I recently came across a young lady asking an all too commonly asked question, "Where have all the Knights gone?" Or perhaps more common would be to ask, "Where have all the good men gone?" I think that we live in a culture that is need of men to be men (good men, not brutes), but embraces the contradiction that relegates a man to the sitcom role of a village idiot.
Still, I know the visions and innermost dreams of what I wanted to grow into while I was a boy didn't look like what I see portrayed by television.
So, what does a "knight's" character look like? This is what I've found thus far:
When the orders of Knighthood began, a man who wished to be a knight, and who was accorded that privilege by right of election, was told:
He should be Courteous without Baseness,
Gracious without Cruelty,
Compassionate towards the needy,
Generous and Prepared to help those in need,
Ready and Prepared to confound robbers and killers;
He should be a fair judge, without love or hate,
A Knight should not, for fear of death, do anything which can be seen as shameful;
He should be more afraid of shame than of suffering death.
A Knight should have two hearts: one as hard and impenetrable as diamond, and the other as soft and pliable as hot wax.
The Heart which is hard as diamond should oppose those who are treacherous and cruel, for a diamond cannot be polished. In the same way the Knight should be fierce and cruel towards the cruel men who do their best to damage and destroy justice.
The heart as soft as hot wax can be shaped and made to do whatever you wish, in the same way good and compasionate people should be able to lead the Knight to everything which pertains to graciousness and gentleness.
The book of Proverbs says something to the effect of, "above all, guard your heart for out of it flow the issues of life." I am also reminded of the admonishment to be wise as a serpent and harmless as a dove. I believe that it all relates.
In other references, the Knight's Code of Chivalry is divided into 5 different categories: Fair Play, Valor, Honor, Courtesy and Loyalty.
As a man, this speaks to me. I don't long for a fantasy world or a return to the dark ages, ...just to live from a deep heart ...to love, connect, teach, protect, to serve and to lead ...to be the man I was fashioned to be. To, in due course, be the husband, lover, father, mentor, and friend that best stewards the days and hours that I have.
