The knight, whose heart was warmed with the true light of chivalry, never wished that the dominion of his mistress should be less than absolute, and the confession of her perfect virtue, which this feeling implied, made him preserve his own faith pure and without a stain. Love was as marked a feature in the chivalric character as valour; and, in the phrase of the time, he who understood how to break a lance, and did not understand how to win a lady, was but half a man. He fought to gain her smiles, for love in brave and gentle knights kindled aspirations for high desert and honour. "Oh! that my lady saw me," was the exclamation of a knight in the pride of successful valour as he mounted the city's wall, and with his good sword was proving the worth of his chivalry.[226] He wore her colours, and the favour of his lady bright was the chief ornament of his harness. She judged the prize at the tournament, assisted him to arm, and was the first and the most joyous to hail his return from the perils of war. "A damisel came unto me, The seemliest that ever I se, Luffumer[227] lifed never in land, Hendly she take me by the hand; And soon that gentle creature Al unlaced mine armure Into a chamber she me led, And with a mantle she me cled; It was of purpur fair and fine, And the pane of rich ermine; Al the folk war went us fra, And there was none than both we twa; She served me hendely to hend, Her manners might no man amend; Of tong she was true and renable, And of her semblant soft and stabile. Fullfain I would, if that I might, Have woned[228] with that sweet wight: And when we sold go to sopere That lady with a lufforn chere, Led me down into the hall, That war we served wele at all."[229] [Sidenote: Character of woman in the eyes of a knight.]