[Greek: helkesipeplous] is an acknowledged and powerful motive of
action in the great Hector. The moral influence of women has had two
modes of operation. First, it has been a softening influence. Those
who were most liable to be the victims of violence, have naturally
tended as much as they could towards limiting its sphere and
mitigating its excesses. Those who were not taught to fight, have
naturally inclined in favour of any other mode of settling
differences rather than that of fighting. In general, those who have
been the greatest sufferers by the indulgence of selfish passion,
have been the most earnest supporters of any moral law which offered
a means of bridling passion. Women were powerfully instrumental in
inducing the northern conquerors to adopt the creed of Christianity,
a creed so much more favourable to women than any that preceded it.
The conversion of the Anglo-Saxons and of the Franks may be said to
have been begun by the wives of Ethelbert and Clovis. The other mode
in which the effect of women's opinion has been conspicuous, is by
giving a powerful stimulus to those qualities in men, which, not
being themselves trained in, it was necessary for them that they
should find in their protectors. Courage, and the military virtues
generally, have at all times been greatly indebted to the desire
which men felt of being admired by women: and the stimulus reaches
far beyond this one class of eminent qualities, since, by a very
natural effect of their position, the best passport to the admiration
and favour of women has always been to be thought highly of by men.
From the combination of the two kinds of moral influence thus
exercised by women, arose the spirit of chivalry: the peculiarity of
which is, to aim at combining the highest standard of the warlike
qualities with the cultivation of a totally different class of
virtues--those of gentleness, generosity, and self-abnegation,
towards the non-military and defenceless classes generally, and a
special submission and worship directed towards women; who were
distinguished from the other defenceless classes by the high rewards
which they had it in their power voluntarily to bestow on those who
endeavoured to earn their favour, instead of extorting their
subjection. Though the practice of chivalry fell even more sadly
short of its theoretic standard than practice generally falls below
theory, it remains one of the most precious monuments of the moral
history of