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is a question not to be determined here。 That it is the history thereof； is
surely patent to anyone who will imagine to himself what must have been。
In the first place； the strongest and cunningest savage must have had the
chance of producing children more strong and cunning than the average；
he would havethe strongest savage has stillthe power of obtaining a
wife； or wives； superior in beauty and in household skill； which involves
superiority of intellect； and therefore his children wouldsome of them at
leastbe superior to the average； both from the father's and the mother's
capacities。 They again would marry select wives； and their children
again would do the same； till； in a very few generations； a family would
have established itself； considerably superior to the rest of the tribe in
body and mind； and become assuredly its ruling race。
Again； if one of that race invented a new weapon； a new mode of
tillage； or aught else which gave him power； that would add to the
superiority of his whole family。 For the invention would be jealously
kept among them as a mystery； a hereditary secret。 To this simple cause；
surely； is to be referred the system of hereditary caste occupations；
whether in Egypt or Hindoostan。 To this； too； the fact that alike in Greek
and in Teutonic legend the chief so often appears； not merely as the best
warrior and best minstrel； but as the best smith； armourer； and
handicraftsman of his tribe。 If； however； the inventor happened to be a
low…born genius； its advantages would still accrue to the ruling race。 For
nothing could be more natural or more easyas more than one legend
intimatesthan that the king should extort the new secret from his subject；
and then put him to death to prevent any further publicity。
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THE ANCIEN REGIME
Two great inventive geniuses we may see dimly through the abysses of
the past； both of whom must have become in their time great chiefs；
founders of mighty aristocraciesit may be； worshipped after their death
as gods。
The first； who seems to have existed after the age in which the black
race colonised Australia； must have been surely a man worthy to hold rank
with our Brindleys； Watts； and Stephensons。 For he invented （and mind；
one man must have invented the thing first； and by the very nature of it；
invented it all at once） an instrument so singular； unexpected； unlike
anything to be seen in nature； that I wonder it has not been called； like the
plough； the olive； or the vine； a gift of the immortal gods： and yet an
instrument so simple； so easy； and so perfect； that it spread over all races
in Europe and America； and no substitute could be found for it till the
latter part of the fifteenth century。 Yes； a great genius was he； and the
consequent founder of a great aristocracy and conquering race； who first
invented for himself and his children after him abow and arrow。
The nextwhether before or after the first in time； it suits me to speak
of him in second placewas the man who was the potential ancestor of the
whole Ritterschaft； Chivalry； and knightly caste of Europe； the man who
first； finding a foal upon the steppe； deserted by its dam； brought it home；
and reared it； and then bethought him of the happy notion of making it
drawpresumably by its taila fashion which endured long in Ireland； and
had to be forbidden by law； I think as late as the sixteenth century。 A
great aristocrat must that man have become。 A greater still he who first
substituted the bit for the halter。 A greater still he who first thought of
wheels。 A greater still he who conceived the yoke and pole for bearing
up his chariot； for that same yoke； and pole； and chariot； became the
peculiar instrument of conquerors like him who mightily oppressed the
children of Israel； for he had nine hundred chariots of iron。 Egyptians；
Syrians； Assyrians； Greeks； Romansnone of them improved on the form
of the conquering biga； till it was given up by a race who preferred a pair
of shafts to their carts； and who had learnt to ride instead of drive。 A
great aristocrat； again； must he have been among those latter races who
first conceived the notion of getting on his horse's back； accommodating
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THE ANCIEN REGIME
his motions to the beast's； and becoming a centaur； half…man； half…horse。
That invention must have tended； in the first instance； as surely toward
democracy as did the invention of firearms。 A tribe of riders must have
been always； more or less； equal and free。 Equal because a man on a
horse would feel himself a man indeed； because the art of riding called out
an independence； a self…help； a skill； a consciousness of power； a personal
pride and vanity； which would defy slavery。 Free； because a tribe of
riders might be defeated； exterminated； but never enchained。 They could
never become gleboe adscripti； bound to the soil； as long as they could
take horse and saddle； and away。 History gives us more than one glimpse
of such tribesthe scourge and terror of the non…riding races with whom
they came in contact。 Some； doubtless； remember how in the wars
between Alfred and the Danes； 〃the army〃 （the Scandinavian invaders）
again and again horse themselves； steal away by night from the Saxon
infantry； and ride over the land （whether in England or in France）； 〃doing
unspeakable evil。〃 To that special instinct of horsemanship； which still
distinguishes their descendants； we may attribute mainly the Scandinavian
settlement of the north and east of England。 Some； too； may recollect the
sketch of the primeval Hun； as he first appeared to the astonished and
disgusted old Roman soldier Ammianus Marcellinus； the visages 〃more
like cakes than faces；〃 the 〃figures like those which are hewn out with an
axe on the poles at bridge… ends；〃 the rat…skin coats； which they wore till
they rotted off their lim