The Oriental was unconsciously in accord
with the old Romans in condemning the manners of the Middle Ages.
Apart, however, from this particular prop of knighthood, we find here
and there in Italy, for example at Ferrara, orders of courtiers whose
members had a right to the title of _Cavaliere.
_
But, great as were individual ambitions, and the vanities of nobles and
knights, it remains a fact that the Italian nobility took its place in
the centre of social life, and not at the extremity. We find it
habitually mixing with other classes on a footing of perfect equality,
and seeking its natural allies in culture and intelligence. It is true
that for the courtier a cer- tain rank of nobility was required, but
this exigence is expressly declared to be caused by a prejudice rooted
in the public mind-- 'per l'opinion universale'--and never was held to
imply the belief that the personal worth of one who was not of noble
blood was in any degree lessened thereby, nor did it follow from this
rule that the prince was limited to the nobility for his society. It
meant simply that the perfect man--the true courtier--should not be
wanting in any conceivable advantage, and therefore not in this. If in
all the relations of life he was specially bound to maintain a
dignified and reserved demeanor, the reason was not found in the blood
which flowed in h-s veins, but in the perfection of manner which was
demanded from him.
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