] 22 THE HISTORY OF THE ORDER OF [book i.

to Ramla, within thirty miles of the object of alltheir toils and wishes. But on arriving, they hadnot one single loiterer or superfluous creature; buton review that morning, had barely numberedtwenty thousand men.

But it was a selection of the very best warriorsof all Christendom, such as it is not - to be expected(perhaps scarcely desired) shall ever meet again.Most assuredly nothing similar is to be found inthe history of past eras. Heroes whose likes theworld never saw, and, I think, will hardly seeagain; and therefore is unwilling to admit theyever existed, but rather insists upon their beingimaginary and inventions of story-tellers and poets.But in truth they were of the same flesh and bloodas ourselves, but with sublimer minds, and moreenergy of purpose. I would not wrong our ownperiod either. Perhaps, if we could concentratethe choicest of every nation in Christendom, andextract the quintessence of five or six millions, wemight get together twenty thousand heroes, evennow. But it is very improbable that circum-stances will ever occur again to call out such mul-titudes of willing victims. With time and fashion,weapons and systems change.

But in substance it was the same, and will bealways the same. The determined heart and bold