So
that a man was honoured among them, not because he happened to be
rich, but according to his skill, and his strength, and courage,
and the number of things which he could do. For they were but
grown-up children, though they were right noble children too; and
it was with them as it is now at school--the strongest and
cleverest boy, though he be poor, leads all the rest.
Now, while they were young and simple they loved fairy tales, as
you do now. All nations do so when they are young: our old
forefathers did, and called their stories 'Sagas.' I will read you
some of them some day--some of the Eddas, and the Voluspa, and
Beowulf, and the noble old Romances. The old Arabs, again, had
their tales, which we now call the 'Arabian Nights.' The old
Romans had theirs, and they called them 'Fabulae,' from which our
word 'fable' comes; but the old Hellens called theirs 'Muthoi,'
from which our new word 'myth' is taken. But next to those old
Romances, which were written in the Christian middle age, there are
no fairy tales like these old Greek ones, for beauty, and wisdom,
and truth, and for making children love noble deeds, and trust in
God to help them through.
Now, why have I called this book 'The Heroes'? Because that was
the name which the Hellens gave to men who were brave and skilful,
and dare do more than other men.
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