I remember our Old to Middle English literature class and one of our readings was Le Morte d’Arthur by Thomas Malory. Now in the course of that class, we were discussing all sorts of issues like how Lancelot’s romance with Guenevere brought upon the downfall of Camelot. Our class concession was Arthur was the one to be blamed for ever leaving Guenevere with a guy named Lance-a-lot. Hehehe. Yeah, can you leave your girl with a guy named “Totoy Mola?”

Anyway, with regard to that topic, we had a short discussion on the concept of courtly love (which was summarized in a treatise written by a guy named Andreas Capellanus). Courtly love was supposed to be the weltanschauung (a fancy German term for “world view”) of that period. With the belief that anyone who goes against it brought about the disorder that led to a culture’s downfall.

For those who are asking “Is chivalry dead?” then it’s probably a good idea for you to read up on Capellanus’ The Art of Courtly Love. Chivalry’s supposed to revolve around this concept. And for all you lovely ladies who have long sought for that knight in shining armor, here’s a bit of Capellanus. Make a check list if your guy believes in any of these. Guys, check this out too (and probably find out what an oafish brute you are, hehehe…).

This list comes from Book II, Chapter VIII: The Rules of Love

1. Marriage is no real excuse for not loving.
2. He who is not jealous cannot love.
3. No one can be bound by a double love.
4. It is well known that love is always increasing or decreasing.
5. That which a lover takes against his will of his beloved has no relish.
6. Boys do not love until they arrive at the age of maturity.
7. When one lover dies, a widowhood of two years is required of the survivor.
8. No one should be deprived of love without the very best of reasons.
9. No one can love unless he is impelled by the persuasion of love.
10. Love is always a stranger in the home of avarice.
11. It is not proper to love any woman whom one should be ashamed to seek to marry.
12. A true lover does not desire to embrace in love anyone except his beloved.
13. When made public love rarely endures.
14. The easy attainment of love makes it of little value; difficulty of attainment makes it prized.
15. Every lover regularly turns pale in the presence of his beloved.
16. When a lover suddenly catches sight of his beloved his heart palpitates.
17. A new love puts to flight an old one.
18. Good character alone makes any man worthy of love.
19. If love diminishes, it quickly fails and rarely revives.
20. A man in love is always apprehensive.
21. Real jealousy always increases the feeling of love.
22. Jealousy, and therefore love, are increased when one suspects his beloved.
23. He whom the thought of love vexes, eats and sleeps very little.
24. Every act of a lover ends with in the thought of his beloved.
25. A true lover considers nothing good except what he thinks will please his beloved.
26. Love can deny nothing to love.
27. A lover can never have enough of the solaces of his beloved.
28. A slight presumption causes a lover to suspect his beloved.
29. A man who is vexed by too much passion usually does not love.
30. A true lover is constantly and without intermission possessed by the thought of his beloved.
31. Nothing forbids one woman being loved by two men or one man by two women.

Source: Capellanus, Andreas. The Art of Courtly Love. Ed. F. W. Locke. USA: Fredrick Ungar Publishing Co., 1957.

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