wreck, hating and dreading each the sound of his neighbour's
footstep.

What will become of the forest children, unless some kind saint or
hermit comes among them, to bind them in the holy bonds of
brotherhood and law?

This is my saga, gentlemen; and it is a true one withal. For it is
neither more nor less than the story of the Teutonic tribes, and how
they overthrew the Empire of Rome.

Menzel, who though he may not rank very high as a historian, has at
least a true German heart, opens his history with a striking passage.

'The sages of the East were teaching wisdom beneath the palms; the
merchants of Tyre and Carthage were weighing their heavy anchors, and
spreading their purple sails for far seas; the Greek was making the
earth fair by his art, and the Roman founding his colossal empire of
force, while the Teuton sat, yet a child, unknown and naked among the
forest beasts: and yet unharmed and in his sport he lorded it over
them; for the child was of a royal race, and destined to win glory
for all time to come.'

To the strange and complicated education which God appointed for this
race; and by which he has fitted it to become, at least for many
centuries henceforth, the ruling race of the world, I wish to call
your attention in my future lectures. To-day, I wish to impress
strongly on your minds this childishness of our forefathers. For
good or for evil they were great boys; very noble boys; very often
very naughty boys--as boys with the strength of men might well be.