But it is in the polish of modern society that the graces of chivalry are most pleasingly displayed. The knight was charmed into courtesy by the gentle influence of woman, and the air of mildness which she diffused has never died away. While such things exist, can we altogether assent to the opinion of a celebrated author, that "the age of chivalry is gone?" Many of its forms and modes have disappeared; fixed governments and wise laws have removed the necessity for, and quenched the spirit of, knight-errantry and romance; and, happily for the world, the torch of religious persecution has long since sunk into the ashes. But chivalric imagination still waves its magic wand over us. We love to link our names with the heroic times of Europe; and our armorial shields and crests confess the pleasing illusions of chivalry. The modern orders of military merit (palpable copies of some of the forms of middle-age distinctions) constitute the cheap defence of nations, and keep alive the personal nobility of knighthood. We wage our wars not with the cruelty of Romans, but with the gallantry of cavaliers; for the same principle is in influence now which of old inspired courage while it mitigated ferocity. Courtesy of manners, that elegant drapery of chivalry, still robes our social life; and liberality of sentiment distinguishes the gentleman, as in days of yore it was wont to distinguish the knight. INDEX. _Accolade_, meaning of the, I. 53. note. _Adelais_, tale of her imprisonment, rescue by an adventurous knight, and subsequent marriage, II. 322. _Albigenses_, romance of, I. 48. note. _Alcantara_, order of, its principles, and its comparative rank with other Spanish orders, I. 353. _Alfonso_, story of his chivalric bearing, II. 258. _Allegories_, fantastic, made on knights and their armour, I. 108. 110. _Amys and Amylion_, Romance of, I. 121. _Anglo-Saxons_, state of chivalry among, I. 6. 9. 11. 383. _Antharis_, a Lombard king, story of his romantic gallantry, II. 321. _Arabian horses_, their repute in chivalric times, I. 111. _Arabic_, Spanish historians, account of, II. 242. note. _Archers_, excellence of English, II. 12. Fine passage from Halidon Hill expressive of, II. 13. note. An English archer in the days of Edward III., 14. Importance of at battles of Cressy and Poictiers, 15. _Argonautes_, order of, purpose of its institution, I. 358. _Aristotle_, lay of, I. 215. _Armorial bearings_, historical and philosophical sketch of the principles of, I. 86, 87. 89. _Armour_, beauty of ancient, I. 65. Value of enquiries into the minutiæ of, I. 94. Uncertainty of the subject, I. 95. Its general features, I. 99, &c. Golden armour, 102. _Array_, general nature of chivalric, I. 118.