Omniana/Volume 2/Seat of Courage

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Omniana
by Robert Southey
Seat of Courage
3478443Omniana — Seat of CourageRobert Southey

OMNIANA.



170. Seat of Courage.

In the last and fatal battle, when Arthur was mortally hurt, and all his knights perished, the old king Aguisans especially distinguished himself, et fist tant de proesse que tous sen esmerveillerent dont telle proesse venoit l'homme de son age, car ja estoit vieil et ancien: mais ce luy venoit du grant couraige que il avoit au ventre.

Lancelot du Lac, p. 3, ff. 157.

Every body knows where the seat of honour is, and I have seen the pineal gland handed round upon a saucer at an anatomical lecture, as the seat of the soul:—"Seat of the soul, gentlemen; that is supposed to be the seat of the soul." But this is the first time I ever found it affirmed that the seat of courage is in the belly.