The Tournament [pp. 113-123]

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DE B O W'S REVI EWV.
ESTABLISHEIID JANUARY, 1846.
AUGUST, 1866.
ART. I.-TtIE TOURNAMENT.
" Where thirontgs of knights and barons bold,
In weeds of peace high triumphs hold,
With store of ladies, whose bright eyes
Rain influence. and judge the prize
Of wit or arms, while both contend
To winl her grace whom all commend."
Mfilton's L'.4 llegro.
"Le donne, i c-valier, I'arme, gli aniori
Le cortesie, l'audcai inmprese io canto.
Ariosto.
IT is not known with certainty at what time the tournament
came into vogue. Some historians think that it was derived
from the Arabians, but the general opinion is that it was of
Teutonic orig,in. The French word tourinois (tour, tourner,
tournament) would seem to indicate that although that mercurial and pleasure-loving people did not invent this gay amusement; it was very soon adopted by them; for it was from a
French nobleman named Godfrey de Pretilly that we have received the earliest account of the rules by which the tournarnent was conducted. The custom, however, was soon introduced into all parts of Europe as the herald of civilization.
The joust differed from the tournament in this particular, that
it was a combat between two knights, while tournaments were
performed between two parties of cavaliers. The joust a
l'outrance was a serious affair-a fight to the death —whereas
the joust a pleisance was a imere pastime, which usually took
place after the conclusion of the tournament. The passage of
armst was somewhat different from the others. A party of
knights assembled at a public place appointed for this especial
purpose, and hung up thvir shields of various colors, which was
touched by the knight who wished to engage any one with
VOL. II.-NO. II. 8