8f 



the Table Ronde, and the *British and Armoric knights of 

 Arthur; which made such an early impression on the ima- 

 gination of Milton, that he determined to make their at- 

 chievements the subject of an epic poem, as he himself 

 intimates. 



-Arturumque, etiam sub Tevris bella moventem. 



The French' applied themselves, with incredible ardour, 

 to the study of arms; to the attainment of perfection in 

 the profession of chivalry; and to the laws and refinements 

 of love and honour. Tilts, justs, and tournaments,-]- be- 

 came their favourite amusement. They were passionately 

 addicted to them; and celebrated them, with great splen- 

 dom-, pomp, and solemnity. Then arose all the train of 

 fancies chaste and noble; all the heroic extravagances, im- 

 posing and magnificent follies, that grew out of the spirit 

 of chivalry, and characterize the modern heroic ages. This 

 spirit of chivalry was fovourable, in a certain degree, to 

 the arts. Painting and sculpture were encouraged, by the 

 magnificence in dress and ornaments, which began to be 

 studied and generally displayed; and by the devices, and 

 other ornaments, Avhich the knights now used on their ar- 

 mour. Music, too, was more prized and cultivated. It 

 was employed in the military pageants, which were so 

 ^01" *• L much 



* Begirt with British and Armoric knights.— Milton. 

 t These were distinct and different from each other. 



