No Simple Thing

Imagine a medieval fair. Tents for merchants, magicians, and food vendors are set up on a field. In the center of it all are different tournaments. Archery and sword fighting are included in the order of the day, but jousting is the highlight. The people gather ‘round, the peasants and the nobles, children and old men, to behold the event. The king and his favorite nobles, and perhaps a jester or two make their way onto the shaded platform reserved for them. And there seated among them is the queen, a princess or some other noble woman. Her presence there is of the utmost importance, for it is for her favor, smile or maybe even kiss, that the brave men will fight.

Now I’m sure many women and maybe even some men would object to that last part. “How dare the men treat the lady as an object? Those pigs! Don’t they realize she’s worth more than that, more than just a prize?” They most certainly do. In fact, those medieval knights were far more aware of the lady’s worth than we are today.

The lady is seated with those who are considered most important. She is given a seat of honor. The knights are willing to fight in order that one of them might be the privileged one on whom the lady bestows special honor. How many men today are willing to fight so that a lady may look on them favorably in a dignified manner? How many men would be satisfied with a simple look or smile or kiss from a fair maiden? Would they sweat and possibly bleed for something so simple?

Why is it that these knights were so willing to suffer for such a simple pleasure? It was because they understood a woman’s worth. They saw women as were meant to be seen, the crown of creation, something to be beheld with awe and respect. So really a kind look, smile or kiss was no simple thing.