INDEX. Anacreontic. By GEO. HILL, Esq., A Midnight Chaunt for the Dying A Leaf from 'Down in Maine,' A Visit to the Lackawana Mines, A Poet to his Sister. By F. W. A True Poet. WILLIAM PITT PAL- A Bone-Picking with Old GOETHE, A Lover's Journal: By 'FLACCUS,' 298, 472 A Little Gossip with Our Readers, 349 Farewell, Old Year! By GRACE Fame: 'Dum Vivimus Vivamus,' France: its King, Court, and Go- 250 446 499 25 151 266 - 484 524 THE KNICKERBOCKER. VOL. XV. JANUARY, 1840. CHIVALRY AND THE CRUSADES. No. 1. 'A GENTLEMAN of excellent breeding, of admirable discourse, of great admittance; authentic in place and person, generally allowed for many war-like, court-like, and learned preparations.' SHAKSPEARE. We propose, in the present paper, to present to our readers some account of the institution of Chivalry, and of the times that produced it. The theme may to some appear trite. To us it is not so; and we trust, before we have done, to bring others to our mind. In turning to the records of chivalry, we feel, (and we have faith we are not alone,) as if recurring to the pleasant dreams of our youth. Nor do we envy those whose imaginations never kindled, and whose hearts never beat thick, at the recital of the pomp and pageantry, the brilliant daring and gallant exploits, of the old chivalrous times. The knight so brave and yet so gentle; in the battle-shock a tower of iron; in lady's bower, swayed, like his morion's plume, by the faintest breath of beauty; the tournament, with its ring of loveliness, and its champions proving in friendly conflict their strength and skill in arms, amid the exhilarating shouts of the multitude, and beneath the glances of bright eyes,' which 'Rain influence and award the prize;' the knight's adventurous wanderings in quest of opportunity to right the wrong, to spoil the spoiler, to chastise the oppressor, and to throw over innocence and weakness the protecting shield; all this furnishes a picture well fitted to captivate the fancy of our early years. Still farther: the old chivalrous and feudal age, with its sharp contrasts, its strong lights and deep shades, its exaggerated strain of sentiment and feeling, and its unsettled, revolutionary state; how striking a counterpart to the imaginative mind of youth! For has not youth its romantic visions; its dreams of glory to be achieved, and beauty's smile to be won; its eager wishes and resolves to crusade against cruelty and oppression, and be a right arm of defence to the innocent and weak? Imagination, and Love, and Hope, are the feudal lords of the youthful spirit, and the whole troop of thoughts and passions are their loyal retainers, prompt to dare, at their behest all deeds of high emprize.' The chivalrous spirit, then, instead of having gone long since to its cemetery, yet lives and abides in every |