Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (1827) Vol 1.djvu/293

 OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE. 269 ions; shameful for the companions not to equal the CHAP, valour of their chief. To survive his fall in battle, was ' indelible infamy. To protect his person, and to adorn his glory with the trophies of their own exploits, were the most sacred of their duties. The chiefs combated for victory, the companions for the chief. The noblest warriors, whenever their native country was sunk in the laziness of peace, maintained their numerous bands in some distant scene of action, to exercise their restless spirit, and to acquire renown by voluntary dangers. Gifts worthy of soldiers, the warlike steed, the bloody and ever victorious lance, were the rewards which the companions claimed from the liberality of their chief. The rude plenty of his hospitable board was the only pay that he could bestow, or they would accept. War, rapine, and the freewill offerings of his friends, sup- plied the materials of this munificence ^." This institu- tion, however it might accidentally weaken the several republics, invigorated the general character of the Germans, and even ripened amongst them all the vir- tues of which barbarians are susceptible ; the faith and valour, the hospitality and the courtesy, so conspicuous long afterwards in the ages of chivalry. The honour- able gifts, bestowed by the chief on his brave compan- ions, have been supposed, by an ingenious writer, to contain the first rudiments of the fiefs, distributed, after the conquest of the Roman provinces, by the barbarian lords among their vassals, with a similar duty of homage and military service **. These conditions are, however, very repugnant to the maxims of the ancient Germans, who delighted in mutual presents ; but without either imposing, or accepting, the weight of obligations '. " In the days of chivalry, or more properly of ro- German mance, all the men were brave, and all the women were ^ ^'* ' y* & Tacit. Germ. 13, 14. •> Esprit des Loix, I. XXX. c. 3. The brilliant imagination of Montesquieu is corrected, however, by the dry cold reason of the abb6 de Mably. Ob- servations sur I'Histoire de France, torn. i. p. 356. Tacit. Germ. c. 21.
 * Gaudent muneribus ; sed nee data imputant, nee acceptis obligantur.