-第12章

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o　challenge　one　another　to　a　trial　of　their　strength；　activity；　or　military　skill。　Hence　the　origin　of　jousts　and　tournaments；　those　images　of　war；　which　were　frequently　exhibited　by　men　of　rank　and　which　tended　still　farther　to　improve　those　nice　punctilios　of　behaviour　that　were　commonly　practised　by　the　military　people　in　every　serious　contest。　　　　　From　this　prevailing　spirit　of　the　times；　the　art　of　war　became　the　study　of　everyone　who　was　desirous　of　maintaining　the　character　of　a　gentleman。　The　youth　were　early　initiated　in　the　profession　of　arm；and　served　a　sort　of　apprenticeship　under　persons　of　distinguished　eminence。　The　young　squire　became　in　reality　the　servant　of　that　leader　to　whom　he　had　attached　himself；　and　whose　virtues　were　set　before　him　as　a　model　for　imitation。　He　was　taught　to　perform　with　ease　and　dexterity　those　exercises　which　were　either　ornamental　or　useful；　and；　at　the　same　time；　he　endeavoured　to　acquire　those　talents　and　accomplishments　which　were　thought　suitable　to　his　profession。　He　was　taught　to　look　upon　it　as　his　duty　to　check　the　insolent；　to　restrain　the　oppressor；　to　protect　the　weak　and　defenceless；　to　behave　with　frankness　and　humanity　even　to　an　enemy；　with　modesty　and　politeness　to　all。　According　to　the　proficiency　which　he　had　made；　he　was　honoured　with　new　titles　and　marks　of　distinction；　till　at　length　he　arrived　at　the　dignity　of　knighthood；　a　dignity　which　even　the　greatest　potentates　were　ambitious　of　acquiring；　as　it　was　supposed　to　ascertain　the　most　complete　military　education；　and　the　attainment　of　such　qualifications　as　were　then　universally　admired　and　respected。　　　　　The　same　ambition；　in　persons　of　an　exalted　military　rank；　which　gave　rise　to　the　institution　of　chivalry；　was　afterwards　productive　of　the　different　orders　of　knighthood；　by　which；　from　a　variety　of　similar　establishments　in　the　several　kingdom　of　Europe；　a　subdivision　was　made　in　the　degrees　of　honour　conferred　upon　individuals。　　　　　The　situation　of　mankind　in　those　periods　had　also　a　manifest　tendency　to　heighten　and　improve　the　passion　between　the　sexes。　It　was　not　to　be　expected　that　those　opulent　chiefs；　who　maintained　a　constant　opposition　to　each　other；　would　allow　any　sort　of　familiarity　to　take　place　between　the　members　of　their　respective　families。　Retired　in　their　own　castles；　and　surrounded　with　their　numerous　vassals；　they　looked　upon　their　neighbours　either　as　inferior　to　them　in　rank；　or　as　enemies。　They　behaved　to　each　other　with　that　ceremonious　civility　which　the　laws　of　chivalry　required；　but；　at　the　same　time；　with　that　reserve　and　caution　which　a　regard　to　their　own　safety　made　it　necessary　for　them　to　observe。　The　young　knight；　as　he　marched　to　the　tournament；　saw　at　a　distance　the　daughter　of　the　chieftain　by　whom　the　show　was　exhibited；　and　it　was　even　with　difficulty　that　he　could　obtain　access　to　her；　in　order　to　declare　the　sentiments　with　which　she　had　inspired　him。　He　was　entertained　by　her　relations　with　that　cold　respect　which　demonstrated　that　their　dignity　was　alarmed　by　his　aspiring　to　contract　an　alliance　with　them。　The　lady　herself　was　taught　to　assume　the　pride　of　her　family；　and　to　think　that　no　person　was　worthy　of　her　affection　who　did　not　possess　an　exalted　rank　and　character。　To　have　given　way　to　a　sudden　inclination　would　have　disgraced　her　for　ever　in　the　opinion　of　all　her　kindred；　and　it　was　only　by　a　long　course　of　attention；　and　of　the　most　respectful　service；　that　the　lover　could　hope　for　any　favour　from　his　mistress。（29*）　　　　　The　barbarous　state　of　the　country　at　that　time；　and　the　injuries　to　which　the　inhabitants；　especially　those　of　the　weaker　sex；　were　frequently　exposed；　gave　ample　scope　for　the　display　of　military　talents；　and　the　knight；　who　had　nothing　to　do　at　home；　was　encouraged　to　wander　from　place　to　place；　and　from　one　court　to　another；　in　quest　of　adventures；　in　which　he　endeavoured　to　advance　his　reputation　in　arm；　and　to　recommend　himself　to　the　fair　of　whom　he　was　enamoured；　by　fighting　with　every　person　who　was　so　inconsiderate　as　to　dispute　her　unrivalled　beauty；　virtue；　or　personal　accomplishments。　Thus；　while　his　thoughts　were　constantly　fixed　upon　the　same　object；　and　while　his　imagination；　inflamed　by　absence　and　repeated　disappointments；　was　employed　in　heightening　all　those　charm　by　which　his　desires　were　continually　excited；　his　passion　was　at　length　wrought　up　to　the　highest　pitch；　and　uniting　with　the　love　of　same；　became　the　ruling　principle；　which　gave　a　particular　turn　and　direction　to　all　his　sentiments　and　opinions。　　　　　As　there　were　many　prisons　in　the　same　situation；　they　were　naturally　inspired　with　similar　sentiments。　Rivals　to　one　another　in　military　glory；　they　were　often　competitors；　as　it　is　expressed　by　Milton；　'to　win　her　grace　whom　all　commend'；　and　the　same　emulation　which　disposed　them　to　aim　at　pre…eminence　in　the　one　respect；　excited　them　with　no　less　eagerness　to　dispute　the　preference　in　the　other。　Their　dispositions　and　manner　of　thinking　became　fashionable；　and　were　gradually　diffused　by　the　force　of　education　and　example。　To　be　in　love　was　looked　upon　as　one　of　the　necessary　qualifications　of　a　knight；　and　he　was　no　less　ambitious　of　showing　his　constancy　and　fidelity　to　his　mistress；　than　of　displaying　his　military　virtues。　He　assumed　the　title　of　her　slave；　or　servant。　By　this　he　distinguished　himself　in　every　combat；　and　his　success　was　supposed　to　redound　to　her　honour；　no　less　than　to　his　own。　If　she　had　bestowed　upon　him　a　present　to　be　worn　in　the　field　of　battle　in　token　of　her　regard；　it　w　as　considered　as　a　pledge　of　victory；　and　as　laying　upon　him　the　strongest　obligation　to　render　himself　worthy　of　the　favour。　　　　　The　sincere　and　faithful　passion；　which　commonly　occupied　the　heart　of　every　warrior；　and　which　he　professed　upon　all　occasions；　was　naturally　productive　of　the　utmost　purity　of　manners；　and　of　great　respect　and　veneration　for　the　female　sex。　The　delicacy　of　sentiment　which　prevailed；　had　a　tendency　to　divert　the　attention　from　sensual　pleasure；　and　created　a　general　abhorrence　of　debauchery。　Persons　who　felt　a　strong　propensity　to　magnify　and　exalt　the　object　of　their　own　wishes；　were　easily　led　to　make　allowance　for　the　same　disposition　in　their　neighbours；　and　such　individuals　as　made　a　point　of　defending　the　reputation　and　dignity　of　that　particular　lady　to　whom　they　were　devoted；　became　extremely　cautious；　lest　by　any　insinuation　or　impropriety　of　behaviour；　they　should　hurt　the　character　of　another；　and　be　exposed　to　the　just　resentment　of　those　by　whom　she　was　protected。　A　woman　who　deviated　so　far　from　the　established　maxim　of　the　age　as　to　violate　the　laws　of　chastity；　was　indeed　deserted　by　every　body；　and　was　universally　condemned　and　insulted。（30*）　But　those　who　adhered　to　the　strict　rules　of　virtue；　and　maintained　an　unblemished　reputation；　were　treated　like　beings　of　a　superior　order。　The　love　of　God　and　of　the　ladies　was　one　of　the　first　lessons　inculcated　upon　every　young　person　who　was　initiated　into　the　military　profession。　He　was　instructed　with　care　in　all　those　forms　of　behaviour　which；　according　to　the　received　notions　of　gallantry　and　politeness；　were　settled　with　the　most　frivolous　exactness。　He　was　frequently　put　under　the　tuition　of　some　matron　of　rank　and　distinction；　who　in　this　particular　directed　his　education；　and　to　whom　he　was　under　a　necessity　of　revealing　all　his　sentiments；　thoughts；　and　actions。　An　oath　was　imposed　upon　him；　by　which　he　became　bound　to　indicate　the　honour　of　the　ladies；　as　well　as　to　defend　them　from　every　species　of　injustice；　and　the　uncourteous　knight　who　behaved　to　them　with　rudeness；　or　who　ventured　to　injure　and　insult　them；　became　the　object　of　general　indignation　and　vengeance；　and　was　treated　as　the　common　enemy　of　all　those　who　were　actuated　by　the　true　and　genuine　principles　of　chivalry。　　　　　The　sentiments　of　military　honour；　and　the　love　and　gallantry　so　universally　diffused　among　those　nations；　which　were　displayed　in　all　the　amusements　and　diversions　of　the　people；　had　necessarily　a　remarkable　influence　upon　the　genius　and　taste　of　their　literary　compositions。　Men　were　pleased　with　a　recital　of　what　they　admired　in　real　life；