One can see how all this may, and indeed must have ousted many of the older traditions and created a new romantic spirit. The mere fact of increased liberty and experience for the subject sex tended to produce a changed and more human relationship. But it is difficult to believe that the woman of the West owes her salvation to the Moslem!
The charm and romance of the Eastern life gave the impetus; the increased freedom introduced a more spiritual element, and then the quickened imagination worked subtly as well as rapidly upon minds and hearts already stirring with new ideas and emotions. Happily one can inspire a great deal more than one actually communicates.
But the land which keeps its women shut away in harems and treats them as personal property could scarcely teach the ideas of chivalry to the West. Woman does not owe her redemption to the followers of Mahomet. The paradox is unthinkable. In fact, she really owes it to herself: to some power of intuition, a quick understanding of the bearing of things, of the magic of ideas as distinct from established facts which enabled her to win a steadily widening influence just at that favourable moment when the new thoughts were in the air: honour, loyalty, generosity, fair play. Then perhaps she was inspired to put in _her_ claim for fair play, and when once that notion was really started in men's minds it seemed to take fire with generous swiftness.
In any case, it is to the dreamers--men or women--of the tenth or eleventh century, probably to both, that we owe these saving ideals. Practical men of the preceding ages doubtless laughed at them as sentimental or subversive. Happy the land that still breeds ideas at which the practical man laughs!
"Li douz cossire Qem don amors soven Domnam fan dire De vos maint vers plazem Pessan remire Vostre cors car e gen Cui eu dezire Mas qu non faz parven; E sitot me deslei Per vos ges nous abnei Q'ades vas vos soplei De francha benevolensa Domna on beutaz gensa."
From a famous Canzo by GUILHELM DE CABESTAING.
"The sweet thoughts which love gives me often, Lady, makes me sing of you many a pleasant song. Thinking, I gaze on your dear and comely self, which I desire more than I allow to appear; and although I seem disloyal for your sake, it is not you I deny. For soon towards you I pray with true love, Lady, in whom beauty is an ornament."
