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The Heroes
The Heroes
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The Heroes
PREFACE
MY DEAR CHILDREN；
Some of you have heard already of the old Greeks； and all of you； as
you grow up； will hear more and more of them。 Those of you who are
boys will； perhaps； spend a great deal of time in reading Greek books；
and the girls； though they may not learn Greek； will be sure to come
across a great many stories taken from Greek history； and to see； I may
say every day； things which we should not have had if it had not been for
these old Greeks。 You can hardly find a well…written book which has
not in it Greek names； and words； and proverbs； you cannot walk
through a great town without passing Greek buildings； you cannot go
into a well…furnished room without seeing Greek statues and ornaments；
even Greek patterns of furniture and paper； so strangely have these old
Greeks left their mark behind them upon this modern world in which we
now live。 And as you grow up； and read more and more； you will
find that we owe to these old Greeks the beginners of all our
mathematics and geometry … that is； the science and knowledge of
numbers； and of the shapes of things； and of the forces which make
things move and stand at rest； and the beginnings of our geography and
astronomy； and of our laws； and freedom； and politics … that is； the
science of how to rule a country； and make it peaceful and strong。 And
we owe to them； too； the beginning of our logic … that is； the study of
words and of reasoning； and of our metaphysics … that is； the study of
our own thoughts and souls。 And last of all； they made their language
so beautiful that foreigners used to take to it instead of their own； and at
last Greek became the common language of educated people all over the
old world； from Persia and Egypt even to Spain and Britain。 And
therefore it was that the New Testament was written in Greek； that it
might be read and understood by all the nations of the Roman empire； so
that； next to the Jews； and the Bible which the Jews handed down to us；
we owe more to these old Greeks than to any people upon earth。
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The Heroes
Now you must remember one thing … that 'Greeks' was not their real
name。 They called themselves always 'Hellens；' but the Romans
miscalled them Greeks； and we have taken that wrong name from the
Romans … it would take a long time to tell you why。 They were made
up of many tribes and many small separate states； and when you hear in
this book of Minuai； and Athenians； and other such names； you must
remember that they were all different tribes and peoples of the one great
Hellen race； who lived in what we now call Greece； in the islands of the
Archipelago； and along the coast of Asia Minor （Ionia； as they call it）；
from the Hellespont to Rhodes； and had afterwards colonies and cities in
Sicily； and South Italy （which was called Great Greece）； and along the
shores of the Black Sea at Sinope； and Kertch； and at Sevastopol。 And
after that； again； they spread under Alexander the Great； and conquered
Egypt； and Syria； and Persia； and the whole East。 But that was many
hundred years after my stories； for then there were no Greeks on the
Black Sea shores； nor in Sicily； or Italy； or anywhere but in Greece and
in Ionia。 And if you are puzzled by the names of places in this book；
you must take the maps and find them out。 It will be a pleasanter way
of learning geography than out of a dull lesson…book。
Now； I love these old Hellens heartily； and I should be very
ungrateful to them if I did not； considering all that they have taught me；
and they seem to me like brothers； though they have all been dead and
gone many hundred years ago。 So as you must learn about them；
whether you choose or not； I wish to be the first to introduce you to them；
and to say； 'Come hither； children； at this blessed Christmas time； when
all God's creatures should rejoice together； and bless Him who redeemed
them all。 Come and see old friends of mine； whom I knew long ere you
were born。 They are come to visit us at Christmas； out of the world
where all live to God； and to tell you some of their old fairy tales； which
they loved when they were young like you。'
For nations begin at first by being children like you； though they are
made up of grown men。 They are children at first like you … men and
women with children's hearts； frank； and affectionate； and full of trust；
and teachable； and loving to see and learn all the wonders round them；
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The Heroes
and greedy also； too often； and passionate and silly； as children are。
Thus these old Greeks were teachable； and learnt from all the nations
round。 From the Phoenicians they learnt shipbuilding； and some say
letters beside； and from the Assyrians they learnt painting； and carving；
and building in wood and stone； and from the Egyptians they learnt
astronomy； and many things which you would not understand。 In this
they were like our own forefathers the Northmen； of whom you love to
hear； who； though they were wild and rough themselves； were humble；
and glad to learn from every one。 Therefore God rewarded these
Greeks； as He rewarded our forefathers； and made them wiser than the
people who taught them in everything they learnt； for He loves to see
men and children open… hearted； and willing to be taught； and to him who
uses what he has got； He gives more and more day by day。 So these
Greeks grew wise and powerful； and wrote poems which will live till the
world's end； which you must read for yourselves some day； in English at
least； if not in Greek。 And they learnt to carve statues； and build
temples； which are still among the wonders of the world； and many
another wondrous thing God taught them； for which we are the wiser
this day。
For you must not fancy； children； that because these old Greeks were
heathens； therefore God did not care for them； and taught them nothing。
The Bible tells us that it was not so； but that God's mercy is over all
His works； and that He understands the hearts of all people； and fashions
all their works。 And St。 Paul told these old Greeks in after times； when
they had grown wicked and fallen low； that they ought to have known
better； because they were God's offspring； as their own poets had said；
and that the good God had put them where they were； to seek the Lord；
and feel after Him； and find Him； though He was not far from any one of
them。 And Clement of Alexandria； a great Father of the Church； who
was as wise as he was good； said that God had sent down Philosophy to
the Greeks from heaven； as He sent down the Gospel to the Jews。
For Jesus Christ； remember； is the Light who lights every man who
comes into the world。 And no one can think a right thought； or feel a
right feeling； or understand the real truth of anything in earth and heaven；
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unless the goo