What we called our splendid isolation became a rather ignominious sleeping-partnership with Prussia.

Next, we were largely trained in irresponsibility by our contemporary historians, Freeman and Green, teaching us to be proud of a possible descent from King Arthur's nameless enemies and not from King Arthur.

King Arthur might not be historical, but at least he was legendary.

Hengist and Horsa were not even legendary, for they left no legend.

Anybody could see what was obligatory on the representative of Arthur; he was bound to be chivalrous, that is, to be European.