IV. calling of a Knight-errant : for this is the LETTËR sense, and almost the literal construction, of the following verses: Ἔθος τόδ ̓ εἰς Ἕλληνας ἐξελεξάμην ̓Α ΚΟΛΑΣΤΗΣ ΤΩΝ ΚΑΚΩΝ καθεςάναι. Accordingly, THESEUS is a favourite Hero (witness the Knight's Tale in CHAUCER) even with the Romance-writers. Nay, could the very castle of a Gothic giant be better described than in the words of HoMER, High walls and battlements the courts inclose, Od. B. XVII. ver. 318. And do not you remember that the Grecian Worthies were, in their day, as famous for encountering Dragons and quelling Monsters of all sorts, as for suppressing Giants? per hos cecidere justâ Morte Centauri, cecidit tremendæ Flamma Chimæræ. 3. "The oppressions, which it was the glory of the Knight to avenge, were frequently car IV. LETTER ried on, as we are told, by the charms and enchantments of women." THESE charms, we may suppose, are often metaphorical; as expressing only the blandishments of the sex, by which they either seconded the designs of their Lords, or were enabled to carry on designs for themselves. Sometimes they are taken to be real; the ignorance of those ages acquiescing in such con ceits, And are not these stories matched by those of Calypso and Circe, the enchantresses of the Greek poet? Still there are conformities more directly to our purpose. 4. "Robbery and piracy were honourable in both; so far were they from reflecting any discredit on the ancient or modern redressers of wrongs." What account can be given of this odd circumstance, but that, in the feudal times and in the early days of Greece, when government was weak, and unable to redress the frequent injuries of petty sovereigns, it would be glori ous for private adventurers to undertake this work; and, if they could accomplish it in no other way, to pay them in kind by downright plunder and rapine? This, in effect, is the account given us, of the same disposition of the old Germans, by CESAR: "Latrocinia," says he, "nullam habent infamiam, quæ extra fines cujusque civitatis fiunt." And the reason appears from what he had just told us-" in pace, nullus est communis magistratus; sed principes regionum atque pagorum inter suos jus dicunt, controversiasque minuunt." De Bello Gall. 1. vi. $21. 5. Their manners, in another respect, were the same. "Bastardy was in credit with both." They were extremely watchful over the chastity of their own women; but such as they could seize upon in the enemy's quarter were lawful prize. Or, if at any time they transgressed in this sort at home, the heroic ages were complaisant enough to cover the fault by an ingenious fiction. The offspring was reputed di vine. Nay, so far did they carry their indulgence to this commerce, that their greatest Heroes were IV. LETTER the fruit of Goddesses approached by mortals; just as we hear of the doughtiest Knights being born of Fairies. 6. Is it not strange, that, together with the greatest fierceness and savageness of character, "the utmost generosity, hospitality, and courtesy, should be imputed to the heroic ages ACHILLES was at once the most relentless, vindictive, implacable, and the friendliest of men. We have the very same representation in the Gothic Romances, where it is almost true what BUTLER says humorously of these benign heroes, that They did in fight but cut work out T' employ their courtesies about. How are these contradictions, in the characters of the ancient and modern men of arms, to be reconciled, but by observing that, as in those lawless times dangers and distresses of all sorts abounded, there would be the same demand for compassion, gentleness, and generous attachments to the unfortunate, those especially of their own clan, as of resentment, rage, and animosity against their enemies? 7. Again: consider the martial Games, which ancient Greece delighted to celebrate on IV. great and solemn occasions: and see if they LETTER had not the same origin, and the same purpose, as the Tournaments of the Gothic warriors. 8. Lastly, "the passion for adventures, so natural in their situation, would be as naturally attended with the love of praise and glory." Hence the same encouragement, in the old Greek and Gothic times, to panegyrists and poets; the BARDS being as welcome to the tables of the feudal Lords, as the AOIAOI of old, to those of the Grecian Heroes. And, as the same causes ever produce the same effects, we find that, even so late as ELIZABETH's reign, the savage Irish (who were much in the state of the ancient Greeks, living under the anarchy, rather than government, of their numberless puny chiefs) had their Rhymers in principal estimation. It was for the reason just given, for the honour of their panegyrics on their fierce adventures and sucAnd thus it was in Greece: cesses. For chief to Poets such respect belongs, Od. B. XVII. |