PHASES OF THE LIVING GREEK LANGUAGE. 55 



geographical position points them out as the most effective barriers in South -Eastern 

 Europe and Western Asia against Russian ambition on the one hand and Turkish 

 barbarism on the other. We islanders have sometimes, not altogether unworthily, been 

 accused of a certain insular ignorance in foreign matters, and a certain want of easy and 

 kindly sympathy with foreign peoples. The sooner we get rid of this offence the better. 

 A familiar acquaintance with the accents of strange tongues is the surest key to the 

 affections of strange hearts ; and to an imperial power like Great Britain this must always 

 be no secondary consideration. The ruler who would be lightly obeyed must know 

 to be largely loved. 



