The Once and Future King (The Once and Future King, #1-4)

by T.H. White

“But about these boys,” said Sir Grummore. “How many of them are there, do you know?” “Two,” said Sir Ector, “counting them both, that is.”

It was not really Eton that he mentioned, for the College of Blessed Mary was not founded until 1440, but it was a place of the same sort. Also they were drinking Metheglyn, not port, but by mentioning the modern wine it is easier to give you the feel.

But I unfortunately was born at the wrong end of time, and I have to live backwards from in front, while surrounded by a lot of people living forwards from behind. Some people call it having second sight.”

He was one of those people who would be neither a follower nor a leader, but only an aspiring heart, impatient in the failing body which imprisoned it.

Therapeutic, Elephantic, Diagnosis, Boom! Pancreatic, Microstatic, Anti-toxic, Doom! With a normal catabolism, Gabbleism and babbleism, Snip, Snap, Snorum, Cut out his abdonorum. Dyspepsia, Anaemia, Toxaemia. One, two, three, And out goes He, With a fol-de-rol-derido for the Five Guinea Fee.

“Love is a trick played on us by the forces of evolution. Pleasure is the bait laid down by the same. There is only power. Power is of the individual mind, but the mind’s power is not enough. Power of the body decides everything in the end, and only Might is Right.

“What a shame that they should be kept prisoners and be hungry.” “Well, they do not really understand that they are prisoners, any more than the cavalry officers do. They look on themselves as being dedicated to their profession, like an order of knighthood or something of that sort. You see, the membership of the mews is, after all, restricted to the raptors—and that does help a lot. They know that none of the lower classes can get in. Their screen perches don’t carry blackbirds or such trash as that. And then, as to the hungry part, they are far from starving or that kind of hunger. They are in training, you know, and like everybody in strict training, they think about food.”

First I think I shall have a little nap before luncheon, and then I think I shall have a little nap before tea. Then I shall have to think of something I can do before dinner. What shall I do before dinner, Archimedes?” “Have a little nap, I expect,”