2^8 hints en chivalry. Aug, 21, 



gallantry. The precepts of religion left in the bot- 

 tom of their breasts, a veneration for sacred things 

 which sooner or later, totally pervaded them 5 the 

 precepts of love spread, in their intercourse with 

 the ladies, that respectful regard which so re- 

 markably characterised them. The instructions 

 which these young people received with regard to 

 decency to their morals and virtue, were continu- 

 aHy taught by tlfe example of the ladies and knights. 

 The generous care which these noblemen took to 

 educate such a number of young men born in indi« 

 gence, turned out to their advaatage, in procuring 

 for them faithful vaf^als. Besides this, they em- 

 ployed the young nobility with advantage about 

 theii' own persons. The tyes which a long and con*. 

 tinned habit of living together could not fail of for- 

 ming between them, being doubly bound by grati- 

 tude and kindnefs become indifsoluble. The chil- 

 dfen were always readj to add new favours to those 

 of their father, while the others always ready to re- 

 quit them, by the most important services, seconded 

 all the mterprises of their benefactor. They were 

 li-kewise taught to respect the institution of 

 chivalry, and to revere in the knights those vi^rtues 

 which had raised them to that high dignity. By 

 this means the service they performed was ennobled 

 in their eyes : to serve them, was to serve the 

 w^hole members of chivalry. The games also, which 

 made a part of their amusement, contributed to tfieir 

 instruction. The natural desire of their age of 

 imitating every thing they saw persons of a more 

 advanced age do, induced them to throw the quoit 



