Henry VIII., a far less reputable person, was in his early days a good knight of the later and more florid school of chivalry; we might almost say that he was a fine old English gentleman so long as he was young.

Even Nero was loved in his first days: and there must have been some cause to make that Christian maiden cast flowers on his dishonourable grave.

But the spirit of the great Hohenzollern smelt from the first of the charnel.

He came out to his first victory like one broken by defeats; his strength was stripped to the bone and fearful as a fleshless resurrection; for the worst of what could come had already befallen him.

The very construction of his kingship was built upon the destruction of his manhood.