The phrase is one that any viewer of Dragonheart knows by heart, as it is the favourite line of the film it seems. The movie has many quotable lines, especially if one is of a philosophical character with this line being the most philosophical of them all in many ways.
One might have expected it out of the mouth of a Roland, Charlemagne’s nephew who was the inspiration for the Geste de Roland, or in regards to the likes of Jehanne D’Arc or even Charles de Gaulle. But there are also Robert the Bruce, or Harold II of England who embody this beautiful phrase which is one of my personal favourite lines from the Old Code.
In literature none embody it better than Gawain, nephew of Arthur. To Arthur what Roland is to that great inspiration for Arthur, Charlemagne, Gawain is an incredibly stalwart, courageous and intelligent figure in the Arthurian myths. Never faltering in his devotion, and in his intrepid desire to ensure the reign of his beloved uncle.
Valour as a word holds within it a mixture of honour and courage at the core of its definition. It has always signified to those familiar with the word, the ideal of being brave for the sake of another. It is easily one of the most chivalric and beautiful words passed down to the English language by that of the French tongue.
Bowen himself struggles with this line in Dragonheart, for who could blame him? The circumstances Bowen faces are unusual as he is betrayed by all those he loves, especially the man he considered his younger brother almost akin to his own son. How could one find one’s nerve and courage once more under such circumstances, and yet Bowen over the course of the movie/novel once again finds what it means to swear himself to Valour.
He must discover that the ideal of Valour means more than any flesh and blood King or President, or Pope. Such men are just men, and could never be much more when they let their heads be turned by greed, lust and pride whereas an ideal can give a man hope and something to aspire after. It is only an ideal that may help give him strength to endure the times that try men’s souls, and it is strength that is integral to a knight maintaining his stance against the darkest of ages.
Valour in such times is always difficult, as courage when one is full of despair and sorrow is difficult. But it takes courage to face down one’s darkness, far more than it does to face that of another man’s, as a another’s darkness can be slain and destroyed or otherwise driven away with the appropriate words or with a suitably defiant gesture. But one’s own internal difficulties requires not these things but rather internal strength, love from those around oneself and faith in God, along with a strength of will that can be at times difficult to summon to one’s side.
Heroism is not easy, it is why we still revere those such as the Allied troops of WWII and WWI, and also revere men such as Charles de Gaulle from that era, or the prior era’s great generals and troops under the command of such giants of history as the Duke of Wellington, Napoleon Bonaparte and even those figures such as Washington, Jefferson and the formidable Lafayette. Such men and their troops make many of us to-day pale and think ourselves mice in comparison.
But remember they themselves thought themselves mice compared to their own ancestors, which consisted of the likes of Julius Caesar, Augustus, Traianus, Hadrianus, Aurelian and even the likes of Charlemagne, Aelfred the Great and Harold II, or Causantin II. There are of course also the likes of Philippe Auguste, St-Louis, Edward I, Robert Brus, D’Arc, Edward IV and countless others.
What can be learnt from this? We do not know if we are truly mice or not. Let us remember dear Reader, if our ancestors thought themselves small compared to the earlier figures in history this means that some measure of the ancestors existed deep within the likes of Napoleon, Wellington, Washington and many others. What this in turn means is that the valour of these figures lies deep within us in turn. When the hammer strikes, we can be sure that there will be valour aplenty, and heroic deeds of a truly admirable sort that will show itself for all future generations to gape in awe.
And make no mistake the victor does not write history, this is a fallacy. Any deeds of valour, any truly impressive acts will always be remembered no matter what. Because let us remember that Scotland was conquered by England in the wars of the 17th century and yet Bruce is remembered, or there is the heroism of Napoleon and his genius, yet the English won then also. Also recall to mind the nationalism of Wilhelm II, has that been forgotten? Of course not, so that we must bear in mind that valour breeds valour, and all those who revere this virtue (and they are many make no mistake) will remember these deeds.
When I went south to Arizona, to meet the valorous champion of animation and art, Don Bluth he himself expressed admiration for the men who died during D-Day and the French Resistance. The reason was that they knew that the men at the front of the troop transports, and many of those who resisted were certain to die. Such self-sacrifice, such heroism even in the face of indifference from upper Anglo-American command inspired him, and left him with a pride and a love for his people and nation. Such love is not hard to see the merit of, and is truly something that made him all the more lovable and the greater.
A knight of sorts of art (though he has never been knighted, this because he is not some government stooge or false artist like those who are often knighted), Bluth is a figure who’s example ought to be followed, and shows that there is still something of heroism that can be found in our modern era. Because his story shows a man who defied the odds, risked fortune after fortune and personal happiness time and again to bring joy and awe to the whole of the world throughout several decades.
If this is not valour then what is?
Valour is the defiance of the odds, defiance of the established to do what is right, what is wondrous all for others. It is an act of purity, of honour and beauty that inspires those around oneself, and all throughout the world.
It is for this reason that valour is revered, and that a knight must be sworn to it. Not because he should seek glory, but because he must do what is right and defy the odds to seek his place in life and to help those he loves. It is in defence of others, in the hopes of uplifting those around oneself, that a knight is sworn to valour.
Once again though, with these words we find the importance of holding onto one’s word, to doing what is right and being also sworn to truth. As to swear oneself to something is to commit oneself to it. Honour must be kept, words have power and so to swear oneself to something is to bind his destiny to that which he commits himself to. It is by this ideal that a knight must BIND himself to Valour itself so that his destiny becomes interwoven with that of bravery and honour.
In my home town of Winnipeg, there is a street named Valour Road. It honors three men who lived in the vicinity in the early 20th century who each received the Victoria Cross for their gallant conduct in World War I. (Tragically, two of them did not survive the war.)
Fred Hall, Bob Shankland and Leo Clarke have always been my idea of Valour.
I must amend my comment regarding Bowen.
The name is also given to mean victorious son, and small son. Thus Bowen : The Victorious valorous holy cow the little son....