horse gave place to common beasts, for in 

 the removal of the noble the ignoble always 

 finds its opportunity. It is always the horse 

 that remains which determines the future of 

 the stud. 



In like fashion from the man who is left 

 flows the current of human history. 



This tale then is a parable, a story of what 

 never was, but which is always trying to be- 

 come true. 



Once there was a great king — and the na- 

 tion over which he bore rule lay on the flanks 

 of a mountain range, spreading across fair 

 hills and valleys green and fertile across to 

 the Mediterranean Sea. And the men of his 

 race, fair and strong, self-reliant and self- 

 confident, men of courage and men of ac- 

 tion, were men "who knew no want they 

 could not fill for themselves." They knew 

 none on whom they looked down, and none 

 to whom they regarded themselves inferior. 

 And for all things which men could accom- 

 plish these plowmen of the Tiber and the 

 Apennines felt themselves fully competent 

 and adequate. Vir, they called themselves 

 in their own tongue, and virile^ virilis, men 



The 



Human 



Harvest 



The Story 

 of the 

 Vires 



[21] 



