What was the date, Robert, of the fall of Constantinople ?" "Mahomet the Second entered it, sir, in the year 1453 A.D." "Very good.

I begin to have more confidence in you.

And why is Homer considered a much greater poet than Virgil ?" "More masculine, more powerful, sir, and far more original.

In fact the Romans in their literature, as in nearly all other arts, were merely imitators of the Greeks." The face of Master McLean relaxed into a smile.
"Excellent! Excellent!" he exclaimed.

"You have done better than you claimed for yourself, but modesty is an attribute that becomes the young, and now I tell you again, Robert, that I am most glad you and Tayoga have come safely out of the forest.