The History of Chivalry; Or, Knighthood and Its Times, Volume 2 (of 2)
John Stuart Mill · en
[170] Part of Segar's account of this tournament is too interesting to be
omitted. "At the fourth course, by marvellous misadventure, the King
became hurt with a splinter of the adversary's lance, which pierced his
eye so deep, as thereby his brain was much bruised. Thus was the nuptial
feast disturbed, and joy converted to sorrow. Such is the state of worldly
things: gladness is ever followed by sadness, and pleasure accompanied by
pain. The rest of the troop who were ready to run were with that accident
marvellously amazed, and not knowing what to do, every man let fall his
lance, and cursed such triumphs. Some pressed to carry his person home,
and others (as touched to the heart) shut their eyes from seeing a
spectacle so miserable. The ladies likewise and gentlewomen of the court
turned their faces from beholding, and closed their eyes with tears. To
conclude, the whole number of courtiers were stricken with sorrow not
explicable. The citizens, also, and, generally, all the subjects of that
kingdom, were perplexed to see the tragical event of that disastrous
triumph, which was intended to congratulate a new peace and an honourable
alliance. The form and face of the city were thus converted from exceeding
joy to unspeakable sorrow: some held up their hands to heaven, others made
haste to the churches, and every one, with abundance of sighs and sobs,
cried out, beseeching God to grant the King recovery; as if every man's
well doing had thereon depended. Then the physicians and surgeons, not
only of France but of the Low Countries, came thither to show their skill,
using all art and endeavour that might be; but the splinters of the lance
had pierced the King's eye so deeply, as the tenderness of the place could
not suffer it to be taken out nor seen (the brain also being pierced), no
means there were to cure the wound. The King, therefore, tormented with
extreme pain, fell into a burning fever, whereof at the end of eleven days
he died. In all which time he did never weep, nor speak any word that
might be imputed to pusillanimity; but most magnanimously took leave of
life. Only this he said, that seeing he was destined to die in arms, he
would have been much better contented to have lost his life in the field
than in those domestic pastimes." Segar, of Honour, lib. iii. c. 40.
[171] Warton justly observes that this apotheosis of chivalry, in the
person of their own apostle, must have ever afterwards contributed to
exaggerate the characteristical romantic heroism of the Spaniards, by
which it was occasioned, and to propagate through succeeding ages a
stronger veneration for that species of military enthusiasm to which they
were naturally devoted. Warton, Diss. on the Gesta Romanorum.
[172] Painters are as good witnesses for manners as romance writers; and
in Murphy's Arabian Antiquities of Spain there is an engraving from a
picture in the Alhamra, representing a martial game, wherein both Moors
and Christians contended.