Achaean News
A lesson learned, though far too late.
Written by: Sir Tylin, Knight of Aurora
Date: Sunday, August 20th, 2000
Addressed to: Everyone
Winning is not chivalrous. Winning is fortunate, and should never be more.
At first glance, the knightly virtue of Prowess would seem to demand winning as its proof. If you strive for quality in your fighting, will not your victory over the field demonstrate your success? Yes, it will, but it should not. A combatant's reward should be Prowess itself, not its results
to be concerned overly with victory is to fall victim to Vanity, to feel the need to demonstrate your Prowess to others rather than to yourself. In the romances, in history, knights triumphed through the inspiration of love, the faith in Gods, or duty to a lord, but never simply for the thrill of victory. Even Isildur, who was at one point untouchable in battle, is remembered for his loyalty and consistency much more than for being a brute on the field. Those for whom victory by itself had value are the 'black knights' of our lands.
Doesn't victory, properly motivated, have some value? Shouldn't a proper knight have about themselves an air of success, and won't Prowess on occasion produce victory? Yes, though for its negative values, it should be a thing that occurs but is never striven for. However much we find value for winning in Prowess and Franchise (knightly bearing), we find that value's reverse in Courtesy and in Generosity. To strive for victory is to reduce your foe to no more than an obstacle to your goal
to want victory is to rob that possibility from your opponent. The greed of such a desire outweighs any value victory might have to Prowess and Franchise. A true knight will trust themselves to fate rather than selfishly seek victory
they will fight for many things, but never for themselves.
A desire for victory is not part of chivalry. Fight for the Church, for the people, for your consort, for joy, but not for yourself. Victory is a powerful lure, but resist it. Fighting is a test of much more than just Prowess. Salute your God, your people, your consort, and your most honored opponent
steel yourself against ambition and hold yourself to duty, love and joy
then allow the fates, however you might understand them, to select the winner.
Sir Tylin, Knight of Aurora.. seeing the Light for the first time ~
Penned by my hand on the 24th of Mayan, in the year 255 AF.
A lesson learned, though far too late.
Written by: Sir Tylin, Knight of Aurora
Date: Sunday, August 20th, 2000
Addressed to: Everyone
Winning is not chivalrous. Winning is fortunate, and should never be more.
At first glance, the knightly virtue of Prowess would seem to demand winning as its proof. If you strive for quality in your fighting, will not your victory over the field demonstrate your success? Yes, it will, but it should not. A combatant's reward should be Prowess itself, not its results
to be concerned overly with victory is to fall victim to Vanity, to feel the need to demonstrate your Prowess to others rather than to yourself. In the romances, in history, knights triumphed through the inspiration of love, the faith in Gods, or duty to a lord, but never simply for the thrill of victory. Even Isildur, who was at one point untouchable in battle, is remembered for his loyalty and consistency much more than for being a brute on the field. Those for whom victory by itself had value are the 'black knights' of our lands.
Doesn't victory, properly motivated, have some value? Shouldn't a proper knight have about themselves an air of success, and won't Prowess on occasion produce victory? Yes, though for its negative values, it should be a thing that occurs but is never striven for. However much we find value for winning in Prowess and Franchise (knightly bearing), we find that value's reverse in Courtesy and in Generosity. To strive for victory is to reduce your foe to no more than an obstacle to your goal
to want victory is to rob that possibility from your opponent. The greed of such a desire outweighs any value victory might have to Prowess and Franchise. A true knight will trust themselves to fate rather than selfishly seek victory
they will fight for many things, but never for themselves.
A desire for victory is not part of chivalry. Fight for the Church, for the people, for your consort, for joy, but not for yourself. Victory is a powerful lure, but resist it. Fighting is a test of much more than just Prowess. Salute your God, your people, your consort, and your most honored opponent
steel yourself against ambition and hold yourself to duty, love and joy
then allow the fates, however you might understand them, to select the winner.
Sir Tylin, Knight of Aurora.. seeing the Light for the first time ~
Penned by my hand on the 24th of Mayan, in the year 255 AF.