Friday, January 8, 2010

Profane Ages

"EUROPE," says Schlegel, "was united in one during these grand ages, and the soil of this general country was fruitful in generous thoughts which served to guide both in life and in death. One common Chivalry converted adversaries into brethern in arms, and it was to defend one common faith that they were armed. Love inspired every heart, and the poetry which sang this alliance expressed the same sentiment in different languages.

"Alas! the noble energy of the ancient time is lost. Our age is the inventor of a narrow policy, and what weak men are unable to conceive is in their eyes only a chimera. Nothing that is divine can succeed when it is undertaken with a profane heart. Alas! our age has knowledge of neither faith nor love. How then could it have preserved hope?"
- Maxims of Christian Chivalry

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